| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09238578B2 |
Semiconductor arrangement with stress release and thermal insulation
Among other things, one or more semiconductor arrangements and techniques for forming such semiconductor arrangements are provided herein. A semiconductor arrangement comprises a cap wafer, a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) wafer, and a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) wafer. The cap wafer comprises one or more spring structures, such as a first spring structure and a second spring structure. The first spring structure and the second spring structure relieve stress as portions of the semiconductor arrangement, such as a membrane and a poly layer, move. An ambient pressure chamber is formed between the CMOS wafer and the MEMS wafer, such as for CMOS outgassing relief. One or more thermal insulator structures are formed between the CMOS wafer and the MEMS wafer to protect the MEMS wafer from heat originating from the CMOS wafer. |
| US09238568B2 |
Hall call registration apparatus of elevator including a destination floor changing device
An elevator hall call registration apparatus automatically registers a destination floor call based on verification information by a personal authentication device. The hall call registration apparatus includes a first personal authentication device which authenticates a user, a hall call registration apparatus main body which performs destination floor call registration based on verification information including personal ID unique to the user verified in the first personal authentication device, and a destination floor changing device which accepts an operation for the user to perform at least one of a change and cancel of the destination floor of a destination floor call registration. If it is judged based on an operation performed in the destination floor changing device that the operation is performed by the user authenticated by the first personal authentication device, the hall call registration apparatus can perform a change and cancel of a destination floor of the destination floor call registration. |
| US09238564B2 |
Sheet conveyance apparatus, tray unit and discharge tray
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance unit which conveys sheets and a discharge tray which supports the sheets conveyed by the conveyance unit. The discharge tray includes: a first tray which has first, second and third rail sections arranged at different positions respectively in a widthwise direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction and extending respectively in the conveyance direction; and a second tray which is arranged on a lower side of the first tray and which is slidably supported by the first, second, and third rail sections. The first rail section and the third rail section are contrary to each other in relation to the positions in the widthwise direction with respect to the second rail section. The first rail section has a first rib and a first protruding section; and the second rail section has a second rib and a second protruding section. |
| US09238560B1 |
Conveyance device, image reading device and image forming apparatus
The invention is directed to a conveyance device including: a pair of conveyance members; a connection member as defined herein; an operating member as defined herein; a to-be-stopped member as defined herein; a stopping member as defined herein; and a contact/separation control unit, and a document conveyance device including: a document loading portion in which documents are loaded; a document discharge portion to which the documents are discharged; a discharge member that is disposed on a downstream side of a document reading position in a document conveyance direction and that discharges each of the documents; a reversal passage as defined herein; a discharge member control unit as defined herein; and a transmission system as defined herein. |
| US09238558B2 |
Reciprocating placer system
A reciprocating placer system for selectively picking and placing articles includes a picking assembly that is moveable between one or more magazines in which the articles are each received and stored in a stacked configuration. The picking assembly can include a series of vacuum cups for engaging and selectively picking articles from one or more magazines and thereafter depositing the selected articles on a conveyor or within a receptacle. A drive system controls the transverse movement of the picking assembly with respect to the one or more magazines in order to control the movement of the picking assembly between the one or more magazines and for adjusting the position of the picking assembly, with a selected article engaged thereby, with respect to the conveyor or receptacle on which the article is to be deposited. |
| US09238556B2 |
Apparatus for the automated feed of connecting elements to a processing unit and feed hose for the connecting elements
In order to ensure a reliable automated feed of connecting elements to a processing unit, an apparatus, in particular an industrial robot, is provided. The apparatus has a hose pack, in which a feed hose for connecting elements is contained as a supply line. In order to ensure reliable operation and kink protection of the feed hose, the latter is formed from an inner hose which is embedded in a over-molded hose jacket. This measure permits the integration of the feed hose into the hose pack without problems. In addition, the risk of the feed hose kinking is kept small. |
| US09238553B2 |
Powered curb ramp tugger lift
A number of variations may include a vehicle for transporting or moving a load including a frame and may include a telescopic beam, a drive wheel and a support wheel, an arm connected to the drive wheel, and a conveyor having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is connected to the arm and the second end is connected to the support wheel. The telescopic beam may elongate and contract to reposition the position of the drive wheel in relation to the support wheel and thereby change the configuration of the vehicle and correspondingly the position of the conveyor. |
| US09238552B2 |
Belt tracking system, roller assembly, and image forming apparatus including same
A belt tracking system for adjusting misalignment of a movable belt in an axial direction of a plurality of rollers about which the movable belt is entrained includes a slope member and a stationary shaft guide. The slope member is disposed at both ends of at least one of the plurality of rollers in the axial direction, to tilt the roller as the belt moves in the axial direction. The stationary shaft guide contacts the slope member. A distance between a contact point of the slope member that contacts the stationary shaft guide and an end portion of the slope member in the axial direction is longer than a maximum traveling distance that the slope member travels in the axial direction. |
| US09238551B2 |
Ball transfer unit for cargo bay
A ball transfer unit for use in association with installed trays in vehicle cargo bays. Ball transfer unit is a modular unit that includes a larger main roller ball, a semi-spherical housing for holding the larger main roller ball, a plurality of smaller roller balls interposed between the housing and the main roller ball and a unitary cover affixed to the housing for securing the various ball elements in relation to the housing and cover. The large roller ball protrudes partially through the cover, and the cover is designed to discourage the ingress of water and contaminants from entering the housing. |
| US09238548B2 |
Receptacle with spring hinge and forward lean
A receptacle includes a container having a bottom wall and a side wall extending from the bottom wall. The side wall defines an opening and is comprised of a front wall portion and a back wall portion. A lid is secured to the container along the back wall portion at a spring hinge where the lid covers the opening. The front wall portion diverges as it extends away from the base at a first angle and the back wall portion diverges as it extends away from the base at a second angle where the first angle is greater than the second angle. The spring hinge defines an axis of rotation of the lid where the axis of rotation of the lid is outside of the rim of the opening. The lid is shaped and dimensioned such that the lid contacts the rim for substantially the entire periphery thereof. |
| US09238546B1 |
Media storage assembly
A media storage assembly holds, organizes, and displays one or more of a user's media collections. The assembly includes a base panel having an upper surface. The upper surface is flat wherein the upper surface is configured to receive a plurality of media thereon. A slot extends into the base panel. A rod is positioned in the slot. A pair of end panels is slidably coupled to the rod. The end panels are slidable to a selectable position on the rod wherein the end panels are configured to abut an outermost one of the media and prevent spacing between adjacently positioned ones of the media. |
| US09238543B2 |
Container for the at least substantially separate storage and release of substances, in particular for storage and release in outer space
The invention relates to a container, particularly in syringe form, for an at least substantially separate storage and release of substances, in particular for storage and release in outer space, with an outflow opening, a storage chamber for the storage of the substances, with at least one slideable separator element which divides the storage chamber into sub-chambers, and with at least one shaped overflow channel which is provided for transporting substances from a sub-chamber into a sub-chamber which is arranged forward as seen in the direction of the outflow opening, and/or into the outflow opening. It is proposed that the overflow channel and the separator element are designed for an at least substantially sequential release of substances and/or for washing-out a stored solid by a liquid. |
| US09238538B2 |
Easy open package for snack bars
A package for consumable wrapped products, such as cereal bars, power bars, granola bars or other snacks. The package may include an elongated body and a fin seal on the elongated body that folds to the left side of the package. The fin seal may be located near the center of the package or on an edge of the package and may include one or more nicks on an edge of the fin seal. The package may include a top seal and a side seal. The package may also include a tear notch for propagating a tear across the package. The package may include one or more score lines extending across the package. The package may include a vertical score that prevents further tearing of the package. |
| US09238537B2 |
Method for producing multi-compartment packages
An improved method and apparatus for making a multi-compartment package on a form, fill, and seal machine. Two pairs of heat sealing jaws are provided below a product delivery tube. |
| US09238536B2 |
Method for providing consumers with a food storage kit
A method of providing a food storage product dispensing kit for de-bulking food includes a plurality of re-sealable primary bags and a plurality of secondary pouches, wherein the secondary pouches are adapted and configured to be worn and inverted over a user's hand as well as minimize freezer burn of food items therein. |
| US09238535B2 |
Packaging material comprising magnetisable portions
A packaging material comprises a plurality of magnetizable portions thereon. The magnetizable portions are provided as at least one spot per package to be formed from the packaging material. The spots comprises magnetizable particles. |
| US09238525B2 |
Drain assembly for a tank or containment vessel
A drain assembly for a tank or containment vessel of the type having a flexible and removable interior liner. The drain assembly comprises a drain intake in fluid communication with a wall traversing portion. The drain intake is operatively deployable in proximity to the bottom of the tank and the wall traversing portion is operatively deployable through a wall of the tank. The wall traversing portion includes a conduit portion in fluid communication with the drain intake and with a location exterior to the tank. The conduit portion includes an interior stopper plate and a threaded portion. The drain assembly includes a hammer nut threadably receivable over the threaded portion when the conduit portion is received through the wall of the tank such that tightening the hammer nut upon the threaded portion causes the hammer nut to engage the exterior of the tank wall causing the stopper plate to compress the tank liner against the interior surface of the tank wall thereby securing the drain assembly to the tank wall and helping to prevent the unintentional leakage of the contents of the tank through the tank wall. |
| US09238524B2 |
Cup made of a paper material
A cup made of paper material having a fillable interior is provided. The cup is formed by a conical sleeve and a bottom. The bottom is attached to the sleeve at the lower end of the interior with a bottom skirt in an essentially liquid-tight way. The sleeve and/or the bottom in the area of the bottom skirt and/or the bottom skirt itself includes, at least in one area along the periphery, an outwardly projecting widening. A lower edge of the widening forms a standing surface for the cup. The widening can form a structure for holding another cup of the same type, which structure can act together with a similar cup during stacking. The cup can include a heat-insulting outer sleeve. |
| US09238522B1 |
One-piece foldable corrugated cooler with improved locking system
A one-piece, foldable corrugated cooler includes a storage portion having a bottom panel, two side panels, two end panels, and four corner panels; two handle panels forming a lid and a handle; and at least one locking panel. The at least one locking panel is adapted to secure the lid in a closed orientation, and the at least one locking panel is integral with at least one corner panel and at least one handle panel. |
| US09238520B2 |
Container and vending machine
A collapsible container is made with a pair of upper and lower bellows sections connected by a rigid section with inwardly tapering ends, such that the container can be collapsed with the rigid section and the bellows sections overlapping. The collapsible container may be provided with an identifier such as an RFID tag which cooperates with a vending machine with a detector such as an RFID reader so as to dispense liquid into the container. |
| US09238510B2 |
Boomerang link with vibration filtering ability and aircraft engine mount provided with such link
A boomerang link for aircraft engine mounts, including a first orifice and a second orifice both designed to connect the boomerang link to an aircraft pylon, and a third orifice designed to connect the boomerang link to an aircraft engine. The third orifice is offset relative to a plane passing simultaneously through an axis of the first orifice and through an axis of the second orifice. When the boomerang link is seen in section in any plane orthogonal to the axes, a straight line segment extending from the axis of the second orifice to an axis of the third orifice crosses a region external to the boomerang link. This conformation confers on the boomerang link a flexibility enabling it to filter transverse vibrations between an engine and an aircraft pylon. |
| US09238501B1 |
Bilge keel with porous leading edge
A bilge keel design for improved ship roll damping performance. The bilge keel has a porous region substantially at a forward end, and is designed to alleviate and mitigate added drag from flow misalignment due to scale effects and variation in vessel speed and loading conditions. The bilge keel design is use on both port and starboard sides of the vessel hull. |
| US09238500B2 |
Cargo hold structure for a very large crude oil carrier
A cargo hold structure for an oil tanker is provided, in which a plurality of vertical webs that is mounted on longitudinal bulkheads of the cargo hold in a height direction of a hull is made wide and horizontal girders which connect the vertical webs to each other and support them, thereby controlling the sloshing load of the cargo hold and improving the structural strength of the cargo hold without having to mount crossties. The cargo hold structure includes a longitudinal bulkhead (20) arranged in a lengthwise direction of a hull to divide an internal space, a plurality of vertical webs (22) coupled onto the longitudinal bulkhead (20) in a height direction of the hull, the vertical web (22) having a width of 0.15 to 0.20 times the total height (H) of the cargo hold, and a horizontal girder (24) arranged between the vertical webs (22) in the lengthwise direction of the hull, the level of the horizontal girder (24) being within 30% to 60% of the total height (H) of the cargo hold from the bottom thereof. |
| US09238496B2 |
Motorcycle
Vibration generators are provided on a vehicle to give vibration to the body of an occupant in response to outside information inputted from the outside of the vehicle, or vehicle information outputted from an in-vehicle system. The vibration generators are installed under the seating faces or inside the back of the occupant seats, or in the side wall surface of a fuel tank. The vibration generators are driven by information on predetermined contents among outside information obtained by two-way radio communication with another vehicle using radio communication equipment. The vibration generator provided in the occupant seats can be operated as speaker means producing deep bass sound in response to an audio signal of an in-vehicle audio unit. The resulting configuration enables information to be transmitted to the occupant of the vehicle by vibration given to his/her body, rather than being transmitted audibly or visually. |
| US09238494B2 |
Vehicle
A transformation restricting mechanism is configured to change a resisting force between a first connecting member, a second connecting member, and a caliper that are configured to be displaced relative to each other. The first connecting member includes a turn supporting portion supported by a first shock absorbing device. The second connecting member includes a turn supporting portion supported by a second shock absorbing device. The turn supporting portion is supported by the first shock absorbing device closer to a first center axis than an intermediate axis which is coincident with a turning axis of a steering shaft when the vehicle body frame is in an upright state. The turn supporting portion is supported by the second shock absorbing device closer to a second center axis than the intermediate axis when the vehicle body frame is in an upright state. |
| US09238492B2 |
Chassis for a robot
In a chassis (1) for a robot for traveling over smooth, curved or firm surfaces with two track guides that are mirror-symmetric to one another and firmly arranged in the chassis (1) in parallel with the traveling surface and self-contained in each case, along which controllable adhesive modules (14) circulate one behind the other in such a way that their adhesive feet (15), which can be lifted and lowered vis-a-vis the traveling surface, always point towards the traveling surface, the individual adhesive modules (14) have their own controllable lifting and traveling drives in each case. |
| US09238488B2 |
Elastically averaged alignment systems and methods
In one aspect, an elastically averaged alignment system is provided. The system includes a first component including an alignment member, the alignment member including a base portion extending from an edge of the first component, and a connector portion coupled to the base portion. The system also includes a second component including a receiving member. The receiving member includes a pair of cantilever members extending from an edge of the second component and defines a receiving aperture configured to receive at least a portion of the alignment member to couple the first component and the second component. The alignment member is an elastically deformable material such that when the alignment member is inserted into the receiving aperture, the alignment member elastically deforms to an elastically averaged final configuration to facilitate aligning the first component edge relative to the second component edge. |
| US09238487B1 |
Inner front side member to rocker support reinforcement gussets for vehicle front structures
A vehicle includes a side member that extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction. A dash panel is coupled to the side member and extending in a vehicle lateral direction. A rocker support extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction and is spaced outboard of the side member in the vehicle lateral direction. An A-pillar is coupled to and extends upward from the rocker support. An inner front side member to rocker support reinforcement gusset includes a dash reinforcement portion that is connected to the side member and the dash panel and a floor reinforcement portion that is connected to the rocker support and the side member. |
| US09238484B2 |
Integrated lateral load-transmittal system
According to one aspect of the present invention, a load-transmittal system for a vehicle includes a cross member of a vehicle frame extending substantially perpendicular to a vehicle door. A pusher is disposed within a cavity defined between inner and outer sheet metal panels of the vehicle door, wherein the pusher is disposed distal from the cross member to define an idle state. A container receptacle is disposed between the pusher and the cross member, wherein the container receptacle defines a transmittal zone of the vehicle door. When the vehicle door experiences a side-impact load, the side-impact load moves the pusher through the transmittal zone and into at least partial engagement with the cross member to define a collapsed position of the pusher. In this manner, the side-impact load is transferred through the pusher to the cross member. |
| US09238483B2 |
Trailer backup assist system with trajectory planner for multiple waypoints
A trailer backup assist system, according to one embodiment, includes a state estimator that determines a current position of a trailer relative to a plurality of waypoints. A trajectory planner may then incrementally generate a path from the current position to the plurality of waypoints. The trajectory planner has a first mode that generates first and second circular trajectories tangent to one another connecting between the current position and a waypoint of the plurality of waypoints. A second mode of the trajectory planner generates the second circular trajectory between the current position and the waypoint after the trailer traverses the first circular trajectory. Also, a third mode of the trajectory planner switches to the first operating mode when the trailer reaches the waypoint for guidance to a subsequent waypoint. A curvature controller guides the trailer based on a curvature of the respective first or second circular trajectories. |
| US09238480B2 |
Steering control device
The turning amount of a turning unit is controlled based on the steering amount of a steering unit mechanically uncoupled from the turning unit, and the change amount of the steering reaction force relative to the change amount of the self-aligning torque in a steering reaction force characteristic is increased as a curvature of a white line is increased when the steering reaction force corresponding to the self-aligning torque is applied to the steering unit based on the steering reaction force characteristic corresponding to the self-aligning torque such that the larger the self-aligning torque, the larger the steering reaction force. |
| US09238479B2 |
Steering system with dynamic slip reduction
A steering system includes a fluid motor and a steering unit. The steering unit is in fluid communication with the fluid motor. The steering unit includes a fluid meter adapted to meter fluid to the fluid motor in response to actuation of the steering unit. A valve housing is in fluid communication with the fluid meter. The valve housing defines a valve bore. A valve assembly is disposed in the valve bore. The valve assembly defines a primary fluid path to the fluid meter and to the fluid motor from the fluid meter. The valve assembly further defines a secondary fluid path to the fluid motor that bypasses the fluid meter. An amount of fluid through the secondary fluid path is based on volumetric efficiency of the fluid motor. |
| US09238477B2 |
Method and system for a lift device having independently steerable wheels
A system and method of controlling a scissors lift vehicle are provided. The scissors lift vehicle system includes a carriage including a plurality of independently steerable wheel assemblies configured to engage a travel surface. The plurality of independently steerable wheel assemblies, each steerable about a steer axis of rotation include one of the plurality of wheel assemblies being designated a master wheel and the remaining wheel assemblies being designated slave wheels. The wheel assemblies each include a variable-speed steer actuator configured to rotate a respective wheel assembly about the steer axis of rotation of that wheel assembly at a selectable rate. The wheel assemblies each also include a wheel including a respective drive axis of rotation and a variable-speed drive actuator configured to rotate that wheel about a respective steer axis of rotation at a selectable rate. |
| US09238476B2 |
Tilt steering apparatus
Construction is achieved in which a steering column 4b and a support bracket 17b are able to smoothly displace in the forward direction during a secondary collision. Spring-side locking sections 40 of a bias spring 32a engage with locking tabs 41 of the support bracket 17b in a state so as to press downward on the locking tabs 41. A pressure section 35a of the bias spring 32a engages with a receiving surface of the steering column 4b in a state so as to cause an upward pressure force to act on the steering column 4b. During a secondary collision, when the bias spring 32a displaces in the forward direction during the stroke through which the steering column 4b and support bracket 17b are able to displace in the forward direction and interferes with a gear housing 12 of a steering-assist apparatus 5, the locked state between the spring-side locking sections 40 and the locking tabs 41 is released, which allows the steering column 4b and the support bracket 17b to smoothly displace further in the forward direction. |
| US09238473B2 |
Incremented brake pipe pressure reduction
A system and method for incrementally accomplishing brake pipe reductions using an operator button, touch sensitive screen or other human machine interface. The system is preferably made available to the user when the brake handle is positioned in the ‘minimum’ brake application position and allows an operator to create a more precise target reduction value without having to manually move the brake handle to the location that the operator believes may result in the desired reduction. Using small, predetermined increments, the system allows for more precise control over brake pressure without an operator having to estimate what handle movement will accomplish the desired brake pressure. |
| US09238472B2 |
Wheelset axle protection
The wheel set shaft of a rail vehicle is protected in an effective and economical manner by a protection device. The device includes an elastomeric mat which can be easily placed on the wheel set shaft and retaining means for retaining the elastomeric mat on the wheel set shaft. |
| US09238471B2 |
Method for control of vehicle body tilting of railway vehicle
Control of vehicle body tilting when a railway vehicle travels along a curve includes: detecting a pressure of compressed air in an air tank; driving a compressor that supplies compressed air to the tank when detecting a pressure drop in the tank to or below a first threshold level P1 in association with introduction of compressed air into air springs; and limiting the amount of compressed air to be introduced from the tank into the springs to a level equal to or lower than the amount of compressed air to be supplied from the compressor to the tank while continuing the introduction from the tank into the springs. This ensures that the tank pressure is maintained at a level equal to or higher than a minimum level required for braking actuation of the railway vehicle to have ride comfort when traveling along a curve and without causing braking trouble. |
| US09238467B1 |
Automatic engagement of a driver assistance system
A system for automatic engagement of a driver assistance system comprises an input interface, a processor, and an output interface. The input interface is configured to receive data associated with one or more events. The processor is configured to evaluate the risk associated with the data and to determine that the risk indicates a state change in a driver assistance system is appropriate. The output interface is configured to provide an indication that the state change in the driver assistance system is appropriate. |
| US09238466B2 |
Control of the driving style of a motor vehicle within localities (city driving cycle)
A control system for vehicles to operate at an ecological driving modus, for example in case they are used within a locality such as a city or town. A control system initiated by a clearly identifiable switch installed either at the dashboard or on the steering wheel, the switch being manually operated by the driver. The control system can be can also be initiated via radio- or light-waves' signals. |
| US09238463B2 |
Driving assistance system for vehicle and system for estimating frictional state of road surface
In a driving assistance system for a vehicle according to the present invention, when a solid object existing in the traveling direction of the driver's own vehicle is recognized, a target control value setting part sets a target control value pertaining to control for avoiding a collision including turning control of the driver's own vehicle in order to bring a running state of the driver's own vehicle to a target running state that causes the driver's own vehicle to avoid a collision with the solid object. A control part performs collision avoidance control in accordance with the target control value. Moreover, a control value correction part corrects the target control value pertaining to the turning control of the driver's own vehicle based on the value of a state variable relating to the running state of the driver's own vehicle during the time in which the control by said control part is performed and said target control value associated with said state variable. |
| US09238461B1 |
Output bump management in a strong hybrid vehicle
A method for managing output bump/clunk in a neutral state in a strong hybrid vehicle includes calculating a motor torque for an electric traction motor connected to a third node of a planetary gear set. The motor torque is calculated as a product of a predetermined inertia of the electric traction motor, the calculated acceleration of the engine, and a gear ratio of the planetary gear set. The calculated motor torque is commanded from the electric traction motor via a controller in a direction opposite the calculated acceleration of the output shaft, including transmitting a motor torque command to the electric traction motor for the duration of the neutral state. The vehicle includes the engine, a damper assembly, the transmission, and the controller. |
| US09238459B2 |
Battery charging method for hybrid electric vehicles
A battery charging method for a hybrid electric vehicle, may include a step of receiving a vehicle gradient value through a transmission control unit (TCU) or an inclination sensor when the vehicle stops, a step of converting a transmission stage into an N stage and driving an engine to recharge a battery by a main motor when the received vehicle gradient value a preset gradient value or less, and a step of charging the battery by Generating the main motor by engaging an engine clutch after the engine driven. |
| US09238458B2 |
Hybrid-electric vehicle engine starting method and system
A system or method for controlling an engine in a hybrid vehicle include cranking the engine subject to a first torque limit in response to an engine start request, receiving an engine rotational position signal, and cranking the engine subject to a second torque limit in response to the engine rotational position signal indicating a number of engine revolutions being less than a threshold value. |
| US09238455B2 |
Chamber case of brake chamber of vehicle
Provided is a chamber case of a brake chamber of a vehicle, which may reduce the weight of a vehicle by applying a plastic resin-based material to the chamber case and also enhance rigidity and durability of the chamber case by forming a reinforcement rib at the chamber case and adjusting a thickness of the chamber case to reinforce weak portions of the chamber case. The chamber case of a brake chamber of a vehicle is configured to surround a power spring and a piston, and a top portion of the chamber case is formed to have a relatively greater thickness than a side portion thereof to reinforce the strength of the chamber case. |
| US09238453B2 |
Master cylinder device
A master cylinder device including: a housing whose front side is closed and which has a separation wall for separating the inside of the housing into a front side chamber and a rear side chamber; a pressurizing piston disposed in the front side chamber so as to define a pressurizing chamber for pressurizing the brake fluid and an input chamber into which a brake fluid from a high pressure source is introduced; an input piston disposed in the rear side chamber and moving forward by an operation force; and a transmission rod which is through the separation wall, whose proximal end portion is fixed in one of the pressurizing and input pistons, and whose distal end portion is apart from the other of the pressurizing and input pistons in a state of no forward movement. |
| US09238451B2 |
Vacuum assembly with inlet through removable tank
The disclosed vacuum assembly can be mounted in a vehicle. The motor/fan assembly is positioned above a chassis wall. Lateral flanges on opposed sides of the tank support the tank in generally horizontal sliding motion from a forward position to an elevated rearward position. A rear flange supports the tank as it pivots to a mounted position in which an inlet on a removable lid on the tank communicates with a hose, and an outlet on the lid communicates with the motor/fan assembly. In a removed position, the inlet and outlet are disconnected. Alignment bosses fit in aligned openings when the tank is in the mounted position. |
| US09238449B2 |
Vehicle control system including accelerometer based security warning and related methods
A vehicle control system may include a wireless communications device, a vehicle position determining device, and an accelerometer. The vehicle control system may also include at least one controller configured to communicate vehicle position information based upon the vehicle position determining device via the wireless communications device, and communicate vehicle acceleration data based upon the accelerometer via the wireless communications device. The controller may also be configured to generate a security pre-warning signal based upon the accelerometer. |
| US09238443B2 |
Blow molded energy absorber and systems and methods of making and using the same
In one embodiment, a vehicle energy absorber system, comprises: blow molded crush lobes that are open on one side, wherein the energy absorber comprises fillets having a fillet radius of less than 20 mm and a thickness of less than or equal to 1.5 mm; a bumper beam adjacent the open side; and a fascia, wherein the energy absorber is located between the fascia and the bumper beam. In one embodiment, a method for making a blow molded energy absorber comprises: introducing a molten plastic to a first mold cavity; introducing gas into the plastic to conform the plastic to the interior of the first mold cavity and form a first preform; and separating the first preform along a centerline thereof to form open, first preform portions having first crush lobes. |
| US09238440B1 |
Vehicle door including compartment for dispensable paper products
A door for a vehicle includes an interior surface and a compartment extending into the interior surface for receiving a dispensable paper product. A cover is movable between a closed position covering the compartment and an open position exposing the compartment. The cover defines an opening for accessing the dispensable paper product. The cover includes an outer surface flush with the interior surface when the cover is in the closed position. |
| US09238436B2 |
Mirror for vehicle
A joint portion is provided to an upper case of a mirror unit tilting mechanism so as to protrude therefrom. A fitting portion is formed on a pivot plate side so as to correspond to the joint portion. The joint portion is formed into a hollow hemisphere shape. A support shaft is provided upright at a center portion of an outer wall, and a spherical portion is formed in the outer wall. The fitting portion has a hollow hemisphere dome shape and includes a spherical side wall portion and a ceiling portion which has a wave shape in cross section. The fitting portion is lightly press-fitted to the joint portion through one-touch insertion operation. The fitting portion and the joint portion are swingably connected to each other under a state in which curved surfaces of the spherical portion and the side wall portion are held in contact with each other. |
| US09238434B2 |
Rear view mirror simulation
The invention relates to an exterior mirror simulation with image data recording and a display of the recorded and improved data for the driver of a motor vehicle. The display on a display device shows the data in a way chosen by the driver or the vehicle manufacturer. |
| US09238430B2 |
Locking device
A locking device for locking a container on a loading surface. A locking head of the mechanism protrudes through a standardized reception opening and projects above the loading surface to engage and behind a wall of a corner fitting of the container to lock the container on the loading surface. A grooved bushing is disposed below the standardized reception opening. The locking device is guided in the grooved bushing so that it can be lowered to a first position below the loading surface. The locking device is supported on the grooved bushing, protruding upwards beyond the loading surface, in a second position. A securing ring holds the locking device below the loading surface in a mounting opening in the first position. The locking device has a (semi-) automatic locking mechanism in a cylindrical housing. The cylindrical housing is guided through the grooved bushing, the mounting opening and the securing ring. |
| US09238428B2 |
Back frame for vehicle seat
There is provided a back frame of a vehicle seat, which includes a frame body formed by extrusion molding and including a press-fitting portion into which a part attachment bracket is press-fitted for attaching a part to the frame body. The press-fitting portion of the frame body and an abutment surface of the bracket are formed with an engagement portion where one of the frame body and the bracket is brought into engagement with the other in a direction in which the part attachment bracket is press-fitted into the press-fitting portion. |
| US09238426B2 |
Method for actuating a seat
A seat having a backrest and a seat cushion is provided with at least one adjusting element on both sides of the longitudinal center plane of the seat. By alternatingly actuating the adjusting elements in the two halves of the seat, mobilization of the spinal column of a seat user occurs. In order to increase the acceptance of such a mobilization, which requires comparatively long stroke lengths of the adjusting elements to achieve a physiological effectiveness, an accustomization phase occurs before the action phase. During the accustomization phase, the adjusting elements exercise, for example, only about half of the stroke during the action phase. Preferably, a transition phase may be interposed between the accustomization phase and the action phase. |
| US09238425B2 |
Vehicle seat
A vehicle seat that can effectively restrain a passenger from moving outward in a vehicle width direction in the event of a collision of a vehicle is obtained. The vehicle seat disclosed is equipped with a pop-up bar that is supported displaceably upward, an MGG that is operated to displace the pop-up bar upward, a tension cloth that is connected on an upper end side thereof to the pop-up bar and on a lower end side thereof to a front end side of a seat cushion, and a lateral collision ECU that operates the MGG in a case where a lateral collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted. The tension cloth is deployed such that a tensile force is applied between a connection portion thereof to the pop-up bar and a connection portion thereof to the seat cushion as the pop-up bar is displaced to a popped-up position. |
| US09238424B1 |
Seat cushion
A seat cushion is provided with seat belt strap engaging arms operable to engage and spread the lap belt and shoulder belt straps, if present, of a seat belt structure away from the center of the stroller or other seat to provide easier access to place a user of the seat in the seat. Installation of the cushion is facilitated in one embodiment by adapting the arms to be detachably coupled to seat belt and shoulder belt straps. As a result, the cushion can be placed in the seat and the arms coupled to the straps without the need to undo the straps of the seat belt structure before use of the cushion. |
| US09238422B2 |
Vehicle seat sliding apparatus
A vehicle seat sliding apparatus includes: an upper rail configured to freely support a seat thereabove; a lower rail supporting the upper rail in a relatively movable manner; a locking mechanism capable of switching between a lock state where the relative movement of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail is regulated and an unlock state where the relative movement is allowed; and an unlock operation prevention mechanism regulating an unlock operation of the locking mechanism based on a deployment pressure of an airbag which is disposed in a seat cushion. |
| US09238421B2 |
Seat adjustment apparatus
A seat adjustment apparatus for adjusting seat elements of a seat in a motor vehicle comprises a gear mechanism housing of an electric motor/gear mechanism unit attached to a fitting part of a first seat element by an attachment element. A rotation movement can be transmitted to a rotation axis by the gear mechanism unit of the electric motor/gear mechanism unit. The attachment element can be attached to the gear mechanism housing by an end region and has an expansion plug part which projects through a recess in the fitting part, and has a passage opening axial to the recess in the fitting part and an identical cross section. An expansion element, which radially expands the expansion plug part, can be inserted into the passage opening. |
| US09238419B2 |
Conductor rail
A conductor rail assembly for use in transit rail transportation systems to transmit electrical power to rail cars comprising a first and second support sections preferably of aluminum to give the rail assembly its rail-shape and conductivity and a cap section preferably of stainless steel to provide a wear resistant surface to prevent damaging of the conductor rail by collector shoes that extend from rail cars and run on the conductor rail. The first support section has a rib and the second support section has a concavity. In the assembly, the rib of the first support member preferably is disposed within the concavity of the second support member, portions of both support members preferably are friction fit or compression fit within the cap and a friction stir weld preferably is disposed on the bottom of the assembly along a joint between the first and second support sections. |
| US09238414B2 |
Charging system for battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicles
A rack system is provided that includes a plurality of trays configured to hold a respective plurality of battery-powered UAVs, and a frame configured to support the plurality of trays in a vertical arrangement. Each tray of the plurality of trays includes a platform, bumper and first plurality of electrical contacts. The platform may be configured to carry a UAV of the plurality of battery-powered UAVs. The bumper may be sized and positioned on the platform to guide the UAV to a resting position on the platform. And the first plurality of electrical contacts may be connected to a battery-charging apparatus, and configured to physically and electrically contact a respective second plurality of electrical contacts connected to a respective plurality of batteries on the UAV at the resting position on the platform. A related battery-charging apparatus including a charge switching system for charging battery-powered UAVs is also provided. |
| US09238412B2 |
Normalizing deceleration of a vehicle having a regenerative braking system
A method of operating a vehicle having a friction braking system and a regenerative braking system is presented here. The method determines a regenerative torque capacity, calculates a desired regenerative torque amount for the braking system, detects that the desired regenerative torque amount exceeds the regenerative torque capacity by at least a threshold amount, and controls actuation of the friction braking system in response to the detecting. Another operating method determines a coastdown torque capability of the vehicle, calculates a desired coastdown torque amount, detects that the desired coastdown torque amount exceeds the coastdown torque capability by at least a threshold amount, and controls actuation of the friction braking system in response to the detecting. |
| US09238407B1 |
Tire pressure dependent cruise control device
A tire pressure dependent cruise control device automatically disengages cruise control upon detection of unbalanced tire pressures. The device includes a vehicle and a pair of aligned wheels coupled to the vehicle. A cruise control unit is operationally coupled to the vehicle for maintaining a speed of the vehicle independent of a driver constantly depressing a pedal of the vehicle. Each of a pair of sensors is coupled to the vehicle adjacent to an associated one of the wheels. The sensors are aligned and the sensors monitor alignment of the sensors. The sensors are communicatively coupled to the cruise control unit wherein the cruise control unit is deactivated from maintaining a constant speed of the vehicle upon the sensors detecting misalignment of the sensors indicating unbalanced tire pressure in the wheels. |
| US09238405B2 |
Motor unit and grill shutter driving device including the same
A motor unit and a grill shutter driving device are disclosed. The grill shutter driving device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept includes a body unit interposed between a plurality of grill shutters, a motor unit installed inside the body unit for generating driving power to drive the grill shutter, a control unit for controlling generation of driving power of the motor unit, and a connection unit for providing driving power of the motor unit to the grill shutter. The motor unit includes a plurality of coil units in which electric coil is rolled, a stator to be magnetized, a rotator having magnetism with a permanent magnet and rotating due to interference of the magnetization of the stator, wherein the plurality of coil units are separated with each other in a radial form with even number, and any one side of the mutually facing coil units includes electric coil rolled in, thereby forming an asymmetry coil structure. |
| US09238402B2 |
Vehicle control apparatus
A vehicle control apparatus for a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, and that is capable of traveling by motive power from at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor includes: a control portion that causes the vehicle to travel in a travel mode of a plurality of travel modes that differ in an engine start condition for the internal combustion engine; and a determination portion that determines whether exhaust from the internal combustion engine has deteriorated, wherein the determination portion changes the deterioration determination condition for determining that the exhaust has deteriorated, according to the travel mode. |
| US09238401B2 |
Z-fold convertible top supporting retractable quarter window
A Z-fold convertible top has a frame supporting a textile cover. The frame includes support in the form of at least one of a pair of pivoted rails rigidly mounted to a bow, stabilizing other pivoted rails. The stability may be employed to displace a quarter window with the rail in a manner that provides a compact top stack packaged in the vehicle body. The stability is also employed to coordinate sealing engagement of the quarter window with a cloth control link pivoted to the vehicle body ground, but displacing the cloth away from the window during retraction. A worm link may enhance interaction between the cloth control link and the rail supporting a quarter window. |
| US09238393B2 |
System and method for monitoring vibration isolators
A system may monitor a vibration isolating connection between a first part and a second part. The system may include a light source, an optical sensor mounted to receive light from the light source, and a processing unit for providing an output indicative of the deformation of the vibration isolating connection based on the output of the optical sensor. |
| US09238390B2 |
Composite articles, wear plates and methods
A metal matrix composite article is described that includes a metal component, a ceramic component, and a lubricious component. The metal matrix composite article has a first surface and a second surface. The lubricious component is present in an amount that is highest at the first surface and is lowest at the second surface. The ceramic component is present in an amount that is highest at the first surface and is lowest at the second surface. The metal component is present in an amount that is highest at the second surface and is lowest at the first surface. In some cases, the metal matrix composite article is a wear plate for a fifth wheel hitch. |
| US09238389B2 |
Adjustable tire pressure detector
An adjustable tire pressure detector is installed on a tire rim, and includes a detector body, a gas intake nozzle, and a gas nozzle assembly member for fastening the gas intake nozzle onto the detector body. The detector body includes a housing and a gas nozzle assembly portion. The gas nozzle assembly portion includes two parallel limiting contact surfaces, an assembly surface connecting the two limiting contact surfaces and including an opening, and an assembly space surrounded by the two limiting contact surfaces and the assembly surface. The gas intake nozzle includes a coupling section inserted in the assembly space and a gas intake section connected to the coupling section. The coupling section includes two assembly contact surfaces corresponding to the limiting contact surfaces, and an arched assembly surface connecting the two assembly contact surfaces, including a ventilation hole and being in line contact with the assembly surface. |
| US09238388B2 |
Tire pressure maintenance apparatus and system
A tire pressure maintenance apparatus and system is disclosed. The apparatus and system comprises a high pressure reservoir and a pressure regulator secured to the high pressure reservoir. A high pressure relief valve is also provided. The high pressure reservoir is circumferentially continuous. Further, the pressure regulator has a passive valve in fluid communication with the high pressure reservoir and the pressure regulator opens at a low pressure point and closes at a high pressure point. |
| US09238387B2 |
Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire includes an inner liner disposed inwardly in the tire relative to a carcass ply bridged between a pair of bead portions, the inner liner being formed of a first layer disposed inwardly in the tire, and a second layer disposed in contact with a rubber layer of the carcass ply, the first layer being a thermoplastic elastomer composition mainly containing a styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer, the second layer being a styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer composition, (a) at least one of the thermoplastic elastomer compositions of the first and second layers containing a tackifier by 0.1 part by mass to 100 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of a thermoplastic elastomer component, or (b) the second layer containing the styrene-isobutylene-styrene block copolymer by 10 mass % to 80 mass % relative to a thermoplastic elastomer component thereof. |
| US09238385B2 |
Bicycle hub and method for the production thereof
A bicycle hub is made of shaped sheet metal. The bicycle hub comprises two flanges (6, 7) which are located at end sections (3, 4) of the hub. The flanges (6, 7) comprise holes (11) for accommodating spokes, and are bent radially outwards and held at a distance from one another by a sleeve (5; 50). The end sections (3, 4) further comprise internal ball tracks (8). The end sections (3, 4) are designed such that each of the end sections (3, 4) is formed as a double wall comprising an inner wall and a closely fitting and abutting outer wall at least in the ball track area (8), whereby the flange (6, 7) is attached to the outer wall. |
| US09238384B2 |
Method of manufacturing microneedle
The invention discloses a method of manufacturing a microneedle including the steps of forming an island etching mask having thickness distribution on a substrate, and processing the substrate into a needle by taking advantage of a difference in etching rates between the etching mask and the substrate. The invention enables to readily control a point angle and height of the manufactured needle. |
| US09238377B1 |
Method and system of lens shading color correction using block matching
A system, article, and method to provide lens shading color correction using block matching. |
| US09238376B2 |
Thermal head and thermal printer equipped with the same
There are provided a thermal head capable of decreasing the possibility of occurrence of layer separation in a protective layer, and a thermal printer equipped with the same. A thermal head includes a substrate; an electrode disposed on the substrate; an electric resistor connected to the electrode, part of which serves as a heat-generating section; and a protective layer disposed on the electrode and on the heat-generating section. The protective layer includes a first layer containing silicon nitride or silicon oxide; and a second layer disposed on the first layer, containing tantalum oxide and silicon oxynitride. |
| US09238374B2 |
Print head module
A print head module for delivering ink to a print head comprising a module venting system comprising a one-time vent built into the interior of the print head module in which, when an amount of ink comes in contact with the one-time vent, air is prevented from passing through the one-time vent. A system for delivering ink to a print head comprising a print head, a external reservoir of ink, and a print head module comprising a one-time vent built into the interior of the print head module and fluidly coupling the print head to the external reservoir of ink, in which, when an amount of ink comes in contact with the one-time vent within the print head module, air is prevented from passing through the one-time vent. |
| US09238363B2 |
Electronic component moving mechanism and printer
An electronic component moving mechanism includes a holding portion holding an electronic component, a position changing portion, a first wiring portion, a second wiring portion, a third wiring portion, and a connection line. The third wiring portion protrudes from a leading end portion of the second wiring portion toward another side in the first direction. The connection line includes a first bent portion and a second bent portion in a case where the position of the holding portion is changed to a position on the other side. The first bent portion is folded back from the other side to the one side along the leading end portion of the third wiring portion, and the second bent portion is folded back from the one side to the other side between the first bent portion and a second end portion connecting the connection line and an external circuit. |
| US09238359B2 |
Method and apparatus for attaching flexographic and metal back plates on an imaging cylinder
Apparatus and methods for attaching flexible or magnetic plates onto an imaging cylinder are provided. A drum apparatus of an imaging device includes an imaging cylinder having an outer surface and a magnetic foil attachable to the outer surface of the imaging cylinder. In a configuration with the magnetic foil attached to the outer surface of the imaging cylinder, at least one metal back plate can be attached to the imaging cylinder via magnetic coupling to the magnetic foil. In a configuration without the magnetic foil attached to the outer surface of the imaging cylinder, at least one flexographic plate can be attached to the imaging cylinder. |
| US09238357B2 |
Supporting member separation apparatus and supporting member separation method
A supporting member separation apparatus that separates a supporting member from a laminate having a substrate, an adhesive layer, a release layer which has a property that changes when it absorbs light, and the supporting member which are laminated in this order. The apparatus includes a holding unit that holds one surface of the laminate, a lifting and lowering unit that lifts and lowers the holding unit, and an adjustment unit that maintains a constant applied force to the holding unit. |
| US09238356B2 |
Method for applying a decoration to a composite wood board
The invention relates to a method for applying a decoration to the upper face of a composite wood board, in particular a MDF or HDF board, wherein said method is characterized in that at least one second decoration produced by digital printing is applied to a first decoration produced by intaglio printing. |
| US09238353B2 |
Intermediate film for laminated glass and laminated glass
An interlayer film for a laminated glass provides excellent vibration damping performance at high temperature and excellent sound insulation in a wide temperature range. The interlayer film comprises a part A containing a resin composition A or a resin A and a part B containing a resin composition B or a resin B, and the part A and the part B are horizontally arranged. The interlayer film for a laminated glass has a difference between temperatures Ta and Tb of 10° C. or larger when the temperature Ta is a temperature at which the resin composition A or the resin A shows a maximum loss tangent of a dynamic viscoelasticity at a frequency of 1 Hz, and the temperature Tb is a temperature at which the resin composition B or the resin B shows a maximum loss tangent of a dynamic viscoelasticity at a frequency of 1 Hz. |
| US09238352B2 |
Roll of flexible glass and method for rolling
A roll (10) of glass ribbon (20), having a thickness of 0.3 mm or less, wherein a thickness compliant material interlayer (40) is wound together with the glass ribbon. The characteristics of the interlayer are chosen to form the roll with minimal lateral offset (9). For example, the static coefficient of friction between the interlayer and the glass ribbon may be greater than or equal to 3.0 (as measured with a vertical force of 0.5 N). Other characteristics may include the width, thickness, and compliance, of the interlayer. There is also disclosed a method of rolling a glass ribbon wherein the roll winding parameters, for example web tension and pressure between the layers of the roll, are chosen to minimize the lateral offset. |
| US09238351B2 |
Composite film of linearly-scratched, thin metal film and plastic film, and its production apparatus
The present invention provides a composite film having a linearly-scratched, thin metal film and a plastic film, which has good absorbability to electromagnetic waves in various frequencies, as well as reduced anisotropy in electromagnetic wave absorbability, suitable for electromagnetic wave absorbers, and its production apparatus. The composite film having a linearly-scratched, thin metal film and a plastic film according to the present invention comprises a plastic film, and a single- or multi-layer, thin metal film formed on at least one surface of the plastic film, the thin metal film being provided with large numbers of substantially parallel, intermittent, linear scratches with irregular widths and intervals in plural directions. Its production apparatus comprises pluralities of pattern rolls each having large numbers of fine, high-hardness particles on the surface, which are arranged to form linear scratches on the thin metal film side of a thin metal film-plastic composite film, and means each pressing the pattern roll to the composite film, and pluralities of the pattern rolls being oriented in different directions in a plane in which they are in sliding contact with the thin metal film of the composite film. |
| US09238350B2 |
Method for affixing water-and-oil-repellent layer to amorphous carbon film layer, and laminated body formed by said method
One object is to provide a method for providing a water- and oil-repellent layer on an amorphous carbon film with excellent fixity. A method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the steps of: preparing a substrate; providing, directly or indirectly on the substrate, an amorphous carbon film layer containing silicon and nitrogen in at least a surface thereof; and providing a water- and oil-repellent layer containing fluorine on the amorphous carbon film layer via a coupling agent capable of forming, with the amorphous carbon film layer, hydrogen bonds based on polarity and/or —O-M bonds (M is any one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti, Al, and Zr) by condensation reaction with functional groups of the amorphous carbon film. |
| US09238348B2 |
Method of manufacture of article for delivering health-benefit agent
A laminate of nonwoven materials having fine particulate matter attached thereto is made with a lamination process capable of supplying up to about 60 gsm of particulate matter to a substrate. The particulate matter may be applied to the substrate using a powder coating apparatus. The laminate may be used in personal absorbent articles such as diapers, feminine pads, bandages, bed pads, and the like. |
| US09238344B2 |
Laminated articles having discontinuous bonded regions
Laminated articles that include a first textile and a functional film layer bonded together by an adhesive layer having a non-uniform adhesive pattern is provided. The non-uniform adhesive pattern creates regions free or substantially free of adhesive that permits the laminate to preferentially bend in those regions. The adhesive regions, together with the non-adhesive regions, create a visible pattern on the surface of the laminate. A second textile may optionally be bonded to the functional film layer opposing the first textile by an adhesive. The first textile or the film layer may be elastic, shrinkable, or expandable. In such embodiments, raised portions of the laminate corresponding to the non-adhesive regions and curled portions corresponding to the adhesive regions are visible. The laminated article is waterproof, liquid-proof, breathable, and aesthetically pleasing and demonstrates a reduction in stiffness, improved insulation properties, and a reduction of noise associated with bending the article. |
| US09238343B2 |
Method and apparatus for making bags
A machine and method for making bags is described and includes a web traveling from an input section to a rotary drum, to an output section. The drum includes at least one seal bar, having a first sealing zone and an adjacent weakening zone. The weakening zone may be a heated perforator, heating wire, and/or may create an auxiliary sealed area. The heating wire is powered by a source of power at an adjustable voltage or magnitude, and/or pulsed, and/or with a feedback loop. The heating wire may make intermittent contact with the web and/or be disposed in an insert. The weakening zone may create a line of weakness that is uniform or varies in intensity, is a separating zone. The sealing zones may include temperature zones, cartridge heaters, cooling air, or heated air, or a source of ultrasonic, microwave or radiative energy. |
| US09238333B2 |
Method for manufacturing a fibre-containing element and element produced by that method
A method for manufacturing a fiber-containing element, said method comprising the steps of: providing fibers, at least some of which are first fibers, such as mineral fibers, polymer fibers, cellulose fibers, or other types of fibers, in an amount of from 3 to 98 wt % of the total weight of starting materials in the form of a collected web, providing a binder in an amount of from 1 to 30 wt % of the total weight of starting materials, subjecting the collected web of fibers to a disentanglement process, suspending the fibers in a primary air flow, mixing the binder with the fibers before, during or after the disentanglement process, providing a filler, such as a fire retardant, in an amount of 1 to 55 wt % of the total weight of starting materials, adding the filler at any suitable step of the method, such as before, during or after the disentanglement process, collecting the mixture of fibers, filler and binder and pressing and curing the mixture to provide a consolidated composite with a density of from 120 kg/m3 to 1000 kg/m3. With this method homogeneous composites can be produced. |
| US09238332B2 |
Protective material arrangement
According to the invention there is provided an arrangement of protective material for dissipating the kinetic energy of a moving object including one or more layers of fibrous armour material encased within a sealed encasement, in which the sealed encasement is formed from a textile armour material which is impregnated with a polymeric substance. |
| US09238331B2 |
Three-dimensional printer tool systems
An extruder or other similar tool head of a three-dimensional printer is slidably mounted along a feedpath of build material so that the extruder can move into and out of contact with a build surface according to whether build material is being extruded. The extruder may be spring-biased against the forward feedpath so that the extruder remains above the build surface in the absence of applied forces, and then moves downward into a position for extrusion when build material is fed into the extruder. In another aspect, modular tool heads are disclosed that can be automatically coupled to and removed from the three-dimensional printer by a suitable robotics system. A tool crib may be provided to store multiple tool heads while not in use. |
| US09238329B2 |
Voice coil mechanism for use in additive manufacturing system
A print head assembly that includes a receptacle supported from a carriage frame and configured to receive a print head, and a toggle mechanism configured to move the receptacle relative to the carriage frame. |
| US09238328B2 |
Method for producing an adhesive connection
A method for producing an adhesive connection between a workpiece having a metal surface and a workpiece having a plastic surface with the steps of providing a workpiece having a metal surface that has a coating which includes a thermoplastic, at least at a melt surface; providing a workpiece having a thermoplastic surface; placing the melt surface of the first workpiece having the metal surface and the workpiece having the thermoplastic surface against each other; and welding the workpiece having a metal surface and the non-metallic workpiece having the thermoplastic surface at the melt surface by exposure to ultrasonic. |
| US09238327B2 |
Film for reinforcing electrolyte membrane of polymer electrolyte fuel cell
An object of the present invention is to provide a biaxially oriented film suitable as a reinforcing member for an electrolyte membrane of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the film having excellent hot water resistance in a high-temperature and high-humidity use environment and being capable of maintaining the reinforcing effect for a prolonged period of time. The invention resides in a biaxially oriented film for reinforcing an electrolyte membrane of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, the film being characterized in that the film (i) contains syndiotactic polystyrene as a major component and (ii) has a Young's modulus in at least one of the machine direction and the transverse direction ranging from 4,500 to 8,000 MPa. |
| US09238326B2 |
Print pitch correcting apparatus for plastic film
It is intended to correct print pitches P at which a pattern A is printed on a plastic film 1 repeatedly. A first optical sensor detects positions at which the pattern A is printed on the plastic film 1 repeatedly, to measure the print pitches P individually. A first stretching device 4 stretches the plastic film 1 after measuring the print pitch P to correct the print pitches P individually. A second optical sensor detects the positions after correcting the print pitch P to measure a sum of print pitches P(1)+P(2)+ - - - +P(N) of a number of patterns A. A second stretching device 10 stretches the plastic film 1 after measuring the sum of print pitches to correct the sum of print pitches. |
| US09238323B2 |
Injection molding machine having a temperature controlled baseplate
An injection molding machine for producing molded parts has a machine table with a base frame on which three supporting elements with a baseplate disposed thereon are arranged. The base plate has a temperature-control element. |
| US09238317B2 |
Lighting apparatus, LED mounting substrate and mold for manufacturing the same
An LED mounting substrate includes a lead frame, a base, and a residue of injection molding material. The base is placed on the lead frame, and includes a cavity. The bottom of the cavity includes an opening for exposing portion of the lead frame. The cross-sectional area of the cavity increases along the direction from the lead frame to the top surface of the base. The residue of injection molding material is remained on one of outer walls of the base surrounding the cavity. The cross-sectional area of the residue of injection molding material decreases along the direction from the lead frame to the top surface of the base. |
| US09238316B2 |
Method of making an anisotropic filtration media
A method of making an anisotropic filtration media includes foaming a media, straining the media in a selected direction, and relieving strain of the media in the selected direction. |
| US09238315B2 |
Rigid film having high puncture resistance and tear propagation resistance
The present invention relates to a film and a method for the production thereof, wherein a starting film web comprising at least one layer having a polypropylene content of at least 45% by weight and a polyethylene content in the same layer or in a further layer is produced, the starting film web is heated to the molten state of the polyethylene, yet to below the molten state of the polypropylene and the heated starting film web is passed through a cooled roller nip. |
| US09238312B2 |
Plastic injection mould with inner air extraction and extraction method for extracting the air carried out with said mould
A plastic injection mold which allows extracting the air from inside it during the injection process, and an extraction method, where the mold includes closing means, one or more injection cavities provided with at least one injection nozzle for introducing the hot material in a liquid state and at least one ejector device formed by a housing for an ejector pin responsible for extracting the part already molded, where an air duct connected to a vacuum pump or a suction device intercepts the housings of the ejector pins causing a suction of the air from inside the mold. |
| US09238306B2 |
Feeding device and machine tool using the same
A feeding device includes a tool holder, a cutter, a feeding mechanism and a mounting seat. The cutter is positioned on the tool holder. The mounting seat has at least one guiding portion. The tool holder is slidably engaged with the at least one guiding portion. The feeding mechanism includes at least two drivers. Each driver includes a forcer and a stator. The forcers are mounted in the mounting seat, the stators are fixedly positioned on the tool holder. Interactions between alternating magnetic fields produced by the forcers and magnetic fields produced by the stators drive the tool holder and the cutter to backwards and forwards under precise control along the guiding portion. |
| US09238304B1 |
Continuous updating of plan for robotic object manipulation based on received sensor data
Example systems and methods allow for dynamic updating of a plan to move objects using a robotic device. One example method includes determining a virtual environment by one or more processors based on sensor data received from one or more sensors, the virtual environment representing a physical environment containing a plurality of physical objects, developing a plan, based on the virtual environment, to cause a robotic manipulator to move one or more of the physical objects in the physical environment, causing the robotic manipulator to perform a first action according to the plan, receiving updated sensor data from the one or more sensors after the robotic manipulator performs the first action, modifying the virtual environment based on the updated sensor data, determining one or more modifications to the plan based on the modified virtual environment, and causing the robotic manipulator to perform a second action according to the modified plan. |
| US09238301B2 |
Tool container
A tool container has a pair of housing members pivotally coupled with one another to provide an opened and closed position. At least one of the members defines a cavity to receive tools. The cavity is defined by a base and a wall extending from the base. A tool retaining insert is permanently secured in the cavity. The insert and wall include tenons and grooves to secure the insert in the housing member. Also, an arcuate locking mechanism is included to maintain the pair of housing members in a closed position. |
| US09238298B2 |
Two-switch device for an electric nail gun
A two-switch device is used for an electric nail gun. The electric nail gun includes a safety member movable to press against an article to thereby move in the gun body, a kinetic power unit for generating kinetic energy, an impact unit for outputting kinetic energy to perform a nail-striking operation, and a transmission unit for transmitting the kinetic energy. The two-switch device includes a first electrical control unit controlled by a trigger and the safety member for driving the kinetic power unit, and a second electrical control unit controlled by an inner plate for driving the transmission unit. By controlling actuation order of the safety member and the trigger, the electric nail gun can be changed between a single shot mode and a continuous shooting mode. |
| US09238297B2 |
Actual grinding depth measurement method, machining method, and machine tool
In a machining method of supporting a workpiece having a cylindrical machined portion such that the workpiece is rotatable and feeding a grinding wheel in a radial direction, a start diameter that is a diameter including a measurement start point on a surface of the machined portion is measured, and, after the measurement start point passes through a machining application portion, an end diameter that is a diameter including a measurement end point is measured. An actual grinding depth at the time when the measurement start point is machined is computed by the equation, U=|D0−D1|, a runout of the machined portion is computed from a relative difference in the actual grinding depth (U) between positions of the machined portion in a rotational direction, and infeed control of the grinding wheel is executed such that the runout is removed. |
| US09238295B2 |
Soft and conditionable chemical mechanical window polishing pad
A chemical mechanical polishing pad is provided containing: a polishing layer; a plug in place endpoint detection window block; a rigid layer; and, a hot melt adhesive bonding the polishing layer to the rigid layer; wherein the polishing layer comprises the reaction product of ingredients, including: a polyfunctional isocyanate; and, a curative package; wherein the curative package contains an amine initiated polyol curative and a high molecular weight polyol curative; wherein the polishing layer exhibits a density of greater than 0.6 g/cm3; a Shore D hardness of 5 to 40; an elongation to break of 100 to 450%; and, a cut rate of 25 to 150 μm/hr; and, wherein the polishing layer has a polishing surface adapted for polishing the substrate. Also provide are methods of making and using the chemical mechanical polishing pad. |
| US09238288B2 |
Method for processing plate object
In a method for processing a plate object, etching is performed for a flat plate object by a predetermined etching method and the shape of the plate object after the etching is grasped in advance. In a grinding step, the plate object is ground into a grinding-finished shape that is a non-flat shape obtained by inverting the shape of the plate object after the etching to the reverse shape. When subsequent etching by the predetermined etching method is performed for a grinding-target surface, the plate object is formed into a flat shape with a uniform thickness. |
| US09238285B2 |
Ceramic cutting insert and method of making same
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a ceramic cutting insert, based on an oxide ceramic or a nitride ceramic or a mixed ceramic material, possibly containing whiskers, in a process comprising the powder metallurgical steps of providing a ready-to-press ceramic powder, pressing the ready-to-press powder into a compact of desired shape, sintering the compact to dense a ceramic blank followed by tumbling the ceramic blank, to remove sinter skin and provide an edge rounding. |
| US09238283B2 |
Friction welded steel piston having optimized cooling channel
A piston of an internal combustion engine includes a top part produced from steel and a bottom part, which are integrally bonded in the region of a contact geometry via joining webs by a friction weld to form a structural unit. At least one cooling duct permeated by a coolant is integrated in the piston, wherein a lubricating oil of the internal combustion engine passes as the coolant into an inlet opening via a free jet of an injection nozzle, flows through the cooling duct and leaves the cooling duct via an outlet opening. For the introduction of the coolant into the cooling duct, the inlet opening is assigned a flow pipe which is inserted in the bottom part and protrudes from a cooling duct base, the opening of the flow pipe being arranged above the weld beads of the friction weld. |
| US09238282B2 |
Method for manufacturing a metal part
A method for manufacturing a metal part by producing a preform with a fibrous structure of metal fibers, and subjecting the preform to hot isostatic pressing in a tool until a solid part is obtained, the tool including at least one first element including a cavity for molding the part. The first tool element is elongate in a direction between two ends, and the fibrous structure is at least partially formed by winding at least one metal wire around the first tool element in the direction, from one end to the other. The method can be used, for example, for manufacturing reinforcement parts for a fan blade of a turbojet engine. |
| US09238277B2 |
Cutting/polishing tool and manufacturing method thereof
There are provided a cutting/polishing tool that may be readily manufactured and have an improved cutting performance, and a manufacturing method thereof.The method for manufacturing the cutting/polishing tool including at least one cutting/polishing body may comprise preparing a tool body, and forming a cladding layer including cutting material particles by spraying, onto an outer surface of the tool body, the cutting material particles and a metal powder having a specific gravity greater than a specific gravity of the cutting material particles while heating the outer surface of the tool body using a heating device installed in a lower side of the outer surface of the tool body so that the metal powder is deposited on the outer surface of the tool body, wherein the cladding layer configures the at least one cutting/polishing body. |
| US09238274B2 |
System and method for hot wire TIG positioned heat control
The invention described herein generally pertains to a system and method related to energizing a welding wire based on a location of an electrode at an edge on a workpiece. An edge detector can be configured to identify an edge on the workpiece during a welding operation and a controller can be configured to mange a temperature of a puddle formed by the electrode by adjusting one or more welding parameters. The welding parameters can be, but are not limited to, an energizing of the welding wire, a wire feed speed, a temperature of a high intensity heat source (e.g., arc, a sub arc, a tungsten inert gas (TIG) arc, a metal inert gas (MIG) arc, a laser, a plasma arc, a metal core, or a flux core), movement speed, among others. |
| US09238273B2 |
Milling tool
A milling tool is disclosed having a front head and a rear holder, which are detachably connected by means of a male/female coupling as well as a screw and a washer. Via a main duct, cooling liquid is fed to a chamber, from which it is fed out via branch ducts to individual milling inserts. The front chamber is closed by means of a cover that is held applied against a ring surface surrounding the chamber. The cover is tightenable by means of a threaded joint that is operative independently of a threaded joint between the screw and a front section of the main duct. |
| US09238272B2 |
Drill
TASKAn inexpensive drill with high processing accuracy is provided.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMA chisel edge 11 of a tip 12 is removed, and a pyramid 1 is formed in that part, in which an inclination angle θ1 of each edge 4 extending from an apex P relative to a center line of the drill CL is formed to be larger than an angle θ2 that is one-half of a drill tip angle θ0, and so chisel steps are resolved and stable cutting becomes possible, thereby improving hole accuracy. Also, it is possible to form the pyramid 1 by grinding a tip of an existing drill by a grinder, so that a drill can be realized at a low cost. |
| US09238271B2 |
Diaphragm chuck and machine tool
A diaphragm chuck for a machine tool has a first clamping diaphragm and a second clamping diaphragm which is offset relative to the first clamping diaphragm along an axial direction. The first clamping diaphragm has multiple first chuck jaws and the second clamping diaphragm has multiple second chuck jaws, and the first and the second clamping diaphragms are detachably connected to one another. |
| US09238270B2 |
Bit retaining system for rotary tool
A bit retaining system for a rotary tool or device such as a router is disclosed. The bit retaining system may include a collet assembly and a control assembly. The collet assembly may include a spindle, a collet adapted to receive the bit, and a collet nut. The collet assembly may further include a collet gear mounted on the collet nut and/or a spindle gear mounted on the spindle. The control assembly selectively engages the collet assembly to drive the collet nut and/or secure the spindle in a fixed position, preventing its rotation. In operation, a hand tool is utilized to engage the control assembly. This configuration enables a user to capture and release the rotary tool bit using one hand. |
| US09238266B2 |
Cold chamber die casting with melt crucible under vacuum environment
Exemplary embodiments described herein related to methods and systems for casting metal alloys into articles such as BMG articles. In one embodiment, processes involved for storing, pre-treating, alloying, melting, injecting, molding, etc. can be combined as desired and conducted in different chambers. During these processes, each chamber can be independently, separately controlled to have desired chamber environment, e.g., under vacuum, in an inert gas environment, or open to the surrounding environment. Due to the flexible, independent control of each chamber, the casting cycle time can be reduced and the production throughput can be increased. Contaminations of the molten materials and thus the final products are reduced or eliminated. |
| US09238262B2 |
Heat-dissipating device and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a heat-dissipating device and a method for manufacturing the same. The heat-dissipating device includes a base and a first heat-dissipating fin. The outer periphery of the base has a trough. The first heat-dissipating fin has a first heat-dissipating portion, a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end are disposed in the trough. By a machining process, both ends of the first heat-dissipating fin are pressed into the trough of the base at a high speed, so that the base can be combined with the first heat-dissipating fin rapidly. In this way, the manufacture cost is reduced and the heat-dissipating efficiency is increased. |
| US09238257B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, cleaning method, and substrate processing apparatus
It is possible to efficiently remove deposited materials such as a conductive film or insulting film adhered to parts such as the inner wall of a processing chamber and a substrate supporting tool disposed in the processing chamber. There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method comprises: loading a substrate into a processing chamber; forming a conductive film or an insulating film on the substrate by supplying a plurality of source gases into the processing chamber; unloading the substrate from the processing chamber; and modifying a conductive film or an insulating film adhered to the processing chamber by supplying a modifying gas into the processing chamber. After performing a cycle of the loading, the forming, the unloading, and the modifying processes a plurality of times, the modified conductive film or the modified insulating film adhered to the processing chamber is removed from the processing chamber by supplying a cleaning gas into the processing chamber. |
| US09238256B2 |
Substrate processing scrubber, substrate processing apparatus and substrate processing method
A removal target can be effectively removed from a substrate. In a substrate processing apparatus 1 and a substrate processing method by using a substrate processing scrubber 29 of removing the removal target from the substrate 5, the substrate processing scrubber 29 includes a base 31 connected to a rotation shaft 28; scrubber main bodies 32 provided at the base 31 and arranged at a regular distance in a rotational direction of the base 31; and a processing liquid supply opening 36 formed at the base 31 and configured to supply a processing liquid to the scrubber main bodies 32. Further, an area of an attachment surface of each of the scrubber main bodies 32 to be attached to the base 31 is larger than an area of a contact surface of each of the scrubber main bodies 32 to be brought into contact with the substrate 5. |
| US09238254B1 |
Helical disc for use in a disc screen
A disc for use in a disc screen is disclosed that creates an “intended space”—i.e., the designed space through which material is intended to pass—that undulates in both directions in the plane defined by the screen's rotatable shafts. The disc design includes a major axis that is rotated along the length of the shaft, creating a helical ridge. The ridge is continuous and non-stepwise, thereby avoiding the “pinch” of the prior art designs. And by having the helical ridge of adjacent discs on the same shaft with opposing rotations, the lateral movement of material may alternate along the length of the shaft—further spreading the material throughout the width of the disc screen and increasing the screen's efficiency. |
| US09238245B2 |
Coating apparatus and method for filling coating liquid
A coating apparatus includes a nozzle, a moving mechanism, a pressure adjusting unit and a pressure control unit. The nozzle is provided with a storage chamber and a slit-like flow path, and configured to discharge the coating liquid from a discharge port formed at a front end of the flow path. The moving mechanism moves the nozzle and a substrate relatively to each other along the surface of the substrate. The pressure adjusting unit adjusts the pressure inside the storage chamber. The pressure control unit controls the pressure adjusting unit so as to adjust pressure inside the storage chamber. The pressure control unit controls the pressure adjusting unit such that the inside of the storage chamber becomes a negative pressure, and fills the coating liquid inside the storage chamber while slowly decreasing the negative pressure inside the storage chamber. |
| US09238242B2 |
Smart solenoid compound gun driver and automatic calibration method
A device for calibrating a spray gun and an associated method are provided. The spray gun has a nozzle that is opened and closed by moving an internal needle out of and into sealing engagement with the nozzle. A virtual position of the needle is tracked and recorded by the control system. The control system is recalibrated when the virtual position and the actual position of the needle do not correspond. The device includes a sensor structured to detect characteristics of the current used to power the solenoid, and to identify an anomaly in solenoid current characteristics associated with an actuator member seating against said solenoid. During calibration, the solenoid is placed in a calibration configuration and the identifiable anomaly is detected. When the identifiable anomaly is detected, the spray gun is returned to an initial configuration and the virtual needle position is reset. |
| US09238240B2 |
Airbrush
A junction device for a spray system. The device is arranged so as to connect, to an airbrush, at least one removable container containing a composition for spraying, the device includes at least a composition-outlet first orifice enabling the composition to leave the container in order to be sprayed via the airbrush, and at least an air-inlet second orifice enabling air intake by the container, the device including an air-intake channel that is connected to the air-inlet orifice, and said channel terminating by an air-entry orifice that is situated above the air-inlet orifice and the composition-outlet orifice. |
| US09238238B2 |
Rotating sprinkler head valve
The rotating sprinkler head valve includes an upper assembly with a stationary rigid cone received in a conical interior chamber of a rotor, and a cylindrical shaft extending through the stationary rigid cone and rotor. A lower assembly includes a bottom helix member, a strainer adapter having an internal transverse slotted plate and a rotatable slotted flow plate to permit flow when the flow plate slots are aligned with slots in the internal transverse slotted plate. A base top member includes a downwardly extending inner tubular portion and a lower interior edge surface with a helical lower surface forming an adjustable helical aperture in cooperation with the bottom helix member, and a recessed inner helical lip is configured to receive the upper helical surface of the bottom helix member for adjusting a helical aperture. |
| US09238236B2 |
Waterway switch valve set and a shower head using same
A waterway switch valve set and a shower head using same includes a fixed unit with an inlet waterway and a rotation unit rotatably connected to the fixed unit. The rotation has a water diversion base and a sealing component unit and can rotate about a rotation axis. The water diversion base is has a cooperated surface vertical to the rotation axis, the cooperated surface is disposed with a plurality of diversion water holes annularly arranged about the rotation axis, the diversion water holes are available to connect to the inlet waterway; the sealing component has a rotation frame and a plurality of press blocks, the rotation frame and the water diversion base are assembled together, and form a synchronous rotation relationship, the press blocks are slidably connected to the rotation frame and are available to slide parallel to the rotation axis. |
| US09238234B2 |
Device and method for removing suspended-material particles
Device (5) and method or removing suspended-material particles, more particularly fine and ultra-fine particles from a water flow containing suspended-material particles in a pressurised water line (3) of a hydroelectric power plant (2), whereby a tubular element (6) forming a flow channel (7) is provided in the pressurised water line (3), whereby the flow channel (7) essentially extends in the axial direction of the pressurised water line (3), and in the flow channel (7) a stationary swirl-generating device (11) is arranged for stimulating a flow component of the water flow which runs perpendicularly to the main flow direction (9), and in the flow direction after swirl-generating device (11) a separating device (13) is provided for removing the suspended-material particles carried radially outwards due to the effect of centrifugal force. |
| US09238233B2 |
Centrifugal separator with shaft sealing mechanism for a centrifugal separation bowl rotatable within a casing
The object of the present invention is to realize standardization of products of the vertical centrifugal separators so that it is no longer necessary to change the pressure-resistant design specifications of the bearing mechanism depending on the set pressure inside the casing. The vertical centrifugal separator having the bearing mechanism that is disposed in an opening of the casing and rotatably supports the rotary shaft of the bowl passing through the opening. The shaft sealing mechanism is a contactless shaft sealing mechanism. |
| US09238232B2 |
Continuous loading and unloading centrifuge
A system for treating tar sand involving a centrifuge where under centrifugal force solvent treated tar sand and water form a three layer system of wet sand, water, and petroleum, where solvent solubilized hydrocarbons are stripped from the wet sand layer, passed through the water, and into the petroleum layer. The hydrocarbons are skimmed from the hydrocarbon layer and recovered. |
| US09238231B2 |
Flotation machine rotor
A rotor for flotation machines or flotation cells of flotation machines includes blades that are configured to provide improved bubble flow and bubble generation performance while also reducing the power requirements for rotating the rotor to generate bubble flow within a tank of a flotation cell used to generate froth. Embodiments of the rotor may also be configured to be smaller than conventional rotor designs, which may help reduce the costs of manufacturing the rotor or flotation machines using such embodiments of the rotor. |
| US09238229B1 |
Variable conveyor
A vibratory apparatus includes a trough having a first end and a second end, and at least first and second variable amplitude vibration generators coupled to the trough. The first and second variable amplitude vibration generators include at least one variable eccentric weight assembly having a variable center of mass relative to an axis of rotation. The first and second variable amplitude vibration generators have at least a first state wherein an amplitude of a vibratory force generated by the first vibration generator is different than an amplitude of a vibratory force generated by the second vibration generator to cause movement of material in the trough toward the first end or the second end. |
| US09238225B2 |
Fluid controlling apparatus and method of controlling fluid by using the same
A fluid controlling apparatus including at least one sample chamber for holding a fluid containing target materials; a cleaning chamber for holding a cleaning solution; a first multi-port connected to the at least one sample chamber through a first channel and connected to the cleaning chamber through a second channel; a filter portion, connected to the first multi-port through a third channel, for filtering the target materials; and a first pump, connected to the filter portion, for applying a pressure; and a method of controlling a fluid using the fluid controlling apparatus, which comprises passing the fluid containing the target materials from the at least one sample chamber to the filter portion; and cleaning a path of the fluid by passing the cleaning solution through the path. |
| US09238221B2 |
Curable compositions and membranes
A curable composition comprising: (i) 2.5 to 50 wt % crosslinker comprising at least two acrylamide groups; (ii) 20 to 65 wt % curable ionic compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and an anionic group; (iii) 15 to 45 wt % solvent; and (iv) 0 to 10 wt % of free radical initiator; wherein the molar ratio of (i):(ii) is 0.1 to 1.5. The compositions are useful for preparing ion exchange membranes. |
| US09238217B2 |
Catalyst for preparation of an unsaturated carboxylic acid by gas phase oxidation of an unsaturated aldehyde
What is described is a catalyst for preparation of an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid by gas phase oxidation of an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, comprising a shaped support body with an active composition applied thereto, wherein the active composition coverage q q = Q ( 100 - Q ) S m is at most 0.3 mg/mm2, where Q is the active composition content of the catalyst in % by weight and Sm is the specific geometric surface area of the shaped support body in mm2/mg. Also described are a process for preparing the catalyst and a process for preparing an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid by gas phase oxidation of an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde over a fixed catalyst bed comprising a bed of the catalyst. The catalyst, with constantly high conversion of acrolein, reduces overoxidation to COx and increases the selectivity of acrylic acid formation. |
| US09238212B2 |
Process and apparatus for treating a gas stream
A process of treating hydrogen gas liberated from the acid or alkaline dissolution of a metal is provided. The process comprises a step of passing the liberated hydrogen gas through a reactor containing an oxidizing agent for oxidation of the hydrogen gas into water, followed by a step of regenerating the oxidizing agent. Also provided is an apparatus for carrying out the process, the apparatus comprising a reactor containing the oxidizing agent, wherein the reactor is at least partially immersed in an alumina bath. |
| US09238209B2 |
Advanced elevated feed distribution apparatus and process for large diameter FCC reactor risers
An FCC process and apparatus may include injecting hydrocarbon feedstock at different radial positions while at the same elevation inside a riser. Multiple distributors may be used to position the tips for injecting feedstock at multiple radial positions. The distributors with tips more deeply positioned in the riser will penetrate a dense catalyst column we discovered generates in risers of larger diameter over 1.3 meters. |
| US09238208B2 |
CO shift reaction apparatus and gasification gas refining system
A CO shift reaction apparatus 11 according to the present invention includes: adiabatic reactors 31A to 31C, each having CO shift catalyst layers 35A to 35C filled with a CO shift catalyst 34 which reforms CO in gasification gas 15; gas supply lines l11 to l15 which supply the gasification gas 15 to the adiabatic reactors 31A to 31C; first gas flow rate control units 32A and 32B which adjust the amounts of gas supplied to the adiabatic reactors 31A to 31C; gas discharge lines l21 to l25 which discharge processing gas; and second gas flow rate control unit 33A and 33B which adjust flow rates of processing gas 38A-1, 38A-2, 38B-1, and 38B-2. |
| US09238207B2 |
Brazed diamond tools and methods for making the same
Superabrasive tools and methods for the making thereof are disclosed and described. In one aspect, superabrasive particles are chemically bonded to a matrix support material according to a predetermined pattern by a braze alloy. The brazing alloy may be provided as a powder, thin sheet, or sheet of amorphous alloy. A template having a plurality of apertures arranged in a predetermined pattern may be used to place the superabrasive particles on a given substrate or matrix support material. |
| US09238197B2 |
Exhaust gas purification filter, and method for producing same
Provided are an exhaust gas purification filter having a high particulate matter (PM) combustion efficiency, a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and superior thermal resistance and a method for producing the same. An exhaust gas purification filter is formed by sintering columnar aluminum titanate particles whose surfaces have a catalyst material deposited thereon and which have an average aspect ratio (=number average major-axis length/number average minor-axis length) of 1.3 or more, wherein a catalyst made from the catalyst material by thermal treatment during the sintering is supported on the surface of the aluminum titanate. |
| US09238188B2 |
Disc filter
A disc filter for dewatering cellulose fiber suspensions comprising disc-shaped filter elements (11) carried by a rotor shaft (7) in order to rotate inside a vessel (2) while being partly immersed in a suspension received in the vessel. Each filter element comprises several filter sectors (12) distributed about the rotor shaft. Loosening members (25) are provided for loosening fiber material that has been filtered out of the suspension and deposited on a filtering lining (13) of the respective filter element. Receiver chutes (30) are located in the part of the vessel where the filter sectors (12) are rotated down into the suspension from a position above the suspension. The receiver chutes receive loosened fiber material together with flushing liquid from cleaning members (26) located above the receiver chutes to thereby allow the fiber material to be diluted in the receiver chutes to a desired dry content by means of this flushing liquid. |
| US09238183B2 |
System to process effluent brine and interface rag from an oil dehydration/desalting system
A system for processing interface emulsion, water, and solids contained within a separator vessel that comprises the steps of continually extracting those components from the vessel and then passing them through a gas flotation cell. The cell, which is preferably a vertical induced gas flotation cell, separates the oil and water contained in the interface emulsion and discharges recovered oil from an upper portion of the cell and treated water from a bottom portion of the cell. The recovered oil and treated water may be further processed and recycled to the vessel or sent elsewhere. The treated water may also be recycled to the cell or sent to a process sewer. Fuel gas residing in an upper portion of the cell may be cooled and passed through a splitter. All the steps of the system comprise a closed system with no air emissions. |
| US09238182B2 |
System for recycling product streams separated from a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream
The present invention relates to a process for recycling product streams that have been separated from a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream comprising olefin monomer, olefin co-monomer, hydrocarbon diluent and components such as H2, N2, O2, CO, CO2, and formaldehyde. In accordance with the present process a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream is separated into a) a first side stream comprising hydrocarbon diluent and olefin monomer; b) a second side stream which is substantially hydrogen-free and comprises hydrocarbon diluent and olefin monomer, c) a bottom stream comprising substantially olefin-free hydrocarbon diluent, and d) an overhead vapor stream comprising olefin monomer, hydrocarbon diluent and components such as formaldehyde, H2, N2, O2, CO and CO2. The present process further includes recycling said first and said second side streams in a polymerization process for preparing bimodal polyolefin. |
| US09238179B2 |
Building block toy with interconnecting edges
The present invention relates generally to a block toy and a method for producing the same, and in particular to a block with interconnecting edges that can have other blocks connected thereto in succession in three dimensions to form various shapes and a method for producing the same. |
| US09238178B2 |
Climbing vibration-driven robot
An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, a vibrating mechanism, and a plurality of appendages each having an appendage base proximal to the housing and an appendage tip distal from the housing. One or more of the appendages are adapted to cause the apparatus to move across a surface in a forward direction generally defined by a longitudinal offset between the appendage base and the appendage tip, and the appendages include two or more appendages disposed such that the appendage tips of the two or more appendages are adapted to contact opposing surfaces to produce a net force in a direction generally defined by a longitudinal offset between the appendage base and the appendage tip of the two or more appendages as the vibrating mechanism causes the apparatus to vibrate. The net force can allow the apparatus to climb when the opposing surfaces are inclined. |
| US09238177B2 |
Distributed system of autonomously controlled mobile agents
A system includes a drivable surface that includes location encoding markings. A mobile agent is provided that includes a drive motor, an imaging system for taking images of the markings, a vehicle wireless transceiver, and a microcontroller operatively coupled to the motor, the imaging system, and the vehicle wireless transceiver. A basestation is provided that includes a controller operatively coupled to a basestation wireless transceiver. Via wireless communication between the wireless transceivers of the mobile agent and the basestation, an action to be implemented by the mobile agent can be determined by the basestation and communicated to the mobile agent, whereupon the microcontroller of the mobile agent controls detailed movement of the mobile agent on the drivable surface based on images taken of the markings of the drivable surface by the imaging system to cause the mobile agent to implement the action on the drivable surface. |
| US09238176B2 |
Suspension device and suspension system
A suspension device for a connecting component (5) to which a dynamic load is mountable and which forms at least one eye, the suspension device comprising an axial member (2) fixed to a carrier (1), a roller (3) rotatably mounted on the axial member (2) and having a circumferential groove into which the connecting component (5) can be hooked in frictionally, and at least one safety device (4) adapted to be moved manually from a locking position, in which it prevents a hooking-in or hooking-off of the connecting component (5), into a release position permitting a hooking-in or hooking-off of the connecting component (5). |
| US09238173B2 |
Storage medium having information processing program stored thereon, information processing device, information processing system, and attitude calculation method
An example information processing device calculates an attitude of an input unit having a magnetic sensor. The information processing device repeatedly obtains detected magnetic vectors detected by the magnetic sensor. The information processing device stores the detected magnetic vectors in a storage unit where each detected magnetic vector is classified based on a direction from a reference position to the end point position of the detected magnetic vector. The information processing device repeatedly estimates a center position of a spherical body having a curved surface which is estimated based on the end point positions of detected magnetic vectors obtained by extracting, from among the classified detected magnetic vectors, at least one detected magnetic vector for each class. The attitude of the input unit is calculated based on a direction vector representing a direction from the center position to the end point position of the detected magnetic vector. |
| US09238172B2 |
Highlight management for fantasy gaming
An exemplary method includes identifying a plurality of highlight media segments associated with a plurality of events that occur during one or more sporting events, identifying one or more players involved in the plurality of events, determining that the identified one or more players are of interest to a user, sending, in response to the determining, one or more highlight messages that indicate an availability of the highlight media segments to a user device associated with the user while the user device is presenting media content within a display screen associated with the user device, and causing, in accordance with the one or more highlight messages, the user device to present, within the display screen while the media content is being presented within the display screen, a user interface that includes listings of the highlight media segments. |
| US09238167B2 |
Protective equipment
A protective apparatus comprising a cantilever yoke system including a left arch slot, a right arch slot and one or more swivel slots, a left distal arch including attachment points configurable with the left arch slot of the cantilever yoke system, a left proximal arch including attachment points configurable with at least one of the attachment points of the left distal arch to join the left proximal arch to the left distal arch, a right distal arch including attachment points configurable with the right arch slot of the cantilever yoke system, a right proximal arch including attachment points configurable with at least one of the attachment points of the right distal arch to join the right proximal arch with the right distal arch, and a swivel including proximal arch slots configurable to join the left proximal arch with the right proximal arch. |
| US09238166B1 |
Putter with alignment device
A golf putter with a putter head having a bore extending between its upper and lower surfaces perpendicular to the putter head lower surface, and an alignment guide including a column slidable within the bore between raised and lowered positions, a plate with an outer periphery on the upper end of the column, and an indicator on the upper surface of the putter head around the bore, the indicator being equally visible around the plate periphery when viewed directly over the putter when the alignment device is in the raised position. The alignment device can also include a releasibly attached sighting guide, which includes a sighting bar having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the putter head front face. |
| US09238161B2 |
Golf ball
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball showing a great flight distance on driver shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a spherical core and at least one cover layer covering the spherical core, wherein the spherical core is formed from a rubber composition containing (a) base rubber, (b) an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or a metal salt thereof as a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator and (d) a mercaptocarboxylic acid derivative and/or a dithiodicarboxylic acid derivative. |
| US09238158B2 |
Stair climber apparatuses and stair apparatuses
A stair climber apparatus has a frame and a plurality of stairs that are pivotably connected together in series and travel in a loop with respect to the frame. The plurality of stairs comprises a first stair having a tread and a riser. The tread and riser are pivotably connected together at a first pivot axis. The tread has a tread surface that supports an operator's foot. A stopping member is on the tread. The stopping member has a stop surface that extends transversely to and upwardly from the tread surface and prevents the operator's foot from overshooting the first pivot axis and engaging the riser as the operator steps onto the tread surface when the riser is pivoted away from the tread. |
| US09238156B2 |
Personal fall limiter arrangement and user connection arrangement therefor
A personal fall limiter arrangement having a user connection arrangement, including: a body attached to at least a portion of the frame and having a recess configured to receive at least a portion of a user connector; at least one tab pivotally attached to a first portion of the body; and at least one biasing member engaged with the at least one tab and configured to urge the at least one tab towards a locked (or closed) position; wherein, in operation, the at least one tab is pivotal between: (1) an open position to permit passage of at least a portion of the user connector into or out of the recess; and (2) the locked position to prevent passage of at least a portion of the user connector out of the recess. |
| US09238153B2 |
Transoral methods and compositions for wrinkle reduction and cosmetic lip and facial augmentation
The purpose of this patent is to teach the methods of application and compositions of cosmetic and therapeutic products for reducing wrinkle appearance and augmenting certain compartments of the facial integument of a mammal, especially a human. These methods and compositions utilize the hypodermis-targeted release from bioadhesive oral films, pastes or patches applied to oral mucosa or teeth for the purpose of improving the appearance or health of the lips and facial skin. |
| US09238144B2 |
Optimizing data retrieval from an active implantable medical device
An external data retrieval apparatus includes a transceiver, and a processing system coupled to the transceiver. The processing system obtains a plurality of measures over a period of time. The measures relate to a quality of a communications channel between the data retrieval apparatus and an active implantable medical device. The processing system determines a trend in the plurality of measures over the period of time, and then determines a preferred time during which to retrieve data based on the trend. |
| US09238137B2 |
Neuromuscular stimulation
Apparatus for rehabilitating a patient who has a paretic body part, the apparatus comprising: a) at least one electromyograph (EMG) sensor adapted to being applied to a voluntary muscle of a healthy body part of the same type as the paretic body part, which at least one sensor produces at least one EMG signal; b) a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) device adapted for stimulating at least one voluntary muscle of the paretic body part; and c) a controller which controls the NMES device, making the amplitude of stimulation of the paretic body part at least partly dependent on the EMG signal from the healthy body part. |
| US09238135B2 |
Flagging of electrodes of an implantable medical device, controller, system and method therefore
Method, controller and system for an implantable medical device having a plurality of electrodes, the implantable medical device capable of delivering therapeutic stimulation to a patient, comprising a control module, a user interface operatively coupled to the control module, the user interface providing control of the control module by a medical professional or other user, and an electrode interface operatively coupled between the plurality of electrodes and the control module. The control module uses the electrode interface to obtain a plurality of measurements of impedance values for a plurality of selected pairs of individual ones of the plurality of electrodes. The control module flags electrodes using the plurality of measurements of impedance values of the selected pairs of individual ones of the plurality of electrodes comparative to a range, and the delivery of therapy on flagged electrodes is inhibited. |
| US09238134B2 |
Electrical stimulation system and associated apparatus for securing an electrical stimulation lead in position in a person's brain
In one aspect, an apparatus is provided for securing an electrical stimulation lead in position in a person's brain. The apparatus includes a flexible disc comprising a substantially radial slot adapted to secure the lead in position within the brain after implantation. The slot is adapted to elastically expand as the lead is inserted into the slot and is also adapted to elastically contract on the lead to secure the lead in position within the brain after implantation. The apparatus further includes a ring adapted to seat within a burr hole formed in the person's skull. The ring comprises a channel adapted to receive and secure the flexible disc. |
| US09238133B2 |
Method, device and system for modulating an activity of brown adipose tissue in a vertebrate subject
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein for treatment of a disease, disorder, or condition in a vertebrate subject. A device is provided that includes one or more passive cooling elements configured to be applied to one or more tissues of a vertebrate subject to modulate at least one activity of brown adipose tissue of the vertebrate subject, wherein at least a portion of the one or more passive cooling elements is configured to be implantable, and wherein the one or more passive cooling elements includes a first portion configured to be in association with the one or more tissues to be cooled, and a second portion configured to be placed in association with one or more tissues adjacent to an external epidermal tissue of the vertebrate subject. |
| US09238132B2 |
Systems and methods for making and using electrical stimulation systems having multi-lead-element lead bodies
A lead for providing electrical stimulation of patient tissue includes a distal lead element, at least two proximal lead elements, and a junction coupling the distal lead element to each of the at least two proximal lead elements. The distal lead element includes a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of conductive wires coupled to the plurality of electrodes and extending along a longitudinal axis of the distal lead element. Each of the at least two proximal lead elements includes a plurality of terminals and a plurality of conductive wires coupled to the plurality of terminals and extending along a longitudinal axis of the proximal lead element. The junction includes a circuit arrangement electrically coupling each of the conductive wires of the distal lead element to at least one of the conductive wires of at least one of the at least two proximal lead elements. |
| US09238130B2 |
Medical connector
A medical connector and method of using the medical connector are provided. In one form, the medical connector includes an elongate main body having a longitudinal axis and a lumen extending axially therethrough, proximal and distal end portions of the elongate main body with the distal end portion being configured to be connected to a first tubular medical device, an auxiliary connection device having a port for being connected to a second tubular medical device, and an adjustable connection between the auxiliary connection device and the elongate main body that allows positioning of the port of the auxiliary connection device relative to the elongate main body to be adjustably selected by a user for ease in connecting the second tubular medical device to the auxiliary connection device. |
| US09238126B2 |
Biofeedback controlled deformation of sinus ostia
A method of dilating a paranasal sinus ostium of a patient, which includes inserting a catheter having at least one balloon into a sinus ostium having an ostial wall, inflating the balloon by supplying fluid thereto such that the balloon exerts a force on the ostial wall, determining at least one parameter of the balloon, establishing an amount the balloon can be inflated without fracturing the sinus ostium based at least in part on the determined parameter of the balloon, and dilating the sinus ostium by inflating the balloon to an amount that does not exceed the established amount. |
| US09238121B2 |
Catheter shaft with improved manifold bond
A catheter shaft with an improved manifold bond and methods for making and using the same. The catheter shaft may include a sleeve disposed, for example, near its proximal end. The sleeve may include a first layer that is attached to the catheter shaft and a second layer to which a hub or manifold may be attached. |
| US09238119B2 |
Infusion flow system and fluid coupling
Fluid infusion systems and fluid couplings are described herein. The infusion systems may include one or more fluid couplings used to make fluidic connection between a supply line and delivery tubing. The fluid couplings separate the functions of providing a seal around a delivery tube and retaining the delivery tube within the fluid coupling. The seal provided around the delivery tube prevents leakage around an exterior surface of a delivery tube such that fluid passing through the coupling must pass through the delivery tube rather than leak around the delivery tube. The structure used to retain the delivery tube in the fluid coupling prevents ejection of the delivery tube from the coupling due to the fluid pressures present in the coupling. The separate functions are performed by different structures within the fluid couplings. |
| US09238118B2 |
Multiple lumen hose
A multiple lumen hose includes a generally circumferential base wall. A plurality of corrugations extend radially outward from the base wall. A septum is disposed interior to the base wall such as to divide the interior of the base wall into at least a first lumen and a second lumen. A first scallop extends outward from the circumferential base wall between adjacent corrugations. A second scallop extends outward from the circumferential base wall between adjacent corrugations. |
| US09238115B2 |
Systems and methods for therapeutic intrathoracic pressure regulation
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for delivering respiratory treatment to a patient. For example, a treatment system may include a mechanism for delivering a positive pressure breath to a patient, and one or more limb flow control assemblies which modulate gas flow to and from the patient. Exemplary treatment techniques are embodied in anesthesia machines, mechanical ventilators, and manual ventilators. |
| US09238114B2 |
Process for the automatic control of a respirator
A process for automatic control of a respirator changes between two phases of respiration by checking a detected respiratory breathing activity signal for a threshold criterion. If the threshold criterion is met, a changeover is made. |
| US09238113B2 |
Nasal respiratory devices for positive end-expiratory pressure
Described herein are nasal respiratory devices, in particular, nasal respiratory devices configured to achieve positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) in a subject wearing the device. PEEP devices may have a threshold pressure for opening during expiration. In some variations, these devices have a threshold pressure for closing during expiration. |
| US09238111B2 |
Pen needles and needle cap assemblies
A pen needle or pen needle cap assembly is designed to be manually attached e.g. by screwing onto an injection device, and is provided with a gripping region designed to allow the torque that can be applied in the tightening sense to be less than that which can be applied in the loosening sense. |
| US09238108B2 |
Medicament delivery device having an electronic circuit system
Medicament delivery devices are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a medical injector and an electronic circuit system. The medical injector includes a housing, a medicament container, and a medicament delivery member. The housing defines a first region and a second region. The first region includes the medicament container and is physically isolated from the second region. The electronic circuit system is configured to be disposed within the second region defined by the housing. The electronic circuit system is configured to output an electronic output associated with a use of the medical injector. |
| US09238105B2 |
Liquid infusion apparatus
The present invention relates to a liquid infusion apparatus, including: a finger module provided in a main body such that the finger module can elastically move backward from a liquid delivery tube; a tube clamp, in which two clamp bodies spaced apart from each other approach each other by means of restoring force of an elastic member upon the opening of a door during infusion, so as to compress and block the liquid delivery tube; and a tube blockage detection device which detects whether the liquid delivery tube is blocked by a cause, for example, when the outlet-side portion of the liquid delivery tube, which delivers medicinal liquid pumped by a liquid pump during infusion, is bent. |
| US09238100B2 |
Device and method for training users of ambulatory medical devices
Apparatuses and methods for training users of ambulatory medical devices. The methods relate to improving user interactions with the touchscreens of devices. In one embodiment there is an operating mode that records all user interactions along with various device parameters and allows the clinician to review the patient's performance for the initial use period. Automated analysis software may be employed to analyze the data generated by the device. The results of the analysis may be used by the clinician to improve the patient and device interaction. |
| US09238099B2 |
System and apparatus for modeling pressures generated during an injection procedure
A fluid injection apparatus includes at least one pressurizing mechanism and at least a first fluid container (for example, a syringe or a bulk container) operably associated with the at least one pressurizing mechanism. The first fluid container is adapted to contain a first fluid to be injected. The fluid injection apparatus also includes a pressure modeling system adapted to predict a pressure to be generated at one or more points in the injection fluid path during planned injection procedure based upon variables associated with an injection protocol. |
| US09238098B2 |
Method of initialising an apparatus for blood treatment in the single-needle mode and apparatus for blood treatment in the single-needle mode
An apparatus and method for blood treatment for the single-needle mode, the apparatus having an extra-corporeal blood circuit with a blood infeed line running to the inlet and a blood return line leading away from the outlet, of a blood treating unit, includes in the blood return line a device, e.g., container, for amassing blood, which is in flow-permitting connection for gas transfer with a device, e.g., container, for storing gas. A pressure is calculated and set in the device for storing gas before the arterial and venous phases are started, with two constraints. First, the pressure should be sufficiently low to ensure both no infusion of air into the patient and also regulated flow of blood into the patient even at opposing pressures lower than ambient pressure. Second, the pressure should be sufficiently high to expel blood from the device for amassing blood into the device for storing gas. |
| US09238096B2 |
Method and device for separating blood using a centrifuge
The invention relates to a method and a device for separating blood using a centrifuge in order to obtain different blood fractions. The aim of the invention is to eliminate the risk of contamination during the supply of blood and the removal of blood fractions. To achieve this, the separation container is filled with blood via a feed connection that can be aseptically connected to the container, the relevant blood fraction is removed from the separation container via a removal connection that can be aseptically connected to the container and both the feed device and the removal device form a respective closed system during the sterile connection to the separation container. The separation container (4) has at least one feed connection (5, 6) that can be aseptically connected to the container and at least one removal connection (7) that can be aseptically connected to the container, to which hermetically sealed feed and removal devices (8, 9, 10) can be aseptically attached in a sterile manner. |
| US09238090B1 |
Tissue-based compositions
Compositions comprising extracellular matrix (ECM) materials and methods of use thereof are disclosed. The compositions may comprise two or more ECM materials derived from different types of tissues, such as, e.g., lung tissue and spleen tissue, formulated for administration to a patient or configured as a medical device for implantation in or application to the patient. The compositions may combine complementary properties of different types of ECM materials for customized patient-specific and/or site-specific tissue repair and/or regeneration. |
| US09238089B2 |
Absorbent structure with discrete acquisition cells
An absorbent structure including a composite absorbent laminate is disclosed, with the structure suitable for use in disposable absorbent products such as for infant or incontinence care. Notably the laminate comprises discrete acquisition cells each comprising particles of preferably cellulosic absorbent material. The absorbent structure further comprises particulate superabsorbent polymer which can either be blended with the particulate discrete acquisition cells in the absorbent laminate, or provided in a separate absorbent layer of the absorbent structure. The discrete acquisition cells desirably generate free volume for rapid capillary absorption in an ultra-thin absorbent structure. |
| US09238080B2 |
Bi-specific fusion proteins
Bi-specific fusion proteins with therapeutic uses are provided, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such fusion proteins, and methods for using such fusion proteins to repair or regenerate damaged or diseased tissue. The bi-specific fusion proteins generally comprise: (a) a targeting polypeptide domain that binds to a target molecule; and (b) an activator domain that detectably modulates tissue regeneration. |
| US09238077B2 |
Fatty acid niacin conjugates and their uses
The invention relates to fatty acid niacin conjugates; compositions comprising an effective amount of a fatty acid niacin conjugate; and methods for treating or preventing an metabolic disease comprising the administration of an effective amount of a fatty acid niacin conjugate. |
| US09238076B2 |
Polymer-based sustained release device
This invention relates to compositions for the sustained release of biologically active polypeptides, and methods of forming and using said compositions, for the sustained release of biologically active polypeptides. The sustained release compositions of this invention comprise a biocompatible polymer having dispersed therein, a biologically active polypeptide and a sugar. |
| US09238072B2 |
Controlled release delivery system for nasal applications and method of treatment
This invention relates to a gel formulation for nasal administration of a controlled release formulation of hormones to the systemic circulation and/or to the brain. The special lipophilic or partly lipophilic system of the invention leads to higher bioavailability of the active ingredient caused by sustained serum levels in plasma but also leads to a more favorable serum level profile. The special lipophilic or partly lipophilic system also allows for the modulation of brain functioning. The invention also relates to the nasal administration of steroid hormones for treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) or female arousal disorder. |
| US09238070B2 |
Therapies for hematologic malignancies
The invention provides methods that relate to a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hematological malignancies and inflammatory diseases. In particular, the method comprises administration of a compound of formula A, wherein R is H, halo, or C1-C6 alkyl; R′ is C1-C6 alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. |
| US09238069B2 |
Method of sensitizing cancer cells to the cytotoxic effects of death receptor ligands in cancer treatment
Disclosed is a method of enhancing the response of cancer cells in a mammal to treatment with a death receptor ligand, which method comprises contacting the cancer cells with a death receptor ligand in conjunction with an effective amount of a compound described herein, for example, a cucurbitacin (I) or a withanolide (II). Also disclosed is a method of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells in a mammal, comprising contacting the cancer cells with a compound described herein, for example, a cucurbitacin (I) or a withanolide (II) and also contacting the cancer cells with a death receptor ligand, whereby apoptosis is induced in the cancer cells. |
| US09238066B2 |
Proteins expressed by mycobacterium tuberculosis and not by BCG and their use as diagnostic reagents and vaccines
The present invention is directed to reagents useful for generating immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and for diagnosing infection and disease in a subject that has been exposed to M. tuberculosis. |
| US09238065B2 |
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin vaccine
The invention provides an improved Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin vaccine composition, which advantageously provides immunity from infection after a single administration. The composition comprises an inactivated Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin and an adjuvant mixture, which, in combination, provide immunity from Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infection after a single administration, and elicit an immune response specific to Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterin and including cell-mediated immunity and local (secretory IgA) immunity. In a preferred embodiment, the adjuvant mixture comprises an acrylic acid polymer, most preferably CARBOPOL®, and a mixture of a metabolizable oil such as one or more unsaturated terpene hydrocarbons, preferably squalene or squalane, and a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer such as PLURONIC®. The vaccine composition may optionally include a preservative, preferably thimerosol and/or EDTA. |
| US09238063B2 |
Semi-allogenic anti-tumour vaccine with HLA haplo-identical antigen-presenting cells
The present invention relates to semi-allogeneic antigen-presenting cells into which proteins and/or peptides or RNA or DNA or cDNA, respectively, encoding said proteins and/or peptides which are overexpressed in tumor cells or which are derived from autologous tumor cells or different tumor cells or different tumor cell lines have been introduced. Furthermore the invention relates to methods for the generation of these semi-allogeneic antigen-presenting cells as well as to the use thereof in the treatment of tumor diseases. |
| US09238061B2 |
Botulinum toxin treatment of anxiety and bipolar disorders
Methods for preventing or treating depression including a depression mediated by the thalamus. Depression, including a thalamically mediated depression, can be treated by peripheral administration of a botulinum toxin to or to the vicinity of a trigeminal sensory nerve, thereby preventing or treating the depression. |
| US09238060B2 |
Chimeric factor VII molecules
The present invention relates to chimeric Factor VII polypeptides and methods of using the same. |
| US09238059B2 |
Topical therapeutic formulations
The invention provides topical compositions and methods for using the compositions. The compositions can be used for the treatment of fibrotic or connective tissue disorders involving scarring, sub-dermal plaque accumulations, or fibrosis of muscle tissue. The disorders can be painlessly treated by the topical application of a composition described herein. One or more calcium channel blocker agents can serve as an active ingredient of the compositions, optionally in combination with, for example, one or more of emu oil and superoxide dismutase. The composition can further include pharmaceutically acceptable carriers that can facilitate the non-invasive transdermal delivery of the active(s) to subdermal sites. |
| US09238057B2 |
Method for treating ocular neovascularization
Methods are provided for the treatment of ocular neovascularization by increasing, in an individual afflicted with ocular neovascularization, in vivo concentrations of an endostatin protein in the ocular tissues of the individual to an ocular neovascularization inhibiting effective amount, where the endostatin protein has anti-ocular neovascularization activity in vivo. |
| US09238056B2 |
Cyclic peptide and conjugate thereof for binding to keratinocytes
A cyclic peptide capable of binding specifically to the α2 I domain of a collagen binding integrin receptor may be conjugated to a drug containing particle via a linker moiety. The conjugate may be used to target a therapeutic drug to a cell expressing a collagen binding integrin receptor on its surface. |
| US09238053B2 |
Methods for treatment of pain
The invention provides for methods and compositions for treatment of pain via craniofacial mucosal administration of an analgesic compound (e.g. a non-opioid analgesic peptide, an NOP agonist or N/OFQ). Intranasal administration of certain analgesic peptides such as N/OFQ results in global analgesic effects. |
| US09238050B1 |
Compositions for reducing environmental sensitivity and regulating immune function
The present invention is directed to compositions for improving immune function and sensitivities to the natural and manmade environment that include ingredients from natural sources. It is further directed to methods of administering the compositions and kits containing the compositions. In a composition aspect, the composition is for regulating immune function and non-immune related sensitivities. It consists essentially of: 2 weight percent to 95 weight percent Psoralea; 2 weight percent to 95 weight percent Scutellaria; and 2 weight percent to 95 weight percent Xanthium. The Scutellaria portion may be replaced by Gardenia (in equal measure), or by a mixture of Scutellaria and Gardenia. |
| US09238048B2 |
Milk yield and/or milk quality improving agent, perinatal disease preventive or therapeutic agent, and reproductivity improving agent for ruminant
An object of the present invention is to improve the milk yield and/or milk quality of a ruminant for milk production, to prevent or treat a perinatal disease of a ruminant, and to improve the reproductivity of a ruminant. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the following is provided. An agent for improving at least one of milk yield and milk quality of a ruminant, comprising at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol. An agent for preventing or treating a perinatal disease of a ruminant, comprising at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol. An agent for improving reproductivity of a ruminant, comprising at least one of cashew nut shell liquid, heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, and cardol. |
| US09238042B2 |
Antisense modulation of interleukins 17 and 23 signaling
Provided are antisense oligonucleotides and other agents that target and modulate IL-17 and/or IL-23 signaling activity in a cell, compositions that comprise the same, and methods of use thereof. Also provided are animal models for identifying agents that modulate 17 and/or IL-23 signaling activity. |
| US09238041B2 |
Methods and compositions for regulating RNA import into mitochondria
Disclosed herein are methods of manipulating the processing, targeting, and/or internalization of a nucleic acid molecule. Also disclosed are recombinant and/or isolated nucleic acid molecules having a first nucleic acid sequence, which is a wild-type sequence or an altered sequence, directly or indirectly linked to a second nucleic acid sequence which is a mitochondria localization sequence, an RNA import sequence, or a combination thereof, and methods of using thereof. |
| US09238038B2 |
Tunable nitric oxide-releasing macromolecules having multiple nitric oxide donor structures
Provided here are nitric oxide-releasing compounds that include at least two different NO donor functional groups of the same class. In some embodiments, such nitric oxide-releasing compounds are macromolecules such as dendrimer and co-condensed silica. Pharmaceutical compositions, wound dressings, kits and methods of treatments are also provided herein. |
| US09238037B2 |
Enema composition for treatment of ulcerative colitis having long term stability
Long term storage stable budesonide-containing solutions are disclosed. The solutions can include budesonide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, cromolyn sodium, antioxidizing agent, benzoic acid, and a pharmaceutically acceptable fluid including propylene glycol and water. Kits including the long term storage stable budesonide-containing solutions and methods of treating ulcerative colitis are also disclosed. |
| US09238036B2 |
Pharmaceutical uses of lanosta-8,24-dien-3-ols
The invention generally refers to pharmaceutical uses of lanosta-8,24-dien-3-ols, a family of tetracyclic terpenols, as anti-inflammatory, anticancerigenous and analgesic agents via the inhibition of the disordered activation of serine-threonine protein kinases, particularly PKC. |
| US09238033B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition containing KW-6002 and fluoxetine or paroxentine
The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions, which are useful for treatment of depression and the like, and which comprises a compound having an adenosine A2A receptor antagonistic activity such as (E)-8-(3,4-dimethoxystyryl)-1,3-diethyl-7-methyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and an antidepressant drug (for example, a tricyclic antidepressant, a tetracyclic antidepressant, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a selective noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor, a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, a serotonin-noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor, monoamine oxidase inhibitor, a 5-HT2 antagonist or the like), and the like. |
| US09238032B2 |
Compositions and methods comprising bupropion or related compounds for sustained delivery of dextromethorphan
Dosage forms, drug delivery systems, and methods related to sustained release of dextromethorphan or improved therapeutic effects are disclosed. Typically, bupropion or a related compound is orally administered to a human being to be treated with, or being treated with, dextromethorphan. |
| US09238031B2 |
Propellant-free aerosol formulation for inhalation
The present invention relates to propellant-free aerosol formulations for inhalation containing ipratropium bromide and salbutamol. |
| US09238029B2 |
Multiple PPI dosage form
Herein provided are dosage forms (variously referred to as “formulations”) comprising a PPI that is released from the dosage form as a first and a second dose. Each dose of PPI is present in an amount sufficient to raise the plasma levels of the PPI to at least 100 ng/ml. |
| US09238028B2 |
HDAC inhibitors to treat charcot-marie-tooth disease
The disclosure relates to diseases in the peripheral nervous system, particularly hereditary neuropathies, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. It is shown that this disease is associated with decreased acetylated tubulin levels, which can be overcome by inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs). Using HDAC inhibitors, it is shown herein that the symptoms of the CMT phenotype can be overcome both in vitro and in vivo. Also provided herein are two different mouse models of CMT disease. |
| US09238026B2 |
Inhibitors of viral replication, their process of preparation and their therapeutical uses
The present invention relates to compounds, their use in the treatment or the prevention of viral disorders, including HIV. |
| US09238024B2 |
Methods for improving health in canines
A method of improving health in a canine includes administering to the canine a nutritional supplement comprising an amino acid secretagogue composition, which stimulates the pituitary gland of the canines to produce growth hormone. The nutritional supplement may be administered orally. The nutritional supplement may comprise L-arginine hydrochloride, Oxo-proline, L-lysine hydrochloride, and cysteine. When desired, the nutritional supplement may consist essentially of L-arginine hydrochloride, Oxo-proline, L-lysine hydrochloride, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, L-glutamine, and schizonepeta powder. |
| US09238022B2 |
Xanthanodien for the treatment of cancer
The present invention relates to a method for the treatment or prophylaxis of a disease associated with hyperproliferative cellular division, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective dosage of the pharmaceutical composition comprising xanthanodien, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. |
| US09238021B2 |
Method of producing a cationic liposomal preparation comprising a lipophilic compound
A method for producing a cationic liposomal preparation comprising a lipophilic active compound with physical and chemical stability during manufacturing, storing and reconstituting, and further a cationic liposomal preparation obtainable by this method as well as specific cationic liposomal preparations as well as pharmaceutical compositions are disclosed. |
| US09238018B2 |
Use of bucillamine in the treatment of gout
Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising, bucillamine, including bucillamine and allopurinol or colchicine, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof, together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents and excipients. Methods for use of the said compositions in the treatment of gout and metabolic syndrome are also disclosed. |
| US09238016B2 |
Antibiotic composition comprising flufenamic acid as an active ingredient
The present invention relates to a novel antibiotic, and more specifically relates to an antibiotic composition comprising flufenamic acid as an active ingredient, which can reduce drug toxicity and side effects and the problem of antibiotic resistance caused by excessive use of antibiotics since the composition exhibits a good therapeutic effect, even in a small dose, when it is administered either alone or together with another antibiotic of the prior art. |
| US09238015B2 |
4-oxo-2-pentenoic acid and cardiovascular health
The present invention relates generally to compositions with a health benefit. In particular, the invention relates to the field of cardiovascular disorders, for example, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, stroke, and heart failure. A subject matter of the invention is a composition comprising 4-oxo-2-pentenoic acid for use in the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular disorders. |
| US09238013B2 |
Hyaluronic acid-based gels including lidocaine
Disclosed herein are cohesive soft tissue fillers, for example, dermal and subdermal fillers, based on hyaluronic acids and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. In one aspect, hyaluronic acid-based compositions described herein include a therapeutically effective amount of at least one anesthetic agent, for example, lidocaine. The present hyaluronic acid-based compositions including lidocaine have an enhanced stability and cohesivity, relative to conventional compositions including lidocaine, for example when subjected to sterilization techniques or when stored for long periods of time. Methods and processes of preparing such hyaluronic acid-based compositions are also provided. |
| US09238005B2 |
Dry powder formulations and methods for treating pulmonary diseases
The present invention is directed toward respirable dry particles for delivery of divalent metal cation salts and/or monovalent cation salts to the respiratory tract and methods for treating a subject having a respiratory disease and/or infection. |
| US09238000B2 |
Method of improving aging appearance of skin by modulation of WIPI-1
Methods of using WIPI-1 to impart anti-aging benefits to the skin and/or improve skin conditions resulting from reduced autophagy activity. |
| US09237996B2 |
Glucosyltransferase inhibitor containing epigallocatechin gallate polymer as active ingredient
Provided is a highly palatable and safe glucosyltransferase inhibitor or anti-dental caries agent. A glucosyltransferase inhibitor or anti-dental caries agent having an epigallocatechin gallate polymer or a salt thereof. Particularly, the above agent containing an epigallocatechin gallate polymer, which is a compound in which chroman rings are bonded at position 6 and/or 8 via a methylene group. |
| US09237995B2 |
Methods of cleansing skin and rinse-off or wipe-off compositions therefor
Methods of cleansing skin comprise the steps of contacting the skin with a cleansing compositions comprising a fatty ester in combination with a lipid, and either rinsing the composition from the skin with water or wiping the composition from the skin with a dry or damp substrate. The cleansing compositions can comprise at least 8%, by weight of the composition, of fatty ester and/or further comprise a nonionic surfactant and less than about 50%, by weight of the composition, of an alcohol solvent such as ethanol, isopropanol, or mixtures thereof. The methods and compositions provide skin cleansing and hydration benefits. |
| US09237993B2 |
Gradual haircolor compositions and methods of using the same
The disclosure relates to a method for gradually coloring hair comprising the steps of: a) applying an air oxidation haircolor composition to hair; b) removing the air oxidation haircolor composition from the hair directly after application; and c) repeating a set comprising the steps a) and b) in multiple spaced intervals. The air oxidation haircolor composition can include: 1) at least one primary oxidation dye intermediate; 2) at least one aromatic triol; and 3) water. |
| US09237992B2 |
Two-step mascara product
A two-step mascara product that includes a first mascara composition and a second mascara composition. The first mascara composition includes a film-forming polymer dispersed in a first carrier, and the second mascara composition includes a film-former selected from the group consisting of tall oil glycerides, pentaerythrityl rosinate, glyceryl rosinate, hydrogenated versions of these and mixtures thereof. The two-step mascara product also includes a package for storing and dispensing each of the first and second mascara compositions. The package includes a first container configured to store and dispense the first mascara composition and a second container configured to store and dispense the second composition. |
| US09237988B2 |
Benzalkonium chloride compositions for inhibiting the hydrolytic activity of endogenous matrix metalloproteinases in dental restorations
The present application relates to dental adhesive and restoration compositions comprising benzalkonium chloride, having the general structure C6H5CH2N(CH3)2—R—Cl, and salts thereof in a range between approximately 0.01% and approximately 10% by weight in dental primer, dental adhesive, dental resin, and other dental polymeric compositions or in dental solutions. In particular, it has been shown that dental compositions comprising benzalkonium chloride result in the inhibition of the hydrolytic activity of MMP on the dentin adhesive layer, thereby reducing the degradation of bond strength between a resulting dental restoration and the underlying dental tissue. |
| US09237984B2 |
Shockwave nerve therapy system and method
Disclosed herein are intravascular systems and methods for modulating the activation of neural activity using shock wave devices. In one embodiment, the system is used to treat the nerves in the renal plexus. In a second embodiment, the system is used to treat the baroreceptors in the carotid sinus. In a preferred embodiment, the shock wave generator is in the form of electrodes mounted within an inflatable balloon. |
| US09237983B2 |
Dual-penetration sex toy for heterosexual couples
A dual-penetration anal sex toy for couples is disclosed. For heterosexual couples, this toy is designed to enhance vaginal penetration with an anal-to-anal connection. A cock ring or means for attachment may fix the device against the wearer's perineum and act as a pivot-point to transfer the thrusting motion of the wearer directly to a prostate massaging butt plug. Because of the pivot point and possible simultaneous anal penetration both partners can feel a direct connection with the anal movements of the other. |
| US09237980B2 |
Garment for therapeutic treatment
A medical compression suit has first and second elongate openings and first and second fasteners for releasably closing the first and second elongate openings respectively such that releasing the fasteners allows the openings to be opened, facilitating the donning and doffing of the suit by a wearer, the first and second openings being provided on the front or the rear of the suit. |
| US09237977B2 |
Support for relief of pressure ulcers
A support for use with a pillow on a mattress and a method for use thereof are disclosed. The support includes a sham extending longitudinally along an axis. The sham has a sleeve having two or three substantially closed sides and one or two substantially open sides. The sham has extensions extending longitudinally from the sleeve. The extensions are constructed to extend around sides and at least a portion of the bottom of a mattress. The sleeve is constructed to receive a pillow therein. The method includes providing such a sham and extending the extensions around the sides and under a portion of the mattress. |
| US09237975B2 |
Absorbent article with side barriers and decolorizing agents
A feminine care absorbent article having fluid barrier and decolorizing structures is described. Such structures can prevent the spread of menses fluid towards the edges of the article and can also decolorize stains so that the stains are less noticeable. The article includes a liquid permeable topsheet having a central layer positioned adjacent opposing side layers. The side layers can include a separating region that at least partially separates a decolorizing agent carrier material treated with a decolorizing agent from an absorbent core. At least one of the side layers can also include at least one fluid barrier region that can prevent or slow the spread of fluids from the center of the article to the edges. The combination of the separating and fluid barrier regions can allow the decolorizing agent to sufficiently decolorize a fluid insult that may have spread to the lateral edges of the article. |
| US09237974B2 |
Disposable diaper having excellent migration speed and satisfactory feeling
A disposable diaper includes a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet and an absorber between the top sheet and back sheet, and having a front body waist region, a crotch region and a back body waist region. The top sheet is a nonwoven fabric having on the skin contact surface a plurality of ridges and a plurality of recesses extending in the lengthwise direction of the disposable diaper, and alternating in the widthwise direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction. The top sheet has point-like compressed sections at a prescribed density in the front body waist region and/or back body waist region, the ridges in prescribed zones having different heights than the adjacent ridges at the same location in the lengthwise direction. |
| US09237971B2 |
Tampon skirt
A tampon skirt is disclosed. The tampon skirt can comprise a finger cover associated with the tampon that expands or opens when a user unwraps a tampon, or an integrated tampon wrapper/cover that expands or opens when a user unwraps a tampon. The tampon skirt is associated with a tampon and conforms around a surface of the tampon. The cover is deployable to cover a finger of a user when the user prepares to insert the tampon. The user's grips the withdrawal end underneath the extended tampon skirt when the user is inserting the tampon. The tampon skirt is appropriately sized to cover a user's fingers and/or hand to prevent contact with menstrual discharge. When the user finishes inserting the tampon with the associated tampon skirt, the user disposes of the remaining tampon applicator and associated tampon skirt. |
| US09237965B2 |
Re-treatment for ophthalmic correction of refraction
A planning device generating control data for a treatment apparatus for refraction-correcting ophthalmic surgery is provided, said apparatus using a laser device to separate a corneal volume, which is to be removed for correction, from the surrounding cornea by at least one cut surface in the cornea of an eye, said planning device comprising an interface for receiving corneal data including information on pre-operative cuts which were generated in a previous ophthalmic operation, and computing means for defining a corneal cut surface which confines the corneal volume to be removed, said computing means defining the corneal cut surface on the basis of the corneal data and generating a control dataset for the corneal cut surface for control of the laser device. |
| US09237962B2 |
Toe orthosis
An orthosis configured to stretch tissue around a toe of a patient and methods for using the same are provided. The orthosis includes a foot plate, a toe assembly and a drive assembly. The toe assembly can include a first member including a first extension member and a second member including a second extension member. The drive assembly can move the second member with respect to the first member. |
| US09237960B2 |
Apparatus for curving an implantable medical device in a lumen
An introducer assembly (100) including at its distal end a dilator tip (20) and an inner catheter for supporting an implantable medical device (1) for deployment, is provided with a plurality of strut elements (102, 202) extending from the dilator tip (20) to the proximal end of the medical device (1). The strut elements (102, 202) act to apply both a pulling and a pushing force against the proximal end of the medical device (1), having the effect of assisting in the correct positioning of the proximal end of the medical device in a patient's lumen, particularly where this is curved such as with the aortic arch. The strut elements (102, 202) form part of the introducer assembly and are removed from the patient following the deployment procedure. The device avoids the need for bare stents at the end of a stent graft. |
| US09237954B2 |
Height adjustable spinal prostheses
Dimensionally adjustable spinal prostheses are adjustable in an axial or superior to inferior dimension such that spinal prostheses may assume variations in height. The height adjustable spinal prostheses are characterized by first and second portions that are configured for adjustable coupling with one another. Spatial adjustment between the first and second portions is provided by an adjustment assembly. The adjustment mechanism preferably, but not necessarily, provides infinite adjustment over a minimum prosthesis height to a maximum prosthesis height. In one form, first and second ends of the height adjustable spinal prostheses are configured to receive an endplate. The endplates aid in attachment and/or anchoring of the spinal prosthesis within the spine. The endplates may be fashioned in various configurations such as circular or anatomical. In one form, the adjustment assembly utilizes rotational motion for varying the axial position of one prosthetic portion relative to the other prosthetic portion. Rotational movement of an adjustment mechanism of the adjustment assembly is translated into axial movement of one prosthetic portion relative to the other prosthetic portion. In another form, the adjustment mechanism is a screw and gearing assembly. In yet another form, the adjustment mechanism is a rack and pinion assembly. |
| US09237952B2 |
Total knee arthroplasty system and method
Disclosed herein are prosthesis, surgical tools, and methods to preserve one or more ligaments of the knee by cutting a least a portion of natural bone during joint surgery. The natural bone may be cut using various methods and associated cutting guides, and the natural bone is retained along with the natural attachment of an associated soft tissue structure. The bone block cutting guides may create a variety of standard natural block shapes or may create mechanical mating features (e.g., keystone or dovetail configuration) in the natural bone portion that may be inserted, wedged, press-fit, and/or mechanically attached to the tibia. The natural bone block with the associated soft tissue may be further secured by incorporating features in the tibial prosthesis, providing the surgeon with additional fixation components and/or fixation mechanisms. |
| US09237950B2 |
Implant with patient-specific porous structure
A method of manufacturing a joint implant for a joint of a specific patient includes obtaining a three-dimensional image of a bone of the joint of the specific patient from medical imaging scans of the bone of the patient and determining on the three-dimensional image a resection plane for contacting a corresponding planar surface of the joint implant for the specific patient. The method includes determining a three-dimensional image of a porous structure of a bone layer along the resection plane from the medical imaging scans of the patient. The joint implant is manufactured with a layer of a patient-specific porous construct attached to the planar surface of the joint implant. The layer of the patient-specific porous construct substantially replicates the porous structure of the bone layer of the specific patient. |
| US09237947B2 |
Hingeless cartridge for intraocular lens injector providing haptic control
A method of loading an IOL having an optic and a leading haptic into a cartridge, comprising folding the leading haptic radially inward relative to the optic as the IOL moves into a lumen of the cartridge, by using a proximal end feature of the cartridge. |
| US09237945B2 |
Bioerodible wraps and uses therefor
A tubular tissue graft device is provided comprising a tubular tissue and a restrictive fiber matrix of a bioerodible polymer about a circumference of the tubular tissue. The matrix may be electrospun onto the tubular tissue. In one embodiment, the tubular tissue is from a vein, such as a saphenous vein, useful as an arterial graft, for example and without limitation, in a coronary artery bypass procedure. Also provided is method of preparing a tubular graft comprising depositing a fiber matrix of a bioerodible polymer about a perimeter of a tubular tissue to produce a tubular tissue graft device. A cardiac bypass method comprising bypassing a coronary artery with a tubular tissue graft device comprising a vein and a restrictive fiber matrix of a bioerodible polymer about a circumference of the vein also is provided. |
| US09237940B2 |
Orthodontic apparatus
The invention relates to an orthodontic apparatus that includes an upper jaw brace and a lower jaw brace. The braces each have an adjustment mechanism for an engaging part. The engaging parts engage together when the mouth is closed. Each adjustment mechanism has an adjustment spindle running in the sagittal direction of the jaw brace, the spindle head thereof can be accessed at the front by a tool. The position of the engaging part can thereby be adjusted very easily, and, among other things, also while the orthodontic apparatus is in the mouth of the patient. |
| US09237939B2 |
Hand tool for dentistry and dental prosthetics
A hand tool for dentistry and/or dental prosthetics, having a grip part which defines a main axis and, in the direction of the main axis, has a front end area and a read end area. The grip part has, in the front end area, an open receiving recess in which the collet element is arranged with an adjustable receiving diameter for receiving an object. The receiving diameter of the collet element can be modified by way of an actuating device. The collet element can be secured against rotation in the grip part. |
| US09237936B2 |
System and method for integrating candidate implant location test results with real-time tissue images for use with implantable device leads
Patient tissues are imaged using, e.g., a real-time fluoroscopic imaging system, along with a lead system being implanted. Parameters representative of lead placement efficacy—such as capture thresholds, phrenic nerve stimulation thresholds, impedance values or screw-in tip mechanical resistance values—are measured at candidate implant locations. Localization parameters identifying the candidate implant locations are also measured. In one example, a display is generated substantially in real-time showing: images of the tissues of the patient and the lead system being implanted; candidate locations of the electrodes; and parameters representative of lead placement efficacy at the candidate locations. In this manner, the implanting clinician can readily view capture thresholds and other helpful parameters at various candidate locations along with actual real-time images of the tissues of the patient and the lead system being implanted. Recorded images can also be displayed and, in some examples, multiple images can be superimposed over one another. |
| US09237935B2 |
Fatigue testing system for prosthetic devices
A fatigue testing system provides simultaneous cycle testing for a plurality of prosthetic devices under simulated physiological loading conditions. A plurality of sample holders containing test samples of prosthetic devices is positioned between a distribution chamber and a return fluid chamber to form an integrated test chamber. A reciprocating linear drive motor operates a rolling bellows diaphragm to cyclically pressurize fluid within the test chamber and drive the pressurized fluid through the prosthetic devices being tested. The test chamber defines a return flow conduit in fluid communication with each of the sample holders, the return fluid chamber, and the distribution chamber. Compliance chambers and throttle valves associated with each of the sample holders regulate the pressure gradient and back pressure across the prosthetic devices being tested. |
| US09237934B2 |
System for stethoscope head disinfection
A stethoscope disinfection system comprising a guide member comprising a body member, a rotation-imparting member, a slide guide track, a spring guide track, and a trolley guide track, and a trolley comprising a lower housing member, a cam member, a lock head, a spring apparatus, a brush member, an upper housing member configured to receive at least a portion of a head of a stethoscope, and a dispersing member positioned in the dispersing mechanism chamber. The system may further comprise a slide guide configured to engage with each of the arm of the lock head and the slide guide track and to translate along a length of the slide guide track. |
| US09237929B2 |
System for guiding a medical instrument in a patient body
The present invention relates to a system for guiding a medical instrument in a patient body. Such a system comprises means for acquiring a 2D X-ray image of said medical instrument, means for acquiring a 3D ultrasound data set of said medical instrument using an ultrasound probe, means for localizing said ultrasound probe in a referential of said X-ray acquisition means, means for selecting a region of interest around said medical instrument within the 3D ultrasound data set and means for generating a bimodal representation of said medical instrument detection by combining said 2D X-ray image and said 3D ultrasound data set. A bimodal representation is generated on the basis of the 2D X-ray image by replacing the X-ray intensity value of points belonging to said region of interest by the ultrasound intensity value of the corresponding point in the 3D ultrasound data set. |
| US09237928B2 |
Mobile functional hospital unit for the temporary distribution of medical fluids
Mobile functional hospital unit (1) for the temporary distribution of medical fluids, comprising at least one rear outlet (5, 25; 30) for tapping off medical fluid designed and able to be connected to a medical fluid distribution network arranged within a hospital building and associated with the rear wall (6) of the cabinet (2), at least one side outlet (21, 22, 23, 24; 17) for tapping off medical fluid associated with at least one side wall (27, 28) of the cabinet (2), and at least one connecting line (9) fluidically connecting at least one gas cylinder (3, 4; 7, 8) to at least one of the rear (5, 25) and side (21, 22, 23, 24) gas tapping outlets in order to supply at least one of the rear (5, 25) and side (21, 22, 23, 24) outlets with gas delivered by at least one gas cylinder (3, 4; 7, 8). |
| US09237926B2 |
Pair of endocardial and epicardial catheters, catheter and method for positioning electrodes on a cardiac wall and method for the ablation of cardiac muscle tissue
The ablation of tissue in a cardiac wall is performed by introducing an endocardial catheter into the interior of a heart and an epicardial catheter is placed on the cardiac wall. With the aid of an electromagnet and a counter-element, which can be permanently magnetized or can also be an electromagnet, the two catheters are mutually attracted in such a way that electrodes come into contact with opposite sides of the cardiac wall such that the electrodes are optimally positioned. The use of a catheter with a plurality of such electrodes in a row enables the removal of whole lines of destroyed cardiac wall tissue by ablation. |
| US09237924B2 |
Methods and devices to treat nasal airways
Methods and devices for treating nasal airways are provided. Such devices and methods may improve airflow through an internal and/or external nasal valve, and comprise the use of mechanical re-shaping, energy application and other treatments to modify the shape, structure, and/or air flow characteristics of an internal nasal valve, an external nasal valve or other nasal airways. |
| US09237922B2 |
Hand-held electrosurgical instrument
Electrosurgical instruments and associated methods are provided. An electrosurgical instrument may include one or more light emitters that comprise a light source in operative communication with a power supply supportably interconnected to a handle portion. The instrument may have a toggle member with one or more selectable positions that may selectively activate any of one or more operational states of an electrosurgical electrode comprising the instrument. The toggle member may selectively activate the light emitter(s) provided on the instrument alone and/or in conjunction with the activation of one or more operational state. The handle portion may include an elastomeric handle portion that extends continuously along the handle portion and over the toggle member to seal the handle portion. |
| US09237921B2 |
Devices and techniques for cutting and coagulating tissue
Various forms are directed to systems and methods for driving an end effector coupled to an ultrasonic drive system of a surgical instrument. A generator may generate at least one electrical signal. The at least one electrical signal may be monitored against a first set of logic conditions. When an ultrasonic impedance of the surgical instrument exceeds a threshold impedance, a resonant frequency of the at least one electrical signal may be stored as a baseline frequency. A first response of the generator may be triggered upon the occurrence of either the first set of logic conditions being met or the resonant frequency of the at least one electrical signal differing from the baseline frequency by a baseline deviation threshold. |
| US09237917B2 |
Cement-directing orthopedic implants
A cement-directing structure for use in cement-injection bone therapy includes a collapsible, self-restoring braided structure with regions of differential permeability to the bone cement. The regions of differential permeability may be provided by areas where the braided mesh density is greater or lesser than surrounding areas and/or by means of a baffle. After the structure is placed in a void within a bony structure, cement is injected into the interior of the structure then oozes out in preferred directions according to the locations of the regions of differential permeability. |
| US09237916B2 |
Devices and methods for vertebrostenting
The invention relates to methods of creating and/or enlarging a curvilinear cavity within a vertebral body or other body structure. The invention also relates to devices that may be used to perform the steps to create and/or enlarge the curvilinear cavity. In various embodiments, an apparatus for creating and/or enlarging a curvilinear cavity includes a handle and a flexible shaft assembly including a cutting tip or blade, a flexible rotatable drive shaft, and a flexible, moveable and non-rotatable housing. |
| US09237914B2 |
Bone fixation system
A bone fixation system is provided. The bone fixation system may include a plate, one or more fasteners configured to attach the plate to a target anatomical location such as bone, and a surgical device that facilitates the attachment of the plate and the fasteners. |
| US09237913B2 |
Cerclage system for bone
Method of stabilizing a sternum with a fastening member defining a plurality of cleats. In the method, the fastening member may be disposed on a sternum having a discontinuity, with the fastening member spanning the discontinuity and the cleats contacting the sternum. The fastening member may be arranged with a wire or cable such that the wire or cable extends twice through the fastening member and forms a loop around a portion of the sternum. The fastening member may be crimped to secure both ends of the loop to the fastening member. |
| US09237911B2 |
Locking pin plate assembly adapted for fracture fixation
A lockable pin plate assembly which has a pin plate adapted to be secured to stable bone and provided with pin holes for pins for pinning an unstable bone fragment. One or more pin holes are engageable by pins of an integral U-pin. The pins have stop surfaces thereon which are resiliently displaced when the pins are seated to automatically and self-lock the pin and the pin plate to oppose withdrawal and backing out of the pins from the pin plate. In a preferred embodiment, each pin of the U pin has a leading portion and a trailing portion, the leading portion being of smaller diameter to pass freely through an elliptical hole in the pin plate whereas the trailing portion is of larger size to become locked in the pin hole as it is advanced therein. |
| US09237908B2 |
Dynamic stabilization system for the spine
A system for dynamic stabilization of the spine includes a bone engaging fastener configured to be anchored in a vertebra and a deflectable element mounted on the fastener. The deflectable element or bumper is configured and arranged to contact a portion of an adjacent vertebra, such as the facet, during extension of the spine, while offering no resistance during flexion. In certain embodiments, a cable may be fastened to the bone engaging fastener and arranged to contact a portion of the adjacent vertebra, such as the spinous process, during flexion of the spine. In one surgical technique of the invention, a contralateral approach is used to introduce the bone engaging fastener through the deflectable element and into the vertebra. |
| US09237903B2 |
Rotational atherectomy device with fluid inflatable support elements and distal protection capability
A rotational atherectomy device for abrading a stenotic lesion from a vessel of a patient includes a flexible drive shaft (1) which extends towards a distal end of the device, a distal fluid inflatable support element (3, 3″) located at a distal end of the drive shaft and an abrasive element (5) mounted to the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from the distal fluid inflatable support element. Both the abrasive element and the distal fluid inflatable support element are rotatable together with the drive shaft and the drive shaft includes a torque transmitting coil (2) which defines a long lumen of the drive shaft. The distal fluid inflatable support element is formed from a fluid impermeable membrane (9, 9″) that crosses a longitudinal axis (x-x) common to the torque transmitting coil and the lumen of the drive shaft at the distal end of the device, thereby preventing pressurized fluid flowing along the lumen of the drive shaft from entering the vessel in the direction of said longitudinal axis so that fluid has to pass through the fluid inflatable support element, inflating said support element and exiting from the device through an outflow opening (66) in the fluid inflatable support element in a direction different from the direction of the longitudinal axis of the coil and the lumen. |
| US09237901B2 |
Liquid injection device and medical apparatus
A liquid injection device includes an injection unit which injects a liquid, a liquid supply instrument which supplies the liquid to the injection unit, and a control unit which controls operation of the injection unit and the liquid supply instrument, wherein the injection unit includes a distal end portion where a nozzle for injecting the liquid is formed, and a body portion in which the distal end portion is removably loaded, at the distal end portion, a distal end-side memory is provided in which first startup data is written, and the control unit is a control unit which reads and writes the first startup data from and to the distal end-side memory in the distal end portion loaded in the body portion and manages use time of the distal end portion based on the first startup data that is read out. |
| US09237900B2 |
Surgical instrument with split jaw
An apparatus for operating on tissue includes an end effector having a first jaw and a second jaw that pivots relative to the first jaw from a closed position to an open position. The second jaw includes a first portion and a second portion that pivots relative to the first portion. The second portion is positioned adjacent to the first portion of the second jaw when the second jaw is in the closed position. The first and second portions of the second jaw pivot outwardly as the second jaw is pivoted from the closed position to the open position. |
| US09237899B2 |
Tissue grasping forceps and localizing needle holder
A tissue grasping forceps and needle holder. A pair of movable arms are pivotably connected about a pivot connection, with each arm having a handle portion on one side and a working portion on the opposite side of the pivot connection. The working portions interengage when the handle portions are closed to a minimum spaced relation. The working portion has a clamp components and jaw component, with the clamp component comprising a plurality of synchronous teeth located to interlock when the handle portions are in the minimum spaced relation. The jaw component comprises a plurality of regularly spaced tines, with the tines being joined in pairs when the handle portions are in the minimum spaced relation with a gap between the tines, and an interstice between each spaced pair. |
| US09237898B2 |
Systems and methods for ultrasound imaging and insonation of microbubbles
A catheter system including an elongate tubular member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a lumen extending through at least a portion of a length of the elongate tubular member. The distal end portion of the elongate member is dimensioned and adapted to advance to or in proximity to a treatment site of a subject. A microbubble device is in fluid communication with the lumen. The microbubble device includes at least one input port for receiving a flow of material into the device and an output port configured to output microbubbles from the microbubble device. A second tubular member is in fluid communication with one of the at least one input ports. A pressure fitting arrangement is adapted to maintain a seal between the second tubular member and the input port. |
| US09237897B2 |
Endovascular devices and methods
Devices and methods for the treatment of chronic total occlusions are provided. One disclosed embodiment comprises a method of facilitating treatment via a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen containing an occlusion therein. The method includes providing an intravascular device having a distal portion, inserting the device into the vascular lumen, positioning the distal portion in the vascular wall to at least partially surround the occlusion, and removing at least a portion of the surrounded occlusion from the lumen. |
| US09237891B2 |
Robotically-controlled surgical stapling devices that produce formed staples having different lengths
A surgical stapling device that comprises an end effector that is configured to receive various control motions from a robotic system. |
| US09237890B2 |
Surgical stapling apparatus
A surgical stapler includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly defines staple forming depressions. One or both of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly are pivotable relative to the other between an open position and a clamped position. The cartridge assembly includes a first plurality of staples and a second plurality of staples. The first plurality of staples is initially positioned in alignment with the staple forming depressions of the anvil assembly for ejection from the cartridge assembly. The second plurality of staples is movably supported in the cartridge assembly from a first position misaligned with the staple forming depressions of the anvil assembly to a second position aligned with the staple forming depressions for subsequent ejection from the cartridge assembly. |
| US09237878B2 |
Generation and assessment of shear waves in elasticity imaging
A method for generation and analysis of shear waves in a subject with an ultrasound system. Multiple short ultrasound push pulses are applied, as a set and optionally more than once, to one or more push origins at the subject to produce first and second shear waves of large amplitudes and desired spatial distributions, which are separated in space and time and which have opposite polarity such that initial movements of the subject tissue, respectively caused by the first and second shear waves, occur in opposite directions. At least one mechanical property of the subject (including that represented by shear wave group velocity, phase velocity, and attenuation of a shear wave) is determined based at least in part on a distance between wavefronts of the first and second shear waves. |
| US09237877B2 |
Thoracic diagnosis assistance system and computer readable storage medium
Provided is a thoracic diagnosis assistance system. The system includes, an imaging unit, an extracting unit, a region dividing unit, an analysis unit and a display unit. The extraction unit extracts a lung field region from the plurality of successive image frames generated by the imaging unit. The region dividing unit divides the lung field region extracted by the extraction unit into a plurality of sub-regions and correlates the sub-regions among the plurality of image frames. The analysis unit performs an analysis of the sub-regions to calculate an inspiratory feature quantity and an expiratory feature quantity and to calculate a value of a ratio of the calculated inspiratory feature quantity to expiratory feature quantity and creates a histogram of the calculated ratio value. The display unit displays the histogram. |
| US09237876B2 |
Single step X-ray phase imaging
A system and method for single step x-ray phase contrast imaging. In one embodiment, a method for single step x-ray phase contrast imaging includes illuminating an object to be imaged with x-rays. The x-rays passing through the object are detected by a spectral detector. Image data derived from the detected x-rays is provided to an x-ray image processor. A phase image is generated based on the image data. |
| US09237870B2 |
Device and method for processing heart sounds for ausculation
A device for independently and controllably amplifying components of the heart sound signals without removing any component of the signal by filtering. With such a device all the signal components that carry information are still available and can be useful to a user. Filtering may however be applied to very high frequency signals, compared to the signal of interest, that are totally unrelated to the heart sounds. |
| US09237869B1 |
Lapel adapter for physiological sensor pod
Described herein is a lapel adaptor for use with a physiologic sensor pod having a housing including a top surface, a bottom surface, a peripheral surface, a groove extending around the peripheral surface, and a pair of electrodes spaced apart from one another on the bottom surface. The lapel adaptor includes a first portion comprising an elastic ring including an opening having an inner circumference slightly smaller than an outer circumference of the groove extending around the peripheral surface of the sensor pod housing. The lapel adaptor also includes a second portion having a pair of magnets spaced apart from one another by substantially a same distance as a distance between the pair of electrodes on the bottom surface of the sensor pod housing. The lapel adaptor further includes a third portion that enables the first and second portions of the lapel adaptor to be folded toward one another. |
| US09237868B2 |
Fitness test
This document describes a fitness test application which allows the user to exercise freely (running and cycling outdoors, bicycle ergometer, rowing ergometer, treadmill) and which provides an estimate of user's fitness during and/or after the exercise. The analysis can be performed either as real-time or as post-analysis. |
| US09237866B2 |
Blood glucose management
This disclosure provides equipment and processes for blood glucose management. Embodiments may comprise a lancet device that includes a base that supports a lancet and a cover. The cover can move controllably from an un-depressed position to a depressed position when a predetermined force is applied. The cover can provide access to the lancet in the depressed position. In another aspect, a biological test kit may include a reusable module and a disposable module. The disposable module may include one or more lancet devices such as that described above to collect a biological sample, one or more strip stations supporting biological strips and a disposable module connector. The reusable module may support measuring equipment to measure a property of the biological sample and a reusable module connector that engages removably with the disposable module connector. |
| US09237864B2 |
Analyte sensors and methods of manufacturing same
Analyte sensors and methods of manufacturing same are provided, including analyte sensors comprising multi-axis flexibility. For example, a multi-electrode sensor system 800 comprising two working electrodes and at least one reference/counter electrode is provided. The sensor system 800 comprises first and second elongated bodies E1, E2, each formed of a conductive core or of a core with a conductive layer deposited thereon, insulating layer 810 that separates the conductive layer 820 from the elongated body, a membrane layer deposited on top of the elongated bodies E1, E2, and working electrodes 802′, 802″ formed by removing portions of the conductive layer 820 and the insulating layer 810, thereby exposing electroactive surface of the elongated bodies E1, E2. |
| US09237863B2 |
Personal authentication apparatus and body weight/body composition meter
A personal authentication apparatus includes: an acquisition unit that acquires a measurement result including body weight and body impedance; a calculation unit configured to, based on the measurement result acquired by the acquisition unit and personal information, calculate a calculation value relating to body composition that is less susceptible to temporal variation than body water amount; a storage unit configured to store the body weight, the personal information, and the calculation value in association with measurement subject specification information that specifies the measurement subject; a comparison unit configured to compare the most recent calculation value and a new calculation value; and a measurement subject specification unit configured to, based on a difference between calculation values, specify which of the pieces of measurement subject specification information stored in the storage unit corresponds to the measurement result acquired by the acquisition unit. |
| US09237858B2 |
Detecting loss of full skin contact in patient electrodes
Patient electrodes, patient monitors, defibrillators, wearable defibrillators, software and methods may warn when an electrode stops being fully attached to the patient's skin. A patient electrode includes a pad for attaching to the skin of a patient, a lead coupled to the pad, and a contact detector that can change state, when the pad does not contact fully the skin of the patient. When the detector changes state, an output device may emit an alert, for notifying a rescuer or even the patient. |
| US09237855B2 |
Wearable heart rate monitor
Some embodiments provide a wearable fitness monitoring device including a motion sensor and a photoplethysmographic (PPG) sensor. The PPG sensor includes (i) a periodic light source, (ii) a photo detector, and (iii) circuitry determining a user's heart rate from an output of the photo detector. Some embodiments provide methods for operating a heart rate monitor of a wearable fitness monitoring device to measure one or more characteristics of a heartbeat waveform. Some embodiments provide methods for operating the wearable fitness monitoring device in a low power state when the device determines that the device is not worn by a user. Some embodiments provide methods for operating the wearable fitness monitoring device in a normal power state when the device determines that the device is worn by a user. Some embodiments provide methods for using response characteristics of the user's skin to adjust a gain and/or light emission intensity of the heart rate monitor. |
| US09237853B2 |
System for detection and treatment of infection or inflammation
A system for visualizing a medical treatment of a human or animal body part. The system has means for thermal treatment of the body part, means for determining the temperature distribution on the body part, and means for identifying the location of a particular temperature determined on the body part. Further, a method for visualizing the temperature characteristics of a human or animal body part is provided. The method includes the steps of comparing a first temperature distribution data set of the surface of the body part with a second temperature distribution data set of the surface of the body part, wherein the first temperature distribution data set is determined before and the second temperature distribution data set is determined after a thermal treatment of the body part, and visualizing the temperature distribution data sets of the body part. |
| US09237852B2 |
Probe
A probe is shown. According to one implementation, the following is included at a tip of the probe, as the optical system. A first optical fiber system forms an irradiating light guiding path to guide irradiating light. A second optical fiber system forms a receiving light guiding path to guide measuring light. A condenser lens system is positioned opposed to the first optical fiber system and the second optical fiber system, and the irradiating light is irradiated thereon and the measuring light is condensed. An optical axis of the condenser lens system, a central axis of a light emitting end of the first optical fiber system, and a central axis of a light receiving end of the second optical fiber system are positioned so a straight line which passes through two axes does not pass through a remaining axis. |
| US09237850B2 |
System and method for noninvasively monitoring conditions of a subject
A method and system are presented for use in determining one or more parameters of a subject. A region of interest of the subject is irradiated with acoustic tagging radiation, which comprises at least one acoustic tagging beam. At least a portion of the region of interest is irradiated with at least one electromagnetic beam of a predetermined frequency range. Electromagnetic radiation response of the at least portion of the region of interest is detected and measured data indicative thereof is generated. The detected response comprises electromagnetic radiation tagged by the acoustic radiation. This enables processing of the measured data indicative of the detected electromagnetic radiation response to determine at least one parameter of the subject in a region corresponding to the locations in the medium at which the electromagnetic radiation has been tagged by the acoustic radiation, and outputting data indicative of the at least one determined parameter. |
| US09237848B2 |
Modular physiological sensing patch
A modular holder or patch is described that may be used with or as part of a wireless physiological sensing device. The wireless physiological sensing device may include a holder or patch, first and second electrodes, and an electronics package that may be removably coupled with the holder or patch and which may be in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes. The electronics package may include a housing, a wireless transceiver and electronic circuitry configured to process signals received via the first and second electrodes and the wireless transceiver. |
| US09237847B2 |
Ophthalmoscope device
An ophthalmoscope device includes a support structure, an image capture device, and a display device. The support structure is configured to be worn by a subject. The image capture device is configured to capture images of the eye fundus of the subject. The display device is configured to overlay images in the field of view of the subject. The overlaid images are used to align the pupil/fovea orientation axis with the optical axis of the image capture device. |
| US09237844B2 |
System and method for tracking the point of gaze of an observer
A system for tracking the point of gaze of an observer observing an object comprises a camera for recording an image of an eye of the observer, comprises a means for providing a luminous marker, and means for analyzing the image of the eye to determine the reflection of the marker on the eye and the centre of the pupil. The relative positions of the corneal reflection of the marker and the pupil centre are measured. The marker is repositioned, in dependence on the determined relative positions, to improve correspondence between the corneal reflection of the marker and the pupil center. |
| US09237843B1 |
System for measuring visual fixation disparity
There is disclosed herein a system for measuring visual fixation disparity comprising a display apparatus for presenting stereoscopic visual content to a patient. A sensing apparatus tracks eye movement of the patient. A controller controls the display apparatus to stereoscopically display a central image target alternately to a left eye and a right eye of the patient and tracking eye movement for a period of time as the central image target is alternated between the left eye and the right eye, and incrementally relocating the central image target left and right images until the patient perceives the left and right images to be physically coincident. |
| US09237836B2 |
Rotating filter for a dishwasher
A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber, a liquid spraying system, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotating filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid. |
| US09237835B2 |
Collecting apparatus of sucked materials for vacuum cleaner appliances
A collection apparatus for use in vacuum cleaners appliance to collect sucked up materials includes a tank that has a bottom, peripheral walls and an upper opening opposite to the bottom, and that is adapted to be closed by a removable lid; suction means that are coupled to the tank to create a negative pressure therein; and separation means that separate the sucked up materials from the air flows moving in a suction direction defined from an inlet into the tank and an outlet from the tank, which are either wet separation means or dry separation means that can be alternately and interchangeably mounted within the tank using removable mounting means. |
| US09237834B2 |
Cyclonic separator
A cyclonic separator comprising a first cyclone stage, a second cyclone stage and an inlet duct. The first cyclone stage comprises a cyclone chamber and a first dirt collection chamber. The second cyclone stage is located downstream of the first cyclone stage and comprises a second dirt collection chamber. The inlet duct carries fluid from an opening in the base of the cyclonic separator to the cyclone chamber, and the first dirt collection chamber surrounds at least partly the inlet duct and the second dirt collection chamber. |
| US09237833B2 |
Vacuum cleaner and dust container
A vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body and a dust container separably mounted on the cleaner body. The dust container includes a dust collection body including an opening, a wall, and a dust separation part. A cover covers the opening of the dust collection body. An air guide is disposed at the dust collection body, the air guide having an opening provides an inflow hole through which air separated from dust in the dust separation part is introduced, and a filter accommodated in the air guide filters the air separated from the dust. When the cover uncovers the opening of the dust collection body, the filter is visible through the opening of the air guide. |
| US09237828B2 |
Charcoal barbecue grills
A charcoal grill includes a vessel configured to hold and burn charcoal for cooking food. The charcoal grill may include a receptacle moveable between a first position in which the receptacle is positioned for collecting ashes from charcoal burned in the vessel and a second position in which the receptacle is separated from the vessel for disposal of the collected ashes. Additionally, or alternatively, the vessel may define a passage extending from an exterior side of the vessel to an interior side of the vessel for permitting a starter device to be inserted into the passage for igniting charcoal within the vessel. Additionally, or alternatively, the charcoal grill may include a vent system including at least one vent opening extending through a portion of the vessel, a vent cover movable with respect to the vent opening between a closed position and an open position, and at least one calibration associated with the vent cover between the closed position and the open position. |
| US09237827B2 |
Cooking appliance of the grill or barbecue type
A cooking appliance (1) of the grill or barbecue type, comprises a frame (10) supporting a cooking surface (2) on which foodstuffs to be cooked can be arranged, and a heating surface (3) arranged opposite said cooking surface (2). The frame (10) defines a housing (4) parallel to a horizontal plane (P) and designed to accommodate the cooking surface (2) between a storage position in which it lies on the bottom of the housing (4) and a use position in which it is inclined at an angle α to said horizontal plane (P). The heating surface (3) is connected to the frame (10) by a hinge (5) allowing the displacement of the heating surface (3) between a passive position in which it closes the housing (4) and an active position in which it is inclined at an angle β to the horizontal plane (P), the housing (4) is open and the cooking surface (2) can be deployed and positioned opposite the heating surface (3). The cooking surface (2) is arranged between the horizontal plane (P) and the heating surface (3) so that the substances released by the foodstuffs while they cook do not run onto the heating surface (3). |
| US09237826B2 |
Sandwich press and grill apparatus
A sandwich press and grill apparatus. The apparatus comprising a lower housing and an upper housing, each hingedly interconnected. The lower housing is adapted to releasably engage a lower cooking plate, the lower housing including a first temperature sensor adapted to be in thermal communication with the lower cooking plate when engaged. The upper housing is adapted to releasably engage the upper cooking plate, the upper housing including a second temperature sensor adapted to be in thermal communication with the upper cooking plate when engaged. The lower housing has a first releasable power coupling element for providing electrical power to a lower heating element integrally formed with the lower cooking plate, and the upper housing has a second releasable power coupling element for providing electrical power to an upper heating element integrally formed with the upper cooking plate. A temperature controller adapted to receive at least one temperature set point signal and to independently control the temperature of the lower cooking plate and the upper cooking plate. |
| US09237825B2 |
Cooking vessel for a cooking and mixing appliance kit
A cooking appliance kit includes a housing having a plurality of walls defining a heating cavity and a cooking vessel that is configured to be inserted into the heating cavity. The cooking vessel includes a first rounded end, a second rounded end, and an intermediate necked portion that define first and second wells that at least partially intersect. First and second distinct heater plates are disposed in the first and second wells, respectively. An arcuate dividing wall is disposed in the heating cavity and is removably engaged with the intermediate necked portion between the first and second distinct heater plates. The arcuate dividing wall defines a circular cooking zone and a crescent cooking zone. A drive arm is removably coupled to the housing and extends over the circular cooking zone. The drive arm includes one of a flipping wand and a stirring wand. |
| US09237824B2 |
Capsule piercing module
A capsule-based beverage production machine that comprises a module designed for producing a beverage on the basis of ingredients which are contained in a capsule. The module comprises: means for retaining the capsule in a fixed position, and means for perforation of the capsule, wherein the perforation means are controlled to perforate the capsule after the capsule is retained in the fixed position by the retaining means. |
| US09237821B2 |
Assembly for mounting shades
The present embodiments provide for a system of fastening devices, e.g., mounts, brackets, and assemblies for installing roller window shades. In one embodiment, the fastening device system comprises two one-piece, disk-shaped mounting brackets, one for each end of a shade tube, wherein the mounting brackets are configured such that, in use, the outer circumference of the brackets are visible; the mounting means being largely hidden within the bracket or by the shade. In a particular embodiment, the fastening system is designed for use with motorized shades, wherein one mounting bracket is configured to key the shade motor, and one mounting bracket is configured to receive the idler pin. |
| US09237813B2 |
Adjustable height aid for stretching a sheet
An adjustable height device for aiding in the stretching of a sheet. The device may include a bracket for attaching the device to a bottom surface of a bed frame, a first connector attached to the bracket by a first rotating element so that the first connector can rotate about the first rotating element with respect to the bracket, a telescoping shaft attached to the first connector by a second rotating element so that the telescoping shaft is rotatable about the second rotating element with respect to the first connector, and a gripping device attached to the telescoping shaft by a second connector. The telescoping shaft may be made of an inner shaft slidably inserted into an outer shaft. The gripping device may include a base having a first gripping surface and a movable element having a second gripping surface rotatable about a rotational axis with respect to the base. |
| US09237812B1 |
Bodily cushion assembly
A bodily cushion assembly for retaining a user's arms and legs within a chair such that said assembly prevents bruising from occurring on the user's arms and legs includes a pad that may be positionable on a chair. The user sits on the pad after the pad is positioned on the chair. A plurality of bolsters is coupled to an outer edge of the pad. The plurality of bolsters retains the user's arms and legs on the pad. |
| US09237808B2 |
Bracket assembly for slide
A bracket assembly includes a bracket, an inserting member, an elastic member disposed on the bracket, first and second arms oppositely and pivotally connected to the bracket, and an operation member. The elastic member includes first and second elastic portions correspondingly disposed. The first and second arms each include a first portion having a contact portion abutting against the respective first or second elastic portion and a second portion having a hook portion and a connecting portion oppositely disposed. The operation member is connected between the connecting portions of the first and second arms. |
| US09237807B1 |
Furniture slide assembly
A furniture slide assembly includes a slide body with a top for supporting the furniture leg and also has a bottom surface with a substantially low coefficient of friction. A clamp assembly is affixed to and supported above the slide body assembly and includes a clamp body formed of a resilient material. The body has a first arm and an opposing second arm wherein the body, the first arm, and the second arm have an inner surface which defines a receiving aperture in the clamp body. The first arm and the second arm further define an opening therebetween. A clamp arm extends from a distal end of the first arm and is securable to the second arm. |
| US09237806B2 |
Sliding track assembly
A sliding track assembly including a first, second and third rails, the second rail slidably mounted on the first rail, and the third rail slidably mounted on the second rail, so that the second and third rail can move relatively to the first rail and to each other. The sliding tract assembly also includes a latch member mounted on the third rail near its outer end and having two resilient or/and compressible portions each having asymmetric inward and outward facing slopes, and a lock member mounted or formed on the second rail near its outer end. The third rail can move together with the second rail when the latch member and the lock member are engaged, and the third rails can move freely by itself when the latch member and the lock member are disengaged. |
| US09237801B2 |
Table top with a plurality of closely spaced depressions
A folding utility table includes a table top having a pair of support pedestals pivotally attached. A first pivotal support brace includes a distal end and a proximal end attached to the first support pedestal. A second pivotal support brace includes a distal end and a proximal end attached to the second support pedestal. In addition, the support pedestals may comprise at least one support leg, and each support leg of the first and second support pedestals may be laterally offset from each other so as to permit an offset displacement of the support legs when the support pedestals are disposed in a collapsed position. |
| US09237798B2 |
Fluid dispensing oral care implement
A fluid dispensing oral care implement with fluid delivery system. The implement includes a storage member containing a fluid. A channel formed of one or more wicking or capillary members extends through at least a portion of the oral care implement to deliver fluid(s) through one or more fluid outlets via capillary action. In one embodiment, the fluid outlet is comprised of a wicking or capillary material and is disposed in the head of the implement. In some embodiments, the implement may include a valve and a specially configured storage cap. A variety of fluids can be administered for therapeutic, hygienic, and/or other benefits, such as fresh breath, tooth whitening, tooth sensitivity, plaque and/or tartar control, or producing sensations of heat, cool, or tingling. |
| US09237794B2 |
Lock-in cosmetic accessory sleeve apparatus having engageable and/or constriction means
The present invention relates generally to a cosmetic apparatus. More particularly, the invention encompasses an accessory sleeve for a cosmetic item. The present invention is also directed to a novel lock-in cosmetic accessory sleeve. The accessory sleeve has a first opening to securely and releaseably accommodate a first cosmetic container, and a second opening to securely and releaseably accommodate a second cosmetic container. The accessory sleeve and/or the containers have at least one releaseable engagement means to securely hold each to the other. The lock-in cosmetic accessory sleeve has at least one engageable and/or constriction means to engage with and securely, and releaseably, hold a first cosmetic container at a first open end, and/or to engage with and securely, and releaseably, hold a second cosmetic container at a second open end. The constriction means could be at least one leaf spring type means. |
| US09237793B2 |
Cap for cosmetic bottle
Disclosed is a cap for a cosmetic bottle. The cap for the cosmetic bottle includes a coupling member provided at the upper end thereof with a plurality of moving bars, a button member provided at an inner surface thereof with a plurality of moving grooves so that the moving bars are vertically inserted into the moving grooves, a pumping part being coupled with a lower end of a pumping member, an elastic member interposed between the coupling member and the button member, a rotating member rotatably coupled with an outside of the coupling member, an adjusting member rotatably inserted into an inner surface of an upper end of the rotating member, a button member outputting unit to allow the button member to vertically move up or down if the rotating member is rotated, and a coupling unit to couple the rotating member with the coupling member or the adjusting member. |
| US09237792B2 |
Cosmetic container
When a turning portion on the front end side of the cover is turned in one direction, a turning-portion engagement part disposed in the turning portion engages with a container main body-side engagement part so as to close the cover. When the turning portion of the cover is turned in the opposite direction, engagement between the turning-portion engagement part and the container main body-side engagement part is released. When the turning portion is kept turned in the opposite direction, a turning-portion opening-operation auxiliary portion disposed in the turning portion abuts on a container main body-side opening-operation auxiliary portion and the cover can be pressed up with a weak force by the principle of the lever. |
| US09237787B2 |
Hair styling iron with timer
A hair styling iron has a handle to which a heated barrel is mounted and a motor for moving the barrel. The iron includes a drive switch which is user actuable and connected to the control circuit for controlling operation of the motor. The control circuit includes a timer and monitors at least one change of state of the user-actuable drive switch to determine a starting time, and actuates an alarm, or another response, such as a reversal of the motor to unwind the hair, after an elapsed time measured from the starting time. The elapsed time may be user-selected or calculated automatically depending upon the length of hair wound onto the barrel, with compensation for barrel temperature. |
| US09237784B1 |
Slide fastener slider
A slide fastener slider has a body including an upper wing, a lower wing and a coupling pillar mutually coupling the respective upper and lower wings. The slide fastener slider has been cast molded to have a configuration where the post to which a pull is attached extends over the upper wing substantially in parallel with the upper wing, and then a logo or a pattern or the like has been engraved on the upper surface of the post. |
| US09237781B2 |
Slider fastener and method for manufacturing same
A slide fastener is provided. A pair of fastener element rows respectively provided along opposing one side edge portions of pair of fastener tapes. A slider is configured to engage and disengage the pair of fastener element rows. Tape members are respectively provided in parallel along another side edge portions of the pair of fastener tapes, that are opposite to the one side edge portions. The tape members are respectively sewn to the another side edge portions of the fastener tapes with sewing threads which bridge over the fastener tapes and the tape members. |
| US09237777B2 |
Series of ski boots
A series of ski boots comprising at least two ski boots whose rigid outer shell (2) is identical, and in which at least one of the boots of the series of boots has a rigid shell (2) comprising an internally inserted slipper (20; 20′), the slipper (20; 20′) comprising a bootboard (25; 25′) and side walls (21; 21′), so that the at least two ski boots comprising an identical rigid outer shell (2) are of different sizes. |
| US09237776B2 |
Hat accessory
An accessory for a hat is disclosed which a wearer can use to show support for a team, cause or event and/or to protect the wearer from rain and damaging UV rays. In particular, the hat accessory may receive a protective covering with printed indicia on the exterior surface thereof. The protective covering may also be coated with a water repellent and also embedded with a treatment for UV protection. The protective covering may be removably attachable to the hat accessory so that the wearer can show support to a particular team, event or cause depending on the circumstances. |
| US09237771B2 |
Neck, spine, and spinal cord support device for newborn baby and infant, and blanket assembly for same
An assembly for supporting an infant (e.g., newborn baby) includes a fabric body defining a pocket between an upper layer and a lower layer of the body at one end of the fabric body, the pocket accessible via an opening selectively closeable to seal the pocket. A neck, spine and spinal cord support device of a semi-rigid material is removably insertable in the pocket of the fabric body by the pocket so as to maintain the support device in a substantially fixed position within the fabric body. The support device supports the head, neck, spine and spinal cord of a newborn baby or infant when the infant is on the fabric body to inhibit injury to the infant's head, neck, spine and spinal cord. The fabric body can be a swaddle blanket and/or sleeve. |
| US09237767B2 |
Photonic wine processor
An apparatus and method for modifying the organoleptic properties of a beverage, such as wine in a bottle, said apparatus having a least one light-source, said light-source applying peak wavelengths at intensities and time durations optimal for modifying said beverage's organoleptic properties. |
| US09237763B2 |
Synbiotic product
The present invention relates to a synbiotic product composition comprising a blend or mixture of a prebiotic carbohydrate and a probiotic spore-forming Bacillus bacteria. Examples of prebiotic carbohydrates useful in synbiotic product include arabinoxylan, arabinoxylan oligosaccharides, xylose, soluble fiber dextrin, soluble corn fiber, and polydextrose. The present invention also relates to human foodstuffs and animal feed comprising such synbiotic products and methods of increasing the titer of spore-forming bacteria in the intestinal tracts of mammals by administration of symbiotic products. |
| US09237761B2 |
Methods and diets for lowering glucose and/or IGF-1 levels
A method of improving longevity and/or alleviating a symptom of aging or preventing age related diseases is provided. The method includes a step in which the subject's average and type of daily protein intake, IGF-I, and IGFBP1 levels, and risk factors for overall mortality, cancer and diabetes are determined. With respect to protein consumption, the relative amounts of protein calories from animal and plant sources are determined. A periodic normal calorie or low calorie but low protein fasting mimicking diet with frequencies of every 2 weeks to 2 months is provided to the subject if the subject's average daily protein intake level and type and/or IGF-I levels, and/or IGFBP1 levels is identified as being greater or lower than a predetermined cutoff intake/level and if the subject is younger than a predetermined age. The method is also shown to alleviate symptoms of chemotoxicity. |
| US09237753B2 |
Mixture of lactic bacteria for the preparation of gluten free baked products
The present invention concerns a mixture of lactic bacteria for yeasting of gluten-free baked products. Particularly, the invention concerns the use of “natural yeast” based on selected lactic bacteria as yeasting agent for the production of gluten-free bread, with improved sensory and nutritional property, designed for celiac patients feeding. |
| US09237752B2 |
Laminated baking mold
A laminated baking mold material includes a food contact layer and an exterior layer. The food contact layer serves as a functional layer, and may include an aluminum foil. The exterior layer may include a paper layer, and may be printed. The laminated baking mold may be formed into self-supporting baking molds or pan-supported baking liners. The functional barrier prevents migration of ink from an exterior surface of the baking mold or liner into a baked product or the permeation of grease or moisture from the baked product to the exterior layer preventing a degradation of a printing thereon and allowing for deep, opaque, and vibrant colors and patterns. |
| US09237749B2 |
Antimicrobial combinations of pyrion compounds with polyethyleneimines
The present invention relates to combinations of the pyrion compounds sodium pyrithione and 1-hydroxy-2-pyridinone, and polyethyleneimines (PEI) which provide an improved biocidal effect. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions comprising a combination of a pyrion compound selected from sodium pyrithione and 1-hydroxy-2-pyridinone together with polyethyleneimines; in respective proportions to provide a synergistic biocidal effect. Compositions comprising these combinations are useful for the protection of any living or non-living material, such as crops, plants, fruits, seeds, objects made of wood, thatch or the like, engineering material, biodegradable material and textiles against deterioration due to the action of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae, viruses, and the like. |
| US09237748B2 |
Treatment methods using disinfecting compositions containing a polymer complex of organic acid
The present invention provides compositions which not only effectively kill a broad spectrum of microorganisms present on surfaces on contact but continue to kill microorganisms for a period of time thereafter. |
| US09237739B1 |
Pet-at-rest systems
A pet console seat system for bridging a gap between a front seat and a back seat in a vehicle has a pet console seat forming a pet console seat assembly having a Tee-shaped cushion including a first end, a second end, a top side, a bottom side, a left side, and a right side; a bottom-board insert; and a protective cover coupled to the Tee-shaped cushion. The pet console seat bridges a gap between the front seat and the back seat of the vehicle by creating the seat and a planar path for the pet to travel between the front seat to the back seat. The pet console seat protects a console of the vehicle from damage caused by nails scratching and chewing with sharp incisors of the pet. |
| US09237724B2 |
Soybean cultivar S130053
A soybean cultivar designated S130053 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S130053, to the plants of soybean cultivar S130053, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S130053, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S130053. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S130053. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S130053, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S130053 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09237718B2 |
Soybean cultivar S130050
A soybean cultivar designated S130050 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S130050, to the plants of soybean cultivar S130050, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S130050, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S130050. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S130050. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S130050, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S130050 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09237713B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH076044
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH076044. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH076044, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH076044 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 CH076044. |
| US09237712B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH558824
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH558824. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH558824, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH558824 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 CH558824. |
| US09237711B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH627895
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH627895. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH627895, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH627895 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 CH627895. |
| US09237709B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH865322
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH865322. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH865322, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH865322 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 CH865322. |
| US09237707B1 |
Maize inbred PH1K1F
A novel maize variety designated PH1K1F and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1K1F with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1K1F 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 PH1K1F or a locus conversion of PH1K1F with another maize variety. |
| US09237705B1 |
Maize inbred PH1K1C
A novel maize variety designated PH1K1C and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1K1C with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1K1C 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 PH1K1C or a locus conversion of PH1K1C with another maize variety. |
| US09237703B1 |
Maize inbred PH1D9J
A novel maize variety designated PH1D9J and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1D9J with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1D9J 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 PH1D9J or a locus conversion of PH1D9J with another maize variety. |
| US09237698B2 |
Cotton variety 11R136B2R2
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 11R136B2R2. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 11R136B2R2. Also provided by the invention are methods of using cotton variety 11R136B2R2 and products derived therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 11R136B2R2 with itself or another cotton variety and plants and seeds produced by such methods. |
| US09237694B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH909736
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH909736. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH909736, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH909736 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 CH909736. |
| US09237691B2 |
Combined baler/bale wrapper
A combined baler/bale wrapper (1) comprises a chassis (5) on which a baler (10) and a bale wrapper (11) are mounted. The baler (10) comprises a stationary segment (18), a lower segment (19) and an upper segment (20) which together define a bale forming chamber (15) within which a round bale (2) is formed. The lower segment (19) and the upper segment (20) are pivotal from a bale forming position (FIG. 5) to a discharge position (FIG. 1) for transferring a bale of the bale forming chamber (15) onto bale supporting rollers (50) of the bale wrapper (11). The bale supporting rollers (50) rotate the bale (2) about a first wrapping axis (53) while a carrier ring (55) simultaneously revolves a pair of wrapping material dispensers (54) about a second wrapping axis (56) for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale (2). |
| US09241434B2 |
NANO composite consisting of carbon nanotubes and metal oxide and method for manufacturing the same
Provided are a method for manufacturing a carbon nanotube-metal oxide composite, and a carbon nanotube-metal oxide composite manufactured thereby, the method comprising: dispersing carbon nanotubes in a reductive solvent to prepare a dispersion liquid; adding a co-reducing agent and a metal precursor to the dispersion liquid to prepare a mixture liquid; and performing heat treatment on the mixture liquid to coat the metal precursor on the carbon nanotubes in a metal oxide form, so that there can be provided a carbon nanotube-metal oxide composite where metal oxide particles of several nm to several tens of nm are uniformly dispersed in carbon nanotubes or combined with surfaces of the carbon nanotubes in a coating type. |
| US09241432B1 |
Seawater faraday cage
A method for deploying a lightweight, flexible Faraday cage around a device can include the step of directing the conductive fluid flow in a manner that causes a shroud to form over the device. In some embodiments, a flexible material such as canvas can be deployed over the device and the conductive fluid can be sprayed onto the flexible material to form the shroud. In other embodiments, a plurality of nozzles can be placed around the perimeter of the device, and the nozzles can be directed at a predetermined point over the device. The streams can meet at the predetermined point, collide and thereby provide the conductive shroud for the device. The shroud can have a thickness, which can be chosen according to the desired frequency of electromagnetic radiation to be blocked, typically from one to one hundred millimeters (1-100 mm). |
| US09241430B2 |
Power pole isolated heat pipe inverter assembly
A power pole inverter is provided. The power pole inverter includes a housing assembly, a capacitor assembly, a number of arm assemblies, a number of heat sinks, and a support assembly. The housing assembly includes a number of sidewalk. The housing assembly sidewalls defining an enclosed space. The capacitor assembly is coupled to the housing assembly. Each arm assembly includes a plurality of electrical components and a number of electrical buses. Each the electrical bus includes a body with terminals, each the terminal structured to be coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the capacitor assembly, each arm assembly including a neutral terminal. Each arm assembly is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the capacitor assembly. The support assembly includes a non-conductive frame assembly. The support assembly is structured to support each the heat sink in isolation. |
| US09241428B1 |
Inverter assembly
Power inverter assemblies are provided herein for use with motor vehicles. An inverter assembly may have a symmetrical structure configured to convert DC input power to AC output power. The inverter assembly may include a housing enclosing a symmetrical DC input portion, a symmetrical AC output portion, a DC link capacitor, and a gate drive portion having a pair of power modules. The symmetrical DC input portion can include a DC input bus bar sub-assembly to which the DC link capacitor is coupled, and a second DC bus bar sub-assembly that may electrically couple the DC link capacitor with the power modules. The symmetrical AC output portion may include a three phase output AC bus bar sub-assembly to which the power modules can be electrically coupled. A cooling sub-assembly may be provided for cooling the power modules with fluid transfer using a coolant. |
| US09241425B1 |
Angled card cage for improved cooling airflow in front to back airflow products
An angled card cage for improved cooling airflow in front to back airflow products is disclosed. The angled card cage for improved cooling airflow includes a card cage having horizontally mounted circuit cards wherein the card cage is oriented at a non-orthogonal yaw angle relative to the front facing of an equipment rack. The angled card cage for improved cooling airflow provides advantages over systems known in the art by reducing pressure head losses incurred by the cooling air stream. |
| US09241420B2 |
In-package fly-by signaling
In-package fly-by signaling can be provided in a multi-chip microelectronic package having address lines on a package substrate configured to carry address information to a first connection region on the substrate having a first delay from terminals of the package, and the address lines being configured to carry the address information beyond the first connection region to at least to a second connection region having a second delay from the terminals that is greater than the first delay. Address inputs of a first microelectronic element, e.g., semiconductor chip, can be coupled with each of the address lines at the first connection region, and address inputs of a second microelectronic element can be coupled with each of the address lines at the second connection region. |
| US09241410B2 |
Wired circuit board and producing method thereof
A wired circuit board includes an insulating layer, and a conductive layer including a wire covered with the insulating layer and a terminal continued to the wire to electrically connect the wire to an electronic element. The insulating layer is formed with an insulating opening exposing the terminal, and the terminal is formed in a pattern which is indented in a thickness direction. |
| US09241401B2 |
Solid state lighting device and method employing heat exchanger thermally coupled circuit board
An illumination device comprises a circuit board that carries solid-state light sources and a heat transfer structure to which the circuit board is intimately physically coupled such that the circuit board is curved along at least one of a longitudinal dimension or a lateral dimension thereof. Such may allow less fasteners to be used than would otherwise be possible, while maintaining close contact over a large portion of the surface area. Some embodiments may employ a clamp, for example a peripheral clamp such as a cover or bezel clamp. |
| US09241398B2 |
Method of manufacturing high-frequency acceleration cavity component
According to one embodiment, there is provided a method of manufacturing a high-frequency acceleration cavity component, the method including covering a mold with a conducting material, enclosing, in an outer shell, the mold covered with the conducting material, vacuum-airtight-welding the outer shell enclosing the mold, conducing hot isostatic pressing of the vacuum-airtight-welded outer shell, and taking the conducting material formed in the mold out of the outer shell which has undergone the hot isostatic pressing. |
| US09241396B2 |
Method for operating a plasma arc torch having multiple operating modes
The present invention provides a multi-mode plasma arc torch that includes a cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, a first tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the first end, a second tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the second end, an electrode housing connected to the first end of the cylindrical vessel such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel, and a hollow electrode nozzle connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel such that the center line of the hollow electrode nozzle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel. Adjusting a position of the electrode with respect to the hollow electrode causes the multi-mode plasma arc torch to operate in a dead short resistive mode, a submerged arc mode, an electrolysis mode, a glow discharge mode or a plasma arc mode. |
| US09241394B2 |
Radiation imaging control apparatus and method for controlling the same
A radiation imaging control apparatus configured to control a radiation imaging operation using a radiation generation apparatus in which a radiation generation condition is adjustable by a manual operation includes a setting unit configured to set the radiation generation condition for the radiation imaging operation, a transmission unit configured to transmit the radiation generation condition to the radiation generation apparatus, and a transmission control unit configured to limit transmission of the radiation generation condition by the transmission unit in a case where a radiation imaging operation belonging to the same group as that of the radiation imaging operation is performed. |
| US09241389B2 |
Digital lighting sub-network interface
A digital sub-network interface unit includes a primary digital lighting interface port to couple to a primary lighting network. An address of the digital sub-network interface unit on the primary lighting network is manually set at the digital sub-network interface unit. The digital sub-network interface unit also includes a secondary digital lighting interface port to couple to a secondary lighting network. The digital sub-network interface unit further includes a lighting sub-network processor. The lighting sub-network processor is configured to assign addresses to a plurality of secondary lighting fixtures, and to receive commands from a primary digital lighting controller in association with an address of the digital sub-network interface unit. The lighting sub-network processor is also configured to control a plurality of secondary lighting fixtures based on the commands received from the primary digital lighting controller. |
| US09241388B2 |
Method and apparatus for manufacturing a light-emitting device including correction of an application amount of a fluorescent resin based on a fluorescent particle concentration
A method of manufacturing a light-emitting device which includes a light-emitting source is provided by applying, onto the light-emitting source, a fluorescent resin which includes fluorescent particles and is stored in and discharged from an applicator. The method includes measuring a first concentration which is a concentration of the fluorescent particles included in the fluorescent resin discharged from the applicator; and applying, onto the light-emitting source, the fluorescent resin in an application amount determined based on the first concentration which has been measured and reference data which indicates a relationship between a concentration of the fluorescent particles and an application amount of the fluorescent resin that enables the light-emitting device to have constant chromaticity. |
| US09241385B2 |
Current balancing circuits for light-emitting-diode-based illumination systems
A system including a plurality of switches and a comparator. The plurality of switches is configured to respectively supply a plurality of currents via respective terminals to a plurality of sets of light emitting diodes. The sets of light emitting diodes are configured to respectively output light having wavelengths in a plurality of wavelength ranges in a spectrum of blue light. The comparator is configured to compare a reference voltage to a voltage at one of the terminals of one of the plurality of switches connected to one of the sets of light emitting diodes, and to adjust, based on the comparison, biasing of the plurality of switches to maintain a predetermined ratio of the plurality of currents. |
| US09241384B2 |
Solid state lighting devices with adjustable color point
A solid state lighting device includes multiple solid state light emitters and a control circuit configured to adjust aggregated emissions to produce a mixture of light having an adjustable color point together with high luminous efficacy, wherein at least one color point is on or near the white body line WBL (line of minimum tint). Adjustment of color point may provide substantially constant 1931 CIE x-values; substantially constant 1931 CIE y-values, or substantially constant distance relative to the blackbody locus (e.g., with variation in CCT of at least 100K for the color points). An adjustable color point may be arranged to transition between one point near the BBL and another point on or near the WBL. An adjustable color point may provide a first color point on or near the WBL and another point having different CCT and luminous flux. Emitters selected solely from discrete bins or subregions of a CIE diagram may be used in combination to yield a point on or near the WBL. |
| US09241378B2 |
Hybrid constant current LED lamp
The present invention relates to a hybrid constant current LED lamp. The LED lamp includes a rectifier unit, a filter circuit, a switching mode power supply, at least one main LED and a subsidiary LED. The main LED is electrically connected in series to the output terminal of the rectifier unit and the input port of the primary-side circuit of the switching mode power supply. The subsidiary LED is connected to the secondary-side circuit. The invention not only provides circuit architecture capable of providing a constant current, but also improves the power efficiency of the lamp. |
| US09241377B2 |
LED backlight driving circuit, LCD device, and method for driving the LED backlight driving circuit
A light emitting diode (LED) backlight driving circuit includes a power supply, an LED light bar, and a constant current driving chip that adjusts brightness of the LED light bar. The constant current driving chip receives the PWM dimming signal. N boost units are connected in series between the power supply and the LED light bar, and the N boost units are connected in parallel with each other. Comparing units are correspondingly coupled to control ends of one or more of (N−1) boost units. When a duty ratio of the PWM dimming signal is less than a preset threshold, the comparing unit drives a corresponding boost unit to turn off. N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. |
| US09241371B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing wireless communication with a terminal switching between communication modes
A communication apparatus for performing communication with a communication terminal, and a method of controlling the same. The apparatus performs wireless communication with the communication terminal by a first wireless communication mode and performs wireless communication with the communication terminal by a second wireless communication mode in which either the communication apparatus or the communication terminal becomes an access point. The apparatus receives a switching instruction of communication mode from a user, and determines whether or not the switching of the communication mode in accordance with the received switching instruction is executable, makes a request for an additional instruction to the user when it is determined that it is not executable, and controls the switching of the communication mode in accordance with an additional instruction in response to the request. |
| US09241369B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing wireless local area network link between portable terminals
A method of connecting a plurality of portable terminal over a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method including: a user selecting at least one contact from a contact list displayed on a screen of a first portable terminal, transmitting, from the first portable terminal to an external server over a cellular network, connection information necessary for establishing a WLAN link to the first portable terminal; pushing the connection information from the external server to a second portable terminal corresponding to the selected contact; a user pressing a connection authentication button on a selection menu displayed on the second portable terminal, and establishing the WLAN link to the first portable terminal from the second portable terminal by using the connection information. |
| US09241357B2 |
Electronic device, method, and computer-readable storage medium
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a request module, a transmission module, and a connection module. The request module requests a tethering start for a terminal equipped with a tethering feature. The transmission module transmits a password for tethering to the terminal. The connection module connects the electronic device to a network via a tethering terminal. |
| US09241354B2 |
Method and apparatus for initiating X2 interface setup in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for transmitting a transport network layer (TNL) address in a wireless communication system is provided. A home eNodeB (HeNB)/X2-proxy determines a TNL address and an eNB ID to be transmitted in a configuration transfer message based on an indication whether a direct X2 interface or an indirect X2 interface is to be established between a macro eNB and a HeNB. Or, in case that the direct X2 interface between the macro eNB and the HeNB is not available, the HeNB GW/X2-proxy modifies the TNL address of the HeNB and the eNB ID of the HeNB in the configuration transfer message into a TNL address of the NeNB GW/X2-proxy and an eNB ID of the HeNB GW/X2-proxy. |
| US09241350B1 |
Access network type identification in mobile internet protocol (MIP) registration (RRQ)
A wireless communication device identifies the access network type in the Mobile IP (MIP) Registration Request (RRQ). The wireless communication device uses a wireless communication network to access the IP communication network. The wireless communication device initiates a switch to another wireless communication network. In response to initiating the switch, the wireless communication device determines the network type of the new wireless communication network and generates a MIP RRQ identifying the access network type. After the MIP Registration Response (RRP) is received, the wireless communication device sends and retrieves IP data with the IP communication network via the new wireless communication network. |
| US09241349B2 |
Method of transmitting data in a mobile communication system
Disclosed is a data transmission method in a mobile communication system. The data transmission method through a code sequence in a mobile communication system includes grouping input data streams into a plurality of blocks consisting of at least one bit so as to map each block to a corresponding signature sequence, multiplying a signature sequence stream, to which the plurality of blocks are mapped, by a specific code sequence, and transmitting the signature sequence stream multiplied by the specific code sequence to a receiver. |
| US09241343B2 |
Enhanced access channel masks for xHRPD
A method of performing Pseudo-random-Noise (PN) quadrature covering for transmitting data via an access channel. The method according to one embodiment includes receiving a 42-bit access long code mask MIACMAC and a 42-bit access long code mask MQACMAC from an upper layer; generating an MI mask and an MQ mask for PN quadrature covering by using certain bits of an assigned channel number for the access channel; performing exclusive OR operations on certain bits of the received access long code mask MIACMAC; performing exclusive OR operations on certain bits of the received access long code mask MQACMAC; and transmitting signals via the access channel based on the generated 12-bit MI mask and the generated 12-bit MQ mask. |
| US09241340B2 |
Apparatus for scheduling in LTE machine type communication
The present invention relates to a way that a machine type communication module transmits/receives data, using a sleep mode or avoiding a busy time of a base station. That is, the present invention relates to an apparatus for scheduling in LTE machine type communication in which a machine type communication module transmits/receives data, using a sleep mode or avoiding a busy time of a base station for a response to an order or for a periodic report. The apparatus for scheduling in LTE machine type communication includes a machine type communication module that performs machine type communication with a base station. |
| US09241333B2 |
Modular base station
A base station module configured to be part of a group of base station modules comprising the base station module and other base station modules, the group of base station modules together forming a base station, and having antennas for receiving radio signals from mobile stations in a base station communication band, a communication interface for transferring data obtained via the received radio signals to the other base station modules and for receiving corresponding data from the other base station module, a data handling unit selects data for transfer to the other base station modules and an uplink data processing unit processes channels used by a subset of the mobile stations communicating with the base station, where the subset is assigned to the base station module. The base station module uses the data received from the other base station modules to influence processing in the uplink data processing unit. |
| US09241328B2 |
Data transceiving method and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus in which a terminal receives downlink data in a wireless communication system. The method comprises: a step of receiving a control channel signal including resource allocation information through a specific time domain of a subframe having a plurality of time domains; and a step of receiving the downlink data through the downlink data channel resource domain scheduled by the resource allocation information within said specific time domain. In cases where the downlink data channel resource domain is overlapped with a common search space, the downlink data is received through the residual resource domain except the portion overlapped with the common search space from among the downlink data channel resource domain. |
| US09241324B2 |
Mapping and resource allocation method for relay link-physical downlink shared channel
The present disclosure provides a mapping and resource allocation method for R-PDSCH, including: when resources allocated for an R-PDCCH overlap with resources allocated for the R-PDSCH, data of the R-PDSCH is not mapped or sent on over-lapped resources, or the data of the R-PDSCH to be sent on the over-lapped resources is punctured; the data of the R-PDSCH is mapped and sent on all or partial resources which are not occupied by the R-PDCCH; a receiving end receives data according to the mapping method for the R-PDSCH; wherein a resource allocation mode corresponding to a shared channel in an LTE system is reused or a grouping-tree resource allocation mode is used to allocate resources for the R-PDSCH. |
| US09241323B2 |
Method and apparatus for transport format selection in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus for selecting transport formats in a wireless transmitting device and wireless communication device associated therewith, wherein the wireless transmitting device supports transmission modes including single-stream transmission mode and multiple-stream transmission mode and comprises a transmit buffer to buffer data before transport format being selected for transmitting said data to a wireless receiving device, comprising: acquiring radio qualities associated with each stream being transmitted to the wireless receiving device; setting the transmission mode according to received radio qualities; detecting whether there is buffer limitation for said transmit buffer when multiple-stream transmission mode is set; and when buffer limitation is detected and multiple-stream transmission mode is selected for stream transmission, allocating the buffered data among the multiple streams based on the received radio qualities associated with respective streams and selecting transport formats for respective streams of the multiple streams based on their respective allocated buffered data quantities. This enables to obviate the TX power imbalance in case of multiple-stream transmissions, balance code and power usage among UEs in a cell, and thus improve code multiplexing efficiency. |
| US09241315B2 |
Power efficient communications
A method, system, and device provide power-efficient communications within the context of available power. Transmission and receipt data rates are scalable in accordance with output power available from a power source. Data is transmitted at a data rate determined, at least in part, by the available output power. |
| US09241307B2 |
Method and apparatus using an ultra low power signal with scheduled power save modes
Methods and stations for wireless communication are described herein. In some aspects, the station may include a processing circuit configured to process a first signal transmitted to the station, the first signal indicating a target wake up time when an activation signal is expected to be received. The station may further include a wake-up circuit configured to transition a first receiver to an awake state based on the indicated target wake up time. The first receiver is configured to receive the activation signal at the indicated target wake up time. The station may further include a second receiver configured to transition to an awake state based on the first receiver receiving the activation signal and receive a second signal while in the awake state. |
| US09241304B2 |
Optimization process and system for a heterogeneous ad hoc network
Method and system for optimizing selection of a network. The method includes identifying available lenders and existing networks within a vicinity of a borrower, selecting an optimization technique for completing a task of the borrower, calculating, for a plurality of network options, a value for completing the borrower's task according to the optimization technique, and selecting an optimum network option to complete the borrower's task. The plurality of network options includes forming a heterogeneous network composed of both a peer-to-peer network and a multiplexed network. |
| US09241300B2 |
Method for scanning in a multi-mode multi-antenna device
A method and system are provided in which a device comprising a first or main phase locked loop (PLL) and a second or reference PLL, is operable to communicate utilizing a first and a second receiving antenna. The first PLL may generate a first signal based on a reference signal generated by the second PLL. A second signal may also be generated based on the reference signal. Data associated with a first radio access technology (RAT) may be received via the first receiving antenna utilizing the generated first signal. The first RAT or another RAT may be scanned via the second receiving antenna utilizing the generated second signal. The scan via the second receiving antenna may be performed concurrently with the reception of data via the first receiving antenna. A switch may be utilized to enable or disable scanning operations via the second receiving antenna. |
| US09241298B2 |
Devices and methods for facilitating access probe sequences
Access terminals are adapted to transmit a plurality of previously successful access probes to a network node, and determine an initial transmission power level for subsequent access attempts. The initial transmission power level can be determined based at least in part on one or more parameters associated with the plurality of previously successful access probes. An initial access probe of a subsequent access attempt can then be transmitted at the determined initial transmission power level. Network nodes that receive the one or more access probes from access terminals can send a message instructing the access terminals to employ a particular initial transmission power level for a subsequent access attempt. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included. |
| US09241289B1 |
Dynamic adjustment of cell reselection parameters for a wireless communication device
A method of operating a wireless communication device to facilitate cell reselection comprises achieving downlink timing synchronization with a cell associated with a wireless access node based on information broadcast by the wireless access node over a synchronization signal, and performing a number of attempts to achieve uplink timing synchronization with the cell, wherein each of the attempts includes transmitting a preamble identifier and waiting to receive a positive acknowledgement. The method further comprises, if the number of attempts to achieve the uplink timing synchronization with the cell exceeds a threshold amount without receiving the positive acknowledgement, applying an offset to cell reselection parameters to generate modified cell reselection parameters, and responsive to the modified cell reselection parameters satisfying cell reselection criteria, performing both intra-frequency and inter-frequency measurements for potential cell reselection and selecting a different cell for potential synchronization based on the intra-frequency and the inter-frequency measurements. |
| US09241285B1 |
PCRF/ANDSF interaction in a communication network
In a packet communication system, a PCRF processes communication policy data to generate a communication policy instruction and a user notice. The PCRF transfers the communication policy instruction for delivery to a packet gateway system. The PCRF transfers the user notice for delivery to an ANDSF. The ANDSF processes the user notice to generate and transfer a data file for delivery to a user communication device that displays the user notice based on the data file. The packet gateway system processes the communication policy instruction to filter packets exchanged with the user communication device. |
| US09241280B2 |
Methods and arrangements for testing a transmission parameter value in a wireless communication system
A method in a first radio network node for testing a transmission parameter value in a wireless communication system is provided. The first radio network node is configured to, during operational mode thereof, perform transmissions using available resources divided in to resource blocks. The first radio network node allocates a test resource block, for test purposes, among the available resources. The first radio network node defines for the test resource block, a test value for the transmission parameter. The test value differs from the nominal value. The first radio network node performs, during operational mode, a test transmission using the resource block. During the test transmission, the transmission parameter is set to the test value. The test transmission is configured to form the basis for an evaluation of the test value. |
| US09241277B2 |
System and method for monitoring and optimizing network performance to a wireless device
The disclosed embodiments include a method for monitoring and optimizing network performance to a wireless device that includes determining network performance information of a wireless router and communicating data packets containing the network performance information to a network management device. In one embodiment, the network management device is configured to transmit instructional data packets to the wireless router that include instructions for optimizing network performance associated with the wireless device in response to identify a network performance problem associated with the wireless router. |
| US09241274B2 |
Method for avoiding in-device coexistence interference in wireless communication terminal, terminal and eNodeB
The present invention provides a method, terminal and base station for avoiding device coexistence interference of a wireless communication terminal. The wireless communication terminal includes a Long Term Evolution (LTE)/Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) communication module and a coexistence communication module. The method includes the following steps: a first sending step, sending a coexistence communication module startup notification message to the base station, and a first interference avoidance step, before sending auxiliary information to the base station, the wireless communication terminal using a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) mode between the LTE/LTE-A communication module and the coexistence communication module. |
| US09241273B2 |
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for configuration of signaling radio bearers
Methods, corresponding apparatuses, and computer program products for configuring one or more signaling radio bearers are disclosed. A method comprises sending a configuration request for configuring one or more signaling radio bearers to a local area access point by which a user equipment is connected to a wide area base station, wherein the one or more signaling radio bearers are used for communication between the user equipment and the wide area base station. The method also comprises receiving configuration information with respect to the one or more signaling radio bearers from the local area access point. The method additionally comprises sending the configuration information with respect to the one or more signaling radio bearers to the user equipment via a radio resource control message. With the claimed inventions, the wide area base station is capable of efficiently configuring the signaling radio bearers for use between the wide area base station and the user equipment via the local area access point. |
| US09241271B2 |
System and method for restricting access to network performance information
A system and method for restricting access to network performance information associated with communications over a packet network. A request may be received from a user to access network performance information associated with communications of data packets over a packet network. A determination as to whether the user has permission to access the network performance information may be made. In response to determining that the user has permission to access the network performance information, the user may be enabled to access the network performance information; otherwise, the user may be prevented from accessing the network performance information. The network performance information may include information associated with communications of data packets including real-time content and non-real-time content. |
| US09241270B1 |
In-field smart device updates
Methods and systems for causing a device to join a local area network or fabric. A joining device sends an indication that the electronic device is not connected to a network type and receives a device ID for an assisting device to assist the electronic device in joining a network of the network type. Moreover, the assisting device resides on the network. The joining device then authenticates to the assisting device from the assisting device and receives network credentials for the network. Furthermore, the joining device joins the network using the network credentials. |
| US09241266B2 |
Authentication system, small base station, and authentication method
The present invention relates to an authentication system, a small base station, and an authentication method which allow a server side to authenticate whether an installation position of a small base station is valid or not. In a packet to be sent as an authentication request from the femto base station 1, in-IC card information of an IC card inserted into the femto base station 1 is contained. A network terminating device 2 converts a local IP address described in a header of the packet to a global IP address, and sends it to a femto concentrator 4. The femto concentrator 4 generates authentication information by associating the in-IC card information with the global IP address, and sends it to an authentication server 5. The authentication server 5 determines that the installation position of the femto base station 1 is valid if the in-IC card information and global IP address included in the authentication information have been associated with each other and registered in an authentication table. The present invention can be applied to a base station for a femtocell. |
| US09241264B2 |
Network access authentication for user equipment communicating in multiple networks
The invention relates to a method, an element, and a system for providing access authentication for a user using user equipment (1-2) communicating (1) in a first communications network (1-30) accepting a first type of identification to a second communications network (1-16, 1-20) accepting a second type of identification. In the invention, an identifier comprising a first part and a second part is received (5); a corresponding second part is retrieved (7) from a database (BSF) by using the first part; the received second part is compared with the retrieved corresponding second part; and if they are the same, the user equipment (1-2) is provided with access authentication to the second communications network (1-16, 1-20). |
| US09241262B2 |
Apparatus and method for securing beacons
A short-range communication tag includes a transmitter, a clock circuit providing a clock value and a memory containing a unique identification value. The tag further includes a processor which generates encryption keys with a period of K seconds and combines the unique identification value with the encryption key, according to a predetermined encryption method, to generate an obfuscated unique identification value. The tag further includes a short-range transmitter to transmit the tag identification value. |
| US09241259B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing the transfer of sensitive information to mobile devices
Methods and apparatus provide data loss protection for mobile devices. In one aspect, data is analyzed by a data loss protection server to determine if it is authorized by data loss protection policies to be transferred to a mobile device. The time necessary to analyze the data may exceed a mobile device timeout value. To prevent the mobile device from timing out, the DLP server may send one or more portions of a response to the mobile device at a time interval less than the mobile device timeout value. Some portions of the response may be sent before the analyzing of the data is completed. |
| US09241256B2 |
Transmission and distribution of position- and/or network-related information from access networks
The present invention relates to a method, subscriber database, network element, an interface, and a computer program product for distributing position- or network-related information from an access network to a core network, wherein a first interface between the access network and the subscriber database is associated with a second interface between the core network and the subscriber database in a manner so that, in response to at least one predetermined notification indicating a registration or change of position and signaled to the subscriber database via the first interface, the position- or network-related information is selectively signaled via the second interface to a network element of the core network in a server assignment answer or in a push profile request. Thereby, position or location information of a subscriber or user in an access network is directly or automatically availability in the core network. |
| US09241255B2 |
Local breakout with optimized interface
The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses, and computer program products at interrelated entities of a network system for providing access via a cellular access network to a packet data network, wherein a simple local IP access or local breakout (LBO) feature is provided, which uses a bridging function between a packet data network interface and a radio interface in an access device (e.g. base station device or HNB) that can be controlled by a single control plane interface. |
| US09241245B2 |
Management of unwanted calls and/or text messages
Management of unwanted phone calls and/or text messages can be performed by allowing a user to create a personalized list of unwanted calls and/or text messages at the user's device and synchronizing that personalized list between a storage system in the user's device and a remote storage in a network to which the device can be coupled. In one embodiment, the remote storage can be a cloud based backup system for the user's contacts and content and the user can access a full list of the unwanted phone numbers through a web server but the full list is not accessible on the device except through a web browser that retrieves the full list from the web server. |
| US09241240B2 |
Techniques for server-controlled tiling of location-based information
Techniques for server-controlled tiling of location-based information are described. An apparatus may comprise a communication component and a tile component. The communication component may be operative to receive a location-based search request from a client application, the location-based search request comprising a geographic area, and to transmit a plurality of tiles to the client application. The tile component may be operative to determine the plurality of tiles as a set of tiles that cover the geographic area, each tile of the plurality of tiles covering a portion of the geographic area and comprising a set of locations. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09241234B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting data in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting data from a first User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. In the method, the first UE receives uplink data of a second UE from the second UE on a first uplink subframe of an Nth frame and transmits the received uplink data of the second UE to a base station on a first uplink subframe of an (N+1)th frame and then receives feedback information associated with the transmitted uplink data of the second UE from the base station. |
| US09241222B2 |
Binaural compressor preserving directional cues
A hearing aid system includes a first hearing aid configured to communicate with a second hearing aid, wherein the first hearing aid comprises a microphone and an A/D converter for provision of a digital input signal in response to sound signals received at the microphone, a processor that is configured to process the digital input signal in accordance with a signal processing algorithm into a processed digital output signal, the processor including a compressor, a D/A converter and an output transducer for conversion of the processed digital output signal to an acoustic output signal, and a transceiver for data communication with the second hearing aid, wherein, a gain of the compressor of the first hearing aid is controlled by a first compressor control signal with a value that is substantially equal to a value of a second compressor control signal controlling a gain of a compressor in the second hearing aid, whereby a sense of direction is maintained. |
| US09241221B2 |
Thermoacoustic chip
A thermoacoustic chip includes a shell having a hole and a speaker located in the shell. The speaker includes a substrate having a surface, a sound wave generator located on the surface of the substrate and opposite to the hole of the shell, and, a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are spaced from each other and electrically connected to the sound wave generator. |
| US09241219B2 |
Audio device and portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a built-in speaker, an interface configured to connect to an external audio device to output sound, a switch, and a main microchip. The main microchip detects whether the external audio device is connected to the portable electronic device. When the external audio device is connected to the portable electronic device, the main microchip selects the audio device to output sound. When the audio device is not connected to the portable electronic device, the main microchip selects the built-in speaker to output the audio signals. |
| US09241218B2 |
Apparatus and method for decomposing an input signal using a pre-calculated reference curve
An apparatus for decomposing a signal having an number of at least three channels includes an analyzer for analyzing a similarity between two channels of an analysis signal related to the signal having at least two analysis channels, wherein the analyzer is configured for using a pre-calculated frequency dependent similarity curve as a reference curve to determine the analysis result. The signal processor processes the analysis signal or a signal derived from the analysis signal or a signal, from which the analysis signal is derived using the analysis result to obtain a decomposed signal. |
| US09241217B2 |
Dynamically adjusted stereo for portable devices
A mobile device includes an orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of the mobile device and at least two speakers, each configured to output sound according to an audio signal. The mobile device further includes a processing device configured to group at least two of the speakers into a speaker pair based on the orientation detected by the orientation sensor. |
| US09241216B2 |
Data structure for higher order ambisonics audio data
The invention is related to a data structure for Higher Order Ambisonics HOA audio data, which data structure includes 2D or 3D spatial audio content data for one or more different HOA audio data stream descriptions. The HOA audio data can have on order of greater than ‘3’, and the data structure in addition can include single audio signal source data and/or microphone array audio data from fixed or time-varying spatial positions. |
| US09241210B1 |
Mass ports for tuning driver frequency response
A mass port configured to tune a frequency response of an audio reproduction device is disclosed. The mass port includes a head portion and an insertion portion coupled to the head portion. The head portion includes a sealing structure on a rear side. The head portion is configured to attach to a rear plate of a driver at the sealing structure. The insertion portion is configured to be inserted into a speaker port on the rear plate of the driver. The head portion and the insertion portion include an air slot that runs through the head portion and the insertion portion. |
| US09241206B2 |
Decoupled drive unit for a loudspeaker enclosure
A loudspeaker enclosure defined by one or more panels housing a drive unit. The drive unit includes a coil, a diaphragm, and a magnet. The magnet is decoupled from the one or more panels of the loudspeaker enclosure. Sound is generated by the movement of the diaphragm and complementary movement of the magnet, on application of an appropriate electrical signal to the coil. The moving diaphragm acts against a first volume of air within the enclosure, while the movement of a surface coupled to the magnet, acts against a second air volume, different from the first volume. The surface coupled to the magnet is decoupled from the one or more panels of the loudspeaker enclosure. |
| US09241199B2 |
Announcement broadcasting system, announcement broadcasting optical receiver used for the announcement broadcasting system, cable television broadcasting system, and optical receiver used for the cable television broadcasting system
In a subscriber's facility of an announcement broadcasting system utilizing an optical fiber cable TV network, an announcement broadcasting optical receiver receiving an optical transmission signal of audio information and outputting an audio information electric signal for an announcement broadcasting terminal is provided. The announcement broadcasting optical receiver includes: a photo-detection section for converting the optical transmission signal into the audio information electric signal; a photoelectric conversion section, which is connected to the photo-detection section, for converting the optical transmission signal that the photo-detection section receives into electric energy; and an RF signal potential transformation section, to which the electric energy obtained by the photoelectric conversion section is supplied, for potential-transforming the audio information electric signal output from the photo-detection section to one at an input voltage level appropriate to the announcement broadcasting terminal and outputting it. |
| US09241196B2 |
Front module having triplexer for multimedia over coax alliance
Disclosed herein is a front module having a triplexer. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front module includes: a triplexer receiving and distributing a MoCA receiving signal and a cable broadcasting signal from a coaxial cable and receiving the MoCA transmitting signal and outputting the received MoCA transmitting signal to the coaxial cable; a transceiver for MoCA removing and outputting noise from the MoCA receiving signal input through the triplexer and amplifying the MoCA transmitting signal input from the outside and providing the amplified MoCA transmitting signal to the triplexer; and a receiver for cable removing and outputting noise from the cable broadcasting signal input through the triplexer. |
| US09241194B2 |
Multi-view of media content
In a content processing device, a set of media channels to be provided in a graphical user interface is identified. Each channel in a subset of the channels is assigned to a cell that is included in a set of cells in the graphical user interface. The graphical user interface is provided to a display. Upon a predetermined indication, at least some of the subset of the channels are rotated through at least a subset of the cells, whereby the display shows each of the cells in the subset of cells to be including a channel other than a channel that was included in the cell before the rotating was performed. |
| US09241193B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for generating metadata for content to be shared
The present invention relates to a communication apparatus, a communication method, and a communication system able to share content on the basis of metadata. A storage unit 105 retains content. A registration processor 106 generates metadata related to the content and registers the generated metadata in a database. An uploader 104 requests another communication apparatus via a network for content retained by the other communication apparatus on the basis of metadata generated by the other communication apparatus. A downloader 103 supplies content retained by the storage unit 105 via the network to the other communication apparatus requesting on the basis of metadata generated by the registration processor 106. The present invention can be applied to a recording and playback apparatus able to record or play back content, for example. |
| US09241189B2 |
Web television having a two-way communication bus interconnecting a television controller and an internet module
A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio. |
| US09241183B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and application information table transmitting apparatus
[Object] To appropriately control simultaneous presentation of broadcast content and an application.[Solving Means] The information processing apparatus includes: a broadcast content processor configured to receive and process broadcast content; and a controller configured to obtain an application information table, the application information table (XML-AIT) storing an application identification descriptor 24 as information specifying broadcast content, the broadcast content being capable of being presented with the application simultaneously, and to determine if it is possible to present the application and the broadcast content simultaneously or not. |
| US09241180B2 |
Distributing content to subscribers of a communications service provider
A system, method, and server for distributing content. The system includes a number of servers in communication with the Internet and configured to provide subscribers of the communications service provider with access to content stored on the number of servers without having to access external networks including the Internet. The system further includes a remote content management application operating on at least one of the number of servers and configured to provide content providers with: (1) digital rights management (DRM) and (2) guaranteed quality of service (QoS) to the subscribers of the communications service providers, wherein the content providers establish the DRM and the QoS. |
| US09241179B2 |
Method and system for creating video channels for delivery of content from multiple platforms
A system for managing delivery of content from multiple platforms maintains data for various video channels. Some of the video channels are television channels, while others are over-the-top (OTT) video content sources such as video streaming websites. The system includes a package generation module by which a service provider may define a package of both traditional and OTT channels to offer to subscribers in a unified programming interface. When a user uses the interface to select a set of video channels, the system compiles the set of the video channels in a subscriber package of both television and OTT channels. The system assigns a name to the subscriber package, and it stores the defined package and name, along with other information about the package, in a data storage facility for offering to a subscriber of content from the service provider. |
| US09241174B1 |
Demand-based edge caching video content system and methods
A video-on-demand system includes a resource manager (501) in communication with a central storage server (502), a back office system (503), and a plurality of edge servers (504). The resource manager can receive (523) a video-on-demand session request 524) requesting delivery of content (529), read (525) a content allocation register (520) that includes a popular asset list (301) with a plurality of content assets ranked (314) by highest demand (314) within a predetermined past usage window (316) and an edge server list (302) indicating which edge servers have delivered each content asset of the popular asset list. The resource manger can then Select (526) a selected edge server (527) from the content allocation register as a function of the popular asset list and the edge server list and cause (528) the selected edge server to deliver (529) the content in response to the video-on-demand session request. |
| US09241170B1 |
Adaptive streaming using chunked time-to-offset mapping
Systems and methods are provided herein relating to adaptive video streaming. Time-to-offset mapping associated with a set of video blocks can be broken up into chunks. A client can download a first set of seek index chunks and use the first set of seek index chunks to select a stream. Seek index chunks within remaining sets of seek index chunks can be ranked for relevance based on client capabilities. A subset of remaining sets of seeks index chunks can be downloaded based on the rankings and client capabilities during streaming. Chunked time-to-offset mapping can facilitate faster startup when playing streamed video. |
| US09241168B2 |
Methods and apparatus for illumination and color compensation for multi-view video coding
There are provided a method and apparatus for illumination and color compensation for multi-view video coding. A video encoder includes an encoder for encoding a picture by enabling color compensation of at least one color component in a prediction of the picture based upon a correlation factor relating to color data between the picture and another picture. The picture and the other picture have different view points and both corresponding to multi-view content for a same or similar scene. |
| US09241167B2 |
Metadata assisted video decoding
A video decoder is disclosed that uses metadata in order to make optimization decisions. In one embodiment, metadata is used to choose which of multiple available decoder engines should receive a video sequence. In another embodiment, the optimization decisions can be based on length and location metadata information associated with a video sequence. Using such metadata information, a decoder engine can skip start-code scanning to make the decoding process more efficient. Also based on the choice of decoder engine, it can decide whether emulation prevention byte removal shall happen together with start code scanning or not. |
| US09241166B2 |
Technique for adapting device tasks based on the available device resources
Methods, systems and devices are provided for efficiently receiving and displaying content in a mobile computing device. The computing device's reception and decoding operations are adjusted to match the capabilities of available device resources and/or to meet battery consumption needs/requirements. Higher level components (e.g., application layer components) selectively pull data from lower-level components (e.g., physical-layer or adaptation-layer components). The quality of video displayed is intelligently balanced against the amount of resources available, and a subset of the video data sufficient to display the content is pulled from the lower layer, providing users with an optimal balance between content quality and power consumption. |
| US09241163B2 |
VC-2 decoding using parallel decoding paths
Methods, devices and systems that perform VC-2 decoding are disclosed. In an embodiment, a VC-2 decoder includes three parallel data paths including top-band, current-band and bottom-band data paths. The top-band data path performs variable length decoding (VLD), inverse-quantization (IQ) and inverse-DC-prediction (IDCP) processing of a top compressed data-band. The current-band data path performs VLD, IQ and IDCP processing of a current compressed data-band. The bottom-band data path performs VLD, IQ and IDCP processing of a bottom compressed data-band. Additionally, the decoder includes a three-level inverse discrete wavelet transform (IDWT) module to perform IDWT processing to synthesize decoded source pixel values in dependence on partially-decompressed top, current and bottom data-bands produced using the three parallel data paths. The decoder also includes a slice-bytes equalizer, a bit-stream first-in-first-out (FIFO), a scan conversion FIFO, and a module that inserts horizontal and vertical blanking periods into data received from the scan conversion FIFO. |
| US09241161B2 |
Moving picture coding method, and moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus for performing inter-picture predictive coding for pictures constituting a moving picture is provided with a coding unit for performing predictive error coding for image data; a decoding unit for performing predictive error decoding for an output from the coding unit; a reference picture memory for holding output data from the decoding unit; and a motion vector detection unit for detecting motion vectors on the basis of the decoded image data stored in the memory. When coding a B picture as a target picture, information indicating whether or not the target picture should be used as a reference picture when coding another picture is added as header information. Therefore, in a decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream Bs outputted from the moving picture coding apparatus, management of a memory for holding the reference picture can be facilitated on the basis of the header information. |
| US09241158B2 |
Hypothetical reference decoder parameters in video coding
A device performs a hypothetical reference decoder (HRD) operation that determines conformance of a bitstream to a video coding standard or determines conformance of a video decoder to the video coding standard. As part of performing the HRD operation, the device determines a highest temporal identifier of a bitstream-subset associated with a selected operation point of the bitstream. Furthermore, as part of the HRD operation, the device determines, based on the highest temporal identifier, a particular syntax element from among an array of syntax elements. The device then uses the particular syntax element in the HRD operation. |
| US09241157B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that is provided with an image pickup device and a fixed pattern outputting section that outputs a fixed pattern set in advance and includes a control unit and a path. The control unit is electrically connected to the imaging unit and receives an image acquired by the image pickup device and a fixed pattern outputted from the fixed pattern outputting means. The path electrically connects the imaging unit and the control unit, and electrically transmits an image and a fixed pattern from the imaging unit to the control unit. The control unit controls, depending on the image, an application which requires the image as one of inputs to the application. Further, the control unit compares a specific pattern prepared in advance according to the fixed pattern, with the fixed pattern, to determine the occurrence of an anomaly in the electrical connection of the path. |
| US09241154B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and display method compatible with 2D and 3D display mode
The present invention provides an LCD panel and a display method compatible with a 2D and a 3D display mode. The 3D display mode comprises a shutter 3D and a polarized 3D display mode. The LCD panel comprises multiple pixels, and each pixel comprises: a substrate, a data line, scan line, a common electrode line, 2D/3D switching control signal line, and a pixel unit. The pixel unit comprises: a first to a fourth switching elements, a first pixel electrode, and a second pixel electrode. The present invention, through disposing a 2D/3D switching control signal line to achieve switching of every operation mode, improve the color shift issue at the large viewing angle, increase aperture ratio, and reduce energy consumption at the same time. |
| US09241150B2 |
Three-dimensional image capture apparatus
A three-dimensional image capture apparatus includes a single lens module, an X-cube beam-splitting prism, two image sensors and a parallax processor. The beam-splitting prism includes a first transflective surface and a second transflective obliquely intersecting the first transflective surface. The first transflective surface is configured for reflecting light from a first viewing angle of an object through the lens module toward a first direction. The second transflective surface is configured for reflecting light from a second viewing angle of an object through the lens module toward an opposite second direction. The image sensors are configured for respectively detecting the light reflected by the first and second transflective surfaces, and generating parallax image signals. The parallax processor is configured for processing the parallax image signals from the image sensors to generate a 3D image. |
| US09241149B2 |
Subtitles in three-dimensional (3D) presentation
A method and system for preparing subtitles for use in a stereoscopic presentation are described. The method allows a subtitle to be displayed without being truncated or masked by comparing the subtitle's initial footprint with an image display area. If any portion of the initial footprint lies outside the image display area, the subtitle is adjusted according to adjustment information, which includes at least one of: a scale factor, a translation amount and a disparity change, so that the adjusted subtitle lies completely within the image display area. Furthermore, the disparity of the subtitle can be adjusted by taking into account the disparities of one or more objects in an underlying image to be displayed with the subtitle. |
| US09241148B2 |
Disparity calculating method and stereo matching device thereof
A disparity calculating method includes generating an energy matrix according to a first image-block and a second image-block, wherein the energy matrix includes a plurality of energies of a plurality of pixels corresponding to a plurality of disparity candidates; setting the energy corresponding to a starting pixel of the plurality of pixels and a specified disparity candidate of the plurality of disparity candidates as a first predetermined value and setting the energies corresponding to the starting pixel and other disparity candidates of the plurality of disparity candidates as a second predetermined value, wherein the second predetermined value is greater than the first predetermined value; generating a path matrix according to the energy matrix; and determining a plurality of disparities of the plurality of pixels sequentially from an ending pixels of the plurality of pixels, wherein the disparity of the ending pixel is set as a third predetermined value. |
| US09241146B2 |
Interleaved approach to depth-image-based rendering of stereoscopic images
Techniques are disclosed for generating stereoscopic images. The techniques include receiving a first image frame associated with a first eye, and receiving a first depth frame associated with the first eye. The techniques further include reprojecting the first image frame based on the first depth frame to create a second image frame associated with a second eye. The techniques further include identifying a first pixel in the second image frame that remains unwritten as a result of reprojecting the first image frame, and determining a value for the first pixel based on a corresponding pixel in a prior image frame associated with the second eye. One advantage of the disclosed techniques is that DIBR reprojected image frames have a more realistic appearance where gaps are filled using pixels from a prior image for the same eye. |
| US09241145B2 |
Information processing system, recording/playback apparatus, playback terminal, information processing method, and program
An information processing system is disclosed. The information processing system includes: a recording/playback apparatus; and a playback terminal. The recording/playback apparatus includes an output unit, a management unit, and a playback unit. The playback terminal includes a playback unit, a generating unit, and an output unit. |
| US09241143B2 |
Output correction for visual projection devices
Dedicated projectors and devices with projection abilities such as digital cameras or camcorders have projections that are corrected to compensate for irregularities in the surfaces receiving the projection. The image data being projected is compensated to account for the irregularities by observing the irregularities with a camera to produce image data and creating the compensation based on that image data. Irregularities of the projection receiving location including angular relationships to the projector causing keystoning, noisy surfaces with reflectivity or absorption, color patterns, non-planar regions, intervening objects, and the like may be accounted for during the compensation. The projection of the image itself may be utilized to capture the result of projecting onto the irregularities. Projection of target grids, such as using infrared, may be used to capture the result of projecting onto the irregularities. The captured image may be processed to produce a compensated image to be projected. |
| US09241136B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating a personalized programming guide
An approach is provided for creating a personalized programming guide. A guide manager receives input from a user for creating a personalized programming guide. The guide manager retrieves one or more search criteria associated with a community of other users to construct a query. The guide manager then performs the query and displays the results of the query in a personalized programming guide. |
| US09241131B2 |
Multiple channel communication using multiple cameras
A method for video image sharing and control comprises activating video communication between electronic devices. Transmission of multiple video feeds is controlled using multiple cameras from a first electronic device. |
| US09241130B2 |
Streaming of telepresence video content
Solutions for distributing telepresence content to users and devices that are not direct participants in the telepresence session in which the content is created. For example, in some cases, a collector device might receive telepresence content from a dedicated telepresence endpoint and/or transmit that content, through a firewall, to a system that is outside the firewall and therefore is accessible from the Internet. In an aspect, such embodiments might employ a protocol that does not require any incoming connection from the outside system and therefore does not require any modification of the firewall policies in order to provide such content. |
| US09241127B2 |
Wide dynamic range image processing method and image signal processor using the same
An image processing method includes the operations of receiving N×N raw data from an N×N sub pixel array including a plurality of first exposure pixels and second exposure pixels having different exposure times, respectively; obtaining a difference value between a value obtained by normalizing an interpolated value of the first exposure pixels and an interpolated value of the second exposure pixels for each channel in the N×N sub pixel array based on the N×N raw data; setting a mismatching value to a maximum value among difference values obtained for the respective channels; and setting a corrected value of a central pixel in the N×N sub pixel array based on the N×N raw data and based on the mismatching value and a threshold value. |
| US09241122B2 |
Display device and method for controlling the same
A display device includes a display module configured to output a broadcast program and a channel banner list, a communication module configured to perform a data communication with an external server, a receiving unit configured to receive a channel change signal, a memory configured to store a viewing history data of a user, and a controller configured to control an operation of the display device, the controller is further configured to output a first broadcast channel banner list including a channel banner of broadcast channels received by the display device in a screen, receive a broadcast channel change signal more than a first number within a predetermined time period, output a second broadcast channel banner list having changed a size of the channel banner of the channels included in the first broadcast channel banner list. |
| US09241121B2 |
Programs of interest presentation apparatus, systems, and methods
Various embodiments present information about programs of interest. Some embodiments provide electronic program guides based on previously viewed programs. In some cases, an electronic program guide generator (“EPGG”) generates an electronic program guide for a designated time period, the electronic program guide including information about one or more scheduled programs, based on the one or more scheduled programs each having at least one attribute that matches an attribute of a program that was previously viewed at a time of day corresponding to the designated time period. The generated electronic program guide may then be presented on a presentation device. Another embodiment provides information about one or more programs that are related to a designated program of interest. |
| US09241118B2 |
High fill-factor image sensor architecture
An image sensor architecture is implemented within an image sensor system. Image sensor pixels include pixel regions, and each pixel region includes a photosensor, a reset circuit, and a readout circuit. The readout circuit receives enable signals from an enable signal line, and outputs a pixel signal representative of light captured by the photosensor on a combination input/output line. The reset circuit resets the photosensor in response to receiving a first reset signal on a reset line and a second reset signal on the combination input/output line. |
| US09241114B1 |
Uniform universal remote configuration
Providing uniform universal remote configuration is described herein. In different aspects, the techniques may include sending an identification (ID) request to a remote control and receiving an ID response from the remote control in response to the ID request. The ID response may be used to configure a device to process a plurality of control signals from the remote control. |
| US09241113B2 |
Apparatus and method for displaying images
Disclosed herein is an image display apparatus including a storage unit storing a plurality of images, an input unit receiving a selection command for selecting one or more images from among the plurality of images, and a display unit displaying at least one image of the selected images in a first zone and at least one second image of the selected images in a second zone. |
| US09241112B2 |
Imaging apparatus, imaging method and computer-readable recording medium
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that captures a subject to generate image data of the subject; a display unit that displays the image; an image separating unit that separates a subject image and a background image from the image displayed; a special effect input unit that receives information related to special effects respectively applied to the subject image and the background image; a special effect image generating unit that generates a special effect image of each of the subject and background images by applying special effects corresponding to information received by the special effect input unit; a storing unit that stores special effect information for assigning an advisability corresponding to a combination of special effects which the special effect image generating unit applies to the subject image and the background image; and a synthetic image generating unit that generates a synthetic image using the generated special effect image. |
| US09241111B1 |
Array of cameras with various focal distances
A photography device includes a plurality of cameras arranged as an array. The array may include multiple cameras with different focal distances. Each camera has a different focal distance. Or groups of cameras in an array may share multiple focal distances. The cameras may provide a similar field of view and similar magnification. A unified image is formed by combining the images from the different cameras. |
| US09241103B2 |
Apparatus and method for playback of multiple panoramic videos with control codes
An apparatus and method are provided for viewing panoramic images and videos through the selection of a particular viewing angle and window within that panorama while allowing the viewer to simultaneously implement temporal transport control, and allowing the video to be in a state of pause, play, fast forward, fast rewind, slow forward, slow rewind, or frame-by-frame. A plurality of panoramic video or images from multiple cameras can be synchronized so that as a viewer pauses, rewinds, forwards a video in one panorama, and all panoramas are time synchronized and go through the same states as the panorama being viewed. When the user selects a different panorama for viewing from a different camera, this panorama comes up in the same state as the panorama previously being viewed. |
| US09241093B2 |
Guided filter-based detail enhancement
Systems and methods for generating a detail-enhanced video signal are provided. In a method for generating the detail-enhanced video signal, an input video signal is received. A first signal that is a linear transformation of the input video signal is generated. A detail signal is generated by determining a difference between the input video signal and the first signal, where the detail signal includes information that is added to the input video signal to generate the detail-enhanced video signal. A filtered detail signal is generated by removing noise from the detail signal. The filtered detail signal is multiplied by a gain function to generate a second signal. The gain function is based on an amount of variance in the input video signal. The input video signal and the second signal are combined to generate the detail-enhanced video signal. |
| US09241088B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming system, image forming system control method, and program
An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive data via a network, a printing unit configured to print an image based on the data received from the receiving unit, and a control unit configured to control the receiving unit to refuse a data reception based on a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) when a toner remaining amount for the printing unit is less than a predetermined value, wherein the printing unit is configured to print, in the case that the receiving unit receives page description language (PDL) data, an image based on the received PDL data even if the toner remaining amount is less than the predetermined value. |
| US09241086B1 |
Image-reading apparatus
An image-reading apparatus includes a case constituted to shut off ambient light and including an opening on a bottom surface thereof, an image capturing unit capturing an image of a medium in the case through the opening, a plurality of light sources disposed in the case to emit light to the opening, and an image-processing unit performing image capturing by the image capturing unit, and performing composition process on plural image data captured by the image capturing unit. The light sources emit light in a direction to form shadowed areas outside of different edges of the medium when the medium is smaller than an area of the opening, and the image-processing unit extracts the edges based on the shadowed areas in the image data and crops the medium from the image data based on the extracted edges. |
| US09241076B1 |
Identification of public safety answering platform next generation 911 media support
A method, system, and medium are provided for generating a profile for public safety answering platforms. The profile identifies media formats supported by the PSAPs at various cell sector locations maintained by a network provider. A network server selects a cell sector and generates a test emergency services call. The test emergency services call is transmitted to a PSAP. The PSAP generates a response that indicates whether the PSAP supports a media format identified in the test emergency services call. The PSAP transmits the response to the network server for storage in the profile. |
| US09241075B2 |
Alarm system call handling
An alarm system that monitors and selectively handles incoming telephone calls at a premises in disclosed. The alarm system includes, a telephone network interface, for receiving a subscriber line from a telephone network that further includes a caller-ID decoder for decoding caller-ID information for telephone calls received on said subscriber line; and a switch for selectively interconnecting said subscriber line to a telephone feed at the premises. A processor is in communication with the caller-ID decoder and the switch to selectively interconnect calls from the subscriber line to the telephone feed at the premises, based on associated caller-ID information. |
| US09241071B2 |
Method and apparatus for moving call
An operation method and apparatus of a terminal for call move are provided. The method includes, if receiving a call move request signal including registration information of a first device that is in voice communication with a second device from the first device, transmitting, by the terminal, a call state request signal for the first device using the registration information to a server, if determining that a call state for the first device is not a call through the server by using a call state response signal received from the server, establishing, by the terminal, a wireless connection with the first device, and, performing, by the terminal, voice communication with the second device through the established wireless connection. |
| US09241070B1 |
Providing compliance enforcement for manually dialed wireless numbers in a contact center using callback functionality
A call to a wireless number can be originated by a contact center while enforcing various compliance requirements. A dialer and PBX cooperate to originate the call to the wireless number. The dialer selects the next eligible number in the calling list that should be dialed by an agent. Account information provided by the dialer is displayed on the agent's computer, and a call is placed to the agent's phone by the dialer, wherein the call uses the selected number as the ANI. The call is shortly terminated by the dialer, so that it is not answered by the agent. The agent can then redial that number or invoke a callback function to originate the call to the selected number. A PBX handing the call may inform the dialer of the call origination. The dialer may thus monitor the status of the call without actually originating the call. |
| US09241066B2 |
Secure call analysis and screening of a secure connection
In one embodiment, a secure computer telephony integration (CTI) connection is established between a call analysis and/or screening device and a call control agent. The call analysis device sniffs secure media packets between the endpoints and receives CTI events from the call control agent via the secure CTI connection. The device correlates the CTI events with the secure media packets, enabling the device to decrypt the packets to perform voice quality troubleshooting or call screening in real-time. |
| US09241060B1 |
Communication device
The communication device comprising a first weather implementer, a second weather implementer, a first weather dependent shortcut icon modification implementer, and a second weather dependent shortcut icon modification implementer. |
| US09241056B2 |
Image based dialing
A device may include an image display component to display an image that includes a subject, where the image has a header portion, and to display subject information that includes a communication identifier related to the subject, and wherein the subject information is stored in the header portion. The device may include a transceiver to contact the subject via the communication identifier. The device may include a processor to provide the image and the subject information to the display component, to receive a request to contact the subject, to retrieve the communication identifier from the header portion, and to send the communication identifier to the transceiver to cause the transceiver to contact the subject. |
| US09241048B2 |
Mechanism for processing network event protocol messages
A communication system includes a first apparatus and a second apparatus. The first apparatus is configured to: attach first and second message length information to a first and second SYSLOG message, respectively; form at least a portion of a transport payload by adding a first portion and a second portion thereto, wherein the first portion includes the first SYSLOG message with the attached first message length information, and the second portion includes the second SYSLOG message with the attached second message length information; and send the transport payload. The second apparatus is configured to: parse the first and second SYSLOG messages one by one from the transport payload. |
| US09241046B2 |
Methods and systems for speeding up data recovery
A method for providing recovery from a remote server to a client includes sending at least one data restore request to the remote server. A data block identifier are received at the client system via a network. A data block associated with the data block identifier is retrieved from a local backup server associated with the client system if the local back up server stores the data block. The data block associated with the data block identifier is received from the remote server if the local backup server does not store the data block. The data block is restored to the client system. |
| US09241038B2 |
User presence aggregation at a server
A presence aggregation system provides a presence aggregation server that allows for the publication of presence state of a publisher from the publisher's multiple endpoints. A presence state includes an availability value and an activity. An activity may include an activity token and/or a custom string. When any one of the publisher's endpoints makes a presence state publication on the presence aggregation server, the presence aggregation server generates an aggregated state of the publisher (i.e., the availability of the publisher aggregated across all of the publisher's endpoints) and publishes the generated aggregated state to each of the publisher's endpoints. The presence aggregation server may also provide the publisher's aggregated state to the subscribers of the publisher's aggregated state information. |
| US09241037B2 |
Server device, behavior promotion and suppression system, behavior promotion and suppression method, and recording medium
A behavior information acquirer (11) acquires behavior information representing the behavior of a user detected by a behavior detector (21), and stores the behavior information in a behavior information memory (12). How the influence of the behavior of the user indicated by the behavior information acquired by the behavior information acquirer (11) will spread over a network of mutual information is calculated from mutual information, user information, and a behavior list respectively stored in a mutual information memory (13), a user information memory (14), and a behavior information memory (12). A presentation information generator (16) generates presentation information depicting the way in which the influence of the behavior of the user indicated by the behavior information acquired by the behavior information acquirer (11) propagates to other users, and transmits the presentation information to a terminal device (2B). |
| US09241035B2 |
Organization of inputs for online service
Technologies are generally described for organizing inputs for an online service. It is determined that there are no updated inputs generated on a personalized page hosted on a server corresponding to the online service for a predetermined time period. The inputs may be associated with an acknowledged contact regarding the online service. Inputs previously generated on the personalized page hosted on the server are reorganized in accordance with one of multiple arrangements. |
| US09241034B2 |
Peer-to-peer network connectivity status
The embodiments disclosed herein provide a system, apparatus, and method for managing requests in a peer-to-peer network. A processor determines whether to reduce an amount of checks for connectivity for the device in the peer-to-peer network in response to a device being in the peer-to-peer network. The processor configures the device to send a message indicating a status of the device to a number of other devices in the peer-to-peer network without receiving a request for the status of the device in response to a determination to reduce the amount of checks for connectivity for the device in the peer-to-peer network. |
| US09241031B2 |
Selecting an auxiliary event-package server
A method includes registering with a proxy for an auxiliary event-package, wherein the auxiliary event-package is provided by a plurality of auxiliary event-package servers. The method may further include subscribing to the auxiliary event-package through the proxy. The proxy forwards the subscription to the plurality of auxiliary event-package servers. The method may include receiving notification from each of the auxiliary event-package servers. The notification includes an indicator of capacity of the auxiliary event-package server. The method may include determining an auxiliary event-package server having a highest capacity based on the indicators of capacity of the auxiliary event-package servers. In addition, the method may include selecting the auxiliary event-package server having the highest capacity as a primary handle for the auxiliary event-package. |
| US09241027B2 |
System and method for managing an online social network
An online social network is managed using one server for database management tasks and another server, preferably in a distributed configuration, for CPU-intensive computational tasks, such as finding a shortest path between two members or a degree of separation between two members. The additional server has a memory device containing relationship information between members of the online social network and carries out the CPU-intensive computational tasks using this memory device. With this configuration, the number of database lookups is decreased and processing speed is thereby increased. |
| US09241025B2 |
Network communications of applications running on devices utilizing virtual network connections with asymmetrical network paths
A method includes receiving, at a first device via a virtual network connection, a packet communicated from a second device over a first path, the packet including data appended thereto by one or more devices along the first path, and determining whether the first path satisfies one or more requirements of an application running on the first device, the determination being based at least in part on information from the packet received by the first device; and receiving, at the second device via a virtual network connection, a packet communicated from the first device over a second path, the packet including data appended thereto by one or more along the second path, and determining whether the second path satisfies one or more requirements of an application running on the second device, the determination being based at least in part on information from the packet received by the second device. |
| US09241024B2 |
File system interface to web and network services
A method for providing an interface to a service for a plurality of clients by a backend data center using a remote file system that includes receiving a first file by the remote file system from a client of the plurality of clients, determining the service associated with the first file, reformatting the first file based on the service, transmitting the reformatted first file as a request to the service, receiving a response from the service based on the request, and storing the response in a second file on the remote file system, wherein the second file is accessed remotely by the client from the remote file system, and wherein the first file is simultaneously visible to the client and the backend data center. |
| US09241022B2 |
Information processing apparatus and associated method of content exchange
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided for storing computer program instructions that cause a computer to implement a method of exchanging content. The method includes connecting to an information processing apparatus, and transferring a ID of the computer to the information processing apparatus when a connection to the information processing apparatus is detected. The method further includes storing content and data related to the content transmitted from the information processing apparatus, transferring the data corresponding to the content stored in the computer, and reproducing the stored content. The content is automatically transferred to the computer when the computer is judged to be a predetermined device. |
| US09241021B2 |
Remote subscription management method and system
A method and system to enable remote management of a media content subscription are described. The method includes receiving, at a local point of presence from a consumer, a request to access media content that is available under a media content subscription. The method further includes capturing, at the local point of presence from a consumer, a request to access media content from the local media content provider and transforming the captured media content into a digital stream that is suitable for streaming over a network. Finally, the method includes streaming the digital stream over the network, via which the consumer, using a computer device, accesses the media content. |
| US09241019B2 |
System and method of extending IMS SCIM / service broker to enable application servers using MSCML to execute on GSM camel networks
In accordance with various embodiments, systems and methods that provide unified user interaction across different network interfaces are provided. A system can include a service control interaction manager (SCIM) which is operable to manage communication between one or more call parties and one or more applications. In a global system for mobile communications (GSM) network, when the one or more IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) applications connect a call party to a media resource, the SCIM is configured to connect the call party to a mobile switching center (MSC) internal resource function, receive a message from the one or more IMS applications which indicates an announcement to play to the call party and/or information to be collected from the call party, mediate the message into native customized applications for mobile networks enhanced logic (CAMEL) operations for the GSM network, and play the announcement and/or collect information indicated in the message. |
| US09241008B2 |
System, method, and software for cyber threat analysis
According to certain embodiments, a cyber threat analysis system generates a network model of a network infrastructure that is used by an organization, assigns a weighting value to each of a plurality of network elements of the network infrastructure according to a relative importance of the each network element to the organization, and generates an attack vector according to a determined vulnerability of the network infrastructure. The attack vector represents one or more illicit actions that may be performed to compromise the network infrastructure. The system may simulate, using a network modeling tool, the attack vector on the network model to determine one or more resulting ramifications of one or more of the plurality of network elements due to the attack vector, and determine a criticality level of the attack vector according to the weighting value of the one or more network elements. |
| US09241005B1 |
Method and apparatus for updating patterns of packets through a network device based on detection of an attack
A network device including a first and second processors. The first processor: receives first and second packets; and selects some of the second packets according to contents of the second packets and sampling criteria. The second processor operates in first and second modes. While operating in the first mode, the second processor learns a traffic pattern of the first packets through the network device. While operating in the second mode, the second processor compares a traffic pattern of the some of the second packets to the traffic pattern of the first packets to determine whether the second packets are associated with an attack on the network device. In response to determining the second packets are not associated with an attack on the network device, the second processor updates the patterns of the first packets based on a characteristic of the some of the second packets. |
| US09241004B1 |
Alteration of web documents for protection against web-injection attacks
A web document protection module protects web documents against web-injection and other malicious attacks. The web document protection module may be implemented in a user computer, a proxy server computer system, a web server computer system, or other computers. The web document protection module receives a web document, such as a webpage, and alters the web document to change its structure. For example, the web document protection module may obfuscate the web document to make it difficult for malware to find locations in the web document to insert additional program code. The web document protection module provides the obfuscated web document to a web browser for rendering. |
| US09241000B2 |
Trusted social network
A technique for trusted social networking involves enabling parties to join a social network and provide a list of trusted content sources. The system can maintain folders associated with each of the trusted content sources for a first member. If one of the trusted content sources is a second member that indicates the first member is trusted, then the system can maintain a master folder for the first and second member. |
| US09240999B2 |
Managed virtual point to point communication service having verified directory, secure transmission and controlled delivery
A system for providing a managed virtual point to point communication service having a verified directory and providing secure transmission and controlled delivery of electronic document images may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a verified directory of users. The interface may communicate with devices of sending and receiving users in the verified directory. The processor may be operative to receive a request to deliver an electronic document image from a sending user to a receiving user. The processor may provide secure access to the electronic document image to the receiving user. The processor may provide a delivery confirmation to the sending device of the sending user upon determining that the electronic document image was securely accessed by the receiving user. The delivery confirmation may indicate that the electronic document image was securely transmitted to the receiving user. |
| US09240996B1 |
Method and system for risk-adaptive access control of an application action
Risk-adaptive access control techniques are disclosed. In various embodiments, a value for a threat level attribute is determined based at least in part on threat detection data generated by a security system or process. The determined value for the threat level attribute is used to make, at least in part, an access control decision with respect to a request to access the resource. In various embodiments, the threat level attribute is used as an environment attribute provided as input to an XACML-based access control system. |
| US09240995B1 |
Method and system for denying cable modem access to a broadband network
A device, such as a cable modem or embedded media terminal adaptor that attempts to obtain unauthorized network services, is designated by head end equipment, such as a CMTS, as being a ‘rogue’ device. Upon a range request from the rogue device, the CMTS responds with a continuing range command. Upon receiving each periodic range request transmitted from the rogue device during a periodic station maintenance opportunity, the CMTS responds with another continuing range command. Thus, the rogue device does not ever establish connection with the CMTS because an ACK message is not received back from the CMTS. |
| US09240986B1 |
Managing security and wireless signal detection
A method is used in managing security and wireless signal detection. Information is gathered about analog signal reception at a receiver. Based on the information, a result is produced for use in determining location information at the receiver. The result is used to affect a security decision. |
| US09240984B2 |
Configuring an electronic device based on a transaction
A first network signal is received indicating a device identifier in response to a transaction involving an electronic device uniquely associated with the device identifier. An entity identifier specific to an entity associated with the transaction is determined. In response to an initialization event of the electronic device, a second network signal from the electronic device is received that identifies the electronic device. In response to the second network signal, a configuration is communicated to the electronic device that is specific to the entity associated with the transaction. |
| US09240981B2 |
System and method for authenticating identity of discovered component in an infiniband (IB) network
A system and method can verify trustfulness of a fabric component in an InfiniBand (IB) fabric. A subnet manager that is responsible for authenticating the fabric component using private/public key pairs. The subnet manager can first send a first encrypted message to a fabric component in the IB fabric, wherein the first encrypted message contains a token and is encrypted using a public key associated with the fabric component. Then, the fabric component is allowed to decode the first encrypted message using a private key associated with the fabric component, and to send a second encrypted message back to the subnet manager. Finally, the subnet manager can authenticate the fabric component if the second encrypted message contains correct information. |
| US09240978B2 |
Communication system having message encryption
A system includes a communication device configured to transmit a message to an unsecured server. A secured server is in communication with the communication device, and is configured to receive the message from the communication device before the message is transmitted to the unsecured server, encrypt the message, and transmit the encrypted message to the unsecured server. |
| US09240977B2 |
Techniques for protecting mobile applications
Techniques for protecting mobile applications are presented. A user's mobile device is provisioned and proxied over a cloud environment with enterprise policy enforced in that cloud environment. Enterprise applications run on the mobile device within the cloud environment. Administrative reporting and control occurs within the cloud environment and the enterprise applications establish connections to, authenticate to, and communicate with remote enterprise services via the provisioned cloud environment. |
| US09240975B2 |
Security device implementing network flow prediction
A security device for processing network flows is described, including: one or more packet processors configured to receive incoming data packets associated with network flows where a packet processor is assigned as an owner of network flows and each packet processor processes data packets associated with flows for which it is the assigned owner; and a packet processing manager configured to assign ownership of network flows to the packet processors where the packet processing manager includes a global flow table containing global flow table entries mapping network flows to packet processor ownership assignments and a predict flow table containing predict flow entries mapping predicted network flows to packet processor ownership assignments. A predict flow entry includes a predict key and associated packet processor ownership assignment. The predict key includes multiple data fields identifying a predicted network flow where one or more of the data fields have a wildcard value. |
| US09240967B2 |
Location-based communications
A computer-implemented method includes generating a communication to be sent from a sender to a recipient who are related to one another by blood or employment; and scheduling delivery of the communication to the recipient based on a future location of the recipient. The content of the communication and the future location of the recipient are determined from an analysis of electronically-accessible resources by or about the sender, the recipient, or both. |
| US09240965B2 |
Methods and systems for business interaction monitoring for networked business process
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for monitoring interactions of business processes within networked business processes. One method comprises identifying a networked business process, the networked business process comprising a set of interrelated business processes performed by two or more second network participants. A first message from a first network participant associated with the networked business process is received, where the first message includes information defining an event associated with a first business process performed by the first network participant. At least a second network participant associated with the information defining the event included in the first message is identified. The identified at least second network participant is then notified of the information defining the event included in the first message. |
| US09240963B2 |
Chat room viewing
A system and method allows a user to view communications exchanged between other participants within an online chat room without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room. The online chat room enables ongoing exchanges of electronic communications between two or more participants whose participation within the chat room are mutually revealed to each other. A user is enabled to perceive the existence of the online chat room without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room. Selection of the online chat room by the user is received. Responsive to user selection of the online chat room and without the user becoming a participant within the online chat room, at least some of the communications exchanged between the participants within the online chat room are made perceivable to the user as the communications are exchanged. |
| US09240956B2 |
Communication system using orbital angular momentum
Different data communication architectures deliver a wide variety of content, including audio and video content, to consumers. The architectures may utilize orbital angular momentum to deliver more bandwidth across multiple channels than any single communication channel can carry. In some implementations, the communication architectures distribute data across multiple orbital angular momentum channels in a bonded channel group. |
| US09240951B2 |
Apparatus, system and method of controlling data flow to a plurality of endpoints over a communication network
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of controlling data flow over a communication network. For example, an apparatus may include a communication unit to control the transfer of a stream of data from a first device to a second device over a communication link, the stream of data including data to be delivered to a plurality of endpoints. For example, the controlling may include communicating between the first and second devices at least one message including at least one endpoint-specific credit consumption unit (CCU) defined with respect to at least one endpoint of the plurality of endpoints. |
| US09240949B2 |
Methods, systems and computer readable media for predicting overload conditions using load information
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for predicting imminent Diameter overload conditions using load information are disclosed. One embodiment of a system for implementing the subject matter described herein includes a first Diameter node including at least one network interface for receiving Diameter messages and a Diameter overload prediction unit. The Diameter overload prediction unit may be configured to extract load information from the Diameter messages, detect a traffic pattern using the extracted load information, predict at least one overload condition associated with one or more other Diameter nodes, and communicate an indication of the predicted overload condition to at least some of the other Diameter nodes before a time at which the overload condition is predicted to occur. |
| US09240948B2 |
Method for managing and sharing symmetric flow and asymmetric flow in duplexed network
Provided is a network duplexing apparatus and method. The network duplexing apparatus includes a plurality of network interface units configured to store information of a flow flowing in the network interface units when the information of the flow is not generated, provide the information of the flow to a master unit when the flow corresponds to an asymmetric flow, and request information of an opposite side flow of the flow from the master unit to receive the requested information, and the master unit configured to store the information of the flow provided from the network interface unit, determine whether the information of the opposite side flow of the flow is stored, and provide the information of the opposite side flow to the network interface unit when the information of the opposite side flow is stored. |
| US09240943B2 |
Metropolitan area network communications method and communication system
A metropolitan area network (MAN) communications method, a metropolitan area server, a node switch, a node server, and a MAN communication system for solving the incapability of an IP network in ensuring transmission quality. The communications method comprises: a piece of MAN equipment accessing a MAN, the metropolitan area server in the MAN allocating for the network accessing equipment a protocol tag and a MAN address; the MAN equipment comprising the node switch and the node server; the protocol tag being used as a description of the connection between the MAN equipment and the metropolitan area server; for each cross MAN service request, the metropolitan area server allocating a data tag of the corresponding service: the data tag being used as a description of the connection among the service node related to the service. This invention is applicable in multimedia transmission, and is capable of ensuring a stable transmission rate, thereby avoiding delays. |
| US09240941B2 |
System and method for managing media in a distributed communication network
A system and method for processing communication media in a regionally distributed communication platform that includes at a first platform region, establishing a communication session comprising establishing a media communication to at least one endpoint from the first region and establishing signaling communication to a second platform region; selecting a media resource in response to a change in media processing requirements of the communication session; when the selected media resource is outside the first region, routing media communication through a media resource outside of the first region; when the media resource is available in the first region, routing media communication through the media resource of the first region; and when the media resource is outside of the second region, storing the media communication in the first region at least temporarily and tunneling a branch of the media communication to a central media service in the second region. |
| US09240940B2 |
Scalable infiniband interconnect performance and diagnostic tool
In accordance with some implementations, a method for evaluating large scale computer systems based on performance is disclosed. A large scale, distributed memory computer system receives topology data, wherein the topology data describes the connections between the plurality of switches and lists the nodes associated with each switch. Based on the received topology data, the system performs a data transfer test for each of the pair of switches. The test includes transferring data between a plurality of nodes and determining a respective overall test result value reflecting overall performance of a respective pair of switches for a plurality of component tests. The system determines that the pair of switches meets minimum performance standards by comparing the overall test result value against an acceptable test value. If the overall test result value does not meet the minimum performance standards, the system reports the respective pair of switches as underperforming. |
| US09240932B2 |
VOIP cooperative multipoint solution
It is provided a user equipment, including mode switching means adapted to switch, autonomously or based on a command from a base station of a communication system to which the user equipment belongs, the user equipment into a low data rate mode; measuring means adapted to measure a downlink reference signal received on a downlink from the base station; feedback preparing means adapted to prepare a feedback based on the measurement by the measuring means; encoding means adapted to encode the feedback, thus obtaining encoded data; modulating means adapted to modulate the encoded data; and providing means adapted to provide the modulated encoded data for being sent on the uplink at a predetermined time after the downlink reference signal was received, if the user equipment is in the low data rate mode. |
| US09240930B2 |
System for network flow visualization through network devices within network topology
A network device includes internal interfaces and operates to receive a network flow at an ingress interface and route the network flow within the network device. A computer in communication with the network device executes instructions for rendering a graphical user interface including an object representing the network device. The computer also renders interface objects respectively corresponding to each of the internal interfaces of the network device. The computer operates to acquire a network flow record for the network flow through the network device. The network flow record identifies the ingress interface of the network device for the network flow and identifies switching information for the network flow within the network device. The computer also renders a graphical representation of a transmission path of the network flow within the network device from the ingress interface. The transmission path is defined by the switching information identified by the network flow record. |
| US09240926B2 |
Base station and communication control method
A base station 100 maps the system information formed of multiple blocks (SIB) to predetermined regions of a downlink shared channel and transmits the mapped system information to the mobile station. The base station 100 includes: a system information transmission control unit 105 configured to divide each of the predetermined regions into a first half and a second half in a time direction; and a transmission data generation unit 111 configured to map the system information to at least one of the first half and the second half. The system information transmission control unit 105 switches positions of the first half and the second half in rotation every transmission timing of the predetermined regions on the shared channel. |
| US09240925B1 |
System and method for server customization
Customization of a plurality of servers in a computer network. A server customizer module is generated that includes a server customizer initialization file containing a plurality of arguments for populating and running a plurality of standardized applications, scripts and utilities on each server. The server customizer module is installed on each of the plurality of servers for subsequent execution as part of the server build/customization process. A server unattended install launch module, cooperative with the server customizer module is generated that includes an unattended install launch initialization file for launching a plurality of standardized processes on each server. The server unattended install launch module is installed on each of the plurality of servers for subsequent execution as part of the server build/customization process. The server customizer module and server unattended install launch module are executed on each of the plurality of servers to complete customization of each server. |
| US09240920B2 |
Wireless transmitter for multi-mode concurrent transmission of signals complying with different communication standards
A wireless transmitter has a digital baseband module and a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter. The digital baseband module generates a multi-mode modulated signal by using a plurality of digital synthesizers. The RF transmitter has a frequency synthesizer and a digital power amplifier (DPA). The frequency synthesizer generates an oscillation signal with an RF carrier frequency. The DPA generates a multi-standard RF signal according to the multi-mode modulated signal and the oscillation signal. |
| US09240919B2 |
Polar modulator
A polar modulator (200) comprises a modulation generator (10) arranged to generate phase modulation data and amplitude modulation data; and a phase modulation stage (20) arranged to generate a phase modulated, PM, carrier signal and a PM clock signal, wherein the PM carrier signal has a PM carrier signal frequency and the PM clock signal has a PM clock signal frequency, and the PM carrier signal frequency is higher than the PM clock signal frequency, the PM carrier signal and the PM clock signal are phase modulated by the phase modulation data, and the phase modulation stage (20) comprises an adjustable delay stage (50) arranged to adjust a relative delay between the PM carrier signal and the PM clock signal to a target value. The polar modulator (200) further comprises a re-timing circuit (40) arranged to generate an amplitude modulation, AM, clock signal by re-timing the PM clock signal with the PM carrier signal; an amplitude modulation stage (30) arranged to employ the AM clock signal to clock the amplitude modulation data into the amplitude modulation stage (30) and arranged to amplitude modulate the PM carrier signal with the amplitude modulation data; an error detection stage (60) arranged to generate an indication of a magnitude of a first deviation of the AM clock signal from a target condition; and a control stage (70) arranged to select the target value of the relative delay by determining, by controlling the adjustment of the relative delay by the adjustable delay stage (50), a first value of the relative delay that maximizes the magnitude of the first deviation, and applying an offset to the first value of the relative delay. |
| US09240918B2 |
Method, devices and computer program product for modulation and demodulation delivering OFDM/OQAM symbols
A method is provided for modulating a real data stream grouped into blocks of nb·M real data, where M is the number of carriers and nb is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The method includes, for a block of real data: a first modulation by a first modulator of the first M/2 data, delivering a first set of modulated carriers; a second modulation by a second modulator of the following (nb−1)·M data, delivering a second set of (nb−1)·M modulated carriers; a third modulation by a third modulator of the last M/2 data, delivering a third set of modulated carriers; and a superposition of the first, second and third sets, forming a block of OFDM/OQAM symbols of length nb·M/2, the first set being superposed with the start of the second set and the third set being superposed with the end of the second set. |
| US09240910B2 |
Out-of-band emission cancellation
A transmission signal pre-processing method and apparatus for out-of-band emission cancellation are disclosed. For each of N subchannels in a band weighting each of N subchannel symbols by a calculated value in the range from 0 to 1 is performed. Precoding said N weighted symbols, organised as an N×1 matrix, by multiplication by a unitary matrix is then performed. |
| US09240908B2 |
Pilot pattern for observation scalar MIMO-OFDM
In an embodiment, a transmitter includes first and second transmission paths. The first transmission path is configurable to generate first pilot clusters each including a respective first pilot subsymbol in a first cluster position, and the second transmission path is configurable to generate second pilot clusters each including a respective second pilot subsymbol in a second cluster position such that a vector formed by the first pilot subsymbols is orthogonal to a vector formed by the second pilot subsymbols. For example, where such a transmitter transmits simultaneous orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals (e.g., MIMO-OFDM signals) over respective channels that may impart inter-carrier interference (ICI) to the signals due to Doppler spread, the pattern of the pilot symbols that compose the pilot clusters may allow a receiver of these signals to use a recursive algorithm, such as a Vector State Scalar Observation (VSSO) Kalman algorithm, to estimate the responses of these channels. |
| US09240906B2 |
System and method for monitoring and altering performance of a packet network
The disclosed embodiments include a system and method for monitoring performance of a packet network. In one embodiment, a method includes determining network performance information of a packet network by monitoring performance information packets that are communicated along network paths of the packet network. The method also includes appending the network performance information gathered at a network node along the network paths to data stored in the performance information packets. The method stores the network performance information collected by monitoring the performance information packets in memory and analyzes the stored network performance information to generate historical network performance information. The method automatically alters network operation in response to current network performance information indicating that the packet network is not operating properly based on the historical network performance information. |
| US09240902B2 |
Attachment server network for viewing attachments on a portable electronic device
An attachment server network including at least two attachment servers in communication with one another, each of the attachment servers for converting email attachments in response to view requests received from portable electronic devices, each of the attachment servers having a respective cache for storing data corresponding to previously converted attachments, the data being available to any of the attachment servers in the attachment server network. |
| US09240895B2 |
Method, system and device of multicast functionality in an energy portal
Described herein are embodiments of methods, systems and devices of providing multicast functionality through an energy portal such as a meter, which reduces bandwidth required for communication between the energy portal and a server. In accordance with one aspect, a method is provided of providing multicast functionality through an energy portal, which reduces bandwidth required for communication between the energy portal and a server. In one embodiment, the method includes: receiving, over a first network, a single message, wherein the single message includes at least one device characteristic; determining, using a processor, one or more devices associated with the at least one device characteristic, wherein each of the one or more devices are connected to a second network; and transmitting the single message over the second network to each of the one or more devices associated with the at least one device characteristic, wherein the single message is transmitted individually to each of the one or more devices associated with the at least one device characteristic such that the single message is transmitted as many times as there are devices associated with the at least one device characteristic. |
| US09240893B2 |
Bidirectional multicast protocol with upstream and downstream join messages
Systems and methods for implementing a bidirectional multicast protocol with two types of join messages are disclosed. The two types of join messages, upstream joins and downstream joins, are used to control the Reverse Path Forwarding (RPF) interface is added to the outgoing interface list for a particular multicast group, which in turn controls when multicast packets will be forwarded to the rendezvous point. One method involves receiving a multicast packet addressed to multicast group G. The method inhibits the multicast packet from being forwarded via the RPF interface, unless the outgoing interface list corresponding to the multicast group G already identifies the RPF interface. The RPF interface can be added to the outgoing interface list in response to reception of a downstream join message via the RPF interface, as well as in response to monitoring, via the RPF interface, an upstream join message on a shared network segment. |
| US09240892B1 |
Method and apparatus for reduction of communications media energy consumption
A Method and Apparatus for Reduction of Communications Media Energy Consumption have been disclosed. Media energy consumption can be reduced by mapping a periodic data pattern in data to an alternate data pattern that consumes less energy when the alternate pattern is transmitted on the communications media in place of the original data pattern. The detection of the original selected patterns and the choice of replacement patterns may be made automatically or according to the transmission state (for example, idle or alarm). |
| US09240888B2 |
Authentication system for gaming machines
Disclosed is a system and method that uses digital signature technology to authenticate the contents of one or more manifests located on a storage device. Each manifest contains a list of file records, where each record contains the name of a file stored on the storage device, and a signature value derived from the contents of the file. At boot time, the gaming machine first authenticates the contents of the manifest and then authenticates the contents of the files using the signature value stored in the manifest. Files are verified using the signature, as they are needed, during the boot up of the operating system and throughout normal operation. This method reduces the boot time of the gaming machine and eliminates the need to check digital signatures for each individual file or over the entire contents of a non-secure media.Similarly, a method of adding authentication ability to legacy software components without necessarily altering the legacy software components is disclosed. Introduction of a stronger authentication algorithm, or when a private key has been compromised would normally require the software component to be re-built to support the new algorithm or private/public key pair; however, a method is disclosed where algorithms and key pairs may be changed and applied to legacy software without having to re-built, re-test, re-sign, or re-submit the component to regulatory agencies for approval. Also disclosed is a system and method of establishing a trusted environment containing a gaming operating system and associated authentication module, file system drivers, and/or network drivers that may be used to in the process of authenticating contents of one or more manifests located on a storage device. |
| US09240882B2 |
Key generating device and key generating method
According to an embodiment, a key generating device connected to an external device includes a generating unit configured to generate an encryption key; a first communicating unit configured to transmit and receive the encryption key to and from the external device; a storage unit configured to stores therein state information indicating a communication state with respect to an application using the encryption key; and a controller configured to make a control of changing a frequency at which the generating unit generates the encryption key or a frequency at which the first communicating unit transmits and receives the encryption key according to the state information. |
| US09240879B2 |
Signal generator, electronic system comprising the signal generator and method of generating signals
A quadrature phase signal generator comprises a relative delay unit, a phase detector, a first amplifier and a loop filter. The relative delay unit delays differential input signals and generates four delayed signals. The phase detector generates quadrature four phase output signals, a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal according to the four delayed signals. A difference of the first and the second voltage signals indicates a phase error of the quadrature four phase output signals. The first amplifier amplifies the voltage difference of the first and the second voltage signals. The loop filter filters the amplified voltage difference and generates a tuning voltage signal. The loop filter is further communicatively coupled to the relative delay unit. The relative delay unit adjusts a delay of the quadrature four phase delayed signals according to the tuning voltage signal. |
| US09240872B2 |
Method and device for configuring pilot in wireless communication system
Disclosed is a method for configuring a pilot frequency in a wireless communication system, comprising: on the basis of at least one item among a current wireless channel characteristic parameter, device capability information of a correspondent node, and system requirement information, configuring in real-time a pilot frequency for different transmissions during a transmission process; and transmitting the configuration result to the correspondent node. Also disclosed is a corresponding device for configuring the pilot frequency. The present invention allows for configuration in real-time of the pilot frequency. This facilitates improved transmission reliability and guaranteed communication quality, and reduces pilot frequency overhead, and at the same time, is applicable in additional number of channel environments and application scenarios. |
| US09240871B2 |
MIMO WLAN system
A multiple-access MIMO WLAN system that employs MIMO, OFDM, and TDD. The system (1) uses a channel structure with a number of configurable transport channels, (2) supports multiple rates and transmission modes, which are configurable based on channel conditions and user terminal capabilities, (3) employs a pilot structure with several types of pilot (e.g., beacon, MIMO, steered reference, and carrier pilots) for different functions, (4) implements rate, timing, and power control loops for proper system operation, and (5) employs random access for system access by the user terminals, fast acknowledgment, and quick resource assignments. Calibration may be performed to account for differences in the frequency responses of transmit/receive chains at the access point and user terminals. The spatial processing may then be simplified by taking advantage of the reciprocal nature of the downlink and uplink and the calibration. |
| US09240869B2 |
Wireless communication system
In a wireless communication system, a terminal device and a base station device communicate using frequency bands selected from among a plurality of frequency bands. The base station device selects a frequency band used for a downlink and a frequency band used for an uplink as frequency bands used for communication with the terminal device from among the plurality of frequency bands, selects an association between the frequency band used for the downlink and the frequency band used for the uplink among the selected frequency bands, and transmits information indicating the selected frequency bands and information indicating the association containing identification information of the association using a signal specific to the terminal device. |
| US09240868B2 |
Increasing reliable data throughput in a wireless network
Systems and methods for improving data transmission rates in communication networks are disclosed. In an 802.11 wireless communication network, where a source node of the wireless network transmits TCP data to a destination node of the wireless network, the destination node does not transmit TCP acknowledgments (ACKs) for the TCP data if 802.11 ACKs indicate that the destination node received the TCP data. If a source outside the wireless network transmits TCP data to the destination node within the wireless network through an intermediate device, such as an access point, the destination node suppresses transmitting TCP ACKs. The intermediate device transmits TCP ACKs as proxy for the destination node to the source. The intermediate device also suppresses TCP ACKs where a source node within the wireless network sends the TCP data to a destination node outside of the wireless network. |
| US09240867B1 |
Bit-level combining for MIMO systems with HARQ and/or repetition coding
Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the receiver has received one or more signal vectors from a common digital information sequence. Each received signal vector is decoded using, for example, a maximum-likelihood decoder to produce log-likelihood ratios. The results of the decoders are combined by addition to produce a final decoding estimate. In some embodiments, each of the received signals may be processed prior to decoding. The disclosed decoding scheme may utilize all received information without increasing hardware complexity. |
| US09240866B2 |
Interleaving method and deinterleaving method
Bit permutation to bits of a codeword is performed such that: at least one spatial-multiplexing block is made up of bits from B/2 different cyclic-blocks; each constellation word of the at least one spatial-multiplexing block is made up of bits from Bt/2 different cyclic blocks, Bt being the number of bits of the constellation word; and each of the bit pairs of the constellation word is made up of bits from a common one of the Bt/2 different cyclic blocks. |
| US09240865B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and data processing method
A method of transmitting broadcast signals includes forward error correction (FEC) encoding mobile data; interleaving the FEC encoded mobile data; encoding signaling information for the mobile data; mapping the interleaved mobile data and the encoded signaling information into a data unit, wherein the data unit includes a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is concatenated with the second region, wherein the first region includes known data and the encoded signaling information, and wherein the second region includes known data and the encoded mobile data; and transmitting the broadcast signals including the data unit, wherein the data unit is multiplexed with a data unit of main data in a specific time period, wherein the signaling information includes information of the data unit having the interleaved mobile data. |
| US09240864B2 |
Blind CRS detection
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for blind detection of cell-specific reference signals. Methods and apparatus are provided for detecting a cell-specific reference signal (CRS) in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) symbol by a user equipment (UE). The method generally includes predicting a current channel response of a current OFDM symbol based on a channel response of at least one previous OFDM symbol, estimating a noise power level of the current OFDM symbol, forming a log likelihood ratio (LLR) of two detection hypotheses based on the predicted current channel response and the estimated noise power level, comparing the LLR to a pre-determined threshold, and determining that at least one CRS is present in the current OFDM symbol based on the comparison. |
| US09240862B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
A method and an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals thereof. The apparatus comprises an encoder for encoding service data corresponding to each of a plurality of data transmission path, wherein each of the data transmission path carries at least one service component for broadcast services, an encoder for encoding signaling data, wherein the signaling data includes static data and dynamic data, a frame builder for building signal frames, wherein each of signal frames includes the encoded service data and the encoded signaling data, wherein each of signal frames belongs to one of the broadcast services, wherein the static data remain constant in the signal frames belonging to the broadcast service in a duration of a super frame and the dynamic data changes by the signal frames, a modulator for modulating the signal frames by an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) scheme and a transmitter for transmitting the broadcast signals carrying the modulated signal frames. |
| US09240851B2 |
Broadcast signal receiver, method for providing broadcast signal relation information, and server
A broadcast signal receiver capable of displaying relation information corresponding to a broadcast signal in real time. |
| US09240850B2 |
Exploiting multiple antennas for spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks
Spectrum sensing in wireless communications is provided to identify utilized and/or unutilized frequency bands reserved for primary users using a cyclostationary beamforming approach. An adaptive cross self-coherent restoral (ACS) algorithm can be utilized to extract signals of interest (SOI) at unique cycle frequencies related to primary and/or secondary users from an antenna array measurement. Based on the SOI, one or more users of the spectrum can be identified or the spectrum can be regarded as vacant; this can be based on lobe identification in the frequency spectrum of the SOI, in one example. This mechanism is less complex than traditional cyclic spectrum analysis methods. The cyclostationary beamforming based approach is more effective than the energy detection method. Also, the need for quiet periods in spectrum sensing is eliminated when using this mechanism such that signals can be transmitted simultaneously with receiving signals over the antenna array. |
| US09240849B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting faulty antennas
The present invention discloses an apparatus for detecting a faulty antenna among a plurality of antennas contained in a communication device (200), comprising: a measurer (210) adapted to measure signal strengths of signals obtained from the plurality of antennas each; a calculator (220) adapted to calculate differences between each two of the measured signal strengths; a first comparator (230) adapted to compare each of the calculated differences with a first predetermined threshold value; and a first decider (240) adapted to decide, among the plurality of antennas, an antenna to be faulty on the basis of a respective result of the comparison. The present invention provides an efficient and direct way to detect antennas that are not performing according to expectations, without use of extra external or dedicated detection devices, which reduces hardware and software cost. Further, the detection performed according to the present invention only takes advantage of the measured data of signal strengths, and neither extra transmit power nor time slot is needed for the detection. Also, statistical data of antennas for a long term can be obtained according to the present invention. |
| US09240846B2 |
Random access channel procedures for in-device coexistence interference avoidance
A method, system and device are provided for avoiding in-device coexistence interference between different radio technologies by allocating random access channel preambles to include one or more dedicated access preambles to be sued for sending IDC interference indication messages over a random access channel (RACH) to a radio access network. In response, the radio network provides control parameters and/or instructions for avoiding interference in a random access response message corresponding to the IDC interference indication message using one or more fields in the MAC subheader and payload fields of a designated IDC MAC PDU message. |
| US09240844B2 |
Optocoupler arrangement and input and/or output module
An optocoupler arrangement for signal transmission with galvanic separation includes a first optocoupler with a first input path and a first output path, a second optocoupler with a second input path and a second output path, wherein the first and second input paths are arranged in series with a connecting switching device, and wherein an actuation circuit has first and second input signals as inputs, and first, second and third outputs as outputs, and the actuation circuit is configured such that, as a function of a first switching state related to the first and second signal inputs, the connecting switching device is actuated, and with respect to either a second or a third switching state, either a first switching device assigned to the first input path of the first optocoupler or a second switching device assigned to the second input path of the second optocoupler is actuated. |
| US09240841B2 |
Method and system for free-field optical transmission by means of laser signals
The invention relates to a method and system for free-field optical transmission by means of laser signals, including setting a rate for encoding information that is useful for transmission on the basis of variations in a signal receiving characteristic belonging to a single communication session. The encoding rate is preferably dynamically adjusted during the communication session. An optimized compromise is thereby created between a useful rate that is high and a post-decoding bit error rate that is low. The method and the related system enable atmospheric conditions that can disrupt laser signal transmission to be taken into account in real time when said laser signals pass through part of the earth's atmosphere. |
| US09240838B2 |
Optical transmitter and method for controlling bias for optical modulator
An optical transmitter includes a signal generator configured to generate a drive signal from input data, an optical modulator configured to have a voltage-to-light-intensity characteristic in which intensity of output light changes in response to an applied voltage, and to generate a light signal that corresponds to the drive signal, a multiplier configured to multiply the drive signal and an electric signal that is obtained from the light signal; and a control section configured to control, based on output of the multiplier, a bias voltage for the optical modulator. |
| US09240837B2 |
Systems and methods using optical communication for commissioning of network nodes
Embodiments relate to methods, devices, and computer-implemented methods for transmitting a modulated signal transmitted from at least one signal light source and using the modulated signal for commissioning of network nodes. The method can include determining, by a network node, that the network node is not commissioned. The method can further include generating, by the network node, a random number, and generating a modulated light signal based on the random number. In addition, the method can include transmitting, to an image capture device, the modulated light signal, receiving, from a network control unit, via a radio channel, an encrypted commissioning message, and decrypting, by the network node, the encrypted commissioning message using the random number. Further, the method can include establishing, with the network control unit, communication based on data in the encrypted commissioning message. |
| US09240836B1 |
OTDR fault tracing in optical networks
A first optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) connects at a first location along an optical path between multiple optical transmitters and multiple optical receivers in an optical network. An optical filter, connects along the optical path, and includes multiple selectable optical wavelength blockers. A set of different length optical fibers is installed in multiple last fiber legs in the optical path. A controller selects ones of the multiple selectable wavelength blockers of the optical filter for insertion in the optical path; instructs the first OTDR to inject a first OTDR signal at the first location; receive, from the first OTDR, indications of whether a reflection of the first OTDR signal was received from each of the multiple optical receivers; and identifies faults in the optical network based on the received indications whether the reflection of the first OTDR signal was received from each of the multiple OTDR reflectors. |
| US09240834B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing open loop bandwidth allocation
An approach for allocating bandwidth is disclosed. A request is detected from a terminal for capacity on a communication channel based on type of traffic transmitted from the terminal. A bandwidth allocation pattern designated for the terminal is retrieved, wherein the bandwidth allocation pattern is set based on a predetermined service plan associated with the terminal. Bandwidth over the communication channel is reserved for the terminal according to the bandwidth allocation pattern without feedback to the terminal. This arrangement has particular applicability to a satellite network that provides data communication services. |
| US09240832B2 |
Method and apparatus for signal detection
A method for detecting signals using an adaptive transducer arrangement, the arrangement including a transducer array having a plurality of transducers, a beamformer, and an energy detector, the method comprising: determining weights to be applied by the beamformer to signals emitted from each transducer in order to maximize a performance metric; applying the determined weights to the signals emitted from each transducer; measuring the energy received at the energy detector; comparing the measured energy with a predetermined value and based on said comparison determining whether or not one or more signals are present. |
| US09240830B2 |
Antenna swapping methods including comparing performance characteristics of first and second antennas, and related portable electronic devices
An antenna swapping method may include tuning respective signals provided to first and second antennas in a portable electronic device to at least one frequency band. The method may also include connecting the first antenna to an uplink signal path that is for transmissions through the first and second antennas, and performing impedance matching for the first antenna. The method may further include comparing a real-time performance characteristic of the first antenna with a real-time performance characteristic of the second antenna. The method may additionally include, responsive to determining that the second antenna has a stronger real-time performance characteristic than the first antenna while the first antenna is connected to the uplink signal path, swapping from the first antenna to the second antenna by connecting the second antenna to the uplink signal path and disconnecting the first antenna from the uplink signal path, and performing impedance matching for the second antenna. |