US09675727B2
The invention relates to a method for treating a subject for a bursitis. The method comprises applying to the skin surface covering a body part or region affected by the bursitis a composition capable of transdermally attracting fluids from the body part or region or its proximity, wherein the composition includes at least one adsorptive or absorptive agent, and leaving the composition in contact with the skin for sufficient time to allow the composition to transdermally absorb or adsorb at least a portion of the body fluids from the body part or region.
US09675724B1
A scent dispenser system used for dispensing scent from a liquid. The system includes a dispenser having an open volume. The system includes absorbent beads in the open volume of the dispenser, where the absorbent beads having the capability to absorb a liquid. The system includes aeration windows in the dispenser to receive a liquid and to allow air to pass through the dispenser and about the absorbent beads.
US09675721B2
Provided is an apparatus for disinfecting an object by at least partially removing a biologically-active contaminant there from. A housing encloses a disinfection chamber in which a portion of the object is to be received to be disinfected, and includes an inlet aperture through which the object is introduced to the apparatus. An ultraviolet light source emits ultraviolet light to be imparted on the portion of the object introduced to the disinfection chamber for deactivating at least a portion of the biologically-active contaminant present on the object. A controller controls operation of at least one of a feeder and the ultraviolet light to achieve a level of disinfection of the object, rendering the object suitable for use in a substantially-sterile application.
US09675704B2
A particulate, pH-independent, modified release barrier coated drug-cation exchange resin complex comprising a core composed of a drug complexed with a pharmaceutically acceptable ion-exchange resin is provided. Methods of making and products containing this coated complex are described.
US09675700B2
A topical therapeutic hydrophobic breakable composition includes a carrier comprising, (a) about 60% to about 99% by weight of at least one hydrophobic oil; (b) at least one viscosity-modifying agents selected from the group consisting of a fatty alcohol, a fatty acid and a wax; and (c) a tetracycline antibiotic, characterized in that at least part of the tetracycline antibiotic is suspended in the composition; the viscosity of the composition is at least about 30% higher than the viscosity of the carrier without the tetracycline antibiotic; and is higher than the viscosity of the hydrophobic oil and the tetracycline antibiotic without the viscosity modifying agents. The tetracycline is chemically stable in the composition for at least six months; wherein more than about 90% of the tetracycline has not broken down. The composition is packaged as a breakable foam that breaks easily upon application of shear force.
US09675698B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition in the form of a hydro-alcoholic gel or a solution for transdermal application, comprising: from about 0.2% to about 1.5% of dihydrotestosterone; and from about 0.2 to about 3% of isopropyl myristate.
US09675684B2
A synthetic, codon-optimized Hantaan virus (HTNV) full-length M gene open reading frame that consists of a unique nucleotide sequence encoding HTNV proteins. This synthetic gene was cloned into a plasmid to form the first optimized HTNV full-length M gene that elicits neutralizing antibodies in animals when delivered in combination with a similarly optimized Puumala virus (PUUV) DNA vaccine. The invention obviates the need for an extraneous gene sequence that was previously required for expression of the non-optimized HTNV gene. The synthetic gene is engineered into a molecular vaccine system to prevent hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by infection with HTNV, SEOV, or DOBV. Alternatively, it can be combined with the optimized PUUV DNA vaccine to protect against HFRS caused by any hantavirus.
US09675659B2
Methods for the treatment and/or prevention of a fungal infection in the pulmonary system of a subject in need thereof with caspofungin or a derivative thereof are disclosed herein.
US09675655B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising black cumin (Nigelia sativa seed) oil, olive oil, tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil, cocoa butter, vitamin A or a derivative thereof, and vitamin B12 or a derivative thereof. The compositions of the present invention can be advantageously used in the in the treatment of dermatological conditions, disorders or diseases, in particular inflammatory dermatological diseases such as psoriasis.
US09675650B2
The present invention relates to a composition for removing keratinous skin material, the composition comprising a Lactobacillus strain or a culture thereof. Also, the present invention relates to a composition for removing keratinous skin material, the composition comprising green tea Lactobacillus as Lactobacillus. In contrast to when skin is improved through the supply of a moisture fraction by a commonly used skin-moisturizing component, the Lactobacillus according to the present invention removes keratinous skin material, thereby producing the advantageous effect that skin can be cared for and improved as the waste materials which accumulates on the skin is fundamentally removed. Therefore, the composition according to the present invention can effectively prevent or alleviate skin problems such as spots. Also, the invention regulates the skin and so improves skin tone by removing surplus keratinous material which is not needed by the skin.
US09675644B2
A biological composition has a mixture of mechanically selected allogeneic biologic material derived from bone marrow. The mixture has non-whole cellular components including vesicular components and active and inactive components of biological activity, cell fragments, cellular excretions, cellular derivatives, and extracellular components. The mixture is compatible with biologic function.
US09675642B2
This invention provides the field of therapeutics. Most specifically present invention provides methods of generating in vitro engineered dendritic cells conditionally expressing interleukin-12 (IL-12) under the control of a gene expression modulation system in the presence of activating ligand and uses for therapeutic purposes in animals including human.
US09675641B2
This disclosure is directed to the methods of enhancing hematopoietic stem cells (HSPC) and progenitor cell (HSPC) engraftment procedure. Treatment in vivo of a HSPC donor with compounds that reduce PGE2 biosynthesis or PGE2 receptor antagonists alone, or in combination with other hematopoietic mobilization agents such as AMD3100 and G-CSF, increases the circulation of available HSPCs. Compounds that reduce the cellular synthesis of PGE2 include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds such as indomethacin. Treatment ex vivo of HSPC with an effective amount of PGE2 or at least one of its derivatives such as 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (dmPGE2), promotes HSPC engraftment. Similar methods may also be used to increase viral-mediated gene transduction efficacy into HSPC.
US09675636B2
A polymer composition for sequestering lipid-bile acid micelles in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is provided. The polymer composition comprises a copolymer of a pH-sensitive monomer and one or more of positively-charged monomers. The polymer composition is able to bind micelles under various physiological conditions in the GI tract and possesses the ability to flocculate the bound micelle upon exposure to a particular pH. The flocculation of the polymer:micelle complex prevents absorption of the micelle thereby causing the polymer:micelle complex to be eliminated with the fecal matter. Thus, the polymer composition described herein may be effective in reducing cholesterol, bile acid, and/or triglyceride levels and promote weight loss.
US09675632B2
The present invention discloses compounds of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: which inhibit, preventing or treating abnormal cellular proliferation and/or a viral infection, particularly by HIV, HCV or HBV. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the replication cycle of a virus and are also useful as antiviral agents, or interfere with host cellular biochemical process and are also useful as antiproliferative agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from viral infection and/or cell proliferation. The invention also relates to methods of treating a viral infection and/or cell proliferation in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention. The present invention relates to novel antiviral/anti-proliferative compounds represented herein above, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for the treatment or prophylaxis of viral infection in a subject in need of such therapy with said compounds.
US09675627B2
Described herein are dosing regimens and kits for the treatment and/or prevention of cerebral amyloidoses such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and/or cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).
US09675625B2
A medicament having a higher therapeutic effect than that provided by administration of a recombinant antibody against human CC chemokine receptor 4 or an antibody fragment thereof or an agent alone is provided.
US09675624B2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations comprising an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid compound of the androstane series and levocabastine, an H1 antagonist/anti-allergic, and also relates to therapeutic uses thereof, particularly for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic conditions, specifically rhinitis.
US09675609B2
A pharmaceutical composition is provided having particles of a physical mixture that contain at least one 20-camptothecin or a derivative thereof, at least one surfactant, at least one stabilizer, and at least one diluent. The particles have a mean particle size of less than about 2500 nm. The pharmaceutical composition can be nano- or micro-sized particles containing the 20-camptothecin esters or derivatives thereof as part of a physical mixture, which can provide the active compound in a water-soluble/dispersible, bioavailable form. The particles can be used as an oral pharmaceutical composition which comprises the nano- or micro-sized form of 20-camptothecin esters or derivatives, such as in an oral suspension (e.g., an aqueous suspension), or capsules, or caplets. The pharmaceutical composition can be used in the treatment of a cancer or malignant tumor in a patient by oral administration thereof in a therapeutically effective amount.
US09675607B2
Methods and compositions are described for enhancing tissue regeneration or wound repair in a mammalian subject comprising a composition comprising (a) a proline hydroxylase inhibitor component or molecule that increases or upregulates HIF1a and (b) a carrier component comprising a hydrogel.
US09675597B2
The present invention provides a compound having a cholinergic muscarinic M1 receptor positive allosteric modulator activity and useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, pain, sleep disorder, Parkinson's disease dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, and the like.The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula (I) or a salt thereof. wherein each symbol is as described in the specification, or a salt thereof.
US09675595B2
A pharmaceutical combination comprising (a) the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor compound (S)-pyrrolidine-1,2-dicarboxylic acid 2-amide 1-({4-methyl-5-[2-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1,1-dimethyl-ethyl)-pyridin-4-yl]thiazol-2-yl}-amide) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and (b) at least one mitogen activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, and optionally at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, for simultaneous, separate or sequential administration; the uses of such combination in the treatment of proliferative diseases; and methods of treating a subject suffering from a proliferative disease comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of such combination.
US09675586B2
Described herein are methods of treating locally advanced or metastatic estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.
US09675583B2
Provided herein are compounds, such as compounds, of Formula I, that bind to androgen receptors and/or modulate activity of androgen receptors. Also provided are methods for making and using such compounds. Also provided are compositions including such compounds and methods for making and using such compositions.
US09675577B2
Beta-hydroxybutyrate mineral salts in combination with medium chain fatty acids or an ester thereof such as medium chain triglycerides were used to induce ketosis, achieving blood ketone levels of (2-7 mmol/L), with or without dietary restriction. The combination results in substantial improvements in metabolic biomarkers related to insulin resistance, diabetes, weight loss, and physical performance in a short period of time. Further, use of these supplements to achieve ketosis yields a significant elevation of blood ketones and reduction of blood glucose levels. Use of these substances does not adversely affect lipid profiles. By initiating rapid ketosis and accelerating the rate of ketoadaptation, this invention is useful for the avoidance of glucose withdrawal symptoms commonly experienced by individuals initiating a ketogenic diet, and minimizes the loss of lean body mass during dietary restriction.
US09675572B2
The invention encompasses intravenous pharmaceutical compositions containing omega-3 fatty acids and methods of treating traumatic brain injury, traumatic spinal cord injury and/or stroke using these pharmaceutical compositions.
US09675570B2
The present disclosure provides solid compositions comprising a stabilized salt of aminocarboxylic acid. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising [(1R,5S,6S)-6-(aminomethyl)-3-ethylbicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-en-6-yl]acetic acid monobenzenesulfonate in combination with appropriate additives are also provided.
US09675569B2
The present invention provides novel methods for treating a pulmonary disease state in mammals by up-regulating indigenous in vivo levels of an inflammatory agent in mammalian cells comprising contacting the mammalian cells with a therapeutically effective amount of an inflammatory regulator and a pharmaceutical agent. The inflammatory agent is selected from the group consisting of cytokines, transforming growth factor-β, elastase, and white blood cells, and wherein the inflammatory regulator is selected from the group consisting of pyruvates and pyruvate precursors. The pharmaceutical agent is selected from the group comprising anti-bacterial agents, anti-virals, anti-fungals, anti-tumors, antihistamines, proteins, enzymes, hormones such as insulin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, cytokines, steroids, and nicotine.
US09675565B2
The present invention provides a method of inhibiting, suppressing or preventing levodopa-induced dyskinesia in a patient suffering from Parkinson's Disease, comprising the step of administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of the invention. The present invention further provides a method of inhibiting, suppressing or preventing Parkinson's Disease in a patient, comprising the step of administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound of the invention.
US09675549B2
Provided herein is a tablet comprising, as a drug, N-(5-tert-butyl-isoxazol-3-yl)-N′-{4-[7-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazol-2-yl]phenyl}urea or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is a medicament for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the tablet characterized by comprising a composite of N-(5-tert-butyl-isoxazol-3-yl)-N′-{4-[7-(2-morpholin-4-yl-ethoxy)imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazol-2-yl]phenyl}urea or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in a ratio ranging from 1:8 to 1:20.
US09675545B2
An acicular body includes a support base, and a needle formed on the support base and containing a chitosan derivative.
US09675534B2
The present disclosure relates to a surfactant-containing preparation comprising one or more alcohols and one or more anionic surfactants, wherein the preparation is an O/W emulsion, the particle size distribution for which the following applies: D(v, 0.9)=40 μm or less, and wherein the total quantity of the one or more alcohols in the preparation is selected in such a way that the preparation, compared to a comparison preparation which having an otherwise identical composition does not comprise any alcohol of the formula (I), has an increased viscosity at 22.7 ° C. Also disclosed are methods for producing the preparation and methods for increasing stability and/or viscosity of an emulsion.
US09675531B2
A personal care composition is disclosed comprising abrasive particles. The personal care composition may take a variety of forms such as a leave-on composition or an emulsion and/or may comprise one or more actives or agents.
US09675527B2
The present invention provides a dental color tone adjustment material kit that has improved properties in terms of surface drying and of discoloration after curing and that enables adjustment to a desired color tone. The present invention relates to a dental color tone adjustment material kit including: a primer composition (A) including an acid group-containing polymerizable monomer (a) and a volatile organic solvent (b); and a dental color tone adjustment material B including a polymerizable monomer (d), a polymerization initiator (e), particle aggregates (f) that are chain aggregates of ultrafine filler particles having an average primary particle diameter of 1 to 50 nm, titanium dioxide (g), and a pigment (h). The monomer (a) accounts for 0.05 to 45 weight % of the primer composition (A), and the organic solvent (b) accounts for 55 to 99.95 weight % of the primer composition (A). The monomer (d) includes a polyfunctional acrylate monomer (d1) and a volatile monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer (d2), and the monomers (d1) and (d2) account for 88 weight % or more of the monomer (d). The content of the particle aggregates (f) is 5 to 20 parts by weight, and the content of the titanium dioxide (g) is 0.05 to 2 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the total of the monomer (d) and the particle aggregates (f).
US09675498B2
An absorbent article has non-uniform dimensioned side barrier features and includes a lower structure. The article also includes an upper structure in fluid communication with the lower structure. The upper structure is adjacent and bonded to the lower structure. Embossment channels or embossment features and said side barrier feature lateral-most edges define side barrier features having either non-uniform lateral width dimensions or a combination of non-uniform lateral width and non-uniform height dimensions along the longitudinal direction of said article.
US09675495B2
A capsulotomy cutting device includes a planar cutting head sized to fit into intraocular tissue. The planar cutting head includes at least one sharp edge and an oscillation mechanism adapted to oscillate the cutting head. Capsulotomy is achieved by inserting the planar cutting head through an incision in the eyeball, placing the cutting edge of the cutting head against the tissue of the lens capsule therein, and then oscillating the cutting head by an oscillation mechanism coupled to the cutting head.
US09675489B2
Devices and methods for gastrointestinal bypass are described. A gastrointestinal bypass device includes a gastrointestinal cuff and a gastrointestinal sleeve. The cuff may be configured to be attached in the esophagus, and may be sufficiently flexible to expand and collapse to conform with the inside of the esophagus to allow the esophagus to function substantially normally. The sleeve is configured to be coupled to the cuff, and may be made of a material that is floppy or flaccid but does not substantially expand radially.
US09675482B2
Embolic implants delivery systems and methods of manufacture and delivery are disclosed. The devices can be used for aneurysm and/or fistula treatment. The designs offer low profile compressibility for delivery to neurovasculature, while maintaining advantageous delivery and implant detachment control features.
US09675478B2
Methods of making polymeric devices, such as stents, using solvent based processes. More particularly, methods of making bioabsorbable stents.
US09675477B2
A welded stent and stent delivery system, with a stent including a first strut having a first strut nickel titanium alloy layer and nickel titanium soluble core, the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer being disposed around the first strut nickel titanium soluble core; and a second strut having a second strut nickel titanium alloy layer and nickel titanium soluble core, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer being disposed around the second strut nickel titanium soluble core, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer being connected to the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer with a weld. The first and second strut nickel titanium alloy layers are made of a nickel titanium alloy, the first and second strut nickel titanium soluble cores are made of a nickel titanium soluble material, and the weld is made of an alloy of the nickel titanium alloy and the nickel titanium soluble material.
US09675473B2
A stent has a first end region, a middle region, and a second end region, each region including a plurality of strut columns. The stent includes at least one barb. Each barb in an expanded state is at an angle relative to the outer surface of the stent.
US09675471B2
Improved assessment probes and measuring tools, systems, procedures and methods to facilitate the selection and/or implantation of prosthetic joint components, and assist a surgeon or medical practitioner with the proper assessment, balancing and/or restoration of natural and/or desired joint kinematics during a joint replacement procedure.
US09675459B2
To manufacture the implant a nanopowder of synthetic hydroxyapatite (Hap) is used having a hexagonal structure, average grain size in a range from 3 to 30 nm and the specific surface area greater than 200 m2/g. First the nanopowder is formed to the desired geometric shape, and then the shape is fixed. In the step of shape information the dried nanopowder is pressed in the mold under the pressure ranging from 50 Mpa to 2 GPa. In the step of fixing the pressed nanopowder at room temperature is subjected to the pressure rising from the ambient value to the peak value selected from a range of 1 to 8 GPa and to a temperature selected from a range of 100° C. to 600° C. for a period of time selected from a range from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. The density of thus produced implant, determined by helium method, is not less than 75% of the theoretical density.
US09675455B2
A prosthetic heart valve having an internal support frame with a continuous, undulating leaflet frame defined therein. The leaflet frame has three cusp regions positioned at an inflow end intermediate three commissure regions positioned at an outflow end thereof. The leaflet frame may be cloth covered and flexible leaflets attached thereto form occluding surfaces of the valve. The support frame further includes three cusp positioners rigidly fixed with respect to the leaflet frame and located at the outflow end of the support frame intermediate each pair of adjacent commissure regions. The valve is desirably compressible so as to be delivered in a minimally invasive manner through a catheter to the site of implantation. Upon expulsion from catheter, the valve expands into contact with the surrounding native valve annulus and is anchored in place without the use of sutures.
US09675448B2
A tool for facilitating insertion of a speech valve with a flexible retention flange into a fistula between the trachea and the esophagus of a human patient. The tool has a wall curved to define a passage having opposed open first and second passage ends and an axis extending therebetween. The wall has an external surface insertable into a fistula between the trachea and esophagus and defining a slot which extends from the passage to the external surface of the wall. The slot has an opening at the first passage end extending from the first passage end to at least a part of the way to the second passage end and at least a portion of the slot progresses angularly around the axis.
US09675447B2
A method to treat glottic insufficiency includes creating a window in a thyroid cartilage and inserting an implant through the window and into a paraglottic space. The implant includes a balloon with a port connector and a band comprising a proximate end attached to a portion of the balloon. The method further includes securing the band to a thyroarytenoid muscle complex and inflating the balloon to pull on the band, which in turn pulls on the thyroarytenoid muscle, which in turn rotates an arytenoids cartilage to medialize and tighten a vocal cord.
US09675444B2
Many modern implantable ophthalmic devices include electronic components, such as electro-active cells, that can leak harmful substances into the eye and/or surrounding tissue. In the implantable ophthalmic devices disclosed herein, electronic components are hermetically sealed within cavities formed by bonding together two or more glass wafers. Bonding the glass wafers together with laser fusion bonding, pressure bonding, or anodic bonding creates a seal that leaks at a rate of less than about 5×10−12 Pa m3s−1 when subjected to a helium leak test. Hermetically sealed feedthroughs formed of conductive material running through channels in the wafers provide electrical connections to components inside the sealed cavities. In some cases, the conductive material has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is roughly equal to (e.g., within 10% of) the CTE of the glass wafers to minimize leakage due to thermally induced expansion and contraction of the conductive material and the glass wafer.
US09675439B2
A stent-graft comprises a substantially tubular graft material, and a stent coupled to the graft material. The stent has proximal and distal ends and further has compressed and deployed states. The proximal end is disposed proximally beyond a proximal edge of the graft material, and the distal end has at least one portion overlapping with the proximal edge of the graft material. In one example, the stent comprises at least one distal apex having a bifurcation extending into first and second leg regions. A distal end of the first leg region is positioned to overlap the graft material at a location circumferentially spaced apart from a location at which a distal end of the second leg region overlaps the graft material in the deployed state.
US09675432B2
A method for manufacturing a removable dental prosthesis using a three-dimensional (3D) printer includes receiving dental impressions of a patient obtained using a dental impression tray assembly, the dental impressions including a bite registration and at least a mandibular impression or a maxillary impression; receiving information related to the patient's jaw relations obtained using the dental impression tray assembly, the jaw relations including a vertical dimension and a centric relation obtained during the patient's single visit to a dentist; scanning the received dental impressions with a 3D scanner to provide data representative of an edentulous shape of the patient; generating a 3D model of the dental prosthesis based on the data and the received information related to the patient's jaw relations using 3D design software; displaying the generated 3D model on a display, allowing customization of the 3D model; and 3D printing the dental prosthesis according to the 3D model.
US09675431B2
The invention relates to a method for designing a plurality of adjacent tooth restorations using CAD/CAM technology. In a first step, the virtual model of a first tooth restoration at the first border of the restoration site is designed. In a second step, the virtual model of the second tooth restoration adjacent to the first tooth restoration is designed, the second tooth restoration being adjusted to match the first tooth restoration. The virtual model of the first tooth restoration is adjusted in relation to the second tooth restoration in a third step, if required. This procedure is then repeated for all of the other tooth restorations in the restoration site.
US09675428B2
In an exemplary method for obtaining a contour image of a tooth, which can be executed at least in part by a computer, movement of an intra-oral camera can be detected by acquiring a first video image frame that includes the tooth and processing the first video image frame to detect one or more edges of the tooth in the first video image frame and acquiring a second video image frame that includes the tooth and processing the second video image frame to detect the one or more edges of the tooth in the second video image frame. The method can compare corresponding edge locations between the first and second processed video image frames and projects a fringe pattern illumination onto the tooth from the camera, capturing and storing one or more still images of the fringe pattern according to the detected camera movement.
US09675426B2
Examples of apparatus, methods, and compositions for endodontic treatments are described. The apparatus can include a fluid platform configured to substantially retain fluid in a tooth chamber during treatment. The fluid platform can help maintain fluid circulation in the tooth chamber as fluid flows into and out of the tooth chamber. The apparatus can also include a pressure wave generator configured to generate acoustic waves that can be used for cleaning root canals and tooth surfaces in the tooth chamber. Examples of pressure wave generators include a liquid jet, an electromagnetic energy delivery device, and an ultrasonic device. The fluid can include antiseptic or antibacterial solutions to assist in tooth cleaning. The fluid may be degassed to have a reduced dissolved gas content (compared to non-degassed fluids used in endodontic treatments), which may improve the effectiveness of the pressure wave generation or the cleaning.
US09675424B2
A method and apparatus for electromagnetic navigation of a surgical probe near a metal object. The electromagnetic navigation system includes a transmitter coil array and a shield. The transmitter coil array has a plurality of transmitter coils and is operable to generate the electromagnetic field to navigate the probe. The shield is positioned adjacent the metal object and is operable to shield the metal object from the electromagnetic field generated by the transmitter coil array, such that the shield substantially reduces distortion of the electromagnetic field by the metal object.
US09675416B2
Tissue ablation is carried out using a probe having a distal conductive cap. At least one optical fiber is contained within the probe and terminates in proximity to an outer surface of the conductive cap. The optical fiber conveys optical radiation to the tissue while the power generator is activated and receives reflected optical radiation. An optical module measures the received reflected optical radiation, and a processor linked to the optical module analyzes the reflected optical radiation to determine impending steam pop events.
US09675412B2
Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue without damaging non-targeted tissue. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input. The coolable ablation assembly delivers energy through an inner surface of an airway to damage a target region of tissue such that the damaged target region has a maximum cross-sectional width radially separated from the inner surface of the airway.
US09675399B2
Patient specific implants and instrumentation for replacing a portion of a patella. Methods for producing patient specific implants and instrumentation include conducting imaging studies of the patient's native patella, deriving measurements of the patella and surrounding soft tissues from the imaging studies, manufacturing customized implants and instrumentation specific to the derived measurements, and implanting a customized implant using the customized instrumentation. Patient specific instrumentation includes: a patellar clamp ring, an anterior clamp, a restraining arm, a posterior clamping surface, a dual bore reaming collet, a reamer, a reaming depth gauge, and a resection cutting guide. Patient specific portions of a patellar implant include: topography of the posterior articular surface, facet angle, shape and dimensions of the anterior attachment surface, implant length, implant width, implant thickness and the outer perimeter shape of the implant.
US09675395B2
An osteosynthesis clip having an overall U-shape, comprising two anchor bars and a connecting bar. The connecting bar including a longitudinal opening adapted to assume a closed configuration and an open configuration. The clip comprises a compression piece having a broadly oval-shaped section, housed in the opening. The piece is adapted to be rotated within the opening, thus causing the opening to shift from its closed configuration to at least one the open configuration and vice versa.
US09675394B2
At least one bone fixation device comprising a stem having a maximum outer diameter is inserted into the sacroiliac joint through a minimally invasive incision path sized approximately at or about the maximum outer diameter of the stem in soft tissue, into the iliac bone, across the sacroiliac joint and into the sacrum. The stem is inserted through the incision path to a position within the sacroiliac joint between the iliac bone and the sacrum, to fuse the sacroiliac joint, without invasive joint preparation, removal of cartilage, or scraping at or near the sacroiliac joint. Desirably, at least a portion of the stem includes a surface permitting bony in-growth.
US09675390B2
Implanted hydraulic devices can be repaired and/or stabilized using a method wherein a fluid comprising a curable or solidifying component is introduced into said device and cured or solidified in said device. Embodiments of this method, as well as compositions and kits are disclosed.
US09675388B2
The present disclosure generally relates to a device for positioning and immobilizing at least two adjacent vertebrae. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the present disclosure relates to spinous process fusion devices that distract and immobilize the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae.
US09675382B2
The present application discloses embodiments related to an external bone fixation device configured to correct bone deformities or repair bone injuries. The device can include a plurality of bases configured to be attached to portions of a bone and a plurality of struts configured to be adjustable in length to change the position and orientation of the plurality of bases and the attached bone portions.
US09675378B2
A steerable kink resistant access device is provided having an elongated body and a steerable portion; methods for manufacturing the kink resistant device are also provided. The access sheath has an outside diameter sufficiently small so that it may be inserted into a body cavity or conduit. The access sheath typically has two internal lumen, a first lumen sized and configured as an access to a surgical site and a second lumen sized and configured to contain a tensioning device that, when acted upon, will deflect the steerable portion. The tensioning device may be directly or remotely attached to an actuation device that operates to control the tensioning and loosening of the tensioning device.
US09675372B2
A motor-driven surgical instrument that may comprise (i) a moveable drive member that is driven in a first direction when the electric motor operates in a first direction and that is driven in a second direction when the electric motor operates in a second direction. Movement of the drive member causes movement of the moveable component of the end effector, and (ii) a motor control circuit connected to the motor for controlling the motor. The motor control circuit may comprise a switching circuit that, upon actuation, reverses the direction of the motor from the first direction to the second direction. The switching circuit may be actuatable separately through each of: (i) actuation of a moveable actuator of the switching circuit through movement of the drive member at least in the first direction; and (ii) manual actuation by a user of the surgical instrument.
US09675370B2
A minimal access tool includes a frame arranged to be attached to an arm of a user, a tool shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, where the tool shaft proximal end is connected to the frame. The tool further includes an input joint having a first end connected to the frame and a second end arranged to receive user input, the input joint including a virtual center-of-rotation (VC) mechanism which provides a center of rotation that generally coincides with a wrist joint of the user. An output joint is connected to the tool shaft distal end, where the output joint is coupled to the input joint via a mechanical transmission connected therebetween to correlate motion of the input joint to motion of the output joint.
US09675367B2
A guide tool (100) for guiding resection of a bone piece, comprising a body (102), a burr guide opening (130) extending through the body (102) and defining a burr resection surface, and a saw guide opening (120) extending through the body (102) and defining a saw resection surface, the burr guide opening (130) and the saw guide opening (120) being aligned such that the burr resection surface and the saw resection surface intersect, defining a bone piece resection surface.
US09675366B2
The present disclosure relates to a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes a guide having a body having a first set of marks and a joint including at least one through hole, the joint configured for sliding along the length of the body; and a first surgical device having a second set of marks, wherein the guide is coupled to the first surgical device and a longitudinal axis of the through hole is co-radial with a mark of the second set of marks when the joint is located at a mark of the first set of marks. Other guides are also disclosed.
US09675357B2
A method for performing a coronary artery bypass graft procedure on a patient to connect a bypass vessel to a target vessel includes the steps of creating an opening in the patient that communicates with the thoracic cavity of the patient; providing a bypass vessel having a lumen and at least one free end; passing the free end of the bypass vessel from the thoracic cavity through the opening to a position outside the body of the patient; attaching a connector to the free end of bypass vessel while the free end of the bypass vessel is outside the body of the patient; passing the free end of the bypass vessel from the position outside the body of the patient through the opening and into the thoracic cavity; and connecting the free end of the bypass vessel to a target vessel with the connector.
US09675346B2
A staple for attaching a sheet-like implant to tissue or bone may include first and second arms, and first and second flukes. In some embodiments, the first arm has a proximal end and a distal end, and the second arm has a proximal end and a distal end. A bridge extends from the proximal end of the first arm to the proximal end of the second arm. The first fluke has a proximal end abutting the distal end of the first arm, and the first fluke extends distally from the first arm. The first fluke has a lateral extent larger than a lateral extent of the first arm and is mounted eccentrically thereto. The first fluke includes a proximal surface projecting at an outward angle in a proximal direction away from the distal end of the first arm to engage the tissue or bone when inserted therein. The second fluke has similar features. This arrangement causes the first and second flukes to rotate in response to a pullout force on the bridge. Methods for attaching a sheet-like implant to a target tissue are also disclosed.
US09675344B2
A surgical instrument includes an implant, a grip, and a pre-set breaking point connecting the implant and the grip. The implant has a joining profile.
US09675343B2
In one embodiment, a medical device includes an elongate member, a fixation device and a driving member. The elongate member defines a lumen and includes a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the elongate member has an opening. The fixation device is at least partially disposed within the elongate member and includes a tissue piercing portion at a distal end of the fixation device. The driving member is at least partially disposed within the elongate member and is configured to move the fixation device from a position within the lumen to a location outside of the lumen through the opening. The opening at the distal end of the elongate member is angled to insert the fixation device in a tissue of a patient at an angle to a plane of the tissue of the patient to fasten a bodily implant to the tissue.
US09675340B2
A needle for use with an endoscopic stitching device includes a first end portion that is movable relative to a second end portion to allow the needle to convert from a first, mis-aligned orientation to a second, aligned orientation, thereby allowing the length of the needle in the aligned orientation to exceed the height of an end effector.
US09675333B2
A surgical instrument includes a first member defining a passageway defining a first axis. A second member is positioned in the passageway and includes a lip extending at an angle relative to a second axis defined by the second member that engages a flange of the first member. A third member engages an outer surface of the first member. The third member includes an end surface. A fourth member defines a pathway having the first and second members disposed therein. The fourth member includes a first locking element. A fifth member includes a body including an inner surface that engages the third member. The fifth member includes a plurality of straps extending outwardly from the body. At least one of the straps includes a second locking element that engages the first locking element to fix the fourth member relative to the fifth member. Systems and methods are disclosed.
US09675326B2
An image reconstructing apparatus creates a reconstructed image for every calculation operation by performing predetermined repetitive calculation by iterative reconstruction for a plurality of images obtained by acquiring an object from different angles, extracts at least one reconstructed image under a predetermined condition from the created reconstructed images, displays on a display unit information corresponding to the extracted reconstructed images and information corresponding to the extracted reconstructed image, selects at least one reconstructed image in accordance with an instruction of an operator on the display unit, and outputs the selected reconstructed image.
US09675317B2
A medical imaging data processing apparatus for identifying an interface between anatomical features comprises a receiving unit configured to receive first medical imaging data that represents a region of a subject at a first time, and second medical imaging data that represents the region of the subject at a second, later time, a registration unit configured to perform a registration procedure to obtain registration data representative of a registration between the first medical imaging data and the second medical imaging data, and an interface identification unit configured to determine a variation of the registration data with location and to identify an interface between an anatomical feature and at least one further anatomical feature based on said variation of the registration data with location.
US09675315B2
An implantable medical device that includes an elongated lead body having an outer surface and a first opening along the outer surface, a first sensor positioned along the lead body and configured to receive first acoustic signals through the first opening of the lead body and generate an electrical signal representative of sounds produced at a first targeted location along a patient's cardiovascular system, and a processor configured to determine an intensity of the first acoustic signals, and determine changes in blood pressure in response to the determined intensity.
US09675312B2
An apparatus for carrying out an examination on the breast of a patient, includes an analysis head including at least one radiation detection device, configured to receive and detect radiation on a detection plane and at least one X-ray source to emit a corresponding beam of X-rays towards the detection plane. A first frame is provided with a floor support; a second frame supports the analysis head; and a third frame is connected to the first frame so that it can be moved from a horizontal position to a vertical position, and which supports the second frame. A movement mechanism moves the third frame from the horizontal position to the vertical position.
US09675311B2
A method includes planning a follow up three dimensional image acquisition of tissue of interest of a patient based on first and second two dimensional surview projection images, wherein the first two dimensional surview projection image was used to plan a previously performed baseline three dimensional image acquisition of the tissue of interest of the patient, wherein the first two dimensional surview projection image includes information corresponding to at least one region of interest identified in the first two dimensional surview projection image for the previously performed baseline three dimensional image acquisition, wherein the first two dimensional surview projection image includes information corresponding to a z-axis scanning extent identified in the first two dimensional surview projection image for the previously performed baseline three dimensional baseline image acquisition, and wherein the second two dimensional surview projection image was acquired for planning the follow up three dimensional image acquisition.
US09675310B2
A periodic time-varying model of a guide wire, other device, or vessel is created from higher contrast CINE acquisition. A multivariate curve regression is used for periodic, phase dependent motion modeling. This model is then used to locate or track the guide wire, other device or vessel in lower contrast fluoroscopy images during intervention.
US09675300B2
Ventilation information may be presented. Output signals may be received that convey information related to one or more breathing parameters of a subject receiving assisted or controlled mechanical ventilation. Based at least in part on the received output signals, volumetric components of a tidal volume of the subject may be determined. The volumetric components may include an alveolar dead space, an effective alveolar tidal volume, and/or other volumetric components. The alveolar dead space is the volume of inspired gas that occupies alveoli but does not take part in oxygen exchange in the lungs of the subject. The effective alveolar tidal volume is the volume of inspired gas that takes part in oxygen exchange in the lungs of the subject. A visual representation that textually or graphically represents the tidal volume, and/or textually or graphically represents the volumetric components separately from each other may be presented via a user interface.
US09675298B2
A bioelectric signal measurement apparatus includes a first interface configured to detect a bioelectric signal of a testee through electrical interfacing with a skin of the testee; a second interface configured to detect a signal different from the bioelectric signal through electrical interfacing with the skin, the second interface electrically interfacing with the skin in a state that is different from a state in which the first interface electrically interfaces with the skin; and a signal processor configured to remove, from the detected bioelectric signal, a motion artifact between the first interface and the skin using the detected signal different from the bioelectric signal.
US09675296B1
A wearable device includes a mount configured to mount the wearable device to an external body surface proximate to a vessel, a downstream clamp configured to apply a force to the vessel sufficient to inhibit a flow of fluid through the vessel beyond the downstream clamp, and an upstream clamp, positioned upstream of the downstream clamp, configured to apply a force to the vessel sufficient to accelerate a volume of fluid in a downstream direction with respect to a direction of fluid flow through the vessel. A detector may also be provided for detecting a response signal transmitted from a probe region of the vessel positioned upstream of the first clamp. The response signal is related to the presence or absence of one or more target analytes in the vessel.
US09675292B2
A dyslexia screening system suitable for clinical use includes an integrated headset that efficiently and conveniently performs an auditory evoked response (ERP) test by positioning electrodes about the ears of the subject. An integral control module automatically performs the test, providing simplified controls and indications to the clinician. A number of screening tests that are stored in the headset are periodically uploaded for billing, remote analysis and result reporting. A paradigm that characterizes testing performed for a subject along with the patient identification and/or patient demographics are stored in an associated fashion for later fusion and analyses with similar but not necessarily identically constructed ERP tests.
US09675291B2
An apparatus and method for modifying a psychophysiological state of a subject include detecting a psychophysiological measure of the subject; processing the detected physiological measure so as to provide a signal indicative of a psychophysiological state of the subject; and outputting at least one of an audio stimulus, visual stimulus, haptic stimulus, temperature stimulus and scent stimulus to the subject. The output stimulus may be derived from an audio-visual data signal provided to the apparatus. Further, the output stimulus is adjusting in real time based on the signal indicative of a psychophysiological state of the subject.
US09675287B2
The endoscope system includes: an image signal acquisition unit acquiring B1 image signal corresponding to blue narrow band where the amount of light absorption changes according to the oxygen saturation of blood hemoglobin, G2 image signal corresponding to green wavelength band where the amount of light absorption changes according to a blood volume of an observation target, R2 image signal corresponding to red wavelength band where a change in the amount of light absorption with respect to the oxygen saturation or the blood volume is small compared with the B1 and G2 image signal, and B2 image signal corresponding to a wavelength band, a difference between a center wavelength of the wavelength band and a center wavelength of the blue narrow band being 20 to 100 nm; and an oxygen saturation calculation unit calculating the oxygen saturation based on the B1, G2, R3, and B2 image signal.
US09675278B2
The present disclosure provides a body rehabilitation sensing method based on a mobile communication device. The method comprises placing the mobile communication device at a specific portion of the limb of a user; a sensing module of the mobile communication device sensing the acceleration of the mobile communication device for generating an acceleration information; the mobile communication device transmitting the acceleration information to a remote server through a wireless network module; a computing module of the remote server analyzing the acceleration information and comparing the similarity of the acceleration information and a standard movement information; and the remote server transmitting the compare result of the similarity of the acceleration information and the standard movement information to the mobile communication device through the wireless network module. Accordingly, the user of the mobile communication device can acquire correctness of rehabilitation movements.
US09675274B2
A patient monitoring system may receive a photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal including samples of a pulse waveform. The PPG signal may demonstrate morphology changes based on respiration. The system may calculate morphology metrics from the PPG signal, the first derivative of the PPG signal, the second derivative of the PPG signal, or any combination thereof. The morphology metrics may demonstrate amplitude modulation, baseline modulation, and frequency modulation of the PPG signal that is related to respiration. Morphology metric signals generated from the morphology metrics may be used to determine respiration information such as respiration rate.
US09675272B2
Methods, systems, and devices are provided for guiding surgical instruments using radio frequency (RF) technology. In general, the methods, systems, and devices can allow a trajectory, e.g., an angular approach, of a surgical instrument relative to a patient to be identified during use of the instrument in a surgical procedure being performed on the patient. The trajectory can be identified using a plurality of RF modules. The methods, systems, and devices can allow the trajectory to be compared to a predetermined trajectory so as to identify whether the trajectory matches the predetermined trajectory. A result of the matching can be communicated to a user of the instrument. Based on the result, the user can maintain the trajectory, e.g., if the trajectory matches the predetermined trajectory, or can adjust the trajectory to closer align the trajectory with the predetermined trajectory, e.g., if the trajectory does not match the predetermined trajectory.
US09675271B2
Systems and methods for delivery of radiotherapy in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging in which various conductors, shields and shims may be used to solve issues occurring when radiation therapy equipment is placed in the vicinity of an magnetic resonance imaging system.
US09675267B2
A device for physiological measurement. The device includes at least two terminal units connectable to each other, of which a first terminal unit includes an electric circuit, an ECG-electrode and a first connector assembly having at least one ECG-contact for connecting at least one other ECG-electrode. A second terminal unit includes other ECG-electrodes and a second connector assembly having a counter ECG-contact adapted to be fitted to the ECG-contact of the first connector assembly. The first and second terminal are together arranged to connect the ECG-electrode of each second terminal unit to the electric circuit in the first terminal unit and, as separated, are arranged to enable the use of the function contacts of the first connector assembly.
US09675263B2
An accessory and system to provide a medical device with mapping and ablation functionality. The system may include an ablation device with a handle, a treatment element, and an elongate body. The ablation element may be located on the elongate body distal portion, and a mapping sleeve may be disposable about at least part of the distal portion of the ablation device and may include mapping electrodes disposed on the outer surface. The mapping sleeve proximal region may include a retraction element defining a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being coupled to the proximal region of the mapping sleeve, such that retracting the retraction element toward the elongate body proximal portion pulls the mapping sleeve away from the treatment element of the ablation device.
US09675256B2
Provided is a photoacoustic apparatus capable of recognizing variation in reception characteristic among a plurality of receiving elements that detect an acoustic wave in the photoacoustic apparatus, with a simple configuration unique to the photoacoustic apparatus.A photoacoustic apparatus includes a detecting unit including a plurality of receiving elements configured to detect an acoustic wave that is generated when an analyte is irradiated with light; a signal processing unit configured to acquire information about the inside of the analyte from a detected signal acquired from the detecting unit; an optical absorber configured to absorb the irradiation light; and a reception characteristic calculation unit configured to calculate reception characteristic information of the plurality of receiving elements on the basis of detected signals when the plurality of receiving elements receive an acoustic wave that is generated from the optical absorber.
US09675252B2
Scanning mechanisms that have application in confocal imaging use electromagnetic actuation to move elements in an optical system. An objective lens mounted to a flexure comprising a magnetic material is actuated in the axial direction by an electromagnet coil. An optical path may pass through the coil. Scanning in transverse directions may be provided using magnetically actuated flexible beams which move the tip of an optical fiber or other pinhole in one or more transverse directions. Actuators may be actuated using driving currents that include an AC component and a DC bias component. The scanning mechanisms may be miniaturized and may be constructed to provide real-time imaging.
US09675243B2
An ophthalmic photographing apparatus is provided with a SLO optical system including a first optical scanner for scanning a laser beam to obtain a front image of an examinee's eye by the laser beam, a OCT optical system including a second optical scanner for scanning measurement light to obtain a tomographic image of the examinee's eye by use of interference between the measurement light and reference light, an optical path combiner for combining optical paths of the SLO optical system and the OCT optical system, an objective lens system placed between the optical path combiner and the examinee's eye, and a relay lens system placed between the second optical scanner and the optical path combiner. The second optical scanner is placed on a side closer to the relay lens system than a focal point distance of the relay lens is.
US09675241B2
According to one embodiment, an ophthalmic examination apparatus includes an examination unit and an analyzer. The examination unit is used to optically examine a subject's eye. The analyzer is configured to analyze examination data obtained by the examination unit, and thereby generate risk information indicating the risk of a specific disease.
US09675240B2
A mouth mirror apparatus is adapted to be connected to a suction device and includes a mounting frame, an elongated handle, and a mirror member. The mirror member is rotatably mounted on a major wall of the mounting frame and can be driven to rotate when the suction device is actuated. When the mirror member rotates, a centrifugal force is generated to fling off water drops and/or debris on a reflecting surface of the mirror member.
US09675239B2
An endoscope system includes: an insertion portion insertable into a body cavity of a subject; an illumination fiber guiding light caused to be incident on a proximal-end-side end face, to a distal-end-side end face; a light-receiving fiber group guiding light from the subject and emitting the light; a light source portion generating illuminating light; a light detecting portion; a first optical unit capable of changing an optical path of the illuminating light caused to be incident on the proximal-end-side end face of the illumination fiber; a second optical unit capable of changing the optical path for the illuminating light changed by the first optical unit and causing the illuminating light to be incident on the light-receiving fiber group; and a control portion performing control of whether or not to change the optical path in the first optical unit and the second optical unit.
US09675237B2
To perform pelvic surgery, a directionally illuminating balloon catheter enters a bladder. The catheter has a multi-lumen shaft. The balloon defines an interior fluidically connected to a balloon inflation lumen and is inflated therethrough. The balloon comprises a light source, a light-radiating surface adjacent the shaft-balloon junction, and a substantially opaque surface disposed at a portion of the balloon other than the light-radiating surface such that the integrated light source illuminates a distal half of the environment outside the balloon. The balloon is inflated while in the bladder. Light from the light source is directed out through the light-radiating surface to illuminate at least a portion of a procedure area opposite the bladder-prostate junction. With the light illuminating the portion of the procedure area, at least a portion of a pelvic surgery is performed at the portion of the procedure area.
US09675235B2
A combination aspiration/irrigation and illumination device using optical fibers circumferentially disposed around the aspiration conduit for transmitting illuminating light to a cavity to be aspirated. The aspiration conduit having a tip that is detachably affixed to and end of the aspiration conduit. The optical fibers terminated at a distance (d) from a distal end of the tip. Also provided is an image fiber(s) for transmitting image data from the distal end of the device.
US09675217B2
A dispensing system has a dispenser for sections of a material web wound onto a roll. A support bar is provided, on each end, a bearing journal protruding out from the roll. At least one of the two bearing journals has a mating surface which is not designed as a rotational surface. The dispenser has a guide for each bearing journal that extends to a dispensing position. A counter surface for the mating surface is provided at the beginning of the guide for each bearing journal that has the mating surface. The insertion of the roller into the dispenser is only possible if the mating surface coincides with the counter surface, which extends to in the dispensing position. The roller is rotatably arranged about the central area of the supporting rod, which does not rotate in the dispensing position.
US09675214B2
A bathtub pillow for reducing a volume of water necessary for filling a bathtub and for providing support and comfort to a user's back, shoulders, neck, and head may include an outer shell defining an interior of the pillow, the outer shell having a front side, a backside, a left side, a right side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; a conformable filler filling the interior of the pillow; and a fastener attached to a surface of the pillow, the fastener being configured to removably attach to a surface of the bathtub. The pillow may be shaped to provide support to a user's back, shoulders, neck, and head. For example, the pillow may be vase shaped.
US09675203B2
Methods of controlled heating and/or agitation for liquid food or beverage product creation are disclosed. A method of producing a melted food or beverage liquid product includes receiving a receptacle containing frozen liquid contents in a chamber of a dispenser and identifying a characteristic of the receptacle and/or the contents. The method also includes melting at least a portion of the contents by selectively performing at least one of: heating the receptacle and/or the contents, supplying a dilution liquid to an interior of the receptacle, and/or applying motion to the receptacle and/or the contents in the receptacle. The selectively performing at least one of heating, supplying dilution liquid, and/or applying motion is based on the identified characteristic. The method further includes perforating the receptacle and dispensing the melted food or beverage liquid product from the receptacle.
US09675201B2
A system for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage comprises an exchangeable capsule and a fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of fluid to the exchangeable capsule, a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and an outlet arrangement for supplying the beverage to a container, such as a cup. The capsule comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom, a lid, an entrance area and a closed exit area. The circumferential wall, the bottom and the lid enclose an inner space that comprises an extractable product. The fluid dispensing device supplies fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage. In use, the outlet arrangement is in fluid communication with the exit area for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule. The capsule further comprises an opening element through the closed exit area for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule.
US09675197B2
A steam cooker having a lower part, which has raised side walls, wherein the sides walls include two long and two short sides, and which has handles attached to the opposite long side walls so as to be diametrically offset relative to each other, and including a lid, which has a frame, a lid body, a lid handle, and a plurality of openings for pressure equalization, and at least one steam cooking insert to be inserted into the lower part, wherein the steam cooking insert is provided with through-holes for steam to flow through and with handles arranged at an offset.
US09675193B1
The compression sock-donning aid includes an annular member from which a fixed handle extends radially. An actuator handle extends radially from the annular member. Moreover, the actuator handle is able to rotate with respect to the annular member and the fixed handle. The actuator handle is in mechanical connection with a plurality of fingers provided within a central hole of the annular member. Each of the plurality of fingers is able to extend inwardly or retract outwardly with respect to a central point. Rotation of the actuator handle extends or retracts the plurality of fingers. The plurality of fingers is adapted to engage a compression sock so as to aid in opening up said compression sock during the donning process whereby a user inserts a limb into said compression sock.
US09675182B2
A foldable frame comprises opposing pairs of side and end frame members joined at respective ends to define a generally rectangular and planar frame perimeter. The end members and the side members are generally movable between folded and unfolded positions. The end members are spaced-apart along a longitudinal axis of the frame. The side frame members extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis to define a frame length. Pivoting connections enable the end members and the side frame members to pivot, each member having a pivot connection at each end thereof. Pivoting of a respective end or side member is permitted when the frame is configured to align the respective end pivots, but is inhibited when the frame is configured to move the respective end pivots out of alignment. The respective pivot axes of the end and side members are generally perpendicular oriented and define a folding and unfolding sequence.
US09675175B1
A slide rail assembly includes a front bracket with an opening, a first rail movably connected to the front bracket and having a stop, a buffer member fixed on the first rail and located in the opening, a second rail displaceable with respect to the first rail, and an engaging member provided on the second rail and corresponding to the stop. When the second rail is displaced from a first to a second extended position with respect to the first rail, the engaging member is pushed against the stop, generating an impact force and displacing the first rail from a first to a second position with respect to the front bracket. The buffer member absorbs the impact force by hitting a wall of the opening.
US09675167B2
An applicator, such as a brush or other device, for applying products to a surface, such as the skin of a person. The applicator includes a handle and a bristle tuft connected to the handle. The bristle tuft may include a plurality of contoured bristles that define multiple surfaces for applying products. For example, the bristle tuft may include a first angled surface extending upwards from a first side of the bristle tuft, a second angled surface extending upwards from a second side of the bristle tuft, and a ridge defined at an intersection of the first angled surface and the second angled surface.
US09675164B2
A backpack frame is convertible from a frame position to a cot position. The backpack frame includes: a first U-shaped member having a closed end and an open end, a first intermediate member having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end is hingably connected to the open end of the first U-shaped member, a second intermediate member having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the first intermediate member is hingably connected to the distal end of the second intermediate member, a second U-shaped member having a closed end and an open end, the proximal end of the second intermediate member is hingably connected to the open end of the second U-shaped member. In the frame position, the first U-shaped member, the first intermediate member, the second intermediate member, and the second U-shaped member lie in a single plane.
US09675157B2
A hand held appliance, such as a hairdryer, includes a body, a fluid flow path extending through the body in an axial direction from a first fluid inlet through which a first fluid flow enters the appliance to a first fluid outlet for emitting the first fluid flow from the appliance, a primary fluid flow path extending from a second fluid inlet through which a primary fluid flow enters the appliance to a second fluid outlet, a section of the primary fluid flow path extending through the body in the axial direction and surrounding the fluid flow path, and a heater located within the section of the primary fluid flow path for heating fluid passing through the primary fluid flow path, and wherein the heater has a length extending in the axial direction.
US09675153B2
In various embodiments, a carry (or carrying) bag is provided that includes an interior, substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly with a matrix of wires secured between or on one or more flexible material layers. Also in various embodiments, the security panel assembly may be positioned intermediate the bag outside wall and a lining of the bag, and in other embodiments, may also take the form of an expansion panel. Second or secondary locking fasteners are also provided to lock first or primary fasteners to or within the carrying bag, to provide security for compartments and pockets. A strap with one or more security cables, and various locking fasteners, may be attached to the carry bag. Methods for forming such security panel assemblies, expansion panels, and carrying straps are also disclosed.
US09675151B1
A foldable mat has a flat flexible base portion with a margin and has finger tabs integrally formed and extending upward that can be grasped to allow the mat to fold so that the bottom surface halves of the mat fold inward on each other, masking the potentially contaminated bottom surface of the mat from contact with anything else. The mat can then be stored in a folded condition.
US09675148B2
The present disclosure describes a case for portable electronic devices. According to various embodiments, a case may be capable of extending to accommodate different portable electronic devices. A discrete series of grooves within the case may provide the case with additional elasticity. A pattern of tessellations within the case may provide the case with additional elasticity. The increased elasticity may allow the case to be configured to frictionally engage and retain various portable electronic devices with slightly different physical dimensions.
US09675147B1
A cover for a tablet computer incorporates a built-in stand, allowing viewing angles in portrait and landscape orientations. The cover includes a front cover that is connected to a back cover. In an implementation, the front cover has at least five fold lines formed in the cover. These fold lines meet at an intersection point. These fold lines are not parallel to any edges of the front cover. And these fold lines divide the front cover to have least three triangular sections.
US09675141B2
A safety buckle device includes a first buckle part having a partially closed space with an opening, and a second buckle part having a body, a guiding tongue, and a control key. When locking the safety buckle device, a springing detent is adapted to lock against a locking element. The control key has two recesses having different depths and arranged adjacent each other in the longitudinal direction of the control key. The detent achieves a first locking when the control key is actuated, and the detent achieves a second locking when the control key no longer is actuated, or the detent achieves a locking when the control key is not actuated. The detent is adapted to be released when the control key is actuated again, or when the control key is actuated.
US09675137B2
An elastic coreless rope belt is a tubular braided rope of no core with stretch elasticity. Wherein the center part of the elastic rope belt along its length keep the same hollow shape, and at the periphery of the rope, it is provided with protruded knot parts of plural middle segment. At the plural middle segment, the diameter of the protruded knot can be changed with the changing of the axial tension. Once the axial tension is relived, the diameter and the shape will return to the origin. Thereby, it is convenient to make position limited buckling and loosening to the object hole.
US09675133B2
An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole component fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper. The sole component may include a baseplate having a bottom surface. The sole component may also include an arrangement of ground engaging members extending downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate. The baseplate may further include a reinforcing shank arrangement including a plurality of reinforcing strips formed of a different material than portions of the baseplate adjacent the reinforcing strips, wherein at least one of the reinforcing strips forms at least a portion of a base platform from which at least one of the ground engaging members extends.
US09675126B2
A garment includes a waistband having a first face and a second face, with a first support structure affixed to the first face and a second support structure affixed to the second face. The waistband is selectively adjustable between a first arrangement that provides the garment with a first style and fitting, and a second arrangement that provides the garment with a same style and different fitting.
US09675121B1
Embodiments pertain to a facial solar shield device. The facial solar shield device includes a piece of fabric that includes a substantially lobe-shaped portion that includes a perimeter portion, a folded portion that defines an opening, and a sleeve formed along at least a portion of the perimeter portion. The facial solar shield device includes one or more pleats that form the piece of fabric into a cup-shape and a flexible shaping element. The method of creating the facial solar shield includes obtaining a piece of fabric that includes a substantially lobe-shaped portion with a perimeter portion and forming a folded portion that defines an opening. The method further includes forming one or more pleats in the piece of fabric to form the piece of fabric into a cup-shape and forming a seam along at least a portion of a perimeter portion of the piece of fabric.
US09675117B2
An exemplary atomizer includes a mouthpiece assembly, two heating assemblies, a fixing assembly, an atomizing sleeve, a switching assembly. The two heating assemblies are configured for heating and atomizing oils of two different tastes respectively. One end of each heating assembly is engaged with the mouthpiece assembly. The fixing assembly is hermetically coupled to the mouthpiece assembly, and is configured for securing the two heating assemblies. The atomizing sleeve is hermetically connected to the fixing assembly, with the two heating assemblies nested therein. The switching assembly is coupled to ends of the two heating assemblies away from the mouthpiece assembly. The switching assembly is configured for enabling one of two heating assemblies selectively.
US09675111B2
A vaporizer for use with a water pipe or hookah has electrically heated beating element. The heating element extends through a vaporizer body and carries a cup member atop thereof. A pre-determined quantity of a vaporizable substance is placed in the cup member and is heated to cause release of an inhalable gas. An adapter directs the inhalable gas beneath water surface of a water reservoir of the water pipe. By drawing on an outlet end of the water pipe the user can inhale the inhalable substance released during heating of the vaporizable substance.
US09675108B2
The present invention discloses a battery assembly, an atomizer assembly, and an electronic cigarette. The battery assembly is connected to the atomizer assembly to form the electronic cigarette. The battery assembly includes a battery sleeve and a first connection member, and the atomizer assembly includes an atomizer sleeve and a second connection member. The first connection member and the second connection member are connected with each other. A portion of the first connection member contacting the battery sleeve and/or a portion of the second connection member contacting the atomizer sleeve protrude(s) to form an anti-slip structure, and Teflon paste configured to enhance a connection strength between the first connection member and the battery sleeve and/or enhance a connection strength between the second connection member and the atomizer sleeve is spread on a circumferential outer wall of the anti-slip structure.
US09675106B2
A smoking glove includes a glove having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening located at a finger portion of the glove. The second opening is distal from the first opening at a distance of at least half a length of the finger portion of the glove. The smoking glove includes tubing, the tubing stretching from the first opening of the glove to the second opening of the glove. The tubing is located within the glove. The smoking glove includes a bowl located at a first end of the tubing.
US09675100B2
Both dairy and non-dairy based high protein ingredient systems that are available in either a liquid or dry powder blend. These ingredient system options have been balanced to provide a rich and creamy mouthfeel which can be easily added into a wide array of products to enhance their protein and nutritional levels without creating the sandy or gritty texture that typically forms. The liquid version has already been pasteurized or asceptically packaged for easy incorporation into other liquid products such as smoothies, yogurts, puddings, jells, toppings, fillings, carbonated or still beverages such as juices of milks, ice cream mixes, frozen yogurts and frozen desserts. The powdered version is designed to be easily blended into other dry mixes, batters, baked goods, cereals, dressings, hummus products, breads, and dry dessert mixes, while liquid additive versions may be added to water, milk products such as liquid milk and yogurt, etc.
US09675093B1
A paw selector for maintaining poultry paws in an ordered, indexed manner so that each paw can be matched with the carcass from which it was removed is provided. The paw selector has a tray coupled to a rotatable shaft. Rotation of the shaft causes the walls of the tray to rotate, thereby urging paws on the tray over a stationary tray bottom. Upon reaching a void in the tray bottom, the paws drop through the void onto a lower tray or into a predetermined receptacle for further processing. At least on sensor can maintain correlation between the paw and the carcass from which it was removed for disposal of any rejected paws.
US09675092B2
A poultry processing line is provided having a series of poultry carriers and a processing unit or processing units, wherein the poultry carriers are movable to and from the processing unit or processing units and the poultry carriers and the processing unit or processing units are synchronized to enable processing of the poultry by the processing unit or processing units. A switch is provided such that the poultry carriers and/or the processing unit or processing units are selectable between an operational position in which the poultry is processed by the processing unit or units and an inoperational or idle position in which the poultry is prevented from being processed by the processing unit or units.
US09675077B2
The present invention relates to an antimicrobial composition suitable for use on skin and wounds comprising a source of an antimicrobial metal ion and a quaternary cationic surfactant.
US09675076B2
Peracid stable fluorescent active compounds in highly acidic, equilibrium peroxycarboxylic acid sanitizing compositions are disclosed as having improved fluorescent stability allowing for monitoring of peroxycarboxylic acid concentration by conductivity and/or optical sensors. Beneficially, the compositions are also low odor and low/no VOC dual functioning acid wash and sanitizing compositions.
US09675074B2
The present invention is directed to methods for improving cold temperature damage recovery of a cereal grain comprising applying an effective amount of at least one gibberellin to the cereal grain during early vegetative growth stage. The present invention is also directed to methods for improving yield of a cereal grain comprising applying an effective amount of at least one gibberellin to a cereal grain suffering from cold temperature damage during the early vegetative growth stage.
US09675071B2
This invention relates generally to the detection of genetic differences among soybeans. More particularly, the invention relates to soybean quantitative trait loci (QTL) for tolerance to protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitors, to soybean plants possessing these QTLs, which map to a novel chromosomal region, and to genetic markers that are indicative of phenotypes associated with protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor tolerance. Methods and compositions for use of these markers in genotyping of soybean and selection are also disclosed.
US09675066B2
Semiochemical compositions comprising a feline scratch marking semiochemical analogs of these semiochemical compositions and a method to prevent cats from scratching in particular places and on multiple objects are described.
US09675060B2
A heated game call used to attract wild game for hunting or observation, generally including a cylindrical barrel, a reed member, and a heating element integral to the barrel and positioned near the reed element. Electrical current is provided to the heating element via wires resulting in the heating of the barrel of the call and, the electrical current is provided by batteries that are contained within a compartment of the call. The barrel includes an exterior layer and an interior layer. The heating element preferably is sandwiched between the layers and positioned near the reed member.
US09675057B2
Disclosed is a fishing rod holder that permits the fishing rod to pivot itself, so that the bait can stay relatively stable in the water when fishing.
US09675054B2
Lighting assemblies that provide spectrum specific underwater lighting to aquatic life. Each assembly has a vessel that receives a substrate secured to a heatsink and is enclosed by an end cap that provides a water tight seal. The end cap is sealingly secured to the vessel by a sealing element and has opening disposed therethrough for receiving an electrical connector that electrically connects lighting elements on the substrate to an exterior power source. The connector is sealingly disposed through the opening in the end cap to prevent the ingress of water within the vessel.
US09675053B2
A birdseed dispenser and birdfeeder incorporating the same are provided. The dispenser has a base assembly mounted to a first opening formed in the sidewall of the birdseed reservoir, including a front plate having a second opening formed therein, a flange extending around the second opening and projecting away from the front plate, and an end wall supported by the flange such that the flange and end wall together define a chamber. The dispenser also includes an apertured piece received in the chamber having a first seed aperture of a first configuration and a second seed aperture of a different configuration. The apertured piece is moveable between a first orientation, which places the first seed aperture in a seed accessible state permitting birds access to the seed, and a second orientation to place the second seed aperture in the seed accessible state.
US09675050B2
A plurality of pet toys are usable with annular-shaped foodstuffs. Each pet toy includes a support upon which the animal foodstuffs can be situated and one or more retainers connected with the support that retain the animal foodstuffs on the support. At least one retainer on each toy includes one or more elastically deformable structures that are movable between a free state and an elastically deformed state. In the elastically deformed state, an animal foodstuff can be received across the retainer and onto the support. In the free state, the retainer is structured to resist removal of the animal foodstuff from the support and across the retainer.
US09675047B2
The present invention discloses a pet or animal drying and washing apparatus a two part housing structure with a slidable and removable inner housing shell with guides and an outer housing shell with recesses on their respective side walls so that they can be easily connected together as a single unit and form a heating flow passage there between. The outer shell having inner and outer walls conforming to a contour shape and having support and air channel blocks on a bottom floor to support an inner shell housing having a plurality of slotted vents disposed on side walls and back walls and between bottom floors of the inner and outer shell housings. A blower and heating unit is disposed within a back wall cavity of the outer shell housing and closed by a thermostatic control device to direct heated air in the heating flow passage.
US09675043B2
A rotary parlor arranged to house animals to be milked includes an annular rotary platform (1), at least one milking stall (3) defined by at least one side wall element (2) and a storing device (8) adapted to hold teat cups (9) in a parking position, and a restricting element (8a, 13a, 16a) adapted to restrict the mobility of the animal (4) in the milking stall in a manner such that a free space (12) is created between the animal (4) and a side wall element (2) in a part of the milking stall (3), where the free space (12) is used by a robot arm (10) when fetching a teat cup in the storing device to attach to a teat of the animal (4) in the milking stall (3).
US09675036B1
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV180173. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV180173, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV180173 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV180173 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV180173.
US09675030B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01050762. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01050762. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01050762 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01050762 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09675020B2
The invention provides seed and plants of cucumber hybrid SV4196CD and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of cucumber hybrid SV4196CD and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a cucumber plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another cucumber plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US09675017B2
The invention provides seed and plants of squash hybrid SV0474YG and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of squash hybrid SV0474YG and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a squash plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another squash plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US09675013B2
Device for watering plants configured to fit into a growing container, such as a pot. The device includes an external casing intended to be placed inside the growing container and to be at least partially buried. The casing delimits a housing having an open top end intended to protrude from or lie flush with the soil, and a bottom end having a passage in the soil. The device is further equipped with a water reservoir positioned inside the housing and having an orifice around which a water diffusion system is removably mounted. The diffusion system is designed to pass through the passage of the casing.
US09675012B2
A method for controlling soil moisture to perform water deficit experiments on a plurality of plants located in soil contained within a plurality of pots supported in a plurality of openings of a stationary platform includes lifting the plurality of pots with a plurality of load cell modules and weighing each of the plurality of pots with the load cell modules. The method also includes determining whether each pot needs to be watered based on the weight of the pot and the water deficit experiment, watering the pots through the load cell modules, if necessary, and lowering the plurality of load cell modules so that the plurality of pots are supported by the platform.
US09675004B2
A seeding machine includes a main frame, and a row unit coupled to the main frame. The row unit has a row unit frame, a gauge wheel coupled to the row unit frame, and a furrow opener coupled to the row unit frame, the furrow opener having a stationary or rotating surface that contacts and moves soil. The row unit also includes a furrow closer, the furrow closer having a stationary or rotating surface that contacts and presses soil. The seeding machine also includes a downforce adjustment system for adjusting an amount of downforce applied to the row unit, the downforce adjustment system including a moisture sensor, a controller configured to receive a signal from the moisture sensor, and an actuator configured to change the amount of downforce applied to the row unit based on the signal received by the controller.
US09675001B2
Existing seed treatment applicators distribute seed into an uneven annular veil and results in wasted seed treatment fluid and unnecessarily long mixing/drying times. We developed a seed distribution apparatus comprising a partially porous, frustoconical restricting assembly that is mounted above and partially receives a conical distributing assembly. The orientation of the distributor and restricting assemblies provides three different seed flow paths to provide a substantially even annular veil of seed to the seed treatment housing.
US09674999B2
Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow are provided. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.
US09674998B2
A depth adjustment for an agricultural seed planting implement has a depth control assembly of side by side gauge wheels pivotally mounted to a frame with leading equal length arms in a staggered relation. A settable lever acts on the arms through a control rocker having arms with the same staggered relation to control soil flow.
US09674997B2
A seeding implement is provided that includes a depth adjustment mechanism configured to facilitate rapid reconfiguration of a ground engaging tool for varying penetration depths. In an exemplary embodiment, the seeding implement includes a ground engaging tool and a packer arm pivotally coupled to a packer support structure. The seeding implement also includes a packer wheel rotatably coupled to the packer arm, and configured to rotate across a soil surface to limit a penetration depth of the ground engaging tool into the soil. The seeding implement further includes a depth adjustment assembly including a slot within the packer support structure, a corresponding slot within the packer arm, and a fastener disposed through the slots. In this configuration, the penetration depth of the ground engaging tool is varied by adjusting a position of the fastener within the slots.
US09681592B2
Conductive concrete mixtures are described that are configured to provide EMP shielding and reflect and/or absorb, for instance, EM waves propagating through the conductive concrete mixture. The conductive concrete mixtures include cement, water, conductive carbon material, magnetic material, and metallic conductive material. The conductive carbon material may include conductive carbon particles, conductive carbon powder, and/or coke breeze. The metallic conductive material may include steel fibers, and the magnetic material may include taconite. The conductive concrete mixture may also include supplementary cementitious materials (SCM). A method of making a concrete structure includes pouring a concrete mixture to form conductive concrete, and positioning a first conductive screen within the conductive concrete proximate to an exterior surface of the conductive concrete. The method also includes positioning a second conductive screen within the conductive concrete in electrical contact with the first conductive screen.
US09681582B1
Pluggable connector includes a connector housing having a unitary housing shell that includes a top wall, a bottom wall that is spaced apart from the top wall, and a side wall that extends between and joins the top and bottom walls. The pluggable connector also includes a communication assembly positioned within an interior cavity of the pluggable connector. The communication assembly includes internal electronics that generate thermal energy during operation. The top wall has an exterior surface that forms an output area configured to dissipate the thermal energy therefrom. The bottom wall has an interior surface that is coupled to the internal electronics such that the thermal energy is conveyed from the internal electronics into the bottom wall. The unitary housing shell forms a seamless thermal-transfer path that extends from the bottom wall, through the side wall, and to the output area.
US09681579B2
Cooling systems employing adjacent fan cages having cage walls with interflow passages are disclosed. A cooling system includes cooling fans disposed in adjacent fan cages. Cage walls of the fan cages direct flows from the fans to the outlet ports of the fan cages which are in fluid communication with electrical components within an electronics-containing enclosure. By forming an interflow passage between the adjacent fan cages, upon occurrence of an inoperable fan, a portion of the flow from an adjacent operable fan can pass to the outlet port of the fan cage of the inoperable fan via the passage and provide better cooling of the components impacted by the inoperable fan. In this manner, thermal damage is avoided while minimizing fan noise associated with higher fan speeds.
US09681576B2
A drawer slide system for a chassis is provided. The drawer slide system includes a first slide affixed to a drawer. The drawer slide system allows the drawer to extend from the chassis. The drawer slide system also includes a slide assembly slidingly coupled to the first slide. The slide assembly includes a second slide and a first damped stop assembly, which includes a first stop tray and a first elastomer, arranged within the first stop tray. The first elastomer reduces shock to the chassis when the drawer is fully seated within the chassis.
US09681574B1
A chassis self-unlock mechanism includes a tray, a handle assembly and a locking arm. The handle assembly includes a fixed base, a handle and a slider connected to the handle. The fixed base is fixed on the tray, and the slider is movably connected with the fixed base. The locking arm is attached to the tray, an end of the locking arm is fixed to the tray, an actuating slope inclined with respect to the locking arm is formed on the locking arm, a latch laterally protrudes from the locking arm, and the latch protrudes out of an outer surface of the tray. The slider is movable to push the actuating slope, so that the locking arm is bent, and the latch retracts into the tray.
US09681571B2
An electrical connection box includes a housing and a connector assembly coupled to the housing. The connector assembly includes sockets for receiving plugs from a motor vehicle. The housing is formed to include a cavity that is designed to house electronic circuitry. The connector assembly includes at least one socket and at least one connector positioned within the socket. The connector is configured to create an electrical connection with an electrical plug that is received in the socket to electrically couple components of the vehicle with the electronic circuitry and minimize a voltage loss across the electrical connection.
US09681567B2
A display device includes: a display module; a window disposed on the display module; and an adhesive layer disposed between the display module and the window, where the adhesive layer includes a pressure sensitive adhesive including an impregnation region impregnated with a fiber, and a density of the fiber in the adhesive layer is predetermined based on a position thereof in the impregnation region or a part of the display device corresponding thereto.
US09681566B2
An electronic arrangement (1) comprising a carrier (2), on which at least one connecting area (6) is arranged. At least one electronic component (3a, 3b, 3c) is fixed on the connecting area (6) by means of a contact material (4). A covering area (5) surrounds the connecting area (6) on the carrier (2). At least one covered region (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) is covered by a covering material (10). The covering material (10) is designed in such a way that an optical contrast between the covering area (5) and the covered region (15, 16, 17, 18, 19) is minimized.
US09681565B2
Systems, processes, and manufactures are provided that employ a casing associated with an electrical component to provide some, most, substantially all or all electrical insulative protection necessary for the electrical component. This casing may be further employed with potting or other materials to supplement and add additional or different protections for the component. These additional protections can include additional insulative resistance, thermal protection, moisture protection and other buffers to and from the environment.
US09681563B2
An insert casing for receiving and fastening an electrical or electronic component includes a first casing part which is connectable to a second casing part by means of a rotary joint. The casing parts define a receiving space for the electrical or electronic component. The first casing part is provided with at least one spreading member which is spreadable by the second casing part when the rotary joint is being closed. The insert casing can be fastened easily in a recess of an object by closing the rotary joint.
US09681558B2
A integrated power module with integrated power electronic circuitry and logic circuitry includes an embedded power semiconductor module including one or more power semiconductor dies embedded in a dielectric material, a multi-layer logic printed circuit board with one or more logic dies mounted to a surface of the logic printed circuit board, and a flexible connection integrally formed between the embedded power semiconductor module and the logic printed circuit board. The flexible connection mechanically connects the embedded power semiconductor module to the logic printed circuit board and provides an electrical pathway between the embedded power semiconductor module and the logic printed circuit board. A method of manufacturing the integrated power module is also provided.
US09681555B2
A package of an environmentally sensitive electronic device and a fabricating method thereof are provided, wherein the package may include a first substrate, a second substrate, the environmentally sensitive electronic device, a packaging body, and a filler. In one or more embodiments, the environmentally sensitive electronic device may be disposed on the first substrate and located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The filler is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and covers the environmentally sensitive electronic device. The packaging body is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate and encloses the environmentally sensitive electronic device and the filler. A material for the packaging body may include a bonding of transition metal and metalloid.
US09681552B2
A device comprising a substrate having a surface that comprises a conductive base layer. The device also comprises fluid-support-structures on the conductive base layer. Each of the fluid-support-structures has at least one dimension of about 1 millimeter or less. Each of the fluid-support-structures is coated with an electrical insulator. The device is configured to oscillate a fluid locatable between tops of the fluid-support-structures and the conductive base layer when a voltage is applied between the conductive base layer and the fluid.
US09681546B2
A wiring substrate includes a first insulation layer, a first wiring layer formed on the first insulation layer, and a second insulation layer stacked on the first insulation layer. The second insulation layer covers the first insulation layer and includes a filler. A third insulation layer is stacked on the second insulation layer. The third insulation layer is filler-free. A through electrode extends through the second and third insulation layers in a thicknesswise direction. A second wiring layer is stacked on the third insulation layer and the through electrode. The through electrode electrically connects the second wiring layer to the first wiring layer.
US09681543B2
A method of making an electronic device includes forming an electrically conductive pattern on a substrate, forming a cover layer on the substrate and the electrically conductive pattern, and forming openings in the cover layer and being aligned with the electrically conductive pattern. The method also includes positioning an IC on the cover layer so that bond pads of the IC are aligned with the openings, and heating under pressure the cover layer to both mechanically secure and electrically interconnect the IC.
US09681539B2
A system and apparatus for monitoring and control of the operation of various types of industrial plants, including power plants, nuclear power plants and plants including various types of mechanical, electrical and chemical machinery. The invention employs modular non-microprocessor based, non-software based digital hardware that enables communication between sensors and control logic and between the control logic and actuators that control a functional aspect of each plant.
US09681534B2
In a ceramic multilayer substrate including a ceramic laminate including ceramic layers, a surface electrode located on a surface of the ceramic laminate, and a cover ceramic layer that covers a peripheral portion of the surface electrode, a recess portion is provided in a peripheral portion of a surface electrode to extend along the periphery thereof, and the peripheral portion of the surface electrode includes a peripheral end portion thereof and a region in which the recess portion is covered with a cover ceramic layer. A height of a central portion of the surface electrode which is not covered with the cover ceramic layer is lower than a height of a primary surface of the ceramic laminate on which the surface electrode is located.
US09681523B2
An apparatus and method allow end users to interactively create complex lighting patterns by remote control. Applications include decorative lighting, landscape lighting, signage, or advertising platforms. A lighting control system can be equipped with sensors that can receive remote control signals from a variety of different sources, and route the control signals to modulate receptacles coupled to different lighting circuits, thereby independently controlling multiple light arrays to achieve separate light patterns, or to coordinate different lighting effects. The control signals can independently energize localized groups of lamps to provide enhanced lighting effects, while using significantly less wire material. Interactive remote control can be provided via a mobile computing device such as a smart phone running a customized program. In one embodiment, the remote control device communicates selections to a Bluetooth®-equipped speaker to produce sound-controlled lighting effects.
US09681513B2
A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled together via an accessory wiring. The main device can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system. The main device is configured to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are configured to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half cycle, for example, by actively pulling-up and actively pulling-down the accessory wiring to communicate using tri-state logic.
US09681507B2
An apparatus includes a switched-mode converter circuit having an output configured to be coupled to at least one light-emitting device. The apparatus further includes a control circuit configured to generate a measure of a voltage magnitude of a time-varying voltage applied to an input of the switched-mode converter circuit and a measure of a dimming level to be applied to the at least one light-emitting device. The control circuit is configured to control a switch of the switched-mode converter circuit responsive to the generated measures. The control circuit may be implemented using functional units of a microcontroller.
US09681506B2
One aspect of the present disclosure directs to a switch circuit including an isolator circuit to allow detection of switch states of a multilevel light switch. Another aspect of the present disclosure directs to a lighting assembly containing light emitting diodes (LEDs) of different colors, where the lighting assembly produces light of different color depending on the switch state of a multilevel light switch.
US09681502B2
In a first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, a lighting device includes a light-emitting device 1 including p-contact and n-contact that are separately arranged from each other on a first surface of the light-emitting element and a phosphor layer including a phosphor particle and covering the light-emitting element 1 except the p-contact and n-contact of the light-emitting element, the phosphor layer includes a higher density of the phosphor particle on a position of the first surface between the p-contact and the n-contact of the light-emitting element than on a position of a second surface that is an opposite surface of the first surface 1b of the light-emitting element.
US09681493B2
The present invention relates to a system for controlling a group of devices, comprising: —a network of nodes interconnected in a topology to form a meshed network, and —a coordinator making it possible to communicate with the nodes in the network, in which each device is connected to a node in the network, in which each node comprises: —a receiver making it possible to receive an instruction, —an instructor making it possible to transfer an instruction to the device connected to the node, and —a transmitter making it possible to transmit the instruction to a neighboring node.
US09681490B1
According to one configuration, an access point control resource receives channel allocation information indicating a change to allocation of channels in a wireless band currently used by multiple wireless access points to communicate with multiple communication devices in a network. The access point control resource uses the channel allocation information to identify a particular wireless channel (such as a de-allocated wireless channel) to be terminated from use by the multiple wireless access points. In accordance with the channel allocation information, when vacating use of the de-allocated channel, the access point control resource controls an order of terminating use of the particular wireless channel by the multiple wireless access points.
US09681483B2
There is provided a method for operating time alignment timer (TAT). The method may comprise: operating a first TAT in a first medium access control (MAC) entity; operating a second TAT in a second MAC entity; and if the first TAT operated in the first MAC entity is expired, considering the second TAT operated in the second MAC entity as expired.
US09681479B2
Macrocell communication resources are assigned for device-to-device (D2D) communication between two wireless communication user equipment (UE) devices. A scheduler in a communication system schedules (assigns) scheduled downlink communication resources for downlink transmission of signals from a base station, schedules (assigns) scheduled uplink communication resources for uplink communication from wireless communication UE devices to base stations, and schedules (assigns) D2D communication resources for D2D communication between wireless communication UE devices. The D2D communication resources are selected from either defined downlink communication resources or defined uplink communication resources that are defined by communication specification. The base station sends communication resource allocation (CRA) information to at least one of the wireless communication UE devices where the communication resource allocation information identifies the D2D communication resources for use by the wireless communication UE devices to communicate through a device-to-device (D2D) communication link.
US09681477B2
A method of digital radio communication between a first device (2) and a second device (8), where each device comprises a radio transmitter (4, 10) and a radio receiver (6, 12), the method comprising: a) said first and second devices (2, 8) establishing a connection using a predetermined protocol having at least one predefined message format; b) if said connection is subsequently broken, said second device (8) transmitting an advertising message at a first data rate indicating a desire to reconnect; and c) if a reconnection is not established, said second device (8) transmitting a further advertising message at a second data rate indicating a desire to reconnect, wherein said second data rate is lower than the first data rate.
US09681473B2
A method and system for machine type communication (MTC) service management using network function virtualization (NFV) is disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for a machine type communication (MTC) service management using a virtual network function (VNF) includes receiving, by a virtual serving gateway (v-s-SGW), a request for an MTC service from a MTC device through a radio node associated with the MTC device; sending, by the v-s-SGW, an authentication request to an MTC server to authenticate the MTC device; receiving, by the v-s-SGW, an authentication response from the MTC server; and establishing, by the v-s-SGW, an MTC bearer between the v-s-SGW and the radio node if the authentication is successful; wherein the v-s-SGW comprises a virtual connection management (v-CM) and a serving gateway (s-SGW).
US09681468B2
Joining communication groups with pattern sequenced light and/or sound signals as data transmissions
A method for joining a communication group by receiving and processing light and/or sound signals in a mobile device. The signaling may be light or audible signals, such as lights and/or music, that may be emitted in particular sequences. The mobile device may receive the light and/or sound signals with sensors, such as cameras and/or microphones, and may process the light and/or sound signals to obtain information encoded within the signals. The mobile device may decode detected signaling information and identify connectivity data that may be used to join and transmit messages to the communication group. In an embodiment, light and/or sound signals related to unknown third parties may be used by the mobile device to identify the third party based on queries to the communication group. In an embodiment, the mobile device may determine parameters for receiving and/or transmitting signals based on ambient conditions, such as ambient noise.
US09681462B2
Method and apparatuses may provide multi-user parallel channel access (MU-PCA). For example, a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) is provided that belongs to a MU-PCA group of a plurality of WTRUs that are configured to simultaneously communicate via a plurality of channels managed by an access point (AP). The WTRU may include a receiver configured to receive a data message, from the AP, over a channel associated with the WTRU of the plurality of channels, wherein the data message is one of a group of multiple data messages transmitted simultaneously by the AP over the plurality of channels; and a transmitter configured to transmit a message to the AP over the channel associated with the WTRU, wherein the message includes an indication bit for notifying the AP whether the WTRU has uplink (UL) data to transmit to the AP.
US09681455B2
Example embodiments are directed to methods of reducing interference in a communication system. In at least one example embodiment, a method includes first determining, by a first transmitter having a multi-directional antenna configured to produce a plurality of beams, at least one interference level of at least one interfering beam of a plurality of beams of at least one transmitter in the communication system, second determining a transmitting beam pattern based on the interference level, the transmitting beam pattern indicating a sequence of illuminating the plurality of beams at corresponding time slots, third determining a fractional frequency reuse pattern based on the transmitting beam pattern, and transmitting data based on the transmitting beam pattern and the frequency reuse pattern.
US09681441B2
Systems and methods for coexistence of Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of operation of a network node in a cellular communications network is provided. The method includes determining a number of MBMS subframes for an MBMS allocation period. The method also includes, for each MBMS subframe of the number of MBMS subframes, assigning a frame number and a subframe number for the MBMS subframe such that a probability of a VoIP packet transmission during the MBMS subframe is mitigated. By mitigating the probability that a VoIP packet transmission occurs during a scheduled MBMS subframe, a VoIP user equipment (UE) may miss fewer packets and/or experience reduced battery drain.
US09681439B2
Systems and methods avoid the need to coordinate preambles between UEs performing random access on their PCells and SCells. According to an embodiment, a method for random access in a radio communication system includes: transmitting, by a network node, a random access response including a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) which has a first value if the random access is associated with a first cell and a second value if the random access is associated with a second cell, the first value being different than the second value and the first cell being different from the second cell.
US09681438B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and more specifically relates to a method and device for transmitting information. A wireless communication system can support carrier aggregation (CA). In one aspect of the present invention, a method, in which a terminal receives information from a base station in a wireless communication, comprises the steps of: receiving, from the base station, first information on the transmission method of a first channel; receiving the receiving the first channel, from the base station, via at least one serving cell formed in the terminal; and carrying out decoding on the first channel in accordance with the first information. Therein, the first channel is an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH), and the terminal is capable of not carrying out decoding on the first channel in a frequency region in a present subframe.
US09681426B2
A method for transmitting an uplink control signal of a terminal in a wireless communication system and a terminal using the method are provided. The method comprises the steps of: setting a first physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource for a first antenna port; setting a second PUCCH resource for a second antenna port; and transmitting a same uplink control signal through the first and second antenna ports by using the first and second PUCCH resources, wherein the first and second PUCCH resources are orthogonal to each other.
US09681422B2
A method of operating a transceiver may comprise operating in an adaptive mode in which transmissions from the transceiver are halted after detection of interference, performing a clear channel assessment (CCA), as a result of the CCA, detecting energy from an interferer above a predetermined threshold, and switching operation to a non-adaptive mode in which the transceiver is configured to alternate transmission periods and idle periods according to a duty cycle. Then, the method may comprise performing an energy detect, as a result of the energy detect, subsequently detecting the energy from the interferer below the predetermined threshold, and switching operation to the adaptive mode.
US09681419B2
Various aspects and embodiments may provide seamless and resource efficient roaming for group call services on broadcast/multicast networks. In particular, upon a user equipment (UE) roaming or detecting an imminent move from a current Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) to a Visited PLMN (VPLMN), an application server in a Home PLMN associated with the UE may determine whether to establish a multicast bearer in the VPLMN if the UE has pre-registered for group call services in the VPLMN and provide the UE with information about bearers that will support the group call services in the VPLMN. For example, the multicast bearer may be established in the VPLMN if a number of users actively participating in the VPLMN exceeds a threshold, or the group call services may alternatively be supported over unicast service only if the number of actively participating users in the VPLMN is below the threshold.
US09681415B2
A gateway device (10) according to the present invention includes a memory (11) that stores information regarding an environment around a radio base station; a controller (12) that generates a message for paging a mobile station which camps on the radio base station to execute processing for determining information of a radio base station to which the message is transmitted based on the stored information; and a transmission unit (13) that transmits the message. Paging optimization is thus achieved by reducing the number of paging messages.
US09681410B2
A communication system includes a plurality of communication stations arranged to respectively transmit a beacon on which beacon time information related to a beacon received from a peripheral communication station is placed at a predetermined transmission interval and control a beacon transmission timing of its own station while a collision with the beacon transmitted from the peripheral communication station is avoided on the basis of beacon information placed on the received beacon, in which at least a part of the communication stations includes means configured to decide a priority with respect to beacons received from at least one peripheral communication station and means configured to place beacon time information of a beacon having a high priority among the received beacons on a beacon of its own station, and transmits the beacon at a predetermined transmission interval.
US09681405B2
Operation of a terminal for determining which time alignment timer is applied to a certain condition when specific timers operate for each carrier-wave group in the event a wireless communication system using carrier aggregation techniques. A terminal performs communication without malfunctions using a timer suitable for a certain condition. The terminal operates the timer by receiving, from a base station, a message including a timing advance command and an index on a timing advance group (TAG), operating the timer for the TAG, the index has a value of 00 when the TAG includes a first cell. A terminal operates a timer by operating a first timer for a TAG including a first cell, operating a second timer upon receipt of a timing advance command for a second TAG that does not include the first cell, and, if the first timer has expired, deeming the second timer to also be expired.
US09681394B2
A method for power control and a user equipment, UE, determine a current power control mode of the UE based on an adjustment trend of the UE with respect to signal transmission power of a base station, and a variation trend of the received signal quality. A target value of the received signal quality of inner-loop power control is reset after the power control mode of the UE tends to normal, so as to return the transmission power of the base station to the UE to a normal level as soon as possible, thereby to inhibit adverse influences caused by the windup effect.
US09681379B2
A communication device includes a reception unit, a detection unit and a control unit. The reception unit receives broadcast information broadcasted through first communication of a first communication system. The detection unit detects a radio field intensity of the received broadcast information. The control unit controls second communication of a second communication system based on the detected radio field intensity, thereby activating or deactivating the second communication.
US09681377B2
A method and apparatus may be used in wireless communications. The apparatus may be an access point (AP), and may transmit a power save frame. The power save frame may include one or more Uplink (UL) Transmission Times (ULT)s. The apparatus may determine that a station (STA) did not transmit during its respective ULT. The AP may transmit another power save frame. The other power save frame may include a modified ULT. The modified ULT may be for a STA that did not transmit during its respective ULT. The other power save frame may include an unmodified ULT. The unmodified ULT may be for a STA that did not transmit.
US09681368B2
A terminal comprising: a controller configured to determine, in a service zone, whether or not service information corresponding to a service zone is identical to service information previously used in the service zone, and provide control to display previously stored service information or updated service information based on the determination; and a display unit configured to visually display the previously stored service information or the updated service information under the control of the controller, wherein the controller controls the display unit to display the updated service information by updating the previously stored service information.
US09681367B2
The concepts relate to radio white space utilization. One example can obtain information about a location of a device. The example can access a white space database to obtain radio white space frequencies relative to the location. This example can also perform active scanning of at least some of the radio white space frequencies at the location and not perform active scanning on allocated frequencies.
US09681366B2
A method for controlling a first electronic device is provided. The first electronic device has a first antenna and a second antenna. The method includes the following steps. A data is transmitted between the first electronic device and a second electronic device by the first antenna. Determining whether the second antenna is idle or not. Scanning by the second antenna is performed when the second antenna is idle.
US09681354B2
Embodiments of an eNodeB and method for small data transfer in a Wireless Network are generally described herein. A method performed by circuitry of a User Equipment (UE) can include determining, by the UE, whether the UE is configured to be used for Machine Type Communication (MTC). The method can include determining whether the UE has small data (SD) to transfer. The method can include configuring the UE to use a small data signaling radio bearer (SDSRB) to send the SD, in response to determining that the UE is configured to be used for MTC and the UE has SD to transfer. An evolved Node B can determine whether the UE is configured to be used for MTC, determine whether there is SD to transfer to the UE, wherein SD comprises data that has delay tolerance, and configure the UE to use a signaling bearer to send the SD.
US09681351B2
The disclosed apparatus may include (1) a storage device that maintains information about mobile devices roaming within a wireless network, (2) an AP-prediction unit that (A) determines, based at least in part on the information maintained in the storage device, a number of times that a mobile device has visited a specific AP within the wireless network, (C) generates, based at least in part on the number of times, a score that represents a probability that the specific AP is the next AP visited by the mobile device, and then (D) determines that the score is above a certain threshold, and (3) a profile-distribution unit that provides, in response to the determination that the score is above the certain threshold, the specific AP with a roaming-session profile that facilitates transferring a roaming session of the mobile device to the specific AP. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
US09681345B2
A method is disclosed providing data transmission for a mobile receiver in a publish/subscribe system. The method comprises: 1) handover trigger: detecting a new access router AR2 by a mobile receiver in the publish/subscribe system; and sending a handover trigger message comprising AR2 identification information from the mobile receiver to a router AR1 currently connected to the mobile receiver; 2) handover preparation: receiving the handover trigger message by the AR1; selecting a branch node of the most recent position before handover as a proxy for the mobile receiver; and forwarding data packets to paths of the mobile receiver before and after handover; and 3) handover execution: handover access router of the mobile receiver to AR2 by the proxy; after the step of handover access router, triggering AR2 and AR1 to update data transfer for the mobile receiver; sending the data packets through the AR2 to the mobile receiver. The present invention has high handover performance, and can reduce handover time delay and data packet loss.
US09681340B2
The present invention provides methods, apparatuses and a program relating to a signaling framework for assistance information. The present invention includes composing, at a source base station, to which a user equipment is connected, a first signaling message including information whether a target base station, to which handover of the user equipment is to be performed, supports assistance information, and transmitting the first signaling message to the user equipment.
US09681326B2
Technology for conditional hybrid automatic retransmission re-quest (HARQ) mapping for carrier aggregation (CA) is disclosed. One method can include a user equipment (UE) determining when a subframe for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmission is configured for downlink semi-persistent scheduling (SPS). The subframe configured for downlink SPS can generate a first condition. The UE can generate HARQ-ACK states for the first condition for a HARQ bundling window with discontinuous transmission (DTX) padding for a secondary HARQ bundling window size for a secondary cell (SCell) and a primary HARQ bundling window size for a primary cell (PCell). The UE can generate HARQ-ACK states for a second condition for the HARQ bundling window with DTX padding including a DTX padding exception. The second condition can include conditions not covered by the first condition. The DTC padding exception can generate a set of HARQ-ACK states to uniquely define each padded HARQ-ACK state.
US09681320B2
A system, apparatus, and method for the measurement, collection, and analysis of radio signals are provided. A transport host device, including an unmanned aerial vehicle, can transport a scanning device into desired locations for autonomously collecting radio data for a wireless network, thereby enabling the rapid interrogation and optimization the wireless network, including in locations and spatial areas where previously known systems and methods have been impractical or impossible.
US09681317B2
Basestation equipment in a mobile data network is subject to harsh environmental conditions at many remote locations. International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) has introduced a Mobile Internet Optimization Platform (MIOP) appliance, referred herein as the MIOP@NodeB. This appliance is placed at the edge or basestation of a mobile data network to provide a platform for hosting applications and enhancing mobile network services. The introduction of an edge appliance provides a platform for additional reliability functions. A predictive failure mechanism in the basestation appliance mitigates the effects of predicted failures in a mobile network basestation due to weather conditions. The predictive failure mechanism considers historical data, ambient environmental conditions, weather alerts and weather forecasts to take pre-emptive action to avert partial or total failure of the basestation equipment.
US09681314B2
A self organizing network within a software defined networking environment is provided to allow for fast updating of radio access network parameters which enables optimization algorithms to converge on optimized configurations very quickly. The self organizing network is enabled by providing a self organizing network manager plug-in within a software defined networking environment that interfaces with a radio access network plug-in via a service abstraction layer to quickly obtain base station device parameters, iteratively adjust the base station device parameters to obtain optimized radio access network configurations to mitigate outages, reduce power consumption, manage load, or provide other benefits.
US09681313B2
A method and system for monitoring and optimizing a network may include configuring a remote antenna unit with a first transceiver for uplinking and downlinking a signal of a cellular service and with a second transceiver for uplinking and downlinking of the signal of at least one of a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi or Zigbee service. Performance data is collected from at least one user equipment configured for connecting to the remote antenna unit. The collected performance data is routed to a performance data collector configured to aggregate the performance data. The aggregated performance data is correlated. The network is optimized based on the correlated performance data.
US09681312B2
An implementation manner of the present invention provides a reference signal sequence configuration method. The method includes: selecting, by a network device and from candidate IDs, an ID used for generating a reference signal initialization sequence for a terminal, where the candidate IDs include at least two IDs, and the selected ID does not include a scrambling ID; and generating a reference signal initialization sequence for the terminal according to the selected ID. An implementation manner of the present invention further provides a network device. In the reference signal sequence configuration method and the network device, a reference signal initialization sequence is generated according to the selected ID, thereby providing a manner of generating a reference signal initialization sequence different from the manner in the prior art.
US09681302B2
A trusted authority, validation system and method are provided. The system and method may employ Near Field Communication (NFC) technologies to prepare and write signed validation signatures to tags as well as read and analyze validation signatures from tags. An NFC-enabled phone is also provided as a mechanism for facilitating the trusted authority and validation services described herein.
US09681293B2
A system for transmitting a data signal is provided, comprising a plurality of network devices; a network connecting the plurality of network devices based on at least a first communication carrier, wherein the first communication carrier is a wired communication carrier; a network key generator configured to generate a network key; a mobile transmitting device configured to transmit the network key to at least one of the plurality of network devices on a second communication carrier, wherein the second communication carrier is a wireless carrier, and wherein the network devices are configured to communicate with the other network devices based on a link encryption key based on the network key. A corresponding method, a mobile transmitting device and a network device are provided as well.
US09681292B2
Techniques for handling ciphering keys in a mobile station comprising a mobile equipment (ME) and a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining a UMTS cipher key (CK), integrity key (IK), and ciphering key sequence number (CKSN) from the USIM, deriving a 128-bit ciphering key (Kc-128) from the CK and the IK, and storing the Kc-128 and the CKSN on the mobile equipment, separate from the USIM. The stored CKSN is associated with the stored Kc-128, so that the Kc-128's correspondence to the most current UMTS security context can be tracked. This example method applies to the generation and storage of a 128-bit ciphering key for either the packet-switched or circuit-switched domains. A corresponding user equipment apparatus is also disclosed.
US09681291B2
A method and network device for confirming ISR activation, optimize the way of activating ISR to solve the defects of prior art that the characteristics of the ISR can not be fully utilized, caused by activating ISR only depending on the EMM combined procedures capability reported by UE. The method comprises: serving general packet radio service (GPRS) support node (SGSN) obtains the subscription data of user equipment (UE); and SGSN activates ISR for the UE when SGSN confirms there is no circuit switch (CS) domain subscription data in the UE's subscription data. Meanwhile, in the present invention other two methods and network devices for confirming ISR activation are also disclosed.
US09681290B2
A user is enabled to change state on a mobile phone through a peripheral device, such as a vehicle or headset. The mobile phone is coupled with the peripheral device by a communication link. Contacts stored by the mobile phone are copied to the peripheral device. The contacts include contact names and corresponding dummy phone numbers. Each contact name and corresponding dummy phone number is associated with a corresponding mobile phone state. A user can interact with the peripheral device to select a contact name of the contacts as if initiating a phone call with the corresponding dummy phone number to cause the corresponding mobile phone state to be activated at the mobile phone. Examples of mobile phone state activations/changes include activating an application in the mobile phone, or activating a particular SIM (subscriber identity module) of multiple SIMs of the mobile phone.
US09681285B2
The present invention discloses a device discovery method which relates to the field of communications technologies, and can reduce signaling interaction in a process of discovering a nearby device and lower power consumption of the UE. The method in the present invention mainly includes: receiving, by a server, a discovery request, where the discovery request is used to request to discover another UE near a user equipment UE, and the discovery request includes a discovery category indication; generating discovery configuration information according to the discovery category indication, and sending the discovery configuration information to a base station or the UE, where the discovery configuration information is used to configure a parameter that is used when the base station or the UE detects another nearby UE; and receiving a discovery result sent by the base station or the UE.
US09681281B2
A UE (20A) includes an application control information holding unit (23) configured to hold application control information at least including identification information of an application (21) to be restricted or permitted to perform communications among the multiple applications (21); a restriction instruction reception unit (24) configured to receive, via a radio base station, a communication restriction instruction to control communications of the application (21) to be restricted or permitted to perform communications among the multiple applications (21); and a restriction instruction notification unit (25) configured to notify an upper layer, which is configured to implement communications with the application (21), of reception of the communication restriction instruction based on the communication restriction instruction received by the restriction instruction reception unit (24).
US09681280B2
Various systems and methods for providing an emergency evacuation service are described herein. An apparatus to provide an emergency evacuation service comprises an emergency event detection module to detect the existence of an emergency event at a venue; a transceiver to request and receive evacuation instructions from an emergency evacuation system, in response to detecting the existence of the emergency event; and a controller to process the evacuation instructions and display, to a user of the apparatus, information related to the evacuation instructions.
US09681276B2
A user interface and method for viewing communications events on a mobile device includes a user interface, a communications event handler, and a communications event database is disclosed herein. The communications event handler interfaces with the database and the user interface to provide a user of the mobile device with a communications event history associated with the correspondent of an incoming communications event. Additionally the communications event handler interfaces with the database and the user interface to provide a user of the mobile device with a communications event history for a specified correspondent.
US09681274B2
A communication device has a function to make a group call to a plurality of other communication devices in a half-duplex communication system. The communication device includes: a receiving module configured to, after the communication device makes a call to start the group call and the other communication device at the called side make an automatic reply to the incoming call, receive first notification information transmitted from the other communication device according to a first notification operation performed by a user of the other communication device, the first notification information including first identification information configured to identify the other communication device; and a notification execution module configured to make a notification that a user of the other communication device identified based on the first identification information participates in the group call.
US09681273B2
An infrastructure service information communication device and an infrastructure service information communication method are provided. The infrastructure service information communication device and the infrastructure service information communication method allow an STA to save a large amount of power in a process of carrying out infrastructure network service information discovery, which is also favorable for power saving of those STAs that are not engaged in the infrastructure network service information discovery.
US09681270B2
Methods and systems of localizing a device are presented. In an example method, a communication signal from a device is received by a wireless reference point during a period of time. A sequence of values is generated from the communication signal, as received by the wireless reference point, during the period of time. The sequence of values is supplied to a learning model configured to generate an output based on past values of the sequence of values and at least one predicted future value of the sequence of values. The current location of the device is estimated during the period of time based on the output of the learning model.
US09681269B2
A mobile device adjusts the extents to which it depends on various satellites to estimate its global position based on the predicted probability for each such satellite that a ray extending from that satellite to the mobile device is obstructed by a building. The mobile device can predict the probabilities of building obstructions based on a digital model of the environment in which the mobile device is estimated to be. The mobile device weights the extent of uncertainty for each satellite's global positioning data based on the predicted probability of obstruction for that satellite. Using these weighted uncertainties, the mobile device selects the extents to which it relies on each satellite's global positioning data when estimating the mobile device's current global position.
US09681264B2
An aspect includes a method for providing real time data feeds to a user of a mobile device. A signal that includes an identification code is received by a mobile device from a short-range wireless communication transmitter. The signal is processed on the mobile device. The processing includes determining whether information associated with the signal is stored on the mobile device, and identifying a retrieval location of the information based on the determining and on the signal. The processing the signal is performed exclusively by a software application located on the mobile device and independently of any networks. Based on the processing, information from the retrieval location is retrieved using the mobile device. A real time data feed associated with the identification code is located. The information is displayed on the mobile device and the real time data feed is streamed on the mobile device.
US09681262B2
Techniques for supporting location services for a home Node B (HNB) and its user equipments (UEs) are disclosed. In an aspect, location services may be supported for a UE by having an HNB inter-work between user plane and control plane location solutions. In one design, the HNB receives a request for a location service for the UE and communicates (i) with a location server via the user plane location solution and (ii) with the UE via the control plane location solution to support the location service for the UE. The HNB inter-works between the user plane and control plane location solutions. In another aspect, a location server may be used to support assisted GNSS (A-GNSS) for HNBs and UEs. In one design, an HNB exchanges PCAP messages with the location server via an HNB GW and exchanges RRC messages with a UE to support a location service for the UE.
US09681259B1
A location of a mobile device can be determined. Common search queries can be provided that are associated with the location of the mobile device. Information associated with the common search queries can be transmitted to the mobile device automatically or upon user request. The information associated with the common search queries can include timing information, type of user information, user grouping, search type information, results of the common search queries, advertising relating to the common search queries, or links to additional information based on the current location.
US09681254B2
A system and method is provided for using information broadcast by devices and resources in the immediate vicinity of a mobile device, or by sensors located within the mobile device itself, to ascertain and make a determination of the immediate environment and state of the mobile device. This determination may be used to control and manage the actions that the device is asked to carry out by or on behalf of the user.
US09681248B2
Embodiments of the disclosure can include systems, methods, and apparatus for playback of three-dimensional audio sound. In one embodiment, a system can include at least one input module operable to receive a mono audio signal. The system can also include at least one processing module operable to convert the mono audio signal to a six channel signal, wherein the six channel signal is played back over a 3D-EA array of speakers, wherein the 3D-EA array of speakers facilitates a dome-shaped listening environment around a listener. In at least one embodiment, the at least one processing module is further operable to receive sonic spatial data, and based at least in part on the sonic spatial data, modify volume and/or delay associated with the six channel signal.
US09681242B2
A MEMS microphone system suited for harsh environments. The system uses an integrated circuit package. A first, solid metal lid covers one face of a ceramic package base that includes a cavity, forming an acoustic chamber. The base includes an aperture through the opposing face of the base for receiving audio signals into the chamber. A MEMS microphone is attached within the chamber about the aperture. A filter covers the aperture opening in the opposing face of the base to prevent contaminants from entering the acoustic chamber. A second metal lid encloses the opposing face of the base and may attach the filter to this face of the base. The lids are electrically connected with vias forming a radio frequency interference shield. The ceramic base material is thermally matched to the silicon microphone material to allow operation over an extended temperature range.
US09681240B2
A sound quality adjustment apparatus of an approaching vehicle audible system that generates a signal of a notification sound, which is emitted from a sounding device provided in an electric vehicle that generates at least part of driving force by use of a motor to the outside of the electric vehicle, is provided with a sound element storage unit that stores sound element data forming an element of the notification sound; a sound-source sound quality extraction unit that analyzes the sound element data so as to extract a characteristic value related to the sound quality of a sound element; a parameter setting unit that obtains a parameter for converting the sound element data in accordance with vehicle information, by use of the characteristic value extracted by the sound-source sound quality extraction unit; and a parameter storage unit that stores the parameter obtained by the parameter setting unit.
US09681234B2
A MEMS microphone structure, comprising a semiconductor substrate having a cavity, a first dielectric layer having a through-hole communicating with the cavity, a lower diaphragm electrode formed above the through-hole and at least partially attached to the upper surface of the first dielectric layer, and an upper electrode structure with an insulating layer. The upper electrode structure comprises an annular supporter, a back plate having multiple holes, and an upper electrode connection. At least a part of the annular supporter extends downwardly to the lower diaphragm electrode while the rest of the annular supporter extends downwardly to the substrate. The back plate is suspended above the lower diaphragm electrode by the annular supporter, forming an air gap therebetween. An upper electrode is embedded in the insulating layer at the back plate and is lead out by the upper electrode connection.
US09681232B2
Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to control audio playback devices are disclosed. An example first playback device includes a speaker driver, a processor, and a computer readable medium including a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the first playback device to implement a method. The example method includes receiving, from a first audio information source, first audio information. The example method includes playing back the first audio information. The example method includes receiving, from a second audio information source, (i) a first message, and (ii) second audio information. Based on the received first message, the example method includes (i) determining that the first playback device and a second playback device are to playback the second audio information; (ii) stopping play back of the first audio information; (iii) playing back, via the speaker driver, the second audio information; and (iv) sending the second audio information to the second playback device.
US09681226B2
An optical fiber decoding-based wireless gaming headset includes: an audio digital signal interface (1), a transmitter (2), and a wireless headset body (3). The audio digital signal interface (1) is electrically connected with the transmitter (2). The transmitter (2) is in wireless communication connection with the wireless headset body (3). The audio digital signal interface (1) includes an optical fiber receiving head (11) for receiving a sound optical fiber signal generated by a game console and a USB interface (12). The transmitter (2) includes a photoelectric conversion circuit (21), a USB interface signal receiving circuit (22) and a first wireless transmitting module (23). The wireless headset body (3) includes left and right horns (31), a microphone (32), a second wireless transmitting module (33) and a DA/AD conversion circuit (34).
US09681221B2
Conference Systems are commonly used in meeting rooms or plenary halls to support the discussion of a plurality of participants. Such Conference Systems may comprise more than 50 or 100 microphone equipped delegate units, whereby each delegate unit can be assigned to a participant of the discussion. A delegate unit 1 for a Conference System is proposed, the delegate unit comprises a base body 2, a microphone stem body 3 comprising a microphone head 10 and a stem 11, whereby the microphone head 10 is arranged on the stem 11 and whereby the microphone stem body 3 is arranged on the base body 2, whereby the microphone head 10 has a directional microphone characteristic.
US09681212B2
A headphone comprises a plurality of actuatable equalization selectors. Each of the selectors corresponds to an equalization setting that includes a preset distribution of relative amplitudes of sounds in predetermined frequency ranges. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of actuatable equalization selectors is a button-type switch. A knob-type switch or a voice recognition mechanism could also actuate an equalization setting. In a preferred embodiment, an equalizer identification indicator produces a communication perceivable to a headphone wearer and which corresponds to an equalization setting. The communication can be audible, preferably a human voice, or tactile, preferably vibration patterns corresponding to equalization settings.
US09681211B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a two-wire microphone includes an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes an amplifier having a power supply connection coupled to a first pin of the integrated circuit and a reference connection coupled to a second pin of the integrated circuit, and an impedance element having a first end coupled to an output of the amplifier and a second end coupled to a first node within the integrated circuit.
US09681208B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a data processing method, a communications board and a device. The method includes: acquiring, by a first communications board, an optical channel data unit ODU data flow; performing, by the first communications board, slicing processing on the ODU data flow according to a fixed frame frequency, so as to obtain various slices, where each slice includes a section of continuous ODU data in the ODU data flow; separately encapsulating, by the first communications board, each slice into an Ethernet frame; and sending, by the first communications board, each Ethernet frame to a time division multiplexing TDM service switching module in an Ethernet switching chip, so that the TDM service switching module sends each Ethernet frame to a second communications board to which a destination MAC address carried in the Ethernet frame directs.
US09681204B2
Methods and apparatus to validate a tag for media are disclosed. An example method includes obtaining first identification information extracted from a tag distributed with media presented at a presentation location, obtaining second identification information determined from at least one of a) inherent information of at least one of audio or video of the media presented at the presentation location or b) a watermark embedded in at least one of the audio or the video of the media presented at the presentation, comparing the first identification information with the second identification information, and when first identification information does not substantially match the second identification information, preventing the tag from being used to report exposure of the media.
US09681201B2
A comment information generating apparatus includes: a video obtaining unit which receives a video; a comment input receiving unit which receives position information of an object in the video and a comment that is displayed with the object and is caused to track the object starting from a predetermined timing; a target time determining unit which determines, to be a target value indicating a time length, a target time during which the comment is displayed, based on the comment; an object motion determining unit which determines, for the object, a motion trajectory having a time length substantially equal to the target time and along which the comment is caused to track the object; a comment information generating unit which generates comment information including the comment and the motion trajectory of the object; and an output unit which outputs the comment information.
US09681188B2
A method for operating a display device according to an embodiment includes acquiring an image of a plurality of users, recognizing a plurality of faces respectively corresponding to the plurality of users from the acquired image, checking a viewing state of media content for each user, when the plurality of users respectively corresponding to the plurality of recognized faces are registered users, acquiring viewing information corresponding to at least one of the plurality of registered users of which the viewing state has been changed from a viewing maintaining state in which the media content is viewed to a not-viewing state in which the media content is not viewed, and performing a re-viewing function on the basis of the acquired viewing information when a face of the user of which the viewing state has been changed is re-recognized.
US09681160B2
A method for creating a compound media stream includes obtaining a first media segment, obtaining a first matching criterion, and automatically associating the first media segment with an existing media stream to produce the compound media stream.
US09681151B2
Methods for improved parallel motion estimation are provided that decouple the merging candidate list derivation and motion estimation for merge mode and skip mode and the advanced motion vector predictor (AMVP) candidate list construction from regular motion estimation to increase the coding quality in parallel motion estimation while meeting throughput requirements. This decoupling may be accomplished by modifying the availability rules for spatial motion data (SMD) positions for construction of the candidate lists. As part of the decoupling, largest coding units (LCUs) of a picture may be divided into non-overlapping parallel motion estimation regions (PMER) of equal size. Within a PMER, motion estimation for merge mode, skip mode, and normal inter-prediction mode may be performed in parallel for all the prediction units (PUs) in the PMER.
US09681146B2
A system for decoding a data stream, comprising: a first decoder configured to decode the data stream at a first rate so as to generate a first stream of frames for playback and arranged to continue generating the first stream despite encountering an error in a particular frame; a second decoder operable to decode the data stream at a second rate so as to generate a second stream of frames; and a controller configured to: detect the error and cause the second decoder to decode the data stream from the particular frame in dependence on error correction data, the second rate being faster than the first rate such that the second stream catches up with the first stream; determine when the second decoder catches up with the first decoder; and cause the second decoder to operate at the first rate so as to generate the second stream for playback.
US09681140B2
A method for encoding an image represented in a perceptual color space is described. The image has at least a luminance component. The method includes transforming by a wavelet transform the luminance component to form at least one low frequency subband of wavelet coefficients, reconstructing a low frequency component for at least one spatial area of the low frequency subband, subtracting the reconstructed low frequency component from the wavelet coefficients of the spatial area, quantizing the wavelet coefficients of the spatial area responsive to the threshold, the threshold being proportional to the reconstructed low frequency component of the spatial area and encoding the quantized wavelet coefficients and the low frequency component.
US09681137B2
An image coding method comprising: obtaining current signals to be coded of each of the processing units of the image; generating a binary signal by performing binarization on each of the current signals to be coded; selecting a context for each of the current signals to be coded from among a plurality of contexts; performing arithmetic coding of the binary signal by using coded probability information associated with the context selected in the selecting; and updating the coded probability information based on the binary signal, wherein, in the selecting, the context for the current signal to be coded is selected, as a shared context, for a signal which is included in one of a plurality of processing units and has a size different from a size of the processing unit including the current signal to be coded.
US09681131B2
A method and device are provided for encoding at least one image broken up into blocks. The method includes, for at least one current block, transforming the current block from the spatial domain into a transformed domain, outputting a transformed block including of a set of coefficients representative of the current block, referred to as original coefficients. The method further includes selecting a subset of original coefficients from the set and, for at least one original coefficient of the subset, the following steps: estimating the original coefficient, outputting an estimated coefficient in the transformed domain; determining a residual of a coefficient by comparing the original coefficient and the estimated coefficient; and encoding the residual of a coefficient.
US09681100B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus for conducting a video conference. A location of a person is determined based on a direction of a source of speech. The location of an image capture device and/or a portion of a display device may be adjusted based on the determined direction of the source of speech.
US09681095B2
The local address book of a device can be crawled for contact information, which is communicated to an address clearinghouse. The clearinghouse can indicate whether a contact is a participant in a video calling service. If so, an indication can be stored locally indicating that the contact is a participant. Later, during an audio-only call with the contact, an option to escalate the audio-only call to a video call via the video calling service can be presented.
US09681081B2
The invention relates to a transimpedance gain circuit for temporally differentiating photo-sensing systems in dynamic vision sensors, which uses at least one photodiode and at least two in-series transistors, each of the transistors being connected in diode configuration and being positioned at the output of the photodiode. The output current from the photodiode flows through the drain-source channels of the transistors and the source of the last transistor in series is connected to a voltage selected from ground voltage, a constant voltage or a controlled voltage.
US09681077B2
A device for transferring charges photogenerated in a portion of a semiconductor layer delimited by at least two parallel trenches, each trench including, lengthwise, at least a first and a second conductive regions insulated from each other and from the semiconductor layer, including the repeating of a first step of biasing of the first conductive regions to a first voltage to form a volume accumulation of holes in the area of this portion located between the first regions, while the second conductive regions are biased to a second voltage greater than the first voltage, and of a second step of biasing of the first regions to the second voltage and of the second regions to the first voltage.
US09681076B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric conversion element, an accumulation unit accumulating charges generated by the photoelectric conversion element, a reset unit resetting the accumulation unit at a voltage of equal to or more than 4.05 V, and an amplifier transistor amplifying and outputting a signal corresponding to amount of accumulated charges, a vertical output line connected to the pixel, a current source circuit including first to third transistors flowing a constant current through the vertical output line, and a voltage setting circuit respectively setting the gate voltages of the first to third transistors to a first voltage, a second voltage higher than the first voltage, and a third voltage higher than the second voltage and lower than the power supply voltage so as to set the drain-source voltage of each of the first to third transistors to equal to or less than 1.75 V.
US09681071B2
In a pixel array within an integrated-circuit image sensor, each of a plurality of pixels is evaluated to determine whether charge integrated within the pixel in response to incident light exceeds a first threshold. N-bit digital samples corresponding to the charge integrated within at least a subset of the plurality of pixels are generated, and then applied to a lookup table to retrieve respective M-bit digital values (M being less than N), wherein a stepwise range of charge integration levels represented by possible states of the M-bit digital values extends upward from a starting charge integration level that is determined based on the first threshold.
US09681069B2
Spatio-temporal light field cameras that can be used to capture the light field within its spatio temporally extended angular extent. Such cameras can be used to record 3D images, 2D images that can be computationally focused, or wide angle panoramic 2D images with relatively high spatial and directional resolutions. The light field cameras can be also be used as 2D/3D switchable cameras with extended angular extent. The spatio-temporal aspects of the novel light field cameras allow them to capture and digitally record the intensity and color from multiple directional views within a wide angle. The inherent volumetric compactness of the light field cameras make it possible to embed in small mobile devices to capture either 3D images or computationally focusable 2D images. The inherent versatility of these light field cameras makes them suitable for multiple perspective light field capture for 3D movies and video recording applications.
US09681068B2
Multiple cameras are arranged in an array at a pitch, roll, and yaw that allow the cameras to have adjacent fields of view such that each camera is pointed inward relative to the array. The read window of an image sensor of each camera in a multi-camera array can be adjusted to minimize the overlap between adjacent fields of view, to maximize the correlation within the overlapping portions of the fields of view, and to correct for manufacturing and assembly tolerances. Images from cameras in a multi-camera array with adjacent fields of view can be manipulated using low-power warping and cropping techniques, and can be taped together to form a final image.
US09681066B2
A method for improved calibration of captured infrared data values by an IR imaging system in a thermography arrangement dependent on an infrared (IR) image depicting an observed real world scene. The IR image may be captured by a thermography arrangement including the IR imaging system, wherein infrared (IR) image is related to temperature dependent on IR calibration parameters. A predefined feature may be detected from the IR image, and the IR imaging system may be calibrated based on the predefined feature.
US09681062B2
A vision system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor disposed at the vehicle and having an exterior field of view, and an image processor. The imaging sensor captures image data and the image processor is operable to process successive frames of captured image data. Responsive to a determination of a low visibility driving condition, the image processor increases the contrast of the captured images to enhance discrimination of objects in the field of view of the imaging sensor. The image processor may execute a first brightness transfer function on frames of captured image data to enhance the contrast of captured image data, and may execute a second brightness transfer function over successive frames of earlier captured image data and may execute a tone mapping of the earlier captured image data and the currently captured image data to generate a contrast enhanced output image.
US09681061B2
An image-processing device is provided with: a flicker detecting portion that detects a flicker component in an input image signal for each frame and that generates a first signal; a storing portion that stores the generated first signal for a plurality of latest continuous frames; a phase-displacement detecting portion that selects, from the stored past first flicker correction signals, the first signal having substantially the same phase as the most-recent first signal, and that detects a phase displacement level with respect to the most-recent first signal; a phase-displacement correcting portion that corrects the selected past first signal on the basis of the detected phase displacement level; an infinite-impulse-response combining portion that generates a second signal by combining, at a predetermined ratio, the corrected past first signal and the most-recent first signal; and a flicker correcting portion that corrects the input image signal on the basis of the generated second signal.
US09681057B2
The exposure of pixel lines in one or more image sensor regions is substantially synchronized. Each image sensor region is associated with a different lens in a multi-lens camera system. For a first pixel line in a first image sensor region and a second pixel line in a second image sensor region corresponding to the same portion of a field of view, the first pixel line and the second pixel line are sequentially or substantially simultaneously exposed. After exposing the first pixel line and the second pixel line, image information associated with the exposures is combined and output on the same readout line.
US09681055B2
A preview system of an image capture apparatus has a processing circuit and a display apparatus. The processing circuit reads an input image, scales at least a portion of the input image to generate a first preview image, and derives a second preview image from a selected portion of the input image. The display apparatus displays the first preview image and the second preview image, concurrently. Besides, a preview method for an image capture apparatus includes at least the following steps: reading an input image; scaling at least a portion of the input image to generate a first preview image; deriving a second preview image from a selected portion of the input image; and displaying the first preview image and the second preview image on a display apparatus, concurrently.
US09681053B2
In some embodiments, an image sensor mechanically coupled to a base of a camera module. A coil assembly is mechanically coupled to the base of the camera module. The coil assembly includes terminals for connections to respective ones of coils through leads routed through thin areas leading to coil housings. The coils include optical image stabilization coils mounted perpendicular to the image sensor on each of a plurality of faces of the camera actuator module.
US09681041B1
An apparatus, system and method are disclosed for photographing an image in a photo booth employing a light-emitting backdrop. For example, the apparatus comprises a photo booth including a housing having an entrance on one side with movable closure member to minimize encroachment of exterior light, a seat, a first white light source facing the subject(s) for emitting a first selected light intensity upon the subjects, a second white light emitting source facing generally the rear of the subject(s) so as to provide a light-emitting photographic backdrop, and a device for receiving a selected form of payment, or alternatively, for activating the apparatus without payment. In addition, the apparatus includes a photography unit comprising a selected camera, a program-controlled apparatus, a printer, and the first light source, for taking a digital photograph of objects within a selected frame of reference.
US09681040B2
A method of tracking faces in an image stream with a digital image acquisition device includes receiving images from an image stream including faces, calculating corresponding integral images, and applying different subsets of face detection rectangles to the integral images to provide sets of candidate regions. The different subsets include candidate face regions of different sizes and/or locations within the images. The different candidate face regions from different images of the image stream are each tracked.
US09681037B2
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit for picking up an optical image of an object and generating image pickup data which can be refocused, a detection unit for detecting a focus state of the optical image of the object, a prediction unit for predicting an in-focus position of the optical image of the object on the basis of a detection result of the detection unit, and a focus adjustment unit for driving a focus lens on the basis of the in-focus position predicted by the prediction unit, wherein in a case where the imaging unit picks up a plurality of images from the object, the focus adjustment unit drives the focus lens to a position deviated from the in-focus position predicted by the prediction unit by a predetermined amount, and has a plurality of patterns of a position deviated by the predetermined amount.
US09681034B2
An integrated substrate for an anti-shake apparatus defined with an optical axis includes: a substrate, a lens module, an anti-shake apparatus and an image-sensing module. The substrate includes a frame having a predetermined thickness. The frame includes a first surface, a second surface, a first circuit layout, and a second circuit layout. The lens module is located above the substrate on the optical axis. The anti-shake apparatus is furnished between the lens module and the substrate. The image-sensing module has an active side and an inactive side, and the inactive side is furnished onto the second surface. The active side is located on the optical axis in a manner of facing the lens module. The anti-shake apparatus is coupled to the first circuit layout, while the image-sensing module is coupled to the second circuit layout. The first and second circuit layouts comprise a plurality of first and second metal leads, respectively.
US09681033B2
A system for locating a cable tethered from a machine along a worksite is disclosed. The system includes a laser scanner and a color camera. A location unit generates a position of the machine. The system includes a processing device disposed on the machine and in communication with the laser scanner, the color camera and the location unit. The processing device determines a location of the cable based on signals from the laser scanner and the color camera. The system further includes a server remotely located with respect to the machine and disposed in communication with the processing device. The server is configured to record locations of the cable at different instances of time and generates a map of the cable based on the locations of the cable.
US09681028B2
Modular digital camera systems, such as modular digital still and motion cameras are disclosed. Individual modules may be removed from the system and replaced, such as to benefit from upgraded technology, while preserving the remaining modules in the system. The modules may be disassembled and reconstructed to convert the physical form of the camera, such as between still configurations, motion configurations, ENG configurations, DSLR configurations and studio configurations. The modules may be used to add wireless capabilities employing standard wireless protocols to allow a variety of devices to control or communicate with the modular digital camera system. The wireless capabilities may also be used to present a soft interface for camera control to the user, exposing a variety of variables and controls to the user that may otherwise be difficult or impossible to access.
US09681027B2
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes photographing a plurality of images consecutively, determining an unchangeable region having a variation equal to or smaller than a reference value and a changeable region having the variation greater than the reference value in each of a plurality of the photographed images using the variations among a plurality of the photographed images, and creating a moving image by merging an image generated from combining the changeable regions in a plurality of the photographed images with the unchangeable region. Accordingly, the present invention provides a user with a moving image created in a manner of analyzing a region having a considerable variation in a plurality of photos taken before and after a photographing timing point and using a photo at the photographing timing point and a result from editing the analyzed region separately.
US09681024B2
An image processing apparatus receiving a pixel value of a multivalue image includes: an input noise generating section that generates a noise; a green noise generating section that generates a green noise from an output value of a binarized processed pixel; an adder section that adds an error integrated value, the green noise and the noise, to the pixel value of the target pixel; the threshold value processing section that binarizes the pixel value of the target pixel after adding the error integrated value, the green noise and the noise; a subtractor section that calculates an error value by calculating a difference between an output value of the binarized target pixel and the pixel value of the target pixel including the error integrated value and the noise; and an error integrating section that outputs the error integrated value by using the error value of the binarized processed pixel.
US09681018B2
An information processing device is connected to a printing device, and has a storage device. Multiple pieces of application-generated data corresponding to multiple documents are generated by an application program. When a piece of application-generated data is obtained, it is temporarily stored in a storage device every time. When a particular print instruction is received, multiple pieces of application-generated data stored in the storage device are combined to generate a single piece of combined print data. The combined print data representing a combination of the multiple pieces of application-generated data respectively corresponding to multiple documents. The pages of images represented by the combined print data are continuously arranged, and is output to the printing device.
US09681015B2
An optical device includes: a movable section capable of swinging about a first axis; a frame body section capable of swinging about a second axis crossing the first axis; a first shaft section configured to connect the movable section and the frame body section; and a light reflection plate fixed to the movable section and provided with a light reflecting section having light reflectivity, wherein in plan view from a thickness direction of the light reflection plate, a center of gravity of the light reflection plate is shifted from the first axis.
US09681011B2
An original reading apparatus includes an original tray. A conveyance unit conveys an original of an original bundle on the original tray. A reading unit reads the original conveyed. A first detection unit detects a first length of the original in a principal scanning direction. A second detection unit detects a second length of the original bundle in an auxiliary scanning direction. A third detection unit detects the original conveyed. A prediction unit predicts an original size by selecting from candidates corresponding to the first length in a first prediction mode, or by determining based on the first and second lengths in a second prediction mode. A specifying unit specifies the original size based on the first length and a length in the auxiliary scanning direction detected by the third detection unit. A change unit changes the prediction mode when the predicted original size differs from the specified original size.
US09680998B2
A method and system for providing automated call center services, operating by identifying a caller, accessing the caller's account information, determining the likely reason for the call, identifying an agent skill group based on the likely reason for the call, and providing an available agent with access to the caller's account information, together with a script based on the likely reason for the call. Data and voice access to agents is combined with specialized methods and systems for determining agent optimization capabilities, thereby allowing multiple call centers located in geographically different areas to operate as a seamless virtual call center, having the capability to dynamically reorganize the structure of available agents, regardless of where located. Real time statistics allow determination of how many agents should be available and what skill set those agents should have, thereby facilitating management decisions.
US09680994B2
Method of using a computerized smartphone to navigate remote auto attendant telephony systems with a menu structure. The auto attendant's menu structure is put into an online computer database. The caller uses the smartphone to call and establish a voice channel with remote auto attendant telephony system (using the telephone number of that system), software applications running on the caller's smartphone communication device intercept the telephone number and along with the voice channel, also establish a data channel with the online computer accessible database. The caller's smartphone retrieves at least some of the menu structure of the auto attendant telephony system through this data channel, and displays at least some of the menu structure of the remote auto attendant telephony system on the graphical user interface of the user's smartphone synchronized, with the audio delivery of the menu structure, thus facilitating interactions with the auto attendant system.
US09680993B2
A web-based hosted solution through which business entities create and manage communications campaigns is described. To reduce latency of customer-to-agent connections, the system implements an agent stay-on-line function by which a persistent telephony connection is established and maintained between the system infrastructure and an available agent. In this manner, the agent may handle multiple customers while avoiding an ACD hold queue. In addition, preferably a service-side hold queue also is established and maintained on the service-side of the infrastructure. This hold queue maintains calls that are waiting to be connected to available agents. It ensures that any customer abandons do not impair the connections being established and maintained to the agents.
US09680990B2
In one embodiment, a social networking system determines a user identifier of a caller placing a call to a receiving user based on the call's phone number, accesses one or more data stores for information associated with the caller, and present to the receiving user the information associated with the caller.
US09680986B2
A keyboard deactivation module includes a processor configured to generate an on-screen keyboard control signal, a CAN bus interface configured to connect to a CAN bus of a vehicle, and obtain vehicle speed information indicating a current speed of the vehicle from the vehicle via the CAN bus, and a Bluetooth radio configured to transmit the on-screen keyboard control signal to a target electronic device. An on-screen keyboard of the target electronic device is enabled in response to receiving the on-screen keyboard control signal while the vehicle speed information indicates that the current speed of the vehicle is below a specified threshold, and the on-screen keyboard of the target electronic device is disabled in response to receiving the on-screen keyboard control signal while the vehicle speed information indicates that the current speed of the vehicle is above a specified threshold. The keyboard deactivation module is mounted in the vehicle.
US09680981B2
A control method of a home appliance, the method including retrieving information about a communication device, authenticating the communication device, registering the authenticated communication device, receiving voice data from the registered communication device, outputting a voice signal corresponding to the received voice data to a user, receiving the voice signal from the user, and transmitting voice data corresponding to the received voice signal to the communication device. When the method is used, even if a user loses a communication device in a home, call is possible using a home appliance such as refrigerator.
US09680980B2
Electronic devices and accessories such as headsets for electronic devices are provided. A microphone may be included in an accessory to capture sound for an associated electronic device. Buttons and other user interfaces may be included in the accessories. An accessory may have an audio plug that connects to a mating audio jack in an electronic device, thereby establishing a wired communications link between the accessory and the electronic device. The electronic device may include power supply circuitry for applying bias voltages to the accessory. The bias voltages may bias a microphone and may adjust settings in the accessory such as settings related to operating modes. User input information may be conveyed between the accessory and the electronic device using ultrasonic tone transmission. The electronic device may also gather input from the accessory using a voltage detector coupled to lines in the communications path.
US09680972B2
A cellular handset, including a base band modem that transitions between a normal mode, a sleep mode and a shutdown mode, flash memory, coupled with the base band modem, for storing code and data used for operation of the base band modem in normal mode, a memory controller, coupled with the flash memory, for accessing the flash memory, and a convergence controller, connected to the base band modem and to the memory controller, comprising a host port for connecting an external host device to the cellular handset, wherein the convergence controller enables the external host device to access the flash memory while the base band modem is in sleep or shutdown mode.
US09680971B2
A method, system and an apparatus to paravirtualize a wireless interface is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method receives a frame of data for a wireless service through a wireless interface of a host device using a processor. If the frame of data is associated with a first type of category, the frame of data is processed through a first standard interface. If the frame of data is associated with a second type of category, the frame is processed through a second standard interface. The method then sends the frame of data processed through the first standard interface or the second standard interface to a guest. A virtual wireless interface associated the guest that is emulating the wireless interface of the host device converts the frame of data processed through the first standard interface to the second standard of communication.
US09680947B2
Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive a first plurality of actions from a first entity with respect to a first plurality of objects. A global object related to each of the first plurality of objects is determined and a representation of the global object is displayed in association with a representation of the first entity. Additionally, in response to receiving user feedback on the representation of the global object displayed in association with the representation of the first entity, an instance of the global object that is unique to the first entity is created. The displayed representation of the global object is converted into a representation of the instance of the global object that is unique to the first entity.
US09680945B1
Systems and methods are disclosed enabling recommendations of content items based on a difficulty of the content item as well as a skill level of the user. Skill-based content recommendations may be utilized, for example, in recommending content to language learners. Skill-based recommendations may be based on a variety of difficulty metrics of the content item, such as vocabulary and complexity of the language (e.g., words per paragraph, syllables per word, etc.), as well as a variety of skill metrics of the user (e.g., as explicitly provided by the user or implicitly determined based on a user's interaction with content items). Advantageously, such metrics can enable generation of recommendations based on a multi-dimensional difficulty assessment. Further, difficulty metrics, skill metrics, or the relationship between such metrics may be dynamically updated over time based on continued feedback from users, such that recommendations are dynamically improved.
US09680929B2
In one embodiment, accessing a set of multimedia objects stored on a first computing device; initiating upload of the set of multimedia objects to a second computing device; and while the set of multimedia objects is being uploaded to the second computing device, receiving metadata entered by a user and associating metadata with each of one or more multimedia objects from the set of multimedia objects.
US09680926B2
The present invention relates to a method of and a device for, arranging peers in a P2P network comprising a streaming source and network peers arranged at distribution levels in the P2P network. The method comprises receiving a request from a peer entering the network to receive data content, and determining a distribution level in the P2P network at which the entering peer is to be arranged with respect to the streaming source. Further, the method comprises providing the entering peer with a plurality of peers selected from the network peers from which the requested data content can be downloaded with an expected probability depending on the determined distribution level, and further indicating the distribution level of each of the plurality of peers, wherein the entering peer is enabled to download, with the expected probability, the requested data content from a selected one of said plurality of peers being arranged at a distribution level closest to that determined for the entering peer.The present invention further relates to a method of requesting data content in a P2P network and a peer device.
US09680922B2
A method for execution by a network element of a communications network. The method comprises receiving from a first network entity a first communication that includes at least (i) a network-initiated message generated by a server-side portion of an application that also has a corresponding client-side portion and (ii) a first application identifier associated with the application. The method further comprises consulting a database based at least on the first application identifier in an attempt to identify a second application identifier associated with the application; and releasing to a second network entity a second communication that includes at least (i) the network-initiated message and (ii) either the second application identifier, if the attempt was successful, or the first application identifier, if the attempt was unsuccessful.
US09680915B2
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and device for clustering a network includes obtaining information regarding a network including relationship information for a plurality of nodes of the network. A weight value for each of a plurality of directly connected pairs of the plurality of nodes is determined, wherein the directly connected pair are identified based on the relationship information. At least one topology score is generated for each of the plurality of nodes. A plurality of clusters is generated using the topology scores and one of the plurality of nodes as a seed node for each of the clusters. At least the seed node used to generate at least a subset of the plurality of clusters is output.
US09680908B1
A method comprising: storing, at a server, an electronic resource that has been electronically signed by a user; associating the electronic resource with an identifier; receiving, at the server and from a client device, a request to identify the user who electronically signed the electronic resource, the request including a reference to the identifier; responsive to receiving the request to identify the user who electronically signed the electronic resource, identifying, based on the reference to the identifier, the electronic resource stored at the server; responsive to identifying the electronic resource stored at the server, identifying the user who electronically signed the identified electronic resource; and transmitting, from the server to the client device, an indication of an identity of the user who electronically signed the electronic resource.
US09680907B2
A method of generating alerts pertaining to a commute by the user and selecting content items to be presented to the user in conjunction with the alerts is disclosed. A pattern in a commuting by a user is detected. A content item is selected based on a correspondence between the content item and other users and a similarity between the user and the other users. An alert is generated pertaining to a milestone in the pattern of the commuting by the user. The content item and the alert are transmitted for presentation in combination to the user during the commuting by the user.
US09680906B2
Techniques are described for detecting faults in media content based on the behavior of users viewing the media content. Embodiments stream a first instance of media content to one or more users. The behavior of the one or more users is monitored while the users are viewing the streaming first instance of media content. Embodiments then determine whether the first instance of media content is faulty, based on the monitored behavior of the one or more users.
US09680899B2
The invention relates to a method for synchronizing an action in a piece of Rich Media® content with a change in a piece of audiovisual content, said Rich Media® and audiovisual content being part of a Rich Media® presentation. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: obtaining a piece of information representative of said change in said piece of audiovisual content, or change information; synchronizing an action in said piece of Rich Media® content with said change, said synchronization step including the following substeps: converting said change information into a Rich Media® event; detecting said event by at least one Rich Media® object of said presentation; triggering said action in said presentation on the basis of said detected event.
US09680897B2
A system can throttle compression of instrumentation data related to a page view, by throttled scanning processes. Then that data can be communication over the Internet to a server effectively. The scanning of instrumentation data can be performed via batch processing; and therefore, data for compression may be maximized or throttled. The system can also accelerate the various caching options involved with the streaming of content items and ad items. For example, such items can be retrieved by the local and/or remote caches associated with the client-side application and/or the page view, prior to the items being requested by and/or presented to a user, via batch retrieval processes. These batch retrieval processes can also be combined with the batch scanning processes.
US09680894B2
A system is described herein for streaming content to a plurality of client devices of the type including a video display. The system includes: a host server, a communication network to enable communication between the virtual machines and the client devices, and a data structure accessible by the host server storing a combined manifest for AV data assets loaded across at least a plurality of virtual machines. The host server is configured to include a plurality of virtual machines each configured to receive commands to load or cache audio-visual (AV) data assets into a memory for processing and delivery of content to a client device. Additionally, the host server is configured to intercept a command from a virtual machine to load or cache a data asset, compare the data asset to the manifest, and if the data asset exists in the manifest, enable the virtual machine to access an instance of the data asset stored in the manifest.
US09680890B2
A system delay factor associated with a segment file of a streaming media product is determined. A file transfer delay factor associated with the segment file of the streaming media product is also determined. A media delivery composite is determined for the segment file of the streaming media product based upon, at least in part, the system delay factor associated with the segment file and the file transfer delay factor associated with the segment file.
US09680869B2
An example method includes identifying a transport layer security (TLS) session between a client and a server, parsing one or more TLS messages to identify a session ticket associated with the session, transforming the session ticket into a fixed size session token, and managing the session using the session token to identify the session. The transforming may include computing a hash value of the session ticket using a hashing algorithm. If any of the TLS messages is spread across more than one TLS protocol record, the method can include computing a hash value of a portion of the session ticket encountered in a TLS protocol record using a hashing algorithm, incrementally computing another hash value of another portion of the session ticket encountered in a subsequent TLS protocol record from the previously computed hash value, and repeating the incremental computing until portions of the session ticket have been processed.
US09680863B2
Systems, methods, and software described herein provide security actions to computing assets of a computing environment. In one example, a method of operating an advisement system to manage security actions for a computing environment includes identifying a security incident for an asset in the environment, and obtaining enrichment information about the security incident. The method further includes identifying a rule set based on the enrichment information, identifying an action response based on the rule set, and initiating implementation of the action response in the computing environment.
US09680861B2
Systems and methods may use historical analysis to identify malicious activity. A discovery/recovery system may comprise a processor in communication with a network and in communication with a database. The discovery/recovery system may gather filtered historical network data associated with an asset associated with the network. The discovery/recovery system may analyze the filtered historical network data to determine whether a subset of the filtered historical network data is associated with a malware infection of the asset.
US09680858B1
Among other things, information is acquired and stored that is indicative of security risks associated with security subjects and with entities to which the security subjects belong. The stored information is analyzed by computer to derive security indicators for the entities. With respect to entities selected by the users, security information is presented by computer to users. The security information includes security indicators for the entities and security information for security subjects. The security information for security subjects includes annotations provided by users. The annotations are managed by computer based on communications from the users.
US09680850B2
A method of identifying if a web client has browser capabilities. An originating machine receives a web page request from the web client. The originating machine generates a page request id (PRID) and a script which, when executed by a web client with a browser, regenerates a PRID, and embeds the script in a response. The originating machine sends the response to the web client for the web client to process and, if the web client is capable, to execute the embedded script, thereby to regenerate a PRID, and to return the regenerated PRID to the originating machine. The originating machine compares the returned regenerated PRID with the generated PRID, a match indicating that the web client has browser capabilities.
US09680844B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for automated collection of user-specified forensic data from a target computer associated with a case. In particular, embodiments herein disclosed provide for a system that is configured to provide a user interface to allow a user to select a target computer within a network, select one or more user profiles associated with the target computer, and specify one or more types of forensic data to be collected from the target computer. The system is also configured to create a subfolder in a folder linked to the case and one or more files in the subfolder for storing the user-specified data; connect the computer apparatus to the target computer; and collect the specified data and save the collected data to the files.
US09680835B1
A system for proactive intrusion protection comprises a memory operable to store data identifying a plurality of compromising entities, comprising at least one of a device identifier or a contact identifier, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to receive, from a remote application associated with a remote device and with the system, information regarding a source of the incoming communication. The processor is further operable to determine an entity associated with the source of the incoming communication and to determine that the entity associated with the source matches at least one of the plurality of compromising entities based on comparing the data identifying the plurality of compromising entities and the entity associated with the source of the incoming communication. Furthermore, the processor is operable to send to the remote application a signal configured to block the incoming communication.
US09680824B1
A method and system for authenticating applications. The method includes receiving, by a service virtual machine (SVM), a secret from a management service. The SVM is executing on a computing device. The method also includes providing, by the SVM, the secret to an application executing on an application virtual machine (AVM). The AVM is executing on the computing device. The method further includes providing, by the application, the secret to a remote application server in order for the remote application server to authenticate the application.
US09680811B2
A communication method and system for implementing third-party authentication is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving a service request from a requesting party; performing a third-party authentication on the service request according to a gray list and obtaining an authentication result; and processing the service request according to the authentication result. The system includes one or more processing elements, for example, user equipment (UE), Proxy Call Session Control Function (PCSCF), Service Call Session Control Function (SCSCF) and Application Server (AS) which cooperate to perform the disclosed method. The present invention implements a third-party control of services based on the gray list, and can effectively manage a variety of services in the communication system.
US09680805B1
A method and system for key management. The method includes receiving, by a control domain on a server, a request for a tenant key, and obtaining an authorization secret from a management service, where the management service is external to the server. The method further includes, in response to the request, decrypting, after obtaining the authorization secret, an encrypted platform master key to obtain a platform master key, decrypting an encrypted tenant key to obtain the tenant key using the platform master key, and providing the tenant key to an entity that issued the request.
US09680798B2
Network fabric devices capable of participating in an anonymity protocol can be configured to operate as virtual circuit end-points where the node routes packets between a virtual circuit associated with a hidden service address and a port-level channel. Through management of the virtual circuit end-points, the network fabric devices participate as a hop in a virtual circuit, host hidden services, or operate as an interface to hidden services while reducing latency and truly hiding hidden services.
US09680797B2
An aspect of the present disclosure provides deep packet inspection (DPI) of network packets for keywords of a vocabulary. In one embodiment, a mapping specifying association of respective keywords to corresponding unique pattern codes is maintained, with each pattern code being shorter in length compared to the corresponding keyword and being computed based on a formula. Upon receiving a network packet, a token (containing a sequence of characters) present in the network packet is first identified and the formula then applied to the identified token to generate a token code. The token is determined to match a specific keyword when the token code equals the pattern code corresponding to the specific keyword in the mapping.
US09680795B2
Techniques for destination domain extraction for secure protocols are disclosed. In some embodiments, destination domain extraction for secure protocols includes monitoring network communications between a client and a remote server; determining if the client sends a request to create a secure connection with the remote server (e.g., in which the network communications are initiating a setup for a secure protocol-based connection); and extracting a destination domain from the request to create the secure connection with the remote server. In some embodiments, the secure protocol is a secure sockets layer (SSL) protocol or transport layer security (TLS) protocol, and the destination domain is extracted from the server name indication (SNI) of a client hello message sent from the client to the remote server. In some embodiments, destination domain extraction for secure protocols further includes applying a policy (e.g., a security policy) based on the destination domain to filter traffic using a security device.
US09680794B2
A system for transmitting ArchestrA information from a first network in a first security domain to a second network in a second security domain. A first stand-alone server within the first security domain retrieves information via the first network from a first ArchestrA Galaxy and/or from a first historian in the first security domain and forwards the retrieved information to a send server coupled to the first network. The send server forwards the received information received to a receive server via a one-way data link. The receive server receives the information from the send server and forwards the received information to a second stand-alone server via the second network. The second stand-alone server receives the information from the receive server and forwards the information to a second ArchestrA Galaxy and/or to a second historian in the second security domain.
US09680790B2
In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for managing Domain Name System (DNS) information is provided. The method uses a computing device having a processor and a memory. The method includes receiving, in the memory, source DNS data from a plurality of DNS systems including at least first source data from a first source system and second source data from a second source system. The method also includes identifying, by the processor, an inconsistency between the first source data and the second source data. The inconsistency includes an inconsistency type. The method further includes determining a solution to the inconsistency by applying one or more rules from a plurality of inconsistency rules based at least in part on the inconsistency type associated with the inconsistency. The method also includes resolving the inconsistency using the determined solution including generating resultant DNS data.
US09680789B2
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying one or more first users of the social-networking system that are connected to a second user within the social-networking system; inferring one or more applications of interest to the second user based at least in part on information associated with one or more applications installed on one or more client systems of the first users; generating one or more recommendations corresponding to one or more of the applications of interest to the second user; ranking the recommendations based on social-graph information of the second user relative to the one or more first users; and sending one or more of the ranked recommendations to one or more client devices of the second user.
US09680788B2
A method, apparatus, and system for automatically prompting a user to sign up for a microblog. The method includes acquiring follow requests that are sent by multiple microblog users to a to-be-invited use. The method also includes creating pre-follow relationships according to the follow requests, and saving the pre-follow relationships between the to-be-invited user and the microblog users that send the follow requests, to generate a pre-follow relationship table. The method also includes sending, in a case in which the number of all pre-follow relationships corresponding to the to-be-invited user is greater than or equal to a first threshold, a prompt message to the to-be-invited user, so as to prompt the to-be-invited user to sign up for the microblog.
US09680784B2
A method, executed by one or more processors, includes receiving a message that is addressed to a user, determining, via one or more sensors, whether the user is occupied with an attention critical situation, and conducting a user-directed response process responsive to determining that the user is not occupied with an attention critical situation. In some embodiments, the user-directed response process includes conducting a text substitution process on the message, presenting an abbreviated version of the message and a list of response options to the user, determining a response option that is selected by the user, and sending a response to the message that corresponds to the response option that is selected by the user. In some embodiments, the list of response options includes a plurality of message-dependent formulated responses, a null response, and a spoken response. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed herein.
US09680781B2
According to one embodiment, a system includes an interface, a memory, and a processor. The interface receives, from a first device associated with a requesting user, a request. The requesting user is associated with an enterprise group. The enterprise group comprises a plurality of users. The memory is operable to store e-mail information for each of the plurality of users in the enterprise group. A processor is communicatively coupled to the interface and the memory and is operable to determine, based on the request and the e-mail information, one or more expert users in the enterprise group to provide a response to the request.
US09680777B2
A communication device receives an out-of-office message regarding a first contact. An application executing on the communication device displays a name of the first contact and an out-of-office indication regarding the first contact without displaying said out-of-office message.
US09680771B2
An inline-bypass switch system includes: a first inline-bypass switch appliance having a first bypass component, a first switch coupled to the first bypass component, and a first controller; and a second inline-bypass switch appliance having a second bypass component, a second switch coupled to the second bypass component, and a second controller; wherein the first controller in the first inline-bypass switch appliance is configured to provide a state signal that is associated with a state of the first inline-bypass switch appliance; and wherein the second controller in the second inline-bypass switch appliance is configured to control the second bypass component based at least in part on the state signal.
US09680765B2
An apparatus may comprise a plurality of ports and a plurality of channel reservation banks. A channel reservation bank is to be associated with a port of the plurality of ports. The channel reservation bank is to comprise a plurality of channel reservation slots. The port of the plurality of ports is to comprise a plurality of circuit-switched channels through the port. The configuration of each of the plurality of circuit-switched channels to be based on information stored in a channel reservation slot of the channel reservation bank to be associated with the port.
US09680760B2
In one embodiment, a router receives a packet, and determines an intra-flow packet priority level of the packet. The router may then map the intra-flow packet priority level to a weighted random early detection (WRED) marking based on running statistics of intra-flow packet priority levels across received flows, and marks the packet with the mapped WRED marking. By placing the marked packet into an outgoing network queue for transmission, the router may then forward or drop the marked packet based on the network queue, accordingly.
US09680759B2
Systems and methods for efficiently managing the resources in a delivery system may include managing the processing power of a transcoder. By managing the input selection functions of a tuner and linking the selections with functions of a transcoder, the transcoder may process fewer instructions for a given request, resulting in the ability of the transcoder to support more streams. Modifying the inputs to the transcoder that need to be transcoded, therefore, may enable the media content delivery system to support more inputs and, thereby, more media playback devices. Managing the processing power of a transcoder can more efficiently support the delivery of media content to a media playback device, particularly where the delivery system supports multiple media playback devices.
US09680756B2
The embodiments are directed to methods and appliances for configuring a classification tree. The methods and appliances, can receive data packets having a source media access control (MAC) address. The methods and appliances can encode the source MAC address based on a determination of a message type. The methods and appliances can provide the encoded source MAC address to a quality-of-service (QoS) engine, wherein the encoded source MAC address configures the classification tree used by the QoS engine for authorizing the transmission of one or more data packets.
US09680755B2
An apparatus for managing local devices, wherein the apparatus is operatively connectable with a network to manage network traffic. The apparatus can include computer instructions to identify and track a Media Access Control identifier using the network. The apparatus can also include computer instructions to direct traffic to a path associated with the Media Access Control identifier, computer instructions to measure the bit rate passing through the path associated with the Media Access Control identifier; and computer instructions to adjust the bit rate allowed to pass through the path. The decision to adjust the bit rate allowed to pass through the path can be determined using rolling quotas.
US09680752B2
In a network including a plurality of nodes, a node transmits data to another node, receives data from another node, and stores a communication history between a plurality of other nodes and the node itself. When an acknowledge response to data transmitted to a first node among the plurality of other nodes is not received, the node generates a duplicate data of the transmitted data. When a duplication report indicating detection of duplicate data transmitted to a second node among the plurality of other nodes has been received from one of the plurality of other nodes, the node refers to the communication history, and identifies the first node as a cause of generation of the duplicate data. Thereafter, the node generates a check request that include a communication history between the first node and the node itself and that requests the first node to check the communication history.
US09680751B2
The methods and devices discussed herein provide service clustering within a TRILL network without relying on an additional service insertion framework. A TRILL network can include one or more flow distribution RBridges for distributing flows to service nodes. Each flow distribution RBridge can have a virtual base identifier and one or more virtual cluster identifiers. An example method can include maintaining service cluster load balancing structures and receiving a packet that is encapsulated with an inner header and an outer header. The method can include determining whether the egress RBridge identifier is a virtual cluster identifier, and if so, selecting a service node from one of the service cluster load balancing structures. The method can include forwarding the packet to the selected service node.
US09680748B2
Some embodiments provide a method for a forwarding element that forwards packets. The method receives a packet and consults a tree structure to identity a prefix length associated with an IP address in the packet header. The method skips lookup of each subtable with a set of IP addresses that have a different prefix length than the identified prefix length. The method identifies a matching rule from a particular subtable. The method generates a flow based on the matching rule. The flow is used to process packets that have the same prefix.
US09680727B2
The present invention relates generally to network communications, and more particularly to detecting devices having communications issues on a network. The present invention provides for determining a communications performance status in relation to a device on a communications network experiencing a communications issue by identifying the device, locating reference devices in relation to the identified device, and determining where a performance deficiency may exist in relation to the identified device and the communications network.
US09680723B2
A hosting provider may host a website at a first hosting location based on initial business information received from a hosting customer, perhaps while the hosting customer created an account. The initial business information may include, as non-limiting examples, whether the business is a local or non-localized business, business addresses and/or registered domain names. A domain name, particularly if it resolves to the website, may be analyzed for incorporated words, spelling, characters and/or top-level domain that may point to, or be more commonly used in, one or more geographical regions. The website may be moved to a second location based on the initial business information combined with subsequently collected business information, such as, as non-limiting examples, updated address information, marketing campaigns aimed at particular locations and/or based on the originating location of traffic to the website.
US09680709B2
A method for determining the bandwidth of an incoming frame in a wireless local area network (WLAN), includes the following steps, executed at least by a processor, upon reception of a first plurality of samples representative of a first signal of the frame received at a primary WLAN channel, and of a second plurality of samples of the frame representative of a second signal of the frame received at a secondary WLAN channel: computing at least a correlation of a sample among the first plurality of samples with a sample among the second plurality of samples; if the correlation exceeds a threshold then setting a receiver mode to a first bandwidth otherwise setting a receiver mode to a second bandwidth. A device for setting the bandwidth of a receiver for a wireless local area network and a system integrating such device are also described.
US09680708B2
A multi-cloud fabric includes an application management unit responsive to one or more applications from an application layer. The multi-cloud fabric further includes a controller that is in communication with resources of a cloud. The controller is responsive to the applications and includes a processor operable to analyze the application relative to the resources to cause delivery of the applications to the resources dynamically and automatically.
US09680707B2
An automated method for facilitating management of a data processing environment is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method may include facilitating creation of a first memorialization, in digital form, of first one or more changes made to a first data processing device of the data processing environment. In various embodiments, the method may further include facilitating creation of a second and a third memorialization, both in digital form, of second and third one or more changes made to a second and a third data processing device of the data processing environment, respectively. In various embodiments, the method may still further include facilitating automated approval of the second and third changes made to the second and third data processing devices, using the first, second and third memorializations. Other embodiments of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, apparatus adapted to facilitate practice of the above-described method.
US09680702B1
Diffusion control in a network of networks (NoN) uses a connection degree of node pairs to control diffusion within the NoN. A method of increasing diffusion includes selecting an unconnected node pair having a lowest connection degree and connected nodes of the selected unconnected node pair. A method of decreasing diffusion includes selecting a connected node pair having a highest connection degree and disconnecting nodes of the selected connected node pair. A network diffusion control system includes the NoN and a diffusion controller to one or both of increase a diffusion rate and decrease the diffusion rate within the NoN. A non-transitory computer readable medium includes instructions that implement the diffusion control within the NoN.
US09680696B1
Improved cloud migration tools are provided. In some embodiments, improved cloud migration tools may provide complex cloud migration analysis techniques for automated monitoring of aggregate compliance with cloud migration protocols, including user- and/or organizational defined architectural guidelines. In some embodiments, improved cloud migration tools may provide automated detective cloud controls, particularly in the management across multiple cloud computing platform accounts, virtual private clouds (VPCs), and/or a large numbers of numbers of resources.
US09680692B2
Disclosed is a method and system for registering a recursive watch on a node in hierarchical data structure. Embodiments of the disclosed technique may include (i) receiving a request to register an event listener on a source node, the source node being one of a plurality of nodes that are related to each other in a hierarchy; (ii) registering the event listener on the source node, the event listener configured to notify a client of an occurrence of a first event in the source node; and (iii) if the source node has a descendant node in the hierarchy, setting the event listener to notify the client of an occurrence of a second event in the descendant node without requiring registration of another event listener on the descendant node. Each of the nodes may represent, for example, a logical partition of a storage device.
US09680691B2
A technique is provided for detecting a connection abnormality of a slave device, in a network system including a master device and slave devices. The technique includes a connection abnormality detection method in a network system including a master device and a plurality of slave devices. In the network system, data is transmitted from the master device and then returned to the master device through respective slave devices. Each slave device has an upstream-side port and a downstream-side port. The connection abnormality detection method includes acquiring topology information of the network system, closing or opening the port of each slave device such that a serial topology is formed to include a target slave device located on the downmost stream side, transmitting inspection data after the control of the port, and detecting a connection abnormality of the device on the basis of a status of return of the inspection data.
US09680689B2
Systems and methods relating to fragmenting content based on metadata are disclosed. In one embodiment, metadata is obtained from data that is accessible from an interface. A content descriptor, based on at least a portion of the metadata, may be utilized to determine fragment size. The content descriptor value may be derived from multiple forms of metadata, such as for example, genre, sub-genre, presence of live media, and combinations thereof. The fragments may be either virtual or physically discrete segments or files. In one aspect, the value may be the sole basis for determining the fragment lengths. In another aspect of the embodiment, the division of the content is conducted such that each resultant fragment comprises a single frame type.
US09680679B2
First information indicating a length of a cyclic prefix for an inter-terminal apparatus signal transmitted to the other terminal apparatus and second information indicating a length of a cyclic prefix for an uplink signal in the EUTRAN, from a base station apparatus of the EUTRAN are received from a base station apparatus of the EUTRAN.
US09680668B2
Described is an apparatus which comprises a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) having a first DFE tap path and non-first DFE tap paths, wherein the DFE includes a variable delay circuit in a signal path of the non-first DFE tap paths. In some embodiment, an apparatus is provided which comprises: a summer; a slicer to receive input from the summer; a first feedback loop to cancel a first post-cursor, the first feedback loop forming a loop by coupling the slicer to the summer; and a second feedback loop to cancel a second post-cursor, the second feedback loop forming a loop by coupling an input of the first feedback loop to the summer, wherein the second feedback loop having a programmable delay at its input.
US09680659B2
Tools can be provided for conducting a conference/meeting and/or obtaining, managing and archiving conference/meeting data. For example, a meeting participation application and multi-layer presentation data (including a presentation document and an overlay layer) can be provided through a network to a participant. The meeting participation application allows the participant to make annotations which overlay the presentation document, and captures the user input as data in the overlay layer. Thereafter, processing may be performed to extract keywords from the captured annotations, and such extracted keywords can be archived along with meeting materials, documents, information and other content as meeting data in a meeting database.
US09680645B2
Method of integrity verification of cryptographic key pairs, the method including an integrity test with: at least one first step implementing one of the private and public keys and an initial test datum, the first step making it possible to generate a first result, at least one second step implementing at least the first result and the key not used during the at least one first step, the second step making it possible to generate a second result, and a comparison of the second result and of the initial test datum, characterized in that the test is re-executed upon each positive comparison, and in that the test is executed at least 2 times.
US09680644B2
Authenticating a user by presenting an authentication instruction to an individual via any computing device output interfaces, the authentication instruction selected from an identity authentication profile, receiving a response to the authentication instruction via any input methods supported by the computing device, the response including content provided through the performance of an action, determining a current action measurement for characteristics associated with the action, and a current content measurement for characteristics associated with the content, where the characteristics are associated with the authentication instruction, determining that each of the measurements matches a corresponding benchmark associated with the authentication instruction to within a predefined tolerance, where the benchmarks are selected from the identity authentication profile and performing the presenting, receiving, and determining steps for each of a predefined number of authentication instructions selected from the identity authentication profile, thereby authenticating the individual.
US09680643B2
A system for securely transmitting data includes a control device and at least one security module. The control device is configured for producing a cryptographic key using a physically unclonable function (PUF). The at least one security module is configured for communicating with the control device at least one of confidentially and authentically using the cryptographic key. The control device has no storage for storing the cryptographic key. The control device includes at least one hardware device that is configured for providing a specific feature combination. The control device also includes a calculation unit that is configured for producing the cryptographic key using the specific feature combination and the physically unclonable function (PUF). The control device further includes a program-controlled device that is configured for executing a first computer program product, which is configured for performing the encrypted/authenticated communication with the security module via a first and second communication interfaces.
US09680641B2
Techniques and tools for quantum key distribution (“QKD”) between a quantum communication (“QC”) card, base station and trusted authority are described herein. In example implementations, a QC card contains a miniaturized QC transmitter and couples with a base station. The base station provides a network connection with the trusted authority and can also provide electric power to the QC card. When coupled to the base station, after authentication by the trusted authority, the QC card acquires keys through QKD with a trust authority. The keys can be used to set up secure communication, for authentication, for access control, or for other purposes. The QC card can be implemented as part of a smart phone or other mobile computing device, or the QC card can be used as a fillgun for distribution of the keys.
US09680632B2
A method for communications is described. The method includes determining a symbol timing drift elimination amount for a received signal. The method further includes eliminating part of the symbol timing drift by adjusting a reference clock for the modem. Determining the symbol timing drift elimination amount may be based on at least one of a symbol timing drift estimate, a symbol timing error, a packet acquisition indicator, a packet validity indicator, demodulated bits or a carrier presence indicator.
US09680631B2
A signal recovery circuit includes: a data acquisition circuit configured to collect a received data signal according to a transition edge of a received signal recovery clock; and a phase adjustment circuit configured to adjust a phase relationship between the transition edge of the received signal recovery clock and the received data signal according to a data value of the received data signal to be acquired by the data acquisition circuit.
US09680609B2
Method performed by a transmitting device (101) for transmitting a block to a receiving device (102). The transmitting device (101) and the receiving device (102) operate in a wireless communications network (100). The transmitting device (101) transmits a block to the receiving device (102). The block comprises four bursts. The four bursts further comprise Uplink State Flag, USF, Stealing Flag, SF, and data and header fields. The USF and the SF fields are interleaved and mapped over the four bursts. The data and header fields are interleaved over one burst but repeated over the four bursts. The data and header fields are overlapping with and overridden by bits from the USF field in different positions in each burst. In a method performed by the receiving device (102), the receiving device (102) receives the transmitted block. In a method performed by a controlling node (140), the controlling node (140) selects a block format for transmission by the transmitting device.
US09680608B2
An apparatus includes a transceiver having a MAC controller and a PHY controller. The MAC controller is configured to selectively omit at least a portion of a field of a media access control (MAC) frame. The PHY controller is configured to insert the MAC frame into a physical protocol data unit and to selectively configure a portion of the physical protocol data unit to indicate omission of at least the portion of the field from the MAC frame.
US09680604B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for searching for a peripheral device and transmitting device information in a device-to-device service. First information is transmitted using a first tone in a first region of a search duration. A second tone is determined by transposing a subcarrier index and a symbol index of the first tone. The first information is transmitted through the second tone in a second region of the search duration. First information of a peripheral device is received in the first and the second region of the search duration. The second information is transmitted through a resource region corresponding to the first tone in a third region of the search duration. Second information of the peripheral device is received in the third region of the search duration. Device information of the peripheral device is determined by combining the first and second information of the peripheral device.
US09680603B2
Embodiments of a high-efficiency (HE) communication station and method for HE communication in a wireless network are generally described herein. The HE communication station may communicate 4× longer-duration OFDM symbols on channel resources in accordance with an OFDMA technique. The channel resources may comprise one or more resource allocation units with each resource allocation unit having a predetermined number of data subcarriers. The station may also configure the resource allocation units in accordance with one of a plurality of subcarrier allocations for one of a plurality of interleaver configurations. The station may process the longer-duration OFDM symbols with a 512-point fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) for communication over a 40 MHz channel bandwidth comprising a 40 MHz resource allocation unit, and with a 1024-point FFT for communication over an 80 MHz channel bandwidth comprising either two 40 MHz resource allocation units or one 80 MHz resource allocation unit.
US09680596B2
Methods and systems are provided for optical signal transmission using span-wise spectrum management. The method includes transmitting a first optical signal at a first wavelength by a control system. The first optical signal has a first optical path distance. The method further includes determining a first guard band requirement for the first optical signal, and transmitting a second optical signal by the control system. The second optical signal has a second optical path distance. The method includes determining a second guard band requirement for the second optical signal, and placing the second optical signal spectrally adjacent to the first optical signal by selecting a second wavelength. The second wavelength is selected to satisfy the first and second guard band requirements.
US09680589B2
Provided is a method of transmitting ACK/NACK in a TDD-based wireless communication system. The method includes: receiving M downlink subframes associated with an uplink subframe n in each of two serving cells; determining four candidate resources based on the M downlink subframes received in each of the two serving cells; and transmitting an ACK/NACK response for the M downlink subframes by using one resource selected from the four candidate resources in the uplink subframe n, wherein the two serving cells includes a first serving cell and a second serving cell, and wherein among the four candidate resources, a first resource and a second resource are associated with a PDSCH or a SPS release PDCCH for releasing semi-persistent scheduling received in the first serving cell, and a third resource and a fourth resources are associated with a PDSCH received in the second serving cell.
US09680587B2
A Layer 1 transport network, such as an Optical Transport Network (OTN), transports traffic in Layer 1 data transport units. Traffic received at a node of the transport network is mapped to Layer 1 data transport units according to destination such that each Layer 1 data transport unit carries traffic for a particular destination of the transport network. The Layer 1 transport network can carry a plurality of different traffic types and the node can map the received traffic to Layer 1 data transport units according to destination and traffic type. Identification information can be added to an overhead section associated with the Layer 1 data transport unit to indicate at least one of: traffic type and destination of the traffic carried within the data transport unit. At a subsequent node, the Layer 1 data transport units are received and switched such that Layer 1 data transport units carrying traffic destined for other nodes bypass higher layer processing at the node and Layer 1 data transport units carrying traffic destined for the node are switched to a local output of the node.
US09680579B2
Systems and methods may provide for implementing dynamically adaptive frequency adjustment. In one example, the method may include analyzing a first set of transmission information and a second set of transmission information based on a likelihood of transmission interference, and determining a dynamically adapted camera frequency, wherein the dynamically adapted camera frequency is to minimize the transmission interference.
US09680575B2
A relay device includes a relay processing unit that relays a downstream frame received by a first transceiver to a second transceiver, and relays an upstream frame received by the second transceiver to the first transceiver; and a control unit that follows upstream multiple access control performed by a station side device in a first line, for transmission of the upstream frame to be transmitted by the first transceiver to the station side device, and independently performs upstream multiple access control for reception of the upstream frame received by the second transceiver from a home side device in a second line. The control unit reports an amount of data that the home side device in the second line will be allowed to transmit, to the station side device in the first line before the data arrives at the second transceiver.
US09680572B2
An information communication method is provided that includes continuously capturing an image of a subject that transmits a signal by changing luminance, with an image sensor. The method also includes displaying a captured image that includes a box and a subject image for identifying the subject, while continuously updating a position of the subject image on the captured image, according to a positional relationship between the image sensor and the subject established when the image of the subject is captured. The method further includes determining whether the subject image is in the box, and receiving the signal transmitted by the subject when it is determined that the subject image is in the box. In the receiving, information is obtained by demodulating a bright line pattern that appears in a second image data and corresponds to the plurality of exposure lines.
US09680559B1
Information associated with a communication service need of the user is received from a user of a client computer system. A set of communication service requirements that indicate satellite resources required to satisfy the communication service need of the user are computed based on the received information, and transmitted to a server computer system. A first beam plan that satisfies the set of communication service requirements is received from the server computer system. The first beam plan includes information on satellite beams and spectra for allocation to the user when the first beam plan is deployed to provide a communication service to the user that satisfies the communication service need of the user. Instructions are transmitted to the server computer system to deploy the first beam plan. Information is received from the server computer system indicating that the first beam plan is deployed.
US09680558B2
A data transmission method of a source node in a cooperative communication system includes: performing a beamforming to a relay node; transmitting data to the relay node; performing a beamforming to a destination node; and transmitting data to the destination node.
US09680551B2
Method of determining two-stage codebook set applicable to 4TX cross-polarized antenna configuration
The invention provides a solution of designing a two-stage codebook set applicable to 4Tx cross-polarized antenna configuration and a method of determining a codebook in a multi-input multi-output communication system based upon the designed two-stage codebook set applicable to 4Tx cross-polarized antenna configuration. The first stage codebook relates long-term/wideband channel information and is based on DFT vectors, whereas the second stage codebook relates to short-term/narrowband channel information and is base on selecting columns of the first stage codebook and providing inter-polarization phase information.
US09680548B1
The present invention provides a method for carrying out an intelligent fast antenna steering technology (iFAST), and the method can be implemented by way of being integrated into a wireless network device under the form of software or firmware. Therefore, when the wireless network device installed with the method is initially set to work or rebooted, the method of the present invention would automatically set and adjust a plurality of wireless antennas of the wireless network device according to a variety of wireless network parameters of wireless network signals transceived by the wireless network, so as to make the wireless network signals radiated by the wireless network device be able to cover the application environment as comprehensive as possible; thereafter, a high-quality wireless network service is provided to the clients located in the application environment by the wireless network device.
US09680545B2
A system and method for communicating with a second communication system utilizing a plurality of antennas. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise determining whether communicating with the second communication system utilizing a plurality of antennas in a first configuration, which comprises a beam-forming configuration, is preferable to utilizing a plurality of antennas in a second configuration, which comprises a MIMO or MISO configuration. If it is determined that the first configuration is preferable to the second configuration, the communication system may be configured to communicate with the second communication system by utilizing at least a portion of the plurality of antennas in the first configuration. If it is determined that the second configuration is preferable to the first configuration, then the communication system may be configured to communicate with the second communication system by utilizing at least a portion of the plurality of antennas in the second configuration.
US09680542B2
A method for performing precoding in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a parameter indicative of reception quality on a downlink channel from a base station to a user equipment (UE) served by the base station; comparing the parameter with a predetermined reception quality threshold; and based on the comparison result, selecting a precoding mechanism for use in communicating with the UE.
US09680540B2
A radio transmission system based on a frequency divisional multiplexing method is described, wherein a transmit symbol comprises a plurality of data symbols assigned to at least two subcarriers. The information of symbols of one time slot is spread across the data symbols of subcarrier of the time slot to produce a transmit symbol being more robust to frequency selective channels.
US09680528B2
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to circuits, apparatuses and methods for communicating data between capacitive-isolated devices. According to an example embodiment, an apparatus includes a transmitter circuit configured to transmit a first single-ended data signal over a first signal path. The apparatus also includes a receiver circuit. The receiver circuit includes a differential amplifier having a first input coupled to receive a second single-ended signal from a second signal path of the plurality of signal paths and includes a second input coupled to receive a reference signal from a third signal path of the plurality of signal paths. The differential amplifier outputs a third single-ended signal indicative of a voltage difference between the first and second inputs. The receiver circuit also includes a common mode suppression circuit configured to remove a common mode voltage from the first and second inputs of the differential amplifier.
US09680518B2
A protective case for an electronic device includes a cover, a rechargeable battery, first and second electrical connectors, and electrical circuitry. The first electrical connector is accessible at an outer surface of the cover for electrically connecting to an external power source. The second electrical connector is accessible at an inner surface of the cover for electrically connecting the protective case to the electronic device. The electrical circuitry distributes the received electrical power to the electronic device and to the rechargeable battery. The electrical circuitry also distributes stored electrical power from the rechargeable battery to the electronic device. Distribution of the stored electrical power to the electronic device is conditioned upon an input received from the electronic device, a mode of the protective case, and or a signal received at the protective case.
US09680516B2
A retaining arrangement for a mobile communication device has an accommodating means which accommodates a mobile communication device. The retaining arrangement includes a retaining setting in which the mobile communication device is retained in the accommodating means, and a release setting which allows the mobile communication device to be inserted into the accommodating means. The retaining arrangement is characterized by a locking means which can be moved into a locking setting and into an unlocking setting, wherein the accommodating means can be moved out of the release setting into the retaining setting only when the locking means is in the unlocking setting.
US09680515B2
A case for a mobile device including a body with a fluid chamber configured to retain fluid therein. An armband for a mobile device includes a band with a fluid chamber configured to retain fluid therein. The fluid chamber may serve to cushion the mobile device or wearer's arm when in use.
US09680511B1
A distortion compensator, includes: an input terminal configured to receive a transmission signal; a processor configured to perform operations to process the transmission signal, wherein the operations includes: compensating a nonlinear distortion of an amplifier which amplifies a power of the transmission signal, by using a distortion compensation coefficient corresponding to an amplitude value of the transmission signal; calculating a difference between a power value of the transmission signal and a power value of a feedback signal from the amplifier; calculating an imaginary part of a first complex vector based on an error between the transmission signal and the feedback signal in a cartesian coordinate system; and updating the distortion compensation coefficient by using a second complex vector of which a real part is the difference, and an imaginary part is the imaginary part of the first complex vector.
US09680510B2
The invention relates to a method for radio communication using one or more tunable antennas and an antenna tuning apparatus, and to an apparatus for radio communication using one or more tunable antennas and an antenna tuning apparatus. An apparatus for radio communication of the invention comprises: 4 antennas, each of the antennas being a tunable passive antenna; a radio device; an antenna tuning apparatus having 4 antenna ports, each of the antenna ports being coupled to one of the antennas through a feeder, the antenna tuning apparatus having 4 radio ports, each of the radio ports being coupled to the radio device through an interconnection; and a tuning control unit, the tuning control unit receiving a tuning instruction generated automatically within the apparatus for radio communication, the tuning control unit delivering a plurality of tuning control signals to the antenna tuning apparatus and to the tunable passive antennas.
US09680495B1
A data conversion system and method are described. A first phase locked loop includes a controllable frequency oscillator circuit to receive a digital data stream and output a reference frequency signal, and includes an oscillator and at least one variable load connected to the oscillator which is controllable to tune the oscillator frequency and vary the frequency of the reference frequency signal. A second phase locked loop includes a divide by N function in a feedback loop (where N has an integer value), and receives the reference frequency signal and outputs a recovered clock signal corresponding to an original clock signal associated with the digital data stream. The recovered clock signal is used to clock a data converter to convert the digital data into an analog output signal.
US09680490B2
System and method for the calibration of interleave time errors in an n-level PAM Digital to Analog Converter (DAC), according to which a set of two samplers with adjustable sample time and threshold are introduced at the output of the DAC, which are separated in time. The set of samplers is swept through a n unit interval (UI) window and the n-UI window is classified to periods of transitions and non-transitions on an eye diagram. The relative timing of the lower rate clocks into an n:1 multiplexer is controlled using a control loop, to force equal eye width within the n-UI window and the interleaved timing errors are measured and corrected, until the uneven distribution is being reduced below a predetermined level.
US09680486B2
A calibration procedure that uses direct measurement of digital phase error performance for low cost calibration of all-digital phase locked loop (ADPLL)/digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO) is described. Direct measurement of digital phase error, or difference in digital phase error, is used to adjust the operating point of the DCO and thereby determine the operating point that provides the optimal phase noise of the output signal. Calibration may be performed at any time so that changes in external factors such as process, voltage and temperature (PVT) may be incorporated into the setting of the operating point of the DCO.
US09680485B2
An automatic frequency control device, a method for automatic frequency control, a receiver, a mobile station and a non-transitory computer-readable digital storage medium are provided. The automatic frequency control device may include a quality calculation unit to calculate quality of a received signal, a state machine controller to generate a control signal based on the calculated quality of the received signal, and a filter to filter an estimated frequency offset of the received signal based on the control signal.
US09680481B2
A phase detection circuit includes: a first circuit configured to generate a first phase detection signal that indicates a result of sampling a first clock signal at a transition timing of an input data signal; a second circuit configured to generate a second phase detection signal that indicates a result of sampling a second clock signal at the transition timing of the input data signal, a phase of the second clock signal being different from a phase of the first clock signal; and a third circuit configured to generate a third phase detection signal that indicates a phase of the first clock signal with respect to the input data signal based on the first phase detection signal and the second phase detection signal.
US09680480B1
A reconfigurable digital phase-locked loop integrated circuit is disclosed which is coupleable to a reference frequency generator to generate an input signal having a reference frequency. A representative embodiment of the reconfigurable digital phase-locked loop integrated circuit may include a first digital phase-locked loop circuit configured to generate a first signal having a first frequency which is an integer multiple of the reference frequency; and a second digital phase-locked loop circuit coupled to the first digital phase-locked loop, the second digital phase-locked loop configured to generate a second, output signal having a second output frequency in response to a plurality of configuration parameters, the second frequency having a configurable fractional offset from the integer multiple of the reference frequency, and to match a phase of the second output signal with a first signal phase.
US09680476B2
A PLD in which a configuration memory is formed using a nonvolatile memory with a small number of transistors and in which the area of a region where the configuration memory is disposed is reduced is provided. Further, a PLD that is easily capable of dynamic reconfiguration and has a short startup time is provided. A programmable logic device including a memory element, a selector, and an output portion is provided. The memory element includes a transistor in which a channel is formed in an oxide semiconductor film, and a storage capacitor and an inverter which are connected to one of a source and a drain of the transistor. The inverter is connected to the selector. The selector is connected to the output portion.
US09680460B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of semiconductor chips stacked in a multi-layer structure; a correction circuit in each semiconductor chip configured to reflect a delay time corresponding to the position of the chip in the stack into an input signal to output to each semiconductor chip; and a plurality of through-chip vias formed vertically through each of the semiconductor chips and configured to transmit the input signal to the semiconductor chip.
US09680449B2
An encoder input device includes a connection terminal to be connected to one of encoders and made common to a plurality of types of signal systems of the encoders, a plurality of power supplies for signals according to the plurality of types of signal systems of the encoders, and a software switch that switches connection arrangement between the connection terminal and the power supplies for signals in a software manner according to the signal system of the encoder connected to the connection terminal among the plurality of types of signal systems of the encoders.
US09680448B2
The present invention discloses a gain-boosted n-path passive-mixer-first receiver. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a gain-boosted n-path passive-mixer-first receiver is provided. The receiver includes a number n of switch-capacitor (sc) sets, a resistor, and a transconductance amplifier. The sc sets connect in parallel, and the sc sets have a first node and a second node. The resistor connects to the first node. The transconductance amplifier connects to the resistor and the second node.
US09680441B2
An impedance matching circuit is connected to a first circuit block (impedance matching target circuit) that requires impedance matching and that has one terminal connected to a signal line and the other terminal connected to a ground, the impedance matching circuit having a second circuit block that has a first circuit and a second circuit connected in parallel. In the first circuit, a first capacitor having a variable capacitance and a first inductor having a first inductance are connected in series, and in the second circuit, a second inductor having a second inductance and a switch are connected are connected in series. The impedance matching circuit has one terminal connected to the signal line of the first circuit block and the other terminal connected to the ground of the first circuit block.
US09680434B2
A method of calibrating an envelope tracking system for a supply voltage for a power amplifier module within a radio frequency (RF) transmitter of a wireless communication unit is described. The method comprising, within at least one signal processing module of the wireless communication unit, applying a training signal comprising an envelope that varies with time to an input of the RF transmitter, receiving at least an indication of instantaneous output signal values for the power amplifier module in response to the training signal, calculating instantaneous gain values based at least partly on the received output power values, and adjusting a mapping function between an instantaneous envelope of a waveform signal to be amplified by the power amplifier module and the power amplifier module supply voltage to achieve a power amplifier module gain, for example that is monotonically increasing as a function of power amplifier output power.
US09680433B2
Embodiments are provided for satellite volume control. An example method includes receiving an input at a playback device to adjust a volume for a plurality of playback devices that are grouped for synchronous playback of audio content, wherein the plurality of playback devices includes the playback device. The method also includes sending a first message over a network from the playback device to a device associated with the plurality of playback devices, the first message including information based on the input, wherein the information is used to adjust the volume of the plurality of playback devices. The method also includes receiving a second message at the playback device over the network, the second message including information for the volume of the playback device, wherein the volume is based on the adjusted volume of the plurality of playback devices.
US09680431B2
An amplifier circuit has a sample-and-hold circuit to sample and hold an input signal, an amplifier which comprises an input terminal inputted with the input signal held by the sample-and-hold circuit and an output terminal outputting an amplification signal obtained by amplifying the input signal inputted, a feedback capacitor to be connected between the input terminal and output terminal of the amplifier, a successive approximation circuit to perform successive approximation operation to correct the amplification signal based on a voltage of the input terminal of the amplifier, the successive approximation operation being performed a predetermined number of cycles, and a control circuit to control the successive approximation circuit based on an amplification error included in the amplification signal.
US09680426B2
A power amplifier is described. A power amplifier includes at least a first amplifier stage. The power amplifier also includes a first notch filter coupled with the first amplifier stage. The first notch filter is configured to tune to a first frequency. The first notch filter including at least one first set of metal oxide semiconductor variable capacitor arrays. Moreover, the power amplifier includes a first mirrored notch filter coupled with said first amplifier stage. The first mirror notch filter is configured to tune to the mirror of the first frequency. The first mirror notch filter including at least one second set of metal oxide semiconductor variable capacitor arrays.
US09680424B2
A power amplifier without transformer includes an audio isolator, a phase detector, a power protection controller, a rectifier and an amplifier. The audio isolator is used to isolate audio-source input end and the amplifier for making the amplifier directly connected to utility power via the rectifier without transformer to increase transformation efficiency and decrease weight and bulk of the power amplifier substantially. The phase detector is used to detect utility power phase whether correct. The power protection controller is used to determine utility power whether supply to the amplifier for preventing the amplifier from broken caused by excessive current.
US09680418B2
A voltage gain amplifier (VGA) configured to have reduced supply noise. The VGA includes first resistor, first FET, and a first current-source coupled between first and second voltage rails. The VGA includes second resistor, second FET, and second current-source coupled between the voltage rails. A variable resistor is coupled between the respective sources of the first and second FETs. Variable capacitors are coupled between the first or a third voltage rail and the sources of the first and second input FETs, respectively. If capacitors are coupled to the first voltage rail, noise cancellation occurs across the gate-to-source voltages of the FETs if an input differential signal applied to the gates of the FETs is derived from a supply voltage at the first voltage rail. If capacitors are coupled to the third rail, supply noise is reduced if the supply voltage at the third rail is generated by a cleaner regulator.
US09680413B2
Systems and methods of low power clocking of sleep mode radios are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, a crystal oscillator is purposefully mistuned to achieve lower power consumption, and then synchronized using a high frequency crystal oscillator. In an alternative embodiment, the input offset voltages of the comparator in an RC oscillator are cancelled, which allows low power operation and high accuracy performance when tuned to the high frequency crystal. A lower power comparator may be used with higher input offset voltages but still achieve higher accuracy. The RC circuit is switched back and forth on opposite phases of the output, cancelling the offset voltage on the inputs of the comparator.
US09680412B2
A method and an apparatus for testing photovoltaic modules are provided, wherein power that a photovoltaic module outputs or draws is modulated a modulating frequency, the photovoltaic module is scanned using a camera and the camera signal generated by the camera is evaluated in order to obtain a luminescence image of the photovoltaic module which is used for detecting defects on the photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module is operated only in the forward direction and the camera signal is evaluated using a digital filter, such as a lock-in filter.
US09680404B2
An abnormality detection apparatus configured to detect an abnormality of an inverter provided to control a motor generator when a value obtained by performing a predetermined process for a current value representing electric current flowing between an arm included in the inverter and the motor generator is greater than a threshold value, wherein when a reverse voltage by the motor generator is higher than a system voltage, the threshold value is larger than a value obtained by performing the predetermined process for electric current generated by the reverse voltage.
US09680403B2
A control device for an induction machine includes an angle determining device designed to determine a rotor angle of the induction machine without requiring use of sensors. The angle determining device generates measuring voltage pulses which can be selectively used to replace control voltage pulses used to control the induction machine. Machine currents generated by the measuring voltage pulses can be used to determine a rotor angle without interrupting the control voltage pulses and/or operation of the induction machine.
US09680394B2
A control method for an energy voltage regulator includes: detecting an output AC signal of a current cycle to generate a reference current command; comparing the reference current command with a reference upper power limit; and if the reference current command is lower than the reference upper power limit, generating a first current command based on the reference current command, to perform a discontinuous conduct control and to operate the energy voltage regulator under a discontinuous conduct state.
US09680380B2
Provided is a semiconductor device which drives a power semiconductor device, in which dead times generated when switch elements of upper and lower arms are turned on and off are minimized, and a loss of a power conversion device is reduced. A semiconductor device used in a power conversion device that includes a first switch element of which the drain is connected to a first power source voltage and a second switch element of which the source is connected to a second power source voltage includes a first drive circuit that drives the first switch element, a second drive circuit that drives the second switch element, a first level shift circuit, and a second level shift circuit. The first drive circuit is connected to a third power source voltage higher by a predetermined potential with respect to a source potential of the first switch element and the source potential of the first switch element. The second drive circuit is connected to a fourth power source voltage higher by a predetermined potential with respect to the second power source voltage and the second power source voltage. Power source potentials input to the first level shift circuit and the second level shift circuit are the third power source voltage and the second power source voltage.
US09680377B2
A driver circuit includes a high-side power transistor having a source-drain path coupled between a first node and a second node and a low-side power transistor having a source-drain path coupled between the second node and a third node. A high-side drive circuit, having an input configured to receive a drive signal, includes an output configured to drive a control terminal of said high-side power transistor. The high-side drive circuit is configured to operate as a capacitive driver. A low-side drive circuit, having an input configured to receive a complement drive signal, includes an output configured to drive a control terminal of said low-side power transistor. The low-side drive circuit is configured to operate as a level-shifting driver.
US09680372B1
A hold-up converter or other electronic circuit comprises a first switch configured to perform a first switching function in a first operation mode and to act as a first diode in a second operation mode. The electronic circuit further comprises a second switch configured as a second diode in the first operation mode and that performs a second switching function in the second operation mode. A hold-up capacitor is electronically coupled to the first switch and the second switch such that the hold-up capacitor charges in the first operation mode based, at least in part, on the first switching function and discharges in the second operation mode based, at least in part, on the second switching function.
US09680366B2
A controller (11a) of a DC/DC converter (10a) responsive to power output of a fuel cell power plant (13) operates under a control strategy which determines if fuel cell voltage exceeds a limit, and if so, provided neither fuel cell output current nor DC/DC converter output current is excessive, causes an increase in DC/DC converter duty cycle to thereby increase power demanded from the fuel cell stack. This eliminates the need for conventional voltage limiting to protect fuel cells from corrosion. Digital control loops and state machines are illustrated.
US09680364B2
Described herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for a controller for a power circuit that interfaces distributed power generation with a power distribution grid, comprising: a first portion, including a maximum power point tracker, that receives signals corresponding to the distributed power generation voltage and current, and outputs to the power circuit a signal for controlling the voltage of the distributed power generation; a second portion, including a current reference generator, a current controller, and a dc voltage controller, that receives signals corresponding to a dc voltage of the power circuit, the power distribution grid voltage and current, and the inverter current, and outputs signals for controlling the power circuit output voltage; wherein the current reference generator includes nonlinear circuit elements and generates a current reference signal from the dc voltage of the power circuit and the grid voltage and current; such that substantially harmonic-free power is injected into the power distribution grid. The distributed power generation may be, for example, a photovoltaic module or a wind turbine.
US09680360B2
A method for producing a coated component consisting of transparent or opaque fused silica comprises a method step in which a SiO2 granulation layer is applied to a coating surface of a substrate, which in the area of the free surface has a relatively great granulation fine fraction. Starting from this, in order to achieve a smooth, preferably also dense surface layer, it is suggested according to the invention that the application of the SiO2 granulation layer comprises (i) providing a dispersion containing a dispersion liquid and amorphous SiO2 particles which form a coarse fraction with particle sizes ranging between 1 μm and 50 μm and a fine fraction of SiO2 nanoparticles having particle sizes of less than 100 nm, wherein the solids content of the dispersion is between 70 and 80 wt.-%, and of which between 2 wt.-% and 15 wt.-% are the SiO2 nanoparticles, (ii) applying the dispersion to the coating surface by casting or spraying it thereonto so as to form a slurry layer having a layer thickness of at least 0.3 mm; and (iii) drying the slurry layer by removing the dispersion liquid at a rate and in a direction such that under the action of the dispersion liquid being removed the fine fraction is enriched in the outer portion of the granulation layer, thereby forming a casting skin.
US09680350B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for separating air and generating electrical power. A compressed air stream produced in a main air compressor is introduced into an air separation unit that cryogenically rectifies the air into component products. During turndown conditions of the air separation unit, a combustion air stream formed from all or part of the compressed air stream is introduced into a combustor in which a fuel is combusted to produce a heated and pressurized combustion stream. Such stream is introduced to a turbine connected to an electrical generator to generate electrical power. The combustion air stream can be saturated with moisture to increase power output. Further, the combustion air stream can also be preheated with an exhaust of a gas turbine.
US09680349B2
An electric power tool including: a housing; a brushless motor accommodated in the housing; a fan attached to a rotation shaft of the brushless motor; a switching element configured to control the brushless motor; and a substrate on which the switching element is mounted, wherein a first through-hole is provided to a switching element arranged portion of the substrate.
US09680344B2
An electrical machine is provided. The electrical machine includes a stator, a rotor, and a plurality of switches. The stator includes main windings and auxiliary windings. The rotor is couplable to a prime mover configured to turn the rotor relative to the stator to generate at least six phases of alternating current (AC) power at the main windings. The plurality of switches is respectively coupled between the auxiliary windings and groups of the main windings. The plurality of switches is configured to convert the at least six phases to three phases when the plurality of switches is closed.
US09680341B2
Provided is a rotating electric machine that combines high efficiency and high strength reliability. The rotating electric machine includes: a stator having a coil and a stator core; and a rotor opposed to the stator with a gap intervening between the rotor and the stator, the rotor having permanent magnets 3 and a rotor core 2. The rotor is configured such that the permanent magnets are buried in V-shape at hole-shaped slots 4 disposed in the rotor core to form one pole, and the pole is formed in plurality in a circumferential direction. Each of the slots is an open slot partially opened toward an outer circumference of the rotor core. The slot is provided with a hook-shaped structure 6 to support corresponding one of the permanent magnets in an open portion thereof.
US09680337B2
A multi-mode multi-coupling multi-protocol wireless power transmitter (WPT) and its embodiments transmit power to a wireless power receiver (WPR) in a power transfer mode (PTM) and a wireless power protocol (WPP) of the WPR. A first circuit of the WPT includes inductors or capacitors emanating power via a magnetic field or electric field PTM respectively. The WPT sequentially parses a test condition to identify a PTM, a power coupling linkage (PCL) between the WPT and the WPR, and a WPP of the WPR. The WPT identifies a match if the PTM of the first circuit and the WPP of the switch network, the variable matching circuit, a modulator/demodulator block or an out-of-band communication block, and a control logic circuit of the WPT match the PTM and the WPP of the WPR to transmit power to the WPR based on the match.
US09680334B2
A distribution board includes: a pack housing unit which houses a battery pack and includes a connecting unit; and a charge control unit. The battery pack includes a connecting terminal unit for charge and discharge of power and can supply power to the distribution board and another device different from the distribution board. The connecting unit is connectable to and disconnectable from the connecting terminal unit. The charge control unit converts AC power supplied from a power system into DC power, and supplies the DC power to the battery pack housed in the pack housing unit to charge the battery pack.
US09680333B1
A power system for a medical cart includes a power supply, a direct current power bus electrically coupled to the power supply, and an electrical output power module electrically coupled to the direct current power bus. The power supply is positioned within the base of the medical cart and outputs direct current electrical power. The direct current power bus is the support of the medical cart, with the base being at one end of the support. The electrical output power module is within the work platform of the medical cart at the other end of the support. The electrical output power module inputs the direct current electrical power from the direct current power bus, and converts the input direct current electrical power to an electrical power output having a different state.
US09680332B2
A wireless electrical charging system and a method of operating same wherein operating parameters from a remote portion of the system are wirelessly transmitted to a charging controller controlling the output voltage of an alternating power supply. The charging controller executes an adaptive model control algorithm that allows the charging controller to update the output voltage at a greater rate than the transmission rate of the operating parameters from the remote portion of the system.
US09680329B2
The invention relates to an inductive wireless charging system comprising a charger, a chargeable mobile device, a first coil for or in the charger, and a second coil for or in the chargeable mobile device, wherein each of the first and the second coil comprises a core part consisting of a soft magnetic material, and each of the first and the second coil is embedded in a polymer bonded soft magnetic material. The invention also relates to a charger, respectively a chargeable mobile device for an inductive wireless charging system, comprising at least one coil comprising a core part consisting of a soft magnetic material, wherein the coil is embedded in a polymer bonded soft magnetic material.
US09680324B2
A system for controlling a damper, comprising an energy harvesting device is disclosed. A voltage conditioning and storage unit coupled to the energy harvesting device, the voltage conditioning and storage unit configured to apply overvoltage and undervoltage protection to a storage capacitor. A controller coupled to the voltage conditioning and storage unit, the voltage conditioning and storage unit configured to apply overvoltage protection to the controller.
US09680319B2
In an embodiment of the current invention, a battery charging system for charging a plurality of portable electronic devices includes a scaling module configured to receive a first voltage and scale the first voltage to a second voltage, a memory configured to store a value, and a processor configured to receive a signal representing the second voltage, retrieve the value stored in the memory, and adjust at least one charging parameter using a comparison between the retrieved value and the received signal representing the second voltage.
US09680318B2
Described is an energy share pack comprising a housing, at least one energy storage component within the housing, at least one energy conversion component within the housing, and a connection point for connecting to more than one of energy users, energy sources and other energy share packs simultaneously for sharing energy. The energy share pack may have an energy generation component for generating harvestable energy, and two or more ports of any combination of the following types: bidirectional power port, bidirectional USB port, unidirectional output power port, and unidirectional input power port. The share pack ports may operate simultaneously at different voltage levels, and at least one port may be bi-directional. Furthermore, the share packs may have an integrated display for providing information on the energy share pack in which the display is integrated and information about other energy share packs connected thereto.
US09680313B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to methods and devices for fee-based wireless power. A method may include subscribing to a wireless power plan and receiving wireless power at one or more electronic devices according to a wireless power subscription.
US09680310B2
Systems and methods for wireless energy transfer are described. A transmitter unit has a transmitter resonator with a coil that is coupled to a power supply to wirelessly transmit power to a receiver unit. A receiver unit has a receiver resonator with a coil coupled to a device load. The receiver unit can include a ferrite enclosure to prevent transmission of magnetic flux into electronics of the receiver unit, and can include ferrite fins to increase a coupling between the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator.
US09680303B2
A power storage system is provided with charge switches, discharge switches, a bidirectional DC/DC converter and a power storage system controller connecting all the battery packs to an external circuit to achieve parallel charge and discharge, and the power storage system starts the charge by setting a rated charge current value per one battery pack to Iset and setting the rated charge current value Iset as an initial value of a charge current command value Iref(1), thereafter monitor the charge current of each of the battery packs after elapse of a predetermined time so as to subtract its maximum value Ibmax(1) from the charge current command value Iref(1), and add the rated charge current value Iset to result of subtraction Ierr (Iref(1)−Ibmax(1)) so as to set as a new charge current command value Iref(2) and carry out pre-charge in such a manner as to carry on the charge.
US09680298B2
An input redundant circuit according to the present disclosure may include: a core power supply unit; a first input port connected to a first input voltage; a second input port connected to a second input voltage; a relay unit connected to the first input port and the second input port to supply one of the first input voltage and the second input voltage to the core power supply unit; and a surge current limiting unit coupled to the relay unit, configured to limit a surge current generated when the relay unit is switched between the first input voltage and the second input voltage.
US09680297B2
MUs and IEDs are included. Each of the IEDs includes a signal control unit that derives the time difference between the sampling timings in the MUs on the basis of digital data from one end of a protection area and digital data from the other end of the protection area, controls the cycle of a sampling-timing control signal to eliminate this time difference, and outputs this controlled sampling-timing control signal to a merging unit corresponding to each computation unit. Each of the MUs includes a control-signal output circuit that generates a sampling signal synchronized with the sampling-timing control signal from the IEDs and outputs this sampling signal as a control signal, and a data output unit that converts an electrical input to digital data and outputs the digital data.
US09680284B2
Devices and methods for lessening a thermal dependence of gain profile of an optical amplifier are disclosed. An optical beam is split in a plurality of sub-beams with a thermally variable power splitting ratio, e.g. one sub-beam may travel a longer optical path length than another. When the sub-beams are recombined, they interfere with each other, causing the throughput to be wavelength dependent. An amplitude of this wavelength dependence is thermally variable due to the thermally variable power splitting ratio. The thermally variable power splitting ratio and the optical path length difference are selected so as to offset a thermal variation of a spectral gain profile of an optical amplifier.
US09680277B2
There is provided a slab amplifier including an optical system (48, 51) provided in a chamber (47) to allow a seed beam having entered from a first window into the space between a pair of electrodes (42, 43) to be repeatedly reflected between the space so that the seed beam is amplified to be an amplified beam; a first aperture plate (61) provided between the first window and the electrodes, and having an opening of a dimension equal to or greater than a cross-section of the seed beam and equal to or smaller than a dimension of the first window; and a second aperture plate (62) provided between the second window and the electrodes, and having an opening of a dimension equal to or greater than a cross-section of the amplified beam and equal to or smaller than a dimension of the second window.
US09680262B2
A spool apparatus is described to include in one particular example a cable spool with a first cylindrical lip and a second cylindrical lip on an opposite side of the cable spool. A center of the spool includes a clutch bearing in the center of both the first cylindrical lip and the second cylindrical lip that provides a rotational axis for the cable spool to rotate around. The apparatus may also include a feed slot near the first cylindrical lip that provides a passage for cable to pass from the second cylindrical lip to the first cylindrical lip.
US09680255B2
A plug-in connector includes a latching system, for being received in and latched to an additional plug-in connector. The latching system is arranged on a connector housing and comprising at least one latching tab having a latching lug. The latching tab includes a pressure tab that can be positioned against the connector housing in order to exert a spring force.
US09680251B2
A cable for connecting to a connector of a high-voltage device includes an integral yield sensor. The yield sensor may be a pressure or force sensor, or a displacement sensor, including a stator part and a mobile part, and a spring for maintaining a compression force on the end portion of the cable towards the connector of the high-voltage device. The displacement sensor can include a Hall effect sensor and a linear array of magnetic elements arranged such that the Hall effect sensor moves relative to the linear array if there is any movement between the stator and mobile parts of the sensor, The magnetic field readings are interpreted in order to determine the amount of movement. A system for controlling a high voltage device in response to pressure and other information received from sensors in the cable is also provided.
US09680250B2
Method and apparatus for supplying external power through a sealed light enclosure that includes a lens portion and a back portion, a first electrical connector mounted through the back portion; a light source inside the enclosure connected to the first electrical connector such that when electrical power is applied to the first electrical connector, the light source illuminates. A second electrical connector has a connection interface exposed on the outer face of the lens portion, wherein the second connector is electrically connected to the first electrical connector, optionally through a series-connected fuse. The second connector is mounted on the back portion and sealed to the lens portion. Some embodiments include a rubber plug that can be plugged into the second connector to keep moisture out, wherein the plug includes an indicator light for indicating whether power is available through the second connector (i.e., that the fuse is not blown).
US09680242B2
A flap is provided for closing off a cavity of a terminal, which includes a memory card reader. The flap includes at least one slot for inserting a memory card, and the slot is obtained by a difference in height between a base plane and an insertion plane, and the slot has a guiding profile.
US09680236B2
An electrical connector can include a connector housing including a housing body that can define an opening that is configured to receive a complementary electrically conductive component along a mating direction. The electrical connector can further include at least one contact member that is supported by the connector housing and is configured to contact the complementary electrically conductive component when the complementary electrically conductive component is received in the opening. The at least one contact member can include an arm having a proximate portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal portions. The intermediate portion can be spaced outward with respect to each of the proximate and distal portions, and the intermediate portion can bear against the retention rib so as to retain the at least one contact member with respect to the connector housing.
US09680225B2
A wireless power receiver includes a receiver resonator configured to be coupled to a source resonator to receive a power from the source resonator, the receiver resonator comprising: an inverted U-shaped dielectric layer whose distal ends are bent inward; an antenna patterned in the form of a loop in line with the shape of the dielectric layer; and a meta-structure arranged around the antenna on the dielectric layer, wherein the meta-structure is configured to reinforce at least one of the electric fields and magnetic fields that are formed in the receiver resonator.
US09680223B2
A mobile device includes a ground plane, a first radiation branch, and a second radiation branch. The second radiation branch is coupled to the ground plane, and is disposed adjacent to the first radiation branch. An antenna structure is formed by the first radiation branch and the second radiation branch. The first radiation branch is fed from a signal source. The second radiation branch is excited by the first radiation branch through coupling therebetween.
US09680220B2
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a circuit for initiating a first multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication session with a primary base station, and initiating a second MIMO communication session with a first secondary base station of a plurality of secondary base stations without terminating the first MIMO communication session with the primary base station. The primary base station can include a primary antenna system having a first communication range, while each of the plurality of secondary base stations can include a secondary antenna system having a second communication range that is a subset of the first communication range of the primary antenna system. The plurality of secondary base stations can correspond to a plurality of small cell sites distributed within the first communication range of the primary base station. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09680214B2
Embodiments are provided for antenna assemblies. An example apparatus includes a first plate forming a first ground plane for an antenna; a second plate forming a second ground plane for a circuit, wherein a first edge of the first plate is orthogonally adjacent to a second edge of the second plate; and a coupler to form a capacitive coupling between the first ground plane and the second ground plane.
US09680207B2
An antenna module applied to an electronic device including a wireless communication controller and a body that includes an opening. The antenna module includes a first inductance component and a metal case. The first inductance component includes a first end and a second end, and the first end of the first inductance component is electrically connected to an end of the wireless communication controller. The metal case includes a first connection point and a second connection point. The first connection point is electrically connected to the second end of the first inductance component, and the second connection point is a preset distance away from the first connection point and electrically connected to the wireless communication controller.
US09680206B2
A mobile terminal includes a metal frame including a base portion and an edge portion formed along the outer edge of the base portion, first and second cases bonded to the front and back sides of the metal frame so as to expose the edge portion to the outside, first and second waterproof layers formed between the cases and the metal frame, conductive members that operate a radiator for antennas, together with the edge portion, and are formed on one side of the second case, and feeding portions for feeding the conductive members, the feeding portions being disposed in an enclosed space formed by the waterproof layers.
US09680203B2
An antenna structure includes a metal member, an extending section, and a metal sheet. The metal member defines a gap. The gap divides the metal member into a first portion and a second portion. The extending section is connected to the first portion of the metal ember to cooperatively form a first antenna. The first antenna, the metal sheet and the second portion of the metal portion cooperatively form a second antenna.
US09680202B2
An electronic device housing may have a base unit and a lid. Aligned antenna windows may be formed on opposing upper and lower surfaces of the base unit along a hinge. Antenna structures that are located between respective upper and lower antenna windows on the upper and lower surfaces may be based on a pair of antennas that are coupled to switching circuitry that can select which antenna to switch into use or may be based on an antenna having a position that may be adjusted relative to the upper and lower antenna windows using a mechanical coupling to the lid or using a positioner. A sensor such as a lid position sensor may monitor how the lid is positioned relative to the base unit. Information from the lid position sensor may be used in adjusting the antenna structures to optimize performance.
US09680193B2
The invention provides for a fully electrically rechargeable metal anode battery systems and methods of achieving such systems. An electrically rechargeable metal anode cell may comprise a metal electrode, an air contacting electrode, and an aqueous electrolyte separating the metal electrode and the air contacting electrode. In some embodiments, the metal electrode may directly contact the liquid electrolyte and no separator or porous membrane is needed between the air contacting electrode and the electrolyte. Rechargeable metal anode cells may be electrically connected to one another through a centrode connection where a metal electrode of one cell and an air contacting electrode of a second cell are electrically connected. Air tunnels or pathways may be provided between individual metal anode cells arranged in a stack. In some embodiments, an electrolyte flow management system may also be provided to maintain liquid electrolyte at constant levels during charge and discharge cycles.
US09680186B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a sealed battery, capable of reducing an erroneous determination rate in a leak testing step. A manufacturing step including a leak testing step for detecting leak of helium gas introduced into an exterior, including a step for pouring an electrolytic solution into the exterior, a step for reducing the pressure inside the exterior down to a predetermined pressure, and a step for introducing the helium gas in a quantity corresponding to the predetermined pressure into the exterior. Preferably, the predetermined pressure is set to a pressure higher than the saturated steam pressure of the electrolyte solution.
US09680167B2
A system for adjusting temperature of cooling-liquid comprises: a radiator; a cooling-liquid circulation flow-channel; a radiator bypass flow-channel; a thermostat valve; and a valve bypass flow-channel through which the cooling-liquid of the radiator bypass flow-channel is allowed to flow in a predetermined amount even if the thermostat valve is completely closed.
US09680160B2
Metal nanotubes are provided comprising a composition having formula (M1)NT: wherein M1=Pt, Pd, or Au; wherein the nanotubes have: a wall thickness of from 2 to 12 nm; an outer diameter of from 30 to 100 nm; and a length of from 5 to 30 μm. Metal nanowires are also provided comprising a composition having formula (M2)NW: wherein M2=Ag or Cu; wherein when M2=Ag, the nanowires have a diameter of from 25 to 60 nm and a length of from 1 to 10 μm; and when M2=Cu, the nanowires have a diameter of from 50 to 100 nm and a length of from 10 to 50 μm. In other embodiments, fuel cells are also described having at least one anode; at least one cathode; an electrolyte membrane between the at least one anode and at least one cathode; and a catalyst comprising either of the above described metal nanotubes or nanowires.
US09680152B2
A transition metal hexacyanoferrate (TMH) cathode battery is provided. The battery has a AxMn[Fe(CN)6]y.zH2O cathode, where the A cations are either alkali or alkaline-earth cations, such as sodium or potassium, where x is in the range of 1 to 2, where y is in the range of 0.5 to 1, and where z is in the range of 0 to 3.5. The AxMn[Fe(CN)6]y.zH2O has a rhombohedral crystal structure with Mn2+/3+ and Fe2+/3+ having the same reduction/oxidation potential. The battery also has an electrolyte, and anode made of an A metal, an A composite, or a material that can host A atoms. The battery has a single plateau charging curve, where a single plateau charging curve is defined as a constant charging voltage slope between 15% and 85% battery charge capacity. Fabrication methods are also provided.
US09680139B2
The invention provides for a high occupancy or heavy-duty vehicle with a battery propulsion power source, which may include lithium titanate batteries. The vehicle may be all-battery or may be a hybrid, and may have a composite body. The vehicle battery system may be housed within the floor of the vehicle and may have different groupings and arrangements.
US09680136B2
A rechargeable battery including a case; a cap plate installed on the case; and a terminal, the terminal including a terminal pillar protruding from the cap plate, and a terminal plate coupled to the terminal pillar, wherein the terminal pillar includes a first pillar coupled to the terminal plate; second pillar coupled to the first pillar, and a welding member on an exterior of the first pillar or the second pillar.
US09680135B2
A pouch-type flexible film battery, including: (a) a cathode structure including a cathode pouch, a cathode conductive carbon layer, and a cathode layer; (b) an anode structure including an anode pouch, an anode conductive carbon layer, and an anode layer; and (c) a polymer electrolyte layer that is provided between the cathode and anode structures, that is bonded to the cathode layer and to the anode layer, and that is a gel-type electrolyte having adhesive properties and including a cellulose-based polymer.
US09680127B2
In an organic EL display device, an improvement in the performance of a barrier film that blocks entry of a substance that causes degradation, such as moisture, into an organic electroluminescent element is achieved. The organic EL display device includes the barrier film, which is a stacked film including a barrier base material layer made of silicon oxide or silicon nitride and a base material coating layer in contact with an impregnated barrier base material layer. The barrier film blocks transmission of a substance that degrades the organic electroluminescent element. Nano-ink is applied on a surface of the barrier base material layer, and the barrier base material layer is impregnated with the nano-ink. The barrier base material layer subjected to the impregnation treatment serves as the impregnated barrier base material layer, while the nano-ink after impregnation serves as the base material coating layer.
US09680123B2
A light emitting device including a substrate, a first electrode structure, an organic light emitting structure and a second electrode structure is provided. The first electrode structure includes a first transparent conductive layer, a patterned conductive layer and a second transparent conductive layer disposed on the substrate in sequence, so that the patterned conductive layer is interposed between the second transparent conductive layer and the first transparent conductive layer in a thickness direction of the substrate. The organic light emitting structure and the second electrode structure are disposed on the substrate, and the organic light emitting structure is located between the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure in the thickness direction of the substrate. An electrode structure and a manufacturing method thereof are also provided.
US09680119B2
Disclosed is a white organic light emitting display device comprising first and second electrodes, and a first emitting part between the first and second electrodes, the first emitting part including a red emitting layer and a blue emitting layer adjacent to the red emitting layer, wherein the red emitting layer includes a first host material which does not absorb a blue light emitted from the blue emitting layer, and an organic light emitting display apparatus using the same.
US09680109B2
An organic light emitting diode and an organic light emitting device, the organic light emitting diode including a first compound represented by the following Formula 1; and a second compound represented by the following Formula 2,
US09680103B2
An organic photoelectric conversion element composition including a p-type-and-n-type linked organic semiconductor polymer represented by any one of formulas (1) to (5), a thin film and a photovoltaic cell each containing the same, an organic semiconductor polymer and a compound each for use in these, and a method of producing the polymer: wherein, in formulas, A to A4 represent a group of a p-type organic semiconductor unit, and B to B3 represent a group of an n-type organic semiconductor unit; L1 to L4 represent a divalent or trivalent linking group; herein, in the formulas, at least one bonding hand represented by -* in the structures shown upperward and downward, and in the case of formula (4), L4 and (b), and L1 or L2 and (a), bond directly or through a divalent linking group; l, n, r, t, u and v represent an integer of 1 to 1,000; m and s represent an integer of 1 to 10; and p, q, l′ and n′ represent an integer of 0 to 1,000; in which p and q do not simultaneously represent 0.
US09680086B2
The present invention provides a piezoelectric material which has excellent insulating and piezoelectric properties and which contains no lead and potassium and also provides a piezoelectric element and a multilayered piezoelectric element each using the above piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material is a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1). (1−x){(NayBa1-z)(Nb7Ti1-z)O3}-xBiFeO3 (1) In the formula, 0
US09680085B2
A ceramic powder contains a metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1). The ceramic powder has a single perovskite-type crystal phase. The ceramic powder is composed of particles having an average equivalent circular diameter in the range of 100 nm or more and less than 1000 nm and has a ratio c1/a1 in the range of 1.000≦c1/a1≦1.010, wherein c1 and a1 denote the c-axis length and a-axis length, respectively, of unit cells of the perovskite-type metal oxide, c1 being greater than or equal to a1. formula (1)(Ba1-xCax)α(Ti1-y-zZryMnz)O3(0.9900≦α≦1.0100, 0.125≦x≦0.300, 0.020≦y≦0.095, 0.003≦z≦0.016).
US09680077B1
A light-emitting diode (LED) lighting device includes a substrate, an isolation layer, a first bottom electrode, a second bottom electrode, at least one first vertical LED, a first conductive bonding layer, at least one second vertical LED, a second conductive bonding layer, a first transparent sealing material, a second transparent sealing material, and a top electrode. The substrate has a base portion and a plurality of protruding portions present on the base portion. The base portion and the protruding portions cooperate to define at least one first recess and at least one second recess. At least one of the first recess and the second recess has a bottom surface and at least one sidewall adjacent to the bottom surface. The bottom surface and the sidewall are reflective. The first vertical LED and the second vertical LED are electrically connected in series.
US09680073B2
A light emitting module includes: a substrate having a recess part formed thereon; a body surrounding some of side surfaces and an upper surface of the substrate; a light emitting diode chip positioned on the recess part of the substrate; and a lens positioned on the body, wherein the substrate includes a first step part positioned along an edge of the recess part and a second step part positioned along an edge of a lower surface thereof, and the lower surface of the substrate is exposed to the outside.
US09680072B2
An LED is fabricated with a composite layer including quantum dots (QDs), wherein the QDs are provided in a silicone paste. A plurality of QD silicone paste reservoirs each contain a provided silicone paste with QDs of different wavelengths. Further, a silicone paste reservoir containing a clear silicone paste. A paste mixing chamber, in to which the QD paste reservoirs and the silicone paste reservoir supply their respective pastes, mixes together the pastes and form a mixed QD silicone paste. A silicone mixing and metering component receives the mixed QD silicone paste from the paste mixing chamber, and further receives A silicone and B silicone from a respective A silicone reservoir and a B silicone reservoir, measures, and mixes the mixed QD silicone paste with the A and B silicones to form a silicone polymer composite. A dispensing component receives to the silicone polymer composite from the mixing and metering component and dispenses the composite to a molding tool.
US09680069B2
A light emitting device package is provided. The package includes a light emitting device including a substrate, and a light emitting structure having a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer stacked on the substrate; and a wavelength conversion film disposed in a path of light emitted by the light emitting device and having phosphor layers stacked on each other. A portion of the phosphor layers includes phosphor structures including a wavelength conversion material receiving light emitted from the light emitting device and converting a wavelength thereof and a binding resin binding the wavelength conversion material, and a transparent resin filling spaces between the phosphor structures.
US09680064B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device, a conductive substrate; a second electrode layer on the conductive substrate and including a center portion and a peripheral portion surrounding the center portion; a protective layer on the peripheral portion of the second electrode layer; and a light emitting structure including a second conductive semiconductor layer on the second electrode layer, an active layer on the second conductive semiconductor layer and a first conductive semiconductor layer on the active layer; and a first electrode layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer, wherein the second conductive semiconductor layer includes edge portions extending outside of the light emitting structure.
US09680061B2
A device having a layer with a patterned surface for improving the growth of semiconductor layers, such as group III nitride-based semiconductor layers with a high concentration of aluminum, is provided. The patterned surface can include a substantially flat top surface and a plurality of stress reducing regions, such as openings. The substantially flat top surface can have a root mean square roughness less than approximately 0.5 nanometers, and the stress reducing regions can have a characteristic size between approximately 0.1 microns and approximately five microns and a depth of at least 0.2 microns. A layer of group-III nitride material can be grown on the first layer and have a thickness at least twice the characteristic size of the stress reducing regions.
US09680058B2
A group-III nitride structure includes a substrate 102 and a fine wall-shaped structure 110 disposed to stand on the substrate 102 in a vertical direction relative to a surface of the substrate 102 and extending in an in-plane direction of the substrate 102. The fine wall-shaped structure 110 contains a group-III nitride semiconductor crystal, and h is larger than d assuming that the height of the fine wall-shaped structure 110 is h and the width of the fine wall-shaped structure 110 in a direction perpendicular to the height direction and the extending direction is d.
US09680052B2
An optoelectronic component includes a semiconductor layer structure having a quantum film structure, and a p-doped layer arranged above the quantum film structure, wherein the p-doped layer includes at least one first partial layer and a second partial layer, and the second partial layer has a higher degree of doping than the first partial layer.
US09680050B2
There is provided a semiconductor light emitting device including a conductive substrate, a first electrode layer, an insulating layer, a second electrode layer, a second semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a first semiconductor layer that are sequentially stacked. The contact area between the first electrode layer and the first semiconductor layer is 3% to 13% of the total area of the semiconductor light emitting device, and thus high luminous efficiency is achieved.
US09680049B2
In at least one embodiment, a method is designed to produce optoelectronic semiconductor chips. A carrier assembly, which is a sapphire wafer, is produced. A semiconductor layer sequence is applied to the carrier assembly. The carrier assembly and the semiconductor layer sequence are divided into the individual semiconductor chips. The dividing is implemented by producing a multiplicity of selectively etchable material modifications in the carrier assembly in separation region(s) by focused, pulsed laser radiation. The laser radiation has a wavelength at which the carrier assembly is transparent. The dividing includes wet chemically etching the material modifications, such that the carrier assembly is singulated into individual carriers for the semiconductor chips solely by the wet chemical etching or in combination with a further material removal method.
US09680048B2
A method for producing a radiation-emitting semiconductor component is provided, comprising the following steps: —providing a growth substrate (1), —depositing a nucleation layer (2) on the growth substrate (1), —applying a structured dielectric layer (3) to the nucleation layer (2), —applying an epitaxial layer (4) by means of a FACELO process to the structured dielectric layer (3), —epitaxial growth of an epitaxial layer sequence (5) on the epitaxial layer (4), wherein the epitaxial layer sequence (5) comprises an active zone (6) that is suitable for producing electromagnetic radiation.
US09680047B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing polycrystalline silicon thin-film solar cell by a method of crystallizing a large-area amorphous silicon thin film using a linear electron beam, and the technical problem to be solved is to crystallize an amorphous silicon thin film, which is formed on a low-priced substrate, by means of an electron beam so as for same to easily be of high quality by having high crystallization yield and to be processed at a low temperature. To this end, one embodiment of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing polycrystalline silicon thin-film solar cell by means of a method for crystallizing a large-area amorphous silicon thin film using a linear electron beam, the method comprising: a substrate preparation step for preparing a substrate; a type 1+ amorphous silicon layer deposition step for forming a type 1+ amorphous silicon layer on the substrate; a type 1 amorphous silicon layer deposition step for forming a type 1 amorphous silicon layer on the type 1+ amorphous silicon layer; an absorption layer formation step for forming an absorption layer by radiating a linear electron beam to the type 1 amorphous silicon layer and thus crystallizing the type 1 amorphous layer and the type 1+ amorphous silicon layer; a type 2 amorphous silicon layer deposition step for forming a type 2 amorphous silicon layer on the absorption layer; and an emitter layer formation step for forming an emitter layer by radiating a linear electron beam to the type 2 amorphous silicon layer and thus crystallizing the type 2 amorphous silicon layer, wherein the linear electron beam is radiated from above type 1 and type 2 amorphous silicon layers in a linear scanning manner in which to reciprocate in a predetermined area.
US09680043B2
The invention relates to a photovoltaic concentrator module comprising at least one lens and at least one photovoltaic cell, further comprising a distance adjustment means configured to adjust the distance between the at least one lens and the at least one photovoltaic cell. Using the distance adjustment means, the cell and the lens can be kept at a desired distance, e.g., the focal distance. The distance adjustment means can be a pressure varying means. The invention further relates to a photovoltaic concentrator array comprising a plurality of photovoltaic concentrator modules and to a method for improving the energy conversion efficiency of a photovoltaic concentrator module.
US09680023B1
A method of manufacturing a dual-gate FinFET is provided. The method includes: forming a fin structure on the semiconductor substrate, depositing an oxide layer and planarizing until the top of the fin structure is exposed, depositing a hard mask layer and patterning, preforming a first etch back process to one side of the oxide layer, and then removing the rest of the hard mask layer, preforming a second etch back process to the oxide layers at both sides of the fin structure simultaneously, forming a gate dielectric layer on surface of the fin structure, then depositing gate material on the gate dielectric layer and patterning, removing gate material on top of the fin structure, forming a drive gate and a control gate at two sides of the fin structure respectively; wherein height of the control gate is higher than height of the drive gate.
US09680015B2
A method of forming a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device structure includes forming a spacer layer material over a substrate and over gate structures defined in a first polarity type region and a second polarity type region; selectively etching the spacer layer material in the first polarity type region to form first gate sidewall spacers; forming first epitaxially grown source/drain (SD) regions in the first polarity type region; selectively forming a protection layer only on exposed surfaces of the first SD regions, so as not to increase a thickness of the spacer layer material in the second polarity type region; forming a masking layer over the first polarity type region, and etching the spacer layer material in the second polarity type region to form second gate sidewall spacers; and removing the masking layer and forming second epitaxially grown SD regions in the second polarity type region.
US09680014B2
A p-type semiconductor Fin FET device includes a fin structure disposed over a substrate. The fin structure includes a channel layer. The Fin FET device also includes a gate structure including a gate electrode layer and a gate dielectric layer, covering a portion of the fin structure. Side-wall insulating layers are disposed over both main sides of the gate electrode layer. The Fin FET device includes a source and a drain, each including a stressor layer disposed in a recess formed by removing the fin structure not covered by the gate structure. The stressor layer includes a first stressor layer and a second stressor layer formed in this order. In the source, an interface between the first stressor layer and the channel layer is located under one of the side-wall insulating layers closer to the source or the gate electrode.
US09680001B2
A nitride semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a buffer layer formed on the substrate; a laminated body formed by two or more cycles of semiconductor layers each including a first nitride semiconductor layer, and a second nitride semiconductor layer having a larger band gap than a band gap of the first nitride semiconductor layer, the first and second nitride semiconductor layers being laminated in this order on the buffer layer; a first electrode; and a second electrode. A channel layer is formed in each of the semiconductor layers at an interface between the first nitride semiconductor layer and the second nitride semiconductor layer. A carrier concentration of the channel layer in the uppermost semiconductor layer is lower than a carrier concentration of each of the channel layers of the other semiconductor layers.
US09680000B2
The present invention relates to a terahertz radiating device, which includes a high electron mobility transistor (HEMT); a source provide to the HEMT; a gate right to the HEMT; a drain provide to the HEMT; a first antenna connected with the drain; a drain bias for applying a direct current (DC) voltage to the drain; and a source-gate connector for connecting the source and the gate in a device unit. Thereby, commercially available terahertz waves may be radiated, and high output power may be obtained.
US09679986B2
A gate insulating film is provided on a trench. The gate insulating film has a trench insulating film and a bottom insulating film. The trench insulating film covers each of a side wall and a bottom portion. The bottom insulating film is provided on the bottom portion with a trench insulating film being interposed therebetween. The bottom insulating film has a carbon atom concentration lower than that of the trench insulating film. The gate electrode is in contact with a portion of the trench insulating film on the side wall. Accordingly, a low threshold voltage and a large breakdown voltage can be attained.
US09679978B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having first and second regions, a first fin-type pattern and a second fin-type pattern formed in the first region and extending in a first direction, and a third fin-type pattern and a fourth fin-type pattern formed in the second region and extending in a third direction. A first source/drain is formed on the first fin-type pattern and a second source/drain region is formed on the second fin-type pattern. Each of first and second source/drains have a cross section defining a same convex polygonal shape. A third source/drain is formed on the third fin-type pattern and a fourth source/drain region is formed on the fourth fin-type pattern. Cross-sections of the third and fourth source/drains define different convex polygonal shapes from one another.
US09679976B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate in which a recess is provided on a back surface thereof, and a shape of the recess is reflected on a surface of a metal film which is also provided on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US09679975B2
A semiconductor device includes an active pattern provided on a substrate and a gate electrode crossing over the active pattern. The active pattern includes a first buffer pattern on the substrate, a channel pattern on the first buffer pattern, a doped pattern between the first buffer pattern and the channel pattern, and a second buffer pattern between the doped pattern and the channel pattern. The doped pattern includes graphene injected with an impurity.
US09679974B2
According to one embodiment, a nitride semiconductor element includes: a stacked body; and a functional layer. The stacked body includes a first GaN layer, a first layer, and a second GaN layer. The first GaN layer includes a first protrusion. The first layer is provided on the first GaN layer and contains at least one of Si and Mg. The second GaN layer is provided on the first layer and includes a second protrusion. Length of bottom of the second protrusion is shorter than length of bottom of the first protrusion. A functional layer is provided on the stacked body and includes a nitride semiconductor.
US09679973B2
A light emitting device having a vertical structure and a package thereof, which are capable of damping impact generated in a substrate separation process, and achieving an improvement in mass productivity. The device and package include a sub-mount, a first-type electrode, a second-type electrode, a light emitting device, a zener diode, and a lens on the sub-mount.
US09679969B2
A semiconductor device includes at least one semiconductor fin on an upper surface of a substrate. The at least one semiconductor fin includes a channel region interposed between opposing source/drain regions. A gate stack is on the upper surface of the substrate and wraps around sidewalls and an upper surface of only the channel region. The channel region is a dual channel region including a buried channel portion and a surface channel portion that completely surrounds the buried channel.
US09679966B2
The electronic device comprises a substrate (1), at least one semiconductor nanowire (2) and a buffer layer (3) interposed between the substrate (1) and said nanowire (2). The buffer layer (3) is at least partly formed by a transition metal nitride layer (9) from which extends the nanowire (2), said transition metal nitride being chosen from: vanadium nitride, chromium nitride, zirconium nitride, niobium nitride, molybdenum nitride, hafnium nitride or tantalum nitride.
US09679964B2
Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having semiconductor material patterned into two mesas spaced from one another by at least one dummy projection. The dummy projection has a width along a cross-section of X and the mesas have widths along the cross-section of at least 3X. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having a memory array region and a peripheral region adjacent the memory array region. Semiconductor material within the peripheral region is patterned into two relatively wide mesas spaced from one another by at least one relatively narrow projection. The relatively narrow projection has a width along a cross-section of X and the relatively wide mesas have widths along the cross-section of at least 3X.
US09679957B2
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a substrate including a display area and a non-display area disposed on one side of the display area, a line unit including a plurality of lines extending in one direction and disposed on the substrate in the non-display area, an insulating film disposed on the line unit and exposing one end of the line unit, and a metal layer disposed between the line unit and the insulating film.
US09679951B2
The present invention relates to the field of display technology, particularly to a pixel defining layer, an organic electroluminescent device and a display device. The pixel defining layer comprises a first defining layer on an array substrate and a second defining layer on the first defining layer, wherein the first defining layer is made of a lyophilic inorganic material, and the second defining layer is made of a lyophobic organic material. The present invention provides a pixel defining layer, an organic electroluminescent device and a display device, wherein ink-jet printing technology is used to patternize pixels of an organic material, which serves as not only a protective layer on the first inorganic material layer during dry etching, but also a lyophobic layer on the second layer; the making of the double-layered pixel defining layer omits the process of using two masks, which can effectively reduce costs and improve production efficiency.
US09679949B2
An organic light emitting display device is disclosed. The organic light emitting display device includes a first sub-pixel that includes a first emission region which makes a first color, a second sub-pixel that is disposed adjacent to the first sub-pixel, and includes a second emission region which makes a second color, a third sub-pixel that is disposed adjacent to the first sub-pixel, and includes a third emission region which makes a third color, and a fourth sub-pixel that is disposed adjacent to the second sub-pixel and the third sub-pixel, and includes a fourth emission region which makes a fourth color. At least one of the first to fourth sub-pixels includes a transmission region which cannot emit light and through which external light is transmitted. The transmission region is surrounded by at least one of the first to fourth emission regions.
US09679945B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer separated from the first conductive layer in a first direction, a resistance change layer provided between the first and second conductive layers, a third conductive layer, a fourth conductive layer and a first intermediate layer. The third conductive layer is arranged with the first conductive layer in a second direction crossing the first direction. The fourth conductive layer is arranged with the second conductive layer in a direction crossing the first direction. The fourth conductive layer is arranged with the third conductive layer in the first direction. The fourth conductive layer is electrically connected with the third conductive layer. The first intermediate layer is provided between a portion of the third conductive layer and a portion of the fourth conductive layer.
US09679933B2
An image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a red (R) pixel, a green (G) pixel, a blue (B) pixel and an infrared (IR) pixel, and R, G and B filters respectively disposed at the R, G and B pixels. The image sensor also includes an IR pass filter disposed at the IR pixel and an IR filter stacked with the R, G and B filters, wherein the IR filter cuts off at least IR light with a specific wavelength. Furthermore, a method of forming an image sensor is also provided.
US09679925B2
An active matrix substrate (10) includes a first line (101), a second line (102), a third line (103), a fourth line (104) and a fifth line (105) provided in a non-display region F. The first line crosses a non-input-side end portion of at least one bus line of a first bus line group with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. The second line crosses a non-input-side end portion of at least one bus line of a second bus line group with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. The third line crosses an input-side end portion of the first bus line group with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, and does not cross the second bus line group. The fourth line crosses an input-side end portion of the second bus line group with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, and does not cross the first bus line group. The fifth line is routed so as to cross the first, second, third and fourth lines with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. The third line and the fourth line are electrically separated from each other.
US09679907B1
A portion of a charge trapping layer adjacent to a select drain gate electrode can be removed employing a differential-rate etch process that provides an accelerated etch rate to a doped portion with respect to an undoped portion. If a silicon nitride layer is employed as the charge trapping layer, then angled ion implantation of boron atoms to an upper portion of the silicon nitride layer can increase the etch rate of the boron-doped portion of the silicon nitride layer in phosphoric acid. The charge trapping layer is etched back such that a remaining portion of the charge trapping layer can be present only at levels of control gate electrodes, and absent at each level of select drain gate electrodes. Threshold voltage shift for the select drain gate electrodes can be eliminated or reduced by removal of the charge trapping layer at each level of the select drain gate electrodes.
US09679899B2
Integrated circuits are disclosed in which the strain properties of adjacent pFETs and nFETs are independently adjustable. The pFETs include compressive-strained SiGe on a silicon substrate, while the nFETs include tensile-strained silicon on a strain-relaxed SiGe substrate. Adjacent n-type and p-type FinFETs are separated by electrically insulating regions formed by a damascene process. During formation of the insulating regions, the SiGe substrate supporting the n-type devices is permitted to relax elastically, thereby limiting defect formation in the crystal lattice of the SiGe substrate.
US09679893B2
This disclosure provides a negative capacitance gate stack structure with a variable positive capacitor to implement a hysteresis free negative capacitance field effect transistors (NCFETs) with improved voltage gain. The gate stack structure provides an effective ferroelectric negative capacitor by using the combination of a ferroelectric negative capacitor and the variable positive capacitor with semiconductor material (such as polysilicon), resulting in the effective ferroelectric negative capacitor's being varied with an applied gate voltage. Our simulation results show that the NCFET with the variable positive capacitor can achieve not only a non-hysteretic ID-VG curve but also a better sub-threshold slope.
US09679886B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device includes a substrate including a plurality of active fins and a plurality of grooves. The ESD protection device includes an insulation layer on the active fins and the grooves, and a gate electrode on the active fins. The ESD protection device includes a first impurity region adjacent to a first side of the gate electrode, and a second impurity region adjacent to a second side of the gate electrode. The second side of the gate electrode may be arranged opposite to the first side. The ESD protection device includes an electrode pattern of a capacitor overlapping the first impurity region, a resistor overlapping the second impurity region, and a connection structure electrically connecting the electrode pattern, the gate electrode, and the resistor to each other.
US09679884B2
An ESD protecting circuit comprising: a first and a second voltage pad; an I/O pad; a first ESD protecting module, comprising a first terminal coupled to the first voltage pad, and comprising a second terminal; a switch, comprising a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first ESD protecting module, comprising a second terminal coupled to the I/O pad, and comprising a control terminal for receiving a control signal; a second ESD protecting module, comprising a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the MOS transistor, and comprising a second terminal coupled to the second voltage pad; and an ESD detecting circuit, for detecting if an ESD voltage exists, for generating the control signal to control the MOS transistor to be conductive when an ESD voltage is detected and to control the MOS transistor to be nonconductive when the ESD voltage is not detected.
US09679883B2
An integrated circuit includes a bottom substrate, a metal layer disposed over the bottom substrate and a hollow metal pillar disposed on the metal layer. The metal layer and the hollow metal pillar are electrically connected.
US09679882B2
A method of multi-chip wafer level packaging comprises attaching a first semiconductor die to a top side of a wafer, forming a first reconfigured wafer by embedding the first semiconductor die into a first photo-sensitive material layer, forming a first group of through assembly vias in the first photo-sensitive material layer, attaching a second semiconductor die to the first photo-sensitive material layer, forming a second photo-sensitive material layer on top of the first photo-sensitive material layer, wherein the second semiconductor die is embedded in the second photo-sensitive material layer and forming a second group of through assembly vias in the second photo-sensitive material layer.
US09679879B2
Provided is a LED light-emitting device including: a carrier, which is a transparent body, and on a carrying surface of which conductors are provided; a plurality of LED chips, which are electrically connected to the conductors by way of eutectic bonding, so as to realize electrical connection among the plurality of LED chips; an encapsulation structural member, which is a transparent body and encapsulates on the periphery of the carrier and the LED chips; and a pair of electrodes, wherein positive electrode/negative electrodes in the pair of electrodes are electrically connected to the LED chips located at the most upstream/most downstream of a current transmission in the plurality of LED chips by means of the conductors, and extend to the outside of the encapsulation structural member.
US09679878B1
Forming a semiconductor package includes coupling electrically conductive elements with a substrate, coupling a first die with one or more of the electrically conductive elements, and at least partially encapsulating the first die and electrically conductive elements in a first mold layer. A first redistribution layer (RDL) is placed over the first mold layer and electrically coupled with the first die. A second die is coupled with the first RDL, and the second die and first RDL are at least partially encapsulated in a second mold layer. A second RDL is formed over the second mold layer and is electrically coupled with the second die. A third mold layer at least partially encapsulates the second RDL. A portion of the substrate is removed to expose (and a solder mask is applied to) surfaces of the electrically conductive elements and of the first mold layer to form a stacked embedded package.
US09679876B2
A microelectronic assembly (300) or system (1500) includes at least one microelectronic package (100) having a microelectronic element (130) mounted face up above a first surface (108) of a substrate (102), one or more columns (138, 140) of contacts (132) extending in a first direction (142) along the microelectronic element front face. Columns (104A, 105B, 107A, 107B) of terminals (105 107) exposed at a second surface (110) of the substrate extend in the first direction. First terminals (105) exposed at surface (110) in a central region (112) thereof having width (152) not more than three and one-half times a minimum pitch (150) of the columns of terminals can be configured to carry address information usable to determine an addressable memory location. An axial plane of the microelectronic element can intersect the central region.
US09679870B2
An integrated circuit (IC) device includes an IC and encapsulating material surrounding the IC. Leads are coupled to the IC and extend outwardly from sides of the encapsulating material, with each lead having three contiguous exposed segments with upper and lower bends defining a Z-shape. In another example, the leads include an upper horizontal segment, lower horizontal segment, and intermediate curved segment extending upwardly from the upper horizontal segment and downwardly to the lower horizontal segment.
US09679856B2
According to an embodiment, a micro-fabricated test structure includes a structure mechanically coupled between two rigid anchors and disposed above a substrate. The structure is released from the substrate and includes a test layer mechanically coupled between the two rigid anchors. The test layer includes a first region having a first cross-sectional area and a constricted region having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. The structure also includes a first tensile stressed layer disposed on a surface of the test layer adjacent the first region.
US09679855B1
Some implementations provide a semiconductor device (e.g., die, wafer) that includes a substrate, that is configured with trenches that are dry-etched into a surface of the substrate inside an area defined by scribe lines of the substrate. A crack stop structure is provided for the semiconductor device that includes a polymer dielectric layer coating that fills the trenches with a polymer dielectric material and provides a dielectric layer over the surface of the substrate inside the area. The polymer dielectric layer coating and trenches are configured to reduce cracking or chipping of the substrate in the area defined by scribe lines after cutting.
US09679854B2
The present disclosure is directed to a reconfigurable repeater system. A system may comprise a PCB to which devices are coupled. At least one communication channel may convey communications signals between the devices. At least one receptacle may also be coupled to the PCB and may intersect the at least one communication channel so as to separate the at least one communication channel into sections. Inserting at least one extender module into the at least one receptacle may couple the at least one extender module to the sections of the communication module. The at least one extender module may include at least one conductor to convey communication signals between the sections of the at least one communication channel. Another configuration of the at least one extender module may include a repeater to receive, amplify and transmit communication signals between the sections of the at least one communication channel.
US09679849B1
Area overhead is reduced between adjacent blocks of a 3D vertical channel memory device. In various embodiments, vertically oriented pillars that intersect layers of string select lines and word lines are arranged at intersections of a regular grid that is rotated, in a “twisted” array of pillars. Sides of shapes of the 3D NAND array structure are undulating, and follow undulating lines in which the outer pillars are disposed. For example, any of the string select lines, word lines, ground select lines, and ground lines have sides with undulating shapes.
US09679847B2
An integrated circuit includes a source-drain region, a channel region adjacent to the source-drain region, a gate structure extending over the channel region and a sidewall spacer on a side of the gate structure and which extends over the source-drain region. A dielectric layer is provided in contact with the sidewall spacer and having a top surface. The gate structure includes a gate electrode and a gate contact extending from the gate electrode as a projection to reach the top surface. The side surfaces of the gate electrode and a gate contact are aligned with each other. The gate dielectric layer for the transistor positioned between the gate electrode and the channel region extends between the gate electrode and the sidewall spacer and further extends between the gate contact and the sidewall spacer.
US09679839B2
A system and method for packaging semiconductor device is provided. An embodiment comprises forming vias over a carrier wafer and attaching a first die over the carrier wafer and between a first two of the vias. A second die is attached over the carrier wafer and between a second two of the vias. The first die and the second die are encapsulated to form a first package, and at least one third die is connected to the first die or the second die. A second package is connected to the first package over the at least one third die. Alternatively, instead of forming vias over the carrier wafer, through silicon vias may be formed within a semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor substrate may be attached to the carrier wafer.
US09679836B2
A device includes a redistribution line, and a polymer region molded over the redistribution line. The polymer region includes a first flat top surface. A solder region is disposed in the polymer region and electrically coupled to the redistribution line. The solder region includes a second flat top surface not higher than the first flat top surface.
US09679833B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package having a small gate clip is disclosed. A first and second semiconductor chips, each of which includes a source electrode and a gate electrode at a top surface, are attached on two adjacent lead frame units of a lead frame such that the lead frame unit with the first chip formed thereon is rotated 180 degrees in relation to the other lead frame unit with the second semiconductor chip formed thereon. A first and second clip sets are mounted on the first and second semiconductor chips, wherein the first clip set is connected to the gate electrode of the first chip, the source electrode of the second chip, and their corresponding leads and the second clip set is connected to the gate electrode of the second chip, the source electrode of the first chip and their corresponding leads.
US09679827B2
A three-dimensional VLSI integrated circuit apparatus is disclosed having a plurality of VLSI layers. A first VLSI layer includes a first silicon sublayer coupleable to at least one heat sink, and a first active silicon sublayer having a (first) plurality of photonic receivers (or transceivers); and a second VLSI layer including a second silicon sublayer having a first plurality of microfluidic cooling channels, and a second active silicon sublayer of the plurality of second VLSI sublayers having an interconnection network. Additional VLSI layers may also include a third VLSI layer having a third silicon sublayer having a second plurality of microfluidic cooling channels and a third active silicon sublayer having a (second) plurality of photonic transmitters (or transceivers). Additional VLSI layers may also include a third VLSI layer having microfluidic cooling channels and memory circuits, and a fourth VLSI layer having microfluidic cooling channels and parallel processing circuitry.
US09679825B2
The present disclosure provides an array substrate for a display device and a manufacturing method thereof. A transparent electrode pattern (ITO) may be formed between a source/drain metal pattern and a passivation layer located above the source/drain metal pattern, which are formed in a passivation hole area of a non-active area of the array substrate. Accordingly, it may be possible to prevent display failure caused by a delamination phenomenon or peel-off of a material of the passivation layer due to the lack of adhesion strength between a metal layer and the passivation layer in the passivation hole area.
US09679822B1
A method of monitoring an epitaxial growth geometry shift is disclosed. First, second and third trenches are formed on a semiconductor wafer. An epitaxial layer is grown. The epitaxial layer covers the first trenches and the second trenches but not the third trenches. First and second recesses on a top surface of the epitaxial layer are formed. First and second openings aligned with the first and the second recesses and a third openings aligned with the third trenches are formed in a photoresist layer. A corresponding first offset between a top center and a bottom center of each first recess is measured. An offset value of the top center from the bottom center of said each first recess is determined. A corresponding second offset between a top center of each second recess and a center of corresponding second opening is determined. A corresponding third offset between a center of each third trench and a center of corresponding third opening is measured. A corresponding offset value of each second recess from the difference between corresponding second offset and corresponding third offset is determined.
US09679818B2
A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a first gate stack positioned over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a first doped structure and a second doped structure positioned at two opposite sides of the first gate stack and embedded in the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes a second gate stack positioned over the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the second doped structure. The semiconductor device structure includes a third gate stack positioned over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure includes an isolation structure embedded in the semiconductor substrate and between the second gate stack and the third gate stack. The isolation structure is wider and thinner than the second doped structure, and the isolation structure is made of an epitaxial material.
US09679802B2
A method for producing interconnection lines including etching a layer of porous dielectric material forming a trench and filling the trench is provided. The etching is carried out in a plasma so as to grow, all along the etching, a protective layer on flanks of the layer of porous dielectric material. The plasma is formed from a gas formed from a first component and a second component, or a gas formed from a first component, a second component and a third component. The first component is a hydrocarbon of the CXHY type, where X is the proportion of carbon in the gas and Y the proportion of hydrogen in the gas; the second component is taken from nitrogen or dioxygen or a mixture of nitrogen and dioxygen; the third component is taken from argon or helium; and the protective layer is based on hydrocarbon.
US09679798B2
Disclosed is a substrate conveyance apparatus capable of suppressing a substrate from being damaged. The substrate conveyance apparatus includes a plurality of nozzles, and a main body unit. The plurality of nozzles are configured to jet a gas toward a surface of a substrate to hold the substrate in a non-contact manner. The main body unit is provided with the plurality of nozzles. At least surfaces of the plurality of nozzles are formed of a resin.
US09679790B2
A singulation apparatus includes a carrier having a plurality of singulation sites and a scribe line between each of the plurality of singulation sites and an adjacent singulation site. The carrier has a top surface configured to receive a semiconductor substrate thereon. Each of the plurality of singulation sites includes a deformable portion and at least one vacuum hole. The at least one vacuum hole and the deformable portion is configured to form a seal around the at least one vacuum holes when a force is applied. The present disclosure further includes a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices, especially for a singulation process.
US09679787B2
A spin treatment apparatus includes an annular liquid receiver, an annular cup body and an annular partitioning member. The annular liquid receiver surrounds a rotating substrate at a distance from an outer periphery of the substrate and is configured to receive liquid flying from the rotating substrate and accommodate the liquid. The annular cup body surrounds the liquid receiver at a distance from an outer periphery of the liquid receiver and forms an annular outer exhaust flow channel for generating an airflow along an upper surface to an outer peripheral surface of the liquid receiver. The annular partitioning member is provided inside the annular liquid receiver and forms an annular inner exhaust flow channel for generating an airflow along an inner peripheral surface to a lower surface of the liquid receiver.
US09679785B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer includes a plurality of semiconductor die. An insulating layer is formed over an active surface of the semiconductor die. A trench is formed in a non-active area of the semiconductor wafer between the semiconductor die. The trench extends partially through the semiconductor wafer. A carrier with adhesive layer is provided. The semiconductor die are disposed over the adhesive layer and carrier simultaneously as a single unit. A backgrinding operation is performed to remove a portion of the semiconductor wafer and expose the trench. The adhesive layer holds the semiconductor die in place during the backgrinding operation. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and into the trench. The carrier and adhesive layer are removed. The encapsulated semiconductor die are cleaned and singulated into individual semiconductor devices. The electrical performance and functionality of the semiconductor devices are tested.
US09679783B2
A bottom chase and a top chase of a molding system form a cavity to house a molding carrier and one or more devices. The molding carrier is placed in a desired location defined by a guiding component. The guiding component may be entirely within the cavity, or extend above a surface of the bottom chase and extend over a contacting edge of the top chase and the bottom chase, so that there is a gap between the edge of the top chase and the edge of the molding carrier which are filled by molding materials to cover the edge of the molding carrier. Releasing components may be associated with the top chase and/or the bottom chase, which may be a plurality of tape roller with a releasing film, or a plurality of vacuum holes within the bottom chase, or a plurality of bottom pins with the bottom chase.
US09679778B2
Various embodiments include apparatuses and methods of forming the same. One such apparatus can include a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material, and a conductive material between the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material. A charge storage element, such as a floating gate or charge trap, is between the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material and adjacent to the conductive material. The charge storage element has a first surface and a second surface. The first and second surfaces are substantially separated from the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material, respectively, by a first air gap and a second air gap. Additional apparatuses and methods are disclosed.
US09679777B2
Process, stack and assembly for separating a structure from a substrate by electromagnetic radiation
A method for separating a structure from a substrate through electromagnetic irradiations (EI) belonging to a spectral range comprises the steps of a) providing the substrate, b) forming an absorbent separation layer on the substrate, c) forming the structure to be separated on the separation layer, d) exposing the separation layer to the electromagnetic irradiations (EI) via the substrate such that the separation layer breaks down under the effect of the heat stemming from the absorption, the method being notable in that it comprises a step b1) of forming a transparent thermal barrier layer on the separation layer, the exposure period and the thickness of the thermal barrier layer being adapted such that the temperature of the structure to be separated remains below a threshold during the exposure period, beyond which threshold, faults are likely to appear in the structure.
US09679772B2
A method including: providing a structure comprising: a spalled layer having a first side and a second side; and a tape layer provided on the first side of the spalled layer, wherein the tape layer is provided at below a first temperature range; applying a temporary substrate layer to the second side of the spalled layer, wherein the temporary substrate layer is applied at a second temperature range, and wherein at least a portion of the second temperature range is lower than the first temperature range; and after applying the temporary substrate layer, separating the tape layer from the spalled layer.
US09679770B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention includes forming a base film having a water-repellent surface on a substrate; forming a photosensitive film having a water-repellent surface on the base film; developing the photosensitive film to expose the base film, thereby forming a photosensitive film pattern; supplying a first spacer material on the photosensitive film and on the exposed base film; and removing at least a part of the first spacer material formed on a top surface of the photosensitive film and a top surface of the base film.
