| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09283085B2 |
Intervertebral disc prosthesis and method
The present disclosure generally relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis for partially or totally replacing an organic intervertebral disc. The disc prosthesis includes an interbody device, a face plate and a pair of locking mechanisms for achieving dual fixation in the cephalad and caudal direction. Methods according to the present disclosure achieve such dual fixation in a single fixation step. |
| US09283084B1 |
Spinal fusion cage and vertebral body clamp
The invention is directed to a fusion cage designed for lateral placement. The cage is roughly rectangular in shape and hollow on the inside to accommodate bone graft material. Staples can be incorporated into the fusion cage to assist in securing the cage in position in the spine. A rod can be attached to the staples to assist in positioning the staples. A cable can be attached to the rod to assist in positioning the cage and to assist in positioning the spine. A lateral plate can be used with the cage to further assist in maintaining the cage and the spine in the desired position. |
| US09283081B2 |
Joint prosthesis having a bending hinge that comprises a spreading axle
A joint prosthesis has a bending hinge, which is formed by a hinge fork and an axle pin, which comprises two axle stubs, which are arranged in an installation position for insertion, in which installation position the axle stubs are retracted in a coupling piece, and in an expanded position after implantation by movement in the axial direction into aligned hinge holes of the hinge fork, wherein the axle pin has two bearing areas at the ends of the axle pin and a joining area lying therebetween, and the axle pin is separated in the joining area along a plane extending in the axial direction, which plane intersects with the jacket of the axle pin at two points. |
| US09283077B2 |
Implant and implant system
An implant system for implantation at a joint, the implant system including an implant device (10), the implant device comprising a body portion (20) having first (15) and second (16) ends, and a first elongate member (40), extending from the first or second end of the body portion, the implant system further comprising a corresponding fixation device (70) for securing the first elongate member to a subject, the fixation device comprising at least one latching element, the first elongate member comprising at least one cooperating element, the at least one cooperating element being capable of cooperating with said at least one latching element of the fixation device in use. |
| US09283076B2 |
Glenoid resurfacing system and method
A system and method for repairing a defect on an articular surface. An excision guide is positioned on an articular surface, wherein the excision guide includes a guide head and a guide sleeve disposed on the guide head, wherein the guide head includes a contact surface configured to locate the excision guide relative to the articular surface. A guide pin may be advanced through the guide sleeve and secured to the articular surface, wherein the guide sleeve is configured to receive the guide pin therethrough and position the guide pin at an angle β relative to an axis generally normal and central to a defect on the articular surface, wherein angle β is less than 90 degrees. |
| US09283068B2 |
Debranching visceral stent graft and methods for use
A visceral double-barreled main body stent graft and methods for its use, the stent graft comprises, a main body stent graft having distal and proximal ends, the main body stent graft's length ranges from about 100-120 mm and diameter at the proximal end ranges from about 30-45 mm, first and second lumens defined at the main body stent graft's distal end, the first lumen's diameter ranges from about 18-20 mm, the second lumen's diameter ranges from about 16-18 mm, the first and second lumens have about the same length from about 50-70 mm, the first lumen is secured to the second lumen along a shared length, and the main body stent graft defines a tubular wall that is contiguous with the first and second lumens such that any fluid entering the main body must exit through one of the first or second lumens. |
| US09283067B2 |
Prosthesis for connecting an anatomical duct
According to the invention, the tubular prosthesis for connecting an anatomical duct includes at least two individual tubular elements and a sealed mechanical element for connecting said separate elements to each other. |
| US09283063B2 |
Medical device and methods of delivering the medical device
A medical device and methods of delivery of the medical device within a patient's body are disclosed by the present invention. The medical device includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member and a coupling member. The coupling member is configured to be coupled to and extend between the first elongate member and the second elongate member to couple the first elongate member to the second elongate member when the medical device is in a first configuration. The coupling member is configured to be decoupled from at least one of the first elongate member and the second elongate member when the medical device is in a second configuration. |
| US09283055B2 |
Method for establishing drill trajectory for dental implants
Aligning a drill bit for preparing a bore to receive a dental implant. Using a frame to position cartridges, the frame fitting patient anatomy and having a chamber to receive cartridges. Creating an initial cartridge with an opening to receive a guide sleeve. Optionally, mounting at least one measuring device assembly onto the initial assembly so that measuring device assembly takes measurements with a known relationship to the initial linear trajectory. Using the measurements to enhance a model of the surgical site and to select a surgical linear trajectory for a surgical bore to stay within bone found at the surgical site. Placing a surgical cartridge into the chamber; and placing a guide sleeve in the surgical cartridge with the guide sleeve oriented along the surgical linear trajectory to constrain a drilling trajectory of a drill bit along the surgical trajectory. Many variations disclosed. |
| US09283053B2 |
Apparatus and methods for implanting objects, such as bronchoscopically implanting markers in the lung of patients
Apparatuses and methods for implanting objects, such as a marker, in the lungs of patients. In one embodiment, a bronchoscopic catheter assembly for implanting an object in the lung of a patient includes a handle, a delivery catheter projecting outwardly from the handle, and a push wire contained within the catheter In one aspect of this embodiment, the catheter can be configured to releasably hold a plurality of markers at a distal end. In another aspect of this embodiment, the push wire can be operably connected to the handle and axially moveable within the delivery catheter to eject the marker out of the catheter within the bronchi of the patient. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the marker can further include an anti-migration device associated with the marker for holding the marker in place once the marker is deployed in the bronchi. The anti-migration device can be integral with the marker or positioned proximate to the marker to prevent migration of the marker. |
| US09283050B2 |
Curved cannula surgical system control
A robotic surgical system is configured with rigid, curved cannulas that extend through the same opening into a patient's body. Surgical instruments with passively flexible shafts extend through the curved cannulas. The cannulas are oriented to direct the instruments towards a surgical site. A teleoperation control system that moves the curved cannulas and their associated instruments in a manner that allows a surgeon to experience intuitive control is disclosed. The flexible shaft instruments are controlled as if extending along a virtual straight line insertion and withdrawal axis. Various port features that support the curved cannulas within the single opening are disclosed. Cannula support fixtures that support the cannulas during insertion into the single opening and mounting to robotic manipulators are disclosed. |
| US09283047B2 |
Control device and control method for surgical system
A control device for surgical system that controls a surgical tool attached to a slave arm in accordance with manipulation input values for a position and an orientation from a remote control device, comprising a control unit that stores setting information for setting the position and the orientation of a first target portion of the surgical tool, corrects the manipulation input values in accordance with the setting information, and controls a position and an orientation of a post-correction second target portion of the surgical tool in compliance with corrected manipulation input values. |
| US09283045B2 |
Surgical instruments with fluid management system
Various surgical instruments are disclosed. At least one surgical instrument includes an instrument mounting portion configured to mount to a robotic surgical system. The instrument mounting portion includes an interface to mechanically and electrically interface to the surgical instrument adapted for use with the robotic surgical system. A fluid management system is contained within the instrument mounting portion. The fluid management system includes a first container to contain a first fluid agent to be dispensed. |
| US09283044B2 |
Solenoid system for magnetically guided capsule endoscopy
A solenoid system for magnetically guided capsule endoscopy, has the following components arranged under a patient table which defines a flat plane: a central coil with normal direction being perpendicular to the flat plane, and four coil pairs arranged in the form of a cross around the central coil with respect to the flat plane. Each pair includes two single coils, the normal directions of which are parallel to the flat plane and offset by 90 degrees in relation to each other. |
| US09283043B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for robotic microsurgery
A system for microsurgery includes a first assembly and a second assembly, each including: (1) a planar remote center of motion (RCM) device configured to constrain motion of a surgical instrument attached to the planar RCM device such that an axis of the surgical instrument passes through the RCM while remaining in a planar region defined based on a rotational orientation of the planar RCM device; and (2) a rotational device attached to the planar RCM device and configured such that an axis of rotation of the rotational device passes through the remote center of motion. The rotational orientation of the planar RCM device is defined about the axis of rotation. The first assembly and the second assembly are configured to be positioned such that a distance between the remote centers of motion of the first assembly and the second assembly is no greater than two centimeters. |
| US09283038B2 |
Hair removing system
The invention relates to a system and method for removing hair. The system comprises a hair detection device and a hair-removing device (20). Since 3D information on hairs (32) is required, but due to the very dispersed presence of, e.g., human hairs (32) on skin (30), known detection devices are too slow, the invention provides a combination of two image sensors. A first image sensor (12) produces a first image, based on which a selected part is imaged with a second image sensor (14) that provides the required 3D position information with which the hair-removing device (20) can remove the hair. Thus, optimum use may be made of both fast but less accurate image sensors, such as (2D) CCDs or CMOS sensors, and accurate but slow sensors such as 3D scanning sensors. |
| US09283030B2 |
HF surgical device
An HF surgical device comprising an HF surgical generator, at least one surgical instrument having an active electrode and a neutral electrode, which are connectable to the HF generator. The surgical instrument is connectable to the HF generator via a first wire and the neutral electrode is connectable to the HF generator via second wire. The first and/or second wire is/are equipped with a shield and a decoupling capacitor is disposed at a distal end of each shielded wire. |
| US09283026B2 |
Assessment of electrode coupling for tissue ablation
An electrode catheter (14) and a method for assessing electrode-tissue contact and coupling are disclosed. An exemplary electrode catheter (14) comprises an electrode (20) adapted to apply electrical energy. A measurement circuit (42) is adapted to measure impedance between the electrode (20) and ground as the electrode approaches a target tissue (24). A processor (50) determines a contact and coupling condition for the target tissue (24) based at least in part on reactance of the impedance measured by the measurement circuit (42). In another exemplary embodiment, the electrode catheter (14) determines the contact and coupling condition based at least in part on a phase angle of the impedance. |
| US09283023B2 |
Hand-held cautery device
A disposable cautery device and related methods for making and disassembling a disposable cautery device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the disposable cautery device comprises a housing having a first end and a second end. A cautery tip extends from the housing first end, and the housing second end is configured to receive a removable power source. An actuator is provided to selectively complete an electrical connection between the cautery tip and the removable power source. The actuator is disposed within a recess formed in the housing, and the recess is at least partially circumscribed by a raised rim. A top surface of the actuator is flush with or lower than the rim to inhibit inadvertent actuation of the disposable cautery device. In some embodiments, an end cap is coupled with the second end of the housing to retain the removable power source in the housing, and removal of the end cap from the housing causes the coupling between the end cap and the housing to fracture. |
| US09283022B2 |
Methods and apparatus for cryogenic treatment of a body cavity or lumen
Methods and apparatus for the treatment of a body cavity or lumen are described where a heated fluid and/or gas may be introduced through a catheter and into treatment area within the body contained between one or more inflatable/expandable members. The catheter may also have optional pressure and temperature sensing elements which may allow for control of the pressure and temperature within the treatment zone and also prevent the pressure from exceeding a pressure of the inflatable/expandable members to thereby contain the treatment area between these inflatable/expandable members. Optionally, a chilled, room temperature, or warmed fluid such as water may then be used to rapidly terminate the treatment session. |
| US09283021B2 |
Plaque stabilization using cryoenergy
There is provided a method of supplying cryoenergy to a plaque within a blood vessel. The method comprises expanding an expandable membrane of a catheter apparatus with a pressure of less than 5 ATM (507 kPa), the catheter apparatus having been placed in thermal contact with the plaque within the blood vessel. The method also comprises establishing a temperature of between +15° C. (288K) and −35° C. (238K) at an interface of the expandable membrane and the blood vessel. A system and catheter apparatus are also provided. |
| US09283016B2 |
System and method for forming porous bone filling material
A method for treating a vertebral bone comprises providing a gaseous substance and providing a flowable and settable bone filling material. The method further comprises introducing the gaseous substance into the bone filling material to form a porous bone augmentation material and inserting a material delivery device into the vertebral bone. The method further comprises injecting the porous bone augmentation material from the material delivery device and into the vertebral bone. |
| US09283010B2 |
Contoured bone plate for fracture fixation having hook members and holder/impactor for same
A bone fixation plate for fixation of fractures having a small terminal bone fragment, such as fractures of the distal radius. The plate includes an elongated body, and two hook members extending from a first end of the elongated body. A contoured region is configured to approximate the surface contour of the distal radius proximate the volar rim, the dorsal rim, or the radial arm. Each hook member is configured to provide subchondral support to a distal bone fragment, without causing shortening of the fragment into the metaphyseal bone, and without providing a bending torque directed to the base of the plate. The tooth members of the hook plate are preferably sharpened at their tips and edges to facilitate their impaction. A holder/impactor for gripping the radial hook plate, and for further facilitating impacting of the hook plate without the need to pre-drill pilot holes, is also provided. |
| US09283009B2 |
Compliant osteosynthesis fixation plate
A bendable polymer tissue fixation device suitable to be implanted into a living body, consisting of a highly porous body, made from a polymer, the porous body having a plurality of pores, such that the device is capable of being smoothly bent, wherein the bending collapses a portion of the pores to form a radius curve, and the polymer fixation device is rigid enough to protect a tissue from shifting. Preferably, the polymer fixation device may be capable of being gradually resorbed by said living body. In one embodiment, the polymer fixation device consists of a plurality of layers distinguishable by various characteristics, such as structural or chemical properties. In another embodiment, the polymer fixation device may feature additional materials which serve to reinforce or otherwise alter the structure or physical characteristics of the device, or alternatively the additional materials serve to deliver therapies to the living being. |
| US09283007B2 |
Device for osteosyntheses or arthrodeses of two- bone parts, in particular of the hand and / or foot
In one embodiment the present invention is an implant suitable for implantation in bone, comprising a median zone extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, the first end having a face extending generally perpendicular to the axis to form an abutment having a width; and a first fixation zone extending from the first end and the abutment, the first fixation zone including a pair of tabs formed of shape-memory material extending from a base portion of the tabs adjacent the abutment such that the abutment extends further from the axis in a radial direction than the base portion of the tabs, wherein the pair of tabs are separable from one another by shape-memory action at body temperature. |
| US09283005B2 |
Systems and methods for posterior dynamic stabilization of the spine
Devices, systems and methods for dynamically stabilizing the spine are provided. The devices include an expandable spacer having an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the spacer has axial and radial dimensions for positioning between the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae. The systems include one or more spacers and a mechanical actuation means for delivering and deploying the spacer. The methods involve the implantation of one or more spacers within the interspinous space. |
| US09282996B2 |
Extra-articular implantable mechanical energy absorbing assemblies
Implantable assemblies/devices and methods for manipulating energy transferred by members defining an anatomical joint, wherein the members collectively define a path of motion. Assemblies/devices are provided with a first component configured to be attached to a first member of the anatomical joint, a second component configured to be attached to a second member of the anatomical joint; and a hydraulic member joining the first and second components. The hydraulic member is placed under compression to absorb energy transferred by the members when the first component is attached to the first member and the second component is attached to the second member and a distance between locations of attachment of the first and second components becomes smaller then a predefined distance between the locations. |
| US09282993B1 |
Steerable extendable devices
The present invention is a Distally Assembled Steerable Cannula (DASC), a robotically-manipulated device that can be deployed and extended within a patient's body by growing from its distal end, or can be used in non-medical applications. In one embodiment, growth occurs by sequentially assembling segments that interlock to form a rigid tube with a complex 3-D shape. The segments are individually transported through the growing cannula, and then assembled at the distal end. A segment can be wedge-shaped in profile, allowing adjustment of the local radius of curvature and direction of the cannula to be controlled by relative segment orientation. |
| US09282992B2 |
Rotational thrombectomy wire
A rotational thrombectomy wire for breaking up vascular thrombus or other obstructive material having a core having a proximal region and a distal region and being rotatable by a motor. The distal region has a smaller diameter than the proximal region. A cable is coupled to the distal region of the core and extends distally thereof. A torque tube is positioned over the cable and a coil is positioned over a distal portion of the cable. A distal portion of the cable has a non-linear configuration. A first covering material is positioned over the coil. |
| US09282982B2 |
Surgical milling cutter bracket
A surgical milling cutter bracket includes a retaining base having a through hole. The upper part of the retaining base is provided with a finger guide having an L-shaped support frame on the top of the finger guide. A downward protrusion is provided at the end of the short side of the L-shaped support frame. The lowest point of the protrusion is lower than the lowest point of the cylindrical head of the milling cutter during normal operation of the milling cutter. A bolt having a through hole at the center is fixed within the cavity of the finger guide. A depressor is provided on the upper part of the retaining base. The bolt passes through a hole of the depressor and is connected to a nut. The protrusion is able to prevent an object from contacting the cylindrical head, thus avoiding cutting the object unevenly. |
| US09282980B2 |
Device and method for manipulating intervertebral tissue
A system and method for manipulating intervertebral tissue in one embodiment includes a conduit, a segmented expansion media configured to pass through the conduit, and an expandable node comprising a plurality of abrading strands and operably connected to the intervertebral tissue removal system conduit so as to receive the segmented expansion media therein, the expandable node expandable from a first condition whereat the plurality of abrading strands define at least one opening having a first maximum diameter, to an expanded condition whereat the at least one opening has a second maximum diameter larger than the first maximum diameter, wherein the second maximum diameter is less than a minimum diameter of the segmented expansion media, such that insertion of the segmented expansion media through the intervertebral tissue removal system conduit and into the expandable node causes the expandable node to expand from the first condition to the expanded condition. |
| US09282979B2 |
Instruments and methods for non-parallel disc space preparation
Flexible shavers and curved access ports that reduce access and trajectory problems associated with conventional lateral approaches to the lower spine. These devices and methods allow for preparing a disc space in the lower spine at an angle that is parallel to the disc space. Consequently, these devices and methods allow for preparing with less endplate damage. |
| US09282976B2 |
Remote-controlled actuator assembly
A remote-controlled actuator assembly includes a guide section (3) of an elongated shape, a distal end member (2) fitted to a tip end of the guide section for alteration in attitude, an operating tool (1) in the distal end member, and a restraining tool (6) for aligning the distal end member straight with the guide section. The distal end member is altered in attitude through advancing/retracting attitude altering members (31) in the guide section by attitude altering drive sources (43), which are controlled by an attitude control unit (62). An advance or retraction position detector (45) detects an advance/retraction position of the attitude altering members while the attitude altering members applying a preload to the distal end member restrained by the restraining tool. The attitude control unit uses the detection value as information on the advance/retraction position corresponding to an initial position-attitude of the distal end member. |
| US09282971B2 |
Implants, methods of manufacturing the same, and devices and methods for delivering the implants to a vascular disorder of a patient
A device for delivering an implant to a vascular disorder of a patient includes a delivery pusher. A stationary blade may be coupled to the delivery pusher. The stationary blade may include a sharp and stationary cutting component for cutting through a suture coupling the implant to the delivery pusher and for thereby releasing the implant when placed in proximity to the vascular disorder. In some cases, the strength of a junction connecting the suture to the implant is equal to or greater than the tensile strength of the suture itself. Additionally, or alternatively, a detachment handle may be fixedly and permanently attached to the delivery pusher such that a user of the device need not couple the detachment handle to the delivery pusher. The detachment handle may include a user manipulable component for initiating a mechanical release of the implant when placed in proximity to the vascular disorder. |
| US09282968B2 |
Applicator for endoscopic treatment of biliary disease
A device for treating biliary disease includes a component configured for deployment to a lumen of a gallbladder or gallbladder duct. The component has a proximal end and a distal end with a lumen extending therethrough and a fluid or gas delivery apparatus at its distal end. |
| US09282966B2 |
Surgical stapling instrument
A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments. |
| US09282963B2 |
Adapter for powered surgical devices
An adapter assembly for selectively interconnecting a surgical end effector including at least one axially translatable drive member and a powered actuator device including at least one rotatable drive shaft is provided. The adapter assembly includes an actuation shaft configured to convert rotation of a first drive shaft of the powered actuator device into an axial translation of a first drive member of the surgical end effector. The adapter assembly further includes an elongate tube configured to convert rotation of a second drive shaft of the powered actuator device into an axial translation of a second drive member of the surgical end effector. The actuation shaft is disposed within the elongate tube, and the actuation shaft and the elongate tube translate axially independent of each other. |
| US09282960B2 |
Articulating suturing device and method
Devices, systems, and methods for suturing of body lumens allow the suturing of vascular puncture sites located at the distal end of a percutaneous tissue tract. An elongated articulated foot of the device can be inserted through the penetration and actuated so that the foot extends along the lumenal axis. The foot can carry suturing attachment cuffs with one end of the cuff adapted to receive a needle, while the other end receives suture. A portion of the foot and/or lumen of the shaft can receive a portion of the suture and can include friction reducing structure that aid with movement of the sutured during removal of the cuffs from within the penetration. |
| US09282958B2 |
Devices and method for treating pelvic dysfunctions
In one embodiment, a method includes securing an implant that includes a pre-formed loop to a vaginal apex. An end of the suture is inserted through a selected portion of a pelvic tissue to dispose at least a portion of the implant within a pelvic region of the patient. The end of the suture is drawn through the loop while simultaneously advancing a uterus to approximate the vaginal apex to the selected portion of pelvic tissue. An apparatus includes an implant and a suture coupled to the implant having a pre-formed loop. configured to receive a portion of a delivery device therethrough. A trocar is coupled to an end of the suture that can be releasably coupled to an end of the delivery device. The trocar can be inserted through a pelvic tissue and drawn through the loop forming a knot to secure the implant to the pelvic tissue. |
| US09282957B2 |
Table attachable adjustable retractor system
A novel retractor system can be attached to a table and can be adjusted at desired points in x-y-z axes, and which provides spine surgeries be made in a healthier manner via retractors which are mounted on the retractor carrier wings, and a set, which provides fusion of spines via this system by using an insert. |
| US09282956B2 |
Devices and methods for manipulating bodily tissues
A medical device and a method for manipulating bodily tissues are described. The medical device includes an elongated portion having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The elongated portion has a defined width referred to as first width. The medical device further includes a head portion extending from the distal end portion of the elongated portion. The head portion includes a first flat surface on a first side and a second flat surface on a second side opposite the first side. The head portion has a defined width referred to as second width. The second width is greater than the first width. |
| US09282952B2 |
Internal preservation fluid dispenser for endoscopic vessel harvester
An endoscopic vessel harvester includes a vessel keeper for capturing a target vessel within a tunnel that has been dissected along the target vessel. A cutter member cuts and cauterizes side branches while the target vessel is slidably captured in the vessel keeper. A spray nozzle carried by the vessel keeper delivers a preservative fluid via a manual control valve and a conduit. The preservative fluid is sprayed on the target vessel proximate a respective side branch immediately after being cauterized. Thus, a harvested vessel is bathed in preservative fluid prior to being actually removed from the body, enhancing endothelial preservation from cascading events. |
| US09282950B2 |
Cervical cell tissue self-sampling device
A device, a kit, and a method of use thereof, for self-administration and collection of cervical cell tissue samples such as for Pap smear testing. The device comprises an insertion tube, within which is carried a movable cervical aligning tool with an aligning probe, and a cellular sampling tool with a cellular adhesion surface. The aligning probe and cellular adhesion surface can be selectively movable relative to the insertion tube to improve accuracy of the testing and user safety. |
| US09282949B2 |
Charging station for battery powered biopsy apparatus
A charging station for a battery powered biopsy apparatus includes a charging dock having a housing and a charging unit contained in the housing. The charging unit has a set of electrical contacts. The housing is received in a first cavity of a driver assembly with the electrical contacts being coupled in electrical communication with the driver assembly when the driver assembly is mounted on the charging dock for charging. The charging unit provides a signal to the driver assembly to reset the driver assembly to an initialized state when the driver assembly is mounted to the charging station. |
| US09282946B2 |
Ultrasonic tracking of ultrasound transducer(s) aboard an interventional tool
In one aspect, an ultrasound receive beamformer is configured for one-way only beamforming of transmissive ultrasound using one-way delays. The receive beamforming in some embodiments is used to track, in real time, a catheter, needle or other surgical tool within an image of a region of interest. The tool can have embedded at its tip a small ultrasound transmitter or receiver for transmitting or receiving the transmissive ultrasound. Optionally, additional transducers are fixed along the tool to provide the orientation of the tool. |
| US09282944B2 |
C-arm pose estimation using intensity-based registration of imaging modalities
This invention provides a method for estimating C-arm fluoroscope pose. The method involves introducing a coordinate system into a C-arm image, and applying intensity-based 2D/3D registration without segmentation to the coordinate system C-arm image and an image or known model of the coordinate system, wherein the intensity-based 2D/3D registration yields the C-arm pose. The coordinate system may be provided by introducing one or more markers or a fiducial into an image. |
| US09282941B2 |
Imaging method with a radiotherapy device and radiotherapy device
A method for imaging with a radiotherapy device is provided. The radiotherapy device includes a movably mounted imaging apparatus with an X-ray source and an oppositely disposed X-ray detector. The method includes preparing a first image with the imaging apparatus from a first imaging direction. The imaging apparatus is moved to a position that permits the preparation of a second image from a second imaging direction extending at an angle to the first imaging direction. The method also includes preparing the second image with the imaging apparatus from the second imaging direction, and verifying the position of an object to be irradiated using the first image and the second image. |
| US09282940B2 |
Mobile X-ray imaging apparatus
A mobile X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generation unit, a boom member configured to hold and arrange the X-ray generation unit at an arbitrary position, a supporting column unit connected to the boom member and configured to elevate and pivot the X-ray generation unit, a display unit, including a display screen, coupled to the X-ray generation unit through a movable mechanism configured to enable the orientation of the display screen, with respect to the X-ray generating unit, to be altered. |
| US09282935B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus
An X-ray CT apparatus includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector, and a control unit. The X-ray detector includes at least two divided ranges. One range includes a small detection range in which X-ray detection elements of a small size for detecting the X-rays radiated from the X-ray tube are arrayed. The other range includes a large detection range in which the X-ray detection elements of a large size for detecting the X-rays radiated from the X-ray tube are arrayed. The control unit is configured to select the small detection range or the large detection range. The X-ray CT apparatus can efficiently achieve high resolution upon imaging and, further, is capable of fully utilizing X-ray detection elements of a small detector size. |
| US09282934B2 |
Composite brain function monitoring and display system
A method of displaying the activity of a brain, the method including the steps of: (i) obtaining an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal from the brain; (ii) segmenting said EEG signal into either contiguous or overlapping segments comprised of a sequential number of samples of said EEG signal; (iii) representing said EEG segments as a fixed order autoregressive moving average (ARMA) signal representation with an autoregressive order between 8 and 13 and a moving average order between 5 and 11; (iv) rewriting in z-domain notation said fixed order ARMA signal representation to obtain a z-domain representation; (v) generating AR coefficient data and MA coefficient data for said segments of said EEG signal for said fixed order ARMA signal representation: (vi) determining the poles and zeros of said z-domain representation for said segments of said EEG signal by substituting said coefficient data for said segments of said EEG signal into said z-domain representation; (vii) calculating the sum of the number of poles determined in step (vi); (viii) calculating the sum of the number of zeros determined in step (vi); (ix) representing said ARMA signal representation as an infinite order autoregressive (AR) model in z-domain notation; (x) determining autoregressive coefficient data for said infinite AR model from the AR and MA coefficient data generated in step (v) of said fixed order ARMA representation; (xi) determining the sum of the poles for said infinite order AR model for said segments of said EEG signal as either: (a) the first autoregressive coefficient of said finite order AR model; or (b) the difference of the sum of poles and the sum of zeros as determined respectively in steps (vii) and (viii); (xii) determining an index value representing the activity of the brain for said segments of said EEG signal by applying a discriminating function to the sum of the poles of said infinite AR model for said segments of said EEG signal as determined in step (xi); and (xiii) displaying said index value on display means. |
| US09282930B2 |
Electrode array and method of placement
A headset for detecting brain electrical activity may include a flexible substrate having first and second ends each configured to engage an ear of a subject and dimensioned to fit across the forehead of a subject. The headset may also include a plurality of electrodes disposed on the substrate and configured to contact the subject when the headset is positioned on the subject. First and second electrodes may contact top center and lower center regions of the forehead, respectively, third and fourth electrodes may contact front right and front left regions of the forehead, respectively, fifth and sixth electrodes may contact right side and left side regions of the forehead, respectively, and electrodes included within the securing devices may contact the ear regions. The third and fourth electrodes may be moveable in at least a vertical direction relative to the other electrodes. |
| US09282922B2 |
Medical system comprising a compact barcode reader for consumable items
A medical system is proposed comprising at least one medical device for carrying out at least one medical function, and at least one medical consumable item interacting with the medical device in order to carry out the medical function. The medical device has at least one code reader for reading out at least one information component of an optical code on the medical consumable item. The code reader has at least one image sensor having a plurality of sensors. Furthermore, the code reader comprises at least one light-optical fiber plate, which is arranged in order to guide an image of the optical code to the image sensor. |
| US09282919B2 |
Lancet pricking device
A lancet pricking device comprises a lancet, a launching spring, a trigger part and a holder housing the lancet, launching spring and trigger part. The lancet comprises a lancet body, lancet cap and pricking needle. The pricking needle is in both the lancet body and lancet cap. The trigger part has a pair of arms positioned inside the holder. The launching spring is attached to the lancet body. The lancet body is secured to the arms of the trigger part by an abutment of the lancet body on the arms such that the launching spring is compressed before a pricking operation. The trigger part cannot be pushed further into the holder before the lancet cap is removed, but can be pushed further into the holder after the cap is removed. The pair of arms warp when pressed to release the secured lancet body. |
| US09282918B2 |
Multi-lancet unit, method and lancet device using the multi-lancet unit, and method of assembling and/or making the multi-lancet unit
Multi-lancet unit for a lancet device. The unit includes a plurality of lancets arranged in a row. Each lancet has a front ends a needle which extends from the front end, and a rear end. The front end of at least one of the plurality lancets is removably connected to the rear end of another of the plurality of lancets. The lancet device utilizes the multi-lancet unit and includes a body and a holding member which supports the multi-lancet unit. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. |
| US09282910B2 |
System and method for targeting heart rhythm disorders using shaped ablation
A system and method to target a biological rhythm disorder, such as a heart rhythm disorder, include processing cardiac signals via a computing device to determine a shape in a region of tissue defined by a source associated with the biological rhythm disorder that migrates spatially on or within the shape, and identifying at least one portion of the tissue proximate to the shape to enable selective modification of the at least one portion of tissue in order to terminate or alter the heart rhythm disorder. |
| US09282908B2 |
Methods and systems for optimizing lesion placement to minimize and treat cardiac fibrillation
Methods and systems for optimizing lesion placement to treat cardiac fibrillation in a patient include obtaining a map of one or more measurements indicative of a number and distribution of electrical circuit cores for a duration across a cardiac tissue substrate in response to electrical activity in the cardiac tissue substrate, identifying at least one region for the duration of the cardiac tissue substrate having a number of electrical circuit cores that is higher than a predetermined density threshold, generating a first sample set of lesions, the first sample set of lesions being registered onto the map, calculating and comparing a first total length of the first sample set of lesions to a predetermined length threshold, determining fitness of the first sample set of lesions, wherein fitness criteria is indicative of the level to which the sample set can terminate or at least minimize cardiac fibrillation. |
| US09282907B2 |
Identification of healthy versus unhealthy substrate for pacing from a multipolar lead
A medical device system performs a method determining presence of scar tissue. Torso-surface potential signals are received by a processor from multiple electrodes distributed on a torso of a patient. The processor extracts features of the potential signal from each electrode and stores values of the features in a non-transitory storage medium. The processor determines a scar indicator index for each of the electrodes from the stored features and identifies which ones of the electrodes have an affirmative scar indicator index. An overall scar burden index is determined as a proportion of the electrodes with an affirmative scar indicator index. |
| US09282905B2 |
Methods for laser speckle contrast imaging of blood perfusion
A method for imaging blood flow through target tissue is disclosed. An example method may include (a) directing a light beam at a blood-perfused target tissue, (b) reflecting the directed light beam off of static target tissue and flowing cells, (c) capturing a plurality of digital images of interference patterns of the reflected light in a plurality of successive frames, (d) measuring a light intensity of at least one pixel of each digital image, where the at least one pixel corresponds to an identical pair of coordinates in each successive frame, (e) comparing the measured light intensity of the at least one pixel of each digital image to the measured light intensity of the at least one pixel of an adjacent frame at the identical pair of coordinates and (f) determining a compiled light intensity for the at least one pixel for an aggregate motion contrast. |
| US09282904B2 |
Portable detecting device with two electrodes
The invention is suitable for the communication and electron field, and provides a portable detecting device with two electrodes, the portable detecting device comprises: a main body of the portable detecting device and a wrist strap, wherein the main body of the portable detecting device comprises: a front and a back, wherein the front comprises a first lead electrode detecting a finger signal; and the back comprises a second lead electrode detecting a wrist signal. The technical solution provided by the present invention has the advantage of convenient for users to carry and easy for users obtaining the data thereof. |
| US09282898B2 |
End-to-end trusted communications infrastructure
A method of delivery of medical data via a trusted end-to-end communication link. The method comprises obtaining a measurement of a parameter of a human being by a first sensor, obtaining a biometric from the human being by a second sensor, receiving input from the first and second sensors by a secure application executing in a trusted security zone of a processor, whereby access to the input from the first and second sensors by applications executing in a normal partition of the processor is blocked, wherein the input from the first and second sensors comprises the measurement of the parameter and the biometric, and transmitting a message based on the input from the first and second sensors via a trusted end-to-end communication link to a medical data server, wherein an application that receives the message executes in a trusted security zone of the server. |
| US09282895B2 |
Method and implantable system for blood-glucose concentration monitoring using parallel methodologies
In an implantable medical device for monitoring glucose concentration in the blood, a blood-glucose concentration analysis is performed using correlations of blood-glucose concentration with measures of metabolic oxygen consumption including oxymetric, and/or temperature. Analysis of electrocardiographic data is used in a parallel method to detect and/or confirm the onset and/or existence and/or extent of hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia. Blood-glucose concentration calculation is enhanced by using the combination of the oxygen metabolism analysis and electrocardiographic analysis. |
| US09282893B2 |
Wearable communication platform
An wearable communications garment that includes one or more user-selectable inputs integrated into the garment. A sartorial communications apparatus may include a flexible material that is worn (e.g., as an undergarment) by the user and includes one or more interactive sensors that may be manually activated by a user, even through one or more intervening layers of clothing. The apparatus may also include one or more additional body sensors configured to sense a user's position, movement, and/or physiological status. The sensor(s) may be connected via a conductive trace on the garment to a sensor module for analysis and/or transmission. Methods of manufacturing the garments as well as methods of using the garments are also described. |
| US09282892B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying bio-information
A method of displaying bio-information on a screen includes outputting basic bio-information of a plurality of bio-parameters indicating a condition of a patient on one display screen, determining an occurrence of an event related to the plurality of bio-parameters, converting the basic bio-information into detailed bio-information about one of the plurality of bio-parameters based on a result of the determining an occurrence of an event, and outputting the converted detailed bio-information on the one display screen. |
| US09282888B2 |
Digital measurement system and method for optical applications
A digital measurement system and method for optical applications including a mobile client device having a digital camera and an audio port, and a laser measurement device having a laser. The laser measurement device connected to the mobile client device and electrically connected to the audio port of the mobile client device. The mobile client device is configured to activate the laser at the same time as the digital camera is activated, and capture an image of a patient. The mobile client device is configured to access a measurement module to calculate position of wear measurements based on a location of a laser mark in the captured image. |
| US09282884B2 |
Ophthalmic apparatus
An ophthalmic apparatus is provided with a light source, an optical measurement system, an optical reference system, an optical calibration system, a light receiving element, and a processor. The light receiving element receives an interference light for measurement produced by both the reflected light guided by the optical measurement system and the reference light guided by the optical reference system, and also receives an interference light for calibration produced by the calibration light guided by the optical calibration system and the reference light guided by the optical reference system. The processor determines a position of a measuring portion inside an eye to be examined by Fourier-analyzing the interference light for measurement and the interference light for calibration. |
| US09282876B2 |
Dosing system for a dishwasher machine
The invention relates to a dispensing system (1) for delivering at least one cleaning-agent preparation (A, B, C) into the interior of an automatic dishwasher, encompassing a dispenser (2) having a light source (4), and a cartridge (3) couplable to the dispenser (2), in which cartridge at least one flowable preparation (A, B, C) is stocked; the cartridge (3) has a width (b) to depth (t) ratio from 3:1 to 20:1 and the cartridge (3) has a height (h) to depth (t) ratio from 3:1 to 20:1, and the walls of the cartridge (3) have, at least locally, a transmittance from 75% to 99% in the wavelength region between 700 nm and 1 mm; the flowable preparation (A, B, C) has a transmittance from 75% to 99% in the wavelength region between 700 nm and 1 mm. |
| US09282875B2 |
Alarm unit for dishwashing systems
A method for sequentially monitoring a level of a sanitation agent comprises the step of providing a supply tube having a first portion and a second portion. The method includes the step of linking the supply tube first portion and the supply tube second portion with a pipe. An optical sensor is situated adjacent the pipe, and is used to take a reference reading and a fault check reading. A controller imposes a warning signal when a difference between the reference reading and the fault check reading is greater than a threshold. The reference reading is taken when the sanitation agent is in direct contact with the pipe. |
| US09282870B2 |
High efficiency disposable cellulosic wiper
A high efficiency disposable cellulosic wiper includes a percentage by weight of pulp-derived papermaking fibers, and a percentage by weight of independent regenerated cellulosic microfibers having a number average diameter of less than about 2 microns and a characteristic Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) value of less than 175 ml. The microfibers are selected and present in amounts such that the wiper exhibits a relative oil residue removal efficiency of at least 150% as compared with a like sheet without independent regenerated cellulosic microfibers. |
| US09282869B2 |
Liquid extraction cleaning device and method
A liquid extraction cleaning device comprises a main unit, a liquid pump, a flexible hose, and a hand tool. The main unit comprises a vacuum pump. The hand tool comprises a vacuum inlet port, an agitator, a spray nozzle, and a grip portion. The vacuum inlet port of the hand tool is operatively connected to the vacuum pump via the hose passageway in a manner such that the vacuum pump is capable of drawing fluid through the vacuum inlet port and into the hose passageway. The spray nozzle is operatively connected to the liquid pump in a manner such that the liquid pump is capable of forcing liquid out of the spray nozzle. |
| US09282868B2 |
Low profile cleaning device
A low profile cleaning device is disclosed. The device has a low profile or height and can clean beneath structures that have a low clearance relative to the floor. The device includes sweeps mounted on a frame. As the device moves in a sweeping direction, the sweeps sweep or clean the floor. Trash or other debris collected by the device can be removed from hard to reach areas. |
| US09282865B2 |
Cylinder vacuum cleaner
A cylinder vacuum cleaner comprising a main body which is fluidly connected to a suction hose used to pull the main body forwards along a floor, and a rear swivel castor for supporting the main body on the floor, the rear castor having a negatively-raked swivel axis which is offset from a wheel axis of the castor to provide a positive castor trail. |
| US09282863B2 |
Surface treating appliance
A surface treating appliance includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone, and a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream from the first cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel. The plurality of second cyclones is divided into at least a first set of second cyclones arranged about an axis, and a second set of second cyclones, the first set of second cyclones extending about the second set of second cyclones. Each second cyclone has a longitudinal axis, with the longitudinal axes of the first set of second cyclones being arranged at a first angle to said axis, and the longitudinal axes of the second set of second cyclones being arranged at a second angle to said axis, and wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle. |
| US09282862B2 |
Steering assembly for surface cleaning device
A surface cleaning device having a steering assembly is provided. The surface cleaning device includes a foot, a handle assembly with a user manipulated handle, and a steering assembly coupling the handle assembly to the foot. The steering assembly defines an open path between the handle assembly and the foot and includes a means for biasing the foot with respect to the handle assembly. Movement of the handle assembly stores energy within the biasing means so that the biasing means exerts a corresponding force on the foot. |
| US09282861B2 |
Wet/dry vacuum cleaner with built-in dustpan accessory
Described is a vacuum cleaner, such as a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, having an improved vacuum hose storage assembly and dust pan assembly for use with a vacuum cleaner having a debris collection drum. The integrated pickup port in the dust pan can be formed by the shape of the product its used on or become a separate piece such as used in this design. The advantage of having the design integrated in the vacuum allows the user to pick up debris either collected by a broom or by other means into the collection chamber of the vacuum without having to remove the hose from the storage position and without having to hold the product while in use; freeing the users hands to control the broom or other device to direct additional debris to the vacuum for collection. |
| US09282857B1 |
Toilet seat
An apparatus for providing easy access to a person's bottom while using a toilet includes a thicker-style of seat placed directly over a rim of a toilet bowl. The apparatus includes a pair of side access openings that are located on a left and an opposite right side of the seat. The access openings allow for easy access to the bottom of the person for hygienic cleaning after using the toilet. The person reaches through either side access opening while holding a quantity of toilet paper and wipes their bottom with a side-to-side or front-to-rear motion, thereby reducing a potential risk for contracting a urinary tract infection. At least one clamp assembly that is used to secure the seat in position extends downward from the seat and is adjustable to apply tension to the apparatus sufficient to secure it proximate the rim. |
| US09282853B2 |
Food homogenizer
A food homogenizer includes a drive assembly including a driving motor. The driving motor engages a rotatable mating portion that extends along a rotation axis. A homogenizer assembly is removably attached with respect to the drive assembly. The homogenizer assembly includes a homogenizing chamber, a blade assembly positioned within the homogenizing chamber and a driven shaft that extends from the blade assembly along the rotation axis. The driven shaft is received within the mating portion such that rotation of the mating portion by the driving motor causes rotation of the blade assembly about the rotation axis. A supply assembly engages a receiving opening in the homogenizer and supplies a food product. The food homogenizer includes a rinse system including a drive assembly that engages a homogenizer assembly. The rinse system includes a dispenser assembly that dispenses a liquid to the homogenizer assembly. |
| US09282851B2 |
Digital heat injection by way of surface emitting semi-conductor devices
A method and system are provided for digitally injecting heat into a wide range of products by way of incorporation of a special class of semi-conductor lasers, e.g. surface emitting devices. This technique relates to a more specific, economical, and advantageous way of practicing the art of directly injecting narrowband radiant energy that desirously matches the absorption specification of a particular material at a specified wavelength. |
| US09282850B2 |
Coffee machine
A coffee machine includes a coffee supply module, a support surface for a cup placed beneath the coffee supply module and a steam supply nozzle. The steam supply nozzle can be connected to a milk container which is equipped with an emulsifying module. The emulsifying module has a connection seat in which the steam supply nozzle is inserted when the milk container is connected to the steam supply nozzle. Further, the emulsifying module has a pipe for sucking up milk from the milk container and a nozzle for supplying hot or emulsified milk to the cup. The steam supply nozzle is oriented toward the support surface and the connection seat of the milk container is oriented upwardly when the milk container is placed on the support surface with the steam supply nozzle inserted in the connection seat. |
| US09282849B2 |
Beverage production machines with restrictors
Machines and methods for preparing single-servings of a beverage. The machine can include a housing and a basket assembly positioned in the housing. The basket assembly defines a chamber capable of receiving a cartridge containing a beverage precursor. A screen having a plurality of openings can be positioned at a bottom portion of the chamber. A first plate having a single restricting orifice can be secured to the screen. |
| US09282846B2 |
Apparatus for cooking food in an airtight bag
A cooking apparatus includes a dual-chamber container with an inner container for holding a food item to be cooked and an outer container for maintaining contact between a temperature-controlled heat transfer liquid and the inner container while the food is being cooked. The dual-chamber container includes an inlet fluid port and outflow fluid port which may be coupled directly to corresponding fluid port connectors on a temperature control unit, or an intervening fluid coupling assembly may convey heat transfer liquid between the control unit and the dual-chamber container. Some control units are adapted to simultaneously control cooking temperature for more than one dual-chamber container. Some dual-chamber containers have a flexible inner container that is separable from an outer container which may be a rigid container or a flexible container. |
| US09282838B2 |
Lockable beverage container closure
A beverage container closure or lid that is adapted for closing an open end of a beverage container is provided. The lid is selectively couplable to the beverage container and includes a selectively openable cover that, when closed, creates a fluid-tight seal between the beverage container and the environment. The lid is provided with a dual-locking mechanism including an actuation disk locking mechanism and a press-button locking mechanism. Each locking mechanism is operable to transition between a locking position and an unlocking position and opening the cover to permit the passage of fluid requires that both locking mechanism be in their respective unlocking positions. |
| US09282833B2 |
Supporting device for display apparatus
A supporting device of a display apparatus to prevent a wire from separating from a wire hanger. The supporting device to fix the display apparatus to a wall includes a wire part coupled to the display apparatus, a wire hanger mounted to the wall, the wire hanger to hang the wire part on the wall, and a separation protector provided at the wire hanger, the separation protector serving to prevent the wire part from separating from the wire hanger. |
| US09282830B2 |
Beverage container holder storage unit
A beverage container holder storage unit is described as having a housing having a first end and a second end, a support member extending across the first end of the housing, and a force delivering element. The housing defines an interior cavity to receive a plurality of beverage container holders. The housing has a discharge slot along a portion of the first end for removing the beverage container holders. The support member has a recess formed along one side and is configured to receive a bottom tab of the beverage container holders. The recess is aligned with the discharge slot, such that when a user positions the tab of a bottommost beverage container holder within the recess, the beverage container holder is removable through the discharge slot. The force delivering element is positionable within the interior cavity and is configured to deliver force to collapse the bottommost beverage container holder. |
| US09282824B2 |
Collapsible and portable rocking chair
A collapsible and portable rocking chair includes left and right frame side assemblies collectively defining forward and rear leg portions, armrests, and back support members. The chair also includes cross-members connecting the left and right frame said assemblies and collectively defining a seat support in the set-up condition of the chair. The cross members are pivotally connected to one another as well as to the left and right frame side assemblies to facilitate folding of the chair frame to a collapsed condition. Each frame side assembly is supported on a fulcrum point for rocking movement of the chair frame. A rocker mechanism is attached to the chair frame to support the chair during rocking movement and to facilitate rocking of the chair in connection with the user's shifting weight. The rocker mechanism may be provided in connection with a front leg member, a rear leg member, or both. |
| US09282821B2 |
Rack assembly
A rack assembly has a shelf attached to a slidable mount. A front wall and a back wall are mounted to the shelf. At least one elastic element extends between the front wall and the back wall above a left side and a right side of the shelf such that the front wall, back wall and at least one elastic element define a contained area capable of holding objects. |
| US09282812B2 |
Anti-unfolding leg assembly for foldable table
An anti-folding leg assembly for a tabletop includes a leg frame for pivotally coupling at a bottom side of the tabletop to pivotally move between a folded position and an unfolded position, and an anti-folding arrangement including a table support having has a table coupling end adapted for pivotally coupling at the bottom side of the tabletop, and a leg support having a leg coupling end pivotally coupled at the leg frame. A pivot point is defined at a pivot connection between the table support and the leg support, and a centerline is defined between the table coupling end of the table support and the leg coupling end of the leg support when the leg frame is moved in the unfolded position, wherein the pivot point is located below the centerline when the leg frame is moved in the unfolded position. |
| US09282801B2 |
Artificial nail
An artificial nail (1) has a member made of a material having electrical conductivity. The artificial nail (1) is given electrical conductivity by mixing an electrically conductive material into plastic serving as a base material. As the electrically conductive material, a carbon-based material, such as carbon black, carbon fiber, or black lead, or a metal-based material, such as a fine metal powder, a metal oxide, metal fiber, or a whisker, is used. Alternatively, the base material for the artificial nail (1) per se is an electrically conductive resin. |
| US09282799B2 |
Attachment for a hand held appliance
A hairdryer includes a handle; a body comprising a fluid outlet and a primary fluid outlet; a fan unit for generating fluid flow through the hairdryer, the hairdryer comprising a fluid flow path extending from a fluid inlet through which a fluid flow enters the hairdryer to the fluid outlet, and a primary fluid flow path extending from a primary fluid inlet to the primary fluid outlet; a heater for heating the primary fluid flow drawn through the primary fluid inlet; and a nozzle attachable to the body, the nozzle comprising a nozzle fluid inlet for receiving the primary fluid flow from the primary fluid outlet, and a nozzle fluid outlet for emitting the primary fluid flow, and wherein the nozzle is configured to inhibit the emission of the fluid flow from the fluid outlet. |
| US09282798B2 |
Lightening process with blonding mousse
Processes for lightening keratinic fibers are provided. In an exemplary process a ready-to-use lightening composition is produced by, immediately prior to application, combining a composition (A) comprising an alkalizing agent, a composition (B) comprising an oxidizing agent, and a composition (C) comprising a peroxo salt, and then mixing. The ready-to-use lightening composition is deployed from a foam dispensing vessel and distributed onto the fibers. The ready-to-use lightening composition is left on the fibers for a period of about 1 to about 60 min. and is washed out of the fibers. |
| US09282797B1 |
Wheeled fishing cooler
A wheeled fishing cooler including a base, a cooler disposed within the base, a hinged lid attached to a rear side of the base, a U-shaped telescopic handle having a right end and a left end, an axel, a pair of wheels, a plurality of tubes, and a leg support. The leg support has a pair of horizontal supports, a pair of vertical supports, and a crossbeam. Each of the plurality of tubes is configured to hold a fishing rod and, alternately, a sun umbrella. |
| US09282790B2 |
Deployable touch fastener
Embodiments related to a touch fastener and its methods of manufacture and use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the touch fastener may include a substrate with a first portion and a second portion displaceable relative to the first portion. A first fastening element may be formed in the first portion. When the first portion is displaced relative to the second portion, a force and/or moment generated by the displacement may cause the first fastening element to be deployed. |
| US09282785B2 |
Multi-density sole elements, and systems and methods for manufacturing same
The invention relates to sole elements for articles of footwear, and systems and methods for manufacturing same. One embodiment of the invention includes a method of manufacturing a sole element for an article of footwear including the steps of forming a sole element preform, inserting the sole element preform into a press mold cavity, and press-forming the sole element preform within the press mold cavity to form a unitary finished sole element comprising a first region having a first density and hardness and a second region having a second density and hardness different from the first density and hardness. |
| US09282782B2 |
Waterproof sole with high air and vapor permeability
A waterproof sole with high air and vapor permeability includes an upper layer made of breathable and waterproof material, a lower layer made of breathable and waterproof material, a shaped supporting layer made of rubber material between the upper layer and lower layer, and an outsole layer made of rubber material below the lower layer. A hollow space and a plurality of channels are connected to the bottom surface of the upper layer. A plurality of supporting projections are provided at a bottom surface of the supporting layer. A plurality of through-holes and inter-connected horizontal channels are provided in the outsole layer. |
| US09282768B2 |
Method and apparatus for incorporating objects into cigarette filters
Cigarette filter rods having individual objects positioned at predetermined intervals therein are prepared by transferring the individual objects from a rotating horizontal pan to a rotating vertical wheel and then depositing the object into a web of filter tow. Each object is positioned within the moving web of tow. The web filter material and the objects positioned within the web are introduced into a rod-forming unit wherein the rod is formed. The rate of feed of the filter tow, the rate of rotation of the horizontal pan and the vertical wheel are controlled relative to one another such that objects are positioned at predetermined intervals along the rod. Cigarette filter elements having well controlled amounts of flavorant contained therein can be made from the rods. |
| US09282765B1 |
Smoking article and method
A method of constructing a cigar includes the providing of a plurality of frusto-conically shaped tubes, each tube being of a smokable material such as a spirally wrapped layer of tobacco material. The tubes are nested, one tube inside the other tube. The nested tubes are then attached to a mouthpiece having a socket that is internally threaded. The nested tubes and mouthpiece are packaged either filled with tobacco filler material, partially filled, or unfilled in a container. |
| US09282759B2 |
Composition including an unsaponifiable fraction
The present invention relates to a composition, notably cosmetic, nutraceutical, dermatological, pharmaceutical or dietary, including at least one unsaponifiable extract, a drug including one such composition, the use of one such composition, a treatment method consisting in administering one such composition and a method comprising the administration of one such composition. |
| US09282752B1 |
Collapsible hitch mounted game hoist apparatus
A game hoist apparatus including a base unit attachable to the tow hitch of a vehicle, a boom and winch pulley system disposed on the base unit to attach and vertically lift a game animal for field processing. The apparatus has a swivel unit allowing the boom to rotate 360-degrees to access the game animal being processed and to load the animal into the vehicle for transport. The apparatus includes an attachable game skinning tool securable to a lower wall of a horizontal shaft of the base unit. The skinner tool has sharp skinner snatch pins to maintain one end of the animal's hide in a fixed position and to peel the hide from the animal is hoisted. The apparatus can be disassembled and collapsed into a small bundle for easy transport and storage. |
| US09282751B2 |
Method and installation for stunning poultry and the obtainable bleeded poultry
The invention relates to a method and installation for stunning poultry, such as chicken, turkey, duck and quail, comprising the steps of: i) suspending the poultry with the poultry head down; ii) positioning the suspended poultry head; and iii) stunning the poultry via the suspended and positioned poultry head, and to obtainable debleeded poultry. |
| US09282744B2 |
Synergistic fungicide composition
A synergistic fungicide composition, a formulation method and a use thereof are provided. The composition contains two active components A and B, where the active component A is benziothiazolinone, the active component B is one selected from dithianon, dimethomorph, iprodione and epoxiconazol, and the weight ratio of the two components is 1:50 to 50:1, and preferably 1:30 to 30:1. Test results show that, the fungicide composition has a significant synergistic effect, and more importantly, the application amount and the use-cost are reduced. The fungicide composition is effective in preventing and treating certain fungal diseases of crops such as food crops, vegetables and fruits. |
| US09282739B2 |
Pesticidal compositions and processes related thereto
This document discloses molecules having the following formula (“Formula One”): and processes related thereto. |
| US09282736B2 |
Oil formulations with thickeners
This invention is based on unexpected effect of at least one thickener to maintain suspension or dispersion of solid particles in an oil medium. Such effect of thickener enables significant higher weight ratio of solid particles in such suspension composition as compared to previously known compositions. As a consequence, the suspension compositions provided herein enable more active ingredient in the solid particle to be present in a fixed volume or weight of such composition as compared to previously known compositions. One advantage of the suspension composition provided herein can be for aerial spraying of active ingredient such as herbicides, insecticides, or other growth regulating compounds. |
| US09282733B2 |
Trap-setting apparatus
A trap-setting apparatus for use in setting a dog-proof trap that includes a continuous side wall, a spring member that is movable between a tripped configuration extending away from the side wall and a rigging configuration adjacent thereto. The trap-setting apparatus includes a cam member and an elongate handle having a proximal member coupled thereto and a distal end displaced therefrom, the handle being configured to rotate the cam member when moved. The trap-setting apparatus includes a pair of hook members each having a first end coupled to the cam member and a second end selectively coupled to the spring member of the dog-proof trap. In use, a user movement of the handle causes the cam member to rotate relative to the side wall of the trap and to move the spring member from the tripped configuration toward the rigging configuration. |
| US09282732B2 |
Fishing rod holder
An improved fishing rod holder is provided that includes a base assembly, a rod holder assembly, and a connecting member that connects the base and rod holder assemblies. The connecting member is connected to the rod holder assembly with a first T-joint. The rod holder assembly is configured to hold two fishing poles. The first T-joint is removable from the connecting member such that the connecting member and base assembly may be filled with water or sand to weigh down the fishing rod holder. In a second embodiment the rod holder assembly and the connecting member are the same, but the base assembly is replaced with a triangular-shaped base assembly. In third embodiment stabilization in enhanced, in a fourth embodiment fewer components are required, and in a fifth embodiment a canoe embodiment is presented. |
| US09282731B2 |
Dual-bearing reel spool braking device
A present dual-bearing reel spool braking device is configured to apply a braking force to a spool that is rotatably mounted on a reel body with a centrifugal force. The spool braking device includes a rotating member, a brake shoe, a brake drum, and a selective fixing member. The rotating member rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the spool. The brake shoe is supported by a rotating member so as to be pivotal between a braking position where the brakes are applied to the spool with a centrifugal force and a non-braking position where a non-braking rotation of the spool is allowed. The brake drum is configured to come into contact with the brake shoe. The selective fixing member is mounted to the rotating member. The selective fixing member selectively fixes the brake shoe to the non-braking position by selectively engaging with the brake shoe. |
| US09282729B2 |
Purple transgenic fluorescent ornamental fish
The present invention relates to transgenic purple ornamental fish, as well as methods of making such fish by in vitro fertilization techniques. Also disclosed are methods of establishing a population of such transgenic fish and methods of providing them to the ornamental fish industry for the purpose of marketing. |
| US09282728B2 |
Aquarium with an integrated cleaning system
Various embodiments of an aquarium and its method of use are disclosed. In some embodiments the aquarium includes a first container including a waste collection area, an outlet, and a conduit fluidly connecting the waste collection area and the outlet. Depending upon the particular embodiment, the aquarium may also include features such as a second container adapted and configured to mate with the first container and receive the outlet such that fluid flows from the waste collection area through the outlet and into the second container when fluid is added above a preselected fluid level. In other related embodiments, the conduit may be formed by first and second portions of the conduit formed in the first container and a separate component. |
| US09282726B2 |
Bird feeder
A bird feeder comprising a feed container having a side wall and a plurality of feed openings therein, a shroud extending about the feed container, the shroud having feed openings therein, the feed openings being spaced from the top of the shroud by a distance equal to between 20% and 80% of the total height thereof, a cover, a base, a center tube and a center rod within the center tube, the center rod being secured to the base and the shroud resting on the base, a spring mounted about the center rod, the arrangement being such that the feed openings in the shroud and the feed openings in the side wall are either aligned or misaligned depending on the weight on the shroud. |
| US09282725B2 |
Non-invasive temperature and physical activity measurement of animals
A method for an observational screening method or a drug screening method, includes the steps of providing an enclosure for at least one animal with outer sidewalls, preferably 4 outer sidewalls; providing temperature sensing device for sensing a body temperature of at least one animal and/or activity measurement device for measuring at least one parameter related to physical activity of at least one animal; sensing a body temperature of at least one animal and/or measuring at least one parameter related to physical activity of at least one animal; providing data processing device; and processing data related to body temperature and/or to the parameter related to physical activity. |
| US09282722B2 |
Hand-held transmitter for an animal training system
An animal training system for controlling the behavior of the animal includes a receiver configured to be worn by the animal, and a hand held transmitter. The hand held transmitter includes a case with an front face, a transmitter circuit within the case for transmitting a wireless signal to the receiver, and an actuator at the front face of the case. The actuator is coupled with the transmitter circuit, and is a non-depressible actuator which is manually movable relative to the case. |
| US09282716B2 |
Witloof chicory bobine
A novel witloof chicory cultivar, designated ‘BOBINE’, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of witloof chicory cultivar ‘BOBINE’, to the plants of witloof chicory cultivar ‘BOBINE’ and to methods for producing a witloof chicory plant by crossing the cultivar ‘BOBINE’ with itself or another witloof chicory line. The invention further relates to methods for producing other witloof chicory lines derived from the cultivar ‘BOBINE’. |
| US09282714B1 |
Soybean variety BK000159
Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean variety, designated BK000159, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-122491. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the variety, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the BK000159 variety, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program. |
| US09282712B1 |
Wheat variety 25W31
A wheat variety designated 25W31, the plants and seeds of wheat variety 25W31, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety 25W31 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety 25W31 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety 25W31. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety 25W31 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
| US09282711B2 |
Soybean variety 01046852
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046852. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046852. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046852 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046852 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09282708B2 |
Soybean variety 01046529
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046529. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046529. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046529 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046529 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09282706B1 |
Maize inbred PH1W82
A novel maize variety designated PH1W82 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1W82 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1W82 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 PH1W82 or a locus conversion of PH1W82 with another maize variety. |
| US09282705B1 |
Maize inbred PH17SB
A novel maize variety designated PH17SB and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH17SB with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH17SB 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 PH17SB or a locus conversion of PH17SB with another maize variety. |
| US09282702B1 |
Maize hybrid X08D492
A novel maize variety designated X08D492 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08D492 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08D492 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08D492, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08D492. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08D492. |
| US09282699B2 |
Irrigation system
An irrigation system that includes a carriage may move along a predetermined path in a reciprocal manner. The carriage supports one or more exit ports that are fed plant growth material by a pressurized delivery arrangement. One or more plant stands are configured and arranged to straddle the carriage as it moves along the predetermined path. The one or more plant stands form a chamber into which plant roots may extend, and into which the one or more exit ports are able to discharge their plant growth material. The one or more plant stands may include side panels and a cap to reduce infiltration of light and contaminants, and to enhance the plant root-plant growth material interface and absorption rates. The carriage and/or the plant stand(s) may include friction reducing elements that facilitate transverse movement. The carriage and/or the plant stand(s) may be supported by a modular framework. |
| US09282698B2 |
Light emitting diode grow light for plant growing applications
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for providing light to grow a plant. An LED array comprises blue light in a band between about 350 nm and 550 nm, red light in a band at about 630 nm and dark red light in a band at about 660 nm. An input device is provided for interrupting the dark red band at 660 nm in order to continue to provide light the plant while the plant continues to flower. |
| US09282697B2 |
Garden shears
A pressing handle member of garden shears has two symmetric pressing handle elements sandwiching a separator. The separator and the pressing handle elements each respectively have a shaft aperture and a first pivot aperture. The separator has an anvil. A blade member is inserted in a first slot of the separator and pivoted onto a bolt that is disposed through the shaft aperture. Two connecting members are slidably coupled to an adjusting slot in the blade member. The gripping member has two symmetric handle elements sandwiching an assembly member. Each handle element has a second pivot aperture; a pin is placed through the second pivot apertures and the first pivot apertures of the pressing handle member. The gripping member also has a second through aperture and a joint is placed through the second through aperture and the connecting apertures of the connecting members. |
| US09282696B2 |
Adjustable vane in combine harvester
A processing system for a combine harvester having a rotor housing that receives a rotor. A cover directs crop material through the rotor housing. At least one adjustable vane guides the crop material. The vane has a cover-facing proximal edge adjacent the cover and an edge projecting toward the rotor. A leading end of the vane is connected with a first pivot connection and the vane is connected to the cover along its inner edge with a second pivot connection. A line drawn through the pivot connections intersects a plane perpendicular to an axis of the cover and forms an angle with the plane of between 5 and 15 degrees. The vane pivots with respect to the cover about an axis along the line to adjust a tilt angle of the vane. Also, tilting the vane adjusts an angle of the distal edge of the vane relative the plane. |
| US09282690B2 |
Three point hitch draft sensing system
A draft sensing mechanism for a three point hitch includes a hitch frame attached to a frame of a vehicle. The hitch frame includes left and right link supports for coupling to left and right draft links and left and right draft bars. Each draft bar has a first portion attached to a corresponding one of the link supports, and a second portion positioned rearwardly and inwardly with respect to its first portion. Draft forces applied by the draft links to the link supports are transmitted to the second portions of the draft bars. A linkage unit sums the draft forces from the draft bars and includes a draft force transducer which generates a draft force signal in response to deflection of the draft bars. |
| US09282689B2 |
Soil tilling and planting implement
The combination of a rolling basket tillage implement and a seed distribution implement is disclosed. A height-adjustable mounting system for a rolling basket soil tillage implement is also disclosed for use with a planter that enables such an implement to be raised above the soil as needed to avoid wet conditions. |
| US09288930B2 |
Thermal energy storage with a phase-change material in a non-metal container
A thermal energy storage apparatus that absorbs thermal energy from a heat-generating device is described. In one aspect, the thermal energy storage apparatus comprises a non-metal container and a phase-change material. The non-metal container is configured to receive the heat-generating device thereon. The phase-change material is contained in the non-metal container and configured to absorb at least a portion of heat from the heat-generating device through the non-metal container. |
| US09288924B2 |
Desktop receptacle with mounting plate
A desktop receptacle assembly includes a box having a bottom surface, an electrical connection assembly held within the box, a first finger connected to the bottom surface that has a first portion connected to the bottom surface and a second portion connected to the first portion, the first portion having a first width and the second portion having a second width that is greater than the first width, and a mounting plate associated with the bottom surface that includes at least one bracket and a first finger opening associated with the first finger. The first finger opening has a first opening width corresponding to the first width of the first finger and a second opening width corresponding to the second width of the first finger. |
| US09288923B2 |
Field device
A field device with a housing for accommodating an electronics unit. The housing is pot shaped and composed of a non-conductive material, wherein at least one line guide passageway with a screw thread is provided on the housing, wherein the line guide passageway is provided with a conductive coating in the region of the thread, and wherein the screw thread has at least one groove in at least one region extending in the axial direction of the line guide passageway. |
| US09288920B1 |
Electronic device holder
An electronic device holder comprises an elongated main body, a handle affixed to the main body, and a U-shaped bracket for holding an electronic device. The bracket is slidably and rotatably engaged with the main body such that the bracket is selectively slidable along at least a portion of a length of the main body and such that the bracket is selectively rotatable at least between a first position that is parallel to the main body and a second position that is perpendicular to the main body. |
| US09288916B2 |
Electronic device, cable coupling structure, and method of fabricating electronic device
A structure includes a substrate on a surface of which a functional element and a first electrode are disposed, wherein the functional element provides a predetermined function by an operation based on an electrical signal and the first electrode is coupled to the functional element; an insulating member in a thin film that covers the surface of the substrate and extends from an end of the substrate; and a second electrode disposed on a substrate-side surface of the extending portion, which is extending from the end of the substrate, of the insulating member, wherein the second electrode is coupled to the first electrode. The second electrode is electrically coupled to a coaxial cable. |
| US09288910B2 |
Substrate with built-in electronic component and method for manufacturing substrate with built-in electronic component
A substrate with a built-in electronic component includes multiple resin insulating layers including first, second, third and fourth insulating layers, multiple conductor layers including a first wiring layer including a first pad, a second wiring layer including a second pad, and a third wiring layer including third and fourth pads, multiple via conductors including a first via connecting the first and second pads through the second insulating layer, a second via connecting the second and third pads through the third and fourth insulating layers, and a third via connected to the fourth pad through the fourth insulating layer, and an electronic component positioned a cavity through the second and third insulating layers such that the third via is connecting terminal of the component and fourth pad. The second and third vias have filled plating filling opening portions through the third and fourth insulating layers and through the fourth insulating layer. |
| US09288904B2 |
Halogen-free resin composition, copper clad laminate using the same, and printed circuit board using the same
A halogen-free resin composition includes (A) 100 parts by weight of epoxy resin; (B) 10 to 100 parts by weight of benzoxazine resin; (C) 5 to 50 parts by weight of diallylbisphenol A resin; and (D) 0.05 to 20 parts by weight of an amine curing agent. The halogen-free resin composition includes specific ingredients and proportions thereof to attain low dielectric constant (Dk), low dissipation factor (Df), high heat resistance, and high flame retardation. The halogen-free resin composition is suitable for producing a prepreg or a resin film and thus applicable to copper clad laminates and printed circuit boards. |
| US09288903B2 |
Printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
A plurality of conductor traces are formed on a porous base insulating layer made of porous ePTFE. Each conductor trace has a laminated structure of a seed layer and a conductor layer. A cover insulating layer is formed on the base insulating layer to cover each conductor trace. The ePTFE used as the porous base insulating layer has continuous pores. An average pore size of the ePTFE is not less than 0.05 μm and not more than 1.0 μm. |
| US09288898B2 |
Reconfigurable stretchable connector substrate
Systems and methods are disclosed that include electrically connecting multiple electrical components via an electrical connection that extends through a common conductor substrate. The electrical components are bonded or otherwise secured to the common conductor substrate and the electrical connection extends between the multiple electrical components. The multiple electrical components may be components fabricated by different methods, such as photolithography and printed circuitry, and may be of different heights. The common conductor substrate is stretchable and may be a mesh configuration is some examples. |
| US09288890B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing an anisotropic and mono-energetic neutral beam by non-ambipolar electron plasma
Embodiments include a chemical processing apparatus and method of using the chemical processing apparatus to treat a substrate with a mono-energetic space-charge neutralized neutral beam-activated chemical process which is comprised of a substantially anisotropic beam of neutral particles. The chemical processing apparatus comprises a first plasma chamber for forming a first plasma at a first plasma potential, and a second plasma chamber for forming a second plasma at a second plasma potential greater than the first plasma potential, wherein the second plasma is formed using electron flux from the first plasma. Further, the chemical processing apparatus comprises an ungrounded dielectric (insulator) neutralizer grid configured to expose a substrate in the second plasma chamber to the substantially anisotropic beam of neutral particles traveling from the neutralizer grid. |
| US09288887B2 |
Plasma arc torch with secondary starting circuit and electrode
A plasma arc torch includes an electrode, a tip, a third element, and a secondary power circuit. The electrode is disposed within the plasma arc torch and adapted for electrical connection to a cathodic side of a power supply. The tip is positioned distally from the electrode and adapted for electrical connection to an anodic side of the power supply during piloting. A plasma chamber is formed between the electrode and the tip. The third element is disposed near a proximal end of the plasma chamber. The secondary power circuit is disposed proximate the plasma arc torch and in electrical communication with the third element. The secondary power circuit is configured to generate a high voltage pulse on the third element using input to secondary power circuit to initiate a first arc to start the plasma arc torch. |
| US09288884B2 |
Discharge lamp lighting device, discharge lamp lighting method, and projector
A discharge lamp lighting method for controlling lighting of a discharge lamp includes varying an amount of generation (current value) of overshoot and undershoot generated in a waveform of a drive current that is applied when driving the discharge lamp, according to a magnitude of drive power supplied to the discharge lamp and a drive mode. |
| US09288882B2 |
Light sharpening for energy lighting
Methods and systems herein provide for determining lighting contributions of light fixtures to an environment. In one embodiment, a system includes a light sensor and a controller. The light sensor generates light level data based on measured light levels. The controller determines a nominal light level based on the light level data, and identifies an optical burst pattern in the light level data generated by a light fixture. The controller then determines a lighting contribution of the light fixture based on the optical burst pattern and the nominal light level. |
| US09288877B2 |
Sensor module for a lighting fixture
A sensor module is integrated into a lighting fixture. The sensor module includes one or more environmental sensors and can be readily installed in or removed from the lighting fixture. In one embodiment, a heatsink of the lighting fixture is configured to receive the sensor module. Readings from the environmental sensors may be passed to control electronics associated with the lighting fixture and used to control the light output of the lighting fixture. The readings may also be passed on to other lighting fixtures, which may also use the readings to control their light output. |
| US09288876B2 |
Method and device for automatically controlling state indicator of terminal device
Provided are a method and device for automatically controlling a state indicator of a terminal device. The method comprises: brightness of a working environment of a terminal device is detected in real time to acquire a brightness signal of the working environment of the terminal device; a current electric level value of the brightness signal is determined according to a variation of the electric level value of the brightness signal within a preset duration; the current electric level value is determined as a light-on electric level value or a light-off electric level value by using a preset threshold; and the state indicator of the terminal device is controlled to carry out a light-on or light-off operation according to the determined light-on electric level value or light-off electric level value. |
| US09288874B2 |
Turning off multiple fluorescent lamps simultaneously using RF-enabled lamp starter units
A multi-lamp fluorescent light fixture includes a plurality of replaceable fluorescent lamp starter units. Each starter unit has a built-in microcontroller, an RF (Radio-Frequency) receiver, and communicates wirelessly with a master unit. Each starter unit can be wirelessly controlled to turn off coupled fluorescent lamps. Each starter unit receives a turn off command, monitors the AC voltage supplied to coupled lamps, and initiates turn off when the AC voltage reaches a threshold voltage stored in a memory of the microcontroller. In one novel aspect, each threshold voltage is selected such that turn off of lamps coupled to each starter is initiated within one millisecond. Systems of existing light fixtures are retrofitted with such wireless starter units, and thereby made controllable by a master unit so that the master unit can turn off the lights if room occupancy is not detected or if sufficient ambient light is available. |
| US09288871B2 |
Actuation of a lighting module
A circuit for actuating a lighting module, comprising at least two semiconductor light-emitting elements (D1, D2) which are connected in series in a first operating mode; wherein, in the event of a predetermined threshold value for an operating voltage (101) being undershot, a second operating mode is detectable (102); and wherein, in the second operating mode, the at least two semiconductor light-emitting elements (D1, D2) are alternately actuable. |
| US09288868B2 |
Collecting/recycling system of organic EL lighting device
A collecting/recycling system includes: information collecting section 10 that obtains a status of the organic EL panel used in a market; information processing section 20 that processes and stores, as collection/recycling information, information about a reutilizable member, part, and material of the organic EL panel; collection/recycling predicting section 30 that predicts the timing and quantity of the reutilizable member, part, and material of the organic EL panel, whose the status has been obtained by information collecting section 10, to be distributed to a recycling step based on the collection/recycling information stored in information processing section 20; and production plan setting section 40 that sets a production plan of a recycled organic EL panel using the reutilizable member/part/material based on the timing and quantity predicted by collection/recycling predicting section 30. |
| US09288867B2 |
Linear solid-state lighting with a wide range of input voltage and frequency free of fire and shock hazards
A linear light-emitting diode (LED)-based solid-state universal lamp using an all-in-one LED driving circuit with a power factor correction (PFC) and control device operates normally for a regulated power and current from either electronic ballast or AC mains. The all-in-one LED driving circuit is configured to operate in a wide range of input voltages and frequencies, especially for various high voltages and high frequencies associated with various electronic ballasts. With a cycle-by-cycle current control and power switching at a constant on-time and varied off-time, an over-rated surge current is limited, preventing occasional fire hazards occurred in the ballast. When two shock protection switches are used in two lamp bases in the lamp, the universal lamp fully protects a person from possible electric shock during initial installation and re-lamping. |
| US09288865B2 |
Expert system for establishing a color model for an LED-based lamp
Systems and methods for using an expert system to develop a color model for and LED-based lamp for reproducing a target light and calibrating the lamp are disclosed. The CCT of light generated by the lamp is tunable by adjusting the amount of light contributed by each of the LED strings in the lamp. The target light is decomposed into different wavelength bands, and light generated by the LED-based lamp is also decomposed into the same wavelength bands and compared. A color model for the lamp provides information on how hard to drive each LED string in the lamp to generate light over a range of CCTs, and the color model is used to search for the appropriate operating point of the lamp to reproduce the target light. |
| US09288864B2 |
Adaptive holding current control for LED dimmer
A TRIAC dimmer controller for an LED lamp dynamically adjusts the amount of additional current supplied to the TRIAC dimmer based on the TRIAC dimmer operating mode. A TRIAC dimmer current controller continually senses the TRIAC dimmer current loading and determines a TRIAC dimmer operating mode based on the detected current. The TRIAC dimmer controller compares the detected current with a threshold current value called a TRIAC holding current, and adjusts the amount of bleeder current based on the difference between the detected current and the threshold current value. By continually sensing the TRIAC dimmer current loading, the LED controller regulates the amount of bleeder current supplied to the TRIAC dimmer using a single sink current path to satisfy the TRIAC dimmer current demands of multiple TRIAC dimmer operating modes. |
| US09288861B2 |
Serial lighting interface with embedded feedback
A system for controlling multiple strings of LEDs includes a group of LED driver ICs, each of which includes a current sense feedback (CSFB) sample latch for storing a digital representation of the forward-voltage drop across a controlled LED string. Each CSFB latch is coupled to a register within a serial lighting interface (SLI) bus that both originates and terminates at an interface IC. As the data on the SLI bus is shifted into the interface IC, the interface IC selects the CSFB word that represents the highest forward-voltage drop of any of the controlled LED strings, which is then used by the interface IC to generate a CSFB signal for setting the appropriate supply voltage for the controlled LED strings. |
| US09288857B2 |
Light-emitting diode driving apparatus and light-emitting diode illumination system using the same
A LED driving apparatus and a LED illumination system using the same are provided. The LED driving apparatus adapted to drive a LED load having at least one power specification includes a driving circuit, an output detecting circuit and an output adjusting circuit. The driving circuit provides an adjustable output current for driving the LED load. The output detecting circuit is coupled to the driving circuit and the LED load for detecting a driving voltage of the LED load to generate a first detecting signal. The driving circuit drives the LED load under a constant current in response to the first detecting signal. The output adjusting circuit is coupled to the output detecting circuit. The output adjusting circuit is controlled to adjust a signal level of the first detecting signal, such that the adjustable output current has at least one current adjusting range. |
| US09288855B2 |
Driving circuit for driving LED load
A driving circuit includes a rectifier circuit and a LED driver integrated circuit. The rectifier circuit rectifies an ac power supply into a de power supply. The LED driver integrated circuit includes a regulator circuit, a voltage detector, a buck boost LED driver, and a common ground terminal. The regulator circuit regulates the dc power supply into a regulated voltage. The voltage detector detects whether the regulated voltage meets a voltage requirement and output the regulated voltage when the voltage requirement is met. The buck boost LED driver converts the regulated voltage detected into an output driving voltage according to a remaining voltage at a negative terminal of the LED load to drive the LED load. Voltage potentials at the common ground terminal and at a load ground terminal of the LED load are the same. |
| US09288853B2 |
LED driving circuit and LED driving controller
The present invention discloses an LED driving circuit and controller, capable of maintaining an average value of a current flowing through an LED module at a predetermined current value. The LED driving circuit and controller compensates influences of any factors deviating the average value of the current flowing through the LED module by modulating a period of constant on time or constant off time, or by modulating the determining value(s) of current peak value and/or current valley value according to a difference between an actual average value and the preset current value. |
| US09288846B2 |
Induction cooker and method of operation
An induction heating cooker includes a boiling over detecting portion that reduces the heating output of an inverter to a predetermined value when a change amount of an electrostatic capacitance detected by a capacitance detecting portion with respect to a reference value is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The boiling over detecting portion stops a heating action or reduces the heating output to a third set value lower than a second set value when a change rate of the capacitance is equal to or greater than a predetermined change rate, and maintains the heating output at the second set value when the change rate of the capacitance is less than the predetermined change rate, during a boiling over determining period started from the time that the change amount of the capacitance with respect to the reference value is equal to or greater than the output reducing threshold value. |
| US09288843B2 |
Multi-mode base station and method for data transmission
Method and device for data transmission are provided. When a base station supports multiple radio access technologies, determines radio access technologies respectively supported by RE's two ports, and transmits data corresponding to the radio access technologies respectively through the two ports. With the technical solutions provided in embodiments of the present invention, the base station can support multiple radio access technologies and transmit service data and control data corresponding to multiple radio access technologies. |
| US09288842B2 |
System and method for providing multiple identifiers in a single access point
A system within a single access point comprises a network management module, a virtual access point creation module and a data traffic handling module. The virtual access point creation module creates multiple virtual access points each represented by a unique service set identifier (SSID). The network management module provides at least one tunnel to accommodate the multiple virtual access points. The data traffic handling module receives and redirects data from the multiple virtual access points to and from the at least one tunnel. |
| US09288838B2 |
Wireless communication device
A wireless communication device may establish a first type of connection by using a first wireless channel. The wireless communication device may establish the second type of connection by using a second wireless channel. In a specific case where one of the first type of connection with the first device and the second type of connection with the second device is to be established under a situation in which the other has been established, the wireless communication device may determine at least one of a value of the first wireless channel and a value of the second wireless channel such that the value of the first wireless channel is identical to the value of the second wireless channel. |
| US09288833B2 |
Communication apparatus and control method thereof
A communication apparatus includes a connection unit configured to connect to a wireless network, a transmitting unit configured to transmit data by establishing communication with an external apparatus after connection to the wireless network, an interruption unit configured to interrupt the transmission of data, a storage unit configured to store interruption information relating to the transmission of data interrupted by the interruption unit, a search unit configured to disconnect the connection with the wireless network in a state in which the transmission of data is interrupted by the interruption unit, and then search for an external apparatus, and a determination unit configured to determine whether the external apparatus is found based on the interruption information stored in the storage unit and a search result from the search unit. |
| US09288831B2 |
System for providing intelligent network access selection for a mobile wireless device
Systems and methods enable alternative network access implemented by a mobile wireless communication device. The method includes receiving information associated with a mobile device, the information comprises location information associated with the mobile device. Based on the information associated with the mobile device, identifying an access point available for providing connectivity services to the mobile device, the access point is not the computing device. Information is provided to the mobile device which is associated with the access point. The information can comprise at least one of usage terms, usage conditions, usage costs, access point characteristics, connection characteristics, access point capacity, and access point security access information. |
| US09288828B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for accessing service by mobile station
A method, an apparatus, and a system for accessing service by a Mobile Station (MS) are provided by the present disclosure. The method comprises the following steps: Gateway General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (GGSN) or a next level gateway of the GGSN receives a service request carrying Virtual Access Point Name (VAPN) or a service request not including APN transmitted from a MS, performs a Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) processing to the service request, and identifies the type of the service; GGSN or the gateway sends the service request to the external data network corresponding to the service type. Therefore, accessing various types of mobile data services can be achieved through the service identification function of GGSN or GGSN gateway without modifying MS APN configuration by the mobile MS, therefore the service experiences for a MS user is enhanced effectively. |
| US09288819B2 |
Communication control apparatus, communication system, and communication method
A communication control apparatus including: a processor configured to set each of starting time candidates for each of data communications performed by each of wireless communication apparatuses respectively, to estimate each of finishing time candidates for each of the data communications which corresponds to each of the starting time candidates, and to set each of starting times when each of wireless communication apparatuses is to start each of the data communications to each of the starting time candidates, by performing an optimization of a final finishing time candidate which is the final one of the finishing time candidates. |
| US09288813B2 |
Multi-radio controller and methods for preventing interference between co-located transceivers
Embodiments of a multi-radio controller and methods for preventing interference between co-located transceivers are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the multi-radio controller operates within a multi-radio device and is configured to cause a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver to transmit a triggering frame after an active period of a wireless wide-area network (WWAN) transceiver. The triggering frame indicates the duration of a transmission opportunity, which may be restricted to the time between active periods of the WWAN. In response to receipt of the triggering frame, the WLAN access point is configured to transmit a downlink data frame within the transmission opportunity. |
| US09288812B2 |
Method for avoiding inter-cell interference in a wireless access system
A method for a relay node (RN) to avoid inter-cell interference (ICI) in a wireless access system is provided. The method includes: overhearing a PDCCH transmitted by a plurality of BSs sharing the RN to terminals of each BS in the nth subframe; decoding the PDCCH from the n+1th subframe to the n+2th subframe; reallocating resource area to the terminals; transmitting control information representing the reallocated resource area to each BS; overhearing and decoding a PUSCH to each BS in the n+4th subframe; transmitting the decoding result to each BS; overhearing a PDCCH updated at n+8th subframe; and retransmitting the PUSCH transmitted at the n+4th subframe to a BS(NACK) in the n+12th sub frame. |
| US09288809B2 |
Infrastructure equipment and method
An infrastructure equipment forming part of a mobile communications network to communicate data to/from mobile communications devices. The infrastructure equipment receives an indication of a relative type of data packets for communication via a communications bearer supporting a communications session of a mobile communications device, the indication to configure the communications bearer, to provide the communications bearer from the mobile communications device based on the indication, and to control communication of the data packets via the communications bearer based on the indication. By providing the indication, such as an indication the data packets are of low priority or are generated or received by a machine type communication application, the mobile communications network can control communication of the data packets from the communications bearer differently to data packets communicated via other communications bearer having a higher priority. |
| US09288808B2 |
Method and apparatus for power sharing carrier set for carrier aggregation
A method and apparatus for configuring a power sharing carrier set on a user equipment having multiple component carriers, the method receiving an indication from a network that carrier configuration information is supported in a cell of the network; providing at least one of capability information regarding carriers and bands supported by the user equipment and power sharing information the user equipment is capable of supporting; and obtaining configuration information for power sharing carrier sets. Furthermore, a network element for to providing a power sharing carrier set configuration, the network element configured to: send an indication from a network that carrier configuration information is supported in a cell of the network; receive at least one of capability information regarding carriers and bands supported by a user equipment and power sharing information the user equipment is capable of supporting; and provide configuration information for power sharing carrier sets. |
| US09288805B2 |
Channel allocation in protected service areas
In described embodiments, a channel allocation system, such as a white space (WS) channel allocation system, employs a method to populate a WS database with channel availability information for areas with protected or otherwise registered service user information server. Communication characteristics of incumbent service providers licensed or otherwise registered to operate within certain frequency spectrum are plotted over a geographic area. The channel allocation system then divides the area into tiles, and determines whether each tile can be characterized for channel availability and, for those tiles that are uncharacterized, further divides the tiles into tiles of finer resolution. Based on information in the WS database, availability of channels in areas is pre-computed, and then an iterative search of areas with successively finer resolution identifies white space channels that might be included in the channel list in response to a query from a unlicensed or unregistered user. |
| US09288802B2 |
Method, device, and system for sending and receiving control channel information
The present invention discloses a method, device, and system for sending and receiving control channel information. When a base station schedules a first relay, the base station selects a second relay according to an optimal precoding code book selected by the first relay. An optimal precoding code book selected by the second relay is orthogonal to the optimal precoding code book selected by the first relay. Control channel information of the first relay and control channel information of the second relay his encapsulated into a high speed downlink shared control channel HS-SCCH, and scrambling the HS-SCCH. The scrambled HS-SCCH is sent to the first relay and the second relay. |
| US09288800B2 |
Wireless communications system that supports multiple modes of operation
Embodiments of a base transceiver station and method for transmitting are described herein. In some embodiments, data is transmitted over a downlink channel in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of transmission modes. The base transceiver station may be configurable to transmit data in accordance with each of the transmission modes. One of the transmissions modes may be selected for the data transmission based at least in part on feedback reported by a subscriber unit. The transmission modes include at least a single antenna mode, a transmit diversity mode, and a spatial multiplexing mode. |
| US09288799B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting carrier in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for selecting a carrier in a wireless communication system is provided. A pico eNodeB (eNB) transmits a carrier information request message including a request of information on carriers used by a macro eNB, and receives a carrier information response message as a response of the carrier information request message, the carrier information response message including the information on carriers used by the macro eNB, the information on carriers indicating information on user equipments (UEs) corresponding to the carriers used by the macro eNB. The pico eNB selects a primary cell (PCell) of the pico eNB based on the received information on carriers used by the macro eNB. |
| US09288797B2 |
Support for asynchronous adaptation to uplink and downlink traffic demands for wireless communication
Technology is discussed to allow transmission points within a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) to adapt to Up Link (UL) and Down Link (DL) traffic demands independently. To mitigate potential interference arising from transmission points scheduled for conflicting UL and DL transmissions, measurements between transmission points can be made to indicate a level of coupling. Based on the various levels of coupling between transmission points, clusters can be formed. Where a high level of coupling is present, transmission points can be included in a common cluster. Where a low level of coupling is present, they can be isolated. Transmission points within the same cluster are scheduled with a common pattern of UL and DL transmissions to avoid interference. Transmission points in different clusters can have different patterns of UL and DL transmission to independently adapt to the relative demands for UL and DL transmissions experienced within these different clusters. |
| US09288793B2 |
Method and apparatus for device-to-device communication setup
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for setting up cellular controlled device-to-device communications. A method can comprise sending, from a first device to a radio network node, a request to initiate device-to-device communication with a second device, the request comprising an identification of the second device and a first indicator indicating an intention of a device-to-device type of the communication; receiving, from the radio network node, a resource allocation; and transmitting service contents in the device-to-device communication directly between the first device and the second device using the allocated resources. |
| US09288789B2 |
Mobile station device, communication system, communication method, integrated circuit, and circuit device
A mobile station device includes: a management unit managing generation of uplink control information; a transmission power parameter setting unit setting a value of a parameter relevant to transmission power in accordance with the number of information bits of receipt acknowledgement and scheduling request, when the management unit generates the receipt acknowledgement which is uplink control information indicating positive or negative acknowledgement for downlink data and the scheduling request which is uplink control information indicating whether to request resource allocation; and a transmission processing unit controlling, by means of the parameter value set by the transmission power parameter setting unit, the transmission power for a physical uplink control channel used for transmitting a signal generated from the information bits of the receipt acknowledgement and the scheduling request, and transmitting the signal to a base station device using the physical uplink control channel with the controlled transmission power. |
| US09288788B2 |
Terminal receiving resource block allocation and method therefor
In a wireless communication base station device, a modulation unit carries out modulation processing for Dch data after coding to generate a Dch data symbol. A modulation unit carries out modulation processing for Lch data after coding to generate an Lch data symbol. An allocation unit allocates the Dch data symbol and Lch data symbol to each sub-carrier composing an OFDM symbol and outputs the allocated sub-carrier to a multiplex unit. In this case, the allocation unit allocates the Dch data symbol to a plurality of resource blocks where one Dch is arranged at an interval equal to integral multiples of the number of resource blocks composing a resource block group. |
| US09288787B2 |
Access point terminal, wireless communication terminal, wireless communication system, wireless communication method, program and integrated circuit
An access point terminal includes: a communication-terminal-status determination unit which determines a communication status of one wireless communication terminal out of wireless communication terminals, by obtaining a wireless signal transmitted or received by the one wireless communication terminal; and a frequency control unit which uses (i) a first frequency band for wireless communication with the one wireless communication terminal and (ii) a frequency band other than the first frequency band for the wireless communication with one or more of the wireless communication terminals other than the one wireless communication terminal, when the communication-terminal-status determination unit determines that the communication status of the one wireless communication terminal satisfies a predetermined condition. |
| US09288780B2 |
Method for controlling a communication network, servers and system including servers, and computer programs
A method for operating a communication network includes at least two radio access networks (10-1, 10-2) in which a user equipment (12) can simultaneously be registered and, for each of the at least two radio access networks (10-1, 10-2), a serving entity (14-1, 14-2) in the control plane. The method including the steps of assigning (s16) a master role to one serving entity (14-2) and a slave role to the other serving entity (14-1) or entities; and when a serving entity (14-1) to which a slave role is assigned has to perform control plane signalling (s18), transmitting (s20), by the serving entity, a signalling message to the serving entity (14-2) to which the master role is assigned, so as to perform (s22) the control plane signalling Servers acting as serving entities, systems including such servers, and computer programs executable on the servers are also disclosed. |
| US09288779B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying user equipment, and method for transmitting and allocating a temporary identifier
A method and an apparatus for identifying a UE in an SAE network, and an MME are provided herein. The method includes: receiving an SAE-TMSI which is allocated to a UE that accesses an SAE network and includes at least: a pool-ID, an MME-ID, and a UE temporary identifier; using the SAE-TMSI to temporarily identify the UE in the SAE network. The apparatus includes: a receiving unit and a temporary identifying unit. The MME includes a temporary identifier allocating unit. Moreover, a method for transmitting and allocating a temporary identifier, and a method for receiving and transmitting information according to the temporary identifier are disclosed herein. |
| US09288777B2 |
Methods and apparatus for synchronizing clock signals in a wireless system
A system for verifying clock synchronization between master and slave network equipment is provided. The master includes a transmitter, first control logic, and a first processor. The slave includes a receiver, second control logic, and a second processor. The transmitter may send synchronization packets to the receiver. When a synchronization packet is sent, the first control logic forwards a first timestamp sample to the first processor. In response to receiving a synchronization packet, the receiver may generate a second timestamp sample that is forwarded to the second processor. When a number of first timestamp samples are collected at the first processor, the transmitter may send a timestamp packet to the receiver. In response to receiving the timestamp packet, the receiver may compare the first and second timestamp samples in an effort to synchronize a slave reference clock in the slave to a master reference clock in the master. |
| US09288774B2 |
Communications apparatuses and method for multi-level transmission power control thereof
A communications apparatus is provided. A radio module transmits first packets before establishing a connection with a peer communications device. A transmission power utilized for transmitting the first packets is adjustable, so that multiple levels of transmission power are utilized for transmitting the first packets. |
| US09288773B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlling interference from peer discovery in WWAN
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided in which at least one of a peer-to-peer transmit power or a peer-to-peer duty cycle is adjusted based on at least one of a path loss to a serving base station or a path loss to at least one neighboring base station. In addition, a peer-to-peer signal is sent with the peer-to-peer transmit power or the peer-to-peer duty cycle. |
| US09288769B2 |
Wireless power control apparatus and method having multiple transmit power levels
According to one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus includes a generation unit, a control unit, a transmission unit, a reception unit and an analysis unit. The control unit sets, as a first value, a magnitude of a transmission power of the first frame, and sets, as a second value smaller than the first value, a magnitude of a transmission power of the second frame. The transmission unit transmits the first frame at a first time interval until an acknowledgement frame is received, and transmits the second frame at a second time interval until an accept frame is received. The analysis unit analyzes the request transmission power information. The control unit determines a transmission power of a data frame based on the request transmission power information. |
| US09288766B2 |
Method and arrangement for uplink power control
The disclosure relates to methods and devices for performing uplink power control in a radio communication system. An example method comprises a step of receiving, at a user equipment (UE) a transmit power control (TPC) command. The method also comprises, if the UE does not have an uplink transmission scheduled for a subframe associated with the TPC command, a step of accumulating, by the UE, the TPC command with previously received TPC commands based on whether the UE has reached a maximum transmit power or a minimum transmit power in a reference format for a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) or Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmission. Thus the UE is enabled to receive TPC commands while the UE is not transmitting anything in the uplink. |
| US09288765B2 |
Scaling transmit power in multi-antenna wireless systems
There is provided a network component of a wireless communication network. The network component includes at least two output ports, each output port being associated with an antenna. The network component further includes a controller for providing a power signal set having at least two power signal components, each power signal component being associated with one of at least two output ports and being indicative of a power portion to be provided to its associated antenna for generating a transmission to a receiving network component of the wireless communication network. Further, the network component includes a power adjustment unit for scaling power signal components of the power signal set, thereby providing a scaled power signal set. |
| US09288764B1 |
Discovery-phase power conservation
The present specification describes techniques and apparatuses that enable power conservation in a wireless network. In some cases these techniques and apparatuses enable power conservation during a discover phase and for a wireless network subject to a government mandate requiring a device of the network to passively search for radar transmission prior to establishing communication with another device of the network. |
| US09288763B1 |
Battery consumption monitoring
In one embodiment, a method for battery monitoring on a computing device includes: estimating a battery consumption estimate for an event scheduled on the computing device, checking a battery charge level prior to said scheduled event, determining according to a set of battery notification rules whether or not to provide a battery warning notification on the computing device, where the determining is based at least on the battery consumption estimate and the checking, and providing the battery warning notification if required in accordance with the determining. |
| US09288762B2 |
Power consumption control apparatus in PDA phone
A mobile device is configured to control power consumption. The mobile device includes a detector configured to detect at least one of an active input or a passive condition, where the passive condition is based on a comparison of a device state or a change in the device state to a threshold. The mobile device includes a controller configured to respond to the detected active input or passive condition by causing less than all components in the mobile device, including the display screen of the mobile device, to enter a sleep mode directly from within an in-call mode. An amount of power supplied to the display screen is reduced in the sleep mode. The operational modes of the mobile device include the sleep mode and the in-call mode, and the mobile device is configured to consume at least 4% less power in the sleep mode than in the in-call mode. |
| US09288754B2 |
Apparatus and methods of power save for wireless access points and multi-hop relays
Apparatuses and methods of power save for wireless access point and multi-hop relays are disclosed. In one innovation, an apparatus comprises a memory unit configured to store latency information received from the at least one communication device and a processor operationally coupled to the memory unit and configured to retrieve the latency information from the memory unit and determine a sleep-cycle for the apparatus based on the latency information, the sleep-cycle indicating a time period when the apparatus will not receive signals and will not send signals. |
| US09288753B2 |
Dynamic energy saving mechanism for access points
Mobile access points typically run on batteries, and therefore, can operate for a limited amount of time without an external power source. However, because the access point service model requiring the access point to always be available and the access point's limited battery capacity reduces the time that the mobile access point can be used. Functionality can be incorporated in mobile access points to implement power saving mechanisms by altering the service model that requires the access point to always be available. Configuring the access point to enter into a low powered state for a predefined period of time can conserve mobile access point power and prolong battery life. Functionality for implementing power saving mechanisms can also be incorporated on fixed access points for efficient utilization of computing resources. |
| US09288751B2 |
Use of position data to select wireless access point
A mobile computing device comprises a radio frequency transceiver, a memory, and processing circuit. The radio frequency transceiver is configured to communicate with wireless access points. The memory is configured to store position data representative of a position of the mobile computing device and wireless access point data for a plurality of wireless access points. The processing circuit is configured to select one of the plurality of wireless access points based on the position data and to initiate wireless communication with the selected wireless access point. |
| US09288747B2 |
Switching wireless network selection modes in conjunction with selection of a wireless cell set
An access terminal may switch to a different mode of wireless network selection as a result of manual selection of a wireless cell set (e.g., a closed subscriber group) associated with one or more wireless cells. For example, if the user of an access terminal selects a closed subscriber group in a wireless network that is different than the current wireless network, the access terminal may enter a manual mode of wireless network selection, select the wireless network corresponding to the closed subscriber group, and register on a closed subscriber group cell in the selected wireless network. In addition, an access terminal may automatically switch to a different mode of wireless network selection (e.g., the prior mode) upon losing coverage of a wireless cell set. An access terminal may also automatically select a cell of a wireless cell set if the access terminal returns to a cell of the cell set within a defined period of time after losing coverage of the cell set. Furthermore, an access terminal may return to a prior wireless network upon losing coverage of a wireless cell set. |
| US09288745B2 |
Cell search method of terminal and related device and system
A cell search method of a terminal is provided. The terminal includes first and second network units. The first network unit camps a CS domain on a first network preferentially, and executes a CS domain service; the second network unit camps a PS domain on a second network preferentially, and executes a PS domain service; the first network unit receives a system message from a cell of the first network where the first network unit is located, and determines whether the system message carries neighboring cell information of the second network of the cell; and the second network unit searches for a cell of the second network after the first network unit determines that the system message carries the neighboring cell information of the second network of the cell. With the solutions, subscriber experience can be improved and cell search time of the terminal can be reduced. |
| US09288743B2 |
Uplink power control scheme for distributed RRH systems with same cell ID
Uplink power control in a macro cell in a wireless network comprises transmitting a reference signal from a base station device to at least one wireless device within the macro cell. The macro cell comprises the base station device and at least one radio transmitter device that is communicatively coupled to and remote from the base station device. The base station device and one or more radio transmitter devices could be selected to be a transmission point, a reception point or a combination thereof, for each wireless device. Information relating to a transmission power of the base station device is also transmitted to the at least one wireless device. An uplink signal is received from the at least one wireless device containing information relating to an uplink power determination that is based on the reference signal and the information relating to the transmission power of the base station device. |
| US09288742B2 |
Opportunistic carrier aggregation using short range extension carriers
Systems and methods for providing opportunistic carrier aggregation to short range or low power extension carriers are generally disclosed herein. One embodiment includes data traffic offload techniques to offload data communicated in a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) from a primary cell to a secondary cell. For example, the primary cell may be provided by a LTE/LTE-A base station operating in licensed spectrum, and the secondary cell may be provided by a low-power extension carrier operating in unlicensed spectrum using a LTE/LTE-A standard. The low-power extension carrier may be activated as needed to offload data transfers from the primary cell, in download-only, upload-only, and time-division LTE (TD-LTE) modes. Configurations involving multimode base stations, multimode user equipment (UE), relay extension carriers, and remote radio equipment are also described herein, in conjunction with deployment of opportunistic carrier aggregation using extension carriers. |
| US09288741B2 |
System and method for provisioning a wireless device to only be able to access network services within a specific location
A system and method for provisioning wireless devices such that they are only capable of accessing network services when in a specified location. A device surveys the current location of the device for existing base stations and stores a corresponding network environment profile. After the profile is stored, network services will only be provided to the device if the current network profile matches the stored profile. |
| US09288740B2 |
Communication apparatus, control method for the same, communication system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
A communication apparatus capable of relaying communication between an external apparatus and a communication terminal, determines whether or not a wireless network that enables connection to the external apparatus exists, and decides on a communication mode between the external apparatus and the communication terminal according to a wireless network that was determined as being connectable. |
| US09288739B2 |
System for automatic selection of profile based on location
Systems for automatically selecting a user's profile based on location include a device adapted to being tracked by location and a database that includes a user's preferences for routing calls. The user's calls are routed to the user based on the user's call routing preferences and the location of the device. Other systems and methods are also provided. |
| US09288738B2 |
Ubiquitous access to femto—connected network
A system and method of enabling a mobile device to communicate with a local IP network host and an external IP network host using a femto cellular access point on a femto cellular access network. A local gateway is coupled to the femto cellular access network for receiving data packets transmitted on the femto cellular access network and for routing the data packets to one of a local IP network and an external IP network, based on a destination address associated with the data packets. The femto cellular access network includes an LTE network, an EVDO network connected to an EPC, or a WiMax 802.16e/m network connected to the EPC. |
| US09288732B2 |
Method and apparatus for utility based interference management
The present disclosure presents a method and apparatus for managing uplink (UL) interference at a base station. For example, the method may include receiving one or more reselection or handover measurements from one or more user equipments (UEs) in communication with the base station and receiving one or more load indicator values from one or more neighboring base stations of the base station. Furthermore, such an example method may include estimating an interference target value for the one or more UEs in communication with the base station based at least on the measurements received from the one or more UEs and the load indicator values received from the one or more neighboring base stations. As such, the uplink interference at a base station may be managed. |
| US09288728B1 |
Intelligent re-provisioning of base stations for circuit-switched fallback
Embodiments are described that may help to provide wireless service in a circuit-switched fall back scenario. In particular, when a user entity (UE) falls back from a first network to a second network to conduct a voice call, the first network may instruct the UE to scan a certain predetermined channel or channels for coverage from the second network. However, certain types of base stations typically operate on unlisted channels that differ from the predetermined channels that the UE is instructed to scan. Accordingly, a UE may pre-emptively scan unlisted channels, and report any unlisted channel that is detected to the first network. The first network can then coordinate with the second network to re-provision the base station that was operating on an unlisted channel, to instead operate on one of the predetermined channels that a UE will be instructed to scan during fall back to the second network. |
| US09288719B2 |
Link adaptation for a multi-hop route in a wireless mesh network
Systems and methods for link adaptation for a multi-hop route in a wireless mesh network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless mesh network includes network nodes in a route through the wireless mesh network. The network nodes determine a bottleneck information flow rate for the route based on backward propagation of information indicative of a tentative bottleneck information flow rate for the route from an ending network node to a starting network node through one or more intermediate network nodes. A target information flow rate for the route that is less than or equal to the bottleneck information flow rate for the route is determined. A Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) and, in some embodiments, a transmission mode is determined for each network node in the route other than the ending network node based on forward propagation of information indicative of the target information flow rate for the route. |
| US09288717B2 |
Inter-rat systems access network (AN) load balance and congestion control mechanism
A system and method to perform load-balancing and congestion control between a primary Radio Access Technology (RAT) and a secondary RAT. A broadcast message is sent to all User Equipments (UEs) operating under the secondary RAT. If the primary RAT is congested, a congestion indicator in the broadcast message prevents the UEs from idle re-selecting or switching to the primary RAT. Even if the primary RAT is not congested, the broadcast message may still include other parameters such as one or more probability values, a group identifier for the UE groups, and a retention timer. The idle UEs in the secondary RAT that generate device-specific random values that are equal to or greater than the applicable probability threshold value(s) are allowed to reselect the primary RAT. If an idle UE fails this probability test, it may not be allowed to reselect the primary RAT again until the retention timer expires. |
| US09288715B2 |
Method and system for improving the efficiency of packet transmission in a multi-user wireless communication system
A method and system utilized in a wireless communication system transmitting and receiving a multi-user packet is disclosed. The communication system includes a transmitter and a plurality of users in communication therewith. The method and system comprise determining a lowest coding scheme for transmitting the packet; and deriving a coding rate for the efficient transmission of the packet from a standard coding rate by de-puncturing bits in the packet. A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides for an efficient utilization of packet length, and improves the reliability by improving SNR, by lowering the MCS, un-puncturing, and/or repetition. More efficient packed data rates are also provided and both Tx and Rx compute parameters independently. |
| US09288712B2 |
Multi-channel mesh nodes employing stacked responses
Rather than using a large number of transceivers (transmitter/receiver pairs) operating in parallel, Access Points with multiple channels are used to aggregate, or stack, transmitted response communications, e.g., transmitting multiple acknowledgements (ACKs) in a single packet to one or more sources of received packets. The method includes sending on a plurality of channels, by each of a plurality of respective first nodes, a communication to a second node, receiving on the plurality of channels, by the second node, the communication from each of the plurality of first nodes and sending, by the second node, a transmission that contains a response to each communication that was successfully received from each of the plurality of first nodes. The response to each of the plurality of first nodes is part of a single message sent by the second node. |
| US09288710B1 |
Method and system for limiting downlink data rates
A wireless communication device (WCD) stores a mapping that maps each of a plurality of ranges of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) to a respective data rate indicator in a plurality of data rate indicators. Each data rate indicator is associated with a respective modulation-and-coding scheme (MCS) that supports a respective downlink data rate from a radio access network (RAN). The WCD selects a maximum data rate indicator based on a type of application on the WCD that is to receive downlink data, a priority of downlink data to be received by the application, an amount of downlink data to be received by the application, a device type of the WCD, or a subscription level of the WCD. The WCD selects an applicable data rate indicator based on a measured SNR and the mapping, such that the applicable data rate indicator does not exceed the maximum data rate indicator. |
| US09288704B2 |
Method for a terminal to transmit channel state information to a base station in a radio communication system, and device for same
A method for a terminal to allocate a resource for transmitting uplink control information to a serving base station (BS) in a radio communication system includes when a report of at least one periodic RI and a report of at least one aperiodic RI occur in the same subframe, mapping the at least one periodic RI and the at least one aperiodic RI into a physical uplink shared channel of the subframe and transmitting the mapped at least one periodic RI and at least one aperiodic RI to the serving BS. The at least one aperiodic RI may correspond to at least one component carrier wave in each of the serving BS and an adjacent BS for CoMP transmission of the serving BS and the adjacent BS, and the at least one periodic RI may correspond to at least one component carrier wave for non-CoMP transmission in the serving BS. |
| US09288700B2 |
Method, network node, computer program and computer program product for determining a dropped connection
A method is performed in a network node of a mobile communication network, for determining a dropped connection to a mobile terminal. The method comprises: detecting a release of a radio bearer associated with the mobile terminal; determining whether the radio bearer is a real-time type radio bearer; when the radio bearer is a real-time type radio bearer, determining the released radio bearer to be a dropped connection when the release is classified as an involuntary release; and when the radio bearer differs from a real-time type radio bearer, determining the released radio bearer to be a dropped connection when there is remaining user data in a buffer for transfer in either direction over the released radio bearer. A corresponding network node, computer program and computer program product are also presented. |
| US09288690B2 |
Apparatus for clustering cells using neighbor relations
An apparatus operable in a communication system is described. The apparatus includes means for receiving a neighbor relation message from another apparatus. The apparatus also includes means for generating cluster information based on the neighbor relation message. The apparatus further includes means for transmitting the cluster information to the other apparatus. |
| US09288683B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for electronic spectrum management
Systems, methods, and devices enable spectrum management by identifying, classifying, and cataloging signals of interest based on radio frequency measurements. In an embodiment, signals and the parameters of the signals may be identified and indications of available frequencies may be presented to a user. In another embodiment, the protocols of signals may also be identified. In a further embodiment, the modulation of signals, data types carried by the signals, and estimated signal origins may be identified. |
| US09288682B2 |
White space utilization
The concepts relate to radio white space utilization. One example can obtain information about a location of a device. The example can access a white space database to obtain radio white space frequencies relative to the location. This example can also perform active scanning of at least some of the radio white space frequencies at the location and not perform active scanning on allocated frequencies. |
| US09288681B2 |
White space utilization
The concepts relate to broadcasting white space utilization. One example can function as a client relative to a wireless access point that is configured to obtain authorization to utilize a radio white space frequency according to a set of constraints. The example can function as a Wi-Fi direct group owner to establish a Wi-Fi connection with a device that is not the wireless access point. This example can also transmit data over the radio white space frequency to the device in compliance with the set of constraints. |
| US09288678B2 |
Method for frequency reuse in cellular network
The present invention relates to the technical field of wireless communication, and discloses a method for frequency reuse based on cellular network. The method comprises the following steps: dividing the whole cellular network into a plurality of different cell clusters, wherein each cell cluster comprises three cells, every two of them being adjacent to each other; for each cell in a cell cluster, dividing the cell into a central area and an edge area according to the coverage of the cell; dividing the whole available frequency band of the network according to the user distribution and service distribution in the cell cluster; allocating divided frequency bands to the central area and the edge area in the cell cluster respectively according to preset rule; and applying the method for frequency reuse to other cell clusters, thus achieving the frequency reuse of the whole network. With the method, the average spectrum frequency efficiency of the cellular network can be improved, and interference among cells can be effectively suppressed. |
| US09288677B2 |
Communication system, communication apparatus and method for setting communication parameters of the apparatus
A wireless terminal which newly joins a wireless communication system transmits a message containing its identification data to an access point in the wireless communication system at a communication parameter setting start. Upon receiving the message, the access point determines whether or not the wireless terminal has been registered. If it is determined that the wireless terminal has not been registered, the access point determines whether or not the wireless terminal is a setting target device of communication parameters based on the identification data contained in the message. If it is determined that the wireless terminal is a setting target device, the access point sets communication parameters for the wireless terminal. |
| US09288676B2 |
Trusted sensor data unaffected when an application processor operates in an unlocked state
Arrangements described herein relate to controlling RF communications by a communication device. Raw sensor data from one or more sensors can be received by a sensor processor. The sensor processor processes the raw sensor data to generate processed sensor data. An application processor processes a portion of the processed sensor data. The application processor is configured to operate in a locked state in which a user is not allowed to alter the at least one secured application and operate in an unlocked state in which the user is allowed to alter the at least one secured application. A portion of the processed sensor data is received from the sensor processor by a communications processor and further processed. The processed sensor data received by the communications processor from the sensor processor is trusted sensor data not affected by the application processor when the application processor operates in the unlocked state. |
| US09288674B2 |
Convenient WiFi network access using unique identifier value
A WiFi network manager stores a unique identifier value such as a network address associated with a communication device as being a valid credential for the communication device to subsequently access a WiFi network including one or more access points. The WiFi network manager monitors use of the unique identifier value to access the WiFi network. In response to detecting misuse of the unique identifier value by two or more communication devices using the unique identifier value to use the WiFi network, the WiFi network manager at least temporarily prevents access to the WiFi network. |
| US09288669B2 |
Mobile touch authentication refresh
Techniques for resetting authentication for touch-enabled devices are presented. When a user authenticates to a mobile device a touch profile (TP) is recorded. Each subsequent time the user unlocks a locked mobile device via touch, a new TP is noted. The new TP is compared to the recorded TP and if the deviation is within an acceptable tolerance, the user is permitted access to the mobile device without re-authentication. When the new TP is not within the acceptable tolerance of the recorded TP, the user is forced to re-authenticate before access is granted to the mobile device. |
| US09288668B2 |
Method for allocating an IP address to mobile communication user equipment
Disclosed is a method of allocating an IP address in a mobile communication system. The method of allocating an IP address includes: receiving a PDN connection request message including one or more of version information indicating an IP version requested from a UE and information regarding capability of the UE; obtaining subscriber information of the UE from a subscriber information server in response to reception of the PDN connection request message; checking the IP version information included in the PDN connection request message; when an address of IPv6 is requested according to the checking of the version information, determining whether or not the UE moves frequently or substantially stationary on the basis of one or more of the subscriber information of the UE, the capability information of the UE, and a TAU (Tracking Area Update) frequency; and when the UE is substantially stationary, transmitting a request message including particular indication information indicating to maintain router information although a timer with respect to the router information expires so long as the UE belongs to a particular PDN gateway and information corresponding to an interface ID allocated for the UE, to the UE. |
| US09288666B2 |
Storage of applications and associated digital goods for use in wireless communication devices and systems
Methods and devices for restoring digital goods previously acquired and associated with an application are described. In one aspect, the method includes: receiving, at an application delivery server, a request for the application to be delivered to a communication device; and in response to receiving the request: retrieving the application associated with the request; sending the application associated with the request to the communication device; and restoring the digital goods previously acquired and associated with the application to the communication device. |
| US09288664B2 |
Relay device and method for providing device management service
A method for providing a Device Management (DM) service to various devices by a relay device is provided. In the method, the relay device registers in a DM server a relay function for providing a DM service based on the relay device to at least one device. If at least one device is discovered in a Personal Area Network (PAN) managed by the relay device, the relay device determines a relay mode with the at least one device, and provides a DM service from the DM server to the at least one device according to the determined relay mode. |
| US09288663B2 |
Terminal device, and communication method and communication module for the same
A terminal device includes: a terminal controller which interprets only one of command schemes of a wireless communication unit and a near-field communication unit, and controls a function of the terminal device; and a control unit which controls communications between the wireless communication unit and the terminal controller and between the near-field communication unit and the terminal controller. The control unit includes: an identification number addition unit which adds an identification number to a command from the near-field communication unit or the wireless communication unit; and a command converting unit which converts a command of the other command scheme into a command of one command scheme, using a command conversion table. |
| US09288660B2 |
Method and apparatus for the activation of services
An approach is provided for presenting an activation indicator to a user. A connection with a mobile device is detected. Retrieval is caused, at least in part, of a unique hardware identifier associated with the mobile device. It is determined that the mobile device is eligible for a service based on the unique hardware identifier. Presentation is caused, at least in part, of a visual indicator of the eligibility for the service based on the determination. |
| US09288653B2 |
Method and system for supporting emergency call using non-access stratum protocol in mobile telecommunication system
The present invention relates to a method and a system for managing an emergency call between a terminal and a network by using a non-access stratum protocol in a mobile communication network. A method for providing an emergency call service by a terminal in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: enabling the terminal to transmit an access request message including an emergency call identifier to a mobility management entity; enabling the terminal to attempt to authenticate the mobility management entity after the step of transmitting the access request message; enabling the terminal to receive an access grant message including the emergency call identifier from the mobility management entity; and enabling the terminal which receives the access grant message, to provide an emergency call service through the mobility management entity. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the emergency call is enabled. |
| US09288650B2 |
Method, device and recording media for searching target clients
A method for searching target clients, applied to a mobile device coupled to a network, is provided. A target position and a target time are generated by a positioning unit and a time generating unit of the mobile device, respectively. A target clients search message is generated according to keywords input into the mobile device, the target position and the target time and then transmitted to a server coupled to the network through the network. Then a search result transmitted by the server through the network is received. The search result comprises at least one of a target clients amount, a target clients density and a target clients occurrence probability, which are retrieved from at least one social networks data and corresponding to the keywords, the target location and the target time. A map combined with the search result is displayed. |
| US09288649B2 |
Smart telephony systems and methods
A telephonic system and method alert a called phone of an importance level of a call. The system includes a caller module including a caller user interface configured to allow a caller to assign an importance level to a call and instructions when executed cause a processor to initiate transmission of a data message to the dialed number phone that, when received by the called phone, advises the called phone of the importance level of the call incoming, and then initiates the call to the called phone. The system includes a called phone module including a called phone user interface and instructions when executed cause a processor to determine the importance level of the call based on the data message and provide a signal to the called phone user interface concerning the importance level of the call. A proximity feature system and a reverse proximity feature system are also described. |
| US09288647B2 |
Method for sending contact note during call establishment
A note data message is associated with a first user equipment (UE) device and is sent to a second UE device when the second UE device communicates with the first UE device. The note data message is received and stored in a network server. A request is received from the second UE device to establish a communication session with the first UE device. If the first UE device has authorized the sending of the message to the second device, the note data message is sent to the second UE device independent of any communication session established between the first and second UE devices. |
| US09288637B2 |
Mobile router network with valet mode function
A mobile router comprises: a valet mode program to provide valet mode functionality in a vehicle in which the mobile router is disposed; a processor operable to execute the valet mode program; a predetermined distance limit; and a predetermined speed limit. The mobile router responds to externally generated commands from a predetermined source to activate or deactivate the valet mode. The processor is operable to determine if the predetermined distance limit is exceeded from the location of the vehicle when the valet mode is activated; and the processor is operable to determine if the vehicle exceeds the predetermined speed limit when the valet mode is activated. |
| US09288636B2 |
Feature selection for image based location determination
Feature selection is provided for geometry data in an image-based based location determination. For example, one or more computing devices may receive information collected for a particular area. The one or more computing devices may identify one or more features and associated location from the received information. Given ones of the identified one or more features are selected based on a characteristic of a user. The selected ones of the one or more features and the associated locations are used to generate a set of geometry data for the particular area. |
| US09288633B2 |
Systems and methods for revisit location detection
A method of detecting a revisit position includes receiving at a computing system a plurality of position data points, each of the plurality of position data points including a signal scan measurement. The method farther includes calculating a first signal distance between a first signal scan measurement corresponding to a first position data point of the plurality of position data points and a second signal scan measurement corresponding to a second position data point of the plurality of position data points. The method further includes determining that the first signal distance is less than a first threshold, that the first signal distance is a local minimum for the first position data point, and the first signal distance is a local minimum for the second position data point. The method further includes, based on the determining, identifying the first and second position data points as revisit points. |
| US09288631B2 |
Systems and methods for enhancing a user visit to a site premises
Exemplary systems and methods for enhancing a user visit to a site premises are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a mobile device tracking a geographic location of the mobile device, accessing site data associated with a site premises, and providing an interactive user interface configured to enhance a visit of a user of the mobile device to the site premises based on the site data associated with the site premises and the geographic location of the mobile device within the site premises. In certain embodiments, an output may be selected based on the geographic location of the mobile device within the site premises and provided via the interactive user interface for experiencing by the user of the mobile device. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09288623B2 |
Multi-path mitigation in rangefinding and tracking objects using reduced attenuation RF technology
An autonomous system with no Customer Network Investment is described, wherein the system is configurable to operate on in a band in addition to the LTE band. Such system allows the definition of hybrid operations to accommodate the positioning reference signals (PRS) of LTE and already existing reference signals. The system can operate with PRS, with other reference signals such as cell-specific reference signals (CRS), or with both signal types. As such, the system provides the advantage of allowing network operator(s) to dynamically choose between modes of operation depending on circumstances, such as network throughput and compatibility. |
| US09288618B1 |
System and method for determining geolocation of a wireless access point or wireless device
In order to determine the location of wireless network devices without inherent location capabilities, a wireless network device such as an access point can receive geolocation information from transient data sources such as mobile devices requiring network access from the access point. The access point stores geolocation records including location coordinates received from the transient data sources. The geolocation records can be processed to determine the position and movement of the access point. The geolocation records and/or location information can be passed to other transient clients that do not have inherent location capability. |
| US09288613B2 |
Method and device for selecting a channel according to a device's mobility
The present invention relates to a method of selecting a channel, and more particularly, to a method of selecting a channel according to a Medical Wireless Body Area Network (MBAN) device's mobility, and of using same. The method includes: receiving, by a Medical Body Area Network (MBAN) master, a connection request signal including information on mobility from an MBAN device; transmitting, by the MBAN master, a connection response signal to the MBAN device in response to the received connection request signal; and allocating a channel for the MBAN device according to the information on mobility in the received connection request signal. |
| US09288611B2 |
Collecting and analyzing data in a distributed sensor network
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for collecting and analyzing data in a distributed sensor network. The distributed sensor network can include a number of distributed sensor systems having data sources such as sensors, communication equipment, and/or other systems and components. The distributed sensor systems also can include lighting systems, if desired. The distributed sensor systems can collect data from the data sources and provide the data to a local or remote entity such as a data analysis engine. The data analysis engine can request data from the distributed sensor systems, receive the data, and analyze the data for various purposes. |
| US09288608B2 |
Providing web service for new user account after installation of application on mobile device
Mobile devices often communicate with network services that require an account. Because it may be undesirable to require user interaction when creating an account, it may be desirable to automatically create an account associating a mobile device to a network service after a new application is installed on the mobile device. In an embodiment, a new application is remotely installed on a mobile device. After the installation, the device monitors itself for an occurrence of an event. In response to detecting the occurrence, the device launches the new application. After the launch, the new application automatically obtains data from the mobile device, and then sends the data to a server that automatically creates an account for the user. The server also provides a service associated with the account. |
| US09288604B2 |
Downmixing control
An apparatus including an audio mixer configured to mix at least two audio channels of an audio signal; and a sensor configured to sense motion and/or orientation of the apparatus. The audio mixer is configured to change mixing of the at least two audio channels based, at least partially, on an output from the sensor regarding the sensed motion and/or orientation of the apparatus. |
| US09288603B2 |
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for backward-compatible audio coding
Systems, methods, and apparatus for backward-compatible coding of a set of basis function coefficients that describe a sound field are presented. |
| US09288601B2 |
Broad sound loudspeaker system
A sound system processor for converting left and right channel signals from an audio source into composite left and right signals and employing a mid-side processor, at least one low and high pass filters, and one or more sum processors, together which create at least two or more composite signals for delivery to speaker drivers to generate a broad sound field from a compact multi-speaker sound system source. |
| US09288599B2 |
Audio scene mapping apparatus
An apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive at least one audio signal from a recording apparatus; the receiver further configured to receive at least one orientation indicator from the recording apparatus, each orientation indicator associated with one at least audio signal; a recording direction determiner configured to determine a recording orientation of the recording apparatus dependent on the at least one audio signal; a relative distance determiner configured to determining a relative distance of the recording apparatus from a sound source dependent on the at least one audio signal; and a relative position determiner configured to determining a relative position of the recording apparatus dependent on the orientation indicator and relative distance. |
| US09288598B2 |
Pipe calibration method for omnidirectional microphones
Embodiments include a method comprising forming a pipe including a first end and a second end by forming couplings between a plurality of sections of pipe. A loudspeaker is connected to the first end. The loudspeaker is a mouth simulator loudspeaker. A plurality of microphones are positioned a third distance inside an inside surface of the pipe using a receptacle positioned in the pipe a first distance from the first end and a second distance from the second end. An acoustic output is generated at the loudspeaker. One or more calibration filters are generated using outputs of the plurality of microphones produced in response to the acoustic output. |
| US09288593B2 |
Visually-based fitting of hearing devices
A method for adapting a hearing device (6, 7) to the hearing needs and preferences of an individual (U) is presented, wherein sound processing in said hearing device (6, 7) is programmable by means of adjustable parameters. The method comprises the steps of a) presenting at least one auditory test signal (1a) to said individual (U); b) capturing at least one image (2a) of at least a portion of said individual's body; c) analyzing said at least one image (2a); d) deducing from said image analysis whether or not said individual (U) has shown a reaction upon said presenting said at least one auditory test signal (1a) and, if yes, which reaction said individual (U) has shown; e) determining, in dependence of said at least one auditory test signal (1a) and of said reaction or lack of reaction, a setting for at least one of said adjustable parameters. |
| US09288589B2 |
Hearing aid apparatus
The present application is directed to a hearing aid apparatus for wearing use by a user, including a frontend sound collector configured to collect a frontend signal; a backend sound collector configured to collect a backend signal; and a sound processor configured to process the frontend signal and the backend signal; wherein the sound processor includes a frontend delayer configured to apply a delay coefficient to the frontend signal to produce a delayed frontend signal; a backend delayer configured to apply the delay coefficient to the backend signal to produce a delayed backend signal; and an adaptive filter configured to process the delayed frontend signal and the delayed backend signal to produce an adaptive filter output signal. |
| US09288585B2 |
Spectral contrast enhancement in a cochlear implant speech processor
Among other things, enhancing spectral contrast for a cochlear implant listener includes detecting a time domain signal. A first transformation is applied to the detected time domain signal to convert the time domain signal to a frequency domain signal. A second transformation is applied to the frequency domain signal to express the frequency domain signal as a sum of two or more components. A sensitivity of the cochlear implant listener to detect modulation of each component is obtained. |
| US09288581B2 |
Speaker unit
[Object] To lower a mechanical resonance sharpness and reduce oscillations near a minimum resonance frequency, to thereby improve the sound quality.[Solving Means] A speaker unit includes: a magnet that generates a magnetic force; a magnetic gap that causes the magnetic force to act; a yoke that is provided to be partially opposed to the magnet and forms a magnetic circuit that guides the magnetic force of the magnet to the magnetic gap; a coil bobbin that is formed in a tubular shape and is set to be axially vibratable with respect to the magnet and the yoke; a coil that is wound around the coil bobbin and partially placed in the magnetic gap; a cone that is vibrated in accordance with vibration of the coil bobbin; an edge that retains the cone at almost a center; and a frame that fixes each of the edge and the yoke, in which into the magnetic gap a magnetic fluid is injected, the magnetic fluid is set to have a viscosity equal to or larger than a predetermined value and a mechanical resonance sharpness is set to be equal to or smaller than 1.0, and sound proportional to a current is output by current drive. |
| US09288579B2 |
Method for dynamically adjusting gain of parametric equalizer according to input signal, dynamic parametric equalizer and dynamic parametric equalizer system employing the same
The present invention relates to a method for dynamically adjusting a gain of parametric equalizer according to an input signal, a dynamic parametric equalizer employing the same and a dynamic parametric equalizer system employing the same wherein a gain of parametric equalizer is dynamically adjusted according to a level of an input digital audio signal to prevent distortion of output signal. |
| US09288567B1 |
Audio phone connection mount for touch pen
The audio phone connection mount for touch pen is an adapter assembly connectable to portable/mobile electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablets, whereby a mechanical attachment is established between a touch pen/stylus or normal pen and the device's 3.5 mm audio jack, while simultaneously allowing electro-mechanical connection of headsets and headphones to the electronic device. Various embodiments of the adapter permit its use with the four most prevalent types of smart phones on the market. The touch pen itself will be modified to accommodate their connections. In a generic aspect, the adapter includes a pivotal 3.5 mm connector for engaging the audio jack of the electronic device, while the pen includes an adapter on one end that will connect to the 3.5 mm male audio connectors attached to the external audio devices. |
| US09288565B2 |
Earphone system
An earphone system comprising an ear canal portion with an interior surface having a logarithmic spiral taper shape, a base portion, and a speaker, wherein the ear canal portion and the base portion detachably engage to hold the speaker between and within the ear canal portion and the base portion. In some embodiments, the logarithmic spiral taper shape may further be a golden spiral taper shape, a Fibonacci spiral taper shape, or a cochleal taper shape. |
| US09288561B1 |
Speaker device
A speaker device includes a main cabinet composed of a cabinet body and a speaker mounted on the cabinet body; an extendable cabinet composed of a bellows tube and a passive diaphragm, the bellows tube having a front end communicably connected to the cabinet body and a rear end closed by the passive diaphragm, and the passive diaphragm being axially aligned with the speaker; and a damping assembly being arranged in the cabinet body and in the bellows tube, and having a front end connected to the cabinet body and a rear end to the passive diaphragm. With these arrangements, the speaker device can have improved bass performance in the entire low-frequency band instead of being limited to only a few low-frequency points. |
| US09288553B2 |
Application gadgets and electronic program guides
Application gadget techniques are described. In an implementation, a remote control device includes a display device and one or more modules. The one or more modules are configured to initiate one or more control functions related to control of a display of content by a client. The one or more modules also provide an environment to execute one or more application gadgets such that an output of the one or more application gadgets is displayable on the display device. |
| US09288550B2 |
Method and system for integrated media planning and automated advertisement distribution and insertion
A system and method for integrating a media plan and a targeted advertisement into a television or a radio channel. The system includes a user interface for receiving a media plan and a television program schedule. The system also includes a media server to integrate the television program schedule and the targeted advertisement based on the media plan and to generate a Mark-in and a Mark-out montage. The system further includes one or more edge devices for fetching the targeted advertisement, detecting the Mark-in and the Mark-out montage and inserting the targeted advertisement into the television channel. The method includes receiving a media plan from an advertiser. The method also includes selecting a television channel by the advertiser. The method further includes scheduling of a targeted advertisement. Furthermore, the method includes fetching and inserting the targeted advertisement for playing on the television channel based on the media plan. |
| US09288546B2 |
Method and system for electronic communication to television
A system and method of displaying messages at a television is described. The method of displaying messages at a television includes: establishing communication over the Internet between a television and a server. A user-generated communication is received at the television from the server. A notification is displayed on the television that the user-generated communication has been received. The user-generated communication is displayed on the television. |
| US09288545B2 |
Systems and methods for tracking and tagging objects within a broadcast
The present disclosure presents an improved system and method for tracking and tagging objects of interest in a broadcast, including expert indications of desirable and undesirable locations on golf course terrain. |
| US09288544B2 |
Program-schedule-generating device, program-data-sharing system, method of generating program schedule, and computer program
To share program data between a plurality of information providers, between which providers there exists a predetermined association, whereby a program schedule for each of the information providers can be acquired.The program-schedule-generating device stores program data provided by a plurality of information providers. The program-schedule-generating device specifies a subject user, who is an information provider to which program schedule data is to be transmitted, and specifies another information provider having a predetermined association with the user. The predetermined association referred to here is, for example, a condition in which users are members of an identical service (such as an SNS). The program-schedule-generating device extracts the program data provided by the information providers, generates program schedule data based on the program data, and transmits the program schedule data. |
| US09288539B2 |
System and method for a user interface to manage the recording, downloading and sharing of content from multiple sources
A system and method for a user interface to manage the recording, downloading and sharing of content from multiple sources are described. Various embodiments allow requesting content from a service provider by a user and receiving a user interface from the service provider, where the user interface indicates the availability of the content via multiple sources, and where the multiple sources include an Internet Protocol (IP) network, a broadcast service and a peer-to-peer network. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09288536B2 |
Method and apparatus for using viewership activity data to customize a user interface
A method (300) and system (100,200) for customizing a user interface (122) on a display or consumption device (121) is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes delivering, with a control circuit (210), an advertisement (114) to a plurality of client devices (106,107,108). A channel collector device 113 can then capture viewership activity data (116,117,118) occurring during playout of the advertisement. The method then modifies a presentation characteristic of the user interface by presenting a playback (501) comprising both the advertisement and at least some of the viewership activity data in synchrony. |
| US09288533B1 |
System and method for delivering interactive trigger events
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which a media processor identifies a first key and a second key associated with media content received over a network, and prepares a display object according to the first key that includes a selectable object. The media processor transmits a request to a remote server including the second key; the server returns first additional content and control code associated with the second key. The media processor merges the first additional content with the display object to produce an overlay for presentation with the media content in accordance with the control code. The overlay is associated with a provider of the first additional content; the first key is independent of the provider, and the second key corresponds to the provider. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09288526B2 |
Method and system for delivery of content over communication networks
Computer-implemented systems and methods for determining second content which was not selected by the user but which is related to first content which was selected by the user. For example, a system and method can be configured to receive, using one or more processors, first and second content where the first and second content are rich media (e.g., content containing audio or video elements). Systems and methods may be further configured where the relationship between the first content and second content are determined based on data or metadata of the first content (e.g., the title of the content or an episode number). Systems and methods may be further configured where the relationship between the first content and second content are determined based on scheduling data of the first content (e.g., the time and channel when the first content is transmitted). |
| US09288524B2 |
Using TV over VPN to present remote device application graphics
A wireless device such as an Android-based smart phone or tablet computer can establish a VPN connection with an Android-based TV to cause the TV to run an application and provide graphics from the wireless device and be controlled from the wireless device. |
| US09288523B2 |
Systems and methods for automated media programming (AMP)
Automated media programming (AMP) systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment of an AMP system, a computer server is communicatively coupled to the Internet and provides a website for enabling uploading of media content, sorting the media content, and downloading the media content. Independent users are permitted to submit, edit, rate, and consume media content over a broadcast media channel or network. In some embodiments of the AMP system, content on the Internet is automatically searched and topics from the searched content are automatically identified. The topics are preferably indicative of currently relevant news or events and are indicative of a type of media content that will be requested for uploading from producers. The AMP system publishes the topics to the producers, receives and stores media content uploaded from the producers that relate to the respective topics, and enable users to select and download the media content. |
| US09288519B2 |
Display apparatus, server and control method thereof
A display apparatus includes a display configured to display an image of a broadcasting program; a communication section configured to communicate with a server; a controller configured to control to transmit view information about a broadcasting program viewed by a user to the server, receive information about a broadcasting program recommended corresponding to the view information from the server, and provide schedule information of the recommended broadcasting program in accordance with a time slot in which the recommended broadcasting program is broadcasted. |
| US09288518B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method
The present disclosure is intended to facilitate the transmission of information associated with content being viewed on a public device to a private device. In response to a request from a content reception apparatus, a tablet terminal and a mobile telephone transmit information associated with an action and an application that are coordinatable with the content being displayed to the content reception apparatus. In response to a user operation, the tablet terminal selects a user-specified application from a list of applications displayed on a display of the content reception apparatus and transmits this select information to the content reception apparatus. If a coordination command of an action for coordination with an active application comes from the content reception apparatus, then the mobile telephone executes the received command. The present disclosure is applicable to information processing systems operating the content reception apparatus by using a terminal in wireless communication, for example. |
| US09288516B2 |
Alternate source programming
An apparatus, method, and system are provided for associating or tying an audio source/content to visual/video content. A request to tie a selected audio source to visual/video content may be received. Upon receiving the request, the selected audio source may be tied to the visual/video content. Audio received from the selected audio source may be substituted for audio associated with the visual/video content. One or more synchronization techniques/methods may be used to synchronize audio content with visual/video content. |
| US09288514B2 |
Method and apparatus for high speed data services
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by a first line card coupled to minimally twisted or non-twisted pair cables, a very high digital subscriber line signal, modifying the very high digital subscriber line signal for transmission over the minimally twisted or non-twisted pair cables to generate an updated very high digital subscriber line signal that overcomes a transmission deficiency, and transmitting from the first line card the updated very high digital subscriber line signal to a second line card to cause the second line card to receive the adapted very high digital subscriber line signal at a desired signal quality and convert the updated very high digital subscriber line signal to a very high digital subscriber line signal for presentation of interactive television services at the customer premise equipment. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09288513B2 |
System and method of high-resolution digital data image transmission
A system and method for transmitting still images and a video feed from an unmanned aerial vehicle to a ground station is disclosed. The system includes an aircraft including a digital video camera to capture still images and video frames of an object. A video encoder is coupled to the camera to provide a video output including video packets. A file server is coupled to the camera to provide a still image output including image data packets. A multiplexer is coupled to the video output and the still image output. The multiplexer produces a data transmission including the video packets and the image data packets. A transmitter sends the data transmission to the ground station. The ground station receives the data transmission and demultiplexes the packets into separate video and image data packets. The ground control station may select the ratio the video stream images in relation to the still image to be transmitted from the aircraft. |
| US09288512B2 |
Information descriptor and extended information descriptor data structures for digital television signals
According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor; a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories. |
| US09288511B2 |
Methods and apparatus for media navigation
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for streaming a media includes a server side receiver for receiving a request to stream a media from a media player. The apparatus further includes a content generator, a server side transmitter, and a media stream generator. The content generator is configured to generate content information providing a plurality of presentation options to consume the media. The server side transmitter is configured to send the content information. The server side receiver is further configured to receive a selected presentation option from amongst the plurality of presentation options. The media stream generator is configured to generate a media stream comprising the media based on the selected presentation option. |
| US09288509B2 |
Method and system for providing synchronized advertisements and services
A second screen communication device that is paired with an automatic content recognition (ACR) enabled display communication device is operable to detect presentation of a linear advertisement campaign on the ACR-enabled display communication device and control presentation of content, which is associated with the linear advertisement campaign, on the second screen communication device. The content that is associated with the linear advertisement campaign comprises a plurality of messages. The second screen communication device is operable to select one or more of the plurality of messages for presentation on the second screen communication whenever the linear advertisement campaign is detected during the presentation on the ACR-enabled display communication device. The screen communication device may be operable to sequence through presentation of the plurality of messages on the ACR-enabled display communication device based on the selection. |
| US09288508B2 |
Context reduction for context adaptive binary arithmetic coding
A reduction in the number of binarizations and/or contexts used in context adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) for video coding is proposed. In particular, this disclosure proposes techniques that may lower the number contexts used in CABAC by up to 56. |
| US09288503B2 |
Method and apparatus for intra prediction within display screen
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for intra prediction. The intra prediction method for a decoder, according to the present invention, comprises the steps of entropy-decoding a received bitstream, generating reference pixels to be used in the intra prediction of a prediction unit; generating a prediction block from the reference pixels on the basis of a prediction mode for the prediction unit and reconstructing an image from the prediction block and a residual block, which is obtained as a result of entropy encoding, wherein the reference pixels and/or the prediction block pixels are predicted on the basis of a base pixel, and the predicted pixel value can be the sum of the pixel value of the base pixel and the difference between the pixel values of the base pixel and the generated pixel. |
| US09288502B2 |
Methods and apparatus for the use of slice groups in decoding multi-view video coding (MVC) information
There are provided methods and apparatus for the use of slice groups in encoding and decoding multi-view video coding (MVC) information. An apparatus and method are described which encodes at least two views corresponding to multi-view video content using multiple slice groups. Furthermore, an apparatus and method are described for decoding at least two views corresponding to multi-view video content using multiple slice groups. |
| US09288499B2 |
Device and method of improving the perceptual luminance nonlinearity-based image data exchange across different display capabilities
A handheld imaging device has a data receiver that is configured to receive reference encoded image data. The data includes reference code values, which are encoded by an external coding system. The reference code values represent reference gray levels, which are being selected using a reference grayscale display function that is based on perceptual non-linearity of human vision adapted at different light levels to spatial frequencies. The imaging device also has a data converter that is configured to access a code mapping between the reference code values and device-specific code values of the imaging device. The device-specific code values are configured to produce gray levels that are specific to the imaging device. Based on the code mapping, the data converter is configured to transcode the reference encoded image data into device-specific image data, which is encoded with the device-specific code values. |
| US09288494B2 |
Methods and apparatus for implicit and semi-implicit intra mode signaling for video encoders and decoders
Methods and apparatus are provided for implicit and semi-implicit intra mode signaling for video encoders and decoders. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding picture data for at least a portion of a picture. The encoder derives an intra mode to apply to the portion from neighboring template data and abstains from explicitly signaling the intra mode for the portion. The neighboring template data corresponds to a neighboring template formed from neighboring pixels with respect to the portion. |
| US09288491B2 |
Method and device for determining reference unit
An inter prediction method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: selecting candidate units from among reconstructed neighbor units; creating a candidate unit set with respect to units to be decoded, using the selected candidate units; determining a reference unit from among the candidate units which constitute the created candidate unit set; and performing inter prediction on the units to be decoded, using the determined reference unit. According to the present invention, image encoding/decoding efficiency can be improved. |
| US09288490B2 |
Image decoding method, image coding method, image decoding apparatus, image coding apparatus, program, and integrated circuit
An image coding method decodes a coded stream which is generated by inter prediction coding a moving picture and includes processing units and a header of such units, the processing units including at least one processing unit divided in a hierarchy, the hierarchy including: a highest hierarchical layer in which a coding unit is a largest processing unit; and a lower hierarchical layer in which a prediction unit exists. The method comprises: identifying, by parsing hierarchy depth information stored in the header and indicating a hierarchical layer higher than a lowest hierarchical layer in which a smallest prediction unit exits, a hierarchical layer which is indicated by the hierarchy depth information or a hierarchical layer higher than the indicated hierarchical layer, the hierarchical layer having a prediction unit that stores an adaptive motion vector resolution switch flag necessary for decoding; and decoding the prediction unit, using the flag. |
| US09288488B2 |
Imaging decoding apparatus
An image decoding device is provided which includes an intra prediction module for reconstructing an intra prediction mode and creating a prediction block of a current block or a sub block, an inverse scanning module for converting residual signals into a quantization block, an inverse quantization module for inversely quantizing the quantization block, and an inverse transform module for inversely-transforming the inversely-quantized block. A quantization parameter predictor for deriving the quantization parameter is created using quantization parameters of a left coding unit and a top coding unit of a current coding unit. Therefore, it is possible to improve image quality by adaptively adjusting a quantization parameter of a current block depending on the size of a coding unit and enhance compression efficiency of an image by effectively encoding/decoding the quantization parameter to reduce the number of bits required for transmitting the quantization parameter. |
| US09288485B2 |
Video image encoding and decoding device using adaptive pseudo random noise injection during planar mode filtering
When injecting pseudo random noise to an area centered on a block boundary, a video encoding device and a video decoding device prevent injection of pseudo random noise to an area including a reference image for subsequent planar mode filtering, in order to suppress linear artifacts. The video encoding device includes: an inverse quantization unit for inverse-quantizing a quantization index to obtain a quantization representative value; an inverse frequency transform unit for inverse-transforming the quantization representative value obtained by the inverse quantization unit, to obtain a reconstructed image block; and an adaptive distortion removal filter unit for injecting pseudo random noise to an area centered on a boundary of the reconstructed image block, wherein the adaptive distortion removal filter unit does not inject pseudo random noise to an area including a reference image for planar mode filtering. |
| US09288483B2 |
Method of testing an electronic system
A method of testing an electronic system. During a test session of the method, a nominal test case is performed leading to at least one nominal test output being stored, and then at least one test case is performed leading to at least one test output being stored. A test memory is used to store automatically both a test difference existing between the nominal test output and the test output, and a test comparison existing between the test difference and a corresponding reference difference as determined during a reference test session. |
| US09288481B2 |
Stereoscopic display method
A stereoscopic display method includes the following acts. A plurality of stereoscopic images are provided by providing a plurality of stereoscopic display panels. At least one border is disposed between two of the stereoscopic display panels adjacent to each other. At least one stripe segment is added in each of the stereoscopic images. The stripe segments are adjacent to the border, such that the stripe segments and the border form a floating frame when an observer observes the stripe segments and the border using both eyes of the observer. A width of each of the stripe segments is adjusted, such that a depth of field of the floating frame is substantially the same as a depth of field of the stereoscopic images adjacent to the floating frame. |
| US09288475B2 |
3D image-capturing method, 3D camera and level-alignment machine for 3D camera
A 3D image-capturing method, a 3D camera and a level-alignment machine for a 3D camera are disclosed. The method includes the following steps: capturing a left- and a right-eye image by a left- and a right-eye camera, respectively; comparing the left- and right-eye images to observe similar columns between the left- and right-eye images; comparing the left- and right-eye images once again over the similar columns to observe similar rows between the left- and right-eye images; and, referring to the similar columns between the left- and right-eye images, vertically shifting the left- and right-eye images to horizontally align the left- and right-eye images to generate a 3D image. |
| US09288474B2 |
Image device and image processing method for generating control information indicating the degree of stereoscopic property or whether or not 3D image needs to be outputted
An image capture device includes: first and second shooting sections, each of which is configured to shoot an image of a subject; and a signal processing section configured to generate, based on first and second images that have been shot by the first and second shooting sections, respectively, information indicating the amount of parallax between the first and second images. Based on at least one of the states of the first and second images, a zoom power during shooting, and the tilt of the image capture device during shooting, the signal processing section generates control information indicating the degree of stereoscopic property of a 3D image to be generated based on the first and second images or indicating whether or not the 3D image needs to be output, and records the control information and the information indicating the amount of parallax. |
| US09288473B2 |
Creating apparatus and creating method
A creating apparatus includes a capturing unit, extracting units, and a creating unit. The capturing unit captures a plurality of video signals of images imaged at positions that are different by parallax. The extracting unit extracts a display time-period from at least one of the video signals from among the video signals. The creating unit creates, for a display time-period, a stereoscopic video signal by using the video signals of the images imaged at the positions that are different by parallax. Furthermore, the creating unit creates, for a time other than the display time-period, a stereoscopic video signal having a certain depth by using one of the video signals from among the video signals of the images imaged at the positions that are different by parallax. |
| US09288470B2 |
3D image signal transmission method, 3D image display apparatus and signal processing method therein
A method for transmitting a 3D image signal an image display device, and an image signal processing method of the device are provided in order to reduce a collision between depth cues, which may occur in the vicinity of left and right corners in reproducing a 3D image. In the method for processing an image signal, first, an encoded video signal is obtained. Next, the encoded video signal is decoded to restore a plurality of image signals, and floating window information of each floating window is extracted from a picture header area of the encoded video signal. And then, an image at an inner area of left or right corner is suppressed according to the floating window information with respect to each of the plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of image signals, and the locally suppressed images are displayed in a stereoscopic manner. |
| US09288468B2 |
Viewing windows for video streams
Techniques are provided for viewing windows for video streams. A video stream from a video capture device is accessed. Data that describes movement or position of a person is accessed. A viewing window is placed in the video stream based on the data that describes movement or position of the person. The viewing window is provided to a display device in accordance with the placement of the viewing window in the video stream. Motion sensors can detect motion of the person carrying the video capture device in order to dampen the motion such that the video on the remote display does not suffer from motion artifacts. Sensors can also track the eye gaze of either the person carrying the mobile video capture device or the remote display device to enable control of the spatial region of the video stream shown at the display device. |
| US09288467B2 |
Method for providing and recognizing transmission mode in digital broadcasting
The present invention relates to a method for selecting an appropriate mode when performing a new broadcast, such as a 3D stereo broadcast, a UHDTV broadcast, and a multi-view broadcast, among others, while maintaining compatibility with existing broadcasting channels in an MPEG-2-TS format for transmitting and receiving digital TV, and to a method for recognizing a descriptor. To this end, the present invention suggests providing the descriptor which is related to synthesizing left and right images using the type of stream, existence of the descriptor, and a frame-compatible mode flag. |
| US09288465B2 |
Ghost-compensation for improved stereoscopic images
A method and system for reducing visual ghost artifacts in plano-stereoscopic image transmissions is provided. Such visual ghost artifacts are reduced by retrieving a non-linear image representation comprising left and right image representations using an image processor, where each of the left and right image representations have a plurality of color component sub-images. The non-linear left and right image representations are transformed into respective linear left and right image representations. A left or right image compensation signal is generated by applying the determined at least one ghosting coefficient to its associated one of the plurality of color component sub-images. A respective compensated right or left image is generated by subtracting the left or right image compensation signal from the uncompensated linear left or right image representation. |
| US09288459B2 |
Real-time correction/calibration system for the color spectrum contained on an image output (transmitted) from an image capture and output macro-system, according to a previously defined color spectrum reference
A real-time correction/calibration system for the color spectrum contained on an image output (transmitted) from an image capture and output macro-system is provided. The system uses a reference of previously defined color spectrum, represented by an inventive solution preferentially in the electro-electronic or computing sectors. The invention is particularly useful when applied to “image capture and output macro-systems” which involve the use of equipment such as TV sets, projectors, data show, notebook, netbook, PDA, tablets, mobile telephone apparatus, film and photographic cameras, among others. The system of correction/calibration of color spectrum of an image captured from an object (Ob) and perceived by the observer (Ob) is provided with attributes such as flexibility, portability, agility, automation, low labor cost and economically viable. |
| US09288458B1 |
Fast digital image de-hazing methods for real-time video processing
Described is system for image de-hazing for real-time video processing. A video comprising image frames is received as input. In determining an atmospheric veil value to use, the system leverages temporal correlations or specific scene constraints to determine whether to use a new atmospheric veil value or a previously determined atmospheric veil value. A global atmospheric light value is estimated as an average of a set of the brightest pixels in an upper region of an image frame. A de-hazed image is generated from the current image frame using either the previously determined atmospheric veil value or the new atmospheric veil value and the global atmospheric light value. |
| US09288452B2 |
Apparatus for controlling image capturing device and shutter
A monitoring apparatus is provided for controlling an image capturing device and a shutter which limits a capturing area of the image capturing device. The monitoring apparatus includes a capturing area controller, configured to transmit a first control signal to cause the image capturing device to capture an image in an actual capturing area of the image capturing device, and a shutter controller, configured to transmit a second control signal to open the shutter after the first control signal is transmitted. The actual capturing area of the image capturing device is selected from a capturable area of the image capturing device in accordance with first information which is sensed by a sensor device. |
| US09288449B2 |
Systems and methods for maintaining multiple objects within a camera field-of-view
In one embodiment, a system and method for maintaining objects within a camera field of view include identifying constraints to be enforced, each constraint relating to an attribute of the viewed objects, identifying a priority rank for the constraints such that more important constraints have a higher priority that less important constraints, and determining the set of solutions that satisfy the constraints relative to the order of their priority rank such that solutions that satisfy lower ranking constraints are only considered viable if they also satisfy any higher ranking constraints, each solution providing an indication as to how to control the camera to maintain the objects within the camera field of view. |
| US09288446B2 |
Vehicle video system
A vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a cargo area, a display mounted to the vehicle, a first video camera and an image processor. The first video camera is fixedly mounted to the vehicle at a first fixed location in a prescribed orientation relative to the vehicle to capture a video image of the cargo area. The image processor is operatively coupled to the first video camera and the display to process the video image captured by the first video camera and to stream a simulated video overhead view including at least a portion of the cargo area on the display. |
| US09288445B2 |
Content delivery system
The system (1) includes an application server system (AP system) (4) and a connection control system (3). Based on equipment specification information transmitted by user equipment (2), the connection control system (3) establishes connection between the AP system (4) and the user equipment (2). The AP system (4) receives a content delivery request transmitted by the user equipment (2). The AP system (4) selects advertisement content based on advertisement selection information. The AP system (4) generates viewing content data in which the selected advertisement content is inserted in main content identified by the content delivery request. The AP system (4) transmits the generated viewing content data to the user equipment (2) if connection with the user equipment (2) is established. |
| US09288441B2 |
Distributed transcoding of a video based on insufficient computing resources
A federated media server system. The federated media server system may include a plurality of media servers. A first media server may be coupled to a second media server over a network. The first media server may also be coupled to a third media server over the network. Additionally, the second and third media servers may be coupled to a plurality of respective clients. The first media server may be configured to record video, e.g., videoconferences, and stream recordings to clients and/or the second and third media servers. The second and third media servers may assist in performing video recording, transcoding, storage of recordings, multicasting, etc. |
| US09288432B2 |
Motion vector correction device and method and video signal processing apparatus and method
A motion vector detector detects, using pixel data in at least two real frames in an input video signal, a motion vector MV1 necessary for generating interpolated pixel data forming an interpolated frame to be inserted between the two real frames. A motion vector corrector corrects the motion vector MV1 to decrease the magnitude of motion vector MV1 when the magnitude of motion vector MV1 exceeds a predetermined threshold, and outputs it as a motion vector MV3. |
| US09288426B2 |
Video display control device
A video display control device includes a video signal processing section that corrects a video signal and outputs a video signal after correction to a display, and a backlight controlling section that controls a light emission amount of a backlight. A control data generating section allocates to a low gradation region of the video signal a high gradation region dynamic range of the video signal in which a video signal corresponding to a black band region is excluded. The backlight controlling section controls a light emission luminance of the backlight so as to cancel out an increase or a decrease in the mean luminance of the video displayed on a screen. |
| US09288421B2 |
Method for controlling external input and broadcast receiving apparatus
A method for controlling an external input and a broadcast receiving apparatus are provided. The method includes: setting a call word of an external input apparatus connected through an external input terminal; associating the call word with the external input terminal and storing the call word and the external input terminal in association with each other; in response to a voice of a user being input, recognizing the voice to determine whether the voice includes the call word; and in response to determining the voice includes the call word, enabling the external input terminal corresponding to the call word to communicate with the external input apparatus using the external input terminal corresponding to the call word. |
| US09288420B2 |
Method and system for reception of digital television signal
The present invention provides a digital television signal reception system, comprising a chip having a low-noise amplifier and a master receiver, at least one slave receiver, and at least one local-oscillator leakage processing unit. The chip receives at least one digital input signal of television channel. The low-noise amplifier amplifies and sends the input signal of television channel to the master/slave receiver. The input signal of television channel is frequency-mixed by the master/slave receiver so as to output an output signal of second television channel and an output signal of second television channel. The local-oscillator leakage processing unit detects and removes local-oscillator leakage of the master receiver included in the output signal of second television channel, so as to avoid interference of the local leakage of master receiver on sensitivity of receiving the output signal of second television channel of slave receiver by the slave television. |
| US09288417B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and camera system
A solid-state imaging device and a camera system are disclosed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit and a pixel signal readout circuit. The pixel signal readout circuit includes a plurality of comparators disposed to correspond to a pixel column array, and a plurality of counters. Each counter includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a mirror circuit to from a current mirror in parallel with the second amplifier. The first amplifier includes differential transistors, initializing switches connected between gates and collectors of the differential transistors, and first and second capacitors connected to each of the gates of the differential transistors. The second amplifier includes an initializing switch and a third capacitor. The mirror circuit includes a gate input transistor whose gate is inputted with a voltage sampled by the first amplifier or a voltage sampled by the second amplifier. |
| US09288415B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus and imaging system
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a pixel section in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix, a column signal line configured to output a pixel signal from the pixel section, a column amplifier circuit configured to invert and amplify the pixel signal, a bypass circuit configured to bypass the column amplifier circuit, an AD converter, and a control unit configured to change an operation mode of the AD converter in accordance with the operation of the bypass circuit. |
| US09288414B2 |
Multiple conversion gain image sensor
An image sensor including an array of pixels, each having: a storage node coupled to a capacitive sense node by a transfer transistor; and a connection transistor coupling the pixel sense node to an intermediate node of the pixel, wherein each pixel has its intermediate node coupled to a node of application of a reset voltage by a reset transistor, and different pixels have their respective intermediate nodes interconnected by a conductive connection track. |
| US09288413B2 |
Image capture accelerator
An image capture accelerator performs accelerated processing of image data. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator includes accelerator circuitry including a pre-processing engine and a compression engine. The pre-processing engine is configured to perform accelerated processing on received image data, and the compression engine is configured to compress processed image data received from the pre-processing engine. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator further includes a demultiplexer configured to receive image data captured by an image sensor array implemented within, for example, an image sensor chip. The demultiplexer may output the received image data to an image signal processor when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in a standard capture mode, and may output the received image data to the accelerator circuitry when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in an accelerated capture mode. |
| US09288411B2 |
Image sensor and control method for image sensor
The present technology relates to an image sensor and a control method for an image sensor which are capable of measuring illuminance of each color in an image sensor. Each of a plurality of pixel units includes a pixel and a reset transistor, and the pixel includes a photoelectric converting unit that performs photoelectric conversion on light of a certain color incident through a color filter and a transfer transistor that transfers charges obtained by the photoelectric conversion of the photoelectric converting unit and is controllable for each color. According to control of the transfer transistor, the charges are read from the photoelectric converting unit through the transfer transistor and the reset transistor, and a voltage corresponding to the charges is supplied to an AD converting unit connected to the reset transistor. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an image sensor that photographs an image. |
| US09288403B2 |
Image processing circuit, image processing method, and display device
There is provided an image processing circuit including a sub frame signal generation unit configured to receive n pieces of image information of n images which are obtained by photographing the same scene under n (n is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) exposure conditions and the n exposure conditions at the time of the photographing as input. When a display video of one scene is constituted by a maximum of n sub frames, the sub frame signal generation unit generates video signals of the maximum of n sub frames by controlling a light emission time of light emission elements for each sub frame according to the n exposure conditions. |
| US09288400B2 |
Method of controlling exposure time by using infrared light, computer-readable storage medium having recorded thereon computer program codes for performing the method, and electronic apparatus having photographing function
An electronic apparatus having a photographing function includes: a flash that emits light including a visible light wavelength range and an infrared wavelength range and radiates the light onto a subject; an infrared detector that absorbs light in the infrared wavelength range and generates a detection signal corresponding to the light; an image sensor that photoelectrically transforms incident light and generates an image signal; and a controller that controls an exposure time of the image sensor based on the detection signal. |
| US09288394B2 |
Stage apparatus and camera shake correction apparatus
A stage apparatus includes a stationary support plate, magnetic force generators immovable relative to the stationary support plate, a stage member, an image sensor fixed to the stage member, a control circuit board connected to a side of the stage member, and coils which produce a driving force upon a supply of electric current thereto, the coils being fixed to the stage member at an opposite side of the center of the stage member with respect to the control circuit board, and a FPC board between the stationary support plate and the stage member. The stationary support plate is recessed, from a lateral edge of the stationary support plate at which the control circuit board is provided, in a direction toward the coils and includes an FPC board escape recess, in which said FPC board is partially positioned. |
| US09288391B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, image pickup system, and method of controlling image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus includes a shooting scene determining unit configured to determine a shooting scene, a selecting unit configured to select a bracket shooting from a plurality of bracket shootings which alter parameters in different ways from each other, based on the shooting scene determined by the shooting scene determining unit, and an image pickup unit configured to perform the bracket shooting selected by the selecting unit, and the selecting unit selects one type of bracket shooting even when the shooting scene determined by the shooting scene determining unit is suitable for at least two types of bracket shootings in the plurality of bracket shootings. |
| US09288385B2 |
Image sharing system and related computer program product
A computer program product includes: a receiving module for utilizing a communication circuit to receive a photographing positions distribution information; an option object generating module for utilizing a control circuit to generate multiple option objects; an arranging module for utilizing the control circuit to generate a graphic user interface including the multiple option objects and one or more reference indicators according to the photographing positions distribution information; and a displaying control module for utilizing a display device to display the graphic user interface. When the display device displays the graphic user interface, if an input device receives a shift command inputted by a user, the display controlling module controls the display device to move at least a portion of the option objects on the graphic user interface toward a same side and to change position or content of at least one reference indicator. |
| US09288382B2 |
Imaging apparatus and solid-state imaging device
An imaging apparatus includes: an optical lens; light receiving units each reading a photoelectric conversion signal; microlenses each placed for every two or more of the adjacent light receiving units; a signal generating unit generating (i) a full-addition signal by adding all of the photoelectric conversion signals obtained in a predetermined frame by the two or more adjacent light receiving units, (ii) a partial addition signal by adding the photoelectric conversion signals obtained by at least one but not all of the two or more adjacent light receiving units, and (iii) non-addition independent signals that are the photoelectric conversion signals of one of the light receiving units; a phase difference detecting unit detecting a focal point from the partial addition signal and the non-addition independent signals; and a camera YC processing unit generating a main image from the full-addition signal. |
| US09288379B2 |
System and method for continuous auto focus within camera module
A continuous autofocus system includes an image generation portion including a lens, an autofocus voice coil motor for translating the lens with respect to an image sensor capable of generating image data. The autofocus system further includes a driver IC for controlling the autofocus voice coil motor based on the image data, wherein the image data is directly transmitted to the driver IC thereby continuously maintaining a focused image generated by the image generation portion. |
| US09288377B2 |
System and method for combining focus bracket images
Imaging systems may be provided with stacked-chip image sensors and adjustable lens systems. A stacked-chip image sensor may include a vertical chip stack that includes an array of image pixels and processing circuitry. The adjustable lens system may pass light from a scene onto the image pixels at a number of focus positions. The image pixels may capture a focus bracket of image frames at a capture frame rate for light passed by the adjustable lens system at two or more of the focus positions. The processing circuitry may combine a set of image frames in the focus bracket to generate a focused image. The focused image may have one or more portions of the captured scene in focus. The processing circuitry may output the focused image to off-chip image processing circuitry at an output frame rate that is less than the capture frame rate. |
| US09288367B2 |
Glossiness determining device, color measuring device, image forming apparatus, and glossiness determination method
A glossiness determining device includes: a light source; a two-dimensional sensor that receives reflected light containing a specular reflection component of a subject illuminated by the light source, and outputs an image of the subject; and a determining unit that determines glossiness of the subject by using a saturated image, which is the image of the subject output by the two-dimensional sensor and in which pixel values of a partial area are saturated. |
| US09288357B2 |
Dual-slope light guide, light source module and optical assembly for scanner
A dual-slope light guide includes a first surface, a second surface and a curved surface. The first surface has first reflecting structures. The second surface, connected to the first surface, has second reflecting structures. An included angle between the first surface and the second surface is unequal to 180 degrees. The curved surface connects the first surface to the second surface. The first surface, the second surface and the curved surface extend from a first end of the light guide to a second end of the light guide. A light beam incident to the first end of the light guide is reflected and converted by the first reflecting structure and the second reflecting structure into linear light emitted from the curved surface. A light source module and an optical assembly for a scanner are also disclosed. |
| US09288353B2 |
System and method for resetting a counter associated with a component of an image processing device
Embodiments of the invention include receiving information indicating a component of an image processing device has been installed on the image processing device. Status information associated with the component is stored, the status information indicating the component has been installed on the image processing device. Information is received which indicates an operation performed on the image processing device is completed. In response to receiving the information indicating the operation performed on the image processing device is completed, the component is identified based on the status information. A counter associated with the component is identified and it is determined whether the counter has been reset. In response to determining that the counter has not been reset, an interface element is presented in a graphical user interface on a display of the image processing device, the interface element enabling a user to reset the counter by selecting the interface element. |
| US09288349B2 |
Image processing device
An image processing device is provided with a first unit, a second unit attached to the first unit rotatably around a rotational axis, flat cables connecting elements in the first unit with elements in the second unit, and a guide member having wiring paths each defined between two of separations walls, the guide member guiding, from the first unit to the second unit, the flat cables laid through the wiring paths, respectively, in a state spaced apart from each other in a thickness direction thereof without contacting each other, at least one of the separation walls including a curving wall curving to surround the rotational axis, at least one of the flat cables guided to have a curving section along the curving wall, a first extension extending continuously from the curving section to the first unit, and a second extension extending continuously from the curving section to the second unit. |
| US09288348B2 |
Communication apparatus that selects destination from job history, communication method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A communication apparatus includes an authentication unit, a retaining unit, an input unit, an extraction unit, a display, and a setting unit. The authentication unit authenticates a user. The retaining unit retains pieces of job history information each including information regarding a sender and at least one destination among an email address, a facsimile number, path information, and an address. To the input unit, an instruction for specifying a data destination from the pieces of job history information is inputted. The extraction unit extracts, in a case where the instruction has been inputted, pieces of job history information in each of which the authenticated user is indicated as either one of the sender and the destination. The display lists and displays all destinations included in the extracted pieces of job history information. The setting unit sets a destination selected from among the listed and displayed destinations, as the data destination. |
| US09288347B2 |
Job setting registration device, image processing apparatus, tangible computer-readable recording medium and method for registering job setting
Disclosed is a job setting registration device including: a job setting selection receiving unit to receive a selection instruction for selecting a job setting to be registered as a registered job setting for enabling the job setting to be reset by retrieving the job setting, from among job settings of a plurality of jobs which are currently executed in parallel by a predetermined image processing apparatus; and a registered job setting storing unit to store the selected job setting as the registered job setting in accordance with the selection instruction received by the job setting selection receiving unit. |
| US09288344B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
A control unit in an image processing apparatus performs control as follows. The storage unit stores image data in a first format and image data in a second format for a particular application, into which the image data in the first format is converted by the converting unit, at image input. When the image data is to be used by a first application which is same as the particular application in a first apparatus of the same model as the image processing apparatus, a communication unit transfers the stored image data in the second format to the first apparatus. When the image data is to be used by a second application different from the particular application, the communication unit transfers image data in a format for the second application, into which the converting unit converts the stored image data in the first format, to the first apparatus. |
| US09288334B2 |
Modem with voice processing capability
A network gateway is configured to facilitate on line and off line bi-directional communication between a number of near end data and telephony devices with far end data termination devices via a hybrid fiber coaxial network and a cable modem termination system. The described network gateway combines a QAM receiver, a transmitter, a DOCSIS MAC, a CPU, a voice and audio processor, a voice synchronizer, an Ethernet MAC, and a USB controller to provide high performance and robust operation. |
| US09288333B2 |
Voice port utilization monitor
A method for monitoring utilization of a voice over internet protocol platform in a mass calling application includes receiving calls via voice ports established by servers. Utilization information for each of the servers is aggregated in accordance with applications associated with the calls. The aggregated utilization information is separately displayed for each of the applications, each of the applications corresponding to a distinct subset of the calls. |
| US09288329B2 |
Remote call control
A communications device comprises a processor, a memory device coupled to processor, one or more wireless transmitters, one or more wireless receivers, an output component, and an input component. The memory device includes executable instructions to enable the processor to perform the following steps: initiate a call with a first remote device; receive, from the first remote device, an indication of a phone number that is programmed in the communications device; initiate a call with a second remote device associated with the phone number that is programmed in the communications device; and cause the communications device, the first remote device, and the second remote device to be placed into a conference call, or to place the first remote device on hold while the communications device provides information to the second remote device. The communications device may be configured as an emergency pendant device, mobile phone, or any kind of communication device that can detect a signal to trigger either the sequence to conference call or place on hold and make a second call. |
| US09288325B2 |
Systems and methods for routing callers to an agent in a contact center
Techniques for handling contacts and agents in a contact center system are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for handling contacts and agents in a contact center system including identifying a first contact available for assignment to a first agent, comparing information about the first contact with information about the first agent, and postponing assignment of the first contact and the first agent based on the comparing. |
| US09288322B2 |
Call center system with redundant components and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a call center system includes: providing an operator console having a first interface port and a second interface port; communicating with a local controller, having a primary interface port and a secondary interface port, by the operator console; establishing a redundant communication mode between the operator console and the local controller; and transmitting redundant messages between the operator console and the local controller including transmitting transmission headers having identical content on the first interface port and the second interface port. |
| US09288320B2 |
System and method for servicing a call
A call from a caller to an interactive voice response (IVR) system may be serviced based on behavior by the caller in one or more prior calls to the IVR system. The call may be serviced by predicting information to be used in servicing the call. Predicting such information may include analyzing data reflecting behavior by the caller in one or more prior calls to the IVR system. |
| US09288317B2 |
System and method for modifying communication information (MCI)
A system for processing a call originated by a call originator to a call target. The system having an information processor configured to receive origination information for the call including identifying information of the call originator. The system further having a database storing modified call originator identifying information indexed by call modification triggers. The information processor is further configured to access the database, to determine at least one of the call modification triggers is satisfied according to the origination information, and to retrieve modified call originator identifying information indexed to the at least one satisfied call modification trigger, for transmission to the call target. |
| US09288316B2 |
System and method for eliminating hold-time in phone calls
An independent calling system (ICS) used in a transaction between a waiting party and a queuing party includes the queuing party having a queuing calling system (QCS) with the ICS adapted to communicate with the QCS and determine a hold status of the transaction. |
| US09288310B2 |
Smart card initial personnalization with local generation of keys
A method and system for initial personalization of a smart card coupled with a communication device of a user who is not yet a subscriber of any telecommunication network are disclosed. A temporary international identity and a temporary authentication key are stored in the smart card and in a home location register connected to a roaming entity of a telecommunication network. A series of signals are exchanged between the smart card, the roaming entity, an application server and a personalization server to establish a secure session between the smart card and the personalization server. During the secure session, the smart card receives a message containing an initial international identity from the personalization server, and replaces the temporary international identity and the temporary authentication key by the initial international identity and the initial authentication key. |
| US09288309B1 |
Quality-based phone routing
Disclosed are various embodiments for a call routing application. Routes are evaluated according to aggregated call quality data with respect to a call endpoint. A route is selected according to the evaluation, call costs, or other criteria. A call is then routed via the route to the call endpoint. |
| US09288300B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
The present invention provides a communication apparatus and a communication method that can easily indicate the position of the antenna incorporated in the communication apparatus to a user and can align the antenna of the communication apparatus with the antenna of an external device. A portable device (1) includes a loop antenna (11) for performing near-field communication, a display unit (12) provided on a side of the portable device (1) opposite the orientation of the loop antenna (11), and an antenna position information storing unit (142) that stores antenna position information representing the position of the loop antenna (11) in the portable device (1). The display device (12) displays the position of the loop antenna (11) on the basis of the antenna position information stored in the antenna position information storing unit (142). |
| US09288294B2 |
Handheld electronic device and method for assembling display panel thereof
A handheld electronic device includes a body, a transparent cover, and a display panel. The body has a display opening. The transparent cover is disposed on the display opening. The transparent cover includes a first surface facing outside of the body and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the second surface includes a curved surface. A curvature radius of the first surface is different from a curvature radius of the second surface. The display panel bends along the second surface and is attached to the second surface. Moreover, a method for assembling the display panel of the handheld electronic device is provided. |
| US09288293B2 |
Method for hiding the camera preview view during position determination of a mobile device
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for a method for hiding a camera preview feed of a mobile device application. The method may proceed by the mobile device application enabling an imaging sensor of the mobile device, where the software of the mobile device requires the mobile device application to display the camera preview feed when the imaging sensor is enabled. The method may continue by creating a camera preview surface for displaying the camera preview feed. The method may further continue by modifying the camera preview surface to be hidden from the mobile device user. The method may end by setting the camera preview feed to be displayed on the camera preview surface. In another aspect, the present disclosure further relates to modifying the camera preview surface by resizing the camera preview surface to be one pixel large. |
| US09288287B2 |
Accelerated sockets
Disclosed herein is an improved method of using sockets in connection with TCP over certain local networks, such as the enhanced Ethernet. In particular, an accelerated socket protocol is provided to enhance data communications between different host computer systems connected to an enhanced Ethernet network. Under the accelerated socket protocol, a host computer, while sending a number of data packets, is able to indicate a particular data packet is a last ready data packet out of all packets ready to be sent by setting a PUSH bit in that particular data packet, which triggers an automatic acknowledgement message that confirms receipt of data from the receiver. In addition, while receiving data packets, the host computer can advertise an effective window that corresponds to the actually available receiving space in the host computer. |
| US09288286B2 |
Configurable quad byte framer
A framer interfacing between one or more data converters and a logic device is disclosed. The framer comprises a transport layer and a data link layer, and the framer is configured to frame one or more samples from the data converters to frames according to a serialized interface. In particular, the synthesis of the hardware for the framer is parameterizable, and within the synthesized hardware, one or more software configurations are possible. Instance parameters used in synthesizing the framer may include at least one of: the size of the input bus for providing one or more samples to the transport layer, the total number of bits per converter, and the number of lanes for the link. Furthermore, a transport layer test sequence generator for inserting a test sequence in the transport layer is disclosed. |
| US09288283B2 |
Systems and methods for managing shared content based on sharing profiles
Content items stored in an online content management service can be organized and shared. Content items can be associated with sharing profiles that include various sharing-specific metadata, such as details of how an item is shared or with whom it is shared. In some embodiments, the metadata stored in the sharing profiles can be used to organize shared content into shared folders automatically and/or to sort a list of content items. |
| US09288282B2 |
System and method for segregating layer seven control and data traffic
A load balancer forwards a content request from a client system to a proxy server, receives from the proxy server a modified content request based on the content request and including information identifying a content origin server, opens a connection with the content origin server in response to receiving the first modified content request, and sends a second modified content request based upon the first modified content request to the content origin server. The load balancer also receives content associated with the content request from the content origin server, and forwards the content to the client system. |
| US09288278B2 |
Providing user content with streamed media chunks
In a streaming server, companion content may be received and incorporated along with media that is streamed to clients. The companion content may originate from one of the clients, in some cases. In other cases, the companion content may originate from a source other than a client. The companion content may be any media relates to the media being streamed to the clients or directives that control the processing of the media being streamed to the clients. |
| US09288277B2 |
Communication device, method for communication and relay system
A communication device is configured to relay a signal between a first device to perform as a connection start terminal and a second device to perform as a connection end device, the communication device including: a processor configured to execute a procedure, the procedure including: establishing, with the second device, sessions meaning logical connections in communication; deciding whether an unused session remains in the established sessions for a command to be transferred to the second device, the command being generated by the first device; in a case of identifying that the unused session remains in the established sessions when the command is received, exchanging the command with the second device by using the unused session; and communicating messages to the second device by using the established sessions within a particular period of time of the second device, the established sessions being continuously maintained in the particular period of time. |
| US09288276B2 |
Application services infrastructure for next generation networks including a notification capability and related methods and computer program products
A system for supporting a notification capability for a plurality of applications utilizing a next generation network having a network layer includes an application services middleware between the applications and the network layer comprising a plurality of common infrastructure elements usable by the applications. The common infrastructure elements provide both services associated with use of the network and services that are not associated with use of the network. The plurality of common infrastructure elements includes a notification service that is configured to facilitate the sending of messages from authorized services to recipients. |
| US09288272B2 |
System and method for secure real-time cloud services
A system and method for providing secure, end-to-end data service enabling real-time data over the Internet is disclosed. The system and method provides a communication framework between sensors, devices, and machinery and the users of that data from any remote location that is connected to the Internet without requiring open inbound firewall ports, while at the same time enabling high data rates, low latency and full bi-directionality. The graphical and networking features of RIA frameworks in combination with the disclosed system and method provide low-latency, real-time data applications in a web browser securely over the Internet. |
| US09288269B2 |
Network presence offload
Devices having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise: a host processor, wherein the host processor is configured to execute a host client while the device is in an awake mode, and wherein the host client maintains a network connection while executing; and a network interface controller comprising an embedded processor, wherein the embedded processor is configured to execute an embedded client while the device is in a sleep mode, wherein the embedded client is configured to maintain the network connection while executing. |
| US09288267B2 |
Handling of data transfer in a LAN-free environment
There is disclosed a method, system and computer readable medium for transferring data in a LAN-free environment, in particular for a tape backup or restore operation. Data of a client partition of a first server is sent to a partition of a LAN-free server through the Local Area Network (LAN). The data sent is then converted from TCP/IP protocol to Fiber Channel protocol. The converted data is sent to a Storage Area Network (SAN) through a Fiber Channel card and finally to a tape library. An advantage is thus to mutualize and virtualize resources, in particular Fiber Channel cards. Storage Area Network tape drives are shared using such host bus adapter cards. Certain embodiments avoid the reconfiguration of Storage Area Network tape drives when the client partition moves to a new hardware. |
| US09288263B2 |
Two tier multiple sliding window mechanism for multidestination media applications
Some media applications use media that contains multiple types of media components in it and media sources with access to this media must send each type of media component to one or more media rendering destination devices. Furthermore there may be multiple destinations that can receive a particular type of media component and the media must be received at each destination without losses. This invention describes a two tier packet buffer structure at the media source with primary and virtual packet buffers that ensures minimal memory use at the media source and minimal network use. Furthermore the use of a sliding window with each virtual packet buffer associated with each destination, independently keeps control and track of destination state, ensuring the correct receipt of media data at each destination. |
| US09288262B2 |
Automated desktop placement
Systems and methods are presented for enabling a user to provide rules for the placement of computing resources at a data center for an entity that employs or is associated with the user. The data center can use the placement rules to select a data center computer system to host computing resources for a user. The rules can be used to establish diversity in computing resource placement at the data center thereby reducing the number of users who lose access to computing resources when a specific data center computer suffers a failure. Further, the placement rules can be used to facilitate configuration of the computer resources for the user based, for example, on the user's employment responsibilities. |
| US09288260B2 |
Apparatus, system, and methods for facilitating one-way ordering of messages
Methods, apparatus and systems for facilitating one-way ordering of otherwise independent message classes. A one-way message ordering mechanism facilitates one-way ordering of messages of different message classes sent between interconnects employing independent pathways for the message classes. In one aspect, messages of a second message class may not pass messages of a first message class. Moreover, when messages of the first and second classes are received in sequence, the ordering mechanism ensures that messages of the first class are forwarded to, and received at, a next hop prior to forwarding messages of the second class. |
| US09288257B2 |
Managing file transfer commands
A method of and system for managing file transfer commands to a remote system is disclosed. The method and system may include establishing a first defined file transfer command having a first group identifier. The first defined file transfer command may be configured to pull data from the remote system. The method and system may include establishing a second defined file transfer command having a second group identifier. The second defined file transfer command may be configured to at least one of delete data of the remote system and push data to the remote system. The method and system may include performing the first defined file transfer command after performing the second defined file transfer command when the first group identifier and the second group identifier match. |
| US09288250B2 |
Mobile multimedia real-time transcoding system, apparatus, storage medium and method
An example of the present disclosure provides a mobile multimedia real-time transcoding system based of offline downloading. The system includes: a client, to submit an offline downloading and transcoding task request to the task scheduling and managing server, wherein the offline downloading and transcoding task request comprises a target mobile device type selected by a user and a target format designated by the user, and obtain a requested multimedia resource; the offline downloading and transcoding server cluster is distributed and is adapted to accept scheduling of the task scheduling and managing server, perform an offline downloading and transcoding task in a manner of performing offline downloading and transcoding in parallel. |
| US09288248B2 |
Media system with local or remote rendering
A media editing system includes one or more machines that are configured to support cloud-based collaborative editing of media by one or more client devices. A machine within the media editing system may be configured to receive a render request for generation of a media frame, determine whether a client device is to generate the media frame, and initiate generation of the media frame. Moreover, a machine within the media editing system may facilitate resolution of conflicts between edits to a particular piece of media. Furthermore, a machine within the media editing system may facilitate provision of convenient access to media from a particular client device to one or more additional client devices. |
| US09288245B2 |
Apparatus and methods of accessing content
Apparatus and methods for accessing electronic content include a server system, a first communication device, and a second communication device. The server system is operable to receive a marker request initiated by the first communication device, wherein the marker request comprises marker information and data key information. The marker information represents a saved state of content on the first communication device, and the data key information comprises a content identifier corresponding to the content and a user identifier. The server system is then operable to initiate access to the content on the second communication device at the saved state of content on the first communication device based on the marker information and the data key information of the marker request. |
| US09288244B2 |
Managing a collaborative space
Managing a collaborative space includes providing a collaborative space in which a number of users collaborate from respective client devices, monitoring content of the collaborative space to determine a context of collaboration in the collaborative space, and changing an operation of at least one functionality of the collaborative space based on the determined context of collaboration in the collaborative space. |
| US09288241B2 |
Web-telco convergence comprising downloading script commands to user terminals
The present invention relates to methods, apparatus and systems for enabling an improved Web-Telco Convergence, in particular for telecommunication session oriented service. A Web-Telco Convergence Function may identify user interface relevant information in telecommunication protocol messages relating to a telecommunication session oriented service for a user and transmits the identified user interface relevant information to a Virtual Terminal Function. The Virtual Terminal Function may obtain web assets based on the user interface relevant information and generate a user interface description. An address of the location of the user interface description may be transmitted to the Web-Telco Convergence Function which may transmit the address to a user device. |
| US09288240B2 |
System and method for allowing an originating user device to use contact information in a prioritized list to contact a destination user device
The present invention provides an originating user with a prioritized list of communication contacts associated with the various communication devices of a destination user, wherein the originating user will initiate communications with the destination user using one of the communication contacts provided in the prioritized list. Upon selecting a destination user, a request is sent to a service node, which includes rules for establishing the prioritized list based on various prioritization criteria. The prioritization criteria may include static information and dynamic information, such as time, day of the week, and date, as well as presence information bearing on the availability or location of the destination user. Information may be provided in the request corresponding to the originating user, the type of communication desired by the originating user, the relative priority of the communication, among other information, which may be used to create the prioritized list. |
| US09288238B2 |
Optimizing call bearer path using session initiation protocol proxy
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a serving device receiving a first message from a gateway device coupled to a communication network, the first message comprising a first session descriptor protocol relating to a port of the network connecting to equipment of a first subscriber of the network to originate a call to a mobile communication device of a second subscriber of the network, whereby the serving device and the gateway device comprise nodes on a signaling path for the call. The serving device sends a second message to the gateway device, the second message comprising a second session descriptor protocol relating to the serving device, for delivery to the network to facilitate a bearer path between the network and the serving device, wherein the gateway device is not a node of the bearer path. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09288235B1 |
Contextually aware device management
Contextually aware device management techniques are described. Identifying data is provided via a communication connection by a client device to a service provider via a network that is usable by the service provider to identify the client device or functionality of the client device. One or more contexts are received at the client device from the service provider via the network that correspond to the identifying data. Each of the one or more contexts includes management objects along with one or more triggers configured to cause the context to transition to a corresponding one of a plurality of context states and thereby cause performance of one or more actions corresponding to the context state. The one or more contexts are implemented locally by the client device effective to identify and perform the one or more actions corresponding to the context state by the client device based on identification of the one or more triggers without use of network communication by the client device. |
| US09288233B2 |
Communication control apparatus, communication control method, and program
A communication control apparatus controls communication between a first apparatus and a second apparatus connected to the first apparatus via a plurality of relay apparatuses. The communication control apparatus comprises: a communication path generation unit that refers to a control policy including access control and supplementary control that is other than the access control from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and refers to network configuration information about a network configuration among the first apparatus, the second apparatus, and the plurality of relay apparatuses and generates a communication path that matches the control policy from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and goes through at least one of the plurality of relay apparatuses; and a communication path control unit that instructs a relay apparatus(es) on the communication path among the plurality of relay apparatuses to execute the access control and the supplementary control included in the control policy. |
| US09288231B2 |
Web caching with security as a service
In one implementation, Web-Cache deployed in the Enterprise premises and cloud-based SecaaS are combined such that similar identity-based polices are enforced on both the SecaaS and content delivered from the Web-Cache. This identity-based policy implementation outside the network using SecaaS and within the network for web-cached content provides consistent identity-based security while still providing content to end-users with high performance. Content inspected and/or modified by SecaaS may be cached in the enterprise premises so that requests for content from an origin server decreases, freeing Internet bandwidth and reducing access time. Local caching of streaming content may decrease latency while local implementation of identity-based policy continues to limit the streamed content as appropriate. Local implementation of identity-based policy may reduce the load on SecaaS. Rather than using content delivery networks provided by a service provider for web-content, a cache server within the enterprise is used. |
| US09288229B2 |
Device association via video handshake
A method of pairing a first device with a second device is disclosed. Accordingly, an image that include encoded data is generated by the first device. The encoded data includes a unique identifier for identifying the first device and an arbitrary security code. The first device displays the image on a display. The second device captures the image using an image sensing device. The encoded data is decoded to generate a decoded data. The second device sends the decoded data to a server that is communicatively connected to the first device and the second device. Upon receiving the decoded data and using the unique identifier, the server communicates with the first device to verify the arbitrary security code. |
| US09288228B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for connection setup in device-to-device communication
Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to enable out-of-band short-range communication carrier transport switching for connection setup in device-to-device communication. example embodiments of the invention include a method comprising the steps of participating, by a first device, in a wireless network managed by at least one of an access point device or a group owner device; and exchanging, by the first device, information with a second device over a wireless out-of-band short-range carrier, the exchanged information comprising in-band communication connection parameters for enabling the second device to join the wireless network and authentication information recognizable by the at least one of an access point device or a group owner device managing the wireless network. |
| US09288226B2 |
Detection of rogue software applications
Software applications are analyzed to determine if they are legitimate applications and warnings are provided to users to avoid installation and/or purchases of unnecessary and/or potentially harmful software based on comparisons of user-interface characteristics of the software applications to visual characteristics of authentic applications to determine to what extent they match (or do not match) or are attempting to mirror the legitimate application. |
| US09288222B2 |
Bootstrap OS protection and recovery
A method, system, and computer program product for protecting a computer system provides bootstrap operating system detection and recovery and provides the capability to detect malware, such as rootkits, before the operating system has been loaded and provides the capability to patch malfunctions that block the ability of the computer system to access the Internet. A method for protecting a computer system includes reading stored status information indicating whether network connectivity was available the last time an operating system of the computer system was operational, when the stored status information indicates that network connectivity was not available, obtaining a software patch, and executing and applying the software patch. |
| US09288221B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method for determining unauthorized activity and computer-readable medium
An information processing apparatus is provided with: a comparison unit that compares a communication by a terminal connected to a network with a pattern held in advance; a specification unit that specifies an evaluation value indicating an extent to which it is inferred that the terminal is used to conduct unauthorized activity, and a phase of unauthorized activity, in accordance with a comparison result; a holding unit that holds a maximum value of the evaluation value, for each phase, and for each terminal; and a determination unit that determines whether or not the terminal is used to conduct unauthorized activity, based on the maximum value of the evaluation value for each of the phases. |
| US09288217B2 |
Identity and trustworthiness verification using online and offline components
Methods and systems for verifying the identity and trustworthiness of a user of an online system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving online and offline identity information for a user and comparing them to a user profile information provided by the user. Furthermore, the user's online activity in a third party online system and the user's offline activity are received. Based on the online activity and the offline activity a trustworthiness score may be calculated. |
| US09288213B2 |
System and service providing apparatus
A disclosed system having a first service providing system providing a service to an apparatus and a second service providing system having an authentication infrastructure different from that of the first service providing system includes a connection destination changing unit receiving a permission request, from an apparatus operated by a first user, of requesting that a second user uses the second service providing system, changes a connection destination of the apparatus to the second service providing system, and causes the second service providing system to perform a permission process; an authority information acquiring unit receiving permission information indicating that the permission request is admitted from the apparatus and acquires post-permission authority information by using the permission information; and an authority information providing unit providing the post-permission authority information associated with the second user based on a request for a process received from another apparatus operated by the second user. |
| US09288212B2 |
Method for processing a network service request in which a file with authorization information is maintained with a network element located logically closest to the user requesting the network service
In a method for processing a network service request, a first network element that is logically closest to a user requesting the network service manages a file into which data can be entered in respect of a user authorization to receive the network service. A network element includes a device for allowing and blocking transmission of a network service to a user requesting the network service. The device can be switched in accordance with the authorization data contained in the data memory. |
| US09288210B2 |
Revocable object access
Techniques are described to provide revocable object access. In an implementation, a user may provide content and an object (e.g., a picture) to be published with the content. The object is uploaded to a storage location, and a uniform resource locator (URL) that includes a token is generated for the object. The token is registered in an access control list (ACL), and token permission settings in the ACL are utilized to control access to the object. The URL may be embedded in the content. When a viewer requests the content, the object may be retrieved from the storage location using the URL. The user may revoke access to the object by changing the token permission settings in the ACL. |
| US09288209B2 |
Method of pairing an electronic apparatus and a user account within an on-line service
The present invention relates to the field of methods for pairing an electronic apparatus and a user account within an online service. The invention describes a method of pairing in which the fleet management service generates a short identifier which it provides to the electronic apparatus during the initialization phase. The apparatus displays said identifier. The user copies this identifier into the interface for accessing the portal of the online service. The online service can then provide an association between this identifier and a user account to the fleet management service. The code generated being displayed in a readable manner and being shorter than a serial number, its copying by the user is facilitated and the risk of transcription error is minimized. |
| US09288205B2 |
Image processing apparatus, and authentication processing method in the same
An image processing apparatus includes a function executing unit that executes a plurality of functions including image processing and browsing, a panel that displays a screen associated with the functions of the function executing unit, an authentication unit that authenticates a user based on an input to the panel, a storing unit that associates an authentication token indicating success of authentication by the authentication unit with user privilege level of the authenticated user, and a browser that sends the authentication token stored in the storing unit to a Web server to access content managed by the Web server. |
| US09288204B1 |
Apparatus and method for cryptographic operations using enhanced knowledge factor credentials
Provided is a process that includes: obtaining a multi-byte character set specifying a plurality of characters; receiving a knowledge factor credential encoded with a plurality of characters of the multi-byte character set, wherein the knowledge factor credential has a longer effective length than an apparent length, and wherein the knowledge factor credential has at least one character outside of a block of characters designated for a locale of the computing device; and providing the knowledge factor credential to authenticate a user. |
| US09288203B2 |
Multiple input based passwords
A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for utilizing one or more input methods for passwords. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of determining, by one or more processors, one or more input methods supported for a password entry, wherein the password entry verifies a user's credentials; receiving, by one or more processors, a candidate password through the one or more input methods, wherein each character of the candidate password has an associated input method; and storing, by one or more processors, the candidate password as the password entry, along with the associated input method for each character of the candidate password. |
| US09288202B1 |
Proxy password reset
A method for resetting a network password of a first user initiated by a second user is provided. The method comprises a system receiving a request from the second user to reset the password of the first user, wherein the first user is associated with the network. After receiving the request, verification that the second user has a hierarchal relationship to the first user, and that the second user has an active status in the network is completed. After the verification, the network password of the first user is then reset. A notification about resetting the network password is sent to a mobile communication device associated with the first user. Contact information of the second user is found in a data store based on an identification of the second user in the request; another notification is sent about resetting the network password to a communication account of the second user. |
| US09288198B2 |
Login using QR code
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a user to use a trusted device to provide sensitive information to an identity provider via QR (Quick Response) code for the identity provider to broker a website login or to collect information for the website. A user may securely transact with the website from unsecured devices by entering sensitive information into the trusted device. The identity provider may generate the QR code for display by the website on an unsecured device. A user running an application from the identity provider on the trusted device may scan the QR code to transmit the QR code to the identity provider. The identity provider may validate the QR code and may receive credential information to authenticate the user or may collect information for the website. Advantageously, the user may perform a safe login to the website from untrusted devices using the trusted device. |
| US09288195B2 |
Single sign on with multiple authentication factors
The authentication of a client to multiple server resources with a single sign-on procedure using multiple factors is disclosed. One contemplated embodiment is a method in which a login session is initiated with the authentication system of a primary one of the multiple server resources. A first set of login credentials is transmitted thereto, and validated. A token is stored on the client indicating that the initial authentication was successful, which is then used to transition to a secondary one of the multiple resources. A second set of login credentials is also transmitted, and access to the secondary one of the multiple resources is granted on the basis of a validated token and second set of login credentials. |
| US09288194B2 |
Authorization method, apparatus, and system
The present invention discloses an authorization method, apparatus, and system, and belongs to the field of communication technologies. The method includes: receiving information for accessing a third-party network application platform; generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the third-party network application platform, and presenting the two-dimensional code in the third-party network application platform; and receiving information of the scanned two-dimensional code, and authorizing, according to the information of the scanned two-dimensional code, the third-party network application platform. After the information for accessing the third-party network application platform is received, authorization is performed on a third-party web site by generating a two-dimensional code corresponding to the third-party web site and according to information of the scanned two-dimensional code. The third-party web site can be authorized by only scanning the corresponding two-dimensional code, which is easy to operate and reduces operation time. |
| US09288192B2 |
System and method for securing data from a remote input device
An input device with an integrated security module communicates with a processing component over an insecure medium. The insecure medium may be a wireless network, software stack, or the like. According to one embodiment, the security module is integrated into an existing chip of the input device. Data generated by the input device is encoded and/or authenticated by the security module prior its transmission to the processing device. The processing device receives the input data and processes it within its own security boundary for providing selected services or information to a user or application associated with the input device. |
| US09288189B2 |
Retrieving both sensitive and non-sensitive content in a secure manner
A method, system and computer program product for retrieving both sensitive and non-sensitive content in a secure manner. After a proxy server establishes a secure connection between a client device and a web server, the client device receives the requested sensitive content, which includes an index file that contains a hash value that was generated by the web server. The web browser of the client device further issues a request to the proxy server to establish a non-secure connection to retrieve non-sensitive static content from the web server. After receiving the requested content, the web browser of the client device generates a hash value over the received content. If this generated hash value is equal to the hash value contained in the index file, then the web browser accepts the received non-sensitive static content. In this manner, both sensitive and non-sensitive content can be retrieved in a secure manner. |
| US09288188B2 |
Computer communication system for communication via public networks
A computer communication system including a client computer with an installed virtual private network (VPN) client and located in a public network, a server computer located in a corporate network, a web server remote from the client computer, a gateway computer located in the corporate network, and a VPN server computer located in the corporate network. The computer communication system is adapted to run following steps of providing a safe VPN communication connection between the client and the server computers: the client computer, using a WEB browser, downloads an application from the VPN server computer, and the downloaded application automatically configures the VPN client installed on the client computer and establishes a tunnelled connection from the client computer to the corporate network. All packets generated by the installed VPN client are forwarded through the tunnelled connection via the gateway computer to the VPN server in the corporate network. |
| US09288178B2 |
Inventory updating of an internet protocol (IP) alias within a highly available computing cluster
A clustered computing data processing system can be configured for inventory management in a highly available cluster. The system can include a cluster of computers managed by a cluster agent and providing high availability for a hosted application in the cluster. The system also can include a systems management tool executing in memory of a host computer system and coupled to the cluster agent and maintaining an inventory of data pertaining to the computers in the cluster. The system yet further can include an Internet protocol (IP) alias discover module coupled to the tool. The module can include program code executing in the memory of the host computer system so as to receive notification from the cluster agent of a change to addressing data for the computers in the cluster and, responsive to the notification, to update the inventory to reflect the change to the addressing data. |
| US09288176B2 |
Positionparameterized recursive network architecture with topological addressing
A digital data communications network that supports efficient, scalable routing of data and use of network resources by combining a recursive division of the network into hierarchical sub-networks with repeating parameterized general purpose link communication protocols and an addressing methodology that reflects the physical structure of the underlying network hardware. The sub-division of the network enhances security by reducing the amount of the network visible to an attack and by insulating the network hardware itself from attack. The fixed bandwidth range at each sub-network level allows quality of service to be assured and controlled. The routing of data is aided by a topological addressing scheme that allows data packets to be forwarded towards their destination based on only local knowledge of the network structure, with automatic support for mobility and multicasting. The repeating structures in the network greatly simplify network management and reduce the effort to engineer new network capabilities. |
| US09288174B2 |
Page-mode messaging
Methods and apparatuses for sending or receiving a page mode message include, for example, sending a page mode message using a session mode message mechanism with an indication indicating that a session mode is for the page mode message. A session is established for carrying the page mode message by message session relay protocol. |
| US09288168B2 |
Retrieving messages in order in a distributed publish/subscribe system
A method retrieves in order a plurality of specific topic-based messages in a distributed publish/subscribe system, the distributed publish/subscribe system comprising at least one message transit server, the method comprising: determining an order of a plurality of to-be retrieved messages; recording, in message transit server sequence information, message transit servers where the plurality of messages are located, respectively, an order of the message transit servers in the message transit server sequence information corresponding to the determined order of the plurality of messages; and retrieving in order the plurality of messages from corresponding message transit servers using the message transit server sequence information. |
| US09288166B2 |
Preserving collaboration history with relevant contextual information
Preserving collaborative history includes detecting a trigger for a chat session between at least two participants using a processor and, responsive to the trigger, obtaining event data for an event occurring during the chat session and involving at least one of the participants. The event data is included within a transcript of the chat session. In other cases, event data is obtained from external systems that is correlated with the chat session and is included within the transcript. |
| US09288163B2 |
Low-latency packet receive method for networking devices
When interfacing with a host, a networking device can handle a first data like Bulk Data Receive. The networking device can receive the first data and read a first queue entry from a receive queue in the host memory. In response to the read first queue entry, the networking device can write the first data to an unpinned memory in the host memory. The networking device can also handle a second data with a Receive Packet in Ring (RPIR) queue. The networking device can receive the second data and write the second data to a pinned memory in the host memory. The RPIR queue can be separate from or overlaid on the receive queue. High throughput and low-latency operation can be achieved. The use of a RPIR queue can facilitate the efficiency of resource utilization in the reception of data messages. |
| US09288157B2 |
Time-sensitive switch for scheduled data egress
Systems and methods for scheduling data egress using a time-sensitive (TS) network switch. The TS network switch may include a functional unit, a plurality of ports, and a plurality of queues. Each port may be associated with a set of network addresses for TS packets and may be configured with a set of egress periods. Each queue may be associated with a TS packet type and a port. The functional unit may be configured to receive TS packets asynchronously from a network node via a first port, determine a second port for egressing a TS packet, determine an egress period for egressing the TS packet, determine that the TS packet cannot currently be egressed from the second port, queue the TS packet in a first queue, where the first queue is associated with the second port, and egress the TS packet in the respective time window from the second port. |
| US09288156B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting scalable multi-modal dialog application sessions
Embodiments disclosed herein enable scaling up and making advanced natural language (NLU) applications more robust. According to one embodiment, state(s) associated with a dialog session may be recorded to a non-transitory medium. The dialog session may be suspended after a given period of inactivity and later automatically awakened based on unique client, session, or device identifier, or any combination thereof. Memory and resources associated with the suspended session may be reclaimed, the memory and resources being otherwise held by the session during the period of inactivity, enabling higher density (e.g., a larger number of sessions supported). Embodiments disclosed herein obviate a need for sticky dialog sessions, enabling higher density, and may further failover protection and fault tolerance for the dialog sessions. |
| US09288141B2 |
Highly scalable modular system with high reliability and low latency
A computing system for processing network traffic includes a plurality of network ports configured to receive network traffic, a plurality of processing blades, not directly coupled with the plurality of network ports, configured to process the network traffic, a switch coupled with the plurality of processing blades and configured to support inter-blade communications among the plurality of processing blades, a router coupled with the switch and the plurality of network ports, the router configured to forward the network traffic to one or more of the plurality of processing blades based on resource information of the plurality of the processing blades, and a system controller coupled to the router and the plurality of processing blades, the system controller configured to receive and maintain the resource information from the plurality of the processing blades and further configured to update the router with the resource information of the plurality of the processing blades. |
| US09288138B2 |
N-node virtual link trunking (VLT) systems and methods
Aspects of the present invention include an N-Node virtual link trunking (VLT) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the N-Node VLT system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices (switches or servers) and the core network. The N-Node VLT system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core. Accordingly, the N-Node VLT system eliminates the disadvantage of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) (active-standby links) by allowing link aggregation group (LAG) terminations on multiple separate distribution or core switches and also supporting a loop-free topology. Additional benefits of an N-Node VLT system include, but are not limited to, higher resiliency, improved link utilization, and improved manageability of the network. |
| US09288137B2 |
Systems and methods for allocation of classes of service to network connections corresponding to virtual channels
A system for allocating a different class of service to each network connection in a plurality of network connections, where each network connection corresponds to one or more virtual channels. The system can include a plurality of virtual channels that connect a first computer and a second computer. Each virtual channel can service at least a portion of the network traffic generated using a remote-display protocol. The system can also include a plurality of network connections, where each network connection corresponds to at least one of the virtual channels. Each network connection of the system can have an assigned port number and an assigned class of service that corresponds to a transmission priority level. The class of service assigned to each network connection can be unique from the classes of service assigned to other network connections. |
| US09288136B2 |
Method and apparatus for in-band channel change for multicast data
In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting media from a source to a plurality of receivers in a first source-specific multicast (SSM) channel and transmitting from the source to said plurality of receivers, a channel change message in an in-band transport control protocol message identifying a second SSM channel, wherein the receivers are configured to join said second SSM channel in response to said channel change message. |
| US09288133B2 |
Routing device, communications system, and routing method
A routing device of the present invention is included in a communication network capable of explicit routing which specifies resources included in a default path for each flow, and includes a detour path detection unit that detects a detour path which enables estimation of temporary transmission quality which can be provided to a flow within a detour region when at least a portion of an explicit default path of the flow transmitted by the routing device is detoured via resources included in a default path of another flow, and a routing unit that routes data of the flow at least to either one of the detour path and the default path, based on a difference between transmission quality of the detour path detected by the detour path detection unit and transmission quality of the default path. |
| US09288132B2 |
Method and system for monitoring messages passed over a network
A method for executing an application, comprising: receiving data associated with the application; storing the data in a data buffer in a data store; selecting one or more module instances to define a function of the application, each module instance for independently performing a respective aspect of the function, each module instance independently accessing the data buffer directly from the data store to process data contained therein to perform its aspect of the function; and, using a processor, initiating operation of the one or more module instances in accordance with a schedule defined by one or more routing rules, the one or more routing rules for routing a pointer to the data, as stored in the data buffer, between the one or more module instances to thereby perform the function without passing the data itself between the one or more module instances. |
| US09288121B2 |
System and method for associating online content to a second indexed content
A method includes receiving content-association input, including identification of accessed first content and an index position of a second content, and associating the accessed first content with the second content at the index position. Users accessing the second content are provided information related to the first content in response to the access of the second content. The information provided may be a link to the first content, a description of the first content, a portion of the first content, or the entire first content. Another method includes providing a user interface within an application window while the application window displays a first content and providing a second window in response to selection input via the user interface. The second window displays an indexed second content. Input may be received via the second window to create an association of the first content with the second content at an index position. |
| US09288118B1 |
Setting cookies across applications
Systems and methods for setting cookies across applications on a device include receiving a first cookie indicating authorization of a first application on the device to use an online account. A second cookie indicating that the first application is authorized to use the online account may be set in a second application on the device. |
| US09288114B2 |
Apparatus and system for managing a sensor network
A network system includes a device management (DM) server and a Machine to Machine (M2M) gateway coupled to the DM server and to a plurality of sensor devices in a sensor network. The DM server is configured to send a DM command. The M2M gateway is configured to: after receiving the DM command, access a topology tree that includes first and second management object (MO) nodes, wherein the first MO node includes an identification and a type of the sensor network and the second MO node describes a characteristic of each of the plurality of sensor devices and a connection relationship of the plurality of sensor devices; according to address information within the DM command, locate at least one of the first and second MO nodes; retrieve information from the located at least one of the first and second MO nodes; and send the retrieved information to the DM server. |
| US09288113B2 |
Method and device for establishing structure of a communication network system
A method and a device for establishing an information communication network system structure, as well as a server and a router. The method includes the steps of after establishing an initial service route, utilizing the server to periodically acquire current network resource configuration information and flow rate state information transmitted by each router node, and generating network resource view and network flow rate view; utilizing the server to acquire current real transmission performance of the initial service route according to the network resource view and the network flow rate view; including current real transmission performance and current business transmission requirement, and generating a reconstruction order when current real transmission performance does not match current business transmission requirement. |
| US09288109B2 |
Enabling cluster scaling
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for enabling cluster scaling. Specifically, there is disclosed a method of recording a context of configuration for an initial node of a cluster, comprising: retrieving at least one file to be used for configuring the initial node; and recording a context while configuring the initial node using the at least one file, the recorded context being information on the configuration of the initial node and to be used for enabling addition of a new node into the cluster. There is also disclosed a method of enabling addition of a new node into a cluster. Corresponding apparatuses are also disclosed. According to embodiments of the present invention, the efficiency of improving cluster scaling may be effectively improved. |
| US09288104B2 |
Chassis controllers for converting universal flows
A network control system for generating physical control plane data for managing first and second managed forwarding elements that implement forwarding operations associated with a first logical datapath set is described. The system includes (1) a first controller for converting logical control plane data for the first logical datapath set to universal physical control plane (UPCP) data, (2) a second controller for converting UPCP data to customized physical control plane (CPCP) data for the first managed forwarding element but not the second managed forwarding element, and (3) a third controller for receiving UPCP data generated by the first controller instance, identifying the second controller as the controller instance responsible for generating the CPCP data for the first managed forward element, and supplying the received UPCP data to the second controller. Each controller includes a network information base (NIB) storage for exchanging data with another controller instance. |
| US09288098B2 |
Methods and apparatus for envelope tracking system
A communication unit has an envelope tracking system operably coupled to a power amplifier, PA, module. The envelope tracking system has at least one slew rate module arranged to re-distribute a slew rate across a number of input samples according to a maximum slew rate of the number of input samples; and a supply modulator arranged to variably control a supply voltage for the PA module in response to an output of the at least one slew rate module. |
| US09288095B1 |
Signal receiving system, band detection method for multi-carrier signal and demodulating apparatus thereof
A signal receiving system, a band detection method for a multi-carrier signal and a demodulating apparatus thereof. Each carrier of the multi-carrier signal has a plurality of symbols respectively corresponding to a plurality of time. The band detection method includes: defining a scan area range according to a full band range of the multi-carrier signal; obtaining a reference symbol corresponding to each of the symbols according to time and frequency offset values in the scan area range; performing an operation on each of the symbols and corresponding reference symbol to obtain calibration information of each carrier of the multi-carrier signal; tuning the full band range of the multi-carrier signal according to the calibration information thereof. |
| US09288089B2 |
Orthogonal differential vector signaling
Using a transformation based at least in part on a non-simple orthogonal or unitary matrix, data may be transmitted over a data bus in a manner that is resilient to one or more types of signal noise, that does not require a common reference at the transmission and acquisition points, and/or that has a pin-efficiency that is greater than 50% and may approach that of single-ended signaling. Such transformations may be implemented in hardware in an efficient manner. Hybrid transformers that apply such transformations to selected subsets of signals to be transmitted may be used to adapt to various signal set sizes and/or transmission environment properties including noise and physical space requirements of given transmission environments. |
| US09288088B1 |
Synchronizing the behavior of discrete digital devices
Methods, devices and systems for synchronizing actions taken by digital devices in a group wherein the digital devices to use a flocking protocol to establish time or behavior synchronization between individual digital devices within the group. The flocking protocol includes the transmission of synchronization information from one device to neighboring devices within the group and the processing/use of such synchronization information by the devices to synchronize the timing and/or other characteristics of their actions. |
| US09288086B2 |
Decision-feedback analyzer and methods for operating the same
A decision-feedback equalizer for use in a receiving unit of an incoming data stream and for providing a stream of bit data outputs includes a number of comparators configured to perform a comparison related to a number of threshold values and related to a digitalized data sample and to obtain a comparison result; at least one correction block configured to receive the comparison result of a respective one of the comparators and to generate a plurality of intermediate results; and a multiplexer configured to select from the set of intermediate results depending on the output data history to provide the stream of bit data outputs. |
| US09288083B2 |
Enhanced lattice reduction systems and methods
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a lattice reduction method comprising obtaining a preliminary estimate of a transformation matrix, generating a covariance matrix based on the preliminary estimate of the transformation matrix, reducing diagonal elements of the covariance matrix to generate a unimodular transformation matrix, and using the unimodular transformation matrix to obtain an estimate of an input. |
| US09288080B2 |
Network-extensible and controllable telephone
A system that includes a telephone adapted for connection to a data communications network. The telephone is capable of discovering other devices connected to the data communications network and using those devices to extend its own functionality. The telephone is also accessible and controllable by other devices on the data communications network. |
| US09288079B2 |
Virtual notes in a reality overlay
Virtual notes are provided that enable virtual communications between users. A user is enabled to input content into a note using an electronic device. The user is enabled to associate a virtual representation of the note with an entity to generate a virtual note. The user is enabled to position the virtual representation of the virtual note in a virtual space superimposed on the entity. The user is enabled to configure at least one attribute associated with the virtual note. The generated virtual note is transmitted to a notes database. Subsequent users can view and otherwise interact with the virtual note by interacting with the entity associated with the virtual note. For example, the subsequent users can interact with the virtual note by approaching the entity, or by viewing the entity on a map displayed by an electronic device. |
| US09288068B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting parameters to multicast agent in relayed multicast network
Provided are method and apparatus for transmitting session-related parameters required for controlling session maintenance to a multicast agent in a relayed multicast network. The session manager in the relayed multicast network generates control data containing at least one of a T_PPROBE field, an N_PPROBE field, a T_HB field, a N_HB field, a T_HSOLICIT field, an N_HSOLICIT field, a T_HANNOUNCE field, a N_HANNOUNCE field, a T_RELAY field, an N_RELAY field, and a T_LEAVE field, and transmits the generated control data to the multicast agent. Accordingly, relayed multicast service can be provided for each session by setting session-related parameters for each session in a relayed multicast network and transmitting them to a multicast agent. |
| US09288067B2 |
Adjacency server for virtual private networks
Devices, methods and instructions encoded on computer readable medium are provided herein for creation of an overlay network on a non-multicast or source specific multicast (SSM) core. In one example, virtual private network (VPN) adjacencies are established between an adjacency server and one or more edge devices each located at different network sites. A unicast replication list is then generated at the adjacency server. The unicast replication list includes the Internet Protocol addresses for each of the edge devices having VPN adjacencies with the adjacency server. The unicast replication list is then advertised to each of the edge devices for use in establishing VPN adjacencies with one another. |
| US09288065B2 |
Techniques for protecting digital multimedia interfaces
A sink circuit for protecting connectivity of a digital multimedia interface, the sink circuit is connected in a sink multimedia device. The sink circuit comprises a sink port configured to provide a connection to a source multimedia device; a termination coupled to the sink port; and a protection component coupled in series between the termination and a power source of the sink multimedia device, the protection component blocks any direct current path through the sink port when the sink multimedia device is off and the power source of the source multimedia device is on. |
| US09288063B2 |
Unauthorized connection detecting device, unauthorized connection detecting system, and unauthorized connection detecting method
An unauthorized connection detecting device which detects an unauthorized charge/discharge device includes: a time information obtaining unit obtaining, as time information, information from a first charge/discharge device, the information indicating at least one of an issuing date of a first certificate which is a public key certificate and an issuing date of a certificate revocation list held by the first charge/discharge device; an expiration date obtaining unit obtaining expiration date information from a second charge/discharge device, the expiration date information indicating an expiration date of a second certificate which is a public key certificate held by the second charge/discharge device; and an unauthorization detecting unit detecting whether or not the second charge/discharge device is the unauthorized charge/discharge device by comparing the time information with the expiration date information. |
| US09288061B2 |
Safe communication method with card
Disclosed is a safe communication method with a card, comprising: conducting mutual authentication between a card and an entity other than the card; and after the authentication has passed, the entity other than the card sending a communication command of a corresponding security level, and the card executing a corresponding operation according to the corresponding security level, and then sending a communication success response to the entity other than the card. The method solves the problem that communication data may be monitored or intercepted. |
| US09288057B2 |
Content segmentation of watermarking
The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for providing a data stream comprising a plurality of content elements. At least one of two or more copies of a first content element of the data stream has been watermarked with a different watermark. The method includes watermarking at least one of two or more copies of a second content element with a different watermark. In a rendering order of the data stream, the second content element is at an interval equal to or greater than a watermark interval from the first content element. The watermark interval is set to be sufficiently long so that the output quality of the rendered data stream can either completely recover or at least return to a predetermined acceptable level following the watermarking of the copies of the first content element before watermarking the copies of the next content element. |
| US09288056B1 |
Data access and anonymity management
Techniques described herein provide data access and data anonymity management within various implementations of content distribution networks. In some embodiments, a data anonymity management system may include multiple different data stores configured to store identity data, user data, and/or linking data, as well as a data anonymity server configured to support data anonymity features such as active user data anonymity, one-way linking and permanently breakable links between user identity data and associated user data. In some embodiments, storage systems and techniques may be used for storing identity data, user data, and link data in multiple different data stores, with different data storage requirements and different processes and policies for data availability, data backup, online disaster recovery, offline storage archiving, and the like. Additionally, cryptographic hash functions may be used to implement one-way encryption between identity data and user data. |
| US09288055B2 |
Method for verifying correct encryption key utilization
Methods and systems are provided for verifying use of encryption keys. A request for verification information may be sent by a network element (e.g., server), with the request comprising combination of one or more identifiers, the combination associated with a particular I/O operation. The request may be sent to another element, which may be a centralized encryption management element (e.g., management server). In response to the request, key use verification information generated for the particular I/O operation may be received, and may be used thereafter in validating a corresponding encryption key, which may be used during data encryption or decryption, based on the received key use verification information and locally generated verification information associated with the particular I/O operation. The one or more identifiers include at least one of a target identifier, a LUN identifier, and a LBA range identifier. |
| US09288054B2 |
Method and apparatus for authenticating and managing application using trusted platform module
Disclosed herein are authentication and management of an application using a mobile trusted module (MTM).According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for authenticating and managing an application, including: a mobile trusted module configured to store a hash value of an authentication data for at least one application and a secret key value of an authentication data which are installed in a mobile device, authenticate the application using the stored hash value and secret key value of the authentication data, and generate a storage root key (SRK) for the application; and a trusted software stack (TSS) middleware configured to generate a message requesting authentication for the application and generation of the storage root key (SRK) and transmit the generated message to the mobile trusted module and manage result information received from the mobile trusted module in response to the transmitted message. |
| US09288052B2 |
Method and apparatus to provide an authoring tool to create content for a secure content service
A method and apparatus to provide an authoring tool enabling a user to create content and to selectively encrypt content is described. The encryption is designed to associate an entitlement with the content, the entitlement restricting access to the content. The system in one embodiment further includes a reading tool to access various content, the reading tool to enable an integrated reading of clear-text content and encrypted content. The system, in one embodiment, is designed to interact with a secure content service to provide a decryption key when an authorized user wishes to access the encrypted content. |
| US09288051B2 |
Secure key management
According to one embodiment, a method for implementing computer security is provided. The method includes creating a token and populating a payload section of the token with key material and selecting a wrapping method that specifies how the key material is securely bound to key control information, wherein a structure of the key control information in the token is independent of the wrapping method. The method also includes wrapping the key material and binding key control information to the key material in the token, wherein the key control information includes information relating to usage and management of the key material. |
| US09288048B2 |
Real-time frame authentication using ID anonymization in automotive networks
A real-time frame authentication protocol is presented for in-vehicle networks. A frame identifier is made anonymous to unauthorized entities but identifiable by the authorized entities. Anonymous identifiers are generated on a per-frame basis and embedded into each data frame transmitted by a sending ECU. Receiving ECUs use the anonymous identifiers to filter incoming data frames before verifying data integrity. Invalid data frame are filtered without requiring any additional run-time computations. |
| US09288047B2 |
System and method for content protection based on a combination of a user pin and a device specific identifier
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for encryption and key management. The method includes encrypting each file on a computing device with a unique file encryption key, encrypting each unique file encryption key with a corresponding class encryption key, and encrypting each class encryption key with an additional encryption key. Further disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for encrypting a credential key chain. The method includes encrypting each credential on a computing device with a unique credential encryption key, encrypting each unique credential encryption key with a corresponding credential class encryption key, and encrypting each class encryption key with an additional encryption key. Additionally, a method of generating a cryptographic key based on a user-entered password and a device-specific identifier secret utilizing an encryption algorithm is disclosed. |
| US09288046B2 |
Device for generating an encrypted key and method for providing an encrypted key to a receiver
A device for generating an encrypted master key. The device comprises at least one input interface configured to receive a receiver identifier, a service provider identifier and a master key for the service provider; a memory configured to store a secret of the device; a processor configured to: process the receiver identifier using the secret to obtain a root key, process the service provider identifier using the root key to obtain a top key and process the master key using the top key to obtain an encrypted master key; and an output interface configured to output the encrypted master key. Also provided is a method for providing an encrypted master key to a receiver. An advantage is that the device can enable a new service provider to provide services to a receiver using an already deployed smartcard. |
| US09288043B1 |
Methods and systems for providing high-security cryptographic keys to mobile radios
At least one embodiment takes the form of a process carried out by a key-management infrastructure (KMI). The KMI receives first and second disassembly products of a high-security cryptographic key and provides the first and second disassembly products to a mobile radio for reassembly of the high-security cryptographic key. Providing the first disassembly product to the mobile radio includes providing the first disassembly product to the mobile radio over a local connection via a restricted-access key variable loader. Providing the second disassembly product to the mobile radio includes (i) generating a medium-security-encrypted second disassembly product at least in part by encrypting the second disassembly product based on at least one medium-security cryptographic key, and (ii) providing the medium-security-encrypted second disassembly product to the mobile radio over an air interface. |
| US09288042B1 |
Securely and redundantly storing encryption credentials system and method
A method, computer program product, and computing system for generating, by a computing device, a key, wherein the key includes at least one of an encryption key and an authentication key. One or more credentials may be generated to access a Secure KeyStore storing the key, wherein the one or more credentials may include one or more stable system values, and wherein the one or more stable system values may include one or more virtual values and one or more hardware values. The one or more stable system values may be provided to the Secure KeyStore to retrieve the key. |
| US09288040B2 |
Encryption device
According to an embodiment, an encryption device performs encryption processing using an encryption key and calculates encrypted data from plain data. The encryption device includes: a register; an input unit configured to receive plain data; a first partial encryption unit configured to calculate first intermediate data from the plain data; a second partial encryption unit configured to calculate (i+1)-th intermediate data based on i-th intermediate data and the encryption key; a first transform unit configured to: transform j-th intermediate data into j-th transformed data; and store the j-th transformed data in the register; and a second transform unit configured to transform the j-th transformed data into the j-th intermediate data; a third partial encryption unit configured to calculate encrypted data from the N-th intermediate data. The second partial encryption unit is configured to repeat processing to calculate (j+1)-th intermediate data while j is equal to from 1 to N−1. |
| US09288034B2 |
Method of transmitting and receiving control information in a wireless communication system
A method for transmitting and receiving control information in a wireless communication system is disclosed. A method for transmitting control information in procedure of data transmission and reception with FDD (frequency division duplex) scheme by a base station of a wireless communication system supporting a mobile station of a first system and a mobile station of a second system includes transmitting information about a number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols contained in a downlink zone of a frame of the first system in downlink bandwidth to a mobile station of the first system through a ‘Number of OFDMA symbols’ field of a downlink MAP (DL-MAP); and transmitting information about a number of OFDM symbols contained in an uplink zone of the frame of the first system in uplink bandwidth to the mobile station of the first system through a ‘Number of OFDMA symbols’ field of an uplink MAP (UL-MAP), wherein the mobile station operates with half-FDD (H-FDD), and the downlink zone of the frame of the first system does not overlap with the uplink zone of the frame of the first system in time domain. |
| US09288032B2 |
Dynamic frame structure for synchronous time-division duplexing digital subscriber lines
An access node for digital subscriber line (DSL) communication comprising a transceiver configured to couple to a subscriber line, and a control entity coupled to the transceiver, wherein the control entity is configured to receive a request to switch to a nominal asymmetry ratio between an upstream data rate and a downstream data rate after initialization of the subscriber line, determine a flexible time period value based on the nominal asymmetry ratio, wherein the flexible time period is used to define a time division duplexing (TDD) frame structure, and forward a message that comprises the flexible time period value to the transceiver, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit an upstream transmission using the TDD frame structure over the subscriber line, and receive a downstream transmission using the TDD frame structure over the subscriber line. |
| US09288028B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving uplink signal, and method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving downlink signal
The present invention provides a method for scheduling an uplink and a method for scheduling a downlink for a user equipment group comprising a plurality of user equipments in similar channel situations. In the present invention, which relates to the method for scheduling the uplink, a primary user equipment for a user equipment group is configured, and information according to a random access procedure that is performed by the primary user equipment is shared by means of other user equipments in the user equipment group. In the present invention, which relates to the method for scheduling the downlink, each of the user equipment in the user equipment group attempt to detect downlink data by a random access preamble transmission timing, and transmits a pertinent random access preamble to a base station at the random access preamble transmission timing, thereby notifying the base station of a failure to receive the downlink data, when the detection of the downlink data by the random access preamble transmission timing fails. |
| US09288018B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting HARQ-ACK information in a TDD system supporting carrier aggregation
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting uplink control information in a wireless communication system that supports carrier aggregation and operates in a time division duplex (TDD) scheme, the method comprising a step of transmitting a hybrid automatic repeat request-acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) for each component carrier (CC) according to a specific parameter; wherein if the specific parameter is smaller than a specific value, the HARQ-ACK for each CC is individually transmitted, and if the specific parameter is equal to or larger than the specific value, the HARQ-ACK for each CC is transmitted using the specific number of bit values corresponding to said HARQ-ACK. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for the method. |
| US09288017B2 |
Method for sending/receiving data in a wireless packet communication system in which there is simultaneous communication with various terminals
A method and apparatus for transmitting a frame to at least one receiver in a wireless communication system is provided. The apparatus determines at least one data length in accordance with each receiver based on a number of symbol for the frame to be transmitted, determines a maximum data length among the at least one data length, and determines a length of the frame in time domain based on the maximum data length. The apparatus generates the frame in accordance with the length of the frame, the frame including a first signal field and at least one second signal field. The first signal field indicates the length of the frame and each second signal field indicates each data length. |
| US09288013B2 |
Method and apparatus for transceiving an uplink HARQ in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for transceiving an uplink hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ). According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for performing a HARQ operation in a terminal of a wireless communication system comprises the steps of: receiving, in a subframe n, an uplink grant message for first uplink data from a base station; determining a first HARQ process from among a plurality of HARQ processes associated with the subframe n; and transmitting, in a subframe n+k, the first uplink data to the base station through the first HARQ process. |
| US09288011B2 |
Encoding apparatus and encoding method in data communication system
An encoding method and apparatus in a data communication system are provided. The method includes inputting a source block including a plurality of source payloads, converting the source block to an information block including a plurality of information payloads according to an Information Block Generation (IBG) mode selected from a plurality of IBG modes, transmitting a delivery block generated by adding a parity block generated by encoding the information block according to a selected encoding scheme to the source block to a receiver, and transmitting information indicating the selected IBG mode to the receiver. |
| US09288002B2 |
Method for monitoring and managing data networks
A method and a network node are provided, for distributing timing information in a packet-switched network. The method is characterized in that at least one network node used as a quasi slave node is located at a path extending between a master node and a slave node. The method comprising a step of calculating the timing at that network node, by passively processing packets belonging to a PTP-type packet stream being exchanged between the master node and the slave node and conveyed via that intermediate network node operating as a quasi slave. |
| US09288001B2 |
System, method, and apparatus for an integrated antenna and satellite dish
Systems and methods for an integrated antenna and satellite dish. Exemplary embodiments include an apparatus, including a satellite dish, a wireless antenna coupled to the satellite dish and a coupling box communicatively coupled to the satellite dish and the wireless antenna. Additional exemplary embodiments include a content communication method, including receiving a satellite signal, receiving a first wireless signal, performing coupling box processing on the satellite signal and the wireless signal, transmitting the satellite signal and the wireless signal to a set top box and performing set top box processing on the satellite signal and wireless signal. Further exemplary embodiments include a content communication system, including a satellite dish for receiving content from a satellite, a wireless antenna for receiving content from a wireless network and a coupling box for processing the content from the satellite and the content from the wireless network. |
| US09287996B2 |
Communication system, communication device, power supply device, and vehicle
A communication system, a communication device, a power supply device, and a vehicle are provided, which can suppress occurrence of communication abnormality while suppressing noise applied to a power supply line to be lower than a predetermined upper limit value of a standard, in communication such as inband communication in which a vehicle and a power supply device are connected to each other via a charging cable containing the power supply line and a control line, and a communication signal is transmitted and received using the control line as a medium. A power supply device 2 reads setting relating to an output for each frequency which is previously stored in a memory 221b, and performs a mapping process of adjusting, based on the read setting, an output waveform relating to transmission of the communication signal to an amplitude previously set for each frequency. Then, the power supply device 2 executes inverse fast Fourier transform on the mapped communication signal to convert the communication signal represented as digital data on a frequency domain into digital data on a time domain, and converts the digital signal into analog signal to be transmitted. |
| US09287992B2 |
Wavelength division multiplexing transmission device
A transmitter to be added or reduced turns ON/OFF an optical output. A relay station and a receiving terminal station acquire the amount of fluctuation of the optical output of the received signal light when the optical output of the added transmitter is turned ON and OFF. From the amount of fluctuation of the optical output, the number of wavelengths after the addition or reduction is acquired. Without an OSC signal, each station may be informed of the number of wavelengths. Therefore, the configuration for transmitting and receiving the OSC signal is not requested, thereby reducing the total cost, appropriately controlling the gain of the optical amplifier, and successfully maintaining transmission quality. |
| US09287991B2 |
Light module interlock system
Described is a light module interlock system comprising: an optical cable enabled to transmit light of a first wavelength and a second wavelength different than the first wavelength; a first light module enabled to provide the first wavelength to the optical cable; a second light module enabled to provide the second wavelength to the optical cable; a sensor enabled to detect the first wavelength transmitted by the optical cable, the sensor located at an opposite end of the optical cable as the first light module; and an interlock in communication with the sensor, the interlock enabled to: disable the second light module when the sensor fails to detect the first wavelength, such that the second wavelength is no longer provided to the optical cable. |
| US09287981B2 |
Station-side apparatus and PON system
An OLT, which is a station-side apparatus in a PON system, is connected to an ONU via an optical fiber. The OLT includes: an optical receiver which receives a burst signal from an ONU; a burst header detection unit which detects a certain delimiter pattern included in a received burst signal so as to establish synchronization of the burst signal; and a control unit which allows the burst header detection unit to perform detection of a delimiter pattern during a predicted reception period of a burst signal. |
| US09287977B2 |
Visible light communication method, identification signal, and receiver
A visible light communication method includes: obtaining a first ID identifying an area in which a receiver is present; obtaining a second ID by the receiver through visible light communication; and obtaining information corresponding to a third ID which is a combination of the first ID and the second ID. For example, in the obtaining of a first ID, the first ID may be obtained by referring to a table showing correspondence between the first ID and location information obtained by the receiver and indicating a location of the receiver. |
| US09287976B2 |
Independent beacon based light position system
Systems and methods are provided that disclose providing a positioning service for devices based on light received from one or more light sources. This light based positioning service uses light information transmitted by each light source to determine the position of the device. The positioning information can include three dimension position information in a building that can then be used to deliver services and information to a mobile device. The content delivered to a mobile device can include multimedia, text, audio, and/or pictorial information. The positioning information along with other location or positioning information can be used in providing augmented reality or location aware services. The light sources can be independent beacons that broadcast information in visible light at a rate that is undetectable by the human eye. Content can be retrieved from a server over a communications connection. |
| US09287973B2 |
System and method for intensity monitoring
A detection system for monitoring the intensity of a stream of modulated pulses, the system comprising a controller configured to provide a control signal to a component outputting modulated pulses the control signal controlling the level of modulation for each pulse exiting the component and a detector configured to measure the intensity of the pulses in the stream of pulses exiting the component outputting modulated pulses, wherein the detector comprises a gated detector, the controller being configured to send a gating signal to said detector, wherein said gating signal varies the gain of the detector with the control signal, such that pulses with a selected modulation level can be detected. |
| US09287972B2 |
Distributed optical fiber sound wave detection device
A distributed optical fiber sound wave detection device is provided with an optical pulse emission unit that causes an optical pulse to be incident into the optical fiber, and a Rayleigh scattered light reception unit that receives Rayleigh scattered light produced inside the optical fiber. The optical pulse emission unit outputs the optical pulse that is modulated using a code sequence which has a predetermined length and by which the optical pulse is divided into a plurality of cells. The Rayleigh scattered light reception unit includes a phase variation derivation unit that performs demodulation corresponding to the modulation in the optical pulse emission unit on the Rayleigh scattered light and determines a phase variation thereof from the demodulated Rayleigh scattered light, and a sound wave detection unit that determines a sound wave that has struck the optical fiber from the phase variation determined by the phase variation derivation unit. |
| US09287962B2 |
Signal reproduction apparatus and signal reproduction method
A signal reproduction apparatus reproduces, from an input signal containing a weak signal which is a piece of transmission information and noise superimposed thereon, the weak signal through use of a stochastic resonance phenomenon. The apparatus includes N nonlinear elements NL1-NLN (N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) which receive N reception signals R (split signals) split to N branch lines L1-LN, and output nonlinear output signals NLO1-NLON; N delay elements D1-DN which delay the nonlinear output signals by different times, respectively; and a combiner which combines delay signals DS1-DSN output from the delay elements D1-DN. The correlation among the noise components contained in the delay signals DS1-DSN obtained by delaying the nonlinear output signal is extremely small, and the correlation of the weak signal is large. |
| US09287959B2 |
Method and system for quantized feedback rate adaptation in a communication system
The present invention relates to a method for adapting the feedback rate of a quantized representation of the propagation channel in a capacity-limited feedback channel. The method comprises obtaining a reference signal from an access point; deriving a rank indication, a codebook subset selection indication and a precoding matrix index based on the obtained reference signal; sending a first feedback message conveying the rank indication and the codebook subset selection indication, and sending a second feedback message conveying the precoding matrix index, to the access point; and receiving, from the access point, data precoded by a matrix derived based on the rank indication, the codebook subset selection indication and the precoding matrix index. |
| US09287954B2 |
Systems and methods for transmit antenna switching
A method for antenna switching is described. The method includes transmitting using a first antenna. The method also includes determining that a trigger occurs to switch to transmitting using a second antenna. The trigger is based on a combination of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) maximum transmit power level (MTPL) counter and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) MTPL counter. The method further includes switching to transmitting using the second antenna based on the determination. |
| US09287953B2 |
Systems, apparatus, and methods for antenna selection
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for mobile transmit diversity. In one aspect, a wireless communication apparatus is provided. The wireless communication apparatus includes a transmit circuit configured to transmit wireless communications via either a first antenna or a second antenna. The wireless communication apparatus further includes a receive circuit configured to receive wireless communications using either the first antenna or the second antenna. The wireless communication apparatus further includes a controller configured to switch the transmit circuit and the receive circuit from transmitting and receiving wireless communications via the first antenna to transmit and receive wireless communications via the second antenna in response to detecting that a first receive power level of the first antenna is less than a second receive power level of the second antenna and a difference between the second receive power level and the first receive power level is greater than a threshold. |
| US09287948B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving downlink wireless signal
A method is provided for transmitting a downlink signal by a base station with an antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements in a wireless communication system. The downlink signal is precoded using a precoding matrix for the antenna array. The precoded downlink signal is transmitted to a user equipment (UE). Each element of the precoding matrix is expressed by ∑ n = 1 N A n ⅇ j { ( n - 1 ) kd cos θ + ϕ n } , where A n = ( N - 1 ) ! ( N - n ) ! ( n - 1 ) ! , N denotes a number of antenna elements, n denotes an index of each of the antenna elements corresponding to 1 to N−1, k denotes a propagation constant, d denotes a distance between the antenna elements, θ denotes an azimuth, ϕ n ( y n ) = ϕ set ( 2 y n ( N - 1 ) d ) 2 , yn=(n−(N+1)/2)d, φset denotes a phase value to be applied to an antenna array 1, “!” denotes a symbol of factorial operations, and N! denotes a factorial of a non-negative integer N which is equal to a product of all positive integers less than or equal to N. |
| US09287945B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting beamformee station (STA) in process of performing sounding protocol in multi-user multiple-input and multiple-output (MU-MIMO) communication system
Provided is a method and apparatus for selecting a beamformee station (STA) in a multi-user multiple-input and multiple-output (MU-MIMO) communication system, the method including acquiring channel information associated with a beamformee STA among a plurality of beamformee STAs, verifying whether acquiring channel information associated with a subsequent beamformee STA of the beamformee STA is advantageous or disadvantageous, and determining, based on a result of the verifying, whether the channel information associated with the subsequent beamformee STA is acquired. |
| US09287943B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal and transmitter
Methods and apparatus for reducing a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal in an MIMO-OFDM communication system is provided, in which the method for reducing the PAPR of the OFDM signal may identify interference generated in an MIMO communication system, and adjust a clipping ratio (CR) for an effect of a clipping distortion to be less than an effect of interference. |
| US09287942B2 |
Method and apparatus for uplink multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmission
The present description relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for uplink multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmission. A method for performing an uplink MIMO transmission according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the following steps: transmitting, from a first subframe, a first data block and a second data block through a first HARQ process and a second HARQ process, respectively; receiving, at a second subframe, uplink scheduling control information on the first data block and control information which indicates inactivation of the second data block; setting HARQ feedback information on the second data block to an ACK state; and performing retransmission of the first data block from a third subframe on the basis of the uplink scheduling control information on the first data block. Retransmission of the second data block may not be performed until uplink scheduling control information on the second data block is received. |
| US09287934B2 |
Communication device and communication system
When a vehicle including a battery is charged from a power supply device, communication such as power line communication is performed in which a communication signal is superposed on wires contained in a charging cable. A communication device performs communication via a pair of communication lines connected to wires such as a pair of power supply lines used for power supply. A pair of induction elements whose one ends are connected to the pair of communication lines are provided, and the other ends of the pair of induction elements are connected to a ground potential via a capacitance element. |
| US09287931B2 |
Communication system having reduced crosstalk estimation complexity
A DSL transmitter and receiver are disclosed that efficiently estimate crosstalk interference. When transmitting over a DSL cable, each of the lines of the cable cause interference in the signals traveling though the other lines in the form of crosstalk. In order to reduce the complexity of the crosstalk estimation calculations, the transmitter sends a measurement signal whose matrix includes a plurality of sub-matrices that include less than all of the signal slots and are modulated with QAM +1s or −1s. Meanwhile, the remaining signal slots are modified with QAM 0 s, which do not require any processing during the crosstalk estimation. Rather than calculating crosstalk vectors of all lines, the receiver need only calculate the crosstalk vectors for the signal slots contained within the sub-matrices, thereby significantly reducing complexity. |
| US09287929B2 |
Robust handshake procedure in cross-talk environments
Embodiments of the invention provide a robust mechanism to isolate transceivers that attempt to train on a FEXT channel during the handshake phase and to abort a false activation. According to aspects of the invention, either or both transceiver acknowledges the unique identity of the other transceiver during the handshake phase. This ensures that the transceiver progresses to training and beyond with only one other remote transceiver. |
| US09287928B2 |
Method and apparatus for adding a communication connection to a vectored group
Methods for adding a communication connection to a vectored group of communication connections and corresponding apparatuses are disclosed. |
| US09287926B2 |
Digital receiver performance in the presence of image frequencies
A digital Radio Frequency (RF) receiver may exhibit image frequencies and these image frequencies may be mathematically related to the intermediate frequency (IF) that is utilized for transmission and reception. In accordance with an embodiment, channel switching may be performed to identify an appropriate receive frequency in the presence of image frequencies on other channels. In accordance with another embodiment, data on a receive channel is evaluated to determine whether the data is inverted, and then appropriate correction may be performed on subsequently received data. |
| US09287911B1 |
Mitigating signal interference
In systems and methods of mitigating L-band signal interference in a wireless communication system, it is determined that an aggregate power level of a plurality of wireless devices using an L-band carrier in communication with an access node meets a power level threshold. A probability of successful handover to a second carrier for each of the wireless devices is determined. At least one of the wireless devices is selected based on the determined probability of successful handover and a transmit power metric of the wireless device, and the selected at least one wireless device can be handed over to the second carrier. |
| US09287908B1 |
Wireless-channel characterization and equalization
Various embodiments are described that relate to signal distortion for delay and attenuation. A transmission antenna can transmit a baseline signal to a reception antenna and then transmit a test signal to the reception antenna. The baseline signal and test signal can be processed to determine undesirable attenuation and delay coefficients. These coefficients can be transmitted back from the reception antenna to the transmission antenna. Based on these coefficients, a determination can be made on how to modify a signal of interest such that the signal of interest arrives from the transmission antenna to the reception antenna absent the undesirable attenuation and delay coefficients. The transmission antenna can transmit the modified signal of interest such that it arrives at the reception antenna absent the undesirable delay and attenuation coefficients. |
| US09287904B2 |
Interference reduction
Measures for interference reduction for an envelope branch type transmitter. Such measures may include determination of a target frequency span for reducing interference caused by an envelope branch type transmitter, and configuration of a differential delay between a signal branch and an envelope branch of the envelope branch type transmitter on the basis of the determined target frequency span. |
| US09287901B2 |
Receiver for carrier aggregation
A single hybrid receiver is provided for processing both single carrier and carrier aggregated (CA) communications signals where carriers are split into independent receive paths without any additional external components. The receiver receives all contiguous and non-contiguous intra-band CA and inter-band CA signals allowing for improved rejection and balanced rejection of jamming signals on either side of the two carrier signals. |
| US09287897B2 |
Systematic rate-independent Reed-Solomon erasure codes
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for encoding k input symbols, using a Reed-Solomon erasure correction code, into a longer stream of n output symbols for transmission over an erasure channel. The present disclosure is further directed to a system and method for recovering the original k input symbols from only (and any) k output symbols (out of the n output symbols) received over the erasure channel. A symbol is a generic data unit consisting of one or more bits that can be, for example, a packet. The systems and methods of the present disclosure provide for an adjustable code rate that can be readily adapted based on changing channel conditions without having to reconstruct the encoder/decoder. As a result, such an encoder/decoder can be referred to as rate-independent. |
| US09287896B2 |
Signal segmentation method and CRC attachment method for reducing undetected error
The present invention provides for applying a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) to a data signal. The present invention includes attaching a first CRC to a first data signal block having a first length, segmenting the first data signal block attached with the first CRC into a plurality of second data signal blocks having a length shorter than the first length, respectively generating a second CRC for each second data signal block, and attaching the generated second CRC to the respective second data signal block. Moreover, the first CRC and second CRC may be generated from respectively different CRC generating polynomial equations. |
| US09287894B2 |
Methods for encoding and decoding images, corresponding encoding and decoding devices and computer programs
A method is provided for encoding an image represented by a sequence of symbols. The method includes the following steps: defining subsequences within the sequence; and going through the subsequences applying the following sub-steps for a routine subsequence: determining an adjacent routine encoded group including two previously encoded subsequences, one of which belongs to an adjacent encoded group associated with a subsequence that is separate from the routine subsequence; initializing a routine probability of occurrence of a symbol, taking into account two known probabilities of occurrence of the symbol, relating to two previously encoded subsequences of the adjacent routine encoded group; the consecutive entropic encoding of the symbols, and updating the routine probability of occurrence; and storing the routine probability of occurrence after encoding the last symbol. |
| US09287890B2 |
Analog-to-digital converter and solid-state imaging apparatus
An analog-to-digital (AD) converter has a latch section having latch units, a capacitor, and a latch control signal line connected to the latch units. A third voltage less than a first voltage and greater than a second voltage is applied as a power supply voltage to the latch units. When the capacitor is electrically connected to the latch control signal line, a potential of the latch control signal line becomes greater than or equal to the third voltage. Only when the electrical connection between the capacitor and the latch control signal line is disconnected, the first voltage is applied to the capacitor and the second voltage is applied to the latch control signal line. When the potential of the latch control signal line becomes greater than or equal to the third voltage, the latch units latch clock signals. |
| US09287885B2 |
All digital phase locked loop with configurable multiplier having a selectable bit size
An all digital phase locked loop comprises a time-to-digital converter and a configurable multiplier. The time-to-digital converter is configured to output a digital code based on a phase difference between a reference clock signal and a variable clock signal. The configurable multiplier is coupled with the time-to-digital converter. The configurable multiplier has a selectable bit size. The selectable bit size is based on a defined minimum number of bits to obtain a reciprocal of a variable clock period. The minimum number of bits is based on a comparison of a first number of bits of a divisor with a second number of bits of a quotient. The time-to-digital converter is configured to multiply the digital code by the reciprocal of the variable clock period to output a fractional error correction value. |
| US09287884B2 |
Enhanced numerical controlled oscillator
A numerical controlled oscillator generating an output signal with a digital clock signal having a variable frequency is disclosed. The numerical oscillator is controlled by a programmable numerical value being subject to a transfer function and comprises a comparator configured to compare an output of the transfer function with a duty cycle register to generate the output signal. |
| US09287880B2 |
Integrated circuit device having an injection-locked oscillator
A variable injection-strength injection-locked oscillator (ILO) is described. The variable injection-strength ILO can output an output clock signal based on an input clock signal. The variable injection-strength ILO can pause, restart, slow down, or speed up the output clock signal synchronously with respect to the input clock signal in response to receiving power mode information. Specifically, the variable injection-strength ILO can be operated under relatively strong injection when the input clock signal is paused, restarted, slowed down, or sped up. |
| US09287876B1 |
Fully automated. high throughput, configurable digital design internal functional node probing mechanism and method
A device includes a plurality of functional logic blocks, a cascaded arrangement of multiplexers and a digital counter. Each of the plurality of functional logic blocks outputs a signals corresponding to nodes to be tested therein. The cascaded arrangement of multiplexers are arranged such that any of the outputs from any of the plurality of functional logic blocks may be selected for output. The digital counter is operable to control the cascaded arrangement of multiplexers so as to output signals from the functional logic blocks based on a counted signal. |
| US09287873B2 |
Level shifter for a time-varying input
A level shifter circuit for coupling a first circuit, that uses a first supply voltage, with a second circuit, that uses a second supply voltage, includes an input node to receive an input signal and an output node to output to a level-shifted output signal corresponding with the input signal. An idle state on the input node corresponds with a particular binary logic value that is maintained for a first time period, and which is detected by a detection sub-circuit. Further, the level shifter circuit includes a first inverter that uses the second supply voltage, and has a feedback path between the input and output of the first inverter. The feedback path includes a first resistive element and a first transmission gate. The first transmission gate is configurable to open the feedback path when the detection sub-circuit detects an idle state on the input node of the level shifter circuit. |
| US09287862B2 |
Bootstrapped sampling switch circuits and systems
A bootstrap circuit for a sampling transistor. A circuit includes a MOS transistor having a source terminal coupled to an input for receiving an input voltage; an output at a drain terminal of the MOS transistor coupled to one plate of a sampling capacitor; a first switch coupling the input voltage to a gate terminal of the MOS transistor responsive to an initial phase control signal; a bootstrap capacitor having a top plate coupled to the gate terminal of the MOS transistor and coupled to the first switch; a second switch coupling a bottom plate of the bootstrap capacitor to a first low voltage supply responsive to the initial phase control signal; a third switch coupling the bottom plate of the bootstrap capacitor to a positive voltage supply greater than the first low voltage supply responsive to a first phase periodic control signal. Additional circuits and systems are disclosed. |
| US09287857B2 |
Semiconductor device
There is provided a semiconductor device having: a latch circuit having a plurality of data holding nodes; a first capacitance element connected to the first data holding node included in the plurality of data holding nodes; and a first switch element provided between the first data holding node and the first capacitance element. |
| US09287855B2 |
Semiconductor device and semiconductor system including the same
A semiconductor device includes a pipe latch suitable for sequentially latching data in response to a pipe input control signal and sequentially outputting data in response to a pipe output control signal, a pipe latch control unit suitable for generating the pipe input/output control signals in response to a command signal and latency information, and resetting the pipe input/output control signals in response to a pipe reset signal, and an error detection unit suitable for receiving the pipe input control signal and the pipe output control signal, detecting a latency error, and generating the pipe reset signal. |
| US09287852B2 |
Methods and systems for efficient filtering of digital signals
A method in a signal processor for filtering samples in a digital signal is provided. An approximate filtered sample is generated as a function of less than four samples of the digital signal. A correction is generated as a function of the less than four samples, and a filtered sample is generated by modifying the approximate filtered sample with the correction. |
| US09287849B2 |
Elastic wave device
A reflector of the elastic wave resonator in an elastic wave device has first and second regions. The second region has third and fourth regions. The first region is located near to the IDTs of the reflector, while the second region is located farther from them. The third region is located nearer to the IDTs in the second region, while the fourth region is located farther from them. As a result that the center frequency of the reflection band in the fourth region is lower than that in the third region, an elastic wave device with low energy loss and insertion loss is provided. |
| US09287846B2 |
Analog phase shifter
A high-frequency phase shifter for varying the phase between its high-frequency input signal and its output signal by the transmission phase Φ, consisting of a two-port network which is symmetrical in relation to input and output and which with respect to its high-frequency properties consists of three two-terminal networks consisting of low-loss reactances, wherein at least one of the two-terminal networks is arranged in a series circuit as a two-terminal network in series with one of the connecting ports and at least one of the two-terminal networks is arranged in a parallel circuit as a two-terminal network in parallel with the two-port earth, so that a symmetrical T-circuit or a symmetrical π circuit is provided. |
| US09287843B2 |
Method of fabricating crystal unit, crystal unit fabrication mask, and crystal unit package
A method of fabricating a crystal unit fills an adhesive from a first opening in a front surface of a mask of each of penetration holes in the mask in a state in which the mask is set on a base, into each penetration hole, and heats, by a heating element, a sidewall region defining a second opening in a back surface of the mask, in order to cure a sidewall part of the adhesive in the sidewall region defining each penetration hole in contact with the adhesive filling each penetration hole. A crystal blank is bonded on the base using the adhesive in order to form the crystal unit, after removing the mask from the base. |
| US09287840B1 |
Parametric amplification and switched voltage signals for propellantless propulsion
A method of producing accelerations without ejecting any material exhaust which relies on inducing mass fluctuations in conventional electrical circuit components and combining them with a mechanically coupled periodic thrust to produce propulsive forces without the ejection of any propellant. Ferroelectric force transducers, in particular, piezoelectric transducers, are driven by at least two phase-locked voltage waveforms so that the rest mass fluctuation and mechanical excursion needed to produce a stationary thrust are both produced in the transducer itself. Parametric amplification is used to achieve high amplitude, correctly phase-locked voltages of correct frequencies to activate the transducer by the simple addition of a DC voltage to the AC voltage of a single frequency driving signal. The driving voltage waveforms may be pulsed to maximize the thrust and reduce the duty cycle of the active components of the system. |
| US09287838B2 |
High slew rate operational amplifier and operating method thereof
A high slew rate operational amplifier including an input terminal, an output terminal, and at least one slew-rate enhancing circuit is disclosed. Each slew-rate enhancing circuit includes a first stage enhancing unit and a second stage enhancing unit. The first stage enhancing unit is coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal. The first stage enhancing unit and the second stage enhancing unit are coupled. The slew-rate enhancing circuit has a threshold voltage and the threshold voltage is related to the size of the first stage enhancing unit. When the threshold voltage is driven, the slew-rate enhancing circuit will rapidly start the second stage enhancing unit to perform a slew rate compensation on the high slew rate operational amplifier. |
| US09287837B2 |
Sensor device
A sensor device is provided with a voltage detection type sensor unit for converting a physical quantity into a voltage value and outputting a voltage signal indicating the voltage value; a chopper amplifier unit for generating a modulation signal by chopping the voltage signal output from the sensor unit with a predetermined chopping frequency, amplifying the modulation signal into an amplification signal, then demodulating the amplification signal and outputting it as an output signal; an integration unit including an operational amplifier, an input resistor connected to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and a capacitor connected between the inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the operational amplifier; and a digital conversion unit for converting the output signal integrated by the integration unit into a digital signal. |
| US09287835B2 |
Low-quiescent current headset driver
A low quiescent current amplifier and driver having multiple amplifiers (e.g. Class AB and B amplifiers) work in concert to independently amplify all or a portion of a signal into multiple amplified signals combined into a unified signal. Operation of a second amplifier is slaved to operation of a first amplifier. Each amplifier may have its own feedback loop providing the same gain transfer function to align transitions of the multiple amplified signals. Operation of the first amplifier may be detected using a replica of a signal, stage or transconductance in the first amplifier. At the same threshold, operation of the first and second amplifiers may be transitioned, e.g., the second amplifier may transition between providing increasing or decreasing current and providing zero current while the first amplifier may transition between providing constant current and providing increasing or decreasing current. |
| US09287832B2 |
Power amplifying module
A power amplifying module includes a radio frequency amplifying circuit including an amplifying circuit configured to amplify an input signal and output an amplified signal, and a bias circuit of an emitter-follower type configured to bias the amplifying circuit to an operating point, and a constant voltage generating circuit configured to generate, from a first reference voltage, a first constant voltage applied to a base side of a transistor of the bias circuit and a second constant voltage applied to a collector side of the transistor. |
| US09287827B2 |
System and method to demodulate a load modulated signal
A method includes demodulating a load modulated signal at an initiator device based at least partially on a phase adjusted comparison value corresponding to the load modulated signal. |
| US09287826B2 |
Sine-cosine modulator
The invention relates to a self-oscillating pulse-width modulation amplifier in the form of a sine-cosine modulator (10) comprising at least two comparators (13, 14), two integrators (11, 12), a power switching stage (15), and negative feedback coupling with a low-frequency signal input and output. To achieve a maximum modulation factor, there are provisions with the aid of the comparators (13, 14) and integrators (11, 12) for the generation of sine- and cosine-square-wave voltages and sine- and co-sine-triangle-wave voltages that drive the power switching stage (15) in part, wherein the output of the power switching stage (15) combined with an LC low-pass filter (16) forms the low-frequency signal output. This brings about a situation in which a stable natural frequency exists and the modulation factor can be increased to nearly 100%. At the same time, a very low level of distortion is achieved and no distortion components higher than K3 arise, so there is a significant improvement vis-a-vis the known pulse-width modulation amplifiers. |
| US09287823B1 |
Method and apparatus of a self-biased RC oscillator and ramp generator
A self-biased RC (resistor-capacitor) oscillator and ramp generator circuit includes a combined current and voltage reference circuit for providing a reference current, a first reference voltage, and a second reference voltage. The combined current and voltage reference circuit includes a circuit branch of an NMOS transistor in a diode connection, a PMOS transistor in a diode connection, and a resistor coupled in series. The circuit also has a signal generating circuit that includes a capacitor. The signal generating circuit is configured to charge and discharge the capacitor between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage. The self-biased RC oscillator and ramp generator circuit is configured to provide a ramp or saw tooth signal at a node of the capacitor and to provide an oscillator output signal at an output of the signal generating circuit. |
| US09287820B2 |
Motor control device and air conditioner
A motor control device includes a PWM signal generation unit configured to increase/decrease a duty in both directions of phase lag side and phase lead side regarding a first phase of three-phase PWM signal pattern. The PWM signal generation unit is configured to increase/decrease a duty in one of the directions of phase lag side and phase lead side regarding a second phase. The PWM signal generation unit is configured to increase/decrease a duty in a direction opposite to that of the second phase with reference to any phase of the carrier-wave period regarding a third phase. A timing point adjusting unit is configured to detect two-phase currents at timing points fixed in the carrier-wave period and to adjust a detection timing point so that the current is detectable at a variable timing point regarding at least one phase when the two-phase currents become undetectable at the fixed timing points. |
| US09287819B2 |
System and method for determining rotor shaft position of high voltage PM AC synchronous machines using auxiliary windings
A system and method for determining rotor shaft position of high voltage permanent magnet AC synchronous machines using auxiliary windings utilizes a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor including a stator having a main set of coils and an auxiliary set of coils. A drive controller including a digital signal processor in communication with the motor utilizes a current and voltage measurements from the main and auxiliary coils to determine the position of the rotor shaft in a sensorless mode. |
| US09287818B2 |
Six-phase AC induction motor drive system and method therefor
A drive system powers a six-phase AC induction motor having a plurality of poles and a stator with a plurality of teeth where the number of teeth divided by six times the number of poles equals an integer number. The stator core has first and second groups of three-phase stator windings. The second group of three-phase windings is separated spatially by 30 electrical degrees from the first group. A first power supply is connectable to the first group of three-phase windings. A second power supply is connectable to the second group of three-phase windings. The second power supply provides power to the second group of three-phase windings that is shifted by 30 electrical degrees in time with respect to the first power supply. The first and second power supplies receive signals from identical pulse width modulator generators. The respective first and second pulse width modulator generators receive commands from one controller. |
| US09287817B2 |
Control system
A control system may be switched between a Pseudo-Derivative Feedforward (PDFF) control manner and a Proportional Integral (PI) control manner. The control system includes a first operational element, a second operational element, a feedback proportion controller, an integrator, and a feedforward proportion controller. The first operational element and the second operational element are used to perform calculation of addition or subtraction on an input signal, a feedback signal, and a feedforward signal. The integrator generates an integral signal. The feedback proportion controller generates a feedback proportion signal according to a first feedback gain or a second feedback gain. The feedforward proportion controller generates a feedforward proportion signal according to a first feedforward gain or a second feedforward gain. The control system may be switched among the different control manners through selection among the first feedback gain, the second feedback gain, the first feedforward gain, and the second feedforward gain. |
| US09287815B2 |
Power converter
In a power converter, vibration and noise of a motor due to pulsation of a direct current link voltage are reduced. An inverter circuit is provided, which is configured to convert a direct current link voltage having a pulsating component to an alternating current to output the alternating current to a permanent magnet synchronous motor. A controller is provided, which is configured to control the inverter circuit by vector control and which, in a control state in which fundamental voltage vectors do not include a zero vector (voltage vector for which a motor terminal voltage is zero), performs such control that the phase of a resultant voltage vector of a d-axis voltage vector and a q-axis voltage vector of the permanent magnet synchronous motor varies depending on pulsation. |
| US09287807B2 |
Apparatus and method of decreasing speed of sensorless brush less direct current (BLDC) motor
Disclosed herein is an apparatus of a sensorless brush less direct current (BLDC) motor capable of rapidly driving the BLDC motor at a decreased speed. The apparatus includes: a switching unit configured to switch a direct current (DC) power depending on a plurality of pulse width modulation (PWM) signals to generate a three-phase alternating current (AC) power and apply the generated three-phase AC power to the BLDC motor to drive the BDLC motor; a plurality of voltage dividers configured to divide voltages of reverse electromotive forces generated in the BLDC motor; and a controlling unit configured to calculate a current rotation speed of the BLDC motor using output signals of the plurality of voltage dividers, generate the plurality of PWM signals depending on the calculated current rotation speed and a command rotation speed and output the plurality of PWM signals to the switching unit, divide a rotation phase angle of the BLDC motor into a speed decreasing region and a zero crossing point (ZCP) detecting region in the case of decreasing a rotation speed of the BLDC motor, decrease the rotation speed of the BLDC motor in the case in which the rotation phase angle of the BLDC motor is in the speed decreasing region, and detect ZCPs of the reverse electromotive forces in the case in which the rotation phase angle of the BLDC motor is in the ZCP detecting region. The apparatus may very rapidly decrease a speed of the BLDC motor to a required speed. |
| US09287806B2 |
Electrostatic chuck
Provided is an electrostatic chuck capable of minimizing short circuits of electrodes due to scratches generated on a surface of the electrostatic chuck, and achieving stable absorption. |
| US09287805B2 |
Vibration-type actuator and imaging apparatus
A vibration-type actuator includes a vibration member, a driven member configured to move relative to the vibration member by a vibration of the vibration member, an output member connected to the driven member, a shaft inserted in a through-hole in the vibration member, a fixing member coupled to the shaft and configured to support the output member, and a coil spring provided between the driven member and the output member and configured to bring the driven member into pressure contact with the vibration member. The coil spring includes, at an end portion thereof, a first end turn portion with a plural number of turns. The coil spring is connected to the output member at the first end turn portion. The thickness of the first end turn portion is greater than a gap between the driven member and the output member. |
| US09287803B2 |
Inverter for converting direct current power into alternating current power and direct current bus voltage regulating method thereof and application using the same
An inverter and a direct current (DC) bus voltage regulating method thereof are provided. The inverter includes a resonant conversion circuit, an inverting circuit, a first control circuit and a second control circuit. The resonant conversion circuit receives a DC input voltage and converts the same into a DC bus voltage. The inverting circuit couples to the resonant conversion circuit, and configured to convert the DC bus voltage into an AC output voltage. The first control circuit is configured to control operations of the resonant conversion circuit, where the first control circuit calculates a best working voltage of the resonant conversion circuit based on the DC input voltage and a resonant frequency of the resonant conversion circuit. The second control circuit controls operations of the inverting circuit, where the second control circuit receives the best working voltage calculated by the first control circuit and regulates the DC bus voltage accordingly. |
| US09287801B2 |
Micro inverter with DC-to-AC converter and solar photovoltaic system having the same
A DC-to-AC converter receives a DC power generated from a solar panel and converts the received DC power into an AC power outputted through a power line. The DC-to-AC converter includes a signal input port for externally connecting an environment sensing apparatus. The environment sensing apparatus senses environment conditions around the solar panel and produces an analog sensing signal. The DC-to-AC converter receives the analog sensing signal, converts the analog sensing signal into a digital sensing signal, and outputs the digital sensing signal the power line. A micro inverter is composed of the DC-to-AC converter and the solar panel, and the micro inverter is constructed in the solar photovoltaic system, thus eliminating unnecessary hardware devices. |
| US09287800B2 |
Systems and methods for non-thermal plasma over liquid direct ion injection
A system for performing ozone water treatment comprises a voltage supply circuit and a plasma eductor reactor. The voltage supply circuit includes an H-bridge controller and driver, a transformer, and an output port. The H-bridge controller and driver are configured to switch the electrical polarity of a pair of terminals. A primary of the transformer is connected to the H-bridge driver and controller. A secondary of the transformer connects in parallel with a first capacitor and in series with an inductor and a second capacitor. The output port connects in parallel with the second capacitor. The plasma eductor reactor includes an electric field generator, a flow spreader, and a diffuser. The electric field generator includes a pair of electrodes that generate an electric field. The flow spreader supplies a stream of oxygen. The diffuser supplies a stream of water. The streams of water and oxygen pass through the electric field. |
| US09287798B2 |
High power factor primary regulated offline LED driver
A fly-back type switched current regulator includes a primary transformer winding coupled to receive a rectified DC signal derived from an AC signal. The drain of a power transistor is coupled to the primary winding, with the source of the power transistor coupled to an input of a comparison circuit and a primary transformer winding sense resistor. A control terminal of the power transistor is coupled to an output of the comparison circuit. A capacitor stores a variable reference signal for application at a first capacitor terminal to another input of the differential circuit. The variable reference signal is compared to a winding current signal generated by the sense resistor by the comparison circuit. An injection circuit applies an AC signal derived from the rectified DC signal to a second terminal of the capacitor so as to modulate the stored variable reference signal. The regulator is coupled to drive LEDs. |
| US09287791B2 |
Switching power-supply device having control circuit controlling switching element to turn on-and-off
A switching power-supply device, includes a first terminal; a first winding connected to the first terminal; a second winding, which is connected in series to the first winding and is magnetically coupled to the first winding; a first capacitor connected in series to the second winding; a transformer including a primary winding connected in series to the first capacitor and a secondary winding magnetically coupled to the primary winding; a rectifying-and-smoothing circuit connected to the secondary winding; a second terminal, which is connected to an opposite end of the primary winding opposite to a connection end connecting to the first capacitor; a first switching element, which is connected between a connection point of the first winding and the second winding and the second terminal; and a control circuit, which controls first switching element to turn on-and-off. |
| US09287790B2 |
Electric power converter
An electric power converter includes a capacitor, a bridge circuit that includes a plurality of switching elements, a transformer, a secondary side rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit, a detector that detects a value based on at least one of a capacitor voltage and a current flowing from the capacitor, and a control device that outputs a primary side drive signal to turns on/off each of the plurality of switching elements at a switching frequency, the control device increasing the switching frequency when the detected value increases, the control device reducing the switching frequency when the detected value decreases. |
| US09287788B2 |
Resonant converter using variably delayed output switching
A resonant converter including: a resonant tank, a switching circuit that connects the resonant tank to a power supply according to a first switching sequence, a synchronous rectifier circuit that supplies power to an output, wherein the rectifier circuit is switched according to a second switching sequence, and a phase delay module arranged to delay the second switching sequence with respect to the first switching sequence to achieve a desired power output, and a method of controlling the same. |
| US09287787B2 |
On time sampling prevention
An example controller circuit includes a feedback sampling circuit, an oscillator, a drive logic, and a false sampling prevention circuit. The feedback sampling circuit generates a sample signal in response to a sampling of a feedback signal. The oscillator generates an on-time signal that transitions from a first logic state to a second logic state during each period of the on-time signal. The drive logic controls a switch to regulate the output of a power converter. The drive logic turns on the switch to end an off-time of the switch in response to the on-time signal transitioning from the first logic state to the second logic state. The false sampling prevention circuit prevents the on-time signal from transitioning from the first logic state to the second logic state to extend the off-time of the switch until a sampling complete signal indicates that sampling of the feedback signal is complete. |
| US09287783B2 |
Power supply device
A PFC (Power Factor Correction) circuit improves the power factor of rectified power. Upon receiving output of the PFC circuit, a first DC-DC converter generates a voltage to be supplied to a load. Upon receiving output of the PFC circuit, a second DC-DC converter and a third DC-DC converter generate a control voltage. The second DC-DC converter and the third DC-DC converter are cascade-connected. An input terminal of the third DC-DC converter is connected to both an output terminal of the second DC-DC converter and an output terminal of the first DC-DC converter. |
| US09287782B2 |
High efficiency bi-directional DC converter and control method thereof
Disclosed herein are bi-directional DC converter circuits and control methods. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a bi-directional DC converter, can include: (i) detecting whether there is an input power supply at an input port, where the bi-directional DC converter comprises a single magnetic element; (ii) operating the bi-directional DC converter in a first operation mode to charge a battery when the input power supply is detected at the input port; (iii) operating the bi-directional DC converter in a second operation mode to transfer power from the battery to an output port for a load when the input power supply is not detected at the input port; and (iv) transferring power through the single magnetic element in both the first operation mode and the second operation mode. |
| US09287777B2 |
Average current controller, average current control method and buck converter using the average current controller
The present invention relates to an average current controller, an average current control method and a buck converter using the average current controller. The average current controller includes a first comparator for generating a high H signal, a multivibrator for generating a TAVG pulse signal by receiving a high H signal outputted from the first comparator, a timing generator for generating a signal CH_ON to charge/discharge a capacitor by using at least the TAVG pulse signal, an integrator circuit unit for charging/discharging the capacitor, a second comparator for outputting a corresponding signal, an up/down counter for increasing or decreasing a counting value and a digital/analog converter for outputting by converting an output (digital signal) of the up/down counter into an analog signal. |
| US09287773B2 |
Switch power supply controller and control method
In one embodiment, a switch power supply controller can include: (i) a switch configured to operate in first and second states during each switch cycle; (ii) a switch time regulating circuit that compares a duration of the first state in a present switch cycle against an expected first state duration; (iii) the switch time regulating circuit decreasing a duration of the second state in the present switch cycle when the first state duration is greater than the expected first state duration, to decrease a first state duration for a next switch cycle; and (iv) the switch time regulating circuit being increasing the second state duration in the present switch cycle when the first state duration is less than the expected first state duration, to increase a first state duration for a next switch cycle. |
| US09287770B1 |
Analog timer circuit with time constant multiplication effect
An analog timer circuit comprises a pulse source, a charge storage element, and a charge pump coupled between the pulse source and the charge storage element. A pulse signal generated by the pulse source is utilized to charge the charge storage element via the charge pump. The analog timer may further comprise a discharge pump coupled between the pulse source and the charge storage element. The pulse signal generated by the pulse source is also utilized to discharge the charge storage element via the discharge pump. For example, the charge pump and the discharge pump may be driven by respective ones of complemented and uncomplemented versions of the pulse signal generated by the pulse source. An up/down driver circuit is configured to select between charging of the charge storage element via the charge pump and discharging of the charge storage element via the discharge pump. |
| US09287766B2 |
Power system junction temperature control
An electrical power generating system including a power generating device, a power converter connected to the power generating device, and an electrical controller connected to the power converter. The electrical controller is configured to limit a peak junction temperature of the power converter by applying at least one junction temperature derating function. |
| US09287763B2 |
Duty cycle balance module for switch mode power converter
A duty cycle balance module (DCBM) for use with a switch mode power converter. One possible half-bridge converter embodiment includes a transformer driven to conduct current in first and second directions by first and second signals during and second half-cycles, respectively. A current limiting mechanism adjusts the duty cycles of the first and second signals when a sensed current exceeds a predetermined limit threshold. The DCBM receives signals representative of the duty cycles which would be used if there were no modification by the current limiting mechanism and signals Dact—1 and Dact—2 representative of the duty cycles that are actually used for the first and second signals, and outputs signals Dbl—1 and Dbl—2 which modify signals Dact—1 and Dact—2 as needed to dynamically balance the duty cycles of the first and second signals and thereby reduce flux imbalance in the transformer that might otherwise arise. |
| US09287762B2 |
High-voltage inverter, dielectric-barrier discharge evice and cation apparatus
An inverter switches input voltage Vin to flow an excitation current to excitation winding Np of a transformer and output to a discharger an alternating voltage Vout from the output winding Ns. In an output circuit flowing a current to the discharger, a voltage-responsive connector is connected in series with the winding Ns to interrupt or connect the output circuit according to a voltage applied to between opposed electrodes. The voltage-responsive connector has characteristics of keeping the electrodes in an insulated state until an instantaneous value of the alternating voltage reaches a predetermined value, and holding the electrodes in a conduction state while the instantaneous value of the alternating voltage has reached the predetermined value and continues to exceed the predetermined value, and quickly returning the electrodes to the insulated state when the instantaneous value of the alternating voltage has fallen below the predetermined value. |
| US09287758B2 |
Slim-type motor having a heat-dissipating structure, and washing machine adopting a direct drive system
A slim type motor for a washing machine having a direct drive system and having a heat radiating structure includes: a stator in which stator cores around which coils are wound are disposed in an annular form in an annular stator support whose central portion is open, in order to emit heat generated in the inside of the motor to the outside; a rotor in which a number of permanent magnets are arranged in a back yoke mounted on a circular rotor support, to thus form an air gap with respect to the stator; and a rotating shaft that is coupled to the central portion of the rotor support and is driven by a torque of the rotor. |
| US09287754B2 |
Electrical machine having dual-circuit cooling
An electrical machine includes a stator and a rotor which is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation and interacts magnetically with the stator during operation of the electrical machine. The rotor has a rotor cooling system for cooling the rotor using a first coolant flow, and the stator is cooled by a stator cooling system using a second coolant flow. |
| US09287752B2 |
Systems for generating energy
Systems for generating energy are disclosed. An example system for generating energy includes an internal combustion engine that is to load a shaft with a torque. The internal combustion engine is to generate waste heat. A Rankine cycle plant is to be fed waste heat from the internal combustion engine to operate therewith a turbine coupled to a first electric generator. The first electric generator is connected to an electric motor which is coupled rotationally to the shaft to introduce an additional torque. The internal combustion engine is to drive a second electric generator. The second electric generator is to feed electric current into a high-power network configured to provide electrical power in a megawatt range. |
| US09287748B2 |
Spindle motor
A spindle motor includes: a rotor; a rotating shaft whose one end is combined with the rotor; a sleeve bearing whose inner circumference rotatably supports the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft, and on the outer circumferential surface of which at least one oil circulation recess is provided along the lengthy direction of the sleeve bearing; a bearing housing having a first recess accommodating the sleeve bearing and a second recess that supports the other end of the rotating shaft at a central portion of the first recess, and made of a resin; and a number of protrusions that are protrudingly formed at a gap radially spaced apart from each other around the rotating shaft so that a plurality of guide grooves through which oil passes are formed on the bottom of the first recess, and on which the bottom of the sleeve bearing is mounted. |
| US09287745B2 |
Stator teeth, stator, rotating electric machine, and method for controlling rotating electric machine
There is provided a single motor which performs plural driving characteristics and can expand output range thereof. Three coils are wounded around each of the stator teeth A to F, and provided to each stator tooth A to F are switches for providing a concentrated winding state by connecting the three coils in series in each stator tooth A to F, and switches for providing a distributed winding state by connecting in series the coils of any one of units through the stator teeth A to F Depending on the rotating speed, the torque or the like, the coils are changed between the concentrated winding state and the distributed winding state. |
| US09287742B2 |
Spoke permanent magnet machine with reduced torque ripple and method of manufacturing thereof
An internal permanent magnet machine includes a rotor assembly having a shaft comprising a plurality of protrusions extending radially outward from a main shaft body and being formed circumferentially about the main shaft body and along an axial length of the main shaft body. A plurality of stacks of laminations are arranged circumferentially about the shaft to receive the plurality of protrusions therein, with each stack of laminations including a plurality of lamination groups arranged axially along a length of the shaft and with permanent magnets being disposed between the stacks of laminations. Each of the laminations includes a shaft protrusion cut formed therein to receive a respective shaft protrusion and, for each of the stacks of laminations, the shaft protrusion cuts formed in the laminations of a respective lamination group are angularly offset from the shaft protrusion cuts formed in the laminations in an adjacent lamination group. |
| US09287739B2 |
Axial flux stator and method of manufacture thereof
An axial flux stator includes a plurality of magnetically permeable members, a plurality of windings, a back iron, and an encasing. The plurality of windings is associated with the plurality of magnetically permeable members to produce a plurality of winding-magnetically permeable member assemblies. The back iron is mechanically butt joint coupled to the plurality of winding-magnetically permeable member assemblies. The encasing maintains the butt joint coupling of the back iron to the plurality of winding-magnetically permeable member assemblies. |
| US09287738B2 |
Power supplier and receiver and mobile device
An arrangement place for a device such as a rectifier and a power storage device is easily secured. At the time of power supply using a resonance phenomenon, a power-receiving device generates a magnetic field space having a lower magnetic field strength than other parts at or around the inner side of the power-receiving module, and this magnetic field space is used as the arrangement place of an electronic component. The power-receiving module includes a power-receiving resonance coil which is resonated with a power-supplying module and a power-receiving coil which partly overlaps the power-receiving resonance coil in a coil diameter direction and receives and supplies power from and to the power-receiving resonance coil. |