| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09067554B2 |
Seat belt control device, seat belt retractor, seat belt device, seat belt control method, and program
Based on the operation of a motor driver (16), a counter (13) makes an addition to and a subtraction from a heat generation counter value which is stored in a storage (14) and represents the temperature variation of a motor (7) and/or the motor driver (16). Once a switching decider (12) decides that a shift has been made from a normal operation mode, in which operating power is supplied, to a sleep mode which has a lower power consumption than that in the normal operation mode, a power source controller (15) refers to the heat generation counter value; and, when the heat generation counter value is equal to or more than a specified threshold value, the power source controller (15) stands by until the counter (13) makes a subtraction from the heat generation counter value to the threshold value and then shifts to the sleep mode. |
| US09067547B2 |
Door belt molding for vehicle
A door belt molding for a vehicle installed in a door panel of a vehicle kept close to a door glass may include a weather strip having a fixing groove and a locker formed in upper and lower portions of an external side to be mounted in a hem of the door panel and a plurality of contact lips disposed on an internal side to contact the door glass. The door belt molding may further include a mold having supporters formed at upper and lower ends to be installed in the door panel to surround the weather strip and a mold clip installed in the hem of the door panel through a cut portion of the weather strip to fix the mold to the door panel. |
| US09067546B2 |
High voltage protection interlock system for serviceability
An interlock system and method are provided for protecting high voltage electrical couplings. The interlock system may control access to the electrical couplings based on the voltage of the electrical couplings. The interlock system may also selectively energize and de-energize the electrical couplings based on the position of a lid. |
| US09067542B2 |
Interior rearview mirror system
An interior rearview mirror system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror casing and a transflective reflective element. The transflective reflective element has an electrochromic active region, and a plurality of user input elements is disposed outside of the electrochromic active region and below the electrochromic active region. Each of the individual user input elements is a touch or proximity sensor. A plurality of display elements is disposed behind the transflective reflective element at the electrochromic active region, and each display element is selectively activated by activation of a respective user input element. Each of the individual display elements and its associated respective one of the individual user input elements are located local to one another such that a cognitive relationship between actuation by a user of a respective user input element and activation of its associated display element is established. |
| US09067537B2 |
Vehicle periphery monitoring device
Provided is a vehicle periphery monitoring device capable of making a driver reliably recognize the shape of an object to which attention should be paid. According to an image processing unit (1) (vehicle periphery monitoring device), for example, when it is highly probable that the shape of the object is difficult to be visually recognized through the output image because of the reason that the object is present far from the vehicle or other reason, an enlarged image (Q′) of the object (Q) is displayed on an HUD (7) so as not to overlap with the object (Q). |
| US09067532B2 |
Adjustment device of a lighting and/or signalling device of a motor vehicle, and the assembly procedure of such a device
Adjustment device of the position of a first part of a lighting and/or signaling device of a motor vehicle in relation to a second part of this device. The adjustment device has a screw in mechanical liaison with the first part and in helical liaison with the second part, the helical liaison comprising: a sliding pivot liaison linking the screw to the second part, the screw being clipped into a bore which has an opening according to a first axis (X) and a conformation completed on the second part which matches the threads of the screw. |
| US09067531B2 |
Ambient lighting jig assembly and method
An ambient lighting jig assembly generally includes a support assembly, a trim panel, an insert panel, and a light source. The support assembly defines an inner support cavity. The trim panel is configured to be coupled to the support assembly and at least partly defines a jig opening. The insert panel is configured to be rotatably coupled to the support assembly within the jig opening and has a reflective surface. The light source is configured to emit a light stream. Further, the light source is configured to be rotatably coupled to the support assembly within the inner support cavity at a plurality of angular positions so that the light stream is projected onto the reflective surface for use in determining an optimal angle for the insert panel and the light source. |
| US09067530B2 |
Illuminated interior equipment component for a vehicle
The invention relates to an interior equipment component for a vehicle, comprising a light emission element for emitting light and a strip-shaped light guide element. The light guide element has here a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is one of the two largest surfaces of the light guide element, and the second surface is a surface which deviates therefrom, and the first surface comprises an input face. In addition, the light guide element and the light emission element are arranged and configured in such a way that light from the light emission element can be input into the light guide element via the input face and can be output via the second surface. |
| US09067526B2 |
Estimating the remaining life of shape memory alloy actuators
Mechanical devices powered by Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires or other linear elements offer advantages in automotive applications. Such SMA-powered devices are commonly reliable and long-lived but have a finite lifetime. Measurements of the electrical resistivity of an SMA element during operation of the element may be related to the remaining lifetime of the element. Because operation of SMA elements is promoted by heating the element, usually by passage of an electric current, the resistivity measurements, and hence assessment of SMA element operation, may be made without interruption to the operation of the SMA-powered device and without addition of dedicated sensors. |
| US09067523B2 |
Container auto-lock system
A container according the present application includes a container auto-lock system. The container auto-lock system is integrated into the outboard apertures of the lower castings of a domestic sized container. The container auto-lock system includes a locking mechanism which is configured to recess when the container is lowered onto a surface lacking an acceptable receiving aperture. The locking mechanism is also configured to automatically lock when placed on top of a domestic sized container. The container auto-lock system is configured to be compatible with international sized container by allowing the inboard apertures on each lower casting to be available for attaching the domestic container on top of an international container with a conventional locking device. |
| US09067521B1 |
Cargo organizer
Board channels of a cargo organizer are defined by towers disposed at the rear margins of the organizer base and upstanding walls spaced forwardly from the towers. The upstanding walls are located rearwardly of a base plate adapted to be placed underneath an item of cargo to be contained. The board channels are formed at an angle to each other, such that each of several organizers may be disposed at respective vertices of a cargo restraining polygon. The organizer walls are joined to the base by inserting barbs disposed on the lower surface of the walls into respective barb receivers. Side margins of the barb receivers mate with side margins of recesses in the lower margin of the wall. Relieved areas formed in the front surface of the organizer wall mate with upstanding plates of the base. |
| US09067519B2 |
Vehicle seat
An attaching member includes a cover attaching portion to which a portion of a cover directly or indirectly attaches, a board attaching portion to which one end of a board member attaches, and an engaging portion that engages with a frame member. The portion of the cover is attached to the cover attaching portion, the board member is attached to the board attaching portion, mutual positions of the portion of the cover and the board member are fixed, and the engaging portion is engaged with the frame member. |
| US09067515B2 |
Locking device
In a reclining device, a pawl is guided by guide walls formed in a guide while both of side portions thereof are applied thereto, so as to be movable only radially inwards and outwards. The pawl is divided into two divisional pawls configured to obliquely contact with each other, so as to be pressed and moved away from each other in opposite lateral directions and to be pressed against the guide walls positioned in respective lateral directions when the pawl is pressed and moved in the advancing direction by the pressing cam. A division line is set to form inclined surfaces that are configured to bring the two divisional pawls into face contact with each other obliquely with respect to the advancing moving direction of the pawl, and vertical surfaces that are configured to bring the two divisional pawls into face contact with each other in a direction perpendicular to the pawl advancing moving direction. |
| US09067513B2 |
Seat slide position detection device for vehicle
A seat slide position detection device for a vehicle includes: a fixed rail attached to a vehicle floor; a movable rail supported to the fixed rail slidably in a longitudinal direction of the fixed rail; a detected portion disposed in a predetermined area of the fixed rail extending in the longitudinal direction; and a position sensor attached to the movable rail and having a sensor detector in a position of the position sensor opposed to the detected portion. The position sensor includes a protrusion attached to the movable rail with an extremity portion of the protrusion in contact with the movable rail. |
| US09067510B2 |
Seat back assembly
Embodiments of the present invention include a seat back assembly comprising a seat back with a recess and a tray table assembly. The table body is configured to substantially fit within the recess. An amenity compartment may also be coupled to the seat back above the tray table assembly and may be configured to also substantially fit within the recess. The amenity compartment may be a bezel or an upper literature pocket. A latching mechanism releasably engages the tray table assembly with the amenity compartment. The amenity compartment may be coupled to the seat back via a hook that engages a slotted bracket on the seat back and projections that engage receptacles on the seat back. A protective covering may be inserted between the seat back and the amenity compartment and coupled to the seat back without additional fasteners. The protective covering may be a full shroud, a partial shroud, or a dress cover. |
| US09067509B2 |
Seat occupancy determination apparatus
A seat occupancy determination apparatus includes first and second load sensors arranged at one end of a lower side of a seat in a width direction, and a load decrease determination process portion determining a load decrease caused by a turning of a vehicle in a case where an inclination of a decrease of a load detected by the load sensors is gentle in a state where a seat belt detection portion detects a disengagement state of a seat belt while an occupant seated state is determined by a determination portion, the load decrease determination process portion determining the load decrease caused by an occupant moving away from the seat and that the occupant is not seated on the seat in a case where the inclination of the decrease of the load detected by the load sensors is steep. |
| US09067507B2 |
Electric automobile
An electric vehicle is provided in which left and right drive wheels are driven by respective motors, and which enables slip control in a simple structure while preventing a driver who used to drive an engine vehicle with a differential from feeling uncomfortable. The vehicle includes a controller having a computer controlling the two motors including a basic control unit, a slip determiner, and a dual-wheel-drive-reduction unit. The control unit determines driving forces of the motors such that the forces are equal to each other, depending on a depression of an accelerator pedal. The determiner detects slippage between each of the wheels, and a road surface. The dual-wheel-drive-reduction unit reduces, when the determiner determines that greater slippage has occurred at at least one of the wheels, drive currents of the motors. |
| US09067504B1 |
Perturbative injection for battery parameter identification
A battery system includes a traction battery and at least one controller that implement a model of the traction battery. The system may monitor current input and voltage output of the traction battery. The at least one controller may inject a plurality of current signals into the battery when it detects the input current to be approximately zero and a corresponding terminal voltage to be generally constant. Each of the injected current signals has a discrete frequency. The controller may measure voltage responses to the injected currents indicative of impedances of the traction battery at the discrete frequencies. The controller may output parameters representing an equivalent circuit model of the traction battery based on the impedances, and operate the battery based on the parameters. |
| US09067503B2 |
Electric vehicle charging station advertising systems
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems relating to electric vehicle charging stations (“EVCSs”) and electric vehicle supply equipment (“EVSE”) that are configured to display advertisements to a user. For example, in one embodiment, advertisements are displayed on a display device of the EVCS or EVSE as the EVCS or EVSE awaits user interaction. An indication is received of user interaction with the EVCS or EVSE. A transaction is facilitated between a user and the EVCS or EVSE by which the user indicates that one or more electric vehicle batteries of an electric vehicle are to be charged via one of one or more charging ports of the EVCS or EVSE. A charging operation is performed that provides an electric charge to the one or more electric vehicle batteries of the electric vehicle via the one of the one or more charging ports. |
| US09067496B2 |
Route for vehicles and method of building the route
A route for vehicles driving on a surface of the route includes a plurality of shaped blocks adapted to position and/or to hold a plurality of line sections of one or more electric line. Each shaped block comprises recesses forming spaces and/or projections delimiting spaces for receiving at least one of the line sections. The electric line or lines extend(s) through the spaces and extend(s) along the surface of the route in and/or about the travelling direction of vehicles. The shaped blocks and the electric line or lines are supported by a base layer of the route and are covered by a cover layer of the route. The material of the cover layer is also located in regions of the route sideways of the shaped blocks so that the shaped blocks and the cover layer form an integrated layer on top of the base layer. |
| US09067487B2 |
Collapsible fuel door housing for a vehicle
A collapsible fuel-door housing is provided and may include a first housing and a second housing slidably attached to the first housing and moveable from a first state overlapping the first housing to a second state adjacent to the first housing. The fuel-door housing may also include a locking mechanism moveable between an unlocked state permitting movement of the second housing into the second state and a locked state restricting relative movement between the first housing and the second housing to maintain the second housing in the second state. |
| US09067484B2 |
Electric vehicle control systems
An electric vehicle may include a first drive axle to drive a first wheel of the electric vehicle, a first electric motor mounted directly on the first drive axle, a power supply such as a battery to power the first electric motor, and a controller to control the electric motor. The electric vehicle may include a second drive axle to drive a second wheel and a second electric motor mounted on the second drive axle. The electric motor may be only mounted on the first drive axle. The battery may be formed from an array of batteries. |
| US09067481B2 |
Compartment cover system for covering compartment of pickup truck
A pickup compartment cover system having a covering layer with a front and a back frame edge. Both a driver and a passenger side include a frame edge fixed at the head of the frame edge, a buckle having a slot with an inward opening, a lock casing on an end of the back frame edge having a lock tongue cavity with an outward opening; a lock tongue provided inside the tongue cavity at the tail with a pulling rod section passing backward through the casing, and a compression spring surrounding the pulling rod section inside the lock tongue cavity pushed on one end against the lock tongue and on the other end against a tip of the lock tongue cavity so the lock tongue protrudes outside of the opening and the opening can further be locked into the slot. The two pulling rod sections connect through a pulling cord. |
| US09067475B1 |
Method and system of heating cabin of hybrid electric vehicle
A method and a system of heating a cabin of a hybrid electric vehicle are provided and minimize the operation of a heater and an engine by reducing the demand temperature of coolant taking into account of power of the heater and improve fuel economy accordingly. The method of heating a cabin of a hybrid electric vehicle adjusts temperature of air supplied into the cabin of the vehicle using a heater disposed adjacent to the cabin of the vehicle and coolant supplied from an engine. |
| US09067473B2 |
Fan arrangement
A blower arrangement having n fans, where n>1, has a housing arrangement for receiving said fans (24, 26, 28). The housing arrangement features a) a first housing part (22) having flow-through openings (76) that are each associated with one of the fans, and having at least one installation opening (78) through which a fan can be introduced into said first housing part (22) and can be mounted in the region of the associated flow-through opening (76); and b) a second housing part (40) that is connected, on one side, to the first housing part (22) on the side thereof having the at least one installation opening (78), and, on the other side, defines an air exit opening (42). |
| US09067472B2 |
Arrangement for the rear end of a motor vehicle with a fuel filler line and a compound crank
The invention relates to an arrangement for the rear end of a motor vehicle with a fuel filler line and a compound crank which exhibits two trailing arms and a cross member connecting the trailing arms with each other, with the trailing arms being pivotably supportable in the direction of their longitudinal axis on their one end area including a connection element on the body shell of the vehicle, and having on their other end area a holder for a wheel bearing unit. Provision is made that the filler line crosses at least one of the trailing arms in the area between a connection site for the cross member and the connection element. The invention further relates to a compound crank for the rear end of a motor vehicle, and a rear end of a vehicle. |
| US09067468B2 |
Underbed hitch mounting system
An underbed hitch mounting system is described. The mounting system may be utilized for towing vehicles wherein the mounting system may selectively accommodate either a fifth wheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch. The mounting system may include at least one rail capable of being connected to a vehicle frame, wherein the rail includes at least one socket. The socket may be engaged with a receiving member, wherein the receiving member may be engaged with a leg of a fifth wheel hitch. A mid rail may be connected to the rails and may include a hitch ball socket that is capable of engagement with a hitch. |
| US09067462B1 |
Apparatus for holding and drying paint brushes
Apparatus for holding and drying paint brushes is utilized with a paint bucket and includes a lid structure including brush handle retention elements for covering the bucket, a base containing liquid absorbent material to absorb paint or other liquids from the paint brushes, and a connector connecting the base and lid structure. |
| US09067461B2 |
Gas pressure control valve
A gas pressure control valve having a valve body with a gas inlet and a gas outlet is described. An inner cap is provided bounding in part a chamber within the valve body in communication with the gas inlet. The valve body contains a spring loaded piston comprising a piston head and a piston rod. The piston rod includes a conduit providing communication between the chamber bounded in part by the inner cap and a chamber adjacent the piston head and the gas outlet. The piston is operable to move between a closed configuration in which the piston rod prevents communication between the gas inlet and the chamber bounded in part by the inner cap and an open configuration in which the piston rod permits communication between the gas inlet and the chamber bounded in part by the inner cap. The piston head is in a sealing engagement with the valve body via a first seal and the piston rod is in a sealing engagement with the inner cap via a second seal contained within the chamber bounded in part by the inner cap, the second seal being held in a fixed position within the chamber. |
| US09067459B2 |
Multi-purpose mathematical drawing templates system
A drawing template set includes a planar anchor ring having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a rotary increment scale marked at least part way along the outer diameter, and a first registration interface at at least one point on the inner diameter, and a planar template having an outer diameter providing a slip fit into the inner diameter of the planar anchor ring, one or more through slots or other openings enabling a user to draw specific lines and shapes on a drawing surface to which the template may be applied, and a second registration interface on the outer diameter matching the first registration interface of the planar anchor ring, enabling the user place the planar template in the anchor ring for use, to remove it as desired, and to replace it with a different template fashioned for a different purpose. |
| US09067457B2 |
Ring binder mechanism having unitary structure
A ring binder has an elongate body and rings. Each ring includes ring members moveable between open and closed positions. The body and rings are made of one or more moldable polymeric materials. The binder suitably includes a retaining system operable to selectively and releasably hold the ring members in the closed position. The ring members and body can suitably formed together as one piece from a moldable polymeric material. Alternatively, the ring members can be made separately from the body and snapped into the body to form the ring binder. |
| US09067454B2 |
Book with an elastic strap band
The present invention relates to a cover which comprises a front cover portion (1), a back cover portion (2), and an elastic strap band (3) being attached to the back cover portion (2), wherein the elastic strap band (3) is configured to be wrapped around the front cover portion (1) for keeping the cover (6) closed, the elastic strap band (3) is stretched at a predetermined stretching factor, when being wrapped around the front cover portion (1) for keeping the cover (6) closed, and the elastic strap band (3) is configured to be further stretched for releasing the front cover portion (1) so that the cover (6) can be opened. According to the invention, an image (4) is disposed on the elastic strap band (3) so as to be stretched with the elastic strap band (3), wherein the image (4) has a predetermined shape, when the elastic strap band (3) is stretched at the predetermined stretching factor and/or a movable member (7) is attached to the elastic strap band (3), wherein the movable member (7) is configured to be movable along the elastic strap band (3). |
| US09067452B2 |
Erasing apparatus
An erasing apparatus according to an embodiment includes an erasing section configured to erase an image formed on a sheet by heating the sheet that is transported through the erasing section, the erasing section including a heating roller, a press roller in contact with the heating roller. A motor rotates the heating and press rollers. A transportation section transports the sheet. The erasing apparatus further includes a controller that controls the erasing section and the transportation section so that a transportation speed of the sheet transported through the erasing section is a first transportation speed lower than a normal speed if a predetermined period of time from a start of a job has not elapsed. |
| US09067449B2 |
Image recording method by serially transferring intermediate images
Provided is an image recording method, including an intermediate image formation step of forming an intermediate image by applying ink onto a first intermediate transfer member; a first transfer step of transferring, onto a second intermediate transfer member, the intermediate image that is formed on the first intermediate transfer member; and a second transfer step of transferring, onto a recording medium, the intermediate image that is transferred onto the second intermediate transfer member, in which the following relationship is satisfied: Fa |
| US09067445B2 |
System and method of printhead calibration with reduced number of active inkjets
A method for printhead location identification includes identifying a plurality of amplitudes for a portion of pixel columns in image data generated from a portion of an image receiving surface in which marks formed by an inkjet in the printhead are printed. The amplitudes are generated from a portion of each pixel column including expected locations for a portion of the printed marks in a process direction. The method further includes identifying a cross-process location of the inkjet from a pixel column corresponding to a pixel column with a maximum local amplitude value and storing the location of the inkjet in a memory for printhead registration. |
| US09067443B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for discharging a medium
An image forming apparatus is capable of placing a line feed operation on hold. A memory holds an amount of line feed and discharge direction information. A controller parses the printer control data, and detects the position of the print medium based on the detection signal. An image forming section prints on the print medium while transporting the print medium. When the discharge direction information indicates a direction opposite to a direction in which the print medium is line fed. When the position of a final printed area on a page of print medium is within the page of the print medium, if a line feed is performed, the controller adds a new amount of line feed to the amount of line feed in the memory, and then places the resultant amount of line feed on hold. |
| US09067439B2 |
Method and apparatus for feeding media sheets in an image production device
A method and apparatus for feeding media sheets in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include applying air downward to a top of a trailing edge of a media sheet located at a top of a media stack that is to be fed to an image production section of the image production device, the applied air causing the top media sheet to separate from the media stack, and feeding the separated top media sheet to the image production section. |
| US09067435B2 |
Coupling of digital printer and finishing
Various disclosed embodiments relate to structures and methods for printing systems. In some embodiments, a device, e.g., a festoon, may be used to accumulate excess material. The festoon may be located between a print head and a finishing component to eliminate misalignment/mis-registration difficulties between printed images and finishing options. In some embodiments, registration images and other procedures may be used alone or in conjunction with the festoon placement to further reduce errors and waste. |
| US09067434B2 |
Ink jet textile printing apparatus
A tray mounting unit in which it is possible to replace a plurality of types of set trays; a detector capable of detecting the type of set tray mounted on the tray mounting unit in a state where the target textile printing material is set; a determining unit determining whether the type of set tray detected by the detector and the type of set tray recognized in advance are matched or mismatched; and a control unit performing a predetermined operation based on the determining result of the determining unit, are provided. Thus, inconsistencies in the type of set tray may be detected thereby preventing textile printing defects caused by such inconsistencies. |
| US09067432B2 |
Printer apparatus and laminating method
A printer apparatus including a printing-medium conveying unit conveying a printing medium, a sheet conveying unit conveying a thermal transfer sheet having an image protecting layer to be thermally transferred onto an image formed on the printing medium, a thermal head with heating elements linearly arranged in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the printing medium, and a control unit driving and controlling the thermal head. For selectively applying different amounts of thermal energy to the heating elements to form an uneven pattern on the image protecting layer thermally transferred onto the image on the printing medium, the control unit randomly divides a row of the heating elements into heating element groups each including at least two adjacent heating elements, applies the same amount of thermal energy to heating elements in the same heating element group, and applies different amounts of thermal energy to adjacent heating element groups. |
| US09067431B1 |
Method of controlling printer and printer
A method of controlling a printer includes measuring a first voltage value of a power supply of the printer before energizing heat generating elements of a print head of the printer. The method also includes calculating, by a controller of the printer, the number of heat generating elements that are simultaneously energizable based on the measured first voltage value of the power supply, an end voltage value of the power supply, an internal resistance value of the power supply, a resistance value of each of the heat generating elements, and a current value of an electric current flowing through a motor of the printer for conveying recording paper. The method further includes performing printing on the recording paper by the print head using the heat generating elements of the calculated number. |
| US09067429B2 |
Method and apparatus for obtaining homogeneous ink for inkjet devices
In order to obtain homogeneous ink for CIJ printers, an inkjet is divided into individual equally large ink droplets, at least part of the ink droplets is provided with an electric charge, and the ink droplets are guided by a deflection device. The ink droplets which are deflected by a predefined amount are collected by a homogenization droplet catcher and are used for printing. |
| US09067428B2 |
Liquid supply method
A liquid ejecting apparatus including a main tank configured to agitate a liquid accommodated in the main tank; a sub tank configured to receive the liquid supplied from the main tank; heads that eject the liquid supplied from the sub tank; and a liquid supply tube having connector tubes that branch off to the heads respectively; a pump that sucks liquid from the main tank and discharges such liquid to the sub tank; and a valve separated from the pump that operates to allow or restrict flow of the liquid between the main tank and the sub tank. The main ink tank may include a drawer assembly, a portion of which is manually movable to agitate the liquid. The main tank may have a capacity that is greater than that of the sub tank. |
| US09067427B2 |
Liquid discharge head and image forming apparatus
A liquid discharge head includes nozzles that discharge liquid droplets, individual channels in communication with the nozzles, a liquid introducing part in communication with the individual channels, a common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to the individual channels, and a filter part arranged between the common liquid chamber and the liquid introducing part. The filter part has filter holes for filtering the liquid over a range of the individual channels in a nozzle array direction. The filter part has at least one reinforcement rib arranged in the nozzle array direction. The reinforcement rib is partially arranged over the range of the individual channels in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle array direction. Filter regions divided by the reinforcement rib are arranged to be in communication via a communication region where the reinforcement rib is not arranged, and the filter holes are arranged at the communication region. |
| US09067423B2 |
Liquid container
A liquid container according to an aspect of this invention has a containing chamber in which a liquid which temporarily generates gas by a chemical change of contained components is contained, a circulation port which communicates with the containing chamber and circulates the liquid, and a valve provided in such a manner as to connect the containing chamber to the outside thereof, in which the hydrogen penetration amount of a member partitioning the containing chamber is 0.0001 ml/cm2·day·atm or more and 0.01 ml/cm2·day·atm or lower per day and at least one kind of the contained components can be a base metal pigment. |
| US09067422B2 |
Ink cartridge, method for manufacturing ink cartridge, ink-jet recording apparatus, and ink-jet recording method
An ink cartridge including: a water-based ink for ink-jet recording which contains a dye represented by a general formula (1), a triazole-based compound, and water; and a metallic component which has a contact surface contacting with the water-based ink, a concentration of a iron-oxidized component at the contact surface being not more than 5 atomic % wherein, in the general formula (1), Pc (Cu) represents a copper phthalocyanine nucleus represented by a general formula (Pc). |
| US09067419B2 |
Recording apparatus
There is provided a recording apparatus including a recording head that can eject an ink onto a sheet, a transport unit that transports the sheet to the recording head, a housing that contains the recording head and the transport unit, a case that is arranged on an outer surface of the housing so that the bottom portion thereof is positioned higher than a bottom surface of the housing, and that serves as a holder which holds an ink container containing an ink, and a supply unit that supplies the ink from the ink container to the recording head. |
| US09067410B2 |
Method for realising flat articles comprising images
Starting from a virtual representation of a flat-developing component, the method identifies and subsequently memorizes at least an assembly constituted by an image, a closed line containing the image, and reference crosses associated thereto; the assembly is paginated in the virtual representation such as to define an intermediate file from which a printing file is obtained with which an RIP software program can be loaded to pilot a printing machine. If the component is to be cut, with the aim of obtaining articles bearing relative images, data is obtained from the intermediate file for managing a cutting machine which cuts the component along the closed line. |
| US09067407B2 |
Screen printing method and device including a closed squeegee mechanism and a paste deposition mechanism
In a returning path operation for moving a closed type squeegee mechanism in a direction opposite to a squeezing direction after an outward path operation where paste is packed into pattern holes by moving the closed type squeegee mechanism in the squeezing direction, the paste supplied to the outside of the closed type squeegee mechanism on an upper surface of a mask is spread due to a deposition member, by moving the deposition member of a paste deposition mechanism in a state close to an upper surface of the mask in the direction opposite to the squeezing direction. Therefore, a paste film having a predetermined thickness is formed. |
| US09067403B2 |
Spraying module for spraying an outer surface of a rotating cylinder
The invention relates to a spraying module for spraying the outer surface of a rotating cylinder or roller, for example, a printing cylinder of a rotary printing press, with a liquid mist by means of spray nozzles, wherein the spray direction of the spray nozzle lies in a range, relative to the horizontal, for a spray jet directional angle gamma of 30° to 150°. |
| US09067399B2 |
System for forming an image on flexographic media
A system for forming an image on a flexographic media includes a digital front end that provides a screened image; locating transition points from data regions to non-data regions in said screened image; determining a distance between pixels in adjacent data and non-data regions; if the distance is greater than a predetermined distance modify said screened image to remove a shoulder of pixels at the transition point; and an imaging device the screen modified image on the flexographic media. |
| US09067397B2 |
Hybrid pipe design and method of manufacture
A hybrid flexible pipe and method of manufacture having one or more web layers over a tubular core and a polymer layer over the web layers and tubular core. A flexible helical reinforcement layer having gaps between strips is wrapped on top of the polymer layer. A second flexible helical reinforcement layer having gaps between strips is helically wrapped around the first helical reinforcement layer in the opposite direction. A sheath layer is positioned as the outermost layer. A first flexible helical anti-extrusion layer having a first anti-extrusion strip can be helically wrapped around the first flexible helical reinforcement layer in substantially the same direction as the first flexible reinforcement layer and a second flexible helical anti-extrusion layer having a second anti-extrusion strip can be helically wrapped around the at least one second flexible helical reinforcement layer in substantially the same direction as the second flexible helical reinforcement layer. |
| US09067394B2 |
Method for applying adhesive on an elastic strand in assembly of a personal disposable hygiene product
A method of dispensing adhesive onto a stretched elastic strand includes applying a first volume of adhesive onto a first portion of the elastic strand, applying a second volume of adhesive onto a second portion of the elastic strand, and applying a third volume of adhesive onto a third portion of the elastic strand. The second volume is less than the first and third volumes. When the elastic strand is adhesively secured to a substrate to form a personal disposable hygiene product, the first and third portions of the elastic strand define opposing ends of the elastic strand, which are adhered with a larger amount of adhesive capable of limiting movement of the strand at the opposing ends, thereby maintaining the integrity of the bond between the substrate and the elastic strand. |
| US09067392B2 |
Membrane file for batteries, having a shut-off function
The invention relates to a biaxially oriented microporous film composed of at least two coextruded layers encompassing an external shut-off layer and another layer, wherein both layers contain a mixture of propylene homopolymer and propylene block copolymer and β-nucleation agent. The propylene block copolymer I of the other layer has a melting point exceeding 140° C. and the propylene block copolymer II of the external shut-off layer has a melting range starting at a temperature ranging from 50 to 120° C. The melting point of the propylene block copolymer I is greater than the melting point of the propylene block copolymer II. The film can be used as a separator in a primary or secondary battery. |
| US09067387B2 |
Decorative film structure and decorative member
A decorative film structure includes: a surface layer constituted by a transparent or translucent resin layer; an achromatic layer constituted by dots provided on a back surface of the surface layer; and a metal luster layer provided on the back surface of the surface layer to fill a gap between the dots. As surface roughness of a front surface of the surface layer, an Ra is 2 μm or less and either an Rmax is 4 μm or less or a Sm is 50 μm or more. A lightness L* of the achromatic layer is 0-80. An area of each dot when viewed from a front side of the surface layer is 10−3-105 μm2. A dot area percentage per a unit area when viewed from the front side of the surface layer is 1-80%. A stimulus value Y45° of the metal luster layer is 10000 or more. |
| US09067380B2 |
Composite laminate ceramic electronic component
A composite laminate ceramic electronic component that includes co-fired low dielectric constant ceramic layers and high dielectric constant ceramic layers. The low dielectric constant ceramic layers and high dielectric constant ceramic layers are each composed of a glass ceramic containing: a first ceramic composed of at least one of MgAl2O4 and Mg2SiO4; a second ceramic composed of BaO, RE2O3 (RE is a rare earth element), and TiO2; glass containing each of 44.0-69.0 wt % of RO (R is an alkaline-earth metal), 14.2-30.0 wt % of SiO2, 10.0-20.0 wt % of B2O3, 0.5-4.0 wt % of Al2O3, 0.3-7.5 wt % of Li2O, and 0.1-5.5 wt % of MgO; and MnO. The content ratios of the first ceramic, second ceramic, glass, and MnO are varied between the low dielectric constant ceramic layers and the high dielectric constant ceramic layers, wherein the content of MnO in the low dielectric constant ceramic layers is 7.5-18.5 wt % MnO. |
| US09067379B2 |
Stiffened multi-layer compartment door assembly utilizing elastic averaging
A stiffened multi-layer assembly composed of an inner layer and an outer layer mutually aligned by elastic averaging at the peripheral interface therebetween which provides both a precise alignment and a torsionally stiffened structural configuration when the first and second layers are mutually mated and snapped together to form the stiffened multi-layer assembly. |
| US09067377B2 |
Filling shoe
The invention relates to a filling shoe (9) for filling a molding cavity (10) of a pressing mold with a powder, comprising a casing (14) with at least one filling cavity (13) having at least one side wall, wherein at least one filling opening (18), via which the powder can be introduced into the filling cavity (13), is designed on the casing (14). At least one stripping element (21) connected to a drive unit (23) is arranged in the filling cavity (13), wherein the at least one stripping element (21) is rotatable. |
| US09067373B2 |
Process for the manufacture of flexible pipe
A process for the manufacture of flexible pipe from a composition comprising: a polymeric part (a) consisting of a thermoplastic polymer obtained by homopolymerization or copolymerization of a monomer of butene-1, or a blend of a thermoplastic polymer obtained by homopolymerization or copolymerization of a monomer of butene-1 with one or more compatible thermoplastic polymers, a polydiorganosiloxane (b) having a minimum Williams plasticity of 30 determined by the ASTM 926 test method and an average of at least 2 alkenyl radicals per molecule, an organohydrido silicon compound (c) having an average per molecule of at least 2 silicon atoms bound directly to a hydrogen atom, a hydrosililation catalyst (d) which process comprises (i) the provision of a cured polydiorganosiloxane (B1) obtained by crosslinking of the compounds (b) and (c) in the presence of catalyst (d), (ii) causing the cured polydiorganosiloxane (B1) to be dispersed in the polymeric part (a) thus obtaining a thermoplastic elastomer and (iii) molding, for example by extrusion, the thermoplastic elastomer into a flexible pipe. The thermoplastic elastomer used and the resulting pipes comply with the requirements of standard KTW-270 (A) in relation to drinking water contamination. |
| US09067371B2 |
Wrinkle control method and tool therefor
A method for forming a laminate component, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a tool having a molding surface; b) arranging a stack of ply layers on the molding surface of the tool; and c) molding the stack of ply layers over the molding surface in a molding process, wherein the tool has a wrinkle control feature in its molding surface for managing the development of wrinkle in the ply layers during the molding process, and wherein the wrinkle control feature cooperates with the stack of ply layers during the molding process to produce a local surface undulation in a nominal surface of the laminate component nearest the tool to either prevent wrinkling in the ply layers or initiate wrinkling in one or more of the ply layers at a predetermined location. Also, a tool having a wrinkle control feature, and a laminate component so formed. |
| US09067367B2 |
Method and system for performing an infrared treatment
A method for performing an infrared treatment includes the steps of receiving an extruded product and feeding the extruded product to an oven including at least one lamp unit. The lamp unit includes a lamp, a reflective surface enclosing a first side of the lamp and positioned to direct radiation from the lamp, and a glass disposed between a second side of the lamp and an extruded product, wherein the glass separates the lamp and the extruded product. The method further includes the step of creating cross-linking between layers of the extruded product by directing the radiation at the extruded product. Still further, the method includes the steps of directing a first gas flow at a surface of the product and directing a second gas flow at the glass at an intensity, direction, and temperature that prevents the glass from becoming an infrared source. |
| US09067365B2 |
Positioning device for a manual welding machine
The invention relates to a positioning device (203) for a manual welding machine (300), particularly for a plastic welding machine, comprising at least one contact shield (16) associated with the manual welding machine (300) and a positioning ring (3) associated with the material to be welded. In order to perform precise welding and to prevent the subsequent slipping of the manual welding machine (300), according to the invention, the positioning ring (3) can be fixed to the material to be welded and a contact shield (16) that can be inserted in the positioning ring (3) transfers a pressure distributed evenly over the circumference to the materials to be welded, in order to allow secure welding over a large area. |
| US09067364B2 |
Coated fabric from monoaxially drawn plastic tapes and bag produced therefrom
A coated fabric includes a fabric from monoaxially drawn polymer tapes, in particular polyolefin or polyester tapes, preferably polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate tapes. The fabric is coated with a sealing layer from a thermoplastic synthetic material the melting point of which is below the crystallite melting point of the fabric tape material. The coated fabric is excellently suitable for hot-air, ultrasonic, heated tool, infrared or laser beam welding. |
| US09067362B2 |
Method of using ultrasonic vibration to secure body tissue with fastening element
A suture and a suture retainer are positioned relative to body tissue. Ultrasonic vibratory energy is utilized to heat the suture retainer and effect a bonding of portions of the suture retainer to each other and/or to the suture. Portions of the body tissue may be pressed into linear apposition with each other and held in place by cooperation between the suture and the suture retainer. The suture retainer may include one or more portions between which the suture extends. The suture retainer may include sections which have surface areas which are bonded together. If desired, the suture may be wrapped around one of the sections of the suture retainer. The suture retainer may be formed with a recess in which the suture is received. If desired, the suture retainer may be omitted and the sections of the suture bonded to each other. |
| US09067356B2 |
Method for producing fine convex pattern structure and fine convex pattern production system
A method for producing a fine convex pattern structure having a fine convex pattern projecting from a flat portion in a predetermined direction with respect to the flat portion includes: using an imprint mold that has a fine concave pattern corresponding to the fine convex pattern and forming the fine convex pattern projecting from the flat portion under a condition in which the fine convex pattern is inclined to the flat portion side from the predetermined direction; and causing the fine convex pattern to project in the predetermined direction with respect to the flat portion by inducing electric charges at least on the inclined fine convex pattern. |
| US09067351B2 |
Varying transition zone manifold
The present invention provides an extrusion die that includes a manifold transition zone that comprises a varying included angle. The varying included angle provides unparalleled freedom of design to achieve diverse fluid dynamic objectives, such as reduced residence time across the manifold width, reduced transition stagnation, improved streamlining of the mass flowing through the manifold, and reduced differential clamshell deflection across the flow channel width. The manifold may be transformed from one cross-sectional shape to another cross-sectional shape beneficially related to the varying included angle, including change from a generally extended cross-sectional shape to a generally teardrop-shaped cross-section. The manifold may include a first transition zone portion that includes the varying included angle, and a second transition zone portion that includes a constant included angle, and that is particularly beneficial for receiving an internal deckle. |
| US09067350B2 |
Controlled circumferential impregnation device
A device for molding by impregnation of at least one reinforcing layer constituting a piece to be molded or at least one reinforcing layer covering a piece, with a resin in liquid form. The device includes a mold extending around the reinforcing layer by defining a resin circulation space, an end piece for supplying resin in the circulation space, an end piece for evacuating the surplus resin as well as elements for generating a flow of resin in the circulation space. The mold includes a flexible conduit and elements for mechanically deforming the flexible conduit to shape the circulation space according to the impregnation parameters. |
| US09067343B2 |
Aging apparatus and method
An aging apparatus and method capable of shortening time for removing molded products from an injection molding device and cooling the same, thereby enhancing production efficiency. The aging apparatus includes an injection molding device configured to produce molded products and allow the molded products to be removed and fall therefrom, a guide pipe to guide the molded products falling from the injection molding device therethrough in such a manner that bottoms of the molded products are directed downwards, a tub mounted below the guide pipe, the tub containing water to cool the molded products falling into the tub through the guide pipe and absorb shock applied to the molded products, and a conveying device to convey the molded products cooled by the water in the tub to the outside. |
| US09067342B2 |
Mold chase for integrated circuit package assembly and associated techniques and configurations
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a mold chase for integrated circuit package assembly and associated techniques and configurations. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a package substrate, the package substrate including a first die mounted on the package substrate by a plurality of first interconnect structures, and a plurality of second interconnect structures disposed on the package substrate and configured to route electrical signals of a second die, protecting a top surface of individual interconnect structures of the plurality of second interconnect structures from deposition of a mold material, and depositing the mold material on the package substrate between the individual interconnect structures of the plurality of second interconnect structures. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US09067333B2 |
Micro-fabricated guidewire devices having elastomeric fill compositions
A guidewire device comprising a micro-fabricated elongated outer member having an outer surface and an interior surface forming a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end and a plurality of fenestrations made through said outer surface and said interior surface into a least a portion of said lumen; an outer elastomer laminate layer in contact with at least a portion of said outer surface and filling at least a portion of said plurality of fenestrations; and an inner member disposed within a substantial portion of said lumen, and embodiments thereof. |
| US09067330B2 |
Cutting apparatus
A cutting apparatus includes an angle change unit configured to change an angle made by a cutting blade and an object to be cut. The angle change unit is configured to change the angle between a first angle during a non-cutting time and a second angle at which the blade is tilted during a cutting time so that the second angle is rendered smaller than the first angle. The first abutment limits a swinging movement of the blade while the first angle is made by the blade and the object. The second abutment limits the swinging movement of the blade while the second angle is made by the blade and the object. The angle between the blade and the object is changed from the first angle to the second angle by resistance to which the blade is subjected from the object with the relative movement of the blade. |
| US09067328B2 |
Cutting device and method of production of cleaning member using cutting device
The invention relates to a cutting device which cuts a web member, which includes fiber bundles which extend continuously in a machine direction MD and which is intermittently conveyed in said machine direction, in a crossing direction CD which crosses the machine direction. The cutting device has a plurality of disk shaped rotary blades which rotate about rotary shafts which extend along the machine direction while moving in said cross direction so as to thereby cut said web member when the web member is at a stop. The plurality of rotary blades are arranged so as to be substantially aligned in the crossing direction and includes a rotary blade which rotates in one direction and a rotary blade which rotates in the opposite direction. |
| US09067324B2 |
Gripping device, transfer device with same, and method for controlling gripping device
A gripping device comprises: a gripping unit for gripping a work; a controller for controlling the gripping operation of the gripping unit; and contact sections attached to the gripping unit contacting the work, the contact sections being adapted to deform following the shape of the work, and to maintain the deformation. The gripping operation of the gripping unit presses the contact sections against the work to cause the contact sections to follow the outside of the work, and grips the work with the shape of the contact sections maintained. After predetermined number of times of gripping operation, the controller changes the positions of the contact points of the contact sections with the work when the work is gripped. As a result, different works having different shapes can be stably gripped and the lifetime of the contact sections can be extended to be longer than that of conventional products. The change, by the controller, in the positions of the points on the work with which the contact sections are in contact when the work is gripped is performed by shifting the contact sections in a plane vertical to the gripping direction. |
| US09067315B2 |
Display control device, display control method, computer program product, and communication system
A control system, a control method and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium cooperate to assist control for an autonomous robot. An interface receives recognition information from an autonomous robot (22), said recognition information including candidate target objects to interact with the autonomous robot (22). A display control unit (42) causes a display image to be displayed on a display of candidate target objects, wherein at least two of the candidate target objects are displayed with an associated indication of a target object score. |
| US09067309B2 |
Automatically speed adjusting ratchet wrench
A two-piece planet carrier for use in a power hand tool, the carrier comprising a drive portion mountable to a rotor of the tool and a pinned portion having a crank pin. The crank pin operatively connectable to a drive shaft of the tool to provide rotation and torque to the drive shaft. The pinned portion rotatably engaged with the drive portion such that rotation of the rotor will cause the drive portion and the pinned portion to rotate relative to each other as a function of a load applied to the drive shaft such that an offset between a crank pin center axis and a drive portion axis of rotation is variable as a function of the load, wherein the variance of the offset will vary a rotational speed and an amount of torque delivered to the drive shaft as a function of the load. |
| US09067308B2 |
Ratchet wrench and body used in ratchet wrench
A ratchet wrench comprises a body, a ratchet, a first pawl, and a second pawl. Each of the first pawl and the second pawl can move between a first position and a second position relative to the ratchet. The first position is a position where the ratchet wrench can transmit torque to said driven element from respective first pawl or second pawl, and the second position is a position where no torque is transmitted from respective first pawl or second pawl. A control member can pivot or rotate to stay in one of a first position, a second position, and a neutral position for different operations. The body has an operating part comprising a groove. The groove comprises two accommodation chambers having inclined surfaces and can accommodate the first pawl and the second pawl. |
| US09067307B2 |
Hexa-lobed head bit
A hexa-lobed headed bit having a hexa-lobed shaped head having a first length, a first width and grooves and protrusions, the grooves and protrusions extending along substantially the entire length of the head, the bit further including a shaft having a second length and a second width, the second width being greater that the first width, the shaft being connected to the head via a shoulder which may be sloped to gradually widen the first width to the second width and having grooves and protrusions extending along the shoulder, the shoulder grooves and protrusions substantially continuing from the grooves and protrusions extending along substantially the entirety of the length of the head. |
| US09067305B2 |
Polycrystalline diamond
A method for making a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) construction comprises providing a cemented carbide substrate comprising carbide grains cemented together by a cement material, subjecting the substrate to a first pressure treatment, treating the substrate to remove at least some of the cement material from at least a region of the substrate adjacent a boundary defined by the substrate, and subjecting the substrate to a second pressure treatment, in contact with or bonded at the boundary to a diamondiferous structure. |
| US09067304B2 |
Methods of forming polycrystalline compacts
Methods for forming cutting elements, methods for forming polycrystalline compacts, and related polycrystalline compacts are disclosed. Grains of a hard material are subjected to a high-pressure, high-temperature process to form a polycrystalline compact. Inclusion of at least one relatively quick spike in system pressure or temperature during an otherwise plateaued temperature or pressure stage accommodates formation of inter-granular bonds between the grains. The brevity of the peak stage may avoid undesirable grain growth. Embodiments of the methods may also include at least one of oscillating at least one system condition (e.g., pressure, temperature) and subjecting the grains to ultrasonic or mechanical vibrations. A resulting polycrystalline compact may include a high density of inter-granularly bonded hard material with a minimized amount of catalyst material, and may provide improved thermal stability, wear resistance, toughness, and behavior during use of a cutting element incorporating the polycrystalline compact. |
| US09067303B2 |
Method of executing shot peening
A chamber having a water jet generation apparatus and a mesh installed inside is pushed against a surface of a peening object. A rotary vane of the water jet generation apparatus, disposed in a region in the chamber between the mesh and the chamber, is rotated to generate a water jet flowing toward the peening object in one region in the chamber, the one region is a region closer to the peening object than the mesh. A plurality of shots 4 put in the region 30A moves toward the peening object along with the water jet and collides with the surface of the peening object. After the collision, the shots move toward the mesh along with the water jet. Compression residual stress is given to the surface of the peening object with which the shots have collided. Thus, spreading of contaminants peeled off from a peening object can be prevented. |
| US09067299B2 |
Printed chemical mechanical polishing pad
A method of fabricating a polishing layer of a polishing pad includes successively depositing a plurality of layers with a 3D printer, each layer of the plurality of polishing layers deposited by ejecting a pad material precursor from a nozzle and solidifying the pad material precursor to form a solidified pad material. |
| US09067298B2 |
Polishing pad with grooved foundation layer and polishing surface layer
Polishing pads with grooved foundation layers and polishing surface layers are described. In an example, a polishing pad for polishing a substrate includes a foundation layer having a pattern of grooves disposed therein. A continuous polishing surface layer is attached to the pattern of grooves of the foundation layer. In another example, a polishing pad for polishing a substrate includes a foundation layer with a surface having a pattern of protrusions disposed thereon. Each protrusion has a top surface and sidewalls. A non-continuous polishing surface layer is attached to the foundation layer and includes discrete portions. Each discrete portion is attached to the top surface of a corresponding one of the protrusions of the foundation layer. Methods of fabricating polishing pads with a polishing surface layer bonded to a grooved foundation layer are also described. |
| US09067295B2 |
Monitoring retaining ring thickness and pressure control
A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a carrier head including a retaining ring having a plastic portion with a bottom surface to contact a polishing pad, an in-situ monitoring system including a sensor that generates a signal that depends on a thickness of the plastic portion, and a controller configured to receive the signal from the in-situ monitoring system and to adjust at least one polishing parameter in response to the signal to compensate for non-uniformity caused by changes in the thickness of the plastic portion of the retaining ring. |
| US09067289B2 |
Heat exchanger with telescoping expansion joint
A heat exchanger comprises a shell comprising a hollow shell body and separate shell end members attached thereto. A number of tubes is disposed within the shell body which is sized to permit both ends of the tubes to project outwardly therefrom to facilitate access for attaching the tubes ends to respective tube header plates, after which time the shell end members are slid over the shell body towards the shell body ends for attachment to respective header plates. The heat exchanger can include an expansion element attached between a shell end member and the shell body, wherein the expansion element is positioned adjacent a slidable joint formed by an overlapping section of the shell body and shell end member. Together, the expansion element accommodates axial movement and the slidable joint carries vibration loads between the shell body and shell end member. |
| US09067281B2 |
Laser cutting system for cutting a workpiece with a laser beam at a variable cutting speed
The laser cutting system for cutting a workpiece with a laser beam along a cutting line at a variable cutting speed includes a movable machining head for placing the laser beam on the respective workpiece, a user interface for specifying the respective cutting line and for specifying a minimum path accuracy of the laser beam, and a control device for controlling a movement of the machining head along the cutting line relative to the respective workpiece and for controlling a plurality of process variables of a cutting process. A second subset of the process variables comprises exclusively one or more process variables which have no influence on the power of the laser beam available for cutting. At least one process variable of the second subset can be controlled by way of the control device as a function of at least one variable control parameter. |
| US09067279B1 |
Apparatus for joint sealing using tube expansion and friction welding
The apparatus for joint sealing using tube expansion and friction welding includes a friction welding apparatus including a clamping assembly and a tube expansion apparatus. A tube having a beveled edge is inserted into an aperture in a tube sheet. The tube expansion apparatus expands the end of the tube with the beveled edge to swage the tube to the sheet. A tube sleeve having an edge beveled at an angle complementary to the beveled edge of the tube is clamped to the spindle of the friction welding apparatus. The tube sleeve is abutted to the beveled edge of the tube with the application of pressure and the spindle is rotated or oscillated to friction weld the tube sleeve to the tube and the tube sheet, forming a sealed joint. The process may be repeated to form a heat exchanger tube assembly having sealed joints. |
| US09067278B2 |
Pulse spread laser
A system and method for precision welding using a fiber laser is disclosed in which varying intensity laser pulses are spread across the material junction in a number of high aspect ratio areas. The power density applied along each area is varied to accommodate differences in the material characteristics of each material while allowing for the creation of a more uniform weld pool alloy. |
| US09067270B2 |
Heat exchanger and method of joining heat exchanger pipe
A heat exchanger comprises a first plate and a second plate. A coolant flow passage is formed by brazing the first plate and the second plate by use of a first brazing filler metal. A pipe is brazed between a first groove portion provided in the first plate and a second groove portion provided in the second plate by use of a second brazing filler metal. A pair of first flanges provided contiguously with the first groove portion. Each of the first flanges includes an inner surface. A pair of second flanges provided contiguously with the second groove portion. Each of the second flanges includes an inner surface. At least one of the inner surfaces of the first flanges and the inner surfaces of the second flanges is covered with the second brazing filler metal. The first and second flanges are held by jigs upon brazing of the pipe. |
| US09067264B2 |
Method of manufacturing pure titanium hydride powder and alloyed titanium hydride powders by combined hydrogen-magnesium reduction of metal halides
The invention relates to energy-saving manufacturing of purified hydrogenated titanium powders or alloying titanium hydride powders, by metallo-thermic reduction of titanium chlorides, including their hydrogenation, vacuum separation of titanium hydride sponge block from magnesium and magnesium chlorides, followed by crushing, grinding, and sintering of said block without need for any hydro-metallurgical treatment of the produced powders. Methods disclosed contain embodiments of processes for manufacturing high purity high-purity powders and their use in manufacturing near-net shape titanium and titanium-alloy articles by sintering titanium hydride and alloyed titanium hydride powders produced from combined hydrogen-magnesium reduction of titanium chlorides, halides and hydrides of other metals. Additional titanium hydride powder introduced with titanium tetrachloride beneficially affects the kinetics of magnesium-thermic reduction due to formation of additionally-emitted atomic hydrogen, which helps to reduce presence of oxides, and so cleans inter-particle interfaces of the product and enhances diffusion between all components of the powder mixture. |
| US09067259B2 |
Method for producing a body made from a granular mixture
The invention relates to a method for producing a body including: preparing a granular mixture including a) at least 90 wt % of mineral oxide grains; b) 0.3 to 3 wt % of resin polycondensed with formaldehyde and/or the derivatives thereof, the percentage being calculated in terms of dry resin extract; c) 0.001 to 1 wt % of a hardening agent, the percentage being calculated in terms of dry hardener extract; d) 0.005 to 0.35 wt % of a formaldehyde scavenger compound; and e) 0.2 to 3 wt % of water; contacting said granular mixture with a surface of a forming tool; and insufflating a gas flow at 50 to 380 degrees into the granular mixture for 1 to 300 seconds in order to at least partially cure said mixture, the formaldehyde scavenger being carbohydrazide. |
| US09067256B2 |
Systems and processes for the production of metallic frames
Systems and methods for producing metallic frames from wire or strip or other material of prismatic cross section, which material may subjected to plastic bending, and the ends of which are joined together. The production process for metallic frames occurs in three phases, in three separate positions, which may function independently of one another. In the first position the wire or strip (1) may be pulled from a spool, be straightened (2), then measured (4) in length and cut. At the second position the beginning and end of wire material (1) are there transferred, and there the ends are joined. In the third phase the frame is transferred, with its ends joined, and the measurements and bendings of the sides are made, so as to produce a desired product configuration at the third position. |
| US09067252B2 |
System and method of forming hole in blank during hydroforming process
A method of forming a hole in a hollow blank during a hydroforming process is provided. The method includes placing a blank in a cavity of a hydroforming die, the hydroforming die being configured to permit a punch to engage the blank. An interior of the blank is pressurized with a fluid. Further, a cutting end of a punch is applied through a wall portion of the blank and into the interior of the blank to form a hole. Furthermore, the cutting end of the punch is removed from the interior of the blank such that the cutting end of the punch is configured to allow material of the blank surrounding the formed hole to move away from the interior of the blank. |
| US09067249B2 |
Tapered-roll stand for making seamless pipe
A tapered roll stand for making seamless pipe has a stationary frame formed relative to a workpiece-travel direction with a pair of laterally and horizontally oppositely open windows. Respective cover doors carried on the frame are vertically shiftable between respective closed positions covering the respective windows and open positions offset therefrom and exposing the respective windows. A pair of tapered rolls are each shiftable horizontally through a respective one of the windows into a use position inside the frame, lying to a respective horizontal side of the direction, and rotatable about a respective axis forming an acute angle with the direction. A pair of Diescher disks are vertically engageable with a workpiece extending in the direction between the tapered rolls, and respective roll-positioning actuators carried on the doors are couplable with the tapered rolls in the use position for setting positions of the tapered rolls. |
| US09067248B2 |
No-slit hot rolling of railroad rails
A method of recycling a one-piece rail having a base portion and a head portion spaced from each other by a substantially flat web portion. The steps include: heating the rail to a plastic state; feeding the heated rail through a first reduction pass to reduce a cross section of the rail without slitting the rail, thereby forming a bar; feeding the bar through a second reduction pass in which the cross section of the bar is further modified and then slitting the bar along the web portion into two bar pieces, one containing the former head portion and one containing the former base portion, as the bar leaves the second reduction pass; and rolling the two bar pieces, in a single pass line, through a series of reduction passes to produce a desired final cross section of the pieces. |
| US09067245B2 |
Waste collection system
A waste collection system to identify and classify waste materials into a plurality of pre-established categories and then to sort into and collect the waste materials by the plurality of the pre-established categories for subsequent disposal comprising a cabinet to house a plurality of collection bins or containers corresponding to the plurality of pre-established categories of waste materials to receive and collect the waste materials by the corresponding pre-established category, a waste sorting assembly to selectively direct the waste materials into the collection bin or container corresponding to the particular category of waste material, a latch mechanism to selectively engage the waste sorting assembly to control access into the cabinet and a system control to identify and classify waste materials into one of the plurality of pre-established categories and to direct the categorized waste material into the appropriate or corresponding collection bin or container for subsequent disposal. |
| US09067244B2 |
Method for coating granulated products to improve granule adhesion, staining, and tracking
A building material product and a method of making building material products, having increased resistance to granule rub off and staining. The building material product comprises a substrate having embedded granules and an acrylic latex coating positioned on the granules, where the polymer of the acrylic latex coating has the repeating structural unit [CH2—C(R1)(R2)], where R1 is hydrogen or C1-C8 alkyl; R2 is hydrogen, cyano or —COOR; and R is a linear or branched hydrocarbon containing 1-22 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R1 and R2 are both not hydrogen. The method includes applying this acrylic latex water based composition to a granule embedded substrate. |
| US09067242B2 |
Methods for obtaining hollow nano-structures
Methods are provided for obtaining hollow nano-structures which include the steps of providing a suspended film starting layer on a support substrate, depositing on the starting layer a sacrificial layer, performing, in progressive sequence, a complete erosion phase of said support substrate and starting layer and performing an at least partial erosion phase of the sacrificial layer previously deposited on the starting layer so as to obtain holes passing through the starting layer and passing or non passing through the sacrificial layer, depositing, on the side of the support substrate opposite to that where the starting layer is put, at least one covering layer arranged to internally cover the holes created by the progressive erosion. Hollow nano-structures formed by such methods are also provided. |
| US09067238B2 |
Method for improving plating on non-conductive substrates
A method of treating a laser-activated thermoplastic substrate having a metal compound dispersed therein is described. The substrate is contacted with an aqueous composition comprising: (i) a thiol functional organic compound; (ii) an ethoxylated alcohol surfactant; and (iii) xanthan gum. By use of the treatment composition, when the substrate is subsequently laser-activated and plated by electroless plating, extraneous plating of the substrate is substantially eliminated. |
| US09067220B2 |
Self regulating fluid bearing high pressure rotary nozzle
A fluid bearing nozzle assembly is disclosed that has a hollow cylindrical body, an inlet nut fastened to the cylindrical body, and a hollow tubular shaft member coaxially carried within the housing body and captured between the inlet nut and the body. The inlet nut has a stem portion extending into a central bore through the shaft member forming an inlet bearing area rotatably carrying the shaft member thereon. The shaft member has a spray head fastened thereto for rotation of the head with the shaft member. An inner wall of the housing body and an outer portion of the shaft have complementary shapes forming a regulating passage therebetween. The shaft has helical grooves that spiral around the shaft to one or both ends to impart rotation to the shaft and spray head. |
| US09067218B2 |
Rotary spray shower head
A rotary spray shower head includes a main body, a water distributing plate, a rear faceplate, an impeller, a pinion, a driven gear, a water outlet head assembly and a discharge faceplate. The present invention is simple in structure. When in use, one portion achieves an ordinary discharge function of the shower head, and another portion achieves a rotary discharge function. The present invention uses the pinion and the driven gear to constitute a planet deceleration. The rotating speed can be controlled, and the rotary spray discharge effect is good. |
| US09067217B2 |
Purification of metal-organic framework materials
A method of purification of a solid mixture of a metal-organic framework (MOF) material and an unwanted second material by disposing the solid mixture in a liquid separation medium having a density that lies between those of the wanted MOF material and the unwanted material, whereby the solid mixture separates by density differences into a fraction of wanted MOF material and another fraction of unwanted material. |
| US09067214B2 |
Separation process for plastics materials
A materials-separation process includes a sorting operation in which plastics materials including at least first and second plastics materials are sorted from paper and metal materials so that the first plastics material may be separated from the second plastics material. |
| US09067210B2 |
Method and device having a simplified constructions for the reference grinding of wheat
A process for simplified production of a reference milling for determining the milling quality of wheat, includes: a first crushing of a wheat sample; a first sieving of the crushed product into three distinct levels of particle size; a second crushing of oversize particles resulting from the first crushing; a second sieving of the oversize particles thus crushed; a mixing of coarse semolina resulting from the sievings; a third crushing of the mixture of the coarse semolina; a third sieving of the mixture of the coarse semolina thus crushed into two distinct levels of particle size; a mixing of fine semolina resulting from each of the three sievings; a fourth crushing of the mixture of fine semolina; a fourth sieving of the mixture of the fine semolina thus crushed into a single level of particle size; a mixing of the flours resulting from sievings, the mixture constituting the desired milling. |
| US09067207B2 |
Optical approach for microfluidic DNA electrophoresis detection
Aspects of the disclosure provides a DNA analyzer to facilitate an integrated single-chip DNA analysis. The DNA analyzer includes an interface for coupling a microfluidic chip to the DNA analyzer. The microfluidic chip includes a first domain configured for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA fragments, and a second domain fluidically coupled to the first domain to receive the DNA fragments and perform electrophoretic separation of the DNA fragments. The DNA fragments are tagged with fluorescent labels. The DNA analyzer includes a detection module to excite the fluorescent labels to emit fluorescence and detect the emitted fluorescence. The detection module includes a laser source, a set of optical elements, a filter module and a photo-detector. |
| US09067206B2 |
Chip for analyzing fluids being moved without an outside power source
A chip for analyzing fluid being moved without an outside power source includes: a pre-treatment portion into which fluid of a target-being analyzed substance is injected and mixed with an identification substance; a channel portion in which a specific reaction of the fluid such as an antigen-antibody reaction is conducted; and a washing portion into which the fluid is received. The pre-treatment portion includes: a specimen injection portion into which the fluid is injected; a first buffer portion protruding upwardly with respect to the specimen injection portion connected thereto to have a height greater than that of the specimen injection portion relative to the channel portion, such that the fluid is firstly received in the first buffer portion; and at least one specimen leading guide which destroys surface tension of the fluid flow moving from the specimen injection portion to the first buffer portion. |
| US09067199B2 |
Method for making a catalyst comprising a phosphorus modified zeolite to be used in an alcohols dehydration process
The present invention is the use of a catalyst to convert an alcohol into light olefins in a dehydration process wherein said catalyst comprises a phosphorus modified zeolite and is made by a method comprising the following steps in this order, a) the essential portion of the phosphorus is introduced into a zeolite comprising at least one ten members ring in the structure, b) the phosphorus modified zeolite of step a) is mixed with at least a component selected among one or more binders, salts of alkali-earth metals, salts of rare-earth metals, clays and shaping additives, b)* making a catalyst body from mixture b), c) an optional drying step or an optional drying step followed by a washing step, d) a calcination step, d*) an optional washing step followed by drying, e) optionally a small portion of phosphorus is introduced in the course of step b) or b)* or at end of step b) or b)*. |
| US09067194B2 |
Method of regenerating used catalyst
[Problem] Provided is a method for regenerating a catalyst, the method decreasing the SO2 oxidation rate, which has been increased by Fe and V compounds, of a spent denitration catalyst to an extremely low level, and improves the oxidation activity of the catalyst for metal mercury by the regeneration treatment.[Solving Means] A method for regenerating a catalyst, including steps of immersing a spent denitration catalyst composed mainly of titanium oxide in (a) a mixed aqueous solution containing phosphate ions and oxo-acid ions of one or more elements selected from vanadium (V), molybdenum (Mo), and tungsten (W), (b) a heteropoly acid compound aqueous solution containing phosphorus and one or more elements selected from V, M, and W, or (c) a mixed aqueous solution containing a phosphate compound and a vanadyl compound, and then drying the catalyst. |
| US09067191B2 |
Hydrodesulfurization catalyst for hydrocarbon oil, process of producing same and method for hydrorefining
The present invention provides a hydrodesulfurization catalyst that exhibits a high desulfurization activity when used in hydrotreatment of hydrocarbon oil, in particular straight-run gas oil. The catalyst includes at least one type of metal component selected from Groups VIA and VIII in the periodic table, supported on a silica-titania-alumina support where the total of the diffraction peak area indicating the crystal structure of anatase titania (101) planes and the diffraction peak area indicating the crystal structure of rutile titania (110) planes is ¼ or less of the diffraction peak area indicating the aluminum crystal structure ascribed to γ-alumina (400) planes, as measured by X-ray diffraction analysis. The catalyst has (a) a specific surface area (SA) of 150 m2/g or greater, (b) a total pore volume (PVo) of 0.30 ml/g or greater, (c) an average pore diameter (PD) of 6 to 15 nm (60 to 150 Å), and (d) the ratio of the pore volume (PVp) of pores having diameters within ±30 percent of the average pore diameter (PD) being 70 percent or greater of the total pore volume (PVo). |
| US09067188B2 |
System and method for continuously producing polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers
A reaction system and method for producing polyoxymethylene dialkyl ethers (RO(CH2O)nR, n=1-8) by continuous acetalation of formaldehyde and aliphatic alcohol in the presence of an acid ionic liquid catalyst. The reaction system includes an acetalation reaction unit, a product separation unit, and a catalyst regeneration unit. The recyclable material and catalyst are separated by combining extraction and rectification, and a recovery rate of more than 99% for the catalyst is achieved. Water, as the byproduct, is separated from the reaction system by destroying the azeotrope of water, alcohol, aldehyde, and RO(CH2O)nR, so that the product separation and catalyst regeneration are facilitated and the catalytic cycle is achieved. |
| US09067187B2 |
Catalyst system and method for gas phase oxidation using an upstream layer
The present invention relates to a process for gas-phase oxidation, in which a gaseous stream comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon and molecular oxygen is passed through two or more catalyst zones. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a catalyst system for gas-phase reaction using a preliminary zone. |
| US09067186B2 |
Stability control of a hydrogen generating system and method
A method of and apparatus for efficient on-demand production of H2 and O2 from water and heat using environmentally safe metals are disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus for hydrogen generation through water-decomposition reaction includes a main reactor, an oxidizer reactor, and a computer-control system. The computer system is configured to control each of the components of the hydrogen gas production system for stable hydrogen-gas production. |
| US09067179B2 |
Microfluidic device facilitating gas exchange, and methods of use and manufacture thereof
The invention provides systems and methods for exchanging gas in a microfluidic device, and methods for preparing such microfluidic devices. The systems and methods can be used to transfer oxygen to blood to assist lung function in a patient. |
| US09067174B2 |
System and method for concentrating gas
A gas concentrating system is provided. The system includes, for example, a gas separation system having at least one separation space, at least one sensor connected to the separation space and providing at least one output signal indicative of the progress of gas separation, at least one pump system associated with gas separation system; and a controller. The controller includes, for example, logic reading the sensor output signal and logic controlling at least one parameter of the pump system based on the sensor output signal. The parameter of the pump system can be any parameter affecting the characteristics or operation of the pump system. Examples are disclosed but are not intended to be limiting. |
| US09067171B2 |
Membrane for separating methane or carbon dioxide, and production thereof
The present invention discloses a process for producing a membrane for separating methane or carbon dioxide, having excellent heat resistance, durability and anti-chemical agent resistance (anti-corrosion resistance). The present invention is related to a process for producing a membrane for separating methane or carbon dioxide, which comprises the following steps: (a) preparing a metal alkoxide solution by (i) mixing an acid catalyst, water and an organic solvent, (ii) adding thereto tetraalkoxysilane and mixing, and (iii) then adding thereto a hydrocarbon group-containing trialkoxysilane, of which a hydrocarbon group is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and a phenyl group, and mixing, (b) applying the metal alkoxide solution on an inorganic porous support, and then (c) calcining the inorganic porous support having metal alkoxide solution layer at a temperature of 30 to 300° C. |
| US09067170B2 |
Absorbing agent, method for manufacturing an absorbing agent and use of an absorbent agent
An absorbent agent is provided. The absorbent agent is particularly for separating carbon dioxide from the flue gas of a fossil-fired combustion device. The absorbent agent comprises a two-component mixture including a free amino acid and an amino acid salt, wherein the free amino acid exhibits a surplus compared to the amino acid salt based on the molar concentration. This creates variability in the PCBN value, which may be attained through different absorption and desorption process temperatures. A method for manufacturing the absorbent agent is also provided. |
| US09067169B2 |
Methods of preparing an impurity-depleted hydrogen stream, methods of analyzing content of an impurity-depleted hydrogen stream, and pressure swing adsorption apparatuses
Methods of preparing an impurity-depleted hydrogen stream, methods of analyzing content of an impurity-depleted hydrogen stream from a pressure swing adsorption process, and pressure swing adsorption apparatuses are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method of analyzing content of an impurity-depleted hydrogen stream from a pressure swing adsorption process includes providing a hydrogen-containing feed stream to a pressure swing adsorption zone. The hydrogen-containing feed stream further includes an impurity content including methane and carbon monoxide. Methane and carbon monoxide are adsorbed from the hydrogen-containing feed stream in the pressure swing adsorption zone. The impurity-depleted hydrogen stream is withdrawn from the pressure swing adsorption zone, with the impurity-depleted hydrogen stream having a residual methane content and a residual carbon monoxide content. The residual methane content of the impurity-depleted hydrogen stream is sensed. |
| US09067168B2 |
Integrated adsorber head and valve design and swing adsorption methods related thereto
An adsorber with minimal dead volume especially suited to reverse-flow applications comprises: a) an adsorber body; b) a first head engaged with said adsorber body; c) a first conduit extending from outside said head to at least partially through said head; and d) a first valve in flow communication with said first conduit controlling fluid flow along a flow path extending from the first valve and through the adsorber body. The adsorber is especially suited for use in a process for swing adsorption separation processes. |
| US09067164B2 |
Filter systems with dirty air chamber spacer elements and methods of using the same
Filter systems and methods described herein include one or more spacer elements positioned in the dirty air chamber along with the filter elements attached to the spacer elements. The dirty air inlet delivers a dirty air stream into the dirty air chamber along a dirty air flow axis. |
| US09067162B2 |
DT vapor wash
An agricultural product treatment system. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a truncated conical section which has a small diameter at one end in fluid communication with a conduit array conveying particulate matter from the DT. An open large diameter end of the structure is axially coextensive and coaxial with an expanded diameter conduit portion. |
| US09067160B2 |
Exhaust gas purification system
A diesel particulate defuser (“DPD”) is connected to an exhaust pipe of a diesel engine, an exhaust gas temperature during automatic regeneration of the DPD is detected, and the difference between the detected exhaust gas temperature and a target regeneration temperature is determined. In a case where an exhaust pipe injection amount is PID controlled based on this difference, when an exhaust brake valve is closed during traveling automatic regeneration, the exhaust pipe injection is stopped and calculation of an integral control term by the PID control is continued as long as the exhaust valve brake valve is closed, and when the exhaust brake valve is opened, the integral control term that has been continuously calculated is taken as an initial operation amount. |
| US09067152B2 |
Systems and methods for improving rate of evaporation
Systems and methods for increasing the rate of evaporation for a liquid. Systems and methods include use of evaporation membranes having large surface areas exposed to the ambient environment. |
| US09067148B2 |
Interactive talking dolls
A set of interactive toys that perform a sequence of actions in response to one another without external activation other than an initial actuation to begin the sequence of actions. Preferably, each toy has an activation switch and/or a receiver for a wireless signal such as an infrared signal which activates the toy. Upon activation, the toy performs a desired action, such as the enunciation of a speech pattern, and signals another toy to perform a responsive action. Preferably, the toy are capable of performing several different action sequences, such as the enunciation of different conversations, the performance of different A movements, etc. Additionally, the toys are programmable by a remote control device. The remote control device either functions as an activation switch, initiating a random or predetermined (yet not user determined) sequence of interactions, or as an interaction selector, such that a desired sequence of actions may be selected. |
| US09067147B1 |
Toy figure combiners
A toy construct assembly system is designed for use with standardized toy construction building elements having standardized multiple male and female coupling elements. The system includes several small toy constructs, each having building elements and additional build parts that assemble to create the small toy construct in at least two distinct builds and then dissemble into its constituent parts. Each build of the small toy construct includes a small figure assembled from the building elements to which a plurality of the additional build parts are detachably coupled to create an assembled small toy construct. In addition, a combiner assembly set includes combiner assemblies that detachably couple with building elements of the small toy construct to create a large toy construct. The large toy construct is assembled from the plurality of small toy constructs and the combiner assembly set. |
| US09067145B2 |
Virtual representations of physical agents
A robotic system is integrated with one or more mobile computing devices. Physical configurations of individual components of the system in physical space, or agents, under control of a user or users, are duplicated in a representation in virtual space. Some degree of real-time parity is maintained between the physical and virtual spaces, so as to implement a virtual environment that mirrors the physical one. Events occurring within one environment can directly influence and bear consequence on the course of events occurring within the other environment. Elements of virtual space thereby become truly interdependent and unified on a peer footing with elements in physical space. In at least one embodiment, the system is implemented as an application in entertainment, such as the manifestation of a video game in physical space. |
| US09067142B2 |
System and method for collaboration
Techniques are disclosed for facilitating a shared activity conducted by multiple participants via remote devices, particularly when there are more players then available remote devices. For example, the shared activity may be users playing electronic versions of a variety of card games or board games (or other game types). Users interact with a central device and one or more remote devices. The central device may be used to present “public” information on a central game play field—such as a game board, draw and discard piles, place cards, current scores, whose turn it is, etc. And the remote devices are used to present “private” game information to individual players—such as a player's “hole cards” or letter tiles. Further, users may make game choices and provide game input by interacting with the handheld device. |
| US09067141B2 |
Systems and methods for conducting a sweepstakes in a gaming environment
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for sweepstakes awards in a gaming environment. Certain embodiments provide a method including accumulating sweepstakes entries for a player based on at least one sweepstakes entry criterion and randomly selecting a winner from the pool of sweepstakes entries. The sweepstakes entries are associated with the player and incorporated in a pool of sweepstakes entries. In certain embodiments, the at least one sweepstakes entry criterion comprises at least one of one entry per player, accumulating points based on play, accumulating points based on machine outcome, and coin in. In certain embodiments, the method further includes determining eligibility of a player for the sweepstakes. In certain embodiments, eligibility is determined based on at least one of a player group, a machine group, a machine denomination, a machine type, a machine manufacturer, a game manufacturer, a game theme and a game title, for example. |
| US09067138B2 |
Playing browser based games with alternative controls and interfaces
Methods, systems, and computer programs for playing browser based game with alternative controls and interfaces are presented. One method includes an operation for detecting an alternate device for playing the game. The alternate device generates alternate inputs, and the game is not predefined to be played with the alternate device. A query for information to map the alternate inputs to play the game is sent to a server, and a mapping of alternate inputs to native inputs is generated with the information received from the server. The game is predefined to be played with a native device that provides the native inputs to the game. Further, the method includes an operation for translating the alternate inputs generated with the alternate device to corresponding native inputs according to the mapping to cause corresponding actions in the game. |
| US09067137B2 |
Computer-readable storage medium having information processing program stored therein, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method
A game apparatus takes an image of a marker placed in the real space. The game apparatus calculates the position and the orientation of the marker with respect to the game apparatus on the basis of the marker included in the taken image, and sets a marker coordinate system on the marker. In addition, the game apparatus detects the direction of gravity on the basis of acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor included in the game apparatus. Next, the game apparatus calculates the direction of gravity in the marker coordinate system on the basis of the detected direction of gravity, and determines the orientation of the virtual character on the basis of the calculated direction of gravity in the marker coordinate system. Then, the game apparatus displays the virtual character on a display device. |
| US09067130B2 |
Method and apparatus for awarding the value of winning tickets dispensed by a vending machine
A method is provided of awarding the value of winning tickets dispensed by a vending machine to patrons who purchased the winning tickets. The tickets are preprinted with game content and are associated with a deal of tickets that includes at least some predetermined winning tickets. For each winning ticket, the patron selects a ticket redemption option provided by the vending machine to either immediately redeem the value of the winning ticket at the vending machine, or defer immediate redemption. Electronic records are provided in a database for each winning ticket that include an indication of whether the winning ticket was redeemed. The deferral option allows the patron to redeem the value of the winning ticket at a cashier, wherein the electronic records are used by the cashier to assist in the redemption process. The dispensed winning ticket is redeemed in accordance with the first option or the second option without needing to be re-inserted into the vending machine. |
| US09067129B2 |
Cylindrical labyrinth
Cylindrical labyrinth that comprises a plurality of cylindrical bodies (10), where each one of them presents an outer wall (11) with a labyrinthine path (12) configured to be traversed by a ball (2) between an entry (13) into the labyrinthine path (12) and an exit (14) from the labyrinthine path (12); and a longitudinal shaft (20) configured to pierce and align the cylindrical bodies (10) and to allow the rotation thereof with respect to said shaft (20). Each cylindrical body (10) comprises a transparent cover (70) configured to cover the outer wall (11) of said body (10) and to prevent the ball (2) from falling out from the labyrinthine path (12) thereof. |
| US09067128B2 |
Balanced six-sided dice
Balanced six-sided dice are provided. In this regard, a representative die includes a cubical body provided with a corresponding set of five indicia on each face, wherein four of the five indicia of each set form a square pattern with a fifth of the indicia being positioned at a center of the corresponding face. |
| US09067126B2 |
Cue easy hold glove
This invention is a Cue easy hold glove to be worn by cue sports players while engaging the game of cue sports. It is of a wearable material and has stalls for the thumb and the index finger, extends in a semi circular pattern to point on the wrist and extends along a line parallel the fore arm to a point below the wrist, held down with a band. |
| US09067122B2 |
Protective athletic garment and method
A protective athletic garment provides segmented padding is patterned to conform to the size, shape and motion of the muscles it is protecting. Segmented padding is supplemented in joint areas by tangentially-stepped articulated shielding, each comprising a hingeably interconnected series of rigid shells. The structure and orientation of the shells deflects impact forces tangentially, while the rotational mobility of the shielding has a force-damping effect. The protective athletic garment has a combination of latticed resilient padding covering vulnerable body areas, such as chest, arms and back, plus articulated, perforated rigid shield panels over joints areas, such as shoulders and elbows. Synergistic dynamic interaction of padding and shielding is achieved by converting impact forces to torques within a series of articulated shield panels and spreading out the forces transmitted to the underlying padding both over area and time. |
| US09067120B2 |
Tennis score device
A tennis score device includes a body and multiple ball blocks. One end of the long axis of the body is pivotally connected with a supporting rod, so that the body can rotate with respect to the supporting rod. Both sides of the body are formed with an accommodating recess, respectively. Each of the ball blocks has a connecting base and a ball base connected to the corresponding connecting base. Each of the ball blocks are mounted in sequence in the accommodating recesses on both sides of the body via the connecting base. For each of the ball blocks, the side of the ball base opposite to the connecting base has at least one concave ball area for holding a ball. |
| US09067119B1 |
Ball launching device
A ball launcher includes a base and a thrower arm defining a ball cradle. An arm holder is disposed on the base and pivotally supports the thrower arm about a first axis of rotation, the thrower arm spring biased about the first axis of rotation. A rotating shaft defines a second axis of rotation substantially parallel to the fore-aft axis. A ball loader is coupled to the rotating shaft for common rotation about the second axis of rotation, the ball loader defining a ball receptacle. A loader arm is releasably connected to the rotating shaft for common rotation about the second axis of rotation. The loader arm defines a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the second axis of rotation of the rotating shaft and has a length extending away from the rotating shaft. |
| US09067117B1 |
Golf swing improvement device
The invention features a golf swing improvement device meant to improve a golf player's game. The device includes a first and second member connected with each other by way of a hinge portion. Extrusions extending from an outer wall of the first member protect the device from being hit by a player's dub during play, practice or while putting. The device also contemplates a configuration to enable use of golf alignment devices and/or sticks. |
| US09067116B1 |
Golf swing training device and method
A golf swing training apparatus and method for improving golf swing tempo and rhythm uses a lighted strip that sequentially illuminates the backswing and foreswing patterns of a desired golf swing tempo. A control unit operatively connected to the light strip is programmed to control and vary the speed and tempo of the lighting sequence of the strip as desired. |
| US09067114B2 |
Flying disc target and method of using the same
A flying disc target which includes a frame having a plurality of adjustable legs and a support member having a plurality of hinges, each leg coupled to a hinge of the support member and a target member detachably coupled to the frame, the target member having a first surface and an opposing second surface, the target member includes at least one pocket extending from the first surface toward the second surface, wherein the pocket is configured to receive and store a flying disc. |
| US09067110B1 |
Golf club head with center of gravity adjustability
The present invention comprises a golf club head comprising a body having a crown, a sole, a front wall and a hosel, wherein the body defines a hollow interior. The golf club head further comprises a center of gravity adjustment assembly wherein the center of gravity adjustment assembly is positioned within the hollow interior of the body, and allows the center of gravity of the golf club head to be adjusted by at least 0.050 inch, preferably along a vertical axis. |
| US09067102B2 |
Weight training device
An improved weight training device is configured to allow horizontal, vertical and rotational movement while ensuring safety. The improved weight training device includes a barbell that is immediately adjacent to two swivel bearing assemblies. The barbell is configured to slide through the two swivel bearing assemblies. A horizontal guide bar is immediately adjacent to each swivel bearing assembly. Each swivel bearing assembly is configured to slide along its horizontal guide bar. At least four vertical guide assemblies are in the improved weight training device. A vertical guide assembly is mechanically coupled to each end of each horizontal guide bar. Each vertical guide assembly is configured to slide vertically along its vertical guide bar. There are at least two brakes. Each brake is mechanically coupled to the barbell and further mechanically coupled to two of the vertical guide assemblies. |
| US09067097B2 |
Virtual locomotion controller apparatus and methods
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for a virtual locomotion controller user interface and system that combines data obtained from various sensor devices to allow users to control the movements of their representation in a virtual world using sensorimotor responses closely resembling the tasks and actions they would physically perform in the real world. As a result, users can specify an avatar's locomotion style by assuming body postures normally associated with that type of movement, while controlling locomotion speed or displacement through foot forces and/or stepping motions and locomotion direction through foot and body orientation. |
| US09067096B2 |
Systems and methods for providing automated workout reminders
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a user's progress towards a workout goal spanning multiple workouts and providing a workout reminder based on the progress. An electronic device can monitor the user's progress towards the goal by monitoring the user's rate of motion and/or one or more physiological parameters of the user. Based on the user's progress towards the goal, the electronic device can provide a workout reminder. For example, if a user's progress is not sufficient to achieve the workout goal, the electronic device may provide a reminder to the user. The reminder can include a visual and/or audio alert to the user, and the reminder may interrupt other functions on the device. |
| US09067095B2 |
Method and game for cyclists
A game for cycling takes place on velodromes, or tracks. The game has three teams competing at the same time to claim victory and advance to higher levels of competition. Each cyclist on a team accumulates points based upon crossing a finish line in the first group of five. Each team has nine members with sprinter and long distance roles. Each team competes in up to ten races during a single game. When teams increase to four in an area, the four teams form a division. After twelve games, the teams and divisions hold a two game playoff that aids in the selection of a national team. The national teams then compete in a worldwide championship game. The game includes select lighting and camera equipment suitable for creating an attractive television product. |
| US09067092B2 |
Compact fire fighting monitor
A fire fighting monitor includes a first pipe having an inlet and an outlet and a passageway with a central axis. The passageway extends from the inlet to the outlet and has a curved portion wherein the outlet directs the flow of fluid in a direction angled to the flow of fluid into the inlet. The monitor includes a second pipe mounted about the outlet of the first pipe, which is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis, which is located at the outlet of the first pipe. The second pipe also has an outlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the first pipe and is pivotal about the pivot axis over a range of motion greater than 90°. |
| US09067087B2 |
Membrane-enabled reverse lung
An air revitalization apparatus and method simultaneously removes carbon dioxide, water vapor, and heat from air and produces oxygen gas, hydrogen gas, and concentrated carbon dioxide gas, does not require an explosion proof enclosure, and includes a fan configured to blow air into a first gas-liquid contactor, an electrochemical cell including first through fourth passages configured to emit hydrogen gas, permit a flow of a carbonate-hydroxide solution, permit a flow of carbonate-bicarbonate solution, and emit oxygen gas, respectively, the first and fourth passages separated by at least three gas-impermeable membranes, and a second gas-liquid contactor, where the first gas-liquid contactor, second passage, and a first pump are configured to circulate the carbonate-hydroxide solution therethrough, where the second gas-liquid contactor, third passage, and a second pump are configured to circulate the carbonate-bicarbonate solution therethrough, and where the output of the first passage is operationally coupled to the second gas-liquid contactor. |
| US09067082B2 |
Dental bleaching compositions having long-term rheological stability and devices, kits and methods that utilize such compositions
Dental bleaching compositions include a dental bleaching agent, a generally linear high molecular weight (i.e., greater than about 500,000) polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and/or polyethylene oxide (PEO) tissue adhesion agent included in amount that imparts a high level of adhesiveness, a rheology-modifying agent such as fumed silica or fumed alumina that reduces or eliminates stringiness otherwise caused by the high molecular weight PVP and/or PEO, and a solvent or carrier. Dental bleaching compositions may include carboxypolymethylene instead of or in addition to PVP and/or PEO, wherein the fumed silica or fumed alumina increases long-term rheological stability even in the presence of a high concentration of dental bleaching agent. Dental treatment devices including a barrier layer and a quantity of the dental bleaching composition positioned adjacent to the barrier layer. |
| US09067081B2 |
Carrying case handle for defibrillator and accessories
A substantially rigid defibrillator carrying case having a hinged side, a latch disposed on a latch side opposite the hinged side, and a handle disposed on a handle side disposed between the hinged side and the latch side. The carrying case is constructed without protrusions and with an arcuate and semi-rigid or rigid handle, which combine to allow easy removal and deployment of the contents from a vehicle storage location to a cardiac arrest patient. The carrying case is further constructed with a wide angle viewing ready status light pipe for greater ease of maintenance of the contents. |
| US09067080B2 |
Method and apparatus of remotely-operated automated external defribrallator incorporated into a handheld device
A rescue cell apparatus used for cardiac defibrillation of a patient, the apparatus comprising: a hand held device for sending and receiving communication signals and configured to be used as a remote control to administer a defibrillation pulse to the patient for cardiac defibrillation; a defibrillator unit having a sensor electronic pad positionable on the patient, the sensor electronic pad adapted to deliver the defibrillation pulse; and a second electronic pad, connectable by an electrical wire to the defibrillator unit, the second electronic pad positionable on the patient and adapted to detect ECG signals and to deliver the defibrillation pulse to the patient; and an image recognition module configured in the handheld device, and adapted to verify positioning of the sensor electronic pad and the second electronic pad on the patient before defibrillation. |
| US09067078B2 |
Hermetic sealing method for a battery fillport using sealing member
A method of manufacturing an energy storage device for a medical device that includes creating an aperture in a case. The aperture includes an inner surface. The method also includes introducing an electrolyte into the case through the aperture and moving a sealing member into the aperture. The sealing member includes an outer surface. Furthermore, the method includes sealing the aperture only with the sealing member and creating a substantially hermetic seal between the inner surface of the aperture and the outer surface of the sealing member. |
| US09067076B2 |
Management of multiple stimulation program groups
The disclosure describes a method and system that allows a user to manage multiple groups of stimulation programs that provide stimulation therapy. A physician may prepare a plurality of programs, arranged in groups that each focus on one area, that the patient may evaluate in an effort to determine if any programs provide efficacious therapy. Since the patient may be evaluating many groups by using a patient programmer, managing the groups may be difficult. The patient programmer may enable the patient to hide ineffective groups to minimize the number of groups available for therapy. In addition, the programmer may allow the patient to mark each group or program as effective or ineffective, to more easily manage groups and programs during stimulation therapy. In addition, the patient may unhide a group or program if the patient desires to reevaluate a formerly hidden option. |
| US09067072B2 |
Switchable dual-coil communication circuitry for extending communication range in an implantable medical device system
Two LC circuits (each with its own coil) are used in either or both of an external controller or an implanted medical device to extend the range at which the two devices can communicate. Only one of the LC circuits (i.e., one of the coils) is used when the device is transmitting, while both LC circuits (i.e., both coils) are used when the device is receiving. When receiving, the LC circuits are preferably connected in series. The series connection of the LC circuits does not affect the resonant frequency, and thus this resonant frequency is the same for both transmission and reception despite the different LC circuits used. Switching circuitry is controlled to disconnect one of the LC circuits when the device is transmitting, and to connect the LC circuits in series during reception. |
| US09067071B2 |
System and method for neuromodulation
A method of treating autonomic imbalance in a patient includes energizing a first therapeutic element disposed in a superior vena cava of the patient to deliver therapy to a parasympathetic nerve fiber (e.g. vagus nerve), and energizing a second therapeutic element disposed within the superior vena cava to deliver therapy to a sympathetic cardiac nerve fiber. A neuromodulation system includes a parasympathetic therapy element adapted for positioning within a blood vessel, a sympathetic therapy element adapted for positioning within the blood vessel; and a stimulator to energize the parasympathetic therapy element to deliver parasympathetic therapy to a parasympathetic nerve fiber disposed external to the blood vessel and energize the sympathetic therapy element within the blood vessel to deliver sympathetic therapy to a sympathetic nerve fiber disposed external to the blood vessel. The therapy decreases the patient's heart rate and elevates or maintains the blood pressure of the patient. |
| US09067068B2 |
Channel specific gain control including lateral suppression
A system is described for generating electrode stimulation signals for stimulation electrodes in an implanted electrode array on a given side of a bilateral cochlear implant system. A pre-processor module processes an acoustic audio signal with a bank of filters to generate a set of band pass signals each corresponding to a band of audio frequencies associated with one of the filters. An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit performs a channel specific dynamic amplitude mapping of the band pass signals to generate a set of compressed band pass signals. The AGC circuit uses a bilateral multiplication matrix characterizing a lateral suppression network and having at least one non-zero coupling element from a contralateral side. A stimulation timing module extracts stimulation information from the compressed band pass signals to generate stimulation timing signals. A pulse shaper module develops the stimulation timing signals into electrode stimulation signals to the stimulation electrodes. |
| US09067066B2 |
Particle beam therapy device and particle beam therapy device operation method
A control unit is provided with, a retaining section that retains a plurality of operation patterns each being a pattern of operation to be periodically repeated by an accelerator, the operation patterns having respective operation conditions adjusted for different emission times of an particle beam, to cause a deflection electromagnet in the accelerator to have an intended magnetic field intensity even under a presence of a hysteresis; a reading section for a plurality of slices of an irradiation target in a depth direction, which reads an irradiation condition for each of the slices; a selection section that selects the operation pattern suitable for each of the slices, on the basis of the read irradiation condition; and a main control section that controls, for each of the slices, the accelerator on the basis of the selected operation pattern and an irradiation device on the basis of the irradiation condition. |
| US09067063B2 |
Expandable brachytherapy apparatus and methods for using them
Brachytherapy treatment apparatus are provided that include an elongate core member, a plurality of expandable catheters or other elongate members and a balloon or other expandable member on a distal portion adjacent the core member. Each catheter includes a distal end coupled to the core member distal end, a proximal end movable relative to the core member, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends for receiving a source of radiation therealong. The balloon is expandable independently of the catheters such that the balloon may be expanded after expanding the catheters, e.g., to facilitate imaging and/or dose planning. Optionally, a working channel may be provided for receiving an aspiration catheter or other instrument or at least one of the catheters may include an aspiration lumen and one or more ports, e.g., for aspirating material from a region surrounding the distal portion. |
| US09067062B2 |
Irradiation/cooling combination for application in photodynamic therapy
The invention relates to an irradiation-cooling combination for application in photodynamic therapy having an irradiation element (120), a cooling element (130) permeable by the emitted radiation in an irradiation pass-through direction, wherein said cooling element is designed for attachment between the irradiation element (120) and a treatment surface (160) of a patient. The cooling element (130) has an optical pass-through surface that can be cooled as an attachment to the treatment surface (160). Additional components of the invention are a first fastening device (150) for defined positioning of the irradiation-cooling combination opposite the treatment surface (160), a second fastening device (140) for attaching the irradiation element (120) on the cooling element (130), a control unit (110) and a power supply (100). The invention provides effective pain management during photodynamic therapy in connection with a mobile treatment system and larger treatment areas by means of a uniform radiation field. |
| US09067060B2 |
Skin treatment and hair treatment device with protruding guards
The present invention relates to the fields of skin care and energy-tissue interaction. More particularly, the invention relates to a device and method for enhancing operation and treatment safety during applications of energy to the skin and human body. |
| US09067059B2 |
Light delivery device
A light delivery device comprising an optical fiber having a non-feature portion and a feature portion having features that force light to couple out radially from the feature portion and provide a desired radial light output pattern. A method of photodisinfection of a cavity comprising of providing this device, apply a photosensitizing composition to treatment site within the cavity, and inserting at least a portion of the device into the cavity; and applying light delivered by the device from a light source to the treatment site within the cavity at a wavelength absorbed by the photosensitizing composition so as to inhibit or eliminate microbes located at the treatment site. The present invention also includes a method of making the device and a treatment kit containing the device and a container containing a photosensitizing composition. |
| US09067057B2 |
Percutaneous gateway, a fixing system for a prosthesis, a fixture and connecting means for signal transmission
A percutaneous gateway is provided for permanently transmission between inside of a body and outside of the body, comprising an implant (10) adapted to be at least partly anchored in a bone (1). The implant (10) has a transmission means (30) that allows a long-term stable communication through a transmitting device (20) adapted to extend from an implantable component (90) through the bone (80) to a device (91) at the outer end (3) of the percutaneous gateway. |
| US09067055B2 |
Defibrillator with pre-connected electrode pads with reduced susceptibility to false asystole indications
A defibrillator electrode set for a defibrillator and a defibrillator which senses the capacitance of an attached electrode set includes an electrode set coupled to the defibrillator by an adapter cable. The adapter cable and electrode set are pre-connected to the defibrillator prior to use. The electrodes are stored in a sealed foil package to retard gel desiccation prior to use. To reduce the capacitance of the electrode set seen by the defibrillator, the capacitance between the stored electrodes and the foil package is reduced by using a thicker dielectric layer for the layer of an electrode which opposes a wall of the foil package. In a constructed embodiment, one sixteenth inch thick polyethylene foam may be used for the electrode layer opposing the wall of the foil package. |
| US09067051B2 |
Valve device for controlling a flow of a fluid through a fluid channel, arrangement and multi-way valve device
The invention relates to a valve device for controlling a flow of a fluid through a fluid channel, having a tube (2) made of a flexible material, in which a section of a fluid channel is formed, a valve component (1) assigned to the tube (2), a cantilevered arm (8), which is designed to be reversibly displaceable on the valve component (1) against a restoring force supplied at least partially by the cantilevered arm (8) itself, a squeeze element (10), which is arranged on a distal end of the cantilevered arm (8) for support of the cantilevered arm (8) on the valve component (1) and is configured to control a flow of a fluid through the fluid channel by pressing against an outside surface of the tube (2), optionally up to the closing of the fluid channel, and an actuator (11) which is configured to displace the squeeze element (10) in various control directions against the restoring force on the cantilevered arm (8), so that the pressure of the squeeze element (10) on the outside surface of the tube (2) and thereby the flow through the fluid channel can be regulated. In addition, the invention also relates to a system having at least one valve device and a pressure-applying device as well as a multi-way valve device having multiple valve devices. |
| US09067043B2 |
Tunneled catheter with hemostasis mechanism
A hemostasis component for an invasive medical device has an inflatable cylinder affixed to the medical device at a location aligned with an ingress point of a patient. An inflation source is in fluid communication with the inflatable cylinder and a flow control valve that is effective to regulate the flow of fluid from the inflation source to the inflatable cylinder is provided. The flexible cylinder is located on the proximal end of a tunneling catheter, where it exits the skin. A thin tube is provided to inflate the flexible cylinder. In the event of bleeding, the flexible cylinder is inflated for as long as is needed to achieve hemostasis, without having to place sutures. Inflation is a simple procedure that can be done by the patient, as opposed to having to place a suture, which must be performed by a physician or a physician's delegate, under sterile conditions. |
| US09067040B2 |
Lubricious extruded medical tubing
A medical tube having improved lubricity is disclosed. The medical tube is produced by extruding a polymer material blended with a lubricity enhancing additive through a resilient die. The polymer material can be medical-grade high-density polyethylene, and the lubricity enhancing additive can be a silicone-based or alloy-based material. The medical tube can include one or more internal elongated protuberances so as to reduce the internal surface area of the medical tube available to generate friction on a guide wire inserted or withdrawn through the medical tube. |
| US09067035B2 |
Drying substances, preparation and use thereof
There is provided herein a dryer polymer substance comprising a polymer grafted with a compound having sulfonic groups, wherein the substance is adapted to pervaporate a fluid such as water, water vapor or both. There is further provided a process for the preparation of a dryer polymer substance adapted to pervaporate a fluid, the process includes processing a polymer into a desired form, activating at least a portion of the polymer, and grafting the activated portion of the polymer with a compound having groups adapted to be sulfonated. |
| US09067033B2 |
Compact oronasal patient interface
A breathing arrangement includes a patient interface, at least one inlet conduit, and a headgear assembly. The patient interface includes a mouth covering assembly including a cushion structured to sealingly engage around exterior of a patient's mouth in use, a nozzle assembly including a pair of nozzles structured to sealingly engage within nasal passages of a patient's nose in use, and a flexible element connecting the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly. The at least one inlet conduit is structured to deliver breathable gas into at least one of the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly for breathing by the patient. The headgear assembly is removably connected to at least one of the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly so as to maintain the mouth covering assembly and the nozzle assembly in a desired position on the patient's face. |
| US09067026B2 |
Vascular graft
A vascular access graft (1) comprises an elongate conduit (2) having proximal and distal ends (3, 4). At least a portion of the elongate conduit (2) has a self-sealing property such that the portion remains impermeable after puncturing by a dialysis needle. The vascular access graft (1) also comprises a helical fin (6) projecting inwardly from the inner surface (5) of the elongate conduit (2) and extending parallel to the axis of the elongate conduit (2). |
| US09067021B2 |
Needleless injector
The present invention relates to a needleless injector. The needleless injector includes a piston shaft with a plurality of holders on an outer surface in a circumferential direction; a cylinder assembly which slidably receives and supports the piston shaft in the forward and backward directions; and a plurality of balls which are received in the cylinder assembly and disposed around the piston shaft, the plurality of balls being movable in a radial direction and inserted into the plurality of holders when the piston shaft is moved in the backward direction. The injector also includes a trigger button slidably coupled to a rear end of the cylinder assembly to form a trigger end interrupting the movement of the balls inserted into the holders in the radial direction, the trigger button releasing the interruption of the trigger end when the piston shaft is slid in the forward direction. |
| US09067016B2 |
Infusion monitoring device and method for monitoring the infusion dripping rate and alarming for the irregularities of the infusion
The present invention discloses an intravenous infusion monitoring device for monitoring the infusion dripping rate. This device is attached to an infusion tube above the dripping chamber, including two polar plates forming a capacitor, a capacitance measurement unit electrically connected to the capacitor, a micro control unit (MCU) configured to collect data from the capacitance measure unit and analysis and display the infusion dripping rate. A method for monitoring infusion rate includes setting the infusion solution surface to a specific height in the dripping chamber so that the infusion solution in the tube is conducted and have a pulse change of the capacitance at the moment when a droplet drips down, determining the cycle of the pulse corresponding to the infusion rate and displaying the dripping rate by LCD screen, and alarming when the infusion irregularities occurs such as too fast, too slow or fully stop. |
| US09067015B2 |
System for injecting fluids in a subject
Devices and systems for injecting fluids and/or other materials into a targeted anatomical location, in particular, a joint or intra-articular space, include a handpiece assembly having a needle extending from its distal end, a fluid delivery module comprising a cassette and a fluid transfer device. A conduit is generally configured to place the fluid delivery module in fluid communication with the handpiece assembly. Medicaments, formulations and/or other fluids or materials contained within vials that are secured to a cassette or other portion of the fluid delivery module can be selectively delivered into an anatomy through a needle located at the distal end of the handpiece assembly. In some embodiments, ultrasound or other imaging technologies can be used to locate a joint or other targeted anatomical location. |
| US09067013B2 |
Medical article securement device
A securement device (10) secures a medical article (12) to the body of a patient and prevents longitudinal movement of the medical article (12) relative to the securement device (10). The securement device (10) includes a base portion (50) that is disposed over at least a part of a securement piece (20). The securement piece (20) forms a channel (19) configured to receive at least a portion of the medical article (12). The device (10) includes at least one actuator (40). The at least one actuator (40) is coupled with the securement piece (20) and configured to move the securement piece (20) between open position and a closed position. When the securement piece (20) is in the open position, it can receive at least a portion of the medical article (12). When the securement piece (20) is in the closed position, it prevents the received medical article (12) from moving in the longitudinal direction relative to the securement device (10). In some embodiments the securement piece (20) has engagement members (23) extending from the inner surface of the securement piece (20). In an embodiment, the securement device (10) includes an opening (28) that receives an outwardly extending member of the medical article (12). |
| US09067011B2 |
Device for delivery of powder like medication in a humid environment
A device for placement in an environment, particularly a humid environment, for delivery of medication to said environment. The device comprises a reservoir (103) having an orifice (104), a conveying unit for conveying a reservoir's content (106) through the orifice (104) and an actuator arrangement for driving the conveying unit. In order to provide a reliable delivery of medication in a humid environment, the conveying unit comprises an auger (110) extending in the reservoir (103). |
| US09067007B2 |
Motor assembly for catheter pump
A catheter pump is disclosed herein. The catheter pump can include a catheter assembly that comprises a drive shaft and an impeller coupled to a distal end of the drive shaft. A driven assembly can be coupled to a proximal end of the drive shaft within a driven assembly housing. The catheter pump can also include a drive system that comprises a motor and a drive magnet coupled to an output shaft of the motor. The drive system can include a drive assembly housing having at least one magnet therein. Further, a securement device can be configured to prevent disengagement of the driven assembly housing from the drive assembly housing during operation of the pump. |
| US09067006B2 |
Compressible and expandable blade for a fluid pump
The invention relates to a compressible and expandable blade for the rotor of a fluid pump having at least two lamellae which are disposed adjacently, are pivotable respectively relative to an axis of rotation of the rotor and moveable relative to each other, and abut against each other in the expanded state of the blade such that they form together a continuous blade surface. |
| US09067005B2 |
Centrifugal pump apparatus
A centrifugal blood pump apparatus includes an impeller provided in a blood chamber, a permanent magnet provided in one surface of the impeller, a permanent magnet provided in an inner wall of the blood chamber, a permanent magnet provided in the other surface of the impeller, and a magnetic material and a coil provided in a motor chamber for driving the impeller to rotate via a diaphragm. Grooves for hydrodynamic bearing are formed in the diaphragm facing the impeller, and in the inner wall of the blood chamber, respectively. As a result, the impeller can be smoothly activated to drive by controlling a coil current. |
| US09067002B2 |
Tailored aliphatic polyesters for stent coatings
An aliphatic polyester polymer for stent coating is described. |
| US09067001B2 |
Coatings for implantable medical devices
The present application teaches a coating having a biologically compatible compound conjugated to, or blended with, a polymer, wherein the polymer includes at least one olefin-derived unit and at least one unit derived from a vinyl alcohol, an allyl alcohol, or derivatives thereof. |
| US09067000B2 |
End-capped poly(ester amide) copolymers
This invention relates to poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) comprising inactivated terminal amino and carboxyl groups, methods of synthesizing the inactivated PEAs and uses for them in the treatment of vascular diseases. |
| US09066996B1 |
Method to control the biodegradation rates of polymer structures
Methods to selectively control the bio-degradation rates of biologically compatible microstructures and methods to control the bio-degradation rates of three-dimensional biological scaffolds, such as ordered open-cellular polymer structures used as biological growth templates are disclosed. Medical uses and application of these materials are disclosed. |
| US09066992B2 |
Polymers for implantable devices exhibiting shape-memory effects
The present invention is directed to polymeric compositions comprising a biodegradable copolymer that possesses shape-memory properties and implantable devices (e.g., drug-delivery stents) formed of materials (e.g., a coating) containing such compositions. The polymeric compositions can also contain at least one non-fouling moiety, at least additional biocompatible polymer, at least one biobeneficial material, at least one bioactive agent, or a combination thereof. The polymeric compositions are formulated to possess good mechanical, physical and biological properties. Moreover, implantable devices formed of materials comprising such compositions can be delivered to the treatment site in a conveniently compressed size and then can expand to dimensions appropriate for their medical functions. |
| US09066988B1 |
Photocatalytic device with curved reflectors
A photocatalytic device has an ultraviolet light source and a plurality of photocatalytic structures, such as hydrated quad-metallic catalyst surfaces. The photocatalytic device has curved reflectors that are positioned to reflect ultraviolet light against a face of the photocatalytic structures. The curved reflectors are shaped to minimize the distance traveled by the ultraviolet light between the light source and the photocatalytic structure. The curved reflector is further shaped to direct reflected ultraviolet against the surface of the photocatalytic structure in a perpendicular direction. |
| US09066986B2 |
Anti-CEACAM6 antibodies and uses thereof
The present invention relates to isolated or purified antibodies or fragments thereof specific for CEACAM6 and their use as therapeutic or diagnostic tools. Specifically, the present invention is directed to antibodies or fragments thereof specific for a linear epitope of CEACAM6. In vivo and in vitro methods of diagnosis as well as therapeutic methods are also described. |
| US09066983B2 |
Peptidic antigen that induces antibody recognizing three-dimensional structure of HIV and method for synthesizing same
An object of the present invention is to provide an HIV antibody-inducing peptide antigen that is effective in developing an antibody or a vaccine having specificity and binding activity for the three-dimensional structure of a neutralization target, i.e. the mechanism by which HIV invades a target cell; a method for synthesizing the same; a vaccine comprising the peptide antigen, or an HIV three-dimensional structure-recognizing antibody induced by the peptide antigen; and a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for HIV infection comprising the peptide antigen, the vaccine, or the HIV three-dimensional structure-recognizing antibody as an active ingredient. |
| US09066981B2 |
Actinically-crosslinkable siloxane-containing copolymers
The invention provide a class of actinically-crosslinkable silicone-containing prepolymers obtained by functionalizing an intermediary copolymer to have two or more thiol or ethylenically-unsaturated groups covalently attached thereto, wherein the intermediary copolymer is an atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) product of a reactive mixture comprising a polysiloxane ATRP macroinitiator and at least one hydrophilic vinylic monomer. The present invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lenses made from a prepolymer of the invention and methods for making the contact lenses in a cost-effective way and with high consistency and high fidelity to the original lens design. |
| US09066978B2 |
Dose selection of adjuvanted synthetic nanocarriers
Disclosed are synthetic nanocarrier compositions with coupled adjuvant compositions as well as related methods. |
| US09066976B2 |
Method for therapeutic angiogenesis
The present invention relates to the E2EPF UCP-VHL interaction and the uses thereof, more precisely a method for increasing or reducing VHL activity or level by regulating UCP activity or level to inhibit cancer cell proliferation or metastasis or to increase angiogenesis. The inhibition of UCP activity is accomplished by any UCP activity inhibitor selected from a group consisting of a small interfering RNA (RNAi), an antisense oligonucleotide, and a polynucleotide complementarily binding to mRNA of UCP, a peptide, a peptide mimetics and an antibody, and a low molecular compound. In the meantime, the increase of angiogenesis is accomplished by the following mechanism; UCP over-expression is induced by a gene carrier and thus endogenous VHL is reduced, leading to the stabilization of HIF-1α which enhances VEGF activation based on the HIF-1α stabilization. The method for regulating UCP activity or level results in the increase or decrease of VHL activity or level, so that it can be applied to the development of an anticancer agent and an angiogenesis inducer. |
| US09066975B2 |
Jucara and acai fruit based dietary supplements
The present invention relates to stable, palatable, freeze-dried, fruit-based compositions. Specifically, the inventions relates to compositions of Açai fruit and Jucara fruit with high antioxidant capability and cyclooxygenase-inhibitory activity, and their uses. The invention further provides for methods of making stable, palatable, freeze-dried, fruit-based compositions from Açai fruit and Jucara fruit. |
| US09066967B2 |
Oligonucleotide analogues targeting human LMNA
Provided are LMNA-targeted antisense oligonucleotides for reducing expression of one or more aberrantly spliced LMNA mRNA isoforms that encode progerin. |
| US09066965B1 |
Purified limonin glucoside for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases
One exemplary embodiment of the disclosure provides methods and compositions for treating a subject suffering from Alcoholic Liver Disease, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and certain cancers, or a combination thereof, by administering a therapeutically effective amount of purified liminoid glucoside or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to the subject. In another exemplary embodiment, the disclosure provides methods and compositions for treating a subject suffering from elevated circulating concentrations of liver enzymes wherein the liver enzymes are selected from gamma glutamyl transferase, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase and complement fraction 3 or a combination thereof, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of purified liminoid glucoside or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to the subject wherein the treating results in a decreased circulating concentration of the liver enzymes. |
| US09066963B2 |
Methods of treating breast cancer with anthracycline therapy
The application describes methods for screening subjects with breast cancer to determine if the breast cancer will be responsive to a breast cancer therapy including an anthracycline. The application also describes methods for treating subjects with breast cancer by screening them for the likelihood of the effectiveness of treating the cancer with a therapy including anthracycline and administering the therapy in subjects when it is found that anthracycline is likely to be effective. |
| US09066954B2 |
Fused heterocyclic derivatives and methods of use
Selected compounds are effective for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, such as HGF mediated diseases. The invention encompasses novel compounds, analogs, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases and other maladies or conditions involving, cancer and the like. The subject invention also relates to processes for making such compounds as well as to intermediates useful in such processes. |
| US09066948B2 |
Oxadiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines and thiadiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines
The present invention relates to compounds of formula P-1 and related compounds and compositions useful for inhibiting and/or reducing platelet deposition, adhesion and/or aggregation. The definitions of A, Y, R1, R2, Ra, Ra′, Rb, Rb′, Rc, Rc′, Rd, Rd′, Re, and Re′ are provided herein. The present invention further relates to methods for the treatment or prophylaxis of thrombotic disorders, including stroke, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, peripheral vascular disease, abrupt closure following angioplasty or stent placement and thrombosis as a result of vascular surgery. |
| US09066946B2 |
P2X7 modulators
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formulas (I, IIa and IIb): The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formulas (I, IIa and IIb). Methods of making and using the compounds of Formulas (I, IIa and IIb) are also within the scope of the invention. |
| US09066942B2 |
Oral dosage forms for oxygen-containing active agents and oxyl-containing polymer
The disclosed invention is drawn to pharmaceutical tablets that provide delivery of active agents having at least three oxygen-containing groups, as well as a second active ingredient. Non-limiting examples of three oxygen-containing group active agents include guaifenesin, codeine, hydrocodone, and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. In one embodiment, a pharmaceutical tablet for oral administration once every 12 hours is provided. The tablet includes a first active agent that is a tri-oxy active agent, a second active agent, and a release rate controlling non-ionic oxyl-containing hydrophilic polymer. The total oxyl content of the hydrophilic polymer in the tablet is about 4×10−4 moles to about 2.0×10−3 moles. |
| US09066936B2 |
Solid pharmaceutical composition comprising a benzimidazole-7-carboxylate derivative and a pH control agent
The present invention provides a solid pharmaceutical composition containing compound (I) having an angiotensin II receptor antagonistic action and defined in the specification and a pH control agent, which composition is superior in the stability and dissolution property of compound (I). |
| US09066934B2 |
Composite material comprising pectin and calcium phosphate and method for its realisation
A method for obtaining a composite material including an aqueous solution of pectin and a suspension/solution of calcium phosphate mixed together, wherein said solution of pectin cross-links with a portion of the calcium obtained from the solution of calcium phosphate and wherein a portion of the calcium phosphate in suspension remains as inorganic phase and composite materials obtained by this method. |
| US09066923B2 |
Methods for Alzheimer's disease treatment and cognitive enhancement
The present invention relates to compositions comprising a combination of PKC activators and PKC inhibitors and methods to modulate α-secretase activity; improve or enhance cognitive ability; and/or reduce neurodegeneration in individuals suffering from diseases that impair cognitive ability, particularly Alzheimer's Disease. The invention also relates to methods for improving or enhancing cognitive ability. The present invention also provides methods for increasing the generation of non-amyloidogenic soluble APP (sAPP) comprising the activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in the brain and inhibiting PKC in peripheral tissues. Macrocyclic lactones (i.e. bryostatin class and neristatin class) are preferred PKC activators and Vitamin E is a preferred PKC inhibitor for use in the inventive composition. |
| US09066919B2 |
Hyaluronan as a chemo-sensitizer in the treatment of cancer
This application provides methods and compositions for the treatment of cancer. The application provides compositions including hyaluronic acid and a chemotherapeutic agent such as irinotecan that are useful in the treatment of cancer. |
| US09066916B2 |
Method of treating neurohormonal imbalance
The disclosure pertains to methods of reducing decompensation through acute intervention including in subjects afflicted with acute decompensated heart failure. Particularly, the disclosure provides methods for treating acute cardiac decompensation by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of relaxin. |
| US09066910B2 |
Methods and compositions of cannabis extracts
In one embodiment, a method is provided for obtaining an extract from a cannabis plant for medical uses. In one embodiment, a method for obtaining an extract from a cannabis plant for medical uses is provided. The method comprises (a) providing cannabis flower trimmings with trichome material, (b) providing clean, cold water to at least cover cannabis the cannabis flower trimmings, (c) agitating the mixture of cannabis flower trimmings and water (d) soaking the cannabis flower trimming in cold water for at least one minute, (e) removing cannabis flower trimmings from the water, (f) removing the trichome material from the water and (g) drying the trichome material to contain no more than 10% total water weight. |
| US09066908B2 |
Method of treating bone disorders using TSG-6
The invention provides use of a TSG-6 polypeptide, or a polynucleotide encoding an TSG-6 polypeptide, in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of a bone disease or condition associated with bone resorption by osteoclasts. |
| US09066906B2 |
Lunasin-containing complex and purification of lunasin from plants
A method of purifying lunasin or a lunasin-containing complex produced in a plant includes providing a plant material from the plant, and isolating the lunasin-containing complex from the plant material, and/or releasing lunasin from the lunasin-containing complex. A composition for treating a cancer or an inflammation-related disease in a subject includes a lunasin-containing complex. A composition for treating a cancer or an inflammation-related disease in a subject includes a lunasin polypeptide and/or a lunasin-containing complex; and curcumin, wherein the combination of the a lunasin polypeptide or lunasin-containing complex and the curcumin has a synergistic effect. A method for treating a cancer or an inflammation-related disease includes administering a composition including a lunasin-containing complex, or a lunasin polypeptide and/or a lunasin-containing complex, and curcumin. |
| US09066902B2 |
Fatty acids as anti-inflammatory agents
Compounds of formula I and their metabolites are potent mediators of an inflammatory response: (I) where a, b, c, d, e, f, V, W, X, Y, Ra, Ra′, Rb, Rb′, Rc, and Rc′ are defined herein. In particular, the compounds of the invention are candidate therapeutics for treating inflammatory conditions. |
| US09066895B2 |
Method of storing a vaccine containing an aluminum adjuvant
The invention relates to a method for loading and storing a vaccine composition, containing the antigen adsorbed on the aluminum adjuvant which (a) comprises (i) loading the composition into a container; and (ii) closing the container with a device in particular acting as a stopper, the surface of the device getting into contact with the composition being coated with a fluoropolymer such as Teflon™; and/or (b) loading the composition into a container wherein the inner surface of which is coated with polymerized silicone. The use of fluoropolymer or polymerized silicone optimizes the adsorbed antigen stability upon storage. In a particular embodiment, the antigen is the hepatitis B surface antigen and the aluminum adjuvant is aluminum oxy hydroxide. |
| US09066888B2 |
Plaster causing reduced skin irritation
A plaster containing an active ingredient for the transdermal administration of a pharmaceutical active ingredient, having a removable protective film and an adhesive layer. The plaster includes at least one compound that is contained in the adhesive layer or lies adjacent the adhesive layer between the adhesive layer and the removable protective film and that can be applied to the skin to at least reduce skin irritation. |
| US09066886B2 |
Transdermal drug delivery system containing granisetron
Disclosed herein is a transdermal system in a matrix form capable of enhancing granisetron carrying efficiency and improving transdermal absorption while inhibiting recrystallization, which comprises: at least one transdermal enhancer selected from a group consisting of polyglyceryl-3 oleate, polyethyleneglycol-20 almond glyceride, polyethyleneglycol-12 palm kernel glyceride, isopropyl myristate and oleyl alcohol; and an acrylate polymer. |
| US09066883B2 |
Administration of cells and cellular extracts for rejuvenation
The invention describes methods and agents for improving cosmetic appearance, for promoting, improving or restoring health of cells and tissues, preferably skin, and more preferably, for restoring aged or damaged skin to a healthy appearance. In some embodiments, the invention relates to compositions of cells, eggs, cell extracts, egg extracts, and extract components such as purified nucleic acids, polypeptides, lipids, carbohydrates or other natural products. |
| US09066879B2 |
Hair treatment agents containing selected fatty acid amides and selected silicones
Hair treatment agents include a synergistic combination of selected fatty acid amides and selected silicones. |
| US09066876B2 |
Microfabricated nanopore device for sustained release of therapeutic agent
A drug delivery device that includes a capsule for implantation into the body; the capsule further includes a reservoir for containing a substance such as a therapeutic agent, at least one port for allowing the substance to diffuse from or otherwise exit the reservoir, and a nanopore membrane in communication with the capsule at or near the exit port for controlling the rate of diffusion of the substance from the exit port. The device also includes an optional screen for providing structural stability to the nanopore membrane and for keeping the pores of the nanopore membrane clear. One embodiment of the drug delivery device includes an osmotic engine internal to the device for creating fluid flow through the device. |
| US09066874B2 |
Dicationic ethers with polyhydroxyl functionality
Described are novel dicationic polyhydroxyl compounds and their uses in personal care compositions. |
| US09066871B2 |
Sodium-hypochlorite-based body wash compositions
Sodium hypochlorite-based compositions that are non-toxic and have antimicrobial and cleansing properties may include from about 0.025% to about 10% by weight of sodium hypochlorite. For example, the compositions may include less than 1% by weight of sodium hypochlorite (e.g., less than 0.5% by weight of sodium hypochlorite). The compositions may further include sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamide MEA, disodium EDTA, and deionized water. Such compositions may be applied externally to a mammalian body through rinse-off or leave-on applications. Compositions also may be incorporated as a component of other products, such as deodorants, towelettes, or powders. |
| US09066868B2 |
Carnitine granulate and methods for its production
Subject of the invention is a method for the production of a carnitine granulate, which includes the steps of (a) providing an aqueous solution comprising at least 65% (w/w) carnitine, (b) providing a particulate carrier comprising silica, the carrier having an average particle size of more than 150 μm, and (c) mixing the aqueous solution and the carrier. Another subject of the invention is a carnitine granulate. |
| US09066867B2 |
Amphoteric liposomes
A serum-stable mixture of lipids capable of encapsulating an active agent to form a liposome, said mixture comprising phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in a ratio in the range of about 0.5 to about 8. The mixture may also include pH sensitive anionic and cationic amphiphiles, such that the mixture is amphoteric, being negatively charged or neutral at pH 7.4 and positively charged at pH 4. Amphoteric liposomes comprising such a mixture may be used for encapsulating nucleic acid therapeutics, such as oligonucleotides and DNA plasmids. The drug/lipid ratio may be adjusted to target the liposomes to particular organs or other sites in the body. |
| US09066860B2 |
Oil-in-water emulsified composition
The present invention is an oil-in-water emulsified composition and a sunscreen cosmetic characteristically comprising the following (a)-(j): (a) Octocrylene (b) Bis ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (c) Hexyl diethylaminohydroxybenzoylbenzoate (d) 4-tert-butyl-4′-methoxybenzoylmethane (e) Water soluble polymer (f) Water-swelling clay mineral (g) Oil component having IOB of 0.05 or more (h) Higher fatty acid (i) Surfactant (j) Water The object of the present invention is to provide a sunscreen cosmetic that manifests a superior ultraviolet absorption effect and is superior in terms of the emulsification stability and the sensation during use. |
| US09066859B1 |
Viscoelastic cleansing gel
The present invention is directed to a cleansing composition comprising:(a) at least one nonionic surfactant; (b) at least one amphoteric surfactant; (c) at least one component selected from (i) a nonionic thickener or (ii)(1) a cationic agent combined with (ii)(2) an anionic surfactant, or a mixture of nonionic thickener plus cationic agent and/or anionic surfactant; and (d) water. |
| US09066858B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition for the sublingual administration of progesterone, and method for its preparation
A pharmaceutical composition is described for the sublingual administration of progesterone in the form of a rapidly-disintegrating tablet, which is capable of promoting a greater bioavailability of the progesterone; a method for preparing said pharmaceutical composition is also described. |
| US09066856B2 |
Stable preservative-free mydriatic and anti-inflammatory solutions for injection
The present invention relates to stable, preservative- and antioxidant-free liquid formulations of phenylephrine and ketorolac for injection. |
| US09066852B2 |
Dental adhesive primer composition
The present invention relates to a dental adhesive primer composition for use in dental fields employed to bond dental materials, such as restoration materials, dental crown materials, prosthetic materials, esthetic materials, orthodontic materials, preventive materials, core build-up materials and root canal materials, to ceramics, metals, resins, composite resins, glass ionomer cements, and hard biotissues (enamel or dentin of natural tooth). The present invention also relates to a dental adhesive primer composition including a dental adhesive composition which can be used not only in combination with another adhesive composition but also alone. |
| US09066851B2 |
Extended length botulinum toxin formulation for human or mammalian use
An extended duration pharmaceutical composition including a botulinum neurotoxin, an adhesive agent, and a stabilizing macromolecule. The composition effectively has all the properties to cause chemodenervation through a facial muscle, or other muscle, that predecessor botulinum toxin preparations have had as well as agents which create a fibrotic adhesion on the under surface of facial muscles (or other muscles) to the facial bone (or other bones) so that the facial bone tethers the under surface of the facial muscle, thereby causing fibrosis to the underlying fat pad. The composition can be used to treat various disorders. Methods of modifying facial contour for functional or cosmetic purposes in a human patient are disclosed which involve injecting a therapeutically effective amount of the disclosed compositions. A method of quantifying the extended duration of the compositions is also disclosed. |
| US09066843B1 |
Massage and dilating device
The invention relates to a device for the enlargement and/or stimulation and/or massaging of orifices of the body, such as the vagina or anus. The device is made up of a motor unit operatively engaged to a rotatable drive shaft, an insertion section located at the distal end of the massage device comprising a plurality of axially spaced drive cams rotationally coupled to the drive shaft, a control unit at the proximal end of the massage device for operating the drive shaft, and a flexible neck lying between the control unit and the insertion section to allow the user to adjust the positioning of the insertion section inside or immediately outside of the orifice being treated. In use the device is inserted into an orifice of the body and activated to adjust various functions of the device, such as varying the extent of expansion and contraction of the device, and adjusting the speed of vibration or rotation of the drive cams. |
| US09066839B2 |
Moving bath tub and a lift for bathing ICU patients
The invention consists of two parts. The first part is a lift made of four columns placed at the corners of the patient's bed. Connected to the columns, a bed made of a net of intersecting threads placed between the patient and the bed and are used to carry the patient in the sleeping position over the bed. The second part is a bath tub and a moving cleaning system on suitable moving equipments that can be easily moved to be inserted above the patients bed or below the patient via the aforementioned net. The patient is brought down to be cleaned in the bath tub using the crane. |
| US09066838B2 |
Disposable diaper having reduced absorbent core to backsheet gluing
The present disclosure generally relates to disposable diapers having absorbent cores comprising superabsorbent polymer particles which are immobilized by adhesive. The absorbent cores are attached to the backsheets of the disposable diapers in certain attachment zones to reduce see-through and the formation of tension lines on the backsheets. |
| US09066835B2 |
Absorbent article
The present invention provides an absorbent article that allows full use of the absorption performance of an absorbent polymer without inhibiting the swelling of the absorbent polymer due to the absorption of excreted body fluids, and that can be biodegraded with efficiency when it is disposed after use by burial in the soil or the like. The absorbent article includes at least one inner bag-like member, an absorbent polymer, and an outer bag-like member. The inner bag-like member is formed into a thin and substantially sheet-like form of a sheet having biodegradability and fluid permeability, and includes multiple accommodation spaces that are detached from the outside and separated from one another. The absorbent polymer has biodegradability and a substantially granular or powder form and is contained in each of the accommodation spaces in the inner bag-like member so as to be freely movable within the accommodation spaces. |
| US09066833B2 |
Incontinence article in pant form
In an incontinence article in pant form, a crotch section having an absorption body, is connected to stomach and back sections in respective overlapping regions of the crotch section and the stomach section, and the crotch section and the back section, wherein the incontinence article has a first fold axis formed by a transverse center axis of the incontinence article, second fold axes extending outside on either side of the absorption body, and a third fold axis in a region of the absorption body, wherein regions of the stomach section and the back section which laterally protrude over the crotch section are folded about the second fold axes toward the longitudinal center axis, wherein after folding the incontinence article about the third folding axis, the border of the stomach and back band does not protrude over the first fold axis wherein a mass per area of the absorption body decreases from a region of the transverse center axis toward stomach-section side and back-section side ends of the absorption body. |
| US09066831B2 |
Absorbent article with pressed grooves overlying a compressed region and method of manufacturing the same
An absorbent article having a compressed region formed by a compressing process in an absorption layer on a side facing to the backsheet; and a plurality of pressed grooves are formed by a pressing process in the absorption layer on a side facing to the topsheet, within a region opposed to the compressed region. |
| US09066830B2 |
Apparatus to manufacture absorbent body
An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body includes: a sheet supplying mechanism for supplying a sheet from a sheet roll; a crusher for crushing the sheet into a fibrous matter by scraping a reeling-out tip end of the reeled out sheet; and a fiber stacking device for forming the absorbent body in a predetermined shape by laminating the fibrous matter to be sent out from the crusher. When switching a supply of the sheet to the crusher from one to another sheet supplying mechanism, at least two sheet supplying mechanisms supply the sheet to the crusher over a predetermined period including a period in which the one sheet supplying mechanism decreases a sheet reeling-out speed, in correspondence with the period in which the one sheet supplying mechanism decreases the sheet reeling-out speed, the other sheet supplying mechanism increases a sheet reeling-out speed. |
| US09066829B2 |
Ear warmer with fabric member
An ear warmer comprises a frame and a fabric member. The frame has an ear portion and a band portion. The ear portion of the frame includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side of the ear portion defines an interior portion of an opening. The second side of the ear portion defines an exterior portion of the opening. The fabric member includes at least its own ear portion coupled to the ear portion of the frame. The ear portion of the fabric member covers the interior portion of the opening in substantially its entirety and covers less than an entirety of the exterior portion of the opening. |
| US09066827B2 |
Expandable slide and lock stent
An expandable slide and lock stent is provided that comprises a plurality of radial elements interconnected to form a tubular member. Each radial element can comprise a helical backbone and at least one elongate member extending from the helical backbone in a circumferential direction. Each backbone can have at least one slot that can be configured to receive an elongate member of an adjacent radial element. |
| US09066823B2 |
Ureteral stent
In some embodiments, a ureteral stent includes an elongate member having a first portion and a second portion, which is coupled to the first portion. The first portion of the elongate member is configured to be disposed within a kidney of a patient. The second portion of the elongate member, which has a sidewall that defines a lumen, is configured to deliver fluid from a first location of the sidewall of the second portion to a second location of the sidewall of the second portion via capillary action. The second portion of the elongate member is configured to be disposed within at least one of a bladder and a ureter of the patient. |
| US09066822B2 |
Vacuum pump systems for prosthetic limbs and methods of using the same
Pump systems for use in suspension of a prosthetic device from a residual limb and methods of suspending a prosthetic device from a residual limb are disclosed. The pump systems include a mechanically activated pump having a first compression member coupled to a second compression member, a compressible bladder disposed between the first and second compression members, and coupling elements that engage and couple together the first and second compression members. The mechanically activated pump may be connected with an electrically activated pump within a fluid circuit of a hybrid pump system to provide vacuum engagement between a prosthetic device and a residual limb. |
| US09066821B2 |
Suspension liner system with seal
A suspension liner sleeve adapted to provide an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket, and having outer and inner surfaces. The liner sleeve includes an elongate, generally conical body portion formed from at least one material segment defining the liner outer surface. The at least one material segment being at least radially elastically extensible from a relaxed non-extended condition and including proximal and distal end areas. The liner sleeve includes a layer of polymeric material disposed on the at least one material segment and defining the liner sleeve inner surface, and a plurality of resilient seal elements protruding radially from the liner sleeve outer surface. The plurality of seal elements extend around at least one peripheral portion of the liner body portion. A pair of opposed annular recesses may be adjacently located above and below each of the at least one seal element. |
| US09066816B2 |
Spinal nucleus replacement implants
A multi-piece intervertebral disc augmentation implant that may be assembled within the annulus fibrosus is disclosed. The implant may be guided into a precise location through a relatively small opening in the annulus fibrosus with the aid of an elongated guide. |
| US09066800B2 |
Dual valve prosthesis for transcatheter valve implantation
A dual valve prosthesis having first and second prosthetic valve components with a linkage that connects the first and second prosthetic valve components together is disclosed. Each of the first and second prosthetic valve components includes a stent structure with a prosthetic valve secured therein. In a disclosed method, the first and second prosthetic valve components include prosthetic mitral and aortic valves, respectively, and the dual heart valve prosthesis is configured to replace both the native mitral and aortic valves of the heart in a single transcatheter heart valve implantation procedure. The linkage between the first and second prosthetic valve components is configured to secure the anterior mitral valve leaflet against a wall of the left ventricle when the dual valve prosthesis is implanted within the heart. |
| US09066796B2 |
Multi-focal intraocular lens system and methods for dynamic visual environments
The invention pertains to methods, components, and operations of multi-focal intraocular lens systems, including range finding for driving same and for discriminating between multiple objects and varying brightness conditions. The invention also pertains to intraocular photosensors and range-finding methods to be used with intra-ocular lens systems, and components, that provide multi-focal IOL capabilities in dynamic visual environments. |
| US09066795B2 |
Method and devices for tissue expansion
A device for maintaining or achieving soft tissue expansion applicable to any body region already temporarily expanded including: an adhesive element deformable and capable of adapting to the shape of this body region, and which can then itself become mechanically rigid enough to resist tendency of the expanded tissue to recoil or to which a second material can be applied to form a stent adapted to the shape of the body area to provide the necessary structural rigidity to prevent recoil of the expansion and thereby induce its retention of its expanded shape after the stent is removed. |
| US09066788B2 |
Orthosis
An orthosis comprising a dynamic, flexible, elastic stiffener that is configured to extend across a joint. The stiffener is configured to extend across a joint in a first configuration, wherein the stiffener is preferably substantially planar, and a second configuration when a patient's muscle is under contraction such that the stiffener allows some joint movement but resists flexion of the joint to impede joint movement. The stiffener rebounds to its first configuration after the muscle contraction has terminated. The orthosis may be used to impede the movement of any joint, including a wrist joint and finger joints, an elbow joint, a knee joint, and an ankle joint and toe joints. Preferably, the flexible stiffener is made from a heat treated and tempered spring steel so that is has desirable dynamic and elastic properties. |
| US09066780B2 |
Magnetic device to control obesity and related method of use
A medical device includes an outer shell defining a cavity, wherein the shell is movable between a deformed and unstressed state, a magnet disposed within the cavity, and a filler material carried within the cavity conforming to the interior shape of the shell in the unstressed state and being capable of holding its shape in the deformed state. The filler material converts from the deformed state to the unstressed state at a temperature not greater than human body temperature. |
| US09066777B2 |
Curing light device
A light device includes a housing and a tip structure configured to be removably coupled with the housing. The tip structure includes a light emitting device that is operable for emitting light positioned at a distal end of the tip structure and a body for housing the light emitting device. The housing is formed of an autoclavable material capable of withstanding autoclaving. A power supply circuit is positioned in the housing and coupled to the light emitting device to power the device when the tip structure is coupled with the housing. The power supply circuit is rechargeable and includes at least one ultracapacitor element for being charged and the power supply circuit configured to discharge the ultracapacitor as a current source to drive the at least one light emitting device. |
| US09066773B2 |
Rotary drive cutter for dentistry
A dental rotary drive cutting tool, which can limit breaking location to the shank side, and increase life span until breakage, is provided. A peeso reamer (10) as the dental rotary drive cutting tool according to the present invention includes a cutting portion (11) formed on the tip side, a shank (12) formed in a base, and a neck part (13) formed between the cutting portion (11) and the shank (12), wherein the neck part (13) includes a tapered portion (13a), which is wider on the tip side and narrower on the base side, and a straight portion (13b), which has a constant thickness with the same diameter as that of the end of the tapered portion on the base side. While it breaks at the narrowest portion of the tapered portion, this portion is a straight portion, and thus increase in life span is possible. |
| US09066764B2 |
Long bone fixation system and methods
A method of stabilizing a fractured bone includes: a) providing a first support member in a medullary canal of a fractured bone; b) providing a second support member outside the fractured bone; c) providing a transverse connector adapted to link the first support member to the second support member in an angle-stable connection; d) connecting the transverse connector to the first and second support members in an angle-stable connection; e) providing one or more bone screws adapted to be connected to the second support member in an angle-stable connection; and f) implanting the bone screws such that the shank of the screw is implanted in the fractured bone while the head of the screw is connected to the second support member in an angle-stable connection. The system provides superior fixation of long bones that allows for early functional range of motion without loss of alignment or fixation. |
| US09066760B2 |
Telescoping interspinous fixation device and methods of use
The present invention provides spinous process implants and associated methods. In one aspect of the invention, the implant includes at least one extension with a first part and a second part where at least one arm is coupled to each of the first part and the second part. The first part and the second pan are movable from a compact to a distracted state. In another aspect, the present invention provides a second extension that is slidingly coupled to the first and second arms. The second extension further comprises a third part and a fourth part that move with the first and second part. |
| US09066759B2 |
Receiving part for receiving a rod for coupling the rod to a bone anchoring element and a bone anchoring device
A receiving part for coupling a rod to a bone anchoring element includes: a receiving part body with a rod receiving portion and a head receiving portion having an open end for introducing a head of a bone anchoring element, and a locking ring, wherein the head receiving portion includes a plurality of flexible wall portions, the flexible wall portions and the locking ring being configured to engage each other at circumferentially distinct pressure areas having positions corresponding to circumferentially separated projections on at least one of the flexible wall portions or the locking ring, and wherein the locking ring exerts a first force on at least one of the flexible wall portions at a corresponding pressure area, and exerts a second force less than the first force on the at least one flexible wall portion in a region circumferentially adjacent to the corresponding pressure area. |
| US09066751B2 |
Instrumentation and method for mounting a surgical navigation reference device to a patient
Instrumentation and methods are provided for mounting a surgical navigation reference frame to a patient. A trocar may be positioned within a cannula to form an insertion device adapted for percutaneous introduction into the patient. A bone anchor having a bone engaging portion is inserted through the cannula for anchoring to bone. The bone anchor cooperates with the cannula to form a mounting device adapted for coupling with the surgical navigation reference frame. An image-guided surgical procedure may be performed at a location remote from the anchoring location. In a specific embodiment, a minimally invasive surgical procedure is performed, with a reference frame anchored to the pelvic bone, and more specifically to the iliac region of the pelvic bone. A second reference frame may be anchored to the femur. |
| US09066746B2 |
Compact endoscopic surgical blade assembly and method of use thereof
An endoscopic surgical device having a slotted clear cannula, a blade and a housing, wherein the cannula is attached to the housing, and wherein the blade is enclosed in the housing and is slidable into the cannula is disclosed. The blade is enclosed within the housing and cannula, and has a horizontally-oriented pushing component and a vertically-oriented cutting component that protrudes through the slot of the cannula. The device further has a device for locking a viewing device in place relative to other components of the device. A method for a performing an operative procedure on a target tissue in a subject using the endoscopic surgical device is also described. |
| US09066745B2 |
Reciprocating rotary arthroscopic surgical instrument
A surgical instrument includes a cutting member with an implement for cutting tissue, and a drive coupled to the cutting member to simultaneously rotate and translate the cutting member in response to a force applied to the drive. A method of cutting tissue includes positioning an outer member such that tissue is located within the outer member, engaging the tissue with an inner member, and simultaneously rotating and translating the inner member to cut the tissue. A tangential cutting force is applied to the tissue with the inner member to mechanically cut the tissue. The inner member is mechanically driven to undergo simultaneous rotation and translation. |
| US09066742B2 |
Intra-vascular device with pressure detection capabilities using pressure sensitive material
A laser catheter with a pressure sensor is provided according to embodiments of the invention. The pressure sensor may be coupled with the distal end of the laser catheter and may comprise any of various piezoelectric materials, for example Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF). In various embodiments of the invention the pressure sensor is configured to detect pressure longitudinally and coaxially. The pressure sensor may provide an electric potential that is proportional to the vessel pressure and may be used to monitor and/or adjust laser parameters. In other embodiments the results from the pressure sensor may be used to determine the vessel size and/or the type of material being ablated. |
| US09066736B2 |
Laser-based method and system for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient and optical catheter assembly for use therein
A laser-based method and system for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient and optical catheter assembly for use therein are provided. The system includes a laser subsystem for generating an output laser beam. The system further includes a catheter assembly including at least one optical fiber having a proximal end coupled to the laser subsystem for guiding the output laser beam along a propagation path. The beam has optical and temporal properties and a predetermined selected wavelength. The catheter assembly is sized to extend through an opening in a first part of the patient and to a tissue material processing site within the patient. The catheter assembly includes a beam delivery and focusing subsystem which has an adjustable focal distance and disposed in the propagation path and that accepts the output laser beam and adjustably positions the beam into at least one focused spot on the target tissue material disposed within a second part of the patient at the site based on distance to the target tissue material from a predetermined point on the propagation path at the site for a duration sufficient to allow laser energy to be absorbed by the target tissue material and converted to heat to produce a desired physical change in the target tissue material without causing undesirable changes to adjacent non-target material disposed within the second part of the patient. The target tissue material is characterized by an absorptive coefficient. The predetermined wavelength is selected to achieve a penetration depth into the second part of the patient of approximately one millimeter or more. |
| US09066734B2 |
Patient-specific sacroiliac guides and associated methods
A patient-specific alignment guide includes a patient-specific portion and a guiding element having a through opening. The patient-specific portion has a patient-specific surface preoperatively configured to mate as a negative of a portion of an iliac crest of a pelvis of a specific patient and mate to the iliac crest only in one position. The guiding element has a preoperatively configured orientation and location relative to the patient-specific portion for preparing a bore in the bone of the patient to direct a bone screw at the preoperatively configured orientation and location for sacroiliac fixation. |
| US09066732B2 |
Method and apparatus for bone removal
Methods and apparatus for surgical treatment of vertebrae, comprising a brush-like tamp component for addressing cancellous bone and a slider component that may be distally advanced over the brush-like tamp component while both are (preferably) aligned within a working cannula providing access to a drill channel within the vertebrae. Distal advancement of the slider creates a combination of it and the brush-like component. A handle provides mechanical advantage. |
| US09066730B2 |
Medical device
An attachment for a surgical instrument including a drive input hub for connection to a power source; a drive output hub for connection to a surgical instrument; and a body connecting the drive input hub to the drive output hub, the body including a mechanism for transferring drive from the input hub to the output hub, and wherein the body, the drive input hub and the drive output hub are at least in part not coaxial. A method for surgically preparing a bone using the attachment is also provided. |
| US09066728B2 |
Surgical tools facilitating increased accuracy, speed and simplicity in performing joint arthroplasty
Disclosed herein are tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty. |
| US09066727B2 |
Patient-specific computed tomography guides
An orthopedic device for joint arthroplasty includes a patient-specific alignment guide constructed and configured for a specific patient from medical scans that show a bone surface of a bone of the patient without any overlying soft tissue. The patient-specific alignment guide includes a patient-specific inner surface configured to be offset from and mimic the bone surface and form a clearance for soft tissue overlying the bone surface. The alignment guide also includes a plurality of patient-specific contact areas configured to mate and register directly on the bone surface without intervening soft tissue for direct bone registration. The plurality of patient-specific contact areas includes non-contiguous surface contact areas. |
| US09066726B2 |
Multi-electrode apposition judgment using pressure elements
Apparatus and methods for determining positioning of a energy delivery element include deploying a energy delivery element at a treatment site proximal to a vessel wall; using a multi-region pressure sensing apparatus to sense pressures applied in a plurality of directions about the energy delivery element; and determining an orientation of the energy delivery element based on the pressures measured in the plurality of directions about the energy delivery element. |
| US09066725B2 |
Irrigant distribution system for electrodes
An ablation electrode assembly is provided with improved irrigation cooling of the assembly and ablation site. The assembly includes a proximal end configured to be coupled to a catheter shaft and a distal end configured to deliver ablation energy to tissue. The assembly further includes a fluid manifold extending from the proximal end to the distal end and configured to fluidly communicate with a fluid lumen in the catheter shaft. The fluid manifold defines an axial passageway centered about a longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the assembly. The axial passageway has a distal end terminating prior to the distal end of the electrode assembly. The assembly further includes means for creating turbulence in fluid exiting the first axial passageway. |
| US09066724B2 |
Surgical instrument
A device for morcellating tissue within a body cavity of a patient comprises a stationary tube (8) having a distal end portion, and a bipolar electrosurgical electrode assembly (13) located at the distal end of the tube. The electrosurgical electrode assembly (13) comprises first and second electrodes (14, 16) separated by an insulation member (15). When an electrosurgical cutting voltage is applied to the electrode assembly (13), and relative movement is initiated between the tube (8) and the tissue, a slug of severed tissue is formed within the tube such that it can be removed from the body cavity of the patient. The bipolar electrosurgical assembly (13) has a first circumferential region (A) and a second circumferential region (B), the first circumferential region (A) being longer than the second circumferential region (B). In the first circumferential region (A), the first electrode (14) is disposed further forwardly as compared with the second electrode (16); and, in the second circumferential region (B), the second electrode (16) is disposed at least as far forwardly as compared with the first electrode (14). |
| US09066718B2 |
Method and apparatus for anastomosis
Apparatus and methods for performing a surgical anastomotic procedure are disclosed herein. Apparatus according to the present disclosure include at least one fastener including a first fastener portion having an anchoring leg portion, a second fastener portion including an anchoring leg portion, wherein the first and second fastener portions are operatively associated with one another to selectively fix the position of the first fastener portion relative to the second fastener portion. |
| US09066717B2 |
Suture passer guides and related kits and methods
This disclosure relates to suture passer guides and related kits and methods. In certain aspects, a suture passer guide includes an elongate member and a suture positioning member that can be radially extended from a distal end region of the elongate member and rotated relative to the elongate member such that the suture positioning member can reposition a suture from a first side area of the elongate member to a second side area of the elongate member. |
| US09066716B2 |
Suture coil and suture sheath for tissue repair
A medical device is provided comprising a suture thread coated with a stiffening agent and having a shape of a coil having a plurality of windings. The suture thread may be used to reconnect soft tissue to bone tissue. The suture thread may be used in conjunction with a suture sheath which is inhibited from movement relative to the suture thread. |
| US09066713B2 |
Neuromodulation cryotherapeutic devices and associated systems and methods
Neuromodulation cryotherapeutic devices and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A cryotherapeutic device configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes an elongated shaft and a cooling assembly at distal portion of the shaft. The shaft can be configured to locate the distal portion intravascularly at a treatment site within or otherwise proximate a renal artery. The cryotherapeutic device can further include a supply lumen configured to carry liquid refrigerant toward the cooling assembly. The cooling assembly can include an applicator in fluid communication with the supply lumen and configured to deliver cryotherapeutic cooling to nerves proximate the target site when in a deployed state. |
| US09066703B2 |
Medical ultrasound 2-D transducer array architecture: spot of arago
An ultrasound device including a main processing unit, a probe part, an array, and an apodization unit that receives an ultrasound signal from the array, the signal having multiple channels, that determines a weight for each channel based on an apodization profile being one of ring-centered and edge-centered, and that multiplies the received ultrasound signal by the determined weight for each channel. The array includes a first area including a first plurality of elements having a first functionality, a second area including a second plurality of elements having a second functionality, and a third area including a third plurality of elements having a third functionality different from the first functionality. The second area further includes a fourth area having a number of elements that are switchable between the second and third types of functionality. The array also includes a dynamic spot including the third and fourth areas. |
| US09066700B2 |
Laryngoscope blade
A laryngoscope blade which improves the transmission of light from the laryngoscope to enhance the amount of light reflected from an area of interest in a patient. The laryngoscope blade has a channel which extends at least partially though the blade and receives a light source. The channel has a substantially transparent end face which is situated towards the blade end and has an optical element adapted to reduce the ambient light signal from the light source in the channel. |
| US09066699B2 |
Lancing devices
A lancing device includes a housing (10, 12) for receiving in use a replaceable lancet (34) introduced into said housing, a drive (58, 59) actuable to drive the lancet momentarily to project its tip from the housing, and a nose portion (14) having an aperture through which said lancet projects when fired. The nose portion is threadedly engaged (78, 81) with the forward end (10) of the housing to allow the penetration depth of said lancet tip to be pre-set, and is resiliently deformable between a position in which it is locked against rotation and a position in which it is free to rotate. |
| US09066697B2 |
Analyte monitoring device and methods of use
An analyte monitor including a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit is disclosed. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor. |
| US09066690B2 |
Blood collection needle assembly
Disclosed is a needle assembly for viewing flashback during a blood collection procedure. The needle assembly including a housing having a base portion defining a cavity and an extension extending distally from the base portion, the extension being of a transparent material and defining a lumen therethrough, a first cannula supported within the extension and extending distally from the extension, the first cannula having a piercing tip configured to enter a vessel, and a second cannula supported within the cavity of the base portion, wherein the second cannula is fluidly communicated with the first cannula via the lumen formed in the extension. |
| US09066689B2 |
Lancet wheel and method for producing a lancet wheel
The invention relates to a lancet wheel comprising multiple annularly positioned lancets (3), which have a lancet body (3b) that is made of metal and ends in a lancet tip (3a), and a carrier (5), to which the lancets (3) are connected via radially running webs (6), which allow raising of the lancets (3) into the usage position. According to the invention, it is provided that the lancets (3) are radially aligned, and the webs (6) have a plastic body, which predefine an intended bending point, around which the webs (6) are bent to raise the lancets (3). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a lancet wheel. |
| US09066681B2 |
Methods and systems for enhancing ultrasonic visibility of energy-delivery devices within tissue
In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, electrosurgical systems are provided generally including at least one energy-delivery device for delivering energy to tissue when inserted or embedded within tissue. The energy-delivery device can be a tissue ablation device, such as an ablation probe, needle, etc. for ablating tissue as commonly known in the art. The electrosurgical systems include at least one structure and/or operational characteristic for enhancing ultrasonic visibility of the energy-delivery devices within tissue during ultrasonography. |
| US09066678B2 |
Ophthalmic endoilluminators with directed light
Certain embodiments of an endoilluminator may include a cannula, an intermediate material, and an optical fiber. The cannula has a substantially cylindrical shape that defines an interior region and has a cylindrical axis. The intermediate material is disposed within the interior region. The optical fiber is disposed within the intermediate material and has a fiber optical axis and a distal end configured to emit light. The emitted light has an illumination pattern with an illumination axis that is not parallel to the cylindrical axis. |
| US09066676B2 |
Endoscopic image display apparatus
An endoscopic image display apparatus reads taken image data in which a taken image outputted from an endoscope is recorded, and reproduces and displays the taken image. The taken image data includes intensity information about a plurality of fundamental color components. The endoscopic image display apparatus includes an intensity changing unit which selectively reduces intensity of a specific color component in the taken image data by using the intensity information. |
| US09066672B2 |
Single injection methods for obtaining conductance measurements within luminal organs using impedance devices
Single injection methods for obtaining conductance measurements within luminal organs using impedance devices. In at least one method embodiment, the method is performed by introducing at least part of an impedance device into a mammalian luminal organ, the impedance device comprising an elongated body and a detector positioned along the elongated body, obtaining conductance measurements indicative of a fluid native to the mammalian luminal organ and indicative of a fluid injection while the detector is present within and outside of the lumen of the outer sheath, and calculating a size parameter of the mammalian luminal organ based in part upon some of the obtained conductance measurements. |
| US09066666B2 |
Patient monitor for monitoring microcirculation
A patient monitor capable of measuring microcirculation at a tissue site includes a light source, a beam splitter, a photodetector and a patient monitor. Light emitted from the light source is split into a reference arm and a sample arm. The light in the sample arm is directed at a tissue site, such as an eyelid. The reflected light from the tissue site is interfered with the light from the reference arm. The photodetector measures the interference of the light from both the sample arm and the reference arm. The patient monitor uses the measurements from the photodetector to calculate the oxygen saturation at the tissue site and monitor the microcirculation at the tissue site. |
| US09066665B2 |
Heart monitoring device
The present invention includes devices, methods and systems for reporting a heart rate comprising: an input device; a microprocessor coupled to the input device and a power supply, wherein the microprocessor is programmed with a predetermined heartbeat threshold and calculates the number of times the input device is actuated over a predetermined amount of time; and a display connected to the microprocessor that receives the calculated heart rate and displays whether the heart rate is below, at or above predetermined threshold, e.g., when a patient has less than 60 heartbeats per minute, between 60 and 100 heartbeats per minute and greater than 100 heartbeats per minute. |
| US09066664B2 |
Data transfer
A data transfer component receives cardiac data from a heart sensor while the data transfer component is electromechanically coupled with the heart sensor sensitive to heart activity. A standard electromechanical interface of the data transfer component and a counterpart of the heart sensor are repeatedly connectable and disconnectable. The received data is stored in the data transfer component. The stored data is transferred from the data transfer component to an external device while the data transfer component is electromechanically coupled with the external device by using a coupling between the standard electromechanical interface of the data transfer component and a counterpart of the external device which are repeatedly connectable and disconnectable. |
| US09066663B2 |
Heart monitor
A heart monitor for use as a non-invasive screening tool for identifying potential atrial fibrillation in patients comprises a sensor for producing an output waveform of the patient's actual sinus rhythm, a processing unit arranged to store the normalized waveform of an ideal sinus rhythm and to compare the actual and ideal sinus rhythm waveforms and to produce an output dependant on the difference on a display. The value of the output is indicative of whether the patient is atrial fibrillation or other cardiac arrhythmia. |
| US09066661B2 |
Strain sensor element and blood pressure sensor
A strain sensor element comprises a laminated film which has a magnetic free layer, a spacer layer, and a magnetic reference layer. The free layer has a variable magnetization direction and a out-of-plane magnetization direction. The reference layer has a variable magnetization direction which is pinned more strongly than the magnetization of the free layer. The spacer layer provided between the free layer and the reference layer. A pair of electrodes is provided with a plane of the laminated film. A substrate is provided with either of the pair electrodes and can be strained. The rotation angle of the magnetization of the free layer is different from the rotation angle of the magnetization of the reference layer when the substrate is distorted. Electrical resistance is changed depending on the magnetization angle between the free layer and the reference layer, which allows the element to operate as a strain sensor. |
| US09066658B2 |
Method and system for video based image detection/identification analysis for fluid and visualization control
In a surgical system, a system controller executes a video signature identification and image control routine to maintain quality of a video image taken by a video camera located at a surgical site and provided on a video display. The system includes a video camera/light source handpiece for insertion into a patient body. A tool is inserted separately into the surgical site. Fluid input into the surgical site is provided by a liquid pump or by an insufflator. Video signals are analyzed and fluid input/output, fluid pressure, and/or tool operation is automatically controlled to maintain image quality of the surgical site without manual adjustments. |
| US09066653B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for visualizing and manipulating tissue
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a tissue imaging device that includes a catheter body, a hood, and a visualization assembly. The catheter body includes a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and at least one lumen extending between the distal and proximal end portions. The catheter body includes at least one drainage port having a first opening and at least one infusion port having a second opening. The first and second openings are located about a lateral aspect of the catheter body. The hood projects distally from the distal end portion and is configured to self-expand into an expanded deployment state that defines an open area therein. The visualization assembly is disposed within the open area and extends distally from the distal end portion of the catheter body. |
| US09066650B2 |
Medical control system
A medical control system comprises: first and second controllers; a touch panel operation unit which receives an operation to the controllers; a switching unit which selectively switches a connection state between first and second states. The operation unit has a touch signal transmission unit which transmits a signal to the first controller when and the operation unit is touched in the first state. The first controller has a first operation command transmission unit which transmits to a peripheral equipment an command in which an operation content of the peripheral equipment is specified by the signal, a first connection state detection unit which detects a change of connection state from the first state to the second state by the switching unit during a period the operation unit is being touched, a first control unit which stops a transmission of the command in accordance with a detection result of the detection unit. |
| US09066645B2 |
Cleaning appliance
A cleaning appliance of the canister type includes separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, a floor engaging rolling assembly comprising a system for drawing the fluid flow through the separating apparatus, a chassis connected to the rolling assembly and including at least one floor engaging support member, and a duct for conveying the fluid flow to the separating apparatus. At least part of the duct is connected to the chassis for pivoting movement relative to the chassis. A biasing arrangement is provided for engaging the duct to urge the pivoting part of the duct towards a rest position relative to the chassis. |
| US09066641B2 |
Tool for removing ice and moisture from a surface
A tool for removing ice and residual moisture from a surface includes a semi-annular attachment having multiple teeth arrayed about the periphery on the forward facing edge thereof, the attachment including a substantially straight-edged scrapper bar disposed laterally across the anterior edge of the attachment opposite the multiple teeth, a semi-annular handle guard affixed to the semi-annular attachment, the handle guard including a laterally disposed handle grip, and a flexible squeegee panel mounted to the semi-annular handle guard along the front peripheral edge thereof, the panel disposed above the multiple tooth array. |
| US09066633B1 |
Hygienic washing system for use with a washroom fixture
A hygienic washing system for use with a washroom fixture having a hose and nozzle assembly. The a hose and nozzle assembly includes a hose comprising flexible-plastic tube having; a proximal end; and a distal end; a nozzle comprising rigid-plastic having a first end and a second end comprising a hooked-end; a controller for controlling flow of water through the hose and nozzle assembly; and attachers comprising at least one suction cup. The controller comprises adjustable wheeled buttons comprising a volume-control button, a temperature-control button, and an on/off actuation button. The on/off actuation button is manipulatable between an on condition and an off condition, the on condition permitting the flow of the water, the off condition not permitting the flow of the water. The device is useful for hygienically cleaning individuals after latrine use. |
| US09066632B2 |
Portable walk-in bathtub
A portable, walk in type bathtub includes an entrance and a door attached thereto to allow someone to walk into the bathtub without stepping over a wall. A replaceable water tank is attached to the tub such that clean water is directed from the water tank to the tub. Once the water has been used, the dirty or black water is directed to a separate tank within the water tank attachment. Once all of the clean water from the water tank has been used, the water tank is detached from the tub housing and a new tank containing clean water is attached to the tub to further facilitate bathing. The tub and water tank include wheels attached to the bottoms thereof to facilitate movement of the tub and water tank. The wheels may be raised and lowered to facilitate movement and locking of the tub in place. |
| US09066629B1 |
Numerically controlled espresso grinder
A coffee grinder using a stepper or servo motor in which the amount of ground coffee output is correlated to degrees or increments of burr rotation. By controlling burr rotation a precise amount of coffee is delivered eliminating excess coffee from being ground. |
| US09066628B2 |
Grinder facilitating adjustment of grinding fineness
The invention relates to a grinder with granularity adjusting mechanism, which comprises a container (1) for holding condiments and a grinding head assembly for grinding the condiments; wherein the grinding head assembly comprises a driving component (2), a female grinding head (3) and a male grinding head (4), the grinder further comprises the adjusting knob (5) that changes a gap between the male grinding head (4) and the female grinding head (3) by moving axially the male grinding head (4). As the design of the adjusting knob, it is convenient for the adjustment between the male grinding head and the female grinding head. |
| US09066625B2 |
Configurable device to break dried pasta
A device to break dried pasta, including a body, driveshaft, plate and driver. The body includes a receptacle and a recess. The receptacle is to receive a pasta strand and to communicate a portion of the pasta strand into the recess. The driveshaft extends through the body into the recess, and has a first portion extending at least along the receptacle and a second portion extending in relation to a height of the recess. The plate is secured to the second portion and includes a planar surface having a radial projection extending toward the recess. The planar surface is to abut the portion of the pasta strand received into the recess. The driver has an axial opening to removeably engage the first portion. The driver is enabled to rotate the driveshaft that in turn rotates the plate causing the projection to break the pasta strand. |
| US09066624B2 |
Liquid food or beverage machine having a drip tray and a cup support
A machine for preparing a liquid food or beverage that includes a liquid food or beverage module having a liquid or beverage outlet; a support device that is located under the beverage outlet and that has an arrangement for evacuating liquid; and a collector, such as drip tray, for collecting liquid evacuated by the support device. The support device has a dispensing area on or above which a recipient may be placed for collecting a liquid food or beverage dispensed from the outlet. The support device also includes a non-dispensing area adjacent to the dispensing area, the non-dispensing area being arranged to support recipients upon use and for evacuating liquid to the collector. |
| US09066622B2 |
System and method for preparing a liquid beverage from a cartridge
A system and device for preparing a liquid beverage from a cartridge. The device includes a supply unit for supplying an injection fluid into the cartridge, a cartridge holder configured to accept and support the cartridge with the cartridge holder being detachable from the device. A complementary insertion mechanism of the device is configured to receive the cartridge holder in the device. The cartridge is positioned in the supply unit in an injection position with its injection surface substantially in an inclined plane relative to the horizontal plane and the injection mechanism is offset from the highest edge of the cartridge. The cartridge holder preferably comprises a linear wedge-shaped insertion member having a bearing surface inclined along an angle. The method of operation of the system and device are also disclosed. |
| US09066618B2 |
Apparatus for extracting juice
A juice extracting apparatus of the present invention includes an extracting case having a juice outlet and a sludge outlet communicating an internal space thereof with an outside, an extracting screw unit positioned in the internal space of the extracting case, the extracting screw unit having a screw shaft connected to a drive shaft of a driving unit, a screw blade formed on an outer peripheral surface of the screw shaft and a sun gear mounted at the lower end of the screw shaft, a rotary extracting net unit in which the extracting screw unit is positioned, the rotary extracting net unit having a mesh net and a ring gear provided at its lower portion, and a discharge guide unit positioned at the lower portion of the rotary extracting net unit for guiding the sludge resulting from the extracting. |
| US09066617B2 |
Multi-positional, locking artificial tree trunk
A locking artificial tree trunk including a first generally cylindrical, hollow trunk portion including an upper end, the upper end defining a notch, and a second generally cylindrical trunk portion including a body portion, a lower end having an insertable portion, and an upper end. The locking artificial tree trunk also includes a coupling mechanism having a body portion and an upper portion having a tab, and defining a channel for receiving the insertable portion of the lower end of the second trunk portion. The body portion is inserted substantially into the upper end of the first trunk portion with the tab of the upper portion aligned with the notch, thereby preventing rotation of the coupling mechanism within the upper end of the first trunk portion. |
| US09066609B2 |
Infant patient transfer device
A patient transfer device is utilized to transport infant patients between locations within a hospital environment. The patient transfer device includes a center, support section and a pair of side sections that can be moved into contact with each other to surround the infant patient. The first and second side sections each include a handle that can be brought into close proximity to each other and can be grasped by a single hand of a clinician. The patient transfer device includes a stiffening device that is positioned within the center section to provide support for the infant patient during transport. A hold down device is included on one or both of the first and second side sections to securely hold tubes and wires connected to the infant patient during transport of the infant patient. |
| US09066607B1 |
Collapsible accessory platform for a child's playard
A foldable frame for supporting a bassinet for fitment on a child's playard comprising a pair of longitudinally extending upper frame rails connected at each end to a one of pair of transversely extending end members for pivotal movement about the transverse axis. A longitudinally extending lower frame rail is connected at each end to the respective end members and spaced apart from the upper frame rails. The length of the lower frame may be adjusted enabling the end members to pivot inwardly from an unfolded position toward a folded position and reduce the spacing between the upper and lower frame rails. The upper frame rails further include a wing pivot at each end member connection which are aligned to allow the upper frame rails to pivot about a longitudinal axis and reduce the frame width when the frame is folded, but do not allow pivoting when the frame is unfolded. |
| US09066603B2 |
Adjustable bedding foundation and process of making same
A bedding foundation used to support a mattress has a mechanism therein for moving the mattress between inclined and flat positions. The foundation combines desirable features of conventional non-adjustable bed bases and adjustable bed bases. A wire assembly and a motorized lift assembly comprising a motorized drive mechanism may be secured to a base of the foundation. The motorized lift assembly pivots a lifter which has two curved portions which function to raise and lower a deck board to incline and lower the mattress. If desired, a second motorized lift assembly may be incorporated into a bedding foundation for use with another deck board. |
| US09066598B1 |
Foot support and protection system
A novel foot support device includes a first sidewall adapted to engage the lateral side of a first foot, a second sidewall adapted to engage the lateral side of a second foot, and a backwall adapted to engage both the plantar region of the first foot and the plantar region of the second foot. In a particular embodiment, the first sidewall includes an inclined interior surface, the second sidewall includes an inclined interior surface, and the backwall includes an inclined interior surface. In another particular embodiment, the foot support device includes two discrete regions, one of which engages a user's left foot and the other of which engages the user's right foot. |
| US09066596B2 |
Seating assembly
A seating assembly 10 having a pair of armrests 12, 14; a footrest 20; a backrest 30, and a seat portion 24 which may each be independently and selectively moveable. |
| US09066595B2 |
Structure for mounting seating body of chair
The structure for mounting a seating body according to the present invention includes a seating body mounting portion, a leg mounting portion and a screw. The seating body mounting portion is provided to a back surface of a seating face of a seating body, and has a screw hole. The leg mounting portion is provided to a leg member, and includes a through-bore formed thereon into which a screw shaft can be inserted. The screw fixes the seating body mounting portion and the leg mounting portion. The seating body mounting portion contacts the leg mounting portion on a first region in which the screw hole is formed and on a second region which is spaced from the first region via a groove. |
| US09066593B2 |
Systems and methods for portable furniture
The present invention relates to lightweight collapsible portable chairs. In one embodiment, the portable chair has a sling and a chair frame which includes a first pair of bars and a second pair of bars. Each bar of the first pair of bars includes a joint configured to contact a ground surface. In another embodiment, the chair frame includes a front of bars, a back pair of bars, a pair of joints and a center bar configured to securely couple the pair of back joints to each other. In some embodiments, the chair frame includes a front support assembly. In other embodiments, the chair frame includes a pair of lower bars. |
| US09066591B2 |
Fixing device for a slide assembly
A fixing device of a slide assembly has a bracket. The fixing device includes an insertion member, an engaging member and a resilient member. The insertion member is connected to the bracket and has a slot. The engaging member is pivotally connected relative to the bracket and has an operation portion and an arm which extends through the slot of the insertion member. The arm has a first protrusion. The resilient member provides a force to the engaging member to extend the first protrusion beyond the slot of the insertion member. By moving the operation portion, the first protrusion is controlled to be retracted toward the slot of the insertion member. |
| US09066589B2 |
Learning suite furniture system
A furniture system for use in a classroom, the furniture system comprising a table assembly including a top member and at least a first leg support member, the top member forming a substantially flat top surface and circumscribed by an outer edge, the at least one leg support member supporting the top member in a substantially horizontal position, a table dock supported by the table assembly adjacent the top surface and forming a table dock channel that opens upwardly where the dock channel is unobstructed by the top member, at least a first substantially flat display panel including a display surface on at least a first of two oppositely facing and substantially parallel side surfaces, the panel circumscribed by a panel edge and an easel assembly spaced apart from the table assembly and including an easel coupler, wherein the panel edge is receivable within the table dock channel to support the display panel in a substantially vertical orientation adjacent the flat top surface and wherein the display panel is alternatively engageable with the easel coupler to be supported in a substantially vertical orientation spaced apart from the table assembly. |
| US09066588B1 |
Multi-functional, reconfigurable furniture system
A selection of inter-changeable box-shaped modular units is comprised of a plurality of combination shelving assemblies and box-shaped shelving assemblies. A cabinet has an upper plate and a parallel lower plate, a left side plate and a right side plate, and an intermediate plate providing a right and a left central opening. The right central opening engages a selection of a user's choice of inter-changeable box-shaped modular units comprised of shelving assemblies and box-shaped shelving assemblies. The left central opening provides housing including housing for an associated mattress. The cabinet is movable between horizontal and vertical orientations. In the horizontal orientation the repositionable support panels of the cabinet provide support for a mattress. In the vertical orientation the cabinet includes a desk and a computer work station. |
| US09066587B1 |
Slide rail system and connecting device used for slide rail assembly
A slide rail assembly includes first and second rails. The second rail, slidable relative to the first rail, has a rear portion. A connecting device includes a main body containing a supporting portion and a transverse portion substantially perpendicularly connected to the supporting portion, a locking element pivotally connected to the supporting portion, and a movable element. When the locking element is rotated to a first position, a contact portion of a locking rod is pressed against the moveable element; once the locking element is rotated from the first position to a second position, the contact portion of the locking rod is no more pressed against the moveable element, thus allowing the movable element to be displaced relative to the main body. |
| US09066579B2 |
Process for producing a toothbrush having a bristle area design
A process for producing toothbrushes covered with bristles in an anchor-free manner, in which a tuft of bristles with cylindrical bristles and/or pointed bristles is introduced into a receiving recess of a mold of a bristle-providing machine and, by means of a profiled pin guided in the receiving recess, force is applied to the end facing the pin of the bristles of the tuft of bristles for the alignment thereof, so that the bristles of the tuft of bristles are aligned by means of an end face of the profiled pin and, as a result, form the topography that complements the topography of the end face of the profiled pin, wherein the profiled pin has on the end face that acts on the bristles a discontinuous surface, which forms multiple levels. This achieves a bristle area configuration that has multiple areas of use. A correspondingly produced toothbrush is also described. |
| US09066576B1 |
Truck hammock
A system for securing a hammock in a vehicle bed. The system includes a hammock. The system also includes a bed support configured to attach to the vehicle bed and secure a first end of the hammock. The system further includes a hitch support configured to attach to a vehicle hitch receiver and secure a second end of the hammock. |
| US09066575B2 |
Eyeglass and other personal items holder
A holder for securing eyeglasses, sunglasses or other personal items that may be securely incorporated into an article of clothing or accessory at the time of manufacture. The holder includes a base member that can be inserted into or attached to the article of clothing or accessory. A hanger is connected to the base member and includes a loop connected to a support base. One or more openings can be provided on the base member. The support base and base member can be integrally formed. The support base can be formed from part of the article of clothing or accessory. The holder allows a wearer to insert a piece of a pair of eyeglasses, or a part of another personal item, through the loop and allows the item to assume a secure and relatively flat position. The holder may also include an RFID tag and/or a covered loop. |
| US09066574B2 |
Support for an electronic device
A support and arrangement for its connection to a harness or shoulder straps fitted to a motorcycle driver where the support is used to mount a electronic device, such as a tablet onto the drivers back for use by a motorcycle passenger during travel. The support includes support straps that each include a buckle for travel therealong that mounts a male connector where the buckles are capable of being adjusted along the supports straps by the passenger during travel, where the male connectors fit into female couplings secured to ends of a handle, and the handle ends include an arrangement for mounting to a casing wherein the electronic device is maintained, or to the back of the electronic device itself, and an arrangement is provided for tilting the electronic device lower end outwardly from the driver's back. |
| US09066569B2 |
Apparatuses, methods and systems for removing elastic bands from hair
An elastic band removal apparatus includes a cutting element for removing elastic bands from hair. The cutting element may include a grasping element and an adjacent receptacle that are configured to engage a portion of an elastic band, as well as a severing edge configured to apply a localized pressure to the portion of the elastic band to cut or break the elastic band. The elastic band removal apparatus may comprise a comb, with the cutting element being carried by a spine of the comb, at or near an end of the comb. Methods for removing elastic bands from hair may include the use of such an elastic band removal apparatus. A grooming kit may include an elastic band removal apparatus, one or more elastic bands and a package for carrying the elastic band removal apparatus and the one or more elastic bands. |
| US09066568B2 |
Portable apparatus for the steam treatment of hair
A portable apparatus for the steam treatment of hair, comprising a housing including a liquid tank, and a means for supplying a steam generator with liquid having a vaporization chamber in thermal contact with an electric heating member, the vaporization chamber communicating with one or more openings for dispensing steam towards a lock of hair. The generator is supplied with liquid by an electric pump, and the flow rate of the steam thus generated is higher than 5 g/min, and preferably of between 10 g/min and 60 g/min. |
| US09066567B2 |
Lens shield portable eyeglasses fashion accessory case
A spectacle case that optimizes portability, ease of folding, adequate spectacle protection, lens cleaning ability, & usability as a fashion accessory that can clip anywhere on your clothing, while also minimizing manufacturing labor & costs. |
| US09066566B2 |
Transparent shell structure for luggage and the like
A transparent shell structure for luggage and the like includes an outer shell, a decorative plate, a lining, and a plurality of corner protectors. The outer shell has an inner space with a frame. One side of the decorative plate is a patterned surface. Each of the four corners of the decorative plate has a notch, so that the four sides thereof are bent inside the inner space. The decorative plate is restricted within the outer shell. The lining is attached to the decorative plate and disposed in the inner space of the outer shell with the decorative plate, connecting to the frame by the sides. The corner protectors are connected to the four corners of the outer shell. |
| US09066565B2 |
Luggage with shells having varied depths
A luggage case (100, 600, 700, 800, 900) may include opposing sidewalls forming minor faces (105, 106), opposing sidewalls forming major faces (101, 102), and opposing end walls (103, 104) together forming an article defining an enclosed space (109). A line of separation (150) may be formed in said minor faces (105, 160) and end walls (103, 104). A first portion of the line of separation (150) may extend along a first portion of opposing minor faces (105, 106) at a location proximate one of said opposing major faces (101, 102) and corresponding one of said opposing end walls (103, 104) positioned therebetween. A second portion of the line of separation (150) may extend along a second portion of said opposing minor faces (105, 106) in a direction away from said one of said opposing major faces (101, 102) and towards other of said opposing major faces (101, 102). |
| US09066559B2 |
Bi-layer orthotic and tri-layer energy return system
A tri-layer energy return system is provided. The tri-layer energy return system includes a base; an orthotic; a platen directly or indirectly operably coupled to the base, the orthotic or both. A lever including a slide portion is movably received by said base. A tensioning member is coupled to said orthotic at an attachment point thereof. |
| US09066550B2 |
Pivoting dual chin strap snap feature for football helmet
A football helmet having a shell, and having a chin protector with chin cup and chin straps, has dual snaps on its chin strap buckles and dual snaps on each side of the helmet shell for improving the snap connection between the chin straps and the helmet to reduce the chances the helmet wearer will loose the helmet during play. Dual snaps on the sides of the helmet are carried on pivoting snap carriers to allow the chin protector to rotate with respect to the helmet shell. |
| US09066549B2 |
Extensible garment fabric
An extensible garment fabric has an edge fixed in length by a relatively inextensible tape or cord made from a material capable of being either eliminated or made extensible by subsequent processing. A garment has an extensible garment fabric and an extensible waistband with the edge of the extensible garment fabric fixed via the relatively inextensible tape or cord being attached to the extensible waistband. |
| US09066547B2 |
Jacket having a warming pocket in which pockets on both sides can be joined and separated
Disclosed is a jacket having warm pockets with both pockets being attachable and detachable which is characterized in that in an ordinary jacket which can be opened and closed by a certain engaging element such as a zipper and buttons and has a pocket at left and right sides formed about the engaging element, respectively, for a user to insert his hands into the left and right pockets, both the separated pockets can communicate like one longitudinal pocket, and a tube-like passage is formed from both the pockets and the backside of a jacket, and a warming element is accommodated in both the pockets or the tube-like passage for the purpose of effectively warming the hands of a user as well as a user's body. |
| US09066544B1 |
Protective knee pads for toddlers and children
A knee pad includes a double layer elastic fabric tube which is proportioned to cover the knee region of a child and a pattern of rubber-like miniature pads located on the outer surface of the fabric tube. The elastic fabric tube includes an outer layer and an inner layer. The inner surfaces of both of the layers include cloth loops which are disposed in a facing relationship with each other allowing the outer and inner layers to slide relative to one another. |
| US09066537B2 |
Pea-based protein mixture and use thereof in a liquid nutritional composition suitable for enteral feeding
This invention relates to a pea-based protein mixture and use thereof in a liquid nutritional composition, in particular suitable for tube feeding, and further relates to said liquid nutritional composition for providing long-term complete enteral nutrition to patients in need thereof. More specifically, the pea-based protein mixture and the liquid nutritional composition comprising said pea-based protein mixture comprises more than 25 weight % and up to 80 weight % of vegetable protein comprising a source of intact pea protein and a source of intact soy protein. The invention relates further to a method for long-term enteral nutrition of patients in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of said liquid nutritional composition comprising said pea-based protein mixture, in particular comprising a defined amount of intact pea protein and a second vegetable intact protein, other than pea protein. |
| US09066532B2 |
Soft moist extruded animal feed
The animal feed of the present invention is a soft extruded nugget with a chewy, moist interior. These nuggets have a high moisture content and preservatives. The animal feed also has a long shelf life given the high moisture content. The animal feed of this invention is provided to young animals after weaning from a liquid diet. |
| US09066530B2 |
Process and apparatus for manufacturing frozen aerated confections
A process for manufacturing frozen aerated confectionery products is provided, the process comprising; providing two rollers wherein each roller has a multiplicity of open cavities on its surface and wherein the rollers are aligned so that the surfaces touch; providing filling means for filling said cavities with a frozen aerated confection at a temperature higher than the temperature of the rollers; filling two cavities, one on each roller, with a frozen aerated confection having an overrun of between 10% and 130%; allowing the frozen aerated confection to expand outside its cavity; and counter-rotating the rollers so that respective cavities in the two rollers lie opposite one another and the frozen aerated confection in a cavity of the first roller is pressed against the frozen aerated confection in an opposite cavity of the second roller; characterized in that the surfaces of the rollers in which the cavities are located are conical. An apparatus for operating the process is also provided. |
| US09066529B2 |
Method and apparatus for flavored ice making
A method and system may make iced beverages containing flavored ice cubes made from a flavored beverage. The method and system may include dynamically altering a freeze-cycle of an ice maker to account for various parameters, such as freezer temperature. When freezer temperature rises above a set-point temperature, the freeze-cycle may be stopped, and only resumed once the freezer temperature returns to back below the set-point temperature. The freeze-cycle may be dynamically lengthened by the amount of time that the freezer temperature remains above the set-point temperature. The set-point temperature may be substantially below the freezing point of the beverage, which in turn may be below the freezing point of water, to ensure that the beverage is frozen into ice cubes at the completion of the freeze-cycle. In one embodiment, the flavored beverage may have a non-clear color, such as coffee, and the flavored ice cubes are coffee ice cubes. |
| US09066528B2 |
Confectionary core coating method
A method and machine for coating confectionary product cores, whereby a mass of cores for coating is loaded into a chamber of a rotary drum and coated to form a shell on each core; forming the shell including at least one step of spraying the cores with sweet syrup, followed by at least one step of drying the syrup sprayed onto the cores; the drying step being performed by reducing the pressure in the chamber to less than −0.2 bar, and heating the sprayed cores to a maximum of 35° C. using electromagnetic radiation, preferably microwaves. |
| US09066527B2 |
Microbial oils with lowered pour points, dielectric fluids produced therefrom, and related methods
Methods and compositions for the production of dielectric fluids from lipids produced by microorganisms are provided, including oil-bearing microorganisms and methods of low cost cultivation of such microorganisms. Microalgal cells containing exogenous genes encoding, for example, a sucrose transporter, a sucrose invertase, a fructokinase, a polysaccharide-degrading enzyme, a lipid pathway modification enzyme, a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, a desaturase, a fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, and/or an acyl carrier protein are useful in manufacturing dielectric fluids. |
| US09066524B2 |
Fat/meat grading method and system
Method and system for processing of meat trim products, where trim products are supplied as a sequence of collections of trim (COTs), each collection of trim (COT) comprising a plurality of trim products, whereby: a fat/meat relationship for a collection of trim (COT) is measured; a collection of trim (COT) is transferred to a selected station by a separator, controlled by a controller; and whereby a batch is completed at a selected station on the basis of data for said fat/meat relationship, said batch comprising one or more collections of trim (COTs) and fulfilling a predetermined criterion regarding a total fat/meat relationship. |
| US09066519B2 |
Herbicidal benzoxazinones
The present invention relates to benzoxazinones of the general formula (I) wherein the variables are defined according to the description, processes and intermediates for preparing the benzoxazinones of the formula (I), compositions comprising them and their use as herbicides, i.e. for controlling harmful plants, and also a method for controlling unwanted vegetation which comprises allowing a herbicidal effective amount of at least one benzoxazinones of the formula (I) to act on plants, their seed and/or their habitat. |
| US09066514B2 |
Non-level multilayer antibacterial sheet
A non-level multilayer antibacterial sheet comprises a high-fiber substrate, at least one oil absorption film located on the high-fiber substrate and a non-level oil absorption film located at one side of the oil absorption film remote from the high-fiber substrate. The oil absorption film can absorb anti-mildew essential oil. The non-level oil absorption film includes a non-level polyester layer and a second oil absorption layer. The non-level polyester layer and second oil absorption layer form a plurality of housing spaces between them to store the anti-mildew essential oil. Through the oil absorption film and non-level oil absorption film, total amount of absorbed essential oil can be increased to lengthen lifespan of the antibacterial sheet. The housing spaces can store more essential oil and also accelerate evaporation thereof. Thus the anti-mildew essential oil can be dispersed more efficiently to enhance mildew proof effect. |
| US09066513B2 |
Method for preparation of an aqueous glyphosate concentrate composition having mixture of amine salts
A method for preparing a glyphosate herbicidal aqueous concentrate to improve the handling of the concentrate, the method comprising forming a mixture of at least two nitrogen bases, and reacting the mixture of the at least two bases with glyphosate acid to provide an aqueous mixture of glyphosate salts wherein the concentration of glyphosate (based on glyphosate acid equivalent) is at least 200-gae/L. |
| US09066507B2 |
Back strain alleviating fishing pole harness with rotatably engaging pole receptacles
An apparatus wearable on a torso of a user to support a fishing rod is disclosed. A primary panel is defined by an external side, an internal side, and a central section. The internal side has a contour substantially conforming to an abdominal side of the torso, while the central section is interposed between a left peripheral section and a right peripheral section, and further defined by a tapered top end apex, through which a center axis spanning a length of the central section extends. Partial spherical sockets are in a spaced relationship aligned in a single column along the center axis. The socket is receptive to a corresponding partial spherical joint member in a rotating engagement, and the joint member is coupled to the article. A harness member secures the primary panel to the torso and redirect horizontal forces against the primary panel to a vertical direction. |
| US09066504B2 |
Fishing reel conversion attachment
Disclosed herein are devices for transferring mechanical force from an electric motor to a fishing reel. Also disclosed are method of using devices to transferring mechanical force to a fishing reel. In an exemplary embodiment, the device includes a body that has at least one groove and at least one slot that are configured for removably engaging a crank arm of a fishing reel. The fishing reel crank arm includes a first end attached to a crank knob arm assembly for attaching the crank arm to the reel. The crank arm also has a second end that includes a crank handle shaft projecting from said second end. The body includes, at the first side, a groove defined therein for receiving the crank arm and a slot defined along an edge of the body for removably engaging the crank handle shaft. |
| US09066503B2 |
Filtering device for ponds and the like
A filtering device, allowing to provide an effective filtering without either requiring particular efforts to the user or imposing him or her to operate in excessively hard positions, comprises a filtering element comprised between a first and a second supporting surface, the distance between the supporting surfaces being adjustable, so as to compress the filtering element by moving the supporting surfaces the nearer the other, and actuating device apt to modify the distance of the supporting surfaces. The actuating device is selectively connectable to a surface of the supporting surfaces in a such way that the actuating device can alternatively move unrelated to motion of the surfaces so as to be placed in an operative configuration or move integral to the surface so as to modify the distance between the surfaces in order to compress the filtering element. |
| US09066500B2 |
Retractable leash apparatus
A retractable leash apparatus includes opposed first and second open ends and defines an interior area. A retraction assembly is operatively coupled to the handle member and defines an inner space and an aperture, the retraction assembly having a spool rotatably positioned in the inner space. A leash member having a first end is connected to the spool, the spool being selectively movable between a retracted configuration in which the leash is substantially inside the inner space and an extended configuration in which the leash member is substantially outside the inner space. The handle member includes a partition positioned in the handle member interior area so as to divide the handle member interior area into a first interior portion and a second interior portion, the first interior portion being selectively accessible through the first open end and the second interior portion being selectively accessible through the second open end. |
| US09066498B2 |
Bird support and protection device and method of supporting and protecting a bird
A bird support and protection device includes a body portion shaped to cover a crop of bird, being of a long-stretch material having a long-stretch direction, and having a top edge and an opposing bottom edge separated by first and second opposing side edges, a first securing strap attached to the first side edge parallel to the long-stretch direction, a second securing strap attached to the second side edge parallel to the long-stretch direction, the first and second securing straps being operable to be releasably secured at a back of the bird to attach the device to the bird such that the body portion substantially covers and supports the crop and to provide a non-constricting and adjustably secure fit. |
| US09066497B2 |
Foam spring mattress configured with variable firmness
A method includes selecting an arrangement of foam springs, the arrangement that matches user-selected firmness requirements; attaching foam springs to a foam panel in a removable, replaceable manner; and inserting the foam springs and the foam panel into a containment facility. A mattress includes foam springs; a foam panel to which an arrangement of the foam springs is attached in a removable, replaceable manner; a containment facility within which the foam springs and the foam panel are disposed; and a side rail with indentations within which sides of at least some of the foam springs are disposed. The mattress may also include a fabric webbing, attached to the containment facility, within which some of the foam springs are disposed in a removable, replaceable manner; and an attachment device attaching together at least two of the foam springs. |
| US09066495B2 |
Food and/or water delivering, receiving, and feeding apparatus
A food and/or water delivery and receiving device especially suited for pets including a receiving dish, an elongated delivery tube, and a handle, where the food and water delivery tube is generally disposed vertically relative to the ground and is fluidly connected to the dish at a first end and open to receive food and/or water at a second end, and where the delivery tube further includes an ergonomic handle extending generally perpendicularly from a point near the second end of the delivery tube and where the open second end of the delivery tube is further configured to hold a bottle or other conveying device for liquid or food. |
| US09066493B2 |
Animal containment fence and method of assembling animal containment fence
An animal containment fence includes posts that may be anchored to a surface, connection members that may be transversely coupled to the posts, and flexible cross-members disposed between the posts by telescopically and reciprocally engaging the connection members transversely coupled to the posts. The engagement between the connection members and the cross-member moves reciprocally upon a flexion of the cross-member due to application of a force less than a release force to the cross-member. The engagement between the connection members and the cross-member releases upon a flexion a flexible cross-member due to application of a force equal to or greater than a release force. A method of assembling the animal containment fence includes anchoring posts to a surface, transversely coupling connection members to the posts, and telescopically and reciprocally engaging cross members with the connection members. |
| US09066492B1 |
Wheat variety W030410S2
A wheat variety designated W030410S2, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W030410S2, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W030410S2 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W030410S2 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W030410S2. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W030410S2 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
| US09066489B2 |
Soybean variety A1035374
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1035374. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1035374. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1035374 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1035374 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09066486B2 |
Soybean cultivar WN1013170
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety WN1013170 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety WN1013170 and its progeny, and methods of making WN1013170. |
| US09066485B2 |
Cotton variety 10R051B2R2
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 10R051B2R2. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 10R051B2R2. Also provided by the invention are methods of using cotton variety 10R051B2R2 and products derived therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 10R051B2R2 with itself or another cotton variety and plants and seeds produced by such methods. |
| US09066484B2 |
Cotton variety 10R013B2R2
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 10R013B2R2. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 10R013B2R2. Also provided by the invention are methods of using cotton variety 10R013B2R2 and products derived therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 10R013B2R2 with itself or another cotton variety and plants and seeds produced by such methods. |
| US09066480B2 |
Watermelon variety TCS-146-1901
The invention provides seed and plants of the watermelon line designated TCS-146-1901. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of watermelon line TCS-146-1901, and to methods for producing a watermelon plant produced by crossing a plant of watermelon line TCS-146-1901 with itself or with another watermelon plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of watermelon line TCS-146-1901, including the fruits and gametes of such plants. |
| US09066479B2 |
Watermelon variety WML-EJ11-2553
The invention provides seed and plants of the watermelon line designated WML-EJ11-2553. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of watermelon line WML-EJ11-2553, and to methods for producing a watermelon plant produced by crossing a plant of watermelon line WML-EJ11-2553 with itself or with another watermelon plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of watermelon line WML-EJ11-2553, including the fruits and gametes of such plants. |
| US09066478B2 |
Watermelon variety TML-EJ00112
The invention provides seed and plants of the watermelon line designated TML-EJ00112. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of watermelon line TML-EJ00112, and to methods for producing a watermelon plant produced by crossing a plant of watermelon line TML-EJ00112 with itself or with another watermelon plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of watermelon line TML-EJ00112, including the fruits and gametes of such plants. |
| US09066477B2 |
Watermelon variety TML-EJ09112
The invention provides seed and plants of the watermelon line designated TML-EJ09112. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of watermelon line TML-EJ09112, and to methods for producing a watermelon plant produced by crossing a plant of watermelon line TML-EJ09112 with itself or with another watermelon plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of watermelon line TML-EJ09112, including the fruits and gametes of such plants. |
| US09066471B1 |
Apparatus and method for a baler cart
A cart for collecting and unloading agricultural bales, the cart including a cart body; a hitch, wherein the hitch includes a first end that is configured to operatively connect to a baler and a second end that is configured to operatively connect to the cart body, wherein the hitch provides a pitch degree of freedom to the cart relative to the baler, and wherein the hitch provides a roll degree of freedom to the cart relative to the baler; an automated conveyor device operatively connected to the cart body and configured to move the agricultural bales to a back end of the cart body; and at least one swivel wheel operatively connected to the cart body. In some embodiments, the automated conveyor device includes an apron-chain conveyor powered by a hydraulic motor controlled by hydraulic valves in a cab of a tractor being used to pull the baler and cart. |
| US09066463B2 |
Crop feeler system and method
In some embodiments, a crop feeler system automatically executes a navigational task based on a proximity of a vehicle to an obstacle. The crop feeler system includes a hub attached to the vehicle. Inside the hub are two oscillating circuits each having an oscillating frequency. A member is coupled to the hub. Two inductive elements are positioned within the member so that, when the obstacle comes into contact with the member, at least one of the inductive elements moves closer to at least one of the oscillating circuits and alters the oscillating frequency of that oscillating circuit. A navigation sensor measures the oscillating frequency of the oscillating circuit, identifies a navigational task using the oscillating frequency of the oscillating circuit, and executes the navigational task. |
| US09072202B2 |
Systems and methods for cleaning filters of an electrical device
In one embodiment, a filter cleaning system and method pertain to, during a filter cleaning operation, reversing a flow direction of an inlet fan associated with a filter of the electrical device, the inlet fan being adapted to force air into a housing of the electrical device during normal operation of the electrical device, and reversing a flow direction of an outlet fan adapted to draw air out from the electrical device housing during normal operation of the electrical device so as to increase pressure within the electrical device housing during the filter cleaning operation, wherein the combined action of the reversed inlet fan and the reversed outlet fan purges particulate matter from the filter. |
| US09072200B2 |
Hot aisle containment panel system and method
An air containment system includes a plurality of panel assemblies configured to be arranged in side-to-side relation to form a ceiling. In one embodiment, each panel assembly includes a flexible panel having a first end, a second opposite end, a first side and a second opposite side, a first end connector configured to secure the first end of the flexible panel to one of a rack and a wall, and a second end connector configured to secure the second end of the flexible panel to one of a rack and a wall. Other embodiments of the air containment system and related methods are further disclosed. |
| US09072199B2 |
Thermal transfer component, apparatus and method including thermally conductive frame penetrated by thermally conductive plug
A thermal transfer component, a thermal transfer apparatus and a method for cooling a heat generating component located upon a substrate each include a thermally conductive frame having an aperture formed completely through the thermally conductive frame within which aperture is located a thermally conductive plug. The thermally conductive plug aligns with and contacts the heat generating component when the thermally conductive frame and the substrate are mutually aligned and assembled. A spring may further compress the thermally conductive plug against the heat generating component when the thermally conductive frame and the substrate are mutually aligned and assembled. The thermally conductive plug comprises an isotropic thermal transfer material and the thermally conductive frame comprises an anisotropic thermal conductive material to provide for enhanced thermal transfer from the heat generating component to a chassis. |
| US09072198B2 |
Variable impedance device with integrated refrigeration
The invention provides a variable impedance device including a first bus bar refrigeration system, a first bus bar thermally connected to the first bus bar refrigeration system to be maintained at a target bus bar temperature by the first bus bar refrigeration system, a variable impedance component refrigeration system, a variable impedance component electrically connected to the first bus bar and thermally connected to the component refrigeration system, a variable impedance component may be at least partially made of a material that is superconducting below a critical temperature and may be maintained at a target component temperature, wherein the target bus bar temperature may be between the 300K and critical temperature and the target component temperature may be below the critical temperature and a second bus bar connected to the variable impedance component so that current flows between the first and second leads through the variable impedance component. |
| US09072197B2 |
Cooling apparatus
A cooling apparatus includes a case in which a refrigerant passage through which a refrigerant flows is formed inside, and an element module partially disposed within the refrigerant passage and including an element provided inside. A portion of the element module in contact with the refrigerant is formed of an insulating material. |
| US09072196B2 |
Air pressure measurement based cooling
A cooling management system including component racks, a cooling system, pressure measurement devices, and a computing system within a structure. Each component rack includes an exothermic apparatus. The structure includes warm air aisle spaces and cold air aisle spaces located between the component racks. The cooling system feeds cold air into each cold air aisle space. The cold air flows through the component racks resulting in displacement of warm air from each exothermic apparatus. The warm air flows into the warm air aisle spaces and is directed back to the cooling system. The pressure measurement devices measure differential pressure values between the cold air aisle spaces and the warm air aisle spaces. The computing system monitors the differential pressure values, perform calculations associated with the differential pressure values, and control a fan speed of at least one fan within the cooling system based on the calculations. |
| US09072195B2 |
Network communication device
A simple configuration for cooling comprises a front-back air supply and exhaust system. A first circuit board is located in front of a relay circuit board. A cooling unit and a second circuit board are placed behind the relay circuit board in a chassis. A first air passage allows intake air through an intake hole in a front side of the first circuit board unit to pass through the first circuit board and then through an opening in the relay circuit board to the cooling unit. A second air passage allows intake air through an intake hole in a front face of the chassis to pass through a lateral side of the first circuit board and then through a vent hole in a partition provided at the lateral side of the first circuit board. The second circuit board is placed in the second air passage. |
| US09072194B2 |
Cable management device
A cable management device includes a first cable management arm, a second cable management arm, a cable management seat pivotably connected between the first and second cable management arms, an extension board fixed to the cable management seat, a support seat, a first support member pivotably connected to the support seat, a second support member slidably connected to the first support member, a guide member connected to the second support member and extended between the first and second cable management arms, a first resilient member connected between the first and second support members and a slide pivotably connected to the extension board and slidably connected to the second support member. When the second cable management arm is retracted, the second cable management arm pushes the guide member and drives the first and second support member to swing relative to the support seat. |
| US09072193B1 |
Datacenter aisle containment structure
An air containment system for a datacenter. The air containment system includes horizontally slidable vertical rails that engage the rear rails to two adjacent server racks. The vertical rails can include a front face that is compressible to provide an airtight connection with the server racks. Filler plates attach to adjacent vertical rails and fill the space between a top of the server rack and the top of the rails. |
| US09072191B2 |
Configurable rack and related methods
A configurable rack for supporting components of an uninterruptible power supply includes a frame assembly having a front and a rear. At least one of the front and the rear is configured to receive electronic modules in stacked relation along a height of the frame assembly. The configurable rack further includes a busbar backplane disposed between the front and the rear. The busbar backplane extends vertically within the frame assembly and is configured to be electrically coupled to the at least one electronic module received within the front and/or the rear of the frame assembly. |
| US09072182B2 |
Flexible circuit board
A flexible circuit board includes a base film formed by a metallic material, a first protective film formed on a first surface of the base film, and a circuit pattern adhered to the first protective film through an adhesive film. Projections and recesses for heat release are formed on a second surface that is a surface on the opposite side of the first surface of the base film. |
| US09072180B2 |
Printed circuit board capable of reducing return loss of differential signal and electronic device using the same
A printed circuit board (PCB) includes a receiver component, a transmission line including a positive signal transmission line and a negative signal transmission line, a transmitter component, and a capacitance unit. The transmitter component transmits a different signal to the receiver component via the transmission line. The capacitance unit is spaced from the receiver component a predetermined distance S, therein, the predetermined distance S is calculated by a formula S=Vx (n*UI−(C1+C2)×Zo/2)/2, and V is a speed of the transmission line. C1 is an equivalent capacitance value of the receiver component, C2 is a capacitance value of the capacitance unit, Zo is a resistance value of the transmission line, UI is a half of one cycle of the differential signal, and n is a value less than or equal to 1.5 and greater than or equal to 0.5. |
| US09072177B2 |
Conductive layer integrated FPC
A conductive-layer-integrated flexible printed circuit includes: (A) an electromagnetic-shielding conductive layer; (B) a photosensitive resin composition layer; and (C) a wiring-pattern-equipped film, (A) the electromagnetic-shielding conductive layer, (B) the photosensitive resin composition layer, and (C) the a wiring-pattern-equipped film being laminated in this order, and (B) the photosensitive resin composition layer being formed from a photosensitive resin composition containing at least (a) carboxyl-group-containing resin, (b) a photo-polymerization initiator, and (c) thermosetting resin. |
| US09072173B2 |
Rigid-flex printed circuit board and method for making same
An RFPCB includes a reinforcement layer and at least two FPCBs spliced together to match the reinforcement layer in shape and size. The FPCBs are adhered onto the reinforcement layer. The reinforcement layer includes circuits connected with the FPCB and has portions removed to obtain a desired flexibility. |
| US09072170B2 |
Adjustable battery box and electronic device using the same
The present invention is related to an adjustable battery box and an electronic device using the same. The battery box has a seat and a battery holder moving relative to the seat along an inclined direction. One electrode spring is mounted on an end of the seat to press against one end of the battery holder. When a battery is inserted in the seat, the battery holder is pushed up by the battery and then the battery holder moves along the inclined direction to compress the electrode spring, so a retaining space of the battery box is enlarged. After the battery is completely retained inside the seat, the electrode spring restores to press against the battery holder to mount the battery. Therefore the battery box is fit for batteries of different sizes. |
| US09072169B1 |
Pulse generator and systems and methods for using same
A pulse generator generates high voltage discharge pulses in a manner that may be controlled and monitored. Pulse generator operation may be monitored to measure characteristics associated with pulse generator operation and to produce pulse generator data representative of those characteristics. Pulse generator operation may be monitored by monitoring the discharge pulses produced by the pulse generator and/or the charging of energy storage elements within the pulse generator in preparation for a subsequent discharge pulse. The pulse generator data may be used, for example, to identify pulse generator wear or degradation, to identify problems with pulse generator operation, and/or to control pulse generator operation for improved performance. The pulse generator may also be configured and controlled to generate a high-voltage initiation pulse to initiate a subsequent discharge pulse while being contained within a relatively small form factor. The pulse generator may be used in spectroscopy systems or other systems using high voltage discharge pulses. |
| US09072159B2 |
High-frequency power supply device and ignition voltage selection method
When RF power is supplied from an RF generator to a load via a power supply unit, (a) the internal impedance of the RF generator is made lower than the characteristic impedance of the power supply unit, and (b) the load-end voltage is increased by selecting the electrical length LE of the power supply unit, which connects between the RF generator and the load to supply RF power, so that the electrical length LE has a predetermined relation with the fundamental wavelength λ of the RF AC. More specifically, the electrical length LE of the power supply unit is selected in such a way that, when the load end, which is the input end of the load, is in an open state, the electrical length LE is (2n−1)·(λ/4)−k·λ≦LE≦(2n−1)·(λ/4)+k·λ (n is an integer, k is {π−2·cos−1(1/K)}/(4π)) with respect to the fundamental wavelength λ of the RF AC. |
| US09072156B2 |
Diamagnetic composite material structure for reducing undesired electromagnetic interference and eddy currents in dielectric wall accelerators and other devices
The devices, systems and techniques disclosed here can be used to reduce undesired effects by magnetic field induced eddy currents based on a diamagnetic composite material structure including diamagnetic composite sheets that are separated from one another to provide a high impedance composite material structure. In some implementations, each diamagnetic composite sheet includes patterned conductor layers are separated by a dielectric material and each patterned conductor layer includes voids and conductor areas. The voids in the patterned conductor layers of each diamagnetic composite sheet are arranged to be displaced in position from one patterned conductor layer to an adjacent patterned conductor layer while conductor areas of the patterned conductor layers collectively form a contiguous conductor structure in each diamagnetic composite sheet to prevent penetration by a magnetic field. |
| US09072153B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light generation system utilizing a pre-pulse to create a diffused dome shaped target
An apparatus used with a laser apparatus may include a chamber, a target supply for supplying a target material to a region inside the chamber, a laser beam focusing optical system for focusing a laser beam from the laser apparatus in the region, and an optical system for controlling a beam intensity distribution of the laser beam. |
| US09072151B2 |
High intensity discharge electronic ballast circuit, electronic ballast, and high intensity discharge lamp
A high intensity discharge (HID) ballast circuit comprises a trigger circuit, a power half-bridge self-excited oscillation circuit, which is arranged to enable self-excited oscillation by energizing an angle capacitor Cgs with a Miller capacitor Cdg of a power MOSFET when an original single pulse output by the trigger circuit is excited, and then output self-excited oscillation signals; and a filter loop which is arranged to match impedance for the self-excited oscillation signals, thereby converting a low-impedance voltage source to a high-impedance constant current source. The inherent phase relationship of the power MOSFET is utilized, and oscillation signals are generated by a power half-bridge self-excited oscillation circuit, and then impedance matching for the oscillation signals is performed by the filter loop, and finally an HID lamp is triggered. As a result, damages to human eyes caused by stroboscopic effect can be avoided and electro magnetic compatibility test can be passed. |
| US09072149B2 |
LED driving device with open circuit protection and color temperature and brightness adjustment
An LED driving device with open circuit protection and color temperature and brightness adjustment is applied in a lamp to drive LEDs which are divided into strings, and at least one string is formed by connecting blue light diodes in series, and the remaining strings are formed by connecting yellow light LEDs in series, and at least one of the yellow light strings is connected to the blue light string in parallel and then connected to the remaining strings in series to form a node. The LED driving device employs a switch to conduct the blue or yellow light string to change the color temperature of the emitted light of the lamp, and a power input pin of a control chip is electrically coupled to the node. If there is an open circuit caused by an abnormality of the LEDs, the operation will be stopped to provide protection. |
| US09072147B2 |
Pre-charging inductor in switching converter to achieve high PWM dimming ratio in LED drivers
In a method for controlling a current regulator for dimming an LED load, a dimming signal has a duty cycle that controls the LED ON-time and LED OFF time at a fixed frequency. The regulator is controlled by the dimming signal to only supply current to the LED load during the LED ON-time. The regulator includes an inductor. The inductor current at the end of an ON-time is detected and its value is stored. During the OFF-time, the inductor is pre-charged to the current level matching the stored value, while the regulator's feedback loop is frozen during the OFF-time to not change its feedback control signal. Upon the next ON-time, the regulator begins supplying current to the LED load with the pre-charged inductor current, so there is no initial decrease in the delivered LED current. Therefore, the current pulse magnitudes are constant even with very low duty cycles. |
| US09072146B2 |
Light-emitting electric-power generation module and light-emitting electric-power generation device
A light-emitting electric-power generation module according to an embodiment includes a photoelectric conversion element for emitting light and generating electric power, a light-emission controller configured to control light emission of the photoelectric conversion element, an electric-power generation controller configured to control electric-power generation of the photoelectric conversion element, and a switching unit configured to switch light-emission state and electric-power generation state of the photoelectric conversion element. |
| US09072145B2 |
Light-emitting diode driving circuit for lighting
The present invention relates to a light-emitting diode (LED) driving circuit for lighting, which divides a specific pattern of driving data for a number of sections within one period or a half period of driving power, stores the divided data in a driving data storage device, and drives LEDs connected in series in an LED array unit using the driving data so as to drive the LEDs with high efficiency, a high power factor, and low total harmonic distortion (HTD). |
| US09072141B2 |
Driving circuit for a light emitting diode lighting apparatus
A driving circuit for a light emitting diode lighting apparatus includes a driving data memory device in which central portion driving data for driving the light emitting diodes are separated into many sections within one cycle of the driving power; a drive controller for reading the central driving data, charging driving data, and outer driving data stored in the driving data memory device; a first D/A converter for converting digital central driving data and outer driving data output from the drive controller to analog signals, and a second D/A converter for converting charging driving data to an analog signal; a static current driving device having static current driving devices respectively connected to tabs of light emitting diodes according to an output signal of the first D/A converter; and a charging static current driving device for charging the charging capacitor according to the output signal from the second D/A converter. |
| US09072139B2 |
Current driver for LED diodes
A current driver for a string of LEDs includes a first series connection of a first transistor and a first resistance and a second series connection of a second transistor and a second resistance. The first and second series connections are coupled in parallel between the string of LEDs and a voltage reference. An operational amplifier selectively drives the first and second transistors in response to a clock signal. A switch device driven by the clock signal alternately applies a reference voltage and a respective one of the voltages across the first and second resistances to inverting and non-inverting inputs of the operational amplifier in response to the clock signal. A storage circuit is coupled to the output of the operational amplifier to store the drive signals for the first and second transistors for application to the first and second transistors in the absence of output from the operational amplifier. |
| US09072138B2 |
Color correcting device driver
A color correcting device driver is configured to vary the equivalent current into light emitting elements (e.g., LEDs) with the frequency of the AC input current (e.g., 120 Hz). In implementations that include a fly-back controller with a power factor correction (PFC) controller on the primary side, the color correcting device driver performs the method of: 1) turning on the loads (e.g., white and CA strings of LEDs); 2) determining if the voltage supplied to the loads has dropped by a first threshold amount; 3) turning off the loads; and 4) determining if the voltage supplied to loads has recovered by a second threshold amount (or waiting for a fixed amount of time). The method is repeated. In implementations that do not include a PFC controller on the primary side, the color correcting device driver can create a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal. |
| US09072136B2 |
LED fluorescent lamp
A light-emitting diode (LED) fluorescent lamp which can replace a typical fluorescent lamp is provided. The LED fluorescent lamp includes an LED array including a plurality of LEDs connected in series; first through fourth connection pins; first through fourth capacitors connected to the first through fourth connection pins, respectively; a first diode having an commonly connected to second ends of the first and third capacitors and a cathode connected to a first end of the LED array; a second diode having an anode connected to a second end of the LED array and a cathode commonly connected to second ends of the second and fourth capacitors. The LED fluorescent lamp can replace a typical fluorescent lamp without a requirement of the installation of additional equipment or the change of wiring. |
| US09072133B2 |
Lighting fixtures and methods of commissioning lighting fixtures
In embodiments of the present invention, a method and system is provided for commissioning improved intelligent, LED-based lighting systems. The LED based lighting systems may include fixtures with one or more LED light bars, integrated sensors, onboard intelligence to send and receive signals and control the LED light bars, and network connectivity to other fixtures. |
| US09072132B2 |
Lighting control system
A lighting control system includes lighting devices arranged along a road for a moving body. Each lighting device includes a sensor that detects a moving body approaching the lighting device, a light source that emits light, a sensor that detects the moving body, a control unit connected to the sensor and the light source, and a communication unit. The sensor of the one of the lighting devices located in at least at one outermost position of the lighting devices has a higher detection frequency than the sensors of the other lighting devices. |
| US09072130B2 |
Illumination system with comfort at low power consumption
An illumination system includes lighting apparatuses (20), a camera (11), an image processing unit (12) (person position detection unit), and a lighting control unit (14) and a storage unit (13) (control unit). The illumination apparatuses (20) are placed on a ceiling surface (C), and each include a first light source (24) and a second light source (25) that irradiate a floor surface (F) and the ceiling surface (C) with light, respectively. The control unit controls an illumination apparatus (20b2) corresponding to a person (P)'s position detected by the person position detection unit among the illumination apparatuses (20) so as to turn on the first light source (24). The control unit controls at least one of one or more illumination apparatuses (20) that are each adjacent to the illumination apparatus (20b2) so as not to turn on the first light source (24) and turn off the second light source (25). |
| US09072127B2 |
Lighting system and its luminaries with a respective lamp control module
A lighting system, which is composed of a redundant power supply and at least one luminaire with a lamp control module contained therein. The lamp control module includes at least one light source and a light control module. The light control module includes a current control unit, at least one switch unit, and a processing unit. The current control unit is to control the DC current. The switch unit is electrically connected to the light source and enables the DC current source to selectively control DC current to at least one light source. The processing unit is used to adjust value of DC current. The luminaire includes the lamp control module, housing and power lines. The redundant power supply contains at least one AC-to-DC converter module, and the redundant power supply provides constant DC power to at least one light control module of the luminaire. |
| US09072126B2 |
Open-circuit protection circuit of constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes
A open-circuit protection circuit of a constant current driving circuit for light emitting diodes is disclosed, which includes that: a transformer (Ta1), which has at least one secondary winding (WT1), is connected to at least two load branches (A1, A2); a commutating loop is composed of each load branches (A1, A2) and one secondary winding (WT1), wherein the secondary winding (WT1) has tap ends; a current sharing transformer (T1) is set in two neighbor load branch (A1, A2); each load branch (A1, A2) is separately connected to one open-circuit protection module (10). The open circuit protection module (10) includes: a detection control unit (101), used for outputting a control signal to a processing unit (102) when the detection control unit detects that the output voltages of each load branch (A1, A2) or the voltages proportionate to the output voltages are not less than a corresponding preset threshold; the processing unit (102), used for shorting one secondary sub winding (WT11, WT12) in the corresponding load branch (A1, A2) and a sharing current winding (W1) of the current sharing transformer (T1) in series with the secondary sub winding (WT11, WT12) when receiving the control signal. With the embodiments of the present invention, the cost and the bulk of the current sharing transformer (T1) can be reduced. |
| US09072125B2 |
Systems and methods for determining a type of transformer to which a load is coupled
An apparatus may include a controller to provide compatibility between a load and a secondary winding of a transformer driven at its primary winding by a dimmer, wherein the controller is configured to: determine from a transformer secondary signal whether the transformer comprises a magnetic transformer or an electronic transformer; and select a compatibility mode of operation from a plurality of modes of operation based on the determination of whether the transformer comprises a magnetic transformer or an electronic transformer. A method for providing compatibility between a load and a secondary winding of a transformer driven at its primary winding by a dimmer may include determining from a transformer secondary signal whether the transformer comprises a magnetic transformer or an electronic transformer and selecting a compatibility mode of operation from a plurality of modes of operation based on the determination of whether the transformer comprises a magnetic transformer or an electronic transformer. |
| US09072124B2 |
Apparatus for and method of controlling dimming of street lamp
A dimming controlling apparatus including: a lighting driving unit for driving a lighting appliance; a power supply unit for supplying power required to drive the lighting appliance; a storage unit for storing a plurality of dimming profiles including time zones for driving the lighting appliance and dimming levels in accordance to the time zones; and a controller for controlling the lighting driving unit and the power supply unit by using the dimming profiles. An operating time of the lighting appliance is divided into a plurality of time zones, and dimming profiles are generated to include an intensity of illumination for driving the lighting appliance in each of the plurality of time zones and each of the time zones. |
| US09072118B2 |
Method for implementing WiFi communication, user equipment and wireless routing device
The present invention provides a method for implementing WiFi communication, a wireless routing device and a user equipment. The method includes: receiving, by a wireless routing device and from a user equipment, a request including an authentication request parameter for authenticating the user equipment, sending the authentication request parameter to a subscriber identity module, obtaining an expected authentication result from the subscriber identity module, where the expected authentication result is generated by the subscriber identity module according to the authentication request parameter and an authentication key saved in the subscriber identity module; and sending a response to the request to the user equipment, where the response includes the expected authentication result. |
| US09072117B1 |
Distributed computing over a wireless ad hoc network
Disclosed are various embodiments of a telecommunication environment including a wireless transmitter in a first mobile device that enables the first mobile device to communicate over a network infrastructure. An application may be executed in the first mobile device such that the application enables the first mobile device to communicate with a second mobile device over a wireless ad hoc network. The application may further facilitate a requisitioning of a remote computer resource of the second mobile device over the wireless ad hoc network. |
| US09072116B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing complexity in modulation coding scheme (MCS) adaptation
The computational complexity of MCS adaptation for linear and non-linear MU-MIMO can be reduced by avoiding QR decomposition during subsequent stages of MCS adaptation. For instance, QR decomposition can be avoided in later stages of MCS adaptation by computing an instant upper right triangular matrix (R1) directly from an earlier upper right triangular matrix (R) and an earlier unitary matrix (U), which were obtained during a previous stage of MCS adaptation. As such, the instant upper right triangular matrix (R1) is obtained without performing QR decomposition on an instant Hermitian matrix (H1H), thereby allowing MCS adaptation to be performed for the new user group with less complexity. Additionally, computational complexity of MCS adaptation for linear MU-MIMO can be further reduced by avoiding matrix inversion during subsequent stages of MCS adaptation. |
| US09072114B2 |
Improvements to body area networks
A communication method in a wireless sensor system of networks served by a first non-beacon mode coordinator and a second beacon-mode coordinator, initially, placing all network devices in a first network of the first coordinator; monitoring a parameter of each entity by sensors of the network devices; transmitting sensor data from the network devices in the first network to the first coordinator; detecting an emergency state with respect by using the monitored parameters; in response to detection of the state, handing over the network devices to the second network; transmitting sensor data from the network devices in the second network to the second coordinator; and in response to detection of the emergency state, handing over the associated network devices to the first network. |
| US09072113B2 |
Method and network entity for scheduling radio resources in mobile communication networks
A method and radio network entity for scheduling resources comprising: selecting the user for which the scheduling metric calculated based on CQI reports is a main maximum in a certain frequency subband and checking whether there is another subband in which the selected user has a calculated scheduling metric value higher than the main maximum. If so, secondary maxima of scheduling metrics for said user and others in another different subband are searched and compared with the previous calculated maximum. According to the result of this comparison, each user is assigned to at least one frequency subband, up to K subbands which can be adjacent or not depending upon the configuration of the network entity in uplink and downlink (e.g., supporting LTE). Scheduling of both time and frequency resources is optimized and simultaneously the throughput of users in a cell is maximized. |
| US09072109B2 |
Collision detection and bitwise arbitration in multicarrier wireless networks
A method is provided for detecting collisions and arbitrating channel access in a multicarrier wireless network. The method includes: transmitting a collision probe over a data channel using a first antenna of a first communication device, where the collision probe is derived from a binary codeword comprised of k bits and each bit of the binary codeword is transmitted using a different subcarrier frequency of the data channel; listening for a signal on the data channel using a second antenna of the first communication device and concurrently with the transmission of the collision probe; comparing a collision probe received on the data channel from another communication device with the collision probe transmitted on the data channel by the first communication device; detecting a collision on the data channel based on the comparison step; and arbitrating access to the data channel upon detecting a collision on the data channel. |
| US09072108B2 |
Method for controlling inter-cell interference in a mobile communication system
A method for controlling inter-cell interference (ICI) in a mobile communication system by transmitting uplink control information from a base station in a home cell to a terminal of a neighboring cell based on ICI amount information measured at the base station. The ICI control method includes receiving an uplink signal at a base station and extracting inter-cell interference amount information from the uplink signal, generating uplink control information based on the extracted inter-cell interference amount information, and transmitting the uplink control information to a terminal in a neighboring cell. The terminal schedules an uplink resource including selecting frequency bands for an uplink signal by referring to the uplink control information. |
| US09072107B2 |
Adaptive control channel
A wireless network may implement a reduced bandwidth for control information transmitted and/or received on the wireless network. The reduced bandwidth may be used to avoid interference that may be detected from an in-band or adjacent channel. The reduced bandwidth may be used for transmission and/or reception of control information on a cellular or Wi-Fi channel. An eNB or an access point (AP) may signal to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) information associated with the reduced control channel, such as the power and/or the location of the channel in a frequency band. The control channel may be shifted to avoid a change in interference. |
| US09072103B2 |
Cognitive inter-cell interference control method and apparatus
Provided is a cognitive inter-cell interference control method and apparatus. Inter-cell interference may be measured based on various methods in order to recognize an interference channel, and an appropriate interference control algorithm may be applied to the interference channel by modeling based on overhead. Accordingly, interference may be controlled. |
| US09072101B2 |
High speed media access control and direct link protocol
Techniques for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems that may be backward compatible with various types of legacy systems are disclosed. In one aspect, a data frame is formed comprising a common portion for transmission in a format receivable by various stations, such as access points and remote stations. The data frame also comprises a dedicated portion, formatted for transmission to a specified remote station. In another aspect, the common portion is unsteered, and the dedicated portion is steered. In another aspect, an access point schedules an allocation in response to a data indication included in a common portion of a data frame transmitted from one remote station to another. In another aspect, a first station transmits a reference to a second station, which measures the reference and generates feedback therefrom. |
| US09072098B2 |
Load aware resource allocation in wireless networks
A technique for resource allocation in a wireless network (for example, an access point type wireless network), which supports concurrent communication on a band of channels, is provided. The technique includes accepting connectivity information for the network that supports concurrent communication on the band of channels. A conflict graph is generated from the connectivity information. The generated conflict graph models concurrent communication on the band of channels. A linear programming approach, which incorporates information form the conflict graph and rate requirements for nodes of the network, can be utilized to maximize throughput of the network. |
| US09072097B2 |
Method for selecting allocable wireless resources, device for selecting allocable wireless resources, and communication device
A communication device includes an calculation unit, a measuring unit, a setting unit, and a determination unit. The calculation unit calculates an index value according to each of the other communication devices for determining whether to let a wireless resource utilized for communications with the other communication device be a candidate allocated to the other communication device based on the quality of a channel to the other communication device. The measuring unit measures a congestion degree between itself and the other communication device. The setting unit calculates a threshold value for determining whether to let the wireless resource be the candidate allocated to the other communication device based on the measured congestion degree. The determination unit compares the index value with the threshold value to determine whether to let the wireless resource be the candidate allocated to the other communication device. |
| US09072096B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating resources in a single carrier-frequency division multiple access system
An apparatus and method for allocating resources in an Single Carrier-Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) communication system are provided, in which a Node B performs inter-subband hopping on a resource unit for a User Equipment (UE) on a frequency axis along which at least two subbands are defined, at each predetermined hopping time, determines whether to turn on or off mirroring in a subband having the hopped resource unit on a cell basis at the each hopping time, selects a resource unit by selectively mirroring the hopped unit according to the determination, and allocates the selected resource unit to the UE. |
| US09072091B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving control channel in wireless communication system
A control channel transmission/reception method and an apparatus for transmitting/receiving control channels using a resource allocation scheme applicable regardless of reference signal transmission or whether the reference signal is transmitted in distributed transmission mode or localized transmission mode are provided. The control channel transmission method includes mapping a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) to Resource Elements (REs) of a Resource Block (RB) for transmitting a control channel, mapping the control channel to the REs numbered with numbers of predetermined number of Resource Element Groups (REGs) in a frequency-first ascending order cyclically, with the exception of the REs to which the DMRS is mapped, and transmitting the DMRS and the control channel. |
| US09072090B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing a wireless network access point beacon
An approach is provided for managing a wireless network access point beacon. The approach involves determining to one or more of (1) cause, at least in part, a beacon pointer associated with a beacon of a wireless network access point to be transmitted and (2) cause, at least in part, a beacon schedule associated with the beacon of the wireless network access point to be adjusted based, at least in part, on a derivation of one or more other beacon schedules associated with one or more other beacons of one or more other wireless network access points. The determination to cause the adjustment of the beacon schedule is based, at least in part, on a received indication of a potential conflict between the beacon and the one or more other beacons. |
| US09072089B2 |
Method for transmitting control information and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transmitting uplink control information in the wireless communication system, which supports carrier aggregation and operates by a TDD, and comprises the steps of: deciding HARQ-ACK bit numbers for each cell from a plurality of cells; composing a HARQ-ACK payload comprising HARQ-ACK bit(s) for each of the plurality of cells; and transmitting the HARQ-ACK payload from a subframe n through a PUSCH. |
| US09072082B2 |
Systems and methods of communication using tunneled direct link setup (TDLS)
Systems and methods for improved communications using tunneled direct link setup are described herein. The systems and methods relate to discovery, link setup, channel switching, multicasting, link selection, and quality of service implemented in conjunction with tunneled direct link setup. |
| US09072079B2 |
Method for controlling channel access, access point and user equipment
The present invention discloses a method for controlling a channel access, an access point and a user equipment. The method comprises: determining a next device for accessing a channel according to a predefined rule; when the next device for accessing the channel is a traditionally active status device, scheduling the traditional active status device to occupy the channel once the channel is free; when the next device for accessing the channel is a newly active status device, determining a next traditionally active device for accessing the channel according to the predefined rule, and scheduling all newly active status devices and the next traditionally active status device to contend for accessing the channel once the channel is free. |
| US09072078B2 |
Method and mobile communication system capable of establishing peer-to-peer transmission
A method for establishing peer-to-peer (P2P) transmission in a mobile communication system includes a first mobile station requesting the mobile communication system for a first Internet Protocol (IP) address and transmitting a message to a second mobile station to indicate the second mobile station to trigger the P2P transmission when the first mobile station starts to establish the P2P transmission with the second mobile station, the second mobile station requesting the mobile communication system for a second IP address according to the message, the first and second mobile stations updating receiving statuses of the first and second IP addresses to a server device, and the server device outputting information of the second IP address to the first mobile station after the first and second mobile stations obtain the first and second IP addresses, to allow the first mobile station to establish the P2P transmission with the second mobile station accordingly. |
| US09072072B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for managing simultaneous unicast and multicast/broadcast services in a wireless communication system
Techniques are provided for managing simultaneous unicast and multicast/broadcast services. For example, there is provided a method operable by a user equipment (UE) or the like, that involves transmitting, upon initial connection with a wireless communication system, a first message indicating one or more capabilities of the UE. The method may further involve transmitting a second message indicating that the UE is receiving or is about to receive a multicast/broadcast service. The method may also involve receiving, as a result of the second message, data scheduled in accordance with one or more predetermined rules. |
| US09072071B2 |
Methods and systems for CDMA network switching notification in a WiMAX network
A method and apparatus for allowing a dual-mode mobile device to communicate with a CDMA network without switching from an OFDMA network are provided. For certain embodiments, an OFDMA gateway component may serve as an interface between the OFDMA network and CDMA network, detecting a CDMA message targeting the mobile device and, in response, generating an OFDMA message containing information regarding the CDMA message. |
| US09072066B2 |
Methods and arrangements in a telecommunication system
The present invention relates to a method and a device for supporting positioning with a minimum of assistance data signalling. The method in the radio device that shall perform the positioning measurements comprises determining (440) a positioning reference signal pattern, based on a cell identity and a pre-defined mapping between the cell identity and the positioning reference signal pattern, and performing (450) positioning measurements based on the determined positioning reference signal pattern. |
| US09072065B2 |
Systems and methods for downlink power control and scheduling in a wireless network
Methods and systems for providing joint power control (PC) and scheduling in a wireless network are provided. In one example, a method includes generating a near-optimal power pattern for PC and scheduling in accordance with long term channel statistics. The near-optimal PC solution may be generated by first generating a set of possible power patterns in accordance with likely scheduling scenarios, then statistically narrowing the set of possible power patterns to identify the most commonly used power patterns, and finally selecting one of the most commonly used power patterns as the near-optimal power pattern. In another example, a table of optimal PC solutions are provided for performing distributed PC and scheduling in an adaptive and/or dynamic manner. |
| US09072062B2 |
Method for controlling uplink power of long term evolution system, base station, mobile terminal
A method for controlling uplink power of an LTE system, a base station, and a mobile terminal are disclosed according to the embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: obtaining uplink transmit power of each carrier; sending first notification signaling to a base station if a difference between the obtained uplink transmit power of each carrier exceeds a specific threshold; and sending second notification signaling to the base station if a sum of the obtained uplink transmit power of each carrier exceeds a preset threshold. Thresholds are determined according to network conditions, and uplink power of a carrier is adjusted in a balanced way, a bit error rate is reduced and a case that a low-performance carrier is forced to be interrupted is prevented. |
| US09072061B2 |
Telecommunications networks and devices
A mobile telecommunications network, such as a GSM, UMTS or LTE network, may include, in addition to the conventional radio access network comprising the base stations, one or more additional access points. An access point may be connected to the network core by an IP transport broadband connection. The access point may be configured to appear to the mobile terminal as a conventional base station. Arrangements are disclosed which allow the access point to dynamically adjust the power output through its Common Pilot Channel relative to one or more users. In other words, the greater the distance a user is from the access point, the greater the output power. |
| US09072060B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program for power control to mitigate interference
A network determines that a first radio node communicating on a radio resource with a second radio node is interfering with a third radio node communicating on the radio resource with the network. The network manages the interference by controlling transmit power of at least one of the first radio node and the third radio node. It may be by sending a command that indicates an amount by which the first or second radio node is to decrease its transmit power; and/or that indicates an amount by which the third radio node is to boost its transmit power. The network can measure a sounding signal it triggers from the first radio node, measure and compare to a threshold that guarantees a QoS for the third radio node, and compute appropriate backoff or boost values. The first and second radio nodes may be using device-to-device communications or a femto network. |
| US09072059B2 |
Interference control
When it is determined that a first estimate of the total level of interference towards transmissions associated with a first access node from transmissions associated with other access nodes exceeds a predetermined target maximum value; then in dependence on the extent to which said first estimate exceeds said target maximum value, selecting one or more of said other access nodes to which to make a request to reduce the transmission power of interfering transmissions, and/or selecting an amount by which to request any one or more of said other access nodes to reduce the transmission power of interfering transmissions. |
| US09072052B2 |
Communication system providing context-based mobile wireless communications device power consumption management and related methods
A communication system may include a plurality of near-field communication (NFC) sensors each associated with a respective location, and a mobile wireless communications device(s) switchable among a plurality of different power consumption modes. The mobile wireless communications device(s) may include a portable housing, an NFC circuit carried by the housing and configured to establish NFC communications with at least one of the NFC sensors when in proximity therewith, and a plurality of different wireless communications circuits carried by the housing. The mobile wireless communications device(s) may further include a controller carried by the housing and coupled to the NFC circuit and the different wireless communications circuits which may be configured to switch to a given power consumption mode based upon the at least one NFC sensor. In particular, some of the different power consumption modes may be associated with selectively powering respective ones of the wireless communications circuits. |
| US09072051B2 |
Method of monitoring control channel in wireless communication system
A method of monitoring a control channel in a wireless communication system includes monitoring a physical down-link control channel (PDCCH) during a monitored duration, wherein the monitored duration is a part of a discontinuous reception (DRX) period, the DRX period specifying the periodic repetition of the monitored duration followed by a non-monitored duration. By monitoring a control channel during a DRX period, battery consumption of a user equipment can be reduced and an operation time of the user equipment can be increased. |
| US09072047B1 |
Mesh network operations
Various embodiments provide improved mesh networks with properties that address various shortcomings of current mesh network implementations. At least some embodiments are directed to improving operations of mesh networks in connection with battery powered devices and address concerns associated with latency issues due to power save nodes as well as load balancing. Yet other embodiments address route cache timeouts, reduce route discovery overhead, perform proactive route maintenance based on a node's battery, and provide a straightforward battery-aware process based sleep protocol. |
| US09072044B2 |
Push-pull amplifier with quiescent current adjuster
A push-pull amplifier has an input node and a series connection of two resistors. The series connection comprises a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. A first resistor of the two resistors is connected between the first terminal and the second terminal. A second resistor is connected between the second and third terminals. The input node is connected to the second terminal. A first controllable current source is connected to the first terminal of the series connection for sourcing a first current to the series connection. A second controllable current source is connected to the third terminal of the series connection for sinking a second current from the series connection. A first transistor and a second transistor are connected in push-pull configuration, wherein a control input of the first transistor is connected to the first terminal of the series connection and a control input of the second transistor is connected to the third terminal of the series connection. |
| US09072040B2 |
Method and system of intelligently load balancing of Wi-Fi access point apparatus in a WLAN
A computer networking infrastructure for load balancing, which comprises a network, access points each with a first service set identifier, computing devices and a computing system. The computing system can receive requests from computing devices to access the network via a second service set identifier of an access point. In response to a request to access the network from a computing device, the computing system generates a list of access points which are able to support a connection with the computing device. The computing device may connect to the network via an access point on the list and via the first service set identifier. |
| US09072039B2 |
System and method for mobile access control and load balancing in a relay network
A method, network node and UE device (115) for wireless access control and load balancing among various access nodes (105, 110) in a radio access network that contains both base stations (105) and relay notes (110). A wireless UE device (115) receives a message containing at least one of the respective loads for a group of access nodes and weighting factors for possible connections. The device determines a preferred access node (325, 425, 525) using at least one of the respective loads and weighting factors and attaches to the preferred access node. |
| US09072030B2 |
Camping in an exclusive cell
In a mobile communications system exclusive location areas comprising exclusive cells are defined in order to separate cells from the mobile stations not belonging to the user group allowed to camp in the cell and still to allow emergency calls for all mobile stations in these cells. During location update it is checked whether the cell belongs to an exclusive location area (202) and if it does, it is determined whether or not the subscriber is allowed to camp in the cell. |
| US09072028B2 |
Targeting communications in a femtocell network
The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can leverage Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) features to facilitate more efficient or more robust communication with a femtocell network. In particular, features such as a UMTS localized common pilot channel along with various UTRAN features can enable communications to be directed to specific targets such as to a specific home nodeB (HNB) or to a specific mobile device served by the HNB, while also reducing macro network load. |
| US09072027B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for facilitating D2D bearer switching
A method of facilitating path switching, for a communication path between a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE, from a device to device (D2D) path to network path, includes receiving switch point information from the first UE that identifies a data block; establishing, at the access network, a connection with the first UE over an uplink path between the first UE and the access network; establishing, at the access network, a connection with the second UE over a downlink path between the network element and the second UE; setting, at the access network, a data block sequencing numbering to be the same for the uplink path and the downlink path based on the switch point information; and forwarding, at the access network, data from the first UE to the second UE via the network path, the network path including the uplink path and the downlink path. |
| US09072026B1 |
Systems and methods for enforcing vendor-based restrictions on wireless service
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for enforcing vendor-based restrictions on wireless service. One embodiment takes the form of a method that is carried out by at least one radio access network (RAN) entity and that includes receiving an access request from a mobile station via a base station, and responsively making a vendor identification to identify a vendor of the base station. The method further includes denying the access request based at least in part on the vendor identification. |
| US09072024B2 |
Wireless communication system
A wireless communication system includes a first relay station that includes a first storage and performs wireless communication with a first base station coupled to an exchange by a wire, and a mobile device that performs wireless communication with the first relay station. The first relay station receives first data with a first sequence number from the first base station, and stores the first data with a second sequence number into the first storage, the first relay station selects a first node as a handover destination, and when the first node is a second base station coupled to the exchange by a wire, the first relay station receives second data with a third sequence number from the first base station, and transmits the first data with the second sequence number and the second data with a fourth sequence number continuous to the second sequence number to the second base station. |
| US09072023B2 |
Telecommunications network
User data is transmitted between a mobile station (10) and a first base station (25), the user data being combined into data units, in particular packet data units, before being transmitted. For transmission of data units, transmission-specific information describing an instantaneous state of the transmission is stored in the mobile station (10) as well as in a first network unit (50) at a higher level than the first base station (25). With the relocation of the mobile station (10) from the first base station (25) to a second base station (30) having a second higher-level network unit (55), the transmission-specific information stored in the first higher-level network unit (50) is transmitted to the second higher-level network unit (55) to continue the transmission after the relocation essentially directly from its latest state. |
| US09072019B2 |
Data processing in intra-site handover
The technology involves data processing during intra-site handover procedures. At least two directional antennas of a base station receive data carrying signals originating from a mobile units positioned in an intra-site handover area defined by the overlapping radio coverage of the antennas. The directional antennas performs an initial data signal detection of the received data signals resulting in detected data, which typically results in a loss of radio performance of the antenna. The detected data from the directional antennas is then processed to generate processed data. The performance loss is compensated by providing differential antenna gain of the directional antennas within the handover area. |
| US09072014B2 |
Identification of a manipulated or defect base station during handover
A method of and arrangement for detecting a manipulated or defect base station of a communication network is disclosed, wherein a target base station, having selected one or more algorithms on the basis of a prioritized algorithm list (PAL) and a UBE security capabilities (SCAP), reports UE SCAP related information to a core network node. The core network node having knowledge of the UE SCAP compares this information or parts of this information with the retrieved UE SCAP related information in order to be able to identify a manipulated or defect base station when a comparison fails to match. |
| US09072007B2 |
Service flow with robust header compression (ROHC) in a WiMAX wireless network
A robust header compression (ROHC) controller provides for service flow processing of a ROHC channel in a WiMAX wireless communication system. The ROHC controller controls the negotiations of the MS ROHC capabilities during its registration and the negotiations of the ROHC channel parameters during ROHC enabled service flow setup; the MS ROHC capabilities including ROHC compression and decompression capabilities and ROHC channel and feedback strategies; the channel parameter negotiation covers the ROHC profile set and feedback channel information in addition to the 16e/12D standard. The ROHC controller receives a service flow request for a ROHC enabled service flow, wherein the request includes a QoS profile. |
| US09072005B2 |
Quality of service control in a multicast transmission
A network entity may dynamically control Quality-of-Service (QoS) for a multicast transmission in a wireless communications system, by initiating a multicast transmission having an initial QoS, and later during the multicast transmission, generating an updated QoS for the multicast transmission. The network entity may generate the updated QoS in response to a network load factor for a multicast area aggregated from base stations in the area. The network load factor may indicate a measure of aggregate available bandwidth in the multicast area. The network entity may provide the updated QoS to mobile entities receiving the multicast transmission, which may process a subsequent portion of multicast content according to the updated QoS. |
| US09072003B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting abnormal power outage in wireless access system supporting M2M environments
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a power outage report message of M2M device is disclosed. A method for reporting an abnormal power outage event in a wireless access system that supports M2M environment comprises the steps of detecting the abnormal power outage even in an M2M device of a connected state in a normal mode; and transmitting a signaling header from the M2M device to a base station, the signaling header including a power outage indicator for reporting the abnormal power outage event. |
| US09072001B2 |
Method for performing selective measurement in wireless communication system and device for supporting same
Provided is a method which is performed by a user equipment in a wireless communication system. The method comprises the following steps: receiving from a serving cell a first measurement setting which is applied to normal operation; receiving from an interfering cell a second measurement setting when a high interference situation occurs; deciding whether the high interference situation has occurred; and performing the measurement based on the first measurement setting and the second measurement setting when the high interference occurrence is detected. |
| US09072000B2 |
Power efficient relay discovery protocol
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives discovery resource information from a base station, sends a discovery signal based on the discovery resource information, and receives from at least one user equipment (UE) a request for relaying with the base station based on the discovery signal. The apparatus may also receive a discovery signal from a relay, and send to the relay a request for relaying with a base station based on the discovery signal. The apparatus may further receive a discovery signal from each of a plurality of relays, determine to select one of the plurality of relays based on the discovery signal from each relay, and send to a selected relay a request for relaying with a base station based on the discovery signal when one of the plurality of relays is determined to be selected. |
| US09071993B1 |
Centralized wireless LAN load balancing
A centralized wireless LAN load balancing mechanism is described herein. In one embodiment, in response to a request for entering a wireless network from a wireless station and forwarded from multiple access points (APs) of the wireless network, a network access device coupled to the multiple APs determines a load for each of the APs. The network access device then selects one of the APs based on the determined loads of the APs and instructs the selected AP to associate with the wireless station. The network access device further instructs the remaining APs to reject the request. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US09071990B2 |
Dual interpretation of a length field of a signal unit
A method includes receiving, at a wireless device, a frame via a sub-1 gigahertz (GHz) wireless network. The frame includes a signal (SIG) unit including a length field and an aggregation field. The length field may be interpreted as a number of bytes or as a number of symbols based on a value of the aggregation field and based on whether the frame is associated with a 1 megahertz (MHz) bandwidth mode, based on whether the frame includes either a short format preamble or a long format preamble, or based on whether the frame is determined to be a single user (SU) frame or a multi user (MU) frame. |
| US09071989B2 |
System and methods that enable automated testing of mobile devices at a remote monitor site
A computer-implemented system is provided that enables automated testing of a plurality of mobile devices residing at a monitor site. The system is comprised generally of a test controller in data communication with the plurality of mobile devices. The test controller transmits a test request over a wireless network to each of the plurality of mobile devices, where the test controller communicates via a persistent data channel using a short range communication protocol such as a Bluetooth. Each of the mobile devices is configured with a test agent that is configured to receive the test request from the test controller and execute a test in response to the test request. |
| US09071981B2 |
Method of monitoring search space of enhanced downlink control channel in orthogonal frequency-division multiple access system
A method of monitoring search space of enhanced downlink control channel (EPDCCH) for a user equipment in an orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) system includes determining whether to blind decode a monitoring downlink control information (DCI) candidate in a search space of a EPDCCH according to a code rate of the monitoring DCI decoding candidate, wherein the search space is determined according to a fixed threshold associated to a number of available resource element in a physical resource block pair for the EPDCCH. |
| US09071979B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
When switching a setting of a communication mode for a transmitting signal to a different communication apparatus from a non-spatial multiplexing mode to a spatial multiplexing mode on the basis of a first communication quality, a switching unit stores the first communication quality as a switchover reference value and then, when the first communication quality in a case of switching the setting of the communication mode for the transmitting signal to the different communication apparatus from the spatial multiplexing mode to the non-spatial multiplexing mode on the basis of a second communication quality is larger than the switchover reference value by a value which is equal to or more than a predetermined value, halts the switchover of the setting, to the spatial multiplexing mode, of the communication mode for the transmitting signal to the different communication apparatus until a predetermined requirement is satisfied. |
| US09071969B2 |
System, device, and method of detecting identity of a user of an electronic device
A method for confirming identity of a user of a mobile electronic device, the method including: receiving touch data from a touch-screen of the mobile electronic device; receiving acceleration data from an accelerometer of the mobile electronic device; correlating between the touch data and the acceleration data; based on the correlating, generating a user-specific trait indicative of said user. The method further includes storing a reference value of the user-specific trait, indicative of said user; in a subsequent usage session of the mobile electronic device, generating a current value of the user-specific trait correlating between touch data and acceleration data; and based on a comparison between the current value of the user-specific trait and the reference value of the user-specific trait, determining whether or not a current user of the mobile electronic device is an authorized user of the mobile electronic device. |
| US09071965B2 |
Method for allocating data-transmission resources, and corresponding switching method, access point, terminal, computer program and signal
A method and apparatus are provided for allocating resources in a communication network including at least one access point exchanging data with at least one terminal connected thereto, and managing at least two communication channels. The method in the access point implements a phase of associating and authenticating a terminal with the access point, including a step of associating a unique identifier with the terminal, and a phase of managing the assembly of channels. The phase of managing includes implementing a reference table associating one of the channels to a terminal identified by the unique identifier thereof, including the following steps: detecting a switching of a terminal connected with the access point, from an initial channel to a destination channel; and updating the reference table to associate the unique identifier of the terminal to the destination channel. |
| US09071961B2 |
Method for estimating channel state in a wireless communication system using fractional frequency reuse and mobile station using the same
A method for estimating channel state in a wireless communication system and a mobile station using the same are disclosed. The method includes acquiring cell Identifiers (IDs) of a serving cell and one or more neighbor cells, acquiring information about preset power level patterns for one or more frequency partitions to which FFR is applied according to the cell IDs, and estimating a channel state of the serving cell based on the power level pattern information. |
| US09071956B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic enablement of wireless communication device functionalities
An apparatus operable in a communication system is described. The apparatus includes means for determining a set of wireless communication device functionalities. The apparatus determines the set of wireless communication device functionalities using a functionality table based on a network identifier. The apparatus also includes means for enabling the set of wireless communication device functionalities. |
| US09071953B2 |
Systems and methods providing advertisements to a cell phone based on location and external temperature
A messaging system and methods used by content providers to deliver items of content stored in an internet-accessible storage system to a cell phone by causing communication of notifications or paging calls to the cell phone that specify the item of content from among other items of content stored in the storage system and include a system address for the cell phone to initially contact to request the item of content; and methods that identify the system storing the content, that receive identifiers from a separate identification service; that update the content without causing communication of another notification; and that provide for performing action on information at different times, and for selective paging. |
| US09071951B2 |
Method for associating a tracking area identity list with a user equipment in a wireless communications network
A method comprises: associating a first tracking area identity list with a user equipment during registration with a core network node; sending the first tracking area identity list to the user equipment; and receiving at least one tracking area identity comprising the tracking area identity of a tracking area being used by the user equipment. The method further comprising: compiling an second tracking area identity list based on the tracking area identity list currently associated with the user equipment and on the received at least one tracking area identity; and in response to the second tracking area identity list containing a different set of tracking area identities than the tracking area identity list currently associated with the user equipment, sending the second tracking area identity list to the user equipment to replace an earlier tracking area identity list. |
| US09071948B2 |
Utilization of SMS and/or cellular broadcast to receive multimedia alerts
An indication of the location of multimedia information for an emergency alert is distributed via text based protocols such as a Cell Broadcast Service (CBS) and/or a Short Message Service (SMS). Multimedia information can include maps, graphics, video clips, audio clips, still pictures, and the like. A text based alert message along with an indication of the location of the associated multimedia is distributed to users. The indication can comprise a link to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), or the like, from which the multimedia can be retrieved. The indication can comprise a pointer to a link. For example, the alert message can comprise an address in storage of a user device, and the address can contain the link to the URL. Further, the multimedia can be retrieved automatically or manually. |
| US09071944B2 |
Method and system for providing media stored in a PoC box in a PoC system
Methods are provided for managing media in a PoC box in an aggregation proxy server for sending media to a PoC UE in a PoC system. The aggregation proxy server receives a PoC session control data request message, which is associated with media information stored in the PoC box from the PoC UE. The PoC session control data request message for requesting the media information stored in the PoC box is sent to the PoC box. The media information is received in an XML form from the PoC box in response to the PoC session control data request message, and the media information received from the PoC box is sent to the PoC UE. The media information includes a parameter related to a stored position of media stored in the PoC box. |
| US09071941B2 |
Mobile communication system, network device, and mobile communication method
A mobile communication system 100 includes a specific cell configured to allow a specific user to be provided with a service and to allow a non-specific user other than the specific user to be provided with a limited service. The mobile communication system 100 includes a management unit 23 configured to manage a presence state of the non-specific user in the specific cell in addition to a presence state of the specific user in the specific cell. |
| US09071938B2 |
Location based, software control of mobile devices
Methods are disclosed for controlling mobile computing devices such as laptops, PDAs and cellular telephones, based on their location. A mobile computing device may include a software-rendered map of defined geographic regions, location handlers for defining behavior of a mobile device in a given geographic region, and a location handling engine for determining when a new geographic zone has been entered and exited, and for executing and terminating location handlers accordingly. |
| US09071931B2 |
Location tracking system with interfaces for setting group zones, events and alerts based on multiple levels of administrative privileges
An improved system and method for defining an event based upon an object location and a user-defined zone and managing the conveyance of object location event information among computing devices where object location events are defined in terms of a condition based upon a relationship between user-defined zone information and object location information. One or more location information sources are associated with an object to provide the object location information. One or more user-defined zones are defined on a map and one or more object location events are defined. The occurrence of an object location event produces object location event information that is conveyed to users based on user identification codes. Accessibility to object location information, zone information, and object location event information is based upon an object location information access code, a zone information access code, and an object location event information access code, respectively. |
| US09071930B2 |
Method and mobile device for transmitting and receiving paging messages
A method of performing a location update. The method according to one embodiment includes receiving, by a mobile station, information related to a first paging group and a second paging group assigned for the mobile station, from at least one base station; starting, by the mobile station, a timer when the mobile station leaves the first paging group but stays within the second paging group; determining, by the mobile station, whether the mobile station is within the first paging group or the second paging group, before an expiration of the timer; and performing, by the mobile station, a location update before the expiration of the timer if the mobile station is determined to be not within the first paging group and the second paging group. |
| US09071925B2 |
System and method for communicating data between an application server and an M2M device
Systems and methods for communication data between an application server and at least one machine-to-machine (M2M) device via an internet network and a network are provided. An example system includes a network element configured to schedule delivery of the data between the application server and at least one M2M device based on network information. The network element is located on a boundary between the network and the intern et network to which the application server communicates with the at least one M2M device. |
| US09071921B2 |
System and method for event driven operations in a communications system
A system and method for event driven operations in a communications system. A method for communications subsystem operation includes detecting an occurrence of an event initiated by a user, accessing a database to retrieve information related to the user and the event, establishing a connection with an application, and performing an operation with the application through the connection. The application is based on the event and the information, and the operation is based on the event. |
| US09071920B2 |
Binaural decoder to output spatial stereo sound and a decoding method thereof
A binaural decoder for an MPEG surround stream, which decodes an MPEG surround stream into a stereo 3D signal, and a decoding method thereof. The method includes dividing a compressed audio stream and head related transfer function (HRTF) data into subbands, selecting predetermined subbands of the HRTF data divided into subbands and filtering the HRTF data to obtain the selected subbands, decoding the audio stream divided into subbands into a stream of multi-channel audio data with respect to subbands according to spatial additional information, and binaural-synthesizing the HRTF data of the selected subbands with the multi-channel audio data of corresponding subbands. |
| US09071919B2 |
Apparatus and method for encoding and decoding spatial parameter
An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding a spatial parameter are provided. A spatial parameter encoding apparatus may encode a spatial parameter using a correlation between spatial parameters indicating a characteristic relationship between channels of a multi-channel audio signal, so that the multi-channel audio signal may be efficiently encoded. |
| US09071918B2 |
Ball and socket connection with an acoustic seal and mounting interface for a hearing assistance device
Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods to provide improved connections for components of hearing assistance devices. Various embodiments include an apparatus including a receiver case configured to house a hearing assistance device receiver, the receiver case including a spherical receiver spout having an opening. The apparatus also includes a receptacle housing having a spherical socket adapted to mate with the spherical receiver spout to form a ball and socket connection. An insert within the spherical socket is configured to establish a retained interference fit with the opening of the receiver spout when the connection is formed so as to create an acoustic seal therebetween. |
| US09071917B2 |
Hearing aid and hearing aid dual use dongle
A power dongle for a hearing aid includes conductive wires, each wire having a computing device end and a hearing aid end. A first connector is connected to the computing device end of each of the plurality of conductive wires to releasably couple to an input/output port of the computing device and a second connector is connected to the hearing aid end of each of the plurality of conductive wires to releasably couple to an interface of the hearing aid, the second connector configured to deliver at least one of a first power supply and an audio signal from the computing device to the interface of the hearing aid. |
| US09071915B2 |
Method for testing a hearing device as well as an arrangement for testing a hearing device
A method for testing a hearing device (1, 4) comprising at least one microphone unit (2) and a receiver unit (3) is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of positioning the hearing device (1) at a predefined position in relation to an accessory device (4) comprising a microphone (5) and a loudspeaker (6), generating a first sound signal (7) by the loudspeaker (6), recording the first sound signal (7) by the microphone unit (2), generating a second sound signal (8) by the receiver unit (3), the second sound signal (8) being at least partly dependent on the recorded first sound signal (7), recording the second sound signal (8) by the microphone (5), evaluating the recorded second sound signal (8), and at least triggering further action based on results of evaluating the recorded second sound signal (8) in case the results do not conform to predefined expectation. Furthermore, an arrangement for testing a hearing device (1, 4) is also disclosed. |
| US09071914B2 |
Combined microphone and receiver assembly for extended wear canal hearing devices
An ultra miniature hearing device for extended wear entirely in the ear canal past the cartilaginous region is provided. The hearing device comprises a microphone and a speaker, each having a respective diaphragm. The speaker and microphone are placed parallel to each other in a single lateral assembly. The microphone and speaker can be arranged such that their diaphragms are orthogonal to one another so that cross coupling of vibrations is minimized, thus reducing internal feedback. Due to the parallel co-placement of the speaker and microphone in the single lateral assembly, the length of the device is substantially shorter than that of prior hearing aid devices. The hearing device is 12 mm or less in length to fit in the bony part of the ear canal for most individuals and is placed within approximately 3 mm from the eardrum. |
| US09071913B2 |
Network system for audio equipment, method and computer program
Wireless microphone systems are used, for example, in theater, stage performances, television, broadcast radio or in concerts to amplify voices or instruments for a large audience. Due to the plurality of actors or musicians, a corresponding number of audio channels is required to transmit the audio information. 20 to 50 audio channels can thus be required in a parallel mode even in common applications. The invention relates to a network system (1) for audio equipment (4) having a plurality of base stations (3) and having a plurality of microphone modules (4) wherein the microphone modules (4) are and/or can be allocated to the base stations (3) via configuration data and wherein each microphone module (4) of a microphone-module-base-station allocation is designed to transmit audio information on a transmitting frequency F1, F2, F3, F4, FX, FY to the allocated base station (3) of the same microphone-module-base-station allocation, wherein the base stations (3) are networked to one another such that the configuration data are interchangeable, having a control device (2), wherein the control device (2) is designed in respect of programming technology and/or circuit technology to automatically adapt the configuration data of the base stations (3) and/or microphone modules (4) and/or microphone-module-base-station allocations. The control device (2) is designed to adapt the configuration data in consideration of measured and/or calculated interactions of the microphone-module-base-station allocations and/or in consideration of the intended use of the respective microphone module (4). |
| US09071911B2 |
Method and system of controlling media devices configured to output signals to surrounding area
A system of controlling media devices configured for outputting signals to a surrounding area. The system including a control strategy for controlling operation of the media devices to execute operations according to a common schedule and a communications strategy for use in communicating the control strategy between the media devices in such a manner as to facilitate distribution of the control strategy to the media devices desired to operate according to the common timeline. |
| US09071910B2 |
Implantable microphone device
An implantable microphone device is provided. The device comprises a hermetically sealed housing (3) having an internal cavity (2). The internal cavity (2) has a microphone assembly arranged to receive sound waves originating from external the housing (3). The device further comprises a pressure sensor arrangement, arranged to detect and determine the differential pressure between the internal cavity (2) and the exterior of the housing (3). The determined differential pressure is used to determine a suitable transfer function to be applied to the output of the microphone assembly to produce a signal representative of the received sound waves. |
| US09071909B2 |
Electromagnetic transducer
A multifunctional electromagnetic transducer includes a bracket, a vibrating unit including a magnetic circuit part receiving in the bracket, and a plurality of helical wound springs assembled to the bracket for sustaining the magnetic circuit part. The magnetic circuit part defines a pole plate, a first magnet disposed at a center portion of the pole plate, and a plurality of second magnets surrounding the first magnet and forming a magnetic gap corporately with the first magnet. Each of the second magnets forms a receiving gap corporately with an adjacent second magnet. A voice coil is partially inserted into the magnetic gap. |
| US09071906B2 |
Wireless audio player and speaker system
The present disclosure relates to an audio player and speaker system, and particularly, to a wireless audio player and speaker system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a semi-permanent, wireless boombox-style audio player, for playing audio from an external audio source. |
| US09071904B2 |
Noise reducing sound-reproduction
An active noise reduction system includes an earphone with a cup-like housing and a transmitting transducer, which converts electrical signals into acoustical signals and is arranged at an aperture of the housing. A receiving transducer converts acoustical signals into electrical signals, and is arranged proximate the transmitting transducer. A duct includes an end acoustically coupled to the receiving transducer, and another end located proximate the transmitting transducer. An acoustical path extends from the transmitting transducer to a listener's ear, and has a first transfer characteristic. Another acoustical path extends from the transmitting transducer through the duct to the receiving transducer, and which has a second transfer characteristic. A control unit generates a noise reducing electrical signal that is supplied to the transmitting transducer. This signal is derived from the receiving-transducer signal and filtered with a third transfer characteristic. The second and third transfer characteristics together model the first transfer characteristic. |
| US09071903B1 |
Headgear for receiving and holding portable audio device and earphones
A piece of headgear or hat is capable of holding and storing an audio device and a earphone or headphone assembly either while the headgear or hat is in use or while it is stored. The headgear or hat has a pocket accessible from an exterior layer to accept and store the audio device and allow a user to manipulate and use the audio device without removing the headgear or hat. The headgear or hat also has a plurality of apertures so that the common wire set of the earphones or headphones can be threaded between the interior and exterior layers and contained therein. The left and right wire sets of the earphone or headphone assembly are contained within a series of hangers or a hanging band. The earphone or headphone assembly and the audio device are removable from the headgear or hat for repair, replacement or cleaning. |
| US09071901B2 |
Wireless communication system for use by teams
A wireless communication system comprises a first wireless communication device for a first team member, and a second wireless communication device for a second team member. The first wireless communication device comprises a microphone and a transmitter for transmitting an oral message via a first wireless communication protocol. The second wireless communication device comprises a main transceiver, a headset, and a support for mounting the main transceiver to the second team member remotely from the headset. The main transceiver receives the oral message from the first wireless communication device via the first communication protocol and retransmits the oral message via a second wireless communication protocol to the headset for generating audio corresponding to the oral message. The second wireless communication protocol operates at a lower power than the first wireless communication protocol, and the first communication protocol operates over a longer range than second wireless communication protocol. |
| US09071897B1 |
Magnetic coupling for stereo loudspeaker systems
A stereo loudspeaker system with a right channel and a left channel respectively feeding R and L signals to four speakers (including a right main speaker, a right sub-speaker, a left main speaker and a left sub-speaker) includes a transformer that, depending on the frequency, magnetically couples or isolates the two channels at the right and left sub-speakers. At low frequencies, the transformer isolates the right channel from the left one so that the R signal goes primarily only to the two right speakers, and the L signal goes primarily only to the two left ones. At high frequencies, both the right and left main speakers still receive their respective R and L signals; however, the transformer's magnet coupling conveys a differential R-L signal to the right sub-speaker and a differential L-R signal to the left sub-speaker, thereby producing an expanded acoustic image and realistic ambient field. |
| US09071891B2 |
Acoustic transducer
This invention relates to acoustic drivers with stationary and moving coils. Time varying signals are applied to the moving and stationary coils to control the movement of a diaphragm, which produces audible sound. The time varying signals correspond to an input audio signal such that the sound corresponds to the input audio signal. Some of the described embodiments include multiple moving coils, multiple stationary coils or both. Some embodiments include feedback for adjusting one or more of the signals based on a characteristic of the acoustic driver. Various compensation and other features of the invention are also described in relation to various embodiments. |
| US09071890B2 |
Pivotable cover for sliding tray and sliding tray including the cover
A sliding tray is configured to support one or more optical communications modules and includes a body portion having one or more mounting locations for the one or more optical communications modules, a trough projecting from the body portion and configured to support optical fibers connected to the one or more optical communications modules, and a cover pivotably connected to the tray for selectively covering the trough. |
| US09071889B2 |
Systems and methods for sensor spatial distribution mapping using assigned sensor regions
A radio tag sensor system includes a plurality of radio tag sensor chips, which incorporate respective sensors, store unique identification numbers, a plurality of micro base stations, and a central processing unit which perform communications with the micro base stations via a connection network. Each of the micro base stations performs wireless communications with and wirelessly supplies electric power to only those of the radio tag sensor chips which are disposed in an assigned region thereof. Each of the assigned regions includes at least one radio tag sensor chip which is not included in the other assigned regions. The central processing unit controls the communications via the connection network. The central processing unit collects the sensed values from sensors of the radio tag sensor chips through the micro base stations, generates a spatial distribution map of the sensed values, and updates the spatial distribution map with time. |
| US09071888B2 |
Instrumented component for wireless telemetry
A telemetry system for use in a combustion turbine engine (10) having a compressor (12), a combustor and a turbine (16) that includes a sensor (306) in connection with a turbine blade (301) or vane (22). A telemetry transmitter circuit (312) may be affixed to the turbine blade with an electrical connecting material (307) for routing electronic data signals from the sensor (306) to the telemetry transmitter circuit, the electronic data signals indicative of a condition of the turbine blade. A resonant energy transfer system for powering the telemetry transmitter circuit may include a rotating data antenna (314) affixed to the turbine blade or on a same substrate as that of the circuit. A stationary data antenna (320) may be affixed to a stationary component such as a stator (323) proximate and in spaced relation to the rotating data antenna for receiving electronic data signals from the rotating data antenna. |
| US09071887B2 |
Media session heartbeat messaging
A client device plays streaming media, and obtains a media playback position of the media at a first time. The client device sends a first message from the client device to a server, wherein the first message includes the media playback position and where the media playback position includes a time reference associated with playback of the media at the first time. The client device receives a first reply message from the server, wherein the first reply message indicates a time period. The client device sends a second message from the first client to the server, based on expiration of the time period, wherein the second message includes a media playback position of the media at a second time during the playing of the streaming media that is different than the first time. |
| US09071886B2 |
Targeted television advertising based on a profile linked to an online device associated with a content-selecting device
A profile provider: (i) associates a set of devices (including two or more online devices and possibly a set-top box); and (ii) delivers an advertisement targeted using profile information associated with one of the online devices. The advertisement is presented along with media content. If the media content is viewed using a single-viewer display, then profile information is used that is associated with an online device used to select or receive the media content. If the media content is viewed using a multiple-viewer display, then profile information is used that is associated with an online device used to select, receive, or present the media content or with an online device associated with one or more of those online devices. |
| US09071882B2 |
User-configurable video data service and interface
An embodiment of a system and method wherein a streaming ticker information relating to a video content is integrated with the video content and transmitted to a customer device over a communication network. |
| US09071881B2 |
Identifying an end of a television program
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums storing at least one program for identifying an end of a television program is described. In some implementations, a method comprises: periodically obtaining subtitles for a plurality of television programs during respective predetermined time intervals that include respective times when respective television programs in the plurality of television programs are scheduled to end; identifying sequences of strings from the subtitles for the plurality of television programs in accordance with predefined criteria associated with the plurality of television programs; and updating an aggregation of subtitles indicating that a television program in the plurality of television program has ended, with the identified sequences of strings. In some implementations, the method is implemented at a computing device having at least one processor and memory storing at least one program for execution by the at least one processor. |
| US09071874B2 |
System and method for recording and time-shifting programming in a television distribution system using policies
Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to store a policy specifying rules relating to recording, storage or delivery of broadcast programming to a consumer of such programming, and to record, store or deliver broadcast programming in response to a rule. According to an example embodiment, a method and system provide for a subscriber requesting that a broadcast television program be saved for the subscriber upstream from the subscriber in a television distribution system, and that the program offered to the subscriber for saving is determined based on a policy established for the program. According to another example embodiment a system provides a computing device including a computer program to control the recording or delivery of a broadcast television program in accordance with a policy established to control the recording or delivery of the broadcast television program. |
| US09071873B2 |
Storage device management techniques for a remote storage digital video recorder that handles multiple bitrate content
A remote storage digital video recorder (RS-DVR) system is disclosed. The RS-DVR system includes a network interface to communicate data between the RS-DVR system and a subscriber system via a network, a file system module coupled to the network interface, an ingest agent coupled to the file system module to receive encoded media segments that represent media content files encoded at a plurality of different bitrates; and a storage architecture coupled to the file system to store the encoded media segments, resulting in stored media segments. The RS-DVR carries out a number of functions and operations to service multiple subscribers and associated subscriber systems, such as various storage device management operations, file structure techniques, assignment of recorded media to subscribers, file system indexing, and supporting shared and per-subscriber content rights. |
| US09071871B2 |
Granular tagging of content
A method of associating metadata with digital content items is provided. The method includes determining portions of a digital content item containing content meriting associating of preexisting or dynamically-determined metadata information, associating such preexisting or dynamically-determined metadata with selected portions of the digital content item via application of tags to the selected portions, and controlling, during a dynamically unfolding time interval definable via timestamps, subsequent consumption of the digital content item based on the intermittent presence of tags. |
| US09071865B2 |
Docking station
Docking station for a modular device for digital multimedia reception, in particular for digital television reception, for the detachable coupling of a device for decoding digital multimedia signals, wherein the docking station comprises a back end interface 480 with a first coupling area 481 a designed for the detachable coupling of an external back end assembly group 180, as well as an HDMI input interface 484 designed for the detachable coupling of an HDMI output interface of an external device for decoding digital multimedia signals 8. |
| US09071863B2 |
Methods for inputting signals into a smart TV, a smart TV, and a smart interaction system using such methods
A method for inputting signals into a smart TV and a smart interaction system includes displaying a virtual keyboard having a key layout corresponding to that of a physical keyboard used for inputting signals into a smart TV; obtaining from the physical keyboard a first signal, which is generated in response to an operator selecting a physical key on the physical keyboard and is indicative of information on a position of the selected physical key on the physical keyboard; and displaying on the virtual keyboard the position of the selected physical key based on the first signal. |
| US09071858B2 |
Interfacing apparatus for transmitting moving image between communication terminals and method thereof
Apparatus and method for relaying moving images in real time using a communication terminal are provided. The apparatus for relaying the moving images in real time using the communication terminal includes a communication terminal of an information provider, configured to have functions of global positioning system, shooting moving images, and data transmission by accessing wireless Internet networks; a terminal of an information requester, configured to request moving images shot by the communication terminal of the information provider and receive moving image information on the shot moving images; and a relay server configured to provide a transmission program to the communication terminal of the information provider so as to track a location of the communication terminal and allow the information provider to transmit the moving image information in real time, and to control and guide, in real time, transmission of the moving image information between the communication terminal of the information provider and the terminal of the information requester. |
| US09071857B2 |
Methods and systems for online recommendation
A method for recommending videos is presented. The method includes generating a cross-usage matrix based upon a data of video sessions for a plurality of videos, generating a temporal matrix based upon release dates of the plurality of videos, generating a cross-temporal matrix based upon the cross-usage matrix and the temporal matrix, computing a global video rank corresponding to each of the plurality of videos based upon the cross-temporal matrix, generating a similarity score corresponding to each pair of videos in the plurality of videos based upon meta-data of the plurality of videos, and generating a local video rank corresponding to each of the plurality of videos relative to another video in the plurality of videos based upon the generated cross-usage matrix, the computed global video rank and the generated similarity score. |
| US09071855B1 |
Product availability notifications
In one example, a method includes determining a first video being viewed by a user of a computing device and one or more pieces of preview video associated with one or more videos different from the first video. The method further includes outputting for transmission to the computing device, identifying information for a particular video from the one or more videos, and receiving, from the computing device, an indication of user interest in the particular video. The method further includes responsive to determining at a second time, later than the first time, that the particular video is available for public viewing, outputting, for transmission to the computing device, a notification that the particular video is available for public viewing. |
| US09071847B2 |
Variable coding resolution in video codec
A video codec provides for encoding and decoding pictures of a video sequence at various coded resolutions, such that pictures can be encoded at lower coded resolutions based on bit rate or other constraints while maintaining a consistent display resolution. The video codec employs a coding syntax where a maximum coded resolution is signaled at the sequence level of the syntax hierarchy, whereas a lower coded resolution is signaled at the entry point level for a segment of one or more intra-coded frames and frames predictively encoded based thereon. This allows the use of a separate out-of-loop resampler after the decoder to up-sample the pictures to the display resolution. |
| US09071845B2 |
Method and arrangement for video coding
Methods and arrangements in video encoding and decoding entities. The methods and arrangements relate to the joint encoding of reference information associated with encoded video. The method and arrangement in a decoding entity relate to obtaining (402) a single syntax element associated with an encoded block Be, and identifying (404) a reference mode and one or more reference pictures based on the obtained syntax element. The method and arrangement further relate to-decoding (406) of the block Be based on the identified reference mode and one or more reference pictures, thus providing a decoded block, B, of pixels. |
| US09071843B2 |
RDP bitmap hash acceleration using SIMD instructions
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for a vectorized tile differencing algorithm for a remote desktop protocol (RDP). A server executes a CBC-variant vectorized hash algorithm that is used to produce a big key that identifies the tile, and keeps track of these big keys. Where a serial version of the algorithm operates on a single portion of the image at once—such as 32 bits—the vectorized algorithm operates on a plurality of these portions simultaneously. Where the server identifies that a tile has already been sent to a client via RDP because it has a second big key that matches the big key, it sends the big key to the client—which caches received tiles—and the client uses it to access the proper tile for display. Where the server identifies that a tile has not already been sent to the client, it sends the client the tile. |
| US09071842B2 |
Detection of video feature based on variance metric
A metric representing the sum of variances for pixel blocks of a region of an image are used to identify the presence a video feature of the image, and a transcoding is performed responsive to identifying the presence of the video feature. The identified video feature can include, but is not limited to, a scene change, the presence of a black border region or a caption region, or the complexity of the image. The transcoding operation can include, but is not limited to, coding the image as an Intra-frame, omitting the content corresponding to the black border region or the caption region from the transcoded image or allocating a relatively lower bit budget for the black border region or a relatively higher bit budget to the caption region during transcoding of the image, or setting the bit budget for rate control during transcoding. |
| US09071840B2 |
Encoder with adaptive rate control for H.264
A video encoder is disclosed, the encoder for encoding image frames that are divisible into macroblocks. The video encoder includes means for generating a QP estimate for the macroblocks of an image frame. The video encoder further includes means for selection of a frame level quantization parameter (QP) for the image frame, using one of mean, median, and mode of QP estimates for the macroblocks. A method for encoding video is disclosed for encoding image frames that are divisible into macroblocks. The method generates a quantization parameter (QP) estimate for the macroblocks of an image frame and selects a frame level QP for the image frame, using one of mean, median, and mode of QP estimates for the macroblocks. |
| US09071839B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video, and method and apparatus for decoding video
A method of decoding an image including extracting information that indicates an intra prediction mode applied to a current block to be decoded, from a bitstream; determining one of neighboring pixels adjacent to the current block and filtered neighboring pixels filtered from the neighboring pixels as reference pixels, based on at least one of a size of the current block and an intra prediction mode of the current block; performing intra prediction on the current block using the extracted information and the determined reference pixels, wherein, when the current block has a size of N×N, where N is integer, the neighboring pixels include 2N neighboring pixels adjacent to an upper side and an upper right side of the current block and 2N neighboring pixels adjacent to a left side and a below left side of the current block. |
| US09071835B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating multiview image with hole filling
A multiview image generating method is provided. The multiview image generating method includes generating a hole image using depth information of an original image, dividing a boundary region in which a hole area of the generated hole image is in contact with a background into at least one patch, selecting an area having the most similar pixel value to a background included in the divided at least one patch, in a preset area of the original image, and filling a hole area on the divided at least one patch with a pixel value of the selected area to generate a first view image. |
| US09071832B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and image processing program
Provided is an image processing device including a congruence degree detecting unit which detects a degree of congruence of each of multiple scenes with respect to an input image made of a two-dimensional image, a depth image generating unit which generates, with respect to the input image, depth images each obtained by a technique corresponding to each of the scenes, a blending unit which blends the depth images, which are generated by the depth image generating unit and each generated by a technique corresponding to each of the scenes, at a blending ratio based on the degree of congruence of each of the scenes, to generate a blended depth image, and a three-dimensional image generating unit which generates a three-dimensional image, which can be viewed three-dimensionally, made of a left-eye image and a right-eye image generated by shifting each pixel of the input image using the blended depth image. |
| US09071827B1 |
Method and system for automatic 3-D image creation
Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and non-transitory computer readable media that relate to stereoscopic image creation. A camera captures an initial image at an initial position. A target displacement from the initial position is determined for a desired stereoscopic effect, and an instruction is provided that specifies a direction in which to move the camera from the initial position. While the camera is in motion, an estimated displacement from the initial position is calculated. When the estimated displacement corresponds to the target displacement, the camera automatically captures a candidate image. An acceptability analysis is performed to determine whether the candidate image has acceptable image quality and acceptable similarity to the initial image. If the candidate image passes the acceptability analysis, a stereoscopic image is created based on the initial and candidate images. |
| US09071825B2 |
Tiling or blockiness detection based on spectral power signature
Tiling or blockiness detection based on spectral power signature uses one-dimensional vectors at block edges to find a spectral signature created by the tiling or blockiness in an image. A baseband component of the image, such as luminance, is edge enhanced, and then the pixel values along each horizontal line are summed to form a one-dimensional column vector of summed edge values for the image. The power of the column vector and the power of selected frequency components within the column vector are determined. The powers are then combined and converted to dimensionless tiling or blockiness values relative to each of the selected frequencies. |
| US09071824B2 |
Scalable image coding and decoding
A method and device for encoding an image into a scalable bitstream, the method including acts of dividing the Image in image blocks; encoding each image block in accordance with one of a plurality of different encoding modes, to obtain corresponding block bitstreams comprising one or more types of data representative of said encoding mode; and forming the scalable bitstream by iteratively scanning the block bitstreams, each scan including acts of: selecting at least one of said types of data, including in the scalable bitstream data of the selected types from the block bitstreams, and including in the scalable bitstream flags indicating the selected types of data. |
| US09071822B2 |
Methods and device for data alignment with time domain boundary
Apparatus and methods of using content information for encoding multimedia data are described. A method of processing multimedia data includes obtaining content information of multimedia data, and encoding the multimedia data so as to align a data boundary with a frame boundary in a time domain, wherein said encoding is based on the content information. In another aspect, a method of processing multimedia data includes obtaining a content classification of the multimedia data, and encoding blocks in the multimedia data as intra-coded blocks or inter-coded blocks based on the content classification to increase the error resilience of the encoded multimedia data. Apparatus that can process multimedia data described in these methods are also disclosed. |
| US09071821B2 |
Method and system for long term monitoring of video assets
A method and system for test monitoring video assets provided by a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) includes an expert test monitoring platform (ETMP) configured to emulate MCDN client systems at a facility of an MCDN service provider. The ETMP may be used to test monitor MCDN performance by acquiring a baseband video signal and performing a test operation. The test operation may involve determining if a video freeze event and/or an audio freeze event has occurred with respect to the baseband video signal. In one example, detection of both an audio and a video freeze event may determine a freeze event for an MHD. After a freeze event is detected, the MHD may be restarted. The freeze event may be logged as a result of the test operation. A predetermined network address may be sent a notification of the freeze alert. |
| US09071820B2 |
Apparatus for displaying a 3D image and controlling method thereof based on display size
An apparatus for displaying an image and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a more convenient and pleasant 3D stereoscopic image appreciating environment can be provided to a user. The present invention includes a display unit including a parallax generating means for displaying a 3D stereoscopic image of a binocular disparity type, a memory unit configured to store first to third images, and a controller determining a prescribed display condition, the controller, if a first condition is met, controlling the 3D stereoscopic image to be displayed via the display unit using the first image and the second image, the controller, if a second condition is met, controlling the 3D stereoscopic image to be displayed via the display unit using the first image and the third image. Preferably, the first to third images include images of a common object in different viewpoints, respectively. |
| US09071815B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for subtitle synchronization in multimedia content
In accordance with an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method comprises receiving a request for synchronization of a subtitle text data with multimedia content. The method also comprises accessing summarization data associated with at least a portion of the multimedia content. The summarization data comprises text data generated from at least the portion of the multimedia content. The text data is compared with at least a portion of the subtitle text data for determining presence of the text data in the subtitle text data. The subtitle text data is synchronized with the multimedia content based on the determination of the presence of the text data in at least the portion of the subtitle text data. |
| US09071811B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing disruptions in recorded programming
Various embodiments reduce disruptions in recorded programming, by automatically recording retransmissions of prior programming. In one embodiment, a recording manager is provided for execution on a receiving device, such as a set-top box. The recording manager detects a disruption in a recorded program. In response, the recording manager automatically records, or schedules a recording of, a later transmission of the same program. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US09071809B2 |
Mobile, personsize display system and method of use
A mobile personsize display system and method of use; in general, a platform, a support frame, a module display frame, an LED panel display formed of a plurality of LED display modules having a plurality of pixels, four or more casters, a battery powered supply, a media player (electrically communicating with the plurality of display modules for controlling the display of an image(s) on the LED panel display, and a removable content storage device and; thus, functions as a rugged person size mobile, light weight, battery powered display to inform customers and passers-by about product and service offerings via a rugged person size mobile light weight battery powered display. |
| US09071804B2 |
Television receiver and electronic apparatus housing with support
According to one embodiment, a television receiver includes: a display device comprising a display screen and a rear surface at a side opposite to the display screen; a housing accommodating the display device; a support supporting the housing at a side of the rear surface of the display device; a first member in the housing at the side of the rear surface of the display device; a joint joining the support and the first member; and a second member in the housing, the second member being configured to cover the side of the rear surface of the display device, the second member comprising an opening from which at least a part of the first member is exposed and an extending portion located between the support and the first member and extending between edges of the opening, the opening being configured to accommodate at least a part of the joint. |
| US09071800B2 |
Display unit and displaying method for enhancing display image quality
A display unit includes: a liquid crystal display section displaying a series of original frame images and a series of interpolated frame images in a time-divisional manner, the interpolated frame images being generated based on the original frame images; a backlight emitting light intermittently; and a backlight control section controlling a first light-emission amount and a second light-emission amount of the backlight independently of each other, the first light-emission amount being an amount during a first period corresponding to a period for displaying the original frame images, and the second light-emission amount being an amount during a second period corresponding to a period for displaying the interpolated frame images. |
| US09071798B2 |
System and method for switching between media streams for non-adjacent channels while providing a seamless user experience
An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream that corresponds to a first channel in a predetermined sequence of channels. In response to the first request, the device displays the first video stream. While displaying the first video stream, the device receives a second request to display a second video stream that corresponds to a second channel in the predetermined sequence of channels and is separated from the first channel by one or more intervening channels. In response to receiving the second request, the device displays at least a portion of the first video stream concurrently with recently received content of one or more of the intervening channels and displays recently received content of one or more of the intervening channels concurrently with at least a portion of the second video stream. |
| US09071796B2 |
Managing multiple media content sources
Media content is received through a plurality of inputs, each input being associated with one of a plurality of media content sources. Media content is provided to a media player for display in a first viewing frame based on a first one of the media content sources. A request is received for a second viewing frame. A list of available media content sources is provided. A source selection of a second one of the media content sources is received. Media content from the selected second one of the media content sources is provided in the second viewing frame. |
| US09071790B2 |
Remote control method, remote controller, remote control response method and set-top box
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a remote control method, a remote controller, a remote control response method, and a set-top box. The remote control method includes: sensing a user selection operation event, and judging a type of the user selection operation event; when the type of the user selection operation event is corresponding to an operation control mode type, sending a user selection operation event message; when the type of the user selection operation event is not corresponding to the operation control mode type, switching an operation control mode. The remote control method complies with a use habit of a user in terms of operation control mode switching, so that the user may trigger operation control mode switching through natural association without special learning, thereby improving a user experience effect. |
| US09071781B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and defective pixel detection method
An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor including a plurality of pixels each having a microlens and a plurality of photoelectric conversion means, and defective pixel detection means for detecting defective photoelectric conversion means from among the plurality of photoelectric conversion means, wherein the defective pixel detection means determines defective photoelectric conversion means by comparing an output signal output from photoelectric conversion means of a subject, sequentially taken from the plurality of photoelectric conversion means, for detection with first signals from photoelectric conversion means included in pixels neighboring the pixel including the photoelectric conversion means of the subject for detection, each position of the photoelectric conversion means included in the neighboring pixels corresponding to a position of the photoelectric conversion means of the subject for detection with respect to the microlens. |
| US09071780B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method of driving the same, and electronic system including the device
A solid-state imaging device includes: a unit pixel including a photoelectric conversion section, an impurity-diffusion region capable of temporarily accumulating or holding electric charges generated by the photoelectric conversion section, and a reset transistor resetting the impurity-diffusion region by a voltage of a voltage-supply line, and having an impurity concentration such that at least the reset transistor side of the impurity-diffusion region becomes a depletion state; and a drive circuit changing the voltage of the voltage-supply line from a first voltage lower than a depletion potential of the reset transistor side of the impurity-diffusion region to a second voltage higher than the depletion potential while the reset transistor is on. |
| US09071775B2 |
Image information communication apparatus, image processing apparatus, and storage medium
An image information communication apparatus includes a communication unit, a permission unit, and a controller. The communication unit communicates image information with an external device in response to receiving a communication request. The permission unit permits the communication request on the basis of a result of comparison between a total band and an overall band. The total band is obtained by adding a communication band necessary for requested communication in the case where the communication unit receives the communication request and a band being used for other communications. The overall band is obtained by converting an image processing capability of the apparatus into a band. The controller controls the communication unit so as to communicate with the external device for the request permitted by the permission unit. |
| US09071773B2 |
Projection system
A projection apparatus includes a communication unit, an obtaining unit, a projection unit, a generator, and a controller. The communication unit communicates with an other projection apparatus. The obtaining unit obtains image data and the projection unit projects an image based on the image data obtained by the obtaining unit. The generator generates an on-screen-display (OSD) image. The controller controls the projection unit to project a projection image by superimposing the OSD image onto an image, based on the image data obtained by the obtaining unit, in a stack projection mode in which a projection image of the projection unit and a projection image of the other projection apparatus are projected to be superimposed with each other, and to transmit, to the other projection apparatus, information concerning a position at which the OSD image is superimposed. |
| US09071769B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining type of video signal to be output
A method for determining a type of video signal to be output is provided. The method includes: respectively extracting detection signals in video signals in different video output interface modes; respectively converting the extracted detection signal into a direct current voltage signal; and respectively comparing the direct current voltage signal with a voltage threshold, and determining, according to a comparison result, a type of video signal to be output. An embodiment further provides an apparatus for determining a type of video signal to be output. The embodiments of the present invention, by respectively extracting a detection signal included in a video signal in each video output interface mode, and comparing a voltage of the detection signal with a voltage threshold, determine whether a corresponding DAC port in the each video output interface mode is connected to a load terminal, and thereby determine a video signal to be output. |
| US09071768B2 |
Method of transmitting video information over a wireless multi-path communication link and corresponding wireless station
The present invention a method of transmitting video information over a communication link made of several transmission paths between wireless transmitting and receiving stations. The method comprises, in the wireless transmitting station, obtaining an uncompressed video frame made of an array of pixel blocks, a pixel in the pixel blocks being represented by base pixel information and enhancement pixel information; generating at least one set of complementary pixel blocks from a given pixel block of the obtained uncompressed video frame, by applying different operations to said given pixel block for dropping different enhancement pixel information from that pixel block, so that the complementary pixel blocks comprise different enhancement pixel information and each comprises the base pixel information; and for each set, transmitting the complementary pixel blocks over respective different transmission paths to the wireless receiving station. This provides robustness of video transmission while keeping a high quality of video rendering. |