US09382103B2

Hoists for hoisting loads by means of a cable are in existence for a long period. There are various types of hoists, which include winches and capstans. Generally, the principle of operation of a hoist is based on the cable being driven by adherence of the cable to the drum of the hoist. A hoist is described according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hoist comprises a drum, a plurality of guides, a guide support and a biasing device for displacing a portion of a cable away from the guide when the drum is rotationally displaced to thereby hoist a load.
US09382102B2

The invention is an escalator handrail cleaning apparatus for a running handrail (1) on a guide rail (11) along an escalator (12), wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises: —a main body (3) with a preferably underlying, generally through channel (31) for the handrail (1) to pass through, —a steam supply hose (2) to a longitudinally running inlet channel (21) in the main body (3) and connected to one or more across distribution channels (5) in the main body (3), —a number of steam nozzles (6) from the distribution channel (5) directed towards the through passing handrail (1), —at least a first and a second squeegee gasket (7) for delimiting a space (38) in the through channel (31) between the main body (3), the through running handrail (1), and the surroundings and arranged for wiping off water and dirt from the through running handrail (1), —at least one drain channel (41) from the space (38) wherein the drain channel (41) conducts water, steam and dirt to a return hose (4), preferably by vacuum. The running handrail will, by means of the cleaning apparatus, be steam cleaned so as for bacteria to be killed off and dirt dissolved and removed.
US09382100B2

The invention provides a levelling system for the chair of a stairlift, a characteristic feature of the system being the provision of a safety back-up or locking mechanism that will lock the position of the chair in the event of failure within the levelling drive. This locking mechanism preferably includes a locking wheel that is in partial mesh with a geared wheel forming part of the levelling drive. In the event of failure within the drive the locking wheel meshes to lock the position of the chair.
US09382098B2

An elevator car (1) which moves vertically along the hoistway is provided with a roller guide assembly (3) guided by a guide rail (2). The roller guide assembly (3) is provided with a horizontal fixing shaft (8) which is fixed to a base member (6) and rollers (5a, 5b, 5c) which are supported by the horizontal fixing shaft (8). The rollers (5a, 5b, 5c) are each provided with a roller outer circumference section (10), a rolling bearing (9), an annular rubber (11), and an inner cylinder (12). The configuration eliminates the need for a conventional spring or a conventional damper mechanism because the rubber (11) deforms elastically.
US09382094B2

An elevator renovation method, which is capable of reducing a renovation period and enabling effective use of a space when an existing hydraulic elevator is renovated to a non-hydraulic elevator. The elevator renovation method involves renovating a hydraulic elevator in which a plunger provided integrally with a car is hydraulically driven to a non-hydraulic elevator. The elevator renovation method includes; providing a driving device for generating a driving force for raising the car; leaving the plunger so that the plunger can be raised and lowered inside an existing jack; and obtaining the non-hydraulic elevator by exerting the driving force of the driving device in a direction in which the plunger is moved up to raise the car.
US09382091B2

The present sheet processing apparatus determines whether or not a received job includes a setting for executing an alignment process, and if the alignment process is set to be executed, performs control to execute the alignment process.
US09382078B2

A powder supplying device for a powder coating installation with at least one closed or closable powder container, which has a cuboidal powder chamber for coating powder. In order to quickly change the powder, one or more cleaning compressed-air inlets to which a compressed air source can be connected in a cleaning operation of the powder coating installation for removing residual powder from the powder chamber, in order to introduce cleaning compressed air into the powder chamber, is provided in a side wall of the powder container.
US09382077B2

A control system for a conveyor system having one or more upstream and downstream conveyor zones and whose operation effectuates transportation of a series of loads via operation of motors and drive arrangements associated with the respective conveyor zones. The control system includes a Local Area Network (LAN) connection between each component of the control arrangement associated with each zone control such that status and operational information associated with the configuration or operation of each conveyor zone, including the zone motor, can be communicated to other conveyor zones so that operation of each conveyor zone can be manipulated in a controlled manner in response to changes to operation of other conveyor zones.
US09382076B1

A product conveying and accumulation system utilizes an alignment wheel which rotates non-aligned rectangular shaped bottles and containers, for smooth movement through the system. The alignment wheel is located at the product pinch point exit of the system, such that products which are out of alignment are reoriented and aligned with the other products in the system, before proceeding to the downstream product destination.
US09382074B2

A screw-drive conveying apparatus has on a conveying traveling body side, a first driven roller pair having a shorter distance between two driven front and rear rollers and a second driven roller pair having a longer distance between two driven front and rear rollers. A first screw shaft row with which the respective driven rollers of the first driven roller pair are engaged and a second screw shaft row with which the respective driven rollers of the second driven roller pair are engaged are provided on a traveling path side. The length of screw discontinued spaces between both screw shaft rows is equal to the distance between the driven rollers of the driven roller pair engaged with the screw shaft row on the upstream side.
US09382073B2

A reconfigurable modular transporting system and related components which can efficiently and effectively move containers and other items is disclosed. The transport system includes a plurality of track components structured to mate with one another by a complementary male connection and female connection at ends thereof. The transport system further includes at least one hub component comprising a rotating track assembly which aligns with male and female track assemblies connected to at least one of the track components. The transport system further includes a plurality of truck assemblies engagable to the plurality of track components and the rotating track of at least one hub component.
US09382069B2

First and second frame parts 400a and 400b support a belt guide 431 by interposing the belt guide 431 therebetween. The first frame part 400a is disposed at a downstream side of in rotation direction of a pressure roller 44 than the second frame part 400b when seeing it in a direction parallel to a rotation axis of the pressure roller 44. A convex-shaped first belt guide support part 401a for supporting the belt guide 431 is provided on a surface of the first frame part 400a, which faces the second frame part 400b. A convex-shaped second belt guide support part 401b for supporting the belt guide 431 is provided on a surface of the second frame part 400b, which faces the first frame part 400a, at a position, which is more separated from the pressure roller 44 than the first belt guide support part 401a.
US09382064B2

An overwrap envelope (7) containing a filter bag (1) for infusion products comprises a sheet (2) of overwrapping material folded into a U shape along its transversal axis (X) around the filter bag (1). The overwrap envelope (7) has two longitudinal sides (3, 4) and one transversal side (5) sealed by at least two sealing lines (6) which are uninterrupted along the longitudinal sides (3, 4) and along the transversal side (5). Each sealing line (6) is defined by two longitudinal stretches and one transversal stretch which are joined to obtain an uninterrupted shape and which form an uninterrupted perimeter seal.
US09382055B2

An air removal and wine dispenser device for a wine bottle has a bottle seal and a balloon. The balloon is inflated with a pump to displace air from the bottle. Additional inflation forces wine through a dispensing tube. Wine flow is controlled by a wine valve. In one embodiment, a single control valve is used to vent air and dispense wine, and a cam lever is used to expand a cam seal and to operate a balloon deflation valve.
US09382038B2

An enclosure includes a plurality of modular corner segments and a plurality of modular wall segments that connect together to at least partially define an internal compartment of the enclosure. The wall segments extending lengths between opposite free ends. At least a majority of the wall segments are fabricated from a polymer. Each corner segment includes opposite first and second receiver sockets that are each configured to receive a corresponding free end of a corresponding wall segment therein to connect the corner segment to the corresponding wall segments. At least a majority of the corner segments are fabricated from a polymer. The corner segments and the wall segments connect together to define the internal compartment of the enclosure.
US09382035B2

A collapsible market basket apparatus includes a crate with a bottom having a bottom rectangular frame and a top rectangular frame having strap attachment features on each of four sides. A pair of lateral rotating sides are pivotally attached to opposite lateral sides of the top rectangular frame to rotate downward to a vertical position to engage the bottom rectangular frame. Each lateral rotating side is shaped to fit within a proximate half of the top rectangular frame when pivotally rotated to a horizontal position. A pair of lateral collapsible sides are attached respectively between opposite front and back sides of the top rectangular frame and the bottom rectangular frame. The lateral collapsible sides have an expanded vertical length of the lateral rotating sides. A strap has a latching feature rotatably attached at each end to latch to opposite sides of the top rectangular frame as a carrying strap when the crate is expanded and as a stowage strap when the crate is collapsed.
US09382033B2

A protective case for accommodating a number of variable sized electronic devices is provided. The case comprises internal features including rigid support members and biasing members for securing an electronic device and allowing the selective orientation and positioning of the electrical device for optimizing viewing.
US09382032B2

Collapsible storage device and system having a container with a planar section and side wall pivotably joined to the base so that the container is movable between a collapsed configuration in which the container is substantially flat and an expanded configuration defining a top opening and a side opening to an interior of the container. The storage device further includes a cover frame. Locking members are provided for securing the frame to the sidewall to close the top opening of the container and to form a rigid structure. The locking members include a complimentary shaped locking tooth and slot. The storage device is further provided with a closable flap or door which provides access to the interior of the container through the side opening when the container is in the expanded configuration.
US09382026B2

The invention relates to an apparatus for cutting a packaging material (4) for a package, comprising an ultrasonic welding device (2) that includes a sonotrode (3) and an anvil (5) for sealing the packaging material (4), the sonotrode (3) being rotatable about a first axis of rotation (X) and the anvil (5) being rotatable about a second axis of rotation (Y). The apparatus further comprises a cutting device (6) which includes at least one knife (7) for cutting the packaging material (4) and which is arranged within the anvil (5). The invention is characterized in that the knife (7) has a blade (8) with a cutting edge (28) that includes at least two tips (33, 35) and at least two curved sections (22) interconnecting the two tips (33, 35).
US09382024B2

A distributor unit, suitable to distribute tablets, comprises an aligner channel cooperating with a transfer channel having an entrance zone. Feed means are associated to said transfer channel in order to work on the tablets.
US09382023B2

The present invention relates generally to methods of sterilizing elastomeric articles in a manner that prevents and/or reduces degradation to the articles, particularly degradation that may be caused and/or accelerated by sterilization techniques such as gamma irradiation, x-ray irradiation, and electron-beam processing. The methods include packaging the elastomeric articles in order to improve their resistance to degradation. In certain aspects of the invention, packaged elastomeric articles, optionally containing one or more antidegradants, such as antioxidant and/or antiozonant compounds, are also provided. The methods of providing degradation-resistant elastomeric articles in accordance with the present invention may also be used to reduce the occurrence of cracking and discoloration in elastomeric articles, regardless of whether they are subjected to sterilization.
US09382021B2

An automated medication preparation system for preparing a prescribed dosage of medication in a drug delivery device includes a plurality of stations for receiving, handling and processing the drug delivery device so that the prescribed dosage of medication is delivered to the drug delivery device and a transporting device that receives and holds more than one drug delivery device and moves the drug delivery devices in a controlled manner from one station to another station. The system is configured so that two or more separate drug delivery devices can be acted upon at the same time.
US09382020B1

A single, compact, lower power deep space positioning system (DPS) configured to determine a location of a spacecraft anywhere in the solar system, and provide state information relative to Earth, Sun, or any remote object. For example, the DPS includes a first camera and, possibly, a second camera configured to capture a plurality of navigation images to determine a state of a spacecraft in a solar system. The second camera is located behind, or adjacent to, a secondary reflector of a first camera in a body of a telescope.
US09382010B2

A system and method for controlling the operation of a gas turbine engine supplying power to an aircraft. The engine is controlled according to a reading of an amount of power drawn from the supplied power. The reading is fed directly to a control system, which issues commands for controlling engine parameters comprising an acceleration reference signal, load shedding, variable geometry positioning, and fuel flow. The control system may further issue commands for controlling the amount of power drawn. The control system may further use the reading to monitor the engine's condition.
US09382002B1

Embodiments of a drone for inspection and a method of use are depicted wherein the drone is utilized in an enclosed space and is capable of being controlled with or without line of sight to the aircraft. The drone may hover or land on surfaces within the enclosed space for the inspection.
US09382000B1

The present invention is an aircraft wing design that creates a bell shaped span load, which results in a negative induced drag (induced thrust) on the outer portion of the wing; such a design obviates the need for rudder control of an aircraft.
US09381998B2

A tactile cueing apparatus for incorporation in an aircraft flight control system comprising a flight control surface, and a pilots inceptor (12) for moving the surface via a servo-assisted mechanical linkage (28) connecting the inceptor to the control surface, the apparatus comprising a force sensor for sensing a force applied to the inceptor by the pilot to move the control surface, an electromechanical actuator (34) configured to be installed with the mechanical linkage between the inceptor and means in the system providing said servo-assistance, and control means programmed to cause the actuator (i) to move so that the linkage moves to a position determined by said force according to a predetermined relationship, (ii) to apply to the inceptor a resisting force according to a predetermined relationship and which when the linkage has moved to its commanded position is equal and opposite to the force sensed by the force sensor.
US09381989B1

A method for positioning a drive unit on a marine vessel includes receiving an initiation request from a user input device to operate the marine vessel in a desired operating mode and storing a first trim position of the drive unit in a memory upon receiving the initiation request. The method includes trimming the drive unit to a second trim position in response to the initiation request and subsequently operating the marine vessel in the desired operating mode with the drive unit in the second trim position. The method includes receiving a termination request to cancel the desired operating mode and trimming the drive unit to the first trim position automatically upon receiving the termination request. A system for positioning the drive unit is also disclosed.
US09381988B2

A rotating circular airfoil system that includes a disc body that has an airfoil shape in cross section. The air foil shape has an angle of attack that is symmetrical. The disc body's includes a circular inner edge which forms a circular center opening and the airfoil shape's leading edge. The disc body also includes an outer edge that forms the airfoil shape's trailing edge. Intersecting ribs extend across the center opening and include a shaft opening that attaches to a rotating shaft. Formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the disc body are evenly spaced apart, extending fins. The fins extend continuously from the inner edge to the outer edge. When a rotating shaft is inserted into the shaft opening and imparts sufficient rotation to the disc body, the fins contact the air forcing it to flow along disc body's top and bottom surfaces and creating a lifting force.
US09381985B2

An unmanned, autonomous, ocean-going vessel including a primary hull and a rigid wing rotationally coupled with the primary hull that freely rotates about a rotational axis. At least one of the primary hull and the rigid wing includes at least one selectively floodable compartment configured to selectively flood to submerge the primary hull and at least a portion of the rigid wing. The vessel further includes at least one controller configured to maintain a desired heading. The vessel further includes a control surface element configured to aerodynamically control a wing angle of the rigid wing based on a force exerted by wind on the control surface element. The vessel further includes a rudder. The at least one controller is further configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder. The vessel further includes a keel coupled with the primary hull.
US09381983B2

This document provides a method of determining an absolute position of a diver, comprising: providing a dive leader unit having a GPS receiver and an underwater acoustic modem configured to retransmit GPS coordinates of the dive leader unit under water, providing the diver with a monitoring unit comprising several microphones so that it is possible to detect a direction of the dive leader unit, pairing the monitoring unit to the dive leader unit to form a communication network so as to identify differences between system clocks of the dive leader unit and the monitoring unit and make it possible to calculate a distance from the dive leader unit to the monitoring unit. In the monitoring unit, the following steps are performed: receiving the retransmitted GPS coordinates, detecting the direction of the dive leader unit, calculating the distance to the dive leader unit, and calculating the absolute position of the diver based on the retransmitted GPS coordinates, the direction of the dive leader unit and the distance from the dive leader unit to the monitoring unit.
US09381973B2

An e-bike center module includes a substantially straight first center module connecting surface that is releasably connectable to a substantially straight front module connecting surface. A substantially straight second center module connecting surface is releasably connectable to a substantially straight rear module connecting surface. the center module is part of a bicycle frame when the first center module connecting surface is connected to the front module connecting surface and the second center module connecting surface is connected to the rear module connecting surface.
US09381970B2

The invention relates to an electric propulsion unit (10) and torque transmission group (11) for operating the rear wheel (13) of an electric scooter (1) with body (2) of the step-through type and with upright sitting portion (6). The electric propulsion unit (10) comprises at least one synchronous electric motor (30) of the type comprising internal stator (32) and external rotor (29) with a cup-shaped form rotating on a fixed shaft (33) rigid with the stator (32); the motor is installed in a barycentric position substantially at the base of the upright sitting portion (6) with the fixed shaft (33) transverse to the longitudinal axis (X-X) of the scooter (2), and the transmission group (11) comprises at least one first and one second reduction stage (24, 26).
US09381964B2

Provided is a secure and easy to use solution for bike holders to securely lock all kinds of bicycles with different frames and shapes without the need to carry a personal lock. The present system and method for bike locking securely locks the bike's frame and wheel.
US09381960B1

A recoil system for a track assembly having a track roller frame and an idler movable is provided. The recoil system includes a spring, a track adjust cylinder, an end plate and a track adjust piston received in the track adjust cylinder. The track adjust cylinder and the track adjust piston are movable in first and second directions in response to movement of the idler with movement of the track adjust cylinder in a second direction compressing the spring against the end plate. The track adjust cylinder is adapted to rotate with the first end of the spring relative to the track adjust piston as the spring compresses and extends in response to movement of the track adjust cylinder in the first and second directions and wherein the second end of the spring is fixed against rotation relative to the end plate.
US09381945B2

A structure for coupling roof rails using a side two-buck structure includes a floor formed of a bottom of a vehicle body, side inner panels coupled to both side surfaces of the floor, and roof rails coupled to upper portions of the side inner panels. A method for coupling roof rails includes coupling side inner arms to side surfaces of a vehicle floor, coupling a cross shaped joint part to an upper portion of the side inner arm, coupling a side inner reinforcement part to outer surfaces of the side inner arm and the joint part, coupling the roof rail to an upper portion of the side inner reinforcement part and an upper surface of the joint part, coupling a side outer reinforcement panel to an outer portion of the side inner reinforcement part, and coupling a side outer panel to an outer portion of the side outer reinforcement panel.
US09381944B2

A connecting reinforcement interconnecting a fixing plate which is a window-frame member to reinforce a sun roof opening and a roof side rail at a position corresponding to a center pillar is provided. The connecting reinforcement is positioned forward of the roof reinforcement, has a specified second sectional shape, and extends in a vehicle width direction roughly horizontally. A rear edge portion of the connecting reinforcement and a front edge portion of the roof reinforcement are connected to each other, and an inboard edge portion of the connecting reinforcement and a front edge portion of the roof reinforcement are connected via the fixing plate.
US09381941B2

A reinforcement part formed in an intermediate position of either one of left and right front side frames. The reinforcement part has an enhanced strength against a deformation due to a compressive load in front-and-rear directions and a bending load caused when a tip end of the front side frame is pressed from outside in the vehicle width directions, rather than a strength of an area forward of the reinforcement part. A fragile part is formed in an intermediate position of the other front side frame. The vulnerable part has a reduced strength against a deformation due to a bending load when a tip end of the other front side frame is pressed from inside in the vehicle width directions.
US09381934B2

An electric steering system includes a steering wheel and a first housing in which a steering shaft is arranged and rotatably mounted to a motor vehicle. A locking device is provided to lock the steering shaft at conclusion of a rotation as limitation of a steering angle input. The locking device includes a second housing which is connected in fixed rotative engagement with the first housing, and a locking bar configured for engagement in the steering shaft and arranged in the second housing such as to impact the steering shaft, when the steering shaft moves in relation to the second housing in the event of a crash, and to deform the first housing.
US09381931B1

A golf cart includes a lever, a column pivotally attached to a rear end portion of the lever, a bracket having an intermediate portion pivotally secured to the front end portion of the lever for supporting a front wheel, a shank pivotally secured to the bracket and having a rear end portion pivotally secured to the column, and the bracket is pivoted relative to the lever when the shank is moved relative to the lever, a seat is attached to the shank, two rear wheels are attached to the seat with two linkages, and two linking rods are coupled between the linkages and the lever for moving the linkages and the rear wheels toward and away from each other when the shank is moved forwardly and rearwardly relative to the lever.
US09381916B1

Aspects of the invention relate generally to autonomous vehicles. The features described improve the safety, use, driver experience, and performance of these vehicles by performing a behavior analysis on mobile objects in the vicinity of an autonomous vehicle. Specifically, the autonomous vehicle is capable of detecting nearby objects, such as vehicles and pedestrians, and is able to determine how the detected vehicles and pedestrians perceive their surroundings. The autonomous vehicle may then use this information to safely maneuver around all nearby objects.
US09381914B2

In a method for stabilizing a two-wheeled vehicle, the current attitude angle is compared to an associated boundary value which is determined as a function of at least one current driving state variable.
US09381911B2

A method of controlling a vehicle with a hybrid powertrain with an engine and a motor/generator includes monitoring net axle torque on the drive axle, monitoring vehicle deceleration rate, monitoring vehicle speed, and controlling the motor/generator to stop rotation of the engine crankshaft when the vehicle speed is non-zero and below a predetermined vehicle speed auto-stop enable threshold if torque percentage braking torque is greater than a predetermined percentage braking torque and the vehicle deceleration rate is greater than a predetermined threshold vehicle deceleration rate. A hybrid vehicle has a controller with a processor that executes a stored algorithm to carry out the method.
US09381908B2

A hybrid vehicle control apparatus includes a first clutch disposed between an engine and a motor, and a second clutch disposed between the motor and a driving wheel. A lockup controller performs a lockup operation to shift the second clutch from slip state into completely engaged state when a predetermined lockup condition is satisfied under a condition that the second clutch is in the slip state. A second clutch transmitted torque capacity controller performs a lockup-condition second clutch control to control transmitted torque capacity of the second clutch to a value higher by a set quantity than an input torque to the second clutch while the lockup operation is being performed. The input torque corresponds to a state of depression of an accelerator pedal during the shifting of the second clutch from the slip state into the completely engaged state.
US09381907B2

Provided is an amphibious vehicle such that the deterioration of a fuel economy ratio due to driving at a low load ratio can be suppressed. The amphibious vehicle can travel on land, sea, and waterfront and is provided with: a gas turbine; an electric generator to which output from the gas turbine is transmitted via a first clutch; a water propeller to which the output from the gas turbine is transmitted via a second clutch; a storage battery that is charged with or discharges electric power produced by the electric generator; a motor rotated and driven by electric power supplied from the storage battery; a wheel rotated and driven by rotation and driving of the motor; and a control apparatus that controls the above units. When travelling on land, the control apparatus causes electric power to be supplied from the storage battery to the motor so that a front wheel is rotated and driven by the motor.
US09381901B2

First main and second hydraulic pressure paths, master cut valves configured to open and close the first and second main hydraulic pressure paths, respectively, a slave cylinder that operates in accordance with an operation amount of a brake operator, a first communication path that communicates from the slave cylinder to the first main hydraulic pressure path, and a second communication path that communicates from the slave cylinder to the second main hydraulic pressure path are provided. The slave cylinder includes a single hydraulic pressure chamber. The slave cylinder communicates with the first and second communication paths through a common flow path connected to the hydraulic pressure chamber. The slave cylinder is configured to be able to increase a pressure on a downstream side of the first or second main hydraulic pressure path. An on-off valve is provided in at least one of the first and second communication paths.
US09381900B2

An electric brake booster includes an electric motor activating a booster piston acting on the master-cylinder during brake pedal activation. The booster piston is driven in the direction of the action of same on the master-cylinder by an electric motor linked to a mechanical transmission that includes a screw held by the motor shaft. The screw meshes with two symmetrical worm gears that are integral with respective transmission shafts housed in a bearing of the body of the brake booster. The two shafts each carry a spur gear that meshes with a rack of the booster piston. The shafts are free in translation relative to the screw and to the body of the electric brake booster but are integral with each other in the translational movement of same. The shafts are integrally connected in translation by a coupling member formed by a crosspiece carrying two rotation bearings.
US09381895B1

An air brake system is equipped with a service brakes and a parking brake. A control valve for the parking brake vents air therefrom to apply the parking brake. The system is configured to apply indications of driver presence and absence to effect automatic control of the parking brake control valve, including automatically applying the parking brake upon an indication of driver absence and preventing release of the parking brake without an indication of driver presence. The driver absence indication can include the combination open driver's door and an empty driver's seat. The driver presence indication can include authorized driver identification through entry of a code or other authorization mechanism, as well as a requirement that the service brakes be applied.
US09381875B2

A power supply control apparatus monitors a high voltage, an intermediate voltage and a low voltage and detects voltage variation amounts of those voltages. When an absolute value of the voltage variation amount is greater than a predetermined variation amount, the power supply control apparatus corrects the voltage of large variation by controlling a DC-DC converter based on the voltage variation amount. The power supply control apparatus further estimates voltage variation amounts of the voltages other than the voltage of large variation based on the voltage variation amount of large variation and corrects the voltage of estimated large variation by controlling the DC-DC converter based on the estimated voltage variation amount.
US09381871B2

A cargo organiser for a vehicle includes a frame at least partially forming a floor of a cargo area of the vehicle. The cargo organizer includes one or more elongate elements extendable across an opening defined by the frame. The elongate elements are slidable with respect to the frame.
US09381870B2

An assembly for mounting an accessory. The assembly can be configured to permit the accessory to pan, rotate or tilt. The assembly includes a mounting member attachable to the support structure and having a mounting member electrical connector. The assembly also includes a docking member releasably attached to the mounting member and having a docking member electrical connector communicably coupled to the mounting member electrical connector. The accessory is attached to the docking member.
US09381865B2

The present disclosure relates to a cargo management system for use in a cargo area of a motor vehicle. The system may have a floor pan configured to be fixedly secured to a surface of the cargo area and a back wall. The back wall may be pivotally secured to the floor pan adjacent an edge of the floor pan. At least first and second divider wall panels may be provided which are each pivotally secured to the back wall and spaced apart from one another. Each may be moveable between a collapsed orientation, wherein the plurality of divider wall panels rest parallel and closely adjacent a surface of the floor pan, and an upright orientation wherein each of the divider wall panels, along with the back wall, form at least one compartment for containing cargo items therein.
US09381862B2

An optical element such as a reflector defining a differentiable fiducial surface having a first portion, with a flat region, that seamlessly adjoins, along a curved line, a second portion having a two-dimensionally curved region. The quality of optical imaging in the reflector is drastically improved by reducing the ratio of optical powers measured in two perpendicular directions along the two-dimensionally curved portion of the surface. The vehicular rearview assembly including such a reflector possesses a field-of-view (FOV) that is significantly higher than the FOV of a conventional flat mirror and facilitates visual access to a “blind spot” behind the vehicle.
US09381858B2

The present invention relates to laser guided tractor trailer docking apparatuses and methods of making and using the same. Specifically, apparatuses are provided for projecting a laser line emanating from a tractor trailer loading dock to guide a tractor trailer driver backing the tractor trailer into proper position at the loading dock.
US09381850B2

An adjustment device for headlights with an adjustment screw extending in a predetermined direction of adjustment. The adjustment screw engages a thread of a light module of the headlight for pivoting it about a horizontal or vertical axis. The adjustment screw also engages with a drive means arranged coaxially in reference thereof at a rear end of the adjustment screw. A latching sheath and a drive element surrounding the latching sheath are provided as drive means, receiving the rear end of the adjustment screw. The latching sheath comprises fastening digits elastic in the radial direction, which in the assembled position press against the interior of the drive element. The latching sheath and the drive element are coupled to each other via latching means in the axial direction and in a latching fashion.
US09381840B2

The seatback has a seat surface curving and gradually bulging in the up-down direction, along the occupant's shoulder blades, and curving in the left-right direction and receding to support the occupant's ribs. Preferably, the seat surface of the seatback extends upward to support the lower part of the occupant's neck, thus supporting the same in the up-down direction, and recedes to support the occupant's shoulder blades in the left-right direction.
US09381838B2

A seating device, in particular on a flight passenger seating device includes a moveably mounted primary unit and a moveably mounted secondary unit. The seating device has a locking unit which, depending on at least one operating position of the secondary unit, avoids a movement of the primary unit relative to a mounting unit.
US09381834B2

The child safety seat disclosed in the present invention includes a seatback, a headrest and a belt. The headrest is disposed on the seatback, and is adapted to move relative to the seatback up and down. The headrest includes an inclined guiding portion disposed on a bottom portion of the headrest, and an indentation of the inclined guiding portion points upward. The belt is disposed between the seatback and the headrest. The belt slidably contacts the headrest when a passenger sits the child safety seat and is constrained by the belt, and the headrest moves downwardly so that the inclined guiding portion drives the belt to be close to a center of the headrest. A height of the headrest is adjustable, a shoulder belt of the belt automatically moves when the height of the headrest is adjusted, and the neck of the passenger can be constrained by the shoulder belt.
US09381832B2

A fitting (1) for an adjustment device, in particular inclination adjustment of a motor vehicle seat, includes a fitting upper part (2) having a first internal toothing (4), a fitting lower part (3) which is adjustable relative to the fitting upper part about a fitting axis and has a second internal toothing (5) arranged coaxially with respect to the first internal toothing, at least two, preferably, three, rotatably arranged planet gears (7) which are in engagement with the first and second internal toothings, and a drive shaft (6) which is in operative connection with the at least two planet gears by means of a pinion (23). Noise loads and buckling effects are avoided even after a relatively long period of operation, with a spring element (11) prestressing the planet gears (7) in the direction of the axis of rotation onto the fitting lower part (3) or fitting upper part (2).
US09381830B2

A reclining apparatus for a rear seat in a car may include a plurality of links provided on both sides of a cushion frame and each being rotatably coupled at both sides to the cushion frame or a car floor, and a locking module configured to couple a back frame hinge-connected to the cushion frame with a car body and slidably and rotatably connected with the back frame so as to allow the back frame to tilt at a variable angle in response to movement of the cushion frame by the rotation of the links.
US09381827B2

A seat for a vehicle having a seating. The vehicle having a floor. The seating having a first flank and a second flank, on the opposite sides with respect to the seating. The seating further having a lower face facing at least one portion of the vehicle floor. The seat comprising a support for the seating suitable to allow at least the height adjustment of the seating relative to the vehicle floor, comprising a first piston rod and a second piston rod arranged at the front part and externally facing on opposite sides the flanks of the seating, and comprising a third piston rod and a fourth piston rod arranged at the back and facing on opposite sides the flanks of the seating or elongations thereof.
US09381821B2

One aspect provides an apparatus configured to receive wireless charging power and wired charging power. The apparatus includes a first rectifier configured to receive wired charging power and to provide a first rectified output. The apparatus further includes a second rectifier configured to receive wireless charging power and to provide a second rectified output. The apparatus further includes a power-factor correction (PFC) module configured to receive the first and second rectified outputs, and further configured to provide a power-factor corrected output. The apparatus further includes an isolated DC-DC converter configured to receive the power-factor corrected output and to provide an isolated DC output. The apparatus further includes and a battery configured to receive the isolated DC output.
US09381817B2

A resistance connecting device includes a case inside of which a chamber is formed. The chamber includes inside an activating unit, a gas generating unit, a first connecting portion, and a second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion extend from the inside to the outside of the case in a mutually separated state and are exposed in the chamber. The activating unit is held at a first position that does not cause contact with either of the connecting portions when the gas generating unit has not been activated and moves up to a second position to cause contact with both of the connecting portions as a result of activation of the gas generating unit. The activating unit, at the second position, functions as a resistor having a predetermined electrical resistance, and connects the connecting portions to one another.
US09381812B2

A method for graphically displaying a vehicle condition within an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving information from a sensor on a vehicle regarding a vehicle condition. The vehicle condition is measured against a predetermined level for that specified vehicle condition. The method then determines if the vehicle condition is above the predetermined level. If the vehicle condition is above the predetermined level, the method then transmits information regarding the vehicle condition to a processor connected to a display screen. The method then proceeds to graphically display the vehicle condition on a vehicle within the vehicle by means of a graphical replication of an image replication of the actual vehicle condition in the actual vehicle being used.
US09381811B2

A vehicle driving assist system has a controller configured to urge a driver to slow down (decelerate) in locations where visibility is poor. The controller detects a traveling condition of a host vehicle, e.g., when the host vehicle is approaching a designated area, such as a school zone, and then selectively executes an imaginary speed limiting road protrusion control that generates an imaginary speed limiting road protrusion by artificially reproducing a vehicle behavior that simulates the host vehicle crosses an actual speed limiting road protrusion arranged on a road surface, based on the traveling condition of the host vehicle.
US09381797B2

The present invention discloses a recreational vehicle cover, especially a vehicle protecting cover. It is a long rectangle box with a faced down opening and is made of rain-proof and sun-resistant material, comprising a plurality of external surfaces of a right wall and a left wall thereof respectively disposed with a row of laces extended downward; a plurality of internal surfaces of a plurality of upper ends of the right and left walls of the long rectangle box respectively disposed with a row of pocket portions each comprising a pocket with a faced down opening and a pulling rope extended downward; a left rear zipper disposed between a rear edge of the left wall and a left edge of a rear wall of the long rectangle box; and a right rear zipper disposed between a rear edge of the right wall and a right edge of a rear wall.
US09381795B2

A surveillance module may be deployed from a vehicle. The vehicle to deploy the surveillance module includes a first portion configured to accommodate a user to operate the vehicle. A second portion includes a module configured to accommodate the user and comprising a roof and an entrance accessible through an interior of the vehicle from the first portion. The second portion also includes a lifting mechanism coupled to the module and operable to move the module vertically from a retracted position to an extended position. A third portion defines an opening to accommodate the module, wherein the roof of the module couples to a periphery of the opening in the retracted position.
US09381792B2

A device for blocking noise at a division channel of a rear door for a vehicle may include a door inner panel having an upper end portion formed with a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape, an inside weather strip fastened over an entire length of the upper end portion of the door inner panel, a reinforcing plate mounted on an outer surface of the door inner panel, and a bracket fixedly coupled to the reinforcing plate for mounting the division channel.
US09381782B2

A ball mount head has a pivotable connection to a shank portion of a weight distribution hitch. A tilt selector receives a bolt through a hole and is connected to one of the shank portion and the ball mount head with two pegs extending into two of at least three connection points on the ball mount head. An operator selects which two out of the connection points to use, which determines and sets the location of the tilt selector bolt hole relative to the ball mount head, which in turn determines and sets the angular position of the ball mount head relative to the shank portion when the bolt is tightened.
US09381778B2

A tire pressure monitoring system includes a plurality of tire pressure sensing modules and an information display module in information connection with the tire pressure sensing modules. The tire pressure sensing modules are installed at respective tires of a vehicle to transmit tire condition information of the respective tires and device identification codes to the information display module. The information display module includes a data processing unit associating each of the device identification codes with a device selection code and a stepless knob controlled to output at least one selection signal to the data processing unit. Upon receiving the selection signal, the data processing unit determines the corresponding device selection code according to the selection signal to read the corresponding tire condition information, thereby allowing a user to quickly learn the tire condition of any tire of the vehicle.
US09381767B2

A fluid product, comprising a tank for storing the product in free form, a conveyor conduit projecting into the tank, an applicator device connected to the conveyor conduit, and a passage which has a first and a second mouth opening and in which a portion of the conveyor conduit is disposed, wherein the first mouth opening of the passage is disposed in the tank, the second mouth opening is connected to the interior of the tank only by way of the conveyor conduit, and the conveyor conduit projects out of the passage beyond the first mouth opening into the tank.
US09381765B2

Disclosed are an intermediate transfer medium excelling in peel-off property on removing a transfer layer which include a protective layer with the aid of a peel-off layer of a thermal transfer sheet, and imparting a high durability to a print which is formed by transferring the transfer layer to a transfer receiving article, and retransferring the transfer layer onto the transfer receiving article easily, and a combination of the intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet. The intermediate transfer medium includes a substrate sheet, a protective layer and a receiving layer which are layered on a surface of the substrate sheet. The protective layer includes two or more binder resins with mutually different number average molecular weights. A sum total of products, each calculated by multiplying the number average molecular weight of individual binder resin and its content ratio in the blend together, is ≧3000 and ≦17000.
US09381745B1

System and methods for cleaning printheads and printhead wipers. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a belt configured to rotate in a loop, and a wiper attached to the belt configured to wipe ink from a printhead. The apparatus also includes a tank configured as a reservoir for a cleaning solution, and a controller configured to drive the belt so that an end of the wiper drags across the printhead when in an upper portion of the loop and submerges in the cleaning solution of the tank when in a lower portion of the loop.
US09381741B2

An inkjet printhead substrate includes a base plate, a heat storage layer placed on the base plate, a heat-generating resistive layer which is placed on the heat storage layer and which includes an electrothermal transducing portion, a wiring layer electrically connected to the heat-generating resistive layer, and an insulating protective layer covering the heat-generating resistive layer and the wiring layer. The heat storage layer includes a porous cyclic silazane film formed by a vapor phase process.
US09381738B2

A liquid jet apparatus according to the present invention includes a drive waveform generator adapted to generate a drive waveform signal, a modulator adapted to execute pulse modulation on the drive waveform signal, a digital power amplifier adapted to power-amplify the modulated signal, on which the pulse modulation is executed by the modulator, with a pair of switching elements push-pull coupled with each other, a low pass filter adapted to smooth the amplified digital signal obtained by the power-amplification of the digital power amplifier, and a modulation period modification circuit adapted to modify a modulation period of the pulse modulation of the modulator based on data of the drive waveform signal.
US09381727B2

Provided is a method of manufacturing a translucent rigid substrate laminate, which method can improve position precision. Further provided is a translucent rigid substrate bonding apparatus that contributes to improvement of the position precision while increasing production efficiency of a plate-shaped product. In the method of manufacturing a translucent rigid substrate laminate and the translucent rigid substrate bonding apparatus according to the present invention, when translucent rigid substrates are bonded in a predetermined positional relationship by interposing a photo-curable fixing agent including (A) polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, (B) monofunctional (meth)acrylate and (C) a photopolymerization initiator therebetween, the entire fixing agent spreading between the both translucent rigid substrates is cured every time the translucent rigid substrates are bonded.
US09381724B2

An energy conversion film, which can hold a larger amount of charges by pores in the inside of the film and has high energy conversion performances, is provided, by obtaining a porous resin film with a high expansion ratio without adopting an expansion treatment with a high-pressure gas by forming a thermoplastic resin stretched film having a specified structure. The energy conversion film includes a core layer (A) having specified pores and composed of a thermoplastic resin stretched film including a thermoplastic resin and at least one of an inorganic powder and an organic filler.
US09381718B2

Multi-layered thermoplastic films include intermittent stretched regions that are visually distinct from un-stretched regions. The stretched regions can be white, opaque, and non porous. The multi-layered thermoplastic films with visually-distinct stretched regions can be formed into bags for use as trash can liners or food storage. Additionally, methods of stretching thermoplastic films to create visually distinct stretched regions include incrementally stretching a plurality of film layers, at least one of which includes a thermoplastic material and a voiding agent.
US09381717B2

A manufacturing method of heat dissipation structure applied to mobile device. The heat dissipation structure applied to mobile device includes a heat conduction main body. The heat conduction main body has a heat dissipation side and a heat absorption side. A radiation heat dissipation layer is formed on the heat dissipation side. The heat dissipation structure is disposed in the mobile device to provide a very good heat dissipation effect for the closed space of the mobile device by way of natural convection and radiation. Therefore, the heat dissipation performance of the entire mobile device is greatly enhanced.
US09381715B2

An apparatus for inflating and sealing packing cushions has a drive mechanism for feeding a preconfigured film material to a sealing mechanism in a flattened state without wrinkles in the sealing region in which a longitudinal seal is formed. A feed mechanism includes a drive mechanism for advancing the film along a path, a first guide member which contacts a first surface of the film material in a first longitudinal region, and a second guide member which contacts the first surface of the film material in a second longitudinal region laterally offset from and parallel to the first longitudinal region. In some embodiments, the first and second guide members are adjacent belts. In other embodiments, the first and second guide members are stationary guide members or “skis.” The sealing mechanism may include a rotary sealing element and opposed backing element, such as a belt or a wheel.
US09381712B2

A system and method are presented in which a flow of plastic is extruded to obtain nano-sized features by forming multiple laminated flow streams, flowing in parallel through the non-rotating extrusion system. Each of the parallel laminated flow streams are subjected to repeated steps in which the flows are compressed, divided, and overlapped to amplify the number of laminations. The parallel amplified laminated flows are rejoined to form a combined laminated output with nano-sized features. The die exit is formed to provide a tubular shape.
US09381711B2

The present invention relates to a screw press dehydrator so as to facilitate transport of sludge and efficiently destroy microorganisms constituting sludge.
US09381708B2

A device for transporting plastic preforms to a stretch blow molding machine comprising a feeder device, which transports the plastic preforms to a separating device, which is arranged in transport direction upstream of the stretch blow molding machine, wherein the feeder device comprises a pneumatically actuable blocking device, which in a first position deblocks the path of transport for the preforms and in a second position blocks the path of transport for the plastic preforms, and wherein the blocking device is actuable by means of a cylinder. According to the invention, the valve for controlling the cylinder is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the cylinder.
US09381706B2

A button matrix is disclosed. The button matrix includes a base portion. A button body extends from the base and is formed from a translucent material. A button top formed from an opaque material is connected to the button body.
US09381701B1

A three-dimensional object printer includes an actuator that contacts a surface of a platen in the printer. A controller selectively operates the actuator to apply force to a bottom layer of a three-dimensional object formed on the platen to break an adhesion between the bottom layer and the platen.
US09381700B2

Tape dispensers with an improved wetting system are disclosed. The tape dispensers include a holder for a roll of liquid-activatable tape, a wetting system that has a reservoir of liquid and a roller having an absorbable outer surface to absorb and dispense liquid, and a feeding mechanism that operatively feeds the liquid-activatable tape through the wetting system to wet the adhesive on the liquid-activatable tape. The roller is at least partially immersed in the reservoir of liquid and the wetting system includes a roller adjustment mechanism to simultaneously adjust an upward force applied by the roller to the liquid activated tape and an immersion depth of the roller into the reservoir of liquid. The wetting system may also include a pressure mechanism to adjust a downward force applied to the liquid activated tape as it passes over the roller.
US09381698B2

A laser-engraveable layer is used in a laser-engraveable element to provide relief images. The resulting laser-engraved elements can take various forms and can be used to apply various inks to receiver materials in an imagewise fashion. The laser-engraveable element has a thermally crosslinked laser-engraveable layer containing a crosslinked elastomeric fluoropolymer and a fluoro-functionalized near-infrared radiation absorber. The crosslinked fluoropolymer has a glass transition temperature of less than and including 0° C. and the crosslinked laser-engraveable layer is formed from a reactive fluoropolymer composition comprising a reactive fluoropolymer, the fluoro-functionalized near-infrared radiation absorber, and a compound that causes crosslinking of the reactive fluoropolymer during thermal curing. The reactive fluoropolymer can have a reactive group selected from the group consisting of: poly(tetrafluoroethylene oxide-co-difluoromethylene oxide) α,ω-diol bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl ether), poly(tetrafluoroethylene oxide-co-difluoromethylene oxide) α,ω-diol, ethoxylated poly(tetrafluoroethylene oxide-co-difluoromethylene oxide) α,ω-diol, and a multifuncational (meth)acrylate end-functionalized derivative of one of such compounds.
US09381691B2

A pressure resistant drop tip nozzle assembly for an injection molding machine having a nozzle body with a nozzle passage extending axially through said nozzle body between a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet. The assembly includes a drop tip which has a body connected to the nozzle outlet of said nozzle body. The drop tip has a drop tip bore extending between a drop inlet located adjacent said nozzle outlet body and a drop outlet. A tapered drop passage located at said drop outlet defines a resin flow aperture where resin leaves said drop tip. An internal heating insert is positioned within said drop tip bore. The drop tip body is connected to the nozzle body via a mechanical connection such as screw threads. A reinforcing weld preferably via a continuous laser weld is provided between said drop tip body and said nozzle body.
US09381690B2

A movable platen support structure includes: a linear guide mechanism via which a movable platen is provided for horizontal movement; a plurality of movable-platen height adjustment mechanisms provided in corresponding relation to leg sections of the platen, each of the height adjustment mechanisms including a flat plate placed on a corresponding slider of the guide mechanism, and an adjusting bolt screwed into the corresponding leg section of the slider and abutting at its distal end against the flat plate; and a plurality of fastening mechanisms provided in corresponding relation to the leg sections, each of the fastening mechanisms including a fastening bolt for, following the height adjustment by the adjusting bolts, fastening the corresponding leg section to the corresponding slider by being passed through the leg section and the flat plate so as to be screwed into the slider.
US09381689B2

At a filling termination stage when performing multi-layer molding by means of a hot runner nozzle, an intermediate layer in a multi-layer molded article is prevented from being formed in a shape causing the intermediate layer to enter into a sprue in a portion of a mold cavity in a mold corresponding to the sprue. The multi-layer molded article with no intermediate layer being exposed in a sprue cut portion can be therefore obtained. In this manner, a diameter of a discharge port opening and closing mechanism part for opening and closing the resin discharge ports in the shut pin is made different from a diameter of a nozzle gate opening and closing mechanism part configured of the projection for pushing out the molten resin in the nozzle gate.
US09381687B2

A syringe (20) is disclosed including a needle (22) and a barrel (24). The needle can have an outside surface (32), a delivery outlet (34) at one end, a base (36) at the other end, and an internal passage (38) extending from the base to the delivery outlet. The barrel can have a generally cylindrical interior surface portion (40) defining a lumen. The barrel also can have a front passage (44) molded around and in fluid-sealing contact with the outside surface of the needle. A method of making such a syringe is also disclosed. A mold (80) for making the barrel defines a front opening of the barrel to be molded around and in fluid-sealing contact with the outside surface of the needle. The needle is positioned within the mold cavity, with its base abutting the core. The barrel is molded against the needle to join the barrel and the needle.
US09381686B2

A molding die is devised to suppress the formation of a fragile layer, thereby ensuring stable production of a resin molded body having remarkably improved adhesion of a plating film. A plurality of stepped parts are formed so as to be spaced apart from each other on a second die surface which molds a back surface on the side opposite to a design surface to which metal plating is to be applied, along the main flowing direction of a molten resin and in a direction crossing the main flowing direction. Since the flow of the molten resin changes due to the stepped parts and the influence thereof extends even to the vicinity of the design surface, the formation of a fragile layer is suppressed.
US09381685B2

Embodiments of face plates for golf club heads are disclosed herein. Other examples, and related methods are also disclosed herein.
US09381673B2

A blade cover covers a cutting blade mounted on a spindle. The blade cover has a bottom portion formed with an opening from which the lower end of the cutting blade projects. A cutting fluid is supplied to the upper surface of a workpiece in the periphery of the opening of the blade cover. A discharge opening is formed in the blade cover. Air is sucked from the discharge opening by a vacuum source. The cutting fluid supplied to the upper surface of the workpiece is taken from the opening into the blade cover in association with the rotation of the cutting blade and thereafter discharged from the discharge opening to the outside of the blade cover. Accordingly, scattering of the cutting fluid can be suppressed.
US09381667B2

In at least one form of the invention, a clamp can be used to attach a saw accessory to a saw. In various embodiments, the clamp can comprise first and second clamping members, an actuator, and a controller. In various embodiments, the saw accessory can be disposed between the first and second clamping members where at least one of the first and second clamping members can be moved by the actuator in order to clamp the saw accessory therebetween. In at least one such embodiment, the controller can be in electrical and/or fluid communication with the actuator to activate the actuator. In various embodiments, the controller can be activated by an operator from a location proximate to the operator but remote from a blade of the saw.
US09381665B2

A chainsaw in which a remaining amount of chain oil to be supplied to a saw chain can be easily checked is provided. In a chainsaw 1 including: a saw chain 6 driven by a motor embedded in a main body; and an oil tank 11 in which the chain oil to be supplied to the saw chain 6 in wood cutting process is stored, an illumination unit (LED 15) is provided in vicinity of the oil tank 11. In this manner, the chain oil of the oil tank 11 positioned on a left side of the LED 15 can be illuminated. This illumination unit is configured to be used also as an illuminating device for illuminating the vicinity of the saw chain 6, that is, an area indicated by dotted lines from 21c to 21d. According to the present invention, in a dark location, the remaining amount of the chain oil can be checked, and besides, a positional relationship among the chainsaw 1 main body, the saw chain 6, and the periphery thereof can be easily visually checked, so that the working efficiency can be improved.
US09381658B2

A sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an upper blade capable of moving up and down and a lower blade to cut a sheet bundle between the upper blade and the lower blade by downward movement of the upper blade. When the sheet bundle is cut by the downward movement of the upper blade, an assisting sheet is moved to a position below a blade edge of the upper blade such that cutting waste of the cut sheet bundle is dropped down without being adhered to the lower blade.
US09381654B2

A robot system with a robot that has a camera and a remote control station that can connect to the robot. The connection can include a plurality of privileges. The system further includes a server that controls which privileges are provided to the remote control station. The privileges may include the ability to control the robot, joint in a multi-cast session and the reception of audio/video from the robot. The privileges can be established and edited through a manager control station. The server may contain a database that defines groups of remote control station that can be connected to groups of robots. The database can be edited to vary the stations and robots within a group. The system may also allow for connectivity between a remote control station at a user programmable time window.
US09381653B2

The robot including a main body, an arm connected to the main body, a hand connected to the arm, the hand including a hand base and a finger, and a hand bracket unit between the hand base and the finger or between the hand base and the arm, may be provided. The hand bracket unit may include a vibration damping member provided between the hand base and the finger or between the hand base and the arm, thereby damping vibration of the hand base or the finger.
US09381651B2

A transfer device includes a suction unit capable of sucking an object and a transfer unit moving the suction unit. The suction unit includes a base member; a plurality of nozzles provided for a plurality of types of objects; a housing room formation unit attached to the base member, forming a housing room for housing the other end portion side of the plurality of nozzles, and including a sealing unit facing air outlets; a negative pressure generation unit generating negative pressure inside the housing room; and a drive unit driving the plurality of nozzles such that the air outlet of a nozzle selected from the plurality of nozzles in accordance with a type of the object is separated from the sealing unit, and the air outlet of a non-selected nozzle is bumped against the sealing unit to be sealed.
US09381649B2

A robotic finger, comprising: a first axis of movement comprising a moving magnet; a second axis of movement comprising a moving coil, wherein the second axis is generally orthogonal to the first axis; and a third axis of movement comprising a moving magnet, wherein the third axis of movement is generally oriented in the same direction as the first axis of movement.
US09381642B2

A wearable robotic system assists a wearer in performing manual tasks. One or more robotic arms are mounted to a wearer, and an sensor monitors the orientation(s) (e.g., position and movement) of the wearer's upper body and one or both arms. A controller detects a task being performed by the wearer based on the orientation(s) as indicated by the orientation sensors. In response, the controller causes the robotic arm to perform an action independent of the orientation(s) of the wearer's arms and complementary to the task, thereby aiding the wearer to accomplish the detected task.
US09381639B2

A handheld tool carrying case having a carrying case base and a carrying case cover and at least one electronic system. The carrying case base or the carrying case cover has at least one battery interface and one lighting device, which are at least partly fixedly connected to the carrying case base or fixedly connected to the carrying case cover.
US09381638B2

The present invention provides a power tool that can be used at a position away from the external power source. The power tool includes a housing, a motor, an end tool, a battery pack, and an inverter. The housing has an upper side portion and a lower side portion. The motor is supported by the housing and driven by alternate-current power. The end tool is supported by the housing and rotatably driven by the motor. The battery pack outputs direct-current voltage. The inverter is disposed on the upper side portion and at a position higher than the motor and configured to convert the direct-current voltage outputted from the battery pack into alternate-current voltage and to supply the motor with alternate-current power.
US09381636B2

A fuel cartridge, which is capable of being mounted on a tool main body of a gas-combustion type driving tool so as to supply fuel gas to a striking mechanism of the tool main body, is provided with an ejection nozzle provided at a port portion formed at an end portion of a cartridge main body and slidable with respect to the cartridge main body; a compression spring for biasing the ejection nozzle so that a tip end of the ejection nozzle protrudes from the cartridge main body; and an ejection hole formed at a side wall of a tip end portion of the ejection nozzle.
US09381631B2

A hand operated crimping tool with at least three crimping dies, the crimping surfaces of which together enclose a crimp opening arranged to receive a workpiece to be crimped. The crimping dies have movable pivot points that move when the handles of the tool are moved relative to each other. Each of the crimping dies is arranged between two guide elements on the body of the crimping tool and further has a respective cam surface and a respective stop surface, the respective cam surface being arranged to cooperate with a guide surface on one of the guide elements and the respective stop surface being arranged to cooperate with a guide surface on the other one of the guide elements, thus guiding the movement of the respective crimping die when the pivot points for the crimping dies are moved relative to the body of the crimping tool.
US09381630B1

A method and apparatus for pulling multiple joints of pie which comprises a pulling section and a pulled section, the method and apparatus working while the joints of pipe are below grade and capable of pulling multiple joints of pipe without relocating the pulling section.
US09381624B1

A stripped spark plug extraction tool device removes stripped spark plugs from an engine. The device includes a tubular member. A tubular member socket extends into a bottom end of the tubular member and is defined by a plurality of faces extending into the bottom end of the tubular member. A plurality of extensions extends from the faces of the tubular member socket inwardly toward a center of the tubular member socket. The extensions are configured for engaging a perimeter edge of a stripped portion of a spark plug to extract the stripped spark plug from an engine. A housing has a top face, a bottom face and a peripheral wall extending between the top face and the bottom face. The peripheral wall comprises a plurality of planar faces wherein an outer surface of the peripheral wall of the housing is configured to be engaged and rotated by a wrench.
US09381622B2

A cutting tool with first and second pivoted shearing blades has a guide member mounted to the first blade for transverse movement relative to the first blade and toward and away from the second blade. The guide member has at least one transverse restraining surface that confronts a transverse guided surface of at least one of the distal blade portions during cutting to resist axial separation of the cutting edges away from the cutting plane. In some embodiments, the guide member is actuated by placing the workpiece between the blades. Alternatively, the guide member is actuated by relative pivotal movement of the blades.
US09381617B2

A cutting tool having a sintered compact including 30 to 80 vol. % cubic boron nitride and a binder phase, wherein the binder phase includes about 2 to about 6 vol. % ZrN, is disclosed. In more specific examples, the cutting tool has a sintered compact including 30 to 80 vol. % cubic boron nitride, between about 4 vol. % and about 15 vol. % aluminum and/or aluminum compound and/or aluminum alloy and/or combinations thereof, and a binder phase, wherein the binder phase includes TiN and about 3 to about 5 vol. % ZrN, and wherein the cubic boron nitride has a grain size of less than 20 microns. Cutting tools of the disclosed composition display improved performance, particularly at higher operating speeds, e.g., about 200 m/min or greater.
US09381613B2

A reinforcement ring is for placement in a carrier head to abut an inner surface of a perimeter portion of a flexible membrane. The reinforcement ring includes a substantially vertical cylindrical portion, a first flange projecting inwardly from the bottom of the cylindrical portion, and a second flange projecting outwardly from a bottom of the cylindrical portion. The second flange projects downwardly at a non-zero angle from vertical.
US09381604B2

A method for placing an optical lens, with a first side and a second side, on a block piece for holding the optical lens and which has a coupling part for holding the block piece in a workpiece chuck and with a holding part for fastening the lens. The holding part has a convex or concave holding surface corresponding to a first side of the lens. The holding surface is, according to the shape of the lens to be held, provided in the form of a negative free-forming surface, and the block piece is made from a plastic that can be machined.
US09381601B2

A method for inserting a component through a surface of a workpiece made of a first material uses friction-induced plasticity of the latter to attach the component to the workpiece. The component includes a head portion having a base and a working end being threaded, and an insert portion having a penetrating end and provided with a threaded bore closed at its penetrating end, to initially receive the threaded working end. The outer surface of the insert portion being made of a second material harder than the first material, a rotary tool can be used to insert the component through the workpiece surface, by rotating the rotary tool in a first direction while applying an axial force onto the head portion base to produce substantially full insertion of the insert portion, and by maintaining the axial force during a sufficient setting time without rotation to produce the attachment.
US09381599B2

A manufacturing method of a heat dissipation assembly includes the following steps: an accommodating concave portion and hollow areas are formed on a board body, and the hollow areas are through the board body located in the accommodating concave portion. The board body located in the accommodating concave portion is extended, such that the hollow areas are closed by the board body adjacent to the hollow areas. A heat pipe is placed in the accommodating concave portion, and the width of the heat pipe and the width of the accommodating concave portion are substantially the same. A stamping treatment is performed on the board body surrounding the accommodating concave portion to form positioning protruding portions, and the positioning protruding portions protrude toward the accommodating concave portion, such that the heat pipe is fixed between the positioning protruding portions and the accommodating concave portion.
US09381593B2

An engine driven welder-generator including a chopper circuit and being adapted to produce an AC weld output, a DC weld output, and an auxiliary output is provided. The engine driven welder-generator is capable of selectively running at a low engine speed or a high engine speed based on operator inputs and may produce both AC and DC power outputs while utilizing the chopper circuit. The engine driven welder-generator is also adapted to provide an auxiliary output during an AC welding process and a DC welding process.
US09381587B2

A wire electric discharge machine for taper cutting includes a table on which a workpiece is mounted, at least two linear axes for moving the workpiece and a wire electrode relative to each other, a mount portion capable of being mounted on the table, and a control unit. The workpiece can be attached to the mount portion, and the mount portion has at least two rotary axes. The control unit synchronously moves the linear axes and the rotary axes in accordance with a machining program to perform machining while relatively changing the tilt of the workpiece with respect to the wire electrode.
US09381583B2

A prismatic and cylindrical cutting insert for long edge rotary milling applications has multiple indexable cutting edges ranging from four to six or even more depending on the actual milling applications. Each cutting edge of a prismatic or cylindrical cutting insert provides a positive cutting geometry and is equivalent to an indexable cutting edge of a traditional single-sided parallelogram-shaped cutting insert having two indexable cutting edges (often referred as A-Style insert). The prismatic and cylindrical (including tapered or conical) cutting insert may be used for machining a wide range of materials including difficult-to-machine materials, cast-iron and alloys, aluminum and alloys, carbon steels, and fiber reinforced composites.
US09381582B2

A milling tool includes a tool body having a longitudinal axis and a first end. A plurality of flutes are provided in the tool body and extend to the first end of the tool body. A plurality of cutting edges are provided. Each cutting edge is associated with a respective one of the plurality of flutes, each cutting edge being substantially identical to each other one of the plurality of cutting edges except that at least one but not all of the cutting edges is a recessed cutting edge and at least one but not all of the cutting edges is a non-recessed cutting edge. Each recessed cutting edge begins at a non-zero distance from the first end of the tool body and each non-recessed cutting edge extends to the first end of the tool body.
US09381576B2

The invention relates to a chuck (1) for a machine tool for machining a tubular workpiece (26) which rotates about a rotational axis that coincides with the center of the chuck, comprising at least two chucking slides (7a, b, c) that are designed to be positionable radially with respect to the rotational axis in order to release and chuck the workpiece, are arranged on the end side of and in a manner distributed uniformly around the circumference of a chuck head plate, and bear chucking jaws (8a, b, c). Such a chuck is intended to be created with improved operating characteristics and extension to all chucking functions. To this end, for the external central chucking of a tube (26), there are provided centring slides (27a, b, c) which can be disengaged from the chuck head plate with a forward inclination towards the end of the tube to be machined and center the tube by means of chucking claws (29) which are arranged at the front, free end of centring slide rods (28), said centring slides (27a, b, c) engaging via a toothed rod section (34) into a toothing (35) of a drive means assigned to each centring slide, and meshing for their part, on a toothing side (37) parallel to the side with the toothing, with a central toothed wheel (33) arranged concentrically with the rotational axis, wherein the central toothed wheel (33) synchronizes the movements of all the centring slides (27a, b, c).
US09381571B2

A casting system and method. The casting system can include an energy source and a hearth, which can have a tapered cavity. The tapered cavity can have a first end portion and a second end portion, and the tapered cavity can narrow between the first and second end portions. Further, the tapered cavity can have an inlet at the first end portion that defines an inlet capacity, and one or more outlets at the second end portion that define an outlet capacity. Where the cavity has a single outlet, the outlet capacity can be less than the inlet capacity. Where the cavity has multiple outlets, the combined outlet capacity can match the inlet capacity. Further, the cross-sectional area of the tapered cavity near the inlet can be similar to the cross-sectional area of the inlet.
US09381570B2

A preform intended for the manufacture of a metal foam having a porosity of between 62% and 85%, the preform including a set of precursors in the form of balls formed of a mixture of 12% to 25% of organic binder, 72% to 87% of sodium chloride and 1 to 3% of kalinite. The precursors have a diameter of around 1 mm to 10 mm, and preferably 4 mm, the precursors being obtained by granulating the mixture using a fluidized bed process.
US09381561B2

The specification discloses a crimping process for crimping a metal ferrule (19) onto a hose (17) including the steps of applying a radially inwardly directed crimping force to die elements (16) adapted to engage the ferrule (19) and increasing said crimping force to a first level over a first period of time, at least partially removing the crimping force from said die elements after said first period of time, and reapplying the radially directed crimping force to said die elements (16) and increasing said crimping force to a second level over a second period of time, said second crimping force level being equal to, higher or lower than said first level, and at an end of the crimping process, removing the crimping force fully from the die elements (16).
US09381557B2

A method of forming a shaft for transferring force from a driving element to a driven element makes use of a tube. The tube is deformed to define distal ends of said shaft. At least one of the distal ends of the tube is trimmed to define a yoke for engaging one of the driving element or the driven element, with the yoke being integrally formed with the shaft.
US09381551B2

A method of washing a bulk container is provided. The method includes receiving the bulk container on a support surface and rotating the support surface and at least one washer arm relative to one another. The method further includes spraying a fluid from at least one nozzle disposed on the at least one washer arm. Rotating the support surface and the at least one washer arm relative to one another exposes a plurality of portions of an outer surface of the bulk container to the spray.
US09381550B2

A tank, such as a fermentation tank, includes a scraper blade assembly slideably coupled to a bottom surface of the tank. The scraper blade assembly includes a blade arranged to displace solids deposited on the bottom surface of the tank out through an aperture arranged flush with the bottom surface of the tank.
US09381536B2

An apparatus for concurrently applying to a substrate a plurality of substantially parallel strips of an adhesive is provided. The apparatus includes a housing or carrier with motive supports for transporting the carrier along a path of travel over the substrate. A plurality of cradles are mounted on the carrier and are arranged in a line transversely of the path of travel of the carrier over the substrate. Each cradle is adapted to hold a canister of the adhesive. A discharging mechanism is mounted on the carrier and is adapted, when a driving force is applied, to concurrently discharge the adhesive from the plurality of canisters in the cradles. Also mounted on the carrier is an actuating mechanism for selectively providing a driving force to the discharging mechanism. The discharging mechanism may include at least one plunger located at each cradle.
US09381533B2

The fluid section or head (10) for a plural component applicator can be easily assembled or removed from the air section (12) by turning the fluid head ⅛ of a turn. The fluid head (10) has four tabs (14) that protrude and engage with four undercut features (16) within the handle (12). Tabs (14) are inserted through corresponding openings (16) in the front (12a) of air section (12) and rotated such that tabs (14) are retained behind lips (18). A locking tab feature (20) in the hose manifold (24) mates to a recess feature (22) in the handle (12) to prevent the fluid section (10) from rotating.
US09381528B2

This invention relates generally to an article that includes a non-wetting surface having a dynamic contact angle of at least about 90°. The surface is patterned with macro-scale features configured to induce controlled asymmetry in a liquid film produced by impingement of a droplet onto the surface, thereby reducing time of contact between the droplet and the surface.
US09381523B2

A system for separating a sample and collecting the separated sample. The system includes an ultracentrifuge having a cylindrical rotor. The system includes a gradient delivery assembly for delivering a gradient solution to the ultracentrifuge rotor, and a sample delivery assembly for delivering the solution containing the sample to the ultracentrifuge rotor. The system includes a fraction collection assembly for collecting discrete volumes of the separated sample. The system includes a processor for controlling operation of the ultracentrifuge, as well as the gradient delivery assembly, the sample delivery assembly, and/or the fraction collection assembly.
US09381522B2

A solid-bowl screw-type centrifuge for clarifying substance uses a centrifuge drum that can hold the substance, and has a pond radius. A centrifuge screw is situated in the centrifuge drum. The centrifuge screw is supported on one of its axial end regions by a connecting flange that protrudes axially inward on a drum cover of the centrifuge drum and has a flange outside radius at a transition to the drum cover. The flange outside radius of the connecting flange is larger than the pond radius.
US09381519B2

An apparatus for separating magnetic particles from a liquid which contains said particles, said liquid being contained in an elongated vessel (11) having a length axis (12), said vessel being arranged in a vessel holder (13) with its length axis (12) in a substantially vertical position, said vessel (11) having a bottom and a tapered cross-section that diminishes towards the bottom of the vessel and a side wall (14) which has an outer surface which forms an angle with the length axis (12) of said vessel (11). This apparatus comprises a magnet (15) having a plane outer surface (16) and being adapted for being moved by transport means (17) along a motion path (25), said magnet (15) and said transport means (17) being so arranged with respect to said vessel (11) that over a portion of said motion path (25) said plane outer surface (16) of said magnet is in contact with a portion of said outer surface of said side wall (14) of said vessel (11), and transport means (17) for moving said magnet (15) between a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position along said motion path (25).
US09381503B2

A novel bidentate ligand of general formula (I) is described together with a process for the carbonylation of ethylenically unsaturated compounds. The group X1 may be defined as a univalent hydrocarbyl radical of up to 30 atoms containing at least one nitrogen atom having a pKb in dilute aqueous solution at 18° C. of between 4 and 14 wherein the said at least one nitrogen atom is separated from the Q2 atom by between 1 and 3 carbon atoms. The group X2 is defined as X1, X3 or X4 or represents a univalent radical of up to 30 atoms having at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom wherein each said univalent radical is joined via said at least one primary, secondary or aromatic ring carbon atom(s) respectively to the respective atom Q2. Q1 and Q2 each independently represent phosphorus, arsenic or antimony.
US09381502B2

Process for the preparation of a catalyst comprising the steps of (a) preparing a slurry comprising clay, zeolite, a sodium-free silica source, quasi-crystalline boehmite, and micro-crystalline boehmite, provided that the slurry does not comprise peptized quasi-crystalline boehmite, (b) adding a monovalent acid to the slurry, (c) adjusting the pH of the slurry to a value above 3, and (d) shaping the slurry to form particles. This process results in attrition resistant catalysts with a good accessibility.
US09381493B2

A novel carbon absorption material is described which is formed from anaerobic digestate. The material has a hollow tubular structure and is particularly advantageous in converting hydrogen sulfide in biogas and in absorbing the converted sulfur and sulfur compounds from biogas into its structure. The material after use as a hydrogen sulfide absorbent has value as a horticultural or agricultural product or as a sulfur impregnated activated carbon. The process for producing this novel carbon absorption material is described. In an embodiment, the process described uses in particular, a humidified inert gas over a temperature range of between about 500° C. to 900° C. to convert anaerobic digestate to an active carbon absorbent. The thermal treatment is relatively mild and retains the fibrous structure of the source material while removing cellulosic and hemicellulosic components from the anaerobic digestate.
US09381484B2

Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
US09381480B2

Disclosed is a container including a temporary coupling member for pouring two different types of solutions into separated chambers and for separating the chambers from each other and for driving a supporting rotator to release the temporary coupling member so as to mix the two different types of solution. The container includes rotating pushing unit rotating; cylindrical lower support inserted into rotating pushing unit; liquid accommodating upper support inserted into lower support; vertical pushing unit installed in lower support and rotating pushing unit; opening device including opening disc, supporting unit, supporting unit, and bottom holes and lateral holes; elastic spring installed between lower support and vertical pushing unit and rotating the rotating pushing unit; pumping unit installed on lower support and accommodating liquid; and press button installed on pumping unit to operate pumping unit to discharge mixed liquid in pumping unit out.
US09381477B2

The present invention provides microfluidic systems and methods for the production of particles (e.g., nanoparticles) for drug delivery. The present invention provides microfluidic devices useful for production of particles by nanoprecipitation. The present invention provides highly homogenous compositions of particles produced by inventive microfluidic devices.
US09381475B2

A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a body, a storage chamber defined in the body while having an opened front side, a door to open or close the opened front side of the storage chamber, a water tank to store clean water, a carbonated water production module mounted to a back surface of the door, the carbonated water production module including a carbon dioxide gas cylinder stored with carbon dioxide gas, a carbonated water tank to produce carbonated water through mixing of the clean water with the carbon dioxide gas, and a module support to support a bottom of the carbonated water tank, and a water leakage sensor disposed on the module support, to sense water leakage occurring at the carbonated water production module. Through this configuration, it is possible to sense water leakage, and thus to minimize damage caused by water leakage.
US09381469B2

A radial seal is described for use in a filtration system having annular elements. The rings or annuli fit in a groove in an outer surface of a seal plate. Each annulus has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of a cylindrical housing of the filtration system. A gap in the annulus has a width selected to enable the annular element to deform sufficiently to permit insertion of the at least one annulus into the cylindrical housing. Two or more annuli can be configured such that the gaps of the annuli are misaligned when both annuli are installed in the groove, thereby minimizing leakage in operation. A registration system includes a registration element that cooperates with a registration element of the other annulus to ensure misalignment of the gaps of the pair of annuli.
US09381468B2

Systems and methods for detecting ammonia slip in an exhaust system based upon transient NOx sensor responses are described. In one example method, an exhaust system allocates tailpipe NOx sensor output to NOx and NH3 levels responsive to the transient sensors using a segment length method that processes the transient signals based on the total segment lengths calculated within a window. A ratio of segment lengths relative to a threshold is determined for a measured and expected NOx rate of change downstream of an SCR that is further used to determine a probability of NOx and NH3 based on the measured sensor activities, and a controller is included to adjust one or more parameters based on the allocation and changes of sensor output.
US09381462B2

A system for reducing emissions includes a gas production source that produces nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrogen sulfide, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, formaldehyde, benzene, metal oxides, or volatile organic compound emissions. An exhaust plenum is downstream from the gas production source, and structure for dispersing a solvent is in the exhaust plenum. A collection tank is in fluid communication with the exhaust plenum to receive the solvent from the exhaust plenum, and a heat source is in the exhaust plenum downstream from the structure for dispersing the solvent. A method for reducing emissions from a gas production source includes flowing exhaust gases through an exhaust plenum, dispersing a solvent through a nozzle in the exhaust plenum, collecting the dispersed solvent in a collection tank, and heating the exhaust gases flowing through the exhaust plenum downstream from the nozzle.
US09381461B2

SOx removal equipment 15 which reduces sulfur oxides from flue gas 12 from a boiler 11, a cooler 16 which is provided on the downstream side of the SOx removal equipment 15 so as to reduce the sulfur oxides from the flue gas and decrease a gas temperature, CO2 recovery equipment 17 which includes an absorber for bringing CO2 in the flue gas into contact with a CO2 absorption liquid so as to be reduced and a regenerator for causing the CO2 absorption liquid to emit CO2 so as to recover CO2 and regenerate the CO2 absorption liquid, and ammonia injection equipment 22 for reducing a mist generation material which is a generation source of mist that is generated in the absorber of the CO2 recovery equipment before introducing the flue gas to the CO2 recovery equipment, are included.
US09381458B2

A device for disinfecting of gases and/or liquids, includes a tube of UV-transparent glass having a hollow interior space and a tube wall with a tube inside wall and a tube outside wall, as well as at least one UV-light source. The UV-transparent glass tube has an indentation extending into the interior space on at least one location and in the at least one indentation at least one UV-light source is arranged. The geometry causes the UV-light sources to be closer to the medium to be disinfected, so that a large portion of the UV-light reaches the interior space on a direct path through the glass, thus allowing for a low-loss transfer of the UV-light.
US09381448B2

A distribution array (10) for use in a settler area (12) of a mixer-settler, the distribution array (10) characterized by: at least one panel (26, 28) of linearly-spaced barrier elements (30), wherein the depth of the barrier elements (30), relative to a length of the settler area (12) in which it is to be positioned, is greater than the spacing between the barrier elements (30), thereby defining a fluid flow channel between adjacent barrier elements (30) that is longer than it is wide.
US09381446B2

The disclosed embodiments relate to systems for deaerating a stream of slag sump water produced by a gasifier. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes a flash vessel having a first inlet configured to introduce a first fluid into the flash vessel, wherein the flash vessel is configured to flash the first fluid to produce a first flash gas, a second inlet configured to introduce a stream from slag sump into the flash vessel, wherein the stream from slag sump comprises a mixture of a gasification fine slag, dissolved oxygen (O2), and water. A gas-liquid contactor in the flash vessel is configured to contact the stream from slag sump with the first flash gas to enable the first flash gas to deaerate the stream from slag sump. A first outlet of the vessel is configured to output an overhead discharge comprising the first flash gas and oxygen from the stream from slag sump.
US09381443B2

The present invention relates to a toy including a carriage (12), a pair of wheels (14), a sliding part (16) mobile along the carriage between extended and retracted positions, a spring stressed between the carriage and the sliding part, and means adapted to i) to progressively store a mechanical energy in the spring by displacement of the sliding part towards the retracted position, and ii) to release the thus-stored energy. The sliding part includes an end (32) supporting a jaw (34) and a pad (36). The carriage includes a protruding part (24) supporting another jaw (28) and another pad (30). The carriage may be oriented relative to the ground between several functionally distinct stable positions, with a default position where the toy rests in stable equilibrium on the two wheels and the pad (36), and a pulling/grasping position where the toy rests in stable equilibrium on the two wheels and the other pad (30) and where the second jaws is movable parallel to the ground, further or closer to the first jaw.
US09381442B2

The present invention relates to a toy comprising at least two parallel wheels each comprising a hub (14), a rim (16) provided with a tread (18), and a plurality of spokes (20) made of an elastically deformable material. The unit formed by the hub and the spokes is mounted into the rim under compressive stress on the spokes, so as to produce, by buckling effect, a bending of the spokes curving these latter and offsetting axially the plane of the hub with respect to that of the rim. The unit can hence take two stable positions in the direction of bending of the spokes, i.e. an extended position with an enlarged track and a retracted position with a reduced track. It is just needed to apply an external mechanical effort on the rim, in one direction or the other, to reverse the direction of bending of the spokes, and thus to switch from the extended position to the retracted position, or vice versa.
US09381436B2

Disclosed is a method for implementing a cloud local area network (C-LAN) for providing a multi-player environment for servicing content to a plurality of client devices including determining a location of a blade for each client device of the plurality of client devices, configuring a service access point for each client device of the plurality of client devices, and initializing the C-LAN using the service access points for each client device of the plurality of client devices, wherein at least two client devices of the plurality of client devices cannot be associated with a same local area network based on their respective internet service providers.
US09381424B2

One embodiment provides a method for use in providing input to a system that includes the steps of determining position information for a controller for the system, comparing the determined position information for the controller with predetermined position information associated with commands, and providing a command to the system if the determined position information matches predetermined position information for the command.
US09381415B1

A sports ball communication system includes a band that is to be worn by a participant who is meant to handle the sports ball; and a communication unit constructed and arranged to be worn by the participant on the band. The communication unit includes a main control unit, a memory for storing predetermined messages, and at least one sensor for sensing the actions of the ball by the participant. The system may include as sensors a microphone for sensing a bounce of the ball by the participant, and an accelerometer for sensing a motion of a ball handling hand of the participant.
US09381413B2

A golf tee has a stake made of a rigid material such as a rigid polymer, combined with a flexible crown with flexible projections and possibly also a flexible pivot point. This reduces resistance at impact, producing less friction and low ball spin. As a result, distance and accuracy are improved. The fusion of the rigid and flexible materials provides a tee that can tolerate repeated hits and be used over and over.
US09381412B2

A divot repair tool includes a main body having an internally located rotational cylinder, a fixed tubular slide liner, and a prong assembly having one or more prongs which transition between an extended and retracted position. At least one of the elongated prongs include a top end having a generally teardrop shape.
US09381409B1

The present invention discloses an iron-type golf club head formed from multiple materials that increase torsional stiffness of the club and aid in sound performance. In particular, the iron-type golf club head includes a rear flange and a composite component bonded to an external surface of the rear flange. The composite component may cover an entire surface of the rear flange, and may also extend upwards to make contact with a top portion of the club head and thus close off a rear cavity of the club head. The iron-type golf club head may further comprise a face support structure extending from the rear flange, to which the face plate may be affixed via welding or brazing.
US09381405B2

Disclosed are systems and methods of adjusting the playing orientation of the head of a golf club. An adjustment to the axis of the shaft in reference to the vertical plane is constrained within minimum and maximum limits, so as to conform to current and proposed changes to the United States Golf Association (USGA) rules of play. The fine adjustment within these constraints cannot be readily made, and all adjustable parts are firmly fixed, so there is no reasonable likelihood of them working loose during a round. The adjustments to the club are designed such that during a stipulated round, the playing characteristics of a club cannot be purposely changed by adjustment or by other means.
US09381396B2

A collapsible folding training device is provided having a rear frame portion that contains a resistance device. The resistance device uses eddy currents and has a pivoting magnet internally that creates progressively increasing resistance as speed increases. An arm is attached to the rear frame portion that can pivot from a stored position to an in-use position. At the opposite end of the arm, a front frame is attached where it can affix a portion of a driving mechanism, such as a bicycle. The front frame supports and stabilizes the driving mechanism. The arm sets the distance between the front frame and the resistance device.
US09381389B2

A fire suppression system may comprise a shape memory actuation system. The shape memory actuation system may be configured as a retainer that retains a plug and/or a disk. The shape memory actuation system may be a shape memory plug that is configured to discharge from a vessel exhaust port. The shape memory actuation system may be deployable in response to an electrical stimulus (e.g., resistive heating causing the shape memory alloy to have a temperature exceeding a transition temperature).
US09381387B2

A fire-protection mechanism is described. The fire-protection mechanism includes multiple, overlapping cavities that can be filled with water (and, more generally, a fluid). When the fire-protection mechanism is deployed over an object, such as a building, and the cavities are filled with water, the fire-protection mechanism reduces the likelihood that the object is damaged by the heat associated with a fire proximate to the object, such as a wild fire. In particular, the heat capacity and latent heat of the water significantly increase the thermal time constant of the object, thereby reducing the likelihood of combustion. The fire-protection mechanism may include a reflective coating to redirect infrared radiation away from the object to provide further protection. In addition, the water in the cavities may be refilled, as needed, by directing a stream of water onto the fire-protection mechanism and/or through an internal channel in the fire-protection mechanism.
US09381386B2

A fire sprinkler of the preferred embodiments includes a frame, a trigger, and a deflector. The frame defines a duct to exhaust the flow of a fire suppressing or extinguishing substance, and includes a fastener to fasten the frame to a supply line. The trigger blocks the flow of the fire suppressing or extinguishing substance through the duct during a first mode, and permits the flow of the fire suppressing or extinguishing substance during a second mode. The deflector redirects the flow of the fire suppressing or extinguishing substance into a coverage area. The deflector also at least partially shields the trigger from the dispersal of a fire suppressing or extinguishing substance from an adjacent fire sprinkler and prevents a failure of the trigger.
US09381383B2

A photoprotective composition, in particular a cosmetic composition, that includes particles of photonic material having a polymeric multilayer interference structure, where at least two layers of the structure contain an amphiphilic polymer.
US09381382B2

The present invention relates to a composition comprising an effective amount of a particulate zinc material, an effective amount of a detersive surfactant including a surfactant with an anionic functional group, an effective amount of a pyrithione or a polyvalent metal salt of a pyrithione, a dispersed gel network phase comprising: i) at least about 0.05% of one or more fatty amphiphiles, by weight of said shampoo composition; ii) at least about 0.01% of one or more secondary surfactants, by weight of said shampoo composition; and iii) water; and at least about 20% of an aqueous carrier, by weight of said shampoo composition.
US09381379B2

New techniques for radiotherapy and radiosurgery are provided. In some aspects of the invention, multiple sources of radiation with characteristics that are projected to constructively interfere at a treatment target are provided. In other aspects, hardware directs multiple radiation sources from the same side of a treatment target, and focuses the initiation of substantial interference on a leading structure in the target. In other aspects, refractive models updated by live feedback are used to improve dosage distribution by, among other things, optimizing the number, length, superposition, overlap, angle and nature of radiation beams. In additional aspects, interstitial beacons and radiation path diversion structures are inserted to improve dosage distribution to a target and avoid critical neighboring structures. In particle therapy, regionally actuable external magnetic fields are also provided, to improve dosage accuracy and avoid collateral damage.
US09381372B2

An electroshock device for delivering an electrical discharge to a target includes an electrical discharge circuit, an electrode coupled to the electrical discharge circuit and having an attachment feature attachable to the target. Upon attachment the electrode is enabled to monitor a physiological condition of the target, generate a signal based on the physiological condition, and deliver the electrical discharge to the target. The electroshock device also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the electrical discharge circuit and the electrode. The controller is configured to modulate delivery of the electrical discharge based on the signal.
US09381369B2

Medical devices and batteries for use with medical devices are disclosed. An example battery may include a housing. A plurality of cathode pellets may be disposed within the housing. An anode may extend through at least some of the plurality of cathode pellets. A lid may be attached to the housing.
US09381352B2

An apparatus for more accurately stimulating a living body comprises: a stimulation unit configured to apply a bio-stimulation signal in vicinity to a living body, the bio-stimulation signal being composed of pieces of time-series data having a specific frequency; and a control unit configured to derive bio-stimulation information required to achieve targeted bio-information using time space data indicative of bio-responses interacting at a plurality of different positions in response to the bio-stimulation signal, and derive a relation between the bio-stimulation signal and the bio-responses, and control the stimulation unit to apply the bio-stimulation signal in response to the derived bio-stimulation information. The relation is configured to set the bio-stimulation information as variables in an X matrix (m, t), set the bio-response information as variables in a Y matrix (n, t), and derive an A matrix (n, m) satisfying Y=AX.
US09381348B2

A stimulation lead includes a lead body. Terminals and electrodes are disposed along opposing end portions of the lead body and are electrically-coupled to one another via conductors. The electrodes include segmented electrodes. Each of the segmented electrodes includes a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, a first side-wall extending radially between the interior surface and the exterior surface from the distal end to the proximal end, and a second side-wall opposite to the first side-wall and extending radially between the interior surface and the exterior surface from the distal end to the proximal end. At least one of the segmented electrodes defines an open cavity that is formed along the first side-wall of the segmented electrode and that facilitates adhesion of the segmented electrode to the lead body.
US09381338B2

A connector for coupling to a base of medical device equipped with a circular hub having a circumferential recess. The connector includes a cap having a top surface, a bottom surface, a central region, and a circumferential region. The cap defines at least two slots extending from the circumferential region towards the central region, the slots defining the cap into at least one lobe. The at least one lobe has an outward projecting lift tab and an inward projecting catch. Positioning the connector on the circular hub and depressing the connector engage the catch with the circumferential recess of the circular hub so the connector can rotate completely about the circular hub. Lifting the one lift tab to reversibly displace the lobe and its respective catch radially to disengage from the circumferential recess decouples the connector.
US09381335B2

A catheter based drug delivery system for minimally invasive delivery of treatment drugs into a bladder wall. The catheter system can include a delivery tip for deforming the bladder wall before forming jets of drug solution that penetrate the bladder wall for needleless delivery of the treatment drugs directly to the diseased tissue. The delivery tip can also have graduated markings for providing visual indicators of the relative depth of the delivery tip in the bladder wall and the alignment of the formed jets with the particular layers of the bladder wall.
US09381334B2

A rectal balloon apparatus comprises a shaft having a fluid passageway extending therethrough. A rectal gas relieving lumen may be positioned with a central shaft for removal of rectal gas. The gas releasing lumen can also or in the alternative be provided along an outer surface of the balloon. A motion detecting sensor and a radiation detecting sensor may be positioned with the balloon, the shaft, and/or the rectal gas release lumen.
US09381331B2

A gravitational pressure regulating valve to regulate fluid flow of a patient, including a fluid chamber having an inlet port to receive a bodily fluid and an outlet port to discharge the received bodily fluid, and an opposing force member in the fluid chamber to oppose a first force of the fluid flow at the inlet port with a second force that varies according to changes in gravitational alignment.
US09381325B2

A balloon catheter having a multilayer catheter shaft is formed to have an inner layer and an outer layer, where the inner layer and outer layer are selected from materials that enhance the pushability of the catheter while preserving the flexibility. Using a combination of a high Shore D duromater value material and a lower Shore D duromater value material, various combinations of multilayer catheter shafts are disclosed utilizing different glass transition temperatures and block copolyamides to obtain the desired characteristics.
US09381320B2

The present invention relates to a multiple-use intravenous (IV) catheter assembly septum and septum actuator. In particular, the present invention relates to an IV catheter assembly having a stationary septum actuator and a blood control septum, wherein the blood control septum is configured to slide within a catheter adapter of the IV catheter assembly between a compressed state and an uncompressed state. When in the compressed state, a slit of the blood control septum is opened and the septum comprises stored compressive potential energy. When the septum is released from the compressed state, the stored compressive potential energy is release and the blood control septum is restored to its original shape, thereby closing the septum's slit.
US09381317B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a device, system and method for providing high flow therapy interfaces for use in the treatment of respiratory conditions and in assisted respirations. A nasal cannula for delivery of respiratory gases supplied from a respiratory gas delivery system that includes at least one nasal insert that includes a lumen for the supplied respiratory gases from the respiratory gas delivery system, at least one flange coupled to the at least one nasal insert and configured to partially impede the egress of respiratory gasses delivered to an upper airway of a patient, where the flange includes a top surface defining a corresponding top surface area and where the flange further includes at least one slot that defines a corresponding implicit surface area, the top surface area of the top surface being substantially greater than the implicit surface area of the at least one slot is provided.
US09381316B2

A mask assembly for a user includes a frame having a main body and lateral connector portions and a cushion component provided to the frame and defining a breathing cavity configured to accommodate at least a portion of the user's nose in use. The cushion component includes a face contacting seal portion adapted to sealingly engage with at least a portion of the user's nose in use. The cushion component has an aperture to communicate pressurized gas from the breathing chamber to the user's airways in use, and a main wall portion, opposite from the aperture, extending upwardly away from the frame. The main wall portion includes a stiffening portion.
US09381309B2

A retractable needle device attachable to the front of a fluid collection or infusion device such as a syringe, the retractable needle device comprising a housing having an engagement member, a slide support surface, a retraction cavity and a first pinch surface; a needle; a needle alignment member comprising a needle tube and a second pinch surface; and a needle retraction mechanism positioned within the needle tube and configured to bias the needle rearwardly; wherein the first and second pinch surfaces are configured so that a pinching force applied to them will cause relative lateral movement between the housing and needle alignment member. This translational movement from an injection position, wherein the needle is aligned with the syringe connector, to a retraction position, wherein the needle is aligned with the retraction cavity, allows the needle retraction mechanism to force the needle into the retraction cavity.
US09381308B2

The invention relates to an injection supporting device for a syringe. The syringe comprises a cartridge for a medicament and may comprise an injection needle extending in a z-direction from the cartridge to dispense the contents of the cartridge. Alternatively the injection needle may be part of the injection supporting device itself. The injection supporting device comprises a housing to receive at least a part of the cartridge, a needle shield and a resilient member coupled to the needle shield and the housing. The needle shield comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, a distal opening in a front end of the distal portion and a needle guide for guiding the injection needle towards the distal opening. The needle shield is slidably attached to the housing and slidable relative to the housing along the z-direction between a guarding position covering a tip of the injection needle and an injection position in which a front end portion of the injection needle extends through the distal opening of the needle shield. The resilient member urges the needle shield towards the guarding position.
US09381303B2

A pen needle includes a hub having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end. A needle is connected to the hub and extends through the first opening at the first end. Access to the needle through the second opening is prevented by a sterility barrier, which has a movable portion that is moved along a longitudinal axis of the needle to provide access to the needle. A storage container includes a housing having a plurality of cavities to receive a plurality of pen needles. A cover is rotatably connected to the housing and is rotated such that an access portion thereof is aligned with one of the cavities, thereby providing access to the pen needle in the cavity.
US09381293B2

The invention refers to a centrifuge for separating whole blood into its blood components and a method for extracting a highly enriched thrombocyte concentrate out of whole blood. For this purpose, the centrifuge comprises a closed loop and/or open-loop control unit as well as a drive unit coupled to the closed loop and/or open-loop control unit, a rotor (12) having at least two container receptacles (14a, 14b; 16a, 16) for removably holding containers (18, 20, 22, 24) being in fluid communication with each other, at least one sensor arranged between the container receptacles (14a, 14b; 16a, 16b) and coupled with the closed loop and/or open-loop control unit for detecting a separation layer. Herein, a motor/gear unit (30a, 30b, 32a, 32b) coupled to the closed loop and/or open-loop control unit is associated with each of the container receptacles (14a, 14b; 16a, 16b). Each of the motor/gear unit units is in operational contact through means (34) with each of the containers (18, 20, 22, 24) supported in the respective container receptacle (14a, 14b; 16a, 16b) such that a transfer and back-transfer of blood components between the containers (18, 20, 22, 24) is initiated.
US09381287B2

A blood supply flow rate controlling device (2), which is a device for controlling the blood supply flow rate in an extracorporeal circulation device connected to a living body (10), includes rotational frequency detecting means that detects the rotational frequency of the centrifugal pump (40) of the extracorporeal circulation device, inlet pressure detecting means and outlet pressure detecting means that detect the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure of the centrifugal pump (40), respectively, flow rate regulating means that regulates a flow rate of blood supplied to the living body by adjusting a flow path cross section area of the blood circulation circuit (20), and controlling means that controls the flow rate regulating means.
US09381282B2

The invention provides methods, compositions, and devices for promoting adhesion or migration of endothelial cell.
US09381279B2

Implantable devices formed of or coated with a material that includes a polymer having a non-fouling acrylate or methacrylate polymer are provided. The implantable device can be used for treating or preventing a disorder such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, restenosis, hemorrhage, vascular dissection or perforation, vascular aneurysm, vulnerable plaque, chronic total occlusion, patent foramen ovale, claudication, anastomotic proliferation for vein and artificial grafts, bile duct obstruction, ureter obstruction, tumor obstruction, or combinations thereof.
US09381271B2

Uses of compositions comprising carboxypolysaccharides (CPS) including carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are provided where the PEG is a PEG-epoxide covalently linked to the CPS in the presence of NH4OH. In certain embodiments, the PEG attaches to only one CPS, forming a decorated CPS. In other embodiments, bi-functional PEG molecules are attached to adjacent CPSs, thereby forming a covalently cross-linked composition. Such compositions can be used as space-filling materials, load-bearing materials, anti-adhesion compositions, drug delivery vehicles, and lubricants of tissues and medical instruments.
US09381260B2

This disclosure relates to Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 pathway inhibitors and uses as anticancer and imaging agents. In certain embodiments, the disclosure contemplates compounds and pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein.
US09381242B2

A novel adjuvant composition is provided that is excellent in safety and convenience as compared to the conventional adjuvant such as Alum. An adjuvant composition comprising citrullines, which are water soluble substance present in the living body, and/or a salt thereof; a vaccine composition comprising said adjuvant composition and an antigen; a process for preparing said adjuvant composition and said vaccine composition; and a method for administering said adjuvant composition and said vaccine composition are provided.
US09381237B2

The invention relates to methods and compositions for preventing or treating human rhinovirus infection.
US09381232B2

A fibrin-based hemostatic agent suitable for both civilian and military use is disclosed. The hemostatic agent comprises (i) nanoparticles to which a plurality of Knob-A recognition sequences are attached, and (ii) coiled-coils of recombinantly-produced human fibrinogen α and chains and the γ chain globular domain. A delivery system for the hemostatic agent also is disclosed, which additionally comprises means for delivering (i) and (ii) to a wound site. The delivery means may be a CO2 canister or a shaker jet.
US09381231B2

The subject invention relates to methods for improving a subject's vasculature to normalize maternal hemodynamics, particularly in subjects attempting to conceive via assisted reproductive technologies, and comprises increasing relaxin levels in a subject or increasing any one or more of: relaxin synthesis, relaxin receptor synthesis, relaxin binding to the relaxin receptor, or relaxin receptor activity.
US09381221B2

It is disclosed a phytocomposition which includes: (a) 0.01 wt % to 26 wt % of Arnica montana extract; (b) 0.01 wt % to 26 wt % of Rosmarinus officinalis extract; (c) 0.01 wt % to 26 wt % of Zingiber officinale extract; and (d) 0.01 wt % to 26 wt % of Boswellia serrate extract. Said phytocomposition can be used in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in order to obtain a pharmaceutical composition that can be used for treating muscle, arthritic and rheumatic pain in a patient, caused by joint diseases, in particular rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, gouty arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus and juvenile arthritis.
US09381219B2

Methods and therapeutics are provided for treating metabolic disorders by increasing activation of brown adipose tissue. Generally, the methods and therapeutics can increase activation of brown adipose tissue to increase energy expenditure and induce weight loss. In one embodiment, a method for increasing activation of brown adipose tissue includes modifying brown adipocytes to express a gene that activates brown adipocytes, such as uncoupling protein 1. In another embodiment, a method for increasing brown adipose tissue activation includes increasing the number of brown adipocytes. This can be accomplished by inducing proliferation of adipocytes in vivo or expanding adipocytes ex vivo, transplanting adipocytes into brown adipose tissue depots or elsewhere and inducing differentiation of adipocyte progenitor cells, such as MSCs, adipocyte progenitor cells, pre-adipocytes and adipocyte precursor cells.
US09381217B2

Methods of encapsulating cargo in a microgel droplet, microgel droplets prepared according the provided methods, and methods of use thereof are disclosed. The methods of preparing cargo-encapsulated microgels generally include flowing through a flow-focusing nozzle of a microfluidic device a macromer phase, an oil phase, and a crosslinker phase to form microgel droplets by oil-water emulsion. The phases are pumped, injected, or flowed through the microfluidic device such that as the macromer phase approaches the flow focusing nozzle, the co-flowing oil phase shields the macromer from contact with the crosslinker phase until flow instability occurs and macromer phase droplets form. After flow instability occurs, the crosslinker diffuses from the crosslinker phase into the droplets in an effective amount to covalently crosslink the macromer into a microgel network encapsulating the cargo in the crosslinked macromer. Microgels prepared according to the disclosed methods and methods of use thereof are also provided.
US09381214B2

The present invention provides a stabilized hypohalous acid solution (or formulation thereof), which may be conveniently packaged for sale, or stored for later use on demand. The invention further provides methods of making the stabilized hypohalous acid solutions, as well as methods of use for disinfecting mammalian tissue, including wounds and burns, and treating skin irritations, among other uses.
US09381213B2

The invention relates to a novel antiviral and immune-simulating pharmaceutical composition, containing as active ingredient 20-85 mass % of a ω-3-polyunsaturated fatty acid ester, in fish oil concentrate containing 20-70 mass % of a 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenic acid ester and a 4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenic acid ester, further 1-lysine of a salt thereof, optionally a zinc salt, selenium or a selenium compound, as well as additives and carrier ingredients.
US09381206B2

The invention is related to salts of anti-viral compounds, compositions containing such salts, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such salts, as well as to process and intermediates useful for preparing such salts.
US09381203B2

Provided herein are combination therapies for the treatment of progeroid diseases and conditions, cellular aging, bone diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. The provided combination therapies target the aberrant farnesylation of the mutant lamin A protein progerin, and inhibit farnesyl biosynthesis, lamin A prenylation, and increase progerin clearance.
US09381202B2

Provided are immediate or prolonged administration of certain salts of KATP channel openers such as diazoxide to a subject to achieve novel pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, therapeutic, physiological, metabolic and compositional outcomes in the treatment of diseases or conditions involving KATP channels. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations, methods of administration and dosing of the salts that achieve these outcomes and reduce the incidence of adverse effects in treated individuals. Further provided are method of co-administering the salts with other drugs to treat diseases of humans and animals.
US09381199B2

The present invention provides a novel amorphous solid dispersion of linagliptin in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, process for its preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising it.
US09381190B2

The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for sublingual or buccal administration of actives with low to poor aqueous solubility, e.g. the indole hormone melatonin, which contains a solution of the active in a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent adsorbed or absorbed onto particles of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and methods of preparing and using the pharmaceutical composition.
US09381185B2

The present invention provides methods of inducing sedation in a subject by administering an effective amount of a compound or a mixture of compounds according to Formula I. Compounds of Formula I are a class of halogenated alcohol derivatives with a vapor pressure of less than 0.1 atmospheres (76 mmHg) at 25° C. The compounds of the present invention can be administered by any route sufficient to achieve a desired anesthetic, amnestic, analgesic, or sedative effect.
US09381166B2

The present invention relates to a novel use and methods of treatment using sympathicomimetic agonists with pro-hemostatic activity.
US09381162B2

A method for forming micro-particles is provided. The method includes the steps of: —providing a first solution which includes at least an anion; —providing a second solution which includes at least a cation; —mixing the first solution with the second solution in presence of at least a first compound for forming porous templates, wherein the porous templates are formed by precipitation of a salt which includes the anion and the cation and wherein the first compound is at least partially incorporated in the porous templates; and—at least partially cross-linking the first compound in the porous templates.
US09381159B2

A new microsphere formulation (composition) for controlled- or sustained-release delivery of therapeutic ingredient(s), mainly peptides and proteins not over 10K in molecular weight, comprises at least a therapeutic ingredient, a helping agent (such as PH sensitive agent whose solubility is a function of pH) and a biodegradable polymer. The therapeutic ingredient(s) and the helping agent are in the form of fine particles, less than 1O um in diameter, encapsulated in the polymer which forms the microsphere matrix. A method for preparing the composition comprises a step of in-situ precipitating the therapeutic ingredient(s) and the helping agent to the fine particles and successive steps for forming the microspheres. Such a microsphere formulation offers a well-controlled release profile for prolonged period and encapsulation efficiency over 95%.
US09381146B2

The present invention relates to a skin conditioner comprising the compound represented with the general formula: (wherein, the symbols are the same as those defined in the text). Examples of active ingredients of the present invention include L-arginine and ethanolamine. These active ingredients can be acquired as chemical synthesis products, or they may also be acquired in the form of natural substances. Preferable examples of natural substances include substances containing L-arginine and/or ethanolamine obtained from rice. The skin conditioner as claimed in the present invention demonstrates remarkable effectiveness as an agent for the prevention and treatment of atopic dermatitis and as a skin moisture retention agent.
US09381144B1

The invention relates to cosmetic formulations. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to cosmetic formulations for use on the skin (e.g., the skin of the face).
US09381135B2

A transfer device for pharmaceuticals comprising a housing which has an open bottom permitting insertion of a vial within the housing, a piercing member mounted within the housing and having an interior passageway formed therein, a connector for a syringe located on top of the housing, and a moveable member mounted within the housing, the moveable member being moveable from a first position preventing access to the piercing member and a second position permitting access to the piercing member when the vial is inserted in the housing.
US09381129B1

An external fixator leg assist apparatus utilizes a rigid frame structure having a base and a support. The base comprises a two-prong shaft mechanism in pivotal connection with the support. The support is a similar shaft mechanism. The apparatus is placed on a table or other flat surface with the base abutting a top surface of the table. The medical fixator is placed on top or inside the support portion of the apparatus. The apparatus assists a medical professional in keeping the appendage of the patient steady while attempting to install, adjust, or remove the fixator.
US09381127B2

Patient support systems and methods for transferring patients and controlling patient temperature. The system can include a non-inflatable and self-supporting platform that can include a first surface and a second surface separated by a distance, a plurality of supporting structures that extends at least partially across the distance between the first surface and the second surface, a plenum, and a plurality of apertures formed through at least one of the first surface and the second surface and in fluid communication with the plenum. The system can further include a fluid source configured to move fluid into the plenum and out the plurality of apertures. A method of transferring a patient can include moving fluid into the plenum and out the plurality of apertures to form a fluid pallet. A method of controlling patient temperature can include moving a temperature-controlled fluid into the plenum and out the plurality of apertures.
US09381121B2

A disposable wearing article includes, in an inner end portion of a front waist region, a pair of first side elastic zones spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction and a first middle inelastic zone lying between the first side elastic zones. The article further includes, in an inner end portion of a rear waist region, a pair of second side elastic zones spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction and a second middle inelastic zone lying between the second side elastic zones. A crotch panel includes a pair of leg elastics intersecting with the first and second side elastic zones. A dimension in the transverse direction of the second middle inelastic zone is larger than that of the first middle inelastic zone. A dimension in the transverse direction of the respective first intersection zones is larger than that of the respective second intersection zones.
US09381120B2

A method for producing an elasticated chassis web for use as a continuous and coherent layer in a disposable garment, including attaching continuous elastic elements (10,11) to a continuous base web (1) along regularly undulating wave-shaped curves (12,13) and cutting out pieces (21) in crotch segments (4) of the continuous base web (1) in order to remove selected parts of the elastic elements (10,11) from the base web (1). A disposable garment made from the elasticated chassis web includes a chassis layer (56) having a hole (69) in a garment crotch portion (43).
US09381116B2

A process for treating an eye to stop or delay the onset or symptoms of retinal diseases includes determining that the eye has a risk for a retinal disease before detectable retinal imaging abnormalities. A laser light beam is generated that provides preventative and protective treatment of the retinal tissue of the eye. At least a portion of the retinal tissue is exposed to the laser light beam without damaging the tissue. The retina may be retreated according to a set schedule or periodically according to the determination that the retina of the patient is to be retreated by monitored visual and/or retinal function or condition.
US09381113B2

A system for conducting a vitrectomy includes: a gas source; a vitrector including a cutting mechanism that opens and closes according to a pressure at the vitrector; and a pulse-generating system receiving gas from the gas source and generating pulses at the vitrector. The pulses cause the pressure at the vitrector to vary according to a cycle, and the varying pressure at the vitrector causes the cutting mechanism of the vitrector to open and close. At a first time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system, raises the pressure at the vitrector to a maximum pressure. At a second time in the cycle, the pulse-generating system reduces the pressure at the vitrector to a minimum pressure that is greater than ambient, the pressure at the vitrector being maintained at least at the minimum pressure. The difference between the maximum pressure and minimum pressure is minimized to reduce gas consumption.
US09381107B2

A post shoulder surgery rehabilitation apparatus in the form of a bed wedge having a shoulder support wedge structure attachment to provide the optimal support and comfort to a patient while resting or sleeping on a bed or similar structure. An exemplary embodiment of the bed wedge apparatus is capable of being inflated and deflated to the optimal angle for comfort and support for the repaired shoulder by means of a remote control switch by the patients themselves without assistance from a caregiver. Alternate embodiments of the bed wedge apparatus include ones without the need for inflation or deflation and ones that have shoulder support wedge structures for both shoulders after surgery.
US09381098B2

Described are tools—including distractor, trial, chisel, and inserter—that may be used as a system for implanting a prosthetic intervertebral disc in a spine. The distractor moves vertebrae and may have angled forks optionally offset for visibility with removable jaws optionally matching desired lordotic angles. The trial tool(s) may fit within the distractor forks, include a lordotic angle, and may include a disc portion, an adjustable stop, and a feature to control movement of the disc portion relative to the adjustable stop. The chisel tool cuts grooves in the vertebral bodies, which grooves affix the disc to the vertebrae. The chisel(s) may fit within openings in the trial, where those openings also serve as a guide during the groove-cutting step. The inserter tool, optionally with a movable pusher, is used for inserting the prosthetic disc into the prepared intervertebral disc space.
US09381096B2

A prosthetic system is disclosed that can have a feature for identifying an aspect of the prosthetic member and related instruments. The identification feature can identify cooperating components of the prosthetic system, such as an implant and instruments for use with the implant.
US09381093B1

A device for locking a bone fastening or fixation mechanism in a receiving member of a medical implant (corpectomy cage or cervical cage). The locking mechanism is kept in place (both in its locked and unlocked positions) using a retaining mechanism. The retaining mechanism also provides predetermined locked and unlocked positions that are readily moved to by the practitioner and maintained in position once placed there.
US09381088B2

Knee prosthesis includes a femoral component adapted to fit on a distal end of the femur and a tibial insert component. The femoral component includes a measured anterior/posterior dimension defined by the posterior condyle surface and the interior surface of the anterior flange and a distal peg provided on a distal bone facing surface of each of the lateral and medial condylar structures, wherein the distal pegs are positioned at a midpoint of the measured anterior/posterior dimension. The implant system provides two distinct sizing segments and the tibial insert has a medial tibial aspect ratio of 0.74 and a lateral tibial aspect ratio of 0.65 to 0.68 for all sizes.
US09381086B2

The invention relates to a prosthesis for implantation into a long bone during joint arthroplasty, particularly Total Shoulder Arthoplasty and Total Hip Arthroplasty, and a method for use of the implant.
US09381083B2

A profile altering tip is provided for a delivery system. The tip defines a first profile with a generally conical shape and a second profile with a generally round shape. During use of the delivery system, a tip profile control assembly can alter the tip from the first profile to the second profile.
US09381081B2

For easy handling at placement of intra ocular lenses (IOLs) for cataract operations, these are equipped with helical haptics of memory materials circumferring the lens. Said haptics adhere to the rim of the lens as long as being cooled down to constriction temperature. On regaining body temperature the haptics expand and fit into the ridges of the eye's capsule sack. Accommodation then is achieved with constriction of the capsule sack by pressure transfer to the rim of the lens to form its shape, in multiplying it with some protrusion towards the pupil.
US09381079B2

A bearing component 2 for a joint replacement prosthesis comprises a first bearing element 4; a second bearing element 6, and a linking element 8, operatively connecting the first and second bearing elements 4, 6 and permitting relative motion there between. The flexible linking element 8 prevents dislocation of mobile bearings in a total knee replacement prosthesis. The invention also relates to a bridging element which retains the linking element 8 with some play, which acts as a ligament support 2051, and which causes a deflection of the line of action of a ligament 1018. A joint replacement prosthesis is also disclosed comprising a biasing element 1140 or a tensioning element 1220 operatively coupled to the artificial ligament 1018. The biasing element 1140 or tensioning element 1220 may be housed in the stem of a tibial tray 1006.
US09381063B2

A system for a mapping and ablation catheter. The catheter includes a MOSFET sensor array that provides better fidelity of the signal measurements as well as data collection and reduces the error generated by spatial distribution of the isotropic and anisotropic wave fronts and error associated with near and far field's signal averages. The system maps the change in bioelectric potential in the vicinity of an activation wave front. During measurement, the manifold carrying the sensor array translates and rotates so as to achieve a measure of high potential employing an impedance value. The system of guiding and controlling the movement of the catheter distal end is able to deliver energy for ablating the renal artery nerve and thereby providing a safe and efficient method and apparatus for neuromodulation.
US09381052B2

An intramedullary nail for fixation and stabilization of a fractured bone that also allows for a controlled amount of longitudinal motion at the fracture site to encourage bone remodeling and healing is described. The intramedullary nail has a proximal portion and a distal portion that are coupled together in a manner by a biasing assembly that provides for a controlled movement of the proximal and distal portions relative to each other so that when a patient puts pressure on the bone, such as when walking, the fracture site compresses and the bone ends move together, and when the pressure is released from the bone, the bone ends are biased apart by a controlled amount.
US09381050B2

An adjustable spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume and/or cross sectional area in the spinal canal and/or neural foramen. The adjustable implant provides a spinal extension inhibitor. The implant includes elliptical or oval shaped adjustable member or spacer for positioning between and adjustably spacing apart the spinous processes.
US09381047B2

An interspinous implant is provided. The interspinous implant can include a first member having a first end and a second end. At least one of the first end and the second end can include a mating portion. The interspinous implant can also include a second member, which can have a first end, a second end and at least one receiving portion formed adjacent to at least one of the first end and the second end. The at least one receiving portion can receive the mating portion to couple the first member to the second member at a desired orientation. The interspinous implant can also include a first extension, which can be substantially opposite the mating portion, and adapted to engage a spinous process. The interspinous implant can comprise a second extension, which can be substantially opposite the at least one receiving portion, and adapted to engage a second process.
US09381028B2

This invention relates to a gripping device (10), e.g. a surgical retrieval device. The device includes an inversible tubular member (28), which is composed of interengaged stitches of resiliently flexible filamentary material and which is progressively transformable between an everted condition and an inverted condition. The device includes also actuation means (12,20) carrying the inversible tubular member and operable for effecting progressive inversion and eversion of the inversible tubular member. Through progressive inversion of the inversible tubular member, an object can be gripped thereby.
US09381027B2

Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Ultrasound catheter devices generally include an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens, an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and a distal head coupled with the transmission member and positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body for disrupting occlusions. Improved features of ultrasound catheters include catheter bodies and ultrasound transmission members with increasing distal flexibility, guidewire tubes allowing contact between a guidewire and an ultrasound transmission member, distal heads with improved guidewire lumens, and torquable proximal housings for enhancing disruption of blood vessel occlusions.
US09381022B2

A rotary abrader allowing for improved visibility during surgery and improved aspiration of waste material. This is accomplished by providing a hood or sheath formed of a clear material and available in various shapes and sizes. The clear hood or sheath is also provided with a flattened, angled portion at a tip of the hood, to assist with retraction of the labral tissue while burring the glenoid rim. Slots are provided on the cannulated tube to provide aspiration of waste material and used to attach the hood to the cannulated tube.
US09381016B2

There is provided a surgical instrument incorporating driving force mechanisms capable of transmitting a driving force through an articulated section of the surgical instrument. In one embodiment, a series of racks connect with a transfer gear to pass forces around the articulated section. In an alternative embodiment a series of cable sections and wheels or pulleys are provided to transmit a driving force through the articulated section of the surgical instrument.
US09381013B2

A method for coupling tissue with a flexible member including a tail and a self-locking construct coupled to the tail. The self-locking construct includes an adjustable first loop and an adjustable second loop coupled thereto. The method includes implanting an anchor in bone, the anchor slidably mounted to the tail. The tail is positioned relative to the tissue. An end of the tail is inserted through the first loop. The tail is passed through the first loop, the second loop is pulled into the anchor, and the self-locking construct is positioned relative to the tissue. The self-locking construct is tightened against the tissue by pulling on an end of the self-locking construct. The first loop is tightened onto the second loop.
US09381008B2

A retractor device has a first arm rotatable arcuately about a first pivot; a second arm rotatable arcuately about a second pivot; and a third arm interposed between the first and second arm. The third arm has a linearly movable blade holding end translatable inwardly and outwardly between the first and second arms. The third arm is connected to the first arm at the first pivot and the second arm at the second pivot. The first arm and said second arm are rotatably movable about their respective pivot independent of the other arm.
US09381004B2

A surgical tool having proximal and distal ends and adapted to transverse a curved passageway comprises an end effector disposed on the distal end of the surgical tool, the end effector having a first body section and a second body section and a releasable connector joining the end effector first body section with the end effector second body section. The connector is operable to reversibly engage the first and second end effector body sections in a first fixed position and in a second movable position. The surgical tool further comprises an actuation device for moving the first and second end effector body sections from the first fixed position to the second movable position. The end effector is adapted to maneuver through a larger radius of curvature in the second movable position than in the first fixed position.
US09381002B2

A protective guide for protecting a cell extraction device during a Pap smear. A camera protective cover encloses a camera and a light emitting device. A thin, flexible transparent sheath encloses the camera cover. A cell extraction device cover encloses the cell extraction device. The location of the cervix is determined by utilizing the camera. The cell extraction device is pushed outward from the cell extraction device cover so that said cell extraction device head contacts the cervix and removes cells from the cervix. The cell extraction device is pulled back into the cell extraction device cover after the cells have been removed from the cervix. In a preferred embodiment the camera and light emitting device is an endoscope and the camera cover is an endoscope cover.
US09381000B2

The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for rapidly detecting streptococcus bacteria. An illustrative device includes a first elongate handle connected to a first edible portion and a second elongate handle connected to a second edible portion. The first and second elongate handles are connected by a banding material. The first and second edible portions are inserted into the mouth of an individual for receiving a saliva sample.
US09380998B2

These are subcutaneous cavity marking devices and methods. More particularly, upon insertion into a body, the cavity marking device and method enable one to determine the center, orientation, and periphery of the cavity by radiographic, mammographic, echogenic, or other non-invasive imaging techniques. Also, the device contains a bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable marker. The device may be combined with various substances enhancing the radiopaque, mammographic, or echogenic characteristics of the marker or the body allowing it to be observed by any non-invasive imaging techniques. This is further a method of marking a subcutaneous cavity using a bioabsorbable material and a bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable marker in conjunction with the material. The method also may combine any of the features as described with the device.
US09380991B2

A computerized tomography (CT) method and CT system. The method comprises projecting a beam from a radiation source within a display field of view (DFOV) toward a subject to be imaged; receiving, at a detector, the projected beam to collect projection data; determining whether in the projection a truncation occurs in which the subject exceeds the DFOV; and recording a truncated location of the projection if truncation occurs.
US09380988B2

An electronic cassette for radiographic imaging includes a radiation imaging detector for detecting X-rays from an object and creating an X-ray image of the object. A battery supplies the radiation imaging detector with power. A power receiver wirelessly receives power from a wireless power transmission apparatus for charging the battery. A housing is formed from an electrical conductor, for containing the radiation imaging detector and the power receiver. A path opening is formed in the housing, and disposed between the power receiver and the wireless power transmission apparatus. A cover device is formed from a material having electrical insulating property and thermal conductivity, for closing the path opening, and conducting heat of the power receiver to the housing for dissipation. Preferably, the cover device contains synthetic resin. Also, a profile line of the path opening is at least partially curved.
US09380979B2

An apparatus and method of forming an apparatus wherein the apparatus includes a first electrode and a second electrode arranged to form a parallel plate capacitor; a compressible, transparent dielectric layer provided between the first electrode and the second electrode wherein the dielectric layer has a nanostructure and the dimensions of the nanostructure are such that the dielectric layer is optically transparent.
US09380976B2

A method is provided for improving cognitive performance assessment in a smooth pursuit cognitive performance test by using measurement metrics including a lead/lag metric, a radial inbounding metric, a path dependent velocity metric, a path drift metric, a velocity variability metric, or a variance statistics metric.
US09380971B2

Methods and apparatus for providing a power supply to a device, including an inductive rechargeable power supply for a data monitoring and management system in which a high frequency magnetic field is generated to provide power supply to a rechargeable power source such as a battery of a transmitter unit in the data monitoring and management system are provided.
US09380968B2

A light absorption coefficient distribution estimation device includes a detection section and a light absorption coefficient distribution estimation section. The detection section detects the received light intensity of scattered light from a subject at a plurality of light-receiving positions that differ in distance from an irradiation position at which measurement light is applied to the subject. The light absorption coefficient distribution estimation section estimates the light absorption coefficient distribution of the subject using the received light intensity, a propagation optical path length model that specifies a propagation optical path length on a basis of the distance, and a first model that specifies the received light intensity on a basis of the distance when absorption of light is at a predetermined value.
US09380964B2

A device for interstitial fluid extraction, having a base material formed from a synthetic resin film, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer, a hydrogel layer formed from at least one hydrophilic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and a release layer, wherein the hydrogel layer has an area of a size that the pressure sensitive adhesive layer is exposed from around the hydrogel layer, does substantially not contain a sodium ion and causes no water separation.
US09380960B2

A method for non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (“MRA”) that has a short scan time and is insensitive to patient motion is provided. More particularly, the method provides significant arterial conspicuity and substantial venous signal suppression. A two-dimensional single shot acquisition is employed and timed to occur a specific time period after the occurrence of an R-wave in a contemporaneously recorded electrocardiogram. In this manner, k-space data is acquired that is substantially insensitive to variations in arterial flow velocity, or heart rate, and that further substantially suppresses unwanted venous signal in a prescribed imaging slice.
US09380954B2

A method for physiological signal analysis and its system and a computer program product storing a physiological signal analysis program are provided. Physiological signals of a subject are collected for a user to provide a detection opinion for the physiological signals in order to generate syndrome recognition parameters and syndrome weight parameters such that the collected physiological signals are analyzed and determined. The invention performs detection determination by means of combining the physiological signals of the subject and referencing to an analysis opinion from the user. Therefore, an output detection result may be believed by both doctors and patients with effectively improved accuracy of analysis result to improve the efficiency of the user in diagnosis and treatment.
US09380952B2

The invention provides a system for measuring stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and cardiac power (CP) from a patient that features: 1) an impedance sensor connected to at least two body-worn electrodes and including an impedance circuit that processes analog signals from the electrodes to measure an impedance signal (e.g. a TBEV waveform); 2) an ECG sensor connected to at least two chest-worn electrodes and including an ECG circuit that processes analog signals from the electrodes to measure and ECG signal; 3) an optical sensor connected to a body-worn optical probe and including an optical circuit that processes signals from the probe to measure at least one optical signal (e.g. a PPG waveform) from the patient; 4) a processing system, typically worn on the patient's wrist and connected through a wired interface to the optical sensor, and through either a wired or wireless interface to the TBEV and ECG sensors. The processing system analyzes the ECG, TBEV and optical signals to determine SV, and further analyzes SV and HR determined from an ECG sensor to determine CO.
US09380945B2

Disclosed is a method and apparatus of generating a temperature image during ultrasonic treatment, the method including setting a first plane indicating a heating region where ultrasonic waves for treatment are irradiated and setting a second plane indicating a protective region around the heating region; irradiating the first plane with ultrasonic waves for diagnosis at a first frame rate, and irradiating the second plane with the ultrasonic waves for diagnosis at a second frame rate, the second frame rate being lower than the first frame rate; and generating the temperature image using frame images acquired from irradiating the ultrasonic waves for diagnosis.
US09380942B2

A metabolite concentration is measured in vivo using Raman spectroscopy in such a way as to receive at a detector (229) light scattered from the metabolite in interstitial fluid in skin in a measurement location (217) at a depth (218) of from 200-300 μm below the skin surface providing improved retention of correct calibration and transferability of calibration between individual subjects.
US09380939B2

A fundus photographing apparatus includes: a photographing unit including a fundus illumination optical system to illuminate a fundus of a patient's eye and a fundus photographing optical system having a light receiving element to obtain a fundus image of the illuminated eye; and an alignment unit to position the photographing unit with the eye based on a predetermined alignment reference position. The alignment unit includes: an extracting part to extract, by image processing, an image region formed by reflection light from a portion other than the fundus from the fundus image obtained by the fundus photographing optical system; a gravity center calculating part to determine, by arithmetic processing, a gravity center position of the extracted image region; and a control part to perform alignment control of the photographing unit with the eye based on the calculated gravity center position and the alignment reference position.
US09380937B2

An ophthalmologic apparatus of an embodiment includes an examination part, moving mechanism, two or more imaging parts, extracting part and controller. The examination part includes an optical system for optically examining an eye. The moving mechanism moves the optical system. The two or more imaging parts obtain moving images of the eye from two or more different directions. The extracting part extracts a partial image from each of two or more images substantially simultaneously obtained by the two or more imaging parts. The controller carries out display control for displaying in real time two or more partial images extracted by the extracting part with an arrangement in accordance with the positional relationship thereof on a display means and movement control for controlling the moving mechanism based on an instruction input from an operation means.
US09380934B2

In an optometry apparatus controller provided in an electric optometry apparatus including an optical element disposed in front of an examinee's eye and a switch mechanism that electrically switches the optical element, for instructing the switching of the optical element, the controller includes a touchscreen configured to display an operation screen for operating the electric optometry apparatus main body, displays, as the operation screen, a graphic image of a manual optometry apparatus as viewed from an operator side, the manual optometry apparatus including a plurality of operating units and being configured to switch the optical element disposed in front of the eye by an operation with respect to the operating units, and outputs a control signal to the electric optometry apparatus main body based on a touch input with respect to the graphic image on the touchscreen.
US09380932B1

According to some embodiments, a retractor device for selectively moving (e.g., retracting) anatomical tissue of a subject during a minimally invasive procedure (e.g., accessing the lumbar or other portion of a spine during a spinal fusion procedure) comprises a main body comprising at least three sides (e.g., three, four, five sides, more than five sides, etc.). In some embodiments, the main body defines or otherwise forms a central opening, which comprises a center-point positioned along a centerline of the central opening. In some embodiments, the retractor device further comprises a plurality of movable members secured to the main body.
US09380922B2

A computer-implemented method for receiving user commands for a remote cleaning robot and sending the user commands to the remote cleaning robot, the remote cleaning robot including a drive motor and a cleaning motor, includes displaying a user interface including a control area, and within the control area: a user-manipulable launch control group including a plurality of control elements, the launch control group having a deferred launch control state and an immediate launch control state; at least one user-manipulable cleaning strategy control element having a primary cleaning strategy control state and an alternative cleaning strategy control state; and a physical recall control group including a plurality of control elements, the physical recall control group having an immediate recall control state and a remote audible locator control state. The method further includes: receiving user input via the user-manipulable control elements; responsive to the user inputs, displaying simultaneously within the same control area a real-time robot state reflecting a unique combination of control states; and commanding the remote cleaning robot to actuate the drive motor and cleaning motor to clean a surface based on the received input and unique combination of control states.
US09380916B2

The invention relates to a dispenser system with a housing, into which a reservoir cartridge is inserted, which is formed by a reservoir container and a distribution device. Housing comprises an actuation device which acts on distribution device in such a way that a pressure on the actuation device delivers a portion of the medium on the distribution device. The known dispenser systems have the drawback that an individual dispenser is required depending on the medium. According to the invention, in order to create an identical part dispenser system, a connection element compensating for the different geometries of distribution device is connected to distribution device. Moreover, actuation device comprises at different levels pressure-exerting faces, which cooperate with pressure-receiving faces of distribution device, wherein different faces engage with one another depending on employed reservoir cartridge.
US09380908B2

The invention relates to a milk-frothing apparatus, in particular for a coffee or espresso machine, comprising a froth-generating unit (22) which is in the form of a disposable part, which is easy to replace, and has a mixing chamber (40), an outlet (39), which leads to the outside from the mixing chamber (40), for the generated milk froth, and first means (42) through which the froth-generating unit (22) is supplied with steam and air (53), and also second means (43) through which the froth-generating unit (22) is supplied with milk, wherein the froth-generating unit (22) can be connected to a holding means (30) in a detachable manner. The froth-generating unit (22) can be replaced in a simple and reliable manner while at the same time operating in a flexible manner by the first means comprising a first inlet (42) through which steam and air enter the froth-generating unit (22) together, by a combined steam/air nozzle (33), which projects outward and is connected to a steam generator and an air pump and through which steam and air are routed together, being provided on the holding means (30), and by the first inlet (42) and the steam/air nozzle (33) being designed and matched to one another such that they form a detachable hydraulic plug connection.
US09380903B2

A multi-purpose hanger for use in a closet of a residential or business building. The multi-purpose hanger comprises a body and a hook extending from a top end of the body. The body of the multi-purpose hanger having a plurality of appendages extending therefrom or having a plurality of orifices therethrough wherein the orifices are adjacent to one another in a predetermined pattern. The multi-purpose hanger may allow for clothing or other items to be hung on various columns or rows of hooks or orifices which may be positioned for viewing, display, and/or easy storage of the items thereon.
US09380897B2

An activity and volume sensing beverage container cap system for a beverage container including a cap that couples with the beverage container, a processor, a timer and at least one activity level sensor, such as an inclinometer, coupled with the processor. The activity level sensor detects container orientation. When the container is tilted, the timer measures an amount of time in an orientation. Based on the current and previous orientation and the amount of time the container is in different orientations, the processor determines an amount of time of activity of the user, and a level of activity of the user, such as number of steps or moves per time. The inclinometer is also used to determine the amount of volume dispensed from the container when tilted over a threshold indicative of drinking. Thus one inclinometer may be utilized as both to determine activity level and volume of fluid dispensed.
US09380896B2

Aiding to prevent Flat Head Syndrome, a concave pillow is sewn to the collar of a garment to be worn by an infant or small child, with the pillow having a small circle sewn near its center, slightly closer to one of the sides in creating a support area for the infant's neck and allowing the back of its head to rest on the concave center of the pillow. As the pillow is sewn to the collar of the garment, it will always remain towards the back of the infant, even if the infant should roll over. Such arrangement will prevent the pillow from covering or obstructing the infant's airway—in additionally helping to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or the risk of suffocation.
US09380890B2

Apparatus for hanging articles including a central support member defining a shaft having a vertical axis. Item hanging members or arms extend radially from the central support member and are adapted to pivot thereabout to enable spacing between the arms in arcs surrounding the central support member. One or more of the arms may be telescopic in length to enable larger numbers and sizes of articles to be suspended from the arms. In addition, the apparatus may include a sleeve which may be slid over the arms and from which may depend one or more preferably non-destructive suspension devices such as magnetic clips for suspending comparatively small items such as socks. The apparatus may further include a pouch which may likewise be slid over one or more of the arms and which may hold sundries.
US09380888B2

A child carrier having a waist belt, an upper torso support, a hammock coupled to the waist belt and to the upper torso support, and a thigh support strap extending to each side of the hammock. Each thigh support strap has an inward end portion proximate to the hammock and an outward end portion configured for selective coupling to the upper torso support in multiple positions. When the thigh support straps are coupled to the upper torso support, the hammock and the thigh support straps form a seat to support a child in an ergonomic spread-squat position in inward and outward facing orientations. The shape of the seat adjusts depending on the positions in which the outward end portions of the thigh support straps are coupled to the upper torso support.
US09380884B2

A crib including first, second, third, and fourth walls configured to bound an interior space that is operative to support a mattress therein. Each of the third and fourth walls includes a pair of panels pivotally connected to each other to enable the crib to be configured between a folded position for storage and an extended position for use. The first wall includes a stationary portion and a drop gate that includes opposed side ends. The drop gate pivots relative to the stationary portion between an upper closed position and a lower open position.
US09380883B1

A bedding or seating product comprises a pocketed spring assembly comprising a plurality of parallel interior strings of individually pocketed coil springs. The interior strings of springs may extend from head-to-foot or side-to-side of the product. The pocketed spring assembly further comprises at least one perimeter string of springs. Each of the springs of each perimeter string of springs has rectangular convolutions to provide edge support to the product.
US09380882B2

A mattress wherein a plurality of independent yarn based fire barrier fabrics encases a plurality of distinct and unattached interior core structures. The plurality of interior core structures include at least a detached and internally flippable upper comfort layer assembly with a plurality of non-homogeneous foams or filling materials encased in a yarn-based fire barrier fabric and a lower, interiorly disposed support core structure with resilient filling materials encased in a yarn-based fire barrier fabric and a fabric cover. The detachable and internally flippable upper comfort layer assembly may be contained in a user accessible compartment that is fashioned into an outer cover assembly.
US09380879B2

A chair includes a backrest swivel mechanism that is configured to permit the backrest to swivel about a vertical axis about a preselected range of motion. The backrest may be configured to swivel, or rotate, about a vertical axis that is defined by an element located adjacent a rearward central location that is below the seat of the chair and adjacent a rear of the chair. A lock mechanism can be selectively engaged to lock and unlock the swiveling mechanism so that when in the locked state, the backrest cannot swivel and when in the unlocked state, the backrest can swivel. In some embodiments, the range of swiveling motion may be with a predefined range, such as +/−10° or +/−20° of rotation relative to a central position of the backrest.
US09380877B2

A component interface assembly for attaching the individual subcomponents of an RTA furniture system. Each component interface assembly having an elongated alignment slot cut into one of the subcomponents of the RTA furniture kit and a retention element affixed to a second corresponding subcomponent such that the first and second subcomponents can be secured together by inserting the retention element into the alignment slot. The alignment slot is positioned on the first subcomponent such that positioning the retention element for insertion into the slot aligns the second subcomponent with the first subcomponent providing tool-less alignment and engagement of the subcomponents. The assembled components may have cutouts on confronting planar surfaces of the respective first and second subcomponents providing enhanced storage for shipping the RTA furniture components.
US09380873B2

In an operating mechanism for a movable furniture part with a drive arrangement including a shape memory element, wherein the drive arrangement is fixed to one furniture part and comprises a drive element and which abuts another furniture part for moving the other furniture part, the drive element includes a shape memory element which is heatable to change its shape for operating the drive arrangement directly or for charging a spring store storing the energy for operating the drive arrangement.
US09380866B1

A telescopic support having an outer support tube and an inner support that move with respect to each other along a longitudinal axis of the telescopic support. At least three bearing sets having roller bearings are affixed to one of the outer support tube or the inner support. The roller bearings of a bearing set may be spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and may be configured such that a rotational axis of each of the roller bearings is substantially directed toward the longitudinal axis of the telescopic support.
US09380862B1

A table has first and second tabletop halves. A leg assembly is mounted to each half and collapses independently of the other and is movable between an extended position and a stowed position. A locking hinge pivotally connects the halves and automatically disengages a locking feature of the hinge when one of the leg assemblies is pivoted. The hinge includes first and second hinge members. The second hinge member includes a pawl pin slot and a pawl pin, which slides in the slot between a first position and a second position. Rotation of the first hinge member with respect to the second hinge member is prevented in the first position and is permitted in the second position. A cable is mounted between the leg assembly and the pawl pin. Pivoting the leg assembly causes the pawl pin to be automatically moved from the first position to the second position.
US09380853B2

Devices and methods for displaying beauty and other visual products are disclosed. A display system can include a frame and a sample portion. Traits such as color and texture of a beauty product can be displayed on the sample portion, and the frame portion can interface with product shelving to align samples with relevant products in the display. The sample portion can be releasably attached to the frame to be removed by a user and be placed above a body part of the user to which a beauty product may be applied, or a body part can be placed in proximity to the sample portion even while it is attached to the frame. The user can advantageously view the beauty product as applied to the body part without applying the beauty product. The system is useful for fingernail polish display, for example.
US09380849B2

A head cover (800) has selectable size and location of at least one opening (812, 814) for exposure of a portion of a user's hair to an external hair treatment environment. The cover includes an impermeable outer surface that protects hair thereunder from an external hair treatment environment. A main opening (802) in the cover receives a user's head inserted into the cover. An opening (812, 814) on the cover, separate from the main opening, has an opening size selectable from selectable sizes and has an opening location selectable from selectable locations on the protective head cover. The opening (812, 814) selectively exposes a portion of the user's hair from under the cover to an external hair treatment environment while the cover protecting another portion of the user's hair from the external hair treatment environment.
US09380843B2

A multi-piece jewelry is disclosed where the jewelry is formed of interlockable and interchangeable circular elements. The multi-piece jewelry of this disclosure allows the user to easily assemble the elements of the jewelry in various designs without any tools. A kit comprising the elements is also disclosed to combine the elements in different ways to form a number of different designs. The jewelry of this invention may be a bracelet or ring. The kit may also comprise pendants, earrings, hair accessories or other jewelry.
US09380839B2

A loop surface fastener in which numerous looped engaging elements formed from loop yarns inserted in parallel to ground warp yarns are provided upright on one side of a base fabric formed from ground warp yarns and ground weft yarns satisfies all the following requirements 1) to 3). 1) The loop yarn is a multi-filament yarn formed by bundling 5 to 9 filaments of 30 to 45 decitex. 2) The density of the looped engaging elements is in a range of 100 to 200/cm2. 3) Loop surfaces of the looped engaging elements are substantially facing in the same direction and the loop surface facing direction is a ground weft yarn direction.
US09380827B1

A post-operative shoe and method for construction thereof is provided. The post-operative shoe includes an outsole having a substantially flat surface with a heel segment, a midfoot segment, and a forefoot portion surrounded by an outer edge. Each bore includes an open end on the outer edge of the forefoot portion and extending partially towards the heel segment. One or more flex rods each configured to fit within the bores and comprising a front end with threading corresponding to the threading of the bore are provided.
US09380825B2

Methods and products for forming a shoe product from a shoe are generally described. In an example, the shoe may include a first band, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front region, a middle region, and a heel region. A method for forming a shoe product from a shoe may include disposing a second band of a cuff adjacent to the first band of the shoe. The method may further include placing a strap of the cuff in a recess of the bottom surface of the shoe, The cuff may wrap around two edges in the front region of the shoe. The two edges may define a portion of a periphery of the front region of the shoe.
US09380823B2

A helmet contains impact attenuating fluid (e.g., CO2, Air or Water) containing cells, sensors and electrically actuated exhaust valves for cushioning impact and decelerating a wearer's head after an impact. Accelerometers and a pressure sensor supply signals to a microcontroller, which opens an exhaust valve if accelerations (or pressure) exceed a threshold. Expelling fluid provides a cushioning and damping effect, decelerating the wearer's head. Acceleration data, fluid pressure data and GPS position data may be wirelessly communicated to a monitor computer system.
US09380820B1

A glove to prevent involuntary clenching of the hand may comprise a five phalange regions extending outwardly from a dorsal and palm region which are configured to receive portions of the hand of a user. A pull strap anchor may be positioned on the dorsal region. The glove may further comprise five pull straps. Each pull strap may be configured to receive a finger or a user's hand, and may comprise a first end which may be coupled to a phalange region and a second end which may be removably coupled to the pull strap anchor. By coupling the pull straps to the pull strap anchor, a reverse counterforce may be exerted against the phalange regions as to open the hand and prevent involuntary clenching.
US09380819B2

An eversible sealable glove has front and rear panels, each panel having a cuff portion, a sleeve portion, a hand portion, and a perimeter. The perimeter of the front panel is completely sealed to the perimeter of the rear panel. An opening is formed through the front panel between the cuff portion of the front panel and the sleeve portion of the front panel, and may be sealed by a zipping closure comprising a mating pair of female and male extrusions, wherein one of the extrusions is bonded to the cuff portion of the front panel and the other one of the extrusions is bonded to the sleeve portion of the front panel. The zipping closure is configured to allow the mating pair to seal the opening whether the glove is everted or noneverted. A method for manufacturing the glove is also disclosed.
US09380817B1

A palm protector with finger loop assemblies comprises strips of material suitable for use as a hand wrap and arranged in an articulated configuration having a shared overlay region secured by a reinforcing adhesive strip, with the strips in the articulated configuration forming finger loop openings the size of which is associated with a measurement of a finger of a user.
US09380811B2

The present invention removes particles entrained within a flow of vapor and cools vapor passing through a wet scrubbing section of an electronic cigarette. The wet scrubbing electronic cigarette includes an atomizer section having a battery section connection for connection to a battery section. The atomizer section has an atomizer heating section. A wet scrubbing section has a mouthpiece, a water chamber in fluid communication with the mouthpiece. The water chamber provides for scrubbing of incoming airflow. A tubular air passage assembly is held within the water chamber. The tubular air passage assembly is in fluid communication with the water chamber. A battery section powers the atomizer section.
US09380810B2

The invention relates to devices and methods for delivering nicotine and/or other alkaloids from tobacco, other plants and other natural sources. More particularly, the invention relates to devices and methods for delivering an aerosol of nicotine to a user's lungs without combustion of the nicotine source materials.
US09380799B2

The present invention pertains to a coffee extract rich in variety and in which the features of coffee are enhanced. A roasted product prepared by following a step for mixing and roasting coffee beans with at least one material selected from among oolong tea, pu'erh tea, red tea, roses, jasmine, hops, hibiscus, lemon grass, the berries of Japanese pepper, rosemary, vanilla, sugar beets, Kombu, Azuki beans, kidney beans, peas, soy beans, almonds, cashew nuts, chestnuts, pumpkin seeds, sweet chestnuts, walnuts, sesame, sunflower seeds, hazel nuts, pecan nuts, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, peanuts, rice, barley, malt, buckwheat grains, Job's tears, mandarin orange peels, orange peels, Kabosu peels, grapefruit peels, Sudachi peels, Yuzu peels, lime peels, lemon peels, blueberries, prunes, cherries, Japanese persimmons, pineapple, bananas, grapes, mangoes, peaches, apples, black peppers, chili peppers, sugar cane, ginger, garlic, onions, carrots, burdock roots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn.
US09380790B2

The present invention is related to a food forming apparatus to produce patties with a form member which comprises molds in which the patties are formed, whereas the form member is located adjacent to a pressure member and is at least partially made from a porous material.
US09380772B2

A flexible frame for a high clearance agricultural vehicle has left and right frame rails, an axle suspended beneath the frame rails, and a suspension system coupling the axle to the frame rails. Left and right vertical mounts are coupled to the frame rails. Upper and lower torque rods couple the axle to the vertical mounts with brackets. The suspension system also has a cross torque rod having a left end coupled to an inward facing bracket on the left vertical mount and a right end coupled to an inward facing bracket on the right vertical mount. Each of the upper, lower and cross torque rods are coupled to its respective torque rod brackets with rotatable joints. The rotatable joint permits angular rotation of the torque rod about its torque rod bracket.
US09380766B2

A recirculating aquaculture system is configured for growing aquatic animals. The system includes an inlet conduit, a tank, a water treatment unit, a clarifier, and an outlet conduit. The tank is in fluid communication with the inlet conduit to receive water displaced from the inlet conduit. The tank also contains water and aquatic animals. The water treatment unit is arranged within the tank and includes algae capable of removing aquatic animal waste from the water within the tank. The clarifier is in fluid communication with the tank to receive displaced water from the tank. The clarifier is also configured to remove solid waste from the displaced water. The outlet conduit is in fluid communication between the clarifier and the inlet conduit.
US09380765B2

Implementations described and claimed herein provide apparatuses and methods for providing different perch positions for feeding birds. In one implementation, a bird feeder having a perch mounted on a wall of a reservoir having an interior configured to hold bird food is provided. The reservoir has a wall opening to provide access to the interior. The perch is rotated to one of a plurality of positions about an axis line extending through a center of the wall opening.
US09380761B2

Livestock feeders are provided. A livestock feeder can include a one-piece or multi-piece design. A livestock feeder can include a pan, a hood, and a base. The livestock feeder is suitable for providing feedstuffs such as nutritional supplements to a livestock animal on a free-choice basis. The livestock feeder can be durable, portable, non-corrosive and is designed to minimize spillage of feedstuffs and resist tipping over. The livestock feeder can be constructed from a molded polyethylene material.
US09380759B2

A pet kennel that is structured to receive an animal includes an upper kennel portion and a lower kennel portion that include first and second engagement structures that are slidingly engageable. The upper kennel portion is situated in a first position atop the lower kennel portion offset from one another along a longitudinal axis of the pet kennel. The upper kennel portion is then translated along the longitudinal axis with respect to the lower pet kennel portion toward a second, assembled position to cause the first engagement elements and the second engagement elements to become slidingly engaged and to cause the upper and lower kennel portions to become aligned with one another. The upper kennel portion additionally includes a pair of latches that are engageable with the lower shell portion in the second position of the pet kennel to retain the upper and lower kennel portions in the second position.
US09380757B2

A lettuce cultivar, designated Palermo, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds, plants and plant parts of lettuce cultivar Palermo and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar Palermo with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Palermo, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Palermo and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar Palermo with another lettuce cultivar.
US09380755B2

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated GAQ2016, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line GAQ2016 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line GAQ2016, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line GAQ2016, and plants produced according to these methods.
US09380754B1

A novel maize variety designated PH2F3V and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH2F3V with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH2F3V through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH2F3V or a locus conversion of PH2F3V with another maize variety.
US09380742B2

An autonomous implement comprising at least one drive unit including at least one drive wheel, at least one sensor unit configured to detect at least one characteristic value, at least one location-determining unit configured to detect at least one characteristic value, and at least one evaluating unit. The at least one evaluating unit is configured to determine a slip of the at least one drive wheel from the at least one characteristic value detected by the at least one sensor unit and the at least one characteristic value detected by the at least one location-determining unit.
US09380741B2

A riding yard maintenance vehicle may include a positioning module. The positioning module may be configured to store position information indicative of a position history of the vehicle responsive to operation of the vehicle defining a route. The positioning module may include a user interface, a memory for storing data received via one or more sensors, and processing circuitry in communication with the user interface and the memory. The processing circuitry may be configured to control operation of the positioning module and generate feedback via the user interface. The feedback may be provided to an operator based on the position information.
US09380738B2

Leading vehicle position information can be used to determine a location and heading of one or more implements of a trailing vehicle in an implement train that includes the leading vehicle. In an example, the leading vehicle pulls one or more trailing vehicles, and information about the leading vehicle position or heading is used to update a function of one or more implements associated with trailing vehicles of the implement train. In an example, the present subject matter includes identifying a heading of a trailing vehicle based on its initial location, an intermediate location, and a destination location. In an example, the present subject matter includes identifying a speed of one or more points on a trailing vehicle. In some examples, the present subject matter includes determining a location, heading, or speed of multiple implements associated with multiple trailing vehicles.
US09386735B2

An electronic component mounting apparatus includes a loading unit which loads a printed circuit board. This apparatus includes a first substrate moving unit which moves the printed circuit board, loaded by the loading unit, in the Y-direction. This apparatus includes a substrate holding unit which temporarily holds the printed circuit board moved by the first substrate moving unit. This apparatus includes a component mounting unit which mounts an electronic component on the printed circuit board. This apparatus includes a second substrate moving unit which moves the printed circuit board with the electronic component mounted thereon in the Y-direction. This apparatus includes an unloading unit which moves the printed circuit board, moved by the second substrate moving unit, in the X-direction to unload it. This invention can provide an electronic component mounting apparatus which is compact in its conveyance direction for conveying a printed circuit board.
US09386727B2

Flow restrictors are employed in association with multiple heat exchange tube sections of a heat exchange assembly, or in association with multiple coolant supply lines or coolant return lines feeding multiple heat exchange assemblies. Flow restrictors associated with respective heat exchange tube sections (or respective heat exchange assemblies) are disposed at the coolant channel inlet or coolant channel outlet of the tube sections (or of the heat exchange assemblies). These flow restrictors tailor coolant flow resistance through the heat exchange tube sections or through the heat exchange assemblies to control overall heat transfer within the tube sections or across heat exchange assemblies. In one embodiment, the flow restrictors tailor a coolant flow distribution differential across multiple heat exchange tube sections or across multiple heat exchange assemblies.
US09386725B2

A printed circuit assembly includes a printed circuit board, a heat generating component attached to the printed circuit board at a first location, a formed conductive substrate including a protrusion extending toward the printed circuit board corresponding to the heat generating component, and a thermally conductive pad disposed between the printed circuit board and the protrusion of the formed substrate. The formed conductive substrate is configured to flex the protrusion to relieve stress at the heat generating component attachment.
US09386719B2

A fixing structure applicable to multiple sizes of storage device includes an enclosure, which has an interior forming an accommodation space that receives a storage device of one of the multiple sizes to be inserted into the enclosure. The enclosure includes, in an upper portion of the interior thereof, at least one spring-biasing section, which applies a spring force to an upper surface of the storage device opposite thereto for positioning in a longitudinal direction. The enclosure includes therein positioning sections and retention sections respectively set on opposite lateral sides thereof for cooperating with lateral sides of the storage device for positioning in a lateral direction. A lid has an inside surface on which a supporting section is formed so that when the lid is mounted to and closing a front side of the enclosure, the supporting section is in engagement with the storage device to secure the storage device.
US09386714B2

An apparatus including: a deformable protective housing including circumscribing deformable barrier side walls defining a variable volume internal hermetic chamber for housing an electronic component in a protected atmosphere.
US09386709B2

A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board precursor includes the steps of providing a substrate. Then the surface of the substrate is catalyzed to form a catalytic layer by a catalyst. Subsequently, a conductive layer is formed and attached to the surface of the catalytic layer. Finally, a metal layer is electroplated on the conductive layer. A printed circuit board precursor includes a substrate having a surface. Specifically, the surface is catalytically treated to form a catalytic layer. The precursor also includes a conductive layer which is attached to and covers the catalytic layer and a metal layer which is disposed on the conductive layer.
US09386705B2

This is directed to several handheld device components to be placed in a handheld device, as well as methods or systems for mounting or retaining components within the device. In particular, this is directed to a rigid shield used in an SMT process and securing connected flex connectors by adhering the flexes together. This is also directed to using foam in combination with a hard material to create an acoustic seal, or several layers of foam to create an acoustic and mechanical seal. This is also directed to selectively folding a sheet of material placed around a battery cell.
US09386700B2

A method of manufacturing a circuit board includes forming a first electrode on a support substrate, covering the support substrate and the first electrode with a first insulating layer, polishing the first insulating layer to expose a first surface of the first electrode, forming a first wiring on the first insulating layer after exposing the first surface of the first electrode, the first wiring being connected to the first electrode, and removing the support substrate to expose a second surface of the first electrode after forming the first wiring.
US09386696B2

A multilayer ceramic substrate includes a ceramic element body including a plurality of stacked ceramic layers, a resistor including a resistance film disposed between the ceramic layers, and a lead via conductor penetrating the ceramic layers in a thickness direction and connected at a first end portion to the resistance film. The resistance film and the lead via conductor both contain, for example, Ni and Cu that constitute an alloy resistive material. A concentration of the Ni component in the lead via conductor has a gradient structure that is comparatively high in the first end portion connected to the resistance film and gradually decreases from the first end portion toward a second end portion opposite therefrom.
US09386691B2

In this conductive sheet and touch panel, a first conductive pattern has a band-shaped section extending in the y-direction; a second conductive pattern has a plurality of electrode sections that are each connected in the x-direction by a connection section; the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern are both configured combining a first lattice and a second lattice (having a size larger than that of the first lattice); the facing portions of each of the band-shaped section of the first conductive pattern and the connection section of the second conductive pattern are configured from a plurality of second lattices; and when seen from the upper surface, the facing portions of the band-shaped section and the connection section have a form combining a plurality of first lattices.
US09386688B2

An integrated antenna package includes an interposer, an integrated circuit die, and a cap that forms a cavity within the integrated antenna package. A lossy ERG structure resides at the cap overlying the integrated circuit device. A lossless EBG structure resides at the cap overlying a microstrip feedline. A radar module includes a plurality of receive portions, each receive portion including a parabolic structure having a reflective surface, an absorber structure, a lens, and an antenna.
US09386687B2

While it is necessary for an electronic component housing package to be provided with numerous wiring conductors, phase differences of signals caused by differences in signal transmission distance among the wiring conductors, is a problem. An electronic component housing package based on one embodiment includes a substrate having a dielectric region and an electronic component placement region, a frame body surrounding the dielectric region and the placement region, and wiring conductors disposed on the dielectric region of the substrate. The wiring conductors have a first wiring conductor and a second wiring conductor which is longer in signal transmission distance than the first wiring conductor, which are disposed so as to extend from a location immediately below the frame body to the dielectric region. The frame body made of a dielectric material has a projection protruding from its inner periphery, which covers at least part of the first wiring conductor.
US09386684B2

A printed electrical circuit and methods for additively printing electrical circuits. Patterned layers of conductive, insulating, semi-conductive materials, and other materials are print deposited on a flexible or rigid substrate to form electrical circuits. A buffering layer is selectively deposited to cover or encapsulate these materials to comprise a comfort layer that provides a soft and comfortable interface to the skin of a wearer. The comfort layer can be selectively deposited on the same press that the conductive, insulating, semi-conductive materials, and other materials are deposited. Further, the comfort layer is selectively deposited only where it is desired and exactly where it is desired.
US09386681B2

An oscillating field particle accelerator and a method of reducing beam divergence in the particle accelerator are provided. The particle accelerator includes an intermediate electrode disposed within the particle accelerator between a source of charged particles and a second electrode of the particle accelerator. The charged particles are exposed to a first electric field extending between the source and the intermediate electrode prior to being exposed to a second electric field extending between the intermediate electrode and the second electrode. The magnitude of the first electric field is less than the peak magnitude of the second electric field, and may be less than or equal to a minimum magnitude of the second electric field occurring during a phase acceptance time period associated with a phase acceptance of the particle accelerator. The accelerated charged particles emerge from the second electrode as a non-diverging or reduced divergence particle beam.
US09386675B2

A laser beam controlling device may include: a guide laser device; a guide laser beam wavefront adjuster provided in a beam path of the guide laser beam outputted from the guide laser device; a beam combiner configured to adjust travel directions of a laser beam outputted from a laser system and the guide laser beam outputted from the guide laser beam wavefront adjuster to coincide with each other, a both beam wavefront adjuster provided in a beam path of both the laser beam and the guide laser beam outputted from the beam combiner, a beam monitor provided in a beam path of both the laser beam and the guide laser beam outputted from the both beam wavefront adjuster, and a controller configured to control the guide laser beam wavefront adjuster and the both beam wavefront adjuster based on detection results at the beam monitor with respect to both the laser beam and the guide laser beam.
US09386663B2

A monitoring system and method can determine whether an ambient intensity surrounding a computer is suitable for a user when the user is working with the computer. The system and method can adjust the intensity of a light source in responds to the ambient intensity being unsuitable for the user.
US09386660B1

Disclosed is a method and device that may respond to the application of a uniform light source to a plurality of light emitting diodes. An electrical signal generated by each of the respective light emitting diodes in the plurality of light emitting diodes in response to the applied uniform light may be measured. The electrical signal may be measured by a sensing circuit. An adjusted drive signal generated based on a calibration value may be applied to each of the respective light emitting diodes.
US09386656B2

The present invention aims to provide a luminescent system enabling contactless power supply, having a high ratio of light emission region, and securing a desired quantity of emitted light. The luminescent system is constituted by an organic EL device and a fixed-side wall surface. The device is formed by stacking an electrode layer of an anode side, an organic light-emitting layer, and a transparent electrode layer of a cathode side on a substrate and being sealed by a sealing part. Electrodes with a planar expanse are stacked on a face near the wall surface and are arranged so as to overlap a light emitting region where the organic light-emitting layer is disposed. Electrodes with a planar expanse are embedded in the wall surface. A power unit is electrically connected between the electrodes. The electrodes of the device and of the wall surface are opposite each other across a flooring material.
US09386652B1

A driving circuit for light-emitting diodes includes a power unit providing an input voltage, a voltage regulation unit providing a voltage-increasing loop and a voltage-decreasing loop and having an energy-storing capacitor with an intermediate voltage therebetween, a current control unit generating a driving current for the light-emitting diodes according to the intermediate voltage, and a switching control unit. The switching control unit generates a reference voltage based on the input voltage and compares the reference voltage with a feedback voltage associated with driving current. The switching control unit controls the voltage regulation unit to increase the intermediate voltage through the voltage-increasing loop when the feedback voltage is smaller than the reference voltage. The switching control unit controls the voltage regulation unit to decrease the intermediate voltage through the voltage-decreasing loop when the feedback voltage is larger than the reference voltage.
US09386649B2

The brightness generated by LEDs in an LED strip is adjusted by pulse-width modulation, wherein the LEDs connected in series are driven temporally offset to one another. If there is a shift in the on-time of at least one LED, a controller inserts at least one additional drive pulse to switch on the LEDs if the interval of the on-times of an LED in the time frame before the shift and in the drive frame after the shift is so large that the interval arising therefrom exceeds a first threshold. Alternatively, the controller reduces at least one drive pulse for switching on the LEDs to curtail the on-time of the LEDs if the interval of the on-times of an LED in the time frame before the shift and in the time frame after the shift is so small that the interval arising therefrom drops below a second threshold.
US09386646B2

There is provided a driving device which is used together with a light source including a plurality of light emitting units connected in series to configure a vehicle lamp. The driving device includes a current source which is configure to supply a drive current to the light source, and N bypass circuits which are provided in parallel to N light emitting units, respectively. Each of the bypass circuits includes a bypass transistor which is provided in parallel to a corresponding light emitting unit, a feedback capacitor which is provided between a gate and a drain of the bypass transistor, and a gate drive circuit which is configured to supply a drive voltage between the gate and a source of the bypass transistor according to a control signal.
US09386636B2

The present invention relates to a lighting device (1) comprising: a carrier (106, 206, 306), an electrode pattern comprising at least a first carrier electrode (214, 312) arranged on the carrier, and an opto-electronic module (102, 202, 302, 402). The opto-electronic module (102, 202, 302, 402) comprises: a first, a second, a third and a fourth electric contact point arranged to together define a tetrahedron; a first light source (208, 308, 408) arranged to emit light in response to an AC-voltage being applied between the first electric contact point (216, 316, 416) and the second electric contact point (218, 318, 418); and a second light source (210, 310, 410) arranged to emit light in response to an AC-voltage being applied between the third electric contact point (220, 320, 420) and the fourth electric contact point (222, 322, 422). The electrode pattern is configured to allow provision of an AC-voltage between the first electric contact point (216, 316, 416) and the second electric contact point (218, 318, 418) or between the third electric contact point (220, 320, 420) and the fourth electric contact point (222, 322, 422) of the opto-electronic module (102, 202, 302, 402).
US09386621B2

Circuit-switched fallback (CSFB) is a technique to deliver voice-services to a mobile, when the mobile is camped in a long-term evolution (LTE) network. This may be required when the LTE network does not support voice services natively. If a user makes a mobile originating (MO) call, or receives a mobile terminating (MT) call, the UE may inform the LTE network that the UE is leaving for the call by initiating a call setup procedure. However, there may be instances where the call setup procedure may fail. If the call setup procedure was either not initiated, or was initiated but failed, the UE may determine to search for a suitable CS RAT/cell on its own without instructions/commands from the network. Therefore, certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for the UE to find CS services based on information collected at the UE.
US09386616B2

A device and method for performing inter-device communication are disclosed. The inter-device communication method includes searching for a second device supporting inter-device communication, receiving service information from the searched second device, determining that one of the first and second devices is a group owner and the other is a group client to compare the received service information of the second device with service information of a first device, receiving a group owner intent value of the second device from the second device, and setting a group owner intent value of the first device such that the group owner intent value of the device determined as the group owner is greater than the group owner intent value of the device determined as the group client to compare the group owner intent value of the first device with the group owner intent value of the second device.
US09386613B2

A wireless network system and a connecting method thereof are provided. The wireless network system includes a Wi-Fi apparatus and a communication apparatus. The Wi-Fi apparatus provides a Service Set Identifier (SSID). The SSID includes a first identifier value and a second identifier value, and the second identifier value is derived from the first identifier value by a hash function. After searching the SSID of the Wi-Fi apparatus, the communication apparatus determines that a value derived from the first identifier value of the SSID by the hash function is equal to the second identifier value, and then establishes a Wi-Fi authenticating connection with the Wi-Fi apparatus according to a connection password. The Wi-Fi apparatus establishes a data transmission connection with the communication apparatus after determining that the communication apparatus is legal according to the Wi-Fi authenticating connection.
US09386606B2

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for embedding a supplementary data channel in LTE-based communication systems. One embodiment takes the form of a process that includes obtaining a primary data signal. The primary data signal includes a given symbol, and the given symbol includes primary payload data prepended with a given cyclic prefix. The process also includes obtaining supplementary payload data. The process also includes generating a modified primary data signal at least in part by replacing an initial portion of the given cyclic prefix with a subset of the supplementary payload data. The process also includes outputting the generated modified primary data signal for transmission via an air interface.
US09386598B2

The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for synchronization processing, wherein the method for synchronization processing includes: a designated network element receiving multiple data bursts of a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service transmitted by its upper layer network element, wherein data packets in the data bursts carry timestamp information; for multiple data bursts whose timestamp locates before a current available transmitting time interval, the designated network element starting to transmit the data packets belonging to the multiple data bursts in turn from the start time of the current available transmitting time interval. By means of the present invention, the synchronization between the lower layer network elements can be kept and the performance of a system can be stabilized.
US09386593B2

The present disclosure relates to component carrier (CC) selection in a wireless communication system. A user equipment (UE) that is in idle mode may receive a reference signal (RS) from an evolved Node B (eNB), obtain signal quality measurements with respect to the RS, and switch to a new CC based on the signal quality measurements. For a UE that is in connected mode, an eNB may obtain uplink channel condition information corresponding to uplink CCs, obtain downlink channel condition information corresponding to downlink CCs, and select a CC pair for the UE to use based on the uplink channel condition information and the downlink channel condition information.
US09386578B2

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for node operation according to network-wide resource-allocation schedules. One embodiment takes the form of a method carried out by a given node within an ad-hoc wireless network, which includes a controller node for a current time period. The method includes obtaining one or more air-interface resource requests for the current time period, where each obtained resource request indicates a requesting node and a requested resource. The method further includes using a network-standard algorithm for deriving a network-wide resource-allocation schedule for the current time period based at least in part on the obtained resource requests. The method further includes verifying the derived resource-allocation schedule based at least in part on a verification value derived by the controller node from the network-wide resource-allocation schedule using a network-standard verification function. The method also includes operating according to the verified resource-allocation schedule for the current time period.
US09386576B2

Methods, systems, and devices are described for indexing control channel elements to determine uplink channel resources. Downlink control messages may be monitored in a set of downlink subframes. The monitoring may include monitoring physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) messages in at least one of the subframes and monitoring enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) messages in at least one of the subframes. A downlink control message may be received in at least one subframe. The downlink control message may include an EPDCCH message. An index for enhanced control channel elements (ECCEs) may be determined based at least in part on the set of downlink subframes. The determined index of the ECCEs may be used to identify uplink control channel resources. The ECCEs may be indexed in a manner that is specific to a cell in a wireless communication system, or which is configured for a particular mobile device.
US09386574B2

Provided is a technique capable of reporting resource block allocation information with no waste when an allocated resource block is reported, because in the current LTE downlink, the waste of the amount of resource allocation information increases in some cases since a restriction is imposed such that 37-bit fixed scheduling information is transmitted. A resource block group consisting of at least one or more resource blocks continuous on the frequency axis is allocated to a terminal, and the number of controlling signals for reporting allocation information indicating the allocated resource blocks is determined.
US09386572B2

A small cell receives a dedicated synchronization signal Preamble sent through a first message by a user equipment UE in an idle state. The dedicated Preamble is allocated when the UE accesses a network for the first time. The small cell according to the dedicated Preamble queries whether a first signaling radio bearer SRB 1 and/or a second signaling radio bearer SRB2 of the UE are/is stored. If stored, the small cell replies in a second message to the UE that indication information that the SRB 1 and/or the SRB2 between the small cell and the UE do/does not need to be re-established or modified. An uplink radio resource control RRC message sent through a dedicated control channel DCCH by the UE is received.
US09386564B2

The disclosure provides a method and a base station for adjusting an uplink grant physical downlink control channel of a UE adaptively. The method includes: receiving a physical uplink shared channel transmitted on an uplink resource indicated by a current uplink grant physical downlink control channel from the UE; judging whether or not the UE has received the uplink grant physical downlink control channel successfully in accordance with the received physical uplink shared channel; and determining the number of control channel elements CCEs occupied by the uplink grant physical downlink control channel and/or a transmission power of the uplink grant physical downlink control channel in accordance with the judgment result.
US09386561B2

This is provided a method for allocating pilots to a sub-frame. The sub-frame includes a plurality of blocks in time domain. The method includes allocating a data demodulation (DM) pilot used for demodulating data to two blocks spaced not contiguous with each other, and allocating a channel quality (CQ) pilot. System capacity can be increased, and degradation of performance incurred by a channel estimation error can be minimized.
US09386560B2

The invention provides for a method of identifying a cyclic prefix to UEs in an OFDM communication system. The cyclic prefix has a dynamically variable length. The method includes, within an OFDM cell, transmitting MCCH scheduling information in a system information block in an OFDM broadcast channel, and using the MCCH scheduling information to receive the MCCH, wherein the MCCH contains MTCH scheduling information to indicate to the UE which sub-frame carries MTCH.
US09386555B2

Techniques for supporting positioning are described. In an example implementation, a method of positioning may be provided which comprises, at a mobile station, receiving at least one signal from a transmitter device. Here, the received signal may comprise an identity of the transmitter device. The mobile station may send an identity of the transmitter device to a location server, and receive one or more positioning assistance messages from the location server, wherein the one or more positioning assistance messages are generated in response to the identity of the transmitter device. The mobile station may subsequently perform positioning based at least in part on the one or more positioning assistance messages received from the location server.
US09386553B2

A method of securing a container includes inserting, into a seal device at a container, an electronic bolt; reading, by the seal device, a serial number stored in the electronic bolt; communicating, from the seal device, to a user application, insertion of the bolt; scanning, by the user via a handheld device, a barcode on the seal device representative of an identification of the seal device; communicating, from the handheld device to the user application, the identification of the seal device; inputting, by a user at the container via the handheld device, information associated with the container; communicating, from the handheld device to the user application, the information associated with the container; associating, in a database by the user application, the information associated with the container with the bolt serial number and the identification of the seal device; communicating, by the user application, a confirmation to the seal device.
US09386547B2

An SC-FDMA transmission device capable of achieving excellent error rate characteristics on any propagation channel, wherein a determination unit (151) determines the ratio of the frequency puncturing amount to the time puncturing amount in the total puncturing amount on the basis of a puncturing determination rule, and a setting unit (152) sets the time puncturing amount and the frequency puncturing amount on the basis of this ratio. Here, in the puncturing determination rule, the ratio is determined from the MCS of the encoded data, the number of resources allocated to the encoded data, and the delay spread of the propagation channel between a receiving device and the transmission device (100).
US09386542B2

The present disclosure sets forth a method for tracking path loss in which a monitoring device issues a series of power step commands and transmit power requests to a reporting device, receives transmit power data in response to the transmit power requests, and creates a data structure (e.g., a table) that maps the number of steps (e.g., number of steps increased or decreased) of the power step commands with the reported transmit powers. This process is performed during the initial connection between the monitoring device and the reporting device.
US09386539B2

According to one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus includes a transceiver, an estimator and a controller. The transceiver transmits and receives a frame in a frequency band which is used by a first system executing communication in a first communication range determined by a first transmission power and a first antenna gain. The estimator determines whether an amount of interference in the frequency band from a second system is no less than a threshold, the second system executing communication in a second communication range which is larger than the first communication range and which is determined by a second transmission power and a second antenna gain. The controller increases a transmission power when the amount of interference is no less than the threshold.
US09386536B2

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for improving radio transmissions between a mobile device located inside an enclosed structure and an outside radio network. A relay or repeater is used to relay transmissions back and forth between the inside mobile device and the outside radio network. The transmission power of the relay/repeater used to transmit signals to the mobile device and that of the mobile device used to communicate with the relay/repeater can be dynamically adjusted in accordance with the penetration loss of the enclosed structure.
US09386533B2

A signal transmission method and apparatus of a base station is provided for increasing transmit power by compensating a phase value of the signal transmitted through multiple antennas based on signal reception status information fed back from a terminal in a wireless communication system. The signal transmission method includes transmitting a signal to at least one terminal through the multiple antennas; receiving signal reception status information transmitted by the at least one terminal; calculating a compensation phase based on the signal reception status information; applying the compensation phase to next signal to be transmitted through the multiple antennas; and transmitting the next signal to the at least one terminal through the multiple antennas.
US09386529B2

A faulted circuit indicator periodically joins a network to report information and receive commands. The faulted circuit indicator optimizes the transmit power used to join the network so that an acceptable network acquisition time and/or robust routing through multiple nodes are obtained.
US09386528B2

An example method may include receiving a first subframe. In addition, the example method may include decoding information transmitted in the first subframe. Further, the example method may include switching to an inactive mode subsequent to the completion of the reception of the first subframe. Further still, the example method may include exiting the inactive mode and decoding downlink data transmitted in one or more second subframes in a current reception (Rx) burst time interval when the decoded information transmitted in the first subframe indicates an upcoming transmission of downlink data in the one or more second subframes.
US09386527B2

A proximity sensing method employed by a wireless communications device includes the steps of: performing a first predetermined operation to detect a presence of at least a transponder in the proximity of the wireless communications device; when the presence of a transponder in the proximity of the wireless communications device is not detected by the first predetermined operation, performing a second predetermined operation to obtain a first characteristic value and after a period of time, performing the second predetermined operation to obtain a second characteristic value sequentially; checking if the first characteristic value and the second characteristic value satisfy a predetermined criteria; and when the predetermined criterion is satisfied, performing the first predetermined operation again to check the presence of the transponder in the proximity of the wireless communications device.
US09386521B2

A mobile device (300) includes an oscillator (310) to generate a reference clock signal, a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit (320) to generate a PLL output clock signal, a transceiver (330), a system-on-a-chip (SOC) (340) including a processor (342) and a number of other modules, and a control logic (350). The transceiver (330) generates a status control signal that indicates whether the transceiver (330) is in an active state or in an idle state. The control logic (350) receives the status control signal, and in response thereto, selectively enables/disables the PLL circuit (320), selectively routes either the reference clock signal or the PLL output clock signal to the processor (342) and/or the other modules of the SOC (340), and/or selectively routes either an idle clock signal or the PLL output clock signal to the transceiver (330).
US09386514B2

A communication network and method of communication is disclosed. A server is coupled to a hybrid communication network that includes a radio frequency communication network and at least one other communication network. A communication device is configured for communication over the hybrid communication network. A mode of communication between the communication device and the server is selected. A message is then communicated over the hybrid communication network using the selected mode of communication. The communication device may be a smartphone coupled to a radio frequency transceiver and configured to drive the radio frequency transceiver.
US09386510B2

Systems and methods are provided for analyzing radio frequency (RF) data. RF data is received from one or more RF sensors, wherein the RF data is collected over a particular frequency range and resolution bandwidth. One or more frequencies not in use are determined based on the RF data and a signal level threshold. One or more recommended frequencies for use are calculated based on the one or more open frequencies and an intermodulation function, wherein each of the one or more recommended frequencies reduces a potential for intermodulation distortion than other frequencies in the frequency range.
US09386509B2

A wireless network includes a base transceiver station configured to transmit signals over a wireless connection to a plurality of terminals and receive signals over a wireless connection from a plurality of terminals. The terminal may transmit a connection request message including an identifier and a request to identify the new terminal to the network when the new terminal tries to access the wireless network. A base station or access point may receive or maintain information or a list regarding one or more new terminals attempting to access the wireless network. The base station or access point may receive a control command indicative of a selection of at least one terminal from the list. The base station or access point may connect the at least one terminal to the access point or network.
US09386508B2

The information providing system according to the embodiment includes a wireless LAN access point and an information providing apparatus. The wireless LAN access point detects a wireless terminal existing in a wireless LAN communication area to transmit the detection information to the information providing apparatus. The information providing apparatus determines either the wireless LAN access point or a wireless WAN base station, on the basis of information on a user of a wireless terminal specified according to the detection information and/or the information on an installation location of the wireless LAN access point, as a communication medium that notifies the notification information.
US09386498B2

A device detects poor coverage associated with a source radio access technology (RAT) with which the device is connected, and connects to a target RAT. The device also measures the source RAT for a time period after connecting to the target RAT, and sends, based on the measurements, one or more measurement reports to the target RAT, where the target RAT forwards the one or more measurement reports to the source RAT. Alternatively, or additionally, the target RAT may detect that the handover was triggered too early and may inform the source RAT or command the UE to return to the source RAT. The device further stops the measuring and the sending when the time period expires. In this way, IRAT handover parameters may be automatically or manually tuned to minimize the number of handovers triggered too early, which may result in a more efficient cell configuration.
US09386496B2

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of multiband wireless communication. For example, a multiband wireless communication device may include a receiver to receive a first message from a mobile device, the first message including multiband capability information indicating a plurality of supported wireless communication bands of the mobile device; a controller to select a selected wireless communication band from the plurality of supported wireless communication bands; and a transmitter to transmit a second message to the mobile device, the second message including an indication of the selected wireless communication band.
US09386492B2

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.
US09386485B2

A method includes, in a mobile communication terminal, holding a definition of multiple re-establishment modes, each re-establishment mode defining a respective criterion for selecting a base station with which to re-establish a failed data session. Success statistics of one or more of the re-establishment modes in a given geographical region are collected in the terminal. In response to a failure in a data session occurring while the terminal is in the given geographical region, a re-establishment mode is selected from among the multiple re-establishment modes based on the success statistics, and the data session is re-established using the selected re-establishment mode.
US09386484B2

Methods and apparatuses are provided for selecting a cell in a mobile communication network for a network access of a terminal and a position update. A method includes receiving a first message from a network; determining whether a cell, which the terminal accesses, supports Circuit Switched FallBack (CSFB), based on the first message; and determining whether to select the cell, based on whether the cell supports the CSFB.
US09386481B2

Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for managing an encoder output rate at least partially based upon wireless communication link feedback are described. In some embodiments, a device driver of the system may generate link information indicating quality of a wireless communication link between the system and another system, wherein the link information is generated at least partially based upon at least one of media access layer (MAC) information and physical layer information of the system. A system managing entity of the system may manage an output rate of an encoder of the system at least partially based upon the link information.
US09386476B2

Technology for transmitting physical broadcast channel (PBCH) contents is disclosed. An evolved node B (eNB) may configure one or more repetitions of PBCH content for transmission, to a user equipment (UE), from a cell at a selected time interval. The eNB may select a scrambling code for the one or more repetitions of PBCH content transmitted from the cell. The eNB may apply the scrambling code to one or more repetitions of PBCH content.
US09386455B2

A self-organizing network switching matrix is provided. The self-organizing network switching matrix can receive a first set of communications data from a set of base transceiver stations wherein the communications data includes a radio simulcast. It can send the first set of communications data to a subset of remote transceiver units in a set of remote transceiver units. A second set of communications data can be received from the first subset of remote transceiver units. A set of network activity data can be generated based on monitoring the receiving of the second set of communications data from the first subset of remote transceiver units for a defined network activity. The subset of remote transceiver units can be adjusted based on the network activity data. In this regard, the self-organizing network switching matrix facilitates automated capacity management providing just in time network dimensioning.
US09386450B1

A system and method for authentication utilizing a physical break in an electronic pathway is disclosed herein. The system includes a primary device, a secondary device and an authentication server. The authentication server transmits a key and a solution to the primary device and a key cylinder to the secondary device The secondary device requires a physical action to close a circuit in order to send the key cylinder to the primary device, which when matched to the key and solved, authenticates the primary device.
US09386448B2

The disclosure provides a method for updating an air interface key, a core network node and user equipment. The update method comprises: a core network node receives a relocation indication message, wherein the relocation indication message is configured to indicate that the User Equipment (UE) is about to relocate to a target Radio Network Controller (RNC) from a source RNC (Step S602); the core network node uses the key parameter to calculate a next hop enhanced key (Step S604); and then the core network node sends the next hop enhanced key to the target RNC (Step S606). Through the disclosure, the forward security of the user is guaranteed, and thus the communication security of the radio access system is improved.
US09386440B2

The present invention relates to a mobile communication system, and more specifically, to a method for providing an improved communication environment for a terminal using a vehicle provided with antennas, and to an apparatus for executing same. As related to one embodiment of the present invention, a data transceiving method for a terminal using a vehicle-mounted type communication module comprising a plurality of antennas comprises the steps of: establishing a wire data path with the communication module; negotiating multiple-antenna capabilities with a base station using multiple-antenna capabilities information of the communication module; and transmitting to the communication module multiple-antenna transmission parameters on the basis of the negotiation, and a data unit comprising uplink data to be transmitted to the base station, wherein the data unit, which has been generated in the medium access control (MAC) layer of the terminal and then converted into a radio frequency (RF) signal in the physical layer (PHY) of the communication module, can be transmitted to the base station using the plurality of antennas.
US09386432B2

An image associated with a location and depicting the current weather conditions at the location is served to the user along with the current weather data of the location. If an image for the location that aptly depicts the weather conditions as indicated by the weather data cannot be identified, the geographical area associated with the location is expanded to search for appropriate images from an expanded image pool. The expansion can continue in one or more steps until a threshold is reached beyond which the geographical area my no longer be expanded. If no images are retrieved upon reaching the threshold, an image reflecting the weather condition is selected from a fallback image set for presentation with the weather data.
US09386431B2

Mobile user equipment (MUE) can be enabled to search for and camp on a preferred node, such as a home base node (HBN), in a battery-efficient manner even when currently camped on another node, such as a macro base node (MBN). When the MBN provides good channel quality, slow rate background intra- and inter-frequency searches can discover the preferred HBN that would otherwise not be discovered or would consume excessive power with continual searching. When channel quality is fair, slow rate background inter-frequency searches can result in timely switching to the preferred HBN. Location hints that indicate proximity of the preferred HBN can be used to trigger slow rate background searches. Neighboring cell searching of neighbor cell listing (NCL) when in channel quality is fair or poor are maintained to prepare for call reselections to available node.
US09386409B2

An LBS-based prompt information output method and system, and a storage medium according to the present disclosure, comprising: acquiring current time and/or a current geographic location, determining whether the current time falls within a preset time range, and/or determining whether a distance value between the current geographic location and a preset specified geographic location is smaller than or equal to a preset distance value; when a determination result is positive, outputting preset prompt information. The present invention is capable of enabling a user to acquire service information concerning the user and relating to the specified geographic location in time.
US09386407B2

System and methods for communicating with a contact center are disclosed. A method includes: receiving a first message from a user equipment (UE), wherein the first message is received via a first communications protocol; transmitting a second message to a computing device of a contact center, wherein the second message is transmitted via a second communications protocol and optionally includes location information for the UE; and receiving a reply message from the computing device of the contact center.
US09386405B2

A computing device may be used in multiple locations. One or more networks may be available at each of the multiple locations. A profile may be created and associated with at least some of the multiple locations. The profile may specify a configuration of the computing device, such as which network to connect to at a particular location. When the computing device is located in a location that has an associated profile, the profile may be used to configure the computing device, including connecting the computing device to at least one network that is available at the location. The profile associated with the location may include information for connecting the computing device to the at least one network.
US09386404B1

In some embodiments, techniques comprise receiving a request for an allocation of a network address; determining a location; encoding the location within a response to the request for the allocation of the network address, wherein the response to the request for the allocation of the network address also includes the network address; and providing the response to the request for the allocation of the network address, wherein the response to the request for the allocation of the network address includes the encoded location and the encoded network address.
US09386402B2

A method for detecting the proximity of a signal source using wireless systems is contemplated in which a wireless mobile device wirelessly receives packets from a signal source and determines a received signal strength for each packet. The wireless mobile device may store information based upon the received signal strength for each packet, and calculate from the information stored for all the packets, a current path loss value corresponding to a current distance from the wireless mobile device to the signal source. The wireless mobile device may then determine whether the current distance is sufficient to be an enabling condition such as tap, for example, for a data transfer or a transaction between the wireless mobile device and the signal source.
US09386397B2

A system and method for performing actions on a wireless device using action lists and versioning. The system includes receiving, over a network, a remote action list version number, the remote action list version number associated with a remote action list containing an instruction for the wireless device. The system further includes determining whether the remote action list version number is different from a local action list version number. The system also includes sending, over a network, a request for the remote action list in response to determining the remote action list version number is different from the local action list version number. Also, the system includes receiving, over a network, the remote action list.
US09386395B1

A processor-implemented method is provided. The method comprises determining that a portable electronic device is within a coverage area of a local wireless communication network. The method also comprises automatically sending information about accessing the local wireless communication network to a mobile wireless communication network. The method also comprises receiving a request to access the local wireless communication network from the portable electronic device, wherein the request comprises at least some of the information about accessing the local wireless communication network. The method also comprises transmitting an interface pack to the portable electronic device.
US09386390B2

An information processing apparatus includes a forward deciding unit that makes a decision as to a user's forward according to the user's orientation information, a sound generating unit that creates sound data assigned to each of virtual sound sources placed in a plurality of directions preset in advance, a compressing unit that performs compression on the created sound data by the sound generating unit in different ways between the created sound data corresponding to the user's forward obtained by the forward deciding unit and the created sound data corresponding to a direction other than the user's forward, and a communication unit that transmits the compressed sound data by the compressing unit.
US09386387B2

A circuit for conditioning an acoustic transducer driving signal includes an inner feedback circuit having a test signal input for receiving a test signal, a feedback input for receiving a feedback signal, circuitry for forming an output signal including circuitry for amplifying the input signal according to the feedback signal, and an output for providing the output signal. The circuit also includes an outer feedback circuit having a signal input for receiving the output signal from the inner feedback circuit, a desired offset input for receiving a signal representative of a desired output offset, a first low-pass filter circuit for detecting an actual offset in the output signal, signal combination circuitry for forming the feedback signal including combining the actual offset with the desired output offset, and a feedback output for providing the feedback signal to the feedback input of the inner feedback circuit.
US09386383B2

A receiver for a hearing aid includes: a receiver housing having a side face with a sound opening; and a filter holder with a filter, wherein the filter holder is fastened to the receiver housing; wherein the filter holder has a bottom face, a first opening at the bottom face, a second opening configured for releasably mounting the filter to the filter holder, and a sound channel located between the first and second openings and aligned with the first opening; and wherein the bottom face of the filter holder abuts the side face of the receiver housing.
US09386378B2

Provided is an acoustic generator which has a high sound pressure at ultrahigh frequencies and which can suppress occurrence of large peak dips. An acoustic generator includes a film, a frame member disposed on an outer peripheral edge of the film, a piezoelectric element disposed on the film and inside the frame member, and a resin layer filled inside the frame member so as to cover the piezoelectric element.
US09386376B2

A speaker includes a magnetic circuit, a voice coil, and a diaphragm which are disposed in a case. The case is placed in an engine compartment of an automobile. Reproduced sound is emitted through a duct protruding outward from the case. A partition wall, which is a metal body frame of the automobile, is present between the engine compartment and the cabin space. The duct is inserted into a hole formed in the partition wall so that a sound port faces and protrudes into the cabin space. A heat dissipation port is formed in the case, and an end surface the magnetic circuit facing the partition wall is exposed in the heat dissipation port. An elastically deformable thermal conductive sheet is sandwiched between the partition wall and the end surface of the magnetic circuit.
US09386371B2

Improved systems and methods for psychoacoustic adaptive notch filtering are provided. By accounting for psychoacoustic properties of an audio signal as well as finer characteristics of noise which may be present in the audio signal (e.g., the shape of the spectral density of the noise), more effective strategies for dealing with undesirable components of the audio signal may be realized.
US09386361B2

A horn for use with a loudspeaker may include an entrance disposed at a first axial end of the horn and configured to receive a driver. A mouth may be disposed at a second axial end of the horn opposite the entrance. A contoured surface may extend between the entrance and the mouth. A cross sectional shape of a coverage pattern of audible sound emitted by the loudspeaker coupled with the horn may be independent of a shape of the entrance and a shape of the mouth.
US09386348B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box having a controller to present media content at a presentation device as directed by a user, monitor the media content consumed by the user, detect a first behavioral pattern based on the media content consumed by the user, transmit the detected first behavioral pattern to a communication device of the user, receive from the communication device a second behavioral pattern, and identify media content correlating to the second behavioral pattern. The communication device can be adapted to adjust communication operations according to the detected first behavioral pattern. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09386344B2

Within the context of the broadcasting of DVB services over an IP network, the trend is to separate the signalling information describing the network and the services offered from the services themselves. The signalling is made available to the terminals via XML files available on HTTP servers. In contrast to this approach, the invention consists of a method of recognition, by a receiver connected to a bidirectional network, of digital services on the bidirectional network, which comprises a step in which the receiver connects to a first stream, a step in which the receiver extracts from said stream information on the location on the network, on the one hand, of streams conveying the content of these services and, on the other hand, of separate streams conveying information describing these services, a step in which the receiver connects to at least some of the streams conveying service description information to obtain information on these services and a step in which the receiver uses this information to construct a list, possibly unitary, of the services available on the network.
US09386342B2

A digital display device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The method of controlling a digital display device connected to at least one network and at least one memory includes receiving content (e.g., a TV program, etc.) over the at least one network, calculating memory capacity of an internal or external memory, storing the received content (e.g., a TV program, etc.) in the internal or external memory according to the calculated result, accessing the internal or external memory if a specific channel is selected, extracting the content (e.g., a TV program, etc.) stored in the accessed internal or external memory, and outputting video data and audio data corresponding to the extracted content (e.g., a TV program, etc.).
US09386341B2

An electronic programming guide (EPG) data manager module is provided. The EPG data module provides an event driven infrastructure to provide EPG data to a hypertext markup language 5 (HTML5) applications. The HTML5 EPG application presents an EPG data window in a user interface on a display device. The EPG data is provided to the EPG application in scriptable data objects generated to be rendered by the HTML5 EPG application based upon the EPG data window to be presented.
US09386340B2

A video-on-demand (VOD) content delivery system has a VOD Application Server which manages a database of templates ordered in a hierarchy for presentation of video content elements of different selected types categorized in hierarchical order. The templates include those for higher-order displays which have one or more links to lower-order displays of specific content. The VOD Application Server, in response to viewer request, displays a high-order templatized display, and in response to viewer selection of a link, displays the lower-order display of specific content. A web-based Content Management System receives content uploaded online in file formats with metadata for title and topical area, and automatically converts it into video data format compatible with the VOD content delivery system indexed by title and topical area. A User Interface for the system delivers listings data to the viewer's TV indexed by title and topical area specified by the uploaded metadata.
US09386330B1

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for determining a time period remaining until a live production system changes states. An example method involves accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log; making a first determination that a log-entry A in the traffic log does not correspond to a live-production source; making a second determination that a log-entry B in the traffic log is the next log entry after the log-entry A to correspond to a live-production source; making a third determination that the log-entry B includes a start-time B; responsive to making the first, second, and third determinations, proximate a current time that is on or after a start-time A corresponding to the log-entry A and that is before the start-time B, determining a time period as a difference between the current time and the start-time B; and providing the determined time-period to an output device for presentation proximate the current time.
US09386328B1

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for displaying of thumbnails of content to be played after viewing of a video advertisement.
US09386327B2

Apparatus and associated methods that allow a user (e.g., cable or satellite network subscriber) to access content, such as a video program, from a location outside the subscriber's network, with dynamic or adaptive insertion of secondary content (e.g., advertisements or promotions) that are more relevant for that context. In one embodiment, a personal content server streams the content to the subscriber over a network connection from the local e.g., (subscription) network to a remote network upon authorization by a content manager process; secondary content is evaluated and selectively inserted or replaced depending on factors such as the user's remote location, the configuration of their platform, the date and time of their access request, and/or the subject matter of the primary content.
US09386318B2

Lossless image compression using differential transfers may involve an image compression unit receiving image data for an image in a sequence of images and transmitting the image data such that image data for at least some image tiles is transmitted using lossy compression due to resource limitations. The image compression unit may then receive image data for a subsequent image in the sequence and determine that the image data for at least some tiles does not change relative to the image data for corresponding tiles of the previous image. The image compression unit may then transmit image data in a manner sufficient to create lossless versions of tiles for which lossily compressed image data was sent previously.
US09386316B2

This disclosure describes techniques for adaptively coding video block header information based on previously encoded video blocks. A video encoder may adaptively select a coding table for use in encoding a syntax element of a current video block based on corresponding syntax elements of one or more previously encoded blocks. In one aspect, the video encoder may adaptively select the coding table for use in encoding a block type of the current block based on block types of one or more video blocks adjacent to the current video block, i.e., neighboring video blocks. The video encoder may also predict one or more other header syntax elements of the current block based on at least one of the previously encoded video blocks. If prediction is successful, the video encoder may encode a flag to indicate the success of prediction.
US09386311B2

Systems, apparatus and methods are described including determining a first value by reducing a bit-length of a reference pixel value and adding a first predetermined value to the result and determining a second value by subtracting a residual pixel value from a current pixel value to generate a difference value, reducing a bit-length of the difference value and adding the first predetermined value to the result. The range of the second value may then be clipped by setting the second value to zero when the second value is equal to or less than a second predetermined value and setting the second value to a third predetermined value when the second value is equal to or greater than a fourth predetermined value. The first value and the second value may then be used for inter-layer residual prediction in Scalable Video Coding (SVC) systems.
US09386307B2

A video encoder generates a sequence of sample adaptive offset (SAO) syntax elements for a coding tree block. The SAO syntax elements include regular context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) coded bins for a color component and bypass-coded bins for the color component. None of the bypass-coded bins is between two of the regular CABAC-coded bins in the sequence. The video encoder uses regular CABAC to encode the regular CABAC-coded bins and uses bypass coding to encode the bypass-coded bins. The video encoder outputs the SAO syntax elements in a bitstream. A video decoder receives the bitstream, uses regular CABAC to decode the regular CABAC-coded bins, uses bypass coding to decode the bypass-coded bins, and modifies a reconstructed picture based on the SAO syntax elements.
US09386306B2

An apparatus for coding video information includes a memory unit configured to store video information associated with a reference block; and a processor in communication with the memory unit, wherein the processor is configured to determine a value of a current video unit associated with the reference block based on, at least in part, a classification of the reference block and a scan order selected by the processor based upon the classification. The scan order indicates an order in which values within the reference block are processed to at least partially determine the value of the current video unit.
US09386300B2

A method for controlling the portable device may include detecting that the second body or the third body is folded to the first body and capturing an image by at least one of a first camera unit located in the second body and a second camera unit located in the third body. In this case, the first camera unit may capture an image of a first direction, and the second camera unit may capture an image of a second direction. In this case, the image may be captured based on a first capturing mode when the portable device is in an unfolded state, the image may be captured based on a second capturing mode when the portable device is in a first folded state, and the image may be captured based on a third capturing mode when the portable device is in a second folded state.
US09386298B2

An image sensor frame rate can be increased by “interlaced” mode operation whereby only half the number of lines (alternating between odd and even lines) of an image is transported to the readout circuitry. This halves the integration time but also halves the resolution of the sensor. The reduction is tolerable for motion characterization as long as sufficient image resolution remains. Accordingly, in one embodiment, an image sensor operated in an interlaced fashion is first exposed to a scene under a first illumination form (e.g., narrowband illumination), and a first set of alternating (horizontal or vertical) lines constituting half of the pixels is read out of the array; the sensor is then exposed to the same scene under a second illumination form (e.g., existing ambient illumination with the illumination source turned off), and a second set of alternating lines, representing the other half of the pixel array, is read out.
US09386288B2

According to various embodiments, the system and method of the present invention process light-field image data so as to reduce color artifacts, reduce projection artifacts, and/or increase dynamic range. These techniques operate, for example, on image data affected by sensor saturation and/or microlens modulation. Flat-field images are captured and converted to modulation images, and then applied on a per-pixel basis, according to techniques described herein.
US09386280B2

A method for setting up a monitoring camera includes tilting a camera head of the camera to a tilting position in which an optical axis of the camera substantially coincides with a rotational axis that the camera head is turning around when panning, and in which the camera head is able to capture images through a wide angle lens arranged in a fixed position in relation to a base of the camera. The camera head is turned around the optical axis of the camera and captures images until wide angle images captured through the wide angle lens present the desired orientation. A home position value for a pan motor of the camera is stored, wherein the position value represents the position value for the pan motor when the captured wide angle image presents the desired orientation.
US09386279B2

An information processing apparatus includes a receiving unit receiving data input to one or more apparatuses; a data storage unit storing the data with a determined display position thereof in a display screen; a log storage unit storing a data change as a log; an association unit monitoring a communication status of a communication with the one or more apparatuses, and associating information indicating an apparatus where a communication error occurs and a timing when the communication occurs with the log; a recording unit recording video of the data change displayed in the display screen from when the communication error occurs until when the communication is recovered for an apparatus; and a transmission unit transmitting the video from an event when the communication error occurs until an event when the communication is recovered and the log to the apparatus.
US09386277B2

A first video conferencing device determines pane sizes of a plurality of video content to be displayed at a second video conferencing device, where the pane sizes are determined based on a minimum video pane size of the second video conferencing device. The first video conferencing device then transmits, to the second video conferencing device, a video stream including at least a subset of the plurality of the video content with the determined pane sizes. The determined pane sizes are equal to or greater than the minimum video pane size.
US09386272B2

Technologies for audiovisual communication include an audiovisual server and a number of audiovisual client devices, including a presenter device and a number of audience devices. Each audience device captures an audiovisual stream and transmits the audiovisual stream to the audiovisual server. Each audience device also captures sensor input data such as eye tracking data or facial expression data and transmits abstracted sensor input data to the audiovisual server. The abstracted sensor input data may be based on the captured audiovisual stream. The audiovisual server determines an interestingness rating associated with each audience device based on the sensor input data, and selects one or more audiovisual streams based on the interestingness ratings. The audiovisual server transmits the selected audiovisual streams to the presenter device. The audiovisual server may update the interestingness rating algorithm based on feedback from the presenter device or the audience devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09386271B2

An e-learning system has a local classroom with an instructor station and a microphone and a local student station with a microphone, a remote classroom with an instructor display and a student station with a microphone, and planar displays and video cameras in each of the classrooms, the remote and local classrooms connected over a network, with a server monitoring feeds and enforcing exclusive states, such that audio and video feeds are managed in a manner that video and audio of the instructor, the local students and the first remote students, as seen and heard either directly or via speakers and displays by each of the instructor, the local students and the remote students presents to each as though all are interacting in the same room.
US09386270B2

In one embodiment, a method is provided in a video conference session which has a video stream, an audio stream and an information stream between at least one first participant and at least one second participant, comprising: detecting, based on an analysis of at least one of the video stream, the audio stream or the information stream of the video conference session, an indication from a first participant of a wish to obtain additional information about at least one second participant selected by the first participant; and selectively providing additional information relating to the selected second participant to a screen of at least one selected target device viewable by the first participant.
US09386267B1

This disclosure describes cooperatively transcoding an input signal to one or more output signals. The software and/or hardware logic modules are designed to work cooperatively in ways that can reduce the number and/or complexity of logic modules implementing a plurality of related transcodings of signal formats. By advantageously determining dependencies and sub-functions in transcoding an input stream to multiple output streams, hardware and/or software logic can be reduced. Reduced logic to implement multi-format transcoding improves the costs and/or capacity of systems for transcoding large numbers of streams and signals.
US09386266B2

An image processing system comprises an image processor configured to obtain a first image stream having a first frame rate and a second image stream having a second frame rate lower than the first frame rate, to recover additional frames for the second image stream based on existing frames of the first and second image streams, and to utilize the additional frames to provide an increased frame rate for the second image stream. Recovering additional frames for the second image stream based on existing frames of the first and second image streams illustratively comprises determining sets of one or more additional frames for insertion between respective pairs of consecutive existing frames in the second image stream in respective iterations.
US09386265B2

Techniques related to processing a mixed content video stream to generate progressive video for encoding and/or display are discussed. Such techniques may include determining conversion techniques for various portions of the mixed content video stream and converting the portions based on the determined techniques. The conversion of true interlaced video include content adaptive interlace reversal and the conversion of pseudo-interlaced telecine converted video may include adaptive telecine pattern reversal.
US09386264B2

A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for augmenting capabilities of a host device is presented. A first application on the host device is executed, where the first application is configured to execute on a second device and is configured to use a capability that is available on the second device, and where the capability is not included in the host device. A request is received from the first application to use the capability that is available the second device, where the first application does not have knowledge of the capabilities of the second device. A connection is established to the second device through at least one network. Communications are facilitated between the first application and the second device though the at least one network to provide the capability that is available on the second device to the first application.
US09386255B2

System and method involving user interfaces and remote control devices. These user interfaces may be particularly useful for providing an intuitive and user friendly interaction between a user and a device or application using a display, e.g., at a “10 foot” interaction level. The user interfaces may be specifically designed for interaction using a simple remote control device having a limited number of inputs. For example, the simple remote control may include directional inputs (e.g., up, down, left, right), a confirmation input (e.g., ok), and possibly a mute input. The user interface may be customized based on current user activity or other contexts (e.g., based on current or previous states), the user logging in (e.g., using a communication device), etc. Additionally, the user interface may allow the user to adjust cameras whose video are not currently displayed, rejoin previously left videoconferences, and/or any of a variety of desirable actions.
US09386253B2

A LCD television, LED television, Plasma television or other television system comprising a mobile phone having one or plurality of simsocket containing a plurality of pins, wherein Input/Output pin, clock pin, reset pin, vcc pin, ground pin are several respective pins of the said simsocket, and the said pins of one or plurality of simsocket are connected in parallel and the said plurality of simsockets for accepting plurality of simcards in order to operate the simcards selectively and/or simultaneously. The said plurality of simsocket are connected to the CPU (Central Processing Unit) (14) in parallel and the said CPU (14) has a switching circuit and the said CPU (14) is connected to the one or plurality of simsocket through the switching circuit and the function of one or plurality of simsocket is operated by the CPU (14), switching circuit, and transreceivers (15). The function of the television and the mobile phone is operated selectively and/or simultaneously by the CPU (14), switching circuit, and transreceivers (15), and the said CPU (14) is connected to the transreceivers (15) through antenna (16) in the LCD television, LED television, Plasma television and other television system.
US09386252B2

An embodiment takes the form of a process that includes transmitting video frames to a receiving device during a first transmission period of one or more time slots of a half-duplex air interface, and receiving feedback messaging from the receiving device during a feedback period of one or more time slots of the half-duplex air interface. The process further includes suspending, after the first transmission period, transmission of video frames for a suspension period of one or more time slots of the half-duplex air interface, and after the feedback period and after the suspension period, transmitting one or more recovery frames to the receiving device during a recovery period of one or more time slots of the half-duplex air interface. The one or more recovery frames collectively include inter-coded macroblock data and/or intra-coded macroblock data.
US09386234B2

An output rescale module may determine an estimated set of lines to hold in vertical support for use when performing image transformations. For example, an output rescale module may monitor input Y coordinates (in terms of input pixel lines) computed over previous lines and compute a set of lines to hold in a set of line buffers. As each output pixel line is generated, the output rescale module may compute the minimum and maximum values of Y generated by the transform across that line. The minimum and maximum input Y coordinates may then be averaged to determine the center value (the centermost input line) for that output line. The difference (in terms of input pixel lines) between centerlines for two adjacent output lines may be added to the centerline value for the current output line to estimate a center line for the next (not yet generated) output pixel line.
US09386227B2

Provided is a finder apparatus for a camera, including: an optical finder to be provided with an optical image of an object; a display unit configured to display image information as an image; an optical path combining unit having a predetermined optical characteristic, and configured to optically combine the optical image provided to the optical finder and the image displayed on the display unit with each other in an optical path of the optical finder; and an image display processing unit configured to subject the image information to image display processing, in which, when the optical finder is not provided with the optical image of the object, the image display processing unit subjects the image information to first image display processing corresponding to the predetermined optical characteristic of the optical path combining unit.
US09386226B2

A camera driving apparatus according to the present invention includes: a camera section with an imaging plane; a movable unit which houses the camera section inside and includes an attracting magnet and a convex partial sphere on its outer surface; a fixed unit which has a depressed portion in which a magnetic body and the movable unit are loosely fit, which brings the convex partial sphere of the movable unit into a point or line contact with the depressed portion under magnetic attractive force of the attracting magnet to the magnetic body, and which allows the movable unit to rotate freely on the spherical centroid of the first convex partial sphere; a panning driving section; a tilting driving section; a rolling driving section; a lens driving section; an image sensor driving section; a first detector which detects the tilt angles of the camera section in the panning and tilting directions with respect to the fixed unit; a second detector which detects the angle of rotation of the camera section that is rotating in the rolling direction; and a third detector which detects the magnitudes of shift of the image sensor along the panning rotation axis and the tilting rotation axis.
US09386223B2

An imaging apparatus includes a captured image acquisition unit, a combination sequence determination unit, and an image combination unit. The captured image acquisition unit acquires data of multiple captured images that have been imaged at multiple focus positions. The combination sequence determination unit determines a sequence of the images imaged by an imaging unit, the sequence being different from both a progressive sequence of focus distances and a sequence of imaging, to be a sequence for combining the data of the multiple captured images acquired by the captured image acquisition unit. The image combination unit combines the multiple captured images imaged by the imaging unit, in the order determined by the combination sequence determination unit, creating data of an omnifocal image.
US09386211B2

Microscope slide scanner. In an embodiment the microscope slide scanner comprises a single enclosure unit that includes at least one objective lens, at least one line scan camera, at least one communication port, and at least one processor. The line scan camera may be configured to capture image data of a sample as a plurality of image stripes via the objective lens. The communication port provides communication over a network. The processor may align the plurality of image stripes into a contiguous image of at least a portion of the sample, and executes a web server that provides an operator interface over the network to one or more remote devices.
US09386206B2

An imaging element includes: a semiconductor substrate in which a plurality of pixels is arranged in a two-dimensional array; a color filter layer which is laminated in a position corresponding to the pixel on an upper layer of the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of micro lenses which is laminated on an upper layer of the color filter layer to condense light which is incident onto the pixel; and an isolated columnar reflective wall which is vertically provided in an intermediate layer between the semiconductor substrate and the micro lens at every position of a gap enclosed by the plurality of adjacent micro lenses and reflects the light which is incident onto the color filter from the gap to a direction facing the pixel corresponding to the color filter.
US09386203B2

An apparatus includes an image sensor partitioned into N image sensor regions. The image sensor is attached to a circuit board. A lens array having including N lenses is disposed proximate to the image sensor. Each one of the N lenses is arranged to focus a single image onto a respective one of the N image sensor regions. A spacer structure is stacked between to the lens array and the circuit board to separate the lens array from the image sensor, wherein the spacer structure surrounds a perimeter around all of the N image sensor regions and N lenses such that none of the spacer structure is disposed between any of the N lenses and N image sensor regions of the image sensor.
US09386199B2

Disclosed is a camera module, the module including an IR filter for filtering infrared rays, an image sensor located under the IR filter to convert an incident optic image into an electric signal, a first PCB having a window to permit passage of the optic image and a cavity extending downwards from the window to accommodate the image sensor, a predetermined portion of an upper portion of the cavity being electrically connected to a predetermined portion of an upper surface of the image sensor, and a first through hole taking a shape of a pipe that is connected at one end thereof to the window and connected at the other end to the cavity, the first through hole serving as a path for discharging air between the IR filter and the image sensor.
US09386193B2

The signal transmitting device of a signal transmitting/receiving device according to the present disclosure includes a signal processing unit that outputs a video signal as parallel data together with the first clock (the pixel clock); a first buffer memory to which the parallel data is written based on the first clock from the signal processing unit, and from which the written parallel data is read based on the second clock having a constant frequency equal to or higher than that of the first clock; and a transmitting unit. The transmitting unit receives the parallel data read from the first buffer memory and the second clock, converts the parallel data into serial data, and outputs the serial data to the signal line based on the second clock. The first buffer memory and the transmitting unit are formed of an FPGA (field-programmable gate array).
US09386190B2

A method compresses, into a compressed image signal, an initial image signal including a sequence of pixels having respective amplitudes of plural digital color components. The method includes, for each color component, subdividing the sequence into several groups of several adjacent pixels, and for each group of a portion of the groups, generating a sequenced set of pixels for the group by a monotone sequencing of the pixels of the group as a function of amplitudes of the color component, and approximating amplitudes of the color component of the pixels of the set by a monotone approximation function with one variable related to positions of the pixels in the set. The compressed image signal includes indications of position of the sequenced pixels in the group and characteristics of the approximation function associated with that group.
US09386183B2

An image sensor including: light guides for irradiating light onto an irradiated object; a lens that focuses reflected light that was reflected by the irradiated object; a sensor that receives the reflected light that was focused by the lens; and a housing. The housing houses or holds the light guides, the lens, and the sensor, and is formed by integrating a housing metal portion and a housing resin portion.
US09386177B2

In the original reading apparatus configured to store the image data in the image storing unit such as temporary storage memory, time required to complete the overwriting for erasure is reduced. The image data read by the image reading unit is stored in the image data storing unit and the stored image data is output. To hold data stored in the image data storing unit, refresh processing, which is to perform processing intermittently required to hold the data stored in the image data storing unit, is performed at a predetermined execution frequency. After the image data is output, frequency to execute the refresh processing is reduced as compared to a predetermined execution frequency to perform writing of the dummy data.
US09386173B2

A printing system includes a plurality of printers capable of communicating with each other, wherein each of the plurality of printers includes a communication unit configured to transmit/receive a job, a determination unit configured to determine whether print setting of a received job is processable by a printing function of the printer, and a storage unit configured to store the job in a memory, and each of the plurality of printers stores the job in the memory by the storage unit when the print setting of the received job is determined to be processable by the determination unit by the printing function of the printer and transfers the job by the communication unit to any printer of the plurality of printers when the print setting is determined to be not processable.
US09386172B2

An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus configured to form an image and a server coupled to the image forming apparatus so as to be communicable with the image forming apparatus. The server includes a server storage unit configured to store a list of the identification symbol given to the consumable member, a server reception unit configured to receive the data regarding the identification symbol transmitted from the image forming apparatus transmission unit, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not there is an identification symbol corresponding to the data regarding the identification symbol received by the server reception unit in the list of the identification symbol stored in the server storage unit, and a control unit configured to, if the determination unit determines that there is the identification symbol, perform control to make the consumable member usable.
US09386168B2

According to one embodiment, the media reuse determination apparatus has a decoding section, a reusability determination section, and an output section. The decoding section decodes information related to management of a print media attached to the print media obtained by using a reading apparatus to read the object having the information recorded thereon, and it carries out error correction during decoding of the information. On the basis of the result of the error correction carried out during decoding of the information by the decoding section, the reusability determination section determines whether or not the print media can be reused. The output section outputs the result of the determination made by the reusability determination section.
US09386154B2

The present invention provides a system, method and software application for enabling a customer service agent to efficiently communicate with users of a communication device. When a user enters speech input into his communication device, the speech is converted to text, and the text is displayed to the customer service agent on the agent's computer screen. Alternately, the user's speech input is provided to the customer service agent in the form of an audio file. The agent types a response, and the agent's response is provided to the user on the user's communication device. The agent's response may be converted to speech and played to the user, and/or the agent's response may be displayed as text on the display screen of the user's communication device.
US09386144B2

Described are embodiments for providing real time feedback during communication between a customer and a contact center agent to allow a bad customer experience to be mitigated. Embodiments include a system that can identify and mitigate issues that may arise during the communication between the customer and the customer agent including a customer agent's performance, escalation to a supervisor, materials shared with the customer, wait time experience and/or other aspects of the communication. The feedback is provided while the customer and agent are still communicating. The feedback is linked to the specific session and agent. If an issue is identified, steps are taken to mitigate the issue.
US09386141B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking the progress of a trip where a person or persons wish to have a third party automatically informed of a delayed return. For long duration trips and/or trips to distant destinations, people typically make provision for having their pets and/or children watched over. However for short trips, they typically do not, especially with respect to their pets. The disclosed methods provide monitoring of a trip's progress such that if a traveler doesn't return home by a certain time, a third party is notified, thus avoiding a prolonged period of time wherein the pets and/or children are unattended, especially in the event of a catastrophic accident. The third party may be notified if an arrival time is predicted to be delayed, and when an actual arrival occurs. Provision is also included for adjusting the trip duration to delay or advance a designated arrival time.
US09386133B2

A mobile device includes a pressure sensor, a light sensor, a microphone, and a microphone cover. The mobile device is configured to power on upon one or more of an activation of the pressure sensor and a decrease in the intensity of light sensed by the light sensor. The microphone cover is configured to retract and expose the microphone upon one or more of the activation of the pressure sensor and the decrease in the intensity of light sensed by the light sensor.
US09386127B2

Embodiments of systems and methods for data transfer are presented herein. Specifically, embodiments of such a data transfer methodology may utilize one or more transmission channels for the transmission of the data to be transferred. In addition, a control channel in a different protocol than the transmission channels may be utilized to transmit control information between the sender and recipient. The rate at which data is sent on the transmission channels may be adjusted or the transmission of data on the transmission channel prioritized.
US09386126B2

Hierarchical compression includes the contemporaneous implementation of link-layer and higher-layer compression on data flowing over a link. Hierarchical compression can be achieved by configuring network nodes positioned at the link-layer to recognize higher-layer compression symbols embedded in incoming data streams, and to adapt link-layer compression to compensate for those higher-layer compression symbols. One technique for adapting link-layer compression is to perform data chunking in-between higher-layer compression symbols. This may reduce the likelihood that higher-layer compression symbols will interfere with the network nodes ability to identify redundant data chunks at the link-layer. Another technique for adapting link-layer compression is to define the HASH algorithm in such a way that the hash of a data string renders the same hash value as the hash of the higher layer compression symbol corresponding to the data string.
US09386123B2

Techniques are disclosed for providing distributed audio playback and recording functionality according to certain embodiments. In such embodiments one or more client audio devices can be connected to a server computing device via a network connection, thereby providing distributed audio playback and recording functionality to the server computing device. For example, audio tracks may be recorded at the server computing device based on audio signals collected from one or more remotely-located smartphones. In certain embodiments a transmission control protocol (TCP) network connection is used to transmit audio signals between the server computing device and the one or more remotely located client audio devices, thereby eliminating the need to provide physical cable connections between the devices. Distributing audio data over a network connection also reduces compatibility issues between audio software used by the server computing device and audio hardware provided by the one or more client audio devices.
US09386120B2

Aspects described herein allow multiple devices to function as a coherent whole, allowing each device to take on distinct functions that are complementary to one another. Aspects described herein also allow the devices function as a coherent whole when interconnected devices and their respective applications are configured to operate in various operation modes, when management policies are employed to control the operation of the interconnected devices and their respective applications, when transferring content between the interconnected devices and storing the content at those devices, when obtaining access credentials for the interconnected devices that enable the devices to access enterprise resources, when a policy agent applies management policies to control operation of and interaction between the interconnected devices, and when the interconnected devices are used to access an enterprise application store.
US09386119B2

Techniques, systems, and articles of manufacture for mobile web adaptation techniques. A method includes determining a user preference value for each of multiple items of web content to be loaded onto a mobile device of the user; determining a content provider preference value for each of the multiple items of web content to be loaded onto at least the mobile device of the user; for each of the multiple items of web content to be loaded onto the mobile device of the user, combining (i) the corresponding user preference and (ii) the corresponding content provider preference value, thereby generating a combined value; and loading the multiple items of web content to the mobile device of the user in order of highest combined value to lowest combined value.
US09386115B2

Methods, systems, and computer storage media are provided for communicating with client devices by way of a proxy device. An indication is received that multiple client devices are attempting to communicate with a shared service over a wide area network, such as the Internet. A server provides a first client device with a list of other client devices that are currently in communications with the shared service. Once a proxy device has been selected, the server receives an identification of that proxy device from the first client device so that the server knows that future communications from the first client device will be received through the proxy device. Data is then communicated to and from the shared service by way of the proxy device.
US09386107B1

Techniques are described for analyzing user-supplied information, including in at least some situations to predict future aspects of additional related information that will be supplied by users. The user-supplied information that is analyzed may, for example, include distributed group discussions that involve numerous users and occur via user comments made to one or more social networking sites and/or other computer-accessible sites. The analysis of user-supplied information may, for example, include determining particular topics that are of interest for a specified category during one or more periods of time, quantifying an amount of user interest in particular topics and the category during the period of time, predicting future amounts of user interest in the particular topics and the category during one or more future period of times, and taking one or more further actions based on the predicted information.
US09386103B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for application identification and dynamic signature generation for managing network communication systems. Communication sessions and related packet flows are monitored within a network communication system. Application level information is extracted from session packets by unpacking one or more communication protocols associated with the network packets to obtain application level information encapsulated within the network packets. The extracted application level information is compared to a database of known application signatures in order to identify known applications. For unknown applications, the application level information is used to generate new dynamic application signatures. The application level information can also be used to identify and access external network-accessible resources to obtain additional identification information for the unknown application. Identification information for the newly detected application can then be provided to a user along with flow control options for the newly detected application.
US09386099B2

The present disclosure relates to a local caching device, system and a method for providing a content caching service. The local caching device checks whether content having address information corresponding to content address information included in a content request message is stored in a storage unit. When the content corresponding to content address information is not stored in the storage unit, the local caching device receives content transmitted from a content providing device in response to the content request message and then checks whether content corresponding to at least part of the received content is stored in the storage unit.
US09386097B2

Non-Internet Protocol (IP) centric resources are accessed based on a value in the form of an IP address. This value (represented as the IP address) is converted to a non-IP address, which is to used access one or more non-IP address space resources. This value (represented as the IP address) typically includes an encoding of the non-IP address and/or an indirect reference (e.g., table index, pointer to a memory location) to the non-IP address.
US09386088B2

A service gateway includes a fast path module for processing data packets without using packet buffers and a normal path module for processing data packets using packet buffers. The fast path module receives a service request data packet from a client side session, determines that the service request data packet cannot be processed by the fast path module, and in response, sends the service request data packet to the normal path module. After receiving the service request data packet, the normal path module retrieves a first proxy session record created by the fast path module, where the first proxy session record is associated with a client session record for the client side session, creates a second proxy session record based on the service request data packet and the client session record, and processes the service request data packet according to the second proxy session record.
US09386081B2

Publisher-side content based filtering methods and systems are provided to select which subscribers shall receive each data-message sent by a publisher using an Object Management Group (OMG) Real-Time Publish-Subscribe (RTPS) protocol. Methods and systems are provided for writer-side content based filtering and data distribution from a publisher to a plurality of subscribers using an Object Management Group (OMG) Real-Time Publish-Subscribe (RTPS) protocol. Methods and systems are provided for performing scalable content-based filtering and distribution from a publisher to a plurality of subscribers using the Object Management Group (OMG) Real-Time Publish-Subscribe (RTPS) protocol.
US09386080B2

A social networking system obtains linguistic data from a user's text communications on the social networking system. For example, occurrences of words in various types of communications by the user in the social networking system are determined. The linguistic data and non-linguistic data associated with the user are used in a trained model to predict one or more personality characteristics for the user. The inferred personality characteristics are stored in connection with the user's profile, and may be used for targeting, ranking, selecting versions of products, and various other purposes.
US09386079B2

Aspects of the present disclosure relates to a virtual desktop deployment system configured to deploy a virtual desktop infrastructure. In certain embodiments, the virtual desktop deployment system includes: (a) virtual desktop servers, for hosting the virtual desktop infrastructure, (b) a computer server for deploying virtual desktop infrastructure by a system administrator, and a deployment database for storing virtual desktop infrastructure configuration and system settings, and (c) a virtual desktop deployment entity configured to perform following operations: (a) receiving configuration and system settings of the virtual desktop infrastructure, (b) discovering and scanning the virtual desktop servers to obtain system information, (c) establishing deployment rules and deployment dependencies, (d) reading the virtual desktop infrastructure configuration and system settings, (e) deploying the virtual desktop infrastructure to the virtual desktop servers, and (f) generating and storing the status, the reports, and the logs of the virtual desktop infrastructure deployment.
US09386078B2

Some aspects of the present disclosure operate an application programming interface (API) risk assessment equipment. An API transaction request is received from an application processed by a source node. A risk assessment score is generated based on comparison of content of the API transaction request to content of earlier API transaction requests. The risk assessment score indicates trustworthiness of the API transaction request. Deliverability of the API transaction request to a destination node for processing is controlled based on the risk assessment score.
US09386072B2

A computer-implemented system and method for compiling event cartridges is provided. A request for one of a plurality of stored event cartridges is received from a user device. Each cartridge includes a thematically related sequence of events. Information regarding the user device on which the cartridge is to be executed is obtained. A type of the user device is determined based on the device information. Scripts for the events of the requested cartridge are accessed and compiled based on the type of user device. The compiled scripts are transmitted to the user device as the requested cartridge.
US09386069B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for securely transferring research data relating to media exposure data, such as radio, television, streaming media and the Internet. A plurality of portable computing devices seek and bond to a collector via Bluetooth in a specific area, such as a household. The collector authenticates itself with each of the portable computing devices and vice versa where the collector arranges a secure research data transfer session with each respective device using exchanged authentication files. As each secure session is made, each portable computing device transmits stored research data during the session.
US09386065B2

A technique for transmitting a video stream between a first electronic device and a second electronic device is provided. The first device receives an encoded video stream and determines whether an encoding format of the encoded video stream is a format decodable by a second electronic device. If the format is decodable, the encoded video stream is transmitted without a re-encoding operation to the second device. The video stream is displayed at the first device delayed by a determined delay time enabling the video stream to be displayed at the second device substantially synchronized with the display at the first device.
US09386059B2

Provided are a cloud server, a client terminal, and a method for providing a time shift operation in a cloud computing system. The cloud server includes: a receiver which receives control information from the client terminal; and a controller which generates image information based on the received control information, wherein the generated image information is converted to an image data file, the image data file is stored in a storage space for the cloud server, according to a pre-set criterion, and is transmitted to the client terminal. Accordingly, a user of the client terminal may view a screen that was viewed in the past.
US09386058B2

A client device presents streaming media and includes a stream manager, a request accelerator, and a source component coupled to the stream manager and the request accelerator for determining which requests to make. A rate selection process can make rate decisions so that the buffer is filled when it is low, avoiding erratically changing rates and can choose the correct steady rate quickly. Multimedia download strategies can be used for HTTP that allow for accurate rate estimations, achieving link capacity even if network delays and packet loss rates are high, achieving timely delivery of the stream, and achieving relatively steady download rates with little short term variability. A receiver might use multiple HTTP connections, decompose media requests into smaller chunk requests, synchronize the connections using TCP flow control mechanisms, and request data in bursts. In addition, the receiver might use an HTTP pipelining process to keep the connections busy.
US09386057B2

For various implementations, a first application streaming client can obtain portions of an application from a application streaming server, execute the application based on those portions obtained, and provide a second application streaming client (a pixel-based application streaming client) access to the executing application using a pixel stream generated based on output from the executing application. Depending on the implementation, the first application streaming client could execute the application, based on the portions obtained, on behalf of a user at the application streaming client, on behalf of the pixel-based application streaming client, or both. In various implementations, the first application streaming client and the second application streaming client can be communicatively coupled through a local network (e.g., LAN or local WiFi), while the first application streaming client and the application streaming server can be communicatively coupled through a wider area network (e.g., WAN or MAN).
US09386043B2

A method for use in a system with multiple processor-based devices, the method including: running a first application on a first processor-based device; maintaining a second application in a standby mode on the first processor-based device; and providing a service to each of the first and second applications on the first processor-based device by a service-providing application on the first processor-based device, wherein providing the service includes maintaining a record regarding service statuses of the first application and the second application in which the record stores a respective entry for each of the first and second applications to reflect an active service status for the first application and a standby service status of the second application.
US09386041B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for implementing a response to one or more security incidents in a computing network. One of the methods includes identifying a security incident based on detecting one or more indicators of compromise associated with the security incident, comparing the security incident with a predefined ontology that maps the security incident to one or more courses of action, selecting a response strategy that includes one or more of the courses of action, and implementing the response strategy as an automated response.
US09386040B2

A policy-based management mechanism is provided, whereby the mechanism provides for at least the controlling of access to network resources, the integration of different frameworks into a common open standard, and modular components for assembling integrated date and voice services. The mechanism accomplishes this by using an access management component that checks for access credentials, a service management component that identifies which resources are available to a requestor of resources, and a resource management component that manages the requested resources. In one exemplary implementation, a fourth component, the policy management component links the first three components such that a resource request gains access to resources based on policy decisions determined by the fourth component for the first three components.
US09386027B2

A system is provided for detecting pileup vulnerabilities corresponding to mobile operating system updates. The system includes: an exploit opportunity analyzer, configured to identify pileup exploit opportunities corresponding to a plurality of mobile operating system configurations based on mobile operating system upgrades for each of the plurality of mobile operating system configurations, wherein the identification of exploit opportunities is based on information relating to pileup flaws; a risk database, configured to store information regarding the identified pileup exploit opportunities for a plurality of versions of each of the plurality of mobile operating system configurations; and a scanner application, configured to be executed by a mobile device, configured to query identified exploit opportunities relating to a particular mobile operating system configuration and version, and to evaluate third-party applications installed at the mobile device based on the identified exploit opportunities.
US09386025B2

An apparatus, method, computer readable medium, and system are provided to generate a symbol placement associated with a transmission scheme by transforming a retrieved set of equalization coefficients. Symbols included in the symbol placement may be analyzed and quantified in terms of their distance from a decision boundary. Symbols may be synthesized on an iterative basis in order to obtain visibility into the underlying performance of the transmission scheme over time. If equalization is unable to reduce a signal impairment below a threshold value within a predetermined amount of time, then a determination may be made that a non-linear distortion source is present in a network or communication system. Signals received from a plurality of user terminals may be compared with one another in order to determine a probable location or cause of the non-linear distortion.
US09386023B2

Portable electronic devices typically have reduced computing resources, including reduced available bandwidth to receive communications. A method, apparatus and system is provided to manage packet delivery to electronic devices to mitigate some of these problems.
US09386002B1

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media deliver a variety of personalized information to a member of an association. In embodiments, information intended for delivery to a member, with or without request by the member, may be delivered via a television transmission, a telematic transmission to a vehicle, or a read-only memory. A password or biometric may be used to authenticate the intended viewer of the delivered information prior to displaying it.
US09386001B1

A first Network Function Virtualization (NFV) computer system generates Hardware Root-of-Trust (HRoT) challenge data and transfers the HRoT challenge data in first Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) signaling to a second NFV computer system. The second NFV computer system identifies a physically-embedded HRoT code and generates an HRoT result based on the challenge data and code. The second NFV computer system transfers second BGP signaling having the HRoT result to the first NFV computer system. The first NFV computer system compares the HRoT result from the second BGP signaling to target HRoT data. The first NFV computer system executes a BGP process based on the second BGP signaling if the HRoT result corresponds to the target HRoT data. In some examples, the NFV computer systems also exchange the BGP signaling to verify NFV time slices for BGP Virtual Machines (VMs).
US09386000B2

A system for and method of establishing a secure communication link is disclosed. The method comprises: (1) generating a Domain Name Service (DNS) request; (2) determining that the DNS request corresponds a first computer configured to communicate securely; (3) sending, based on the determination, a request to establish a secure communication link with the first computer configured to communicate securely, the request including an identifier of a client device used to determine whether the client device is authorized to communicate with the first computer; (4) receiving, in response to the request to establish a secure communication link, a resource used to establish the secure communication link; (5) automatically establishing the secure communication link using the received resource; and (6) communicating securely with the first computer over the established secure communication link.
US09385998B2

A Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over Hypertext Transport Protocol (DASH) server component is disclosed. The DASH server component may comprise a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, and a transmitter coupled to the processor. The processor may be configured to generate one or more keys containing content protection information for media content, associate the keys with one or more segments of media content, store the keys in a DASH metadata track in the memory, and generate a media presentation description (MPD) specifying an association between the keys and the segments of media content. The transmitter may be configured to transmit the keys to at least one client independently of transmitting the media content and transmit the MPD to the at least one client.
US09385995B2

A method and system for anonymous purchase by a first user device, is described, the method and system including sending R from the first user device to a second user device, where R is a result of a one-way function performed on a random number r selected by the first user device, the second user device being operative to send R to a service provider, which stores R with a data string T and the service provider returns a digitally signed R and T to the second user device, thereby providing the a data string T to the second user device, receiving R and T at the first user device from the second device, thereby ensuring that the identity of the first user device remains unknown to the service provider, opening a communication channel between the first user device and the service provider, sending the service provider r and T from the first user device via the communication channel along with a request for the service provider to provide a service, and receiving the requested service from the service provider. Related methods, systems and apparatus are also described.
US09385993B1

Some embodiments described herein relate to a method including receiving a report of a first suspicious activity from a network filter device. The report of the first suspicious activity can include an indication of a time associated with the first suspicious activity and can be devoid of an address uniquely associated with the first suspicious activity. An indication of a user device associated with the first suspicious activity can be identified based on user activity data received from a firewall log. A second suspicious activity can also be identified from the user activity data without receiving a report of the second suspicious activity from the network filter device. A common suspicious activity including the first suspicious activity and the second suspicious activity can be defined, and a report indicating the common suspicious activity can be sent to an administrator device.
US09385988B2

A system for surveying Internet access quality includes a nameserver, registered to be authoritative for a domain name and configured to receive a DNS query to resolve a pseudo-hostname and to extract from the pseudo-hostname an access quality indicator, and a web portal configured to transmit a data survey code to a web browser, the data survey code being configured to access a resource, to determine the access quality indicator responsively to the resource access, to generate the pseudo-hostname including the access quality indicator and the domain name, and to initiate the DNS query.
US09385981B2

Embodiments include receiving a first synchronous communication message in a first modality from a first user device. The method may further include generating a first asynchronous communication message in a second modality, based at least in part on the first synchronous communication message in the first modality, wherein the first modality differs from the second modality. The method may also include receiving a second asynchronous communication message in the second modality from a second user device. The method may further include generating a second asynchronous communication message in the first modality based at least in part on the second synchronous communication message in the second modality. The method may also include providing for display to the first user device, the second asynchronous message in the first modality. The method may further include providing for display to the second user device, the first asynchronous message in the second modality.
US09385977B2

Systems and methods for remote control and management of medical workstations using an instant messaging infrastructure. A remote client, such as a mobile phone, laptop, tablet, or other computing device, is used to generate instructions or information requests in one or more data packets. The remote client sends the one or more data packets using the instant messaging infrastructure to a medical workstation at another location. A service application in communication with the medical workstation receives the data packets and causes the medical workstation to retrieve the requested information or execute the instruction. The communications between the remote client and the service application are encrypted and signed to ensure secure communications.
US09385975B2

Routing messages to message queues may be provided. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a message may be routed to a message queue based on topic of the message, content of the message, application for which the message was intended, and/or a set of rules such as a rule based on queue length and queue balancing. A template integration process may subscribe to one or more topic queues, from which input parameters are obtained for invoking a service request from an application.
US09385964B2

In order to effectively use the resources on a network, there is provided a management server (200) for selecting each resource of a resource information table (211) as a test resource, if the extraction probability for each resource is equal to or greater than the random numbers probability generated by a random number generation part (221), forming a test server by combining the selected resources, performing the job by using the formed test server, and applying the test server as the server of the particular network if the execution result of the job meets the job determination method.
US09385962B2

Method, apparatus, and systems for implementing flexible credit exchange within high performance fabrics. Available buffer space in a receive buffer on a receive-side of a link is managed and tracked at the transmit-side of the link using credits. Peer link interfaces coupled via a link are provided with receive buffer configuration information that specifies how the receive buffer space in each peer is partitioned and space allocated for each buffer, including a plurality of virtual lane (VL) buffers. Credits are used for tracking buffer space consumption and in credits are returned from the receive-side indicating freed buffer space. The peer link interfaces exchange credit organization information to inform the other peer of how much space each credit represents. In connection with data transfer over the link, the transmit-side de-allocates credits based on an amount of buffer space to be consumed in applicable buffers in the receive buffer. Upon space being freed in the receive buffer, the receive-side returns credit ACKnowledgements (ACKs) identifying a VL for which space has been freed.
US09385960B2

A congestion control mechanism for TCP communication sessions is described. The congestion control mechanism adjusts the size of the congestion window based on a number, N, of parallel virtual connections. The number N of parallel virtual connections used to determine the congestion window is dynamically adjusted based on an estimation of the network condition.
US09385943B2

Methods and nodes are disclosed for the support of traffic protection and recovery in mesh networks having multiple nodes communicating via communication links. The problem of timely and reliable Shared Mesh Protection message delivery is addressed through creation of protocols and encoding of Shared Mesh Protection messages within an overhead of the optical data unit container, and by processing the Shared Mesh Protection messages by intermediate nodes of the mesh network. Thus, the Shared Mesh Protection messages are transmitted through the data plane with the transmission of user data.
US09385940B2

For providing a technology capable of balancing a CPU load and a network load independently, a distributed processing system includes one or more distributed processing devices in a structured P2P network, and the distributed processing device is provided with a key holding means for holding a routing key which is a key (value) for which order relation is defined and used for routing data, and an event key which a key (value) for which order relation is defined with relation to the routing key, and is used for management of data; a distributed processing device initializing means for registering into a routing table a tuple including the event key and an address of the distributed processing device holding the routing key which has a predetermined relation with the routing key held in the key holding means; and a routing table storing means for storing the routing table holding the tuple.
US09385934B2

Approaches for monitoring performance in a networked environment are provided. An approach includes monitoring, using a first metric, performance of a first host running a virtual machine. The approach also includes determining, using a computer device, a second metric based on the virtual machine being migrated from the first host to a second host, wherein the second metric is a function of: (i) the first metric and (ii) a comparison of the first host and the second host. The approach further includes monitoring, using the second metric, performance of the second host running the virtual machine.
US09385927B2

A method for managing a transmission order in a network includes the steps of: providing an upstream host and a plurality of downstream hosts; performing a order of a plurality of data transmission events between the upstream host and the plurality of the downstream hosts; performing a first data transmission event by the upstream host to receive first data from a first downstream host; monitoring whether the upstream host receives any priority instructions from any other downstream hosts; and if a first priority instruction is received from a second downstream host during the first data transmission event, stopping the first data transmission event and performing a second data transmission event by the upstream host to receive second data from the second downstream host.
US09385921B1

A network service database stores abstractions of services provided by network elements. The network elements may proactively initiate communication with the service database. Additionally, network elements may update the service database when the network element experiences a state change. Client applications may contact the service database to perform functions, such as provisioning network services, billing, and fault monitoring without having to be concerned with the underlying details of each of the network elements.
US09385920B1

A rack having multiple rack management modules is disclosed. Each rack management module respectively comprises a Rack Management Controller (RMC), a switch and a memory, wherein the switch of each rack management module is interconnected, a firmware is saved on each memory respectively. When the RMC receives a firmware update image and an updating command uploaded externally, the RMC sends a switching instruction to the switch for enabling the switch to switch and connect to the memory of another rack management module. When the RMC executes a firmware updating procedure, the firmware in the memory of another rack management module is updated via switch connection. The present invention can effectively avoid the issue that the RMC is not able to boot normally after the firmware updating fails leading to that the rack is not able to re-update the firmware.
US09385918B2

An example method includes setting up a secure channel between a blade and a provisioning server in a network environment, downloading an image of a virtual machine monitor (VMM) from the provisioning server to the blade through the secure channel, and booting the image to instantiate the VMM on the blade. The blade and the provisioning server are mutually authenticated and authorized with a plurality of parameters. Booting the image may include loading the image on a memory element of the blade and transferring control to the image. In some embodiments, booting the image includes modifying a root file system of the image by adding the daemon such that an agent is included in the root file system. The agent can download another image corresponding to an operating system of a virtual machine.
US09385916B2

Performing device management scheduling based upon a trap mechanism is provided. A scheduling context, upon receipt from a server, is installed. The scheduling context may have at least one of a first element specifying information including at least one command for device management and a second element specifying a trap-based condition to execute the command. The command is the message specified by the first element is executed, if an occurrence of particular event specified by the second element is found.
US09385912B1

A framework can be utilized with conventional networking components to enable those components to process packets of specific formats using conventional algorithms, such as algorithms for receive side coalescing (RCS) and TCP segmentation offloading (TSO). Format and flow information can be added to an opaque field or other portion of a packet, at an appropriate location or pre-configured offset. Placing information at a specific location or offset enables the networking hardware to quickly recognize a packet for processing. Packets can be segmented and coalesced using conventional algorithms on the networking hardware, enabling packets of various formats to be able to take advantage of various performance enhancements.
US09385904B2

The embodiments herein relate to a method in a base station (301) for determining adjustment of common pilot power in a four-way transmit antenna, 4Tx, communications system (300). The base station (301) comprises a first transmit antenna (1201), a second transmit antenna (1202), a third transmit antenna (1203) and a fourth transmit antenna (1204). The base station (301) identifies a set of scheduled user equipments (310) in the communications system (300). The base station (301) determines that the common pilot power should be adjusted based on a criterion associated with the set of scheduled user equipments (310).
US09385900B2

A signal transmission system has a modulation signal converter 1 that generates a modulation signal using a Manchester code with a duty ratio of 50% in accordance with transmission data; a clock generator 6 that generates a clock with the amount of delay with respect to the rising or falling edge of the modulation signal; and a data detector 5 that generates received data by sampling the modulation signal in synchronization with the clock. Since the modulation signal converter 1 generates the modulation signal by combining the Manchester code with the duty ratio of 50%, its duty ratio is always 50% independently of the transmission data, thereby preventing the DC offset of the modulation signal on the receiving side. Accordingly, it offers an advantage of achieving good communication quality with a simple circuit configuration without producing the DC offset in the modulation signal on the receiving side.
US09385899B2

A method implemented in a base station used in a wireless communications system is disclosed. The method comprises having 1-layer, 2-layer, 3-layer, and 4-layer codebooks for 4 transmit antenna (4TX) transmission, each codebook including a plurality of precoding matrices, precoding data with one of the plurality of precoding matrices, and transmitting, to a user equipment, the precoded data, wherein each of the 1-layer and 2-layer codebooks comprises a first codebook and a second codebook, and wherein each precoding matrix in the first codebook comprises a first index and a second index. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods also are disclosed.
US09385893B2

Modular, low power serializer-deserializer receivers and methods for configuring such receivers are disclosed. The disclosed receivers are configured to sample input signals at the front-end utilizing a plurality of track-and-hold circuits time-interleaved based on a plurality of phase-shifted clock signals. The disclosed receivers are also modular and various processing components, including analog front-end and equalizers, are selectively utilized based on the determined length of the communication channel, ranging from ultra short reach applications to very short reach, medium reach, long reach and extra long reach applications.
US09385890B2

A radio communication apparatus operable over a wide range of frequencies including a signal processing device is provided. The device performs an analog to digital conversion at a predetermined sample rate independent of a selected frequency band within the wide range of frequencies to generate a digital signal, and digitally processes the digital signal to output a data signal at baseband associated with the selected frequency band.
US09385886B2

The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for processing a packet and a related device. One implementation consists of a method for processing a packet that comprises receiving, by a first network device, a forwarded packet, performing a flow table matching for the forwarded packet, and if unmatched, encapsulating the forwarded packet with an inner encapsulation and an outer encapsulation, and transmitting the forwarded packet to a second network device. The method further comprises receiving a flow table packet returned by the second network device, wherein the flow table packet carries flow table information of the forwarded packet and is encapsulated with a special layer 2 frame header, and processing the flow table packet according to an operation indicated by an Ethernet type value in the special layer 2 frame header.
US09385884B2

Obtaining tight knowledge about nodes in a federated ring structure. The tight knowledge includes information about neighbors of a given node. The method includes at a given node, sending a join request, requesting to join a federated ring in a distributed computing environment. The method further includes, at the given node, receiving a join reply. The join reply provides an initial view of at least a portion of a neighborhood of the given node. The neighborhood is a set of nodes logically proximate the given node. The method further includes, at the given node, sending a lock request to nodes in the neighborhood to request that the other nodes in the given node's neighborhood are locked so as to not have overlapping nodes joining the given node's neighborhood simultaneously.
US09385883B2

The invention provides systems, devices, methods and software to daisy chain multiple individual transmitters, optionally nodes, optionally extenders, and receivers to form any sized scalable system of digital video and audio signal switching and distribution. The video audio systems are for a simpler system design, wiring, control and expansion, to accomplish signal interfacing, switching, splitting for many varied input and output requirements with a scalable pair of transmitters and receivers.
US09385875B2

Embodiments disclosed herein provide advantageous methods and systems that use multicast communications via unreliable datagrams sent on a protected traffic class. These methods and systems provide effectively reliable multicast delivery while avoiding the overhead associated with point-to-point protocols. Rather than an exponential scaling of point-to-point connections (with expensive setup and teardown of the connections), the traffic from one server is bounded by linear scaling of multicast groups. In addition, the multicast rendezvous disclosed herein creates an edge-managed flow control that accounts for the dynamic state of the storage servers in the cluster, without needing centralized control, management or maintenance of state. This traffic shaping avoids the loss of data due to congestion during sustained oversubscription. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US09385866B2

Approaches for replacing software components executing in a runtime environment with corresponding known-good software components are disclosed. In some implementations, at least a first event indicating that at least a first software component executing in the runtime environment should be replaced may be determined. The first event may be determined without respect to whether the first software component has been compromised or potentially compromised. At least a second software component corresponding to the first software component may be obtained from a component repository that is separate from the runtime environment. The first software component may be replaced with the second software component based on the first event such that the second software component is available for use in the runtime environment after the first event and the first software component is no longer available for use in the runtime environment after the first event.
US09385865B2

A method includes, in a mobile communication terminal, receiving a signal, which carries media content that has been encrypted after being compressed in accordance with a compression protocol having a plurality of predefined configurations. Each configuration specifies a respective compression mode of the compression protocol. The received signal is decrypted, and one or more parameters that define a configuration of the compression protocol that was used for compressing the media content are determined from the decrypted signal. An absence of match is detected when the determined one or more parameters do not match any of the plurality of predetermined configurations of the compression protocol. An error in decrypting the received signal is identified based on detecting the absence of a match.
US09385863B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to transmit to a communication system a PKI certificate, and engage in encrypted communications responsive to receiving a public key from the communication system. The communication system can have a plurality of network elements that integrate operations of a circuit-switched communication network and a packet-switched communication network. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09385842B2

The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for switching data at nodes of a wireless networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a node comprises memory, a first port, a second port, a virtual machine, and logic. The memory is configured to store port settings, and the virtual machine is configured to execute a remote procedure call wirelessly transmitted to the node through the wireless network. In executing the remote procedure call, the virtual machine is configured to set the port settings. The logic is configured to receive data from the first port and to transmit the data to the second port based on the port settings without processing of the data by the virtual machine such that the data streams unchanged through the node from the first port to the second port.
US09385834B2

An interference alignment method using multiple antennas in a multi-cell overlapped environment, includes: when at least one transmission and reception ends having at least one or more antennas communicate with each other, establishing at least one or more channels from the transmission end to the reception end. Further, the interference alignment method includes designing a processing filter for a transmission signal transmitted from the transmission end to the reception ends; and designing a processing filter for a reception signal that is received by the reception end.
US09385820B2

A method includes accessing sets of correlation values, each set corresponding to a correlation performed between a number of first samples and a same number of second samples. The sets of correlation values were determined by aligning the number of the first samples with selected second samples and sliding the number of first samples across the second samples to select different sets of the second samples. The first samples are samples of a forward signal transmitted over a cable/connector system to one or more antennas, and the second samples are samples of a reflected RF signal that comprises a reflected version of the forward signal. The method includes determining a maximum value from the plurality of sets of correlation values, and associating the maximum value with a return loss of the cable/connector system. Apparatus, computer programs, and program products are also disclosed.
US09385819B2

A terminal device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a reception module that receives a control channel and a spatially multiplexed data signal channel, a control signal detection module that extracts, from an output from the reception module, a demodulation control information which is a transmission parameter of a signal that is transmitted to the terminal device, in a data signal channel that is output from the reception module, and assistance control information which is a transmission parameter of a signal that is transmitted to a different terminal device, in the data signal channel that is output from the reception module, a channel estimator that obtains a channel estimate by using a reference signal, a signal detection module that demultiplexes the data signal channel by using the demodulation control information, the assistance control information, and the channel estimate, and a decoding module that decodes a signal that is output by the signal detection module, in which information indicating a rank is included in the assistance control information.
US09385818B2

A signal handling device for handling a signal transmitted through a body, where the signal is coded with a coding scheme and associated clock rate, comprises a receiving unit configured to receive the signal, a signal sampler configured to sample at least a section of the signal with a sample rate that is higher than the clock rate of the coding scheme and form at least one series of samples of the signal, where the samples of a series have been sampled at a sampling position periodically recurring according to the clock rate, and a data analyzer configured to investigate if said at least one series fulfills a data sequence detection criterion, and set a sampling position for which a series of samples fulfills the data sequence detection criterion to be an operative sampling position.
US09385802B2

A multi-hop relay maritime communication apparatus installed in a ship is disclosed. The maritime communication apparatus includes a first access module configured to comprise a plurality of directional antennas integrally formed; a second access module configured to comprise an omni-directional antenna; and a bridge configured to be connected to the first access module and the second access module via an Ethernet interface.
US09385799B2

According to one embodiment, a method of a base station configured to select a precoding mode in a mobile communication system. When channel estimate information is received from at least one terminal, the channel estimate information is collected, so that user grouping is performed according to one precoding scheme from among multiple precoding schemes. Individual user scheduling is performed according to each precoding scheme, so that a service candidate group set is generated. The selected precoding scheme is maximized according to a transmission capacity of a service candidate group set for each precoding scheme. Data is then transmitted to a determined candidate group set using the determined precoding scheme.
US09385792B2

A method for effectively transmitting/receiving a codeword in a MIMO system is disclosed. In a system including a plurality of predetermined rank structures, a reception end transmits rank information (RI), precoding matrix index (PMI), and channel quality information (CQI) of each codeword to a transmission end. The transmission end selects a rank structure on the basis of information received from the reception end. The transmission end selects only some codeword blocks among a plurality of codeword blocks available for the selected rank structure, transmits signals via the selected codeword blocks, and transmits a null signal for the non-selected codeword blocks.
US09385787B2

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for wireless charging. In some example embodiments, there is provide a method. The method may include receiving, at a power receiver, a first ping message and a second ping message; detecting, at the power receiver, a first time between transmissions of the first ping message and the second ping message; and decoding, at the power receiver, the first time into a data value representative of a transmitted data value sent by a power transmitter. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US09385785B2

A common communications device comprising an array of near-field coupled resonant elements, the elements each comprising a coupling portion comprising a loop portion with free ends, the device being provided in combination with a data transmission unit and a data reception unit, each unit having a coupling portion, the units being arranged to communicate with one another by means of the coupling portion of each unit and the common communications device, the coupling portion of the data transmission unit comprising a resonant element comprising a loop portion arranged to be near-field coupled to the loop portion of a first resonant element of the device, the coupling portion of the data reception unit comprising a resonant element comprising a loop portion arranged to be near-field coupled to the loop portion of a second resonant element of the device not being the first resonant element.
US09385778B2

Systems and methods for despreading a received signal are described herein. In one embodiment, a vector processor comprises a plurality of code generators, wherein each code generator is configured to generate a different code corresponding to a different code hypothesis. The vector processor also comprises a plurality of despread blocks coupled to a common input for receiving samples of a signal, wherein each despread block is configured to despread at least a portion of the samples with a different one of the codes to generate respective despreaded samples and to accumulate the respective despreaded samples over a length of the code.
US09385775B2

A wireless communication device includes: a first communications unit configured to communicate with a first communication network; a second communications unit configured to communicate with a second communication network; a control unit configured to control operation of the wireless communication device; and one or more temperature sensors configured to sense operating temperatures of the first communications unit and the second communications unit and provide temperature signals to the control unit. In response to a determination that an operating temperature of the first communications unit conducting a first call exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature and an operating temperature of the second communications unit does not exceed the predetermined threshold temperature, the control unit is configured to cause the first call on the first communications unit to be switched from a first transceiver chain in the first communications unit to a second transceiver chain in the second communications unit.
US09385774B2

Integrated circuit transceiver circuitry (2) includes a first resonant circuit (3A) coupled to a narrowband interface (6,7A,7B,21) between a first amplifier (3,20) and an interfacing circuit (4,8,9,44), including a programmable first reactive element (C) and a second reactive element (L). Amplitude sensing circuitry (42) senses a maximum amplitude of an in-phase signal (I) or a quadrature-phase signal (Q). An on-chip first tone generation circuit (38,38A,38B,38C) generates tones for injection into the in-phase signal and the quadrature-phase signal and operates in response to frequency scanning circuitry (30) and the amplitude sensing circuitry to adjust the first reactive element (C) to calibrate the first resonant circuit to a desired resonant frequency by selectively coupling reactive sub-elements (1, 2, 4, 8 . . . ×Cv) into the first reactive element (C).
US09385772B1

The various embodiments include methods and apparatuses for providing multiple memories on a multi-slot communication device or on a multi-slot communication device and a wireless device as a single, contiguous, combined memory. The memories may include various types of universal serial bus (USB) and/or universal integrated circuit card (UICC) memories. Ranges of physical addresses of portions of each memory may be associated with a range of virtual addresses of the combined memory. The associations of physical and virtual addresses may be stored on the multi-slot communication device. A single memory access request to the combined memory may be made using the virtual addresses, then translated into multiple memory access requests for the individual memories using the physical addresses. Providing memory access requests to a memory on the wireless device may be accomplished by connecting to the memory on the wireless device over a wireless network by the multi-slot communication device.
US09385759B2

An accelerated erasure coding system includes a processing core for executing computer instructions and accessing data from a main memory, and a non-volatile storage medium for storing the computer instructions. The processing core, storage medium, and computer instructions are configured to implement an erasure coding system, which includes: a data matrix for holding original data in the main memory; a check matrix for holding check data in the main memory; an encoding matrix for holding first factors in the main memory, the first factors being for encoding the original data into the check data; and a thread for executing on the processing core. The thread includes: a parallel multiplier for concurrently multiplying multiple entries of the data matrix by a single entry of the encoding matrix; and a first sequencer for ordering operations through the data matrix and the encoding matrix using the parallel multiplier to generate the check data.
US09385757B1

Systems and methods are provided for generating a likelihood value. A detector identifies a winning path through a trellis and a plurality of losing paths through the trellis and computes path metric differences within the trellis based on the winning path and at least some of the plurality of losing paths. The detector calculates a pair of error metrics based on the path metric differences and determines the likelihood value based on a difference between the pair of error metrics.
US09385753B2

Systems and methods are provided for decoding data. A decoder receives a variable node value and reliability data for a variable node, and check node values for check nodes associated with the variable node. Circuitry generates an updated variable node value, based on the received reliability data and the received check node values. The circuitry also generates, for at least one check node, an updated check node value based on the updated variable node value.
US09385748B2

Systems, devices and methods for data compression using history search for dictionary based compression. Systems, devices and methods may use parallel processing techniques for data compression and encoding. Systems, devices and methods may provide memory search techniques for hardware.
US09385747B1

A capacitance-to-digital converter circuit utilizes a capacitor bridge circuit to sense a difference in capacitance between sense capacitors and fixed capacitors in the bridge circuit. The sense capacitors vary according to a sensed parameter. Auxiliary capacitor digital to analog converters (DACs) are coupled to the capacitor bridge circuit to cancel the sensed difference. An analog to digital converter (ADC) receives a signal generated by the capacitor bridge circuit and the auxiliary capacitor DACs and converts the received signal to a digital signal. A digital accumulator accumulates the ADC output, whose output represents the difference in capacitance between the sense capacitors and the fixed capacitors. The accumulator output is used to control the auxiliary capacitor DACs to offset the difference in capacitance between the sense capacitors and the fixed capacitors. The accumulator output also provides the basis for the capacitance-to-digital circuit output.
US09385746B1

A sigma-delta converter, analog-to-digital conversion system, and an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip are disclosed that include a main sigma-delta modulator and an auxiliary sigma-delta modulator. The auxiliary sigma-delta modulator is electrically matched with the main sigma-delta modulator and is configured to generate an output that is incorporated into a feedback loop of the main sigma-delta modulator to enable the main sigma-delta modulator to adjust an offset signal applied at a main analog channel.
US09385745B1

Systems and methods for reducing spurious noise tones in sigma-delta analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are described. A dither signal may be added to two differential input signals of a pseudo-differential sigma-delta ADC. The dither signal may be generated by a pseudo-random bit sequence generator and applied to two input buffers, which add the dither signal to received differential analog input signals. The dithered signals may be digitized by two independent sigma-delta ADCs and then subtracted to remove the dither signal from an overall digital output signal.
US09385734B2

An atomic oscillator includes: a gas cell which includes two window portions having a light transmissive property and in which metal atoms are sealed; a light emitting portion that emits excitation light to excite the metal atoms in the gas cell; a light detecting portion that detects the excitation light transmitted through the gas cell; a heater that generates heat; and a connection member that thermally connects the heater and each window portion of the gas cell to each other.
US09385732B2

A variable frequency signal synthesizer includes a phase locked loop including a time-to-digital converter configured to detect differences in phase and frequency between a reference signal and a feedback clock signal and output error signals corresponding to the detected differences, a digital loop filter, a digitally controlled oscillator, and a first frequency divider configured to divide output signals of the digitally controlled oscillator at a predetermined frequency division ratio, a feedback clock generation unit configured to generate sign signals and a phase-modulated feedback clock signal, and a frequency slope tracker configured to generate a frequency control signal by accumulating differences in the error signals according to signs corresponding to the sign signals. The digitally controlled oscillator receives the frequency control signal to supply an output variable frequency signal.
US09385728B2

Integrated clock differential buffering. A first phase locked loop (PLL) circuit having a first clocking ratio is coupled to receive an input differential clock signal. The first PLL circuit generates a first reference clock signal. A second PLL circuit having a second clocking ratio is coupled to receive the input differential clock signal. The second PLL circuit to generate a second reference clock signal. A first set of clock signal output buffers are coupled to receive the first reference clock signal and to provide a first differential reference clock signal corresponding to the first reference clock signal. A second set of clock signal output buffers is coupled to receive the second reference clock signal and to provide a second differential reference clock signal corresponding to the second reference clock signal. The first PLL circuit, the second PLL circuit, the first set of output buffers and the second set of output buffers reside within an integrated circuit package also having a die to receive at least the first differential reference clock signal.
US09385725B2

Some embodiments of the invention provide a configurable integrated circuit (IC) that has several configurable circuits for configurably performing different operations. During the operation of the IC, each particular configurable circuit performs a particular operation that is specified by a particular configuration data set for the particular configurable circuit. While the IC operates and a first set of configurable circuits performs a first set of operations, configuration data is loaded from the outside of the IC for configuring a second set of configurable circuits. In some embodiments, the configurable IC includes a configuration network for rapid loading configuration data in the IC from outside of the IC. In some of these embodiments, the configuration network is a pipelined network. Also, the IC of some embodiments includes a configuration controller for retrieving configuration data from outside of the IC, formulating configuration data sets, and routing the configuration data sets to the second set of configurable circuits over the configuration network.
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