US09358928B2

A mirror device permitting a driver using the device to view forward and rearward of the vehicle. The device provides the visual field of the conventional and/or modern side-view mirror and also extends the visual field to view areas, regions, and/or objects which are forward to allow a line of sight that might otherwise be blocked by an obstruction.
US09358915B2

A storage assembly for a vehicle includes a housing having an outlet formed at a rear end thereof, a cooling and heating cup holder installed in the housing and having a thermoelectric element attached to a side end surface thereof, a convenience device disposed to be adjacent to a side of the thermoelectric element in the housing and including a storage tray or an electrical control switch, a heat exchange pin and a blower disposed at the outlet side of the rear end of the housing, and a heat pipe having one end connected to the thermoelectric element and the other end extended to turn aside or traverse the convenience device and connected to the heat exchange pin.
US09358904B1

Some embodiments are directed to a vehicular seat adjustment mechanism for facilitating positional adjustments of a vehicular seat along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle. The vehicular seat adjustment mechanism includes a pair of rails that extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Each of the rails defines an opening that faces a lower surface of the vehicle. A pair of support legs are configured to be secured to a vehicular frame. Each of the support legs is secured to and supports one of the rails. A mounting plate supports the vehicular seat and is configured to be movable along the pair of rails. A pair of supports are each secured to one of the rails and configured to support the mounting plate and facilitate longitudinal movement of the mounting plate along the rails.
US09358903B2

An adjustment arrangement for a seat of a motor vehicle including a rail which is mounted displaceably in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle relative to a frame of the vehicle, a seat support which forms a retainer for the seat, a connecting element which mechanically couples the seat support to the rail, wherein a first section of the connecting element is mounted on the rail so as to be rotatable in a predefined pivoting plane, wherein a second section of the connecting element is mounted on the seat support so as to be rotatable in the pivoting plane, and wherein the connecting element is functionally rotatable relative to the seat support and/or to the rail up to a predefined adjustment limit, and further including an absorber unit which is designed to absorb kinetic energy introduced by the connecting element, if the connecting element exceeds the predefined adjustment limit.
US09358898B2

In the present specification, degradation of a battery is suppressed in a hybrid vehicle having an EV mode in which the hybrid vehicle runs without using an engine and an HV mode in which the hybrid vehicle runs using both the engine and a motor. A controller of the hybrid vehicle is configured to limit a usage range of the battery in the EV mode with an execution request of the EV mode having been made by an information input from outside to the vehicle than in the EV mode with no execution request. The degradation of the battery is suppressed by limiting the usage range of the battery.
US09358895B2

An electrical vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a passenger cabin; at least one battery compartment with an openable hood that can be opened to expose the battery compartment; a battery including electrical electrodes removably stored in the battery compartment; at least three battery supports mounted substantially in a vertical orientation in the battery compartment, wherein at least two of the battery supports include electrical contacts that are configured to be electrically coupled with the electrical electrodes of the battery; the battery includes at least two downwardly depending projections which are spatially spaced and arranged relative to each other so that their spacing identically matches a corresponding spacing between said at least three battery supports in the battery compartment, and at least two of the three battery projections comprise said electrical electrodes configured to electrically mate with the electrical contacts of the battery compartment; and the battery supports and the battery projections are so spaced and configured as to enable the battery to be vertically lowered onto the battery supports to effect electrical contact and mechanical coupling between the battery supports and the battery projections.
US09358889B2

The power conversion apparatus converts power among a plurality of ports, and includes: a first voltage conversion unit that converts a voltage of a first port and outputs power having the converted voltage to a second port; and a second voltage conversion unit that performs a first operation of converting a voltage of one port of the second port and a third port and outputting power having the converted voltage to the other port, or a second operation of converting a voltage of the other port and outputting power having the converted voltage to the one port, and when performing the first operation the second voltage conversion unit switches from the first operation to the second operation when a vehicle condition where power of the one port is insufficient is detected.
US09358888B2

A display apparatus in a motor vehicle has at least one display element, which can be used to display at least one value and which has at least one light-emitting element for adjusting a display brightness for the display element. A sensing device has, a sensing element for sensing an ambient brightness for surroundings of the display element. The display brightness can be adjusted by the light-emitting element on the basis of the sensed ambient brightness. The sensing device is designed to prompt at least one function of the motor vehicle that is different than the adjustment of the display brightness when a change in the ambient brightness is sensed. A method operates such a display apparatus.
US09358886B2

The present invention relates to a method for configuring a user interface of a head unit of a vehicle by using a mobile terminal. The method includes steps of: (a) allowing the head unit of the vehicle to acquire information on at least one application stored at an executable state in the mobile terminal, if the mobile terminal is connected to the head unit; (b) allowing the head unit to decide a specific template interoperable with the application among multiple templates stored in the head unit by referring to the acquired information on the application; and (c) deciding a display mode of the specific template by referring to at least one piece of information on the number of acquired application and the driving state of the vehicle and displaying the acquired application on a screen of the head unit by using the decided display mode of the specific template.
US09358882B2

A vehicle is described having plural modes of operation for the front and rear differential and whereupon start-up of the vehicle, the front and rear differentials are opened to their most open position.
US09358878B2

A fluid energy reducing device includes a body having multiple, oppositely directed flow restrictors extending away from opposite sides of the body. Each flow restrictor can have a geometric shape such as a pyramid, triangle, or a conical shape. Fluid such as a fuel traveling in a wave entering the flow restrictors accelerates as the flow area in a flow passage of the flow restrictors decreases. The work performed by accelerating the fluid flow through one or more apertures created in each flow restrictor reduces the energy of the wave, thereby reducing noise in the fluid tank having the fluid energy reducing device when the reduced size and velocity wave subsequently strikes tank structure or walls.
US09358874B2

An electric motor or generator system comprising a stator, a rotor, a first bearing, a first coupling device and a second coupling device, wherein the second coupling device includes a first coupling element arranged to be coupled to a vehicle and a second coupling element coupled to the rotor with a second bearing mounted between the first coupling element and the second coupling element to allow the rotor to rotate relative to the vehicle, wherein the first bearing is mounted between a surface of the stator and a surface of the rotor or the second coupling element to allow the rotor to rotate relative to the stator and the first coupling device is arranged to substantially preventing movement of the stator relative to the first coupling element in a first degree of freedom while allowing movement of the stator relative to the first coupling element in at least a second degree of freedom.
US09358873B2

A transmission system for a hybrid vehicle includes a primary input shaft for receiving drive from a primary vehicle drive motor, such as an internal combustion engine. A secondary input shaft receives drive from a secondary vehicle drive motor, such as an electric motor. An output shaft of the system is connected to drive a final drive unit. A multi-speed gearbox is provided to connect the primary input shaft to the output shaft at one of a plurality of gear ratios. An input selection mechanism, in a first mode, connects the secondary input shaft to drive the output shaft and, in a second mode, connects the secondary input shaft to drive the primary input shaft. A clutch may be provided that can selectively connect or disconnect drive between the primary drive motor and the gearbox.
US09358862B2

A weatherstrip includes a welt section in a substantially letter U shape cross section attached to a flange, and a trim lip formed on an outer surface of an inner side wall section to cover an end edge of a vehicular body trim. The flange is held from both sides by holding lips extending obliquely toward a summit section from the inner surfaces of the respective side wall sections. A projection section is projected on a back side of the outer holding lip. When the flange is fitted, the outer holding lip is struck on the projection section and positioned.
US09358829B2

A ruler having an arch member on an upper surface of a ruler body for allowing the ruler body to closely contact a target object by being pressed from above. The ruler has a pair of parallel standing walls facing each other on the upper surface of the ruler body in a longitudinal direction, and the arch member is fitted along the longitudinal direction of the standing walls. In addition, bending pieces which bend inward towards each other are formed on upper end edges of the standing walls, projections which are positioned below the bending pieces project on both of outer side surfaces of the arch member, and the projections are guided by the bending pieces and are inserted between the standing walls.
US09358824B2

Disclosed herein is a multi-layered matte film comprising at last one layer of a coating comprising the condensation reaction product of the combination of a polyalkylimine and an acetoacetonate (“AcAc”)-functional material or an oxirane-functional material, each comprising an ethenic unsaturation group, the coating adhered to a sealant film layer; a sealant layer comprising a polyolefin and having a Tm within the range of from 120° C. to 170° C.; and a Flexural Modulus within the range from 500 to 1200 MPa; a core polypropylene layer; and a matte layer between the sealant layer and core layer, the matte layer comprising a blend of at least two incompatible polymers such that the Haze is at least 50%.
US09358823B2

An improved Braille erasure mechanism may comprise a reverse-embosser or impressing mechanism to imprint a negative Braille cell. A negative Braille cell is the reverse of a normal Braille cell, with one or more dots lowered or pressed into the printing medium in an opposite direction to the raised dots of a normal Braille cell. Because the dots of a negative Braille cell are lowered past the surface of the printing medium, they may be ordinarily undetectable to the fingers of a Braille user. Accordingly, by imprinting a full negative Braille cell on top of a Braille cell to be erased, all of the previously raised dots of the Braille cell may be lowered beyond the surface of the printing medium. Any further Braille cell embossed over the erased cell will be free from corruption, because any dot not used by the new cell will remain lowered and undetectable.
US09358815B2

An arrangement for capturing an image of a printing substrate web in a printing machine, includes a camera that has a sensor field extending parallel to the printing substrate web, and an objective lens an optical axis of which runs at right angles to the sensor field, a light source that is arranged relative to the printing substrate web such that the light emitted therefrom is reflected by reflective surface portions of the printing substrate web mainly into the camera, and the objective lens is arranged to be offset from the sensor field such that a straight line extending through the center of the sensor field and the center of the objective lens and a straight line extending from the center of the light source to the center of the light incident on the image field on the printing substrate web form equal angles with the axis of incidence.
US09358810B2

An inkjet recording method includes recording an image on a heated nonpermeable substrate with an aqueous ink by an inkjet method; and drying the aqueous ink, wherein the method satisfies the following requirements (1) to (3): (1) the aqueous ink comprises water, a hydrosoluble organic solvent, a pigment and a particulate resin, wherein the hydrosoluble organic solvent comprises a solvent having a boiling point not higher than 200° C. in an amount not less than 50% by weight; (2) the hydrosoluble organic solvent having a boiling point not higher than 200° C. comprises 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol; and (3) a difference of heating temperatures between the recording and the drying is from 25 to 80° C.
US09358808B1

The present invention discloses a method for controlling a laser marking machine and a laser marking machine. The laser marking machine includes an interface module, a processing module, a laser control module and a galvanometer control module. The interface module receives marking data packets and transfers the marking data packets to the processing module. The processing module parses the marking data packets to obtain marking instructions and control parameters, extracts laser control instruction(s) and galvanometer control instruction(s) from the marking instructions, extracts laser control parameter(s) and galvanometer control parameter(s) from the control parameters, transfers the laser control instruction(s) and the laser control parameter(s) to the laser control module, and transfers the galvanometer control instruction(s) and the galvanometer control parameter(s) to the galvanometer control module.
US09358805B1

A laser printer fuser assembly in a laser printer includes a lever to control envelope mode printing. The lever may protrude from an external surface of the laser printer and may provide a first position for normal paper printing, a second position for envelope printing, and a third position for jam clearing in the laser printer. The first position may apply a maximum force between a fuser heat roll and a pressure roll in the laser fuser printer assembly. The second position may apply a reduced force instead of the maximum force, while the third position may apply zero force. The first and second position may be accessible without opening a cover panel of the laser printer.
US09358803B2

In the present invention, an air bubble residing in a filter chamber is purged at a high speed without inducing liquid ejection deficiency at a liquid ejection head. A filter chamber is divided into a first filter chamber and a second filter chamber via a filter. A pump circulates ink through an ink tube and a bypass path between an ink tank and the first filter chamber. A valve capable of regulating a flow of the ink is provided at the ink tube that allows the second filter chamber and a print head to communicate with each other.
US09358794B2

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid flow path connecting a liquid containing unit that contains a liquid to a liquid ejecting unit that ejects the liquid. The liquid flow path includes a supply flow path which connects the liquid containing unit to the liquid ejecting unit and a return flow path which connects the liquid ejecting unit to the liquid containing unit. When the liquid is not ejected by the liquid ejecting unit, the liquid contained in the liquid containing unit is circulated between the liquid containing unit and the liquid flow path by allowing the liquid to flow in order of the supply flow path, the liquid ejecting unit, and the return flow path. When the liquid is ejected, the liquid contained in the liquid containing unit is supplied to the common liquid chamber via both of the supply flow path and the return flow path.
US09358789B2

A method of manufacturing a flexible circuit, including forming a first set of traces, forming a second set of traces, and cutting a gap between the first and second set of traces.
US09358788B2

Various configurations of print head die are described. In an example, a first print head die has first print structures disposed along a major dimension thereof perpendicular to the media path, the first print structures including a leading print structure with respect to the media path. A second print head die independent of the first print head die has second print structures disposed along a major dimension thereof perpendicular to the media path, the second print head die being staggered with respect to the first print head die along the media path, the second print structures including a leading print structure with respect to the media path. An extent between respective leading print structures of the first and second print head dies is between a minimum equal to a width of the first print head plus 100 μm and a maximum value such that the distance along the media path between any of the first print structures and any of the second print structures does not exceed 10 mm.
US09358782B2

A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a drive signal generator that generates a drive signal; a piezoelectric element that is displaced in response to a voltage of the drive signal; a cavity which is filled with a liquid and of which an inside volume is expanded and contracted due to the displacement of the piezoelectric element; and a nozzle that communicates with the cavity and is capable of discharging the liquid by the expansion and contraction of the inside volume of the cavity. In the drive signal generator, a set of a first MOSFET and a second MOSFET which are electrically connected in series between a wire of a high potential and a wire of a low potential is arranged in plurality in series. A part or all of the first MOSFETs and the second MOSFETs in the plurality of sets have different sizes from each other.
US09358773B2

An apparatus for adjustably positioning a form roll having a form roll axis against at least two different sized plate cylinders in a variable cutoff printing unit is provided. The apparatus includes a plate cylinder support for interchangeably supporting the at least two different sized plate cylinders, the plate cylinder support including a plate cylinder axis at least two different sized plate cylinder cams. The at least two different sized plate cylinder cams are interchangeably removably connectable to the plate cylinder support and include a smaller plate cylinder cam and a larger plate cylinder cam that are removably connectable to the plate cylinder support as alternatives of each other. The apparatus also includes a form roll hanger for supporting the form roll that is configured for contacting the smaller plate cylinder cam if the smaller plate cylinder cam is coupled to the plate cylinder support to set a smaller distance between the plate cylinder axis and the form roll axis. The form roll hanger is also configured for contacting the larger plate cylinder cam if the larger plate cylinder cam is coupled to the plate cylinder support to set a larger distance between the plate cylinder axis and the form roll axis. A method of adjustably positioning a form roll and a variable cutoff printing press are also provided.
US09358762B2

A lamination apparatus, including: a substrate support; an adhesive film support that is disposed so as to be spaced from the substrate support; an air injection head that is disposed on a co-plane with the adhesive film support so as to be spaced apart from the substrate support or disposed so as to be further spaced apart from the substrate support than the adhesive film support; an air pump that supplies air to the air injection head; an air supply pipe that connects the air injection head with the air pump, wherein the air injection head includes an ion generation unit.
US09358755B2

A waterproof breathable material has a higher strength-to-weight ratio and higher tear resistance-to-weight ratio than traditional materials, and may be applied in a wide field of potential uses. A non-woven composite material comprises at least one waterproof breathable (W/B) membrane, a first unidirectional non-woven composite layer having multiple fibers enclosed by adhesive in parallel to each other, a second unidirectional non-woven composite layer having multiple fibers enclosed in adhesive in parallel to each other. The first unidirectional non-woven composite layer is positioned such that the fibers are oriented 90° relative to the fibers of the second unidirectional non-woven composite layer, and a space is formed between the first and second multiple fibers. No adhesive is present in the space.
US09358753B2

Substrates and methods of forming a pattern on a substrate. The pattern includes a repeating pattern region and a pattern-interrupting region adjacent to the repeating pattern region. A mask is formed on the substrate, with the mask including the repeating pattern region and the pattern-interrupting region and which are formed using two separate masking steps. The mask is used in forming the pattern into underlying substrate material on which the mask is received. Substrates comprising masks are also disclosed.
US09358744B2

A reinforcing element for geo-technical applications may include a monolithic net structure made of a plastic material, having a plurality of first elements distanced from one another and having an elongate conformation in a respective prevalent development direction, a plurality of second elements distanced from one another and also having an elongate conformation, which develop substantially in a transversal direction to the first elements. The second elements are stretched along a development thereof, and the second elements are configured such that the net structure exhibits a substantially arched profile and forms a longitudinal seating having an axis of extension substantially parallel to the first elements. A process of manufacturing the reinforcing element and an artificial or partially artificial structure obtained by consolidating the terrain using the reinforcing element are also described.
US09358743B2

A method and a device for welding plastic pipes (1) made of thermoplastic material by a butt-welding method, wherein the pipes (1) are held in a coaxial position in relation to one another by clamping points (2), are trimmed by a trimmer (3), which can be brought between the clamping points (2), and are heated up by heated tools (6), which can be fitted in place of the trimmer (3), wherein the heating of the free pipe ends (8) to be welded has the effect of forming a melting region which forms a bead when pressing occurs, the pipe projection (5) of the pipes (1) being trimmed to a defined size.
US09358740B2

A production apparatus includes the following stations juxtaposed in the following sequence: a parison forming station for forming a parison; a built-in part attachment station where opposite sides of a center die provided with a built-in part are held between a pair of molding dies to locate the center die in the molding dies with the parison between the center die and the molding dies, and the built-in part being attached to the parison transferred to the molding dies; a molding station where the molding dies are closed to mold the hollow molded product; and a conveyance station for taking the hollow molded product out of the molding dies and conveying the hollow molded product. The center die is fixed at the built-in part attachment station, and the molding dies are configured to be movable back and forth between the built-in part attachment station and the molding station.
US09358736B2

This invention provides a method of packaging and manufacturing a contact lens in a container, wherein the container comprises a central recess formed of a curved surface with a ring-shaped protruding portion surrounding the curved surface, the method comprising the steps of: providing the container; injecting a lens-forming monomer mixture into the central recess to form the contact lens along the curved surface of the central recess; combining the container and a hand-held section; pouring a solution into the container to immerse the contact lens in the container; and sealing the container with a lid for sealing the contact lens and the solution in the container; wherein the curved surface of the central recess has one or a plurality of continuous radii of curvature Rrecess less than a radius of curvature Rlens of the contact lens in its hydrous state.
US09358733B2

A method for the manufacture of a fiber composite component with at least one opening, which is edged by an integral collar, a device for the execution of a method of this type with a mold core, which has at least one convexity for the formation of a component section in the form of a bulge, also a fiber composite component with a multiplicity of openings, each of which is edged by an integral collar.
US09358725B2

A panel assembly includes at least one reinforcing assembly made of a high strength material having a low yield to tensile strength ratio for energy absorption and reduced weight and profile. The panel assembly may be light-weight with a low profile to minimize protrusion into an opening or compartment enclosed by the panel. The panel assembly may be a floor panel assembly for a vehicle floor. The reinforcing assembly may traverse the panel such that the reinforcing assembly extends laterally, e.g., cross-vehicle, relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body. A method of making the panel assembly may include forming the reinforcing assembly by joining a plurality of metal channel members in a nested arrangement with a plurality of welds to provide a structural assembly with good bending resistance loads imposed on the panel assembly including knee loads. The channel members can be made of dual phase steel.
US09358720B2

The invention relates to a method and device used to blow-mold containers. After thermal conditioning, a preform is shaped into the container inside a blow mold by the effect of blowing pressure. Required blowing gas is introduced into an interior of the preform through a connecting element. After the blow-molding, a purging gas is conducted through the interior of the container. A plurality of blowing stations are used, and, for at least one of the blowing stations, at least part of the required amount of the purging gas is stored in a storage volume associated only with said blowing station.
US09358717B1

The invention comprises a die apparatus including a flexible lip for adjusting a gap between the flexible lip and a second lip. The apparatus includes a rotating shaft that cooperates to move the flexible lip. The rotating shaft may communicate with linear moving members to move the flexible lip. The apparatus may also include a cross-bar contacting the lip and extending substantially the length of the lip, where the cross-bar is connected to the linear moving members that are moved by the rotating shaft. As a result, the dimensions of the gap may be changed by moving the rotating shaft in a first direction or a second direction.
US09358713B2

A hot runner injection molding apparatus (10) includes hot runner nozzles (20), a movable frame (30) that can be displaced between at least two positions relative to a plurality of mold cavities (24), each cavity having a mold gate (27). Valve pins (32) associated with the hot runner nozzles (20) are individually coupled to the movable frame (30) by a decouplable connector (36, 60). Disengagement devices (40) associated with the valve pins are activated to decouple any associated valve pin (32) from the movable frame (30). A control system (52) is used to activate the disengagement devices (40). In some instances a blocking element (42) is also activated to lock any valve pin at the mold gate or close to the mold gate. Control system (52) is further used to operate the blocking element (42). Disengagement devices (40) and the blocking elements (42) can be the same or different.
US09358708B2

A method of manufacturing a terminal block for a telecommunication cable is disclosed, which includes: positioning at least one electrical connector in a mold, the at least one electrical connector comprising a first end adapted to receive a first electrical wire and a second end adapted to receive a second electrical wire; connecting at least one insulated electrical wire to the first end of each of the at least one electrical connectors; and injecting a dielectric material by a force of greater than 1 g into the mold containing the at least one electrical connector and the at least one electrical wire, wherein the dielectric material surrounds at least the first end of the electrical connector and the at least one electrical wire.
US09358702B2

An unseasoned substrate support assembly includes a ceramic body and a thermally conductive base bonded to a lower surface of the ceramic body. The substrate support assembly further includes an upper surface of the ceramic body having a first portion proximate to a center of the upper surface of the ceramic body and having a first roughness profile and a second portion distal from the center of the upper surface of the ceramic body and having a second roughness profile with a lower roughness than the first roughness profile, wherein areas of the first and second portions are based on radial distances from the center of the ceramic body.
US09358688B2

A machine for aligning items in a pattern and a method of using the machine. The machine includes a robotic assembly having four spaced apart joints. The joints including a base joint which is mounted to a stationary surface and a wrist joint onto which an effector is secured. A suction cup is mounted on the effector and is connected to a vacuum source. The suction cup is capable to picking up, positioning and releasing a new item relative to a first laid item and a second laid item. The first and second laid items each have an upper surface and each is aligned perpendicular to one another. The machine further includes three edge sensors and three height sensor. At least one of the edge and height sensors are secured to a first side of the effector and is capable of detecting an edge aligned along an X-X axis of the first laid item and the height of the upper surface of the first laid item, and at least one of the edge and height sensors are secured to a second side of the effector and is capable of detecting an edge aligned along a Y-Y axis of the second laid item and the height of the upper surface of the second laid item. The machine further includes a control mechanism for operating the robotic assembly, the vacuum source and the edge and height sensors. Lastly, the machine includes a power source for supplying power to the control mechanism.
US09358685B2

Robots have the capacity to perform a broad range of useful tasks, such as factory automation, cleaning, delivery, assistive care, environmental monitoring and entertainment. Enabling a robot to perform a new task in a new environment typically requires a large amount of new software to be written, often by a team of experts. It would be valuable if future technology could empower people, who may have limited or no understanding of software coding, to train robots to perform custom tasks. Some implementations of the present invention provide methods and systems that respond to users' corrective commands to generate and refine a policy for determining appropriate actions based on sensor-data input. Upon completion of learning, the system can generate control commands by deriving them from the sensory data. Using the learned control policy, the robot can behave autonomously.
US09358680B1

A hand tool organizer adapted to be mounted on a wall or door and configured to retain a plurality of tools via profile recesses, where each slidably received tool matches a corresponding recess. The organizer is further provided with side-pivoting doors and slide-out drawers.
US09358673B2

A tool having segments forming a triangle wherein a connecting bolt segment moves the other two segments together, thus rotating a valve nut, is disclosed. The tool can be attached and easily operated without the disadvantage of having to apply physical strength in an awkward position. Different embodiments are provided that are adaptable to various valve body types.
US09358670B2

A surface fine machining tool has a working medium carrier with a bottom side and a top side. Grooves extend from the top side to the bottom side completely through the working medium carrier and have a narrowed portion at the bottom side but do not narrow upwardly toward the top side. The working medium carrier is an injection-molded plastic part. Lamellas with a holding rim and a lamella body are inserted with the holding rim in the grooves. The lamella body extends downward away from the holding rim, passes through the narrowed portion, and extends away from the bottom side. The lamellas are uniformly distributed about the bottom side. The grooves have an open end at a carrier rim of the working medium carrier. The open end has a cross-section matching the groove cross-section. A cover is connected to the top side and covers grooves and holding rims.
US09358652B2

A tool turret includes a tool disk (2) swivelable about a support column (32) that defines a swivel axis (26) into positions in which at least one machining tool fastened to the tool disk (2) is in a machining position. A drive device (14) includes drives (10, 8) connected by a controllable coupling device (18) to outputs (20, 22) used to drive the tool disk (2) or the machining tool. The drive device (14) is arranged inside the tool disk (2) together with the drives (8, 10) and the output (22) used to drive the machining tool. The output used to drive the tool disk (2) in a swiveling manner has a gear train arrangement (34) outside the tool disk (2) on the support column (32). The gear train arrangement has an output shaft (70) that extends along the support column (32).
US09358651B2

The present disclosure provides a system and method for automatically adjusting a position of a panel on a chuck. The system includes: the chuck having a front end sensor and a rear end sensor arranged respectively on front and rear ends of the chuck in a direction of carrying the panel, and also having an adjustment unit arranged in a central area of the chuck; and a central control apparatus configured to receive a front end trigger signal transmitted by the front end sensor, and judge whether to enable the adjustment unit to adjust the position of the panel on the chuck based on whether a rear end trigger signal transmitted by the rear end sensor is received within a predetermined period of time after the front end trigger signal is received. In this way, the position of the panel with respect to the chuck can be adjusted efficiently, thereby accurately judging a condition of carrying the panel, and thus preventing a machine station from falsely generating an alarm and halt.
US09358645B2

A method for finishing a shape of a component by machining, in which one area is produced by smelting with a thickened portion forming a first surface with a surrounding profile and a theoretical profile defined by a second surface, the method including: defining, on the second surface, a grid forming nodes and squares; defining each point over which the machining tool is to pass according to weighting coefficients equal to weight to be given to the nodes of the square in which the tool is located, to be the barycenter of assigned nodes of the coefficients; measuring, for each node located outside an outer limit, the delta between the first surface at the node and the theoretical position of the node; calculating deltas for each node within the outer limit by interpolation from already known deltas; using the weighting coefficients, defining the delta to be applied at each point.
US09358642B2

A movable joining device for connecting structural components of an aircraft, with joining means moveably arranged on a guiding device situated on the outside of the structural components so as to fixedly connect joining edges of the structural components positioned adjacent to each other, wherein the joining means includes a welding unit that can move on the rail-like guiding device, and is equipped with a special so-called bobbin tool as a tool for friction stir welding.
US09358638B2

A movable vacuum welding device (1) includes a vacuum chamber (7) having an edge section (12) opposite to a surface of a welding target (T) and forming a vacuum space between the surface of the welding target (T) and the vacuum chamber (7), a seal section (8) interposed between the edge section (12) and the welding target (T) throughout the entire circumference of the edge section (12), a welding head (9) configured to perform welding on the surface of the welding target (T) in the vacuum space, and a preload unit (10) configured to previously apply a load to the seal section (8). The seal section (8) includes a first seal member (27) formed of an elastic material and extending along the edge section (12), and a second seal member (28) disposed at least a rear side in a relative moving direction in which a welding bead (W) passes and having higher flexibility than the first seal member (27).
US09358633B2

The invention relates to an ultrasonic welding device having an oscillator, having a sonotrode, which can be caused to oscillate with a wavelength, and has a welding region in the vibration antinode of the sonotrode. The sonotrode is supported at the vibration node of the sonotrode in a first bearing. To enable both a radial and an axial alignment of the sonotrode, the first bearing has a projection, which has a U-shaped geometry in a section extending in a longitudinal direction of the sonotrode, which U-shaped geometry has side legs and a cross leg that connects the side legs, the projection engages in a recess in the sonotrode matched to the U-shaped geometry, the sonotrode is supported on the cross leg of the projection in a planar manner, and the sonotrode is axially aligned by means of at least one side leg of the projection.
US09358616B2

A device for connecting two components (10, 14), for example two tool parts. The first component (10) has a cylindrical locating pin (12) and an annular face (22) projecting radially beyond this locating pin (12), while the second component (14) has a cylindrical locating bore (16) for receiving the locating pin (12) and an annular face (24) surrounding the locating bore (16). Also provided is a clamping mechanism (18), which ensures during the clamping operation that the locating pin (12) is drawn into the locating bore (16) and at the same time the annular faces (22, 24) are pressed against one another.
US09358615B2

A metal particle manufacturing system includes: a first airtight container, in which a metal film is placed and conveyed; a plasma melting chamber for heating and melting the metal film into ultrafine particle metal; a second airtight container for cooling and suspending the ultrafine particle metal for collection and being taken out; and a circulating conveyor belt for providing conveying channels between the first airtight container, the plasma melting chamber and the second airtight container. Airtight channels are provided to cover between the first airtight container, the plasma melting chamber and the second airtight container. With this implementation, the highly pure ultrafine particle metal with the purity reaching 99.99% can be obtained.
US09358610B2

A device for supporting a molten metal container is provided, wherein the device has first and second support units for supporting the weight of the molten metal container in connection with a ring member, taken alone or in combination according to a rotary position. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the device for supporting the molten metal container comprises: a ring member which encloses the outside of a rotatable molten metal container; and first and second support units which are configured to support the weight of said molten metal container in connection with said ring member, taken alone or in combination according to a rotary position of said molten metal container.
US09358602B2

There is provided a useful method for producing a press-formed product without making the structure of a press tool complicated, which product has favorable formability in a level so as to be able to be produced by deep drawing, and which product is produced by press-forming a thin steel sheet with a punch and a die, in which the thin steel sheet is heated to a temperature not lower than an Ac3 transformation point thereof, and the press-forming is then started, wherein the forming is carried out so that a temperature difference in the thin steel sheet is adjusted to be not higher than 200° C. at a stage when the thin steel sheet has reached one third of a forming height.
US09358600B1

A method of forming a gun barrel includes providing a gun barrel with a desired wall thickness, and cold gas-dynamic spraying the gun barrel with a titanium powder to form an outer layer. The method may further include contouring the outer layer, applying a ceramic top coating to the contoured outer layer of the gun barrel, and sealing the gun barrel with a liquid metal sealer. The method may further include spraying the gun barrel with a bonding coating to form a bonding layer before cold gas-dynamic spraying the gun barrel.
US09358592B2

A mobile sanitary wash apparatus and system including a housing including vertical and horizontal protective enclosing walls, with at least one vertical side further including an opening for inserting equipment to be cleaned and/or sanitized, and a drainage system coupled to the flooring for receiving and collecting waste effluent for controlled transport and/or disposal.
US09358587B2

A substrate treating apparatus includes a loading section 1, a treating tank 2, a rinsing tank 4, a drying tank 5, an unloading section 6, and a pair of endless belt members 7 for transporting substrates successively through the loading section 1, treating tank 2, rinsing tank 4, drying tank 5 and unloading section 6. The substrate treating apparatus further includes a fixing mechanism for fixing a pair of side edges of each substrate parallel to a transport direction of the substrate to the endless belt members 7. In the loading section 1, a plurality of substrates are fixed, each with the pair of edges thereof parallel to the transport direction fixed at constant intervals to the pair of endless belt members 7. The substrates having undergone the treatment are removed from the pair of endless belt members 7 in the unloading section 6.
US09358581B2

A method of producing a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet includes applying, to a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet having a Ra of 0.5 to 2.0 μm and a PPI of 150 or more, a predetermined surface treatment agent, i.e., a surface treatment agent containing a specified resin compound, a specified urethane resin having cationy, a specified silane coupling agent having a functional group, a specified organic Ti chelate compound, and a tetravalent vanadyl compound at a specified ratio; and drying the surface treatment agent at a ultimate sheet temperature of 50° C. to 180° C. to form a surface treatment coating film with a coating weight of 0.2 to 1.0 g/m2 on the surface of the steel sheet.
US09358575B2

A method for depositing particles on a substrate, or a running substrate, including: (a) producing at least one first compact film of particles floating on a carrier liquid provided in a transfer area having an outlet of particles arranged facing the substrate; (b) producing at least one pattern by depositing a substance on the first film in the transfer area, along a contour of the pattern, the substance maintaining the particles of the film together in contact with the substance; (c) removing at least one portion of the particles of the first film located interiorly relatively to the contour, or exteriorly relatively to the contour; and then (d) transferring patterns onto the substrate through the outlet of particles.
US09358571B2

The invention is a device for holding elongated objects such as fishing rod parts in conjunction with surface treatment. The device includes one first inner part and one outer second part which are pivotally arranged relative to one another between a first position where the object can be inserted into the device and a second position where the object can be fixed temporarily to the device with at least three elastic bands. Each elastic band is connected to a fastening device on the first inner part and a fastening device on the outer second part. Each elastic band's distance from the device's center of rotation changes during the relative turning of the first inner part with respect to the second outer part, causing the object to be held or released from the device depending on the relative rotational orientation of the first inner part and the second outer part.
US09358558B2

Disclosed is a spray gun including: a body having a gun barrel; a coating material nozzle disposed on a tip end side of the gun barrel, and an air cap disposed on the tip end side of the gun barrel to surround a tip end portion of the coating material nozzle, wherein the tip end portion of the coating material nozzle has on the tip end surface thereof a guide wall spreading, and also has on the outer peripheral surface thereof a plurality of air grooves channeled in a longitudinal direction, and wherein each of the air grooves has a bottom portion gradually increasing in depth in the longitudinal direction, the bottom portion being located within a range of the guide wall on the tip end surface of the coating material nozzle.
US09358553B2

Conditioning and concentration of microalgae are accomplished by the process steps of grinding a dilute aqueous dispersion of microalgae in the presence of grinding media and then applying adsorptive bubble separation. This process is amenable to the use of dilute feed microalgal dispersions such as are encountered in the production of algal biomass for biofuel applications.
US09358542B2

A system for holding sample tubes used in immunoprecipitation and similar laboratory techniques. A rack comprises top and bottom plates spaced apart from each other and defining rows of holes to receive the sample tubes and hold the sample tubes in a pair of spaced-apart rows. A magnet holder is configured to slide between the top and bottom plates and between the two parallel rows of sample tubes such that when the magnet holder is fully inserted between the rows of sample tubes, magnets held by the magnet holder align with the sample tubes in the two parallel rows.
US09358540B1

An isothermal reaction and analysis system may include a receiver to receive sample holders, a thermal control subsystem to control a temperature of the receiver, an excitation subsystem, a detection subsystem and an analysis subsystem. Excitation sources and/or detectors are positioned to enhance data collection. Sample holders may include filters, selectively blocking and passing wavelengths or bands of electromagnetic radiation.
US09358533B2

Hollow porous metal oxide microspheres are provided. The microspheres may be used as a support for a catalyst, particularly an exhaust treatment catalyst for an internal combustion engine. Also provided are methods of making the microspheres, methods of using the microspheres as catalyst supports, and methods of exhaust treatment using catalyst articles comprising the microspheres.
US09358526B2

A cobalt containing catalyst supported on a metal oxide suitable for performing a Fischer-Tropsch reaction. A pore volume of a metal oxide support, before loading of cobalt thereon, is within the range of 0.35 to 0.85 cc/g. The support has an average pore diameter before the cobalt loading and reduction such that the effective average pore diameter after cobalt loading and reduction is 14 nanometers or higher. A cobalt loading of 11 weight % or higher is also provided. An alpha value higher than 0.89 in a diesel to wax weight ratio below 1.07 is provided.
US09358523B2

Thermally-activated cellulosic-based carbon is rendered more thermally stable by exposure to a halogen and/or a halogen-containing compound. Such treated cellulosic-based carbon is suitable for use in mitigating the content of hazardous substances in flue gases, especially flue gases having a temperature within the range of from about 100° C. to about 420° C.
US09358514B2

A granulating device for granulating thermoplastic materials. The device has a die head, a cutting chamber housing, and at least one insulating element comprising thermally insulating material. The insulating element is situated between a die head element and a cutting chamber housing element. At least one tempering device situated between the insulating element and cutting chamber housing element or adjacent to the insulating element is provided. The tempering device acts to remove unwanted heat introduced in its vicinity, or to replenish heat undesirably removed from its vicinity.
US09358503B2

Provided are emissions treatment systems for an exhaust stream having an ammonia-generating component, such as a NOx storage reduction (NSR) catalyst or a lean NOx trap (LNT) catalyst, and an SCR catalyst disposed downstream of the ammonia-generating catalyst. The SCR catalyst can be a molecular sieve having the CHA crystal structure, for example SSZ-13 or SAPO-34, which can be ion-exchanged with copper. The LNT can be layered, having an undercoat washcoat layer comprising a support material, at least one precious metal, and at least one NOx sorbent selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth elements, rare earth elements, and combinations thereof and a top washcoat layer comprising a support material, at least one precious metal, and ceria in particulate form, the top washcoat layer being substantially free of alkaline earth components. The emissions treatment system is advantageously used for the treatment of exhaust streams from diesel engines and lean burn gasoline engines.
US09358495B2

TSA method for purification by means of adsorption of a synthetic gas including hydrogen, CO and/or methane, implementing at least one adsorber having at least one adsorbent and subjected to a pressure cycle comprising at least an adsorption step, a step of producing a flow enriched with a main component and a regeneration step, characterized in that the regeneration step includes: regenerating the adsorbent using a regeneration gas including more than 95 mol of nitrogen; and scavenging the adsorbent using a scavenging gas corresponding to a fraction of the synthetic gas to be purified or a fraction of the purified synthetic gas.
US09358486B2

Disclosed is a method of characterizing a fiber sample comprising standard fibers and identification fibers which can be used for tracking and tracing fibers through at least part of the supply chain. Each identification fiber exhibits at least one distinct feature. Each group of distinguishable identification fibers can exhibit a taggant cross-section shape, a taggant cross-section size, or combination of the same taggant cross-section shape and same taggant cross-section size. The distinct features and the number of fibers in each group of distinguishable identification fibers can represent at least one supply chain component of the fibers. The fiber sample can include a portion of an acetate tow band or a filter made from the acetate tow band, and the supply chain information can include the manufacturer of the acetate tow band and the customer of the acetate tow band.
US09358485B2

A filter element is provided. The filter element is removably engaged with a filter head having an inlet and an outlet. The filter element includes an outer housing, a filter cartridge, and a baseplate. The filter element further includes a plurality of seals adapted to seal between the baseplate and the filter head, and between the baseplate and the filter cartridge.
US09358472B2

A amusement ride feature comprises a waterslide sliding surface, a vehicle having a vehicle bottom surface adapted to slide on said sliding surface and to convey at least one rider thereon, and at least one reaction plate and at least one permanent magnet each mounted to one of said vehicle and said sliding surface. The at least one reaction plate and the at least one permanent magnet are positioned to affect motion of the vehicle when the motion of the vehicle brings the reaction plate under the influence of the permanent magnet.
US09358469B1

Systems and methods are provided for an inter-sport fantasy sports challenge. According to one aspect, a set of players is provided to each user, where each player competes in one of a plurality of sports. A roster selected from the set of players is received from each user. Rosters include players selected without regard to a respective sport and a respective position, and can include players from multiple sports. In another aspect, rosters include prescribed numbers of players and positions, and the respective rosters as between at least two users include players from multiple sports. Performance data for each player is received. A player point value for each player is calculated and converted into normalized values using one or more piecewise-defined non-linear functions for each sport. A roster score is calculated by aggregating normalized values for each player on the roster, and users are ranked based on roster scores.
US09358467B2

Technologies are generally described for a load balancing scheme. In some examples, a method performed under control of a load balancing system may include associating a candidate client device with a lower-resolution client device; measuring resource usage of a game server; determining that the measured resource usage has exceeded a predetermined threshold; and transmitting, to the candidate client device and/or the associated lower-resolution client device, a message that instructs a user of the candidate client device to perform a predetermined task using the associated lower-resolution client device.
US09358465B2

A display device is caused to selectably display panels in a predetermined area of a display screen in a predetermined arrangement pattern. When selection of at least one displayed panel is received from a user of a video game processing apparatus, the selected panel and the number of panels are specified. It is determined whether the number of panels satisfies a skill activating condition of a player character or not by referring to skill related information. The skill related information is stored in a skill related information memory. The skill related information contains player character information indicating the player character, skill information indicating a skill, and the skill activating condition indicating an activating condition of the skill. In a case where it is determined that the number of panels satisfies the skill activating condition, action processing for the skill by the player character is carried out.
US09358463B2

A gaming system, comprising a site server configured to provide game instances to local gaming devices in communication with the site server, a monitor for displaying video information related to the game instances, a central server configured to provide information about the availability of a game to players using local gaming devices in proximity of the site server, provide information about the availability of the game to one of the mobile telephones over the wide-area wireless network, receive, from the one or more mobile telephones, an indication of a selected game offered by the central server, and relay game instances between the site server and the one or more mobile telephones as the selected game is being played by players using the local gaming devices and players using the one or more mobile telephones via the wide-area wireless network.
US09358459B2

Provided is an information processing device including a communication unit for transmitting content data to a plurality of display devices connected, a request check unit for causing other display devices to display a check screen for an arbitrary request upon reception of the request from one of the plurality of display devices, and determining whether to permit the request in accordance with a user operation in the other display devices which display the check screen, and a control unit for performing a response control for the request when the request check unit permits the request.
US09358457B2

An example game system includes a home-console type game device and a terminal device. The terminal device includes a touch panel and an inertia sensor, and wirelessly transmits to the game device operation data including touch panel data and inertia sensor data. The game device receives the operation data from the terminal device, and performs game processes based on the operation data. Moreover, the game device generates first game images and second game images based on the game processes. The first game images are compressed, and the compressed image data is wirelessly transmitted to the terminal device. The second game image is output to, and displayed on, an external display device which is separate from the terminal device. The terminal device receives the compressed image data from the game device, expands the received compressed image data, and displays the first game images on a display section.
US09358452B2

Configuration of advertisements in a streaming video segment from a serving node is based on a result of an interactive game process executing on a client device. A configuration of advertisements in the streaming video is determined based on the game result. The configuration may include which advertisements are selected to play during ad slots to be included in the video segment, or a number of ad slots to be provided in the video segment. The serving node may configure the video segment with the advertisements selected based on the game result in the determined number of ad slots so that the selected advertisements are played during the ad slots when the video segment is streamed to the client device. If the video segment is configured with no ad slots based on the game result, then the video segment may be streamed to the client device without advertisements.
US09358447B2

A ski binding heel employs a low-mass, spring-loaded interface between the heel and/or toe release mechanisms of the heel and or toe pieces of the binding and the ski boot, i.e., fast-response heel and toe cups. The low mass or lightweight fast-response heel and toe cup interfaces follows the dynamics of the ski to retain the boot during events that could cause inadvertent release (IR) in a conventional release binding. A biased, or spring loaded member engages, the boot heel/toe for mitigating loads and for absorbing sub-injury loads and compensating for movement between the boot and ski. The spring loaded members are biased toward the boot heel and toe for absorbing loads and compensating for displacements that might otherwise result in an inadvertent release. The spring loaded toe/heel cups permit movements of the boot relative to the ski flexing and counter flexing that might have otherwise resulted in an IR.
US09358446B2

An adjustable connecting element (10) of a device for fixing a shoe to a gliding board, capable of a mobile connection with a second element (50) to enable movement thereof for adjusting the position of a shoe fixing device on the gliding board, characterized in that it includes a rod (12) comprising a locking element (13) capable of fixing the connecting element on the second element (50) and in that it includes at least one clearance compensation component (25), the rod (12) comprising an actuating element (15) cooperating with at least one clearance compensation component (25), so as to reduce or to eliminate remaining clearance when fixing the connecting element by means of the locking element (13).
US09358444B2

According to an example embodiment, a display system includes, among other things, a plurality of displays. A corresponding plurality of processors are associated with the displays. Each processor is configured to control a displayed image on one of the associated displays. A controller is configured to provide a control signal to each of the processors. The control signal indicates a desired image to be displayed on the displays. Each of the processors is configured to receive the control signal and determine whether the control signal satisfies at least one criterion. Each processor is configured to determine a portion of the desired image to be displayed on the associated display based on the control signal. Each controller is also configured to control the associated display to display the portion of the desired image at a time corresponding a timing indicator.
US09358439B2

A recreational amusement takes the form a cooler having a toss-type game board integrated with the cooler's lid. The toss-type game board includes one or more cavities in the top of the lid. Provision is made for orienting the top of the lid in a sloping position for play of the game enabled by the game board. The cooler retains all conventional features of a beverage type cooler and, in particular, the characteristic of the interior space of the cooler being substantially sealed off from the environment about the cooler by placement atop the body of the cooler of the lid.
US09358438B2

A golf tee bag device includes a main body constructed from a single piece of fabric material having a front surface, a back surface and a plurality of edges. The device includes a main pocket area, an elongated horizontal tee pocket, a pair of vertical tee pockets, a marker engagement unit, and a pair of connectors for engaging the back surface of the main body in order to attach the device to a belt.
US09358437B2

A composite shaft formed from a single flag of composite material having variable fiber orientation, and methods of forming said shaft, are disclosed herein.
US09358426B2

Example embodiments may relate to a system, method, apparatus, and computer readable media configured for monitoring a user performing an exercise and generating a avatar of the user and a virtual shadow, wherein the virtual shadow illustrates proper form of the exercise. The example embodiments may further be configured for determining an amount of overlap between the virtual avatar and the virtual shadow, and generating a feedback score based on the amount of overlap.
US09358417B2

A respiratory treatment device comprising at least one chamber, a chamber inlet configured to receive exhaled air into the at least one chamber, at least one chamber outlet configured to permit exhaled air to exit the at least one chamber, and an exhalation flow path defined between the chamber inlet and the at least one chamber outlet. A restrictor member positioned in the exhalation flow path is moveable between a closed position, where a flow of exhaled air along the exhalation flow path is restricted, and an open position, where the flow of exhaled air along the exhalation flow path is less restricted. A vane in fluid communication with the exhalation flow path is operatively connected to the restrictor member and is configured to reciprocate between a first position and a second position in response to the flow of exhaled air along the exhalation flow path.
US09358406B2

The invention is related to a method and apparatus for verifying the beam range in a target irradiated with a charged hadron beam, such as a proton beam. The beam range is the location of the Bragg peak in the target, being the location where the largest portion of the dose is delivered. The method utilizes a prompt gamma camera provided with a slit-shaped opening, so as to be able to produced a 1-dimensional profile of the dose distribution along the beam line. The camera is mounted with the slit oriented perpendicularly to the beam line. The method comprises the steps of calculating a position of the camera with respect to a target, for a plurality of beam energies and spots to be irradiated. The method further comprises the steps of verifying the beam range for said plurality of spots, and delivering a value representative of the difference between the estimated beam range and the actual beam range. The apparatus of the invention is provided with a positioning module for positioning the camera.
US09358399B2

An external charger for a battery in an implantable medical device and charging techniques are disclosed. Simulation data is used to model the power dissipation of the charging circuitry in the implant at varying levels of implant power. A power dissipation limit constrains the charging circuitry from producing an inordinate amount of heat to the tissue surrounding the implant, and duty cycles of a charging field are determined so as not to exceed that limit. A maximum simulated average battery current determines the optimal (i.e., quickest) battery charging current, and at least an optimal value for a parameter indicative of that current is determined and stored in the external charger. During charging, the actual value for that parameter is determined, and the intensity and/or duty cycle of the charging field are adjusted to ensure that charging is as fast as possible, while still not exceeding the power dissipation limit.
US09358395B2

A system for designing a therapy or for treating a gastrointestinal disorder or a condition associated with excess weight in a subject comprising at least one electrode configured to be implanted within a body of the patient and placed at a vagus nerve, the electrode also configured to apply therapy to the vagus nerve upon application of a therapy cycle to the electrode; an implantable neuroregulator for placement in the body of the patient beneath the skin layer, the implantable neuroregulator being configured to generate a therapy cycle, wherein the therapy cycle comprises an on time during which an electrical signal is delivered, the electrical signal comprising: a) a set of pulses applied at a first selected frequency of about 150-10,000 Hz, wherein each pulse of the set of pulses has a pulse width of at least 0.01 milliseconds and less than the period of the first selected frequency.
US09358390B2

A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, having a programmer with a user interface. The programmer determines a position of an implanted medical lead with respect to a patient's spinal column. The programmer overlays the medical lead, an initial stimulation field, and an initial target stimulation area within the initial stimulation field on an image of the spinal column. A user enters, via the user interface, graphical manipulations of displayed boundaries of the initial stimulation field and the initial target stimulation area. The graphical manipulations of the stimulation field and the target stimulation field are independent of each other and they may move and/or alter the shape of the boundaries. The programmer then determines stimulation parameters to drive the implanted medical lead to generate the displayed stimulation field and target stimulation field as manipulated by the user.
US09358389B2

An exemplary system includes 1) a headpiece module configured to be affixed to a head of a patient and comprising a primary sound processor configured to generate stimulation parameters used to direct an auditory prosthesis implanted within the patient to apply electrical stimulation representative of one or more audio signals to the patient and 2) a sound processor module separate from the headpiece module and configured to be selectively and communicatively coupled to the headpiece module. The sound processor module includes a secondary sound processor configured to detect a communicative coupling of the sound processor module to the headpiece module and contribute to the generation of one or more of the stimulation parameters while the sound processor module is communicatively coupled to the headpiece module. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.
US09358388B2

Systems and methods for detecting intrathecal penetration are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes detecting a value corresponding to an impedance of an electrical circuit that in turn includes an electrical contact located within the patient, and patient tissue adjacent to the electrical contact. The method further includes comparing the detected value to a predetermined criterion, and, if the detected value meets the predetermined criterion, identifying penetration of the patient's dura based at least in part on the detected value.
US09358380B2

Methods and systems for delivering an active agent into an intraoral structure are disclosed. One embodiment of a method for implementing the subject matter described herein includes generating an electrical signal that includes a first frequency, a second frequency, and a third frequency, and supplying the electrical signal to an embedded circuit contained in an intraoral delivery tray, wherein the embedded circuit includes at least one electrode that includes projections positioned proximally to a surface of an intraoral structure. The method further includes providing the first frequency and the second frequency to the at least one electrode to generate an electrical field that electrically motivates the active agent suspended in a fluid medium contained in the intraoral delivery tray toward the intraoral structure via dielectrophoresis and providing the third frequency to the at least one electrode to increase the uptake of the active agent into intraoral structure via alternating current electroosmosis.
US09358377B2

A low-dose-rate (LDR) brachytherapy device having a spatiotemporal radiation profile includes an elongated body having a radioactive material in a spatial pattern to provide a spatial radiation profile with a radiation intensity that varies along a length of the elongated body. The radioactive material includes at least first and second radioisotopes having at least first and second respective decay profiles that together provide a temporal radiation profile that is different from the first and second decay profiles. The spatial radiation profile and the temporal radiation profile form a net spatiotemporal radiation profile configured to provide a radiotherapy plan for a patient.
US09358376B2

A micro-needle roller infusion system for transdermal or intradermal delivery of active agents, skin-care products, and other topical formulations is provided. The infusion system comprises a needle roller assembly with needles enclosed in a housing with a disposable cartridge having the active agent. The device offers the advantages of creating a path for the active agents to reach or be injected into the desired depth for an easier, more effective interaction with the target skin layer. Apart from the approximation of the agent to the target, the device also provides biological benefits of the needling therapy of collagen generation and skin rejuvenation coupled with superior convenience and ease of use.
US09358364B2

An activator attachment that can be attached to the proximal end of a catheter adapter and can activate a blood control valve within the catheter adapter.
US09358357B2

A collar for a tracheostomy tube, a method of securing a tracheostomy tube to the neck of a patient, and a medical device including a collar for the tracheostomy tube. In one exemplary embodiment, the collar includes a securing portion, a protection portion, and an attachment portion. The securing portion secures the tracheostomy tube to the neck of the patient. The protection portion extends from the securing portion and covers a portion of a flange of the tracheostomy tube. The protection portion is also positioned between the tracheostomy tube flange and the neck skin of the patient when the securing portion is attached to the tracheostomy tube. The attachment portion attaches the securing portion to the tracheostomy tube.
US09358347B2

A syringe assembly for fluid collection includes a housing having a sidewall defining a hollow bore therein, and an elongate plunger with the distal end of the plunger forming a chamber within the hollow bore for containing a fluid therein. The plunger is adapted for slideable movement within the hollow bore between an initial position and a retracted position. The assembly includes a hub disposed at least partially within the hollow bore and at least partially supporting a cannula therewith. The hub is adapted to automatically transition from an initial position in which at least a portion of the cannula is disposed external to the housing, to a retracted position in which the cannula is fully shielded by the housing, upon transition of the elongate plunger from the initial position to the retracted position.
US09358338B2

An article for use in manufacturing particle cassettes comprising one or more single pieces of membrane having a plurality of gas flow passages bonded thereto. The article allows convenient manufacture of particle cassettes. Two such articles may be employed to provide a finished particle cassette and a production line in which a plurality of gas flow passages are conveyed on a single membrane is disclosed.
US09358337B2

The invention is related to an apparatus comprising a valve body comprising at least two inlet channels and at least one outlet channel and forming a central cavity connecting the at least two inlet channels and the at least one outlet channel, wherein the central cavity encloses a blocking assembly arranged for closing each of the at least two inlet channels by default and for opening an inlet channel when fluid pressure is applied from that inlet channel; wherein each of the at least two inlet channels is configured for fluid communication with a respective reservoir of at least two reservoirs. The invention is further related to a medical device for delivering at least two drug agents from at least two separate reservoirs comprising an apparatus of the aforementioned kind.
US09358333B2

A medical connector for delivering a liquid at a high flow rate to a patient. The connector includes a gas inlet passage that is configured for connecting to a source of pressurized gas, a spike configured for piercing a stopper of a container, and a liquid outlet passage in fluid communication with the spike. The liquid outlet passage is configured for connecting to tubing through which the liquid in the container can be administered to a patient. The spike has a shield having a first closed end and a second open end such that the first closed end is breakable by the spike when the spike is inserted through the stopper of the container, and the second open end has an annular elastomeric member that attaches to the spike via compressive pressure applied by the annular elastomeric member.
US09358322B2

Disclosed herein are soft tissue fillers, for example, dermal and subdermal fillers, based on hyaluronic acids and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. In one aspect, hyaluronic acid-based compositions described herein include a therapeutically effective amount of at least one anesthetic agent, for example, lidocaine. The present hyaluronic acid-based compositions including lidocaine have an enhanced stability, relative to conventional compositions including lidocaine, for example when subjected to sterilization techniques or when stored for long periods of time. Methods and processes of preparing such hyaluronic acid-based compositions are also provided.
US09358310B2

The invention provides stabilized, biocompatible gold nanoparticles that are stabilized with material from epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCg), which is a polyphenols- or flavonoids-rich plant material that can be obtained from green tea. The EGCg is an antioxidant reducing agent derived from green tea. The gold nanoparticles of the invention can be radioactive or non radioactive and are formed via a simple room temperature fabrication method. In preferred embodiment method of making, an aqueous solution containing gold salts is provided. The aqueous solution is mixed with EGCg in a buffer, such as deionized water. The gold salts react to form biocompatible gold nanoparticles that are stabilized with a coating of EGCg. The thermodynamically feasible redox couple of AuCl4-/EGCg leading to the reduction of AuCl4- by EGCg to form gold nanoparticles. In another embodiment, pre-cooled gold salt and EGCg solutions form multi-layered EGCg coated particles.
US09358306B2

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods of killing cells. In particular examples, the method includes contacting a cell having a cell surface protein with a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody-IR700 molecule, wherein the antibody specifically binds to the cell surface protein, such as a tumor-specific antigen on the surface of a tumor cell. The cell is subsequently irradiated, such as at a wavelength of 660 to 740 nm at a dose of at least 1 J cm−2. The cell is also contacted with one or more therapeutic agents (such as an anti-cancer agent), for example about 0 to 8 hours after irradiating the cell, thereby killing the cell. Also provided are methods of imaging cell killing in real time, using fluorescence lifetime imaging. Also provided are wearable devices that include an article of clothing, jewelry, or covering; and an NIR LED incorporated into the article, which can be used with the disclosed methods.
US09358297B2

The present invention relates to aqueous solutions useful as pharmaceutical compositions of posaconazole for intravenous administration. These compositions include a solubilizing agent, such as a modified β-cyclodextrin in an acidified solution, which can also include a chelating agent such as disodium edetate (EDTA). In clinical trials, a 200 mg posaconazole dose of the selected composition was found to achieve acceptable pharmacokinetic properties.
US09358294B2

The subject matter of the invention is a method for preparing a vaccine composition comprising at least aluminum oxyhydroxide (AlOOH), and at least the hepatitis B surface antigen and the Haemophilus influenzae type b antigen. According to the invention, the hepatitis B surface antigen is kept adsorbed on the AlOOH, whereas the Hib antigen is kept nonadsorbed. To this end: the hepatitis B surface antigen is adsorbed onto AlOOH in order to obtain an AlOOH/HBsAg complex, then—said AlOOH/HBsAg complex is mixed with the Hib antigen in the presence of cationic amino acids at a concentration of at least 100 mg/l, and of phosphate ions at a concentration of 35 to 45 mMol/l.
US09358289B2

The present invention provides isolated monoclonal antibodies, particularly human monoclonal antibodies, that specifically bind to PD-1 with high affinity. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the antibodies of the invention, expression vectors, host cells and methods for expressing the antibodies of the invention are also provided. Immunoconjugates, bispecific molecules and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies of the invention are also provided. The invention also provides methods for detecting PD-1, as well as methods for treating various diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases, using anti-PD-1 antibodies. The present invention further provides methods for using a combination immunotherapy, such as the combination of anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 antibodies, to treat hyperproliferative disease, such as cancer. The invention also provides methods for altering adverse events related to treatment with such antibodies individually.
US09358288B2

A method of identifying a combination of antibodies with a combined improved anti-tumor activity is provided. The method comprising: (a) identifying binding epitopes of anti ErbB-2 antibodies; and (b) selecting a combination of at least two antibodies of the anti ErbB-2 antibodies exhibiting binding to different epitopes on the ErbB-2, at least one of the different epitopes being localized to a dimerization site of the ErbB-2, the combination of antibodies being with the combined improved anti-tumor activity. Also provided are novel antibody combinations uncovered according to the present teachings.
US09358286B2

The invention provides means and methods for producing one or more Ig-like molecules in a single host cell. Novel CH3 mutations enabling the production of monospecific and/or bispecific Ig-like molecules of interest are also provided.
US09358285B2

Methods of stimulating or enhancing an immune response in a host are disclosed. The methods include contacting a monocyte with 15 kD granulysin thereby producing a monocyte-derived dendritic cell. In one example, the method further includes contacting the monocyte or monocyte-derived dendritic cell with a target antigen, such as a tumor antigen or an autoimmune antigen. In another embodiment, the method includes contacting the monocyte with an additional agent that enhances maturation of dendritic cells or induces immunological tolerance. The methods are of use in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of tumors.
US09358283B2

This invention provides diatom-based vaccines.
US09358275B2

A stable pharmaceutical composition in liquid form or in solid form, containing factor VII. The composition is free of mannitol, sucrose, and any antioxidant.
US09358268B2

A method including introducing into a blood stream a delipidated high density lipoprotein (HDL) and a bioactive agent. A composition including a delipidated high density lipoprotein (HDL) and an auxiliary agent in a form suitable for delivery into a blood vessel. A composition including Apo A1 comprising a hydrophobic ligand suitable to interact with cell surface binding sites. A composition including Apo A1 and an agent selected to one of increase the ATP-binding cassette protein 1 (ABCA1) transporter expression in macrophages and protect ABCA1 from thiol-mediated degradation.
US09358252B2

Polysaccharide preparations lacking substantial anticoagulant activity are provided herein. Methods of making and using such preparations are provided.
US09358250B2

Provided herein are therapies for the treatment of pathological conditions, such as cancer, and method of using SCD1 antagonists.
US09358249B2

In certain embodiments this invention pertains to the discovery that inhibition of the expression and/or activity of eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) inhibits the aging process. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, methods are provided for inhibiting/slowing aging. The methods typically involve administering to a mammal an agent that inhibits the expression and/or activity of eukaryotic initiation factor 4A (eIF4A) in an amount sufficient to inhibit expression or activity of EIF4A, where the agent is not resveratrol.
US09358247B2

The present invention relates to a method of inhibiting growth of a cancerous cell. The method includes the step of exposing the cancerous cell to an anti-cancer therapy and an effective amount of a steroid saponin.
US09358245B2

Disclosed is a method of manipulating the rate of gastrointestinal transit in a mammalian subject. Also disclosed is the use, in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of constipation, of a selective inhibitor of methanogensis, a methanogen-displacing probiotic agent, or a prebiotic agent that inhibits the growth of methanogenic bacteria or promotes the growth of competing non-methanogenic intestinal flora. Alternatively, in accordance with the invention, is disclosed the use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of diarrhea, of methane or a methane precursor, a methanogenic or other methane-enhancing probiotic agent, or a methanogenesis-enhancing prebiotic agent.
US09358244B2

The present invention relates to solid dosage forms of oleyl phosphocholine (C18:1-PC), or OlPC, for oral administration. Further, the present invention relates to methods for the preparation of the present solid dosage forms and the use thereof as a medicament and especially a medicament for treatment of parasitic diseases, such as leishmaniasis, chagas and malaria, and cancer both in humans and animals. Specifically, the present invention relates to a solid dosage form comprising: 6 to 25 weight % of the solid dosage form oleyl phosphocholine; 20 to 35 weight % of the solid dosage form lactose; 35 to 50 weight % of the solid dosage form cellulose; 5 to 20 weight % of the solid dosage form croscarmellose; 1 to 10 weight % of the solid dosage form hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose; and 0.05 to 1 weight % of the solid dosage form of a lubricant.
US09358231B2

The present invention relates to novel compounds which are able to modulate b-raf kinases, and the use of such compounds in the treatment of various diseases, disorders or conditions.
US09358230B1

Abuse-resistant, controlled release opioid tablets are a combination containing an opioid antagonist such as naloxone at a level above that needed to suppress the euphoric effect of the opioid, if the combination were crushed to break the controlled release properties causing the opioid and opioid antagonist to be released as a immediate release product as a single dose. The controlled release nature of the table prevents the accumulation of orally effective amounts of opioid antagonist when taken normally. The opioid antagonist is contained in a controlled-release matrix and released, over time, with the opioid.
US09358229B2

Provided herein is a combination therapy comprising a JAK kinase inhibitor and a dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, as well as methods of treating various cancers through the use of such a combination therapy.
US09358224B2

Pharmaceutical formulations to be administered by pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs), comprising a compound of general formula (I) may be used for the treatment and/or prevention of inflammatory or obstructive airway diseases.
US09358223B2

An implantable drug depot useful for preventing, reducing or treating bleeding at a surgical site beneath the skin in a patient is provided. The implantable drug depot comprises a therapeutically effective amount of clonidine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one biodegradable polymer. The drug depot is capable of releasing clonidine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof over a period of at least three days.
US09358215B2

This application provides a high throughput method of making nanoparticles that utilizes plates comprising wells (e.g., 96-well plates).
US09358211B2

The present invention is directed to a crosslinked or non-crosslinked polymer particle, wherein the crosslinked polymer particle comprises a copolymer of poly(alkylene glycol-graft-acrylate) that is crosslinked by at least one hydrolysable monomer or crosslinking agent. The present invention is also directed to a polymer particle comprising a crosslinked polymer particle that is a product of starting materials comprising (a) a hydrophilic monomer, (b) a hydrophobic monomer, and (c) a hydrolysable crosslinking agent (the crosslinking agent may be absent in the case of non-crosslinked particles). The present invention is still further directed to a polymer particle comprising a crosslinked copolymer, where the crosslinked copolymer includes structures represented by Formulas (I), (II), and (III), as defined in the specification. Other embodiments of the present invention also include methods of manufacturing polymer particles.
US09358209B2

The invention provides a water-based composition for treating an infection by a dermatophyte fungus comprising econazole or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Also provided are methods of treatment utilizing the water-based foam composition, as well as its preparation.
US09358206B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating a patient with a pharmaceutically active agent other than insulin selected from the group consisting of peptides, peptidomimetics, and proteins, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is in the form of an emulsified nasal spray comprising: a macrocyclic permeation enhancer, a liquid carrier comprising water, and a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutically active agent other than insulin selected from the group consisting of peptides, peptidomimetics, and proteins; wherein the macrocyclic permeation enhancer is a Hsieh enhancer emulsified in the liquid carrier.
US09358203B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods for their use comprising effective amount of Silybum marianum extract and Momordica grosvenori fruit extract.
US09358194B2

Succinic acid esters of resveratrol and topical compositions containing the esters.
US09358190B2

The present invention relates to a dyeing composition. More particularly, the present invention provides a dyeing composition comprising an ether-based nonionic surfactant, an ether-based oil and alcohol. Preferably, the ether-based nonionic surfactant, the ether-based oil and the alcohol have the same number of carbon atoms. The dyeing composition according to the present invention comprises the ether-based nonionic surfactant, the ether-based oil and the alcohol, forms a multi-lamellar liquid crystal structure, allows for ease of material application and maintains excellent color formation, and particularly, mitigates pungent smell, eye irritation and the like.
US09358189B2

The present invention relates to water-dispersible core-shell microcapsules essentially free of formaldehyde. In particular it concerns core-shell microcapsules having a shell obtained by reacting polyisocyanates or polyoxirans cross-linkers and oligomeric compositions which are the reaction products between a polyamine component and a particular mixture of glyoxal and a C4-6 2,2-dialkoxy-ethanal. The present invention comprises also the invention's core-shell microcapsules as part of a perfuming composition or of a perfuming consumer product.
US09358179B2

A mobile massage and spa unit includes a body, a lighting system and a massage table. The body includes a front, rear, and side walls and a divider extending between the side walls to divide the body into a front section and a rear section. A perimeter of the rear section is defined at least partially by a surface of the divider, a surface of the rear wall, and surfaces of the side walls. Such surfaces are coated with a reflective material. The lighting system includes one or more controllable RGB fixture mounted within the rear section and configured to emit a selected color light. The emitted light is reflected via the coated surfaces to illuminate the rear section with the selected color light. The massage table is disposed within the rear section and centered between the side walls thereof. A working area is defined completely around the massage table.
US09358168B2

A patient support apparatus includes a patient support surface to support a patient. The patient support surface has at least one air bladder that is inflated and/or deflated to achieve a turn assist function and/or a therapy function of the patient support surface. A graphical user interface (GUI) is configured to receive user inputs from a caregiver to initiate the turn assist or therapy functions. The patient support apparatus has control circuitry coupled to the GUI. The GUI is controlled by the control circuitry to display information indicating that the patient is improperly positioned on the patient support surface for either the turn assist function or the therapy function. Alternatively or additionally, the control circuitry indicates that the patient is improperly positioned for raising a head section of a bed frame.
US09358163B1

A detachable electric drive unit for a wheelchair is provided. The detachable electric drive unit includes a housing having an interior volume and two guide rails disposed on opposing sides of the housing. Each guide rail includes a channel to receive a wheelchair wheel and has at least two wheels attached to opposing ends of each guide rail. A roller assembly is disposed within the channels of each guide rail. An electric motor is coupled to the roller assembly in each guide rail. The electric motor drives the roller assembly imparting rotational motion to the wheelchair wheels supported within each channel.
US09358151B2

An apparatus and method of relieving hot flashes or body overheating or insomnia by applying to the body of a person in need of relief therefrom a cooled elongate flexible pillow filled with pellets having sufficient weight and flow properties to provide a comforting wrapping effect on the back of the neck. A preferred filler is wheat berries. In a particular embodiment, the pillow is draped over the stellate-ganglion area of the neck.
US09358145B2

A method for controlling appetite by means of a satiation device is disclosed. The device, which includes a flexible webbing defining proximal and distal openings and a biasing structure, is attached to the patient's stomach with the proximal opening positioned adjacent and below the patient's gastro-esophageal junction. The biasing structure imparts pressure against the wall of the patient's stomach adjacent the gastro-esophageal junction.
US09358142B2

Catheter for delivering an expandable prosthetic device. The catheter has a guidewire channel for delivering a side branch guidewire to a side branch target site. An expandable prosthetic device can be loaded on to the distal end of the catheter.
US09358139B2

An expandable, bistable open cell design incorporates the following features: a first relatively stiff portion (152) having first and second ends and a first relatively flexible portion (154) connected to the first and second ends of the first relatively stiff portion, the first relatively stiff portion and the first relatively flexible portion substantially surrounding a first open area (156) of the stent structure; a second relatively stiff portion (158) having first and second ends and a second relatively flexible portion (160) connected to the first and second ends of the first relatively stiff portion, the first relatively stiff portion and the first relatively flexible portion substantially surrounding a second open area (162) of the stent structure; and an opening (110) formed through the first relatively stiff portion and the second relatively flexible portion such that the opening connects the first and second open areas, thereby creating first and second intermediate ends (152a, 152b) of the first relatively stiff portion and first and second intermediate ends (160a, 160b) of the second relatively flexible portion. The first intermediate end (152a) of the relatively stiff portion is connected to the first intermediate end (160a) of the relatively flexible portion so as to create a first inward apex (170), the second intermediate end (152b) of the relatively stiff portion is connected to the second intermediate end (160b) of the relatively flexible portion so as to create a second inward apex (172), and the stent structure is configured such that, in a collapsed configuration, the first inward apex (170) is in contact with the second inward apex (172) and, in an expanded configuration, the first inward apex is biased to move in a first circumferential direction and the second inward apex is biased to move in a second circumferential direction that is different than the first circumferential direction.
US09358129B2

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a central ramp, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the central ramp capable of being moved in a first direction to move the first and second endplates outwardly and into an expanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed down an endoscopic tube.
US09358127B2

The present invention provides an intervertebral implant for implantation in a treated area of an intervertebral space between vertebral bodies of a spine. The implant includes a spacer portion having an inferior and superior surface, wherein the inferior and superior surfaces each have a contact area capable of engaging with anatomy in the treated area, and the inferior and superior surfaces define a through-hole extending through the spacer body. The present invention further provides screw holes extending from a side portion to the inferior and superior surfaces of the spacer portion and a plate portion rigidly coupled to the spacer portion through a coupling means, wherein the plate portion contains screws holes for receiving screws. A screw back out prevention mechanism adapted on the plate portion and prevents the back out of screws from the screw holes.
US09358124B2

An apparatus for inserting an implant between vertebrae includes a body having a through bore, a central shaft movable within the through bore, the central shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The apparatus includes a pair of distractor arms having proximal portions and distal portions, the proximal portions pivotally coupled to the body and distal portions for engagement between the vertebrae. Tracking slots are formed in and extend through surfaces of and along a longitudinal axes of the distractor arms and an attachment tip is operably connected to the central shaft, the attachment tip is configured to grip the implant. The apparatus includes a single guide member projecting outward from the attachment tip and the attachment tip is removably connectable to the central shaft in multiple configurations.
US09358120B2

Coiled spinal implants for disc, vertebral body, and spinal motion segment replacement or reconstruction comprise a plurality of loops and spaces between the loops, with the loops formed of a hollow material and having a plurality of apertures or a longitudinal gap that extend(s) through the sidewalls of the loops and into the hollow center. The coiled implants include one or more balloons within the hollow center, the spaces between the coil loops, and/or within the central void that the coil surrounds. Filling the balloon expands the loops and thereby increases the height of the coil. Bone graft material or bone cement may be deployed from the apertures or gap.
US09358117B2

A system for replacing a trochlear groove region of a femur. The system includes a prosthesis that includes a bone contact surface and a periphery that defines an outer perimeter. The bone contact surface has a plurality of protrusions and a spatial configuration with respect to one another. Additionally, the system includes a first template that has a plurality of guide holes and a first periphery that defines an outer perimeter that substantially corresponds with the periphery of the prosthesis. Also, included in the system is a second template that has a plurality of guide holes and a second periphery that defines an outer perimeter that substantially corresponds with the periphery of the prosthesis. The plurality of guide holes of the second template are spatially arranged with respect to the second periphery to substantially match the spatial configuration of the plurality of protrusions of the prosthesis.
US09358112B2

A method for performing annuloplasty includes accessing a left ventricle of a heart to provide a discrete plication element to the left ventricle, and engaging the plication element to tissue near a mitral valve of the heart. Engaging the plication element includes causing the plication element to gather a portion of the tissue to create a plication. In one embodiment, accessing the left ventricle of the heart to provide the plication element includes accessing the left ventricle of the heart using a catheter arrangement.
US09358101B2

An intraocular lens comprising a lens optic coupled to at least one haptic and at least one deformable connecting bar positioned between the lens optic and the at least one haptic.
US09358096B2

A drug eluting stent can include a stent body having a polymeric coating with a lipophilic and/or hydrophilic element. A drug that has a bioactivity that inhibits cell proliferation can be disposed in the polymeric coating. The drug can be present in the polymer at an amount greater than or equal to about 150 μg/cm2. The polymeric coating and drug are configured to cooperate so as to form a diffusion pathway with tissue when the stent is disposed in a body lumen such that the drug preferentially diffuses into the tissue over a body fluid passing through the body lumen such that a maximum systemic blood concentration of the drug is less than about 40 ng/ml.
US09358084B2

A lidded plastic container has a plunger in the lid which pushes clear trays (that usually float) down into a cleaning solution. The container may include vent holes in its lid to allow gas evolving cleaning agents to vent without building up pressure inside the container.
US09358071B2

A method of sterilizing an article is provided. The method includes providing sterilization wrap system with which to wrap the article to be sterilized. The sterilization wrap system comprises a plurality of wrap units configured in a stack, at least one wrap unit in the stack being detachably attached to at least one other wrap unit in the stack.
US09358055B2

Techniques are generally described related to a method and system for treating an injury with a bone screw. One example bone screw may be configured to fracture at a pre-selected frangible location so that the point of failure is not in an inaccessible location, e.g., deeply embedded below the surface of a treated bone. The bone screw may further include a material disposed over the frangible location that is designed to temporarily strengthen the screw and selected to be absorbed by the body over a period of time after installation of the screw in the bone. One example bone screw may include an unthreaded portion that is configured to facilitate removal of an embedded screw fragment from a bone in the event that the screw fails in vivo.
US09358052B2

The present invention relates to a device for fixation of bone fragments at bone fractures. The device comprises at least two fixation means (5, 6) and a securing plate (4). With the object of preventing or counteracting re-dislocation, the respective fixation means (5, 6) each have a first fixing portion (19) for fixing the fixation gleans in an inner bone fragment (3), a second fixing portion (21) for locking the fixation means to the securing plate (4) which is disposed on the outside of an outer bone fragment (2) and allows movement of the outer bone fragment relative to it, so that the fixation means are prevented from changing their angular position relative to the securing plate and relative to one another, and a middle portion (22) which is situated between the fixing portions and runs through the outer bone fragment, along which middle portion the outer bone fragment can slide inwards towards the inner bone fragment in which the fixation means is fixed.
US09358050B2

An orthopedic assembly is described that comprises an orthopedic device, an anchor, and a locking mechanism. The orthopedic device can be a plate member having an aperture that is configured to receive the anchor. The anchor can include a head, neck and shank portion. The head portion can include a plurality of arms separated by grooves that are capable of splaying. The assembly is configured such that when the locking mechanism is inserted into the head portion, this causes expansion of the arms of the head. This expansion locks and secures the anchor to the orthopedic device. Various instruments are provided that can deliver the locking mechanism to the anchor, and can provide impact to lock functionality.
US09358042B2

Lead extraction is the removal of one or more leads from inside the heart utilizing a lead removal catheter having a tubular sheath that is placed in the blood vessel, either subclavian or femoral. The sheath of the lead removal catheter may accidentally tear or perforate the blood vessel as it is advanced over the lead toward the heart. Such an occurrence must be dealt with quickly to prevent harm to the patient or subject. An expandable member, such as a balloon, attached to the exterior of the sheath of a lead removal catheter can be deployed temporarily adjacent the perforation in the vessel wall. Inflation of the balloon not only stops (or substantially stops) the bleeding, but, upon inflation, the balloon may include one or more channels that allow blood to continue to flow through the channel(s) until the blood vessel perforation can be repaired.
US09358041B2

The present invention generally provides methods and devices for removing fluid from a surgical instrument. Surgical access devices and seal systems are generally provided having one or more valves or seal assemblies to create a closed system between the outside environment and the environment in which the surgical access device is being inserted. In one embodiment, a seal assembly is provided and can include a seal having an opening configured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough and a fluid remover in the form of an absorbent element, a scraper element, a wicking element, or any combination thereof can be associated with the seal and configured to remove fluid from the opening and/or a surgical instrument.
US09358026B2

A gripping instrument with two jaw parts, which are connected to each other by a pivot joint and are movable toward each other, by pushing together of two grip arms connected to the jaw parts, and are movable away from each other, by pushing apart of the grip arms, wherein the grip arm has a bending joint, by means of which, when the grip arms are pushed together, a force limited by a resiliency of the bending joint is transmitted, via the grip arm with the bending joint, to the corresponding jaw part, and which bending joint includes a directional abutment, wherein an applied manual force acts directly through the directional abutment during the pushing apart.
US09358022B2

A minimally invasive endovascular device for treating a blocked or obstructed biological lumen, such as a blood vessel fully or partially obstructed by deposits of biological matters in or non-biological matters. Certain embodiments of the present invention comprise two capture members that are configured to be placed on either side of the obstruction and enclose around the obstruction for removal. Embodiments of the present invention also provide methods for implementing an endovascular device according to aspects of the present invention.
US09358005B2

An end effector is disclosed which comprises a first jaw, a second jaw, a staple cartridge, an anvil, and at least one layer positioned intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw. The layer may include a pattern of holding features defined on a tissue contacting surface of the layer. The pattern of holding features can extend between a proximal end of the layer and a distal end of the layer. The pattern of holding features may be defined by a network of interconnected channels skew to a longitudinal axis of the layer. The network of interconnected channels may be configured to mitigate and/or control the flow of patient tissue relative to the layer.
US09357997B2

Instruments and techniques to pass a suture, particularly in instances where access to confined spaces and the ability to pass a suture through difficult to penetrate materials are needed. According to certain embodiments, a suture passer is provided including a housing, a needle assembly, and a barrel assembly. The needle assembly may include a needle that is displaceable along a linear motion axis of the housing, and which is adapted to engage a suture. The barrel assembly may include a foot having an opening in a proximal facing surface to receive passage of the needle. The foot may include an elbow having proximal and distal portions, with the proximal portion having a distal facing surface that extends along a proximal portion axis diverging distally away from the motion axis, and the distal portion extending distally from the proximal portion and having a proximal facing surface that extends along a distal portion axis that is arranged transverse to the motion axis.
US09357995B2

An internal bracing system is disclosed for stabilizing a joint such as the knee, shoulder, ankle or the like. The internal bracing system includes an extra-articular tension band mechanism and an anchor assembly therefore. The internal bracing system adds substantial control to unstable joints which is effective in limiting the pathological joint motions and internal slippage. The anchor anchoring assembly designed to affix a tethering device to various bony structures which form a joint, for the purpose of providing stability. The anchor assembly includes an anchor and a set screw. A double helix thread/chamber structure between the anchor and set screw securely holds the tether without binding.
US09357990B2

Fixation assemblies having a button captured by a continuous (i.e., closed) loop of thread, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber are disclosed herein. Preferred assemblies are constructed such that the intact button cannot be detached from the continuous loop without breaking or opening the loop of fiber. The closed fiber advantageously contains at least one or two stitched, or otherwise secured or reinforced, sections positioned on the loop.
US09357989B2

A generic bone implant, or set of standardized implants, is created based on using a guide device to develop an axis normal to an articular surface of bone and collecting only one or two data points. A generic cutting tool is used to cut the bone to a point where a generic implant can be used. Several improved tools relating to the procedure for using such an implant, as well as methods for using implants consistent with the invention are further described, including: single-axis and biaxial drill guide tools and methods, generic single-axis implant methods and devices, generic biaxial implant methods and devices, tools and methods for holding or delivering an implant, removal or revision tools and methods, digital measuring systems and methods, and set of measuring gauges for determining the appropriate implant dimensions.
US09357988B2

A spinal surgery retractor and method of use. The retractor includes a slotted keyway for integrating a keyed spinal distractor. The retractor and distractor combination slide together to displace a portion of the intervertebral disk space to restore or maintain intervertebral spacing and facilitate retraction of surrounding soft tissues while disk space surgery is performed. The distractor head and mating portion of the retractors have matching profiles that enable the retractor to maintain distraction of the vertebra after removal of the distractor portion of the tool, permitting access to increase at the operating site.
US09357986B2

A medical instrument for dilating osseous structures, with a shaft on whose distal end a tool point is positioned and on whose proximal end a handle is positioned, such that the handle and the tool point are in active connection with one another by means of an actuating element in such a way that by actuating the handle the tool point can spread radially at least partially and where the distal end of the actuating element has a thickened configuration. To provide a dilating instrument that is sufficiently stable and allows for sensitive actuation, it is proposed with the invention that the tool point should consist of several segments that can radiate radially outward and enclose the thickened distal end of the actuating element essentially completely, when the tool point is in the closed position.
US09357982B2

A tampon assembly includes a flexible and relatively thin impermeable portion having two opposite side faces and an outer edge which is oval in shape so that the oval shape of the impermeable portion has a largest dimension as measured through the center of the impermeable portion and a smallest dimension as measured through the center of the impermeable portion, and the largest dimension is at least about 1.5 times the size of the smallest dimension. The assembly further includes an absorbent pad portion which is secured to one side face of the impermeable portion so that when the assembly is positioned within a user, the absorbent pad portion is positioned in a condition for absorbing fluids and the outer edge of the impermeable portion sealingly engages the walls of the vaginal canal.
US09357976B2

An imaging system includes a computer programmed to reconstruct original CT projection data, estimate noise in image space, forward project the image noise estimate to generate an initial projection noise estimate, modify the initial projection noise estimate using a statistical property of noise in projection space, remove noise in the original CT projection data by subtracting the modified noise estimate therefrom to generate noise-removed projection data, and reconstruct a final image based on the noise-removed projection data.
US09357972B2

A radiological image sensor has an electronic substrate and an imaging chip held within a housing, the imaging chip having electronics that create a dead space, with a cable attached to the housing at a cable button connector, the dead space being at a short distal side of the generally rectangular sensor opposite the short mesial side at which the cable exits the cable button connector. The mesial side of the sensor either does not have a dead space created by electronics of the imaging chip or the dead space found on the mesial side of the sensor is less than approximately 4 mm, and, preferably, approximately 2 mm or less. The cable can be a flat cable with a length of approximately one meter or less that can be connected to a round cable.
US09357971B2

An X-ray CT photographic apparatus including: a beam shaping mechanism that regulates an irradiation range of an X-ray generated from an X-ray generator and shapes the X-ray into an X-ray cone beam; and a main body controller that changes a read region, where an X-ray detection signal is read in the X-ray detector, according to the irradiation range of the X-ray cone beam. The main body controller changes the irradiation range of the X-ray cone beam to an x-axis direction during an X-ray CT photography such that only a set CT photographic region is irradiated with the X-ray cone beam according to the set CT photographic region input through a CT photographic region setting unit. The main body controller changes a read region in an X-ray detector with respect to the x-axis direction in a detection surface of the X-ray detector during the X-ray CT photography.
US09357969B2

Methods, implantable medical devices and systems configured to perform analysis of captured signals from implanted electrodes to identify cardiac arrhythmias. In an illustrative embodiment, signals captured from two or more sensing vectors are analyzed, where the signals are captured with a patient in at least first and second body positions. Analysis is performed to identify primary or default sensing vectors and/or templates for event detection.
US09357968B2

Implantable sensor system including a sensor which is situated in a housing, the housing having a measurement region which is permeable for the parameters to be detected by the sensor, wherein the measurement region has an erodible protective coating which is permeable for the parameters to be detected by the sensor.
US09357967B2

An introducer sheath/temperature probe assembly that is insertable into a blood vessel of a human or veterinary patent to measure the temperature of blood flowing through that blood vessel. The introducer sheath/temperature probe assembly may be used in conjunction with an indwelling heat exchange catheter system to warm or cool all or a portion of the patient's body to a desired target temperature and to maintain such target temperature for a desired period of time.
US09357961B2

A portable unit comprises a sampling mechanism used by a patient to take a sample of a bodily fluid or tissue that can be tested for any property indicative of a medical condition of the patient, a microprocessor for determining a treatment for the condition based on a test of the sample, and an administration mechanism for administering the treatment based on the determination by the microprocessor. Operationally, the unit samples a bodily function, evaluates the sample, determines from stored protocols and criteria if treatment is required, and administers treatment. Two-way wireless communication between the unit and one or more remote networks enables numerous functionalities, including (i) collection and collation of medical information and records relating to multiple users of information stored by their units for access by healthcare providers, regulatory agencies, insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, and others, (ii) unit maintenance and resupply of consumables, and (iii) direct user-to-user communication.
US09357945B2

An endoscope system includes: a position and posture calculating portion that estimates a position of a distal end and a longitudinal direction of a distal end portion; a condition determining portion that, based on the shape information at the position of the distal end that is estimated, determines whether or not an angle that a core line direction of the luminal organ and the longitudinal direction estimated by the position and posture calculating portion form is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value; and a position and posture information recording portion that, when the angle that the core line direction and the longitudinal direction form is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value, records information regarding the position and the longitudinal direction of the distal end.
US09357933B2

Various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein comprise a system of wearable devices that collectively allow for the continuous, non-invasive, measurement and monitoring of blood pressure, without the use of an inflatable cuff. The system incorporates: 1) An optical module, which is comprised of a coherent source of light, a semi-transparent hologram, optics for viewing the interference pattern developed between the illuminated hologram and arterial blood, a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) array, and processing electronics with Bluetooth capability that facilitates digitization and wireless transmission of the fringe pattern to, 2) a personal digital assistant (PDA) that is worn on a waist belt. The PDA and associated software allow for continuous calculation and monitoring of real-time arterial blood pressure from the digitized fringe patterns received. The system further comprises 3) a personal computer (PC) with wireless capacity and connection to the internet. Continuous BP function, alerts, condition and medical assessment is conducted through PDA-PC communications with internet based medical facility.
US09357928B2

A method of noninvasively imaging tissue within a body includes irradiating the tissue using an imaging laser including a Raman-based laser tuner, the radiation including a plurality of laser pulses, each having energy greater than 100 mJ; receiving an acoustic signal generated by vibrational energy in the tissue, wherein the vibrational energy is a result of selective overtone excitation of molecules in the tissue by the radiation; and automatically converting the acoustic signal to an image representative of the tissue using a processor. An imaging system includes an imaging laser configured to irradiate tissue with a plurality of laser pulses using a Raman-based laser tuner. An ultrasonic transducer receives an acoustic signal generated by vibrational energy in the tissue due to overtone excitation by the radiation. A processor is configured to automatically produce an image representative of the tissue using the received acoustic signal.
US09357921B2

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to remotely monitoring the health of an individual. The individual wears a health monitoring device, with an attached strap, capable of sensing characteristics of the individual. These characteristics may include voice level and tone, movements, blood pressure, temperature, etc. The device allows individuals to constantly monitor their health without having to physically visit a doctor or other health care professional. Wireless communication, for instance with an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) set-top box, allows measurements to be made and evaluated by a ‘computerized’ healthcare service provider. For a more accurate evaluation, measurements are sent over the INTERNET to a service. The device communicates with services in order to diagnose the individual based upon the characteristics.
US09357920B2

System and Method pertaining to the modification and integration of an existing consumer digital camera, for example, with an optical imaging module to enable point and shoot fundus photography of the eye. The auto-focus macro capability of existing consumer cameras is adapted to photograph the retina over an extended diopter range, eliminating the need for manual diopter focus adjustment. The thru-the-lens (TTL) auto-exposure flash capability of existing consumer cameras is adapted to photograph the retina with automatic flash exposure eliminating the need for manual flash adjustment. The consumer camera imaging sensor and flash are modified to allow the camera sensor to perform both non-mydriatic focusing of the retina using infrared illumination and standard color flash photography of the retina without the need for additional imaging sensors or mechanical filters. These modifications and integration of existing consumer cameras for fundus photography of the eye significantly improve ease of manufacture and usability over existing fundus cameras.
US09357918B1

A system and method for drug screening for testing an iris for use of a chemical known to have a neurological effect that interferes with normal functioning of the iris and the voluntary muscles of the eye. The system and the method involve testing and documenting reactivity of the iris under known light conditions and can test for the presence of horizontal nystagmus. The identity of a subject can be confirmed by applying an iris pattern recognition model of a captured image of an iris of the eye compared with an image of an iris stored in a library of baseline color or a library of infrared eye images. The system and the method involves providing alarms when one eye pupil diameter exceeds or falls below the opposite eye pupil diameter and when horizontal gaze nystagmus has been determined to be present.
US09357916B2

Methods for analyzing and visualizing OCT angiography data are presented. In one embodiment, an automated method for identifying the foveal avascular zone in a two dimensional en face image generated from motion contrast data is presented. Several 3D visualization techniques are presented including one in which a particular vessel is selected in a motion contrast image and all connected vessels are highlighted. A further embodiment includes a stereoscopic visualization method. In addition, a variety of metrics for characterizing OCT angiography image data are described.
US09357914B2

An ophthalmologic apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a pupil of a subject's eye, and a control change unit configured to change a method of fogging control for moving a fixation target image away from the subject's eye according to the information acquired by the acquisition unit.
US09357908B2

A blade extending tower is provided for setting blade depth on retractors having telescoping or extending blades. The blade extending tower features a base, a column extending from the base, and mating features on the column configured to engage the blades of a retractor to extend the blades to a desired blade depth. Blade depth of the retractor is set buy sliding the retractor onto the blade extending tower such that the mating features of the blade extending tower engage the blades or the retractor, stopping the blades progression while the rest of the retractor continues along the length of the column. Thus the blades of the retractor are extended from the retractor to a depth determined by the configuration of the blade extending tower.
US09357907B2

A device for performing examination through the uterine cavity, preferably to carry out a computed tomography virtual hysterosalpingography, by the use of a speculum and a cannula or probe, wherein the device comprises a support for centering in the speculum and the probe is retained in a central end of the support to guarantee the centering of the probe within the cervix and the holding of the probe in the desired position during the test.
US09357905B2

An airway device is provided for opening a patient's airway. The airway device provides dual tubes which allow the patient to breathe on his/her own, to be ventilated, or to be intubated. The airway device includes a camera which provides constant visualization of the patient's tissues during insertion of the airway device and during the entire medical procedure. A transmission lumen monitors heart and breath sounds. Information from the camera and the transmission lumen is relayed to a microprocessor to allow for monitoring which may be remote. An airway assist device may be used with the airway device for properly positioning the patient's tongue is also disclosed. The airway assist device is inserted into the patient's vallecula to manipulate the patient's tongue.
US09357904B2

An electronically controlled high frequency jet ventilation laryngoscope includes a laryngoscope handle and a laryngoscope blade. An oxygen supply tube is set within the laryngoscope handle and the front end of oxygen supply tube is placed on the front end of the laryngoscope blade. The laryngoscope also includes an electronic controller having a shell body, a display screen, a solenoid valve, a power supply module, a control module and a control switch. The shell body is fixed at the top of the laryngoscope handle; the display screen and control switch are on the shell body; the power supply module and control module are within the shell body; the solenoid valve is on the oxygen supply tube within the laryngoscope handle; the display screen, control module and control switch are connected with the power supply module; and the control module is connected with the display screen and the solenoid valve, respectively.
US09357901B2

A system for graphically visualizing an orientation of a steerable distal portion of an elongate instrument is disclosed. The system includes an instrument having an elongate body. The elongate body includes a proximal portion and a steerable distal portion. The system also includes at least one tensioning member attached to said steerable distal portion, wherein the actuation of said at least one tensioning member results in an approximate y-bend and an approximate x-bend of said steerable distal portion, and wherein said approximate y-bend and approximate x-bend define an approximate overall bend of said steerable distal portion. The system further includes a graphical user interface and an icon representing said approximate overall bend on said graphical user interface.
US09357899B2

Support structures for dishwashers are disclosed. An example dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation includes a tub defining a treating chamber with an opening, a frame coupled to and structurally supporting at least a portion of the tub, a dish rack mount coupled to the frame, and a dish rack coupled to the dish rack mount, wherein the weight of the dish rack is substantially borne by the frame.
US09357896B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide effective technique for a higher cleaning effect and higher operability of a cleaning element. According to the representative cleaning element 110, a distance d1 between adjacent ones of the fusion bonded parts 114 is longer than a length d2 or d3 formed on both of the pair adjacent fusion bonded parts 114 and 116 in the respective longitudinal end regions of the cleaning element 110.
US09357890B2

An environmentally-friendly portable toilet that is waterless, odorless and cost efficient, that uses a continuous bag supply having a predetermined single dose or portion of at least one chemical automatically deposited therein, the at least one chemical functional to kill pathogens in waste that is deposited through an opening in the seat and a corresponding opening of the continuous bag supply; the waste-filled continuous bag supply is at least temporarily sealed by activation of a mechanical sealing mechanism, and released downwardly into a base section, which is connected to a hard plastic sitting unit, forming an integral, closed system for waterless sanitation.
US09357885B2

A bathing vessel includes a base support having a base board that extends between a top, a bottom, first and second side edges, and first and second ends. Two legs are attached on the bottom of the base board, inboard from the respective first and second side edges. The base board is at least partially encapsulated in a polyurethane material.
US09357875B1

Disclosed herein is a combination outdoor cooking and firewood support apparatus having a frusto-conical frame designed to support firewood in a substantially upright orientation along a periphery of the frame in a manner such that the firewood lean toward the center of the frame. A cooking grate can be positioned on the upper end of the frame over the interior area so that food can be cooked over heat generated by the leftover coal from the burnt firewood that fell into the interior area of the frame. The apparatus can be collapsed into a flattened configuration when some of the arms are detached from at least one of the frame members while other arms remain attached to the frame members.
US09357871B2

The present invention relates to a coffee machine for producing and dispensing coffee-based beverages comprising a hydraulic pump (35), at least one dispensing device (13) comprising a filter unit (31) apt to contain ground coffee and a supply unit (14) apt to supply water to the filter unit when the filter unit is engaged with the supply unit and a hydraulic circuit which brings the hydraulic pump into fluid communication with the supply unit of the dispensing device, the hydraulic circuit comprising a supply duct (11) which supplies hot water under pressure to the supply unit, characterized in that it further comprises a system for controlling the dispensing pressure which comprises a control unit (22), a pressure sensor (21) disposed along the hydraulic circuit and apt to generate a control signal representative of the pressure detected, the pressure sensor being electronically connected to a control unit to detect the dispensing pressure, and a hydraulic variable-flow valve (36) disposed along the hydraulic circuit and apt to supply variable quantities of water to at least one dispensing device, the variable-flow valve being actuated by an electronic drive controlled electronically by the control unit in order to regulate the flow rate of water output as a function of a detected dispensing pressure value.The invention relates, moreover, to a method for controlling the dispensing pressure in a coffee machine.
US09357869B2

The present invention relates to a masticating separator for separating fruit or vegetable juice from fruit or vegetable pulp. The masticating separator comprises a housing (21), an inner wall (43) in the housing (21), an auger (22,71) rotatably mounted in the housing (21), a cavity (46) defined between an outer surface (39,86) of the auger (22,71) and the inner wall (43) to receive pulp and juice, and a juice passageway (44) separated from the cavity (46). An elongate aperture (52) is formed in the inner wall (43) extending between the cavity (46) and the juice passageway (44). Therefore, when the auger (22,71) is rotated about its longitudinal axis to urge pulp and juice along the cavity (46), juice in the cavity (46) is urged to flow through the aperture (52) to the juice passageway (44).
US09357854B2

A juvenile walker includes a seat supported for movement on a movable base. The elevation of the seat can be changed by a caregiver.
US09357842B2

A folding worktable including a frame and a board is disclosed. The frame has a pair of long borders, a pair of short borders and a number of support bars connected between the long borders. The board is locked on the frame. The worktable has four legs with telescopic units and four retractable folding braces for folding the legs. Each pair of retractable folding braces is connected to a different support bar. There are four casters on the four corners under the frame. When the retractable folding braces are folded and the legs are stored within the frame, the casters touch the ground. The board is a double sided board including a work-board and an anti-skid board which are fixed together. The worktable can also be used as a scaffold, a carrier and a repair skateboard.
US09357840B2

A shelving apparatus includes a frame structure formed with vertical members and horizontal members and a shelf adjustable between positions and supported, at each position, by the vertical members. The vertical members and horizontal members define a volume therebetween, and each of the vertical members include notches formed on a vertical surface of the vertical member. The shelf includes a frame; a product surface coupled with the frame; a first rod coupled to the frame and insertable into at least a portion of a respective notch of one of the vertical members; and a second rod coupled to the frame and insertable into at least a portion of a respective notch of another of the vertical members. The second rod is forcibly biased, by a biasing member coupled with the frame, against at least one of the vertical members.
US09357834B2

A cosmetic applicator brush having a twisted wire core and an array of thermoplastic bristles with free tips extending radially outwardly from the core, wherein at least some of the bristles have shapes and/or surface textures modified at one or more localities between their free tips and the core by selective irradiation of the aforesaid locality or localities with laser energy. A method of making the brush includes the steps of assembling the core and bristles to form a brush, trimming the bristles to achieve a desired brush profile, and selectively irradiating at least some of the bristles with a laser beam at localities between the bristle tips and the core.
US09357827B2

A mascara device includes a housing. The housing includes a first mascara-carrying chamber and a second mascara-carrying chamber. A first mascara applicator is removably carried by the housing within the first mascara-carrying chamber. The first mascara applicator includes a first applicator tip that is adapted to apply mascara to eyelashes of a wearer. The first applicator tip includes a circular cross-sectional outer perimeter shape. A second mascara applicator is removably carried by the housing within the second mascara-carrying chamber. The second mascara applicator includes a second applicator tip that is adapted to apply mascara to the eyelashes of the wearer. The second applicator tip includes a semi-circular cross-sectional outer perimeter shape.
US09357825B2

A nail printing device recognizes, as a first nail contour, a nail contour from a first nail image obtained by photographing a nail of a specific finger/toe, displays the first nail contour on the basis of data of the first nail contour stored in a storage section, and performs an adjustment of the first nail contour on the basis of an adjustment portion specified to the first nail contour and obtains an adjusted nail contour. After that the device recognizes, as a second nail contour, a nail contour from a second nail image obtained by photographing the nail of the specific finger/toe, reflects the adjustment performed to the first nail contour, in the second nail contour, obtains an adjusted recognized nail contour, and controls a print head to perform printing in a region of the adjusted recognized nail contour.
US09357820B2

A foldable chair includes a support unit, a fold unit and a seat unit. The support unit includes a main stick having a positioning groove. The fold unit includes a connecting member connected to the main stick and an upper slider assembly movable along the main stick. The seat unit is connected to the upper slider assembly. The upper slider assembly is operable to engage the positioning groove for preventing the fold unit from converting between an unfolded state and a folded state, and to be disengaged from the positioning groove so as to permit the fold unit to convert between the unfolded and folded states.
US09357815B2

A surface fastener member includes left and right longitudinal protective wall sections and front and rear lateral protective wall sections. Each of the lateral protective wall sections includes an outer first lateral wall section and an inner second lateral wall section. The first lateral wall section includes a continuous lateral wall body which is continuously placed between the left and right longitudinal protective wall sections at a predetermined height. The second lateral wall section includes a plurality of divided lateral wall bodies which are intermittently placed along a width direction, and a plurality of second engagement elements. According to this, when the molded surface fastener is integrally molded on a cushion body, it is possible to prevent resin material from entering an engagement element region of the surface fastener member.
US09357808B2

Disclosed is a cap shaping and forming insert device having a U-shaped structure that is placed in the front interior sweatband portion of a billed cap to prevent collapse and deformation thereof. The cap insert comprises a structure having at least two opposing vertically oriented arm members perpendicular to an elongated member disposed thereinbetween. The elongated member remains along the sweatband portion of the cap while the vertical arm members extend upward and into the interior crown of the cap. The cap insert is flexible and yet maintains a user-formed shape that can be used to maintain a desired shape of a billed cap once deployed therein. Moreover, a billed cap can be worn simultaneously with the cap insert therein. The cap insert can be washed and dried using standard methods while the cap insert is disposed therein in order to further preserve the structural integrity of the billed cap.
US09357803B2

An apparatus configured to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, wherein the apparatus comprises a region insulation having a core region which is evacuated to a lower pressure than an exterior of the insulation.
US09357793B2

A method for slicing pita chips in a conveyorized system is provided that includes transporting whole pita chips on a first conveyor belt from a first location of the conveyorized system to a second location of the conveyorized system and a third location of the conveyorized system, wherein transporting the whole pita chips from the second location of the conveyorized system to the third location of the conveyorized system, the whole pita chips are disposed in a gap between the first conveyor belt and a second conveyor belt, the first conveyor belt is below the whole pita chips and the second conveyor belt is above the whole pita chips, and slicing the whole pita chips into two halves at the third location of the conveyorized system by a slicing means, the slicing means including a blade and a blade guide.
US09357789B2

In a method for mechanically removing intermuscular bones, so-called pin bones, from fillet parts of conveyed fish abdominal flaps for each fish are separated using a continuous, curved double separating cut. Each abdominal flap is simultaneously separated into two parallelly cut, completely free-moving parts having fish skin, which are conveyed away separate front one another. The first part is obtained as a narrow, curved pinbone strip, with a width corresponding to the row of pinbones and limited thereto. The second part is obtained as an abdominal flap meat body determined by the largest part of the separated abdominal flap, free of pin bones, with a cutting length having the curvature. An apparatus for performing the double separating cut of the abdominal flaps is formed by an abdominal flap cutting device which comprises two pairs of cutting tools which cut simultaneously for complete separation of the abdominal flaps, each said pair being designed to perform the double separating cut of the abdominal flaps. A guiding device has a guide which is height-adjustable in a height corresponding to the flank-side height of the fish. The guiding device holds the pairs of cutting tools, aligns them, and guides them to perform the curved double separating cut. The cutting tools of the pair of cutting tools are arranged with a distance which is adapted to the narrow width of the pinbone strip and corresponds to it.
US09357784B2

The present invention relates to a method for physical plant treatment by means of electrostatic charge, wherein a transfer of the electrostatic charge takes place via water treated by way of an influence process, wherein the water comprises water clusters having an electron deficit due to the treatment by means of an influence process, wherein the water treated by means of an influence process can be obtained by the following process steps: Introducing the water to be treated into a galvanic element, Aligning the charges and free electrons in the electric field, Separating the charges by motion and by the influence resulting therefrom and Collecting and discharging the de-electronized positively-charged fraction. The method for physical plant treatment allows comprehensive and effective control of fungal diseases, simultaneously avoiding toxicological impact on the environment.
US09357783B2

A method for inhibiting hatching of an ectoparasite egg, the method comprising exposing the ectoparasite egg to at least one metal chelating agent and/or metalloprotease inhibitor, wherein the metal chelating agent is a compound comprising at least two heteroatoms able to simultaneously coordinate with a metal ion, at least one of the two heteroatoms being selected from nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen and phosphorus, wherein the compound comprises at least one carbocyclic ring substituted with at least one heteroatom and/or with a substituent containing at least one heteroatom, or the compound comprises at least one heterocyclic ring containing at least one heteroatom, wherein said heterocyclic ring is optionally substituted with at least one heteroatom and/or with a substituent containing at least one heteroatom is provided. Methods of treating ectoparasite infestations and compositions for use in such methods are also provided.
US09357775B2

Methods for forming rosin-derived cationic compounds are provided. The method can include attaching a cationic group to a conjugated diene on a hydrophenathrene-based ring of a resin acid (e.g., levopimaric acid, abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, or a mixture thereof) to form a rosin-derived cationic compound. Attaching the cationic group to the conjugated diene on the hydrophenathrene-based ring of the resin acid can be achieved via a Diels-Alder reaction of a dienophile with the hydrophenathrene-based ring of the resin acid. Rosin-derived cationic compounds are also provided. The rosin-derived cationic compound can include a cationic group attached to a conjugated diene on a hydrophenathrene-based ring of a resin acid, wherein the rosin-derived cationic compound further comprises a carboxylic acid group.
US09357771B2

Foaming formulations including a quaternary ammonium compound and a foam stabilizer are disclosed. These foaming formulations are useful as leave-on liquid hand and surface sanitizers. The foaming formulations provide improved aesthetic properties and foaming appearance, while maintaining high antimicrobial capacity.
US09357770B2

A composition is provided to apply to the skin, hair, or external mucosa of a human or animal, and a method for using the composition. The composition includes for example a composition for application to skin, hair or external mucosa comprising: a) dispersed submicron particles of hydrophobic agent(s) having average particle size from 100 nm to 999 nm; b) an aqueous-solvent fluid; and c) rheological modifying agent(s); wherein the aqueous-solvent fluid is 10% to 95% wt. of one or more water miscible solvent(s), 4.99% to 89.99% wt. water, and 0.01% to 10% wt. of the rheological modifying agent(s); and wherein the hydrophobic agents comprise 0.01 to 70% wt. of the skin, hair or mucosal composition; and wherein the composition is substantially surfactant-free.
US09357769B2

A polyacrylamide based agricultural composition as a microemulsion is provided in form of a water-in-oil microemulsion with polyacrylamide dissolved in the water phase where the polyacrylamide solids content is from about two up to about 15 percent by weight, which is then further diluted in water at the time of use to impart the desired characteristics of the polymer to the water phase or to the material to which the water phase is applied.
US09357763B2

A container includes an inner bag, where the interior of the inner bag includes a sterile environment for storing a material, at least one access port configured to provide fluid access to the interior of the inner bag, an overwrap bag, where the interior of the overwrap bag includes a sterile environment for storing the material and where the inner bag is enclosed within the interior of the overwrap bag, and an overwrap access port configured to provide fluid access to the interior of the overwrap bag. The material can include a biomaterial. Each of the inner bag, the overwrap bag, the at least one access port, and the overwrap access port can include a fluoropolymer such as fluoroethylenepropylene (FEP).
US09357754B2

The present invention relates to a transgenic pig that expresses sTNFR1-Fc, wherein a gene encoding sTNFR1-Fc, which is a fusion protein of the extracellular domain of human soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR1) and an immunoglobulin Fc region, is introduced; a method for preparing the same; an organ isolated from the transgenic pig; a somatic donor cell line inserted with sTNFR1-Fc gene; a method for preparing a blood sample comprising sTNFR1-Fc; and a method for preparing human sTNFR1-Fc from the blood sample of the transgenic pig. As the transgenic pig can suppress immune response and inflammatory response by secreting an inhibitory substance that suppresses the activity of TNF-α in blood, it can be effectively used for xenograft. Furthermore, since the transgenic pig has a blood type O, it can be transplanted for suppressing inflammatory response, regardless of a blood type of recipient.
US09357752B2

A tray for positioning in an exit path of a bee hive comprises a base, a bee entrance end, and a bee exit end. Spaced apart side walls extend upwardly from the base. The sidewalls extend generally lengthwise between the bee entrance end and bee exit end. A plurality of posts extend upwardly from the base and are positioned between the bee entrance end and the bee exit end. The posts are generally circular in cross-section. The posts act as obstacles around which the bees must walk to reach the bee exit end from the bee entrance end.
US09357744B2

In certain embodiments, a system comprises a milk collecting system, a teat cup holder, and a cleansing hose system. The milk collecting system comprises a teat cup, a milk collector, and a milking hose system connecting the teat cup to the milk collector. The teat cup holder stores the teat cup of the milk collecting system such that a nozzle of the teat cup holder substantially aligns with an opening of the teat cup. The cleansing hose system connects the nozzle of the teat cup holder to one or more cleanser sources and operable to backwash at least a portion of the milk collecting system by injecting a cleanser from one or more of the cleanser sources through the nozzle and into the teat cup.
US09357742B2

The invention provides seed and plants of the lettuce line designated SV7772LG. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of lettuce line SV7772LG, and to methods for producing a lettuce plant produced by crossing a plant of lettuce line SV7772LG with itself or with another lettuce plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of lettuce line SV7772LG, including the gametes of such plants.
US09357736B1

A soybean cultivar designated S140158 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S140158, to the plants of soybean cultivar S140158, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S140158, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S140158. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140158. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140158, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S140158 with another soybean cultivar.
US09357733B2

A novel maize variety designated X03F667 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X03F667 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X03F667 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X03F667, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X03F667. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X03F667.
US09357732B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046898. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046898. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046898 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046898 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09357731B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046948. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046948. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046948 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046948 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09357711B2

An electrically powered gardening tool of the type which includes a speed-reduction gear mounted in place to be driven by operation of an electric motor, a crank-cam in the form of overlapped eccentric disk plates fixed to a bottom surface of the speed-reduction gear by means of connecting pins for rotation therewith, and a pair of relatively reciprocating shear blades assembled with the eccentric disk plates. In the gardening tool, an elastic bushing is disposed in a mounting hole formed in the speed-reduction gear or each eccentric disk plate of the crank-cam for engagement with the connecting pins fixed to the eccentric disk plate or the speed-reduction gear, and a stopper is provided to restrict deformation of the elastic bushing caused by load applied to the crank-cam.
US09357706B2

A harvesting header and feederhouse for use with a crop harvesting machine has a feederhouse interface at a distal end of the feederhouse and a header frame providing structural support for the harvesting header. The header frame has a top beam, a bottom beam, and first and second vertical main structures connecting the top and bottom beams. The feederhouse interface and the vertical main structures of the header frame are pivotably connected to enable the header frame to pivot with respect to the feederhouse interface.
US09357687B2

A soil aerating apparatus movable along a soil surface in a first direction during soil aerating operations comprises a frame assembly and a plurality of reciprocating arm assemblies. Each arm assembly comprises a tine holder for retaining a tine, an upper arm pivotally attached between the tine holder and the frame assembly, a lower arm pivot attached between the tine holder and the frame assembly, wherein the lower arm is positioned below the upper arm, and a drive arm pivotally attached between a crankshaft and the lower arm. In an embodiment the crankshaft comprises a plurality of central shaft sections and a plurality of eccentric shaft sections, wherein each eccentric shaft section moves in the first direction when each eccentric shaft section is positioned above the plurality of central shaft sections during soil aerating operations.
US09363935B1

Cables incorporating discontinuous separators or separation fillers are described. A cable may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated electrical conductors, and a separator may be disposed between at least two of the plurality of twisted pairs. The separator may include a plurality of discrete sections respectively positioned along a longitudinal length of the cable and each section may optionally include electrically conductive material. A jacket may be formed around the plurality of twisted pairs and the separator.
US09363934B2

A method includes sensing ambient conditions in a datacenter containing a server, and determining whether the ambient conditions exceed predetermined threshold conditions representing risk of electrostatic discharge. A lid to the server is locked in a closed position in response to the ambient conditions exceeding the predetermined threshold conditions. However, the lid to the server is unlocked in response to a grounding strap being connected to the server. Optionally, the grounding strap may be identified and the server lid will only unlock if the identified grounding strap is associated with authorization to unlock the server lid.
US09363926B1

A system for storing data includes a rack and one or more data storage modules coupled to the rack. The data storage modules may include a chassis, two or more backplanes coupled to the chassis, one or more mass storage devices coupled to the backplanes, and one or more air plenums extending beneath one or more of the backplanes in the chassis interior. The backplanes are coupled to the chassis in a staggered configuration, where one of the backplanes is coupled to the chassis at a different elevation relative to another one of the backplanes coupled to the chassis. An air passage may extend beneath one or more of the staggered backplanes and may progressively narrow from the inlet end towards the exhaust end of the chassis. A progressively narrowing air passage can progressively impede airflow through the air passage from the inlet end towards the exhaust end.
US09363921B1

A fixing member (100) of a rack server includes a chassis slide assembly (200), a main body (102), and a fixing column (110). The main body (102) is disposed on an end of the chassis slide assembly (200), one side of the main body (102) is connected to a first positioning element (104), and another side of the main body (102) is connected to a second positioning element (106). The second positioning element (106) is disposed corresponding to the first positioning element (104). The fixing column (110) is disposed on the main body (102) and one end thereof is fixed onto the chassis slide assembly (200). The main body (102) is able to rotate along the fixing column (110) as an axis. The first positioning element (104) and the second positioning element (106) have different shape. Therefore, the same chassis slide assembly (200) can match a different server rack.
US09363918B2

A clamping element is configured for mounting a rail element bearing electrical/electronic devices on a supporting portion of a switchgear cabinet. The clamping element includes a body provided with a coupling portion configured for engaging with an opening portion of the rail element. The coupling portion is configured for enabling the body to be at least one of coupled with and removed from the rail element when the body is positioned in a first configuration relative to the rail element. The coupling portion is configured for hindering removal of the body from the rail element when the body is positioned in a second configuration relative to the rail element. The clamping element also includes a clasping device protruding from the body and configured for removably connecting the body to the supporting portion to mount the rail element within the switchgear cabinet.
US09363913B2

An electronic device capable of transmitting and receiving a mail through an internet usually has from 12 to 20 operation keys inclusive of numerical keys and special keys. In order to input Japanese characters inclusive of “kanji” and special characters as data, complex operations must be executed by changing over the input mode. A portable data terminal as represented by a cellular phone or an electronic device such as a data terminal as represented by a personal computer or a desk top telephone, has such a shape that the first center line of the first housing and the second center line of the second housing come into agreement and in parallel with each other only in a state where the first housing and the second housing are folded by the hinge.
US09363911B2

A reader apparatus comprises a first interface module, a second interface module, a storing module and a processor. The first interface module includes a plurality of terminals that are transferring first interface signals. The second interface module includes a plurality of conducting pads which are transferring a second interface signal. The storing module is for storing data. The processor converts storing signals generated by the storing module to the first interface signals or the second interface signals.
US09363907B2

Provided is an in-vehicle electronic apparatus including a main body that includes a panel attaching/detaching part, and a panel that is attached to and detached from the panel attaching/detaching part. The panel attaching/detaching part is provided with a lock mechanism and a holding lever, the lock mechanism being arranged to lock the panel to the main body, the holding lever being rotatable and being arranged to hold the panel when the holding lever is rotated to a holding position. The panel is moved in a predetermined direction with respect to the main body such that locking of the panel to the main body by the lock mechanism is released. When the panel is moved in the predetermined direction such that the locking is released, the holding lever is rotated to the holding position due to inertia such that the panel is held by the holding lever.
US09363898B2

This publication discloses an electronic module and a method for manufacturing an electronic module, in which a component is glued to the surface of a conductive layer, from which conductive layer conductive patterns are later formed. After gluing the component, an insulating-material layer, which surrounds the component attached to the conductive layer, is formed on, or attached to the surface of the conductive layer. After the gluing of the component, feed-throughs are also made, through which electrical contacts can be made between the conductive layer and the contact zones of the component. After this, conductive patterns are made from the conductive layer, to the surface of which the component is glued.
US09363895B2

A circuit substrate includes a base substrate provided with a first pad and a second pad which are electrically connected to an electronic component, a first lateral face and a second lateral face, a first terminal electrically connected to the first pad and a second terminal electrically connected to the second pad which are disposed on the first lateral face, and a third terminal and a fourth terminal which are disposed on the second lateral face. The first terminal and the fourth terminal are located at point-symmetric positions to a center of the base substrate. The second terminal and the third terminal are located at point-symmetric positions to the center of the base substrate. The third terminal and the fourth terminal are electrically connected to each other.
US09363883B2

A printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an insulating layer, a pad formed on the insulating layer and exposed through an opening section of a solder resist, a bump formed by filling an opening portion of the solder resist from top of the pad and having an narrow width than the opening of the solder resist.
US09363876B2

An X-ray tube mount for mounting an X-ray tube assembly to the rotating disk assembly of a CT imaging system, said X-ray tube mount including a housing having an inner end and an outer end, wherein said inner end of said housing is located closer to the center of rotation of the rotating disk assembly than said outer end of said housing; and at least one mounting construct for mounting said housing to the rotating disk assembly, wherein said at least one mounting construct is disposed intermediate said inner end of said housing and said outer end of said housing.
US09363875B2

A discharge lamp lighting device includes a discharge lamp, a resonant circuit section, a power conversion section, and a control section. The resonant circuit section is connected to the discharge lamp. The power conversion section is adapted to convert direct-current power into alternating-current power and then supply the discharge lamp with the alternating-current power via the resonant circuit section. The control section is adapted to change a frequency of the alternating-current power alternatingly between a first frequency and a second frequency different from the first frequency in a lighting start period until the discharge lamp reaches a stationary lighting state. The control section is adapted to change the first frequency toward a frequency causing a resonance of the resonant circuit in a stepwise manner. The second frequency is lower than the first frequency.
US09363872B2

The display device includes a light source, and a control section adapted to generate a composite pulse width modulation signal using PWM1 having a first Duty ratio and PWM2 having a frequency higher than the frequency of PWM1, and control a light emitting state of the light source using the composite pulse width modulation signal. The control section corrects a second Duty ratio based on a difference between an expected value of luminance obtained when making the light source emit light using a virtual pulse width modulation signal, which is obtained by combining PWM1 and a pulse width modulation signal having the second Duty ratio, and a setting value of luminance based on the information related to the luminance of the light source, and then uses the second Duty ratio corrected as the Duty ratio of PWM2.
US09363865B2

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for lighting control based on a combination of inputs. Local inputs indicative of light levels, occupancy statuses, and environmental conditions near lighting fixtures are received, and group inputs to control the dimming state of lighting fixtures are also received. The group inputs may utilize manipulation of mains power powering lighting fixtures to indicate a dimming level. The dimming states of light sources of lighting fixtures are based on group inputs and local inputs.
US09363863B2

The invention relates to an apparatus and associated method for emitting electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus has at least one electromagnetic radiation emitter and a base. The base has four electrical contacts and an identification device. Two of the electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the at least one electromagnetic radiation emitter. The other two electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the identification device.
US09363859B2

Disclosed herein is an illumination system including an array of LED light sources for emitting light encoded with a modulation pattern, an array of sensors and a space characterization unit. The array of sensors receives emitted light scattered by an object. Each sensor determines a distance between the corresponding light source and the object using the modulation pattern. The space characterization unit uses the distance from each sensor to generate an elevation map indicating a presence of the object.
US09363855B2

The invention relates to control system configured for controlling at least one controllable device. The device has been assigned a corresponding identifier and is configured for transmitting an identification signal comprising the identifier of the device. The control system comprises a display for displaying a control item configured for controlling the controllable device. The control system also comprises a receiver configured for wirelessly receiving the identification signal comprising the identifier. The control system is configured for assigning a position of the control item on the display to the device identified by means of said received identifier.
US09363853B2

A system and method for powering a dual magnetron with a dual power supply is disclosed. A first power supply supplies a first voltage to a first magnetron. A second power supply supplies a second voltage to a second magnetron. A balancer circuit controls a drive current for altering a magnetic field of the first magnetron and a magnetic field of the second magnetron to maintain the first voltage and the second voltage at a substantially equal voltage.
US09363852B2

An apparatus and a method for heating a load using microwaves is disclosed. The apparatus includes a transmission line, configured to transmit microwaves from a microwave generator to a cavity. A sensing device configured to measure electromagnetic field strengths for providing information about the phase and the amplitude of a reflection coefficient that represents a ratio between the amount of microwaves reflected back towards the microwave generator and the amount of microwaves transmitted in the transmission line from the microwave generator. A control unit configured to detect whether the measured electromagnetic field strengths correspond to a reflection coefficient having a phase within a certain interval of phases and an amplitude within a certain interval of amplitudes. Additionally, certain intervals of phases and amplitudes correspond to an operating region of the microwave generator. The control unit controls feeding of microwaves to the cavity based on this detection.
US09363851B2

A heating device is provided, comprising a shaped body, which has at least two regions comprising different compositions of a ceramic material with a positive temperature coefficient of electrical resistance. A method for manufacturing a heating device is furthermore specified.
US09363850B2

Communication systems and methods in a communication system for allocating an amount of baseband resource in one of a plurality of digital units to a radio unit serving a cell are provided. The methods include estimating the amount of the baseband resource to be allocated to the radio unit, identifying a digital unit of the plurality of digital units on which a neighbor radio unit, serving a neighbor cell, situated in a geographical vicinity of the cell is allocating baseband resource, determining that the digital unit has available baseband resource of the estimated amount, and if so, allocating the estimated amount of baseband resource in the digital unit to the radio unit.
US09363847B2

Methods and apparatus are disclosed that facilitate discontinuous reception via a primary cell and one or more secondary cells that have different TDD UL/DL subframe configurations including overlapping subframes, such as in an instance in which a UL subframe of a secondary cell overlaps with a corresponding DL subframe of the primary cell. A method may define an active state of a primary cell to be larger than an active state of a secondary cell in a TDD network that supports carrier aggregation. The method may also provide for discontinuous reception via the primary cell and the secondary cell in accordance with different TDD UL/DL subframe configurations and also in accordance with the respective active states of the primary and secondary cells.
US09363834B2

The present invention provides a method for maintaining a large number of connections. The method comprises: when there is no data transmission between a User Equipment (UE) and a network, a network device deletes a radio bearer and reserves UE context information related to link restoration and a default bearer; when data needs to be transmitted between the UE and the network, the network device establishes a bearer connection with the UE according to the reserved UE context information related to link restoration. At the same time, the present invention provides a UE and system for maintaining a large number of connections. By using the method, the UE and the system of the present invention, a large number of UE connections can be maintained effectively, the network load can be reduced and the connection recovery process can be accelerated.
US09363831B2

A method for performing a random access procedure by a Node-B with a specific user equipment (UE) within a cell in which a plurality of UEs are located together. System information is transmitted for at least one of a basic sequence index and a length of a zero correlation zone (ZCZ) to the specific UE. A preamble sequence is received from the specific UE over a random access channel. The preamble sequence is generated from Constant Amplitude Zero Auto-Correlation (CAZAC) sequences distinguishable by at least one of the basic sequence index and a length of a Cyclic Shift (CS) applied to the preamble sequence. The length of the CS applied to the preamble sequence is given by one among a plurality of application lengths determined based on the length of the ZCZ. A number of the plurality of lengths are differently given based on a type of the specific UE.
US09363824B2

The present invention relates to a communication method in a heterogeneous network environment using the same frequency band. The method includes: transmitting by a transmitting station a message for using an arbitrary channel in the frequency band to a base station or a heterogeneous terminal using a heterogeneous communication technique; and performing by the transmitting station a data communication with a receiving station through the arbitrary channel. The message includes a time in which the transmitting station uses the arbitrary channel for the data communication. The message is a message with which the heterogeneous base station or the heterogeneous terminal, which receives the message, stops the data communication using the arbitrary channel for the time. Additionally, in this specification, a mobile communication terminal in a heterogeneous network environment using the same frequency band includes: a wireless communication unit for transmitting/receiving a wireless signal to/from outside; and a processor for controlling the wireless communication unit to transmit a message for using an arbitrary channel in the frequency band to a base station or a heterogeneous terminal, which uses a heterogeneous communication technique. The message includes a time that the terminal uses the arbitrary channel for the data communication. The message is a message with which the heterogeneous base station or the heterogeneous terminal, which receives the message, stops the data communication using the arbitrary channel for the time.
US09363814B2

A method and an apparatus for adaptively allocating available bandwidth for network users. The method is particularly beneficial in improving a viewing experience for mobile devices accessing the network, while also maximizing the number of supported users within the network. An adaptively adjusted control parameter is used in conjunction with a utility function to assign a provisional rate for users entering the network. Based on the assigned provisional rate, the method then admits prospective new network users, if enough free capacity exists to service the new user at the provisional rate.
US09363806B2

A technique for distributing channel allocation information in a demand access communication system. Multiple access codes are used that have a defined code repeat period or code epoch. For each such epoch duration, a schedule of assignment of traffic channels to active terminals for each epoch is determined. For each terminal designated as active during the epoch, a list of active channels for such terminal unit is assigned. Prior to the start of each epoch, a channel set up message is sent on one of the forward link channels, such as a paging channel, indicating the lists of active channels for epochs of the associated traffic channel(s) that are to follow.
US09363798B2

Disclosed in the present invention is a method for a terminal to transceive a base station and a signal in a wireless communication system having a carrier aggregation technique applied thereto. More particularly, the present invention comprises the steps of: receiving a preamble from the base station through a specific component carrier; determining the use of either an uplink or a downlink of a corresponding subframe, on the basis of the preamble; and executing either the transmission of an uplink signal to the base station through the specific component carrier, or the reception of a downlink signal from the base station through the specific component carrier, according to the result of the determining step.
US09363797B2

Methods and devices may be provided for aggregating component carriers in the licensed spectrum with at least one component carriers in the licensed exempt spectrum. Control information may be processed in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) while receiving and sending information on a primary component carrier (PCC) and a supplementary component carrier (SuppCC). A PCC subframe with a control portion and a data portion may be received. Resource assignment information associated with a downlink shared channel on the PCC may be embedded in the control portion of the subframe. Based on the resource assignment information on the PCC, resource assignment information associated with a downlink shared channel on the SuppCC may be identified in the data portion of the PCC subframe. A SuppCC subframe of the shared channel on the SuppCC may be processed as per the identified resource assignment information associated with the downlink shared channel on the SuppCC.
US09363791B2

A broadcast signal receiver according to the present invention comprises: a demodulator for performing OFDM demodulation on a received broadcast signal including a frame for the delivery of a broadcast service: a frame demapper for outputting the frame, the frame including a preamble that contains first signaling information, and a plurality of link-layer-pipes (LLPs) that contain PLP data, second signaling information and third signaling information, with the PLP data including a base layer and an enhancement layer of the broadcast service; and a decoder for decoding the first signaling information, for decoding the second and third signaling information, and for selectively decoding the PLP data by using the third signaling information.
US09363788B2

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in which at least one bit rate for allocating network resources from a broadcast-multicast service center (BM-SC) is received. The network resources are then allocated based on the at least one bit rate. Moreover, all evolved Node Bs (eNBs) in a broadcast/multicast area are informed of the network resource allocation. Additionally, the network resources are allocated for a session based on a first bit rate, wherein the first bit rate is greater than a guaranteed bit rate (GBR), and the network resource allocation is adjusted to a second bit rate based on the occurrence of an event, wherein the second bit rate is equal to GBR.
US09363779B2

Techniques are provided for reducing interference in a wireless network. A user equipment device in a first wireless coverage area of a wireless network using a time division duplex transmission scheme to designate a maximum timing advance value for uplink transmissions based on potential interference between uplink transmissions made by the user equipment device in the first wireless coverage area or at least one other user equipment device in the first wireless coverage area, and downlink transmissions intended for at least one user equipment device in a second wireless coverage area of the wireless network. The maximum timing advance value may be based on relative cell radii or other cell properties of the first and second wireless coverage areas. A base station may determine the maximum timing advance and transmit the maximum timing advance to the user equipment device.
US09363778B2

The present invention relates to a random access process in a cellular communications system and to a user equipment (UE) and a NodeB adapted for performing the process. A problem with the random access is that the time slot for receiving a random access request (RA-request) has a long unused guard portion. When the UE transmits the RA-request, the distance to the receiving NodeB is unknown, and the purpose of the guard portion is to accommodate for propagation delay. The disadvantage is the inefficient use of the random access channel which results in long delays for UEs to access the network. The present invention solves the problem with a method in which the UE position is determined and the distance and propagation delay between the UE and NodeB is calculated before the transmission of the RA-request, and the timing of the transmission is advanced by the propagation delay.
US09363777B2

The present invention provides methods, apparatuses and a program relating to fast recovering for network listening schemes in synchronization over air for small cells. The present invention includes tracking, at a first base station, a reference signal of a second base station, determining, whether the reference signal can be tracked, if it is determined that the reference signal can be tracked, adjusting, at the first base station, a system clock of the first base station based on the reference signal of the second base station, and estimating and storing parameters relating to a frequency difference between the system clock of the first base station and a system clock of the second base station, and if it is determined that the reference signal cannot be reliably tracked, adjusting the system clock of the first base station based on the stored parameters.
US09363770B2

Automatic provisioning of an access point base station or femtocell. The method may include the femtocell transmitting first information (e.g., location information, signal measurement information, capability information, etc.) to a service provider (e.g., over an IP network). The femtocell may receive second information from the service provider, where the second information includes one or more operational parameters. The operational parameters may include hand-off parameters, admission policy parameters, PN or scrambling codes, power parameters, and/or other parameters. The femtocell may operate according to the received parameters to provide access for a plurality of access terminals in a local area.
US09363766B2

Described herein are implementations related to communication in a wireless communication system. In one implementation, serving signals from serving base stations and interfering signals from neighbor base stations are split into multiple substreams. A power allocation algorithm is used to calculate the power amplitude factor of the substreams communicated from the serving based stations coupled to corresponding wireless devices. A control signaling related to this implementation is described.
US09363765B2

The present invention relates to a method implemented by a wireless device in a wireless communication system, for adjusting a maximum output power level of the wireless device. The method comprises obtaining (310) an indication indicating a current level of criticality in the system in which a network node serving the wireless device is operating, and adjusting (320) the maximum output power level based on the current level of criticality indicated by the obtained indication.
US09363758B2

Methods and systems are disclosed herein that may be used to share transmit-power information between mobile stations. An exemplary method involves a first mobile station: (i) determining a verified transmit power (VTP) for the first mobile station; (ii) using the VTP to generate a transmit-power message, wherein the transmit-power message is usable to determine an initial transmit power (ITP) for the second mobile station; and (iii) the first mobile station sending the transmit-power message to at least the second mobile station. For instance, the first mobile station may set the ITP for the second mobile station equal to the VTP for the first mobile station, and include an indication of the ITP in the transmit-power message. Alternatively, the first mobile station may calculate the ITP for the second mobile station by adjusting its VTP according to the ratio of the distance between the second mobile station and the serving base station, and the distance between the first mobile station and the serving base station.
US09363753B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for subframe muting and/or discontinuous reception (DRX) mode related to sleep mode for user equipment (UE) relays. One method generally includes measuring, at a UE functioning as a relay (i.e., a UE relay), signals of one or more other UEs functioning as relays during one or more particular subframes and reporting the measurements of the signals to an apparatus. Another method generally includes determining, at a first UE functioning as a relay, that no UEs are being served by the first UE; based on the determination, increasing an interval between broadcast signals; and transmitting the broadcast signals according to the increased interval.
US09363749B2

A system and method dynamically scale power consumed by the circuitry of an electronic device based on channel state and/or data rate. The electronic device then operates according to the power scaling. The scaling may be in accordance with an effective data rate, a number of multiple input multiple output (MIMO) layers, receiver type, a cell scenario, or a number of carriers. A number of MIMO layers can be predicted based on at least one of channel conditions or a channel quality index (CQI).
US09363748B1

Wireless device information comprising a power level of a successful access probe sent by wireless devices to an access node and a location of each of the wireless devices relative to the access node is acquired. Based on the wireless device information, a first access probe power level is determined. The determined first access probe power level is provided to a new wireless device and an access probe is received from the new wireless device using the first access probe power level.
US09363743B2

A method of selecting a cellular network entails detecting a Wi-Fi signal, obtaining a country code from the Wi-Fi signal, prioritizing cellular network frequency bands based on the country code to define a band priority, and selecting a cellular network based on the band priority. The country code may be an IEEE 802.11d Country Code Information Element.
US09363734B2

An app designed to prevent using distracting phone functionality, including texting, on a mobile phone while driving a vehicle is disclosed. The app detects and measure attributes including the phone's orientation and change of orientation and expresses them in a coordinate system relative to the direction of motion of the vehicle. If the phone orientation is found to be consistent with a change in direction of the vehicle, or the axis of rotation of the phone is found to be consistent with itself over time, the distracting phone functionality is disabled.
US09363731B1

A user equipment (UE) speed up handover/redirection when the user equipment is in a coverage area of multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In one instance the user equipment determines whether to transmit an uplink (UL) reconfiguration message. The user equipment delays transmission of the uplink reconfiguration message when a transition from a serving radio access technology to a non-serving preferred radio access technology has been initiated while the UE is on a packet switched (PS) data call.
US09363728B2

A method and an apparatus for balancing a load by taking into consideration a load of each mobile communication network (Public Land Mobile Network (PLMNs)) of a network sharing architecture are provided. A base station apparatus of a communication system having a network sharing architecture capable of serving at least one mobile terminal via at least two PLMNs is provided. The apparatus includes a load calculator and a load balancing controller. The load calculator is configured to calculate respective loads of the PLMNs. When a first network of the PLMNs is overloaded, the load balancing controller is configured to balance an overload to the first network included in cells neighboring a serving cell.
US09363723B2

A heterogeneous network comprising macro network devices and micro network devices operates to maintain a dynamic data set of neighbor relations for a potential transfer of a User Equipment (UE) device from one network zone to another network zone. In response to detecting a failure of a macro network device to establish a network connection with a network device, a dynamic management of the data set initiates. A capacity number of network connections is determined for the macro network device (e.g., macro eNB sector carrier) based on the data set of neighbor relations. A threshold number is determined from the network neighbor device data, representing the set of micro network devices with which the macro network device is operable to establish the network. A defined number of micro network devices is maintained that is less than the threshold number of the network neighbor device data.
US09363720B2

An in-device coexistence interference report control method of a network for terminal to inform the network of interference among heterogeneous radio communication modules coexisting in the terminal is provided. The method includes determining, at a terminal when a terminal capability enquiry message is received from a base station, whether the base station supports an In-Device Coexistence (IDC) interference report, transmitting, when the IDC interference report is supported, a terminal capacity information message to the base station, receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message including information on whether terminal's IDC interference indicator transmission is permitted from the base station; and transmitting an RRC connection reconfiguration complete message to the base station in response to the RRC connection reconfiguration message. The in-device coexistence interference indication control method is advantageous in preventing the UE from transmitting useless in-device coexistence interference indication messages, resulting in reduction of unnecessary signaling.
US09363715B2

A modem and a method for handing over Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) sessions from a packet-switched network to a circuit-switched network. One embodiment of the modem includes: (1) a physical layer through which IMS packets for a plurality of IMS sessions are transmittable and receivable, and (2) a control layer configured to gain access to respective IMS session data for the plurality of IMS sessions, the respective IMS session data originating from a host IMS application.
US09363712B2

A system comprises a constellation of satellites placed in non-geostationary orbit, user terminals located in a coverage area, and N anchor stations able to ensure bidirectional communications with the user terminals by way of at least one satellite. The system furthermore comprises a network of routers interconnected with one another and to the Worldwide Internet Network, each anchor station is connected to the Worldwide Internet Network by way of a router, and each anchor station comprises a management device for managing the handovers to ensure service continuity for the communications. This management device is able to control the handovers between the successive orbiting satellites progressing over the coverage area, the handovers between anchor stations, or the handovers between simultaneously successive satellites and anchor stations.
US09363711B2

A mobile device capable of connecting to a hybrid telecommunications network using different connection types is configured to implement various mitigations to audio disruptions that may occur during the performance of a call handover between connections. Negligible audio disruptions that do not impact the conversation between parties to the call are not mitigated at all, while relatively short audio disruptions are mitigated in a passive manner by playing background white noise or comfort sounds on the mobile device. Relatively longer duration disruptions are dealt with using more active mitigations in which audio tones are played and the mobile device's graphical user interface (GUI) is configured to indicate to the user that a handover is in progress. Audio disruptions which are irrecoverable are handled by disconnecting the call and providing options through the GUI to either call the other party back, send a message, or set a callback reminder.
US09363708B2

Network architectures, apparatus, methods, and processes related to WiFi enabled devices (e.g., tablets and cellular phones) and wireless local area networks. In certain non-limiting embodiments, network architectures, apparatus, methods, and processes for providing or handling data offloading from congested cellular networks. In other non-limiting embodiments, network architectures, apparatus, methods, and processes pertaining to shared WiFi networks and/or infrastructures.
US09363702B2

Mobile communication devices, such as user equipment (UE) using 3GPP-LTE or LTE Advanced, may communicate directly with another UE through a system called Device-to-Device (D2D) communication. The establishment of a D2D communication session may involve having one of the UEs trigger the signaling procedures. In particular, a D2D resource re-allocation method may be used to optimize the D2D communication resource utilization efficiency in a dynamic manner, which is fully controlled by one of the D2D pair (termed the master UE or M-UE). The M-UE may be arranged to re-allocate resources based on the buffer status report (BSR) of the UEs in the D2D communication session. The M-UE may be further arranged to dynamically change the configuration of the transmission window based on characteristics of the D2D communication session.
US09363699B2

A wireless communication method and apparatus are provided for selecting quality-reporting sub-carrier bands based on sub-carrier band quantity information received from a base station. The method includes generally four steps. First, from a base station, information indicating quantity of sub-carrier bands is acquired. Second, channel quality of each of a plurality of sub-carrier bands within a communication band is measured from a received signal. Third, sub-carrier bands are selected from the plurality of sub-carrier bands, wherein quantity of the selected sub-carrier bands corresponds to the quantity of sub-carrier bands indicated by the acquired information. Fourth, information indicating channel quality of the selected sub-carrier bands is reported to the base station.
US09363698B2

At the start of a method for analyzing a communications signal with a frequency-mask trigger unit and a selection unit, a mask which describes a trigger range for the frequency-mask trigger unit is defined in the frequency domain, in frequency and amplitude. Furthermore, within the selection unit, an application is allocated to the mask. The frequency-mask trigger unit then checks whether the spectrum of the communications signal violates the mask. Finally, the signal component of the communications signal which violates the mask is transferred to the application for a further evaluation by the selection unit.
US09363694B2

Methods, apparatuses and computer readable media are described that determine a connection state between a mobile wireless device and a wireless network upon detection of an interruption of a connection between the mobile wireless device and the wireless network. The mobile wireless device transmits an uplink resource allocation message to the wireless network, and when receiving no response to the uplink resource allocation message, transmits a random access message to the wireless network. When receiving no response from the wireless network to the random access message, the mobile wireless device executes a radio link failure procedure. In an embodiment, the uplink resource allocation message includes a unique identifier for an existing radio resource control connection between the mobile wireless device and the wireless network.
US09363690B1

Embodiments herein use a real-time closed-loop system to optimize a wireless network. The system includes a drone controlled by a self-organizing network (SON) to retrieve RF data corresponding to the wireless network. In one embodiment, the SON provides the drone with a predetermined path through the coverage area of the wireless network. As the drone traverses the path, a RF scanner mounted on the drone collects RF data. The drone transmits this data to the SON which processes the RF data to identify problems in the wireless network (e.g., cell tower interference). The SON generates one or more actions for correcting the identified problem and transmits these actions to a wireless network controller. Once the wireless network controller performs the action, the SON instructs the drone to re-traverse the portion of the path to determine if the problem has been resolved.
US09363670B2

Methods and systems described herein relate to enhancing security on a mobile device. Systems and methods for mobile device security include restricting access to network resources via an in-location access point device, based on whether the mobile device is in proximity of the in-location access point device.
US09363656B1

Examples disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and software for monitoring wireless communication devices within a geographic area of interest. In one example, a method of operating a location analytics system includes identifying a geographic area of interest. The method further includes identifying wireless sectors within the geographic area of interest, and identifying wireless communication devices within the wireless sectors. The method also includes generating mapping information for the geographic area of interest based on the identification of the wireless communication devices, and providing the mapping information to emergency action system to provide information to the devices.
US09363655B2

A distribution device according to the present application includes a receiving unit, a calculation unit, and a distribution unit. The receiving unit receives location information from a terminal device owned by a user. The calculation unit calculates, once the receiving unit receives the location information, an expected time within which the user arrives from a first coverage region in which communication is possible by way of an out-of-coverage region in which communication is impossible to a second coverage region. The distribution unit distributes an alert to a predetermined distribution destination if the location information of the second coverage region is not received from the terminal device within the expected time calculated by the calculation unit.
US09363651B1

In one version, the system uses a mesh of wireless nodes that form a tree shaped network. One of the nodes is a root node that has a connection to an external network, with other network participants being chirp clients, and wireless network clients. The chirp clients are low cost devices that transmit short duration messages that are scheduled using a chirp scheduling technique. At least one wireless node of the tree shaped network is designated as chirp-aware and has a bridge between the short duration messages and IP based devices. The bridge includes a wireless receiver and is connected to the external network. All nodes other than the root node disregard the short duration messages using adaptive filtering. Each node has two logical radios and a service radio, the nodes' uplink and downlink operating on non-conflicting frequencies. Wireless network clients communicate with the nodes using the service radios.
US09363648B2

A method includes: an AP sets a broadcast/multicast indication bit that associates the service network and/or multicast group to the valid state and sends frames that carry the broadcast/multicast indication bit to a STA; the STA determines whether there is broadcast/multicast frame buffered in the AP according to the associated service network and/or multicast group and the received broadcast/multicast indication bit.
US09363646B2

A method and a system for providing a vehicle service to a vehicle based on the location data of a mobile device. The method carried out by the system includes a step of receiving at a call center vehicle location data from a vehicle. After receiving vehicle location data, the method may then include receiving at the call center mobile device location data from the mobile device. The method may include determining whether the mobile device is located within the vehicle based upon the vehicle location data and the mobile device location data. And if the mobile device is located within the vehicle, the method may include initiating at least one vehicle service from the call center in response to the determination.
US09363642B2

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for providing radio frequency interference (RFI) awareness assistance data to global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers are described. In some embodiments, a first method includes receiving at a location server RFI situational information. The first method further includes maintaining at least one time and location dependent database of an RFI situation. The first method further includes sending at least one assistance data message to at least one receiver including the RFI situational information. In another embodiment, a second method includes receiving RFI awareness assistance data from a location server. The second method further includes adapting a position location measurement according to the received RFI awareness assistance data. The second method further includes calculating a location of the receiver based at least in part on the adapted position location measurement.
US09363639B2

A system and method shares content with third parties based on the location of the third parties at the time the content was created. The third parties with which content is shared are selected by identifying those third parties which were within a zone of geographic proximity around the location at which the content was created at the time of its creation.
US09363635B2

Methods and systems for providing and obtaining a geo-fence without a network download are disclosed. An embodiment generates geo-fence parameters and encodes the geo-fence parameters on a portable storage media, wherein the geo-fence parameters are transferred to a location-enabled mobile device when the location-enabled mobile device scans the portable storage media. An embodiment scans, by a location-enabled mobile device, a portable storage media, wherein the portable storage media stores geo-fence parameters, and wherein scanning the portable storage media transfers the geo-fence parameters to the location-enabled mobile device. An embodiment includes a non-transitory portable storage media comprising geo-fence parameters, including a perimeter of a geo-fence and one or more alert conditions associated with the perimeter of the geo-fence, wherein scanning the portable storage media transfers the geo-fence parameters to a location-enabled mobile device.
US09363627B1

A rack server system and a wireless communication method are disclosed. The rack server system includes a rack management control unit and a server node. The rack management control unit includes a rack management control module and a first ZigBee communication module. The server node includes a first baseboard management control module and a second ZigBee communication module. The rack management control module generates a first serial communication signal. The first ZigBee communication module is electrically coupled with the rack management control module and transforms the first serial communication signal into a first wireless signal. The first baseboard management control module generates a second serial communication signal. The second ZigBee communication module is electrically coupled with the first baseboard management control module and transforms the second serial communication signal into a second wireless signal.
US09363626B2

Probabilities are trained herein to test a wireless network system based on normal and faulty node conditions. The probability information is then used to identify normal and faulty networks during testing, which generates an indication of faulty nodes or an indication of a normal transmission path.
US09363610B2

A method of fabricating a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) transducer comprises the steps of forming a membrane on a substrate, and forming a back-volume in the substrate. The step of forming a back-volume in the substrate comprises the steps of forming a first back-volume portion and a second back-volume portion, the first back-volume portion being separated from the second back-volume portion by a step in a sidewall of the back-volume. The cross-sectional area of the second back-volume portion can be made greater than the cross-sectional area of the membrane, thereby enabling the back-volume to be increased without being constrained by the cross-sectional area of the membrane. The back-volume may comprise a third back-volume portion. The third back-volume portion enables the effective diameter of the membrane to be formed more accurately.
US09363592B2

Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure provide an LED lighting device and speaker. The LED lighting device and speaker may include an LED lighting unit, a speaker, an outer casing, and a power supply module. The LED lighting unit and the speaker are placed on the outer casing. There is also a sound guiding tube on the outer casing. The sound guiding tube on the outer casing may expand the audio bandwidth, enhance bass quality, reduce speaker vibration displacements, and protect the speaker. Further, the gap between the sound guiding tube and the bottom of the outer casing provides a heat dissipation path for the heat generated by the power supply module. In addition, the sound guiding tube and the hollowed lampshade forms a path that increases the air circulation between the interior and exterior of the LED lighting device and speaker. Finally, the sound guiding tube adds to the heating dissipating surface of the LED lighting device and speaker and therefore improves the efficiency of heat dissipation.
US09363589B2

An acoustic port of acoustic device is covered with a mesh and/or other structure that resists entry of liquid and/or other materials into the acoustic device. Apertures of a housing that are separated by an umbrella section are coupled to the acoustic port such that the umbrella section may cover the acoustic port. In this way, when liquid enters one or more of the apertures, the umbrella section may direct the liquid away from the mesh such that pressure from the liquid upon the mesh may be reduced. As such, potential damage to the mesh and/or internal acoustic device components may be mitigated. In some implementations, the apertures may be covered with an additional mesh. Such additional mesh may further reduce the pressure of entering liquid on the mesh covering the acoustic port of the acoustic device.
US09363573B2

A system, method, and article of manufacture for controlling home network devices using a multicast enabled remote control. The system includes a plurality of home network devices capable of receiving and/or transmitting multicast input and/or output signals and a home gateway to receive audio/video signals generated outside of the home and to transform the audio/video signals into multicast output signals. The system also includes a multicast enabled remote control to detect, aggregate, store and display all audio/video multicast output signals on the multicast enabled remote control, to enable a user to redirect an audio/video multicast output signal to one or more of the plurality of home network devices capable of receiving multicast input signals, and to control the plurality of home network devices capable of receiving and/or transmitting multicast input and/or output signals. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09363562B1

There is described a computer-implemented method for authorizing a user device, comprising: use of a processor for receiving an extracted identifier transmitted by a secondary device to be authorized over a telecommunication network, the extracted identifier being previously extracted by the secondary device to be authorized from an acoustic signal generated by an authorized main device, the acoustic signal corresponding to a transmitted audio signal received by the authorized main device and having a reference identifier embedded therein; use of the processor for validating the received identifier; and upon successful validation, use of the processor for transmitting an authorization confirmation to the secondary device.
US09363553B2

An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments.
US09363550B2

There is provided an information processing apparatus including an operation section which performs remote control of a television receiver, and a content information acquisition section which acquires content information related to content provided by the television receiver, and causes a storage section to store the content information.
US09363544B2

Methods and systems are described herein for a media guidance application that adjusts the amount of time required to consume a media asset based on a current trip of a user. For example, the media guidance application may determine, based on the current progress of the user in the media asset, whether or not the user with complete the media asset before the end of a current trip.
US09363540B2

Methods and system for providing content based on an embedded signal are disclosed. A method can comprise generating a placement signal based on an event, repeatedly embedding the placement signal into a data stream, and transmitting the data stream comprising the repeatedly embedded placement signal.
US09363537B2

Disclosed is a method for four-path tree structured vector quantization, comprising: (a) placing codebook vectors where magnitudes of vectors are arranged in order at lowermost nodes; (b) configuring upper nodes by averaging vector values of the lowermost adjacent four nodes; (c) calculating mean square errors to paths of the upper nodes (A, B, C, and D) corresponding to four paths from an input vector ‘X’; (d) presetting a threshold between 0 and 1 after the ‘(c)’; (e) calculating thresholds between the input vector ‘X’ and four paths ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’, based on the mean square errors; and (f) comparing the thresholds calculated in the ‘(d)’ with the preset threshold to select a path having a threshold greater than the preset threshold, in which dynamic four-path tree structured vector quantization is used instead of conventional dynamic two-path tree structured vector quantization, thereby more efficiently and quickly searching a codebook.
US09363529B2

In a first inter-image prediction mode in which information on a motion vector is used, a first mode detection unit constructs a first candidate list from a plurality of reference block candidates based on a first predetermined order, assigns indices for designating reference block candidates added in the first candidate list, and outputs the indices of the plurality of reference candidate blocks. In a second inter-image prediction mode in which is used a motion vector difference between a motion vector predictor based on information on a motion vector, and a motion vector of a coding target block, a second mode detection unit constructs a second candidate list from a plurality of reference block candidates based on a second predetermined order, assigns indices for designating reference block candidates added in the second candidate list, and outputs the indices of the plurality of reference block candidates and motion vector differences.
US09363528B2

Provided is an image encoding/decoding apparatus and method. The image encoding apparatus may include a motion vector prediction unit to perform a prediction with respect to an arbitrary motion vector of a current block within an image, using at least one of vector information of a motion vector corresponding to an adjacent block and vector information of a previous motion vector of the current block, and a differential determination unit to determine differential information of a motion vector of the current block based on the motion vector predicted in the motion vector prediction unit and an actual motion vector of the current block.
US09363523B2

A method and apparatus for a multi-core video decoder for decoding a single bitstream are disclosed. The multi-core video decoder comprises a first video decoder configured to receive the bitstream, parse header information to determine buffer management for a plurality decoding jobs based on the header information, and assign decoding jobs based upon the buffer management. A second video decoder configured to receive the bitstream and decode the bitstream based on an assigned decoding job from the first video decoder.
US09363522B2

A specification defining allowable luma and chroma code-values is applied in a region-of-interest encoding method of a mezzanine compression process. The method may include analyzing an input image to determine regions or areas within each image frame that contain code-values that are near allowable limits as specified by the specification. In addition, the region-of-interest method may comprise then compressing those regions with higher precision than the other regions of the image that do not have code-values that are close to the legal limits.
US09363521B2

In a case where a partition mode in which luma signals are partitioned horizontally and vertically is set when an intra prediction of a picture signal is made in units of minimal coding blocks set in advance, an intra prediction unit is configured to make an intra prediction of a chroma signal in units of prediction blocks of the intra prediction of chroma signals within the minimal coding block set in accordance with a chroma format. A second bitstream constructing unit constructs a bitstream of information relating to a luma intra prediction mode of a prediction block of luma signals and information relating to a chroma intra prediction mode of a prediction block of chroma signals.
US09363509B2

Disclosed are a method for determining a color difference component quantization parameter and a device using the method. Method for decoding an image can comprise the steps of: decoding a color difference component quantization parameter offset on the basis of size information of a transform unit; and calculating a color difference component quantization parameter index on the basis of the decoded color difference component quantization parameter offset. Therefore, the present invention enables effective quantization by applying different color difference component quantization parameters according to the size of the transform unit when executing the quantization.
US09363504B2

An apparatus and method for displaying a three-dimensional (3D) image is disclosed. On a display panel, red, green and blue subpixels are alternately arranged in a row direction and subpixels having the same color are arranged in a column direction. A 3D image filter is disposed ahead of the display panel and includes a transparent area and a non-transparent area arranged alternately. An edge defining the width of the non-transparent area is inclined with respect to a vertical axis of the display panel. A controller assigns a view image to be displayed at a subpixel of the display panel according to an inclination angle of the edge.
US09363492B2

Projector methods, devices, software are described for a high decrease of the black level without decrease or a limited decrease of the luminance of the bright pixels for use with high contrast and high dynamic range projectors, e.g. based on RGB lasers or phosphor converted lasers. Such projectors can be used in a digital cinema, in a home theatre, in virtual reality systems, in simulators for training, for example. The projector optical system is adapted to vary, according to an average picture level, an effective étendue of the light source and to keep light power confined within a varying cone angle, whereby at the imaging system the projector étendue is matched to the effective étendue of the light source, the effective light source étendue and the projector étendue being controlled to the average picture level.
US09363491B2

Pixels constituting the imaging element include at least four types of the determination pixels for which color filter patterns of adjacent pixels thereof are different from one another. At least one of pixels, which are adjacent to each determination pixel, is a first color pixel that has a color filter with a first color. Further, among the pixels which are adjacent to each determination pixel, a pixel, which is opposed to the first color pixel with the determination pixel interposed therebetween, has a color filter other than the color filter with the first color. Abnormal oblique incident light, which is incident into the imaging element, is detected on the basis of average values of the respective pixel data pieces corresponding to the types of these determination pixels.
US09363482B2

A method to enforce watermarking instructions by a security module in a receiving device, comprising the steps of receiving a security message by—a security module, comprising at least a content key, watermark instructions and security message signature, said watermark instruction activates or deactivates a watermarking module, decrypting—a security message with a transmission key, verifying—a security message signature, and in case of successful verification, reading a watermarking data from the watermarking module, verifying the authenticity of the watermarking data, and in case of successful verification, transmitting the watermark instructions to the watermark module and the content key to a descrambling module.
US09363481B2

A system for processing a media content comprising an application space, a media control mechanism operating in the application space, the media control mechanism controlling the operation of the system, a user interface adapted to provide input to the media control mechanism, a protected space distinct from the application space, and a protected media pipeline operating in the protected space, the protected media pipeline coupled to the media control mechanism, the protected media pipeline adapted to access the media content, process the media content, and output the media content.
US09363477B2

A transmission management system receives a request for starting communication with a counterpart terminal from a terminal, which includes counterpart terminal identification information for identifying the counterpart terminal. In response to receiving the request, the transmission management system stores the counterpart terminal identification information of the counterpart terminal in association with terminal identification information of the terminal that sends the request to update candidate counterpart terminal identification for the terminal.
US09363475B2

The invention relates to a device for the distributed mixing of data streams, including a main multimedia server (10) capable of receiving at least one incoming data stream (A, B, C) and of outputting at least one outgoing data stream (A′, B′, C′), and at least one secondary multimedia server (20) capable of receiving at least one incoming data stream (D, E, F) and of outputting at least one outgoing data stream (D′, E′, F′), the main multimedia server including a selection module (11) arranged so as to select a plurality of data streams (A, B, E, F) from the incoming data streams and a global mixing module (13) arranged so as to mix the selected data streams in order to obtain an aggregated stream (S), and the secondary multimedia server including a local mixing module (21) arranged so as to mix at least two incoming data streams (E, F) received by the secondary multimedia server and selected by the selection module of the main multimedia server in order to obtain an incoming intermediate stream (T) capable of being used by the global mixing module of the main multimedia server to obtain the aggregated stream. The invention also relates to a corresponding distributed mixing method.
US09363466B2

When an accepting section 102 accepts an order to acquire image data, an image data acquirer 104 acquires image data from a memory section 130 and compresses it in the JPEG format. An orientation identifier 122 identifies orientation information of an image processing device 10 by using a detection value of an acceleration sensor. A direction identifier 124 identifies the azimuthal angle of a lens optical axis by using a detection value of a geomagnetic sensor and orientation information identified by the orientation identifier 122. If it is determined by the orientation identifier 122 that the image processing device 10 is in a horizontal orientation, the direction identifier 124 identifies the azimuthal angle of the lens optical axis from a predetermined direction in the image processing device 10 and the detection value of the geomagnetic sensor without using the lens optical axis direction.
US09363461B1

A rear projection display system for a vehicle including a pico projector; and, a retractable pico rear projector screen operatively connected to the pico projector. In one embodiment, a common housing contains the pico projector and the retractable pico rear projector screen. In another embodiment the pico projector is mounted within the protective covering. In some embodiments the rear projector screen is motor driven and in other embodiments it operated by hand. The present invention is particularly advantageous in an aircraft environment where size and weight considerations are imperative.
US09363459B2

According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing and a component. The housing includes a synthetic resin portion and a metal portion. The synthetic resin portion includes a first portion exposed to an outside of the electronic apparatus and a second portion including a nip portion. The metal portion overlaps the second portion from an outer side and covers the nip portion. The component is in the housing and faces the nip portion.
US09363451B2

The present technique relates to a solid-state imaging device, a solid-state imaging device manufacturing method, and an electronic apparatus that are capable of providing a solid-state imaging device that can prevent generation of RTS noise due to miniaturization of amplifying transistors, and can achieve a smaller size and a higher degree of integration accordingly.A solid-state imaging device (1-1) includes: a photodiode (PD) as a photoelectric conversion unit; a transfer gate (TG) that reads out charges from the photodiode (PD); a floating diffusion (FD) from which the charges of the photodiode (PD) are read by an operation of the transfer gate (TG); and an amplifying transistor (Tr3) connected to the floating diffusion (FD). More particularly, the amplifying transistor (Tr3) is of a fully-depleted type. Such an amplifying transistor includes an amplifier gate (AG) (gate electrode) extending in a direction perpendicular to convex strips (33) formed by processing a surface layer of a semiconductor layer (11), for example.
US09363449B1

An apparatus is configured to perform a method of parallax tolerant video stitching. The method includes determining a plurality of video sequences to be stitched together; performing a spatial-temporal localized warping computation process on the video sequences to determine a plurality of target warping maps; warping a plurality of frames among the video sequences into a plurality of target virtual frames using the target warping maps; performing a spatial-temporal content-based seam finding process on the target virtual frames to determine a plurality of target seam maps; and stitching the video sequences together using the target seam maps.
US09363442B2

An information processing device including a control unit that, based on a specific subject that is an imaging target of a during-exposure zoom imaging operation, performs control decide control details for a zoom lens in the during-exposure zoom imaging operation.
US09363436B2

A system and camera wherein the camera comprises in the light path a diffuser (4). The system or camera comprises a means (6) to modulate the diffusing properties of the diffuser (4) on an image projected by the lens on the sensor during exposure of the image. To the captured blurred image (10) an inverse point spread function is applied to deconvolute (24) the blurred image to a sharper image. Motion invariant image can so be achieved.
US09363434B2

A lens barrel includes: a motor; an input transmission ring that is rotated by the motor and is rotatable around the optical axis; and a lens drive cylinder connected to the input transmission ring so that rotating force can be transmitted from the input transmission ring, the lens drive cylinder moving a lens in the optical axis direction and being rotatable. The lens drive cylinder is placed on one side of the motor in the optical axis direction, and the input transmission ring is placed on the same side of the motor as the lens drive cylinder.
US09363429B2

An imaging apparatus includes an imaging plane phase-difference type first focus detecting unit and a contrast type second focus detecting unit. A saturation detecting unit detects saturation of focus detecting pixels or imaging pixels provided in an imaging element. A brightness detecting unit detects the brightness of an object. If the number of pixels detected by the saturation detecting unit exceeds a predetermined value or the brightness of an object detected by the brightness detecting unit is less than a predetermined value, a CPU controls a focus adjustment operation only using a first detection amount. Alternatively, the CPU controls a focus adjustment operation based on the result obtained by weighting processing of a first detection amount and a second detection amount in response to an increase in the number of pixels of which saturation of the outputs has been detected or a decrease in the brightness of an object.
US09363427B2

A device and method incorporates features of a temporal contrast sensor with a camera sensor in an imager. The method includes registering the camera sensor with the temporal contrast sensor as a function of a calibration target. The method includes receiving camera sensor data from the camera sensor and temporal contrast sensor data from the temporal contrast sensor. The method includes generating a plurality of images as a function of incorporating the temporal contrast sensor data with the camera sensor data.
US09363420B2

A color conversion method includes: a step (a) of obtaining paper white information including a spectral reflectance and a scanner response value of a paper white portion of a document, a step (b) of searching for a registered scanner profile corresponding to paper white information the same as or similar to the paper white information, from a plurality of registered scanner profiles for paper types, and a step (c) of determining whether a new scanner profile needs to be created corresponding to the paper white information obtained in the step (a), according to a result of searching in the step (b).
US09363417B2

An information processing system includes an operation terminal and an input/output device connected to each other. The operation terminal includes a notification unit configured to send a notification based on information from the input/output device indicating that communication is possible with the input/output device. The input/output device includes an imaging unit, a detection unit for detecting the operation terminal capable of communicating with the input/output device, a transmission unit for to transmitting the information indicating that communication is possible with the input/output device, to the detected operation terminal, a determination unit for determining whether the imaging unit has taken an image of a predetermined action after the information has been sent, and an authentication unit for acquiring terminal information from the detected operation terminal, and performing authentication based on the terminal information, when the image of the predetermined action is determined to have been taken by the determination unit.
US09363414B2

A method is disclosed. The method includes applying a human visual system (HVS) model to a Continuous Tone Image (CTI) and a initial Half Tone Image (HTI) to generate a perceived CTI and a perceived HTI and computing a change in pixel error for a first pixel by toggling the first pixel with all the possible output states and swapping the first pixel with all neighbor pixels.
US09363408B2

A method and apparatus for automatically categorizing images in a digital camera is provided. In one aspect, image data is captured by a digital camera. Image data analysis is performed on the captured image data by the digital camera to automatically generate a category tag to which the captured image data may relate. The generated category tag is stored in association with the captured image data for categorizing the captured image data.
US09363406B2

Provided is a light source unit that emits linear light to an original, the light source unit including: light sources that emit light; a light guide that is formed in a rod shape and that guides the light from the light sources to the original; a frame that houses the light sources and the light guide; and a circuit board including a conduction portion electrically connected to the light sources, wherein the circuit board is provided with a slit in a longitudinal direction of the light guide, the slit is disposed closer to the original than the light guide, and the light from the light guide is emitted to the original through the slit.
US09363403B2

When it is determined that transmission of an execution history corresponding to at least one job to an external apparatus can be completed before a transition time at which a transition from a first operation mode, in which a job can be executed, to a second operation mode, in which the power consumption amount is less than that of the first operation mode, transmission control is performed such that transmission of the execution history to an external apparatus is started.
US09363393B2

A conversion device may be configured to communicate with an image processing device, a first information processing device, and a second information processing device. The conversion device may receive first data, and store the received first data in a memory. The conversion device may send conversion device access information to the first information processing device, the second information processing device, or the image processing device. The conversion device access information may be to be used for accessing the conversion device, and may be sent so that message information including the conversion device access information is to be sent to the first information processing device directly from the conversion device, or through a relay of the second information processing device. The conversion device may send second data to the first information processing device. The second data may be converted from the first data.
US09363387B2

A system and method for a caller identification voice announce. The caller identification voice announce is associated with a calling party. An identifier of an incoming calls is translated to the associated caller identification voice announce. The caller identification voice announce associated with the calling party is played in response to receiving the incoming call from the calling party.
US09363383B1

In one embodiment, a phone number is used in connection with an advertising or marketing campaign. The account associated with the phone number may be configured to specify the type of information and the type of actions to be taken when a phone call is placed to the phone number. After the call that has placed to the phone number has completed, information relating to the call is compiled. Upon compilation, the information is transmitted by a network-enabled device using a protocol, where in one embodiment, the protocol is HTTP.
US09363382B2

A private branch exchange (PBX) (or network hosted device) is described herein that is capable of obtaining information (e.g., in-a-conference presence state) that indicates a user is participating in a multi-party conference call which is being hosted by an external conference/collaboration bridge and is further capable of disabling a music-on-hold feature on an extension associated with a device belonging to the user such that if the user places the device on-hold then no sound (e.g., music, radio) will be injected into the multi-party conference call.
US09363375B1

A method, computer-readable medium and system for interacting using content are disclosed. A web response may be executed on a first computer system and/or another computer system associated with the first computer system responsive to the initiation of a call over a voice channel between the first computer system and a second computer system. The web response may include automatically downloading content over a data channel so that it can be automatically presented at the first computer system and/or another computer system associated with the first computer system. The content may include video, audio, information from a social networking website, a blog, other content, some combination thereof, etc. In this manner, more and/or different types of content can be used to communicate with callers by causing content to be presented in conjunction with communication over a voice channel.
US09363361B2

Described herein is a technique for customizing device behavior based on evaluated relationships between a user and the user's environment. User conduct is analyzed based on available sensors, which may include user-facing cameras. The user's environmental context is similarly evaluated based on the available sensors. Conduct and context, as well as any identified relationships between such conduct and context, may be reported to application programs, and may form the basis for customized device behavior.
US09363359B2

A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the same are provided. In a state where a message application is executed, when a view mode of the mobile terminal is converted to a landscape view mode, the mobile terminal displays at least one selectable item related to the message application in a partial area of a screen.
US09363354B2

An apparatus and a method for reading an image in a mobile terminal to establish a connection with a neighbor apparatus corresponding to the read image are provided. The apparatus includes an apparatus connector. The apparatus connector determines a neighbor apparatus to which a user desires to connect by reading a corresponding image, and establishes a connection with the determined neighbor apparatus.
US09363341B2

According to the present invention, a mobile terminal includes a main body including a front side with which a display unit is combined, a first antenna mounted on the main body, extended in a first direction and including a first slot of which one end is closed and another end is opened, a second antenna mounted on the main body, extended in a second direction corresponding to a direction opposite to the direction to which the first slot is extended and including a second slot of which one end is closed and another end is opened, a power supply unit mounted in the inside of the main body, a first feeder configured to supply power to the first antenna from the power supply unit and a second feeder configured to supply power to the second antenna from the power supply unit.
US09363340B2

Provided are systems and methods for network management and configuration. Exemplary methods can comprise communicating a first message to a network device. The first message can specify one of a first protocol or a second protocol. Methods can comprise configuring a first logical address for the network device based at least on the first message. Methods can comprise communicating a second message to the network device. The second message can specify one of a first mode, directing the network device to use the first protocol to connect to a network, or a second mode, directing the network device to use the second protocol to connect to the network. Methods can also comprise receiving a notification to release the first logical address from the network device. Methods can further comprise configuring a second logical address for the network device that can be defined according to the second message.
US09363339B2

Approaches for staged data compression are provided, where each stage reflects a progressive increase in granularity, resulting in a scalable approach that exhibits improved efficiency and compression performance. The first stage comprises a long-range block-level compressor that determines redundancies on a block-level basis (based on entire data blocks, as opposed to partial segments within data blocks). The second stage comprises a long-range byte-level compressor that compresses an uncompressed block based on byte segments within the block that match previously transmitted segments. The duplicate segments are replaced with pointers to matching segments within a decompressor cache. Nonmatching segments of the data block are left uncompressed and passed to a third stage short-range compressor (e.g., a grammar-based compressor). The staged progression in granularity provides advantages of maximizing the compression gain while minimizing processing and storage requirements of the compressor and decompressor.
US09363338B2

A computerized method of presenting information from a variety of sources on a display device. Specifically the present invention describes a graphical user interface for organizing the simultaneous display of information from a multitude of information sources. In particular, the present invention comprises a graphical user interface which organizes content from a variety of information sources into a grid of tiles, each of which can refresh its content independently of the others. The grid functionality manages the refresh rates of the multiple information sources. The present invention is intended to operate in a platform independent manner.
US09363331B2

A data allocation method executed by a data allocation system. The data allocation method includes allocating to a first processing apparatus included among a plurality of processing apparatuses and allocating based on a first communication speed of the first processing apparatus, data having communication amount information on a frequency at which the processing apparatuses access the data, and further supplying first priority level information to the first processing apparatus; and exchanging based on variation of a communication speed of at least one processing apparatus among the processing apparatuses, the data or the first priority level information, and data or second priority level information allocated to a second processing apparatus included among the processing apparatuses and having a second communication speed.
US09363325B2

A method for notifying users of an online social network of an activity performed within a web site that is external to the online social network by an individual who is a registered user of the online social network and the web site. The method comprises the steps of receiving a notification package from the external web site, the notification package including a notification message that describes the activity performed, parsing the notification package to extract a list of recipients, each of whom is to receive the notification message, and issuing the notification message to each of the recipients.
US09363321B2

A method, system, and computer program product for optimizing storage of Web storage attributes through analytics is provided. The method includes identifying and storing in memory of a computer, utilization of different Web storage attributes by different end users across different Web application sessions from different Web browsers and analyzing the stored utilization of different Web storage attributes to identify a past scope of utilization for each of the different Web storage attributes. The method further includes, responsive to receiving a request from a requestor for an optimal storage location of a particular Web storage attribute, determining an identified past scope of utilization for the particular Web storage attribute, mapping the determined identified past scope of utilization for the particular Web storage attribute to the optimal storage location, and returning an indication of the mapped optimal storage location of the particular Web storage attribute to the requestor.
US09363316B2

An information processing apparatus including plural operation processing apparatuses and plural disk apparatuses, which are connected to each other via a switch. A management apparatus provides, in response to a loan request from a terminal, a first operation resource and a first storage resource of a first processing apparatus in which a first operation processing apparatus and a first disk apparatus are connected with each other through the switch, to the terminal through a network. The management apparatus releases the connection between the first operation processing apparatus and the first disk apparatus through the switch in response to a return request from the terminal and provides the first storage resource and a second operation resource of a second processing apparatus in which a second operation processing apparatus and the first disk apparatus are connected with each other through the switch, to the terminal through the network.
US09363314B2

Systems and methods provide for managing subscriptions to changes in resources in a Machine-to-Machine (M2M) system at a communications node. A method for such includes receiving, at an interface, a first subscription request from a first user to an application event; determining, by a processor, if other devices are subscribed to the application event; reading, by the communications node, the first subscription request including data, semantics and syntax; storing, in a memory, binding information for the first user and the application event; and transmitting, by the interface, if, based on said step of determining, no other devices are subscribed to the application event a second subscription message toward an M2M application server (AS).
US09363309B2

A system, method, and computer program for compressing packet data is provided. In exemplary embodiments, one or more prefix arrays may be generated for retrieved data, and used as the basis for predicting subsequent data. The packet data may be compressed based, at least partially, on the predicted subsequent data. Accordingly, the compressed packet data may be transferred over a communication network.
US09363294B2

A management server which manages a tenant pattern being information for forming a tenant being an application system for executing a predetermined application by using computer resources within a computer system, the tenant pattern including a configuration item and an ID pool, the management server having: pattern parts information for managing the configuration item as a pattern part that forms the tenant pattern; validation rule information for storing a detail of validation processing for a composition of the tenant pattern; and the management server further comprising: a tenant pattern generation unit; a tenant designing unit for designing a composition of the tenant, and generating a configuration detail for actually building the tenant on the computer system; and a validation execution unit for executing the validation processing for the tenant pattern and the configuration detail based on the validation rule information.
US09363290B2

A system 100 stores policy information in which role identification information, resource group identification information and action information are associated with each other (101), stores user identification information and role identification information in association with each other (102), receives an access request including user identification information for identifying a user of a client device (103), generates access control information based on the policy information and transmits the generated access control information to an access target device (104), acquires address information of a transmission source of the access request (105), and generates communication filter information representing permission for communication relating to an address represented by the acquired address information and transmits the generated communication filter information to a communication filter device specified based on the policy information (106).
US09363280B1

According to one embodiment, a computerized method comprises receiving a set of indicators of compromise (IOCs) associated with a known malware of a first message type from a first source and receiving one or more IOCs (IOC(s)) from a second source that is different from the first source. Thereafter, a determination is made as to whether the received IOC(s) from the second source correspond to the set of IOCs received from the first source. If so, information associated with at least the set of IOCs is used to locate a malware of the first message type that is undetected at the second source.
US09363278B2

The disclosed subject matter provides a response to a cyber attack on a carrier network. The response can be based on inspection of traffic flowing through a carrier network. The response can automatically adapt the traffic flow in response to a perceived threat. Traffic can be adapted by dynamically updating permission variables related to allowing access for user equipment (UE) to a carrier network, withdrawing or denying access to the carrier network for selected UEs. In other embodiments, signaling can be initiated at the carrier network to cause selected UEs to disable transmission of traffic contributing to the traffic flow. Determining a cyber attack condition can be based on predetermined rules associated with the traffic flow. Further, the determination can be performed at a front end of the carrier network to limit exposure of the carrier network to a detected cyber attack.
US09363259B2

Techniques are disclosed for authenticating users accessing computing applications, e.g., applications hosted in a cloud environment accessed using a variety of computing systems. As disclosed, an authentication process is performed using a certificate and private key installed on a mobile device and a nonce generated on the server. To authenticate a user, a server generates a nonce, encrypts the nonce with a public key associated with the user, and encodes the encrypted nonce in a barcode graphic (e.g., a QR code). The resulting barcode graphic is displayed to the user, and a mobile device scans the barcode graphic to recover the encrypted nonce. The encrypted nonce is decrypted using a private key stored on the mobile device. The clear text nonce is then displayed on the screen of the mobile device and used as a one-time password (OTP) for authentication.
US09363256B2

Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for user authentication in separate authentication channels. A token module is configured to create a unique token in response to receiving user credentials from an unknown user for a secure interface of a third party system. An identity module is configured to log into the secure interface using the received user credentials, and submit the unique token to a private input element located behind the secure interface. A match module is configured to receive the unique token from the private input element and a user identifier associated with the unknown user from the third party system. The match module is configured to associate the received user credentials with the user identifier based on the unique token. An access module is configured to display information associated with the user identifier to the unknown user.
US09363253B2

Embodiments of software-supervised pairing processes are provided. The processes enable a user to pair a mouse and keyboard with a Bluetooth transceiver without having to use a second mouse and keyboard. At least two separate processes are provided, including a long transition for initial pairing or re-pairing and a short transition for re-establishing a connection after devices have already been paired.
US09363250B2

In implementations of a hub coordination service, a device includes a communication interface for communication coordination with one or more associated devices of the device, and the associated devices correspond to hub members. A hub manager is implemented to receive a task input to create a task for one or more of the hub members to complete. The hub manager can register the task in a hub that is a private, shared space of the hub members, and then initiate communication of the task to respective associated devices of the one or more hub members for notification of the task to be completed.
US09363247B2

A computer system and method for securing files in a file system equipped with storage resources that are accessible to an authenticable user operating with an untrusted client device under the semi-trusted client threat model. The file to be secured is stored in one or more blocks belonging to the storage resources along with symmetric per-block key(s) KBi assigned to each of the blocks in the file. The blocks are encrypted with the symmetric per-block keys to obtain encrypted blocks. The user is assigned user key(s) and each per-block key that was used for encryption is in turn encrypted with one of the user's keys to derive wrapped key(s) for each encrypted block. Wrapped key(s) are placed in encrypted block headers and introduce a level of indirection to encrypted file(s) that is appropriate for the semi-trusted client threat model.
US09363241B2

In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing cryptographic enforcement based on mutual attestation for cloud services. For example, in one embodiment, such means may include receiving, at the service provider, a request from a client, the request being for services from the service provider to the client; sending to a trust broker, from the service provider, a trust policy of the service provider against which trustworthiness attributes and capabilities of both the service provider and the client are to be evaluated by the trust broker; receiving, at the service provider, a certificate from the trust broker attesting to compliance of the service provider with the trust policy; sending the certificate from the service provider to the client for affirming mutual attestation of both the service provider and the client in compliance with the trust policy according to evaluation by the trust broker; establishing a connection between the service provider and the client for the service provider to render the requested services to the client; and encrypting information exchanged between the service provider and the client in fulfillment of the request for services from the client. Other related embodiments are further described.
US09363240B2

Method, system, and programs for reducing network latency in a network. A first connection is established between a relay and a host in the network. The relay receives non-confidential information from the host over the first connection. A second connection is then established between the relay and a node in the network. The relay then communicates with the node, over the second connection, non-confidential information on behalf of the host based on the received non-confidential information from the host. The relay also forwards, over the first and second connections, confidential information between the node and the host.
US09363239B1

Enabling recipients to share tags that they associate with received e-mails includes receiving an e-mail from a sending user addressed to a receiving user, the e-mail including a header and a body and being capable of supporting attachments to the e-mail that are distinct of the body. The receiving user is enabled to perceive the e-mail and associate at least one tag with the e-mail, the at least one tag being a textual descriptor for the received e-mail distinct from the header, body, and attachments of the received e-mail. The received e-mail and the at least one tag are stored in a data store associated with the receiving user. The at least one tag is propagated to at least one of the sending user and another recipient of the e-mail to whom the sender sent the e-mail.
US09363233B2

In one kind of DoS attack, malicious customers may try to send a large number of filter requests against an innocent customer. In one implementation, a Filter Request Server (FRS) may allow a customer against who a filter request is made to dispute the implicit accusation of the filter request or stop sending malicious traffic. If the customer claims innocence, the FRS may log destination addresses of data packets sent by the customer and identify and ignore false filter requests if these filter requests come from customers who do not correspond to one or more of the destination addresses that have previously been logged by the FRS.
US09363227B2

The present disclosure provides a source specific multicast service that maps multicast group addresses to corresponding source addresses. A boundary routing element can be configured to determine whether a received join request includes a mapped group address. If the join request does not include a mapped group address, boundary routing element can be configured to perform normal join request processing of the join request. If the join request includes a mapped group address, the boundary routing element can be configured to generate a corresponding source address using the mapped group address. The boundary routing element can also be configured to perform alternative join request processing as if the join request were an SSM join request that specified both a source address and a multicast group address.
US09363226B2

A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computer system for double IP address recovery. Double IP address is a situation of a same IP address for different hosts in a network, and the double IP address recovery resolves the double IP address. In the invention, the hosts exchanges rules and system state information. Each of the hosts determines its own action of the double IP address recovery based on the same rules and the system state information of the different hosts. Each of the hosts executes its own action, either to continue or to alter an IP address.
US09363225B2

In one embodiment, a method includes building an address resolution cache for a layer-3 router in a first layer-2 datacenter, where the address resolution cache includes a plurality of entries, each of the entries containing a host network address, a host hardware address, and a switch identifier for a switch serving a host, intercepting an address resolution flood within the first layer-2 datacenter that seeks address resolution for a host in a second layer-2 datacenter, and generating a response to the address resolution flood that indicates a source in the second layer-2 datacenter, where data indicating the source in the second layer-2 datacenter is accessed from the address resolution cache.
US09363217B2

Arrangements described herein relate to indicating in an electronic message whether a user has previously accessed content provided by a resource. An electronic message can be received. The electronic message can include at least one uniform resource identifier. A determination can be made as to whether a user to whom the electronic message is sent has previously accessed content provided by a resource identified by the uniform resource identifier. In the electronic message, whether the user has previously accessed the content provided by the resource identified by the uniform resource identifier can be indicated.
US09363213B2

A system and method supporting instant messaging which removes many of the problems and harriers to the use of instant messaging through the use of universally unique identifiers to web pages for instant messaging sessions, with recipients invited to the instant messaging session via email.
US09363210B2

A network control system for managing a plurality of managed switching elements that implement a plurality of logical datapath sets. The network control system includes a first controller instance that manages the logical datapath sets by generating, based on logical forwarding plane data, physical control plane data. The network control system also includes a second controller instance that manages the managed switching elements by receiving physical control plane data and sending the physical control plane data to the switching elements.
US09363202B1

Systems, methods and computer readable media for providing low-latency scheduling on upstream channels. Systems and methods can include a low-latency scheduler and a network interface. The low-latency scheduler can assign a first group of upstream channels for standard communication of packets on a network, and to assign a second group of upstream channels for communication of small upstream packets on the network. The network interface can communicate transmission opportunities identified by the low-latency scheduler to the subscriber devices. The transmission opportunities for subscriber devices are assigned such that devices with a threshold amount of traffic receive transmission opportunities in the first group of upstream channels, and subscriber devices with less than the threshold amount of traffic receive transmission opportunities in the second group of upstream channels.
US09363197B2

A method and tangible medium embodying code for allocating resource units of an allocatable resource among a plurality of clients in a computer is described. In the method, resource units are initially distributed among the clients by assigning to each of the clients a nominal share of the allocatable resource. For each client, a current allocation of resource units is determined. A metric is evaluated for each client, the metric being a function both of the nominal share and a usage-based factor, the usage-based factor being a function of a measure of resource units that the client is actively using and a measure of resource units that the client is not actively using. A resource unit can be reclaimed from a client when the metric for that client meets a predetermined criterion.
US09363196B2

The present invention is provided with: a data-driven processor comprising at least a firing control which determines whether or not firing conditions have been met by determining whether or not all packets necessary for instruction execution have been received when a packet that convey a part of partitioned data to be processed has been input, and a data processing unit for performing processing corresponding to the packets transmitted from the firing control if the firing conditions have been met; a power supply circuit for supplying power to the data-driven processor; and overload avoidance means for refusing input of the packets to the data-driven processor, if a determination has been made that a data processing load in the data-driven processor may reach an overloaded state in which the data processing may stall, on the basis of current consumption in the data-driven processor. Accordingly, power consumption in a networking system is reduced.
US09363191B2

It is presented a service access apparatus arranged to selectively initiate communication with a network node providing a service. The service access apparatus comprises: a data obtainer arranged to obtain a multilevel hierarchical identifier associated with a user of the service access apparatus and when the multilevel hierarchical identifier does not have a lower level first, reversing the multilevel hierarchical identifier; a concatenator arranged to determine a combined domain name; a domain name lookup client arranged to perform a domain name lookup using the combined domain name, and receiving a response of the domain name lookup; and a communication initiator arranged to, when the response comprises a valid resource record for the network node, initiate communication with the network node using a node pointer in the resource record. A corresponding method, computer program and computer program product are also presented.
US09363186B2

Stacked (i.e., hierarchically arranged) rate wheels schedule traffic flows in a network. A first rate wheel operates to efficiently schedule traffic flows in which traffic shaping parameters may be applied to individual traffic flows. A second rate wheel schedules group of the traffic flows in which traffic shaping parameters may be applied at the group level. In the context of an ATM network, the first rate wheel may operate at the virtual circuit level and the second rate wheel may operate at the virtual path level.
US09363178B2

A method is described in a network element for supporting flexible lookup keys in a software-defined network. The method includes receiving a packet to be forwarded and determining a next hop for the packet, which includes parsing the packet to identify a superkey comprising a plurality of header field values of the packet; identifying a superkey mask value and a superkey offset value for a first lookup table of a set of one or more lookup tables; generating a table key for the first lookup table based upon the superkey mask value, the superkey offset value, and the superkey; and performing a lookup in the first lookup table using the table key. The lookup identifies an entry of the first lookup table indicating the next hop for the packet. The packet may then be forwarded to the next hop.
US09363177B2

A combination of an independent key routing (IKR) method and a data proxy architecture (DPA) method may be used to route communication messages in a telecommunication network to achieve improved data locality and reduce secondary key lookups. A processor may receive a first communication message that includes subscriber identifiers that uniquely identify a subscriber, generate a plurality of keys for a plurality of message types, identify a first logical scalable unit (LSU) that includes a first memory that stores a first type of data via a database API and a first key, identify a second LSU that includes a second memory that stores a second type of data relating to the subscriber via the database API and a second key of the plurality of keys, store the first communication message and the first key in the first database memory, and store the first key in the second database memory.
US09363164B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for establishing a network communication path between a source node and a destination node. A destination geographic area of the destination node is determined. An intermediate node located in an intermediate geographic area that is adjacent to a source geographic area of the source node and is in a direction that is toward the destination geographic area is determined based at least in part on the destination geographic area. Connectivity with the intermediate node is requested or established. A determination is made as to whether the adjacent intermediate geographic area is the destination geographic area. If the determined adjacent intermediate geographic area is not the destination geographic area, a next intermediate node in another intermediate geographic area that is adjacent to the intermediate geographic area and is in a direction that is toward the destination geographic area is determined.
US09363151B2

For dynamically determining packet sampling rates, a method including setting a packet sampling rate for one or more switch ports, collecting for an interval of time a plurality of statistics for the one or more switch ports, and adjusting the packet sampling rate in response to one or more of the plurality of statistics.
US09363145B2

Systems and methods are provided for programmatically simulating one or more system conditions for a network resource using one or more services. In one implementation, a server receives a request to initiate a treatment. The request identifies a treatment definition. The server determines, based on the treatment definition, the one or more services and deploys the one or more services to the network resource. The one or more services simulate the one or more system conditions.
US09363140B2

A method for analyzing and reporting gateway configurations and rules includes receiving configuration data from gateway devices providing access to an enterprise network. The gateway devices may be associated with multiple vendors. At least one computer processor parses the configuration information associated with each of the gateway devices to identify configuration output data for each of the gateway devices. The configuration output data for each of the gateway devices is stored in a single data structure. The configuration output data stored in the single data structure is indexed to generate one or more optimized data tables.
US09363134B1

Troubleshooting, training, and other services that can be provided remotely to a user of an application, Web page, or similar component can take advantage of a lightweight approach to monitoring, viewing, and/or control. A page being viewed by a user can have client executable code contained therein, wherein actions of the user with respect to the page can generate events that can be sent to a remote queue, service, server, etc. A local copy of the page can be created that can be viewed and/or operated by a person providing the service to the user. A listener component can be configured to retrieve events from the queue, etc., and send those events to the local device such that the local copy can be updated, causing the local copy to accurately reflect what the user is seeing and doing with respect to the page.
US09363133B2

Distributed application of enterprise policies to WebRTC interactive sessions, and related methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed. In this regard, in one embodiment, a method for applying an enterprise policy to a WebRTC interactive session comprises receiving, by a distributed policy enforcement agent of a recipient device, a WebRTC session description object directed to the recipient device originating from a sender device via a secure network connection. The method further comprises determining, by the distributed policy enforcement agent, one or more enterprise policies based on the WebRTC session description object. The method additionally comprises applying the one or more enterprise policies to the WebRTC session description object. In this manner, an enterprise may permit establishment of a WebRTC interactive session that crosses an enterprise network boundary, while at the same time ensuring that the WebRTC interactive session complies with the one or more enterprise policies.
US09363132B2

A method, system and computer program product for maximizing throughout of streaming media. The client device simultaneously establishes multiple independent network connections with a server (e.g., streaming video server) to access various segments of a file (e.g., video file). The client device requests a different segment of the file to be downloaded from the server across each of these network connections based on the throughput of each network connection. The received segments of the file are buffered and combined to provide continuous uninterrupted access to the received segments of the file. In this manner, the user will be able to view the contents of the file without any interruptions or pauses while at the same time without requiring any coordination between the client device and the server and without any degradation in the quality of the viewed content of the file.
US09363125B2

A blind phase tracking method for an FBMC receiver. The frequency components of the received signal, after translation into baseband and filtered by an analysis filter bank, is processed by a phase estimation module. The latter estimates for each subcarrier the data carried and, where appropriate, the interference generated by the other data. A simplified symbol is then constructed with the sign of the data thus estimated and, where appropriate, the sign of the interference thus estimated. The phase estimation module determines the phase from the frequency components and simplified symbols. The phase correction is performed by multiplication by a phase correction factor.
US09363124B2

A transmission apparatus includes a plurality of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation signal generators, which generate a first OFDM modulation signal and a second OFDM modulation signal. The transmission apparatus also includes a transmitter that transmits the first OFDM modulation signal from a first antenna and the second OFDM modulation signal from a second antenna, in an identical frequency band. A reception apparatus is provided, which includes a plurality of antennas that receive a plurality of OFDM modulation signals; a plurality of OFDM demodulators that transform the plurality of OFDM modulation signals to a plurality of reception signals using Fourier transform; an estimator that outputs a distortion estimation signal using one or more symbols for demodulation included in the plurality of reception signals; and a demodulator that compensates for distortion of the reception signals using the distortion estimation signal and demodulates a data symbol included in the reception signals.
US09363122B2

Disclosed are a method and apparatus for transmitting a training field. The method for transmitting a training field in a wireless LAN system comprises the steps of: transmitting additional long training field (LTF) indication information; and transmitting a frame including the additional LTF and partitioned data fields. The additional LTF comprises a field for demodulating the partitioned data fields included in the frame, the additional LTF indication information includes information on the location of the additional LTF included in the frame, and the partitioned data field includes at least one sub-field. Accordingly, the present invention can enhance channel estimation performance.
US09363119B1

A method of FSK decoding includes generating a pulse waveform (R'Edge) from a received FSK encoded signal (FSK signal) and a system clock (Sys_clk). From R'Edge and Sys_clk clocks are generated including a first clock and second clock framing a logic ‘0’ level of the FSK signal, and a third clock and fourth clock framing a logic ‘1’ level of the FSK signal. At least four frequency envelopes are generated from the clocks including a logic ‘0’ envelope, a logic ‘1’ envelope, a lower frequency envelope below the logic ‘0’ envelope, and an upper frequency envelope above the logic ‘1’ envelope. R'Edge is compared to the four envelopes, and a decoded output is produced, logic ‘0’ if the R'Edge overlaps the logic ‘0’ envelope, logic ‘1’ if R'Edge overlaps the logic ‘1’ envelope, and a previous output state if R'Edge does not overlap the logic ‘0’ or logic ‘1’ envelope.
US09363110B2

A receiver is disclosed that includes a slicer having an input to receive a sequence of symbols exhibiting inter-symbol-interference (ISI). The slicer determines a state associated with each symbol based on a threshold. A feedback equalization unit is coupled to the slicer to apply equalization to the symbol fed to the slicer input based on prior detected symbol states. A Least-Mean-Square (LMS) unit cooperates with the slicer and feedback equalization unit to estimate a channel impulse response based on the equalized symbols. The LMS unit feeds the estimated channel impulse response to a Maximum-Likelihood-Sequence-Estimation (MLSE) unit to generate an estimated sequence of bits based on the estimated channel impulse response.
US09363098B2

A method for evaluating quality of radio links for a wireless body area network includes first and second wireless devices forming a body area network and configured to communicate with each other. One of the two wireless devices is mobile relative to the other, The method includes exploiting messages received by one of the wireless devices to measure instantaneous quality of a corresponding radio link and to estimate times during and between which a radio link is reliable, calculating an estimated times reliability indicator, and classifying the radio links as a function of the reliability indicator into at least first and second categories. One of these categories is a category relating to intermittently reliable radio links taking into account the mobility of the wireless devices of the body area network.
US09363095B2

A method for performing communication of a machine to machine (M2M) device with a base station comprises the steps of receiving a paging message from the base station; and receiving multicast data from the base station on the basis of the paging message, wherein the paging message includes time information indicating the time when the base station transmits the multicast data to the M2M device.
US09363090B1

Systems, methods, and software for operating communication systems are provided herein. In one example, method of operating a communication system to establish secure communications between a first user device communicating in a first communication network and a second user device communicating in a second communication network is presented. The method includes, responsive to a communication request received from the first user device, establishing a secure communication link between the first user device and a first security node. When a second security node has a security relationship established with the first security node, the method includes establishing the secure communication link for the secure communications between the first user device and the second user device using at least the security relationship between the first security node and the second security node, and exchanging the secure communications over the secure communication link.
US09363088B2

Network communication and provisioning systems and methods are provided to enable automatic provisioning of an appliance to provide encryption services for email messages and other types of electronic messages addressed to or from an email domain.
US09363081B2

A license administration device manages grant or denial of each optional function in a plurality of licensee devices. The licensee device stores key information encrypted with a cipher key so as to issue a license change request activating or restricting the predetermined optional function. Upon receiving a license change request restricting the predetermined optional function, the license administration device overwrites the key information of the licensee device with a default key. Subsequently, upon receiving a license change request activating the predetermined optional function, the license administration device applies an upgrade key to the key information of the licensee device. The default key or the upgrade key can be decrypted using a cipher key unique to the licensee device. The license administration device manages the licensed maximum for the predetermined optional function and reflects an increment or decrement to the licensing maximum by applying the default key or the upgrade key.
US09363075B2

Space-efficient key allocations in broadcast encryption systems are provided. In some embodiments, a key bundle is read. The key bundle includes a first cryptographic key, an associated first key identifier, and an associated first cryptographic function identifier. Encrypted content is received. A plurality of encrypted keys is received. Each encrypted key has an associated identifier. A first encrypted key is selected from the plurality of encrypted keys such that the key identifier of the first encrypted is equivalent to the first key identifier. A first cryptographic function is determined corresponding to the first cryptographic function identifier. The first cryptographic function is applied to the first encrypted key using the first cryptographic key to obtain a first intermediate cryptographic key. A content cryptographic key is determined using the first intermediate cryptographic key. The content cryptographic key is applied to the encrypted content to obtain decrypted content.
US09363070B2

Described herein is a low power squelch circuit which comprises a clock generation unit to generate first and second phases of a clock signal; a sampling unit to sample a differential input signal according to the first and second phases of the clock signal, the sampler to generate a sampled differential signal; and a differential amplifier to amplify the sampled differential signal.
US09363065B2

In a communication system, activity of a transmitter, e.g., a UE, is controlled in response to a deactivation command. The transmitter receives data on at least one transmission carrier and, if a received transmission of data is found to be defective, may send a repeat request to trigger a retransmission of the data. In response to receiving the deactivation command, the transmitter performs a check whether a retransmission is expected on the at least one transmission carrier. If a retransmission is expected, execution of the deactivation command to deactivate the transmission carrier is delayed until the retransmission is received or a timer has expired.
US09363054B2

A method of wireless communication including a plurality of fixed basestations and a plurality of mobile user equipment with each basestation transmitting to any user equipment within a corresponding cell a sounding reference signal sub-frame configuration indicating sub-frames when sounding is permitted. Each user equipment recognizes the sounding reference signal sub-frame configuration and sounds only at permitted sub-frames. Differing user equipment may have differing sounding reference signal sub-frame configurations. There are numerous manners to encode the transmitted information.
US09363041B2

A wireless charging in-band communication system includes a transmitter module that formats a message using CRC calculation and attaches the results of the CRC calculation to the message for message error detection. The transmitter includes channel encoding for message error correction. A modulation module performs biphase modulation for DC balanced signals and impedance switching to change reflected impedance seen by the source. A synchronization module prepending the message with a synchronization sequence having Golay complementary codes. Moreover, the in-band communication includes a receiver module that receives the message from the transmitter module. The receiver module includes an impedance sensing circuit to detect changes in the reflected impedance of the transmitter module. The receiver module includes a front end filter used for pulse shaping and noise rejection. A preamble detection block includes a Golay complementary code correlator used for message detection, synchronization, and equalization coefficient estimation and selection. A decoding module performs biphase demodulation with error correction with a DC offset being estimated as the average value of the signal over the length of the message before channel decoding Also, the decoding module performs equalization, error correction channel decoding,and error detection (CRC).
US09363033B2

The present invention relates to an optical transmitter for transmitting data. The optical transmitter includes a pulse generator for generating N data streams overlapping in time from a de-multiplexed data source. Each respective data stream has pulses with shapes unique to that respective data stream. The transmitter also includes an optical source optically transmitting an output pulse that is generated by summing the uniquely shaped pulses from each respective data stream that are overlapping in time. Each output pulse represents N bits of the data source, where N>1.
US09363025B2

A signal propagation system for communicating timing information comprises a processing resource (300) arranged to generate a first timing signal for communicating the timing information, the first timing signal having a first frequency spectrum associated therewith. An electronic circuit (110) is provided having an input for receiving the timing information. An electrical connection (310) between the processing resource (300) and the electronic circuit (110) is also provided. A signal transformation module (304) for communicating the timing information, and the signal transformation module (304) is arranged to translate the first timing signal into a second timing signal for communicating the timing information. The second timing signal has a second frequency spectrum associated therewith that comprises fewer harmonics than the first timing signal, thereby reducing electromagnetic energy emitted by the electrical connection.
US09363021B2

A receiver optical module to facilitate the assembling is disclosed. The receiver optical module includes an intermediate assembly including the optical de-multiplexer and the optical reflector each mounted on the upper base, and the lens and the PD mounted on the sub-mount. The latter assembly is mounted on the bottom of the housing; while, the former assembly is also mounted on the bottom through the lower base. The upper base is apart from the bottom and extends in parallel to the bottom to form a surplus space where the amplifying circuit is mounted.
US09363017B2

A communication device includes a resource allocation module to allocate coax resources for signals to be transmitted over a cable plant and a coax physical layer device to transmit the signals over the cable plant using the allocated coax resources. The communication device also includes a media access controller, coupled to the multi-point control protocol implementation and the coax physical layer device, to provide to the coax physical layer device a bitstream that includes data for the signals and also includes information specifying the allocated coax resources.
US09363016B2

A coaxial line terminal (CLT) comprising an optical port configured to couple to an optical line terminal (OLT) via an optical distribution network (ODN), an electrical port configured to couple to a coaxial network unit (CNU) via an electrical distribution network, and a processor coupled to the optical port and the electrical port, wherein the processor is configured to receive from the OLT a plurality of first frames addressed to the CNU, receive from the OLT a plurality of second frames not addressed to the CNU, forward the first frames to the CNU, and prohibit the second frames from being forwarded to the CNU.
US09363010B2

A method of controlling a function of a mobile terminal is provided. The method includes placing the mobile terminal within a communication range of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device previously registered in the mobile terminal, receiving identification information of the BLE device from the BLE device, extracting function information corresponding to the received identification information of the BLE device, and performing a previously set function corresponding to the extracted function information.
US09363007B2

A relay device in a system in which a transmission signal of a base station is relayed via a plurality of relay devices, includes: a first antenna configured to receive the transmission signal; a second antenna configured to communicate a target relay device being a relay destination relay device for the transmission signal; a communication unit configured to perform notification of setting information of the first and second antennas to other relay devices including the target relay device, and communication for acquiring setting information of the other relay devices; and an analysis unit configured to analyze a cause of a relay status lower than a criterion when the relay status of the transmission signal is lower than the criterion.
US09362997B2

A method for performing hierarchical beamforming in a wireless access system and a device therefor are disclosed. Particularly, the method comprises: an initial step for allowing a base station to transmit a plurality of first beams, to which different steering vectors are applied, to a terminal through corresponding reference signals, and a repetition step for allowing the base station to transmit a plurality of second beams, to which different steering vectors are applied, to the terminal through corresponding reference signals by considering feedback information that contains an index of one or more beams received from the terminal, wherein the repetition step can be repeated up to a predetermined number of times.
US09362993B2

The present invention relates to transmit power allocation in multi-carrier, multiplexing MIMO communication systems. The present invention especially relates to a MIMO communication device, a method of assigning transmit power to two or more communication channels and a software program product. A multiple-input-multiple-output, MIMO, communication device according to the present invention comprises a link controller adapted to assign transmit power to two or more transmission channels, each of said transmission channels having preassigned a portion of transmit power for each of a group of subcarriers, said link controller being further adapted to assign, for each subcarrier of said group of subcarriers, at least part of the preassigned transmit power portion of a transmission channel that is not used for transmitting information at the subcarrier, to one or more transmission channels that are used for transmitting information at the subcarrier.
US09362990B1

Spatial Multiplexing (SM) with Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) is used in many communication systems for providing high data rates. While SM-MIMO is a powerful technique for increasing the data rate and bandwidth efficiency, the decoders for SM-MIMO are highly complex. The complexity grows exponentially for optimum decoders as the number of multiplexed layers in SM-MIMO increases. Many reduced complexity suboptimal methods are used in practice that have close to optimum performance but they remain highly complex causing high power consumption which is not desirable for battery operated client terminals. Due to the parallel architecture of many of the SM-MIMO decoders, they involve computations that may eventually turn out to be redundant. A method and apparatus may include identifying and eliminating potentially redundant computations in SM-MIMO decoders based on the technique referred herein as precomputation. The removal of redundant computations enables reduced power consumption for SM-MIMO decoders.
US09362982B2

The present invention is directed to methods and apparatuses for performing concurrent vectoring of systems having communications performed at different symbol rates. In embodiments, where a common binder includes different sub-groups of lines having corresponding different symbol rates, the invention includes methods and apparatuses for managing and concurrently vectoring all the lines of the different sub-groups.
US09362980B2

The present disclosure provides a dielectric fluid composed of a genetically engineered microbial oil (GEMO) and an antioxidant. The GEMO includes a triglyceride and an amount of small glyceride. The amount of small glyceride is within a range from 0.1 wt % to 30 wt %, based upon the GEMO weight.
US09362977B2

In one embodiment, the present invention is a method for performing incremental preamble detection in a wireless communication network. The method processes non-overlapping chunks of incoming antenna data, where each chunk is smaller than the preamble length, to detect the signature of the transmitted preamble. For each chunk processed, chips of the chunk are correlated with possible signatures employed by the wireless network to update a set of correlation profiles, each profile comprising a plurality of profile values. Further, an intermediate detection is performed by comparing the updated profile values to an intermediate threshold that is also updated for each chunk. Upon receiving the final chunk, the correlation profiles are updated, and a final preamble detection is made by comparing the updated profile values to a final threshold. Detections are performed on an incremental basis to meet latency requirements of the wireless network.
US09362976B2

A wireless local area network (WLAN) includes a server and receiver in communication with the server as a network client. A plurality of radio frequency (RF) front-end circuits are each configured for receiving wireless signals from mobile nodes within the WLAN along an allocated channel specific for a front-end circuit. A plurality of baseband processors each specific to an allocated channel are connected to a respective front-end circuit for the allocated channel and capture a desired signal specific to the allocated channel. A system controller is connected to each baseband processor for configuring each baseband processor and processing the desired signal and obtaining message data and signal metrics for each allocated channel that are communicated to the server.
US09362974B2

Systems and methods are described for transmitting data over physical channels to provide a high bandwidth, low latency interface between integrated circuit chips with low power utilization. Communication is performed using group signaling over multiple wires using a vector signaling code, where each wire carries a low-swing signal that may take on more than two signal values.
US09362973B2

A radio module is disclosed that includes a baseband device, a layer device, and a multi radio antenna. The baseband device is arranged to perform digital modulation and/or demodulation. The baseband device provides a data connection available to a digital system using the radio module for radio communication. The multi radio antenna includes an analog radio device arranged to perform analog signal processing, and an antenna array connected to the analog radio device. The layer device is arranged to map each baseband device to one or more of the at least one multi radio antennas, and the radio module is connectable to a second equivalent radio module. A corresponding radio assembly and method are also disclosed.
US09362972B2

A protective case for an electronic device having an antenna includes a first case member and a second case member. The first case member includes at least two metallic case portions joined to each other by at least one electrical insulator segment that electrically isolates the at least two metallic case portions from each other to reduce electromagnetic interference between the first case member and the antenna of the electronic device. The second case member that attaches to the first case member to form an enclosure that at least partially encloses the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case.
US09362971B2

The invention comprises a method and apparatus for providing a connection method to digital devices connecting and disconnecting an exo-skeleton, impact protection, wearable computing and ergonomic texturing for digital devices. The invention increases the devices functionality, while providing a secondary quick release mounting method that allow the fast attachment and release of various accessories to the digital device or other objects, as well as providing mounting surfaces that allows for connection of various accessories. The secondary quick release mounting method can be integrated into any object independently, allowing a magnitude of possibilities. The device is made in variety of materials and methods, with an integrated spring mechanism, which allow for preloading and locking of the chucked arms against the digital device for a firm, secure protection of the device's fragile structure against impact as well as providing a connection standard.
US09362969B1

A stand for an electronic device having a camera at one end, where the stand includes: an elongate base having a target end, a device end, a first side, and a second side; a tray disposed on a top surface of the target end adjacent to the first side of the base; a foot extending from the device end; and a device support extending upward from the base between the device end and the target end of the base. The device support has a height and a distance from the foot such that a camera of an electronic device can capture an image of an object or document located in the tray when the device is resting on the foot and the device support.
US09362964B2

A microwave radio receiver includes a first down-converter, a second down-converter, and a combined receiver signal level (RSL) and interference detector. The first down-converter is configured to convert a RF signal into a first IF signal. The second down-converter is configured to convert the first IF signal into a second IF signal. The combined RSL and interference detector is configured to determine one or more RSLs and generate an interference indicator based on the first IF signal from the first down-converter and a control signal from the second down-converter.
US09362961B2

A voltage controlled oscillator outputs an output signal whose frequency corresponds to inputted control voltage. A distributor distributes the output signal outputted from the voltage controlled oscillator. A plurality of injection-locked oscillators regulate self-oscillation frequencies according to the above frequency and output signals obtained by frequency-multiplying signals distributed by the distributor. A combiner combines and outputs the signals outputted from the plurality of injection-locked oscillators. This makes it possible to increase output power while preventing an operating band from narrowing.
US09362956B2

A concatenated encoder is provided that includes an outer encoder, a symbol interleaver and a polar inner encoder. The outer encoder is configured to encode a data stream using an outer code to generate outer codewords. The symbol interleaver is configured to interleave symbols of the outer codewords and generate a binary stream. The polar inner encoder is configured to encode the binary stream using a polar inner code to generate an encoded stream. A concatenated decoder is provided that includes a polar inner decoder, a symbol de-interleaver and an outer decoder. The polar inner decoder is configured to decode an encoded stream using a polar inner code to generate a binary stream. The symbol de-interleaver is configured to de-interleave symbols in the binary stream to generate outer codewords. The outer decoder is configured to decode the outer codewords using an outer code to generate a decoded stream.
US09362947B2

A sorting decoder captures the rank-order of a set of input analogue signals in the digital domain using simple logic components such as self-timed first state elements, without requiring conventional analogue-to-digital signal converters. The analogue signals are each compared against a monotonic dynamic reference and the resulting comparisons are snapshot by a self-timed first state element for each input signal, or the last member of a sorted collection of input signals, at the time when it reaches the reference signal, so that a different snapshot representing the signal value ranking relative to the other signal values is produced for each input signal. The resulting rank-order estimation snapshots are binary signals that can then be further processed by a simple sorting logic circuit based on elementary logic components.
US09362940B2

A parallel sample-and-hold circuit includes a sampling switch and a hold capacitor for each of the ADC and MDAC of a converter stage for a pipelined ADC. Each sampling switch couples the analog input of the first converter stage to its hold capacitor at the time a sample is desired to be taken. After the sample is placed on the hold capacitor, the sampling switch is opened and the hold capacitor stores the sample. To compensate for mismatches in the signal paths of these sample-and-hold circuits, a compensation switch is further used. The compensation switch couples the terminals of the hold capacitors together, creating a parallel sample-and-hold circuit. The compensation switch is controlled such that it is closed after the sampling switches are opened to equalize a voltage of the samples.
US09362923B2

A delay circuit includes units each of which includes a first delay element having a first input node and a first output node, a second delay element having a second input node and a second output node, and a third delay element between the first and second delay elements. The first output node of a first unit of the units is connected to the first input node of a second unit of the units. The second input node of the first unit is connected to the second output node of the second unit. A signal on the first input node of the first delay element of the first unit is output from the second output node of the second delay element of the first unit through the third delay element of the second unit.
US09362920B2

The present invention provides a correction circuit. The correction circuit includes a frequency dividing circuit, a frequency dividing coefficient operation circuit, a built-in temperature collection circuit, and a power-on and power-off detection circuit. The built-in temperature collection circuit is configured to collect a temperature of the chip; the power-on and power-off detection circuit is configured to detect power-on and power-off of the chip; the frequency dividing coefficient operation circuit is configured to calculate, according to the temperature of the chip collected by the built-in temperature collection circuit when the power-on and power-off detection circuit detects that the chip is powered off, a frequency dividing coefficient, and output the frequency dividing coefficient to the frequency dividing circuit; and the frequency dividing circuit is configured to provide, according to the frequency dividing coefficient output by the frequency dividing coefficient operation circuit, a timing pulse for a real-time clock.
US09362918B2

The invention relates to a programmable interconnection device, comprising: first rows of functional blocks, each functional block having inputs and outputs; second rows of programmable interconnection cells; horizontal connections, each connecting a programmable interconnection cell of the second row with only one other cell of that row; and connection bundles comprising transverse connections connecting a given programmable interconnection cell with functional blocks of the neighboring first row; the cells being suitable together for interconnecting the inputs and the outputs of each functional block of each first row with the outputs and the inputs of all of the other functional blocks of the same row.
US09362916B2

In various embodiments, a circuit arrangement may be provided. The circuit arrangement may include a level shifting stage configured to be coupled to a first reference voltage, the level shifting stage having an output node. The circuit arrangement may further include a first input electrode in electrical connection with the level shifting stage. The circuit arrangement may also include a second input electrode in electrical connection with the level shifting stage. The circuit arrangement may further include a load having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the level shifting stage and the second end for coupling to a second reference voltage. In addition, the circuit arrangement may include a bypass circuit element connected in parallel to the load. The bypass circuit element may be configured to allow current to flow through upon application of an external voltage for bypassing the load.
US09362915B1

A low voltage differential signaling generating circuit, which comprises a current source a pair of output nodes for providing a differential signal by virtue of a voltage difference therebetween, first and second differential switch circuitries and a bypass circuitry. The first differential switch circuitry selectively connects the current source to the first output node based on a control signal to cause a current flow from the first output node to the second one. The second differential switch circuitry selectively connects the current source to the second output node based on the control signal to cause a current flow from the second output node to the first one. The bypass circuitry is arranged in parallel to the first and second differential switch circuitries and is selectively switched based on an idle mode signal to prevent a current between the output nodes.
US09362910B2

In an integrated clock gating (ICG) cell a latch is coupled to a NOR gate. The NOR gate receives an enable signal. The latch is configured to generate a latch output in response to the state of the enable signal. The latch includes a tri-state inverter. A NAND gate is coupled to the latch and the NAND gate is configured to generate an inverted clock signal in response to the latch output and a clock input.
US09362904B2

A system having a power on reset circuit including a voltage divide), a multiplexer coupled to two outputs of the voltage divider, a first comparator coupled to the multiplexer and a reference, a logic gate coupled to the first comparator, a second comparator coupled to one of the two outputs of the voltage divider, and an emulation gate coupled to the second comparator.
US09362903B2

An electronic component includes a switching device comprising a source, a gate, and a drain, the switching device having a predetermined device switching rate. The electronic component further includes a gate driver electrically connected to the gate and coupled between the source and the gate of the switching device, the gate driver configured to switch a gate voltage of the switching device at a gate driver switching rate. The gate driver is configured such that in operation, an output current of the gate driver cannot exceed a first current level, wherein the first current level is sufficiently small to provide a switching rate of the switching device in operation to be less than the predetermined device switching rate.
US09362900B2

A switching unit serves for the arithmetic linking of at least two input signals supplied to the switching unit. For this purpose, the switching unit provides a switching matrix to which the at least two input signals are supplied. The switching matrix applies at least one summation operation to at least two input signals and/or at least one multiplication operation to at least one input signal. Additionally or alternatively, the switching matrix can also connect at least one input signal directly through to a first output. The switching matrix comprises for this purpose several current switches.
US09362893B2

Apparatus and methods for switch-coupled oscillators are disclosed. In certain implementations, an oscillator system includes a primary oscillator, one or more auxiliary oscillators, one or more switching circuits, and an oscillator control circuit. The oscillator control circuit can be used to control the one or more switching circuits to selectively couple the primary oscillator to all or a portion of the one or more auxiliary oscillators. The oscillator control circuit can also disable any auxiliary oscillators that are decoupled from the primary oscillator to reduce power consumption. By selecting a number of auxiliary oscillators to couple to the primary oscillator, the oscillator system can have a configurable phase noise versus power consumption profile.
US09362892B2

The purpose of this invention is to increase reliability of a switching element while reducing consumption power. In the vertical blanking period, an end pulse signal (ED) changes from the low level to the high level. The potential of first nodes (N1) in the first stage to (m−1)th stage of cascade-connected m-stage bistable circuits included in a shift register of the scanning signal drive circuit is reliably maintained at the low level, and the potential of second nodes (N2) in the first stage to the (m−1)th stage changes from the high level to the low level. In a bistable circuit in the m-th stage, the potential of the first node (N1) in the m-th stage changes from the high level to the low level, and the potential of the second node (N2) in the m-th stage is maintained at the low level. The supply to a bistable circuit of clock signals (CKA, CKB) is stopped. Until a write period in the subsequent vertical scanning period, the potential of the first node (N1) and the potential of the second node (N2) in each stage are maintained at the low level.
US09362889B2

A bandpass filter is provided that prevents clock leakage to the input side of an amplifier circuit and has excellent out-of-passband signal attenuation. It includes an amplifier (102) connected between an input terminal and an output terminal, an impedance frequency conversion circuit (101) that is connected between an output of the amplifier and ground and changes impedance depending on whether or not the frequency of a signal output from the amplifier is within a predetermine passband, and a feedback circuit (103) connected between the output and an input of the amplifier.
US09362884B2

The invention relates to a micro-acoustic filter having a first and a second converter, in which the electromagnetic and capacitive cross-talk between the first and second converters is compensated for by providing additional coupling capacitors and additional current loops. Additional coupling capacitors and current loops are arranged in such a manner that they can counteract the sign of the natural coupling specified by the design and thus completely compensate for said coupling.
US09362883B2

A multi-stage signal handling circuit. Operating as a combiner or splitter, first stage transformers match low input impedance at a first set of differential terminals, and second stage transformers match expected higher impedance at second terminal(s). Transformer windings are mirror image, vertically aligned, meandering conductive tracks disposed on opposite sides of a PCB. Air columns above or below the conductive tracks reduce ground plane effects. A capacitor provided across the differential input terminals of each transformer is chosen to further match the power amplifier output, including consideration of inherent inductance presented by the circuit tracks and vias between transformer sections.
US09362881B2

A noise filter device includes a ground connection terminal (21) for grounding, a coil (31) formed by winding a conductive wire (33), a pair of capacitors (41) constituting a π-type filter circuit C together with the coil (31) and to be electrically connected to the ground connection terminal (21), and a housing (11) capable of housing the coil (31) and the pair of capacitors (41). The capacitors are both arranged on one surface side of a virtual plane dividing the coil into two in an axial direction, and a conductive shielding plate (24B) to be grounded to the ground connection terminal (21) is interposed between the capacitors (41).
US09362874B2

An apparatus comprises a differential amplifier circuit and a current source. The differential amplifier circuit is configured to receive a voltage at an input, wherein the differential amplifier circuit generates an output voltage having a magnitude proportional to the received voltage over a voltage range to be measured at a specified output common mode voltage. The current source is electrically connected to an input of the differential amplifier circuit and is configured to subtract a midpoint of a voltage range of the battery voltage to be measured at the input of the differential amplifier, wherein a circuit supply voltage provided to the differential amplifier circuit and the current source is less than the voltage at the input.
US09362873B2

An instrumentation amplifier includes: a first input stage configured to shift a level of a first input voltage applied to a first input terminal and to output the level-shifted voltage; a second input stage configured to shift a level of a second input voltage applied to a second input terminal and to output the level-shifted voltage; a first resistor configured to generate a differential current corresponding to a difference between the voltage output from the first input stage and the voltage output from the second input stage; a second resistor configured to convert the differential current into a first output voltage; a third resistor configured to convert the differential current into a second output voltage; a first output stage configured to output the first output voltage from a first output terminal; and a second output stage configured to output the second output voltage from a second output terminal.
US09362865B2

The present technique relates to a demodulation device, a demodulation method and a program capable of realizing a demodulation process at a rate equivalent to a case where I and Q channel signals are not inverted, even when the I and Q channel signals are inverted. A frequency correction unit establishes synchronization of a frequency and clock based on a signal from a frequency synchronization unit. A channel inversion detection unit of a frame synchronization unit detects presence or absence of inversion of I and Q channel signals, and supplies, as a detection result, a channel inversion detection result to the channel inversion control unit. The channel inversion control unit switches the I and Q channel signals if the inversion has occurred, based on the channel inversion detection result. This technique can be applied to a demodulation device.
US09362852B2

The current disclosure teaches and describes a generator assembly and related hand crank devices. One embodiment of the device may include a traditional generator, a handle and a crank link. The crank link is rotatably connected to the handle in a perpendicular position. A user may hold the handle and wield the hand crank device to make the crank link rotate around the handle like a clock hand, enabling the generator to provide power to the hand crank device. Such wielding motion may also be driven by other forces. The current design allows the user to charge the device with only one hand and with ease. In addition, the “functioning” components of the current hand crank device may be housed in or attached to either the handle or crank link, or both. Other components may also be introduced to make the generator assembly more efficient and easy to use.
US09362848B2

A power electronic converter, for connecting AC and DC networks and transferring power therebetween, comprises: first and second DC terminals for connection in use to a DC network; at least one primary converter limb extending between the first and second DC terminals and having first and second primary limb portions separated by a primary AC terminal for connection in use to a respective phase of a multi-phase AC network, at least one of the first and second primary limb portions including at least one primary active switching module to selectively allow current to flow through the corresponding primary converter limb in a first direction from the corresponding primary AC terminal to the DC terminals and in a second direction from the DC terminals to the corresponding primary AC terminal; and at least one secondary converter limb extending between the first and second DC terminals and having first and second secondary limb portions separated by a secondary AC terminal for connection in use to a further respective phase of the said multi-phase AC network, each of the first and second secondary limb portions including at least one passive current check element to limit current flow through the corresponding secondary converter limb to a single direction from the corresponding secondary AC terminal to the DC terminals.
US09362839B2

Power conversion systems are presented with common mode reduction by space vector pulse width modulation zero vector selection to counteract common mode contribution of active vectors.
US09362838B1

An electrical power system is connectable to an AC base power supply to provide AC base electrical power to a mobile unit. The AC mobile unit electrical power is provided in one embodiment without pass-through of AC electrical power which would otherwise bypass an AC/DC inverter. In one implementation, a marine electrical power system is connectable to an AC shore power supply to provide AC shore electrical power to a docked marine vessel.
US09362837B2

The invention relates to a method for feeding electrical current into an electrical, three-phase power supply system having a first phase, a second phase and a third phase with a first voltage, a second voltage and a third voltage at a power supply system frequency, comprising the steps of: measuring the first, second and third voltages, transforming the first, second and third voltages into a positive phase-sequence voltage system and a negative phase-sequence voltage system according to the method of symmetrical components, calculating a first desired current, a second desired current and a third desired current for feeding into the first, second and third phases of the power supply system, wherein the first, second and third desired currents are calculated on the basis of at least one value of the positive phase-sequence voltage system and/or the negative phase-sequence voltage system.
US09362832B2

An intermediate bus architecture power supply system including an output voltage feedback-regulated, isolated first stage switching voltage converter (SVC) such as an intermediate bus converter, connected via an intermediate voltage bus (IVB) to at least one second stage DC-to-DC voltage converter. The first stage SVC is configured to adjust its switching duty cycle to compensate for voltage fluctuations on the IVB. The voltage regulation mechanism of the first stage SVC may thus suppress oscillations in the IVB voltage which originate from the first stage SVC's input or from fluctuations in the system's load current, and consequently reduce electromagnetic interference as well as the amplitude of voltage and current fluctuations on the IVB.
US09362821B2

The present invention provides a power system and controlling method thereof. The power system includes: pulse width modulation (PWM) power source, voltage detection unit, current detection unit and feedback signal generation unit. PWM power source receives external DC input, performs PWM on received external DC input, and supplies PWM output obtained through PWM from the DC output terminal to a device expecting power supply. Voltage detection unit detects voltage amplitude of PWM output. Current detection unit detects current amplitude of PWM output. Feedback signal generation unit generates feedback signal and supplies generated feedback signal to PWM power source. PWM power source adjusts the voltage amplitude and current amplitude of the PWM output based on the received feedback signal.
US09362814B2

A high power density switched-capacitor DC-DC converter is disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a high power-density switched-capacitor DC-DC converter that includes: first and second voltage summing circuits, each voltage summing circuit producing an output voltage that is substantially equal to an input voltage; and a switching circuit connected between the first and second voltage summing circuits and configured to provide a DC voltage source as an input to the first and second voltage summing circuits, wherein the converter produces an output voltage that is the sum of the voltage produced by the first voltage summing circuit, the voltage provided by the DC voltage source, and the voltage produced by the second voltage summing circuit.
US09362801B2

A high-voltage flywheel energy storage system to prevent ionization, plasma formation, and electrical arc discharge and corresponding method are provided. The high-voltage flywheel energy storage system prevents ionization, plasma formation, and electrical arc discharge by isolating the motor windings and motor end windings from the partial vacuum environment existing in the flywheel housing.
US09362799B2

A housing for a generator set includes an enclosure within which the generator set is disposed. The housing further includes a covering including a substantially flat top face and a bottom face comprising a plurality of undulations. The bottom face is disposed between the top face and the enclosure. Each of the plurality of undulations has a peak atop which an adhesive bead is positioned. The adhesive bead is responsive to pressure exerted thereon. Each of the undulations is in contact with the enclosure via a respective adhesive bead.
US09362798B2

An outer-rotor motor includes a stationary portion, a rotating portion, and a bearing mechanism arranged to support the rotating portion such that the rotating portion is rotatable about a central axis extending in a vertical direction with respect to the stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a stator, a mounting plate, and a circuit board. The rotating portion includes a shaft, a rotor holder, and a rotor magnet. The mounting plate includes a projecting portion arranged to project radially. The outer-rotor-motor further includes a guide structure connected with the projecting portion. The guide structure is arranged to extend axially, radially outside the rotor holder. A leadwire is electrically connected to the circuit board, and is guided along the guide structure. Provision of the guide structure, which is arranged to guide the leadwire radially outwardly of the rotor holder, contributes to preventing a contact between the leadwire and the rotor holder.
US09362796B2

An electricity collection and distribution ring includes a plurality of bus rings that include a plurality of annular conductive bodies and a plurality of connecting terminals provided on the annular conductive bodies. The connecting terminals each include a first connecting portion connected to a center conductor, a second connecting portion connected to a winding and a coupling portion for coupling the first and second connecting portions. The coupling portion includes the first extended portion including an end portion extending through a gap between the annular conductive bodies toward one side in an axial direction of the annular conductive bodies and the second extended portion extending from the end portion of the first extended portion toward one side in a radial direction of the annular conductive bodies. The second connecting portion is formed at an end portion of the second extended portion on one side in the radial direction.
US09362795B2

In the automotive rotary electric machine stator according to the present invention, a stator winding is constituted by distributed windings, slot-housed portions and root portions of coil end portions are formed so as to have flat cross sections, and the slot-housed portions are housed in the slots in contact with each other so as to line up in a single column in a radial direction such that long sides of the flat cross sections are oriented circumferentially. Flatnesses of root portions of the coil end portions that are radially adjacent and that extend outward in different circumferential directions from the slots are mutually different.
US09362788B2

An electric machine has a stator that comprises a plurality of laminations with an outer periphery, and each of the laminations has teeth about a central opening such that when the laminations are stacked side-by side to form the stator core, the plurality of teeth of adjacent laminations cooperate to form slots disposed circumferentially about the central opening that are configured to receive a plurality of stator windings. Each of the laminations has a plurality of cooling apertures angularly spaced about the central opening. The cooling apertures of adjacent laminations cooperate to form cooling manifolds that extend along a length of the stator core. A portion of the laminations has their cooling apertures offset from other laminations in the stack in a manner to create a plurality of flow path transverse to the manifolds and angularly between laminations and adjacent manifolds.
US09362787B2

A generator (5) for a wind turbine (1) is disclosed. The generator (5) comprises a rotor (3) configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and at least one stator (4) arranged next to the rotor (3). Each stator (4) comprises at least two subunits (8), the subunits (8) being arranged side-by-side along a moving direction of the rotor (3). Each subunit (8) comprises at least one flux-generating module (9) facing the rotor (3) but spaced therefrom, thereby defining an air gap between the rotor (3) and each flux-generating module (9). The subunits (8) are movable relative to each other along a direction which is substantially transverse to the moving direction of the rotor (3). This allows a subunit (8) to move in a manner which adjusts the air gap without affecting the position and the air gap of a neighboring subunit (8). Thereby variations in the rotor (3) can be compensated and a uniform and constant air gap can be maintained. The invention further provides a wind turbine (1) comprising such a generator (5) and a method for performing service on a generator (5).
US09362777B2

A portable wireless charging system is incorporated inside a carrying device that has a plurality of walls and an interior. The portable wireless charging system has a transmitter positioned at a first fixed location at an inner surface of one of the walls, a mobile power supply positioned adjacent the transmitter and electrically coupled to the transmitter, and a receiver positioned at a second fixed location at an outer surface of the one of walls, with the second fixed location aligned with the first fixed location. A barrier is positioned between the transmitter and the receiver, and a first pocket positioned at the outer surface about the second fixed location. A portable device that includes a battery to be charged can be retained inside the first pocket to be charged.
US09362774B2

This disclosure describes techniques for a method of charging a battery. In an example, the method includes determining a capacity of the battery, and determining a state of charge of the battery. The method also includes charging the battery with a charging current, wherein the charging current is based on the capacity of the battery and the state of charge of the battery, and wherein charging the battery comprises reducing the charging current in response to the state of charge of the battery changing with respect to the capacity of the battery.
US09362770B2

A device control apparatus according to an embodiment includes a monitoring unit, a first processing unit, and a second processing unit. The monitoring unit monitors a state of voltage supply from a battery. When the start of the voltage supply is detected, the first processing unit starts the voltage supply to some devices, operates in a first operation mode, and executes a resume process of the devices. When the resume process is completed, the second processing unit starts the voltage supply to devices other than some devices, initializes states of the devices, and operates in a second operation mode in which consumption power is larger than consumption power of the first operation mode.
US09362765B1

A power adapter for mobile devices may include an alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter. The AC/DC converter may convert electric power from a power source. The power adapter may include a housing enclosing the AC/DC converter. The power adapter may include a power plug extending from the housing along a first axis. The power adapter may include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug extending from the housing along the first axis and on an opposite end of the housing from the power plug. The power adapter may include a device charging plug pivotally coupled to the housing.
US09362762B2

A cap lamp system includes a battery pack featuring a housing with a battery cell and a protection circuit positioned within the battery pack housing. A pair of terminals are attached to the battery cell and are adapted to provide power to a cap lamp and/or other device(s). Circuitry is electrically attached to the battery cell and the cap lamp for controlling discharging of the battery cell when powering the cap lamp and/or other device(s) and charging of the battery cell when the battery pack is connected to a charger.
US09362758B2

A method for reducing a total loss of charge of battery cells by balancing states of charge includes checking boundary conditions as to whether a vehicle is in the park mode, whether a previous balancing step occurred in the past by at least a defined time period, whether a temperature of a balancing unit lies below an adjustable temperature limit and whether states of charge of all battery cells exceed a minimum state of charge. Additionally, the method includes determining a need for balancing such that a check is made as to whether a maximum difference of all states of charge of all battery cells is greater than an adjustable limit state of charge. Also the method includes, balancing by the balancing units if the first two steps of the method are affirmed. The balancing resistances are connected to respective battery cells for a predetermined time.
US09362752B2

A photovoltaic power generation system is discussed. The photovoltaic power generation system includes a solar cell module including a plurality of solar cell groups divided into groupings of the plurality of solar cell groups, each of the plurality of solar cell groups including at least one of one solar cell row which a plurality of solar cells are electrically connected, and a plurality of signal control units connected to the plurality of solar cell groups, respectively, wherein the each of the plurality of signal control units track a maximum power based on the current and the voltage output from each of the plurality of solar cell groups and outputs the maximum power.
US09362751B2

Disclosed is a method of controlling the power input to a HVDC transmission link, which HVDC transmission link is connected to an AC power plant via a first voltage source converter and to AC grid via a second voltage source converter, which method includes using the second voltage source converter to perform voltage control of the HVDC transmission link during a no-fault mode of operation of the grid; monitoring a HVDC transmission link parameter to detect an unbalanced fault; and using the first voltage source converter to regulate the output of the AC power plant on the basis of the monitored HVDC transmission link parameter in the event of an unbalanced fault. Also described are a control module for controlling the power input to a HVDC transmission link; a voltage source converter for a power plant; and a power generation and transmission arrangement.
US09362746B2

In one embodiment, a computer determines a grid topology of an electric grid based on one or more electric grid configuration description files, and also determines a network topology of a computer network used to provide communication to grid devices of the electric grid. By assessing whether the network topology is configured to meet one or more communication requirements of the grid topology (e.g., initially and/or through monitoring for grid changes), the computer may trigger a corrective action (e.g., alarm or reconfiguration) in response to the network topology not being configured to meet the one or more communication requirements of the grid topology.
US09362736B2

A solid state switch module is provided for use in a power distribution network including an input differential protection connection for receiving a measured current value from an upstream module. The solid state switch module also includes an output differential protection connection for sending a measured current value. The solid state switch module includes a trip outlet for sending a trip signal to an upstream solid state switch, and a trip inlet for receiving a trip signal from a downstream solid state switch. The trip inlet is operably coupled to the switch. A current sensor measures the current value of a connected power transmission line across the solid state switch module. A summer adds a current input from a parallel module with the current measures by the current sensor. A comparator determines whether an amount of current lost between the solid state switch module and an upstream module is acceptable.
US09362733B2

A dielectric cover system for an insulator supporting a high voltage conductor is molded to fit over the insulator to cover at least a top portion of the insulator and the conductor in contact with the insulator. A bolt through the cover is inserted to a depth to engage a reduced-diameter neck area of the insulator to prevent the cover from being rotated about the insulator during a high wind condition. Other securing devices may instead be used that allow the cover to be freely placed over the insulator and then effectively restrict an inner diameter of the cover at a reduced diameter portion of the insulator, such that the securing device blocks the cover from being lifted off the insulator and rotated about the insulator.
US09362731B2

A mounting plate for an electrical outlet includes a central region having a front surface, a rear surface, and an opening for accessing an outlet. A first mounting tab and a second mounting tab extend from the central region at an angle. The mounting plate may be used to attach an outlet to an outlet housing having a wiring compartment and a panel at least partially enclosing the wiring compartment. The panel has a front wall and an opening for receiving an outlet.
US09362724B2

A handheld device comprising a handle assembly containing a longitudinally tubular shank used to manage and/or insert flexible elongated components during the assembly, replacement and/or repair of wired elements of a system is described. The handheld device includes a conduit that can be used to manage and/or insert said flexible elongated components such as wires, cables, flexible tubing, lines, cords, strings, ropes, and the like through constrained spaces and/or barriers. The conduit may be partially opened or completely open to allow removing of the flexible elongated components from the handheld device.
US09362721B1

In one embodiment, a circuit couples an integrated circuit to a powerline and protects the integrated circuit from overvoltage noise. In one example, the integrated circuit comprises a two-port differential transceiver. Respective Schottky diodes couple the ports to a power supply and reference, so one diode for each port conducts current in forward bias if an applied voltage exceeds a respective voltage reference plus the forward voltage of that diode. A respective end of a first transformer winding feeds each input port. Respective ends of a second transformer winding couple to capacitors that couple with the powerline. Back-to-back zener diodes are connected between the ends of the second winding. A zener diode with a breakdown voltage set based on the power supply voltage plus a margin is coupled between the power supply and ground so that the power supply voltage does not exceed a desired value plus the margin.
US09362720B1

A system and method for providing laser diodes with broad spectrum is described. GaN-based laser diodes with broad or multi-peaked spectral output operating are obtained in various configurations by having a single laser diode device generating multiple-peak spectral outputs, operate in superluminescene mode, or by use of an RF source and/or a feedback signal. In some other embodiments, multi-peak outputs are achieved by having multiple laser devices output different lasers at different wavelengths.
US09362717B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor element by forming, on a substrate, columnar crystals of a nitride-base or an oxide-base compound semiconductor, and by using the columnar crystals, wherein on the surface of the substrate, the columnar crystals are grown while ensuring anisotropy in the direction of c-axis, by controlling ratio of supply of Group-III atoms and nitrogen, or Group-II atoms and oxygen atoms, and temperature of crystal growth, so as to suppress crystal growth in the lateral direction on the surface of the substrate.
US09362715B2

In an example, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode device. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate having a surface region and forming epitaxial material overlying the surface region, the epitaxial material comprising an n-type cladding region, an active region comprising of at least one active layer overlying the n-type cladding region, and a p-type cladding region overlying the active layer region. The method includes patterning the epitaxial material to form a plurality of dice, each of the dice corresponding to at least one laser device, characterized by a first pitch between a pair of dice, the first pitch being less than a design width. The method includes transferring each of the plurality of dice to a carrier wafer such that each pair of dice is configured with a second pitch between each pair of dice, the second pitch being larger than the first pitch corresponding to the design width.
US09362714B1

A fiber amplifier system including a plurality of fiber amplifiers each receiving a fiber beam and a tapered fiber bundle (TFB) combiner including a plurality of input end fibers, a plurality of output end fibers and a center bundle portion, where each input end fiber is coupled to a separate one of the fiber amplifiers, and where the bundle portion combines all of the fiber beams into a single combined beam and each output end fiber being capable of receiving the combined beam separately from the other output end fibers. The system also includes a low non-linear delivery fiber coupled to an output end fiber of the TFB combiner and an optical output turret coupled to the delivery fiber opposite to the TFB combiner, wherein the non-linear delivery fiber is configured to reduce the effect of cross-phase modulation (XPM) instability in the delivery fiber.
US09362709B1

As kilowatt class fiber laser and amplifier systems become more in demand, there are ongoing efforts to improve optical fiber laser and amplifier designs to maximize efficiency and further increase the capacity of these high-energy optical fiber lasers and amplifiers. The present disclosure provides a fiber laser or amplifier system configured to efficiently and conveniently generate and couple high numerical aperture and high-energy pump light into a fiber laser or amplifier system.
US09362703B2

An optical device may include: an optical module disposed in a beam delivery path of a laser beam; a beam adjusting unit disposed in the beam delivery path for adjusting the beam delivery path of the laser beam; a measuring unit disposed in the beam delivery path for detecting the beam delivery path; and a control unit for controlling the beam adjusting unit based on a detection result of the beam delivery path of the laser beam detected by the measuring unit.
US09362701B2

A shear guide for a terminal crimping machine includes a body having a shear edge configured to face a terminal used to splice a magnet wire and a lead wire. A magnet wire channel is formed by the body and is configured to receive and hold the magnet wire. A lead wire channel is formed by the body and is configured to receive and hold the lead wire. The lead wire channel is vertically offset with respect to the magnet wire channel. The body may include a platform and a separating wall positioned vertically above the platform with a slot defined between the separating wall and the platform. The slot may receive the magnet wire and the separating wall may support the lead wire above the separating wall.
US09362694B2

A method for producing modular electrical connectors having varying contact element configurations includes providing a common header component having a plurality of receptacle spaces defined therein. A plurality of different contact sub-assemblies are provided having varying contact element configurations, with each of sub-assembly having a common size configured for receipt in the receptacle spaces. A pattern of the contact sub-assemblies is defined for a particular desired connector configuration from any combination of the contact sub-assemblies, and the contact sub-assemblies are fitted and adhered into the receptacle spaces in the header component according to the pattern. A kit may be provided with the modular components for making the connectors.
US09362678B2

A connection system is disclosed for use in providing a high speed transmission line for connecting a chip mounted on a circuit board to a connector. The system has a structure that allows for high data rates from the connector to the chip. The connector includes a plurality of conductive terminals and a ground terminal arranged so that the impedance and other electrical characteristics may be maintained from the connector to the chip while reducing signal loss.
US09362674B1

An electrical connector brace can include a first member and a second member. Both members can include a barrel, a groove, and a yoke. Each barrel can extend along a longitudinal axis. Each groove can extend along the longitudinal axis within the respective barrel. Each yoke can be integrally-formed with the respective barrel and be adjacent to the respective barrel along the longitudinal axis. The first member can have a first modulus of elasticity and a first elastic limit. The second member can have a second modulus of elasticity and a second elastic limit. The first barrel can be received in the second barrel and the second yoke can overlay the first yoke.
US09362669B2

The present invention relates to an outlet unit facilitating plug separation and to a multi-outlet device using same. The outlet unit according to the present invention includes: an outlet main body having a plug inlet into which a plug is to be inserted, a bottom surface plate forming the bottom surface of the plug inlet and having a pair of terminal ports formed on the plate surface such that the terminals of a plug may be inserted, and a pair of electrodes which are disposed in the lower portion of the bottom surface plate and with which the terminals of the plug connect; a separation plate in which a pair of plug through-holes, through which the terminals of the plug pass, are formed on the plate surface and which is disposed in a raisable manner in the plug inlet so as to be capable of moving between a connection position, in which the terminals of the plug are lowered so as to be capable of being connected to the electrodes through the plug through-holes and the terminal ports, and a connection release position, in which the plug is lifted such that the terminals of the plug are separated from the electrodes; and a separation operation module which lifts the separation plate to the connection release position according to a user operation when the separation plate is placed in the connection position.
US09362664B2

A connecting device is disclosed, which includes a connector structure having a housing, a plug connector, a plurality of electrical contacts and a magnetic-metal set. The housing has a surface on which the electrical contacts and the magnetic-metal set are disposed, and the plug connector protrudes from the housing and is electrically connected to the electrical contacts. An electronic device assembly is further disclosed, which includes an electronic device and the aforesaid connecting device. The connecting device can be inserted into a socket connector of the electronic device, so as to transform the socket connector into a non-pluggable magnetic connector.
US09362661B2

A connector (10) has terminal fittings (11) extending from a housing (12) and connected to a board (50). A casing (51) is mounted on the side of an upper surface (12U) of the housing (12) and covering the board (50). Liquid retaining portions (28) are formed on the upper surface (12U) of the housing (12) by connecting longitudinal grooves (29) extending in a front-back direction and horizontal grooves (31) extending in a lateral direction. Thus, the connector (10) prevents the intrusion of liquid to the board (50) along an upper surface of the housing (12).
US09362652B2

A detector (60) is supported on a lock arm (15) of the housing (10) movably between a standby position and a detection position. The detector (60) includes restricting portions (69) and the housing (10) include escaping portions (28). The escaping portions (28) extend in a direction intersecting a connecting direction, and the restricting portions (69) are inserted therein when the detector (60) is inclined in a connecting process and brought into contact with a wall surface facing in a moving direction of the detector (60) to prevent the detector (60) from reaching the detection position while being kept in an inclined state when the detector (60) moves from the standby position toward the detection position.
US09362647B2

A connector terminal comprises: an electrical conductive portion connected with an electrical conductive member; and a connection portion integrally provided with the electrical conductive portion, the connection portion including: a pair of flat plate portions opposed to one another to form an insertion portion into which a corresponding terminal is inserted; a support portion provided in middle portions of the paired flat plate portions, the support portion restricting the paired flat plate portions from moving in directions in which they separate from one another when the corresponding terminal is inserted into the insertion portion, and a plurality of contact portions provided around the support portion in the paired flat plate portions the contact portions elastically contacting with the corresponding terminal to be electrically connected thereto.
US09362646B2

Mating interfaces for high speed, high density electrical connectors. In some embodiments, a contact comprises a base region, a first elongated member comprising a distal end attached to the base region and a proximal portion, a second elongated member comprising a distal end attached to the base region and a proximal portion, and a strap coupling the distal portion of the first elongated member to the distal portion of the second elongated member, wherein the strap is conductive and compliant such that the distal portion of the first elongated member is capable of moving independently of and is electrically connected to the distal portion of the second elongated member.
US09362640B2

A card edge connector includes a harness-side connector (H) in which a plurality of terminal fittings (50) are arranged side by side in a harness-side housing (10) and a board-side connector (P) in which a connecting edge portion (63) of a circuit board (62) projects from a front surface (60F) of a board-side housing (60). The harness-side housing (10) includes a terminal accommodating portion (39) configured to accommodate the plurality of terminal fittings (50), and a housing accommodating portion (48) arranged to face a front surface (39F) of the terminal accommodating portion (39) and configured to accommodate the board-side housing (60) connected to the harness-side housing (10). A resilient member (49) configured to bias the terminal accommodating portion (39) and the board-side housing (60) in a direction toward or away from each other in parallel to a connecting direction is provided in the housing accommodating portion (48).
US09362634B2

A male F-Type coaxial cable connector with a body prod, the body prod for urging a connector nut into contact with a connector post.
US09362633B2

A hybridized connector apparatus is provided for solder connection with a central conductor of an associated coaxial cable and for crimp connection with a conductive braid and foil of the coaxial cable, and includes a hollow, generally cylindrical contact pin member or tip portion operably received into an interior of a generally ring-shaped dielectric spacer disk. The dielectric is received into a connector body, which is received into a shell. An end of the contact pin member defines an interface portion having a substantially constant outer diameter D extending outwardly from the spacer disk beyond an extent of the body member in an insertion direction I. The interface portion defines a semicircular edge portion and may also include a linear edge portion disposed in a plane substantially oblique to the longitudinal axis, and a curvilinear edge portion.
US09362610B2

An antenna mounting system includes an antenna mount and a track. An antenna is secured in the antenna mount and the antenna mount is secured to a track. The track is secured to a structure or vehicle and allows for multiple positioning of the antenna on the structure or vehicle. The antenna mount has multiple, standardized studs attached to the bottom surface of the antenna mount which allows the antenna mount to be secured to the track. One or more antennas may be secured to the structure or vehicle with one or more antenna mounts on one or more tracks.
US09362608B1

An ohmic RF MEMS relay includes a substrate with a capacitive coupling, Csub; two actuating elements electrically coupled in series, so as to define a channel, wherein the actuating elements are configured to be independently actuated or simultaneously operated. The actuating elements have their own capacitive coupling, Cgap; a midpoint on the channel is in electrical communication with the actuating elements; and an anchor mechanically coupled to the substrate and supporting at least one of the actuating elements. Also, an ohmic RF MEMS relay that includes an input port; a plurality of first MEMS switches that make up a first switching group in electrical communication with the input port, thereby defining a plurality of channels each leading from each of the MEMS switches; and at least one outlet port along each of the channels distal from the first switching group and in electrical communication with the input port.
US09362594B2

A method for forming a solvo-ionic liquid suitable for use as an electrolyte in an electrochemical cell is provided. The solvo-ionic liquid, a mixture including a multidentate ethereal solvent and magnesium borohydride, can be a liquid, a gel or a solid at room temperature and generally has high thermal stability including virtually no volatility at a typical cell operating temperature. An electrochemical cell having a solvo-ionic liquid as electrolyte is also disclosed. The electrochemical cell will typically be a rechargeable magnesium battery, having an anode suitable to accommodate magnesium oxidation during battery discharge.
US09362591B2

A positive electrode mixture including a positive electrode active material represented by the following formula (1); and a solid electrolyte that comprises Li and S: aLi2MnO3bLiNi1-yM1yO2-cLiM2vM3wM4xO2  (1) wherein M1 is one or more elements selected from Co, Mn, Al, Fe, Cu, V, Zn and Cr; M2, M3 and M4 are independently one or more elements selected from Ni, Co, Mn, Al, Fe, Cu, V, Zn and Cr; M2, M3 and M4 are elements different from each other; a, b and c satisfy a+b+c=1, 0
US09362589B2

The non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes an outer case, a positive electrode housed in the outer case, a negative electrode housed in the outer case such that the negative electrode is separated from the positive electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte accommodated in the outer case. The negative electrode comprises a current collector and negative electrode layer formed on one surface or both surfaces of the current collector. The negative electrode layer includes at least one main negative electrode layer which is formed on the surface of the current collector and contains a first active material, and a surface layer which is formed on the surface of the main negative electrode layer and contains a second active material different from the first active material, the second active material being a lithium titanium composite oxide having a spinel structure.
US09362583B2

Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having high rate capability, and more particularly to devices, systems and methods of producing high capacity and high rate capability batteries having relatively thick semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes an anode and a semi-solid cathode. The semi-solid cathode includes a suspension of an active material of about 35% to about 75% by volume of an active material and about 0.5% to about 8% by volume of a conductive material in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte. An ion-permeable membrane is disposed between the anode and the semi-solid cathode. The semi-solid cathode has a thickness of about 250 μm to about 2,000 μm, and the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least about 7 mAh/cm2 at a C-rate of C/4. In some embodiments, the semi-solid cathode slurry has a mixing index of at least about 0.9.
US09362582B2

A flow-field plate for a flow stack in a flow cell battery system is described. The flow-field plate includes first electrolyte channels formed in a molded plate to direct a first electrolyte to a first flow-field on a first side of the molded plate and second electrolyte channels formed in the molded plate to direct a second electrolyte to a second flow-field on the second side of the molded plate.
US09362576B2

In one embodiment, an electrical power storage system using hydrogen includes a power generation unit generating power using hydrogen and oxidant gas and an electrolysis unit electrolyzing steam. The electrical power storage system includes a hydrogen storage unit storing hydrogen generated by the electrolysis and supplying the hydrogen to the power generation unit during power generation, a high-temperature heat storage unit storing high temperature heat generated accompanying the power generation and supplying the heat to the electrolysis unit during the electrolysis, and a low-temperature heat storage unit storing low-temperature heat, which is exchanged in the high-temperature heat storage unit and generating with this heat the steam supplied to the electrolysis unit.
US09362564B2

A power storage device with reduced initial irreversible capacity is provided. The power storage device includes a positive electrode including a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer, a negative electrode including a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer, and an electrolyte solution. In the negative electrode active material layer, the content percentage of a carbon material with an R value of 1.1 or more is less than 2 wt %. The R value refers to a ratio of a peak intensity I1360 to a peak intensity I1580 (I1360/I1580). The peak intensity I1360 and the peak intensity I1580 are observed by Raman spectrometry at a Raman shift of 1360 cm−1 and a Raman shift of 1580 cm−1, respectively. The electrolyte solution contains a lithium ion and an ionic liquid composed of an organic cation and an anion.
US09362552B2

An example of a lithium ion battery electrode material includes a substrate, and a substantially graphitic carbon layer completely encapsulating the substrate. The substantially graphitic carbon layer is free of voids. Methods for making electrode materials are also disclosed herein.
US09362544B2

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for control of a current interruption component in a battery system. Various embodiments consistent with the present disclosure may include a detection system configured to detect an event (e.g., an impact event, a resistive short, a coolant leak, etc.) and a control system configured to receive information from the detection system and to generate a control signal based upon detection of the event. The control signal may selectively actuate an electrical clearing component. A current interruption component may be configured to selectively interrupt a flow of current upon an occurrence of a condition that results from actuation of the electrical clearing component. Upon detection of the event by the detection system, the control system may generate the control signal to actuate the electrical clearing component, and the actuation of the electrical clearing component may trigger the current interruption system.
US09362541B2

A magnesium cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode including a magnesium alloy, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to hold an electrolytic solution, in which a contact area between the negative electrode and the separator is variable.
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