| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09463759B1 |
Underride guards
An underride collision protection system for a truck. In one example, a rear bumper brace gusset is attached to a truck body and extends a rear bumper toward and connects it to the side edge of the truck. A front panel bracket is also attached to the truck body. A fabric side underride guard panel has a front end and a rear end. The front panel bracket and the rear bumper guard hold the fabric side underride guard panel into place at the front end and rear end respectively. A stretching mechanism pulls the side underride guard panel taut between the front end and the rear end. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US09463752B1 |
Purse securing device
A purse securing device (1) having straps (4,5,6) with mechanical fasteners (13) that attach to head rest posts (10) or a rear portion of a seat in a vehicle and then wraps around handles (17) of a purse (3) or hand bag to prevent theft. |
| US09463750B2 |
Tailgate compartment release mechanism arrangement
A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes a structure that defines a compartment, and a cover that is moveably attached to the structure to cover the compartment. A compartment latch mechanism is attached to the structure for latching the cover to the structure. A compartment release mechanism is coupled to the compartment latch mechanism for actuating the compartment latch mechanism. The compartment release mechanism is disposed on one of a first lateral edge surface or a second lateral edge surface of the structure. When the tailgate assembly is disposed in a first position, the body of the vehicle conceals the compartment release mechanism to prevent access to the compartment release mechanism, thereby preventing actuation of the compartment latch mechanism and securing the cover relative to the structure. |
| US09463749B2 |
Door-frame hook for securing vehicle roof-top loads
There is disclosed a door-frame hook, for enabling a load strap, attached to a vehicle rooftop load carrier, to engage a door frame of the vehicle to secure the load carrier when the load strap is tightened. The hook may be anchored onto a frame ridge of the door frame and in part, covered by a sealer attached to the door frame. The door-frame hook of the invention may, advantageously, remain in position, between the frame-ridge of the door frame and the sealer potter, regardless of the degree of tightness of the load strap or the degree of its pull on the hook, as well as when the load strap is unattached. Moreover, it does not harm the door sealer nor does it interfere in any way with its sealing function or with the shutting action of the door. |
| US09463745B2 |
Side entry vehicle systems and related components
A side entry system for a vehicle having at least four doors includes a running board coupled to an exterior surface of the vehicle. A first step is included at or within a door sill of a rear passenger door. The first step is positioned above the running board. A second step is formed adjacent to the first step and is included in an interior of the vehicle. The second step is positioned above the first step. The running board, the first step, and the second step are configured to assist standing entry into a passenger pod of the vehicle through the rear passenger door. A roll cage is coupled to the vehicle and is attached to a rear bumper of the vehicle. The passenger pod extends aft of a rear taillight of the vehicle and includes a passenger seat positioned at least mostly aft of the rear taillight. |
| US09463743B2 |
Vehicle information display device and vehicle information display method
A vehicle information display device including: a subject detecting sensor that detects an object in a surrounding area of a host vehicle; and a display portion that is configured to have a display area for displaying a display frame corresponded to the object in a mode of surrounding the object, and for emphatically displaying the object detected by the subject detecting sensor, and the display frame is displayed in a manner of that the emphasizing degree of an enlarging part is less than that of a non-enlarging part, when the display frame enlarges as the host vehicle moves. |
| US09463742B1 |
Mitigating the risk of vehicle backover incidents
A safety system is provided that will (i) operate automatically, regardless of distraction or error by the driver or the backover victim; (ii) operate unaffected by the blindspots that block the driver's view or background noise that block audible alarms for the driver or the backover victim; (iii) operate through an external activation, intentional or unintentional, by the potential backover victim or passerby; and/or (iv) remove driver discretion by causing the vehicle to stop upon activation of the safety system by the potential backover victim or passerby. |
| US09463733B1 |
Lamp device for a vehicle
A lamp device for a heavy duty vehicle includes a lamp housing unit having a base plate and a surrounding wall which cooperatively define an opening facing laterally, a light-transmissive lampshade cooperating with the base plate and the surrounding wall to define a chamber which is in communication with the opening, a low beam unit and a high beam unit mounted in the chamber, and a turning lamp unit including a plurality of turning lamps which are mounted on the base plate such that light emitted therefrom is visible through the opening. |
| US09463732B2 |
Latching system for automatic securement of a container to a container chassis
A latching system for automatic securement of a container to a container chassis is provided. The latching system includes an actuation device that extends through a surface of the container chassis, a linkage mechanism disposed below the surface, and a latch coupled to a pivot. The latch is positioned above the surface of the container chassis. Placement of the container on the container chassis actuates the actuation device causing the linkage mechanism to move the latch such that the latch automatically secures the container to the container chassis. |
| US09463728B2 |
Seat for vehicle
A seat for a vehicle may include a unit foam that is formed so as to have a magnetic property due to a magneto-rheological fluid, and magnetic bodies that are provided on both sides of the unit foam, respectively, to form a magnetic field passing through the unit foam. |
| US09463720B2 |
Child safety seat with safety belt adjustment mechanism
A child safety seat assembly includes a seat shell that is secured to a vehicle seat by way of a standard safety belt system, and a belt adjustment mechanism that facilitates adjusting the horizontal belt path taken by the standard safety belt through the safety seat assembly such that the horizontal belt path aligns with a child's center of gravity (CG). In a first fixed state, the belt adjustment mechanism generates a lower horizontal belt path that is a relatively short distance from the seat base portion, thereby optimizing the seat assembly for securing shorter children or infants having lower CGs. As a child grows, the belt adjustment mechanism is adjusted into a second fixed state that maintains the horizontal belt path at a relatively long distance from the seat base portion, thereby optimizing the seat assembly for securing taller children having higher CGs. |
| US09463718B2 |
Vehicle seat latching mechanism
A seat assembly is provided with a seat bottom adapted to mount to a vehicle. The seat assembly further includes a first seat back pivotally attached to the seat bottom defining a recline angle relative to the seat bottom, and a second seat back pivotally attached to the seat bottom proximate to the first seat back defining a recline angle relative to the seat bottom. A pin is pivotally connected to the second seat back, is sized to be received within a latch mechanism on the first seat back, and is operably connected to the second seat back to pivot to a stowed position when the first seat back is pivoted to a recline angle that is less than the second seat back recline angle. |
| US09463716B2 |
Vehicle slide rail device
A vehicle slide rail device in which a rear portion of the front locking section and a front portion of the rear locking section each contact inner surfaces of corresponding lock grooves; and a forward/rearward distance between a front surface of the front locking section and a front surface of a corresponding said forward/rearward movement restriction groove, and a forward/rearward distance between a rear surface of the rear locking section and a rear surface of a corresponding said forward/rearward movement restriction groove, are narrower than a forward/rearward distance between a rear surface of the front locking section and a rear surface of a corresponding said forward/rearward movement restriction groove, and a forward/rearward distance between a front surface of the rear locking section and a front surface of a corresponding said forward/rearward movement restriction groove. |
| US09463714B2 |
Vehicle seat suspension mat
A vehicle seat suspension mat (10) comprises one or more suspension springs (16) for supporting a seat cushion (22) and an occupancy sensor module (24) supported by at least one suspension spring. The module includes a first plate (26) having a switch element (38) arranged thereon and a second plate (28) mounted in a cantilevered manner to the first plate, in such a way that the first and second plates form together a pair of jaws, which the switch element is arranged between. The first and second plates are configured so as to move closer together against their resiliency in response to compressive forces acting on the first and second plates. |
| US09463712B2 |
Method and device for controlling a powertrain
A method controlling a powertrain fitted in an automobile and including an electric motor including a rotor and stator, the method including: regulation of currents of the rotor and the stator via control signals from the electric motor, wherein the currents and control signals are expressed in a rotating coordinate system and include a plurality of axes, the control signals resulting from a first transformation including a change of variable that enables dynamic decoupling between the control signals, along each of the axes of the plurality of axes; saturation of the control signals resulting from the first transformation to satisfy constraints of a battery fitted in the automobile and connected to the electric motor; and blockage of at least some of the current reference values of the regulation if the control signals are saturated. |
| US09463710B2 |
System and method of balancing battery cell
A method and system of balancing battery cells are provided that use a data map that includes a balancing duty ratio based on an environment temperature of a battery and the number of balancing target-cells. The method includes measuring, by a temperature sensor, the environment temperature of a battery. In addition, a controller is configured to identify the number of the balancing target-cells and calculate a balancing duty ratio by substituting the environment temperature and the number of the balancing-target cells to the data map. A balancing time is deducted by the controller based on the calculated duty ratio and the corresponding battery cells are balanced by the controller with the calculated duty ratio for the balancing time. |
| US09463707B2 |
Method and system for aligning a vehicle with a wireless charging assembly
A method includes: estimating a position of a driver's eyes in a vehicle during a parking event in a parking spot that includes a wireless charging assembly in which a primary coil is installed, projecting an image onto an interior surface of the vehicle at a location based on the estimated position of the driver's eyes to assist the driver in aligning the vehicle with the wireless charging assembly, transmitting signals from the vehicle toward a reference object located at a rear area of the parking spot and detecting echoed signals at the vehicle caused by the transmitted signals reflecting from a surface of the reference object, and listening for an alignment confirmation signal at the vehicle from the wireless charging assembly indicating that the vehicle is satisfactorily aligned with the wireless charging assembly. |
| US09463706B2 |
Infrared triangulation method for locating vehicles for hands-free electric vehicle charging
A charging system for charging a vehicle includes a charging station and a vehicle. The charging station includes a wireless charging coil, an infrared receiver oriented to receive infrared signals generated proximate the coil, and a first wireless communications device. The vehicle includes a charge plate, a first emitter configured to generate a first infrared signal, a second wireless communications device in communication with the first wireless communication device, an in-vehicle display, and at least one controller. The vehicle can include a second emitter to emit a second infrared signal. The controller is configured to present positional information via the display. The positional information corresponds to a vehicle position detected in response to the first infrared signal being received by the infrared receiver. |
| US09463705B2 |
System and method for adaptive charging compliance control
Apparatus, system, and method for adaptive charging compliance control are disclosed. A charging station wirelessly charges a vehicle in compliance with emissions regulations. A controller in the charging station obtains information regarding the characteristics of an incoming vehicle and accesses a maximum regulation-compliant power level database based on the vehicle information obtained and determines conditions of the vehicle parked at the charging station. The controller determines and delivers the maximum power level to wirelessly charge the vehicle while maintaining the level of field emissions no greater than the regulatory limit. |
| US09463702B2 |
Charging inlet device
A charging inlet device (1, 2, 3) includes: an inlet housing (10) fixed to a vehicle body panel (P) with a charging port (11A) open towards an outer side of a vehicle body; a terminal (20) arranged in the charging port (11A); and a rear connector (50) mounted to the inlet housing (10) on an opposite side from the charging port (11A) and having a wire lead-out terminal (52) connecting the terminal (20) and an electrical wire (W) routed through the vehicle body. |
| US09463698B2 |
Hybrid vehicles
A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances. |
| US09463695B2 |
Straddle electric vehicle
A straddle electric vehicle comprises a battery case for storing a battery unit; an inverter for converting DC power stored in the battery unit into AC power; a plurality of electric components connected to the battery unit and the inverter; and an electric motor for generating driving power for rotating a drive wheel, by the AC power generated by conversion in the inverter; wherein the plurality of electric components are stored in the battery case such that the electric components are placed above the battery unit. |
| US09463690B2 |
Neck assembly
A neck assembly of a fuel system component comprises a housing. The housing comprises a sleeve having a first end portion positioned exterior to the fuel system component and a longitudinally opposed second end portion. The housing further comprises an encapsulation ring extending radially outwardly from the second end portion of the sleeve and encapsulated within a wall of the fuel system component. The neck assembly further comprises a valve cartridge at least partially received within the sleeve and secured thereto. The valve cartridge comprises a conduit having a first end portion positioned exterior to the fuel system component and a longitudinally opposed second end portion. |
| US09463685B2 |
Tailgate liner assembly and method for vehicle tailgate
A tailgate on a vehicle and a method of forming a tailgate for a vehicle includes a tailgate frame, a tailgate liner secured to the tailgate frame and a tailgate liner insert fixedly secured to the tailgate liner. The tailgate liner is formed of a first material and the tailgate liner insert is formed of a second material that is different from the first material. The tailgate liner insert is adapted to be accommodated within an insert aperture defined in the tailgate liner. The tailgate liner insert having an integrally molded feature. |
| US09463678B2 |
System for reducing roll and pitch in a moving vehicle
A vehicle is disclosed designed for traveling on a traveling surface. The vehicle comprises a detection means for detecting irregularities in the traveling surface. From the detected irregularities in the traveling surface a first kinematic effect is calculated that is being exerted, or about to be exerted, on a support wheel of the vehicle. The vehicle further comprises an actuator that exerts a second kinematic effect on the support wheel. The second kinematic effect is identical or similar in magnitude to the first kinematic effect, and opposite in sign. The vehicle can be any vehicle, in particular an industrial vehicle, more particularly a vehicle that can be extended to a height exceeding its wheelbase. |
| US09463677B2 |
Wheel suspension
A wheel suspension for a motor vehicle is disclosed having a wheel carrier and having multiple links which are each connected to the wheel carrier by way of a link attachment. The wheel carrier has a shell body composed of sheet metal and includes a base and a side wall. The shell body is closed off in regions by a cover plate, with the shell body being stiffened in this way. At least one link attachment has a bearing receptacle which is fixed in the side wall of the shell body, and in which a bearing is held. The link is fastened to link attachment, and engages around the bearing receptacle. The bearing receptacle is a sleeve or is formed as a rim hole in the side wall of the shell body. |
| US09463672B2 |
Pneumatic tire tread with sipes and mold blade
The invention provides a tire tread, the tread having at least one circumferentially extending or laterally extending main groove, the maximum radial depth of the at least one main groove defining a non-skid tread depth, the at least one main groove partially forming at least one tread element, the at least one tread element having a sipe therein, wherein the sipe has a first portion having a first and second opposed side, and a third side joining said first and second side, and said sipe further including a continuous tubular pathway bordering said first, second and third side. The invention further includes a blade for molding a tire, the blade comprising a first portion having a first and second opposed side, and a third side joining said first and second side, and said blade further including a continuous tubular pathway extending along the third side and partially extending along at least one of the first and second side. |
| US09463671B2 |
Pneumatic vehicle tire
A vehicle pneumatic tire has a two-layer belt and a tread having profile grooves within width TW 45. The maximum depth of the profile grooves varies within TW 45 and the tread has an outer contour defined by reference to rolling radius differences. The maximum depth of the grooves within a center region of TW 45 is the same. The maximum depth of the grooves in the shoulder region is a maximum of 2 mm less than in the center region. The outer contour of the tread in the center region is made flat so that the outer contour radius difference (ArdM) between the zenith and the center region axial end is less than 1 mm, and the outer contour of the tread in the transition region is configured so that the outer contour radius difference (Ards) between the zenith and the transition is 3 mm to 5 mm. |
| US09463667B2 |
Axle mount for utility vehicles
The invention relates to an axle mount for utility or commercial vehicles, comprising a carrier unit and a protective unit, wherein the carrier unit has a first fastening region for the fixing of a utility vehicle axle thereto and has, arranged adjacent to said fastening region, a receiving region for receiving chassis systems, and wherein the protective unit is arranged on the carrier unit such that the receiving region is enclosed transversely with respect to an axial direction by the carrier unit and by the protective unit, in such a way that the ingress of foreign bodies into the receiving region is prevented. |
| US09463666B2 |
Aerodynamic bicycle rim and wheel
Embodiments described herein provide aerodynamic bicycle rims and wheels. Embodiments can include a bicycle rim that is wider than the width of the tire proximate to the outer edge of the rim and is shaped so that there is a tangent line tangent to the rim and the tire. The tangent line can be tangent to the rim on the sidewall or elsewhere on the rim. The widest part of the rim can be radially inward from the outer edge of the rim or elsewhere on the rim and the tangent line can be tangent at the widest part of the rim or elsewhere on the rim. |
| US09463662B1 |
Portable utility storage apparatus and associated use thereof
A portable utility storage apparatus includes a lower portion having a first receiving section, and an upper portion contiguously formed with the lower portion wherein the upper portion has a second receiving section oppositely spaced from the first receiving section. A clip is selectively and removably engaged with the upper portion in such a manner that the first receiving section and the second receiving section freely and synchronously oscillate about a fulcrum axis defined substantially perpendicular to the upper portion. A first coupling is removably attached to another one of the first receiving section and the second receiving section. Notably, a rail is removably attached to one of the first receiving section and the second receiving section. In this manner, the rail having a second coupling is interchangeably engaged with the first receiving section and the second receiving section. |
| US09463655B2 |
Recording device and recording method
A recording device includes: a recording section that records an image on a recording medium; a detecting section that detects an image defect in the image recorded by the recording section; and a repair recording section that is provided separately from the recording section and that performs repair recording for the image defect detected by the detecting section. With such a configuration of the recording device, an image defect in the image recorded on a recording medium is repaired. |
| US09463654B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a base housing and an upper housing. The base housing has a surrounding wall portion and a bottom wall portion that are formed integrally. A recording head, which performs recording on a medium, is mounted in the inner space of the base housing. The upper housing such as a scanning apparatus is provided over the base housing and has a function of closing the inner space of the base housing. The recording apparatus further includes a part attachment unit and a main board. The part attachment unit is detachably attached to the base housing in the inner space of the base housing. The main board is fixed to the part attachment unit and controls operation of at least the recording head. |
| US09463651B2 |
Inkjet printer, method of controlling inkjet printer and computer program
A inkjet printer calculates a print percentage indicative of a load on a pressurizing mechanism for each block, based on print data, and then factors in the print percentage for each block to determine the upper limit of a transport speed so that the upper limit becomes slower as the print percentage increases and becomes slower as a printing distance in a transport direction corresponding to the print data increases. This provides the upper limit of the transport speed in consideration for not only a spontaneous temperature increase in each block but also a temperature increase due to the influence of its surrounding blocks. This allows the blocks in a head to operate at temperatures within a permissible range. |
| US09463649B1 |
Ink and media treatment to affect ink spread on media in an inkjet printer
A printer comprises a plurality of printheads, at least one auxiliary dryer positioned immediately adjacent the plurality of printheads and configured to control spread of ink drops ejected by the plurality of printheads, a main dryer positioned to dry ink on the media after the media has passed the at least one auxiliary dryer, at least one actuator to drive media transport and move media past each of these components, and a controller. The power of the main dryer is higher than the power of the auxiliary dryer. The controller is operatively connected to each of the components and is configured to control the operation of the at least one auxiliary dryer with reference to the type of media being printed and the type of ink being ejected. A method for operating the printer is also disclosed. |
| US09463648B2 |
Apparatus and method for applying a release agent to a substrate having a print image
An approach is provided for applying a release agent to a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The approach involves determining a presence of at least one ink image applied to at least one portion of one of the first surface and the second surface of the substrate by way of one or more steps of a printing process. The approach also involves determining the substrate is to be made ready for printing one or more other images on the other of the first surface and the second surface by one or more steps of another printing process. The approach further comprising causing, at least in part, the release agent to be applied to the substrate so as to cover the at least one portion of the first surface and the second surface of the substrate upon which the at least one ink image is applied at a time before the substrate is subjected to the one or more steps of the another printing process. |
| US09463647B1 |
Printer and method for operating the same
A printer includes a discharge unit, a first printing unit disposed along a sheet conveying path extending from the discharge unit and configured to print an image on a first sheet while the first sheet is conveyed from the discharge unit to the first printing unit and then to the discharge unit, a second printing unit disposed farther from the discharge unit than the first printing unit along the sheet conveyance path and configured to print an image on a second sheet while the second sheet is conveyed towards the discharge unit therethrough, using a printing method that is different from a printing method of the first printing unit, and a control unit configured to determine whether or not each of the first and second printing unit is in use and control only one of the first and second printing units to print the image, based on the determination. |
| US09463646B2 |
Tilting touch screen for printer and printer with tilting touch screen
A tilting touch screen for a printer and a printer having such a tilting touch screen are provided. The tilting touch screen may include a touch screen housing, a touch screen located in the touch screen housing, means for pivotally connecting the touch screen housing to a printer housing, the printer housing defining an opening closable by the tilting touch screen, and a controller for controlling the printer in communication with the touch screen. The screen tilts open for direct access to the print mechanisms and paper buckets for service or paper loading, without requiring the removal of any additional covers. |
| US09463642B1 |
Image authentication using material penetration characteristics
A method for printing an image with authentication features, including: printing a media treatment material onto a print medium in accordance with a pattern of predefined authentication features, and printing one or more visible printing materials onto the print medium in accordance with an image pattern, thereby providing a printed visible image. The media treatment material alters an interaction between the visible printing materials and the print medium so that characteristics of the interaction, such as printing material penetration characteristics, are different in image regions where the media treatment material was printed than in image regions where the media treatment material was not printed. The difference in the characteristics of the interaction between the one or more visible printing materials and the print medium causes the pattern of authentication features to be detectable. |
| US09463636B2 |
Flow path member, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus
There is provided a flow path member including a flow-path member main body which is provided with a liquid supplying path through which liquid is supplied to a head main body that ejects liquid and an attaching portion to which a liquid supplying unit that supplies liquid of the liquid supplying path is attached; and a sealing member which is provided with an insertion hole into which the attaching portion is inserted, and is interposed between the liquid supplying unit and the attaching portion, in which a convex portion is provided in any one of the inner surface of the insertion hole and the outer surface of the attaching portion, and a concave portion that fits with the convex portion is provided in the other of the inner surface of the insertion hole and the outer surface of the attaching portion. |
| US09463635B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid storage unit for collecting a liquid supplied to an ejecting head is provided. The liquid is supplied to a plurality of ejecting heads via a pressure regulating valve, and the liquid is suctioned from the plurality of ejecting heads by a circulation pump, and then is discharged to the liquid storage unit. In this way, since the liquid is suctioned from each of the ejecting heads, the passage resistance is decreased, so that the ink can be appropriately circulated. In addition, since the ejecting head is supplied with the liquid at an appropriate pressure from the liquid storage unit via the pressure adjusting valve, the liquid can be appropriately ejected. |
| US09463632B2 |
Print device
A print device includes mount portions, flow passages and reservoir portions. The mount portion mounts a container containing liquid. The flow passage connects the mount portion to a head portion having a nozzle face. The reservoir portion provided on the flow passage reserves liquid and is located such that a distance from the nozzle face in the up-down direction is within a prescribed range. A first and second reservoir portions are aligned in a first direction in the horizontal direction. The first reservoir portion is inclined such that a part of the first reservoir portion is situated to progress upward towards the first direction. The second reservoir portion is inclined such that a part of the second reservoir portion is situated to progress upward towards the first direction. The first and second reservoir portions are at least partially overlapped each other in the up-down direction. |
| US09463628B2 |
Waste ink absorber, waste ink tank, liquid droplet ejecting device
A waste ink absorber is for absorbing waste ink discharged from a head for ejecting ink. In a side cross-sectional view of the waste ink absorber, a portion low in density and a portion high in density as compared with the portion low in density are laid alternately and obliquely such that the portion low in density and the portion high in density appear alternately on each surface of the waste ink absorber. |
| US09463627B2 |
Recovery system for recording head and ink-jet recording apparatus including the same
A recovery system for a recording head according to the present disclosure includes a wiper, a drive mechanism, and a control portion. The control portion is able to execute a recovery operation for the recording head that includes an ink pushing-out operation that forcibly pushes out ink, a first wiping operation that moves the wiper in a first direction to wipe away purged ink, and a second wiping operation that moves the wiper in a direction opposite to the first direction to wipe away remaining ink. The wiper includes a first wiping surface disposed to face in the first direction, a second wiping surface disposed to face in a direction opposite to the first direction, and an upper surface. The first wiping surface and the upper surface have a high water repellency compared with the second wiping surface. |
| US09463622B2 |
Determining an issue in an inkjet nozzle with impedance measurements
A method for determining an issue in an inkjet nozzle with impedance measurements, includes taking a first impedance measurement to detect a drive bubble with an impedance sensor; and taking a second impedance measurement to detect said drive bubble with said impedance sensor after said first impedance measurement. |
| US09463620B2 |
Liquid ejection control device, liquid ejection system, and control method
In a liquid ejection control device, an operation unit includes a momentum dial for inputting a momentum instructing value related to momentum of a pulsed liquid jet ejected from a liquid ejection device, and a repetitive frequency dial for inputting a repetitive frequency instructing value related to the number of times ejection of the pulsed liquid occurs per unit time. In addition, a controller includes a rising frequency setting section that sets a rising frequency as a rising index value related to rising of a drive voltage waveform such that the momentum becomes the momentum instructing value, based on voltage magnitude of the drive voltage waveform and the repetitive frequency instructing value. |
| US09463618B2 |
Liquid discharge substrate, liquid discharge head, and recording device
A liquid discharge substrate includes a plurality of discharge elements disposed on a substrate, a first transistor electrically connected to the plurality of discharge elements, and a plurality of second transistors. The first transistor is disposed between the plurality of discharge elements and the plurality of second transistors. |
| US09463614B2 |
Three-dimensional shaped article manufacturing method
A three-dimensional shaped article manufacturing method with which a three-dimensional shaped article having a matte-toned texture can be manufactured stably and efficiently is provided. A three-dimensional shaped article manufacturing method of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped article by laminating layers formed by discharging and curing inks including a curable resin, the method including applying a substantive section-forming ink to a region that forms the three-dimensional shaped article, and applying a sacrificial layer-forming ink for forming a sacrificial layer to a region that is adjacent to a region that forms an outermost layer of the three-dimensional shaped article and on a surface side of the outermost layer, a viscoelasticity of the sacrificial layer-forming ink during curing of the substantive section-forming ink being less than a viscoelasticity of the substantive section-forming ink during curing of the substantive section-forming ink. |
| US09463608B2 |
Frictional-force variable compact and frictional-force variable structure
A frictional-force variable compact of the invention includes: a first surface; a second surface; insulation portion; and an electroconductive portion electrically conducting the first surface to the second surface. |
| US09463605B2 |
Fibrous structures
Fibrous structures that exhibit a Geometric Mean Elongation of greater than 15.8% as measured according to the Elongation Test Method are provided. |
| US09463601B2 |
Cube corner sheeting having optically variable marking
Retroreflective sheeting having a structured layer of cube corner elements and an at least one optically variable mark therein, and methods of making same. |
| US09463597B2 |
Method for printing a three-dimensional structure, method for controlling a print head and printed article
The present invention relates to a method for printing a three-dimensional structure by depositing a plurality of droplets of printing material onto a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a main plane and wherein the droplets are deposited in such a manner that layers of printing material are generated which are inclined to the main plane of the substrate. |
| US09463593B2 |
Method for producing a toothbrush having an inner cavity
Methods of producing toothbrush handles having an inner cavity are provided. |
| US09463592B2 |
Apparatus for producing a liner of a container
Apparatus for manufacture of a liner of a container is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongate shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end receives a container penetration element thereon. |
| US09463590B2 |
Method for producing a plastic foil tube and a related plastic foil tube
The invention relates to a method for producing a plastic foil tube with an intended cross-section that derives from a circular cross-section as a means for the production of fiber compound components for aviation or aerospace. It comprises the following method steps: mounting a semi-finished tube on a core tool; charging the mounted semi-finished tube with a predetermined force to press the semi-finished tube on a core cross section of the core tool, wherein while charging the mounted semi-finished tube with the force crinkles are formed in longitudinal direction of the semi-finished tube; heating the semi-finished tube to a predetermined forming temperature for a predetermined time period for the production of the plastic foil tube with the intended cross-section and stripping the plastic foil tube which is formed in such a manner and cooled down off the core tool. |
| US09463589B2 |
Injection molding tool
An injection molding tool has a central tool part and two lateral tool parts which are shiftable relative to each other between an open and a closed position. At least one injection molding cavity is defined by a central mold part which is arranged on the central tool part, by a lateral mold part which is arranged on the lateral tool part, and by a movable mold part which is mounted on a holder. The holder is shiftable around the central tool part between various positions by using a drive. The holder can be coupled with the drive in a controlled manner. |
| US09463587B2 |
Methods of RTM molding
A method of RTM molding includes placing a reinforcing fiber substrate in a mold, placing resin distribution media exhibiting a resin flow resistance lower than a resin flow resistance of said reinforcing fiber substrate on both surfaces of said reinforcing fiber substrate, and after pressure in said mold is reduced by evacuation, injecting a resin into said mold through said resin distribution media to impregnate said reinforcing fiber substrate with said resin injected, wherein resin flow resistance of a first resin distribution medium placed on a first surface of said reinforcing fiber substrate is lower than resin flow resistance of a second resin distribution medium placed on a second surface of said reinforcing fiber substrate, and said evacuation is carried out through said second resin distribution medium while said resin is injected into said first resin distribution medium to impregnate said reinforcing fiber substrate with said resin injected. |
| US09463586B2 |
Foam molded body production device and foam molded body production method
A production device (20) of a molded foam body includes an upper mold (21) and a lower mold (22) having a cavity (23) formed between mold surfaces (21a, 22a) facing each other, wherein a raw foam material is supplied on the mold surface (22a) of the lower mold (22) and a hard material (3) is detachably arranged on the mold surface (21a) of the upper mold (21), and the raw foam material is foamed in the cavity (23) with the hard material (3) arranged on the mold surface (21a) of the upper mold (21) to form a foam body and a portion other than a projection portion (11) of the hard material (3) is fixed to the foam body to form the molded foam body in which the projection portion (11) projects from the foam body, and wherein on the mold surface (21a) of the upper mold (21), a concave arrangement portion (28) that is opened toward the lower mold (22) side and on which the projection portion (11) is arranged is formed, and a pivotable mold (27) that opens and closes the concave arrangement portion (28) from the lower mold (22) side by rotating around a pivot shaft (26) extending in a direction along the mold surface (21a) is provided. |
| US09463583B2 |
Building mold with copper nonwoven
A building mold for producing shaped composite materials contains at least one first surface section, which is provided for shaping the composite material, and a second surface section, which is located substantially opposite the first section and is not provided for shaping the composite material. A heating device is arranged between the two sections. At least one planar metal structure, which is in thermal contact with the first surface section, is arranged between the first surface section and the second surface section or is on the first surface section and is configured to distribute the heat given off by the heating device in a planar manner. |
| US09463582B2 |
Securing structure for light emitting element at surface of shell-like accessory and manufacturing method for the same
A securing structure for a light emitting element at a surface of a shell-like accessory and a manufacturing method for the securing structure are provided. According to an appearance of a handmade accessory, a mold, a positioning tenon and an adapter body are provided. The adapter body is supported and secured by combining the positioning tenon at the mold. With repeated applying operations, a plastic cementing agent is applied at an outer round surface of the adapter body to provide a combining effect. The mold and the positioning tenon are removed after the plastic cementing agent is set and shaped. Thus, using an axis and structure support of the adapter body, the light emitting grain installed is capable of securing an angular position of its optical axis as well as enhancing the combining strength. |
| US09463581B2 |
Kneading degree adjusting mechanism, extruder, continuous mixer, kneading degree adjusting method, and kneading method
The degree of kneading of a material to be kneaded is to be capable of being adjusted with a high accuracy.A kneading degree adjusting mechanism is installed in a processing apparatus having a barrel and a kneading screw inserted into the barrel rotatably, the kneading screw having a kneading section and rotating within the barrel to knead a material continuously while feeding the material from an upstream side toward a downstream side. The kneading degree adjusting mechanism includes a push-back section for pushing back the material to the upstream side and thereby making the material stay around the kneading section, the push-back section being disposed downstream of the kneading section in the kneading screw; a kneading degree adjusting member having an opposed surface opposed to an outer periphery surface of the push-back section; and a drive section for actuating the kneading degree adjusting member so that the opposed surface moves toward and away from the push-back section. |
| US09463579B2 |
Sheet manufacturing apparatus and sheet manufacturing method
A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a defibrating unit configured to defibrate material containing fibers in the air, a classifying unit configured to classify by airflow defibrated material, which has been defibrated at the defibrating unit, into fiber material and waste material, a deposition unit configured to deposit the fiber material to create deposited material, a discharge blower configured to discharge the waste material by airflow from the classifying unit such that the waste material does not move toward a side of the deposition unit, a transfer blower configured to transfer by airflow the fiber material from the classifying unit to the deposition unit, and a forming unit configured to form a sheet by using the deposited material. When manufacturing by the sheet manufacturing apparatus starts, the discharge blower is driven before the transfer blower. |
| US09463578B2 |
Planer cutting tool
A hand or power tool which can be used as a planer such that the movement of the tool along a workpiece causes a portion of the material of the workpieces to be removed by at least one cutter blade provided on the tool at a baseplate of the tool which contacts with the workpiece. The tool is provided with at least one movable portion which can be moved with respect to the baseplate and hence the tool. The movable portion can be angularly movable to allow a chamfer cut to be accurately achieved and/or can be slidably movable with respect to the baseplate so as to protrude from an edge thereof to allow greater cutting accuracy to be achieved. In a further embodiment the movement portion can be provided so as to be moved to allow user access to at least one debris conduit. |
| US09463576B2 |
Guided cutting retainer for elongated stack set
A guided cutting retainer for an elongated stack set is provided. During a cutting process of an end length of the stack set, the guide cutting retainer keeps end sides of layers of the stack neat and aligned. The guide cutting retainer includes a capped sleeve having a cross-section of a frame and formed with an internal longitudinal through opening. One end of the opening is combined to a U-shaped pedestal. A cut groove is reserved between the U-shaped pedestal and the opening. The U-shaped pedestal can be wedged and fastened with a pressing and positioning frame to provide a wedging effect. Thus, the pressing and positioning frame secures the stack set to fix its end side to form a complete blade-feeding guide groove for guiding the cutting process. The cutting process yields an aligned result further with intervention of a ruler board of an end sealing ruler. |
| US09463574B2 |
Mobile inspection robot
A mobile inspection robot that includes a robot body and a drive system supporting the robot body and configured to maneuver the robot over a work surface. A controller communicates with the drive system and a sensor system. The controller executes a control system that includes a control arbitration system and a behavior system in communication with each other. The behavior system executes an inspection behavior, the inspection behavior influencing execution of commands by the control arbitration system based on sensor signals received from the sensor system to identify and inspect electrical equipment. |
| US09463573B2 |
Robot control system, robot system, and sensor information processing apparatus
A robot control system includes a force control unit configured to output a correction value of a target track of a robot on the basis of sensor information acquired from a force sensor, a target-value output unit configured to apply correction processing based on the correction value to the target track to calculate a target value and output the calculated target value, and a robot control unit configured to perform feedback control of the robot on the basis of the target value. The force control unit includes a digital filter unit. The force control unit applies digital filter processing by the digital filter unit to the sensor information to calculate a solution of an ordinary differential equation in force control and outputs the correction value on the basis of the calculated solution. |
| US09463571B2 |
Apparatus and methods for online training of robots
Robotic devices may be trained by a user guiding the robot along a target trajectory using a correction signal. A robotic device may comprise an adaptive controller configured to generate control commands based on one or more of the trainer input, sensory input, and/or performance measure. Training may comprise a plurality of trials. During an initial portion of a trial, the trainer may observe robot's operation and refrain from providing the training input to the robot. Upon observing a discrepancy between the target behavior and the actual behavior during the initial trial portion, the trainer may provide a teaching input (e.g., a correction signal) configured to affect robot's trajectory during subsequent trials. Upon completing a sufficient number of trials, the robot may be capable of navigating the trajectory in absence of the training input. |
| US09463564B2 |
Electrical power cord with supplemental socket
A power cord with an integrated socket box located between its plug and connector has many advantages, especially in the construction industry. Power tools can be manufactured with this power cord so that one need not look for an extension cord when he is seeking to use a secondary tool. This power cord also allows for multiple parties to work from a single power source.In some embodiments the power tool is an integral part of the electrical device, such as a power tool. In other embodiments, the power cord is permanently attached to the existing electrical device. In some cases a securing sheathe made of heat shrinking tubing is used to attach the power cord to the electrical device.In some embodiments the integrated socket box can have more than one socket. In at least one embodiment the integrated socket box has a ground fault interrupter. |
| US09463561B2 |
Fastener driving tool
The invention concerns a driving tool comprising a rotating motor (16), in particular, an electric motor, a gas spring (8) with an elastically compressible gas volume (9), and a firing piston (5), wherein the gas spring (8) can be tensioned via a tensioning device (10) with the motor, so as to accelerate after a release from the tensioned state the firing piston (5) in a firing direction, wherein at least one part of the tensioning device (10) is located within the gas volume of the tensioning spring. |
| US09463558B2 |
Hand tool
A hand tool has a tool shaft, an inner sliding sleeve, an engagement module, and an outer sliding sleeve. The inner sliding sleeve is mounted around the tool shaft and is selectively engaged with the tool shaft. The engagement module has a spring mounted around the inner sliding sleeve. The outer sliding sleeve is mounted around the inner sliding sleeve, abuts the spring and selectively engaged with the inner sliding sleeve. The hand tool is applied for connecting with an inner polygonal bolt or an outer polygonal bolt. |
| US09463556B2 |
Crimp tool force monitoring device
A crimp tool includes a frame, a lead screw and a nut assembly connected to the lead screw. A spring member is connected to the frame and movable with rotation of the lead screw. A first transducer is connected to the nut assembly to measure a first force applied on the nut assembly. A second transducer is connected to the spring member to measure a second force applied thereon by the spring member. |
| US09463549B2 |
Method of gap setting slide grinding machine
In a method for the automatic gap setting in slide grinding machines having a turntable, the gap width between the turntable and the work container is automatically set by a regulation, with a reference value for the gap width of zero being determined. |
| US09463547B2 |
Tool chucking device
A tool chucking device, especially an oscillation tool chucking device, includes at least one chucking unit which has at least one chucking element for clamping a treatment tool in an axial direction and at least one control unit for actuating the chucking element. The tool chucking device further includes at least one conversion unit which is designed to modify a conversion ratio depending on at least one movement component of a control element of the control unit. |
| US09463546B1 |
System and method for dissipating heat from a rotary power tool
A device for dissipating heat from a rotary power tool is disclosed. The rotary power tool comprises a hollow disc housing. On the top planar surface of the hollow disc housing, a plurality of hollow bolts traverse the surface of the hollow disc housing into the interior of the hollow disc housing. In the interior of the hollow disc housing, the hollow bolts create a substantially angled plane relative to the top planar surface of the hollow disc housing. The hollow disc housing encloses a heatsink. When the heatsink spins, it creates a vacuum, thereby drawing exterior air through the hollow bolts. The angled plane created by the hollow bolts directs the flow of air through the heatsink. The combination of the heatsink and the directed air flow serves to cool the rotary power tool and prevent overheating. |
| US09463539B2 |
Wireless clamp tool
This system is a tool and monitor assembly that verifies clamps have been activated properly with the tool. The radio controlled clamp tool provides accountability and control with a strain gauge operation. The radio tool is designed to perform the operation of clamp tool, retain the signature and transmit the signal with data to an interface box for error proofing or tool analysis. |
| US09463538B2 |
Alignment system and method thereof
An alignment system for aligning components includes a first component, a second component, upstanding, elongated tabs connected to at least one of the components, each elongated tab having a tab wall, and deformable elongated tab apertures formed in at least one of the components, each deformable tab aperture comprising opposing deformable aperture walls. The apertures are geometrically distributed in coordinated relationship to a geometrical distribution of the elongated tabs such that each elongated tab is receivable into a respective aperture and each tab has a width larger than a cross-sectional width of its respective aperture measured in a same direction. Each aperture is configured to elastically deform upon disposition of each elongated tab into its respective tab aperture at an interface between the tab wall and the aperture wall. |
| US09463534B2 |
Method and system for decoupling a capillary column from a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system
A column-sealing tool is provided for use during decoupling of a capillary column from a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (CG-MS) system. The column-sealing tool includes an engagement structure for removably securing the column-sealing tool within a high vacuum enclosure of the GC-MS system, at a location between a high vacuum end of a transfer line and a mass analyzer of the GC-MS system. Additionally, the column-sealing tool includes a sealing element that is actuatable between a non-sealing position and a sealing position. During use the sealing element forms a secondary vacuum seal with the first end of the transfer line when the column-sealing tool is inserted into the GC-MS system and when the sealing element is in the sealing position. |
| US09463531B2 |
Three-dimensional surface shaping of rotary cutting tool edges with lasers
A method for forming the cutting edge and adjacent contoured surface area of rotary cutting tools utilizing a laser to remove material from the cutting end of the tool to create a predetermined point-by-point geometry is disclosed. Relatively complex surface and edge geometries may be formed by directing a laser beam toward the cutting end of the tool at an angle having a component that is normal to the surface of the cutting end. The laser beam is directed in multiple passes across the surface of the cutting end to remove material and form the desired cutting edge and adjacent three-dimensional contoured surface geometry. |
| US09463529B2 |
Laser machining apparatus that monitors material thickness and type by reflected light intensity
The laser machining apparatus includes a transmission fiber that transmits laser light emitted from a laser oscillator through the fiber, a machining head that emits the laser light, which is sent from the transmission fiber, vertically to a main surface of a machining object and sends reflected light, which is reflected coaxially with the laser light by the machining object, to the transmission fiber, a reflected light monitoring unit that detects a reflected light intensity of the reflected light sent from the transmission fiber, and a control device that controls the laser oscillator and the machining head, in which the control device includes a determining unit that, at a time when laser machining is started, determines whether the machining object corresponds to a machining condition or not in laser machining on the basis of the reflected light intensity. |
| US09463523B2 |
Controlled waveform welding wire feeder system and method
A welding wire feeder includes a welding wire feed drive configured to drive welding wire towards a welding application and wire feed control circuitry coupled to the welding wire feed drive. The wire feed control circuitry is also configured to control the drive of welding wire towards the welding application. The welding wire feeder also includes power conversion circuitry and welding process control circuitry coupled to the power conversion circuitry. The power conversion circuitry is configured to receive input power from a welding power source and to convert the input power to controlled waveform welding output. The welding process control circuitry is configured to provide control signals for conversion of the input power to the controlled waveform welding output. The welding wire feeder also includes a process operator interface coupled to the welding process control circuitry and configured to permit operator selection of a controlled waveform welding process. |
| US09463521B2 |
Methods and apparatus for improved low current AC/DC TIG welding and starting
A TIG welder and methodologies for providing an output welding current in a welding circuit. The welder has main and background power supplies. The main supply has an SCR network which selectively connects a transformer secondary winding to the welding circuit according to SCR control signals. The background supply is connected to the SCR network, which selectively connects the second power supply to the welding circuit according to the SCR control signals. The SCR network may have first and second SCRs operating according to first and second SCR control signals from a control circuit, where the control circuit is connected to the SCR network and the second power supply and selectively connects the SCR control signals to the SCR network according to the setpoint current value. |
| US09463518B2 |
Saw blade with reduced modal frequencies in the operating frequency range
A saw blade is provided including a circular metal disc including a circular metal disc including a central aperture and a plurality of teeth spaced around a periphery of the circular metal disc. A first plurality of fully enclosed body slots are generally equally spaced from a center of the circular metal disc by a first distance and a second plurality of fully enclosed body slots are each disposed directly radially outward from a respective one of the first plurality of body slots. The second plurality of slots are generally equally spaced from the center of the circular metal disc by a second distance greater than the first distance. The saw blade design provides a blade with no modal frequencies in the operating frequency range. |
| US09463516B2 |
Retained aligning rotating hack saw blade tensioning mechanism and related method
A tensioning mechanism for a hack saw blade extends through a pin holder mounting slot of a hack saw frame and applies tension to a hack saw blade attached thereto. The tensioning mechanism includes a first portion having a configuration that, with respect to a configuration of the slot, permits rotation of the tensioning mechanism when the first portion extends through the mounting slot. The tensioning mechanism also includes a second portion having a configuration that, with respect to the configuration of the slot, engages into the slot only in select rotational orientations thereof relative to the slot, wherein one of said orientations is angularly separated from another orientation by a substantially set rotational angle of the second portion. The tensioning mechanism further includes first and second mechanisms configured to prevent removal of the tensioning mechanism from the mounting slot once extended therethrough. |
| US09463515B2 |
Miter saw assembly with detachable circular saw
A miter saw assembly including a circular saw detachably coupled to a miter base is provided. The circular saw includes a circular blade, a motor, a power supply, and an attachment mechanism. The motor is operable to rotate the circular blade. The power supply is operable to provide power to the motor. The attachment mechanism detachably couples with a coupling arm of the miter base. The miter base includes a base and a support arm. The support arm includes the coupling arm, a vertical pivot, and a horizontal pivot. The vertical pivot is operable to pivot the coupling arm in a vertical plane. The horizontal pivot is rotatably coupled with the base. The horizontal pivot is operable to rotate the coupling arm in a horizontal plane. |
| US09463514B2 |
Device for positioning and supplying fixing elements
A device for supplying and positioning fixing elements which includes, a chuck provided with two spring loaded clamping jaws that hold one fixing element therebetween for further processing, wherein the clamping jaws are operatively associated with an actuating element that extends between the clamping jaws, the actuating element being provided in an axial direction with a narrow section and two neighboring extension sections. The actuation element is connected to an axial slide for axially moving the actuation element and to open and close the chuck by forcing the camping jaws apart, releasing the fixing element for processing when the chuck is opened. |
| US09463513B2 |
Coated cutting tool
A coated cutting tool comprising substrate and a coating, wherein the coating comprises a layer of MTCVD TiCN, and a layer of α-Al2O3, wherein the α-Al2O3 layer exhibits an X-ray diffraction pattern, as measured using CuKα radiation, the (hkl) reflections used are (012), (104), (110), (113), (116), (300), (214) and (0 0 12), and the TC(0 0 12) is higher than 5 and a full width half maximum (FWHM) of a rocking curve peak of the (0 0 12) plane of the α-Al2O3 is lower than 30°. |
| US09463512B2 |
Machine tool and machining method
A machine tool includes a main spindle (10) which holds a workpiece (200, object to be machined) and is rotatable about the shaft center (C1), a main spindle motor (20, main spindle driver) which rotates the main spindle (10), a rotary guide bush (30, eccentric guide bush) which supports the workpiece (200) projecting from a leading end of the main spindle (10) to be rotatable in a state of being eccentric relative to the shaft center (C1) by a length E, a guide bush servomotor (40, guide bush driver) which rotates the rotary guide bush (30) about the shaft center (C1) in synchronization with the main spindle (10), and a controller (50) which controls the rotation and driving of the guide bush servomotor (40), so as to selectively switch between the rotation state and the stop state of the rotation. |
| US09463506B2 |
Working additively manufactured parts
A method of working an additively manufactured part includes applying a layer of wax to a part manufactured with an additive manufacturing process. Then a mold is formed over the layer of wax on the part. The wax is then removed from between the mold and the part. The part is then melted in the mold, and then the part is re-solidified in the mold. Finally, the mold is removed. |
| US09463505B2 |
Piston for metal die casting
A die casting piston (1) for die casting nonferrous metals has at least one outer part such as a piston body (11), an intermediate ring (9), a sealing ring (7) etc. that is generally ring-shaped so as to surround a piston carrier (3) and provided with an axial slot (41, 59, 117) so that the part can expand and contract tangentially during a temperature change, e.g. from ambient temperature to operating temperature. Due to this design of the outer parts of the piston, cooling can be limited to a smaller portion of the piston, preferably substantially to the rear side of the piston cover (5; 154). The result is a substantially shortened overall construction of the die casting piston (1) that is reflected by reduced production costs. In accordance with the smaller dimensions of the cooled zone, a reduced coolant flow is required. In a preferred embodiment at least two parts, namely the piston body (11) and the piston cover (5; 154), are fastened to the piston carrier (3) by means of two bayonet locks (27, 33) of different diameters, thereby allowing an easy assembly from the front face without special tools. |
| US09463496B2 |
Organic biofilm substrata as a microbial inoculum delivery vehicle for bioaugmentation of persistent organic pollutants in contaminated sediments and soils
A system and methods for removal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from an environment, where the system includes an inert and organic biofilm substrata as biofilm media for dual use: 1) inoculation of microorganisms to degrade POPs and 2) accumulation of POPs on the substrata, effective in maintaining bioavailable concentrations for sustaining microbial activity. Microorganisms capable of degrading or transforming POPs are actively associated with the substrata as a biofilm. Application of this delivery vehicle will enhance the microbial degradation of POPs, while simultaneously adsorbing hydrophobic POPs from the environment making them bioavailable for the microorganisms located in the formed biofilms and additionally lowering the aqueous concentration of POPs that have detrimental effects towards fish and mammals as they bioaccumulate through the food chain. |
| US09463495B2 |
Laboratory fume hood system having recessed heat exchanger system
A laboratory fume hood system for cooling at least one laboratory device located in an interior work area comprises a heat exchanger system having a heat exchanger in thermal communication with a primary fluid loop containing chilled fluid and a secondary fluid loop containing a cooling fluid which is in thermal communication the laboratory device. The primary fluid loop is located behind the fume hood wall and not in the interior work area. |
| US09463493B1 |
Method of producing gluten free oats
The separation of oats from a combination of grains is performed by obtaining optical data includes both reflectance data and visual data and then analyzing the data in multiple ways, including analyzing information obtained based on ratios of wavelengths and grain imagery. The reflectance data relies on near infrared spectroscopy at requisite ratios of wavelengths in the range of 1100 nm to 2200 nm, while the grain imagery encompasses images of both sides of each of the combination of grains and can also take into account grain size and shape differentiations. The results is an oats separation process wherein at least 99% of foreign grains are rejected with only about 3% of the oats being rejected, while enabling volume processing of grains and establishing a supply of oats with a gluten level well below 20 ppm. |
| US09463491B2 |
Aerosol particle separation and collection
A contactor is positioned coaxially with and substantially within at least one separator, and otherwise is configured to receive aerosolized target particles of interest as a sample. The use of a plurality of separators that are coaxial with each other and the contactor increases the number of separations involving target particles and other constituents of air at a sampling point, whereby in some embodiments the separators are rotatably configurable relative to each other and to the contactor. |
| US09463486B2 |
Laminar flow droplet generator device and methods of use
A piezoelectric ejector device is provided which is designed to minimize the intake of air into the device upon actuation by providing for laminar flow of the fluid. In an ejector mechanism that includes a generator plate and a piezoelectric actuator operable to directly or indirectly oscillate the generator plate, at a frequency to generate a directed stream of droplets of fluid, the generator plate includes a fluid facing surface, a droplet ejection surface, and a plurality of holes formed through its thickness between the surfaces. The plurality of holes are configured so as to minimize airflow through the plurality of openings from the droplet ejection surface to the fluid facing surface during generation of the directed stream of droplets by configuring the shape of the holes to minimize turbulence. |
| US09463478B2 |
Jet control devices and methods
Examples of a jet control device are described. The jet control device can comprise a jet deflecting member that is configured to intercept and/or collide with a high speed jet emerging from a jet formation location. The interaction of the jet deflecting member and the jet can cause the high speed jet to be dispersed into a plurality of jets with a number of flow directions which may be sideways to an initial direction of the high speed jet. In one embodiment the deflecting member can include a liquid guide formed by injecting a fluid out of an outlet nozzle so that the liquid guide extends longitudinally away from the outlet nozzle. In another embodiment the deflecting member can include an array of solid pellets injected through an outlet in a direction of the emerging high speed jet and configured to collide with the emerging jet thereby deflecting its initial direction. |
| US09463471B2 |
Water and dirt separator
A separator (10) comprises a housing (12) and a separator chamber (24) contained within the housing, an inlet (26) and outlet (28) to the separator chamber and a dividing member (34) for substantially dividing the separator chamber into a first chamber (30) and a second chamber (32). A flow path (38) is provided between the first and second chambers for allowing flow to circulate between the first and second chambers, and guide means (56) for creating opposing flow paths in the second chamber (32) for slowing flow through the second chamber (32). |
| US09463467B2 |
Process and device for supporting and displacing a semimobile crusher plant
A semimobile crusher plant as well as a process for displacing and supporting a semimobile crusher plant are disclosed. The semimobile crusher plant is permanently connected to a crawler-type chassis that has double crawlers, on which the entire load of the crusher plant rests during the displacing. During the crusher operation, the entire load of the crusher plant, including a payload, is supported by means of support rockers more or less equally on the double crawlers of the crawler-type chassis and on foundation blocks provided at the operating sites of the crusher. |
| US09463466B2 |
Trash drying assembly
A rotating tapering cone or tube is used for separating liquid from trash. The cone or tube is constructed of either a wire mesh or parallel slats. The cone or tube is located in a complete trash disposal system. At the front of the system there is a trash intake funnel which delivers the trash to a device for shredding the trash which will deliver the shredded trash to the tapered cone including a high speed air stream. The tube is rotated at a high rate of speed whereby any fluid in the shredded trash will be expelled through the surface of the tube by way of a centrifugal and an intensive air speed. |
| US09463465B2 |
Compact high-security destruction machine
A small-form-factor high-security destruction machine for optical media has a weight empty of about 16.3 lbs. and holds about 5 lbs. of residue. |
| US09463464B1 |
Silage feed for animals
A system and method for producing a feed product, and the product, are disclosed. A processor apparatus may comprise a housing and at least two generally cylindrical rolls rotatably mounted on the housing, with a gap being formed between the rolls through which the path of the crop materials passes. At least one roll may have alternating longitudinal ridges and grooves forming teeth on the surface of the roll. A rotating assembly may be configured to rotate the rolls with respect to the housing, the rotating assembly being configured to rotate the pair of rolls at different rotational speeds. A method may comprise cutting plants growing in a field, chopping the plants of the crop materials in a manner to produce pieces of the plants that have lengths of approximately 1 inch to approximately 2.5 inches long, and processing the plant pieces between the rolls rotating at a speed differential of at least 10 percent. |
| US09463460B2 |
Microfluidic device
A microfluidic device of the present invention is connected to at least an inlet to permit at least a stream of fluid with a desired fluid flow rate and a stable laminar flow. A body with at least a non-deformable portion and a deformable portion is connected to the inlet. At least a microconduit of substantially reduced length and cross-section, integrally formed in said non-deformable and deformable portions, and connected to the inlet. The stable laminar flow of fluid transiting through the microconduit is disrupted, resulting in a turbulent flow of the fluid, with a vibration of the deformable portion, when the fluid flow rate crosses a threshold value. The turbulent flow of the fluid undergoes an enhanced mixing, in a reduced period of time. At least an outlet is connected to microconduit to collect the mixed fluid. A network of microfluidic devices are arranged to perform mixing of fluids. |
| US09463458B2 |
Diagnostic devices and methods of use
The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing samples as well as various microfluidic, microcentrifuge and microfilter devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases using mitochondrial and/or platelet samples. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a microfluidic device that selectively captures and analyzes a desired amount of target biological particle. |
| US09463456B2 |
Electronic pipette
An electronic pipette comprising a piston actuated in a cylinder by a motor, a control system for carrying out pipette operations, and a user interface for operating the pipette, which user interface comprises a display, wherein the main menu of the user interface comprises a user defined shortcut to a specific pipetting application. |
| US09463452B2 |
Hydrotreating catalyst for hydrocarbon oil and method for producing same, and hydrocarbon oil hydrotreating method using same
A hydrotreating catalyst for hydrocarbon oil having a hydrodesulfurization activity additionally improved by: simultaneously and continuously adding an aqueous solution of an acidic compound containing titanium and an aqueous solution containing an alkaline compound to a hydrosol containing an alumina hydrate particle at a temperature of 10 to 100° C. and a pH of 4.5 to 6.5; washing the resultant to remove a contaminating ion; forming the washed product after dehydration so as to have a moisture content at which it is formable; drying the resultant; impregnating the dried product with a catalytic component aqueous solution containing periodic table group 6 metal compound, periodic table group 8-10 metal compound, phosphorus compound, and saccharide; and drying the resultant; a manufacturing method for the catalyst; and a hydrodesulfurization treatment method for hydrocarbon oil using the catalyst. |
| US09463451B2 |
Ligand, metal complex containing ligand, and reaction using metal complex containing ligand
A hydrogen transfer reaction may be more efficiently promoted by using a metal complex represented by Formula (2): (wherein, R1 to R8 are the same or different, and each represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or the like; or wherein; R1 and R2, R2 and R3, R3 and R4, R4 and R5, and R5 and R6 are respectively bonded to each other to form a bivalent hydrocarbon group; R9 are the same or different, and each represents an alkyl group or cycloalkyl group; M is ruthenium (Ru) or the like; X is a ligand; and n is 0, 1 or 2). More specifically, the metal complex enables a hydrogenation reaction of various substrates having a stable carbonyl group or the like to be advanced with a high yield under mild conditions. |
| US09463445B2 |
Catalysts and methods for alcohol dehydration
Provided is a process for preparing a diaryl ether compound through the dehydration of an aromatic alcohol compound in the presence of a halogenated rare earth element oxide catalyst, providing a reaction vessel having loaded therein a rare earth element oxide; halogenating the rare earth element oxide with a halogen source to form an activated catalyst; and dehydrating an aromatic alcohol compound over the activated catalyst to form the diaryl ether compound, where the halogenating and dehydrating steps occur in the same vessel. The rare earth element oxide is an oxide of a light rare earth element, an oxide of a medium rare earth element, an oxide of a heavy rare earth element, an oxide of yttrium, or a mixture of two or more thereof. |
| US09463444B2 |
Preparation process of nanocatalysts with (111) crystal facet exposed and process for vapour-phase CO oxidative coupling to oxalate
The invention belongs to the technical field of preparing oxalate in coal to ethylene glycol, aiming at providing a preparation process for nanocatalysts with (111) crystal facet exposed and a process for vapor-phase CO oxidative coupling to oxalate. The nanocatalysts with (111) crystal facet exposed comprise carrier, active component and promoter on the carrier, wherein, in term of the weight of the carrier, the active component accounts for 0.05-2% of the weight of the carrier, the weight percentage of metal elements in the promoter is 20% or less. The nanocatalysts with (111) crystal facet exposed are prepared by the nanometals in situ supporting process. The preparation process is simple in procedure, has low energy consumption and can precisely control the size and exposed crystal facet of the active component nanoparticles. The obtained nanocatalysts with (111) crystal facet exposed are highly active for vapor-phase CO oxidative coupling to oxalate at a lower loading of noble metal. |
| US09463443B2 |
Catalysts supports
A method for preparing a silica-modified catalyst support is described including: (I) applying an alkyl silicate to the surface of a porous support material in an amount to produce a silica content of the silica-modified catalyst support, expressed as Si, in the range 0.25 to 15% by weight, (ii) optionally drying the resulting silicate-modified support, (iii) treating the support with water, (iv) drying the resulting water-treated support, and (v) calcining the dried material to form the silica-modified catalyst support. |
| US09463436B2 |
Method for manufacturing microparticulate anatase or rutile titanium oxide dispersion and component having photocatalytic thin film on surface
A method for manufacturing a microparticulate anatase or rutile titanium oxide dispersion from a peroxotitanic acid solution optionally containing tin, wherein the method for manufacturing an anatase or rutile titanium oxide dispersion is characterized in that the peroxotitanic acid solution is fed continuously to a flow reactor and subjected to hydrothermal treatment at 150 to 250° C. and 0.5 to 10 MPa. The invention makes it possible to provide a method for manufacturing a microparticulate anatase or rutile titanium oxide dispersion having excellent stability in regard to the titanium oxide microparticles and enabling a high-transparency photocatalytic thin film to be produced, and to provide a member having a photocatalytic thin film formed on the surface using this dispersion. |
| US09463433B2 |
Nano-materials for adhesive-free adsorbers for bakable extreme high vacuum cryopump surfaces
A cryosorber panel having nanomaterials used for the cryosorption material, with nanomaterial either grown directly on the cryopanel or freestanding nanomaterials attached to the cryopanel mechanically without the use of adhesives. Such nanomaterial cryosorber materials can be used in place of conventional charcoals that are attached to cryosorber panels with special low outgassing, low temperature capable adhesives. Carbon nanotubes and other nanomaterials could serve the same purpose as conventional charcoal cryosorbers, providing a large surface area for cryosorption without the need for adhesive since the nanomaterials can be grown directly on a metallic substrate or mechanically attached. The nanomaterials would be capable of being fully baked by heating above 100° C., thereby eliminating water vapor from the system, eliminating adhesives from the system, and allowing a full bake of the system to reduce hydrogen outgassing, with the goal of obtaining extreme high vacuum where the pump can produce pressures below 1×10−12 Torr. |
| US09463425B2 |
System for improving hydrophilicity of contact lens and application of the same to packaging of contact lens
Providing a system which can exhibit a desired effect of improving hydrophilicity of a contact lens without causing adverse influences on sense of use of the contact lens and a cleaning effect, and which can effectively prevent adhesion of lipid stain. Also providing a packaging solution for the contact lens which can effectively suppress or prevent reduction of its viscosity with time even when the packaging solution is sterilized by heating. The contact lens is immersed in an aqueous solution which contains a low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid having a molecular weight of not higher than 80,000, or a salt or derivative thereof, and which has a pH of 6.0-8.0 and an osmotic pressure of 220-380 mOsm. |
| US09463424B2 |
Actuatable flow conditioning apparatus
An actuatable apparatus, such as a mixer or flow splitter, is described that forms part of a multiphase pumping station. An outer tank has an upper inlet and an actuatable inner vessel disposed within the outer vessel. Multiphase fluid can pass from the outer vessel into the inner vessel though large upper openings. The inner vessel is configured to be actuatable such that the inner vessel moves in a vertical direction, thereby altering the size of an annular opening between the bottom of the inner vessel and the outer vessel. In some cases, the annular opening is adjusted to alter the operating envelope of a mixer. In other cases, the annular opening is opened to allow for sand cleaning. In yet other cases the apparatus is a downstream flow splitter, and the annulus is shut off to prevent loss of liquid phase during the startup of a dead field. |
| US09463419B2 |
Pulse aeration for immersed membranes
An assembly of immersed filtering membrane modules on the order of a cassette or larger are aerated in a series of air-on or high flow rate periods, each in the range of 0.5 to 20 seconds long, separated by longer air-off or low flow rate periods, each in the range of 5 to 40 seconds long. A manifold is in fluid communication with one or more aerators. The manifold and aerators are located in association with the modules. The assembly of immersed filtering membrane modules are provided with a burst of air from the plurality of aerators. The aerators may be fed with a continuous supply of air. The modules may be connected together in a cassette or rack. Bubbles from the aerators may be redirected or dissipated with a deflector before they contact the modules. |
| US09463414B2 |
Dehumidifying unit, layered temperature control dehumidifying element, drying device and method for temperature controlling the same
A dehumidifying unit, a layered temperature control dehumidifying element, a drying device and a temperature control method thereof are provided. The dehumidifying element has a plurality of dehumidifying units. The dehumidifying units are made of a direct heating desorption material and used for dehumidifying air by adsorption and capable of being regenerated by desorption. By performing temperature compensation through a preheater and performing a layered temperature control method on the dehumidifying element, the disclosure achieves a uniform temperature control on the air flow passage of the dehumidifying element so as to improve regeneration performance of the dehumidifying element and reduce energy consumption of the drying device. |
| US09463413B2 |
Hollow fiber adsorbent compressed dry air system
A hollow fiber adsorbent compressed dry air system including an intake unit, a first adsorption/regeneration unit, a second adsorption/regeneration unit, a switch unit and an exhaust unit is disclosed. The first adsorption/regeneration unit has a hollow fiber adsorbent housing and a heating device disposed in the surrounding of the adsorbent housing. The second adsorption/regeneration unit has another hollow fiber adsorbent housing and another heating device disposed in the surrounding of the another adsorbent housing. One of the hollow fiber adsorbent housings performs drying procedure to the compressed air in the room temperature, and the other hollow fiber adsorbent housing, when heated by the heating device thereof, performs a desorption regeneration procedure in a high temperature condition. The switch unit alternately switches the drying procedure and the desorption regeneration procedure to the first adsorption/regeneration unit and the second adsorption/regeneration unit. The exhaust unit outputs dried product air. |
| US09463407B2 |
Honeycomb structure
A honeycomb structure including a honeycomb structure body that includes porous partition walls defining a plurality of cells each to function as a through channel for fluid extending from a first end face to a second end face, in which, in a cross-section perpendicular a direction in which cells of the honeycomb structure body extend, portions at which the partition walls intersect to each other are intersecting portions, and in sets of the intersecting portions corresponding to 10% or more of the total number of sets of two adjacent intersecting portions, a ratio of a thickness X2 of the partition wall in the intersecting portion to a maximum thickness X1 of the partition wall between the two adjacent intersecting portions is 0.1 to 0.8. |
| US09463402B2 |
Detecting the clogging of a fluid filter
A method of detecting clogging of a fluid filter is disclosed. The method includes measuring, at successive sampling instants, the pressure difference ΔP from upstream to downstream across the filter, calculating the first time derivative {ΔP}′ of the pressure difference ΔP at different instants, and sending a clogging signal Sc representative of the filter being clogged when the first derivative {ΔP}′ is equal to zero. |
| US09463401B2 |
Bi-stable component providing indication of proper installation
An apparatus having a threaded bottom assembly for interfacing to connect the bottom assembly to a second structure with threads, having a bi-stable element that, when sufficient force is applied via the process of threading the bottom assembly to the second structure, and at an appropriate torque value, passes from its first minima state, through its maxima state, and to its second minima state, creating a tactile or audible indication that the apparatus has been properly installed. |
| US09463400B2 |
Fluid filter with magnetic particle attraction
A filtration apparatus for removing solids and particulates from a liquid stream flowing through a filter media. A magnet is located adjacent to the filter media and the liquid steam to attract metal particles in the liquid stream to the filter media. The magnet may be a rare earth magnet. A variable speed drive motor is coupled to a carrier supporting the filter media to advance the filter media through the liquid stream. |
| US09463396B1 |
Dual tank heat transfer system and methods of operation
A system for transferring heat from an ethanol and water vapor stream is disclosed as having a first heat exchanger, a valve system coupled to first heat exchanger and a first tank, a second tank coupled to the valve system, a second heat exchanger coupled to first tank and second tank, and a pipe line connecting the second tank to the first heat exchanger. A method for transferring heat is provided and involves intermittently cooling a first media, transferring heat from the first media to a second media, and directing the second media to a valve system. The valve system directs a flow of the second media to the first tank when a temperature of second media is above a temperature set point and directs the flow of the second media to the second tank when the temperature of second media is below the temperature set point. |
| US09463395B2 |
Method of manufacturing a polyurethane sword or sparring instrument
Disclosed are methods of making polymeric swords and sparring instruments having improved mechanical properties. In one embodiment, a method of making a polyurethane sword includes centering a flexible support member on either a first half of a sword mold or on a second half of the sword mold; spraying a base coat paint on either the first half of the sword mold or on the second half of the sword mold; pouring a machine perfused polyurethane mixture into the first half the sword mold and into the second half of the sword mold and closing the sword mold by clasping the first half of the sword mold to the second half of the sword mold; heating the sword mold comprising the machine perfused polyurethane mixture in a heating apparatus; and removing the polyurethane sword from the sword mold. |
| US09463386B1 |
State machine scripting in computer-implemented games
A gaming environment may be established, by executing a game engine module to provide an interactive game instance, and instantiating a state machine instance using one or both of a state machine client module or a state machine server module. In an example, during execution of the game engine module, scripting commands within a state machine definition may be parsed and executed to obtain information indicative of one or more of a state of an in-game object or a state transition of an in-game object. An in-game object may be controlled within the game instance via the state machine using at least a portion of the information obtained from parsing and executing the scripting commands. Use of the state machine definitions in conjunction with the scripting commands may enable representation of complex scenarios for virtual objects and events in the gaming environment in a simplified format. |
| US09463385B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium having object control program stored thereon, object control device, and object control method
An object control device includes an action control unit configured to control an action of a first object, an action of a second object, and an action of an item, in a virtual space. The object control device also includes an item/object storing unit configured to store first object identification information and item identification information in association with each other, when the action control unit controls the first object to possess the item. The object control device also includes a collision determining unit configured to determine whether the item and the second object have collided. When the collision determining unit determines that the item and the second object have collided, the action control unit acquires the first object identification information stored in association with the item identification information and controls the second object to perform a first action based on the first object identification information. |
| US09463381B2 |
Game apparatus, storage medium, game system and game controlling method
A game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU executes game processing of a golf game, and displays a guide path of a circle a part of which is erased in a hitting operation. When the player performs a sliding operation in a clockwise direction so as to trace the guide path, and then inverts the sliding operation in a counterclockwise direction, the player character performs a swing motion according thereto. As to each of backswing, downswing and follow-through, precision, a speed, smoothness of the sliding operation are determined, and in accordance with the results, the movement of a ball is controlled. |
| US09463380B2 |
System and method for playing an interactive game
An interactive treasure hunt game is provided. Game participants receive a card, map and/or identification badge configured with an RFID tag, bar-code or a magnetic “swipe” strip or the like. The RFID tag or other identifying device is used to store certain information identifying each play participant and/or describing certain powers or abilities possessed by an imaginary character that the card may represent. Players advance in the game by finding clues and solving various puzzles presented by the game. Players may also gain (or lose) certain attributes, such as magic skills, magic strength, fighting ability, various spell-casting abilities, etc. All of this information is preferably stored on the RFID tag or card so that the character attributes may be easily and conveniently transported to other similarly-equipped play facilities, computer games, video games, home game consoles, hand-held game units, and the like. In this manner, the game can seamlessly transcend from one play environment and/or entertainment medium to the next. |
| US09463375B2 |
Pinball machine with modular components
Pinball machines with modular components. In some cases, a method may include providing a cabinet having a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion; and assembling a pinball machine, at least in part, by sliding a physical object into or onto: (a) a support element of the first lateral portion, and (b) a support element of the second lateral portion. A pinball machine may include a cabinet having a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion, and a user-replaceable module coupled to an outside surface of the first or second lateral portions, where the user-replaceable module includes one or more controls or terminals configured to communicate with the machine via an interface. Moreover, the pinball machine may also include a user-replaceable magnetic decal coupled to a metallic outside surface of the first or second lateral portions. |
| US09463373B2 |
Method and apparatus for pre-fabricating a synthetic sports field
A system for pre-fabricating a plurality of synthetic turf strips at an indoor facility. The indoor facility is separate from an installation facility for assembling the plurality of strips into a synthetic field. The system includes a plurality of strips for creating the synthetic field and equipment at the indoor facility for prefabricating the plurality of strips. The indoor facility is capable of storing the equipment performing the prefabrication. A floor at the indoor facility is provided, the floor including dimensions that correspond to locations on a field at the installation facility. The dimensions correspond to markings on an underside of each of the plurality of strips. |
| US09463372B2 |
Systems and methods for displaying advertising and other information on athletic surfaces
A system for displaying information on a basketball court, boxing ring or other athletic surface. The system includes: a plurality of light arrays configured to be embedded in a top layer of the athletic surface and oriented to emit light upwards through the athletic surface; and a control system for selectively controlling activation of the light arrays to display advertising and other information in the athletic surface. |
| US09463364B2 |
Ball bat including a reinforced, low-durability region for deterring barrel alteration
A ball bat includes one or more low-durability regions fortified by one or more reinforcing elements, such as a structural patch. If the reinforcing element is altered or removed, the durability of the ball bat is significantly reduced. For example, if the ball bat is subjected to internal shaving or external rolling in an attempt to increase the bat's performance, the reinforcing element would be removed or damaged such that the durability of the bat is reduced to the point that the ball bat's performance remains below a specified limit. |
| US09463363B2 |
Grip and internal weight system for a golf club having a stopper within the grip
A golf club grip for a golf club includes an elongated member having a first end, a second end, an inner surface and an outer surface. The first end is configured to receive a golf club shaft. The second end includes an opening that comprises an insert having a first threaded portion therein. The elongated member comprises a stopper extending inward from the inner surface a predetermined distance. The stopper separates the golf club shaft and insert. |
| US09463360B1 |
Night puck
The night puck has a median plane contiguous with a circumference thereof. The centroid of the puck is located at an intersection of the axis of rotation of the puck with the median plane. A cylindrical cavity extends therein along the natural axis of rotation. This cylindrical cavity has a thin membrane-like bottom wall. A series of holes extend radially along the median plane from the cylindrical cavity to the circumference of the puck. An electronic module is mounted in the cylindrical cavity. This electronic module comprises a battery and has a center of gravity that is located on the centroid of the puck. A push-button switch is held against the membrane-like bottom wall for operation of the switch by a depression of the membrane-like bottom wall. A series of diodes are mounted in the radial holes and are connected to the electronic module, for illuminating rays of lights around the puck. |
| US09463358B2 |
Pedaling state detecting apparatus
A pedaling state detecting apparatus is basically provided with a communication unit and a controller. The communication unit is configured to receive left and right crank arm data relating to a pedaling force applied to left and right crank arms. The controller is configured to output a non-visual notification command indicative of a left-right crank arm balance based on the left and right crank arm data received from the communication unit. |
| US09463356B2 |
Heart rate based training system
Exercise systems and methods are provided that create and run exercise programs that are custom tailored to individual users. An exercise program for a specific user is based upon the user's average work heart rate and recovery heart rate. The exercise programs may include a series of workouts for the user to perform. Each workout requires the user to exercise at various intensity levels so that the user's heart rate moves between different predetermined target heart rate zones. The target heart rate zones are calculated from data relating to the user's average work heart rate and recovery heart rate. As the user's fitness level changes, the user's average work heart rate and recovery heart rate also change. Creation of new exercise programs uses the most current heart rate data to calculate the target heart rate zones, thereby continuously tailoring the exercise programs to the user. |
| US09463355B2 |
Therapeutic gloves and their components
A therapeutic glove includes two glove bodies. The hand is inserted into the inner body (310), which is shaped like a glove. The outer body (320) can also be like a glove or part of a glove, but the outer body's back side can be pulled towards the wrist and attached to the inner body to adjust the glove tension. In some embodiments, the glove has a single body or multiple bodies, and the glove creates a force that pushes the fingers (or at least some fingers) to a straight position away from the palm. In some embodiments, the glove is thinner on the palm side than the back side. Other embodiments are also provided. |
| US09463354B2 |
Wrist exerciser having a protective structure
A wrist exerciser including a housing and a gyroscopic member is disclosed. The housing is structured to include a casing structure, a rail, and one or more channels along a direction of the casing structure, in which the channels penetrate through the casing structure forming an empty space to buffer a force caused by an impact to the housing. The gyroscopic member is moveably disposed at the rail and includes a ring being inside the housing and slidably disposed at the rail; and a rotor being inside the housing and comprising a ball and a shaft, the shaft penetrating the ball, with its two opposite ends connected to the ring for the shaft to rotate relatively to the ring. The housing is structured to absorb an impact force to protect the structure and functionality of the wrist exerciser. |
| US09463353B1 |
Brass instrument mouthpiece emulator
One embodiment of a brass musical instrument practice device (FIG. 3) consisting of a rimmed, (12) bowl shaped, cup (11) about 6 mm to 35 mm in diameter, and about 6 mm 35 mm deep with a 4 mm diameter hole (13) at the bottom of the cup to allow the player's air to escape. The rimmed cup is fitted into to a mounting (18) and is held against the player's lips by means of strap attachments (17) and two straps (14,15) that go around the player's head. This allows the musician to enjoy the lip muscle development benefits of practicing without having to use his hands and arms to hold either an instrument or a mouthpiece, (FIG. 1) thus freeing his hands for other use. |
| US09463352B2 |
Health aid kit and method for treating pain
A health aid, a health aid kit, and a method for treating neck, shoulder and back pain including a first elongated member, a second elongated member, and an attachment connecting the first and second elongated members and configured for the first and second elongated members to move between an open position, wherein a bottom end of each of the first and second elongated members are separated by a first distance, and an engaged position, wherein the bottom ends are separated by a second distance that is less than the first distance. Wherein the health aid kit includes instructions for carrying out the methods for treating neck, shoulder and back pain. |
| US09463346B1 |
External rotator muscles training device
An external rotator muscles training device for use with a training ball to strengthen external rotator muscles of a person's shoulder includes a frame assembly having a pair of elongate frame members parallel to one another, each frame member having opposed proximal and distal ends. A receptacle has a closed bottom and a side wall extending upwardly from the closed bottom, the side wall defining an open top allowing access to an interior area defined by the closed bottom and the side wall. The receptacle is coupled to the distal ends of the pair of frame members and positioned in a primary position in which the open top is generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the pair of frame member. A handle member extends between the pair of frame members, the handle member being situated between the receptacle and the proximal ends of the pair of frame members. |
| US09463343B2 |
Protecting cap and sprinkler head
There is provided a protecting cap configured to protect a sprinkler, the protecting cap having a bottomed cylindrical shape including a bottom surface and a cylinder, having an inner cylinder with a bottom surface and a head housing portion which is configured to house the sprinkler head body, and an outer cylinder to be fitted in an end portion of the cylindrical member; the outer cylinder circumferentially surrounding an outside of the inner cylinder, a tongue portion extending from the inner cylinder and projecting into an opening provided in an upper portion of the cylindrical member; a fastening tool insertion portion, located between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, configured to allow insertion of a fastening tool for mounting the sprinkler on a water supply pipe, and includes a coupling portion configured to connect the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. |
| US09463342B2 |
Fog-cloud generated nozzle
A fog-cloud generating nozzle is disclosed. In one embodiment, a nozzle head having a fluid passageway is threadable coupled to a nozzle base. The nozzle base, which provides a threadable coupling to a water source, is disposed in fluid communication with the fluid passageway. An inner sleeve is rotationally disposed within the fluid passageway with bearing surfaces against the nozzle head and the nozzle base. Multiple discharge ports of the nozzle head and multiple discharge orifices of the inner sleeve cooperate to generate a fog-cloud having a magnified forward thrust component and enabled directional control. |
| US09463341B2 |
N2/CO2 fire extinguishing system propellant gas mixture
An automatic fire extinguishing system includes a canister having a central axis, an outlet port disposed on the canister, a dip tube disposed in the canister about the central axis and in partial fluid communication with the canister and coupled to the outlet port, a propellant gas mixture of CO2 and N2 disposed within the canister and a gaseous fire suppression agent disposed in the canister. |
| US09463338B2 |
Derivatives of the sinapinic acid
The object of the present invention is a compound of general formula (I) as well as to its pharmaceutically acceptable salt, and to the use of this compound for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications. |
| US09463334B2 |
Radiation therapy planing using integrated model
System and method for automatically generate therapy plan parameters by use of an integrate model with extended applicable regions. The integrated model integrates multiple predictive models from which a suitable predictive model can be selected automatically to perform prediction for a new patient case. The integrated model may operate to evaluate prediction results generated by each predictive model and the associated prediction reliabilities and selectively output a satisfactory prediction. Alternatively, the integrated model may select a suitable predictive model by a decision hierarchy in which each level corresponds to divisions of a patient data feature set and divisions on a subordinate level are nested with divisions on a superordinate level. |
| US09463331B2 |
Using a double helix conductor to treat neuropathic disorders
An electrical system controlled, driven by and/or based on one or both of naturally occurring electrophysiological signals in a patient's body and/or digital audio files is used to produce electromagnetic fields to treat a neuropathic disorder of a patient. |
| US09463327B2 |
Systems and methods for determining effective stimulation parameters
One aspect of the present disclosure relates a method for determining effective stimulation parameters to apply to a patient in order to improve the patient's medical condition. The method can employ functional and/or structural imaging to determine the effective stimulation parameters. As such, the method includes programming a stimulation device with an initial stimulation parameter. An image can be received of at least a portion of the patient that is affected by a stimulation by the stimulation device. Based on the image, the efficacy of the stimulation with the at least one initial stimulation parameter can be assessed. The at least one initial stimulation parameter can be updated based on the assessed efficacy. |
| US09463325B1 |
Systems and methods for maintaining a bi-directional communication between an implantable medical device and an external device
Systems and methods are provided for maintaining a bi-directional communication link between an external device and an implantable medical device (IMD). The systems and methods receive a connection request from an external device at the IMD. The communication request includes one or more communication link parameters based on a wireless protocol, defining a first communication interval. The systems and methods establish a bi-directional communication link between the external device and the IMD based on the one or more communication link parameters, and receive, during the first communication interval, a data packet from the external device along a first data channel, the data packet including an adjusted communication link parameter. The adjusted communication link parameter include a second communication interval. |
| US09463322B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling a state of a neurostimulator
A method and system is described for ensuring a state of an active implantable medical device based on the presence and persistence of a magnetic field. The output of a magnetic field sensor is monitored. The active implantable medical device is maintained in a first state, for so long as the presence of a magnetic field is detected by the magnetic field sensor, until a first interval is surpassed. If the first interval is surpassed, then a determination is made as to whether a second interval has been surpassed. If it is determined that the second interval has not been surpassed, then the active implantable medical device is transitioned into a second state. If it is determined that the second interval has been surpassed, then it is ensured that the active implantable medical device is in a predetermined one of the first and second states. |
| US09463320B2 |
Implantable neurostimulator devices including both non-rechargeable and rechargeable batteries and methods of use therewith
An implantable neurostimulation (INS) device includes a non-rechargeable battery, a rechargeable battery, an antenna, an inductive coil, a neurostimulation module and a telemetry module. The neurostimulation module produces neurostimulation signals for delivery to target neural tissue, and the telemetry module wirelessly communicates with a non-implantable device using at least one of the antenna and the inductive coil. The non-rechargeable battery provides power to the neurostimulation module, and the rechargeable battery provides power to the telemetry module. The INS device also includes a charge module that charges the rechargeable battery in dependence on signals received from a non-implantable device via the inductive coil. Additional modules, such a sensor module, can be powered by the rechargeable battery. Additionally modules, such as controller, can be powered by the non-rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery can power components normally powered by the non-rechargeable battery, when a capacity of the non-chargeable battery falls below a threshold. |
| US09463319B2 |
Low pulse rate cochlear implant stimulation in conjunction with a separate representation of fundamental frequencies and voiced/unvoiced distinctions
A method is described for generating stimulus signals for an auditory prosthesis system. A high frequency signal conveys higher frequency audio information including exceptionally low rate band-pass envelope characteristics. This high frequency signal represents at least the upper part if not all of the range of frequencies for speech, music, and other sounds that are audible to listeners with normal hearing. A separate low frequency signal is also provided representing lower audio frequency information including periodicity characteristics (voiced/unvoiced or periodic/aperiodic distinctions) and for periodic sounds, fundamental frequency characteristics. The high frequency signal is applied to the auditory system of a patient by an associated high frequency stimulator, and the low frequency signal is applied to the auditory system of the patient by an associated low frequency signal. |
| US09463308B2 |
Device for pressure enhanced fractional treatment and drug delivery
Disclosed herein is a method of fractional treatment of tissue, the method comprising: creating at least one micro hole in a target tissue; and either a) applying pressure on said target tissue to decrease the patency of said at least one micro hole; administering material and/or fluid and/or drug onto said target tissue; releasing said applied pressure on said target tissue to increase the patency of said at least one micro hole; and propelling said material and/or fluid and/or drug into said at least one micro hole; or b) administering material and/or fluid and/or drug onto said target tissue under sub-atmospheric pressure conditions, the patency of said at least one micro hole being decreased; increasing the atmospheric pressure to atmospheric or above atmospheric conditions to thereby increase the patency of said at least one micro hole; and propelling said material and/or fluid/and/or drug into said at least one micro hole. |
| US09463307B2 |
Sinus dilation system and method
A sinus dilation instrument useful with a navigation system and including a handle, a rigid probe, a balloon, and an identifier device. The probe extends from the handle, forms a curved segment, and carries the balloon. The identifier device is programmed to generate a signal indicative of an instrument identification assigned to the instrument, and is a frontal, maxillary or sphenoid sinus instrument. The signal is formatted to be recognized by an IGS. Once connected, the IGS recognizes the instrument and can retrieve information indicative of a spatial location of the balloon, for example via an instrument tracking device. A surgeon can “plug and play” the sinus dilation instrument with the IGS to perform a procedure. |
| US09463306B2 |
Implantable mechanical valve device for the treatment of hydrocephalus syndrome
An implantable device for the treatment of hydrocephalus syndrome, characterized by a mechanical passive valve device designed to move the cerebrospinal fluid in the cranial site of the patient, comprising a cylindrical body, a piston, and a special spring exhibiting a non-linear characteristic and suitable for applying a force on the piston such that, when the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid acting on the two opposite faces of the piston exceeds a certain value, a rapid displacement of the piston in the cylindrical body takes place due to the non-linear characteristic of the spring, with consequent aspiration, by the same piston, of a greater quantity of cerebrospinal fluid contained in the ventricle and, when the pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid falls below a certain value, the piston reacts and moves rapidly in a direction opposite to the first, so as to feed into the ventricle the cerebrospinal liquid previously aspirated. |
| US09463304B2 |
Devices, methods and kits for delivery of therapeutic materials to a pancreas
An apparatus includes an inner catheter that is coupled to a handle and defines a lumen configured to receive a guidewire. An outer catheter is movably coupled to the handle and defines a first lumen in fluid communication with a distal opening and that is configured to introduce a therapeutic agent through the distal opening and into a target pancreatic artery(ies). The outer catheter defines a second lumen configured to receive at least a portion of the inner catheter. An actuator is coupled to the handle and configured to move the outer catheter relative to the handle. A first occlusion element is coupled to the inner catheter and a second occlusion element is coupled to the outer catheter and disposed proximal to the first occlusion element. A distance between the first occlusion element and the second occlusion element is adjustable when the outer catheter is moved relative to the handle. |
| US09463300B2 |
Controlling catheter flow
A catheter assembly includes an elongate member and a balloon. The elongate member defines at least one lumen and an outer surface. The outer surface defines at least one opening in fluid communication with the at least one lumen. The balloon is disposed within the at least one lumen. The balloon is inflatable such that a portion of the balloon expands from the at least lumen through the at least one opening. The expansion of the balloon increases the flow restriction through the at least one opening compared to the flow restriction through the at least one opening when the balloon is in a deflated condition. Methods for using a catheter assembly to remove occlusive material from a catheter are also described. |
| US09463296B2 |
Laryngeal mask with piriform-fossa conduit
A laryngeal mask airway device inserted in the pharynx of an unconscious patient to ventilate the lungs includes an airway tube and mask portion with cuff formation shaped to fit the actual and potential space surrounding the circumference of the inlet to the larynx. A piriform-fossa conduit is included in a cuff formation of such mask to facilitate insertion of orogastric tubes. Anatomically the piriform-fossa conduit travels around the laryngeal inlet through the piriform fossa to reach the upper esophagus. Structurally the piriform-fossa conduit travels through the lateral cuff formation with the inflatable cuff element. The distal orifice of the piriform-fossa conduit is on the outer perimeter of the cuff formation near the tip of the mask, does not intersect the medial line at the tip, and does not increase bulk in the distal cuff formation along the medial line. |
| US09463294B2 |
System and method of providing feedback to a subject receiving respiratory therapy via a client device associated with the subject
Feedback information is provided to a subject regarding reception of pressure support therapy, and/or other respiratory support therapy. The feedback information may indicate compliance to a respiratory therapy regimen. The feedback information is provided to the subject by transmitting the feedback information through a communication network to a client device associated with the subject. The feedback information may include a characterization of the therapy received by the subject with respect to a usage goal. |
| US09463291B2 |
Controlled inhaler for distributing inhalant according to inhalation velocity
An inhaler is provided that includes a controller, a driver, an atomizer and one or more sensors for detecting information about a velocity of inhalation of a user of the inhaler. The controller is configured to dispense an inhalant from the inhaler during an inhalation of the user based on information about the velocity of inhalation of the user. Such information can include a duration of maximum inhalation velocity or an increase or maximum in the acceleration in inhalation velocity. Embodiments of the inhaler can be used to enhance the delivery of drugs and therapeutic agents for those patients having a weakened respiratory system who are unable to take a deep or full breadth, e.g., patients having asthma or COPD. Embodiments of the inhaler can be used to deliver a variety of drugs and therapeutic agents including agents for the treatment of asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and heart disease. |
| US09463284B2 |
Dose display mechanism for drug delivery device with first and second windows and scales
The present invention relates to a drug delivery device, in particular to the dose display mechanism of a drug delivery device comprising: a housing of substantially tubular shape and having at least a first dose displaying window, a dose setting dial rotatably arranged in the housing) and comprising a first and a second helical dose indicating scale on its peripheral surface, wherein the information contents of the first dose indicating scale and the second dose indicating scale are arranged in different orientations. |
| US09463282B2 |
Arrangement for coupling a plunger to either a syringe or a stopper
An arrangement for coupling a plunger to either a syringe or a stopper arranged in the syringe. The arrangement includes a syringe holder which is slidably arranged in a housing. The syringe holder is provided with at least one resilient syringe holder arm arranged distally, the syringe holder arm having an inclined surface for bearing against a shoulder, which is arranged at the plunger. The syringe holder arm is supportable by an inner surface of the housing in order to prevent it from being flexed outward in a first position. A widened portion is provided in the housing for allowing the syringe holder arm to flex outwards and disconnect from the plunger when in a more proximal position so as to switch load of the plunger from the syringe to the stopper. |
| US09463278B2 |
Resettable drive mechanism for a drug delivery device with guide track and blocking means
A resettable drive mechanism for a drug delivery device (1) comprises a piston rod assembly (32) and an interaction member (23). The piston rod assembly (32) comprises a guide track (18) running along the piston rod assembly (32), the guide track (18) comprising at least one delivery section (18A) and at least one reset section (18B). The reset section (18B) is arranged to continue the delivery section (18A). The delivery section (18A) comprises at least one blocking means (19). The interaction member (23) is configured to cooperate with the guide track (18). For delivering a dose of a drug (24), the piston rod assembly (32) is axially displaceable in a dose delivery direction away from an axial starting position, the interaction member (23) cooperating with the delivery section (18A) and the blocking means (19) passing the interaction member (23) when the piston rod assembly (32) is displaced in the dose delivery direction. Axial displacement of the piston rod assembly (32) towards the axial starting position is prevented by mechanical interaction of the blocking means (19) and the interaction member (23) when the interaction member (23) cooperates with the delivery section (18A). For resetting the drug delivery device (1), the interaction member (23) is configured to cooperate with the reset section (18B), the piston rod assembly (32) being axially displaced towards the axial starting position, the blocking means (19) being offset from the interaction member (23) and passing the axial position of the interaction member (23) when the piston rod assembly (32) is axially displaced towards the axial starting position. Also, a piston rod assembly (32) is proposed. |
| US09463274B2 |
Drug delivery pump drive using a shaped memory alloy wire
A pump drive and a method thereof to dispense a liquid drug from a container having a plunger piston are disclosed. The pump drive provides a unidirectional clutch provided about a rotational axis which supports centrally a wheel. The clutch has an inner race operably connected to the plunger piston, wherein the clutch is configured to rotate both the inner race about the axis in unison with rotation of the wheel in only a first direction to advance the plunger piston, and to let the wheel rotate relative to the inner race about the axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction without advancing the piston plunger. The drive in one embodiment includes at least one shape memory alloy wire which when excited rotates the wheel in the first rotational direction to advance the piston plunger and dispense the liquid drug from the container. |
| US09463269B2 |
Anastomotic devices and methods
Exemplary embodiments comprise AV fistulas and other anastomotic devices for creating new or reinforcing existing side-branch vessels, and/or bridging neighboring vessels together. An exemplary embodiment may comprise a sidewall port, such as a flanged sidewall port, and/or flow frame design, such as a partially bare, flexible stent or a whisk, for purposes of creating a transmural flow. Another exemplary embodiment may comprise a compliant vessel support to aid in the transition from device to vessel and/or vessel to device, and to promote vessel dilation. |
| US09463268B2 |
Cannula systems and methods
Disclosed herein is a cannula assembly for directing the flow of material from an organ chamber, e.g., blood from the left chamber of the heart, and methods of placing the cannula assembly in fluidic communication with the chamber. The cannula assembly includes an elongate tubular member and a coupling assembly disposed at the distal end of elongate tubular member. The elongate tubular member includes a lumen extending from a distal opening at the distal end to a proximal opening at the proximal end. The coupling assembly includes a retaining element and a retention member configured to cooperate with each other and with the portion of the organ wall surrounding the opening in the wall to couple or anchor cannula system to the wall and to provide fluidic communication between the distal opening of the elongate tubular member and the organ chamber. |
| US09463266B2 |
Preparation apparatus and preparation method for dialysis fluid of variable bicarbonate ion concentration type, dialysate of variable bicarbonate ion concentration type, and dialysis system of variable bicarbonate ion concentration type
Technology for preparing a dialysis fluid capable of flexibly changing bicarbonate ion concentration and maintaining concentrations of electrolytes such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium at constant levels during dialysis according to the disease state of a patient. A three-component dialysate containing an agent S containing sodium chloride, an agent B containing sodium bicarbonate, and an agent A containing electrolyte components other than sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, with suitable adjustment of the amount of the agent B during dialysis fluid preparation maintains concentrations of trace metal ions such as potassium ions, calcium ions, and magnesium ions in a dialysis fluid at constant levels and flexibly changes the bicarbonate ion concentration therein. Adjusting the ratio between the amount of the agent S and agent B when the dialysate is used also makes it possible to maintain the sodium ion concentration at a constant level or flexibly change the sodium ion concentration. |
| US09463263B2 |
Tenocyte containing bioscaffolds and treatment using the same
The present invention relates to methods for preparing bio scaffolds useful in the repair of tears. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of treating rotator cuff tear in a mammalian subject in need thereof comprising the steps of: (i) selectively expanding tenocytes in vitro in culture medium comprising insulin or a functional derivative and a glucocorticoid or a glucocorticoid-like molecule to produce a culture of expanded tenocytes; (ii) seeding a bioscaffold with said expanded tenocytes to produce a tenocyte seeded bioscaffold; and (iii) implanting said tenocyte seeded bioscaffold proximal to the rotator cuff tear. The present invention also relates to a bioscaffold comprising cells, wherein more than 80% of said cells are tenocytes. |
| US09463244B2 |
Compositions and methods for nucleic acid delivery
The present invention provides, among other things, multilayer film coating compositions, coated substrates and methods thereof. In some embodiments, a structure includes a substrate; and a multilayer film coated on the substrate, wherein adjacent layers of the multilayer film are associated with one another via one or more non-covalent interactions, wherein the multilayer film comprises a first nucleic acid agent present at a loading density, and further wherein the multilayer film is characterized in that, when the structure is placed on a subject so that the multilayer film contacts cells, the first nucleic acid agent is released with a profile characterized by a feature selected from the group consisting of 1) being a burst-free release; 2) being a sustained release; and 3) exhibiting in vitro and/or in vivo biological effectiveness. |
| US09463243B2 |
Amorphous medicinal fine particles produced by pulsed laser ablation in liquid and the production method thereof
The present disclosure is directed to an in-liquid laser-based method for fabricating a solution of fine particles of amorphous solid medicinal compounds, a solution of fine particles of amorphous medicinal agents made with the method, and fine particles made with the method. By using a target solidified via a phase transition process to covert an initial crystalline structure into an amorphous solid, technical difficulties with handling a hydraulically-pressed target are overcome. The laser-based ablation process produces amorphous solid medicinal compound fine particles, which improves the bioavailability and solubility of the medicinal compound. The improvement results from a combination of: disordered crystalline structure and enlarged relative surface area by particle size reduction. The laser based method may be carried out with ultrashort pulsed laser systems, or with UV nanosecond lasers. Results obtained with an ultrashort near IR laser and a UV nanosecond laser show formation of amorphous solid curcumin fine particles. |
| US09463242B2 |
Methods for treating prostate cancer
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for reducing the recurrence of prostate cancer and for treating prostate cancer. |
| US09463241B2 |
Method for stabilising an immunoglobulin G composition in liquid form
This invention is related to a stabilizing formulation for immunoglobulins G compositions comprising a sugar alcohol, glycine and a non-ionic detergent, which is suitable for the stabilization of immunoglobulins G compositions in liquid form and in lyophilized form. The invention also relates to an immunoglobulins G composition in liquid form or in lyophilized form comprising said stabilizing formulation. |
| US09463237B2 |
Recombinant viral vectors and methods for inducing a heterosubtypic immune response to influenza A viruses
The present invention relates to recombinant viral vectors and methods of using the recombinant viral vectors to induce an immune response to influenza A viruses. The invention provides recombinant viral vectors based, for example, on the non-replicating modified vaccinia virus Ankara. When administered according to methods of the invention, the recombinant viral vectors are designed to be cross-protective and induce heterosubtypic immunity to influenza A viruses. |
| US09463235B2 |
Dengue virus vaccine composition
Vaccine compositions that comprise at least one antigen based on the dengue virus (DV) capsid protein and the oligonucleotide identified as SEQ ID NO 1. The vaccine composition that comprises a fusion protein formed by the DV2 capsid and domain III of the envelope protein of the same serotype, together with the oligonucleotide identified as SEQ ID NO 1, gives rise to higher levels of cellular immune response and protection in mice as compared with that produced by formulations of the same antigen together with oligonucleotides with potential adjuvant capacity which were reported previously. The efficacy of the compositions that comprise the SEQ ID NO 1 oligonucleotide has been demonstrated in non-human primates. These compositions may be monovalent, bivalent or tetravalent and are combined in different immunization regimes with a view to inducing a functional immune response to the four viral serotypes. |
| US09463234B2 |
Attenuated african swine fever virus strain induces protection against challenge with homologous virulent parental virus georgia 2007 isolate
African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the etiological agent of a contagious and often lethal viral disease of domestic pigs that has significant economic consequences for swine breeding. Control of ASF has been hampered by the unavailability of vaccines. Recombinant viruses harboring engineered deletions of specific virulence-associated genes induce solid protection against the challenge with parental viruses. Here we report the construction of a recombinant Δ9GL virus derived from the highly virulent ASFV Georgia 2007 (ASFV-G) isolate. In vivo, ASFV-G Δ9GL administered intramuscularly (IM) to swine at relatively high doses (104 HAD50) retains a virulent phenotype practically indistinguishable from the parental virus. Conversely, at low IM doses (102 or 103 HAD50), ASFV-G Δ9GL does not induce disease. Importantly, animals infected with 103 HAD50 are protected against the presentation of clinical disease when challenge at 28 days post infection with the virulent parental strain Georgia 2007. |
| US09463229B2 |
Modified protozoan expressing at least two variable surface proteins (VSP), a vaccine comprising it and procedures, uses, and methods thereof
Modified protozoa parasites comprising simultaneous expression on its surface of at least two variable surface proteins (VSP). The modified protozoa may also simultaneously express the complete repertoire of variable surface proteins. Protozoa show reduced expression of Dicer, RNA-dependant RNA-polymerase (RdRP) enzymes or both, wherein the RdRP gene and/or the Dicer gene has been silenced. The protozoan may be any protozoan showing an antigenic variation mechanism. |
| US09463222B2 |
Methods for treatment of complications of prematurity comprising administration of IGF-I and IGFBP-3
The present invention relates to a composition comprising Insulin Growth Factor I (IGF-I) or an analog thereof in combination with Insulin Growth Factor Binding Protein (IGFBP) or an analog thereof, said combination having a molar ratio of IGF-I to IGFBP 5 being lower than equimolar, preferably in the range from 1:20 to 1:3.33, for use in the treatment of a patient suffering from complications of preterm birth, very preterm birth and/or extremely preterm birth, as well as a method for treating a patient suffering from complications of preterm birth, very preterm birth and/or extremely preterm birth. |
| US09463221B2 |
Stabilization of FSH
The present invention pertains in general to the field of stabilization of FSH formulations, in particular liquid FSH formulations. The stabilization is achieved by the addition of salts comprising pharmaceutically acceptable alkali metal cations, in preferred embodiments by the addition of pharmaceutically acceptable salts, i.e. sodium salts or potassium salts. |
| US09463220B2 |
Method for inducing twin calving
The present invention provides a method for inducing twin calving. The method according to the present invention comprises firstly treatment to inducing atresia of the antral follicles on ovary so as to initiate the development of new follicular wave, inducing the development of codominant follicles and further achieving double ovulations by exactly controlling the dosage and time points of hormone injections, and performing artificial insemination to induce the cow to deliver twin calves. The method according to the present invention has relative independent on the technical skills, and a person skilled in the art or a common worker can practice it according to specified operation methods; and during practical application, it does not require special equipment, thus saving cost, as well as improving the social benefit and economic benefit of cow breeding. |
| US09463216B2 |
Poly-glutamic acid anti-anthrax compositions and methods for using the same
Methods and compositions for inhibiting entry of an anthrax toxin and/or an anthrax toxin protein into a cell are provided. Aspects of the subject methods include administering to a host an effective amount of poly-γ-Glutamic acid-Fe(III) chelate. Also provided are compositions suitable for use in the subject methods, as well as pharmaceutical preparations thereof. |
| US09463213B2 |
Use of degarelix in the treatment of endometriosis and related diseases
The use of degarelix in the treatment of endometriosis, in particular in the treatment of endometriotic ovarian cysts and recurrent endometriotic lesions following surgery and in the treatment of endometriosis and/or endometriotic ovarian cysts in patients who plan to undergo assisted reproduction, is described, wherein this treatment is performed before the patients are subjected to assisted reproduction; degarelix is administered for this purpose as a single dose of 80-120 mg, preferably 80 mg, subcutaneously. |
| US09463211B2 |
Skin salve for treating intertrigo
The subject patent discloses a method for treating intertrigo on the underside of a female breasts which comprises (1) applying a skin salve to the underside of the female breasts, wherein the female breasts are dry, and wherein the skin salve is comprised of (i) petrolatum, (ii) from 11 weight percent to 60 weight percent beeswax, and (iii) from 0.25 weight percent to 10 weight percent peppermint oil, wherein the skin salve has a viscosity at 25° C. which is within the range of 11 Pa·s to 15 Pa·s at a shear rate of 35 l/s, and (2) allowing the skin salve to remain in contact with female breasts for a period of at least 4 hours. |
| US09463206B2 |
Cross-linked dehydrated placental tissue grafts and methods for making and using the same
Described herein are tissue grafts produced by contacting dehydrated placental tissue grafts with a cross-linking agent. The tissue grafts described herein provide barrier and prevent the migration of a bioactive agent from the wound. Thus, the tissue grafts enhance wound healing while preventing the undesirable migration of a bioactive agent from the wound. Methods for making and using the cross-linked grafts are also described herein. |
| US09463205B2 |
Non-invasive in vivo imaging and methods for treating type I diabetes
The present invention provides novel drug discovery platforms and methods for treating type I diabetes. |
| US09463200B2 |
Cell-penetrating oligonucleotides
The present invention relates to modified oligonucleotides of 5-50 nucleotide residues, wherein at least 25% of the nucleotides are independently modified at the 2′ position to comprise the structure of formula (I), wherein base is a purine or pyrimidine moiety; and R1, R2, R3, R4, p and q are as defined in the description. The modified oligonucleotides comprising said structures are useful as medicaments for enhancement of drug uptake in oligonucleotide based therapy in humans and animals. |
| US09463199B2 |
Use of PDE III inhibitors for the reduction of heart size in mammals suffering from heart failure
The invention relates to the use of a phosphodiesterase type III (PDE III) inhibitor or Ca2+-sensitizing agent or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof for the preparation of a medication for the reduction of the heart size of a patient suffering from heart failure. |
| US09463193B2 |
Individual 5-fluorouracile dose optimization in folfiri treatment
The present invention belongs to the field of improved personalized medicine. More precisely, the present invention relates to a method for progressively optimizing the 5-FU dose administered by continuous infusion in patients treated by a FOLFIRI regimen or a similar regimen, based on the 5-FU plasmatic concentration measured during the previous 5-FU continuous infusion and on a herein described decision algorithm. The present invention also relates to a method for treating a cancer patient in which the 5-FU dose administered in continuous infusion in each FOLFIRI or similar treatment cycle is optimized using the decision algorithm according to the invention. |
| US09463185B2 |
Pharmaceutical containing PPAR-delta agonist
A preparation containing [3-[2-[4-isopropyl-2-(4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl-5-thiazolyl]ethyl]-5-methyl-1,2-benzisoxazol-6-yl]oxyacetic acid, [4-[3-[2-(4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl-4-isopropyl-5-thiazolyl]propionyl]-2-methylphenoxy]acetic acid or [4-[3-[2-(2-hydroxy-4-chlorophenyl)-5-isopropyl-4-oxazolyl]propionyl]-2-methylphenoxy]acetic acid, or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient is used as an agent for promoting proliferation of meibomian gland epithelial cells or corneal epithelial cells, as well as a therapeutic agent for ocular diseases such as meibomian gland dysfunction, dry eye and the like. |
| US09463184B2 |
Calcium flux agonists and methods thereof
Calcium flux agonists are used to enhance a TLR- or NOD-mediated stimulus and to so increase an immune response of a host and reduce healing time. Preferred calcium flux agonists include Ca2+ ionophores and SERCA inhibitors and are used in synergistic quantities where a ligand to a TLR or NOD receptor is present. |
| US09463173B2 |
Compositions and methods for treating obesity and obesity-related conditions
The present invention relates to the field of obesity. More specifically, the present invention provides methods and compositions useful in treating obesity and obesity-associated conditions. In one embodiment, a method for treating obesity in a subject comprises the step of administering an effective amount of valproic acid (VPA) or an analog, derivative or metabolite thereof to the subject. |
| US09463164B2 |
Tablet having improved elution properties
The present invention provides a tablet having improved dissolution property, which comprises (+)-3-{1-[3-(trifluoromethoxy)benzyl]piperidin-4-yl}-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinazolinone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active component, and a production method thereof. A film-coated tablet obtained by mixing granulated particles obtained by granulating a mixture containing (a) the aforementioned active component, (b) one or more kinds of fillers selected from lactose, D-mannitol, erythritol and crystalline cellulose, (c) a cellulose-based disintegrant and (d) a water-soluble binder with a later powder containing (e) one or more kinds of fillers selected from lactose, D-mannitol and crystalline cellulose and/or (f) a cellulose-based disintegrant, forming the mixture, and applying film coating. A production method of a film-coated tablet, including a step of producing the granulated particles, a step of producing a tablet by mixing with the later powder and forming the mixture, and a step of applying a film coating to the obtained tablet. |
| US09463163B2 |
Delayed release pharmaceutical composition of mesalamine
The invention relates to a delayed release pharmaceutical composition of mesalamine comprising: a) granules comprising mesalamine or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and a hydrophilic polymer; b) extragranular excipients; wherein the pharmaceutical composition is further coated with a single layer of polymer. |
| US09463162B2 |
Self-gelling alginate systems and uses thereof
Kits and compositions for producing an alginate gel are disclosed. The kits and compositions comprise soluble alginate and insoluble alginate/gelling ion particles. Methods for dispensing a self-gelling alginate dispersion are disclosed. The methods comprise forming a dispersion of insoluble alginate/gelling ion particles in a solution containing soluble alginate, and dispensing the dispersion whereby the dispersion forms an alginate gel matrix. The methods may include dispensing the dispersion into the body of an individual. An alginate gel having a thickness of greater than 5 mm and a homogenous alginate matrix network and homogenous alginate gels free of one or more of: sulfates citrates, phosphates, lactatates, EDTA or lipids are disclosed. Implantable devices comprising a homogenous alginate gel coating are disclosed. Methods of improving the viability of pancreatic islets, or other cellular aggregates or tissue, following isolation and during storage and transport are disclosed. |
| US09463155B2 |
Cosmetic compositions and uses thereof
Disclosed is a composition and methods for its use to reduce the appearance of cellulite and improve skin texture comprising a combination of one or more of Rubus fruticosus extract, Argania spinosa kernel oil, Coleus barbatus extract, glycolic acid, and a mixture of caffeine, escin, and algae extract. |
| US09463154B2 |
Topical skin care formulations comprising plant extracts
Disclosed is a method of topically applying Myriophyllum spicatum extract to skin, the method comprising topically applying a composition comprising Myriophyllum spicatum extract to skin. |
| US09463150B2 |
Agent for coloring and/or lightening keratinic fibers without ammonia odor
An agent for coloring and/or lightening keratinic fibers, in particular human hair, includes: (a) ammonia in a quantity of 0.40 to 3.0 wt.-%, preferably of 0.50 to 2.4 wt.-%, more preferably of 0.60 to 2.0 wt.-% and especially preferred of 0.62 to 1.75 wt.-%, based on the weight of the agent, (b) one or more alkanolamines from the group of monoethanolamine, 2-amino-2-methylpropanol, and triethanolamine, (c) one or more ethoxylated fatty alcohols having a degree of ethoxylation from 80 to 120, (d) cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol in a total quantity of 4 to 8 wt-%, based on the weight of the agent, (e) one or more ethoxylated fatty alcohols having a degree of ethoxylation of 30. |
| US09463146B2 |
Addition-fragmentation oligomers
Addition-fragmentation oligomers of the general formula Z—By-A-(B-A)x-B-A-By—Z, where the A monomers units are derived from a diester or diacid, the B monomer units are derived from a difunctional monomer having functional groups co-reactive and at least one of the A or B monomers comprise a 1-methylene-3,3-dimethylpropyl group. |
| US09463144B2 |
Adhesive composition suitable for dental uses
A dental adhesive composition is described comprising a photocurable ionomer, radiopaque metal oxide nanoparticles, a phosphorous-containing acidic monomer, other polymerizable resin components, and a polar solvent. In a favored embodiment, the adhesive composition comprises a photocurable ionomer in an amount up to 15 wt-%; 5 wt-% to 30 wt-% of radiopaque metal oxide nanoparticles that comprise a basic surface (such as zirconia) wherein the nanoparticles comprise an organosilane surface treatment; a phosphorous-containing acidic monomer in an amount up to 10 wt-%; and 10 wt-% to 50 wt-% of solvent comprising water and at least one alcohol, ketone, or mixture thereof. |
| US09463141B2 |
Inflatable container for feeding babies
The invention provides an elastomeric expandable container 10 having a first opening 12 adapted to enable the introduction of a comestible fluid 16 under pressure to inflate the same, and a second opening 20 provided in a nipple-like projection 22 extending from said container 10 and adapted for nursing babies, said second opening 20 being closed by valve means 24, and said valve means 24 being opened and closed by the natural nursing actions of the baby to enable fluid 16 to flow under pressure of the inflated container 10 through said nipple 22 and out of the opening 20 thereof. |
| US09463140B2 |
Dispensing device with tamper detection
Embodiments generally relate to a pill box adapted for dispensing medication. In one embodiment, the pill box includes a base member, a carousel coupled to the base member and configured to rotate about the base member, one or more compartments, each compartment formed within the carousel and configured to store a single dose of medication with a lid configured to enclose the base and the carousel. The pill box ratchet advancement mechanism includes a resilient member and a stop member configured to facilitate motion of the carousel in a first direction and to restrict motion in a second direction, and a locking component configured to permit a pre-determined displacement of the carousel in the first direction and to limit further displacement in the first direction by locking the carousel. |
| US09463137B2 |
Methods, packaging and apparatus for collection of biological samples
Methods, apparatus and compositions are disclosed for collection and transport of biological samples for testing and/or evaluation by a clinical laboratory. In particular, the disclosure relates to the self-collection of such samples by subjects providing the samples. Self-collection is necessary in some situations e.g. where a subject's religion prohibits being touched by a non-family member and subjects at great distance from medical facilities. |
| US09463131B2 |
Spinal therapy apparatus
A spinal therapy apparatus including at least one gripping member whose direction deviates from the transverse direction relative to the spinal column, so that the angle between the gripping member and the midline of the spinal column is less than 90°. A gripping member unit includes preferably two gripping members the angle between the ridges of the gripping members being less than 180°. There is a gap or groove between the gripping members. The gripping member unit also includes a support part, the support part being padded, preferably including two parts and in an inclined position relative to the floor. There is a groove between the gripping member and the support part. The spinal therapy apparatus may also incorporate at least one support handle, which the user can use to move the required part of the spinal column to the ridges of the gripping members. |
| US09463129B2 |
Grossing station
A grossing station for use with performing autopsy, necropsy or pathology procedures comprises a table and an overhead hood connected to a top surface of the table. The grossing station further comprises a blower and ventilation system arranged in the table to move air across the table from a front to rear direction. The grossing station also comprises a trough arranged in an upper surface of the table, wherein the trough receives a plurality of interchangeable grid plates or sinks therein. The grossing station also comprises a first and second panel arranged at the side of the hood in order to create a fume hood for use by the user of the grossing station. |
| US09463126B2 |
Caregiver universal remote cart for patient bed control
A number of patient beds are disclosed. Various caregiver control panels and patient control panels for controlling features and functions of a patient bed are also disclosed. For example, a cart with caregiver control inputs, including hand inputs on a graphical user interface (GUI) and foot inputs, is disclosed. Patient positioning and transfer devices are also disclosed. Various types of in-bed physical therapy devices are also disclosed. |
| US09463125B2 |
Lifting column
A lifting column includes first and second lifting column components, one slidably receivable in the other, each having mutually facing guide surfaces. The first lifting column component has first and second openings in its guide surface, and first and second guide components mounted in these openings. Each of the guide components includes an attachment structure that projects into one of the first and second openings and a substantially planar guide section connected to the attachment structure that overlies a guide surface of the first lifting component and that is configured to abut on the guide surface of the second lifting column component. The first and second guide components are configured such that they are in contact with each other when the attachment structures are mounted the openings. |
| US09463121B1 |
Wheelchair assembly and system for ingress/egress to a vehicle using a door of a vehicle as support
A entry and exit assist system for a vehicle has a mounting slot formed within a door of the vehicle. A wheelchair has a set of wheels and a seat coupled to the set of wheels, wherein the set of wheels are one of detachable from or foldable under the wheelchair. A supporting connector is coupled to the wheelchair. The supporting connector slides into and engages the mounting slot holding the wheelchair above a ground area when the set of wheels are one of detached from or folded under the wheelchair. A seatback is slideably mounted on a track in the vehicle. Closing the door with the supporting connector engaging the mounting slot and holding the wheelchair above a ground area positions the wheelchair in the vehicle. The seatback provides back support for a user of the wheelchair. |
| US09463119B2 |
Wound dressing with a bacterial adsorbing composition and moisture holding system
The invention herein relates to a wound dressing product, combining a hydrophobic fabric, which is to be placed towards the wound, and is capable of binding unwanted microorganisms, and a moisture carrying matrix such as a gel or a foam. The product of the invention is ideal for treatment of drier wounds. It protects the wound and reduces the number of pathogenic microorganisms, without using antimicrobial substances and at the same time adds or traps moisture to the wound both supporting the hydrophobic functioning of the pad and healing in general by keeping the wound moist. |
| US09463116B2 |
Laser corneal flap cutting system and associated methods
A method for performing wavefront-guided laser surgery on a cornea includes the step of calculating a corneal flap configuration based upon collected anatomical information on an eye and wavefront data on a cornea of the eye. Such data may be collected by, for example, an aberrometer, although this is not intended as a limitation. The calculated configuration is transmitted to a processor in controlling relation to a corneal flap-cutting device. The flap-cutting device is used to create a corneal flap based upon the calculated configuration. A system for performing wavefront-guided laser surgery on a cornea includes a processor for receiving the anatomical information and wavefront data. A software package is adapted to calculate the corneal flap configuration and to control a conical flap-cutting device to cut a corneal flap commensurate with the calculated corneal flap configuration. |
| US09463115B2 |
Apparatus for individual therapy planning and positionally accurate modification of an optical element
A navigation apparatus for optically analyzing an inner structure of an optical element and processing that element includes a detection device and a processing device. The detection device has an aperture smaller than 0.25 and the processing device is disposed relative to the analyzed inner structure of the optical element. An apparatus for planning therapy for a human eye includes a dynamic wavefront measurement device for acquiring wavefront data, a diagnostic device for determining geometric parameters of the optical apparatus of the eye, a controller for consistent superposition of the wavefront and geometric data, and an additional controller for planning the most efficient therapeutic laser cutting paths. |
| US09463114B2 |
Punctal plug with active agent
A method and apparatus for administering an active agent such as a medicine to a subject, uses an ocular implant such as a punctal plug, to which the active agent has been applied. The implant is installed at the eye of the subject for administering the active agent via tissues of the eye. |
| US09463113B2 |
Systems and methods for intravascular cooling
Methods and systems for infusing a cooled infusate to a target location in a patient are described. A temperature of the blood and infusate admixture upstream of the catheter as well as at other locations along the catheter may be monitored and a feedback system utilized to control the volume, temperature, and/or infusion rate of the infusate so as to achieve a predetermined temperature at the target location. Control may also be based on the patient's native vessel flow rate. The system may monitor or calculate hematocrit upstream of the catheter and adjust infusion so as to provide sufficient oxygenation of the blood and infusate admixture. The system may also monitor reflux of the infusate past a distal end of the catheter and reduce infusion upon the detection of reflux. |
| US09463101B2 |
Low profile stent and delivery system
A tubular prosthetic device for implantation into a body lumen includes a first part including a tubular lumen and a second part including an attachment member. The second part is secured to the first part via various configurations, where the device is capable of being reduced to a diameter less than the diameter of traditional devices, for ease of use during implantation. Methods of using the device are also provided. |
| US09463097B2 |
Intervertebral implant
An intervertebral implant includes a three-dimensional body and a securing plate. The three-dimensional body includes a front surface and a rear surface. The three-dimensional body further includes a plurality of boreholes for accommodating fixation elements. The intervertebral implant also includes a front plate disposed at the front surface of the three-dimensional body and has a plurality of boreholes. A securing plate can be fastened to the front plate. |
| US09463095B2 |
Artificial disc
A medical device includes a base ring configured to be implanted within a body of a patient. The base ring provides a contact surface to a vertebrae. Multiple layers of multiple leveling plates are configured to equalize forces applied to the contact surface of the base ring, where at least one of the layers of the leveling plates engages an inner surface of the base ring. A layer of multiple pads is included with a top surface of the pads configured to maintain a parallel plane and a bottom surface of each of the multiple pads is configured to engage a top surface of one of the layers of the leveling plates. A cover is configured to enclose the multiple layers of the leveling plates, the layer of the multiple pads and the base ring. The cover provides a contact surface to a vertebrae. |
| US09463094B2 |
Acetabular cup assembly for multiple bearing materials
A modular acetabular cup assembly (10, 100, 200, 300, 350) for use with multiple bearing liners (32, 110, 212, 310, 354) is disclosed. The acetabular cup assembly includes a shell (12) having a tapered inner wall (28) and two circumferential grooves (24, 26). The shell (12) may be used with polyethylene, ceramic, metal, and other types of liners. |
| US09463090B2 |
Modular long bone prosthesis
A prosthesis for partial replacement of a long bone in humans or animals, the prosthesis including: a proximal or distal end component forming one component of a prosthetic joint; a shaft on or assembled with the distal or proximal end component in use; a stem for engagement in a resected bone; and an initially separate collar assembled to the shaft or an extension thereof in use, the collar being dimensioned to abut the resected end face of the bone into which the prosthesis is to be fitted, wherein the end face of the collar facing the resected face of the bone is sized and shaped to correspond to the resected end face of the bone. |
| US09463088B2 |
Intraocular lens design method and intraocular lens
Provided is a technique which, in the design of intraocular lenses, simplifies design work and makes it possible for aberration of the entire eyeball to more precisely match a target value when the designed intraocular lens is inserted into a patient's eye. This intraocular lens design method involves deriving an intraocular lens aberration target value from the aberration of the cornea and anterior chamber and a set value of the total eyeball aberration (S102), and determining an intraocular lens shape such that the at least the aberration of the intraocular lens coincides with the target value (S103-S107). The intraocular lens aberration is set to an intraocular lens aberration for which prescribed convergent light is incident to the intraocular lens (S104). |
| US09463083B2 |
Air gap for supporting cells
Apparatus is provided, including a housing configured for insertion into a body of a subject; at least one oxygen reservoir disposed within the housing; and at least one layer of transplanted cells, disposed within the housing; and gaseous oxygen disposed within the at least one oxygen reservoir. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US09463081B2 |
Intraoral video camera and display system
A system for capturing and displaying an image of an entire oral cavity includes a handheld intraoral camera and a computer processor. Each of left and right panoramic tooth row images is generated by combining a first digital still image including the center of the front teeth with a second digital still image taken adjacent to the first digital still image and having an overlapping portion with the first digital still image, to form a first combined image. This step is repeated until a last digital still image positioned at the back tooth of the respective row is combined with a last combined image, forming the left or right panoramic tooth row image. The left and right panoramic tooth row images are superposed in an area of the center of the front teeth to form the full panoramic tooth row image. |
| US09463079B2 |
Mixer
The invention relates to a mixer (1) for mixing two components, in particular, a hardenable dental material. The mixer (1) has a mixer housing (2), a mixer element (4) and a cover (3). The mixer (1) has an annular chamber (17) that is in fluid communication with the mixing chamber of the mixer housing (2). The chamber (17) is defined by the cover (3), and by a plate (18) that is provided on the mixer element (4). The first of the inlet connections (12, 13) leading into mixer (1), ends in chamber (17), while the other ends downstream of plate (18) in the mixing chamber. |
| US09463076B2 |
Dental treating apparatus
The present invention is directed to a dental treating apparatus including: a hand piece; a power source (micro motor); a driving unit (motor driver); a driving state detecting unit (resistor for load detection, root canal length measuring circuit); and a controller. The hand piece drivably holds a cutting tool on a head unit. The power source drives the cutting tool. The driving unit drives the cutting tool with twist driving in which the normal rotation and the reverse rotation are repeated. The driving state detecting unit detects a driving state of the cutting tool. The controller changes at least one parameter of a rotation angle in the normal rotation, a rotation angle speed in the normal rotation, a rotation angle in the reverse rotation, and a rotation angle speed in the reverse rotation in accordance with the driving state of the cutting tool detected by the driving state detecting unit. |
| US09463072B2 |
System and method for patient specific planning and guidance of electrophysiology interventions
A method and system for patient-specific planning and guidance of electrophysiological interventions is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical heart model is generated from cardiac image data of a patient. A patient-specific cardiac electrophysiology model is generated based on the patient-specific anatomical heart model and patient-specific electrophysiology measurements. Virtual electrophysiological interventions are performed using the patient-specific cardiac electrophysiology model. A simulated electrocardiogram (ECG) signal is calculated in response to each virtual electrophysiological intervention. |
| US09463071B2 |
Therapeutic skin lifting device and related systems and methods
A therapeutic device has a bridge portion adapted for releasable adherence to a patch of skin so as to lift the patch of skin above a sensitive underlying treatment site in reducing discomfort or pain associated with tissue compression at the treatment site. The bridge portion is elevated above the treatment site with an exposed adhesive facing the patch of skin to be lifted and/or stretched outwardly. With the application of pressure to elastically deform the device from its original neutral configuration, the bridge portion is brought into contact with the patch of skin, adhering the skin to the adhesive. When the pressure is removed, the device rebounds and generally reassumes its original configuration with the bridge portion lifting the attached patch of skin. |
| US09463069B2 |
Automated work station for point-of-care cell and biological fluid processing
The invention is directed to a work station for use in performing processing of patient samples, storing equipment and drugs in a hospital and the like, the cart having a lower housing having caster wheels mounted on the bottom thereof, the lower housing having angular-shaped side panels therearound which may be opened for entrance into all sides of the housing, and one or more of the side panels; an upper housing mounted on top of the lower housing, the upper housing having one or more side panels therearound; and one or more work areas mounted on top of the upper housing, the shelf adapted for receiving point-of-care equipment. |
| US09463068B2 |
Methods and devices for protecting nasal turbinates
Devices and methods are provided which shield at least one turbinate from trauma or damage during sinus surgery that could be caused by direct contact with diagnostic and therapeutic devices. The devices and methods provided are particularly useful for protecting nasal turbinates during FESS and FTIS procedures. |
| US09463067B2 |
Vessel sealing system
An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes impedance sensing circuitry which measures impedance of tissue, a microprocessor configured to determine whether a tissue reaction has occurred as a function of a minimum impedance value and a predetermined rise in impedance, wherein tissue reaction corresponds to a boiling point of tissue fluid, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue. |
| US09463066B2 |
Methods for renal neuromodulation
Methods and apparatus are provided for renal neuromodulation using a pulsed electric field to effectuate electroporation or electrofusion. It is expected that renal neuromodulation (e.g., denervation) may, among other things, reduce expansion of an acute myocardial infarction, reduce or prevent the onset of morphological changes that are affiliated with congestive heart failure, and/or be efficacious in the treatment of end stage renal disease. Embodiments of the present invention are configured for extravascular delivery of pulsed electric fields to achieve such neuromodulation. |
| US09463065B2 |
Method of treating a living body tissue
A method is disclosed for treating a living body tissue by cauterizing a sympathetic nerve around a renal artery to block a neurotransmission function of the sympathetic nerve. The method includes inserting a balloon catheter including a balloon on a distal end side of a shaft into a body cavity, and delivering the balloon to the renal artery; inflating the balloon that has been delivered to the renal artery; puncturing a blood vessel wall with at least one protrusive member disposed on an outer surface of the balloon when the balloon is inflated; and after puncturing the blood vessel wall with the protrusive member, cauterizing the sympathetic nerve within a region at a periphery of an electrode disposed on a projecting tip end portion of the protrusive member by supplying a current to the electrode. |
| US09463061B2 |
Power console for a surgical tool capable of receiving memory data over which power signals are sourced to the tool
A console for providing power to a surgical tool. Internal to the console is a power supply that supplies power, a processor that regulates the application of the power and a memory reader that reads data from a memory integral with the tool. The power is sourced over terminals also part of the console. The tool memory data are used to regulate the characteristics of the sourced power. An isolation circuit also internal to the console extends between the terminals over and the memory reader. The isolation circuit allows the memory reader to send read requests to the tool memory and receive data signals from the tool memory over the terminals while protecting the memory reader from the power signals sourced by the power supply. |
| US09463058B2 |
Guide for surgical wires, method, system, and device
A method and device for improving the placement of a second guide wire in relation to a first guide wire. A body having a first guide wire channel extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The distal end includes a needle-like tip arranged to receive a first guide wire from the first guide wire channel. The body further includes at least one parallel guide wire conduit in close proximity and substantially parallel to the channel. An elongated slot, with a wide opening on the distal end, narrows at the proximal end with a terminus exiting the body in close proximity to the needle-like tip. A second guide wire can be selectively inserted in either the at least one parallel conduit or in the slot to arrange the second guide wire in close and parallel proximity to, or in close and intersecting the trajectory of, the first guide wire. |
| US09463057B2 |
Orthopedic fastener
An orthopedic fastener (10) has a head (50) and a shank (20). The shank (20) extends from the head (50) to a distal tip (11). The shank (20) has a leading end (1) adjacent the distal tip (11) and a trailing end (3) adjacent the head (50). An intermediate transition (2) is positioned between the leading (1) and trailing ends (3). The leading end (1) has first threads (40) with one or more self-tapping cutting grooves (41) extending adjacent the distal tip (11) and through a plurality of the first threads (40). The trailing end (3) has a second thread (60) extending toward the head (50) from the intermediate transition (2). The intermediate transition (2) has one or more second cutting grooves (61) extending from at least a first thread (40) in the intermediate transition (2) through at least one of said second threads (60) to initiate tapping of the second threads (60) into cortical bone. The first and second cutting grooves (41, 61) in combination with the threads (40, 60) form threads in the bone to hold the fastener (10). |
| US09463056B2 |
Universal length screw design and cutting instrument
An adjustable length bone screw is provided that has a shaft that can be cut at any of several predetermined positions. The adjustable length bone screws can be provided in a kit containing many bone screws having the same or different initial lengths, and these screws can be cut to the desired length for use in the surgical procedure prior to, or during, the surgical procedure. The adjustable length bone screws have a plurality of threaded shaft sections that are separated by a plurality of unthreaded shaft sections along the length of the shaft. The threaded sections have preferably at least two cutting flutes extending longitudinally along the shaft. The invention provides the adjustable length bone screws, a tool for cutting the bone screws to a desired length, kits containing the bone screws and optionally the cutting tool, and methods for using the screws and/or the cutting tool in preparation for or during a surgical procedure. |
| US09463055B2 |
Plate-based compliant hip fixation system
System, including methods, devices, and kits, for hip fixation. The system may include a fixation element configured to be placed obliquely into a proximal femur and anchored in a head of the proximal femur. The system also may include a plate member including (a) a mounting portion configured to be placed on and attached to a lateral cortex of the proximal femur and (b) a barrel portion configured to be placed into a lateral region of the proximal femur and positioned around a portion of the fixation element. The system further may include a compliant member positioned or positionable at least partially in the plate member and configured to be reversibly deformed in response to a load applied to the head of the proximal femur, to change an angular orientation of the fixation element with respect to the plate member. |
| US09463053B2 |
Fracture plating
A plating system for mending a periprosthetic fracture is provided. The system includes an intramedullary rod, a first and second plate, and a plurality of fasteners. The intramedullary rod has a plurality of transverse holes. The first and second locking plates each have a plurality of openings and is configured to have a contour similar to a surface of a bone to which the plate is applied. Also provided is method of mending fractures by using the disclosed system. In the implanted condition, the first and second locking plates are placed across the periprosthetic fracture and each of the plurality of fasteners is inserted through one opening of the first and second plurality of openings and one transverse hole. |
| US09463052B2 |
Access assembly for anterior and lateral spinal procedures
Briefly, the present invention is directed to methods and instrumentation for performing surgery on the spine along its lateral aspect (side) and generally by a lateral, anterior or an anterolateral surgical approach, such that the instruments enter the body from an approach that is other than posterior and make contact with the spine along its lateral aspect. The present invention provides for the entire surgical procedure to be performed through a relatively small incision and may be performed in either the thoracic or lumbar spine. |
| US09463051B2 |
Facet joint prosthesis
A facet joint prosthesis comprising an inferior prosthetic portion and a superior prosthetic portion is disclosed. Inferior prosthetic portion includes a first anchor member and a first articulating member and superior prosthetic portion includes a second anchor member and a second articulating member. The first articulating member comprises a support portion and first articulating surface and the second articulating member comprises a second articulating surface, and first and second articulating surfaces are configured and dimensioned to contact or engage one another. A flexible element is positioned between the support portion and the first articulating surface. |
| US09463050B2 |
Sliding rod system for correcting spinal deformities
A sliding rod system for correcting a spinal deformity is disclosed. The sliding rod system may include at least one elongated thoracic sliding rod for slidable engagement with a plurality of connectors with each connector being fixedly engaged to multiple ribs of a patient for applying a continuous corrective force to the spinal column. Each of the connectors has a connector body that defines an upper clamp portion in communication with a lower clamp portion. The upper clamp is in slidable engagement with the at least one elongated thoracic sliding rod and the lower clamp is in fixed engagement with a respective rib of a patient. As the patient grows, the thoracic sliding rod slides relative to each connector, thereby permitting the sliding rod system to accommodate the gradual separation of the ribs during patient growth while providing continued corrective pressure to the patient's spinal column. |
| US09463045B2 |
Polyaxial pivot housing for external fixation system
A polyaxial pivot housing for an external fixation system, comprising a first plate; a second plate substantially parallel to the first plate; a spherical member positioned between the first and second plates, the spherical member having a threaded post that is configured to attach to a support member of an external fixation frame; and a pivotably rotatable locking arm, the locking arm being configured to orientationally lock the threaded post with respect to the external fixation frame by compressing the first and second plates against the spherical member. |
| US09463042B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling an ultrasonic handpiece based on sensed pressure
A system includes a handpiece configured to generate vibratory energy, and a generator coupled to the handpiece. The generator includes a processing device and a memory device having encoded thereon computer-readable instructions that are executable by the processing device to perform functions including receiving a pressure signal from the handpiece. The pressure signal is indicative of a pressure between the handpiece and a surgical implement. The functions further include determining the pressure between the handpiece and the surgical implement, comparing the pressure to a predetermined pressure range, and transmitting a control signal to the handpiece when the pressure is within the predetermined pressure range. |
| US09463041B2 |
Devices and methods for tissue access
Methods and apparatus are provided for selective surgical removal of tissue, e.g., for enlargement of diseased spinal structures, such as impinged lateral recesses and pathologically narrowed neural foramen. In some embodiments, a surgical tissue removal device includes a flexible elongate body that is adapted to conform with the target anatomy and a guidewire connector at the distal end region of the flexible elongate body configured to removably connect to the end of a guidewire so that the guidewire and flexible elongate body can be pulled distally. The body may have at least one blade edge, and the flexible elongate body may be a thin, flat, ribbon shaped flexible body that comprises a profile having a width that is substantially greater than a height. |
| US09463038B2 |
Retrievable endoluminal filter
In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a filter having a first support member having a first end and a second end; a second support member joined to the first support member at the first end and positioned adjacent the first support member to form a support frame; a material capture structure within the support frame; and a retrieval feature on the first end and on the second end. In one aspect, the first support member or the second support member has a spiral shape. |
| US09463036B2 |
Clot engagement and removal system
A clot retrieval apparatus 1 comprises a clot engaging device 2 and a capture basket 3. The clot engaging device 2 has a collapsed delivery configuration and an expanded deployment configuration. The clot engaging device has a proximal end and a distal end and an elongate body between the proximal end and the distal end. The capture basket 3 has a collapsed delivery configuration and an expanded deployment configuration. The capture basket 3 has a proximal mouth which is open when the capture basket 3 is in the deployment configuration. The clot engaging device 2 is axially movable relative to the capture basket for capture of a clot. |
| US09463035B1 |
Mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses and methods
Methods and apparatuses for mechanically removing objects from a body. In particular, described herein are thrombectomy methods and mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses for removal of blood clots from within a lumen of a blood vessel. |
| US09463031B2 |
Device and method for working material
The invention relates to a device for working material, in particular for working tissue or bone, comprising a tool head and a tool arranged thereon, wherein the tool head (WK) has at least one support element (2) which is adjustable relative thereto and by means of which the tool head (WK) can be supported on the surface of a material (4) that is to be worked, wherein the position of the tool (1) relative to a material surface to be worked is adjustable through controlled or regulated adjustment of the at least one support element (2) by means of an actuator, depending on data that can be fed to a controlling/regulating unit of the at least one actuator during working of the material. |
| US09463029B2 |
Tissue modification devices
Described herein are elongate devices for modifying tissue having a plurality of flexibly connected rungs or links, and methods of using them, including methods of using them to decompress stenotic spinal tissue. These devices may be included as part of a system for modifying tissue. In general, these devices include a plurality of blades positioned on (or formed from) rungs that are flexibly connected. The rungs are typically rigid, somewhat flat and wider than they are long (e.g., rectangular). The rungs may be arranged, ladder like, and may be connected by a flexible connector substrate or between two or more cables. Different sized rungs may be used. The blades (on the rungs) may be arranged in a staggered arrangement. A tissue-collection or tissue capture element may be used to collect the cut or modified tissue. |
| US09463028B2 |
Disposable reamer shaft for modular spherical or tapered hollow reamer assembly for medical applications
A low cost disposable reamer shaft is made from a rod or tube stock of stainless steel, Nitinol or fiber reinforced polymer having a precise outer diameter in the range of 4 to 14 millimeter and is cut to a shaft length of 250 to 400 millimeters. An attachment piece with male or female thread matching a spherical hollow or tapered hollow reamer is machined and glued with epoxy on one end of the rod of tube stock using a precision centerline aligning jig. An attachment piece for connecting to a drive power unit is machined and glued with epoxy to the other end of the rod or tube stock thus forming a low cost disposable reamer shaft that aligns the centerline of the shaft with that of the reamer. The shaft contacts the reamer at two attachment locations that are displaced from each other, providing precise centerline alignment. |
| US09463027B2 |
Amphibious tourniquet devices and methods of use
Embodiments of the disclosure relate to tourniquet devices that have a strap which store an extension in a pocket. The extension can be deployed and wrapped around a ring of the strap to cinch the strap against an appendage to reduce blood flow below the tourniquet device. Some embodiments include a ratchet device that further constricts the appendage to reduce blood flow. These tourniquet devices can be worn in water and out of water and can be associated with various water sport accessories. |
| US09463024B2 |
Pericardial devices, systems and methods for occluding an atrial appendage
Disclosed are devices for pericardial access to the heart, including direct access to the left atrium. In certain embodiments, the device may comprise a device and/or an atrial appendage (AA) portal having a configuration such that the distal end of the device and/or the portal can access an atrial appendage while the proximal end of the device and/or portal can extend to outside of the subject. The devices and methods may also include a pericardial portal for emplacement of the device and/or the AA portal. Also, methods for using such devices and/or AA portals and pericardial portals to perform surgery on the heart, and systems (e.g., kits) comprising these devices and/or portals in combination with other therapeutic devices are disclosed. |
| US09463023B2 |
Surgical instrument with elongated channel
A surgical instrument including a handle assembly, an elongated body portion, a head portion and an elongated channel. The elongated body portion extends distally from the handle assembly. The head portion is disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated body portion and includes an anvil assembly and a shell assembly. The elongated channel includes a proximal opening and a distal opening. The proximal opening is disposed distally of a proximalmost end of the handle assembly and proximally of the shell assembly. The distal opening is disposed on the shell assembly. |
| US09463022B2 |
Motor driven rotary input circular stapler with lockable flexible shaft
A circular stapler apparatus and method for stapling tissue include a shaft assembly and an anvil. The anvil is configured to proximally retract toward the shaft assembly, which at least severs or staples tissue based on a single rotary input. The shaft assembly includes a plurality of joint segments, and each joint segment includes a resilient member. The plurality of joint segments are configured to pivot relative to one another in a first, uncompressed position and are configured to lock against one another to prevent pivoting in a second, compressed position. A first plurality of joint segments defines a proximal portion that is attached to a first cable or shaft. A second plurality of joint segments defines a distal portion that is selectively lockable independent of the proximal portion and that is attached to a second cable or shaft. |
| US09463018B2 |
Anvil for surgical stapler
An anvil assembly for use therewith a surgical fastener applying apparatus including an anvil plate and an anvil head configured and dimensioned to support the anvil plate. The anvil plate and the anvil head may be formed from different materials. The anvil plate can include a tapered outer side wall allowing the anvil assembly to realize a substantially uniform proximal-most surface upon assembly. |
| US09463012B2 |
Apparatus for guiding and positioning an implant
An implant guidance and positioning device is provided for dynamic and rigid fixation of tissue or an implant. The device includes a handle and an elongated hook connected with the handle, which may have a lumen extending therethrough or may have a socket that can receive fasteners. The device also includes a guide channel or slot disposed in the handle. The longitudinal axis of the guide channel or slot may be generally aligned with or slightly offset from a distal end of the elongated hook or socket. |
| US09463004B2 |
Biomaterials for track and puncture closure
Embodiments include coatings for adherence of biomaterials to a tissue. Systems and methods for adapting such coated materials to vascular access closure are further proved. |
| US09463003B2 |
Multi-components device, system and method for assisting minimally invasive procedures
An elastic connector (ES) having at least two ends, each of which includes attachment means for reversibly attaching said ES to at least two components; wherein said ES is characterized by a predetermined default configuration: and, a queue-like configuration in which said ES is adapted to provide simultaneous queue-like insertion or extraction of said at least two components through a tube or endoscope's working channel or a trocar into or from a body cavity; said ES is adapted to be reversibly transformed from said predetermined default configuration to said queue-like configuration and from said queue-like configuration to said predetermined default configuration. |
| US09462997B2 |
Subject information acquisition apparatus and subject information acquisition method
A subject information acquisition apparatus includes a first holding member that holds a subject, a probe that receives an elastic wave from the subject through the first holding member, a first holding member deformation amount measuring unit that measures an amount of deformation of the first holding member, and a processing unit that creates an area for generating subject information by using the amount of deformation of the first holding member and position information of the first holding member deformation amount measuring unit and generates an information value of subject information corresponding to the area for generating subject information by using a signal outputted by the probe. |
| US09462996B2 |
Printed circuit board and probe therewith
Probe includes a transducer, a PCB having a pattern part contacting the transducer via face-to-face contact, and a bonding member bonding the transducer to the pattern part of the PCB. The bonding part of the PCB is provided with the pattern part to increase a bonding area of the bonding part and to allow the bonding member to contact not only a metal layer of the bonding part but also an electrical insulation part thereof, thereby improving a bonding force between the transducer and the PCB. As a result, the transducer can be reliably bonded to the PCB, so that performance of the transducer can be prevented from being deteriorated due to defective connection between the PCB and the transducer. |
| US09462995B2 |
Biological testing device including ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving part
A biological testing device includes a main unit including an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving part, and an attaching member for attaching the main unit on a tested object. The ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving part includes a sensor array substrate including ultrasonic transducers, first and second resin material parts, and an ultrasonic wave transmitting medium. The first resin material part forms a first space closed off from an outside space between the first resin material part and the sensor array substrate with the first resin material part facing the ultrasonic transducers. The second resin material part forms a second space communicating with the first space. The second space is closed off from the outside space, at least a portion of the second resin material part including a flexible portion configured and arranged to bulge toward the outside space. The ultrasonic wave transmitting medium fills the first space and the second space. |
| US09462994B2 |
Bioacoustic sensor with active noise correction
A bioacoustic sensor assembly is described including a transducer generating an acoustic signal and an actuator configured to deform a portion of the transducer to increase a signal-to-noise ratio of the acoustic signal. The disclosure also provides methods and systems for reducing the impact of noise vibrations at the transducer. |
| US09462990B2 |
Radiation imaging system and control method thereof, and radiation image detecting device
Upon input of a synchronization signal, which indicates a start of an X-ray emission, from a source control unit for controlling an X-ray source, an electronic cassette makes an FPD start an accumulation operation and measurement of an X-ray dose. The electronic cassette and a console command their communicators to stop communication of any signal other than a stop signal, which stops the X-ray emission from the X-ray source, during the accumulation operation of the FPD. As soon as the X-ray dose has reached a predetermined threshold value, the electronic cassette transmits the stop signal to the source control unit through the console. A delay in transmission of the stop signal due to communication congestion or signal collision does not occur, because the electronic cassette and the console stop the communication of the signal other than the stop signal. |
| US09462988B2 |
Truncation compensation for iterative cone-beam CT reconstruction for SPECT/CT systems
A multiple modality imaging system includes a cone-beam computed tomography scanner which acquires CT projection data of a subject in an examination region and a nuclear imaging scanner which concurrently/subsequently acquires nuclear projection data of the subject in the examination region. A CT reconstruction processor is programmed to perform the steps of: in the CT projection data, defining a field-of-view (FoV) with a voxel grid in a trans-axial direction; determining the subject's maximum trans-axial extents; generating an extending FoV by extending the voxel grid of the FoV to at least one extended region outside the FoV that encompass at least the determined maximum trans-axial extents and all attenuation in the trans-axial direction; and iteratively reconstructing the CT projection data into an attenuation map of the extended FoV. At least one nuclear reconstruction processor is programmed to correct the acquired nuclear projection data based on the iteratively reconstructed attenuation map. |
| US09462982B2 |
Imaging stand
An imaging stand includes: a holder configured to hold an installed cassette-type detector; a supporting member configured to support the holder from a back surface side; a circular gear secured to a shaft member protruding from a rotation center of the holder toward the supporting member on the back surface side, the holder being located in a different position from a position corresponding to the center of a radiation incidence surface of the cassette-type detector held in the holder; and a linear gear having concavities and convexities to be engaged with teeth of the circular gear, the linear gear being attached to the supporting member, wherein, when the holder holding the cassette-type detector is rotated relative to the supporting member, the rotation center of the holder linearly moves relative to the supporting member as the holder rotates, and a change is caused in orientation and position of the cassette-type detector. |
| US09462981B2 |
Control panel for medical imaging system
A gantry control panel for positioning a patient with respect to a gantry includes at least one contour of at least a portion of a figure representing a patient to be positioned with respect to a gantry, and at least one control button positioned in association with the at least one contour or as part of the at least one contour. The at least one control button controls positioning of the patient with respect to the gantry. |
| US09462980B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer readable code for forecasting the onset of potentially life-threatening disease
Methods, systems and computer-readable code for generating a forecast of a life-threatening condition, for example sepsis, in a subject, for example an infant, are disclosed. According to some embodiments, the forecast is generated in accordance with measurement values for a plurality of different vital sign parameters. In exemplary embodiments, vital sign parameters from a plurality of physiological systems are used to generate the forecast of the life-threatening condition. In exemplary embodiments, at least one vital sign parameter is other than a cardiac parameter. Non-limiting exemplary vital sign parameters may include one or more of a heart rate parameter, a respiration rate parameter, a bradycardia parameter, a desaturation parameter, a temperature parameter (for example, body temperature) and a body mass parameter. |
| US09462978B2 |
Sensing device
A sensing device comprises a substrate material layer and a plurality of sensors provided on the substrate material layer. The plurality of sensors is electrically connected to form a loop. The loop has two output ends. There is a loop output value between the two output ends. The loop output value varies when the sensors are subjected to an external force. Each sensor has one induction value. The induction value of each sensor is different from each other. A total induction value of any one or more sensors is different from a total induction value of the other one or more sensors. |
| US09462976B2 |
Methods and systems for determining a probe-off condition in a medical device
A physiological monitoring system may determine a probe-off condition. A physiological sensor may be used to emit one or more wavelengths of light. A received light signal may be processed to obtain a light signal corresponding to the emitted light and an ambient signal. The signals may be analyzed to identify similar behavior. The system may determine whether the physiological sensor is properly positioned based on the analysis. |
| US09462974B2 |
Wearable ambulatory medical device with multiple sensing electrodes
An ambulatory medical device including a plurality of electrodes configured to be disposed at spaced apart positions about a patient's body, an electrode signal acquisition circuit, and a monitoring circuit. The acquisition circuit has a plurality of inputs each electrically coupled to a respective electrode of the plurality of electrodes and is configured to sense a respective signal provided by a plurality of different pairings of the plurality of electrodes. The monitoring circuit is electrically coupled to an output of the acquisition circuit and is configured to analyze the respective signal provided by each of the plurality of different pairings and to instruct the acquisition circuit to select at least one of the plurality of different pairings to monitor based on at least one of the quality of the respective signal, a phase difference between the respective signal and that of other pairings, a position of electrodes relative to the patient's body, and other criteria. |
| US09462973B2 |
Methods for monitoring physiological status of a body organ
The present invention provides method for monitoring physiological status of an organ in a subject by monitoring morphological changes over time in transplanted tissue on an eye of the subject. |
| US09462972B2 |
Dementia differentiation device
A leg movement acquisition unit 1 continuously acquires leg movements of a sleeping subject. An apnea detection unit 2 detects whether or not the subject is in a state of apnea. A movement analysis unit 3 determines whether or not the detected leg movement satisfies previously determined conditions. These previously determined conditions include at least the following conditions (a) to (d): (a) The duration of leg movement is within a previously determined range; (b) intensity of leg movement is a previously determined value or greater; (c) leg movements satisfying conditions (a) and (b) continue for a previously determined number of times within a previously determined duration; and (d) the leg movement is not movement from immediately before to immediately after an apnea state that has been detected by the apnea detection unit. A coefficient calculation unit 4 calculates a coefficient based on the number of times of leg movement that satisfied the previously determined conditions. An output unit 6 outputs the coefficient or a determination result based on the coefficient. |
| US09462970B2 |
Methods of lag-compensation for analyte measurements, and devices related thereto
In some aspects, methods of lag compensation of analyte measurements are provided. Methods of lag-compensation are provided for analyte point measurements and/or for analyte rate-of-change measurements. The methods include receiving a series of uncompensated analyte measurements and determining parameter values for analyte point and/or rate-of-change estimates based on reference analyte measurements. The analyte rate-of-change estimate is based on a sum of a plurality of scaled rates-of-changes. The analyte point estimate is based on a sum of an analyte point and a sum of a plurality of scaled rates-of-changes. Devices related to the methods are also provided. |
| US09462969B2 |
Microneedle
The application relates to microfluidic needles and their manufacturing methods. The microfluidic needle comprises an interface portion containing at least one fluid communication channel, an elongated needle portion (40) projecting away from the interface portion (44), the needle portion having a tip and sidewalls connecting the tip to the interface portion, and at least two microfluidic channels (43 A-B) within the needle portion in fluidic connection with the at least one communication channel, the microfluidic channels being at least partly oriented parallel to the elongated needle portion. According to the application, the microfluidic channels exit the needle portion at the sidewalls of the needle portion. The needle may be fabricated by ALD-assisted silicon micromachining. The needle can be used for injection and/or sampling fluids to/from tissue or individual cells. |
| US09462968B2 |
System and method for assessing bowel health
In accordance with one aspect of the present technique, a method includes receiving a plurality of images of an abdominal region from an image capture device. The method further includes identifying a bowel tissue and a peristaltic portion of the bowel tissue from the plurality of images. The method further includes determining a peristalsis property of the bowel tissue based on the peristaltic portion. The peristalsis property includes at least one of a percentage of the peristaltic portion within the bowel tissue and an amount of peristalsis in the peristaltic portion. The method also includes assessing a health the bowel tissue based on the peristalsis property of the peristaltic portion. |
| US09462958B2 |
Method and system for using tri-modal sensor
In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a medical device system, comprising: a medical device capable of receiving a plurality of body signal types, wherein the body signal types comprise an electrical body signal, a temperature body signal, or a pressure body signal; and an electrode operatively coupled to the medical device, the electrode capable of sensing a plurality of body signal types, wherein the body signal types comprise an electrical body signal, a temperature body signal, or a pressure body signal; the electrode comprising: an electrical sensor; a temperature sensor; and a pressure sensor. |
| US09462957B2 |
Portable electrocardiography device
A portable electrocardiography (ECG) device includes a first pair of first type snap-in buttons at a first plane of a case. The first type snap-in buttons are configured for coupling to ECG electrodes having a second type snap-in button. The portable ECG device also includes a processor in electrical connection with the first pair of first type snap-in buttons. The processor is configured for monitoring and processing electrocardiography signals obtained by the ECG electrodes. |
| US09462956B2 |
Calculating heart rate from acceleration signals containing cardiac activity signals
A heart monitor includes a single chest accelerometer (210), an analog signal conditioning and sampling section (215) responsive to said accelerometer to produce a digital signal substantially representing acceleration, and a digital processor (220) operable to filter the acceleration signal into a signal affected by body motion and to cancel the body motion signal from the acceleration signal, thereby to produce an acceleration-based cardiac-related signal. Other processes and electronic systems are also disclosed. |
| US09462947B2 |
Measurement method and arrangement utilizing electromagnetic waves
A method is disclosed for measuring pressure under a flexible cover by utilizing electromagnetic waves. Laser radiation is directed to the cover from a distance to generate vibration or a mechanical wave at the cover at at least one generation location of the cover on the basis of photoacoustic phenomena. Based on the electromagnetic waves, cover vibrations are detected due to the mechanical wave, and recorded to detect the mechanical wave at at least one recording location and to form mechanical wave information. Pressure information of pressure under the flexible cover is detected based on at least one recorded signal. |
| US09462943B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for precision depth measurement
Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for locating tissue layer transitions within a cornea, including focusing a laser to a laser spot with an energy below a photodisruption threshold of the cornea, varying a position of the focal spot of the laser between an anterior surface of the cornea and a posterior surface of the cornea, and determining one or more transitions of the tissue layers based on a change in harmonic light generated by the laser spot. |
| US09462942B2 |
Apparatus for measuring stereovision
There is provided an apparatus to measure stereovision including a frame body, a 3D display unit, a reflective mirror, an eyepiece, a half mirror, a stage, a plurality of protrusion degree markers, a target, and a target driving unit. A reflection angle of the half mirror is adjusted such that an imaginary image of an object having a protrusion degree of 0 in the 3D image reflected on the half mirror is located above the protrusion degree marker having a protrusion degree of 0, the imaginary image being seen through the eyepiece. The target driving unit is controlled such that the target corresponds to an imaginary image of an object of a 3D image having a particular protrusion degree. The stereovision of a tester is evaluated based on a protrusion degree marker to which the target is adjacent among the protrusion degree markers. |
| US09462937B2 |
Ophthalmic device, and control method and program therefor
An ophthalmic device includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a transillumination image of a pupil of a subject eye, and a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the subject eye includes an intraocular lens, based on the acquired transillumination image. |
| US09462930B2 |
Dishwasher with a device for assembling the basket to the extracting rail
The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) wherein the assembly of the connection member (8) on the basket (3) side walls (5) can be made easily and robustly by passing through the basket (3) thereby supporting the wheels (9) mounted in the rails (7) disposed on the side walls of the washing chamber (2) and maintaining the basket (3) to be emplaced into the washing chamber (2) and drawn out therefrom by moving forwards, backwards in the rails (7). |
| US09462927B2 |
Nozzle assembly for dishwasher and dishwasher having the same
Disclosed herein are a nozzle assembly for a dishwasher capable of evenly spraying wash water in a wash tub and a dishwasher having the same. The dishwasher includes a sump to pump wash water, a supply pipe to which the wash water from the sump is supplied, and a nozzle assembly connected to the supply pipe. The nozzle assembly includes a lower rotor arm connected to the supply pipe, an upper rotor arm having a portion rotatably received in the lower rotor arm and having a first rotation center of an upper end thereof and a second rotation center of a lower end thereof positioned eccentrically from the first rotation center, and a nozzle rotatably connected to the upper rotor arm. |
| US09462925B2 |
Spray assembly for a dishwasher appliance
A spray assembly for a dishwasher appliance is provided. The spray assembly includes a base unit and a mounting bracket rotatably mounted to the base unit. A spray arm is selectively secured to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes features for engaging the spray arm and hindering undesired detachment of the spray arm from the mounting bracket. |
| US09462924B2 |
Dishwasher
The present invention relates to a flow passage change-over unit provided to a spray arm of a dishwasher having a plurality of channels, including a change-over unit body for making reciprocating movement according to a water pressure, a body rotating unit secured to an circumferential surface of the change-over unit body for rotating the change-over unit body, and channel opening holes in a closed side of the change-over unit body for opening some of the plurality of supply holes according to a rotation angle of the change-over unit body. |
| US09462923B2 |
Apparatus for cleaning baseboards
An apparatus for cleaning baseboards includes a cleaning head having a bi-directionally adjustable handle coupled thereto via a pivot assembly. The cleaning head includes a plurality of plates between which a plurality of pads is secured in stacked fashion. |
| US09462922B1 |
Self-moving dust suction device
A self-moving dust suction device comprises a body, at least one buffer means and a sticking means. The body includes a top cover, a base, a dust suction operation module, at least two movement wheels and at least one mounting portion. The buffer means is corresponding to the mounting portion and has an installation dock fastened to the mounting portion, a buffer element located on the installation dock to provide an action force in a direction remote from the top cover in normal conditions and a butting dock located at one end of the buffer element remote from the top cover to bear the action force. The sticking means is located at one side of the base and has a connection bracket coupled with the butting dock to receive the action force transmitted by the butting dock and a sticking roller located on the connection bracket. |
| US09462918B2 |
Combination towels and mitts
The invention is a device to dry/clean an animal, such as a dog, cat or child when they are wet or dirty. It consists of two mitts, each having one flat side, attached to opposite ends of a towel. The device is an improvement over a towel since it can better hold the animal or child during drying. Mitts fit on a person's hand. They offer more control but they lack the surface area to dry an animal completely. Combining a towel and two mitts creates a drying instrument which both controls an animal or child and provides an ample surface to dry/clean them. Making the mitts attachable and detachable adds flexibility to the drying device since you can use only the portion of the drying device you need. |
| US09462907B2 |
Apparatus and method for attaching a decorative fixture to a tree top
A kit for securing a tree topper to a tree includes an extension member for receiving the tree topper includes a body having a first end and a second end. The body includes at least one opening positioned between the first end and the second end. At least one fastener extends through at least one of the openings to secure the extension member to the tree. |
| US09462904B2 |
Travel beverage container
A cleanable lid assembly is provided for a beverage container. The lid assembly has a lid housing having a drink aperture, and a seal assembly that is connected to the lid housing while movable between a first or operable position and a second or cleaning position. The seal assembly has a stopper that can open and close the drink aperture in the first position. The seal assembly is pivotally connected to the lid housing to transition to the cleaning position. A locking member extends transversely from the seal assembly to engage a stop on the lid housing and lock the seal assembly in the operable position. The locking member is moveable radially inward to disengage from the stop and to allow the seal assembly to transition from the first position to the cleaning position. |
| US09462901B2 |
Personal viewing device
A portable, freestanding, adjustable, and deconstructable personal viewing device. The personal viewing device may comprise a removably coupled base member, mast member, and branch member. The base member, mast member, and branch member, when coupled, can be freestanding or the base member can be configured to fit under a surface designed for a person in the supine position. The branch member can be configured to hold an appliance, such as a mirror or a flashlight. The branch member can also be configured rotate to allow viewing from a standing, sitting, or supine position. The personal viewing device comprises components that are coupled without the use of fasteners and can be deconstructed with limited dexterity. When deconstructed, the personal viewing device can be transported and reconstructed. |
| US09462898B1 |
Foldable frame assemblies and related methods
A foldable frame assembly includes an integral sheet having a central area surrounded by opposed pairs of foldable frame areas. The foldable frame areas each include a first section, a second section, and a third section. The integral sheet includes a plurality of lines of weakness that delineate a boundary of the central area, the first sections, the second sections, and the third sections. The foldable frame areas are folded along respective lines of weakness such that the first sections form forward-facing frame front walls, and the second sections form inward-facing side front walls. The third sections extend under the second sections and abut the first sections, and secured to the central area. The first sections form acute angles with both the second sections and the third sections. |
| US09462893B2 |
Cover system for a patient support surface
A cover system includes a first layer providing a top surface over a patient support structure. A layer of spacer material is provided beneath the first layer. An air mover moves air through the layer of spacer material to remove moisture adjacent a person supported by the patient support. |
| US09462892B2 |
Chair with a tilting backrest
A chair comprising: a base structure, a seat fixed to the base structure, a backrest, and a pair of oscillation joints which connect the backrest to the seat or to the base structure so as to allow tilting of the backrest around a transverse axis between a rest position and a backwardly tilted position, wherein each of said oscillation joints comprises: an essentially L-shaped rigid support a rigid lever articulated to the rigid support, and having a first and a second lever arm located on opposite sides with respect to the articulation axis, and an elastic device comprising a telescopic element and a compression spring, wherein the elastic device applies an elastic force between said rigid support and said first lever arm and wherein said second lever arm protrudes outwards from said rigid support and is fixed to a corresponding side edge of the backrest. |
| US09462891B2 |
Office chair
A chair has a body support structure with a membrane that can be stretched in an intended three-dimensional shape. The structure includes a frame member in a three-dimensional shape and forming a three-dimensional body support face expanding in three axes (y-axis direction), (x-axis direction), and (z-axis direction) orthogonal to each other and a membrane with peripheral edge portion fixed to the frame member under no tension or tension lower than tension required of the body support face, which has different heat shrinkage ratios in two directions, and to which the tension required of the body support face is imparted by heat shrinkage by heating after the fixing and a difference in tension generated in the heat shrinkage of the membrane forms the three-dimensional body support face. |
| US09462885B2 |
Bathing area accessories
A bathing area accessory may be used within a bathing area. The bathing area accessory may be a bathing area shelving assembly, a bathing area bar assembly, a storage assembly, a bathing area seat assembly, or a shaving ledge assembly. The shelving assembly for use within a bathing area may include a niche and at least one shelf that is attachable to, removable from, and reattachable to the attachment portions of the niche. The niche may include attachment portions that receive and secure the at least one shelf. The niche may include two sidewalls that extend substantially vertically along a vertical length of the niche. The attachment portions may be on the two sidewalls and the at least one shelf may attach with a pair of the attachment portions that are vertically aligned with each other. |
| US09462881B2 |
Multi-stroke telescoping apparatus
Disclosed is a multi-stroke telescoping apparatus. Applying a modularized design can expand the number of a plurality of lifting units to perform the multi-stroke according to actual requirement. In addition, a relative linear movement between the pluralities of lifting units enables the multi-stroke telescoping apparatus to be telescoped simultaneously. The multi-stroke telescoping can be performed according to the number of the lifting units. |
| US09462879B2 |
Toothbrush holder
A toothbrush holder comprises a main body having a toothbrush removal sensor positioned to detect removal of the toothbrush from the toothbrush holder and issuing a removal signal in response to the removal of the toothbrush. A timer initiates a time count when the removal signal is issued by the toothbrush removal sensor. A display is provided on the main body and displays an indicia of the time count upon the commencement of the time count. The toothbrush holder further comprises a top section having at least one aperture that removably receives a toothbrush handle. The top section is removably mounted to the main body. The toothbrush holder further comprises a bottom section comprising a drip tray removably mounted to the main body. |
| US09462878B1 |
Self-contained, interactive gaming oral brush
An oral care brush includes a brush head coupled to a handle at an articulation point. A sensor is mounted for monitoring the articulation point to determine whether a brushing motion is proper. One or more tilt sensors can also be mounted in the handle to determine the orientation of the oral care brush relative to gravity. This orientation can also be used to determine proper brushing motion. A processor is mounted within the handle for receiving information from the sensors. A speaker in the handle is coupled to receive information from the processor and provide it to the user. The processor can also provide the user audio game-play scenarios using the speaker. The handle can also include one or more light sources. |
| US09462877B2 |
Oral care implement
An oral care implement, such as a toothbrush. In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising a handle and a head. A plurality of tooth cleaning elements may be provided on a front surface of the head. The head is formed by a plurality of spaced-apart segments formed of a rigid material. The segments are isolated from one another by channels containing an elastomeric material that flexibly connects the segments together. The oral care implement further comprises an elastomeric soft tissue cleaner located on a rear surface of the head opposite the front surface of the head. The elastomeric soft tissue cleaner comprises a plurality of grooves that are aligned with the channels. |
| US09462876B2 |
Shopping bags carrier and carrying method therefor
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a shopping bags carrier (10), comprising: at least one board (12), for being rested on a back of a user; at least one strap (22) attached to the at least one board (12), for hanging the at least one board (12) on a shoulder(s) of the user; and at least one hook (26) attached to the at least one board (12), for hanging shopping bags (34) thereon, thereby facilitating carrying goods within the hanged shopping bags (34), by the user. |
| US09462867B2 |
Automatic washing and shampooing hair machine
The present invention discloses an automatic hair washing machine comprising a housing body formed with a top housing and a rear housing by integrally molding, the housing body is shaped like a head, and an annular extensible waterproof rim is provided along the edge of the housing body, a water spray hood is arranged in the housing body, the water spray hood is connected to the water inlet pipe, and there is also a shampoo reservoir in or out of the housing body, and a plurality of rotatably driven hollow massaging and rubbing fingers are arranged along the interior of the housing body. The automatic hair washing machine disclosed in the present invention can relieve nervous emotion for a user by spraying and massaging the user's hair to shampoo his hair by means of the water spay hood without lying supine or bending over the user during the whole hair washing process, and can ensure adequate comfort for him by massaging his acupuncture points such as his temple by means of the hollow massaging and rubbing fingers. |
| US09462862B2 |
Reusable shopping bag storage and dispensing system
A shopping bag dispenser has a fabric storage and dispensing bag with an open end having an area of opening, and a length, and a plurality of shopping bags having common dimensions, each formed from a material having a low coefficient of friction, and capable of sustaining permanent fold creases. Each shopping bag of the plurality is implemented with permanent fold creases, folded along the creases and stacked with others of the plurality, to a folded and stacked size having a length less than the length of the storage bag and a cross-sectional area orthogonal to the length less than the area of the opening of the fabric storage and dispensing bag. |
| US09462849B2 |
Adhesive footwear and devices
Footwear used for high performance activities such as running can be adhesively attached to the plantar surface of feet rather than uppers or straps. The upper surface of the protective layer of the footwear can have adhesive regions that secure the foot to the footwear and other regions that are not adhesively coupled to the foot. The adhesive regions can be under the heel, along the lateral side of the foot, under the first through fifth metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints and around the perimeter of the foot above the plantar surface. |
| US09462843B2 |
Cushioning helmet liner
A liner system and method of thermoforming. A helmet has an energy absorbing inner system positioned inside the shell. The liner has thermoformed interconnected energy absorbing modules. At least some of the modules in the layer have a basal portion with upper and lower sections when viewed in relation to the wearer's head. The upper section has one or more energy absorbing units. At least some of the units are provided with a wall with a domed cap that faces the outer shell. The units at least partially cushion the blow by absorbing energy imparted by an object that impacts the outer shell. The lower comfort section has a tiered arrangement of layers. The layers are relatively compliant and thus provide a comfortable yet firm fit of the helmet upon the wearer. |
| US09462839B2 |
Sensor module for sensing forces to the head of an individual and wirelessly transmitting signals corresponding thereto for analysis, tracking and/or reporting the sensed forces
Sensor module for sensing forces to the head of an individual and wirelessly transmitting signals corresponding thereto for analysis, tracking and/or reporting the sensed forces. |
| US09462834B2 |
Hooded garment with integrated peripheral vision
Exemplary garments and methods of making the same are disclosed. An exemplary garment may include a body, and a hood extending from an upper portion of the body to provide an enclosure. The hood may include a main portion and at least one laterally disposed portion having a greater transparency than the main portion. An exemplary method of making a garment may include providing a body, and forming a hood extending from an upper portion of the body to provide an enclosure, with the hood including a main portion and at least one laterally disposed portion. The method may further include establishing the at least one laterally disposed portion as having a greater transparency than the main portion. |
| US09462829B2 |
Filter for application in a cigarette tube, assembly, and method for manufacturing a filter
The invention relates to a filter for application in a cigarette tube. The invention also relates to an assembly of a cigarette tube and at least one filter according to the invention received in the cigarette tube. The invention further relates to a cigarette, in particular a “joint”, based on such an assembly. The invention also relates to a blank for the purpose of manufacturing a filter according to the invention. The invention moreover relates to a method for manufacturing a filter according to the invention. |
| US09462826B2 |
Machine for processing and keeping ice cream, slush drinks and similar products
A machine for processing and keeping ice cream, slush drinks and similar products, comprises a display counter comprising, a plurality of visible mixing and freezing cylinders for processing basic products and keeping ice cream, and a cooling circuit which allows the temperature of the basic products and of the ice cream to be adjusted; the cooling circuit is equipped with a first refrigerating circuit and a second heating circuit having respective offtake branches dedicated to each of the mixing and freezing cylinders and designed to maintain the temperature for processing the basic product at the same temperature for keeping the ice cream. |
| US09462823B2 |
Powdered plant sterol ester-containing preparations, method for preparing the same and foods and drinks containing the same
This invention provides a preparation of a powdered plant sterol ester which comprises a plant sterol ester, an octenyl succinate-modified starch and an indigestible dextrin. The preparation can be prepared by a method comprising the steps of emulsifying a plant sterol ester in an aqueous solution containing an octenyl succinate-modified starch and an indigestible dextrin to form an emulsion and then powdering the resulting emulsion. The invention permits the application of plant sterol esters to wide variety of foods and drinks. In addition, the invention permits the effective control of an increase of the serum-cholesterol content accompanied by the intake of meals. |
| US09462822B2 |
Oral implant system for releasing encapsulated food additives by exposure to energy
Food additives may be actively released to deliver aromatic compounds to consumers during food or drink consumption. The food additives may be contained within an encapsulation layer. The encapsulation layer may be configured to release the food additives in response to being exposed to energy provided by an activation source proximate to the food additives. The activation source may be incorporated into, or connected with, an eating utensil or an oral implant. The activation source can be manually controlled by a consumer, can be controlled based on conditions near the food additives, or can be programmed with a release schedule that defines how and when food additives are to be released. |
| US09462821B2 |
Modulation of infant fat mass
A method of reducing the accumulation of fat mass in a neonatal human infant at risk thereof which method comprises administering to the infant during at least a part of the neonatal period a therapeutic amount of a nutritional composition comprising proteins in an amount such that the composition contains more than 2.4 g of protein per 100 kcal. As weight gain during the first week of life has been associated with overweight in adulthood, this may offer a method of reducing the risk of developing obesity in later life. Also claimed is the administration of DHA to the mother during gestation period. |
| US09462820B2 |
Acidic emulsified liquid seasoning containing sesame
The present invention provides a sesame-containing acidic emulsified liquid seasoning capable of sufficiently giving a roasted sesame flavor even after storage. The sesame-containing acidic emulsified liquid seasoning according to the present invention comprises ground roasted sesame, gum substance, egg yolk and edible oil and has a viscosity of 0.1 to 5 Pa·s and a total light transmittance, which is determined by measuring the turbidity of the sesame-containing acidic emulsified liquid seasoning using integrating sphere-type electrophotometry, of 1.5 to 10%. |
| US09462817B2 |
Processes for making cheese products utilizing denatured acid whey proteins
Process that includes: providing dilute aqueous liquid acid whey protein composition containing acid whey proteins; filtering dilute aqueous liquid acid whey protein composition, forming concentrated aqueous liquid acid whey protein composition containing acid whey proteins; combining together concentrated aqueous liquid acid whey protein composition and edible caustic composition in suitable proportions to result in substantially neutral pH; denaturing acid whey proteins at elevated temperature, forming concentrated aqueous liquid denatured acid whey protein composition; providing milk composition containing butterfat and substantial concentrations of native casein and whey proteins; combining together milk composition and concentrated aqueous liquid denatured acid whey protein composition, forming dairy mix containing butterfat and protein composition including native casein and whey proteins and denatured acid whey proteins; inoculating dairy mix with lactic acid-producing bacteria; culturing lactic acid-producing bacteria in dairy mix, forming curd and whey; separating curd from whey; and recovering curd as cheese product. Cheese product made by process. |
| US09462815B2 |
Flavor dispensing systems
An apparatus for marinating foods; the flavor dispensing system is used to improve the ease, convenience and reliability of dispensing flavorings into comestibles. The device is a flexible container with marinade or other fluid stored within the flexible container, and a dispensing needle suitable for injection dispensing. The container assembly serves to safely store the dispensing needle within the confines of the flexible container during non-use periods. The flexible container is able to be sealed to promote content longevity in store-shelf life. |
| US09462811B2 |
Methods for improving plant growth
Methods of improving the growth of a plant by applying a plant growth effective amount of a plant growth composition that includes a hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate and at least one dispersant selected from the group consisting of a sucrose ester, a lignosulfonate, an alkylpolyglycoside, a naphthalenesulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate and a phosphate ester to plant propagation material in the absence of insect pest pressure. |
| US09462803B2 |
Organ preservation and/or perfusion
The present invention relates to a solution for preservation, perfusion, and/or reperfusion of an organ, especially the heart, for transplantation. The solution contains peptide inhibitor(s) of protein kinase C ε (PKC ε). Methods for using the inventive solution are also disclosed, including methods for preserving an organ for transplantation, for protecting an ischemic organ from damage, for attenuating organ dysfunction after ischemia, for maintaining nitric oxide release and/or inhibiting superoxide release in an ischemic organ, and for protecting an organ from damage when isolated from the circulatory system. |
| US09462801B2 |
Method for preserving pancreatic islet, container for preserving pancreatic islet, and kit for transplanting pancreatic islet
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for preserving pancreatic islet, a container for preserving pancreatic islet and a kit for transplanting pancreatic islet in order to effectively preserve the pancreatic islet. The present invention presents; a method for preserving a liquid including pancreatic islet in a container for preserving pancreatic islet, wherein at least a part of the container wall face consists of a film having an oxygen permeation coefficient of 2500 cm3/m2·day·atm or greater; a method for preserving a liquid including pancreatic islet in a container for preserving pancreatic islet, wherein at least a part of the container wall face consists of a film having a carbon dioxide permeation coefficient of 1000 to 20000 cm3/m2·day·atm; and a container for preserving pancreatic islet for use in the above-described method, and a kit for transplanting pancreatic islet comprising the container for preserving pancreatic islet. |
| US09462798B2 |
Hornet trap
The invention relates to a hornet trap, characterised in that it comprises: a metal chamber (1) that defines a cavity (2), a wall of the chamber being provided with opening means (3) through which at least one hornet can enter the cavity, the opening means (3) being sized such that electromagnetic waves with a given frequency present in the cavity cannot escape from the cavity (2), means (4, 5, 6) of detecting the presence of at least one hornet in the cavity (2), and an electromagnetic wave source (S) capable of generating electromagnetic waves at the given frequency inside the cavity (2) when a hornet is detected in the cavity a call means (A). |
| US09462797B2 |
Radiopaque elastomeric horseshoe
A horseshoe for attaching to a horse's hoof using an adhesive, such as glue. In one example, the horseshoe includes an elastomeric body containing a wear material, which improves wear and traction performance of elastomeric shoes. In another example, the elastomeric material may include radiopaque materials to improve visibility of the shoe when x-rays are taken of a horse's hoof or leg. In some aspects, the radiopaque material may be blended with the wear material. Or if the radiopaque material exhibits abrasive/gritty qualities, the radiopaque material may also serve as the wear material. |
| US09462794B2 |
Non-human animals having a humanized signal-regulatory protein gene
Genetically modified non-human animals and methods and compositions for making and using the same are provided, wherein the genetic modification comprises a humanization of an endogenous signal-regulatory protein gene, in particular a humanization of a SIRPα gene. Genetically modified mice are described, including mice that express a human or humanized SIRPα protein from an endogenous SIRPα locus. |
| US09462792B2 |
Beehive
A beehive for honeybees having a configuration that allows a beekeeper to inspect the hive at regular intervals with minimal disturbance to the honeybees. The bees work comb frames contained within an array of master frames. The master frames are pivotably attached to a support pole with connectors fixed to the master frames. The connectors are arranged so that the array of master frames containing the comb frames are side by side and in a rectangular cross section when the beehive is closed. The master frames can be rotated around the support pole either individually or in groups allowing inspection of the comb frames without damaging the comb frames. |
| US09462789B2 |
Animal training device, leash and method of using the device and leash
A leash having a warning device that produces an arc sound and/or vibration generated by an electrical arc between electrodes in a manner such that no electricity can be imparted into a human or animal, and a method of using the leash. Also provided is an animal training device that mounts on a collar or harness worn by the animal, which produces an arc sound and/or vibration generated by an electrical arc between electrodes in a manner such that no electricity can be imparted into a human or animal, and a method of a using the animal training device. |
| US09462775B1 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH016536
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH016536. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH016536, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH016536 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH016536. |
| US09462772B1 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH146577
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH146577. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH146577, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH146577 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH146577. |
| US09462771B1 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH157113
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH157113. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH157113, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH157113 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH157113. |
| US09462769B2 |
Canola variety PV 532 G
Provided is a canola variety designated PV 532 G and seed, plants and plant parts thereof produced from a cross of inbred varieties. Methods for producing a canola variety comprise crossing canola variety PV 532 G with another canola plant. Methods for producing a canola plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PV 532 G through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the canola seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are described. Canola variety PV 532 G, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, plant parts and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of canola variety PV 532 G are disclosed. |
| US09462767B1 |
Maize inbred PH2FRP
A novel maize variety designated PH2FRP and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH2FRP with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH2FRP through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH2FRP or a locus conversion of PH2FRP with another maize variety. |
| US09462758B2 |
Device for protecting the contents of plant containers
A device for protecting the contents of plant containers comprising a top portion, a cut-out with a semi-circular interior portion, and a channel portion. The interior portion and channel portion are shaped to provide clearance and receive the base or stem of a plant. Embodiments of the device may include grooves and apertures to provide flexibility and drainage and the device also includes the capability to accommodate different styles and sizes of containers along with various plants and shrubs. |
| US09462755B1 |
Modular wall assembly for promoting vertical vegetative growth
A modular wall assembly for growing and promoting vegetative growth is disclosed. The assembly includes a frame and a growth media disposed within the frame. The growth media includes a wicking matrix, a first nutrient transfer matrix, a second nutrient transfer matrix, and a planting matrix. A modular wall system including a plurality of the modular wall assemblies is also disclosed. |
| US09462752B2 |
Harvester with cleaning system having early clean grain evacuation
A clean grain evacuation device for a grain harvester having a threshing system configured to separate grain harvested by the harvester from crop residue and direct a flow of the grain to a cleaning system disposed within the harvester including at least two sieves disposed and configured to sequentially clean the grain. The evacuation device is disposed for receiving a portion of the flow of the clean grain from a first of the sieves, and is configured to evacuate the received clean grain away from the cleaning system. The evacuation device can include a conveyor disposed for directing the evacuated grain directly to a desired location such as a clean grain receiving system on the harvester. The evacuation device can also be located in an air flow path to the sieves. |
| US09462746B1 |
Outdoor power equipment unit having encapsulated, housing free electronic controller
This invention relates to an outdoor power equipment unit, such as a mower, having an electronic controller comprising a circuit board with a plurality of connector pins affixed thereto and with a connector housing surrounding the pins. A Macromelt overmold encapsulates the circuit board and is bonded to the connector housing to form a controller that needs no external housing and no separate wire harness extending from the connector pins to the circuit board. The controller can log the length of time of various operations of the unit as well as the number of various occurrences. In addition, the controller can prevent overheating by automatically disabling operation of the working implement carried by the unit but permitting continued operation of the prime mover when overheating of the prime mover is detected. |
| US09462745B1 |
Lawn and tree fertilizing device installable on a sprinkler system
A lawn fertilizing device for installing in a water system. A chemical substrate that is to be applied to vegetation is disposed in an enclosed container. The enclosed container has a plurality of apertures disposed on the container walls to allow water to flow through the container and contact the chemical substrate. The container is placed on a base and covered by a housing. The housing is secured to the base via a screw cap threaded to a base wall. |
| US09462743B2 |
Variable geometry meter roller
An agricultural metering device with a variable geometry meter roller is provided. The agricultural metering device includes a meter roller having a plurality of flutes. An aggregate cross sectional area of the flutes increases along a longitudinal axis of the meter roller. |
| US09462738B2 |
Walk aerator
A walk aerator comprises a housing supported by a plurality of wheels that include a pair of drive wheels. The drive wheels are pivotally mounted to the housing to permit the housing to move between operational and transport positions thereof. A control is used to so move the housing with the control having a hand grip whose height above the ground is easily adjustable to accommodate users of different effective heights. A foot guard maintains a relatively constant disposition relative to the ground whether the housing is in its operational or transport position. The housing of the aerator has a vent system and an air gap relative to a prime mover deck which cool a traction drive system contained within the housing. |
| US09468135B2 |
Substrate conveying system for electronic component mounting device
A substrate conveying system includes a mounting device conveyor for conveying a printed substrate in a first horizontal direction, an upstream-side conveyor, a downstream-side conveyor, and a buffer conveyor. The mounting device conveyor has a function of moving the printed substrate in a horizontal Y direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The upstream-side conveyor is spaced apart from the downstream-side conveyor in the Y direction. The buffer conveyor has a function of conveying the printed substrate in the first direction, and a function of moving the printed substrate in the Y direction. When the mounting device conveyor and the buffer conveyor are positioned in the same position in the Y direction, the printed substrate is transferred from one of these conveyors to the other. |
| US09468133B2 |
Modular cooling system
An exemplary modular cooling system for cooling a plurality of electronic components is provided. The cooling system includes a plurality of cooling modules and a clamping arrangement. Each cooling module includes an evaporator unit, a condenser, a first pipe system, and a second pipe system. The clamping arrangement is adapted for holding and pressing an alternation stack in which the evaporator units are stacked in alternation with the power electronic components. |
| US09468127B2 |
Server chassis capable of accessing and rotating storage devices accommodated therein
A server chassis includes a casing, a motherboard, a rotatable rack and an electronic device. The rotatable rack is axially disposed inside the casing and able to rotate with respect to the casing. The rotatable rack has a plurality of insertion spaces. The electronic device is provided on one side of the rotatable rack, and a cord passage is provided between the fan module and the electronic device. The storage devices accommodated in the rotatable rack is electrically connected to the motherboard via the cord passage, thereby increasing the quantity of the storage devices and decreasing the length of the casing. |
| US09468126B2 |
Multi-device storage enclosure with extendable device support sleds
Apparatus for retracting and extending sets of operational processing devices in a multi-device enclosure. In accordance with some embodiments, an enclosed housing is provided with opposing first and second ends. Sleds are individually movable between a retracted position within the enclosed housing and an extended position in which the sled projects from the first end. Each sled supports a group of processing devices. A control board is disposed within the enclosed housing adjacent the second end. A plurality of flex circuits contactingly engage the processing devices to provide communication paths between the processing devices and the control board in both the retracted and extended positions of the sleds. |
| US09468116B2 |
Secure enclosure
An apparatus and associated methodology contemplating an enclosure configured to securely contain a circuit board. The enclosure has a cover defining a flange operably extending substantially parallel to the circuit board in direct contact with the circuit board. The enclosure also has a body extending from the flange that is operably separated from the circuit board. A connecting member has opposing planar sides operably pressing to contain the flange against the circuit board in supporting the circuit board within the enclosure. |
| US09468114B2 |
Housing and electronic device using the same
A housing includes a substrate and a decorative layer deposited on the substrate. The decorative layer includes chromium, iron, aluminum, chromium oxide, ferric oxide, and aluminum oxide. The chromium oxide, ferric oxide, and aluminum oxide distribute evenly among the chromium, iron, and aluminum respectively, such that the chromium, iron, and aluminum atoms are separated from each other. The decorative layer is electrically non-conductive and electromagnetically transmissive and gives the housing a mirror-like black and metallic appearance. An electronic device using the housing is also described. |
| US09468112B2 |
Display device with narrow frame
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of display, and particularly relates to a display with an improvide4d frame structure. The present disclosure proposes a narrow frame display, including a display panel having a protruding portion on at least one side edge thereof, a back plate located on one side of the display panel, and a frame including a plate body with a through slot. The frame is arranged vertical to the display panel and fixed on the back plate, and the protruding portion is inserted into the through slot. With this structure of the frame, a hook member used in the prior art can be omitted, so that the shadows caused by shielding of the hook member would be generated no longer. Therefore, the display of the present disclosure can effectively eliminate shadows caused by shielding of the hook member in the prior art. Meanwhile, it is unnecessary to occupy the space of the rear side of the display panel, so that the frame of the display can be further narrowed. |
| US09468111B2 |
Housing assembly and solid state drive having the same
A housing assembly, including a top housing, a bottom housing and an accommodation, is provided. The top housing has a top plate, and a first sidewall extending therefrom. The bottom housing has a bottom plate, and a second sidewall extending therefrom. The engagement slit is defined by an upper edge and a lower edge in order to mate with a printed circuit board. The second sidewall includes an inclination wall extending from the lower edge of the engagement slit and distancing from the accommodation outwardly and downwardly, and an slot being adjacent to the inclination wall. The first sidewall includes a fringe protrusion, which slides along the inclination wall of the second sidewall to engage with a distal end of the inclination wall, and the top housing connects to the bottom housing thereby. The housing assembly is advantageous of easy and convenient assembly and disassembly. |
| US09468110B2 |
Chassis assembly structure
According to a chassis assembly structure, in assembling a front chassis side assembly in a bottom chassis, a front chassis side assembly 120 is configured such that when an upper surface end of a mechanical holder 103 projected to the rear side of a mechanical holder 103 is brought into contact with a rear-side bent part 111 of a bottom chassis 101, and a front side thereof is rotated about the contact portion serving as a rotational support axis toward the bottom chassis 101, a lower part of a front chassis 105 is invited and fitted between an angled pressing tab 113 and an upright part 112 along an inclined surface of an angled pressing tab 113. |
| US09468104B2 |
Module board
A module board includes a first board including a first surface and a second surface, a second board where its first surface faces the second surface of the first board, an external electrode formed on the exterior of the second board, and a joining member joining the external electrode and a terminal provided on the second surface of the first board. The external electrode includes a first surface part positioned on the first surface of the second board, a second surface part positioned on a second surface of the second board opposite to the first surface, and a connecting part connecting the first and second surface parts. The joining member includes a joining surface joining to the external electrode. The joining surface covers the first surface part and at least a portion of the connecting part that is closer to the first surface part than to the second surface part. |
| US09468099B2 |
Contact pad connection structure for connecting conductor assembly and flexible circuit board
Disclosed is contact pad connection structure for connecting a conductor assembly and a flexible circuit board. A substrate has a top surface on which a plurality of elevation pads are formed and respectively located in spacing zones between contact pads. Each of the elevation pads has a height above a top contact surface of the contact pads. The conductor assembly has exposed conductors that are respectively set in contact with the top contact surfaces of the contact pads and a solder material is applied to solder and fix the exposed conductors respectively in position on the top contact surfaces of the contact pads. Each of the elevation pads includes an extension section extended in a direction toward a front edge of the substrate. |
| US09468094B2 |
Foldable display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A display apparatus includes a flexible substrate, first pixels, and second pixels. The flexible substrate includes: a first area at least partially bent about an axis; and at least one non-bent area. The first pixels are disposed in the first area. The second pixels are disposed in the at least one non-bent area. Respective widths of each first pixel in a first direction are smaller than respective widths of each second pixel in the first direction. |
| US09468090B2 |
Current redistribution in a printed circuit board
In one implementation, a multilayered printed circuit board is configured to redirect current distribution. The current may be distributed by steering, blocking, or otherwise manipulating current flows. The multilayered printed circuit board includes at least one power plane layer. The power plane layer does not distribute current evenly. Instead, the power plane layer includes multiple patterns with different resistances. The patterns may include a hatching pattern, a grid pattern, a directional pattern, a slot, a void, or a continuous pattern. The pattern is a predetermined spatial variation such that current flows in a first area differently than current flows in a second area. |
| US09468083B2 |
Plasma generation device assembly, arc mitigation device, and method of assembling a plasma generation device assembly
A plasma generation device assembly includes a base includes an interior portion and a top surface defining a plurality of apertures that extend through the top surface. The plasma generation device assembly also includes a plasma generation device and a plurality of coupling members. The plasma generation device is positioned on the top surface and is configured to emit ablative plasma when the plasma generation device is activated. The plurality of coupling members extends through the plurality of apertures and is configured to couple the plasma generation device to the top surface. |
| US09468081B2 |
High-frequency wave type of X-ray generator
A high frequency X-ray generator includes an anode voltage generator, a cathode voltage generator and a X-ray tube. The anode voltage generator is configured to generate a first high voltage. The cathode voltage generator is configured to generate a second high voltage having a same waveform as the first high voltage. The second high voltage has a different phase by 180 degrees compared to the first high voltage. The X-ray tube is configured to generate a X-ray by the first high voltage and the second high voltage. The first high voltage is applied through an anode terminal. The second high voltage is applied through a cathode terminal. |
| US09468080B2 |
Lighting tool for creating light scenes
A lighting tool for setting lighting parameters of a plurality of light sources (1). A processor (2) is provided which is connectable to the plurality of light sources (1), and arranged to control lighting parameters of each of the plurality of light sources (1). A position storage unit (3) is connected to the processor (2) for storing spatial positions of the plurality of light sources (1). A camera arrangement (4) is connected to the processor (2) for providing a view of at least part of a scene illuminated by the plurality of light sources (1). The processor (2) is arranged to correlate a viewing area of the camera arrangement (4) and a retrieved spatial position of one or more of the plurality of light sources (1). |
| US09468071B2 |
Switching power supply device and projection video display device
A switching power supply device includes a transformer which includes a secondary winding divided into a plurality of winding units, a resonant capacitor, and a first switching element and a second switching element. Further, the switching power supply device includes a plurality of rectifier diodes which extracts voltages induced to the secondary winding in the winding units, an output voltage switching circuit which switches the voltages extracted from the plurality of rectifier diodes and outputs a switched voltage, a current detection circuit which detects a current flowing in a load circuit, and a controller which controls the output voltage switching circuit based on a detection result of the current detection circuit. |
| US09468068B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes at least one light emitting unit, a micro controller and a control module. The control module includes a storage unit configured to store a reference sheet between an intensity of the light emitting unit and a current value of the light emitting unit. A light emitting diode (LED) control unit is configured to receive a control signal from the micro controller. A digital-to-analogue conversion unit is configured to transform the current value and the on/off status to a simulation signal. A LED driver unit is configured to control the on/off status and the intensity of the light emitting unit based on the simulation signal. The control module further includes an input pin and an output pin, and the input pin is electrically connected with output pin in series when the multiple light emitting devices are provided. |
| US09468065B2 |
Combined hybrid and local dimming control of light emitting diodes
An LED backlight controller combines global/hybrid and local brightness/dimming control for an LED backlight illuminator with local regions illuminated by associated LED strings. Global/hybrid brightness/dimming control performs hybrid digital modulation control for a predefined lower range of brightness levels, with string current maintained at a substantially constant level associated with a predefined maximum brightness for the lower range (controlling brightness by adjusting digital modulation, such as PWM duty cycle, up to a maximum), and performs hybrid string current control for a predefined higher range of brightness levels (controlling brightness by adjusting string current). Local dimming control is performed by introducing a local digital modulation signal into a hybrid digital modulation control path for the associated string, so that digital modulation for the associated string is a combination of local digital modulation and global/hybrid digital modulation. |
| US09468064B1 |
Light-emitting diode driving circuit and light-emitting apparatus thereof
An LED driving circuit and a light-emitting apparatus thereof are provided. The driving circuit includes a voltage providing unit, a voltage setting unit, a current feedback unit and a current dithering unit. The voltage providing unit receives a voltage setting signal and an input voltage to provide an emission driving voltage to a first terminal of an LED string. The voltage setting unit receives an emission feedback signal to provide a voltage setting signal. The current feedback unit provides the emission feedback signal and sequentially receives current setting voltages to sequentially set a driving current flowing through the LED string according to the current setting voltages. The current dithering unit receives the backlight control signal to sequentially provide the current setting voltages. |
| US09468062B2 |
Light emitting diode light structures
A Light Emitting Diode (LED) light includes a bridge rectifier configured to be powered by an alternating current power source and to produce a rectified output. Control circuitry couples to the bridge rectifier and is configured to produce a shunt signal when the rectified output is less than a threshold voltage. A series connected Light Emitting Diode (LED) string includes a first group of LEDs and a second group of LEDs. A switch couples to a first side of the second group of LEDs and is controlled by the shunt signal to deactivate the second group of LEDs. The control circuitry may include a ratio metric series resistor string configured to sense a proportion of the rectified output and an inverter configured to generate the shunt signal based on the proportion of the rectified output. |
| US09468060B2 |
ANSI reference ballast compliance circuit for LED retrofit lamps
An embodiment of the present invention provides a retrofit LED lamp that is operated by a dual mode circuit, enabling maximum compatibility with the ANSI reference ballasts to satisfy UL requirements to replace HID and fluorescent lamps. The LED lamp operates at two different modes, offered by the dual mode PCB circuit. In one of the mode, namely ANSI ballast testing, a low frequency current from the ballast is throttled through a bypass circuit to LEDs, since a field effect transistor of the circuit is in open circuit mode due to insufficient current. During the second mode, namely field ballast operation, a high frequency current is provided by the ballast, which short circuits the FET, causing it to conduct and thus operating the LEDs. Advantageously, the LED lamp offers maximum compatibility with ballasts using such dual mode circuit and consumes less power. |
| US09468058B2 |
Light emitting device and light source driving apparatus
A light emitting device includes a light source unit, a connection controller, and a driving controller. The light source unit includes a first LED array including a plurality of first LEDs connected in series and a second LED array including a plurality of second LEDs connected in series. The connection controller selectively sets a connection structure between the first and second LED arrays as a series connection, a parallel connection, or a series-parallel connection based on a peak value of a driving voltage driving the light source unit. The driving controller controls the number of LEDs driven in the light source unit according to a magnitude of the driving voltage. Each of the first and second LED arrays is connected between a plurality of first nodes and a plurality of second nodes. |
| US09468057B2 |
Device for supplying a plurality of LED units with power
A device for supplying a plurality of LED units with power includes a common DC/DC converter which delivers a regulated output voltage and to which a plurality of sections are connected, each having a buck converter and an LED unit connected thereto, and means for regulating or setting the section currents to be supplied to the LED units. In order to simplify the device, the means for regulating or setting the section currents are formed by a central, common processor, which is supplied with actual values in keeping with the individual section currents and connected to corresponding control inputs of the respective buck converters for applying control values calculated on the basis of the actual values. |
| US09468052B2 |
LED array member and integrated control module assembly having active circuitry
An LAM/ICM assembly comprises an integrated control module (ICM) and an LED array member (LAM). The ICM includes interconnect through which power from outside the assembly is received. In a first novel aspect, active circuitry is embedded in the ICM. In one example, the circuitry monitors LED operation, controls and supplies power to the LEDs, and communicates information into and out of the assembly. In a second novel aspect, a lighting system comprises an AC-to-DC converter and a LAM/ICM assembly. The AC-to-DC converter outputs a substantially constant current or voltage. The magnitude of the current or voltage is adjusted by a signal output from the LAM/ICM. In a third novel aspect, the ICM includes a switching DC-to-DC converter. An AC-to-DC power supply supplies a roughly regulated supply voltage. The switching converter within the LAM/ICM receives the roughly regulated voltage and supplies a regulated LED drive current to its LEDs. |
| US09468050B1 |
Self-compensating circuit for faulty display pixels
A self-compensating circuit for controlling pixels in a display includes a plurality of light-emitter circuits. Each light-emitter circuit includes a light emitter, a control transistor, a drive transistor, and a compensation circuit. The compensation circuit is connected to the light emitter of one or more different light-emitter circuits. |
| US09468048B2 |
Input current regulator, driving method thereof, and disable circuit thereof
The present invention relates to a dimmer and an input current regulator provided in a power supply. The input current regulator includes: a bleeding circuit generating a bleeding current from an input current passed through the dimmer; a sensing circuit sensing the input current, and controlling the bleeding circuit according to a sense voltage corresponding to the input current; and a biasing circuit generating a power voltage for operation of the input current regulator during operation of the power supply. The input current includes a bleeding current and a power current supplied to the power supply. |
| US09468045B2 |
Heating device for complexly formed surfaces
The present invention relates to an electrical temperature control for controlling the temperature of surfaces. It is envisaged that the temperature control has at least one heat distribution device which covers at least parts of the surface to be temperature controlled. |
| US09468042B2 |
Apparatus for producing trichlorosilane
An apparatus for producing trichlorosilane from raw gas containing silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen, having: a reaction chamber being supplied with the raw gas for generating reacted gas containing trichlorosilane and hydrogen; a plurality of heaters heating the raw gas and having exothermic portions being disposed along a vertical direction in the reaction chamber; a plurality of electrodes being connected to basal portions of the heaters; and a radiation plate being disposed between the exothermic portions of the heaters. |
| US09468040B2 |
Multi-channel delivery platform
A request to execute an interaction site for enabling communications to be exchanged between a multi-channel communications system and a user device is received by an interaction flow processor. The interaction site is identified based on the request. An interaction flow document is accessed for the identified interaction site, the interaction flow document including code for initiating the interaction site between a user device and the multi-channel communications system using any one of multiple different communications channels including an interactive voice response channel. A communications channel used by the user device to contact the multi-channel communications system is determined. Based on the determined communications channel, the code of the interaction flow document is translated to code executable by the multi-channel communications system to enable the multi-channel communications system and the user device to exchange communications over the determined communications channel. A response is transmitted to the multi-channel communications system. |
| US09468037B2 |
Robust transmission on downlink discontinuous transmission carrier
A method and system for downlink discontinuous transmission are provided. In one embodiment, a base station includes a memory, a processor and a transmitter. The memory stores information to be transmitted in a subset of sub frames to a UE. The information includes transmission mode configuration information. The processor operates to configure the transmitter according to a selected transmission mode configuration that includes one of a transmit diversity mode and a MIMO mode, and configures the transmitter to transmit discontinuously and include CRS in only a subset of sub frames. |
| US09468033B2 |
Associated device discovery in IMS networks
A method of associating multiple user endpoints (UEs) with a single IMS session in an IMS network having a serving node for controlling at least one IMS session for a user and at least a first access network for providing access to UEs. The method involves associating a first UE with the user and with an IMS session; discovering a second UE in a proximity of the first UE; discovering information about the second UE; communicating the information about the second UE to the serving node; the serving node utilizing computer-implemented policy logic to determine whether to associate the second UE with the user and the IMS session; and if the policy logic determines that the second UE is to be associated, the serving node associating the second UE with the IMS session while retaining the association with the first UE. |
| US09468027B2 |
Method for controlling a Bluetooth connection
A method for controlling a Bluetooth connection includes connecting a terminal with a vehicle through a Bluetooth connection. The Bluetooth connection is disconnected according to a disconnection request of the terminal. It is automatically determined whether a Bluetooth communication of the terminal is available or not in the vehicle, when the disconnection of the Bluetooth connection is detected. The Bluetooth connection is requested again from the vehicle to the terminal, when the response indicating the Bluetooth communication is available is received from the terminal. The vehicle and the terminal are connected by requesting the Bluetooth connection again. |
| US09468024B2 |
Method and apparatus for ranging transmission by mobile station in wireless communication system
Disclosed is a ranging transmission method comprising: a mobile station receiving a message including backoff window information from a base station; and the mobile station performing ranging transmission on the basis of the backoff window information, wherein the backoff window information comprises information indicating a size K0 of a 0-th backoff window, wherein a size Kx of a nx-th (x being a non-negative integer) backoff window is determined according to Kx=K0/(2x) wherein x denotes a ranging retry count. |
| US09468015B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless communication on multiple spectrum bands
A method and apparatus for simultaneously communicating on at least two carrier frequencies, of which at least one carrier frequency is a licensed band and at least one carrier frequency is an unlicensed band, includes broadcasting an operating status of the unlicensed band to a receiver device, collecting feedback data regarding channel conditions from the receiver device for both the licensed band and unlicensed band, determining, when a bandwidth request is received from the receiver device, whether to use the unlicensed band based on the channel conditions, transmitting an unlicensed band scheduling indication to the receiver device, and communicating with the receiver device using both the licensed band and the unlicensed band according to the transmitted unlicensed band scheduling indication. |
| US09468013B2 |
Method and apparatus for scheduling assignment of uplink packet transmission in mobile telecommunication system
A method is provided for communication between a UE and a Node B in a communication system. The UE generates a Media Access Control-Protocol Data Unit (MAC-PDU) including a first field related to at least one queue ID and a second field related to at least one amount of data to be transmitted, where the data to be transmitted has its priority. The MAC-PDU including the first and second fields is transmitted to the Node B. Grant information is received from the Node B. Data is transmitted to the Node B based on the grant information and the priority. One amount of data in the second field corresponds to one queue ID in the first field. |
| US09468005B2 |
Data sending method, device and system in heterogeneous network
Disclosed are a data transmission method, apparatus and system in a heterogeneous network. The data transmission method in a heterogeneous network comprises: a macro base station carrying control information in a subframe, transmitting the control information to a terminal in a control-frequency band, and informing a low power node of the control information; according to the control information, the low power node carrying data information in a subframe and transmitting the data information to a terminal by a data-frequency band; the control-frequency band and the data-frequency band are statically deployed, and the control-frequency band and the data-frequency band are non-overlapped. |
| US09468004B2 |
Methods and apparatus in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus in a RBS and a UE for reference signal (RS) measurements in an OFDM system, that enable having a configurable RS transmission bandwidth which is smaller than the system bandwidth. This allows for better interference coordination of RS, which in turn improves the UE RS measurements used for different services such as positioning. The RBS retrieves the RS transmission bandwidth, determines a RS measurement bandwidth based on this RS transmission bandwidth, and transmits the determined bandwidth to the UE. The UE receives the RS measurement bandwidth and measures the RS in a bandwidth determined based on the received measurement bandwidth and the UE capability. |
| US09468002B2 |
Method, system and equipment for determining transmission subframe
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, a system and an equipment. A base station determines a first transmission subframe set for each of user equipments that directly communicate with each other to transmit uplink information within a predetermined time range and a second transmission subframe set for each user equipment to directly transmit data to another user equipment within the predetermined time range respectively. Intersection sets between a second transmission subframe set determined for any user equipment and a first transmission subframe set determined for another user equipment that directly communicates with the user equipment and between the second transmission subframe set determined for the any user equipment and a second transmission subframe set determined for the another user equipment that directly communicates with the user equipment are empty. |
| US09468001B2 |
Transmitting a packet via a wireless local area network after a delay
Methods of operating an electronic device are provided. A method of operating a first electronic device that is connected to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) may include listening for a wireless transmission by a second electronic device on a wireless communications channel. The method may include beginning a randomized delay period in response to determining that the wireless communications channel is clear. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a packet to an access point of the WLAN via the wireless communications channel after the randomized delay period. Related electronic devices and computer program products are also provided. |
| US09468000B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing cloud based radio access network
A method, apparatus are described for a cloud based radio access network (RAN). The method may include transmitting a first message from a base station to a user equipment (UE), determining that a second message from the UE is not received by a media access control (MAC) scheduler within a pre-determined time, delaying re-transmission of the first message or transmission of a third message from the base station to the UE, and scheduling other hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes of the UE in intervening sub-frames. The method may include receiving a first message from a UE at a base station, determining that a second message from the base station cannot be constructed within a pre-determined time from delays in receiving assignments from a Cloud, constructing and transmitting the second message to UEs based on assignments received earlier from the Cloud, and suspending an HARQ process associated with other UEs. |
| US09467996B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving signals using multi-band radio frequencies
A method for transmitting, by a base station, signals in a communication system. The base station transmits, to a mobile station via a primary carrier band of the mobile station, carrier aggregation configuration information informing the mobile station of a subsidiary carrier band for the mobile station. The base station receives, from the mobile station, control information for the subsidiary carrier band via the primary carrier band. The carrier aggregation configuration information includes a physical identification of a frequency allocation band used as the subsidiary carrier band and a logical identification assigned to the subsidiary carrier band for the mobile station. The physical identification includes one of plural absolute frequency band indexes assigned to frequency allocation bands available in the communication system. The logical identification includes a logical index assigned to the subsidiary carrier band identifying the subsidiary carrier band from among a plurality of frequency allocation bands. |
| US09467995B2 |
Aggregation of resources in enhanced control channels
The set of resource aggregation levels available for forming an enhanced control channel message may vary from one subframe to another, based on the level of puncturing in the transmitted subframes. An example method begins with determining members of a set of aggregation levels usable to aggregate the non-overlapping subsets of resource elements for transmitting downlink control information. This determining is based on a puncturing level to be used for the transmission of the downlink control information. Downlink control information for the given subframe is mapped to one or more non-overlapping subsets of resource elements in the at least one block of time-frequency resources, according to an aggregation level selected from the determined set, and then transmitted, in the one or more non-overlapping subsets. This method may be repeated for each of several subframes, where the puncturing may differ from one subframe to another. |
| US09467994B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A wireless communication base station device, terminal device, and method have reduced signaling while maintaining high scheduling gain. A judgment unit pre-stores a correspondence between the number of code words and the number of clusters to reduce the maximum value for the number of clusters allocated to each terminal as the number of code words increases, and thus determines the maximum value for the number of clusters based on the number of code words acquired. Based on the number of code words for a transmission signal from a terminal, an estimated value for the reception quality, and the maximum value for the number of clusters that is output by the judgment unit, a scheduling unit schedules the allocation of the transmission signal transmitted by each terminal to a transmission band frequency (frequency resource) so as not to exceed the maximum value for the number of clusters. |
| US09467993B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving downlink control channels in wireless communication systems, and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a method for receiving a downlink signal by a terminal from a base station in a wireless communication system. In particular, the method includes the steps of: receiving an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) for the terminal from the base station; selecting a first EPDCCH physical resource block (PRB) pair or a second EPDCCH PRB pair on the basis of the effective size of a resource block group (RBG) allocated to the terminal and/or the system bandwidth; and receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) on the basis of the EPDCCH form among the remaining PRB pairs excluding the selected EPDCCH PRB from among PRB pairs included in the RBG. |
| US09467987B2 |
Terminal device, base station device, transmitting method and receiving method
The present invention pertains to a terminal device, which, when ARQ is used for communication that uses an uplink unit band and a plurality of downlink unit bands associated with the uplink unit band, and when a transmission mode that supports up to 2 TB in a PCell is set in the terminal, is capable of reducing the amount of signaling from a base station while eliminating a lack of PUCCH resources when semi-permanent scheduling (SPS) is used in the PCell. A control unit in this device selects one value among values obtained by adding 1 to four PUCCH resource indexes, which have been preset for PUCCH resource 1 by the base station, on the basis of values for transmission power control information (TPC command for PUCCH) in a PDCCH, for which notification has been received at the start of SPS. |
| US09467986B2 |
System and methods for simultaneous communication with multiple wireless communication devices
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for simultaneous communication with multiple wireless communication devices. In some embodiments, a method for simultaneous communication with multiple wireless communication devices includes receiving, using a plurality of antennas at a first wireless station, a plurality of packets, comprised of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) wireless signals, transmitted simultaneously from a plurality of other wireless stations wherein each of the simultaneously transmitted packets includes a plurality of frequency tones, frequency domain transform the received packets, grouping frequency domain transform outputs for each subcarrier, determining a difference between subcarrier groups formed over different sample sets, and determining a set of weights for each subcarrier, wherein the weights are selected such that the first wireless station can at least one of detect or demodulate the received plurality of packets. |
| US09467983B2 |
Medium access control layer architecture for supporting enhanced uplink
A method and apparatus for processing data is disclosed. A request for uplink resources is transmitted. An uplink scheduling grant is received in response to the request for uplink resources. Data from at least one medium access control for dedicated channel (MAC-d) flow is multiplexed into a medium access control for enhanced uplink (MAC-e) protocol data unit (PDU). A transport format combination (TFC) is selected for transmission of the MAC-e PDU, at least based on the uplink scheduling grant, a maximum allowed transmit power, and logical channel priority. A MAC-e PDU is transmitted over an enhanced uplink channel using a hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) process. |
| US09467982B2 |
Wireless communication method and apparatus for reporting traffic volume measurement information to support uplink data transmissions
A method and apparatus for uplink transmission is disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) transmits a message to a Node-B, wherein the message is selected from at least a first type, a second type, and a third type. The first type of message indicates that the WTRU has uplink buffered data to transmit and the WTRU requires uplink resources for transmission of uplink data. The second type of message includes a plurality of indications, wherein each indication indicates an amount of uplink buffered data associated with at least one logical channel, wherein each logical channel is associated with a priority. The third type of message indicates an amount of uplink buffered data and has less information than the second type of message. |
| US09467976B2 |
Method and apparatus for state/mode transitioning
A user equipment implements a method of processing indication messages, such as SCRI (signalling connection release indication) messages. For at least one RRC (radio resource control) state, if the current RRC state of the UE is a result of a previously sent indication, the UE inhibits itself from sending a further indication message. |
| US09467972B2 |
Multicast wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for multicasting data streams in a wireless radio communication system are provided. A server assigns a plurality of data streams amongst RF resources. One or more points-of-access of the wireless radio communication system are operable to transmit each RF resource to mobile communication devices. Responsive to a request from a mobile communication device for a selected one of the plurality of data streams, the server identifies the points-of-access that have not been assigned, and hence cannot transmit, the RF resource to which the selected data stream is assigned. An access controller instructs those points-of-access to deny association to the mobile communication device. The server then multicasts the selected data stream to the mobile communication device through one of the remaining points-of-access that can transmit the selected RF resource. |
| US09467968B2 |
Wearable mobile broadcasting recovery system and device
The system provides a wearable communications device for pets comprising a band and a communications unit. The communications unit comprises one or more processors, a communications chipset, one or more removable batteries, and a speaker with a sound generation circuit. The communications chipset can receive data packets comprising an audio segment file; the one or more processors may convert the data packets into electronic signals; the sound generation circuit may cause the speaker to play an audio message corresponding to the electronic signals. |
| US09467963B2 |
Systems and methods for obtaining system information for a wireless communication device
Devices, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods for obtaining system information for a wireless communication device are described. According to some embodiments, a subscription supported by the wireless communication device enters a paging reorganization mode. The wireless communication device acquires a portion of system information by a first subscription using a radio frequency (RF) resource. The subscription changes a paging mode of the wireless communication device. The subscription releases the RF resource after acquiring the portion of the system information and prior to acquiring all of the system information. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described. |
| US09467961B2 |
Method and device for establishing GS association
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for establishing a Gs association, where the method includes: when a serving GPRS support node SGSN determines that an SGs association of a user equipment UE in an idle mode signaling reduction function ISR activated state is released, sending, by the SGSN, a location update request to a mobile switch center/visitor location register MSC/VLR, so that the SGSN and the MSC/VLR establish a Gs association for the UE. An embodiment of the present invention further provides an SGSN. In the embodiments of the present invention, when a UE is in an ISR activated state, and after an SGs association is released, a Gs association can be established in time, and therefore, the UE is not implicitly detached by an MSC/VLR, and a mobile terminated service of the UE is not affected, thereby enhancing service experience of a user. |
| US09467960B2 |
Apparatus and method for defining timing reference for secondary cells in a secondary timing advance group
A user equipment (UE) is configured to perform a method for determining a timing reference for a secondary cell (SCell) in a secondary timing advance group (sTAG). The method includes selecting a SCell among a plurality of SCells within a sTAG as an uplink timing reference cell based on a predefined rule that is known at the UE and an eNB in communication with the UE. The method also includes receiving a downlink carrier from the selected SCell and determining, from the downlink carrier, a downlink timing used as a reference for an uplink transmission timing. |
| US09467956B2 |
Method for indication of reference symbol transmission power change in cellular network
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for indication of reference symbol (RS) transmission power change in a network are provided. One method includes reducing transmission power, and signaling information about the changes in RS transmission power to associated user equipments via a control channel. In one embodiment, the information may comprise an indication about the subframes in which the RS transmission power changes in comparison to a reference value, or the information may comprise specific RS transmission power values as well as information regarding in which subframes the specific RS transmission power values are going to be used. |
| US09467952B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting information about available power of terminal in mobile communication system
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting power headroom information by a terminal in a mobile communication system. The method includes obtaining, by the terminal, an uplink transmission resource; obtaining, by the terminal, a path loss; and if the path loss is changed more than a threshold since a last transmission of a power headroom, obtaining power headroom information using a maximum transmission output of the terminal and a transmission power of the terminal, and transmitting the power headroom information using the uplink transmission resource. |
| US09467950B2 |
Method for adjusting forward link power control parameters based on forward link quality feedback in wireless network
A system is implemented on a wireless network for adjusting a forward link power control parameter based on forward link feedback. A wireless unit is in communication with several base stations during soft handoff, and provides feedback relating to forward link quality, e.g., forward link pilot signal strength or traffic channel frame error rate. The feedback is compared to a comparison or reference point (such as target frame error rate, or a maximum pilot signal strength in the active set) chosen for gauging the quality or nature of the feedback for power control purposes. Based on this comparison, a power control parameter of one or more of the base stations may be adjusted upwards or downward. The power control parameter may be a forward link reference transmit power level “Pref” used to control base station power transmission levels in the presence of power control bit errors. |
| US09467946B2 |
Portable terminal, transition method, and program
A portable terminal includes a first detection unit that detects a change in a position of the portable terminal; a second detection unit that detects a change in a physical quantity representing a surrounding condition of the portable terminal; and a transition unit that causes the portable terminal to transition from a first state to a second state in which electricity consumption is smaller than that of the first state, when a relation between a direction of the change detected by the first detection unit and a trend in the change in the physical quantity detected by the second detection unit satisfies a predetermined condition. |
| US09467939B2 |
Gateway selection for mobile communications network architecture optimization
A gateway control apparatus of a mobile communications network system, which is a termination point of signaling messages according to a first protocol, detects a first selection request via an interface of a first network technology from a mobility management entity, of selecting the gateway control apparatus for communicating user data in the mobile communications network system between an entity of the first protocol and a network of a second protocol. Based on the detected first selection request, the gateway control apparatus selects a distributed gateway device from plural distributed gateway devices for communicating the user data, and provides a second selection request of selecting the distributed gateway device via an interface of a second network technology independent from the first network technology. |
| US09467938B1 |
Using DRCLocks for conducting call admission control
Methods and systems are provided for using DRCLocks for conducting call admission control. In an embodiment, an access node provides service to a plurality of access terminals on a carrier in a coverage area, where the plurality of access terminals does not include a first access terminal. The access node receives a request for new service on the carrier in the coverage area from the first access terminal over an air interface, and responsively determines whether an aggregate-DRCLock condition is met. If the aggregate-DRCLock condition is met, the access node denies the request for new service. |
| US09467931B2 |
Method and device for entering network for client cooperation in wireless communication system
Provided are a method and a device for entering a network for client cooperation in a wireless communication system. A first device, through a frame of a first system, receives a ranging request message from a second device, and transmits the received ranging request message to a base station. As a response thereto, the first device receives a range response message, which is a response to the ranging request message, from a base station of a second system, and through a frame of the first system, transmits the range response message to the second device. |
| US09467930B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing device-to-device communication in wireless access system
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for performing device-to-device (D2D) communication in a wireless access system supporting the D2D communication. More specifically, the method comprises the steps of: receiving, from a base station (BS), information regarding a discovery reference signal (DRS) transmitted from a mobile station (MS) which communicates using a cellular network; monitoring DRSs transmitted from one or more neighboring MSs; generating a list of the one or more neighboring MSs; transmitting the generated list of the one or more neighboring MSs to the BS; receiving, from the BS, information regarding resources allocated for the D2D communication; and performing the D2D communication with another BS by using the allocated resources. |
| US09467920B2 |
Relay node, radio communication system, and method
A relay node which is registered to a first radio base station and a first mobility management device and which relays a communication between a mobile station and the first radio base station. The relay node includes a first control unit configured to execute a handover process for the relay node and decide to hand over the mobile station from the first radio base station to a second radio base station when a degradation of radio quality between the relay node and the first radio base station is detected, and to transmit a handover control signal for the mobile station to the second radio base station or the first mobility management device. |
| US09467919B2 |
Methods and apparatus for radio link imbalance compensation
Methods, apparatuses and computer readable media are described to compensate for radio frequency link imbalances in a wireless communication device. Processing circuitry in the wireless communication device detects a radio frequency link imbalance for a bi-directional communication link. The wireless communication device biases one or more operational parameters of the wireless communication device to adjust for a performance degradation induced by the radio frequency link imbalance. The wireless communication device determines whether a trigger condition for cell selection, reselection, or handover occurs based on the biased operational parameters, and when the trigger condition occurs, performs a remediating action to compensate for the radio frequency link imbalance. Remediation can include performing an intra-RAT or inter-RAT reselection or handover. |
| US09467914B2 |
Incoming call processing method for dual mode terminal and dual mode terminal thereof
The present document provides an incoming call processing method for a dual mode terminal and the dual mode terminal which has a first mode card and a second mode card, and the incoming call processing method for the dual mode terminal includes the following steps: the first mode card of the dual mode terminal receiving an incoming call signal; if the dual mode terminal determines that the incoming call signal meets the switch condition, then automatically switching the incoming call signal to the second mode card. With the above-mentioned incoming call processing method for the dual mode terminal and the dual mode terminal, it is to switch the incoming call intelligently based on the mobile phone number heterogeneous network and/or the network signal quality to facilitate the user to answer the incoming call, thus enabling the user to answer the incoming call with lower telephone expense or better signal quality. |
| US09467913B2 |
Camera image display system
A camera image display system that can transmit and receive images captured by a camera while emphasizing real-time performance. The camera image display system includes an image dividing unit that divides an entire image captured by a camera into divided images, an encoder that converts the divided images into JPEG divided images respectively, and a wireless transmitter that transmits the JPEG divided images. By converting and transmitting the images by each divided image, the camera image display system can display the divided images, which are only parts of the entire image, on the screen when the divided images are transmitted and received satisfactorily. With this, it can improve the real-time performance to display the images on the display unit. |
| US09467911B2 |
Mobility procedures and differentiated charging in home node-Bs
A method and apparatus for implementing Idle and Connected Mode mobility to and from a Home evolved Node-B (HNB) in a wireless environment. Methods to implement differentiated charging when accessing HNBs, as well as the criteria used to make a cell reselection decision when an HNB is detected, criteria for making a handoff decision and methods to indicate charging and other policies/preferences and configurations to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). |
| US09467908B2 |
Method of selecting public land mobile network for network sharing
The present invention relates to a method of selecting a public land mobile network (PLMN) for network sharing, and a method of communicating at a base station according to one embodiment of the present invention may include: receiving from a core network a handover request message including information on whether to support network sharing of user equipment (UE); selecting a PLMN identification (ID) by using information on whether to support network sharing of the UE; and transmitting the selected PLMN ID to the UE. According to one embodiment of the present invention, since a source base station, a target base station or a core network node may select a correct PLMN depending on the situation of UE when carrying out a handover, it is possible to decrease unnecessary signaling and errors in a network sharing situation. |
| US09467907B2 |
Handover of user-equipment (UE) undetected emergency calls
A solution is presented that includes a method of performing a Single Radio Voice Call Continuity, SRVCC, handover of a telecommunications call established by a User Equipment, UE accessing a serving network using a Packet Switched, PS, access. The serving network includes a serving IMS network and the call is a UE-undetected emergency call anchored in the serving IMS network. The method includes receiving an indication from the serving network that the established call is a UE-undetected emergency call anchored in the serving IMS network. A SRVCC handover request to hand over the call from the PS access to a Circuit Switched, CS, access is received. Handover of the call is initiated so that an Emergency Session Transfer Number-Single Radio, E-STN-SR, is used and the call continues to be routed through the IMS network in which it is anchored. |
| US09467900B2 |
Service scheduling method and apparatus
The present invention discloses a service scheduling method and apparatus, relates to the field of communications systems, and implements communication between user equipments while saving resources of a communications network. The method includes: receiving, by a base station, an amount of data which is sent by a user equipment in paired user equipments by using a buffer status report and needs to be uploaded by the user equipment; then sending, by the base station on a same physical downlink control channel, a transmission resource grant to the user equipment and sending receiving resource allocation allocated by the base station to another user equipment except the equipment; and finally, performing, by the user equipment and the another user equipment, data communication in terminal direct mode respectively according to the transmission resource grant and the receiving resource allocation. The present invention is applied to the field of communications systems. |
| US09467899B2 |
Frequency agility for an ISM band home area network
Due to interference that typically occurs in the ISM band, it may be necessary for one or more network devices to switch to an alternative channel. A list of one or more alternate network channels may be generated by a coordinating/gateway device based on the energy level and a distance from a primary network channel. The alternate network channel list may be distributed to neighbor devices and, in the event of interference, link loss, and/or a channel switch notification, the neighbor devices may automatically switch to the first alternate network channel in the list. |
| US09467898B2 |
System and method for response frame type indication
Embodiments are provided for indicating response frame types according to response frame durations in a wireless network. The embodiments include defining a plurality of response frame types in accordance to different transmission durations. The different response frame types are assigned corresponding indication values. When transmitting a current frame to a receiver entity, a transmitter entity selects a response frame type from the defined response frame types, and indicates in the current frame the selected response frame type using the assigned indication value. When a third entity receives the current frame, the third entity waits for a time period about equal to a predefined inter-frame and backoff time before transmitting a new frame. Upon determining that the indication value in the current frame is for sending a response frame, the third entity also waits an additional time period about equal to the transmission duration of the indicated response frame type. |
| US09467889B2 |
Method and device for enabling limited measurement in frequency domain in wireless communication system
The present application discloses a method of performing a measurement for radio resource management (RRM) by user equipment in a wireless communication system. In particular, the method includes: receiving information on the low-power frequency band of an adjacent cell for the RRM from a serving cell; performing a measurement on the low-power frequency band for the RRM using a reference signal received at a preset period; and reporting the result of the measurement to the serving cell. |
| US09467888B2 |
Method for estimating channel state in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for reporting a channel state by a terminal to a serving base station in a wireless communication system, wherein extra channel state information is reported to enable the serving base station to estimate the channel state more accurately. When the base station estimates the channel state with the terminal, the channel state information received from the terminal, the extra channel state information, and traffic information of neighboring base stations are collectively considered to estimate the channel state with the terminal, thereby enabling estimation of the channel state with improved reliability and accuracy. |
| US09467884B2 |
Method and apparatus for adding CSG identities to a white list in connected mode
A method and apparatus are provided that allow a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to search and add one or more closed subscriber group (CSG) identities (IDs) in the WTRU white list while in connected mode. Such method and apparatus include but are not limited to WTRU autonomous search or a manual search, WTRU initiated procedures, or network initiated procedures. Additionally, methods that allow the network and/or the non-access stratum (NAS) to add CSG IDs are also described. |
| US09467883B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for checking state of beacon device
A method, system and apparatus for checking the state of a beacon device are disclosed. The system for the checking the state of a beacon device includes a beacon device and a service device. The beacon device transmits information about a beacon state to the service device and then receives a response signal from the service device. The service device receives the information about the beacon state from the beacon device, performs an update with the received information about the beacon state in association with a list of beacon devices, searches for the information about the beacon state of the beacon device, and provides the found information about the beacon state to the terminal. |
| US09467882B2 |
Radio communication terminal and radio communication method
Provided is a radio communication terminal which is capable of measuring quality in communication with a handover destination with high accuracy. The radio communication terminal is capable of communicating with a base station or a relay node, and includes: a receiver which receives control information including information relating to measurement of measuring quality of a neighbor cell; an extractor which extracts information on a subframe where the measurement should be performed, which is a subframe where only transmission of a signal from the relay node connected to the base station is performed, from the information relating to the measurement; a measurement section which performs the measurement, on a subframe basis, based on the extracted information on the subframe where the measurement should be performed; and a transmitter which transmits a result of the measurement to the base station or the relay node. |
| US09467880B2 |
Management of device-to-device discovery signals and small cell discovery signals
Small cell discovery signals are transmitted within a subframe allocated for transmission of Device-to-Device (D2D) discovery signals. In accordance with a communication standard, communication resources are organized into frames having subframes for communication within a cellular communication system. Wireless service is provided to mobile UE devices in different sized cells that may overlap. In addition, at least some mobile UE devices can communicate with each other using D2D communication resources. D2D discovery signals are transmitted by mobile UE devices to facilitate the discovery of the mobile UE devices by other mobile UE devices. The communication standard allocates one or more subframes within a frame of a frequency defined communication resource for transmission of the D2D discovery signals. The small cell discovery signals are also transmitted within the subframe to facilitate recognition that a small cell mobile UE device is within the small cell service area. |
| US09467876B2 |
Optimized telecommunications distribution system
Systems and methods for optimized telecommunications distribution are provided. For example, a distributed antenna system can include a master unit for transceiving signals with remote units operable for wirelessly transceiving signals with mobile devices in a coverage area. A self-optimized network analyzer can be in a unit of the distributed antenna system. A self-optimized network controller in the distributed antenna system can output commands for changing operation of a component in the distributed antenna system in response to analysis results from the self-optimized network analyzer. In some aspects, the master unit includes base transceiver station cards for receiving call information in network protocol data from a network and for generating digital signals including the call information from the network protocol data for distribution to the remote units. |
| US09467875B2 |
Method for estimating ABS zone in wireless access system and apparatus for same
Disclosed in the present invention are a method for estimating an almost blank subframe (ABS) zone in a wireless access system in which a macro cell and a pico cell coexist, and an apparatus for same. More specifically, the present invention comprises the steps of measuring reference signal received power (RSRP) by using a cell-specific reference signal which is inserted into a subframe of the macro cell, and determining whether the format of the subframe is a multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) ABS by comparing an RSRP measurement value from a zeroth orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol of the subframe, and an RSRP measurement value from a symbol that is not the zeroth OFDM symbol. |
| US09467871B2 |
Iterative coordinated beamforming systems and methods
Methods in a multiple-cell cellular network that implements iterative coordinated beamforming (I-CBF) algorithms with limited cooperation from adjacent nodes (base stations and/or mobile stations) may jointly determine transmit beamforming vectors and receive combining vectors to increase sum throughput. The transmit beamforming vectors and receive combining vectors can be determined based on a performance metric, such as by maximizing SINR (signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio) for each mobile station in the network, maximizing SLNR (signal-to-leakage-and-noise ratio) for each base station in the network, or minimizing SMSE (sum mean square error). The algorithms may be performed to update vectors synchronously. In other cases, the algorithms may be performed to update vectors asynchronously. |
| US09467870B2 |
Surface-wave communications and methods thereof
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system including a frequency mixer that combines a signal and a carrier wave to form a combined signal, and a transmitter that generates a transmission based on the combined signal. The system can also include a coupling device that emits the transmission as an electromagnetic wave guided by an outer surface of a transmission medium. The electromagnetic wave can propagate longitudinally along the surface of the transmission medium and at least partially around the surface of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09467863B2 |
Detection of spoof attacks on location broadcasting beacons
Spoof attacks on location based beacons are detected. A stream of beacons (e.g., IBEACONS) comprising at least a unique source identifier is generated. The stream of beacons is broadcast over a wireless communication channel to mobile devices within range. A list of broadcasted beacons is stored in a table along with a time and location of broadcast. Subsequent to broadcasting, a stream of beacons is detected. The detected beacon stream comprises a unique source identifier along with a time and a location of broadcast. The unique source identifier, the time and the location of at least one beacon of the detected beacon stream can be compared to the unique source identifier, the time and the location of at least one beacon of the broadcast beacon stream. Responsive to a match between the unique source identifiers and a mismatch of at least one of the time and locations, it is determined that the broadcast beacon stream has been spoofed by the detected beacon stream. Once a spoof has been detected, various remediation actions can be taken, such as sending alerts to admin, cautioning end users, and other security mode procedures. |
| US09467856B2 |
Secure mechanism for obtaining authorization for a discovered location server
Methods and apparatuses are presented for use in a terminal to access a discovered location server. The methods may include in response to a determination that a first network does not support authenticated access from the terminal to a home location server, obtaining authenticated access to the home location server using a second network that does support authenticated access to the home location server by the terminal. In response to obtaining authorization for the discovered location server from the home location server, the terminal may access the discovered location server using the first network. |
| US09467851B2 |
Method and system for connecting mobile communication terminal with access point
Disclosed is a method for connecting a mobile communication terminal with an access point located in a local area providing a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) service in which a server managing the access point compares Media Access Control (MAC) information of the mobile communication terminal or MAC information of the access point transferred from the mobile communication terminal through a mobile communication network with MAC information previously stored in the server and transfers network setting information required for connection to the access point to the mobile communication terminal if the MAC information of the mobile communication terminal or access point is identical to the MAC information previously stored in the server. |
| US09467850B2 |
Handheld device association via shared vibration
In some embodiments an accelerometer is mechanically coupled to a first device. The accelerometer obtains a vibration profile in response to a relative movement of the first device and a second device. A radio transmits an encrypted version of the vibration profile to the second device and receives an encrypted version of a vibration profile from the second device. A processor sets up a secure channel between the radio and the second device in which to exchange keys with the second device in order to decrypt the received encrypted vibration profile. The processor also decrypts the received encrypted vibration profile in response to at least one of the exchanged keys, compares the transmitted vibration profile with the received vibration profile and allows a sharing of resources with the second device if a match occurs between the transmitted vibration profile and the received vibration profile. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09467849B2 |
Method and apparatus for security communication of carrier aggregation between base stations
This invention discloses a method for security communication of carrier aggregation between base stations, which method comprises receiving, by a user equipment, a first message to add a cell controlled by a secondary base station as a service cell sent by a primary base station; and creating, by the user equipment, a security key for communication with cells controlled by the secondary base station according to security context of the primary base station and the first message. This invention further discloses the corresponding user equipment and base stations. Implementation of the method and apparatus according to the present invention makes it possible to effectively protect security of data transmission of the air interface and to avoid attacks on air interface security. |
| US09467848B1 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal including a terminal body including a front surface and a rear surface; a display unit disposed on the front surface and including a first region and a second region extended from the first region, the first and second regions configured to be independently converted from one of an active state and an inactive state to another; a rear input unit disposed on the rear surface and configured to sense a fingerprint input; and a controller configured to convert the second region into the active state while maintaining the inactive state of the first region and display preset first screen information on the second region, in response to a preset input being received in the inactive state of the first and second regions, and convert the first screen information displayed on the second region into second screen information corresponding to an execution of a secret mode while maintaining the inactive state of the first region, in response to the preset input being received and the fingerprint input being sensed by the rear input unit corresponding a preset fingerprint. |
| US09467836B2 |
Enhanced E911 location information using voice over internet protocol (VoIP)
An E-9-1-1 voice-over-IP (VoIP) solution is provided wherein a 911 call from a wireless VoIP device is routed directly to the correct Public Safety Answer Point (PSAP) via dedicated trunks, together with correct location information and call-back number. VoIP gateways are implemented locally, at least one per LATA, and accept VoIP packetized data inbound, and convert it to standard wireline voice calls. Calls are routed to an IP address at the VoIP gateway, which then egresses the call to a voice port at a selective router. Dedicated voice trunks (CAMA, SS7, FG-D) are installed between each local VoIP gateway and appropriate selective routers. An Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database is provisioned with ESRKs dedicated for VoIP use. TCP/IP circuits may be established between some or all of the various local VoIP gateways. |
| US09467834B2 |
Mobile device emergency service
Mobile device emergency service techniques are described. In embodiments, a client device includes one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware and configured to implement an emergency service. The emergency service configured to support operations including generating a user interface for display on a display device, receiving one or more inputs usable to form an emergency contacts list that includes a plurality of emergency contacts, and causing the emergency contacts list to be communicated to one or more other client devices for use in generating a message to be communicated automatically and without user intervention to the emergency contacts in the emergency contacts list responsive to a trigger. |
| US09467833B2 |
Emergency call return systems and methods
Systems and methods are provided for enabling communication between a service provider and a telephone user in conjunction with a call placed by the user. A call from the user to a particular telephone number, for example an emergency services number, is detected, and a notification is sent to a preselected recipient indicating that the call has been placed. The preselected recipient may be, for example, a private response center operated by a provider of personal health or other services to the user. A predetermined delay time may be allowed to elapse before the preselected recipient is notified of the call to the emergency services number. The preselected recipient may place a second call in reaction to the notification, for example the preselected recipient may call the user on his or her telephone. |
| US09467830B2 |
Electronic device and method for sharing content thereof
Disclosed is method for sharing the content of a first electronic device, including transmitting, when connecting a call with a second electronic device using a first network, a notification on the call connection to a third electronic device that is connected with a second network, and transmitting, when the content related to the notification is received from the third electronic device during the call, the received content to the second electronic device. |
| US09467825B2 |
Alerts based on vehicle and device telematics
A computer device may include logic configured to obtain vehicle telematics data relating to a vehicle operated by a user and to obtain device telematics data relating to a user device operated by the user. The logic may be further configured to determine that a distance between the user device and the vehicle is greater than a first distance threshold, based on the obtained vehicle telematics data and based on the obtained device telematics data; and send an alert to a mobile communication device associated with the user, in response to determining that the distance between the user device and the vehicle is greater than the first distance threshold. |
| US09467824B2 |
Generating message notifications providing direction actions
A method and device for generating message notifications at a computing device is provided. The computing device receives a message indicator from a mobile device, the indicator associated with a message received by the mobile device. The computing device generates a first display representation of the received message indicator. Positioning information is determined from an input component. A second display representation is generated comprising at least a portion of the message received at the mobile device and an action area for performing a direct action in response to the received message when the determined positioning information satisfies a display criteria associated with the second display representation. |
| US09467823B2 |
Method and device for processing value-added service for short message service
The present invention discloses a value-added service for short message service, VAS-SMS, processing method and a VAS-SMS processing center, which include: the VAS-SMS processing center receives an original short message forwarded from the short message service center, generates a value-added service short message associated with the original short message in accordance with data of VAS-SMS subscribed by the calling and called parities of the original short message, submits the value-added service short message to the short message service center, and receives a delivery status report returned from the short message service center, and the value-added service for short message service processing center takes the delivery result of the value-added service short message as that of the associated original short message and sends a delivery result notification of the original short message to the short message service center. |
| US09467821B1 |
Application data syncing across multiple cellular mobile communication devices
An application data synchronization system may include a data storage system and a data synchronization module. The data storage system may store the identity of entities and, for each entity, the identity of a group of cellular communication devices used by the entity and at least one application that has been delivered to at least two of the cellular communication devices in the group. The data synchronization module may detect that an application has changed data while operating in one of the cellular communication devices. The data synchronization module may consult the data storage system to determine whether the application was also delivered to one or more other cellular communication devices within the same entity group and, if so, cause the changed data to be propagated to the one or more other cellular communication devices within the same entity group. |
| US09467819B2 |
Multicast service using unicast subframe
A system and method for multicast servicing in a unicast subframe is disclosed. The method using a transmission station comprises the operation of setting up a multicast service on each of a plurality of mobile devices in a multicast group using a multicast cell radio network temporary identifier (MC-RNTI) with a common cell identifier (CID). The operation of allocating physical downlink shared data channel (PDSCH) resources for the multicast group using a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) masked by the MC-RNTI follows. |
| US09467816B2 |
Location aware content using presence information data formation with location object (PIDF-LO)
The format of the Presence Information Data Format-Location Object (PIDF-LO) as defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is extended or modified to accommodate, within the standard PIDF-LO format, an association of geospacial location to XML content on the Internet. A geospacial location is associated with Extensible Markup Language (XML) content on the Internet. The XML content is identified by a universal resource locator (URL), and associated with geospatial location information (either a specific location, zone, or direction). The URL is inserted into a |
| US09467815B2 |
Systems and methods for generating a user location history
Systems and methods for generating a user location history are provided. One example method includes obtaining a plurality of location reports from one or more devices associated with the user. The method includes clustering the plurality of location reports to form a plurality of segments. The method includes identifying a plurality of location entities for each of the plurality of segments. The method includes determining, for each of the plurality of segments, one or more feature values associated with each of the location entities identified for such segment. The method includes determining, for each of the plurality of segments, a score for each of the plurality of location entities based at least in part on a scoring formula. The method includes selecting one of plurality of locations entities for each of the plurality of segments. |
| US09467814B2 |
Collecting external accessory data at a mobile data collection platform that obtains raw observables from an external GNSS raw observable provider
External accessory data is collected at a mobile data collection platform provided by an external accessory of the mobile data collection platform. An image that includes a point of interest is captured by an image capturing device that is an integral part of the mobile data collection platform performs. Raw observables are obtained from an external GNSS raw observable provider that is separate from and outside of the mobile data collection platform. A position fix of the mobile data collection platform is determined based on the raw observable. Orientation information comprising a tilt angle and an azimuth angle is determined. External accessory data is received from an accessory that is external to the mobile data collection platform. The image, the position fix, the orientation information and the external accessory data are stored in hardware memory of the mobile data collection platform. |
| US09467808B2 |
Time code validation and correction for proximity-based ad hoc networks
A system and method is described herein for managing power consumption by a plurality of sensors in a proximity-based ad hoc network. The system and method receives sensor data that is provided from a plurality of sensors and constructs a proximity-based ad hoc network among the plurality of sensors based on the sensor data. The system and method also receives and analyzes power status information from each sensor in a group of spatially and temporally proximate sensors in the proximity-based ad hoc network. Based on the analysis, the system and method then modifies a manner in which at least one sensor in the group provides sensor data. |
| US09467807B2 |
Estimating demographics associated with a selected geographic area
In one embodiment, demographics associated with a selected geographic area may be estimated using visitor demographics. For each mobile device of a plurality of mobile devices, a more recent location estimate of the mobile device determined by a positioning system that is within the selected geographic area may be associated with a previous location estimate of the mobile device determined by the positioning system. Origin geographic areas that include the previous location estimates are determined. Demographics associated with the selected geographic area may be estimated based at least in part on demographics associated with the origin geographic areas of the plurality of mobile devices. |
| US09467803B2 |
Detecting multipath and determining positioning measurement uncertainty
Techniques are disclosed for determining measurement uncertainty of and/or multipath effects on positioning measurements, based on the residual deviations between timing measurements and high-accuracy location results. An example method begins with collecting (510) a plurality of timing measurements or ranging measurements, or both, each measurement corresponding to at least one anchor node antenna having a known location. A measurement deviation is determined (520) for each measurement by comparing the measurement to a corresponding reference location. The measurement deviations are used (530) to estimate measurement quality for one or more subsequent positioning measurements, and/or uncertainty associated with one or more subsequent positioning estimates, and/or an effect of multipath on subsequent positioning measurements or estimates. In some embodiments, a covariance matrix is calculated from the measurement deviations and is used to determine statistical information or multipath effects for measurements corresponding to a particular one of the anchor node antennas. |
| US09467802B2 |
Methods and devices for facilitating bluetooth pairing using a camera as a barcode scanner
Embodiments of the systems, devices and methods described herein generally facilitate performing Bluetooth pairing between a first device and a second device. In accordance with one example embodiment, a first device generates a barcode that encodes Bluetooth pairing data for transmission to the second device, wherein the pairing data comprises a Bluetooth address associated with the first device, and wherein the pairing data further comprises a personal identification number usable to complete the Bluetooth pairing, the barcode is transmitted to the second device, and Bluetooth pairing is performed with the second device. |
| US09467800B2 |
Method and apparatus for registering new Bluetooth device
An in-vehicle Bluetooth pairing method includes commencing an automatic Bluetooth connection procedure with a first user device when power is supplied to an in-vehicle head unit. A progress state of the commenced automatic Bluetooth connection procedure is checked according to a request of new user device registration. A disconnection procedure corresponding to the checked progress state is performed, and a pairing mode for the new user device registration is applied. |
| US09467797B2 |
System for remote control by vehicle-mounted device
In this system is provided with a mobile telephone, a server and a vehicle-mounted device with different input/output methods, when an application unit of the mobile telephone is started, control programs and settings suitable for the combination of the vehicle-mounted device, the mobile telephone and the application unit are acquired from the server for an input switching unit, output switching unit, vehicle-internal communication control unit, input control unit and display control unit of the vehicle-mounted device and for an input switching unit, output switching unit, vehicle-internal communication control unit, input control unit, display control unit, input conversion unit and output conversion unit of the mobile telephone, and, after setup and installation, mobile telephone application programs can be remotely controlled by the vehicle-mounted device by running this application unit. |
| US09467791B2 |
System and method for adaptive audio signal generation, coding and rendering
Embodiments are described for an adaptive audio system that processes audio data comprising a number of independent monophonic audio streams. One or more of the streams has associated with it metadata that specifies whether the stream is a channel-based or object-based stream. Channel-based streams have rendering information encoded by means of channel name; and the object-based streams have location information encoded through location expressions encoded in the associated metadata. A codec packages the independent audio streams into a single serial bitstream that contains all of the audio data. This configuration allows for the sound to be rendered according to an allocentric frame of reference, in which the rendering location of a sound is based on the characteristics of the playback environment (e.g., room size, shape, etc.) to correspond to the mixer's intent. The object position metadata contains the appropriate allocentric frame of reference information required to play the sound correctly using the available speaker positions in a room that is set up to play the adaptive audio content. |
| US09467790B2 |
Reverberation estimator
A method comprising determining a reverberation time estimate for an audio signal from a first part of an encoded audio signal representing the audio signal. |
| US09467786B2 |
Portable terminal, hearing aid, and method of indicating positions of sound sources in the portable terminal
A portable terminal, a hearing aid, and a method of indicating the position of a sound source in the portable terminal are provided. The method includes receiving sound signals of a plurality of sound sources, determining respective distances between the plurality of sound sources and the portable terminal, and respective directions of the plurality of sound sources from the portable terminal, based on the received sound signals of the plurality of sound sources, determining positions of the plurality of sound sources on the touch screen based on the determined distances and directions of the plurality of sound sources, and displaying the determined positions of the plurality of sound sources on the touch screen. |
| US09467785B2 |
MEMS apparatus with increased back volume
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone assembly includes a base and a cover. The cover is coupled to the base and together with the base defines a cavity. The base forms a recess and the recess has dimensions and a shape so as to hold a MEMS die. The MEMS die includes a diaphragm and back plate. |
| US09467784B2 |
Piezoelectric-type speaker
A piezoelectric-type speaker is provided for converting electrical signals into sounds capable of being heard by a human ear. The piezoelectric-type speaker includes a housing, a separating portion, a supporting base, a high-pitched speaker and a dynamic low-pitched speaker. The separating portion is disposed at the housing and provided for separating interior spaces of the housing. The supporting base is disposed at the housing. One end of the supporting base is fastened with the separating portion. The high-pitched speaker is formed by a piezoelectric member, and is supported by the other end of the supporting base. The dynamic low-pitched speaker is disposed in the housing. The dynamic low-pitched speaker is disposed at the separating portion and opposite the high-pitched speaker. |
| US09467782B2 |
Electro acoustic diaphragm
A diaphragm for a loudspeaker, wherein the diaphragm is formed generally in a closed loop around a central void, the loop lying in a plane, the diaphragm having an axis in a direction orthogonal to the plane along which axis the diaphragm is arranged to be driven in use, the diaphragm having inner and outer circumferential edges which are adapted, in use, to be fixed in position, wherein a substantial portion of the diaphragm between the inner and outer edges is shaped in the direction of the said axis so as to protrude from the general plane of the diaphragm in either or both directions along the axis, and wherein said shaped portion when viewed along the direction of the axis comprises at least one series of curves extending radially across substantially all of the driven area of the diaphragm. |
| US09467780B2 |
DJ mixing headphones
A set of headphones designed to be used by DJ's for the purpose of mixing two or more music tracks being played from two or more audio playing devices. The headphones are configured such that a DJ can easily mute one headphone speaker so that the DJ can listen to a first music track that is being played through a sound system. At the same time, the headphones are configured to direct the complete stereo signal to the other headphone speaker so that the DJ can listen to the complete audio from a second music track. For example, when the DJ presses an audio control button, the set of headphones can automatically mute one of the speakers on the headphones, and automatically direct all of the stereo channels to the opposing speaker on the set of headphones. |
| US09467779B2 |
Microphone partial occlusion detector
Digital signal processing for microphone partial occlusion detection is described. In one embodiment, an electronic system for audio noise processing and for noise reduction, using a plurality of microphones, includes a first noise estimator to process a first audio signal from a first one of the microphones, and generate a first noise estimate. The electronic system also includes a second noise estimator to process the first audio signal, and a second audio signal from a second one of the microphones, in parallel with the first noise estimator, and generate a second noise estimate. A microphone partial occlusion detector determines a low frequency band separation of the first and second audio signals and a high frequency band separation of the first and second audio signals to generate a microphone partial occlusion function that indicates whether one of the microphones is partially occluded. |
| US09467777B2 |
Interface for a digital microphone array
An interface for an array of digital microphones in an electronic device may include a head-end chip coupled to the digital microphones through a bus. The bus may be shared by each microphone of the array of microphones and be multiplexed to allow transmission of data from the microphones to the head-end chip and transmission of power from the head-end chip to the array of digital microphones. The head-end chip may perform signal processing on receive data from the array of digital microphones to create beamforming arrays. The array of microphones may include microphones with different characteristics to improve performance of the array of microphones. |
| US09467775B2 |
Method and a system for noise suppressing an audio signal
A method and a system of noise suppressing an audio signal comprising a combination of at least two audio system input signals each having a sound source signal portion and a background noise portion, the method and system comprising steps and means of: Extracting at least two different types of spatial sound field features from the input signals such as discriminative speech and/or background noise features, computing a first intermediate spatial noise suppression gain on the basis of the extracted spatial sound field features, computing a second intermediate stationary noise suppression gain, combining the two intermediate noise suppression gains to form a total noise suppression gain, wherein the two intermediate noise suppression gains are combined by comparing their values and dependent on their ratio or relative difference, determining the total noise suppression gain, applying the total noise suppression gain to the audio signal to generate a noise suppressed audio system output signal. |
| US09467767B2 |
Modular headphone system
A modular headphone system includes a headband holding an earphone module at each end of two ends thereof, a circuit module formed of an active noise cancelling module, a Bluetooth module, high-frequency module and/or a multi-channel audio controller and detachably mounted in one earphone module, and a power module detachably mounted in the other earphone module. Each earphone module includes an earphone body pivotally connected to one end of the headband, a speaker holder mounted at the earphone body and electrically connected to the earphone body, a speaker mounted in the speaker holder and electrically connected to the speaker holder and an ear cushion covered on the speaker holder over the speaker. |
| US09467766B2 |
Connection member for connecting headset plug, headset jack and electronic device
The present disclosure relates to a connection member for connecting a headset plug with an electronic device, a headset jack of the electronic device and the electronic device. The connection member comprises a pin, wherein the pin communicates with a terminal positioned near an end portion of the headset plug when the connection member is connected with the headset plug. The connection member disclosed in the present disclosure can reduce the length of the headset to be inserted into the headset jack, and reduce the depth of the headset jack, thereby saving space in the electronic device configured with the headset jack. |
| US09467757B2 |
Wavelength selective switch
A wavelength selective switch includes an input/output unit that has a first port group including a first input port and a first output port and a second port group including a second input port and a second output port; a wavelength dispersion element that disperses wavelength multiplexing light in wavelength components; a deflection element that deflects a direction of an incident beam; and an optical system that optically couples the input/output unit, the wavelength dispersion element, and the deflection element along a predetermined axis. The optical system includes an optical component, a first input beam input from the first input port is inclined at a first angle to the predetermined axis and is incident on the optical component, and a second input beam input from the second input port is inclined at a second angle to the predetermined axis and is incident on the optical component. |
| US09467756B2 |
Modular system and methods for connecting an external communication network to a user network of a building
A modular system for the connection of an external communication network to a user network of a building includes: a user module including: a passage opening of a connection cable of the user network including optical fibers associated with respective users and adapters associated with respective optical fibers of the connection cable of the user network, and an operator module including: an inlet opening of at least one connection cable to the external communication network including optical fibers and an outlet opening of fiber optic connection elements connected to the external communication network and provided with a connector at a terminal end thereof. The user module and the operator module are structurally independent from each other and the external communication network is operatively associated with the user network by means of a connection of the connectors of the fiber optic connection elements with respective selected adapters of the user module. |
| US09467754B1 |
Systems and methods for wirelessly communicating with utility meters and utility meters using the same
A communications and control system for use with a utility meter includes a first wireless communications subsystem for exchanging messages with a central facility via a cellular communications network. The first wireless communications system is operable to send messages including meter data generated by the utility meter to the central facility and receive utility control messages from the central facility for controlling the provision of a utility monitored by the utility meter. A second wireless subsystem communicates within a wireless mesh network of compatible wireless subsystems operating in conjunction with a set of utility meters for exchanging the meter data with a selected compatible wireless subsystem within the mesh network. |
| US09467753B2 |
Method and system for vehicle monitoring
There is a system for radio frequency identification (RFID) tag-based vehicle monitoring comprising a vehicle or other movable asset, having a plurality of sensors, each sensor operably connected to one of a plurality of after-market installed RFID tags, the plurality of after-market installed RFID tags configured to receive sensor information from the plurality of sensors and to transmit, via RFID communications, the sensor information to a gateway. |
| US09467746B2 |
Network video unit
Providing content to content receiving devices, such as digital video recorders, connected to a computer network through a content provider is described. According to one aspect, a server maintains a database correlating contact information to content receiving devices in its network. A user navigates to a web site of the content provider and selects a piece of content, which prompts the content provider to query the server for the contact information, and then transmit a request to download the piece of content to the content receiving device. The request can be a set of content identification information that automatically populates a content guide at the receiving device with an entry corresponding to the requested piece of content. This entry allows the user to confirm, interrupt, resume and cancel a download of the content as desired. |
| US09467741B2 |
Method and computer for use in a multimedia system
A multimedia server receives a plurality of programs of a multimedia source. The multimedia server includes a tuning module to receive the plurality of programs and to select a set of programs from the plurality of programs based on a set of program select commands that is derived from select requests. A program mixer mixes the set of programs into a stream of program data. One or more transceiving modules transmit the stream of program data on to corresponding communication paths and receive the select requests. A client module produces the select requests for one or more clients. The client module includes a selection module to produce at least one of the select requests. A network interface controller transmits at least one of select requests to the multimedia server and receives the stream of program data via the communication path or paths in response. |
| US09467740B2 |
Methods and apparatus for improving scrolling through program channel listings
Methods and apparatus for improving channel browsing experience for users by control scroll rates in guide listings are described. A user can scroll through channel listings arranged according to program genre at a high maximum scroll rate. The scroll rate is automatically reduced, and in some embodiments scrolling is temporarily paused, when listings corresponding to a new genre are displayed. In this way a high maximum scroll rate can be supported but without the risk of a user unintentionally scrolling thorough an entire genre of programs of interest even if the genre only includes one or a few programs in total. Thus, in various embodiments a scrolling rate is decreased when a change in the genre of programs from a first genre of programs being displayed to a second genre of programs being displayed occurs as part of said scrolling. |
| US09467738B2 |
Personal area network proxy service for video on demand systems
Techniques where a computing device such as a smart phone can be leveraged to facilitate video on demand (“VOD”) services through a set top box (“STB”) associated with a content subscription service such as satellite television are described. In an exemplary embodiment, a request for VOD content can be communicated from the STB to the computing device via a personal area network (“PAN”) connection such as Bluetooth. The computing device in turn can forward the VOD content request to a VOD authorization server over a wide area network (“WAN”). |
| US09467732B2 |
Display apparatus and control method for displaying an operational state of a user input
A display apparatus and a control method thereof for displaying an operational state of a user input are provided. The display apparatus includes: an image processor configured to process an image signal; a display configured to display an image thereon based on the processed image signal; a user input configured to receive a user's input; and a controller configured in response to the user's input being received, control the display to display thereon a cursor moved in correspondence with a location of the user's input as an icon showing an operational state of the user's input. Thus, a user may intuitively recognize the operational state of the user's input and may obtain prompt feedback on the input result without suspending his/her interaction. |
| US09467729B2 |
Method for remotely controlling smart television
A method for remote controlling of a smart TV. With the method for remote controlling, the user does not look at the remote controller's touchscreen and remote-controls the smart TV by looking at the motion of the cursor on the smart TV, which is an object to control and manipulating the touchscreen. Therefore, the smart TV can be controlled freely and comfortably as if holding it like a smart phone in hand. |
| US09467728B2 |
Remotely accessed virtual recording room
An audio/video stream recording, storage, and delivery system 10 utilizes an Internet-based browser connection. The system 10 includes recording software 20, storage memory 30, a code generator 40, and a user interface 50. Preferably, the recording software 20 is located on the host back end 60 where it processes and records audio and video material that originates from the user front end 70 and is streamed to the host back end. The storage memory 30, which is also located on the host back end 60, stores the recorded audio and video material. The user interface 50 to the system provides a user located at the user front end 70 with remote access to a virtual recording room. The user interface 50 further enables the user to record audio and video material streamed from the user front end 70 by activating the recording software 20 located on the host back end 60. This is accomplished without requiring recording functionality on the user front end 70. The code generator 30 produces code associated with the recorded audio and video material. This code can be easily copied and pasted to an additional location 80, such as an auction website. Activating the code pasted at the additional location 80 provides access to the recorded audio and video material from the additional location while allowing the recorded audio and video material to remain stored at the host back end 60. |
| US09467725B2 |
Method and system for detecting unauthorized use of a set top box using weather profiles
A system and method for determining unauthorized use of a set top box includes a set top box that receives a profile of weather conditions in a geographic area, generating a weather log, comparing the weather log and the profile and disabling the set top box from receiving signals in response to comparing. A head end and a plurality of other set top boxes may be used to gather the weather data to form the profile. |
| US09467721B2 |
Enhanced fast-forward and rewind visual feedback for HLS content
A server device may receive a playback request that identifies particular content, a first segment file associated with the particular content, and a playback speed; and generate a playlist based on receiving the playback request. When generating the playlist, the server device may determine one or more second segment files, associated with the particular content, based on the playback speed and the first segment file; determine, based on the playback speed, a sequence in which the first segment file and the one or more second segment files should be played; and generate a list identifying the first segment file and the one or more second segment files. The list may be sorted based on the sequence. The one or more second segment files may be listed subsequent to the first second file. The server device may store or output the playlist. |
| US09467720B2 |
Tuning efficiency and delivery of content
In accordance with one configuration, in response to receiving a request from a client device, a server resource tunes to a corresponding channel to retrieve content conveyed on the corresponding channel. While tuning, the server resource obtains a network address of the server resource from which content in the corresponding channel will be available for retrieval by the client device subsequent to the server resource successfully tuning to the corresponding channel and buffering a portion of the content. The server resource forwards the network address to the client device for subsequent retrieval of the content. |
| US09467717B2 |
Filtering method for removing block artifacts and/or ringing noise and apparatus therefor
Provided are a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise. The filtering method includes transforming video data on a block-by-block basis, and detecting the presence of an edge region in the video data by checking the distribution of values obtained by the transformation. Accordingly, it is possible to completely remove blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise by more effectively detecting the presence of an edge region in video data. |
| US09467714B2 |
Filtering method for removing block artifacts and/or ringing noise and apparatus therefor
Provided are a filtering method and apparatus for removing blocking artifacts and ringing noise. The filtering method includes transforming video data on a block-by-block basis, and detecting the presence of an edge region in the video data by checking the distribution of values obtained by the transformation. Accordingly, it is possible to completely remove blocking artifacts and/or ringing noise by more effectively detecting the presence of an edge region in video data. |
| US09467713B2 |
Apparatus for decoding a moving picture
Provided is an apparatus for decoding a moving picture. An entropy decoding unit restores a quantization coefficient sequence from a bitstream. An inverse quantization/transform unit generates a quantized block by inversely scanning the quantization coefficient sequence in a unit of subset when a size of a transform unit is larger than 4×4 and generates a residual block. An inter prediction unit generates a prediction block of a current block based on motion vector information. When the prediction block is encoded in merge mode, motion information is restored using an available spatial or temporal merge candidate and the prediction block is generated using the motion information. The temporal merge candidate includes a reference picture index and a motion vector, the reference picture index of the temporal merge candidate is set to 0, and a motion vector of the temporal merge candidate is a motion vector of the temporal merge candidate in a temporal merge candidate picture. A scan pattern for inversely scanning the plurality of subsets is the same as a scan pattern for inversely scanning coefficients of each subset. |
| US09467708B2 |
Selection of resolutions for seamless resolution switching of multimedia content
Systems and methods for the selection of resolutions for seamless resolution switching of multimedia content in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a source encoder includes a processor configured by a source encoder application to receive multimedia content, where the multimedia content comprises video data having a primary resolution and a primary sample aspect ratio and encode the video data as a set of alternative streams, where a plurality of the streams in the set of alternative streams have different maximum bitrates and resolutions, the resolution of each of the plurality of streams comprises a width and height that are both an integer number of pixels, and both the width and height of each of the plurality of streams is a common fraction of the width and height of the corresponding primary resolution. |
| US09467703B2 |
Signaling signed band offset values for sample adaptive offset (SAO) filtering in video coding
A method for signaling sample adaptive offset (SAO) band offset syntax elements in a video encoder is provided that includes receiving a plurality of band offset syntax elements, entropy encoding an absolute value of a magnitude of each band offset syntax element in a compressed video bit stream, and entropy encoding a sign of each non-zero band offset syntax element in the compressed video bit stream following the absolute values of the magnitudes. |
| US09467700B2 |
Non-entropy encoded representation format
Systems, methods, and devices for coding multilayer video data are disclosed that may include encoding, decoding, transmitting, or receiving multilayer video data. The systems, methods, and devices may receive or transmit a non-entropy coded representation format within a video parameter set (VPS). The systems, methods, and devices may code (encode or decode) video data based on the non-entropy coded representation format within the VPS, wherein the representation format includes one or more of chroma format, whether different color planes are separately coded, picture width, picture height, luma bit depth, and chroma bit depth. |
| US09467699B2 |
Method for performing parallel coding with ordered entropy slices, and associated apparatus
A method for performing parallel coding with ordered entropy slices includes: providing a plurality of entropy slices to a plurality of processing elements with a causal criterion on processing order, wherein each entropy slice includes a plurality of macroblocks; and respectively starting to perform a coding procedure for the plurality of entropy slices according to the causal criterion, so that at least a portion of the processing elements are processed in parallel during at least a portion of processing time. An associated apparatus for performing parallel coding with ordered entropy slices includes: a plurality of processing elements; and a controller. The processing elements are arranged to process the entropy slices. In addition, the controller is arranged to provide the plurality of entropy slices with the causal criterion, and controls the operations of the processing elements. |
| US09467694B2 |
Implicit determination and combined implicit and explicit determination of collocated picture for temporal prediction
In one embodiment, a method determines a current picture and determines at least one of a first list of reference pictures and a second list of reference pictures for the current picture. A temporal distance is analyzed between the current picture and at least a portion of the reference pictures in the at least one of a first list of reference pictures and a second list of reference pictures. The method then selects reference picture that is closest in temporal distance from the current picture in the analyzed at least a portion of the reference pictures. The selected reference picture is set as a collocated picture for the current picture and the selected reference picture is used in a temporal prediction process for the current picture. |
| US09467693B2 |
Multiple-pass rate control for video coding applications
Methods and systems for coding applications are described, where multiple coding passes are performed for purposes of rate control. Prediction structures are generated and used by the multiple coding passes to update coding statistics generated prior to the coding passes. The updated coding statistics are used for a subsequent coding operation. |
| US09467687B2 |
Vehicle-mounted environment recognition device
A vehicle-mounted environment recognition device includes an imaging unit that acquires an image taken by an imaging device; an image self-diagnosis unit that diagnoses contamination of a lens of the imaging device with respect to the image acquired by the imaging unit; an application execution unit that executes an application selected from a predetermined application group; and a fail determination unit that determines, on the basis of a diagnosis result from the image self-diagnosis unit, whether the lens contamination state is in an endurance range of the application and, if within the endurance range, sets the operation of the application executed by the application execution unit to a suppression mode. If outside the endurance range, contamination removal control is implemented, or a fail determination is made for the application. Contamination removal and fail determination can be implemented utilizing parameter adjustment and hardware, or an image-based self-diagnosis can be conducted. |
| US09467684B2 |
Three dimensional image display device and method of displaying three dimensional image
A 3D image display device includes: a display panel including pixels; a signal controller controlling driving of the display panel; and an image signal processor generating a 3D input image signal based on image information and outputting the generated 3D input image signal to the signal controller. The image signal processor includes a view point generating unit generating view points corresponding to the respective pixels, and a 3D input image signal generating unit generating the 3D input image signal for the respective pixels based on information on a position of the pixel, information on the generated view point for the respective pixel, and the image information. |
| US09467681B2 |
Representation and compression of depth data
The techniques and arrangements described herein provide for layered compression of depth image data. In some examples, an encoder may partition depth image data into a most significant bit (MSB) layer and a least significant bit (LSB) layer. The encoder may quantize the MSB layer and generate quantization difference data based at least in part on the quantization of the MSB layer. The encoder may apply the quantization difference data to the LSB layer to generate an adjusted LSB layer. |
| US09467680B2 |
Calibration of a three-dimensional acquisition system
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques and configurations for an optoelectronic three-dimensional object acquisition assembly configured to correct image distortions. In one instance, the assembly may comprise a first device configured to project a light pattern on an object at a determined angle; a second device configured to capture a first image of the object illuminated with the projected light pattern; a third device configured to capture a second image of the object; and a controller coupled to the first, second, and third devices and configured to reconstruct an image of the object from geometric parameters of the object obtained from the first image, and to correct distortions in the reconstructed image caused by a variation of the determined angle of the light pattern projection, based at least in part on the first and second images of the object. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US09467679B2 |
Vehicle periphery monitoring device
A vehicle periphery monitoring device includes a first bird's-eye view image generation section generating a first bird's-eye view image through a two-dimensional plane projective transformation based on a photographed image acquired by an in-vehicle camera module, a second bird's-eye view image generation section generating a second bird's-eye view image through a three-dimensional plane projective transformation based on the photographed image, and a displaying image generation section generating a first displaying image for monitor displaying from the first bird's-eye view image and a second displaying image for monitor displaying having a higher displaying magnification than the first displaying image, from a predetermined area of the second bird's-eye view image corresponding to a predetermined area of the first bird's-eye view image. |
| US09467678B2 |
Image synchronization method and system thereof
Disclosure is an image synchronization method and system thereof being applied to a first image detection unit and a second image detection unit. The system comprises a monitoring unit, an extension interval generation unit and a control unit. The monitoring unit monitors the first image detection unit and the second image detection unit. When a time difference between output time of second image data and output time of first image data is larger than or equal to a postponed time threshold, a synchronization signal is transmitted by the monitoring unit. The extension interval generation unit bases the time difference and the rate of outputting the first image to generate an extension interval. When receiving the synchronization signal, the control unit adjusts the rate of outputting the first image by controlling the first image detection unit. Therefore, the first image data and the second image data could be synchronized. |
| US09467670B2 |
Projection display device
A projection device includes: first light sources each emitting a first light; a collimator lens that converts the first lights into parallel light beams; a condensing optical system that receives the parallel light beams and emits concentrated light beams; and an optical element having an incident surface through which the concentrated light beams enters the optical element. The condensing optical system is configured so that when a light beam parallel to an optical axis of the condensing optical system is incident on the condensing optical system, the light beam is concentrated at a position on the axis on the incident surface. The parallel light beams are incident at different positions of the condensing optical system while approaching the axis. Emitting positions of the light beams on the condensing optical system and incident positions of the light beams on the incident surface are opposite each other with respect to the axis. |
| US09467669B2 |
Wavelength conversion module and projector
A wavelength conversion module, includes a wavelength conversion device and at least one heat dissipation airflow providing device. The wavelength conversion device has at least one side surface. The heat dissipation airflow providing device has an outlet, wherein the outlet faces the side surface, and the heat dissipation airflow providing device is adapted to provide a heat dissipation airflow to the side surface from the outlet. A distance between a geometry center of an orthogonal projection of the outlet on the side surface and a geometry center of the side surface is smaller than or equal to half of a maximum inner diameter of the outlet. In addition, a projector having the wavelength conversion module is also provided. |
| US09467667B2 |
Method and apparatus of white balance adjustment
A white balance adjustment method and apparatus for a single DLP projector system is disclosed. The projection system includes a solid state light source device, a sync signal generator, and a controller. The light source device generates an output which is a repeating color sequence of at least two primary color lights. The sync signal generator generates a synchronization signal representing a timing of the color sequence of the output light. The controller calculates drive current values corresponding to each of the two primary colors based on a target white balance and measured color properties of the output light, and supplies a modulated drive current to the light source device. The modulated drive current is synchronized to the sync signal and has the calculated drive current values. As a result, a white light having the target white balance is output. |
| US09467666B1 |
Miniature camera super resolution for plural image sensor arrangements
In some embodiments, a method includes receiving at a plurality of digital image sensor arrays a plurality of respective portions of visible incoming light arriving at a camera module. In some embodiments, the method further includes calculating positions of a plurality of corresponding apparent features in each of the respective portions of visible light. In some embodiments, the method further includes identifying misalignments of the plurality of digital image sensor arrays based on comparison of respective positions of ones of the corresponding apparent features in each of the respective portions of visible light. In some embodiments, the method further includes calculating respective contributions of the respective portions to the combined image data structure based at least in part on the misalignments. In some embodiments, the method further includes generating a combined image data structure from the plurality of respective portions. |
| US09467661B2 |
Method of operating camera, camera, and surveillance system having the same
Provided is a method of operating a camera connected to at least one another cameras via a communication network. The method includes: performing interfacing between the camera and the at least one another camera; controlling the camera to execute first at least one task which is allocated to the at least one another camera; and updating a job queue containing second at least one task which is allocated to the camera and the first at least one task which is allocated to the at least one another camera, wherein the performing interfacing, the controlling the camera and the updating the job queue are performed by running a program. |
| US09467660B1 |
Map generation using map features from user captured images
Various embodiments enable a user to capture an image of a map, such as a map of a municipal or amusement park, mall, golf course, or the like, using a camera of a computing device to geocode features of the map that may not be available for display through a native mapping application. For example, a park map may show walking trails, vista points, restrooms, playgrounds, or other locations of interest, which may not be represented by the mapping application. Accordingly, once these previously unrepresented features are associated with a particular location, they can be represented within a map of a native mapping application of the user's computing device, thereby, enabling the user to see their location within the map relative to these features and navigate through the park using the same. |
| US09467659B2 |
Method and apparatus for progressive channel switching
A method of processing a sequence of frames of multimedia data is presented. The method provides for progressively refreshing the image data. The method includes dynamically selecting portions of frames of the sequence with progressively increasing area to refresh, and excluding non-refreshed areas as potential reference data for other frames. |
| US09467656B1 |
Method and apparatus for two way audio communication using remotely deployed observation devices
A method and apparatus for facilitating audio communication remotely with a person includes the use of several observation devices, each having an audio system that can play audio signals and receive acoustic signals and convert them to audio signals. The audio signals are wirelessly communicated in the region via a wireless local area network, and outside of the region by a wide area network via a gateway device. The audio signals from a command console located remotely from the region are playing in a synchronizations by several of the observation devices such that the resulting acoustic signals combine additively at the location of a person in the region with whom communication is conducted. The observation devices are designed to be deployed on an ad hoc basis to facilitate rapid deployment of the system. |
| US09467655B2 |
Computer readable recording medium, communication terminal device and teleconferencing method
When a number of unprocessed compressed images stored in a storage area is smaller than a threshold, the compressed image acquired from the storage area is decoded. When the number of unprocessed compressed images stored in the storage area is greater than the threshold, and when an image type of the compressed image is a predetermined type, the compressed image acquired from the storage area is decoded. When the number of unprocessed compressed images stored in the storage area is greater than the threshold, and when an image type of the compressed image is not the predetermined type, the compressed image acquired from the storage area is not decoded. |
| US09467650B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting media stream in video conference
A method for transmitting a media stream in a video conference. The method includes, receiving a first media stream sent by a conference server, where the first media stream includes video and audio information of all conference participants in the video conference, receiving a select instruction, where the select instruction is selecting, from the video and audio information of all the conference participants, a conference participant corresponding to required video and audio information, sending a transmission request message to the conference server according to the select instruction by using a web real-time communication (WebRTC) application, where the transmission request message includes identification information of the selected conference participant, and receiving a second media stream that is sent by the conference server according to the identification information, where the second media stream includes the video and audio information of the selected conference participant. |
| US09467649B2 |
Method and system for switching multi-screen on video conference
The present invention relates to multi-screen video image control. Disclosed are a method and system for switching the multi-screen on the video conference. The method comprises: a multi-screen switching device generates, according to a user input, a switch control message used for controlling the number of the multi-screen and a layout of the multi-screen, and sends the switching control message to an MCU or a video conference terminal; when the switching control message is sent to the MCU, the MCU switches, according to the switching control message, the number of the multi-screen or the layout of the multi-screen of each video conference terminal; and/or, when the switching control message is sent to the video conference terminal, the video conference terminal switches, according to the switching control message, the number of the multi-screen or the layout of the multi-screen of the video conference terminal. |
| US09467648B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a video merging can be performed in the course of a video call to a counterpart terminal. The present invention includes a camera configured to create a first video having a user of the mobile terminal taken therein, a wireless communication unit configured to receive a second video taken by the counterpart terminal, a controller configured to extract a user display region from the first video, and merge the user display region and the second video, and a display unit configured to display the merged video. |
| US09467641B2 |
Television and electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a panel including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first metal cover configured to cover the first surface of the panel, and a second metal cover including an opening configured to expose at least a part of the second surface of the panel. The second metal cover is configured to be attached to the first metal cover, surround a circumferential surface of the panel, and be outwardly exposed. |
| US09467640B2 |
Image display device and image display system
An image display device including a display configured to output content, a charger configured to charge a remote controller to control the image display device, a user input interface configured to receive power on/off signals from the remote controller and a controller configured to control power use of the user input interface depending on whether the remote controller is being charged by the charger is provided. |
| US09467638B2 |
Sensory array with non-correlated double sampling random access-reset pixel and multi-channel readout
Integration of high-fidelity readout and compressive readout channels in a signal sensor array system is provided. A high-fidelity representation of the sensor array is recovered by combining the data from both the high-resolution and compressive readout channels. The signal sensory array system uses a non-correlated-double-sampling (non-CDS) pixel block readout, random-access-reset pixel, ADC-integrated image compression, high-resolution successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital-converters (ADC), SAR ADC self-calibration, and low-noise time-domain comparator. |
| US09467637B2 |
Image sensor with multi-shared pixel architecture and dual readout path
An image sensor includes an M-shared pixel architecture, an N-shared pixel architecture and a switch unit, wherein M is an integer not smaller than two and N is an integer not smaller than two. The switch unit is coupled between a floating diffusion node of the M-shared pixel architecture and a floating diffusion node of the N-shared pixel architecture. |
| US09467635B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus that processes image data output from an image sensing device including a plurality of pixels, comprises: a storage unit that stores defect data at least including first information showing grades of defective pixels that are subject to correction and, with respect to each defective pixel among the plurality of pixels, address information, second information showing a grade of the defective pixel; an acquisition unit that acquires an imaging condition and an imaging environment at a time of image sensing; a determination unit that compares the first information and the second information, and determines whether defect correction of each defective pixel is necessary or not based on a comparison result; and a correction unit that performs the defect correction on image data output from a defective pixel for which the determination unit determines that defect correction is necessary. |
| US09467631B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus, method of driving the same, and radiation inspection apparatus
A radiation imaging apparatus comprising a sensor and a driving unit, the sensor including a detection element and a holding unit, wherein the driving unit drives the sensor so as to perform a first operation of making a first sampling unit sample a first signal corresponding to a voltage of the holding unit which has changed in accordance with a dose of radiation detected by the detection element after the holding unit holds a voltage corresponding to a signal from the detection element when a first reset unit resets the detection element, and a second operation, after the first operation, of making the first reset unit reset the detection element after a second sampling unit samples a second signal corresponding to a voltage of the reset holding unit while a second reset unit resets the holding unit. |
| US09467629B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus is designed to process pixel outputs of an imaging element including imaging pixels and phase-difference detecting pixels. The apparatus includes a pixel mixing unit and an image processing unit. The pixel mixing unit mixes the pixel outputs. The image processing unit corrects the pixel outputs to prevent the phase-difference detecting pixels from degrading image quality, by using at least one of information selected from a group consisting of the number of mixed pixel outputs of phase-difference detecting pixels having the same opening direction and the number of mixed pixel outputs of imaging pixels having the same opening direction. |
| US09467628B2 |
High dynamic range image sensor
An image processing system has a sensor array with a plurality of pixels. A distinct circuit is associated with each pixel in the sensor array. The circuits are designed such that across the plurality of circuits, there are a plurality of distinct sensitivities to irradiance from a scene to be captured which are spatially pseudo-randomly ordered relative to each other. The image processing system also comprises an image reconstruction algorithm. A method is also disclosed. |
| US09467627B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use with multiple optical chains
Methods and apparatus for supporting zoom operations using a plurality of optical chain modules, e.g., camera modules, are described. Switching between use of groups of optical chains with different focal lengths is used to support zoom operations. Digital zoom is used in some cases to support zoom levels corresponding to levels between the zoom levels of different optical chain groups or discrete focal lengths to which optical chains may be switched. In some embodiments optical chains have adjustable focal lengths and are switched between different focal lengths. In other embodiments optical chains have fixed focal lengths with different optical chain groups corresponding to different fixed focal lengths. Composite images are generate from images captured by multiple optical chains of the same group and/or different groups. Composite image is in accordance with a user zoom control setting. Individual composite images may be generated and/or a video sequence. |
| US09467623B2 |
Image correcting apparatus and method for imaging device
Embodiments of the invention provide an image correcting apparatus for an imaging device including a camera module having a first motion sensor. The image correct apparatus includes a second motion sensor sensing a movement, and a controller determining whether the movement gets out of an operation range of the first motion sensor, and correcting an image obtained from the camera module based on movement data sensed by the second motion sensor, when the movement gets out of the operation range of the first motion sensor. Generation of blur in an image when a displacement of handshaking is at an angle equal to or greater than a correction angle of an optical image stabilizer (OIS) module is prevented, and thus, a clear image is obtained. |
| US09467616B2 |
Distance measurement apparatus and distance measurement method
A distance measurement apparatus includes: an imaging element that images an object by performing exposure and readout of electric charges sequentially for each row or column; an optical system that has a controllable in-focus position; an imaging control unit that moves the in-focus position at constant speed, and causes the imaging element to image the object sequentially while the in-focus position is being moved, to obtain blurred images; a distance measurement unit that measures a distance from a reference position in the optical system to the object using the blurred images and a point spread function dependent on object distance; and a correction unit that performs a correction process on the distance for each row or column according to a movement range of the in-focus position in which the in-focus position is moved during the exposure for each row or column when the blurred images are obtained. |