| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09561209B2 |
Methods of treating liver diseases
The invention provides tricyclic compounds and their use in treating liver disorders, such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and related disorders (e.g., fibrosis). The compounds are contemplated to have activity against methionyl aminopeptidase 2. |
| US09561207B2 |
Lipid compositions for the treatment of gastro-intestinal disorders and the promotion of intestinal development and maturation
The present invention provides a use of a lipid composition for the preparation of a nutritional, pharmaceutical or nutraceutical composition or a functional food, for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and disorders, and for promoting intestinal development, maturation, adaptation and differentiation. |
| US09561206B2 |
Use of heptadecanoic acid (C17:0) to detect risk of and treat hyperferritinemia and metabolic syndrome
Methods for detecting risks for and/or causes of metabolic syndrome or hyperferritinemia in accordance with several embodiments can include the step of measuring the level of heptadecanoic acid in a blood sample of a subject. The methods of several embodiments can further include the step of deeming the subject as having or being at risk of metabolic syndrome if the amount of heptadecanoic acid is below 0.4% of all fatty acids in the sera or plasma. The methods for treating metabolic syndrome or hyperferritinemia according to several embodiments can also include the step of administering a daily dose of heptadecanoic acid to a subject suffering from metabolic syndrome or hyperferritinemia for a period of time from three weeks to twenty-four weeks, wherein the minimum daily dose comprises about 3 mg per lb (or 6 mg per kg) of body weight. |
| US09561198B2 |
Botanical formulations
Disclosed is a topical skin composition, and methods for its use, that includes Arctium lappa root extract, Epilobium angustifolium extract, and Cystoseira amentacea/Caespitosa Brachycarpa extract. |
| US09561197B2 |
Methods of therapeutic monitoring of phenylacetic acid prodrugs
The present disclosure provides methods for adjusting the dosage of PAA prodrugs (e.g., HPN-100, PBA) based on measurement of PAA and PAGN in plasma and calculating the PAA:PAGN ratio so as to determine whether PAA to PAGN conversion is saturated. |
| US09561196B2 |
Methods for evaluating and implementing prostate disease treatments
Provided is a method for evaluating test agents as candidates for treating prostatic diseases, including benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgen dependent and androgen independent prostate cancer. The method comprises providing a mouse comprising a human prostate primary xenograft, where the xenograft contains blood vessels that include human endothelial cells, initiating androgen deprivation in the mouse, administering to the mouse a test agent within a period of 1-7 days after initiating the androgen deprivation, and determining a reduction in human epithelial cells in the xenografts and/or a reduction in number of the endothelial cells or blood vessels in the xenograft. Also provided is a method for treating an individual for human prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia. The method comprises initiating androgen deprivation in the individual and administering to the individual an agent capable of inducing apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells within a period of 1-7 days of initiating androgen deprivation. |
| US09561195B2 |
Intravenous administration of tramadol
A method of treating pain, e.g., acute post-operative pain, by administering to a human patient(s) a therapeutically effective dose of tramadol intravenously over a prolonged time period is disclosed. In certain embodiments, the dose is intravenously administered in a time period from about 10 minutes to about 3 hours, preferably from about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes. In other embodiments, intravenous doses are administered at suitable time intervals over a time period from about 3 hours to 48 hours. |
| US09561189B2 |
Multi-compartment dosage form articles
A dosage form article suitable for oral administration, comprising more than one compartments each delimited by a plurality of distinct segments selected from the group consisting of body parts, cap parts and combinations thereof. The dosage form article comprises: at least one first body part and at least one first cap part each comprising inner and outer surfaces, wherein the first body and cap parts are telescopically engageable; and at least one second body part, comprising inner and outer surfaces, being telescopically engageable with the at least one first body or cap parts or both. The at least one of the second body parts is arranged within the at least one first body part or cap part or both such that a distinct first compartment is formed between the outer surface of the second body part and the inner surface of the first body part or cap part or both. |
| US09561186B2 |
Method for improving the bioavailability of low aqueous solubility drugs
The present invention relates to the implementation of a new method for manufacturing solid dosage forms for oral administration comprising poorly water soluble active ingredients which overcomes the associated solubility problems and affords improved dissolution profile. |
| US09561182B2 |
Edible films for administration of medicaments to animals, methods for their manufacture and methods for their use for the treatment of animals
A medicament composition for the administration to pets is provided. The composition generally includes a film, a medicament and a flavoring composition that renders the film palatable to a pet. |
| US09561181B2 |
Crystal forms
The present invention features crystalline forms of Compound I. In one embodiment, a crystalline form of Compound I has characteristic peaks in the PXRD pattern as shown in any one of FIGS. 1-4. |
| US09561178B2 |
Cyclosporin compositions
Disclosed herein are therapeutic methods, compositions, and medicaments related to cyclosporine. |
| US09561175B1 |
Deodorant health systems
A line of stick-style deodorants and antiperspirants that, in addition to their normal use, are infused with a vast array of vitamins and minerals that can be absorbed into the body upon application to provide consumers with a unique, easy, and hassle-free means of achieving optimal daily vitamin intake. |
| US09561174B2 |
Ibuprofen for topical administration
Set forth herein is a preparation of ibuprofen (2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid) in the free acid form that is suitable for topical administration. The topical ibuprofen formulation is prepared by dissolving the free acid form of ibuprofen, or preparing a homogeneous suspension of the free acid form of ibuprofen, in the presence of a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent so as to produce a topical drug formulation compatible with the penetration of 2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid through the skin tissue. Topical formulations of ibuprofen can be based on a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent such as, e.g., a pyrrolidone solvent or dimethylacetamide. |
| US09561173B2 |
Cosmetic composition and method for making the same
A solid cosmetic composition includes (i) an outer layer having (a) a hard vegetable butter in an amount of 10 to 45 wt. % based on the outer layer, and (b) a soft vegetable butter in an amount of 55 to 80 wt. % based on the outer layer. The composition also includes an (ii) inner core which is (a) a soft vegetable butter composition; (b) a fondant; or (c) a liquid cosmetic. |
| US09561172B2 |
Cosmetic composition having both transparent appearance and structural recoverability
Provided is a cosmetic composition which has a structure-recovering property, is transparent, is satisfactory in smoothness when applied to the skin or hair, and has a good feeling in use, which comprises components (A) to (D) as described. |
| US09561170B2 |
Hair care polymer
The invention relates to a hair care composition comprising at least one cationic film forming polymer selected from the group of Polyquaternium and at least one quaternized hyperbranched polymer having end-groups of formula (I) characterized in that said quaternized hyperbranched polymer is obtainable by preparation of a hyperbranched polymer having dimethylamino end groups by condensation of 2-dodecen-1-ylsuccinic anhydride, diisopropanolamine and N,N-bis[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]amine followed by quaternization of the dimethylamino end-groups to end groups of formula (I). |
| US09561167B2 |
Skin and hair color-controlling factor
Provided are a gene involved in the regulation of the amount of melanin in keratinocytes, and the control of the color of skin or hair, the gene being selected from the group consisting of ATG7 gene, RAB11A gene, CLIP-170 gene, Rubicon gene and RAB7B gene, and a molecule encoded by the gene. |
| US09561165B2 |
Cosmetic treatment processes and kit
The present invention relates to a cosmetic process for treating keratin materials, which can give them, especially in a long-lasting and reversible manner, interesting cosmetic properties; this process comprising the application to said materials: in a first stage, of a cosmetic composition comprising at least one graftable species, comprising at least one unit of formula (Ia): and in a second stage, of a cosmetic composition comprising at least one cosmetic active agent bearing at least one unit of formula (Ia): The invention also relates to a kit comprising said compositions. |
| US09561158B2 |
Bridle catheter with illuminating end
An illuminating bridle catheter installation system includes a flexible member having a leading end and a trailing end with a first magnet coupled to the leading end of the flexible member, and a retrieving member having a leading end and a trailing end with two non-contacting second magnets coupled to the leading end of the retrieving member. An illuminating member is coupled to one of the flexible member or the retrieving member and the illuminating member is coupled to an electronic circuit having a switch that allows the illuminating member to be illuminated when the first magnet meets the second magnets. |
| US09561156B2 |
Coinfusion apparatus
A coinfusion apparatus including a coinfusion operation section; a coinfusion processing room; a supply section; and a transfusion bag retention section. The coinfusion operation section consists of first and second robot arms. The first robot arm retains a medical agent container. The second robot arm performs an operation to insert a syringe needle of a syringe to a mouth section of the medical agent container and an operation to insert the syringe needle of the syringe to a coinfusion mouth of the transfusion bag. The coinfusion processing room holds the coinfusion operation section. The supply section supplies the medical agent container and the syringe into the coinfusion processing room. The transfusion bag retention section retains the transfusion bag at the outer side of the coinfusion processing room and positions the coinfusion mouth of the transfusion bag at the coinfusion communication mouth formed in the coinfusion processing room. |
| US09561154B1 |
Pillbox loading device
A pillbox loading device receives a pillbox and has a top opening alignable with the pillbox compartments. Channels extend from the top opening and define funnels that guide the pills into the pillbox. |
| US09561149B2 |
Suspension and body attachment system and differential pressure suit for body weight support devices
A differential pressure body suit with external support against body suit migration. In its preferred embodiment, such body suit may comprise a close-fitting, multi-layered suit sealed against a mammal's skin to contain the differential pressure, or a looser-fitting suit that bends at the mammal's joints with minimal force. External support structure includes either fixed or movable mechanical supports attached to the body suit, extraordinary air pressure levels for making the body suit rigid, or exoskeletons attached to the body suit, or a counter-force adjustment cable suspension system. A cyclic control system can turn the differential pressure condition within the body suit on and off on a selective basis to accommodate the movement of the legs of the mammal. This differential pressure body suit provides a portable and convenient system for, e.g., rehabilitating a skeletal joint injury or training the mammal for injury prevention or athletic performance or fat burning. The pressurization reduces the weight of the body to greater or lesser extents, and offloads the weight to the ground through the external support means. |
| US09561147B2 |
Methods and systems for monitoring lift usage
Methods and systems for lift monitoring are described. In one embodiment, a first operation signal may be received from a first relay coupled to an electro-mechanical patient lift when the electro-mechanical patient lift is being operated in a first position. A second operation signal may be received from a second relay coupled to the electro-mechanical patient lift when the electro-mechanical patient lift is being operated in a second position. A determination of whether a lift qualification threshold is met may be based on the receiving of the first operation signal and the second operation signal. An occurrence of a lift may be recorded when a determination is made that the lift qualification threshold is met. Additional methods and systems are disclosed. |
| US09561137B2 |
Male hygiene article
A one-piece hygiene article is disclosed for use by a male to absorb moisture in the crotch region, wherein the hygiene article includes an absorbent material. The hygiene article further includes a first absorbing portion, having a V-shape for receiving the genitals of the male. The legs of the V-shape of the first absorbing portion are arranged for being provided along the groin and on either side of the genitals of the male. A second absorbing portion extends from the base of the V-shape of the first absorbing portion and has an elongated shape, wherein the second absorbing portion is arranged for being provided between the buttocks of the male. The hygiene article further includes at least one weakening line for a length adjustment of the hygiene article, and an adhesive material for adhering the hygiene article to the crotch of the male. |
| US09561135B2 |
Flexible, adherent, and non-polyurethane film wound drape cover
A system for treating a tissue site includes a reduced-pressure source to apply reduced pressure, a manifold in fluid communication with the pressure source to provide reduced pressure to the tissue site, and a drape for adhering to the tissue site to cover the tissue site and the manifold. The drape includes an adhesive layer for sealing the drape to the tissue site to create a sealed space having the manifold therein, and a non-adhesive layer formed from a portion of the adhesive layer. A method for manufacturing a medical drape includes providing a sheet of adhesive material and treating a side of the sheet of adhesive material to form a non-adhesive layer and an adhesive layer. The method laminates a release liner adjacent the adhesive layer. |
| US09561131B2 |
Implant delivery system and methods thereof for treating ocular disorders
Surgical methods and related medical devices for treating glaucoma are disclosed. The method comprises trabecular bypass surgery, which involves bypassing diseased trabecular meshwork with the use of a stent implant. The stent implant is inserted into an opening created in the trabecular meshwork by a piercing member that is slidably advanceable through the lumen of the stent implant for supporting the implant insertion. The stent implant is positioned through the trabecular meshwork so that an inlet end of the stent implant is exposed to the anterior chamber of the eye and an outlet end is positioned into fluid collection channels at about an exterior surface of the trabecular meshwork or up to the level of aqueous veins. |
| US09561129B2 |
Tissue removal devices, systems and methods
A tissue removal device includes a rigid aspiration cannula, a valve communicating with the aspiration cannula in a fluid-sealed manner, and a pneumatically-driven actuator configured for moving the valve between an open position and a closed position, wherein at the open position the valve defines an aspiration path through the aspiration cannula and the valve, and at the closed position the valve prevents vacuum from being applied at the distal tip. |
| US09561128B2 |
Orthopedic system for immobilizing and supporting body parts
A unitized cast system for immobilizing and supporting a body part. The unitized casting system includes a first inner layer for padding and dissipating heat against the patient's skin. A second layer is formed from a thermoformable structural material such as perforated plastic. A protective third outer layer is provided to provide insulation for the second layer. These three layers are formed together to form a unitized cast system that is easily formed and applied to the patient. |
| US09561126B2 |
Catheter with attached flexible side sheath
A method of positioning a main stent at a vessel bifurcation includes positioning a main guidewire in the main vessel; and advancing a stent delivery system to a position proximate the bifurcation. The stent delivery system includes a catheter with a flexible side sheath attached thereto and a main stent positioned over the catheter. The flexible side sheath is positioned to pass through the side opening in the main stent. The method also includes advancing a branch guidewire through the flexible side sheath and into the branch vessel; and subsequently, advancing the catheter over the main guidewire while advancing the flexible side sheath over the branch guidewire while viewing relative movement of a marker positioned on the flexible side sheath with respect to at least one marker positioned on the catheter. |
| US09561123B2 |
Highly flexible stent and method of manufacture
Preferred embodiments of a stent with a high degree of flexibility are shown and described. The stent can include a continuous helical winding having interconnected struts joined at vertices, and having bridges connecting sections of the helical winding to each other. An annular ring can be provided at one or both ends of the helical winding, and the annular ring can have extensions extending to connect to the helical winding. One of the extensions can connect to a bridge and another extension can connect to a vertex. The struts at the ends of the helical winding can have strut lengths that differ from the strut lengths of the struts in a central portion of the winding between the ends of the winding. |
| US09561119B2 |
Stents for prosthetic heart valves and methods of making same
A single piece stent construction having a plurality of commissure posts, each of which extends upwardly from a solid ring along a bend line and generally along a central longitudinal axis of the stent. |
| US09561117B2 |
Expandable implant
An expandable implant for inserting within a skeletal space is provided, and a method for using the implant to expand the skeletal space. The implant is preferably designed to be inserted into an intervertebral space to replace at least part of an intervertebral disc between adjacent vertebral bodies. The expandable implant contains at least one first expansion compartment and at least one second expansion compartments, which compartments can be inflatable balloons that are inflated by a catheter. Inflating the first expansion compartment expands the implant in a first direction and inflating the second expansion compartment expands the implant in a second direction. |
| US09561106B2 |
Cardiac access methods and apparatus
A chamber or vasculature of a heart may be accessed via the pericardial space of the heart. Initially, the pericardial space may be accessed via a transmyocardial approach or a subxiphoid approach. A lead or other implantable apparatus may thus be routed into the pericardial space, through myocardial tissue and into the chamber or vasculature. The lead or other apparatus may be used to sense activity in or provide therapy to the heart. |
| US09561097B1 |
Devices and methods for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm
Disclosed are devices and methods for treatment of aneurysms. In one variation, a device for treating an aneurysm includes a tubular graft comprising a longitudinal channel having a first end and a second end, wherein the longitudinal channel is bifurcated at a bifurcated portion. The device also includes an expandable anchoring member attached to the first end of the longitudinal channel and inflatable chambers on the exterior of the tubular graft. The inflatable chambers are configured to receive a filling medium. At least one of the inflatable chambers is positioned along the longitudinal channel on the side of the bifurcated portion toward the expandable anchoring member and is only partially around the circumference of the longitudinal channel. |
| US09561092B2 |
Attachment for an oral hygiene device
An attachment for an oral hygiene device is disclosed. The attachment includes a housing; a shaft element movably arranged within the housing and arranged for being coupled to a drive shaft of a handle of the oral hygiene device; and a flexible sealing element attached to the shaft element. The flexible sealing element is arranged to seal a cavity within the attachment intended for accommodating at least a part of the drive shaft in an attached state. |
| US09561091B2 |
Toothpick device
A toothpick device for cleaning teeth includes a toothpick. The toothpick is comprised of two separable portions and has at least one pointed end. A length of dental floss is provided with each end of the dental floss being secured to one of the two portions of the toothpick by melted wax. The dental floss is wound for storage between said two portions whereby separating the two portions unwinds the dental floss for use. |
| US09561082B2 |
Handheld robot for orthopedic surgery and control method thereof
The present invention provides a handheld robot for orthopedic surgery and a control method thereof. The handheld robot of the present invention includes a main body, a grip, a kinematic mechanism, a tool connector, a tool, a force sensor and a positioning unit. The handheld robot of the present invention combines the position/orientation information of the tool acquired by the positioning unit with the force/torque information acquired by the force sensor, and utilizes the combined information to adjust the position of the tool so as to keep the tool within the range/path of a predetermined operation plan. In this way, the precision of the orthopedic surgery can be enhanced, and the error occurred during the surgery can be minimized. |
| US09561080B2 |
Internal body cavity therapeutic applicator arrangements and methods for using the same
An apparatus for providing at least one treatment to at least one tissue having a first structural arrangement configured to expand a first portion at a distal end of the apparatus, a second structural arrangement configured to expand a second portion at the distal end and at least one lumen associated with at least one of the first structural arrangement and/or the second structural arrangement. The first structural arrangement and/or the second structural arrangement can be configured to position the at least one lumen at a particular position with respect to the tissue. A tip is configured to aid in the insertion of the apparatus into the tissue(s). |
| US09561073B2 |
Energy facilitated composition delivery
A device for delivering a composition to a hollow body region is disclosed. In one aspect, the device comprises a first longitudinal member and a second longitudinal member. Both of the longitudinal members may comprise conductive electrodes. The longitudinal members are further configured to be connected to an energy source such that the conductive electrodes are configured to generate an energy field. At least one of the longitudinal members further comprises a delivery element configured to deliver at least one composition to the body region, such that the composition is delivered in a direction that is influenced by the generated energy field. In one aspect, the body region is a vessel comprising an occlusion. |
| US09561072B2 |
Electrode for high-frequency surgery and high-frequency surgery device
Disclosed are an electrode for high-frequency surgery, a high-frequency surgery device, and a method for controlling same, wherein the electrode for high-frequency surgery can be easily inserted and moved inside the lumens inside the body, and can expand a conduction area of a high-frequency current after reaching an area to be treated. The electrode for the high-frequency surgery, according to the present invention, comprises: a balloon; and a conductive structure, which is arranged on the outside of the balloon and the exterior shape of which varies according to the volume of the balloon. |
| US09561070B2 |
Ablation system, methods, and controllers
Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a multi-electrode ablation system generally includes a power supply and a controller. The power supply is configured to be coupled to a plurality of electrodes for delivering power to the electrodes. The controller is operable to compare a measured temperature at each electrode to a desired temperature to thereby define a temperature difference for each electrode. The controller is operable to determine, based on the temperature difference, a desired power for each electrode, compare the desired power of one of the electrodes to an actual power delivered to the one of the electrodes to define a power difference, and adjust the actual power delivered by the power supply to the one of the electrodes based on the power difference. |
| US09561068B2 |
Method and apparatus for tissue ablation
Ablation catheters and systems include multiple inline chambers for containing and heating an ablative agent. The heating chamber includes one or more channels to increase the contact surface area of the ablative agent with the walls of the heating chamber to provide more efficient heating. Induction heating is used to heat a chamber and vaporize a fluid within by wrapping a coil about a ferromagnetic chamber and providing an alternating current to the coil. A magnetic field is created in the area surrounding the chamber which induces electric current flow in the chamber, heating the chamber and vaporizing the fluid inside. Positioning elements help maintain the device in the proper position with respect to the target tissue and also prevent the passage of ablative agent to normal tissues. |
| US09561065B2 |
Robotic toolkit
A surgical instrument kit comprising: (a) a robotic arm comprising a first jaw including a first bipolar electrode and a second jaw including a second bipolar electrode, wherein at least one of first jaw and second jaw is repositionable with respect to the other jaw; (b) a first surgical tool head including a first electrical load in electrical communication with a first pair of electrical terminals, the first surgical tool head adapted to be removably coupled to the robotic arm; and, (c) a second surgical tool head including a second electrical load in electrical communication with a second pair of electrical terminals, the second surgical tool head adapted to be removably coupled to the robotic arm, where the first pair of electrical terminals of the first surgical tool head are adapted to engage the first bipolar electrode and the second bipolar electrode to establish electrical communication between the first bipolar electrode and a first of the first pair of electrical terminals and between the second bipolar electrode and a second of the first pair of electrical terminals, and where the second pair of electrical terminals of the second surgical tool head are adapted to engage the first bipolar electrode and the second bipolar electrode to establish electrical communication between the first bipolar electrode and a first of the second pair of electrical terminals and between the second bipolar electrode and a second of the second pair of electrical terminals. |
| US09561061B2 |
Interspinous process spacing device
Various interspinous process spacing devices and associated methods are provided for treating spinal disease. In one embodiment, an interspinous process spacing device includes a first attachment side and a second attachment side, each attachment side including one or more slots formed therein and positioned proximate one end for receiving fasteners extending inwardly from a second interspinous process spacing device. The device further includes a spacer tray extending from the first attachment side and slideably insertable through a spacer tray slot formed in the second attachment side, wherein the spacer tray is adapted to retain adjacent spinous processes in a spaced apart orientation, and wherein at least a portion of the spacer tray has a longitudinally arcuate shape adapted to facilitate angled insertion of the spacer tray through the spacer tray slot. The device further includes securing means for securing the second attachment side relative to the first attachment side. |
| US09561059B1 |
Minimally invasive facet release
Minimally invasive facet release is performed during spine surgery. The minimally invasive facet release may be performed at a single level or over multiple levels. The minimally invasive facet release may be performed through a working corridor instrument which may be a tissue retractor or an access tube. When coupled with a minimally invasive pedicle screw fixation system, the facet release methods described enable a surgeon to correct a wide array of spinal deformities in a purely minimally invasive fashion. |
| US09561057B2 |
Transverse connector
A transverse connector system having a first and a second locking element. The present invention also provides transverse rod having opposing first and second ends, the first end being retained within a portion of the first locking element and the second end being retained within a portion of the second locking element. The first locking element is configured with a connector body for engaging and capturing an elongated rod and a transverse rod simultaneously. |
| US09561056B2 |
Implant for osseous anchoring with polyaxial head
An osseous anchorage implant comprising an attachment structure adapted to receive and be attached to at least one bar, that is suitably an element of an osteosynthesis. The implant is made up of an osseous anchor and an attachment head bearing the attachment means. The attachment head is suitably traversed by a channel that is adapted to receive the bar. The attachment head comprises a clamp that is adapted to clamp the bar against an inside support wall of the channel. The implant is further characterized by the attachment means and the support wall enabling the rotation of the bar about a first axis that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bar. The clamp comprises a moving clamping face, that is adapted to contact the bar, and that is borne by a support head that is articulatable at the end of the clamp via a ball and socket connection. The channel is suitably an open channel having an aperture opening onto one of the lateral faces of the attachment head, wherein the aperture bears the clamp. The bar is enabled to be introduced into the channel from a side of the channel. |
| US09561053B2 |
Implant tool to facilitate medical device implantation
The disclosure is directed to an implant tool used to facilitate the implantation of a medical device into a patient. The implant tool includes a housing that is held by a user and a needle attached to the housing. The needle is configured so that a cannula may be positioned over the needle and delivered to the target tissue. The implant tool also includes a release mechanism that pushes the cannula off of the needle. The release mechanism may help the user to keep the cannula at the desired location while removing the needle from the cannula. The implant tool may also include a flange that extends from the housing adjacent to a side of the needle such that the user may provide force against the needle during advancement of the needle into the patient. |
| US09561052B2 |
Disposable apparatus for fitly circumcising a penis
A disposable circumcision apparatus, comprising, a fixture device comprising a surrounding wall, the surrounding wall comprising an opening, a blade formed along an interior surface of the surrounding wall, the blade comprising a first blade mating portion and a second blade mating portion that mate with each other when the fixture device is in a closed position, the blade further comprising a blade interior circumferential edge, a cushion ring for being positioned against the blade further comprising a groove formed along a blade interior circumferential edge, means for maintaining the fixture device in a closed position, and a balanus ferrule for placement within the cushion ring and fixture device. |
| US09561051B2 |
Method and apparatus for discontinuous dermabrasion
Exemplary embodiments of method and apparatus are provided for resurfacing of skin that includes formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths less than about 1 mm or 0.5 mm. For example, such small holes can be produced using a mechanical apparatus that includes one or more abrading elements provided at the end of one or more rotating shafts, thus avoiding generation of thermal damage as occurs with conventional laser resurfacing procedures and devices. The holes thus formed can be well-tolerated by the skin, and may exhibit shorter healing times and less swelling than conventional resurfacing procedures. The fractional surface coverage of the holes can be between about 0.1 and 0.7, or between about 0.2 and 0.5. The method and apparatus can produce cosmetic improvements in the skin appearance by eliciting a healing response. |
| US09561050B2 |
Fluid ejection device
A fluid ejection device includes a fluid ejection unit that ejects a fluid, an ejection control unit that receives a fluid ejection command input, and controls the ejection of the fluid from the fluid ejection unit, a fluid container that accommodates the fluid to be supplied to the fluid ejection unit; and a supply control unit that controls the supply of the fluid from the fluid container to the fluid ejection unit, and determines whether the fluid can be supplied to the fluid ejection unit from the fluid container. When the supply control unit determines that the fluid cannot be supplied even after the ejection command input is received, and then a predetermined amount of time has elapsed, the ejection control unit reports a fault, and prohibits the fluid ejection unit from ejecting the fluid until the ejection command input is canceled. |
| US09561049B2 |
Fluid ejection device
A fluid ejection device includes a fluid accommodation portion having an outlet and a fluid pressing unit that causes the fluid to flow out of the fluid outlet through a channel. A fluid ejection unit ejects in a pulsed manner the fluid received from a fluid intake port connected to the channel. A pressure detection unit detects an inner pressure of the fluid accommodation portion. A press control unit controls the inner pressure of the fluid accommodation portion to approach a target pressure value when the channel is closed. A channel determination unit determines that the channel is not closed if a detected movement speed of the fluid pressing unit is a predetermined speed or greater when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after a difference between the inner pressure of the fluid accommodation portion and the target pressure value becomes less than a predetermined value. |
| US09561040B2 |
Patient-specific glenoid depth control
A system for reaming a bone including a guiding wire configured to be attached to the bone; a tubular depth guide configured to cover at least a portion of the guiding wire, the tubular depth guide including a first end configured to abut the bone, and a second end opposite the first end; a reaming device including an elongate recess therein that extends between a reaming tool of the reaming device and an interior of a handle of the reaming device, wherein the elongate recess is configured to receive each of the guiding wire and depth guide therein, the elongate recess includes a reduced diameter section that defines a shoulder, and the shoulder is designed to abut the second end of the tubular depth guide to control a depth to which the bone is reamed. |
| US09561037B2 |
Embolization device and a method of using the same
Space-occupying devices for treating voids within the body are disclosed. The devices can have multiple elements connected to a flexible leader. The devices can be coated by a binding agent. The devices can also be fillable. Methods of making and using the devices are also disclosed. |
| US09561035B2 |
Vessel flow control devices and methods
Systems and methods for treating an afflicted vessel and/or vessel associated with an afflicted tissue of a mammalian patient are presented herein. In particular, devices for the control of flow rate and/or pressure within a vessel of a mammalian patient, and methods of treating an afflicted vessel and/or a vessel associated with an afflicted tissue using the devices are presented herein. |
| US09561034B2 |
Surgical incision and closure apparatus
An apparatus for closing a surgical incision comprises left and right base panels, a plurality of closure components, and a plurality of left and right axial supports coupled to the respective base panels. The closure components couple the left and right base panels to each other laterally and have left and right ends coupled to the respective base panels. The closure components are positioned laterally across the left and right panels, the left axial supports are disposed between pairs of left closure component ends, the right axial supports are disposed between pairs of right closure component ends, and the left and right axial supports are offset from one another such that a serpentine arrangement of consecutive closure components and axial supports is formed. The apparatus can be made of antimicrobial materials or materials impregnated with antimicrobial agents. A flexible adhesive cover can be provided over the apparatus when in use. |
| US09561030B2 |
Surgical staple and staple pocket for forming kidney-shaped staple
The present invention disclosed a surgical staple (50) and staple pocket (57) for forming kidney-shaped staple therefor, with the staple pocket (57) being recessed inward on the tissue contacting surface of the staple anvil (58), and with M-shaped staple (50) being used, wherein the degree of projection of the middle portion of the back span (51) of the M-shaped staple (50) arranged at the inner circle or arranged at a proximal side of a cutter slot (121) is larger than that of the back span (51) of the M-shaped staple (50) arranged at the outer circle or arranged at a distal side of the cutter slot (121), so that when the staple (50) of the same height are adapted to staple tissues to be stapled of different thickness, staple driver (68) bends the M-shaped staple (50) on the staple pocket (57) to form kidney-shaped staple (50) so as to achieve the operational effect of being able to seal the stapled tissue, to stop bleeding and to heal the tissue therearound. |
| US09561028B1 |
Automatic laparoscopic knot tying instrument
In laparoscopic surgery, tying of knots is not easy, as it involves the use of long handled graspers and the necessity to pass one end of the suture ligature around the opposite half of the suture, with release and re-grab of the passing end of the suture. The present invention avoids the “passing with the release and re-grab”, and makes the tying easier, faster and automatic. It conforms to the general size and shape of a standard laparoscopic instrument. The handle is pistol shaped with two control triggers, one for grasping and the other for rotating. The sheath is elongated and tubular, containing two control rods. The tip is bullet shaped, containing three operating mechanisms, one for grasping the leading end of a suture, a second for trapping the opposite half of the same suture, a third for rotating the grasped end of the suture 360 degrees around the trapped portion, thus forming a knot.The trapping mechanism uses an axle with a hollow center and an open-ended side slot. The other members of the rotating and trapping mechanisms have these same features, which allow the suture to enter and exit the hollow center. Grasping is performed by a miniature grasper, which has no handle or shaft, with its entire body contained within a part that rotates, called the rotator. Rotation is generated by a slider-crank mechanism which converts linear motion to rotary motion, and avoids the dead centers with a patented L-shaped connecting rod and deflecting pillars (U.S. Pat. No. 9,194,468). The rotation is then transmitted through two modified spur gears to the rotator, and hence also to the miniature grasper. The rotator represents a short sagittal segment removed from the tip, modified to rotate and to contain the miniature grasper, and then replaced in position. To enable the grasper to rotate, there is an intentional discontinuity in its controlling rod, but control from the handle is maintained by the interposition of a semi-open ball and socket joint in the rod. |
| US09561024B2 |
Wound retractor
An incrementally adjustable wound retractor (500), having a first ring (504) with a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, a flexible second ring (502), having a lumen and a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, and a flexible sleeve (506), disposed in a generally cylindrical form between the first and second rings (502, 504), where the second ring may be rolled over itself to provide a sleeve with a radical retraction force sufficient to stretch the incision to the desired diameter. |
| US09561022B2 |
Device and method for optical image correction in metrology systems
An optical metrology and image correction device includes a point size light source adapted to emit a beam of light and a translucent mask that receive the beam of light. The translucent mask rotates from a first position wherein the beam of light is received by the translucent mask in a direction substantially orthogonal to the translucent mask to a second position wherein the beam of light is received by the translucent mask at an angle offset with respect to the translucent mask. A corresponding method of measuring and correcting an image from an optical metrology and image correction device includes emitting a beam of light from a point size light source, causing the beam of light to be received by a translucent mask in a first position substantially orthogonal to the mask and in a second position in a direction offset with respect to the translucent mask. |
| US09561019B2 |
Methods and systems for tracking and guiding sensors and instruments
A shared-housing ultrasound transducer and machine-vision camera system is disclosed for registering the transducer's x, y, z position in space and pitch, yaw, and roll orientation with respect to an object, such as a patient's body. The position and orientation are correlated with transducer scan data, and scans of the same region of the object are compared in order to reduce ultrasound artifacts and speckles. The system can be extended to interoperative gamma probes or other non-contact sensor probes and medical instruments. Methods are disclosed for computer or remote guiding of a sensor probe or instrument with respect to saved positions and orientations of the sensor probe. |
| US09561017B2 |
Combined photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging system
The present disclosure provides for a system that is adapted to simultaneously display photoacoustic and ultrasound images of the same object. An image combiner can perform spatial and temporal interpolation of the two images before generating a combined image. The combined image is then displayed on a display such as an LCD or CRT. The system is able to use motion estimates obtained from the ultrasound data to enhance the photoacoustic image thereby increasing its apparent frame rate, registering consecutive frames in order to reduce artifacts. The system is capable of generating combined ultrasound and photoacoustic images which are registered spatially and temporally. |
| US09561014B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus
An X-ray imaging apparatus includes: an X-ray sensor configured to convert an X-ray to an image signal; a battery configured to supply electric power for driving the X-ray sensor; a battery holder configured to detachably hold the battery; a lock mechanism configured to lock the battery in a state in which it is attached to the battery holder; and a lock releasing mechanism configured to release the lock effected by the lock mechanism, wherein the lock releasing mechanism is configured to release the lock by the lock mechanism through at least two operations performed by the operator. |
| US09561013B2 |
Movable radiographing apparatus and movable radiation generating apparatus having wireless communication
A movable radiographing apparatus has a wireless communication function and includes a radiation generating unit including a radiation source, an arm portion configured to support the radiation generating unit, a support pillar configured to support the arm portion, and a moving unit configured to support the support pillar and including a GUI to be operated by the user. The movable radiographing apparatus further includes a connector unit to and from which an external antenna for wireless communication is attachable and detachable, wherein the connector unit is provided on at least one of the radiation generating unit, the arm portion, the support pillar, and the moving unit. |
| US09561012B2 |
Method of deciding risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, method of deciding sinking of hyoid bone, programs, X-ray diagnostic system, and method of making oral appliance
Provided are a method of deciding the risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome capable of deciding the risk of a subject to become obstructive sleep apnea syndrome objectively and easily in a short time, its program and an X-ray diagnostic system having the program.The method includes detecting at least the hyoid bone, sella S, gonion Go and menton Me by lateral head and neck radiography of the subject; and deciding whether the center of the body or the whole of the body of the detected hyoid bone is included in an area above a perpendicular drawn toward the extended line of the segment S-Go from Me or not. |
| US09561010B2 |
Anatomical imaging system with centipede scanning drive, bottom notch to accommodate base of patient support, and motorized drive for transporting the system between scanning locations
An imaging system including a scanner for scanning an object and creating an image of the same; and a transport mechanism mounted to the scanner for moving the scanner, wherein the transport mechanism includes a gross movement mechanism for transporting the scanner between scanning locations; and a fine movement mechanism for moving the scanner precisely, relative to the object being scanned, during scanning of the object; wherein the gross movement mechanism comprises at least one motorized wheel. |
| US09561006B2 |
Bayesian modeling of pre-transplant variables accurately predicts kidney graft survival
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for determining a patient-specific probability of renal transplant survival. The method collects clinical parameters from a plurality of renal transplant donor and patient to create a training database. A fully unsupervised Bayesian Belief Network model is created using data from the training database; and, the fully unsupervised Bayesian Belief Network is validated. Clinical parameters are collected from an individual patient/donor; and, such clinical parameters are input into the fully unsupervised Bayesian Belief Network model via a graphical user interface. The patient-specific probability of disease is output from the fully unsupervised Bayesian Belief Network model and sent to the graphical user interface for use by a clinician in pre-operative organ matching. The fully unsupervised Bayesian Belief Network model is updated using the clinical parameters from the individual patient and the patient-specific probability of transplant survival. |
| US09561005B2 |
Method and apparatus for beat acquisition during template generation in a medical device having dual sensing vectors
Techniques are described for generating beat templates and utilizing those beat templates to detect a cardiac event, e.g., a tachyarrhythmia. In particular, example methods and devices for acquiring qualified beats for template generation are described. Additionally, techniques are described for selecting subsets of the qualified beats to actually use in generating a beat template. |
| US09561000B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving fluidic flow and sample capture
A body fluid sampling device for use on a patient includes at least one penetrating member positioned in the cartridge and a sample port for receiving a body fluid. A channel is coupled to the sample port and the sample chamber. At least a portion of the channel is a capillary channel positioned adjacent to the sample chamber. A mesh membrane is and provides that the body fluid contacts the channel regardless of an orientation of body fluid sampling device. |
| US09560999B2 |
Glucose tolerance analyzer, glucose tolerance analyzing system, and storage medium
A glucose tolerance analyzer comprising: an accepting section configured to accept inputs of information regarding a type of food or drink ingested by a subject, information regarding an intake amount of the food or drink, and information regarding an amount of glucose in the subject after the ingestion of the food or drink; an output section configured to output an analysis result of glucose tolerance; and a controller configured to: calculate a reference value for analyzing glucose tolerance of the subject based on the accepted information regarding the type of the food or drink ingested by the subject and the information regarding the intake amount of the food or drink, and based on a predetermined index regarding blood glucose increase due to food or drink; analyze the glucose tolerance of the subject based on the accepted information regarding the amount of glucose and based on the calculated reference value; and control the output section to output an obtained analysis result as an analysis result of glucose tolerance. |
| US09560997B2 |
Biological signal measuring system and biological signal measuring apparatus
A biological signal measuring system includes: a light emitter emitting light beams having different N kinds of wavelengths, where N is an integer of four or more; a light receiver outputting N kinds of signals respectively in accordance with received light intensities of the N kinds of light beams that have been passed through or reflected from a living tissue; a first calculating section acquiring N kinds of light attenuations based on the N kinds of signals; a second calculating section acquiring (N−1) kinds of blood-derived light attenuations based on two light attenuations related to (N−1) kinds of combinations selected from the N kinds of light attenuations; a third calculating section identifying concentrations of (N−1) kinds of in-blood substances based on the (N−1) kinds of blood-derived light attenuations; and an outputting section outputting the identified concentrations. |
| US09560996B2 |
Universal medical system
A system for operating third party proprietary software on a medical monitoring device operating native proprietary software and a system for obtaining compatible third party proprietary software for operation on the monitoring device. |
| US09560995B2 |
Methods and systems for determining a probe-off condition in a medical device
A physiological monitoring system may determine a probe-off condition. A physiological sensor may receive a light signal including one or more wavelengths of light. The received light signal may be processed to obtain a light signal corresponding to an ambient light signal and a light signal corresponding to an emitted light signal and the ambient light signal. The signals may be analyzed to identify an inverse effect. The system may determine whether the physiological sensor is properly positioned based on the identification of an inverse effect. |
| US09560994B2 |
Pulse oximeter with adaptive power conservation
Embodiments disclosed herein may include systems and methods for reducing power consumption of a pulse oximeter. The disclosure describes method for measuring oxygen saturation of a patient's blood with a pulse oximeter that switches between a high power mode of operation and one or more low power modes of operation based at least in part upon the data obtained from the patient or otherwise generated by the pulse oximeter. In one embodiment, the disclosure describes a operating a pulse oximeter in a high power mode, the pulse oximeter using a sensor to generate data indicative of the oxygen saturation of the patient's blood at a first resolution and switching the pulse oximeter to a low power mode upon detection of data indicative of a non-critical situation. The low power mode may be selected from a set of available low power modes based at least in part upon the data generated by the pulse oximeter. |
| US09560993B2 |
Blood testing apparatus having a rotatable cartridge with multiple lancing elements and testing means
A blood testing apparatus includes a laser source configured to produce a wound from which blood flows and at least one test member. A humidity cover is positioned at the at least one test member. The humidity cover is at least partially removable. Electronics are provided for analysis. The electronics includes an evaluation device for comparisons with previously stored measurements or evaluation data with the evaluation device storing a current test measurement. |
| US09560984B2 |
Analysis of controlled and automatic attention for introduction of stimulus material
A system analyzes neuro-response measurements including regional electroencephalography (EEG) measurements from subjects exposed to stimulus materials to determine locations in stimulus materials eliciting controlled attention and automatic attention. Additional stimulus materials are inserted into locations having salient attention attributes. In some examples, a challenging task is used to direct controlled attention onto a location and additional stimulus material is subtly presented in the location to benefit from automatic attention and salient attention measurements. |
| US09560982B2 |
Methods for detection of cardiac rhythm disorders using basket style cardiac mapping catheter
A method for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, includes: providing a system for sensing multiple local electric voltages from endocardial surface of a heart, including: a first elongate tubular member having a lumen, a proximal end and a distal end; a basket assembly including: a plurality of flexible splines for guiding a plurality of exposed electrodes, the splines having proximal portions, distal portions and medial portions therein between, wherein the electrodes are substantially flat electrodes and are substantially unidirectionally oriented towards a direction outside of the basket. |
| US09560981B2 |
Vector-cardio-graphic signal analyzer
The current subject matter relates to indicating extent and location of myocardial ischemia in a patient. Electrodes can be placed on a body of the patient. Signal amplifiers can receive orthogonal electrical signals from the electrodes via three bipolar leads. The signal amplifiers can amplify the signals and send the amplified signals to analog to digital converters. The analog to digital converters can convert the amplified signals to digital signals. A computing device can execute a data analysis application that can receive these digital signals, generate QRS complexes associated with these signals, generate depolarization vectors associated with these QRS complexes, and then determine changes in magnitudes and directions of these vectors. Based on the changes in magnitudes and directions, the data analysis application can determine and display extent and location of myocardial ischemia in the patient. Related apparatus, systems, methods, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US09560980B2 |
Automatic selection of electrode vectors for assessing risk of heart failure decompensation events
An implantable medical device (IMD) is implanted in a patient. The IMD uses a plurality of electrode vectors to generate intrathoracic impedance measurements. The intrathoracic impedance measurements can be indicative of amounts of intrathoracic fluid in the patient. An accumulation of intrathoracic fluid may indicate that the patient is at an increased risk of experiencing a heart failure event in the near future. The IMD performs a vector selection operation on a recurring basis. When the IMD performs the vector selection operation, the IMD uses impedance measurements to select one of the electrode vectors. The IMD can perform a risk assessment operation on another recurring basis. During performance of the risk assessment operation, the IMD uses impedance measurements of the selected electrode vector and/or other patient characteristics stored within the IMD to determine whether the patient is at an increased risk of experiencing a heart failure event. |
| US09560974B2 |
Luminescence based noninvasive remote parameter sensor and sensing method
A noninvasive remote parameter sensor and sensing method is provided that is particularly suited for the remote monitoring of skin temperature. The sensor and sensing method utilize luminescence-based sensors that are non-toxic and non-irritating to the skin. The sensor preferably utilizes one or more types of fluorophores that are embedded in a soft hydrogel. The sensor is illuminated with excitation light, and temperature is monitored by detecting and analyzing the emission light from the fluorophores. Because a soft hydrogel is used, the sensor can be gently wiped off the skin at the conclusion of temperature measurements. |
| US09560969B2 |
Medical device communications network
A medical device communications network comprises a plurality of medical devices including either or both of a first number of surgical instruments and a second number of implants configured for subcutaneous implantation in a biological body. A corresponding plurality of wireless communication circuits are each mounted to a different one of the plurality of medical devices. Each of the plurality of wireless communication circuits is configured to broadcast medical device information relating to the medical device to which it is mounted and to receive information relating to any other of the plurality of medical devices. The network may or may not include a master wireless communications circuit configured to receive the medical device information broadcast by any of the plurality of slave wireless communication circuits and to broadcast the information relating to any other of the plurality of medical devices. |
| US09560965B2 |
Method for determining the azimuthal orientation of a patient eye and eye surgical apparatus therefor
An eye surgery apparatus has imaging optics for generating an observation image of a patient eye. A device determines the azimuthal orientation of the patient eye with respect to a reference which is fixed with respect to the patient eye. The device includes a display unit for simultaneously displaying a section of an observation image of the eye and a reference image thereof. An input interface permits an observer to move the displayed section of the observation image relative to the displayed section of the reference image. A measuring system determines the azimuthal orientation of the observation image and reference image. A computer program calculates the center of the limbus of the observation image and reference image. The display unit displays the pixels of the observation image of the patient eye with polar coordinates. The pixels of the reference image of the patient eye are displayed with polar coordinates. |
| US09560964B2 |
Fundus observation apparatus
Distribution information of examination results of eye fundus is displayed. An imaging part carries out movie imaging of fundus. A tomographic image forming part comprises an optical system that generates and detects interference light by superposing signal light from fundus on reference light and a scanner that scans fundus with signal light, and forms tomographic image of fundus based on detection results of interference light acquired by the scanning. A setting part sets scan-target location of signal light on distribution information. A specifying part specifies image region in fundus image obtained by the movie imaging that corresponds to the scan-target location. A controller controls the scanner based on the specified image region to carry out scanning of signal light. The tomographic image forming part forms tomographic image from the detection results of interference light acquired by the scanning of signal light based on the control. |
| US09560956B2 |
Device, system and method of displaying in-vivo images at variable rate
Devices, systems and methods for displaying in-vivo images at variable rate. For example, a system includes a processor to gradually increase a frame display rate of an in-vivo image stream based on a similarity among two or more in-vivo frames of the in-vivo image stream. |
| US09560949B2 |
Air induction hard surface cleaning tools with an internal baffle
An apparatus for cleaning surfaces, particularly solid surfaces, includes an outer housing and an inner housing configured to substantially encapsulate a surface being cleaned, a vacuum source traversing the outer housing, a rotating coupler, an impeller, at least one fluid jet coupled to the impeller, and at least one air induction port. The vacuum source is configured to induce air through the air induction ports past the impeller blades causing the impeller to rotate, which causes the rotating coupler and the fluid jets to rotate. Because the rotation of the fluid jets is due to induced air, the fluid jets can be positioned at any angle desired, including a negative angle. |
| US09560943B2 |
Cleaning apparatus
A cleaning apparatus includes a flexible, initially flat sheet, which is attached to the cleaning head of a cleaning apparatus by interlocking with a compressible foam substrate on the cleaning head, or by attachment members carried on the cleaning head which interact with the sheet itself or with separate attachment members carried on the sheet and the cleaning head. |
| US09560942B2 |
Portable toilet having a tilting bowl with pour spout
A portable toilet has a seat and a waste receptacle mounted to a frame to allow use as a toilet in conventional fashion. The waste receptacle is pivotally mounted to the frame to allow the forward end of the receptacle to be lifted to spill the contents into a conventional building toilet. A pour spout extends from a rearward end of the waste receptacle. The frame, seat and the waste receptacle are configured to place the waste receptacle at a proper height for personal use and for pivoting the waste receptacle to spill the contents thereof into the conventional building toilet. A water flush system is provided which includes a water supply and nozzles mounted to the waste receptacle for cleaning the contents there-from. The water supply may be provided by connecting to a building water faucet, or by mounting a tank and pump to the portable toilet. |
| US09560941B2 |
Wiping board apparatus
A wiping board apparatus for cleaning the rectal area of a person following defecation includes a generally planar base that is mountable on a toilet seat. The base is adapted for holding an elongate rail that extends longitudinally in a generally front to back orientation relative to the underlying toilet seat. One or more wiping sheets may be attached to at least one of the base and the rail element for covering the rail element. Following defecation, a user sits on the base and slides over the rail to wipe and clean fecal material from the rectal area. |
| US09560938B2 |
Pan lifting device
A pan lifting device configured to grip a pan of a balance with a positive fit has a pincer-shaped end (12) and a handle (14). A blade-shaped supporting projection (16) of the pan lifting device is configured to accommodate the bottom (28) of the pan and a bent-over beak (18) of the pan lifting device is configured to clamp the rim (30) of the pan. |
| US09560934B2 |
Docking station for a beverage dispenser having a reservoir
A docking station for a beverage dispenser having a reservoir is provided. The docking station includes a base and an ultraviolet light emitter. The ultraviolet light emitter is positioned and/or configured to direct ultraviolet light into the reservoir of the beverage dispenser. Ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light emitter may assist with treating water within the reservoir of the beverage dispenser. |
| US09560933B2 |
Brewing device with control of the amount of grounds by a flow meter and coffee maker comprising such a device
Provided is a brewing device for an espresso maker having a brewing chamber for receiving grounds, a pressing ram mounted movably on a path of travel extending between a top position and a bottom compaction position in which it penetrates into said brewing chamber to form a cake of compacted grounds, a hydraulic drive mechanism for the pressing ram having a hydraulic pump and means for measuring the volume of hydraulic fluid injected into the drive mechanism. The brewing device has a control circuit that determines the height of the cake of compacted grounds from signals delivered by the volume measurement means during the travel of the pressing ram. |
| US09560929B2 |
Beverage preparation device
The invention relates to a beverage preparation device comprising a cylindrical chamber with a jacket provided with a filling opening for receiving a powder-like or granular substance and an ejection opening for ejecting the substance, a first and a second compression element, positioned perpendicularly with respect to a longitudinal axis of the chamber, a displacement member for relative displacement of the first compression element with respect to the jacket between a filling position, a compression position and an ejection position, wherein the compression elements in the filling position delimit a filling volume and the compression elements in the compression position delimit a preparation volume positioned along a longitudinal axis and at a distance from the filling volume, wherein the first compression element engages the inner wall of the jacket in a fluid-tight manner and a fluid supply channel and a fluid discharge channel that in the compression position is in fluid-communication with the preparation volume. |
| US09560915B2 |
360 degree channel hinged cushion assembly for suspension and alleviation of sitting discomfort and injury
A cushion assembly has two cushions that are loosely joined by a connector that proceeds through respective diagonal channels in respective corners of the two cushions. The connector has a length that loosely connects the cushions and, by a combination of this length and the diagonal channels, the cushions can be selectively configured co-planar with each other in a V-shape, with any arbitrary angle therebetween, and in a stacked configuration wherein the cushions are atop each other. The connector and the diagonal channels also allow the cushions to be configured at any selected angle between the V-shape configuration and the stacked configuration. |
| US09560914B2 |
Organizer kit
A removable bracket includes a generally planar body having a front face, a rear face, a first longitudinal side, a second longitudinal side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side. Each of the first lateral side and the second lateral side extends between the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side and includes a lip extending outwardly from the front face. A lateral axis bisects the body and a longitudinal axis bisects the body. The body is symmetrical about each of the lateral and longitudinal axes. Two supports extending generally perpendicularly outwardly from the front face proximate to and on either side of the lateral axis. A kit includes a plurality of the brackets, and at least one of a rod, a first shelf, a plurality of extension pieces, and a second shelf. |
| US09560913B2 |
Operator desk with adaptive armature
The operator desk includes at least one work top having one main work surface with a longitudinal main extension. The work top is attached by at least one leg arrangement extending between the desk top and a base foundation; at least one first set of display monitors arranged on a mount supported by at least two supporting legs and having one lower side facing towards, and one upper side facing away from the base foundation. The supporting legs with adhering first set of monitors are movable along a first extension. The operator desk further includes at least one light-emitting element contained in a casing attached to the upper side by at least one mounting arm. A central control device adjusts the mounting arm so that the light-emitting element maintains a desired position along the first extension when the supporting legs with adhering display monitors are moved along the first extension. |
| US09560911B1 |
Configurable table
A configurable table, comprises a first element link frame, a second element link frame, a first connection node, a second connection node, and a plurality of magnetic elements. Each of the connection nodes comprises a channel, the channel have a plurality of holders. The plurality of magnetic elements are disposed in the plurality of holders and connecting to the first element link frame and the second element fame. |
| US09560907B2 |
Heating system for a cosmetic mask
A heating system comprising a packette for heating a mask, wipe or towelette. In preferred embodiments, the packette comprises printed heating elements, printed circuit elements and a means of connecting to a power source. Power may be supplied through a USB-type connector or a handheld power supply that is custom designed to work with the heating packette. |
| US09560904B2 |
Applicator having a twisted core that gives off heat
The present application relates to a device (1) comprising an applicator (3) including a brush (5), said brush comprising: a core (10) that is formed of at least two branches of a resistor wire that are twisted together; bristles that are carried by the core (10); and a power supply that is connected to the branches in such a manner that the core (10) gives off heat while an electric current is passing therethrough. |
| US09560902B2 |
Ratchet-type expansion system for luggage and luggage incorporating same
The article of luggage includes a luggage main body having a bottom surface and a cavity formed to receive articles for packing; an expansion body having a perimeter defining a cavity; a foldable gusset joining the luggage main body to the expansion body; and an expansion and locking device disposed internally at opposite ends of the article of luggage. The expansion and locking device is configured to allow free movement of the expansion body in a compression direction towards the luggage main body and configured to allow locking movement of the expansion body in an expanding direction away from the luggage main body. One expansion and locking device is preferably attached to two or more walls of the luggage. After finishing packing, the luggage is closed and the user pushes the expanding member towards the base member, ratcheting the pawl past the ratchet teeth to collapse the luggage. |
| US09560897B2 |
Shoe testing apparatus
A test apparatus and method for testing a shoe comprises a base, with a shoe fixture for fixing a shoe against displacement, and an actuator, including a shoe contactor, mounted to the movable portion of the actuator connected to the base so that a shoe fixed to the shoe fixture can be placed in alternating stress conditions. The movable portion of the actuator is displaceable between a first position in which the shoe contactor is positioned away from the shoe fixture and a second position in which the shoe contactor is positioned proximate to the shoe fixture to contact and deflect the shoe. |
| US09560888B2 |
Infant glove having a reversible pocket
A pacifier glove is provided. The pacifier glove includes a mitten body having opposing sides and having a closed end and an open end, the opposing sides of the mitten body defining an opening there between, the opening being accessible via the open end. An elastic member is configured on the mitten body and proximate the open end, and a strap member is configured on an opposing side of the mitten body and proximate the open end, the strap member opposing the elastic member. A pocket is configured on an exterior surface of the mitten body, the pocket having exterior and interior surfaces. A pacifier is coupled to the exterior surface of the pocket, and the pocket is configured to be turned inside-out on the mitten body to create an inside-out pocket. Under the condition that the pocket is turned inside-out, the pacifier is repositioned within the inside-out pocket. |
| US09560887B2 |
Fluid management device for exercising athletes
A fluid management device comprising an air filler assembly comprising a filter, a body, a mouthpiece and a flap valve, and a fluid deflector situated between the filter and the mouthpiece. The body comprises condensation collection guide channels located on an inside surface of the body behind the fluid deflector that direct condensation and saliva into a collection basin located behind the fluid deflector at a base of the fluid deflector. The first end of the flap valve is attached to the body, and the second end of the flap valve is situated directly beneath the collection basin. When the flap valve is in an open position, fluids collected in the collection basin escape from the device by dripping out of it. |
| US09560884B2 |
Body-shaping intimacy garment
A body-shaping intimacy garment for a woman has an upper portion that supports or at least contacts undersides of the breasts while leaving the breasts exposed, a torso portion extending from the upper portion, a lower portion that encircles the waist, buttocks and hips while defining a crotch opening through the garment for access during intimate encounters, and leg portions that extend to below the knee. The torso portion, lower portion and leg portions each include respective portions of inner and outer layers of stretchable fabrics. The inner layer fabric is worn stretched about the torso, waist, buttocks, hips and legs, with tension in shoulder straps maintaining some inner layer stretch along the torso portion while worn. The outer layer fabric has a lesser elasticity than the inner layer fabric, and the two fabric layers are connected at the bust but are otherwise disconnected throughout front and sides of the torso and lower portions, and throughout the leg portions to at least below the knee, such that the outer layer is configured to slide over the inner layer, and to flow over local curvature fluctuations of the inner layer, during movement. |
| US09560883B2 |
Electronic smoking articles
An electronic smoking article, a method of manufacturing an electronic smoking article, and a method of achieving a smoking experience without combusting tobacco are disclosed. The electronic smoking article includes an authenticated first section, which includes an aerosol generation unit having at least one heater; an authenticated second section, which includes a power supply operable to apply voltage to the at least one heater for heating a liquid in at least a portion of the aerosol generation unit to form an aerosol; and a conductive ink circuit embedded within the first and second sections, and wherein the power supply and the aerosol generation unit are electrically connected upon joining the first and second sections, and wherein each of the first and second sections has a portion of the conductive ink circuit. |
| US09560882B2 |
Method and device for generating smoking signals and electronic cigarette using the method and the device
The present application provides a method and a device for generating smoking signals in electronic cigarettes and an electronic cigarette using the method and the device. The method includes these steps: using airflow passing through a vocal cavity of an electronic cigarette to drive the vocal cavity to vibrate and generate an ultrasonic wave; using an acoustic-electric conversion unit mounted on the vocal cavity to convert the ultrasonic wave into a voltage signal; and using a microprocessor of the electronic cigarette to generate a control signal according to the voltage signal and start a heating and atomizing process of tobacco juice in the electronic cigarette. |
| US09560878B2 |
Food preparation assemblies and related methods
A food preparation assembly for use in cleaning food products generally includes a tank for holding washing fluid for use in cleaning food products positioned within the tank, and a pump in fluidic communication with the tank to provide movement of the washing fluid within the tank for use in cleaning the food products when positioned within the tank. A processing module is configured to receive settings from a user for cleaning the food products, and to monitor and adjust, as necessary, parameters of the washing fluid based on the user input settings. The processing module is also configured to report and/or store measured values of the parameters of the washing fluid in addition to select user defined input information (e.g., user defined wash settings, etc.). Labels may also be generated indicative of completion of cleaning of the food products by the food preparation assembly. |
| US09560875B2 |
Treatment of animal carcasses
Described is a method of sanitizing animal carcasses using aqueous streams having an antimicrobial composition added to the stream. Preferably, the antimicrobial composition includes a mixture of one or more carboxylic acids having up to 18 carbon atoms and one or more peroxycarboxylic acids having up to 12 carbon atoms, preferably a mixture of a C2-C4 peroxycarboxylic acid and a C8-C12 peroxycarboxylic acid. Also described is a novel antimicrobial composition adapted for sanitizing animal carcasses containing a mixture of one or more C2-C4 peroxycarboxylic acids and one or more C8-C12 peroxycarboxylic acids and an alpha-hydroxy mono- or dicarboxylic acid. |
| US09560873B2 |
Antimicrobial compositions and methods for treating packaged food products
The present invention relates to a method of using an antimicrobial composition on a food product where the antimicrobial composition is applied to a food product, the food product is packaged and sealed, and then activation energy is applied to the sealed food product. |
| US09560868B2 |
System and method for fortifying fruits with vitamins
A system and method for fortifying fruits with a nutrient solution containing vitamins in order to meet the daily required nutrient values for those vitamins. Ideally, one serving of fortified fruits will have the amount of nutrients that would be present in 2-4 servings of unfortified fruits. In a preferred embodiment, the fruits will be frozen and positively charged and the nutrient solution will be negatively charged in order to ensure that the nutrient solution will adhere to the fruits. |
| US09560866B1 |
Fish food composition
The fish food composition includes pea meal, corn meal, soy bean meal, corn oil, and fish meal. The fish food composition can include less than 17% by weight fish meal and between about 2.0% and 4.0% by weight pea meal. The fish food composition can also include carboxymethyl cellulose and a vitamin and mineral mix. |
| US09560858B2 |
Continuous food freezing device and continuous food freezing method
An apparatus and a method for freezing foods includes a first conveyor having one end thereof located on the feed portion and that conveys the articles to be frozen in a first direction and a second conveyor extending directly beneath the first conveyor along thereof and conveying foods fallen from the other end of the first conveyor in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The apparatus further includes a coolant tank disposed beneath the second conveyor and storing coolant that freezes foods fallen from the second conveyor, a third conveyor having at least one portion thereof submerged in the coolant in the coolant tank and conveying the foods fallen from the second conveyor while immersing them in the coolant, and a coolant spraying means disposed above the first conveyor and spraying coolant toward the first conveyor. |
| US09560852B2 |
Combinations of biological control agents and insecticides or fungicides
Compositions are provided that improve overall plant vigor and yield by combining agriculturally effective amounts of at least one environmentally friendly biological control agent and at least one insect control agent and or fungicide. A composition of the present invention is particularly effective in the presence of plant parasitic nematode and fungal species. Along with a benefit of reducing insect pressure, the inventive composition enhances the root system of a plant and improves the establishment of the biological control agent within the rhizosphere, thereby enhancing the effectiveness thereof. Use of a composition of the present invention leads to an overall reduction in crop losses caused by either plant parasitic nematodes or fungi and this reduction is much greater than would have been expected from application of either component alone. Methods for utilizing compositions of the present invention are also provided. Further the compositions according to this invention display synergistic insecticidal, nematicidal, acaricidal or fungicidal activity. |
| US09560847B2 |
Stable matrix emulsion concentrates and stable aqueous and/or organic solvent compositions containing biocides
A stable matrix emulsion concentrate of a biocide, e.g. 3-iodopropynyl-2-butyl carbamate (IPBC) and/or a triazole fungicide, and stable aqueous and/or organic solvent formulations thereof, i.e. dilutable in water and/or an organic solvent are provided, which are particularly useful for treating wood products to provide protection against microorganisms and insects. |
| US09560832B2 |
Automated system for applying disinfectant to the teats of dairy livestock
A method for operating a robotic arm comprises determining a speed of rotation of a rotary milking platform, the rotary milking platform having a stall for a dairy livestock. The method further includes moving a carriage along a track positioned adjacent to the rotary milking platform at a rate that is based at least in part upon the determined speed of rotation of the rotary milking platform. The method further includes extending a robotic arm that is coupled to the carriage between the legs of the dairy livestock. |
| US09560831B2 |
Conduit and a method of cleaning a conduit
The invention relates to a conduit for transferring milk. The conduit is provided with at least one flexible wall, which divides the conduit into at least one milk duct and at least one secondary duct. The milk duct and the at least one secondary duct extend along a longitudinal axis of the conduit, it being possible for the at least one milk duct to be substantially emptied by pressing through filling the at least one secondary duct. |
| US09560825B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH037994
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH037994. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH037994, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH037994 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH037994. |
| US09560823B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH103948
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH103948. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH103948, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH103948 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH103948. |
| US09560817B2 |
Soybean cultivar S140144
A soybean cultivar designated S140144 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S140144, to the plants of soybean cultivar S140144, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S140144, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S140144. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140144. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140144, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S140144 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09560815B2 |
Bean variety SV1137GF
The invention provides seed and plants of the bean line designated SV1137GF. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of bean line SV1137GF, and to methods for producing a bean plant produced by crossing a plant of bean line SV1137GF with itself or with another bean plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of bean line SV1137GF, including the pods and gametes of such plants. |
| US09560812B2 |
Solar redshift systems
Solar-redshift systems comprise an integral array of redshift modules, each having at least a focusing device, a target, and a quantum-dot vessel. The quantum-dot vessel contains quantum dots that emit light having an emission wavelength. The focusing device directs incident solar radiation through a focusing gap and toward the quantum-dot vessel, or into a slab waveguide and then toward the quantum-dot vessel, causing the quantum dots to emit redshifted light having the emission wavelength. The redshifted light is directed to the target, examples of which include a photovoltaic material or a living photosynthetic organism. The target has increased sensitivity or response to photons having the wavelength of the redshifted light. A trapping reflector component of the quantum-dot vessel prevents loss of redshifted light to the environment outside the solar-redshift system and allows undesirable infrared light to be removed from the system. |
| US09560809B2 |
Method for planting beneath solar panels blends containing mostly fine fescue mixtures
A seed composition suitable for planting beneath and around one or more solar panel arrays, said seed composition consisting mostly of a blend of fine fescues that results in under panel grass growth requiring little to no regular mowing. One preferred version includes: (a) about 20-50% by weight Hard Fescue; (b) about 20-50% by weight Creeping Red Fescue; and (c) about 20-50% by weight Chewings Fescue. |
| US09560804B1 |
Stalk roll with flutes defining a recess
One embodiment of a stalk roll to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header comprises a cylindrical shell with a recess in the main cylinder, wherein reduced flutes are not present in the recess, but full flutes are present therein. This embodiment includes a stalk slot having a length equal to the length of the recess. Additionally, the flutes may be configured such that a stalk engagement gap is present at least once during a full revolution of two opposing stalk rolls. |
| US09565795B2 |
Receptacle assembly and module assembly
In a receptacle assembly, a module is guided by a guide rail and held inside an opening of a printed wiring board when a plug connector of the module is connected to a host connector. |
| US09565790B1 |
Data center thermal monitoring
A system includes a first computing component and a second computing component. A first measurement indicative of a temperature of a first computing component is received. A second measurement indicative of a temperature of a second computing component is received. A thermal value is calculated for the first computing component based on the first measurement and the second measurement. In response to determining that the calculated thermal value exceeds the threshold, an operational or physical parameter of the system is modified. |
| US09565789B2 |
Determining regions of influence of fluid moving devices
A method for determining regions of influence of a plurality of fluid moving devices in an infrastructure is provided. In the method, a plurality of clusters are generated, with each of the plurality of clusters containing a representation of fluid supply data pertaining to a fluid moving device and one or more of the plurality of sensors based upon collected sensor and fluid supply data. In addition, regions of influence of each of the plurality of fluid moving devices are identified from an analysis of the generated clusters. |
| US09565788B2 |
Mobile data processing center
The present mobile processing data center comprises a support structure, which consisting in ISO standard containers of 10, 20, 40 or 53 feet, wherein the container comprises: a) automatic transfer switch; b) uninterruptible power system; c) precision air conditioners; d) cabinets having a bearing and rails system, and 42 RMS in order to install the IT equipment; f) two levels of trays ladder type installed on the top of the cabinets, one tray for data wiring and other for power wiring; g) removable floor panels; and h) additionally the mobile data center comprises a fire protection system “zero-footprint”. |
| US09565784B2 |
Electronic device with fan for dissipating heat
An electronic device includes a shell, a thermal element, a controller and a fan. The shell defines a first air outlet and a second air outlet. The controller controls the fan to rotate clockwise to generate a first air current to dissipate the heat generated by the thermal element out of the first air outlet in a first preset condition, and control the fan to rotate anticlockwise to generate a second air current to dissipate the heat generated by the thermal element out of the second air outlet in a second preset condition. |
| US09565783B1 |
Modular data center
Modular data centers with modular components suitable for use with rack or shelf mount computing systems, for example, are disclosed. The modular center generally includes a modular computing module including an intermodal shipping container and computing systems mounted within the container and configured to be shipped and operated within the container and a temperature control system for maintaining the air temperature surrounding the computing systems. The intermodal shipping container may be configured in accordance to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) container manufacturing standards or otherwise configured with respect to height, length, width, weight, and/or lifting points of the container for transport via an intermodal transport infrastructure. The modular design enables the modules to be cost effectively built at a factory and easily transported to and deployed at a data center site. |
| US09565781B2 |
Holding apparatus that holds electronic apparatus
A holding apparatus includes a holding member that holds an electronic apparatus, a supporting member that is connected to the holding member and supports the holding member, and a first pushing member and a second pushing member which are disposed between the holding member and the supporting member. When the first pushing member is handled by the user, the first pushing member pushes the second pushing member in the first direction toward the holding member, and pushes the holding member in the second direction toward the supporting member and opposite to the first direction. |
| US09565777B1 |
Security mesh and method of making
A method of making a security mesh comprises forming on a conductive substrate an alumina film having through-holes in which metal, e.g., copper, through-wires are formed. First surface wires are formed on one surface of the alumina film and second surface wires are formed on the second, opposite surface of the alumina film in order to connect selected through-wires into a continuous undulating electrical circuit embedded within the alumina film. The security mesh product comprises an alumina film having a continuous undulating electrical circuit comprising copper or other conductive metal extending therethrough. A stacked security mesh comprises two or more of the mesh products being stacked one above the other. |
| US09565774B2 |
Embedded trace substrate and method of forming the same
In one embodiment, a method for forming an embedded trace substrate includes forming a conductive layer on a carrier. A dielectric film is provided on the conductive layer. Vias are formed in the dielectric film and extend to portions of the conductive layer. A conductive pattern is formed on the dielectric layer and is electrically connected to the conductive layer through the vias. The carrier is removed and portions of the conductive layer are selectively removed to provide a plurality of bumps pads configured to protrude outwardly from the dielectric layer. |
| US09565770B2 |
Methods of making packages using thin Cu foil supported by carrier Cu foil
In an embodiment, there is provided a method of creating a package, the method comprising: providing an initial substrate, wherein the initial substrate comprises a carrier foil, a functional copper foil, and an interface release layer between the carrier foil and the functional copper foil; building up copper portions on the functional copper foil; attaching a chip to a first copper portion; coupling the chip to a second copper portion; encapsulating at least the chip and the copper portions with a mold; and removing the carrier foil and interface release layer. |
| US09565766B2 |
Formation of DRAM capacitor among metal interconnect
Techniques are disclosed for integrating capacitors among the metal interconnect for embedded DRAM applications. In some embodiments, the technique uses a wet etch to completely remove the interconnect metal (e.g., copper) that is exposed prior to the capacitor formation. This interconnect metal removal precludes that metal from contaminating the hi-k dielectric of the capacitor. Another benefit is increased height (surface area) of the capacitor, which allows for increased charge storage. In one example embodiment, an integrated circuit device is provided that includes a substrate having at least a portion of a DRAM bit cell circuitry, an interconnect layer on the substrate and including one or more metal-containing interconnect features, and a capacitor at least partly in the interconnect layer and occupying space from which a metal-containing interconnect feature was removed. The integrated circuit device can be, for example, a processor or a communications device. |
| US09565765B2 |
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board is disclosed. Pins of a plurality of resistors on the PCB are connected to the same input line. At least two out of the resistors are connected to the same input line with access pins overlapped. One shared bonding pad is located in every overlapped area, electrical components are bonded on the shared bonding pads. As at least two out of the resistors are connected to the same input line with the access pins overlapped, the utilization of space is maximized. In this way, not only the dimension of the PCB is reduced, but also the manufacturing cost is reduced at the same time. |
| US09565753B2 |
Forming method of stretchable substrate, stretchable substrate and electronic device having stretchable substrate
There is provided a stretchable substrate including: a substrate having first Young's modulus and stretchability; and plurality of strain control patterns having second Young's modulus and arranged on the substrate, in which strain due to an external force depends on arrangement of the plurality of strain control patterns. |
| US09565751B2 |
Suspension board with circuit
A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting board, a first insulating layer including a disposing portion formed at one side in a thickness direction of the metal supporting board, a first conductive layer including a first wire portion formed at the one side of the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer including a covering portion covering the first wire portion, and a second conductive layer including a second wire portion formed at the one side of the second insulating layer and a terminal portion connected to the first or second wire portion. The second insulating layer includes a second terminal supporting portion formed at the other of the terminal portion. The first insulating layer includes a first terminal supporting portion formed at the other side of the second terminal supporting portion. The metal supporting board is not formed at the other side thereof. |
| US09565749B2 |
Circuit obfuscation using differing dielectric constants
An obfuscated radio frequency circuit may be manufactured to include a metallization layer, and a dielectric layer under the metallization layer. The dielectric layer may be made up of a plurality of dielectric substrates having different dielectric constants to obfuscate functions of the circuit. |
| US09565745B2 |
Lighting apparatus, lighting control system, and method of controlling the lighting apparatus
A lighting apparatus connected to a network includes a light source for emitting light. A controller controls operation of the light source in response to an external control signal. A non-contact sensor detects a non-contact signal and generates a reset signal in response to detecting the non-contact signal. A communication interface communicatively connects the lighting apparatus to a wireless network to receive the external control signal from a remote apparatus via the wireless network and disconnects the lighting apparatus from the wireless network in response to receiving the reset signal from the non-contact sensor. |
| US09565744B2 |
Programmable lighting device and method and system for programming lighting device
A programmable lighting device includes a power stage, a controller, a nonvolatile memory and a near field communication device. The power stage is configured to receive power from an external supply and supplying power to at least one light source. The controller is configured to control operation of the power stage according to an operating parameter and/or configuration setting for the programmable lighting device. The nonvolatile memory device stores the operating parameter and/or configuration setting. The near field communication device receives a radio frequency signal which communicates the operating parameter and/or configuration setting, and in response thereto stores the operating parameter and/or configuration setting in the nonvolatile memory. The near field communication device generates a supply voltage for powering the nonvolatile memory device from the RF signal. |
| US09565740B2 |
Lighting control module
A lighting control module provides an enclosure for a circuit board, with the circuit board being mounted to and grounded to the enclosure. A primary power system is provided to receive and transmit voltage to lighting circuits, utilizing a terminal bus bar, a main switch, a voltage selection switch, and a transformer. An auxiliary power system draws energy from portable power sources in the event of a main power source failure. The auxiliary power system includes an associated terminal bus bar and an auxiliary switch. The primary and auxiliary power systems are connected to the lighting circuits through a circuit protection unit, e.g. fuse. The lighting circuits have both positive and negative terminals, LED indicators, switches, and individual fuses. The lighting circuits can be turned on and off individually by virtue of the switches for each lighting circuit. Status indicators and ground terminals are also provided. |
| US09565739B2 |
Lamp control device of construction machine and lamp control method therefor
The present invention relates to a lamp control device of a construction machine and a lamp control method therefor, wherein the control of a plurality of lamps (for example: a working lamp, a deck lamp, a cabin lamp and a rear lamp) which are provided in a construction machine can be carried out by a first key input means which is a single typical switch button and a second key input means which is provided with a plurality of sub-setting keys such that unnecessary switches are removed from the inside of a cabin, thereby providing a more convenient and simplified equipment operation environment for workers. |
| US09565737B2 |
Device for generating light with a variable color
An illumination system and method is disclosed. In one example, the illumination system comprises a lamp assembly for generating color-variable light, a controller for generating control signals for the lamp assembly, source color input means, preferably a color sensor, for inputting to the controller information defining a source color; a memory associated with the controller, containing information defining at least one color harmony rule. On the basis of the input source color, and using the harmony rule from the memory, the controller calculates a target color and generates its output control signals accordingly. Thus, the light output from the lamp assembly harmoniously matches the measured color of surroundings or objects. |
| US09565734B1 |
System and method for rapidly generating color models for LED-based lamps
Some embodiments include a model builder system that generates a color model to facilitate a color tunable lamp to mix the right amount of light from various color channels to reproduce a target color characteristic of a reference lamp. The model builder system can perform pre-computations that characterize the perceived characteristic of individual color channels and the reference lamp. The model builder system can divide the color channels of the color tunable lamp into floating channels and non-floating channels. Holding the operating points of the non-floating channels constant, the model builder system inverse solves for the necessary flux values of the color channels to reproduce the target color characteristic and to optimize color metrics. |
| US09565730B2 |
Backlight device and backlight control method
A backlight device includes: a light emitting unit that includes a plurality of light sources having different light emission colors from each other; a detection unit that detects light emission states of the plurality of light sources; a temperature sensor that measures a temperature in a proximity of the plurality of light sources; a brightness conversion unit that converts values indicating the detected light emission states to obtain a detection value for each color of the light emission colors; and a calculation unit that corrects the obtained detection value for each of the light emission colors by using information indicating a relationship between the measured temperature and a correction value, and determines drive values for the light sources based on the corrected detection value. |
| US09565728B2 |
LED driver device, and television receiver
An LED drive circuit (1) includes: a booster circuit (2); a light emitting pattern generator (5); and a switching switch (3) for, (i) during an on period, feeding back, to the booster circuit (2), an electric current flowing to an LED (7), and (ii) during an off period, feeding back, to the booster circuit (2), a voltage signal obtained by dividing an output voltage of the booster circuit (2). |
| US09565725B2 |
Driver device and driving method for driving a load, in particular an LED unit
The present invention relates to a driver device for driving a load, in particular an LED unit having one or more LEDs, comprising input terminals for receiving an input voltage from an external power source for powering the load, and a connection unit for connecting the input terminals to each other and for providing a current path for a bleeding current, wherein the connection unit comprises a first current path for connecting the input terminals in a first current direction and a second current path for connecting the input terminals in a second current direction opposite to the first current direction, wherein the connection unit comprises a first current control unit for controlling the bleeding current in the connection unit, and wherein the first and the second current path each comprises a second current control unit for controlling the bleeding current in the respective current path. |
| US09565724B2 |
Alternating current rectifying circuit and alternating current rectifying method for driving LED module
Disclosed are an alternating current rectifying circuit and an alternating current rectifying method for driving an LED module. The method comprises: when an alternating current module is in a positive half cycle, after an alternating current output by the alternating current module is rectified, outputting the alternating current to a positive half cycle rectifying branch circuit of an external LED module; when the alternating current module is in a negative half cycle, carrying out charging according to the alternating current output by the alternating current module, and when the alternating current module is in the positive half cycle, carrying out discharging, and outputting the alternating current to a positive half cycle feed branch circuit of the external LED module; when the alternating current module is in the negative half cycle, rectifying the alternating current output by the alternating current module, and outputting the alternating current to a negative half cycle rectifying branch circuit of the external LED module; when the alternating current module is in the positive half cycle, carrying out charging according to the alternating current output by the alternating current module, and when the alternating current module is in the negative half cycle, carrying out discharging, and outputting the alternating current to a negative half cycle feed branch circuit of the external LED module. By using the present invention, stability of an output voltage can be improved, and luminous efficiency of the LED module can be improved. |
| US09565723B2 |
Device and method for generating light of a predetermined spectrum with at least four differently colored light sources
A lighting device and method with a lighting unit which includes several light sources having different color spectra, with a sensor for determining the spectral power distribution emitted by the lighting unit, with a control unit which, as a function of a predetermined spectral power distribution as well as of the spectral power distribution measured by the sensor, acts on a drive unit which individually energizes the light sources of the lighting unit, so that the emitted light has predetermined spectral power distribution, wherein the lighting unit includes at least four light sources, and the control unit uses an optimization algorithm which, as an optimization goal, maximizes a coefficient of weighted sensor values, the coefficient being calculable from individual drive data of the light sources. A secondary condition is met when error between the predetermined spectral power distribution and the measured spectral power distribution is smaller than a limit value. |
| US09565717B2 |
Reconfigurable antennas and configuration selection methods for AD-HOC networks
Reconfigurable antennas in an ad-hoc network are provided where all nodes employ MIMO/SIMO/MISO communication techniques. Three types of reconfigurable antennas: Reconfigurable Printed Dipole Array (RPDA), Reconfigurable Circular Patch Antenna (RCPA) and Two-Port Reconfigurable CRLH Leaky Wave Antennas are used. The RPDA, RCPA and the CRLH Leaky Wave antennas have a different number of configurations as well as different degrees of pattern diversity between possible configurations. To effectively use these antennas in a network, the performance of centralized and decentralized antenna configuration selection schemes are quantified for reconfiguration at one or both link ends. The sum capacity of the network is used as a metric to quantify the performance of these antennas in measured and simulated network channels. |
| US09565715B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for coordinating operations between circuit switched (CS) and packet switched (PS) services with different subscriber identity cards, and machine-readable storage medium
A wireless communications device is provided with a Baseband chip capable of coordinating operations between circuit switched (CS) and packet switched (PS) services with different subscriber identity cards. The Baseband chip is configured to receive a request for making a mobile originated (MO) call with a first subscriber identity card when performing a background PS data service with a second subscriber identity card. The Baseband chip suspends or terminates the background PS data service in response to the request, and further makes the MO call with the first subscriber identity card when the background PS data service is suspended or terminated. |
| US09565708B2 |
Auto-connect in a peer-to-peer network
A wireless device that automatically forms a connection to a remote device in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol. The remote device may be designated as an auto-connect device for the wireless device such that, when the wireless device determines that it is in the vicinity of the auto-connect device, it can re-form a connection to the remote device based on stored information for re-establishing connections among a persistent group of devices, but without any express user input. When a user requests that the wireless device perform a function that involves interaction with an auto-connect device, that function may be performed with the delay associated with forming a connection. Any of multiple techniques may be employed for identifying devices designated as auto-connect devices and for determining when the wireless device and a remote, auto-connect devices are in close proximity. |
| US09565706B2 |
Method and wireless terminal device for rapidly establishing dual-stack wireless connection
A method and wireless terminal device for rapidly establishing a dual-stack wireless connection. The wireless terminal device sends various types of packet data protocol (PDP) activation requests after being registered onto a wireless network, and determines an Internet Protocol (IP) type supported by the network based on a result returned by the network; after receiving a connection instruction from a user, the wireless terminal device initiates one PDP activation request corresponding to a determined IP type supported by the network; if a result that the PDP activation is performed successfully is returned by the network, the wireless terminal device establishes a data connection. Compared to the related art, the wireless terminal device of the present disclosure determines the IP type supported by the network in advance when it is registered onto the network, and thus may prevent a fall-back process and rapidly establish the connection when receiving the connection instruction. |
| US09565702B2 |
Desynchronized network access in M2M networks
Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed to desynchronize transmissions in group-based operations. A group user equipment (UE), e.g., a UE that is a member of a group of UEs, may be in an inactive mode. The group UE may receive a multicast message indicating that the group UE may enter an active mode. For example, the group UE may use the active mode for periodic reporting of its monitoring activity to the network. The multicast message may indicate a mechanism for the group UE to use to send an uplink transmission to the network. The group UE may send the uplink transmission to the network at a transmission time indicated by the mechanism. The transmission time may be desynchronized from other UEs in the group. |
| US09565701B2 |
Random access response receiving and sending method, user equipment, base station and system
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a random access response receiving and sending method, a user equipment, a base station, and a system. The method includes: after sending a dedicated random access preamble to a network side, on a physical downlink control channel, according to a pre-obtained dedicated identifier, detecting control signaling masked by using the dedicated identifier, where the dedicated identifier is a user equipment-specific temporary identifier configured by the network side for the user equipment, and the control signaling includes information about a physical downlink shared channel used to send a random access response and information required for decoding the random access response; and receiving the random access response on a corresponding physical downlink shared channel according to the control signaling. |
| US09565700B2 |
Methods and apparatus for random access in multi-carrier communication systems
A method at a base station of determining a time delay associated with a mobile station in a multiple access wireless communication system. A signal is received from a mobile station over a selected random access subchannel in a selected random access time slot. A Fast Fourier Transform is applied to the received signal to generate a transformed signal in the frequency domain. The transformed signal is then processed in the frequency domain by computing a dot-product to identify a random access sequence carried in the received signal. The received signal is then processed in the time domain by computing a correlation between a time-shifted version of the received signal and the identified random access sequence to determine a time delay associated with the mobile station. |
| US09565695B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting uplink scheduling request in mobile communication system
A method and apparatus for transmitting an uplink Scheduling Request (SR) are provided. The method includes, obtaining a SR subframe configuration by receiving signaling, and transmitting SR information to a Base Station (BS) by using physical resources of another non-SR channel for transmitting other uplink control information. By applying the present invention, the SR, ACKnowledgement/Non-ACKnowledgement (ACK/NACK) or Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) information is returned to a BS when low Constant Modulus (CM) characteristic of an uplink Component Carrier (CC) is ensured. |
| US09565694B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing intercell interference
In one aspect, the present invention provides methods and apparatuses for detecting that a wireless communication device in a serving cell is experiencing excessive interference variance, detecting a transmission pattern of interfering transmissions giving rise to such variance, and correspondingly adjusting scheduling of the device as a function of the detected transmission pattern, to at least partly avoid the interfering transmissions. An advantageous feature of such operation is that the determination of excessive interference variance and the determination of the transmission pattern associated with that varying interference can be done by a network node, e.g., the device's serving base station, or by the device, without requiring backhaul signaling or other inter-node cooperation in the network. |
| US09565692B2 |
Method of improving channel utilization
Improvements on latency are achieved for highest priority messaging and channel utilization in a time-slotted access channel structure. New superframe structures are presented where scheduled, but unused access slots can be utilized by secondary nodes. The messaging is accomplished by defining user priorities for nodes and the nodes sensing an ongoing transmission in the network. The time slotted channel access structure has at least one access phase which is divided into access slots. In the beginning of the access phase the nodes sense if a highest priority transmission exist and if not, another node with a lower user priority may initiate transmission. |
| US09565689B2 |
Near-optimal QoS-based resource allocation for hybrid-medium communication networks
Embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing network resource allocation over hybrid networks so that application QoS requirements are met. The hybrid networks are represented as an undirected weighted graph with the communication links as edges irrespective of the communication medium. A QoS-based resource allocation model. Another embodiment further includes utility functions that capture the QoS attributes such as reliability, timeliness, fault-tolerance and lifetime allows determining routes and bandwidth allocation such that the total system utility across the entire network is maximized. |
| US09565688B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
A wireless communication apparatus is capable of improving communication efficiency by reducing the amount of control information transmitted. A channel quality information extraction section extracts CQI's from a received signal. An allocation control section allocates subcarriers for every communication terminal apparatus and selects a modulation scheme in such a manner that required transmission rate is satisfied for each communication terminal apparatus based on required transmission rate information, etc. and CQI's for communication terminal apparatus of each user. A required subcarrier number determining section decides the number of subcarriers allocated to every communication terminal apparatus so as to satisfy the required transmission rate for each communication terminal apparatus. A required subcarrier number information generating section generates information for the number of subcarriers allocated to every communication terminal apparatus. A subcarrier allocation section allocates packet data to selected subcarriers. Modulating sections adaptively modulate packet data allocated to each subcarrier. |
| US09565687B2 |
Transmission of quality metrics in a wireless communication device
Various embodiments include methods for reporting quality metrics of a wireless communication device to a network that includes scheduling, on the wireless communication device, a tune-away from a first carrier of a first subscription to a second subscription. Quality metrics of the first carrier before the tune-away begins are calculated and stored as frozen quality metrics. During the tune-away, the wireless communication device sends the stored frozen quality metrics to the network. The stored frozen quality metrics may continue to be sent to the network as long as the duration of the tune-away is shorter than a time threshold. If the duration of the tune-away exceeds the time threshold, the wireless communication device may calculate and send actual quality metrics of the carrier to the network. |
| US09565683B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for bearing circuit switched domain service data over radio bearer
A method for bearing CS-domain service data over radio bearer is disclosed. The method includes: letting CS-domain service data be borne over a radio high-speed packet data access channel according to a channel mapping relation between CS-domain service data and the radio high-speed packet data access channel. An apparatus and a system are also provided herein. |
| US09565678B2 |
Apparatus and method for allocating resources in a single carrier-frequency division multiple access system
Methods and apparatuses are provided for transmitting data by a user equipment (UE) in a communication system. Resource information is received from a node B. One of inter-subframe hopping, and intra and inter-subframe hopping, are identified. A hopping parameter is determined. A mirroring parameter is determined. A resource is determined for data transmission based on the resource information, the hopping parameter, and the mirroring parameter. The data is transmitted using the resource for data transmission. The hopping parameter and the mirroring parameter are determined at a slot, if the intra and inter-subframe hopping is identified. |
| US09565675B2 |
Fixed intermediate frequency signal with tuned low frequency local oscillator reference for linear transmitter
A linear technology radio for use in satellite communication is provided. The linear technology radio includes: a pre-amplifier to amplify a Local Oscillator (LO) reference signal; an intermediate frequency (IF) amplifier to amplify an IF signal; a frequency multiplier to multiply the LO reference signal; and a mixer to mix the amplified LO reference signal and the amplified IF signal to generate a Radio Frequency (RF) signal, wherein a frequency band of the IF signal is fixed, a frequency band of the LO reference signal is variable, and a highest frequency of the LO reference signal frequency band is less than a lowest frequency of the IF signal frequency band. |
| US09565672B2 |
Techniques for improved multicast content delivery
Techniques for improved multicast content delivery are described. In some embodiments, for example, an apparatus includes a processor circuit, a communication component operative by the processor circuit to receive a data transmission containing a description segment and a correspondence segment, a correspondence processing component operative by the processor circuit to determine a plurality of multicast content streams representing different versions of a media content based on the correspondence segment, and a selection component operative by the processor circuit to select and receive one or more of the plurality of multicast content streams based on characteristics identified in the description segment. In various such embodiments, the apparatus includes an adaptation component operative by the processor circuit to adaptively switch across the plurality of multicast content streams for reception and processing based on characteristics identified in the description segment. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09565670B2 |
Method for data forwarding in a small cell system
The present application discloses a method for data forwarding in a small cell system, comprising: sending by a master base station (MeNB) to a target secondary base station (SeNB) information of a source SeNB or a source SeNB cell where a user equipment (UE) is located; determining by the target SeNB whether a direct data forwarding is feasible; notifying, by the target SeNB, the MeNB whether the direct data forwarding is feasible; and determining by the MeNB whether it is a direct data forwarding or an indirect data forwarding. The method for data forwarding provided in the present application may support both the direct data forwarding and the indirect data forwarding based on actual situation of the network, reduce data loss and failure of data forwarding, and improve the efficiency of data forwarding. |
| US09565666B2 |
Terminal device, base station device, communication method, and integrated circuit for decoding a physical downlink shared channel in a non-MBSFN subframe
A terminal device includes means of determining resource elements to which a physical downlink shared channel is mapped for transmission on the physical downlink shared channel in a non-MBSFN subframe that is scheduled by using a downlink control information format 1A based on positions of cell-specific reference signals that are provided by using a physical layer cell identity. |
| US09565665B2 |
Method for resource allocation for downlink control channel in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
Disclosed is a method for a base station to transmit a downlink control channel in a wireless communication system. Specifically, the method comprises the steps of: determining, on the basis of the number of usable resource elements in one pair of resource blocks, the size of a resource allocation unit for a downlink control channel and the number of resource allocation units within one pair of resource blocks; mapping the downlink control channel, from a preset number of resource block pairs, to the transmission resource on the basis of the determined resource allocation unit; and transmitting the downlink control channel to a terminal, wherein the size of the resource allocation unit is defined by the number of resource elements and is varied according to the number of usable resource elements. |
| US09565659B1 |
Wireless beacon for embedding in building infrastructure
An electrical outlet faceplate. The electrical outlet faceplate comprises a plate, an alternating current to direct current (AC/DC) converter mechanically coupled to the plate, and a wireless beacon mechanically coupled to the plate and electrically coupled to the AC/DC converter. The wireless beacon is a radio transmitter that transmits an identification in a radio frequency signal that has an effective range of less than 20 meters. The electrical outlet face plate further comprises a wire electrically connected to the AC/DC converter at a first end of the wire, whereby, when a second end of the wire is electrically connected to a powered electrical outlet, the wire provides alternating current power to the AC/DC converter. |
| US09565650B2 |
Communication event notification method, apparatus, and system
A communication event notification method, an apparatus, and system, which relate to the communications field and can flexibly present notification information according to a preset condition. The method includes learning, by a central device, of a communication event; determining, by the central device, an identifier of at least one bridge device according to parameter information of a candidate bridge device, where parameter information of the at least one bridge device meets a preset condition; and sending, by the central device according to the identifier of the at least one bridge device, notification information corresponding to the communication event to the at least one bridge device. |
| US09565649B2 |
Distribution and utilization of antenna information for location determination operations
Disclosed are implementations, including a method, performed at a processor-based mobile device, that includes receiving at the mobile device antenna information for a wireless node, including a transmitter gain for the wireless node in at least one message transmitted to the mobile device. The at least one message includes, a beacon frame message, a fine timing measurement (FTM) protocol-based message, and/or an assistance data message transmitted from a remote central repository. The method also includes deriving an estimate of a receiver gain for a receiver of the mobile device based, at least in part, on the transmitter gain for the wireless node, and adjusting one or more signal strength values determined for signals received from the wireless node based on the estimate of the receiver gain of the receiver of the mobile device derived based, at least in part, on the transmitter gain for the wireless node. |
| US09565634B2 |
Data transmission method, apparatus, and system, network side device, and terminal device
A data transmission method, apparatus, and system, a network side device, and a terminal device. The data transmission method is applied to the terminal device and includes: setting the terminal device to be in a first non-activated state or a second non-activated state, where in the first non-activated state, the terminal device does not listen to a paging message, and in the second non-activated state, the terminal device listens to a paging message within a first preset listening time or a first preset quantity of listening times, and does not listen to a paging message when the first listening time or the first quantity of listening times is exceeded, setting the terminal device to be in a connected state, and sending, by the terminal device, the uplink data after updating system information; and receiving downlink data that is buffered by the network side device. |
| US09565631B2 |
Method and arrangement for controlling discontinuous reception by a user equipment
The present disclosure relates to a method in a network node for controlling DRX to be applied by a user equipment, UE, connected to said network node. Said network node can order the UE to enter a first DRX cycle by means of a specific control element. The method comprises the step of ordering the user equipment to enter a second DRX cycle by means of a modified usage of said specific control element. The disclosure furthermore relates to a network node, a method in a user equipment and a user equipment. |
| US09565629B2 |
Discontinuous traffic in a telecommunication network using terminal suggested DRX/DTX pattern
Mobile telecommunication device includes an application module to execute applications, radio module to communicate radio signals to and from a remote network node, and base band module to communicate data to and from the radio module, and to code and decode the data using a communication protocol. The base band module includes modem usage analyzing submodule to receive modem requests from applications, and to analyze all modem requests received during predefined time period. The base band module includes pattern suggestion submodule to receive information on the modem requests from the modem usage analyzing submodule, and to select reception and transmission pattern using information on the modem requests. The base band module includes Radio Resource Control protocol handler configured to send one or more parameters defining the selected reception and transmission pattern to the network node. The utilized DRX/DTX parameters can be optimized to save battery in the device. |
| US09565626B2 |
Prioritizing radio access types for closed subscriber group cells
A network entity may be configured for prioritizing radio access types for CSG cells of a wireless communication system by storing priority information defining, for each of one or more types of data traffic (e.g., IP traffic, voice traffic, etc.), a priority ranking of cell types comprising at least one of different wireless technologies and different access control types (e.g., a CSG mode, a hybrid mode and an open mode), and indicating the priority information to a mobile device for connecting to cells of a wireless communications system. A corresponding mobile entity may be configured for receiving the priority information as described, and selecting a cell to connect to or camp on based on the priority information. |
| US09565623B2 |
Systems and methods for ordering candidates for wireless network association
Systems and methods for ordering candidates for wireless network association are provided. In certain embodiments, a wireless device, includes a processor that controls data received and data to be transmitted by the wireless device; and a memory, wherein the memory stores a short list that stores network device responses, wherein a network device response is associated with a network device in an environment of the wireless device. In certain implementations, instructions direct the processor to perform a short list search, wherein the wireless device attempts to connect to networks associated with network devices identified in the short list; and when the wireless device fails to connect with the networks associated with the network devices identified in the short list, perform an exhaustive search, wherein the wireless device attempts to connect to additional networks associated with additional network devices based on an ordered arrangement of network identifiers. |
| US09565620B2 |
Dynamic routing in a mesh network
Technologies are described herein for dynamically determining and assigning parent nodes and routes for nodes in a mesh network. A host sends a command message to one or more nodes of the mesh network. The command message is configured to cause the nodes to collect communication parameters regarding neighboring nodes and to upload neighbor lists containing the communication parameters regarding the neighboring nodes to the host. The host then calculates a link score for the pairs of neighboring nodes in the mesh network based on the communication parameters in the uploaded neighbor lists and assigns one or more parent nodes to at least one of the nodes based on the calculated link scores. The host then sends a command message to the node causing the node to reconfigure based on the command message and begin communicating through the newly assigned one or more parent nodes. |
| US09565617B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring routing path in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for configuring a routing path in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes measuring a first distance between the terminal and a target terminal, transmitting information of the measured first distance to at least one neighboring terminal, receiving a second distance measured for the target terminal with respect to the terminal from the at least one neighboring terminal, and determining a neighboring terminal of which the second distance is the longest as a next terminal of the routing path. |
| US09565612B2 |
Method and apparatus for interference management
In some aspects, restricted access nodes are assigned to a designated common channel while access terminals that are in active communication with a macro access node may selectively be assigned to the designated channel. In some aspects, an access terminal associated with macro access node may perform a handoff to a different carrier when the access terminal is in the vicinity of a coverage area of a restricted access node. In some aspects, an access terminal associated with a macro access node may perform a handoff to a different carrier based on location information. In some aspects, access to a restricted access node is controlled based on policy and/or based on operation of an access terminal associated with the restricted access node. |
| US09565609B2 |
Method and apparatus for triggering handover between access points based on gathered history data of series of access points
A method of handover prediction for a mobile device comprises receiving wireless communication service from a first access point; detecting a change in fingerprint data relating to available access points; correlating recent history data of a series of fingerprint data with history data comprised by a history database; determining, in response to the correlation and by using the fingerprint data and the history data, a second access point; and triggering a handover from the first access point to the second access point. The method may further comprise determining fingerprint data relating to available access points; comparing the fingerprint data to known fingerprint data of a fingerprint database; updating the fingerprint database in response to the comparison revealing new fingerprint data; and storing history data of series of fingerprint data reflecting earlier movement of a user to a history database. Identifying unavailable access points and notifying a disconnection to the mobile user. |
| US09565608B2 |
Method for performing mobile communications and mobile radio communication terminal device
A method for performing mobile communications from a first mobile terminal may include identifying one or more further mobile terminals engaged in device-to-device communications with the first mobile terminal. The method may further include selecting an intermediary mobile terminal from the one or more further mobile terminals, and transmitting mobile communication data from the first mobile terminal to the intermediary mobile terminal using direct device-to-device communications, wherein the mobile communication data is intended for transmission to a base station that is connected to the wireless communication network. The direct device-to-device communications may utilize wireless resources allocated by the network for transmission of cellular data from at least one mobile terminal to at least one base station. |
| US09565599B1 |
Electronic devices with distributed radios
A modular electronic device including a master core and a plurality of communication radio modules is provided. The modular electronic device maximizes communication performance by receiving a request for network operations from a mobile operating system of the modular electronic device; polling a table to determine a capacity of each communication radio module; and assigning the network operations to a module of the communication radio modules with a highest available capacity to maximize the communication performance of the modular electronic device. |
| US09565598B2 |
Method and system to reduce delay in circuit switch fallback (CSFB) procedures while operating with multi/dual SIMs
A method of reducing delay in Circuit Switched FallBack (CSFB) in a Radio Access Technology (RAT) communications network. The method includes initiating, by a terminal, a combined attach procedure by sending an attach request message to the RAT communications network, receiving, by the terminal, an attach accept message along with Location Area Identification (LAI) information from the network in response to the attach request message, checking, by the terminal, network identifier information in a RAT information table based on the received LAI, and selecting a mobile network based on the network identifier information to trigger establishment of a circuit-switched call. |
| US09565595B2 |
Bandwidth calculating method and apparatus for resource reservation in mVoIP system
A provided is a bandwidth calculating method for resource reservation. The method includes receiving a message having a CODEC type and a ptime value wherein the ptime denotes an interval of transmitting a packet, extracting the CODEC type and the ptime value from the received message, and calculating a required bandwidth using the extracted CODEC type and the extracted ptime value. |
| US09565593B2 |
Techniques for selecting subframe type or for interleaving signals for wireless communications over unlicensed spectrum
Methods and apparatuses are described in which an unlicensed spectrum is used for Long Term Evolution (LTE) communications. A first method includes comparing past transmission activity on an unlicensed spectrum to an activity threshold, transmitting a first subframe type in the unlicensed spectrum during a next active transmission when the past transmission activity is greater than the activity threshold, and transmitting a second subframe type in the unlicensed spectrum during a next active transmission when the past transmission activity is lesser than the activity threshold, the second subframe type comprising a more robust subframe type than the first subframe type. A second method includes generating one or both of PUCCH signals and PUSCH signals based on interleaved signals that increase nominal bandwidth occupancy in an unlicensed spectrum, and transmitting the generated signals in the unlicensed spectrum. A third method includes receiving the PUCCH signals and the PUSCH signals. |
| US09565592B2 |
Method for communicating in a network, radio stations and a system for allocating uplink resource
A primary station and at least one secondary station communicate on a downlink control channel in a network, wherein the primary station transmits an indication related to a resource allocated to one of the secondary stations in accordance with a semi persistent schedule, wherein at least two messages, which include at least part of the indication, are transmitted in one subframe. |
| US09565589B2 |
Information distribution system and method, terminal apparatus, server apparatus, data reception method, and data transmission method
An information distribution system and method capable of averaging a traffic load over time and effectively utilizing communication facilities, wherein a terminal station 30 transmits to a contents server 10 a distribution request for desired information including information of time limit of distribution, and the contents server 10 receives the distribution request, estimates a time band where the traffic load is small in the communications system in the period until the time limit of distribution, pages the terminal station again at that period of time, and, if the terminal station is in a state able to receive the information content, transmits the requested information content to the terminal station 30 through a network node. |
| US09565588B2 |
Enhanced multiplexing for single RLC entity
A method and apparatus for interrupting the lower priority packet transmission/reception for higher priority packet transmission/reception within the context of a common RLC entity is provided herein. The transmission/reception of lower priority data blocks containing data segments of a first higher layer packet is interrupted to transmit/receive higher priority data blocks containing data segments of a second higher layer packet. After the transmission/reception of a final segment of the second higher layer packet, the transmission/reception of the first higher layer packet is resumed. In some embodiments, a final segment of the second higher layer packet is encapsulated in a final higher priority data block with a remaining data segment of the first higher layer packet. The final higher priority data block further includes a transition indicator to indicate a transition from the second higher layer packet back to the first higher layer packet. |
| US09565586B1 |
Usage monitoring control for mobile networks
In general, techniques are described for facilitating usage monitoring control in mobile networks. A mobile gateway comprising one or more processors and a memory may be configured to perform the techniques. The one or more processors may be configured to establish a session by which a mobile device is to access a service of a mobile access network, and in response to receiving an incomplete indication to activate usage monitoring with respect to the service provided via the session, configuring the usage monitoring without activating the usage monitoring. The memory may be configured to store the usage monitoring configuration. |
| US09565585B2 |
Method and system for reporting FGI capability by terminal and assigning measurement task by network side
Disclosed are a capability for reporting Feature Group indicators (FGI) capability by the terminal and a method for configuring a measurement task for the terminal by the network side and a terminal, a network side device and a system thereof. Wherein, the method for reporting the FGI capability by the terminal comprises: when reporting the FGI capability of the terminal to the network side, for each Radio Access Technology (RAT), the terminal reporting whether the terminal supports Automatic Neighbor Relation (ANR) capability of the RAT or not. The method for configuring the measurement task for the terminal by the network side comprises: when obtaining the FGI capability of the terminal, the network side also obtaining whether the terminal supports the ANR capability of each RAT or not, and configuring a measurement task corresponding to the FGI capability for the terminal according to the FGI capability supported by the terminal. |
| US09565584B2 |
Human mobility rule-based device location tracking
Techniques are presented herein to provide human mobility pattern based modeling and tracking of a group of network enabled user devices associated with the same person. An association is made, at a tracking device, between a plurality of user devices and a user. Location information for each of the plurality of user devices is derived through network activity of the plurality of user devices. Locations for the plurality of user devices are derived from the location information. One or more predetermined user mobility pattern rules are applied to the plurality of user devices. User anomalies are detected when the tracked locations indicate that one or more of the plurality of user devices has violated one or more the predetermined user mobility rules. |
| US09565580B2 |
Prioritizing repair of signal leakage in an HFC network
A method or apparatus of identifying for repair a signal leak in an HFC network, wherein a base transceiver station in the vicinity of the HFC network transmits a BTS signal over-the-air. The method comprises or apparatus performs the steps of: (a) identifying a location of the signal leak; (b) in the vicinity of the signal leak, detecting the BTS signal; (c) determining a level of the BTS signal; (d) defining a threshold level; (e) with the use of a processor, determining whether the level of the BTS signal meets or exceeds the threshold level; and (f) indicating for repair the signal leak if the level of the BTS signal meets or exceeds the threshold level. |
| US09565579B2 |
Sampling of device states for mobile software applications
A method for monitoring software application performance and one or more device states affecting a software application on a periodic basis on a mobile device. The method includes one or more computer processors identifying a software application on a mobile device. The method further includes the one or more computer processors identifying a plurality of sampling plans and one or more respective triggers within the plurality of sampling plans that are respectively associated with the software application and are stored on the mobile device. The method further includes the one or more computer processors determining a first value associated with the one or more respective triggers. The method further includes the one or more computer processors selecting a first sampling plan from the plurality of sampling plans for the software application based, at least in part, on the value associated with the one or more respective triggers. |
| US09565577B2 |
Method and apparatus for maximizing network capacity of cell sites in a wireless network
A method, computer-readable storage device and an apparatus for maximizing the capacity of a wireless network across a geographical area are disclosed. For example, the method monitors the wireless network and gathering network information and user endpoint device information for a geographical area comprising a plurality of cells of the wireless network, processes, for each cell, the network information and the user endpoint device information that is gathered and generating a cell specific traffic pattern, determines whether the capacity is below a threshold, and increases the capacity of the geographical area in accordance with the network information and the user endpoint device information that is processed for each cell, and the cell specific traffic pattern that is generated for each cell, when the capacity is below the threshold. |
| US09565575B2 |
Interference avoidance technique for wireless networks used in critical applications
An apparatus is provided that uses the steps of providing a plurality of wireless sensor devices coupled to a controller in a security system configured into a wireless network where at least one is a child sensor device that communicates with the controller through at least first and second parent sensor devices, the child sensor device measuring an environmental parameter within the secured area and transmitting a message to the controller through the at least two parents, the message is transmitted during a first time period and on a first frequency to the first parent and a copy is transmitted during a second time period and on a second frequency to the second parent wherein the first and second times and first and second frequencies are all different and wherein the first and second time periods are directly adjacent to one another in time. |
| US09565568B2 |
Sharing channels in a licensed-assisted access in long term evolution operation
A channel sharing method includes determining a starting time for transmission on an LAA-LTE channel. A length of a hybrid preamble is determined based on the starting time and a predetermined transmission time boundary. Subsequent to determining the length of the hybrid preamble, the hybrid preamble having the determined length is transmitted. Subsequent to the hybrid preamble, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) signal is transmitted. |
| US09565564B2 |
Providing a masked short message service in a wireless network
A method and apparatus for providing a masked short message service in a wireless network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a message from a first endpoint device directed to a second endpoint device, wherein the message indicates that the message is a masked short message service message, and forwards the masked short message service message with a code towards the second endpoint device. In one example, the second endpoint device parses the message and executes instructions contained therein, e.g., for sending a regular SMS with content derived from masked SMS, making a call, playing music, finding location by invoking an API, sending a file or a picture and any other functions that the second endpoint device may be capable of doing. The masked short message service provides a method for remotely controlling a 2G/3G mobile device through a computer or another mobile device. |
| US09565563B2 |
Method for authenticating data packets received by a station of a digital telecommunications system
A method of authenticating data packets transmitted by terminals and received by a station, each terminal successively transmitting data packets in a plurality of different frequency bands according to a frequency hop sequence specific to said terminal, includes, for a data packet received by the station, i) measuring the frequency band in which the considered data packet has been received, ii) extracting an identification code from said considered data packet, iii) determining a theoretical frequency hop according to the frequency hop sequence associated with said extracted identification code, and iv) calculating a frequency hop deviation according to the theoretical frequency hop and to the frequency bands measured for the considered data packet and for the previous data packet. The authentication method includes determining whether data packets have been transmitted by the terminal associated with this identification code according to at least one frequency hop deviation. |
| US09565561B2 |
Alert for adding client devices to a network
In one embodiment, a method of configuring a network connectivity device comprises receiving a network association request from a prospective client device requesting access to a network and sending an alert signal to a control device to cause the control device to emit an audible signal indicative of a network association request from a prospective client device. A prompt message is sent to the control device to cause the control device to provide instructions on providing feedback to the network connectivity device. The network connectivity device receives feedback from the control device and permits or denies access to the network responsive to the feedback from the control device. |
| US09565559B2 |
Method and system for preserving privacy during data aggregation in a wireless sensor network
A computer-based system and method for secured privacy preservation scheme while data aggregation in a non-hierarchical wireless sensor network that lacks peer-to-peer communication between the communicating sensor nodes is disclosed. The method and system adopts formation of self-adaptive efficient cluster formation for robust privacy preservation in the network by grouping the multiple sensor nodes in the network to form multiple clusters that enables low computation overhead and high scalability in the network. The method and system of the invention discloses an effective twin-key management scheme that provides establishment of secure communication among the sensor nodes and the secure communication between at least one sensor node with the sever node performing the function data aggregation of the data collected by the sensor nodes. |
| US09565556B2 |
User managed number privacy and call accessibility
A system and method for maintaining privacy of a user's telephone number is disclosed. The method provides a means by which a user A may prefer to exchange her contact number with another user B. The contact number is encrypted by user A and passed on to the mobile phone of user B. In the phonebook of user B, the contact number of user A is stored in encrypted format. Further, when user B initiates a call to user A, the encrypted number is sent to the network. At the MSC of user B, the number is decrypted and a call is established with user A. When user A calls user B, user A's number is encrypted at user B's MSC. This is transmitted to user B, where it is compared with the already encrypted number in the phonebook. The matching name of user A is then displayed. |
| US09565552B2 |
System and method for enabling a wireless device with customer-specific services
A mobile wireless device which operates in a wireless network is capable of: displaying a request for a user specified subscriber identification code on a GUI, receiving a single entry of the user specified subscriber identification code from the GUI, appending a code specifying a request for a type of activation and a request for data representing customer specific services to the subscriber identification code to form an activation code, transmitting the activation code to a control center wherein the transmission of the activation code results from the single entry of the user specified subscriber identification code into the GUI, receiving data representing customer specific services from the control center in response to the transmission of the activation code, and storing the received data representing the customer specific services in the memory. |
| US09565550B2 |
Method and program for cell barring in a cellular network
A method for controlling the access of a User Equipment (UE) to a public land mobile network (PLMN), the PLMN providing at least a service, the PLMN having at least one network cell, a control channel being broadcast within the network cell, includes: transmitting a barring factor information to the UE on the broadcast control channel within the network cell; transmitting a barring scaling information to the UE on a control channel independently of the barring factor information; and realizing, based on a combination of the barring factor information and the barring scaling information, an access control to the service with regard to the UE by deciding whether a specific access request of the UE to the service is accepted or rejected. The barring scaling information is individually assigned to the UE on a per-UE basis and the barring scaling information is defined by the PLMN for selectively controlling access of each UE to the PLMN. |
| US09565549B2 |
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. |
| US09565547B2 |
Registration of a roaming UE onto a preferred VPLMN using airplane mode of operation
Disclosed is a method in which a User Equipment will be able to register near instantly onto an available preferred roaming network, when the cellular radio of the UE is powered on. The method disclosed comprises of a roaming destination determined from a mobile boarding pass or input via User Interface of an Application installed on the Mobile Equipment or via UI on the Operating System of the ME, where the Application or OS compares the roaming destination with a PLMN list to obtain the preferred PLMN ID of that roaming destination which is selected and updated to specific files within the UICC. LTE and/or UMTS band information can also be obtained for the roaming destination and an MRU database updated to include the LTE and/or UMTS band information. A specific REFRESH command that is sent from the UICC to the ME prior to turning off the cellular radio of the UE, is used in the disclosed method to achieve near instant or instant registration onto the preferred visited PLMN when the cellular radio of the UE is turned on upon arrival at roaming destination. Alternatively, the ME can send a reset signal to the UICC when turning on the cellular radio of the UE upon arrival at the roaming destination. |
| US09565546B2 |
Enhanced system acquisition while roaming
Various methods, apparatus, and computer readable media are disclosed for enhanced system acquisition while a user equipment (UE) is roaming. The UE may detect roaming from a coverage area associated with a first public land mobile network (PLMN) supporting hybrid voice and data to a coverage area associated with a second PLMN without support for hybrid voice and data. In response to the detection, the UE may store data corresponding to the second PLMN such that the second PLMN is a registered PLMN (RPLMN). The UE may initiate system acquisition, wherein the system acquisition includes searching for the RPLMN prior to searching for any other PLMN. The other PLMN may include a home PLMN (HPLMN). The coverage area associated with the first PLMN may be within a first country, and the coverage area associated with the second network may be within a second country different from the first country. |
| US09565545B2 |
Method for communicating between wireless devices and wireless device using same
The present invention relates to a method for preventing a peer discovery signal collision, which can occur in a device-to-device (D2D) communication system, and to a wireless device using same. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for communicating between wireless devices by using a peer discovery slot is provided. The method comprises the steps of transmitting a first peer discovery signal through a first peer discovery channel that is selected from a plurality of peer discovery channels, receiving a second peer discovery signal that is transmitted by a neighboring wireless device, confirming a second discovery channel, from which the second peer discovery signal is detected, from the plurality of peer discovery channels, and transmitting a feedback signal through a response channel that corresponds to the second peer discovery channel from a plurality of response channels. |
| US09565543B2 |
Device group partitions and settlement platform
A method performed by a network system communicatively coupled to a device over a wireless network, the method comprising: receiving authentication information from the device over the wireless network, the authentication information enabling the network system to authenticate the device; obtaining a charging data record (CDR) comprising information identifying a device activity over the wireless network associated with the device and indicating a usage amount associated with the device activity; and using one or more rules, processing the CDR to generate information configured to assist in (a) providing to a partner entity an accounting of a first portion of usage of the wireless network associated with the device activity indicated by the CDR, the partner entity providing an Internet-based service to the device, and (b) determining an accounting of a second portion of the usage of the wireless network associated with the activity indicated by the CDR. |
| US09565538B2 |
System and method for administration and operation of one or more mobile electronic communications devices
A system for managing mobile electronic communications devices includes a user directory database configured to hold authentication data associated with at least one user, an authentication authority communicatively connected to the user directory database, an administration server configured to send and receive command messages with at least one mobile electronic communications device, a messaging server configured to send and receive communications messages with at least one mobile electronic communications device, and the authentication authority, administration server, and messaging server are configured to send and receive data via a data communications network. The authentication authority accepts or denies authentication data for a user received from at least one mobile electronic communications device, stores status information corresponding to authenticated users in the user directory database, and stores an association between each authenticated user and each mobile electronic device that sent authentication data for an authenticated user in the user directory database. |
| US09565537B2 |
Automated messaging
Techniques for automatically prompting a calling user to send a message to a called user, the calling user using a calling device and the called user using a called device, the method including receiving, at a processor in the calling device, an indication that a call from the calling device to the called device has disconnected, determining, at the processor in the calling device, whether the call connected before receiving the indication that the call has disconnected, and in response to determining that the call did not connect before receiving the indication that the call has disconnected, determining that the call was a missed call. |
| US09565535B2 |
Mobile interface to a show
A computer system that communicates with information indicative of a lighting show, and provides information to users in the audience to allow their phones to be interactive with the show. In one embodiment a lighting designer or show promoter can provide information R that extends the lighting effect on to the user's phone. In another embodiment, the show promoter may provide information indicative of the venue. The information can be location specific, for example information that is provided to a specific client device can be based on the specific location of the client device. This can provide location sensitive lighting information, or maps, or in seat specific information about the venue. |
| US09565534B2 |
Apparatus and method for identifying point of interest in contents sharing system
A mobile device for use in a contents sharing system is provided. The mobile device includes a communications interface configured to communicate with a location processor and to transmit activity information, relating to usage of the mobile device, and location information, relating to a location of the mobile device, to the location processor. The location information is used for identifying at least one Point Of Interest (POI). |
| US09565529B2 |
Methods and apparatus for dynamically configuring search operations in a multi-mode device
Methods and apparatus for dynamic search management in a multi-mode device. In one embodiment, a mobile device performs network search and acquisition by dynamically changing search delays and/or search frequencies. In one implementation, the mobile device adjusts the amount of time allocated for each network search based on e.g., previous network connection history (e.g., previously connected to a home network, previously connected to a roaming network), device conditions, user preferences, geographical information, etc. By focusing search effort on cellular technologies which have a high likelihood of success, the mobile device can greatly improve search time and reduce unnecessary power consumption. |
| US09565526B2 |
System and method for dynamic geo-fencing
In one embodiment, a method includes establishing a geo-fencing environment for the information handling system. The method further includes monitoring a stream of context information. In addition, the method includes determining whether the geo-fencing environment should be dynamically modified responsive to new context information in the stream. Furthermore, the method includes dynamically modifying the geo-fencing environment responsive to the determining so indicating. |
| US09565524B2 |
Accessing location-based information on a mobile device
A method for accessing location-based information on a mobile device. In the method, a processor on the mobile device identifies a location, determines whether a location wireless network is available, determines geographical coordinates of the location in response to determining that the location wireless network is not available, calculates a URL using the geographical coordinates and calculates a default HTML, and displays one or more pages created by the default HTML that includes information of the location. |
| US09565517B2 |
Method for informing on the presence of a remote device's holder
The invention relates to a method for informing on the presence of a remote devices holder, said remote devices holder carrying a remote device (10,11), characterized in that it detects when the remote devices holder (1) enters under coverage of a femto-cell (2,20) or leaves the coverage of the femto-cell (2,20). |
| US09565516B2 |
Rate indication and link adaptation for long range wireless networks
A method of fast link adaptation for Bluetooth long-range wireless networks is provided. A novel rate indication (RI) field is incorporated in a data packet to enable auto detection of rate adaptation at the receiver side. The data packet comprises a preamble, a first packet portion including the RI field, and a second packet portion including the PDU. The first packet portion is encoded with a first rate while the second packet portion is encoded with a second rate indicated by the RI field. The transmitting device raise/lower the encoding rate when the link quality is good/poor. The receiving device can provide recommended rate or link quality feedback information via an LMP message to help the transmitting device making rate adaptation decision. The transmitter can unilaterally decide the data rate for the second packet portion without receiver recommendation. |
| US09565514B2 |
Systems and methods for disabling page scans
A method for wireless communication by a Bluetooth device is described. The method includes determining a paired device configuration for Bluetooth communication. The method also includes disabling Bluetooth page scans based on the paired device configuration. The page scans may be disabled when the Bluetooth device is in a connectable state for Bluetooth communication. |
| US09565512B2 |
Methods and systems for content processing
Mobile phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some aspects relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others concern user interface improvements. Other aspects relate to imaging architectures, in which a mobile phone's image sensor is one in a chain of stages that successively act on packetized instructions/data, to capture and later process imagery. Still other aspects relate to distribution of processing tasks between the mobile device and remote resources (“the cloud”). Elemental image processing (e.g., simple filtering and edge detection) can be performed on the mobile phone, while other operations can be referred out to remote service providers. The remote service providers can be selected using techniques such as reverse auctions, through which they compete for processing tasks. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US09565509B2 |
Enhanced coding and parameter representation of multichannel downmixed object coding
An audio object coder for generating an encoded object signal using a plurality of audio objects includes a downmix information generator for generating downmix information indicating a distribution of the plurality of audio objects into at least two downmix channels, an audio object parameter generator for generating object parameters for the audio objects, and an output interface for generating the imported audio output signal using the downmix information and the object parameters. An audio synthesizer uses the downmix information for generating output data usable for creating a plurality of output channels of the predefined audio output configuration. |
| US09565501B2 |
Hearing device and method of identifying hearing situations having different signal sources
A hearing aid has an acoustoelectric transducer, a pickup device for picking up an electrical or electromagnetic signal and converting it into an electrical signal. The hearing aid further has a signal processing device, an electromechanical transducer for outputting an acoustic signal, and a signal estimation device. The signal estimation device determines a correlation between signals of the acoustoelectric transducer and of the pickup device. The signal processing device adjusts a mixing ratio of the signals in the output signal depending on the correlation. |
| US09565497B2 |
Enhancing audio using a mobile device
Embodiment disclosed herein enable detection and improvement of the quality of the audio signal using a mobile device by determining the loss in the audio signal and enhancing audio by streaming the remainder portion of audio. Embodiments disclosed herein enable an improvement in the sound quality rendered by rendering devices by emitting an test audio signal from the source device, measuring the test audio signal using microphones, detecting variation in the frequency response, loudness and timing characteristics using impulse responses and correcting for them. Embodiments disclosed herein also compensate for the noise in the acoustic space by determining the reverberation and ambient noise levels and their frequency characteristics and changing the digital filters and volumes of the source signal to compensate for the varying noise levels. |
| US09565495B2 |
Contactless audio adapter, and methods
A contactless, electromagnetic (EM) replacement for cabled Standards-based interfaces (such as USB, I2S) which handles data transfer requirements associated with the Standard, and capable of measuring and replicating relevant physical conditions on data lines so as to function compatibly and transparently with the Standard. A contactless link between devices having transceivers. A non-conducting housing enclosing the devices. A dielectric coupler facilitating communication between communications chips. Conductive paths or an inductive link providing power between devices. An audio adapter communicates over a contactless link with a source device, and via a physical link with a destination device such as a conventional headset. Power may be provided to the adapter from the source device, and by the adapter to the destination device. |
| US09565492B2 |
Active noise reduction headphone
An active noise reduction earphone includes a speaker, a plurality of microphones and a feedback system. Each microphone is displaced from the speaker and the other microphones, and each microphone generates a microphone signal responsive to received acoustic noise. The feedback system receives a combination of the microphone signals and generates an inverse noise signal that is applied to the speaker. The speaker generates an inverse acoustic noise signal that substantially cancels the acoustic noise signal at a predetermined location relative to the speaker and the microphones. The feedback system can include a microphone signal combiner in communication with the microphones. The microphone signal combiner generates a signal that may be a sum or weighted sum of the microphone signals and can be used to generate the inverse noise signal. The earphone has an increased noise reduction bandwidth and improved cancellation capability relative to conventional earphones. |
| US09565491B2 |
Real-time audio processing of ambient sound
An earpiece for real-time audio processing of ambient sound includes an ear bud that provides passive noise attenuation to the earpiece such that exterior ambient sound is substantially reduced within an ear of a wearer, an exterior microphone that receives ambient sound and converts the received ambient sound into analog electrical signals, and an analog-to-digital converter that converts the analog electrical signals into digital signals representative of the ambient sounds. The earpiece further includes a digital signal processor that performs a transformation operation on the digital signals according to instructions received from a mobile device, the transformation operation transforms the digital signals into modified digital signals, a digital-to-analog converter that converts the modified digital signals into modified analog electrical signals, and a speaker that outputs the modified analog electrical signals as audio waves. |
| US09565489B2 |
Display device
A display device may include a display panel, a bottom chassis configured to accommodate the display panel, and a plurality of speaker units electrically connected to the display panel and configured to output sounds. The bottom chassis may include a plurality of protrusions protruding downward and in which an enclosure is defined, and also may include a groove that is defined between the protrusions, an opening that is defined by the protrusions, or an elastic member configured to couple the protrusions. The respective speaker units may be disposed in respective protrusions. |
| US09565485B2 |
Audio information signal supporting interactive interconnected system
The invention relates to an information association technology supporting a cross-media product, in particular to an audio information signal supporting an interactive interconnected system. The signal is formed by audio data and associated data synthesis. The interactive interconnected system comprises an electronic reading device and an electronic transmitter-receiver. The associated data is a preset Uniform Resource Identifier. The electronic transmitter-receiver is provided with an associated data reception circuit, an associated data transmission circuit and a central processing unit (with memory). The associated data reception circuit is equipped with a short-distance signal transmission-reception circuit. The electronic transmitter-receiver is mainly configured to control transmit-receive of the associated data of a decomposed multimedia information signal, receive the associated data decomposed by a transmission circuit of the electronic reading device, transmit the associated data to an external information data storage center via a remote wireless technology, and quickly call out an associated electronic file. |
| US09565481B1 |
Event pop-ups for video selection
A method for notifying a viewer of content relevant to the viewer's interests is provided. A computer identifies an identity of a viewer of a display device, wherein the display device is displaying a first video feed. A computer retrieves a profile of the viewer, wherein the profile includes a plurality of preferences of the viewer. A computer, in response to a determination that a content of a second video feed that is available for viewing on the display device matches at least one of the plurality of preferences of the viewer, generates a notification of the second video feed. A computer, in response to receiving an acceptance of the notification, sends a command to the display device to display the second video feed. |
| US09565476B2 |
Video providing textual content system and method
A system for interacting with a video includes a processor, a video decoder communicatively connected to the processor, a storage communicatively connected to the demultiplexer, the storage contains at least one video file having more than one video frame, at least one of the video frame including at least one respective metadata segment of the video frame, and an input device communicatively connected to the processor. The processor, responsive to the input device, processes the at least one of the video frame including the at least one respective metadata segment, controlling selection of another of the more than one video frame for the video decoder. |
| US09565473B2 |
Methods and apparatus to maintain audience privacy while determining viewing of video-on-demand programs
Methods and apparatus to maintain audience privacy while determining viewing of video-on-demand (VOD) programs are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises obtaining subscriber metering data from a site metering device monitoring presentation of VOD content at a first subscriber site, obtaining server metering data from a VOD server, the server metering data including identification information for a plurality of subscriber sites to identify particular VOD content provided uniquely to each of the subscriber sites, the identification information manipulated to preserve anonymity of the plurality of subscriber sites, manipulating at least a portion of the subscriber metering data to determine a first manipulated identifier to identify the first subscriber site, and using the first manipulated identifier to cross-reference the manipulated identification information included in the server metering data to merge the subscriber metering data and the portion of the server metering data uniquely associated with the first subscriber site. |
| US09565472B2 |
Apparatus and methods for content transfer protection
Methods and apparatus for ensuring protection of transferred content. In one embodiment, content is transferred while enabling a network operator (e.g., MSO) to control and change rights and restrictions at any time, and irrespective of subsequent transfers. This is accomplished in one implementation by providing a premises device configured to receive content in a first encryption format and encodes using a first codec, with an ability to transcrypt and/or transcode the content into an encryption format and encoding format compatible with a device which requests the content therefrom (e.g., from PowerKey/MPEG-2 content to DRM/MPEG-4 content). The premises device uses the same content key to encrypt the content as is used by the requesting device to decrypt the content. |
| US09565464B2 |
Method and system for multi-path video and network channels
Methods and systems for multi-path video and network channels may comprise a communication device comprising a wideband path (WB) and a narrowband path (NB). A video channel and a network channel may be received in the WB when the device is operating in a first stage. A video channel and a network channel may be received in the WB and the network channel may also be received in the NB when the device is operating in a second stage. The network channel may be received in the NB when the device is operating in a third stage. The reception of the network channel from both the WB and NB may enable a continuous reception of the network channel in a transition between the first and third stages. The WB may be operable to receive a plurality of channels and the NB may be operable to receive a single channel. |
| US09565462B1 |
System, apparatus and method for creating, storing and transmitting sensory data triggered by an event
A method and concomitant computer software and system for buffering data and transmitting the buffered data after an event occurs comprising storing data into a continuous loop buffer and transmitting data from the loop buffer to an end location after an event trigger. |
| US09565458B2 |
Systems and methods for determining effectiveness of asset insertion
One system herein is operable to determine effectiveness of asset insertion in VOD content. The VOD content is selected by a user through a CPE. The system is operable to analyze upstream internet traffic through a cable television network, to identify household identifications from the upstream internet traffic, and to detect an internet website selected by the user from the upstream internet traffic based on the user's household identification. The system is also operable to couple to a VOD asset insertion system of a headend in the cable television network to detect an asset inserted into the VOD content selected by the CPE, to associate the internet website with the inserted asset, to determine a period of time between insertion of the asset and the selection of the internet website by the user, and to determine an effectiveness of the asset based on the determined period of time. |
| US09565455B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding video and method and apparatus for decoding video accompanied with arithmetic coding
A method of decoding a video through symbol decoding includes parsing symbols of image blocks from a received bitstream; classifying a current symbol into a prefix bit string and a suffix bit string based on a threshold value determined according to a size of a current block; performing arithmetic decoding of the prefix bit string and the suffix bit string by using respective arithmetic decoding methods determined for each of the prefix bit string and the suffix bit string; performing inverse binarization of the prefix bit string and the suffix bit string by using respective binarization methods determined for each of the prefix bit string and the suffix bit string; and restoring the image blocks by performing an inverse transformation operation and a prediction operation on the current block by using the current symbol restored through the arithmetic decoding and the inverse binarization. |
| US09565453B2 |
Method for encoding and decoding image information
The present invention relates to a method for encoding and decoding image information and to an apparatus using same, and the method for encoding the image information, according to the present invention, comprises the steps of: generating a recovery block; applying a deblocking filter to the recovery block; applying a sample adaptive offset (SAO) to the recovery block to which the deblocking filter is applied; and transmitting the image information including information on the SAO which is applied, wherein in the step of transmitting, information for specifying bands that cover a scope of a pixel value, to which a band off set is applied, is transmitted when the band offset is applied during the step of applying the SAO. |
| US09565452B2 |
Error resilient decoding unit association
Techniques are described for signaling decoding unit identifiers for decoding units of an access unit. The video decoder determines which network abstraction layer (NAL) units are associated with which decoding units based on the decoding unit identifiers. Techniques are also described for including one or more copies of supplemental enhancement information (SEI) messages in an access unit. |
| US09565449B2 |
Coding multiview video plus depth content
This disclosure describes techniques for coding 3D video block units. In one example, a video encoder is configured to receive one or more texture components from at least a portion of an image representing a view of three dimensional video data, receive a depth map component for at least the portion of the image, code a block unit indicative of pixels of the one or more texture components for a portion of the image and the depth map component. The coding comprises receiving texture data for a temporal instance of a view of video data, receiving depth data corresponding to the texture data for the temporal instance of the view of video data, and encapsulating the texture data and the depth data in a view component for the temporal instance of the view, such that the texture data and the depth data are encapsulated within a common bitstream. |
| US09565448B2 |
Image coding method and apparatus using spatial predictive coding of chrominance and image decoding method and apparatus
A coding method including dividing pixels of a chrominance component of an input image into blocks having a predetermined size; selecting one among a direct current prediction method, a vertical prediction method, a horizontal prediction method, and a hybrid prediction method according to a user's input; generating a prediction value of each pixel in a current block to be predictively coded, using at least one pixel value among pixel values in an upper reference block adjacent to the current block and in a side reference block adjacent to the current block, according to the selected prediction method; generating a differential value between the prediction value and a corresponding real pixel value in the current block; and coding the differential value and information on the selected prediction method using a predetermined coding method. |
| US09565442B2 |
Method and apparatus for coefficient scan based on partition mode of prediction unit
Provided are a method and an apparatus for coefficient scan on the base of a partition mode of a prediction unit. The method comprises the steps of: determining a scan method on the basis of a partition mode of a prediction unit; and encoding the information about the scan method, wherein the scan method is determined, on the basis of RDO (Rate Distortion optimization), from among the extracted candidate scan methods which have been extracted with consideration of the shapes of the partitions of the partition mode. |
| US09565437B2 |
Parameter set designs for video coding extensions
Systems, methods, and devices for coding multilayer video data are disclosed that may include encoding, decoding, transmitting, or receiving multilayer video data. The systems, methods, and devices may transmit or receive a video parameter set (VPS) including information for a series of layers, each layer including visual signal information. The systems, methods, and devices may code (encode or decode) video data based on the visual signal information signaled per layer in the VPS. |
| US09565433B2 |
System for parallel intra-prediction decoding of video data
A system for decoding video data includes a processing unit. The processing unit includes a plurality of processing pipelines and a driver. The driver includes a decoder configured to generate a plurality of intermediate control maps containing control information including an indication of which macro blocks or portions of macro blocks may be processed in parallel in the plurality of processing pipelines. |
| US09565429B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding matrix and method and apparatus for decoding matrix
The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for coding or decoding a matrix, includes: dividing a matrix into layers according to a preset quantity of divided layers, and grouping matrix elements into different layers; performing, according to a determined layer number of a highest layer to be coded and in an order of layers one by one, coding processing on matrix elements at each layer to be coded; for a layer having a layer number less than or equal to the layer number of the highest layer to be coded, writing residual data between an original matrix element value corresponding to the layer and a corresponding matrix element predicted value into a bit stream; for a layer having a layer number greater than the layer number of the highest layer to be coded, writing no coded data of the layer into the bit stream. |
| US09565427B1 |
High definition multimedia interface test system
A high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) test system including an HDMI test device that includes a display, a microcontroller, first and second input ports, an output port, a first cable connector, a second cable connector, and a third cable connector. The HDMI test device couples to an external device and receives an HDMI signal from the external device via the first cable connector. The microcontroller receives the HDMI signal from the first input port and converts the signal to a video signal, wherein the display displays an image associated with the video signal. The microcontroller transmits a test HDMI signal to the third cable connector, receives the test signal from the second cable connector and compares the test signal transmitted to the third cable connector and the test signal received from the second cable connector to determine continuity of an HDMI cable coupled with the second and third cable connectors. |
| US09565425B2 |
Method of measuring shutter time lag, display device for measuring shutter time lag, shutter time lag measurement apparatus, method of manufacturing camera, method of measuring display delay of camera, and display delay measurement apparatus
A method of measuring a shutter time lag of a camera includes: a first step of switching a display pattern of a display unit including i (i is a natural number greater than 2) display elements to a different display pattern at every time TP, and in the first step, the number of j (j is a natural number, and 1 |
| US09565419B2 |
Digital camera system for recording, editing and visualizing images
A digital camera system (20), as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes an optical assembly (22) to gather light (24) from a desired scene (26), a modular imaging subsystem (28) aligned with the optical assembly (22), and an image processing, recording and display subsystem (34). |
| US09565416B1 |
Depth-assisted focus in multi-camera systems
Example embodiments may help multi-camera devices determine disparity information scene, and use the disparity information in an autofocus process. An example method involves: (a) receiving image data of a scene that comprises at least one image of the scene captured by each of two or more image-capture systems of a computing device that includes a plurality of image-capture systems; (b) using the image data captured by the two or more image-capture systems as a basis for determining disparity information for the scene; and (c) performing, by the computing system, an autofocus process based at least in part on the disparity information, wherein the autofocus process provides a focus setting for at least one of the image-capture systems of the computing device. |
| US09565410B2 |
Automatic white balance with facial color features as reference color surfaces
An automatic white balance method and an electronic media device incorporating the method deploy characterized individual human facial color features set of a user or users of the device as reference color surfaces in automatic white balance illuminant estimation and color adjustments, which could improve illuminant estimation accuracy, provide flexible color adjustment options and render the image color to each user's own satisfaction taking into account user preferred rendition as target values through a human-machine interactive interface. |
| US09565409B2 |
Technologies for projecting a noncontinuous image
Technologies for projecting a noncontinuous image onto at least a portion of a projection region using a projector of a projection device. The projection device is configured to determine one or more cut-out areas of the projection region. Each cut-out area defines an area within the projection region on which a corresponding portion of the image is not to be projected by the projector of the projection device. The projection device is further configured to update the projection region based on the cut-out area(s) and project, via the projector, the image onto the updated projection region, wherein no portion of the image is projected on cut-out area(s). Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09565406B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and image pickup device
Disclosed herein is an image processing device including a subband dividing section configured to perform subband division of image data of a color whose pixel positions are alternately shifted from each other, the image data being included in image data output from an image pickup element of a pixel arrangement in which the pixel positions of at least one color of three primary colors are alternately shifted from each other in one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, with pixels of two upper and lower lines adjacent to each other or pixels of two left and right columns adjacent to each other as a unit. |
| US09565398B2 |
Caching graphical interface for displaying video and ancillary data from a saved video
A system and a method for attaining a selectable image sequence are provided. The system includes a viewer display component configured to transmit a request from a user's interface component for the selectable image sequence. The request obtains a handle which corresponds to the selectable image sequence, a display description in which the handle is embedded and a reply response containing the handle that corresponds to the selectable image. The viewer display component is also configured to receive the reply response and to render the selectable image sequence on a display screen of the user's interface component. |
| US09565395B1 |
Video image processing apparatus and recording medium
A video image processing apparatus including, a generation unit configured to generate a video image frame from an image area to be used included in a video image captured by a camera, a spatial area in the video image being defined by the image area to be used, an encoding unit configured to encode the video image frame into any one of a first video image frame and a second video image frame, and a detection unit configured to detect a trigger for changing the image area to be used to report the detection of the trigger to the generation unit, wherein the encoding unit reports a encoded video image frame type to the generation unit in advance, and in response to receiving the detection of the trigger, the generation unit changes the image area to be used in a video image frame based on the reported type. |
| US09565393B2 |
Communication terminal, teleconference system, and recording medium
Disclosed is a communication terminal transmitting and receiving audio data and at least one of image data obtained by imaging a subject and display data of a shared screen between the communication terminal and one or more other communication terminals via a relay device. The communication terminal includes a detector configured to detect a predetermined event in which transmission of the image data is not required while imaging the subject is continuously executed, and a stopper configured to stop imaging the subject and stop transmitting the image data in response to the detection of the predetermined event. |
| US09565390B1 |
Systems and methods for enhancing recorded or intercepted calls using information from a facial recognition engine
A video stream from a webcam or video telephone is received. The video stream can be analyzed in real-time as it is being received or can be recorded and stored for later analysis. Information within the video streams can be extracted and processed by a facial and video content recognition engine and the information derived therefrom can be stored as metadata. The metadata can be used for enriching the call content recorded by a recorder. The information derived from the video streams can be used to solve business and legal issues. |
| US09565388B2 |
Video display device
A more favorably visibility-improved video is obtained. A device includes: a video input unit; a first Retinex processing unit which performs a first Retinex process on a video inputted from the video input unit; a second Retinex processing unit which performs a second Retinex process, which is different from the first Retinex process in a method, on the video inputted from the video input unit; a video composing unit which can compose a video processed by the first Retinex processing unit and a video processed by the second Retinex processing unit in accordance with a feature of the video inputted from the video input unit; and a display unit which can display an output video of the video composing unit. |
| US09565386B2 |
Image data transmitting apparatus and image data receiving apparatus
A transmitting apparatus generates moving image data including first image data and second image data, and generates first time code information corresponding to the first image data and second time code information corresponding to the second image data. The transmitting apparatus transmits, to an external apparatus, the first image data included in the moving image data and the first time code information corresponding to the first image data, and transmits, to the external apparatus, the second image data included in the moving image data and the second time code information corresponding to the second image data. The transmitting apparatus generates recording designation information to be added to one of the first image data and the second image data if the first image data and the second image data are the same. |
| US09565384B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus and control method thereof
A radiation imaging apparatus includes: a radiation detection unit in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion units to convert radiation signals into charge signals and store the charge signals is located; a storage control unit configured to control the storage of the charge signals executed by the plurality of photoelectric conversion units; a reading control unit configured to control reading of the charge signals stored by the plurality of photoelectric conversion units; and a control unit configured to fix an indefinite potential generated at the radiation detection unit while at least one of the storage control of the charge signals by the storage control unit and the reading control of the charge signals by the reading control unit is not carried out. |
| US09565379B2 |
Ramp signal generator and CMOS image sensor having the same
A ramp signal generator may include a ramp signal generation unit suitable for generating a ramp signal and a gain amplification control signal, an overlap voltage generation unit suitable for generating an overlap voltage to be overlapped with the ramp signal, and a voltage overlapping unit suitable for controlling a voltage gain by amplifying the ramp signal according to the gain amplification control signal, and overlapping the overlap voltage with the ramp signal. |
| US09565378B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device includes a solid-state imaging device configured to include a plurality of pixels, the solid-state imaging device outputting subject data according to a pixel signal output by the pixel of an image region on which subject light is incident and optical black (OB) data according to the pixel signal output by the pixel of a constantly shielded OB region of a plurality of columns or rows located on an end of the image region as image data, and an imaging processing unit configured to output pre-processed image data obtained by performing black level correction on partial subject data included in the image data using the same OB data included in the image data output by the solid-state imaging device. |
| US09565375B1 |
Pixel and an array of pixels
A pixel has a photodiode configured to be sensitive to light. The pixel is arranged to use back side illumination. The pixel has at least one sample and hold capacitor which is arranged on the side of the photodiode remote from a side on which light impinges. The capacitor overlies at least part of the photodiode. |
| US09565373B2 |
Method and system for performing alignment of a projection image to detected infrared (IR) radiation information
A method of presenting a visible representation of infrared (IR) radiation information onto an observed real world scene based on IR radiation emitted from said observed real world scene, using a thermography arrangement comprising an IR imaging system, a visible light imaging system, and a visible light projecting system. |
| US09565371B2 |
Stray light compensation techniques for an infrared camera
Various techniques are provided for a stray light compensation method for an infrared (IR) camera. For example, a stray light compensation method includes: capturing an IR image of a scene by an IR camera, generating a fixed pattern noise estimate FPNestt0 for time t0 using the captured IR image and a stray light model associated with the IR camera, and performing a fixed pattern noise (FPN) compensation of the captured IR image based on said FPNestt0 to obtain a stray light compensated IR image. The fixed pattern noise estimate may be generated through operations in a frequency domain representation of the captured IR image and the stray light model according to one or more embodiments. |
| US09565369B2 |
Adaptive switching of views for a video conference that involves a presentation apparatus
Techniques are provided for dynamically adapting the view from a conference endpoint that includes a presentation apparatus, such as a whiteboard. A first signal is received that includes a video signal derived from a video camera that is viewing a room during a conference session in which a person is presenting information on a presentation apparatus. During the video conference, switching is performed between the first signal and a second signal representing content being displayed on the presentation apparatus during the conference session for output and transmission to other conference endpoints of the conference session. The determination as to whether to supply the first signal (for a normal view of the conference room) or the second signal may be based on a position determination of the presenter or may be instead be based on an external view selection command received from another conference endpoint participating in the conference session. |
| US09565368B2 |
Enhanced video capture in adverse lighting conditions
A device and method of capturing a video frame using an electronic device to provide enhanced video. A first sub-frame is captured using ambient light, and a second sub-frame is captured using ambient light and a light source under control of the electronic device. A primary frame is generated based on a combination of the first sub-frame and the second sub-frame. |
| US09565366B2 |
Electronic device
Provided is an electronic device with high portability, a highly browsable electronic device, or an electronic device having a novel light source that can be used in shooting photographs and video. The electronic device includes a camera and a flexible display portion. The display portion has a first region and a second region. The first region has a function of emitting light to a photographic subject. The second region has a function of displaying an image of the photographic subject shot by the camera. The display portion can be bent so that the first region and the second region face in different directions. |
| US09565361B2 |
Image capturing device and hybrid image processing method thereof
An image capturing device and a hybrid image processing method thereof are provided. The method is adapted to an image capturing device having a first lens and a second lens and includes the following steps. First, a scene is captured by the first lens and the second lens to respectively generate a mono image and a color image of the scene. Next, one of a mono image-based mode, a color image-based mode, and a color image-only mode is dynamically selected, and an output image is generated accordingly, wherein the mono image-based mode is to produce the output image by adding color image data onto the mono image, the color image-based mode is to produce the output image by adding mono image data onto the color image, and the color image-only mode is to produce the output image by only using the color image. |
| US09565359B2 |
Internal signal diversion with camera shuttering for mobile communication devices
A mobile communications device includes a display, one or more sources comprising at least one microphone and at least one camera, a wireless communications module, a main processor, and a secured processor inaccessible by the main processor. A housing supports components of the device and is configured for hand-held manipulation. A shutter is supported by the housing, and comprises a lens shutter situated within the housing and configured to obscure a lens of the at least one camera when activated. A user actuatable switch is coupled to at least the one or more sources, the main processor, the secured processor, and the shutter. The switch is configured to selectively activate and deactivate the lens shutter. The switch is also configured to divert signals produced by the sources away from the main processor when activated, and couple signals produced by the sources to the main processor when deactivated. |
| US09565353B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, image pickup system, method of controlling image pickup apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element configured to perform photoelectric conversion on an optical image obtained through an image pickup optical system to generate an image signal, a focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection based on the image signal, a determination unit configured to determine an object in a screen, a calculation unit configured to calculate an in-focus position based on information of the object determined by the determination unit, and a control unit configured to perform the in-focus control based on the in-focus position calculated by the calculation unit. |
| US09565351B2 |
Remote imaging method and remote imaging control device
A remote imaging method includes: continuously imaging a person having an operating terminal in an imaging spot by a camera; obtaining a display content displayed on a screen of the operating terminal during the continuous imaging; determining whether or not the operating terminal has imaging authority with the camera using the obtained display content; and sending a specified timing image taken by the camera at imaging timing specified by the operating terminal determined to have the imaging authority to the operating terminal. The determining further includes assessing whether the obtained display content and temporal transition of the obtained display content make a predetermined pattern is carried out, and when an assessment result is positive, the determining determines that the operating terminal has the imaging authority, and the predetermined pattern is to display each authentication image on the display of the operating terminal for display time predefined in an order predefined. |
| US09565348B2 |
Automatic tracking apparatus
An automatic tracking apparatus includes: an image pickup apparatus having zoom function; camera platform driving the image pickup apparatus in at least one of pan and tilt directions, and automaically tracking an object by operating the image pickup apparatus and camera platform; unit for detecting a position of the object in picked-up image information; prohibition area setting unit for setting tracking prohibition area, according to information on the automatic tracking apparatus that includes information on the object including information on at least one of type, orientation and traveling speed of the object, or information on at least one of pan and tilt positions of the camera platform and zoom position; and controller that does not perform tracking operation in the prohibition area, and performs zooming, panning and tilting to perform the tracking operation when out of the prohibition area. |
| US09565345B2 |
Image capture device
Provided is an image capture device including a lens unit that includes a lens, a supporting member that supports the lens unit and rotates in a predetermined rotating direction with the lens unit, a rotation regulating member that regulates rotation of the supporting member by coming into contact with the supporting member while the supporting member is rotating, and a move permitting part that permits the rotation regulating member being in contact with the supporting member to move a predetermined amount in the rotating direction in a manner that the supporting member is rotatable 360 degrees or more in the rotating direction. |
| US09565344B2 |
Optical imaging lens and electronic device comprising the same
An optical imaging lens set includes a first lens element having an image-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of its periphery, a second lens element with negative refractive power having an image-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of the optical axis, a third lens element having an object-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of the optical axis, a fourth lens element having an image-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of the optical axis, a fifth lens element having an image-side surface with a concave part in a vicinity of the optical axis, and a sixth lens element having an image-side surface with a convex part in a vicinity of its periphery. |
| US09565341B2 |
Network camera
A network camera includes: a camera main unit including an image sensor unit and a movable portion having a motor for swiveling the image sensor unit; and a base unit, connected detachably to the camera main unit and fixed to a camera installation surface, the base unit having a nonvolatile memory for storing network operation information including network setting information unique to the network camera. |
| US09565333B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing an image in device
A method of processing an image using an electronic device is provided. The method includes displaying at least part of a first image which is obtained through a first image sensor and at least part of a second image which is obtained through a second image sensor through a display unit which is functionally connected to the electronic device, storing the at least part of the first image, storing the at least part of the second image in response to a detecting of a signal, and storing the at least part of the first image and the at least part of the second image to be simultaneously replayed as at least one image. |
| US09565331B2 |
Adjustment for automatic document sheet reading with image reading device
An image reading device includes transparent plate member, reading portion, support member, and adjustment mechanism. The transparent plate member is an elongated plate extending in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction, and is in contact with a reading surface of a document sheet when the document sheet is moved in the first direction during an automatic document sheet reading. The reading portion is disposed below the transparent plate member. The support member supports a lower surface of the transparent plate member at two support points separated in the second direction. The adjustment mechanism biases an extension end portion, extending outward from one of the support points, of the support member in a downward direction opposite to the supporting direction of the support member, and adjusts a distance between the transparent plate member and the reading portion by changing a biasing force applied to the extension end portion. |
| US09565330B2 |
Image reading apparatus for adjusting an image reader
An image reading apparatus includes a reader that reads an image of a document by using plural light receiving elements arranged in a first scanning direction; a moving unit that moves the reader in a second scanning direction to move a reading position at which the reader reads the document; and an adjusting unit that moves the reader in the first scanning direction to adjust a position of the reader in the first scanning direction. |
| US09565329B2 |
Image reader, and method and computer-readable medium for the same
An image reader including a document table having a reference point, a first region of a sheet having a predetermined size when a vertex of the sheet is positioned on the reference point, and a second region, a changing mechanism changing a reading position in a sub scanning direction, and a controller configured to control the changing mechanism to change the reading position to a first position such that a distance in the sub scanning direction between the reference point and the first position corresponds to a length of the predetermined sheet size in the sub scanning direction, acquire specific digital data of the second region through image reading in the first position with a light source turned off, compare a particular value of the specific digital data with a criterion value within the second region, and determine a state of a document cover based on the comparison. |
| US09565327B2 |
Information processing device that responds to packet received from network and method of responding to packet
Provided is an information processing device in which a sub response part (SRP) provides a response on behalf of a main response part (MRP) for enabling a provision of an easy coordination between the MRP and the SRP in protocol process. A network connection part is for receiving a packet from an external network. A distribution function part of a filter part distributes the packet to either one the MRP and the SRP based on a packet distribution condition. A duplicate function part of the filter part, if no response data is stored in the SRP, duplicates the packet received and gives the packets to the MRP and the SRP. Thereby, the SRP receives response data from the MRP to store the same in a response data storage area and provides a response on behalf of the MRP using the stored response data. |
| US09565325B1 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus comprises a sensor, a base, a clamping section and a limiting section. The sensor includes a hook having a claw section. The sensor is held on the base. The clamping section and the limiting section are arranged on the base. The claw section is clamped with the clamping section. The limiting section is elastically deformable when the sensor is mounted on the base. When the claw section is clamped with the clamping section, the limiting section faces the hook from the opposite side of the clamping section so as to limit the position of the hook. |
| US09565324B2 |
Apparatus, non-transitory computer readable medium, and method
An apparatus includes a controller that controls a display to display a setting status of a setting item set for executing a predetermined process, and an accepting unit that accepts a change to the setting status. When the accepting unit accepts the change to the setting status, the controller controls the display to display an item that accepts an indication to reset the changed setting status to the setting status set prior to the change. |
| US09565322B1 |
System and method for remotely printing digital images for pickup at a retail store
The method and system allow a user to launch a client application on an web-enabled device and subsequently to navigate to an image source screen within the client application. After receiving an image source selection from the user, the client application retrieves images from the selected image source. The client application displays the retrieved images available for printing to a user, and in response to receiving a selection of an image, the client application transmits the image to a proprietary server. Moreover, upon receiving print order information, the client application additionally executes a location awareness application that determines a current location of the web-enabled device and subsequently, determines a proximal retail store to the current location of the web-enabled device. Thereafter, the remote printing system creates and transmits a print order that includes the selected image to the retail store for pickup. |
| US09565321B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method for determining fax destination information
The invention provides an information processing apparatus capable of preliminarily determining a connection number for each communication mode and easily allocating a suitable connection number to a communication mode designated by a user. A method for controlling the information processing apparatus includes receiving a destination number from a user, determining a communication mode for each received destination number, controlling an information processing apparatus in such a way as to use the destination number and a first connection number as a destination if the determined communication mode is a FAX mode, and controlling the information processing apparatus in such a way as to use the destination number and a second connection number as a destination, which is different from the first connection number, if the determined communication mode is an IP-FAX mode. |
| US09565319B2 |
Image forming apparatus having an optical sensor for converting a toner adhesion amount and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer to bear a black toner pattern formed with a black toner image under an increased exposure amount and an increased developing bias. A first optical sensor detects an amount of reflection light reflected by the black toner pattern on the image bearer. The first optical sensor includes a light-emitting element to emit light toward the black toner pattern on the image bearer and a light-receiving element to receive the reflection light reflected by the black toner pattern on the image bearer. A toner adhesion amount converter converts the amount of the reflection light detected by the first optical sensor into a toner adhesion amount of toner adhered to the image bearer and adjusts an image density according to the toner adhesion amount. |
| US09565318B2 |
Quality of service adjustments to improve network utilization
Devices of a telecommunication network described herein are configured to reduce a service level associated with a quality of service offered by the telecommunication network to a user. The devices may reduce the service level responsive to data consumption by the user exceeding a threshold or responsive to data consumption associated with an application or data type. Also, the devices may be configured to increase a video-conversation-specific service level responsive to determining that a client device of the user is establishing a video conversation. |
| US09565317B2 |
Method and system for providing communication control functionality at a remotely located site using a distributed feature architecture
A method for providing communication control functionality at a remotely located site using a distributed feature architecture which provides communication features and data records to an Enhanced Network User (ENU). The ENU connects to a Distributed Feature Network (DFN) in order to gain access to communications features contained in the DFN. Based on the type of communication requested, one or more feature boxes are created in order to implement the requested communication. |
| US09565312B2 |
Real-time predictive routing
The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are designed to route customer communications to the best agent or best available agent. The methods include receiving a customer communication, predicting a demographic profile of the customer associated with the customer communication, and providing a routing recommendation to route the customer to an agent based on the prediction and historical customer data. |
| US09565311B2 |
Method and apparatus for using a search engine advantageously within a contact center system
Apparatus for operating a multimedia contact center, comprising a multimedia contact center system for handling communications sessions between an organization and its customers and obtaining media-specific information relating to the communications session, and a search engine for performing a search in relation to the obtained media-specific information, wherein the multimedia contact center system is configured to use the results from the search in handling the communications session, wherein the results may include heterogeneous material not primarily intended for session handling purposes. |
| US09565309B2 |
Methods and systems for managing simulated real-time conversations
Methods and systems for managing real-time conversations include are disclosed. In one or more examples, voice communications may be received from a caller and converted into textual elements. The textual elements may be analyzed to identify key concepts or expressions. A segment of a call script associated with the identified key concepts or expressions can be identified, and a plurality of selectable audio responses to present to the caller based upon the identified segment of the call script and the identified key concepts or expressions may be provided to the agent-operator. An audio response selected by the agent-operator from the selectable audio responses may be communicated to the caller. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included. |
| US09565308B2 |
System for communication routing
A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code is provided wherein an electronic communication is received. A communication routing matrix is accessed, from a relational database platform, to select a service representative for the received communication. It may then be arranged for the received communication to be routed in accordance with the selected service representative. |
| US09565307B2 |
Emergency assistance calling for voice over IP communications systems
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a process for handling emergency calls from a caller in a voice over IP system is described. The process involves receiving a routing request message including a caller identifier and a callee identifier. The process also involves setting an emergency call flag active in response to the callee identifier matching an emergency call identifier pre-associated with the caller. The process further involves producing an emergency response center identifier in response to the emergency call identifier. The process also involves determining whether the caller identifier is associated with a pre-associated direct inward dialing (DID) identifier. The process further involves producing a direct inward dialing (DID) identifier for the caller by associating a temporary DID identifier with the caller identifier when the emergency call flag is active and it is determined that the caller has no pre-associated DID. The process also involves producing a routing message including the emergency response center identifier and the temporary DID identifier for receipt by a routing controller operable to cause a route to be established between the caller and the emergency response center. |
| US09565305B2 |
Methods and systems of an automated answering system
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of a designated automated answering system (AAS) includes receiving a client-side application message to an AAS. The AAS includes a server-side entity managed by an enterprise. The client-side application message comprises a user's query for enterprise-related information. The client-side application message are parsed to identify user-identification data. A step includes determining one or more information sources relevant to the query for enterprise-related information. At least one or more information sources are queried. A step includes receiving a query information from the at least one or more information sources. The query information is relevant to the user's query. A natural-language text message that responds to the user's query is generated. The natural-language text message includes a single response. |
| US09565302B2 |
Automatic contextual media recording and processing utilizing speech analytics
Embodiments are provided for the automatic real-time recording and processing of media in a communications network based on the context of the media. In one embodiment, a media stream is received in an analysis module in a service platform in the communications network. The media stream may represent a communication session between a calling party and a call center in the network. The incoming media steam is analyzed to identify words comprising a context of the communication session. A determination is then made as to whether the context of the communication session is related to a set of business rules associated with the service platform which may automatically trigger the retention of a recording of the communication session. If the context of the communication session is related to the set of business rules, the retention of the communication session is automatically triggered in real-time at a recording module. |
| US09565299B2 |
Method for managing email message of call application, user device using the same, and non-volatile medium recording thereon program for executing the method
Various methods and user devices for managing an email message through a call application. An email application installed in the user device extracts a phone number and/or body content of the email message from the email message, and then delivers the extracted phone number and/or body content to a call application installed in the user device. Then the call application stores and/or displays, in a memory and/or on a display unit, the phone number and/or body content of the email message. |
| US09565297B2 |
True convergence with end to end identity management
Described is a system of disparate telecommunications networks having managed identities, a service, such as voicemail, abstracted from the underlying access networks, and an operational support system (OSS)/business support system (BSS) coupled to the networks to manage authentication and subscription information. A single authentication/subscription manager which is common to the disparate telecommunications networks is enabled by a Service Delivery Platform (SDP) which can be open-standards based and extensible as needed. |
| US09565293B2 |
Method and device for operating mobile terminal based on sensor, and mobile terminal
A method for operating a mobile terminal based on a sensor is disclosed. The method includes: a sensor is triggered according to a preset trigger rule to make the sensor output a digital signal corresponding to the trigger rule; after receiving the digital signal which is corresponding to the trigger rule and is output from the sensor, ab operation type, which is corresponding to the digital signal, of the mobile terminal is determined; and a corresponding operation process is performed on the mobile terminal according to the operation type. The disclosure also provides a corresponding device and a mobile terminal including the device. The method for operating the mobile terminal based on the sensor provided in the disclosure completes power-on/off, wakeup, sleep and other operations on the mobile terminal through the sensor, so as to bring better use experience to a user while making the structure of the mobile terminal simpler. |
| US09565292B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing an optimized location based search
An approach is provided for optimizing the generation of a location based search result. An optimization platform generates is also caused to initiate at least one second-location based search for at least one non-overlapping area of at least one first search area and at least one second search area to generate at least one set of new results. The optimization platform also designates at least one portion of the at least one first set of results as at least one set of old results. The optimization platform then returns at least one set of new results and the at least one set of old results as at least one second set of results for the at least one second location-based search. |
| US09565291B2 |
Apparatus and method for configuring idle screen
An apparatus and a method for configuring an idle screen, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for analyzing functions of a terminal according to a user's environmental state, and configuring an idle screen in accordance with the analysis. According to the apparatus and method, when a change in a current environmental state is sensed while performing the selected terminal function, the terminal determines an environmental state information item corresponding to a changed environmental state, and updates the selected terminal function in a terminal function item corresponding to the determined environmental state information item. When there is a request for displaying an idle screen, the terminal determines a current environmental state item corresponding to the currently environmental state, extracts one or more terminal functions corresponding to the determined environmental state information item, and configures the idle screen using the extracted terminal functions. |
| US09565285B2 |
Cellular network communications wireless headset and mobile device
A headset that communicates with a mobile device through a local radio frequency (RF) communication link to conduct a telephone call is described. The headset includes a local RF communication modem that receives downlink packets from the mobile device through the local RF communication link. The downlink packets were received by the mobile device through a wireless communication link. The headset includes an audio decoder that decodes the downlink packets into a downlink audio signal to be played back at the headset. The headset also includes an audio encoder that encodes an uplink audio signal produced by the headset into uplink packets. The local RF communication modem sends the uplink packets to the mobile device through the local RF communication link. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US09565278B2 |
Method for manufacturing mobile terminal and light guide unit
Disclosed is a mobile terminal comprising: a case for mounting electronic components therein; a light source located within the case, for laterally emitting light; and a light guide unit in which light emitted from the light source is incident on the lateral side, wherein the light guide unit comprises a base module and a reflective film, which is coated on the outer side of the base module and includes a first opening formed on the side facing the light source and a second opening formed in the direction of the front side, wherein the case includes a light transmission unit in a portion facing the second opening of the reflective film and wherein the reflective film encloses the lateral side of the mobile terminal so that even the lateral leakage of light can be blocked. |
| US09565276B2 |
Transparent redirection of clients to a surrogate payload server through the use of a proxy location server
In some embodiments, a first location server, in response to a request from a client to access an object, determines whether a first location information stored at the first location server indicates locations of instance(s) of the object. The first location server, in response to a determination that the first location information indicates the locations of the instances of the object, determines a first location of a first instance of the object at a first payload server and a second location of a second instance of the object at a second payload server from the first location information. The first location server determines priority values of the first and second locations. The first location server generates a reply to the request, the reply indicating the first and second locations of the first and second instances of the object, and the priority values of the first and second locations. |
| US09565275B2 |
Transformation of industrial data into useful cloud information
A cloud-compatible industrial device is provided. The industrial device generates or collects raw industrial data in connection with monitoring and/or controlling an automation system, and includes a cloud interface that couples the industrial device to one or more cloud-based services running on a cloud platform. To reduce consumption of cloud-based resources such as bandwidth and storage utilization, the industrial device can transform the raw industrial data into refined data that is amenable for cloud-based storage, computing, or analysis. Exemplary transformations include filtering, pruning, re-formatting, compressing, summarizing. In one or more embodiments, the industrial device can also add contextual metadata to the raw data prior to delivery to the cloud. |
| US09565274B2 |
Systems, methods and devices for trip management functions
A Web based application system for managing a trip. The Web based application system for managing a trip includes a graphical user interface for allowing a client computer coupled to a network to access a server computer to retrieve and store data relating to the trip therewith, one or more interactive windows functioning with the graphical user interface to perform the retrieving and the storing such that the data include a Web document and the graphical user interface and the interactive windows include a first application, and a wireless device interface for allowing a portable device wirelessly coupled, with a cellular telephone system, with the network to access the Web document. The portable device includes a cellular telephone functionality, a geo-locating functionality and a processor for processing the Web document. The processing helps manage the trip. Downloading and processing the Web document include a second application. |
| US09565268B2 |
Network storage system and method for file caching
A network storage system and a method for file caching are provided. The network storage system includes a first electronic apparatus and a server. The first electronic apparatus has a first storage space. The server has a network storage space larger than the first storage space. When the first electronic apparatus sends an access request to the server for accessing a first file within the network storage space, the server broadcasts a cache list in response to the access request. The cache list includes the first file and a plurality of neighboring file neighboring to the first file. After receiving the cache list, the first electronic apparatus accesses the first file according to the cache list, and caches at least one of the neighboring files according to a first cache space size of the first storage space. |
| US09565265B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically optimizing the loading of images in a cloud-based proxy service
A request is received at a proxy server for a web page, the request originating from a client network application of a client device. The requested web page includes multiple references to multiple images. The proxy server retrieves the requested web page. The proxy server modifies code of the retrieved web page such that the client network application will not, for each one of images, request that image until the location where that image is to be displayed is within a viewport of the client network application or within a defined distance from the viewport of the client network application. The proxy server transmits the modified web page to the client device. |
| US09565264B1 |
True push architecture for internet protocol notification
A method of true push for internet protocol notification to a mobile communication device implemented by at least one server computer. The method comprises determining the size of physically addressable random access memory (RAM) and the number of central processing unit (CPU) cores of the server computer at boot time and setting the resource limit, rlimit, in the kernel of the server computer that comprises setting the limit for the total number of file handles in the entire system automatically based on the determined size of the random access memory and the determined number of the central processing unit cores at boot time. The method further comprises tying the memory page allocation into the setting of the kernel parameters, whereby the input/output (I/O) maintenance of the server computer is maximized for concurrent web sockets so that the server computer is optimized for implementing the true push for internet protocol notification. |
| US09565262B2 |
Method and system for providing live real-time communication via text between mobile user devices
A method and system for providing real-time communication via text between multiple user devices, the method including receiving, at an application server, a conversation request from a first user device, wherein the conversation request is based upon a selection of a second user device from a contact list that is stored on the first user device, sending the conversation request from the application server to a push server, receiving, at the application server, a conversation session ID from the second user device, if the conversation request is accepted by the second user device, sending the conversation session ID from the application server to the push server, receiving, at the application server, a first datagram message from the first user device, sending the first datagram message from the application server to the second user device, receiving, at the application server, a second datagram message from the second user device, and sending the second datagram message from the application server to the first user device. |
| US09565261B2 |
Location information in a communications system
A method of communicating location information relating to a first user of a first communication client from a first user terminal over a communications system to a second user terminal, the first user terminal executing the first communication client and the second user terminal executing a second communication client, the method comprising: the second communication client displaying a list of contacts associated with a second user of the second communication client, the list of contacts comprising a first contact representing the first user; the first user terminal determining a location of the first user; the first user terminal storing the determined location in a store of the first user terminal; the first communication client reading the stored location from the store; the first communication client generating a message comprising a visual indication of the location read from the store; transmitting the message from the first user terminal to the second user terminal; and displaying the visual indication of the location on the second user terminal in the contact list in association with the first contact. |
| US09565258B1 |
Lower latency connections using speculative DNS resolution
Methods for lower latency connections using speculative DNS resolution are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request at a client for a web resource to be sent to a hostname. The method also includes obtaining a speculative Domain Name System (DNS) resolution of the hostname from a source local to the client. The method also includes initiating a connection to the hostname using the obtained speculative DNS resolution of the hostname. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided. |
| US09565255B2 |
Electronic accessory for detecting and communicating a connection attribute corresponding to another electronic accessory
At an electronic accessory of a master electronic device, a connection attribute can be detected that is indicative of a presence or a characteristic of a connection between the electronic accessory and at least one other electronic accessory of the master electronic device. A connection-indicative signal can be generated at the electronic device that includes the connection attribute. The connection-indicative signal can be transmitted to the master electronic device. |
| US09565254B2 |
Object location service for network-based content repository
A distributed object store in a network storage system uses location-independent global object identifiers (IDs) for stored data objects. The global object ID enables a data object to be seamlessly moved from one location to another without affecting clients of the storage system, i.e., “transparent migration”. The global object ID can be part of a multilevel object handle, which also can include a location ID indicating the specific location at which the data object is stored, and a policy ID identifying a set of data management policies associated with the data object. The policy ID may be associated with the data object by a client of the storage system, for example when the client creates the object, thus allowing “inline” policy management. An object location subsystem (OLS) can be used to locate an object when a client request does not contain a valid location ID for the object. |
| US09565252B2 |
Distributed storage network with replication control and methods for use therewith
A method includes encoding input data into a plurality of slices. The plurality of slices are sent to a first plurality of distributed storage and task execution units for storage, the first plurality of distributed storage and task execution units being located at a corresponding first plurality of sites. Write slice data is received from the first plurality of distributed storage and task execution units. The method determines when replication is to be applied to the plurality of slices. When replication is to be applied to the plurality of slices, a second plurality of distributed storage and task execution units are selected, a plurality of replicated slices corresponding to the plurality of slices are generated, and the plurality of replicated slices are sent to the second plurality of distributed storage and task execution units. |
| US09565251B2 |
Method and apparatus to reduce FLASH memory device programming time over a C.A.N. bus
Data frames, such as Controller Access Network frames, that are to be programmed into a FLASH memory device, are sent from a programming station to a target device via a relatively high-speed bus and stored temporarily at the target device in numbered frame buffers. Each frame carries a payload. Before a frame is sent, an identifier is assigned to it, or an identifier is appended to the frame. The identifier identifies a particular buffer in the target device where the frame is to be stored in the target device until the target device is able to process the frame and write its payload into a FLASH memory device. |
| US09565249B2 |
Adaptive connectivity in network-based collaboration background information
Various embodiments include at least one of systems, methods, software, and data structures for peer-to-peer exchange of at least a portion of networked collaboration session data. Client and server solutions allow for switching between peer-to-peer and server-centric modes of collaboration data sharing. Some embodiments also allow for sharing of data of a first type via a collaboration server and data of a second type via peer-to-peer connections. |
| US09565247B2 |
Method and system of sharing information in a social networking application
A method of sharing information in a social networking application includes at a computer server having one or more processors and memory storing programs configured for execution by the one or more processors, receiving a binding request from a first user to bind with at least a second user of a social networking application, the second user being a friend of the first user; generating a binding relationship between the first user and the second user; storing the binding relationship between the first user and the second user at the computer server; receiving information from the first user to be shared in a binding manner with the second user; retrieving a friend list of the second user; and sharing the information from the first user with at least one friend of the second user. |
| US09565241B2 |
Control method and control apparatus for apparatus including short range wireless communication module
A control method and control apparatus for determining a relative location of a mobile terminal with respect to a display apparatus by using short range wireless communication. A method of controlling a display apparatus including a plurality of short range wireless communication modules, the method includes: performing short range wireless communication with a mobile terminal through a short range wireless communication module included in the display apparatus; identifying the short range wireless communication module performing the short range wireless communication with the mobile terminal from among the plurality of short range wireless communication modules; determining a relative location of the mobile terminal with respect to the display apparatus according to the result of identifying; and determining a location on a screen of the display apparatus to display data according to the relative location and displaying the data on the screen of the display apparatus according to the determined location. |
| US09565238B2 |
Method for controlling electronic apparatus, handheld electronic apparatus and monitoring system
A method for controlling an electronic apparatus, a handheld electronic apparatus, and a monitoring system are provided. An image within an image capturing range is displayed on a display unit by an image capturing unit. A digital stamp in the image is detected. The digital stamp corresponds to a single or multiple controllable devices. A control interface corresponding to the digital stamp is displayed on the image. An operation action a user executes on the control interface is detected so as to control the controllable device corresponding to the digital stamp. |
| US09565235B2 |
System and method for controlling access to internet sites
A method and system for providing flexible access to Internet sites is described. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, via a computing device, a request to access content associated with the URL. The method further includes transmitting a response to the request, the response indicating that access to the URL is restricted, receiving a second request to access the content associated with the URL, the second request acknowledging that access to the URL is restricted, logging the second request; and transmitting a second response to the second request, the second response allowing access to the requested content associated with the URL. |
| US09565233B1 |
Preloading content for requesting applications
Methods for preloading content in one application for another application are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request by a first application from a second application to preload content in the first application, and loading the content in the first application in response to the request from the second application. The method also includes switching from a display of the second application to a display of the first application and providing the loaded content for display in the first application in response to a selection in the second application from a user to display the content. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided. |
| US09565227B1 |
Composition control method for remote application delivery
A method for communicating an image stream, one embodiment comprising negotiating, between a server and client, an MTCC identifying: a window as a portion of a display of the client, and an occluded portion of the window defined by the client; generating, by the server, complying with the MTCC, a sequence of image frames each comprising pixel data in a portion of the frame identified by the occluded portion; transmitting an encoding of a first frame of the sequence not including an encoding of the pixel data in the portion of the first frame; identifying, by the server, an event associated with the sequence; and transmitting, before communication between the server and the client regarding the event, by the server, information of the event in conjunction with an encoding of a second frame of the sequence including an encoding of the pixel data in the portion of the second frame. |
| US09565226B2 |
Message capturing and seamless message sharing and navigation
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method for creating video streams is provided. An indication is received that is related to a first video being received or requested. The first video includes attributes characterizing content of the first video. A second video stored in a database is selected in response to receiving the indication. The selection is based on at least one attribute of the first video. An order of the first video and the second video is determined by one or more processors. The order is based on the at least one attribute characterizing the content of the first video. A video stream is generated on a user display by providing the first video and the second video in the determined order and in a substantially seamless manner. |
| US09565225B2 |
Server configuration including stream preview
A method includes receiving first input from a computing device, the first input corresponding to selection of a first media player associated with a first output stream format. In response to the first input, a first stream preview is sent to the computing device in accordance with the first output stream format. The method includes receiving second input from the computing device, where the second input corresponds to selection of a second media player associated with a second output stream format. In response to the second input, a second stream preview is sent to the computing device in accordance with the second output stream format. |
| US09565224B1 |
Methods, systems, and media for presenting a customized user interface based on user actions
Methods, systems, and media for presenting a customized user interface based on user actions are provided. In some implementations, a method for presenting a customized user interface based on user actions is provided, the method comprising: receiving a request for media content from an application comprising a user interface for presenting media content that includes a plurality of user interface elements that each initiate sharing on a different platform; determining that the request was sent from the user device as a result of the user selecting a link on a first platform; and causing the application to present an additional user interface element that initiates sharing of the media content item on the first platform in addition to the plurality of user interface elements in response to determining that the request was transmitted as a result of selection of the link on the first platform. |
| US09565222B2 |
Granting access in view of identifier in network
Discussion of content between users of social networks is described. A request from a first user to discuss content with a recipient user in a first social network is received, wherein the recipient user has a first identifier in the first social network. A request from a second user to discuss content with the recipient user in a second social network is received, wherein the recipient user has a second identifier in the second social network. A discussion is initiated between the second user and the recipient user about the content in the second social network. The recipient user is tracked in view of the first identifier in the first social network and the second identifier in the second social network. |
| US09565218B2 |
Resource management for WebRTC
A system performs client wake up for real-time communications (“RTC”). The system closes a connection between a gateway and an RTC application of a device. The RTC application enters a sleeping mode when the connection to the gateway is closed. After closing the connection, the system receives a message intended for the RTC application. The system requests a push notification server to wake up the RTC application, reconnects the gateway with the RTC application, and delivers the message to the RTC application. |
| US09565217B2 |
Method, system, network and computer-readable media for controlling outgoing telephony calls
The present invention discloses numerous implementations for IP-based call processing systems that can selectively control an outgoing call initiated by a source device to a destination device. The call processing system communicates with a Service Switching Point (SSP) associated with the source device and determines whether to effect control of the outgoing call. It could determine to effect control of the outgoing call for many reasons including to convey a media message to the source device, to implement a call feature or to manage call restrictions. Upon determining to effect control of the outgoing call, the call processing system causes the SSP to initiate a media connection between the source device and the call processing system. The call processing system can then utilize the media connection with the source device to perform functionality for the outgoing call prior to and/or during the outgoing call. |
| US09565216B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for security protocol selection in internet protocol multimedia subsystem networks
A method includes receiving a first secured registration request message from user equipment at a registration server in an Internet Protocol multimedia subsystem network, the first secured registration request message being secured using a first security protocol, determining at the registration server that the first secured registration request message cannot be decoded using the first security protocol, sending a message from the registration server to the user equipment proposing a second security protocol, and receiving a second secured registration request message from the user equipment at the registration server, the second secured registration request message being secured using the second security protocol. |
| US09565212B2 |
Secure mobile framework
Systems and methods for a secure mobile framework to securely connect applications running on mobile devices to services within an enterprise are provided. Various embodiments provide mechanisms of securitizing data and communication between mobile devices and end point services accessed from a gateway of responsible authorization, authentication, anomaly detection, fraud detection, and policy management. Some embodiments provide for the integration of server and client side security mechanisms, binding of a user/application/device to an endpoint service along with multiple encryption mechanisms. For example, the secure mobile framework provides a secure container on the mobile device, secure files, a virtual file system partition, a multiple level authentication approach (e.g., to access a secure container on the mobile device and to access enterprise services), and a server side fraud detection system. |
| US09565208B2 |
System and method for detecting network intrusions using layered host scoring
Approaches for detecting network intrusions, such as malware infection, Trojans, worms, or bot net mining activities includes: identifying one or more threat detections in session datasets, the session datasets corresponding to network traffic from a plurality of hosts; determining a layered detection score, the layered detection score corresponding to a certainty score and threat score; determining a layered host score, the layered host score corresponding to a certainty score and threat score; and generating alarm data comprising the layered detection score and the layered host score. In some embodiments, the network traffic may be received passively through a network switch; for example, by “tapping” the switch. Other additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention are described in the detailed description, figures and claims. |
| US09565202B1 |
System and method for detecting exfiltration content
Techniques for detecting exfiltration content are described herein. According to one embodiment, a malicious content suspect is executed within a virtual machine that simulates a target operating environment associated with the malicious content suspect. A packet inspection is performed on outbound network traffic initiated by the malicious content suspect to determine whether the outbound network traffic matches a predetermined network traffic pattern. An alert is generated indicating that the malicious content suspect should be declared as malicious, in response to determining that the outbound network traffic matches the predetermined network traffic pattern. |
| US09565201B2 |
Security threat identification/testing using annotated sequence diagrams
Embodiments provide apparatuses and methods supporting software development teams in identifying potential security threats, and then testing those threats against under-development scenarios. At design-time, embodiments identify potential threats by providing sequence diagrams enriched with security annotations. Security information captured by the annotations can relate to topics such as security goals, properties of communications channels, environmental parameters, and/or WHAT-IF conditions. The annotated sequence diagram can reference an extensible catalog of functions useful for defining message content. Once generated, the annotated sequence diagram can in turn serve as a basis for translation into a formal model of system security. At run-time, embodiments support development teams in testing, by exploiting identified threats to automatically generate and execute test-cases against the up and running scenario. The security annotations may facilitate detection of subtle flaws in security logic, e.g., those giving rise to Man-in-the-middle, authentication, and/or confidentiality issues in software under-development. |
| US09565200B2 |
Method and system for forensic data tracking
The present invention relates to a method and system for tracking the movement of data elements as they are shared and moved between authorized and unauthorized devices and among authorized and unauthorized users. |
| US09565191B2 |
Global policy apparatus and related methods
A method of implementing requirements applicable to systems of an enterprise includes modeling the requirements as contents of policies applicable to target domains of the enterprise. The policy contents are integrated into a policy model. The policy model is adapted to obtain representations of domain-specific requirements corresponding to target systems in the target domains. The representations are integrated with the corresponding target systems to implement the domain-specific requirements. |
| US09565189B1 |
Method and system for providing access to administrative functionality a virtualization environment
Described is an architecture for providing access to administrative functionality in a virtualization system using implied authentication. This approach avoids the problems associated with the requirements to use a user ID and password to access an admin console. The user ID and password can be rendered completely unnecessary, or where the user ID and password combination is only used as a supplement to the implied authentication. |
| US09565183B2 |
Location and device based student access control
Techniques are described for controlling access to an online service by a one or more authentication mechanisms based on device, browser, or location, or a combination of the three. A method comprises receiving a request to access a service, receiving, in association with the request, a first access mechanism, receiving a first and second level of authentication associated with the user requesting the service, updating authenticated-mechanism data to indicate that the first access mechanism is an authenticated access mechanism for the particular user, receiving a second request to access the service, in response to receiving a second request, determining whether the second access mechanism is an authenticated access mechanism for the particular user, upon determining that the second access mechanism is not an authenticated mechanism, requesting a second level of authentication for the particular user, otherwise granting access. |
| US09565179B2 |
Method and system for facilitating collaboration across multiple platforms
A method and system for facilitating collaboration across a plurality of platforms are disclosed. A server with one or more processors and memory performs an identity authentication process to validate a user to access a super account, where the super account is bound to a plurality of sub-accounts, and where each of the plurality of sub-accounts corresponds to a distinct platform. In accordance with a determination that the authentication process is successful, the server queries sub-servers corresponding to the plurality of sub-accounts for respective usage rights of each of the plurality of sub-accounts. The server transmits, to the user, one or more tokens identifying the respective usage rights of each of the plurality of sub-accounts and generates a user interface including affordances based at least in part on the usage rights of each of the plurality of sub-accounts. |
| US09565178B2 |
Using representational state transfer (REST) for consent management
Techniques are disclosed for sending, from an application executing on a device associated with a user, through a Representational State Transfer (REST)-based interface, to an authorization computer system, a request for permission to access a scope of information associated with the user. The techniques can further include, based on authentication of the user, receiving, at the device associated with the user, through the REST-based interface, a request for consent by the user to allow the application to access information that is within the scope of information associated with the user. Furthermore, the techniques can include, responsive to the device receiving consent from the user, sending, from the device associated with the user, through the REST-based interface, to the authorization computer system, the consent to allow the application to access the information for the authorization computer system to store a mapping between the application and the scope. |
| US09565173B2 |
Systems and methods for establishing trusted, secure communications from a mobile device to a multi-function device
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for establishing trusted, secure communications from a mobile device, such as a smart phone, to an immobile device, such as a multi-function device. The disclosed techniques can include the immobile device displaying a pattern that encodes a cryptographic key. The mobile device can obtain an image of the pattern and decode it to obtain the cryptographic key. Because the mobile device obtained the image within its line-of-sight, for example, it can be assured that it communicated with the immobile device, and only the immobile device. The mobile device and the immobile device can use the cryptographic key to secure further communications. |
| US09565163B1 |
Verification of network service paths
Verification of continuity for a network service path that includes at least one network function that blocks test packets may be achieved by providing a bypass mechanism to bypass test packets around the at least one network function that blocks test packets. Verification of continuity may be done when the network service is available for active use or when it is not ready for active use. Detection of a continuity problem leads to more detailed diagnostic work. |
| US09565156B2 |
Remote access to a mobile communication device over a wireless local area network (WLAN)
A method and arrangement is provided which allows a PC or other client device to be used to communicate with third parties through a mobile communication device when a user and the mobile communication device are not in the vicinity of one another. The arrangement allows the user to control operation of the mobile communication device over a WLAN so that the user can send or receive messages such as voice and text messages to a remote party from the client device through the mobile communication device over the WLAN and the mobile communication network employed by the mobile device. |
| US09565151B2 |
Immediate communication system
A communication service network, comprising: (a) a communication network including a plurality of terminals configured to support at least a first personal communication service for a plurality of users over the communication network, in which service, each user has a unique handle; and (b) a plurality of clients supporting a second personal communication service, wherein each of said clients is configured to attempt a communication under said second service with any of said users using their unique handles. |
| US09565146B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling messenger in terminal
An apparatus for controlling a messenger in a terminal is provided. A display displays an answer phrase to a specific chat phrase among a plurality of chat phrases in a messenger chat window. Upon receiving an answer phrase to a specific chat phrase which is not displayed in a display area of the messenger chat window, a controller notifies of the reception of the answer phrase, and if ‘View Answer Phrase’ is selected, the controller moves to a position area where the specific chat phrase is displayed, and displays the specific chat phrase and the answer phrase. The controller manages the plurality of chat phrases using index information indicating a position for each of the plurality of chat phrases. If an answer phrase to the specific chat phrase is sent, the controller generates index information of the answer phrase associated to the index information of the specific chat phrase. |
| US09565145B2 |
Information sharing management on an instant messaging platform
This application discloses a method implemented at a server to control information items shared on an instant messaging platform. The server monitors information sharing activities by a public account of the instant messaging platform. The public account is supported by a third party application authorized by the instant messaging platform and has connection with a plurality of individual user accounts of the instant messaging platform. When the amount of information shared by the public account exceeds a predefined threshold, the server partitions the shared information into multiple categories and measures user activities from the plurality of individual user accounts on the categorized shared information. The server selects a policy of restricting the public account from sharing information with the plurality of individual user accounts based on the measurement result, and applies the policy to the public account. |
| US09565133B2 |
Network system implementing a plurality of switching devices to block passage of a broadcast signal
To provide a network system including a network constructed by combining a plurality of switching devices. The network includes a first partial network including switching devices and a second partial network that is formed outside the first partial network and includes switching devices. The switching device in the first partial network connected to the second partial network blocks passage of a broadcast signal that is transmitted from a terminal device and that has a specific logical port number as transmission information at a physical port. |
| US09565130B2 |
Cloud-based resource availability calculation of a network environment
An example method for cloud-based resource availability calculation of a network environment is provided and includes receiving a plurality of system error log (SEL) data in real time at a virtual appliance executing in a first network. The SEL data is received from a remote second network indicating system events associated with corresponding resources in the second network. The method further includes calculating a resource availability (RA) index indicative of availability of resources for workload deployment in the second network, and sending the RA index to a management application executing in the second network for appropriate management and allocation of resources in the second network. In specific embodiments, the method further includes receiving a SEL inventory associated with a specific resource in the second network, and updating the RA index based on the SEL inventory. |
| US09565126B2 |
Virtual machine and application migration over local and wide area networks without timeout using data compression
Long distance cloud migration (LDCM) to overcome the limitations faced by the cloud migration techniques over long distance, high speed WAN infrastructures. LDCM overcomes the negative effects of existing TCP/IP mechanisms on the efficient use of available bandwidth. LDCM also acts as an acceleration engine to optimize various hypervisor, storage and security applications. |
| US09565125B2 |
Multicast to unicast conversion technique
A technique allows stations to utilize an equal share of resources (e.g., airtime or throughput). This prevents slow stations from consuming too many resources (e.g., using up too much air time). Fairness is ensured by selective dropping after a multicast packet is converted to unicast. This prevents slow stations from using more than their share of buffer resources. Multicast conversion aware back-pressure into the network layer can be used to prevent unnecessary dropping of packets after multicast to unicast (1:n) conversion by considering duplicated transmit buffers. This technique helps achieve airtime/resource fairness among stations. |
| US09565118B1 |
Methods and apparatus for handling management packets in an audio video bridging (AVB) network
It is determined whether a packet is a management-type packet. When it is determined that the packet is a management-type packet, a queue is selected from a plurality of queues corresponding to different priorities, wherein the selected queue corresponds to a defined throughput and/or a defined latency. The packet is enqueued in the selected queue. The packet is transmitted via a port of the network device. |
| US09565110B2 |
Network congestion management systems and methods
Systems, methods and software useful for overcoming network congestion problems including head-of-line blocking issues and other network congestion problems. In certain aspects, flow control mechanisms implemented in a switch device or other network device manage buffer and system level resources using a scheduler to control the amount of data requested from a local SAN fabric. Switches and other network devices configured according to the present invention monitor each individual SCSI task, and are configured to apply flow control measures to each active session when buffering resources become scarce, such as when buffering data for a slower-speed WAN link or TCP/IP based interconnects of any speed. |
| US09565108B2 |
Distributed node migration between routing domains
In one embodiment, a device connected to a network receives at a network interface a first network size indicator for a first network and a second network size indicator for a second network. A difference between the first network size indicator and the second network size indicator is determined and a switching probability is calculated if the difference between the network size indicators is greater than a predetermined network size difference threshold. The device may then migrate from the first network to the second network based on the switching probability. |
| US09565105B2 |
Implementation of virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN) in top-of-rack switches in a network environment
An example method for implementation of virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN) in top-of-rack (ToR) switches in a network environment is provided and includes receiving a packet encapsulated with a VXLAN header having an unknown virtual tunnel endpoint (VTEP) Internet Protocol (IP) address in a network environment, and installing an entry at an index location of a forwarding table. The index location includes an encoding of the VTEP-IP address as a VTEP index (VTEP-IDX), and the entry maps a VXLAN interface to an IP address associated with a VXLAN network identifier (VNI). In specific embodiments, the VTEP-IDX is log N bits, where N is a size of the forwarding table. The forwarding table indicates a destination VTEP IP address when encapsulating the packet, and the source VTEP IP address when decapsulating the packet. |
| US09565101B2 |
Risk mitigation in data center networks
A method employing resource orchestration algorithms may find a fewest number of working data centers (DCs) to guarantee K-connect survivability using an overlay network representing a physical optical network. The overlay network may not include certain topological features of the physical optical network. A risk-based algorithm may result in fewer working DCs for K-connect survivability. A delay-based algorithm may be more suitable for delay-sensitive cloud applications. |
| US09565093B1 |
Systems and methods for anticipating file-security queries
The disclosed computer-implemented method for anticipating file-security queries may include (1) monitoring queries from client devices for information that describes the security of files, (2) determining that a threshold number of the client devices are querying for information describing the security of a file within a threshold amount of time, (3) anticipating, based on the determination, that at least one client device that did not query for the information will query for the information, and (4) delivering, in response to anticipating that the client device that did not query for the information will query for the information, the information to the client device that did not query for the information. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09565090B1 |
Measuring deletion of cookies included in browsers used by online system users
An online system determines a frequency with which its users delete information stored in a browser on client devices associated with each user. When a user accesses the online system, the online system determines a user identifier associated with the user and determines if one or more conditions are satisfied based on information received from a browser used to access the online system. If a condition is satisfied, the online system communicates an instruction to the browser to communicate information associated with a third party and the user identifier to the third party. Information previously stored in the browser and associated with the user identifier is compared to information associated with the user identifier received from the browser. Deletion of information stored in the browser is determined when stored information associated with the user identifier differs from received information associated with the user identifier. |
| US09565087B2 |
Method of monitoring a tandem connection in a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) Telecommunication network
It is disclosed a method of monitoring, a Multi-Protocol Label Switching network, a tandem connection of a Label Switched Path. The tandem connection to be monitored has an input node and an output node. The method comprises the following steps: receiving a first Operation Administration Management packet at the input node; and generating a second OAM packet at the input node. According to the invention, the following steps are further performed: a tandem connection header is inserted into the first OAM packet; both the first OAM packet with the tandem connection header and the second OAM packet are sent towards the output node; and the second OAM packet is identified according to the presence or absence of said tandem connection header. |
| US09565084B2 |
Method and system for evaluating network connectivity in rule-based applications
A computer readable storage medium includes a set of instructions executable by a processor. The instructions are operable to assign a unique identifier to each of a plurality of node subsets of a network, the node subsets being created by damage to the network; assign one or more of the identifiers to each of a plurality of components of the damaged network based on a connectivity to the one or more of the node subsets and corresponding identifiers of the node subsets; assign one or more of the identifiers to each of one or more node types of the plurality of components by assigning each of the node types all of the identifiers of any of the components of the node type; and evaluate a first connectivity between a first one of the components and a second one of the components by determining whether they share at least one of the identifiers. |
| US09565081B2 |
Phone thermal context
A thermal context manager (hereinafter “TCM”) detects a thermal state and a position of a computing device. Based on the detected thermal state(s) and the detected position(s) of the computing device, the TCM initiates an action associated with the computing device. The TCM continually monitors the computing device in order to create a thermal state profile of the computing device. To create the thermal state profile, the TCM stores data representing each detected instance of the thermal state of the computing device and data representing each detected position of the computing device. |
| US09565080B2 |
Evaluating electronic network devices in view of cost and service level considerations
The described implementations relate to processing of electronic data. One implementation is manifest as one or more computer-readable storage devices comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices to perform acts. The acts can include determining service levels provided by multiple network configurations, determining costs associated with the multiple network configurations, and evaluating the multiple network configurations based on both the costs and the service levels. The multiple network configurations can include redundantly-deployed devices. Furthermore, some implementations may determine cost/service level metrics that can be used to compare devices based on expected costs to provide a particular service level. |
| US09565074B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods of orchestrating resources and services across multiple heterogeneous domains
The various embodiments include methods, computers and communication systems for controlling services across multiple heterogeneous networks, which may include receiving a service request, identifying two or more telecommunications domains required to fulfill the received service request, generating two or more domain specific service requests based on the received service request, associating at least one of the generated plurality of domain specific service requests with one of the identified telecommunications domains, and sending the associated domain specific service requests to exposed public interfaces of the associated telecommunications domains. A component in the telecommunications domain may receive the domain specific service request, decompose the request into resource rule(s), and send the resource rule(s) to a relevant component within the associated telecommunications domain for enforcement. |
| US09565066B2 |
Data transmission method, base station, and user equipment
Embodiments of the present invention provide a data transmission method. The method includes: obtaining a slot format of a F-DPCH used for a UE; receiving an ACK message that is sent by a base station on an AICH; determining an F-DPCH frame offset τF-DPCH of the UE and determining a transmission time interval τa-m according to a predefined rule, where the τa-m indicates a time interval between a starting boundary of an access slot when the UE receives the AICH and a time point when the UE starts uplink transmission; receiving an uplink power control command word TPC on the F-DPCH according to the slot format of the F-DPCH and the τF-DPCH; and performing uplink transmission to the base station according to the τa-m. |
| US09565064B2 |
Frame transmission apparatus and method for checking normality
A frame transmission apparatus includes multiple ports provided in a line unit, and a setting control unit. The setting control unit checks the normality of the frame transfer state within the apparatus by transferring a maintenance management frame from a first port to a second port within the apparatus. When the first port is a logical port configured by link aggregation of multiple physical ports, the setting control unit selects each of the multiple physical ports as a transmission source port and transfers multiple maintenance management frames from the multiple physical ports to the second port. |
| US09565063B2 |
Systems, devices and methods of synchronizing information across multiple heterogeneous networks
The various embodiments include methods, computers and communication systems that enable synchronizing information in a telecommunications system, which may include receiving a first message including communication information to be synchronized from a first domain, receiving a second message including information associated with a communication on a component in a second telecommunication domain, synchronizing information included in the first message with information included in the second message, and sending the synchronized information to a public interface of the first domain. Synchronizing the information included in the first message with information included in the second message may include synchronizing one or more of metering, rating, charging, balance, policy, and contextual information. |
| US09565058B2 |
Method of connecting a device to a network, a device connecting system, and a program
The present subject matter is generally related to a method of connecting a device to a network, a device connecting system and a device connecting program. A network device or a device responding on a device service discovery request within a network with information of a virtual service on the device, which may be different from the actual capabilities and functions of the device. |
| US09565057B1 |
System and method for utilizing a font data container to store a device identifier
A system and method for utilizing an attribute data container, e.g., a font file, to store a device identifier is provided. During a mobile configuration procedure, an analytic processing server generates a unique identifier to be used in identifying a particular end user device. This unique identifier is embedded into an attribute data container that is then stored on the end-user device. An application, executing on the end-user device, may load the attribute data container to determine the unique identifier associated with the end user device. |
| US09565053B2 |
Non-transitory computer-readable medium, communication relay apparatus, and image processing apparatus
A process and system are described in which a session is established between a client application and a communication relay program being executed by a processor. In response to a process request from the client application, session information is added to the process request to identify the established session. Next, the process request with the session information is transmitted to an image processing apparatus. Responses received from the image processing apparatus may include the session information to identify to which session each response belongs. The communication relay program removes the session information from the response and forwards the response to the client application through the relevant session. |
| US09565049B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication method, and computer product for sharing data
A communication apparatus includes a processor configured to access memory of the communication apparatus; communicate with a second apparatus; detect an access request generated by the communication apparatus; determine whether an address of access targeted data indicated in the detected access request is an address allocated to the memory of the communication apparatus; and perform control for selecting and executing based on a determination result, any one among a process of accessing the memory of the communication apparatus based on the access request and a process of communicating with the second apparatus based on the access request. |
| US09565048B2 |
Reduced precision vector processing
Methods, systems, and devices are described for wired communication. In one aspect, a method includes selecting a gain scalar based at least in part on a constellation point distance associated with a constellation mapper for a line and a tone. The method also includes applying the gain scalar to a tone data output signal of a vector processor. |
| US09565046B2 |
Methods and nodes in a wireless communication network
A method and transmitter for generating a multicarrier signal, to be transmitted to a receiver, are provided. The method comprises dividing symbols to be transmitted into protected symbols and non-protected symbols; precoding non-protected symbols in a first precoder; precoding protected symbols in a second precoder; creating a modified non-protected symbol vector, based on the precoded non-protected symbols and the precoded protected symbols; and modulating the modified non-protected symbol vector and the protected symbols, thereby generating the multicarrier signal. Also, a method and receiver are disclosed. |
| US09565040B2 |
Empirical mode decomposition for spectrum sensing in communication systems
A system and method using an Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD)-based energy detector for spectrum sensing in a communication system. The EMD energy detector needs no prior information of the received signal, has relatively low computational complexity, operates on non-stationary and non-linear signals, and performs well at low SNR. |
| US09565033B2 |
Multicast processing method, apparatus and system
A multicast processing method, apparatus and system. A Virtual eXtensible Local Area Network (VXLAN) tunnel end point (VTEP) receives configuration information sent by a management layer; and receives a multicast packet sent by a VM managed by the VTEP; when performing VXLAN encapsulation on the multicast packet after determining that the virtual machine (VM) matches the VM tenant identifier, the VTEP encapsulates a destination address of the multicast packet into the multicast address on a layer 3 network according to a mapping relationship between a VM multicast address and a multicast address on the layer 3 network, and encapsulates a VXLAN source address of the multicast packet into a layer 3 network multicast source address according to a mapping relationship between a VM multicast source address and a layer 3 network multicast source address; and sends an encapsulated multicast packet to the layer 3 network. |
| US09565030B2 |
Testing system for a wireless access device and method
A system for testing a wireless access device having a plurality of radio modules is provided. The system includes a housing having an interior chamber. The interior chamber is adapted to receive a wireless access device. A plurality of probes are positioned for respective alignment with an antenna of a corresponding radio module of the wireless access device. The plurality of probes are adapted to receive radio signals from the wireless access device. |
| US09565029B2 |
Methods and apparatus for routing TCAP messages
The present invention relates to a point code emulation apparatus and method for dividing a Common Channel Signaling System No. 7 (or SS7) signaling network into two or more networks. The point code emulator is adapted to receive TCAP messages from two or more subnets and converts, for the messages crossing over the subnets, the information of the TCAP messages, including originating point code, destination point code, and transaction identifier, (and optionally, calling party number and called party number), and forwards to the other one of the two or more subnets. Correspondence among the two or more subnets may be provisioned by an authorized user of the system, may be learned automatically by the system based on ISUP message correspondences or previous TCAP transactions, or may be automatically discovered by the system broadcasting messages to nodes in the destined one of the two or more subnets. |
| US09565027B2 |
Multi-destination traffic control in multi-level networks
An internet protocol (IP) traffic control method comprising receiving a message that comprises multicast group information and distribution tree root information from a tree root node in a first network area, determining the border network node is a designated forwarder for the second network area, sending an announcement message that comprises the multicast group information and the distribution tree root information within the second network area, receiving multicast group membership information for a multicast group computing a multicast group membership summary for the first network area and the second network area, sending the multicast group membership summary to first network area and the second network area, computing a distribution tree using the multicast group information and the distribution tree root information, pruning the distribution tree to generate a multicast tree, and communicating multicast data traffic between the first network area and the second network area along the multicast tree. |
| US09565023B2 |
Signature generation and verification system and signature verification apparatus
A signature generation and verification system including a signature generation apparatus and a signature verification apparatus is provided. Based on signer certification information possessed by a signer, the signature generation apparatus generates a digital signature and verification data corresponding to a given electronic document and outputs the set of the digital signature and the verification data as signature data. Upon receipt of the electronic document and the signature data, the signature verification apparatus verifies the digital signature using the verification data to verify the integrity of the electronic document. As needed, the signature verification apparatus performs user identification ex-post facto by authenticating that the signer certification information from which the verification data was generated belongs to a legitimate user without knowledge of the signer certification information. |
| US09565022B1 |
RFID tags with dynamic key replacement
A cryptographically-enabled RFID tag stores a primary secret key and derives secondary keys from the primary key. A secondary key may be derived by combining the primary key with one or more other parameters using one or more algorithms. The tag uses a derived secondary key to encrypt or electronically sign a tag response sent to a verifying entity. The verifying entity does not know the derived secondary key, but knows the tag primary key and the parameters and algorithms used to derive the secondary key and can derive all of the potential secondary keys. The verifying entity can then attempt to authenticate the tag or tag response by trying potential secondary keys. |
| US09565011B2 |
Data transmission with cross-subframe control in a wireless network
Techniques for supporting communication in dominant interference scenarios are described. In an aspect, communication in a dominant interference scenario may be supported with cross-subframe control. Different base stations may be allocated different subframes for sending control information. Each base station may send control messages in the subframes allocated to that base station. Different base stations may have different timelines for sending control messages due to their different allocated subframes. With cross-subframe control, control information (e.g., grants, acknowledgement, etc.) may be sent in a first subframe and may be applicable for data transmission in a second subframe, which may be a variable number of subframes from the first subframe. In another aspect, messages to mitigate interference may be sent on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). |
| US09565009B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A communication apparatus includes: a transmission unit including a narrow interval data transmission unit which transmits a predetermined plurality of sets of data at an interval narrower than a predetermined interval, upon receipt of a narrow interval data transmission instruction; and a reception unit including: a transmission data reception unit which receives data of an application of a communication partner, and issuing a notification each time the data is received; a data transmission interval reception unit which receives a time interval of data transmission from the communication partner; a data non-arrival detection unit which considers data not to be arrived, in the case where the notification has not been issued from the transmission data reception unit for a predetermined time period longer than the time interval received by the data transmission interval reception unit; and a narrow interval data transmission instruction unit which transmits a narrow interval data transmission instruction to the communication partner, when the data non-arrival detection unit considers data not to be arrived. |
| US09565002B2 |
CRS interference mitigation for EPDCCH/PDSCH demodulation under CoMP
A method for a User Equipment (UE) to mitigate Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS) interference (not only the other interference cells' CRS interference but also the serving cell's CRS interference) during ePDCCH/PDSCH demodulation is described. The method includes determining that the CRS having been configured is not serving cell's CRS. Further, interference originating from the serving cell's CRS is mitigated by referring to serving cell's CRS configuration. |
| US09564997B2 |
Method and apparatus for flushing uplink HARQ buffer in C-DRX mode
A method for determining whether an acknowledgement received by a user equipment from an external device is a forced acknowledgement. The method including transmitting a set of data stored in an uplink buffer to an external device, receiving an acknowledgement from the external device, determining if the acknowledgement received from the external device was a forced acknowledgement and flushing out an uplink buffer if determined that the acknowledgement was not a forced acknowledgement. The determining the acknowledgement is a forced acknowledgment being based on whether an uplink retransmission collides with one or more scheduled transmission times, a Physical Hybrid-ARQ Indicator Channel (PHICH) falls between gap measurements and an uplink retransmission collides with one of the gap measurements or a TTI bundling retransmission collides with a gap measurement. If the acknowledgement is not a forced acknowledgment, a set of data stored in the uplink buffer is retransmitted to the external device. |
| US09564995B2 |
Retransmission method for time division duplexing self-adaptive frame structure, and network side device
A retransmission method for a time division duplexing self-adaptive frame structure, and a network side device relate to a technology of dynamically allocating uplink and downlink sub-frames in an LTE-advance (3GPP Release11) TDD communication system. The method comprises: during transmission of a TDD self-adaptive frame, for an uplink sub-frame, if a frame structure, of which an RTT period of PHICH and PUSCH of the uplink sub-frame is 10 ms, corresponding to the uplink sub frame is found in 7 types of defined frame structures, then sending PHICH data on a corresponding downlink sub-frame in the found frame structure, and sending retransmission data on the corresponding uplink sub-frame in the found frame structure. The solution ensures HARQ compatibility of an uplink data channel of R10UE. In addition, A/N feedback of the PDSCH is configured according to the uplink A/N resolution, thereby improving retransmission performance. |
| US09564994B2 |
Fault tolerant chip-to-chip communication with advanced voltage
Systems and circuits are described for transmitting data over physical channels to provide a fault tolerant, high speed, low latency interface such as between a memory controller and memory devices. Communications signals are communicated over interconnection groups comprised of multiple wires, with the described encoding and decoding permitting continued communication in the presence of a wire failure within an interconnection group. An efficient distributable voltage regulator to provide communications driver power is also disclosed. |
| US09564991B2 |
Ethernet point to point link incorporating forward error correction
A method of providing forward error correction on an Ethernet point-to-point link, constituted of: receiving at one end of the point-to-point link an input data stream, wherein the input data stream is a 10 bit symbol encoded serial data stream at a first data rate; decoding the 10 bit encoded data stream to a 9 bit symbol data stream; increasing the data rate of the 9 bit symbol data stream to a second data rate; for each segment of a predetermined number of 9 bit symbols generating a respective plurality of parity symbols; combining the segments and the generated respective plurality of parity symbols into FEC appended segments; encoding the FEC appended segments into an output 10 bit symbol encoded data stream; and transmitting the output 10 bit encoded stream on the point-to-point link at the second data rate. |
| US09564987B2 |
Adaptive link adaptation system and method
The embodiments described herein provide a method and system for improve link adoption performance in wireless networks. The method for modifying the MCS index for transmission using a computed offset is provided. The offset is calculated based on HARQ feedback of transmissions. A transition probability matrix with plurality of MCS indices is used for selecting the MCS index for transmission based on the highest probability of transition. A pattern sequence of MCS indices is formed and the presence of the pattern is determined in the history of the HARQ transmissions. The frequency of the pattern presence is also determined and the MCS index is selected for the HARQ transmissions. A frequency database of MCS indices is built using source encoding techniques. The transition probabilities that are estimated from the frequency database along with a cost function associated with each MCS index will be used to compute next MCS index. |
| US09564981B2 |
Audio mixing console
Mixer includes first and second displays each capable of displaying a pop-up screen that simultaneously displays pieces of information of eight channels. Once a display instruction for displaying a pop-up screen is received, it is ascertained whether or not the pop-up screen currently instructed to be displayed can be displayed on both of the first and second displays. If the pop-up screen can be displayed on only one of the displays, the currently instructed pop-up screen and one-screen channel selection switch are displayed on the one display together with. If, on the other hand, the pop-up screen can be displayed on both of the displays, the instructed pop-up screen are displayed on in a two-screen format on individual ones of the displays, and a two-screen channel selection switch is displayed on each one of the pop-up screens. |
| US09564976B2 |
Blind equalization of dual subcarrier OFDM signals
A dual-polarization, 2-subcarriers code orthogonal, orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signal carrying information bits is transmitted in an optical communication network without transmitting a corresponding pilot tone or training sequence. A receiver receives the transmitted signal and recovers information bits using a blind equalization technique and by equalizing the 2-subcarriers OFDM signal as a 49-QAM signal in time domain with a CMMA (constant multi modulus algorithm) equalization method. |
| US09564973B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving interface signals of distributed base station
The disclosures provide a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving interface signals of a distributed base station. At least one channel of Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) signals of a distributed base station are encapsulated into optical transport unit x (OTUx) signals in a frame structure of OTUx by adopting Generic Mapping Procedure (GMP) mapping scheme, wherein the x represents a transmission capacity and wherein the OTUx is adopted for providing a bandwidth required by the at least one channel of CPRI signals, and then the OTUx signals that bear the at least one channel of CPRI signals are sent. |
| US09564970B2 |
Information communication method for obtaining information using ID list and bright line image
An information communication method is provided for obtaining information from a subject. The method includes receiving an ID list that includes a plurality of sets of identification information, and setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject. The method also includes obtaining a bright line image including the bright line by the image sensor capturing the subject, and obtaining the information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained bright line image. The method further includes searching for a channel used to broadcast the content displayed by the subject, by searching the ID list for the obtained information, and obtaining related information associated with the channel from a server. |
| US09564969B2 |
Lighting fixture for visible light communication and visible-light-communication system with same
A lighting fixture for visible light communication is configured to modulate light intensity of a light source (11) comprising a light-emitting device (2) to superpose a communication signal on illumination light. The lighting fixture includes: a power supply circuit (3) configured to control light output of the light source (11) based on a dimming signal; a switch device (Q1) for modulating an output current from the power supply circuit (3) to the light source (11); an impedance element (Rx); a communication circuit (4); and an ON circuit (6). The communication circuit (4) is configured to supply a modulation signal to a side of the switch device (Q1) to superpose the communication signal on the illumination light. The ON circuit (6) is configured to turn on the switch device (Q1) by supply power from the power supply circuit (3) when the communication circuit (4) is inactivated. |
| US09564967B2 |
Management system for GPON based services
A computerized system and method for managing a passive optical network (PON) is disclosed. The system includes a detection and analysis module adapted for receiving uploaded measurement data from an optical line terminal (OLT) and at least one optical network terminal (ONT), and at least one of technical tools data, service failure data, and outside plant data. The detection and analysis module is adapted for determining a source of failure or potential failure in the PON by correlating the uploaded measurement data and the at least one of technical tools data and service failure data with information stored in a memory medium for the OLT and each ONT. |
| US09564966B1 |
Reconstructing light-based communication signals using an alias frequency
Methods and systems are described for sampling an LCOM message signal at a rate less than the Nyquist rate (i.e., an “alias frequency”) and accurately reconstructing the entire LCOM message using a light receiver (e.g., digital camera) of a typical mobile computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or other mobile computing device. The described methods and system take advantage of the repetition of LCOM signals, sampling an LCOM signal at a frequency less than the Nyquist frequency over at least two repetitions of a signal waveform, thereby collecting sufficient samples to accurately reconstruct the signal. The samples of each successive signal waveform repetition are offset from one another so that different points on the waveform are sampled, thus facilitating reconstruction of the signal. |
| US09564963B2 |
Automatic power control system for a code division multiple access (CDMA) communications system
A receiver receives signals and noise over a frequency spectrum of a desired received signal. The desired received signal is spread using code division multiple access. The received signals and noise are demodulated to produce a demodulated signal. The demodulated signal is despread using a code uncorrelated with a code associated with the desired received signal. A power level of the despread demodulated signal is measured as an estimate of the noise level of the frequency spectrum. |
| US09564961B2 |
Mobile communication system, detection server, control apparatus, mobile communication apparatus, network optimizing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium having program stored thereon
An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication system, a detection server, a control apparatus, a mobile communication apparatus, a network optimizing method, and a program which can execute optimization of network processing based on a change of use characteristics. A mobile communication system according to the present invention includes: a detection server that detects a characteristics change of a mobile communication apparatus based on an event notice transmitted from the mobile communication apparatus; and a control apparatus that determines control contents related to the mobile communication apparatus based on the characteristics change of the mobile communication apparatus detected by the detection server, and sets the determined control contents to a processing node that executes data transfer processing between the mobile communication apparatus and another mobile communication apparatus or control processing related to the data transfer processing. |
| US09564958B2 |
Power saving mode optimizations and related procedures
Embodiments of an eNodeB and method for Machine Type Communication in a Wireless Network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a method performed by circuitry of an evolved Node B (eNodeB) can include receiving, by the eNodeB, a notification that a User Equipment (UE) is configured to be used for Machine Type Communication (MTC). The method can include determining whether the UE is in a Radio Resource Control Connected (RRC_Connected) state and determining whether the UE can enter a power saving mode. The method can include configuring the UE to change to an RRC Deep Idle mode, in response to determining that the UE is in the RRC_Connected state and the UE can enter the power saving mode. |
| US09564955B2 |
Method and apparatus for canceling interference signal of UE in wireless communication system
Methods and apparatuses are provided for canceling interference at a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. A signal that includes a desired signal and an interference signal is received from at least one Base Station (BS). A random parameter is generated by projecting a vector of the received signal onto a set of projection vectors. A decision metric is determined using the random parameter. A Traffic to Pilot Ratio (TPR) that minimizes the decision metric with respect to both a transmission mode candidate group of the interference signal and a TPR candidate group of the interference signal is determined. The interference signal is canceled from the received signal using the TPR. |
| US09564953B2 |
Method for mapping and demapping resource in a wireless communication system and an apparatus thereof
A method and apparatus for mapping/demapping a resource efficiently in a wireless communication system are provided. A resource mapping method of a transmitter in a wireless communication system includes precoding pairs of symbols, arranging the pairs of precoded symbols adjacently in a resource block, and transmitting the pairs of precoded symbols in the resource block. |
| US09564951B2 |
Method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment and actions of individuals
A method for tracking procedures performed on personal protection equipment (PPE) and actions of individuals includes the following steps. An article of PPE configured with a smart tag is provided to an individual prior to performance of a task. After the individual performs the task, the article of PPE is processed. Information is retrieved from the smart tag during at least one of: before, during and after processing the article of PPE. After the performance of the task, the individual's data is read and the individual enters into a designated area. |
| US09564949B2 |
Information processing system, information processing device, storage medium storing information processing program, and storage device
An example of information processing system includes a storage device; and an information processing device for performing near field communication with the storage device. The storage device includes a storage unit storing application data usable in a predetermined application program and shared data usable in an application program regardless of whether the application program is the predetermined application program. The information processing system receives an instruction regarding data read and/or data write from/to the storage device from an application program to be executed by the information processing device. Under the condition that the instruction is from the predetermined application program, the application data is passed to the predetermined application program. Regardless of whether the instruction is from the predetermined application program, the shared data is passed to the application program that issued the instruction. |
| US09564945B1 |
Method and apparatus to determine electric power network anomalies using a coordinated information exchange among smart meters
A system and method to produce an electric network from estimated line impedance and physical line length among smart meter devices is provided using communication between the smart meters. The smart meters: (1) synchronize time using GPS pps signals, which provide an accurate time stamp; (2) send/receive an identifiable signal through the same phase of electric networks; (3) identify other smart meters on the same phase lines by listening to the information signal on the same phase lines; and (4) calculate time-of-arrival of an identifiable signal from other smart meters. The time of arrival information is used to calculate the line length, which is then used to calculate impedance of a line and topology of the electric network. The system then constructs an electric network by combining geo-spatial information and tree-like usual connection information. |
| US09564942B2 |
Picture changing assembly for mobile phone cases
An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes a motor, a first endless belt encircling a first pair of spaced apart shafts, a second endless belt encircling a second pair of spaced apart shafts, a drive element connecting the motor to one shaft each of the first pair of shafts and the second pair of shafts, and a continuous strip of film having a first end and a second end attached to the first endless belt and the second endless belt respectively. The motor activates the drive element to rotate one shaft each of the first pair of shafts and the second pair of shafts causing the belts to rotate, unwinding the film from the first endless belt and winding it on the second endless belt. |
| US09564941B2 |
Accessory for protecting a portable electronic device
An accessory includes a case body, a cover unit, and first and second coupling units. The case body is formed with a receiving space for receiving a portable electronic device. The cover unit is configured to be coupled removably to the case body for closing and opening the receiving space. The first coupling unit includes a data and charge connector for mating electrical connection with a data and charge socket of the portable electronic device, and a data and charge port connected to the data and charge connector. The second coupling unit includes a connector jack for mating electrical connection with an audio socket of the portable electronic device, and an audio port connected to the connector jack. |
| US09564936B2 |
Radio frequency feedthrough to portable device
An aviation transponder system comprising a permanently-mounted antenna, a permanently-mounted receiver module comprising a receiver, a signal splitter, and an external connector, and a portable receiver module, wherein a signal received on the permanently-mounted antenna is passed to the signal splitter of the permanently-mounted receiver module, wherein the signal splitter splits the signal such that the signal is sent to both the receiver and to the external connector, and wherein the portable receiver module is connected to the external connector, whereby the permanently-mounted antenna is used by the receiver of the permanently-mounted receiver module and fed through the permanently-mounted receiver module and made available to the portable receiver module through the external connector. |
| US09564935B2 |
Linear composite transmitter utilizing composite power amplification
The present invention provides a compound transmitter having power efficiency characteristics and distortion characteristics superior, over a wide band, to those of a Doherty transmitter, and having fewer elements constituting an RF circuit. The present invention is therefore provided with a compound amplifier (201) for generating a signal (z) (efficiency improving signal) obtained by the amplitude modulation of a carrier signal from an RF modulation signal (a) (main signal); power-modulating, using two power amplifiers (50, 51), a signal (S1) obtained by adding together (a) and (z), and a signal (S2) obtained by subtracting (z) from (a); and setting, as a transmitter output point, the point (p1) where the respective outputs are combined via impedance inverters (60, 61), the efficiency improving signal (z) being generated under conditions in which the size of the envelope of either (S1) or (S2) is fixed. |
| US09564933B2 |
Wireless communication method and wireless communication apparatus
A wireless communication method is provided. This method includes: selecting one of a plurality of predetermined frequency bands each time a switch operation is manually performed in a transmitter, and then using the selected frequency band to transmit a radio signal corresponding to the switch operation for a predetermined specified transmission time; in a receiver apparatus, receiving the transmitted wireless signal, and then recognizing the content of a command that has already been assigned in accordance with the switch operation; and defining an intermittent reception standby period, which is repeated at a predetermined cycle for each of the frequency bands. |
| US09564932B1 |
Software defined radio front end
The present application describes a computer-implemented method for configuring a front end including sweeping a first tone through the frequency band of the receive channel; receiving a first signal and a second signal containing interference; characterizing the receive channel using the first tone; processing the compensated first signal using an infinite impulse response filter based on the characterized receive channel to generate an interference cancelling signal; and coupling the interference cancelling signal to the second signal to generate an interference cancelled receive signal. |
| US09564931B1 |
Systems and methods for using decoders of different complexity in a hybrid decoder architecture
Systems and methods are provided for decoding a codeword having a first codeword length using a decoding system. The systems and methods include receiving a vector corresponding to the codeword at the decoding system, wherein the decoding system comprises a first decoder and a second decoder, the first decoder is available to concurrently process codewords up to the first codeword length, and the second decoder is available to concurrently process codewords up to a second codeword length. The systems and methods further include determining that the received vector is to be decoded using the second decoder, partitioning the received vector of the first codeword length into a plurality of segments having a size no larger than the second codeword length, and decoding the plurality of segments using the second decoder. |
| US09564930B2 |
Memory controller, storage device and memory control method
According to one embodiment, a memory controller includes an encoding unit that generates a first code word, a duplication unit that duplicates the first code word, a memory interface that writes a code word group including the first code word and code words being duplicates of the first code word into a non-volatile memory, and reads the code words forming the code word group from the non-volatile memory, a determination unit that obtains a result of majority decision using the first code word and the plurality of code words, which are included in the code word group read from the non-volatile memory, and a decoding unit that decodes a code word being the result of the majority decision and corrects an error. |
| US09564928B2 |
Transmitter and method for generating additional parity thereof
A transmitter is provided. The transmitter includes: a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) encoder configured to encode input bits to generate an LDPC codeword including the input bits and parity bits to be transmitted in a current frame; a parity permutator configured to perform parity-permutation by interleaving the parity bits and group-wise interleaving a plurality of bit groups configuring the interleaved parity bits based on a group-wise interleaving pattern including a first pattern and a second pattern; a puncturer configured to puncture some of the parity-permutated parity bits; and an additional parity generator configured to select at least some of the punctured parity bits to generate additional parity bits to be transmitted in a previous frame of the current frame, based on the first pattern and the second pattern, wherein the first pattern determines parity bits to remain after the puncturing and then to be transmitted in the current frame. |
| US09564927B2 |
Constrained interleaving for 5G wireless and optical transport networks
The present invention provides a design framework that is used to develop new types of constrained turbo block convolutional (CTBC) codes that have higher performance than was previously attainable. The design framework is applied to design both random and deterministic constrained interleavers. Vectorizable deterministic constrained interleavers are developed and used to design parallel architectures for real time SISO decoding of CTBC codes. A new signal mapping technique called constrained interleaved coded modulation (CICM) is also developed. CICM is then used to develop rate matching, spatial modulation, and MIMO modulation subsystems to be used with CTBC codes and other types of codes. By way of example, embodiments are primarily provided for improved 5G LTE and optical transport network (OTN) communication systems. |
| US09564925B1 |
Pipelined architecture for iterative decoding of product codes
In one embodiment, a method includes loading first data into a first buffer of an interposer during a first time period and loading second data into a second buffer of the interposer and performing a first decoding operation on the first data using a first decoder during a second time period. The method includes loading third data into a third buffer of the interposer, performing the first decoding operation on the second data using the first decoder, and performing a second decoding operation on the first data using a second decoder during a third time period. Moreover, the method includes loading fourth data into a fourth buffer of the interposer, performing the first decoding operation on the third data using the first decoder, and performing the second decoding operation on the second data during a fourth time period. The first and second decoding operations are C1 or C2 decoding operations. |
| US09564914B1 |
Systems and methods for monitoring and compensation of analog to digital converter reference voltages
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for identifying changes in and failures of a reference voltage of an analog to digital (A/D) converter. A non-scalar function of the reference voltage of the A/D converter can be determined and output to the A/D converter. The A/D converter is configured to output a digital value to the A/D conversion system, wherein the digital value corresponds to the non-scalar function of the reference voltage. The A/D conversion system decodes the non-scalar function of the reference voltage with a corresponding inverse function, and may determine the drift factor associated with the reference voltage. The A/D conversion system can report a change in, or a failure of, the A/D converter or its reference voltage, and can operate or prevent operation of protection elements. |
| US09564913B1 |
Synchronization of outputs from multiple digital-to-analog converters
Disclosed systems include a clock-multiplying phase locked loop (PLL) generating a clock signal for a DAC comprising a plurality of DAC cells, the systems configured to control that a phase of the DAC output has a predefined relation to a phase of a PLL input reference clock. An exemplary system incorporates an auxiliary DAC cell implemented as a replica of one of the DAC cells of the DAC and operation of the DAC and the auxiliary DAC cell is timed with the same clock signal generated by the PLL, so that outputs of the auxiliary cell and the DAC are phase synchronized by design. The system is configured to ensure that a phase of the auxiliary DAC cell output is related to the phase of the PLL reference clock, which results in a phase of the DAC output also being related to the phase of the PLL reference clock. |
| US09564909B1 |
Method and circuit for delay adjustment monotonicity in a delay line
A delay circuit device configured for delay adjustment monotonicity and method of operating therefor. This delay circuit device is configured with hybrid coarse-fine delay cells and uses a sequence of these delay cells activated in a way that builds-up the delay as a sequence of fine steps until it reaches the coarse delay value. This configuration allows for the continuing build of propagation delay by adding the fine steps of the following delay cells. In this manner, the monotonicity of the signal delay circuit is ensured by the architecture independent from device mismatch, thus eliminating problems with conventional delay circuits such as gaps and overlaps specific the these conventional delay cells. |
| US09564908B2 |
Digital phase-locked loop and method of operating the same
Provided are a digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) having improved signal characteristics, and a method of operating the DPLL. The DPLL includes a first tracking unit configured to receive a reference signal and a feedback signal that is generated by feeding back an output signal of the DPLL, track the feedback signal, and output a delayed reference signal, and a second tracking unit configured to receive a delayed feedback signal generated by delaying the feedback signal, and the delayed reference signal, and generate an output signal of the DPLL, of which a frequency is controlled according to a phase difference between the delayed feedback signal and the delayed reference signal. |
| US09564907B2 |
Multi-channel delay locked loop
A multi-channel delay locked loop includes a global delay locked loop and a plurality of local delay locked loops. The global delay locked loop is configured to lock an input clock signal and output a global delay control signal corresponding to a delay amount of the input clock signal during a locking operation. Each of the plurality of local delay locked loops is configured to output a channel clock signal by locking the input clock signal, and initialize the delay amount of the input clock signal according to the global delay control signal. |
| US09564903B2 |
Port spreading
A semiconductor die having: a logic unit having a plurality of inputs/outputs; a plurality of pads whereby electrical connections can be made to the die; and a multiplexer arranged between the inputs/outputs and the pads, the multiplexer being operable in a first mode in which it maps a first number of the inputs/outputs to a first number of the pads with a first mean spacing between those pads, and a second mode in which it maps a second number of the inputs/outputs to a first number of the pads with a second mean spacing between those pads, wherein the first number is larger than the second number and the first spacing is smaller than the second spacing. |
| US09564900B2 |
Supply boost device
A device is disclosed that includes a driver circuit and a control circuit. The driver circuit is configured to provide an output signal according to an input signal, and operated with a first voltage and a second voltage. The driver circuit includes a pull up unit and a pull down unit configured to pull up and pull down a voltage level of the output signal, respectively. The control circuit is configured to selectively enable one of the pull up unit and the pull down unit according to the input signal, so as to adjust the voltage level of the output signal. The control circuit is further configured to drive the enabled one of the pull up unit and the pull down unit in a voltage mode or a current mode selectively according to the voltage level of the output signal, the first voltage and the second voltage. |
| US09564893B2 |
Touch switch and control panel
A technique reduces erroneous judgment due to effects of noise accompanying PWM control while using PWM control for brightness adjustment of light-emitting diodes disposed proximate of an electrode. An electrode is disposed proximate of operating portions that are subject to touch operations by unit of a conductive body. An operating portion of a light-emitting diode is lightened. A CPU performs brightness adjustment of the light-emitting diode through PWM control. A detecting circuit outputs detected values in accordance with electrostatic capacitances of the electrode. The CPU judges that a touch operation has been made when a difference between a detected value of the detecting circuit and a reference value stored in a RAM is not less than a prescribed value. The CPU stores a detected value that is first detected by the detecting circuit after transition of an executing state of PWM control in the RAM as a reference value. |
| US09564892B2 |
Apparatus and methods for radio frequency PIN diode switches
Apparatus and methods for radio frequency (RF) PIN diode switches are provided herein. In certain configurations, one or more PIN diode switches are integrated with a driver chip in a common package. The driver chip includes voltage regulators, such as switching regulators and/or charge pumps configured to generate voltage levels used to control biasing of the PIN diode switches. Thus, the packaged switch can operate using a single power supply voltage, which the voltage regulators of the driver chip use to generate biasing voltage levels used for controlling the PIN diode switches. |
| US09564891B1 |
Low conducted emission solid state switch
A solid state switch may include a plurality of inputs, such as to receive a control signal to cause the solid state relay to selectively deliver power from an AC power source to an electrical load (e.g., a heater, a pump, a lighting source, a motor, etc.). The solid state switch may include at metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) connected in a series opposition arrangement, where a gate of each of the MOSFETs may be electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of inputs. A signal output from the MOSFETs may provide a triggering signal at a gate input of each of a corresponding semiconductor switching device to close the solid state relay to enable power delivery from the AC power source to the electrical load. |
| US09564890B2 |
System-on-chip with dc-dc converters
A System-on-Chip includes a controller for generating a switching signal for driving a switching element of a power stage of a switched power converter. The power stage generates an output voltage according to the switching signal and an input voltage by the switching element. The controller is located on the same chip as the System-on-Chip and wherein the output voltage is generated for powering a supply domain of the System-on-Chip. |
| US09564885B2 |
Event-driven clock duty cycle control
Duty cycle error vectors that indicate both the magnitude and direction of the duty cycle error relative to a desired duty cycle are generated within a duty cycle measurement circuit, enabling threshold-based determination of whether duty cycle adjustment is necessary, refraining from power-consuming adjustment and follow-up measurement in those cases where the duty cycle is within a target range. When duty cycle adjustment is deemed necessary, the magnitude of the duty cycle error indicated by the duty cycle error vector may be applied to effect proportional rather than incremental duty cycle adjustment, quickly returning the clock duty cycle to a target range. |
| US09564880B2 |
Systems and methods for generating injection-locked, frequency-multiplied output signals
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for generating injection-locked, frequency-multiplied output signals. In an embodiment, a circuit includes a ring of a number (N) serially connected delay-buffer elements and an injection-pulse-generation circuit. Each delay-buffer element provides a time delay (D), and at least some of them have at least one pulse-locking injection port. The injection-pulse-generation circuit is configured to transmit balanced-delay injection-pulse signals—that are generated by applying balanced-delay selection logic to a clock signal according to pulse-selection control signals—to the pulse-locking injection ports to provide, at the ring output port, an injection-locked, frequency-multiplied output signal having a frequency that equals the reciprocal of (N*D) and that bears the same proportional relationship to the frequency of the clock signal that the period of the clock signal bears to (N*D). |
| US09564879B1 |
Reference voltage generation and calibration for single-ended signaling
A signal on a transmitter tracks noise on a ground node in a manner decoupled from a positive node of a power supply. The signal is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver. A reference voltage is generated on the receiver to track noise on a ground node in the receiver. Consequently, the received signal and the reference voltage have substantially the same noise characteristics, which become common mode noise that can be cancelled out when these two signals are compared against each other. In a further embodiment, the reference voltage is compared against a predetermined calibration pattern. An error signal is generated based on a difference between the sampler output and the predetermined calibration pattern. The error signal is then used to adjust the reference voltage so that the DC level of the reference voltage is positioned substantially in the middle of the received signal. |
| US09564871B2 |
Radio frequency filter
A Radio Frequency (RF) filter configured by combining a hybrid coupler with a general filter, for having different characteristics from original characteristics of a general filter is provided, in which a coupler receives an input signal through a first port, divides the input signal, outputs the divided signals through second and third ports, combines signals received through the second and third ports according to phases of the signals, and outputs the combined signal through the first port or as an output signal of the RF filter through a fourth port, and a first filter unit has a first port connected to the second port of the coupler and a second port connected to the third port of the coupler, for having a predetermined frequency filtering characteristic. |
| US09564865B2 |
Redundant amplifier and switching method thereof
Provided is a redundant amplifier, including: a first switch for connecting, on a one-to-one basis, inputs P1 to Pm to m of outputs Q1 to Qn, where m and n are natural numbers and m |
| US09564862B2 |
Class D audio amplifier with adjustable loop filter characteristics
The present invention relates to a class D audio amplifier comprising a pulse width modulator, an adjustable loop filter and a feedback loop. The pulse width modulator generates a first set of pulse width modulated control signals at an adjustable modulation frequency for respective switch control terminals of a first output driver. A controller of the class D audio amplifier is configured to control frequency response characteristics of the adjustable loop filter based on a frequency setting of the adjustable modulation frequency. |
| US09564861B2 |
Broadband radio frequency power amplifiers, and methods of manufacture thereof
An embodiment of an amplifier has a bandwidth defined by low and upper cutoff frequencies. The amplifier includes an input impedance matching circuit and a transistor. The transistor has a gate, a first current conducting terminal coupled to an output of the amplifier, and a second current conducting terminal coupled to a reference node. The input impedance matching circuit has a filter input coupled to an input of the amplifier, a filter output coupled to the gate of the transistor, and a multiple pole filter coupled between the filter input and the filter output. A first pole of the filter is positioned at a first frequency within the bandwidth, and a second pole of the filter is positioned at a second frequency outside the bandwidth. The input impedance matching circuit is configured to filter the input RF signal to produce a filtered RF signal at the filter output. |
| US09564856B2 |
Amplifier circuit with improved accuracy
An amplifier circuit with improved accuracy is provided that comprises a cascade of amplifier stages, a control line for controlling the amplifier stages, a feedback circuit having an input port for receiving a reference signal, and a feedback loop connecting the feedback circuit to the control line. Via the feedback circuit and the feedback loop, the large signal behavior of the amplifier stage is accurately fixed. As a result, the small signal gain of the amplifier stages has an improved accuracy as well. |
| US09564852B2 |
Solar-powered systems with solar cell support
A solar-powered system includes a mounting assembly to affix a solar active component mounted to a support member by the mounting assembly, such that both sides of the solar active component have solar exposure. |
| US09564844B2 |
Semiconductor device and driving system
An output MOS transistor has a drain connected with a power supply and a source connected with an output terminal. The short-circuit MOS transistor has a source connected with the output terminal. The short-circuit MOS transistor is formed in a semiconductor substrate connected with the power supply. A switching device is formed in a semiconductor region which is formed in the semiconductor substrate, and contains a first diffusion layer connected with the gate of the output MOS transistor and a second diffusion layer formed in the semiconductor region and connected with the drain of the short-circuit MOS transistor. |
| US09564839B2 |
Drive device for a vehicle
A drive device for a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, includes a set of drive units each having at least one electric traction motor and a power generation unit which is provided for generating power for the traction motor, and a set of motor contactor units each being assigned to a traction motor. In order to provide a type of drive device which has a high availability in the event of a failure, has few structural elements and can be produced economically, at least one motor contactor unit includes at least one switching device which is connected between the power generation unit for the associated traction motor and a feed point. |
| US09564838B2 |
Magnetic levitation device for prolonged rotation
Disclosed is a magnet in a high vacuum tube levitated by at least one magnet outside the tube and stabilized by at least one diamagnet inside or outside the tube. The magnet may have a rotational symmetry axis aligned with the magnetization axis and the diamagnet may be laminated to minimize eddy-current damping. The magnet or magnets outside the tube are used to control the levitation position and to temporarily bring the magnet into contact with a part of the tube structure. Contact is used in combination with a rotor to initiate the spinning motion of the magnet. The passively spinning and levitating magnet will continue to spin for an unusually long period of time due to the lack of contact and extremely low air drag and eddy-current friction. |
| US09564837B2 |
Vibration wave actuator
A vibration wave actuator includes a vibrator, a driven element, and a magnet. The vibrator has at least an electro-mechanical energy conversion element and an elastic body to which the electro-mechanical energy conversion element is joined, the elastic body including a contact portion. The driven element is in pressure contact with the contact portion of the vibrator, and includes a magnetic substance. The magnet is arranged such that the vibrator is placed between the driven element and the magnet. |
| US09564836B2 |
Transducer, and manufacturing method of the transducer
A transducer, and a method for manufacturing the transducer are provided. The transducer includes a substrate-side electrode provided in one side of an insulative substrate and an opposite plate including an opposite electrode disposed opposite to the substrate-side electrode, and which performs a function such as a reduction in impedance, conversion of capacitance, signal amplification, thereby achieving size reduction of the transducer itself. An upper plate is made of a silicon monocrystal and is arranged so as to face a substrate-side electrode. In the upper plate, an integrated circuit section which is an impurity region of an IC circuit is formed by a thermal diffusion method or an ion implantation method. By this transducer, an improvement in conversion efficiency, an improvement in productivity, and a size reduction of a mount system are achieved. |
| US09564834B1 |
Alternating current to direct current converter system
An alternating current to direct current converter system includes an alternating current power supply, an external electronic load, a first MOS transistor, a first control module, a first switch and a second control module. The alternating current power supply includes a first output end and a second output end. The first control module controls the first MOS transistor to active when the first output end has a positive voltage and control the first MOS transistor to turn off when the second output end has a positive voltage. The first switch connects to a first end of the external electronic load and the second output end. The second control module connects to the first switch. The second control module controls the first switch to active when the second output end has a positive voltage and controls the switch to turn off when the first output end has a positive voltage. |
| US09564829B2 |
Converter arm and associated converter device
It is presented a converter arm for power conversion. The converter arm comprises: a plurality of converter cells, wherein each converter cell comprises a plurality of semiconductor switches, an energy storage element and at least three control signal connections arranged to control the conducting state of the plurality of semiconductor switches. Each converter cell is connected to receive a control signal from at least three entities via said control signal connections, wherein at least two of the three entities are neighboring converter cells, and each converter cell is arranged to forward a control signal to all connected neighboring converter cells via said control signal connections. A corresponding converter device is also presented. |
| US09564826B2 |
Current resonant power supply device
First and second switch are connected in series to both terminals of a DC power source. A series circuit comprising a reactor, a primary winding of a transformer, and a capacitor connected in series, and is connected to a node between the first and second switches and one terminal of the DC power source. A rectifier smoothing circuit rectifies and smoothens a voltage generated across a secondary winding of the transformer and outputs a DC voltage. A control circuit alternately turns the first and second switches on and off. A voltage detection circuit detects the DC voltage from the rectifier smoothing circuit. A signal generation circuit generates a feedback signal from the DC voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit, and outputs the signal for turning the first and second switches on and off. A load current detection circuit detects load current contained in resonance current flowing through the capacitor. |
| US09564825B2 |
Parallel resonant converter capable of controlling output voltage and control method thereof
A parallel resonant converter including a control circuit and at least two resonant conversion circuits connected in parallel between an input bus and an output bus is provided by the invention. The control circuit is configured to provide a switching frequency signal to the at least two resonant conversion circuits. Moreover, the control circuit is further configured to control the voltage of the output bus to linearly vary along with the switching frequency signal in a rated range by using a linear current-balancing curve (gain-frequency), and thus achieving the purpose of current-balancing for the at least two resonant conversion circuits. The invention is capable of controlling the output voltage of the parallel resonant converter, so as to reduce the ripple on the output voltage of the power supply system. |
| US09564817B2 |
Method and apparatus for dedicated skip mode for resonant converters
A method and semiconductor device for controlling skip mode operation during light load conditions in a resonant power converter includes a skip mode controller circuit that compares a feedback signal corresponding to the secondary output level with a reference voltage to determine when to invoke skip mode. When entering skip mode the skip mode controller ceases switching by turning on the lower switch for a prolonged time to leave the resonant capacitor partially charged. Upon resuming switching, the lower switch is turned on first to drive current through the inductances, and asymmetric switching is used where the upper switch is on, initially for shorter periods to allow zero voltage switching. If the load increases, the on-time of upper and lower switches converge and conventional symmetric switching resumes. |
| US09564813B2 |
Switching power-supply device
Disclosed is a switching power-supply device that induces a pulse voltage in a secondary winding of the transformer, and outputs, to a load, an output voltage rectified and smoothened by a secondary-side rectification smoothing circuit including a rectifier diode and a smoothing capacitor. An input-voltage detection circuit detects the input voltage of the alternating-current power supply. An error amplifier compares the output voltage with a reference voltage, and transmits a resultant error voltage to a primary side as a feedback signal. An internal oscillation circuit selects any of frequency decrease settings according to the input voltage detected by the input-voltage detection circuit, and performs, by using the selected frequency decrease setting, a frequency decreasing function of decreasing a switching frequency of the switching element at a light load, in response to the feedback signal transmitted from a secondary side to inform a state of the load. |
| US09564810B2 |
Switched mode power supply
A switching power converter includes an inductor coupled to a terminal operably supplied with an input voltage. A semiconductor switch is coupled to the inductor and configured to enable and disable an input current passing through the inductor in accordance with a drive signal. A current sense circuit is coupled to the inductor or the semiconductor switch and is configured to generate a current sense signal representing the input current passing through the inductor or the semiconductor switch. A control circuit receives the current sense signal and is configured to: close the semiconductor switch regularly in accordance with a clock frequency, to integrate the current sense signal thus providing an integrated current sense signal to compare the integrated current sense signal with a threshold that is a function of the input voltage. |
| US09564806B2 |
Boost converter with reduced switching loss and methods of operating the same
An apparatus, e.g., a boost converter, includes a first switch configured to be coupled to an inductor and to support a charging current in the inductor from a power source and at least two serially-coupled second switches coupled in parallel with the first switch and configured to selectively route current from the inductor to at least two serially-connected capacitors. The apparatus may further include a control circuit configured to operate the first switch and the plurality of second switches. |
| US09564805B2 |
Voltage generating circuit
A voltage generating circuit, in which the influence of offset of an amplifier on an output voltage is reduced, has first and second bipolar transistors (Q1, Q2) having emitter terminals at the same electric potential. A base terminal of Q1 is disposed on a collector side of Q2. A first resistance element connects the collector side of Q2 with the base side of Q2; and a second resistance element (R1) connects a collector side of Q1 to R2. A third resistance element (R3) connects a base terminal of Q2 with the electric potential of the emitter terminals. An amplifier (A1) outputs a voltage based on a voltage difference between the collector sides of Q1 and Q2; and a voltage-current converting section (MP1, MP2) converts amplifier output into a current supplied to the connection node of R1 and R2. A voltage is then output on the basis of the generated current. |
| US09564804B2 |
Electronic device having plurality of voltage rails
An electronic device may include a plurality of voltage rails to provide voltages to components of a load, a plurality of voltage regulators, and a buck converter apparatus to separately couple to more than one of the plurality of voltage rails and to provide a voltage to at least a specific one of the voltage rails. |
| US09564799B2 |
Current sensorless control of a boost-type switch mode rectifier (SMR) with inductor parameter adaptation
Boost-type switch-mode rectifiers (SMR) commonly use a resistor or a magnetic current sensor to measure the instantaneous input or inductor current that is used as the feedback to the current controller. A novel current sensorless scheme is described that computes the inductor current from the measured inductor voltage in a single-phase boost-type SMR using an adaptive low pass filter. This calculation requires an estimate of the inductance and the equivalent series resistance of the inductor coil. Both these parameters are dependent on operating conditions and are updated continuously. This is done using an adaptive model of the inductor that computes these parameters of the inductor once in every half cycle of the input current. The adaptation scheme is robust against parameter variations. Simulation and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed technique which provides comparable performance to standard measured feedback current scheme both under steady-state and transient conditions. |
| US09564797B2 |
Indirect matrix converter
A converter receives input of an AC voltage, converts the AC voltage into a DC voltage, and applies the DC voltage between a first power line on a positive electrode side and a second power line on a negative electrode side. A snubber circuit has a capacitor provided between the first and the second power lines, and a diode connected in series with the capacitor between the first and the second power lines, and including an anode on a side close to the first power line on the positive electrode side in a series path with the capacitor. An inverter converts the DC voltage into an AC voltage, and applies the AC voltage to an inductive load. An inverter-side current detection unit detects a current that flows through the first power line on the positive electrode side or the second power line on the negative electrode side between the inverter and the snubber circuit. |
| US09564794B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for a ping-pong charge pump
Systems, apparatuses, and methods provided for ping-pong charge pumps. Flying capacitors present in ping-pong charge pumps are operated out of phase to increase equalization periods. Out-of-phase operation also decreases voltage differences between flying capacitors during equalization periods thus decreasing ping-pong charge pump output voltage ripple and snapback. The voltages of the flying capacitors may be equalized without the use of an equalization switch. Differential control currents that are based on the voltage difference between the flying capacitors are used to enable or disable the flying capacitors from driving an output load of the ping-pong charge pump during certain phases of operation. A capacitor with a lower voltage may be disabled, thus providing for voltage equalization as the enabled capacitor sources current to the output load. The flying capacitors are also equalized during overlapping time periods in which the flying capacitors are charging. |
| US09564793B2 |
Electromagnetic oscillator with electrical and mechanical output
An oscillator typically includes several rotatable drive magnets and pivotable oscillating arms having respective follower magnets so that the drive magnets drive movement of the follower magnets to pivot the arms back and forth in an oscillating manner. A generating magnet or electrically conductive member may be mounted on each oscillating arm for producing an electric current in the electrically conductive member. Repelling magnets may be mounted on the oscillating arms with respective repelling magnets positioned to repel the first repelling magnet to limit pivotal travel of the oscillating arm. |
| US09564787B2 |
Motor including housing structure with through holes
A motor includes an impeller including a plurality of blades arranged in a circumferential direction and fixed to a shaft between a cover portion and an armature. The cover portion includes at least one cover portion through hole arranged to axially overlap with the blades. A cylindrical portion includes at least one cylindrical portion through hole arranged to radially overlap with the blades. |
| US09564783B2 |
Electric direct-current motor with flexible rotor assembly and method for the manufacture thereof
An electric direct current motor is disclosed which includes a shaft, a winding support, a collector having several collector wires, and an air-cored outer rotor winding with several winding terminations. The outer rotor winding is at one end connected to the shaft via the winding support in a torque-proof manner, and is electrically connected with the collector. The winding support can be replaced by a printed circuit board as a bearing component of glass-fiber reinforced thermosetting plastics, wherein the printed circuit board includes at least one layer and is connected to the shaft via a metal hub. |
| US09564779B2 |
Permanent magnet motor
Provided is a permanent magnet motor that realizes reduction of both cogging torque and torque ripple, and also downsizing and weight reduction together with torque ripple reduction. When two sets of three-phase armature windings are defined such that a first armature winding 30-1 corresponds to U1 phase, V1 phase, and W1 phase and a second armature winding 30-2 corresponds to U2 phase, V2 phase, and W2 phase, U1 phase is provided in both of any adjacent slots of a plurality of slots 27, or at least one of U1 phase and U2 phase is provided in one of any adjacent slots 27, U1 phase, V1 phase, and W1 phase are shifted by an electric angle of 20° to 40° from U2 phase, V2 phase, and W2 phase upon driving, and a slot opening width Ws of a stator iron core 22 is set to satisfy Ws/(2πRs/Ns)≦0.15, where Rs is an inner radius of the stator iron core and Ns is a slot number of the stator iron core. |
| US09564777B2 |
Wireless energy transfer system for an implantable medical device using a midfield coupler
Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for wireless power transfer utilizing a midfield source and implant. In one variation, a midfield source may be realized by a patterned metal plate composed of one of more subwavelength structures. These midfield sources may manipulate evanescent fields outside a material (e.g., tissue) to excite and control propagating fields inside the material (e.g., tissue) and thereby generate spatially confined and adaptive energy transport in the material (e.g., tissue). The energy may be received by an implanted device, which may be configured for one or more functions such as stimulation, sensing, or drug delivery. |
| US09564776B2 |
Determining presence of a magnet for controlling wireless charging
A device may measure or detect, using at least one magnetic sensor, a magnetic field to determine whether a magnet is included within a charging device. In some examples, the device may include a receiving coil for charging of a battery based on magnetic induction. In response to determining that a magnet is present within the charging device, the device may instruct the charging device to adjust an amount of electrical current supplied to a transmitting coil. |
| US09564772B2 |
Charging system with adaptive power management
An embodiment of a charger may include an input, at least one switch having a first node coupled to a reference voltage, a current sensor coupled between the input and a second node of the at least one switch, an output coupled to a third node of the at least one switch, and a charge controller coupled to the input to determine an input voltage, to the current sensor to determine an input current and to control inputs of the at least one switch. The at least one switch may be responsive to control signals supplied by the charge controller to the control inputs thereof to control voltage and current at the output of the charger. The charge controller may be responsive to the input voltage and the input current to produce the control signals in a manner that maximizes electrical power drawn at the input. |
| US09564767B2 |
Power storage device control system, power storage system, and electrical appliance
Deterioration of a power storage device is reduced. Switches that control the connections of a plurality of power storage devices separately are provided. The switches are controlled with a plurality of control signals, so as to switch between charge and discharge of each of the power storage devices or between serial connection and parallel connection of the plurality of power storage devices. Further, a semiconductor circuit having a function of carrying out arithmetic is provided for the power storage devices, so that a control system of the power storage devices or a power storage system is constructed. |
| US09564762B2 |
Fault tolerant wireless battery area network for a smart battery management system
A Wireless battery area network permits the wirelessly monitoring and controlling of individual batteries within large-scale battery applications. The system automatically configures its wireless nodes in the network and provides for the linking of a plurality of batteries (10) to a master battery management unit (M-BMU) (100) by establishing a wireless battery area network within a battery pack that include slave units (S-BMU) (210). The entire system may also be controlled by a top level battery management unit (T-BMU) (510). The system and method allows for the monitoring of voltage, current, temperature, or impedance of individual batteries and for the balancing or bypassing of a battery. |
| US09564759B2 |
Wireless power supply system
A wireless power supply system includes a first underwater vehicle that has a power-receiving coil for wirelessly receiving electric power and a second underwater vehicle that has a power-supplying coil for wirelessly supplying electric power and transmits electric power between the power-receiving coil and the power-supplying coil while moving in parallel to the first underwater vehicle. |
| US09564754B2 |
Energy router for energy internet
The present invention relates to an energy router for an energy internet, which comprises a three-phase three-level bi-directional rectifying unit, a six-phase interleaved DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, a self-excitation soft start push-pull full-bridge DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, a three-phase resonant soft switching bi-directional inversion unit, a single-phase full-bridge bi-directional inversion unit, a high-voltage DC bus and a low-voltage DC bus. The three-phase three-level bi-directional rectifying unit, the six-phase interleaved DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, the self-excitation soft start push-pull full-bridge DC/DC bi-directional conversion unit, the three-phase resonant soft switching bi-directional inversion unit and the single-phase full-bridge bi-directional inversion unit each have three energy flow operating modes: a forward conduction, a reverse conduction and a non-conduction. According to the energy flow operating mode of each unit, different operating modes of the energy router for the energy internet are formed. |
| US09564750B2 |
Device and method for increasing fault clearing time
A device for increasing fault clearing time is provided having a component part designed to identify a short circuit event and load resistors connectable in the event of a fault such that the turbine power transmitted to the shaft is electrically absorbed by the generator and converted into heat until the grid comes back online. |
| US09564748B2 |
Inclined conductor device
A conductor arrangement is for a collection of subterranean wells for recovering fluids from an underground structure. A frame is provided with several conductor guides, each forming an inlet opening for a conductor in an upper portion of the frame and an outlet opening for the conductor in a lower portion of the frame. The conductor is arranged to border a portion of a borehole towards a surrounding unconsolidated mass and has been passed through the conductor guide and down into the unconsolidated mass. The conductor guides are arranged in a mutually diverging manner in the direction from the inlet opening, and each conductor is extendable by a bend, the deflection angle of the bends providing mutually parallel center axes in coupling interfaces arranged in upper end portions of the bends. |
| US09564746B2 |
Leakage-blocking structure, electronic component, and electronic component unit
An electronic component unit includes an electronic component having a plurality of terminals that are exposed outside a housing and extend along wall surfaces of the housing, a holding member holding opposite terminals into which the terminals are fitted, and a leakage-blocking structure. The leakage-blocking structure has housing-side wall surfaces provided to the housing of the electronic component and interposed between the terminals adjacent to each other in an alignment direction of the terminals, holding-member-side wall surfaces provided to the holding member and interposed between the terminals adjacent to each other in the alignment direction of the terminals, and overlapping portions formed in such a manner that the housing-side wall surfaces overlap the holding-member-side wall surfaces in the alignment direction of the terminals. |
| US09564742B2 |
Electricity connection box
An electricity connection box includes a housing which includes a first insertion port and a second insertion port, a first connection portion group made of connection portions which are provided inside the housing and to which electric wires of a first electric wire group are connected, and a second connection portion group made of connection portions which are provided inside the housing and to which electric wires of a second electric wire group are connected. The first electric wire group is inserted through the first insertion port, and the second electric wire group is inserted through the second insertion port. The first connection portion group is closer to the first insertion port than the second connection portion group. The second connection portion group is closer to the second insertion port than the first connection portion group. |
| US09564740B2 |
Spark plug for a gas-powered internal combustion engine
A spark plug for a gas-powered internal combustion engine having: a spark plug body; an insulator; a center electrode; a ground electrode support that is attached to the spark plug body and supports at least one ground electrode that forms a spark gap with the center electrode; a swirl chamber located at the front end of the spark plug whose wall surrounds the center and ground electrodes; the wall of the swirl chamber is formed by a cylindrical sleeve which has an open front face and radial perforations; the ground electrode support includes an annular base part and at least one arm that supports the ground electrode; the arm starts at the base part and extends within the swirl chamber. The arm of the ground electrode support increases in cross-section starting from the ground electrode it supports toward the annular base part of the ground electrode support. |
| US09564736B1 |
Epitaxial growth of p-type cladding regions using nitrogen gas for a gallium and nitrogen containing laser diode
In an example, the present invention provides a method for fabricating a light emitting device configured as a Group III-nitride based laser device. The method also includes forming a gallium containing epitaxial material overlying the surface region of a substrate member. The method includes forming a p-type (Al,In,Ga)N waveguiding material overlying the gallium containing epitaxial material under a predetermined process condition. The method includes maintaining the predetermined process condition such that an environment surrounding a growth of the p-type (Al,In,Ga)N waveguide material is substantially a molecular N2 rich gas environment. The method includes maintaining a temperature ranging from 725 C to 925 C during the formation of the p-type (Al,In,Ga)N waveguide material, although there may be variations. In an example, the predetermined process condition is substantially free from molecular H2 gas. |
| US09564733B2 |
Method of fabricating and operating an optical modulator
A semiconductor device comprising a substrate; a monolithic gain region disposed on the substrate and operable to produce optical gain in response to current injection, including a first electrode over a first portion of the gain region having a first length L1, with a first current I1 being applied; and a second electrode over a second portion of the gain region having a second length L2, with a second current I2 being applied; wherein I1/L1 is greater than I2/L2. |
| US09564730B2 |
Optical gain fiber having fiber segments with different-sized cores and associated method
Apparatus and method for amplifying laser signals using segments of fibers of differing core diameters and/or differing cladding diameters to suppress amplified spontaneous emission and non-linear effects such as four-wave mixing (FWM), self-phase modulation, and stimulated Brillouin and/or Raman scattering (SBS/SRS). In some embodiments, different core sizes have different sideband spacings (spacing between the desired signal and wavelength-shifted lobes). Changing core sizes and providing phase mismatches prevent buildup of non-linear effects. Some embodiments further include a bandpass filter to remove signal other than the desired signal wavelength and/or a time gate to remove signal at times other than during the desired signal pulse. Some embodiments include photonic-crystal cores for the signal and/or photonic-crystal inner cladding for the pump and/or use reflector connector segments. Some embodiments include an inner glass cladding to confine the signal in the core and an outer glass cladding to confine pump light in the inner cladding. |
| US09564728B2 |
Electrically conductive bushing connection to structure for current path
An electrically conductive structural connection employs a pass through or fastener having a first diameter. A fastener hole, with a second diameter larger than the diameter of the pass through, extends through a thickness of a structure and receives the pass through. A bushing having a diameter and a thickness to fit between the first and second diameters extends though and past the thickness of said structure. When the feedthrough is compressively secured to the structure, the bushing expands radially between the first diameter and the second diameter to maintain at least one contact point between the fastener and the structure. |
| US09564727B2 |
Crimping apparatus for turned contacts
A crimping tool is provided for crimping the tubular portion of a turned electrical contact concentrically about the bare end of an electrical conductor, including a tool body having a main first portion, and an integral coplanar second portion extending from the main body portion to define a first lever. A crimping die arrangement includes an annular stamp holder mounted opposite an opening contained in the tool body main first portion, and an annular thrust collar is mounted concentrically about the stamp holder for angular displacement between released and crimping positions, thereby to displace a plurality of stamp members radially of the stamp holder between released an crimping positions The thrust collar is angularly displaced between the released and crimping positions by a toggle link arrangement that connects a second lever both with the tool body main portion and with the thrust collar. |
| US09564722B2 |
Waterproof audio jack connector
An audio jack connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) having a number of passageways (111) and a number of slits (112) beside the passageways, and a number of contacts (2) retained in the passageways. Each contact includes a retaining portion (22) retained in the passageway, a contacting portion (21) extending inwardly from the retaining portion, and a horizontal portion (23) bent outwardly from the retaining portion and being located in a bottom face (11) of the insulative housing. The audio jack connector includes a glue plate (3) assembled to the bottom face of the insulative housing. The audio jack connector includes a glue frame (4) having a base portion (41) seamlessly sandwiched between the glue plate and the insulative housing, and a number of protrusions (42) seamlessly sandwiched between the horizontal portions of contacts and the insulative housing. The protrusions are received in the slits. |
| US09564721B2 |
Terminal assembly having a shielding part with elastic arms
The present invention discloses a terminal assembly with a cable and a connector assembly. The terminal assembly with the cable of the present invention has a terminal assembly including a connecting terminal, a shielding shell and an insulator arranged between the connecting terminal and the shielding shell; and a cable including a shielding layer. One portion of the shielding shell in the terminal assembly and one portion of the shielding layer in the cable form a mutual overlapping region along the radial direction of the cable. In the mutual overlapping region, the shielding layer is electrically connected with the shielding shell. The terminal assembly of the present invention is applicable to automobiles as a high-voltage connector. In its use in an automobile, the terminal assembly is capable of effectively resisting shock and preventing mechanical vibration from causing separation of the connector to affect safe use. |
| US09564720B2 |
Retractable power plug
A retractable power plug includes a housing having an opening formed therein, a mounting portion fixed in the housing, a plurality of pins, and a cover plate. The pins are rotatably mounted on the mounting portion. The cover plate at least partially cover the opening and defines a plurality of receiving grooves corresponding to the pins. The plurality of pins are configured in a first configuration and protrude out of the receiving grooves and in a second configuration to be within the plurality of receiving grooves. The cover plate further defines at least one recess on a sidewall of one of the plurality of receiving grooves, thereby enabling the pin to be retracted. |
| US09564716B2 |
Electrical receptacle connector
A receptacle connector includes an insulation housing bracket, a first flat grounding contact and a shielding member. The housing base has a first outer surface, and the first flat grounding contact is combined with the insulation housing bracket. The shielding member includes a shielding body and a first connecting portion. The shielding body is installed inside the insulation housing bracket, and the first flat grounding contact is located between the first outer surface and the shielding member. The first connecting portion protrudes from the shielding body and is securely fixed on the first grounding contact in a laser welding manner, such that the shielding body is electrically connected to the first grounding contact. |
| US09564714B1 |
Serial-attached SCSI connector
An SAS connector which includes a male assembly, a female assembly and a PCB, the male assembly includes a male housing and several male signal terminals, the female assembly includes a female housing and several female signal terminals; the male assembly mates with the female assembly, with the PCB being clamped between the male assembly and the female assembly; wherein the male signal terminals are inserted in the male housing, and include in particular male symmetrical terminals, male right-biased terminals and male left-biased terminals, as well as female signal terminals that are inserted in the female housing, and include in particular female symmetrical terminals, female right-biased terminals and female left-biased terminals. |
| US09564710B2 |
Lever connector assembly
A technique to reduce workload on an operator during mating of a lever connector is provided. A plug and a receptacle are pulled together by rotation of a lever in a locking direction. The lever has a pinion first driven surface facing in an unlocking direction. A receptacle housing has a rack first driving surface facing in a separating direction. In a state where the plug confronts the receptacle so as to mate the plug with the receptacle, a clearance between the pinion first driven surface and the rack first driving surface is smaller than a clearance between a contact piece and a pin portion. When the plug is moved toward the receptacle, the pinion first driven surface first comes into contact with the rack first driving surface and the lever rotates in the locking direction, and then the contact piece comes into contact with the pin portion. |
| US09564709B1 |
Connector with new fastening structure
The connector comprises a main body and a connecting body, the rear end of the main body and the front end of the connecting body are clamped. A plugging needle is disposed in the front shell and the cable connecting tube. A snap ring groove is disposed at the front end of the periphery of the connecting tube and is located below the plugging hole when the main body and the connecting body are connected together. A plugging hole is located on the outer periphery of the connecting body. The plugging pin is an arc plate and includes two clamping points, located on one of the ends of the top portion of the plugging pin. When the main body and the connecting body are connected, the plugging pin may be plugged through the plugging hole and stuck in the groove, and the clamping points of the plugging pin are clamped. |
| US09564708B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector including: a housing including an outer peripheral part; and a lock arm provided with the outer peripheral part. The lock arm is swingable like a seesaw and detachably engages with a locking part provided with another housing of a mating connector. The lock arm extends along a coupling direction toward the mating connector. A pair of side wall parts are provided with the outer peripheral part such that the pair of side wall parts oppose to each other from both sides of the lock arm. An elastic support mechanism for swingably supporting the lock arm is provided between a lower face part of the lock arm and inner side faces of the pair of side wall parts. |
| US09564707B2 |
Connection system with modular expansion units having two or more devices
A connection system includes a first connection module and a second connection module, which each have a first connection devices, the first connection module including a second connection device and the second connection module including a third connection device. There is a direct electrical connection between the first connection device of the connection module and the accommodated device and a direct mechanical connection between the connection module and the accommodated device. The first connection module can be locked directly to the third connection device such that the first connection module is electrically and mechanically connected to the second connection module. The third connection device is arranged such that, when the second connection device is locked to the third connection device, mechanical and electrical disconnection of the first connection module from the second connection module is prevented if the second connection module has received a device. |
| US09564705B2 |
Waterproof connector
A waterproof connector includes a housing that is formed of an insulating resin, and at least one contact that is integrally formed in the housing. The contact has at least one housing fixing unit that is disposed in a middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the contact and is embedded in the housing and fixed thereto, and a pair of overhanging portions that are respectively disposed at both ends of the housing fixing unit and overhang in a direction vertical to a longitudinal direction of the housing fixing unit. A portion of the housing that is in contact with the housing fixing unit is fitted between the pair of overhanging portions. |
| US09564700B2 |
Downsized terminal having a box-shaped body part
A terminal includes a box-shaped body part including a pair of a first side wall and second side wall which are raised from both side ends of a bottom wall, a top wall extended from the first side wall, and an auxiliary wall extended from the second side wall. The top wall includes a first slit opening on a side end face of the top wall. The auxiliary wall includes a second slit opening on a side end face of the auxiliary wall. A stabilizer is formed by a portion on a front side of a separating portion formed by the second slit. A stabilizer reinforcing section is formed by a portion on a front side of a separating portion formed by the first slit. An engagement section is formed by a portion on a rear side of the separating portion formed by the first slit of the top wall. |
| US09564696B2 |
Electrical connector assembly
Electrical connectors for interconnecting circuit boards. One such connector includes an integral flange for mounting a guidance pin in any of multiple orientations. A corresponding keying block may have a polarization component that can be mounted in a corresponding number of positions. The connector can accept conductive elements with different shapes for signals and grounds, but the housing may be adapted to receive either type of contact in any contact location. Protection of contact elements from excessive yield is provided within the insulative housing of the backplane connector. On the daughter card connector, height difference between ground and signal contacts in wafer assemblies protects components from electrostatic discharge. |
| US09564688B2 |
Wireless chip and electronic device having wireless chip
It is an object to provide a wireless chip which can increase a mechanical strength, and a wireless chip with a high durability. A wireless chip includes a transistor including a field-effect transistor, an antenna including a dielectric layer sandwiched between conductive layers, and a conductive layer connecting the chip and the antenna. Further, a wireless chip includes a transistor including a field-effect transistor, an antenna including a dielectric layer sandwiched between conductive layers, a sensor device, a conductive layer connecting the chip and the antenna, and a conductive layer connecting the chip and the sensor device. Moreover, a wireless chip includes a transistor including a field-effect transistor, an antenna including a dielectric layer sandwiched between conductive layers, a battery, a conductive layer connecting the chip and the antenna, and a conductive layer connecting the chip and the battery. |
| US09564683B2 |
Multi band antenna device and wireless communication device including multi band antenna
A multi band antenna device which can simultaneously design a first frequency band antenna and a second frequency band antenna within one wireless communication device is provided. The multi band antenna device includes a first band antenna unit that communicates a first frequency band signal, a first band driving circuit unit that is connected to the first band antenna unit and that is configured to perform signal processing of a corresponding first frequency band signal communicated in the first band antenna unit, a second band driving circuit unit that is connected to the first band antenna unit, and that is configured to perform signal processing of a second frequency band signal which has a frequency that is lower than a frequency of the first frequency band signal, and a first inductor unit that is connected between one end of the first band antenna unit and the second band driving circuit unit, and that is configured to serve as an inductor. |
| US09564680B2 |
Removable and Replaceable Sound Tunnel Shell
Mobile devices may minimize the radiation exposure to users by controlling the distance between the user, specifically the head, and the mobile device to a minimum distance. The reduction in exposure is realized due to the operation of the Inverse Square Rule on electromagnetic signal from the mobile device recognizing there is a steep fall off of signal strength resultant from increased distance between the head of the user and the source of the signal. Embodiments increase and maintain operational distance between the user and the broadcast device to reduce signal absorption, while maintaining sound quality and volume. Embodiments enforce the operational distance with physical barriers preventing the distance from being reduced. Embodiments described herein also allow for the retraction of the physical barrier for storage or portage. |
| US09564678B2 |
Antenna device and method of setting resonant frequency of antenna device
In antenna device, a coil conductor of an antenna coil module and a conductor layer at least partially overlap. A current flows in the conductor layer to block a magnetic field generated by a current flowing in the coil conductor. A current flows along the periphery of a slit and around the periphery of the conductor layer due to a cut-edge effect. Since magnetic flux does not pass through the conductor layer, magnetic flux attempts to bypass the conductor layer along a path in which the conductor opening of the conductor layer is on the inside and the outer edge of the conductor layer is on the outside. As a result, the magnetic flux generates large loops that link the inside and the outside of a coil conductor of an antenna on a reader/writer side to couple an antenna device and the antenna on the reader/writer side. |
| US09564673B1 |
Adjustable in-building antenna structure
An adjustable antenna structure is provided for use inside a building and mounted to an interior structure having a hollow space behind the structure, such as a wall or ceiling. In one embodiment, the antenna structure includes an antenna, a radome with a sleeve and an end surface that extends across one end of the sleeve, a mount that defines an opening for receiving the radome and includes a flange for disposing adjacent to the interior structure, a securing structure with a surface that cooperates with the flange to fix the flange adjacent to the structure, and an adjustment structure for fixing the position of the radome relative to the mount. The adjustment structure can be used to fix the position such that the end surface of the radome is substantially conformal with the flange or the end surface and a substantial portion of the radome extend beyond the flange. |
| US09564670B2 |
Battery module
A battery module including a plurality of battery cells aligned in a first direction; a heat exchange member supporting a bottom surface of each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells, the heat exchange member exchanging heat with the plurality of battery cells, wherein the heat exchange member includes a first refrigerant flow path and a second refrigerant flow path, the first refrigerant flow path is adjacent to the bottom surface of each battery cell, and the second refrigerant flow path is spaced apart from the first refrigerant flow path and below the first refrigerant flow path. |
| US09564668B2 |
Battery module and method for manufacturing battery module
A battery module joined to a joint body. Each heat transfer plate of the battery module has a sandwiched portion provided between adjacent battery cells and a joined portion. A first heat conductive layer that contacts a battery cell and has a first thickness is provided on the sandwiched portion of each heat transfer plate. A second heat conductive layer is provided on the facing surface of each heat transfer plate other than the heat transfer plate that is the closest to the joint body when the joined portion is joined to the joint body. The second heat conductive layer is configured to contact the joint body. The second heat conductive layer on the heat transfer plate that is the farthest from the joint body when the joined portion is joined to the joint body has a second thickness, which is greater than the first thickness. |
| US09564667B2 |
Battery temperature control unit including heat exchanger arranged in air flow passage of unit case
A battery temperature control unit 1 for controlling a temperature of an internal space 21 of a module case 22 is provided. The battery temperature control unit 1 includes a unit case 3 which is arranged in the internal space 21 of the module case 22 and includes an air flow passage 4 inside the unit case 3. The battery temperature control unit 1 further includes a heat exchanger 11 arranged in the air flow passage 4. The unit case 3 includes a module opening sealing portion 31, which seals a module opening 24 formed in a wall surface of the module case 22. A module sealing surface 32 is formed in the module opening sealing portion 31, which closes the module opening 24 from an internal space 21 side. A first communication hole 36 and a second communication hole 37 are also formed in the module opening sealing portion 31, which allow the outside of the module case 22 and the inside of the unit case 3 to communicate with each other. |
| US09564666B2 |
Battery pack
A battery pack having improved heat dissipation characteristics. A battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules, each including a plurality of battery cells aligned in a direction, and a plurality of barriers, each being between a respective pair of adjacent battery cells of the plurality of battery cells and including a connection portion protruded to the outside of the adjacent battery cells. The battery pack further includes a heat dissipation member connected to connection portions of the plurality of connection portions, and a heat conducting member connected to the heat dissipation member. |
| US09564661B2 |
Battery module and wiring module
There are provided an electric cell group of a plurality of electric cells 11 with positive and negative electrode terminals, connecting members for connecting adjacent electrode terminals, and a wiring module assembled to the electric cell group. The wiring module includes a plurality of voltage detection terminals connected to the ends of a plurality of electric wires W for detecting the conditions of the electric cells, a plurality of retainer portions retaining the detection terminals, and interval adjusting device provided between a plurality of adjacent retainer portions for adjusting the intervals between the retainer portions. |
| US09564657B2 |
Electrolyte for rechargeable lithium battery, and rechargeable lithium battery including same
An electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a lithium salt; a non-aqueous organic solvent; and an additive including a compound represented by the Chemical Formula 1, |
| US09564656B1 |
Process for producing alkali metal or alkali-ion batteries having high volumetric and gravimetric energy densities
Provided is a process for producing an alkali metal battery, comprising: (A) Preparing an anode material suspension and a cathode active material suspension; (B) Assembling a porous cell framework composed of a first conductive foam structure, a second conductive foam structure, and a porous separator disposed between said first and said second conductive foam structure; and (C) Injecting the anode suspension into pores of the first conductive foam structure to form an anode and injecting cathode suspension into pores of the second conductive foam structure to form a cathode, wherein the anode active material has a material mass loading no less than 20 mg/cm2 or the cathode active material has a material mass loading no less than 15 mg/cm2 for an organic or polymer material or no less than 40 mg/cm2 for an inorganic material. The resulting batteries exhibit exceptional gravimetric and volumetric energy densities and long cycle life. |
| US09564655B2 |
Manufacturing method of all-solid battery
A manufacturing method of an all-solid battery includes fabricating a single battery including a positive electrode layer, a negative electrode layer, and a solid electrolyte layer arranged between the positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer; fabricating a plurality of battery packs including the plurality of single batteries; confining a plurality of battery packs by an equal confining pressure; measuring the electrical characteristics of the plurality of confined battery packs; determining the battery pack whose measured electrical characteristics are the worst of the plurality of battery packs; reducing the confining pressures of the other battery packs so that the electrical characteristics of the other battery packs are equal to that of the battery pack whose electrical characteristics have been determined to be the worst; and electrically connecting in parallel the battery packs. |
| US09564654B2 |
Rechargeable lithium ion button cell battery
A rechargeable lithium ion button cell battery having a sealed housing comprises an inner casing and an outer casing, both casings have at least one flat area as top or bottom of the battery, and a round or oval sidewall vertically formed to the flat area. An insulation gasket is positioned between the sidewalls, and the outer casing opening is mechanically crimped to complete the seal of the battery. Inside the sealed housing the anode and cathode electrodes are spiral wound with separator to be a round or oval roll. A roll axis is vertical to the flat area of the casings. The two electrodes are tapered in width to fully utilize the inner space. The electrodes comprise current collectors of metal foils coated with lithium-intercalating active materials, leaving small area of uncoated metal foils as conductor tabs for connecting the electrodes to the casings. |
| US09564651B2 |
Liquid electrolyte fuel cell system
A liquid electrolyte fuel cell system (10) comprises at least one fuel cell with a liquid electrolyte chamber between opposed electrodes, the electrodes being an anode and a cathode, and means (30, 32) for supplying a gas stream to a gas chamber adjacent to the cathode and withdrawing a spent gas stream (38) from the gas chamber adjacent to the cathode, the system also comprising a liquid electrolyte storage tank (40), and means (42, 44, 47, 48) to circulate liquid electrolyte between the liquid electrolyte storage tank (40) and the fuel cells. In addition the system comprises a water storage tank (60) adjacent to the storage tank (40), and means (50, 51) for condensing water vapor from the spent gas stream (38), and for feeding (56) the condensed water vapor into the water storage tank (60). The water storage tank (60) has an overflow outlet (64); and a communication duct (68) linking the liquid electrolyte storage tank (40) and the water storage tank (60) below the level of the overflow outlet (60). This automatically replaces any water that evaporates from the electrolyte, without requiring any electronics. |
| US09564650B2 |
Methods for continuous direct carbon fuel cell operation with a circulating electrolyte slurry
The present invention relates to methods and systems related to fuel cells, and in particular, to direct carbon fuel cells. The methods and systems relate to cleaning and removal of components utilized and produced during operation of the fuel cell, regeneration of components utilized during operation of the fuel cell, and generating power using the fuel cell. |
| US09564648B2 |
Anode leak location detection
A system and method for quantifying an anode leak location in a fuel cell system. The system and method include determining there is a leak in an anode sub-system of a fuel cell stack and estimating a first effective leak area using a first leak flow value and first operating parameters. The system and method also include increasing airflow to a cathode side of the fuel cell stack and estimating a second leak effective area using a second leak flow value and second operating parameters. The system and method further include comparing the first leak effective area to the second leak effective area and determining an anode outflow leak location based on the comparison between the first and second leak effective areas. |
| US09564647B2 |
Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and a mounting section. The fuel cell stack is mounted on the mounting section with inclination. The fuel cell stack is formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cells in a vertical direction. An oxygen-containing gas in an oxygen-containing gas flow field and a fuel gas in a fuel gas flow field flow in a counterflow manner. In a front box of a vehicle, an inlet side of the fuel gas flow field is positioned above an outlet side of the fuel gas flow field with respect to a horizontal direction. In this state, the fuel cell stack is mounted on the mounting section. The fuel cell stack is inclined downward from the horizontal direction toward the back of the vehicle in a vehicle length direction. |
| US09564646B2 |
Fuel cell system and operating method thereof
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell that generates electric power using fuel gas and oxygen-containing gas and combusts fuel gas remaining unused for generation of electric power; a fuel gas supply line that supplies the fuel gas to the fuel cell; and an on-off valve disposed in the fuel gas supply line. A shutdown transition mode in which the fuel gas in the fuel gas supply line downstream from the on-off valve is supplied to the fuel cell at a flow rate smaller than that at a time of generation of electric power and is combusted therein after the on-off valve is closed, and a shutdown mode which is started after the shutdown transition mode are provided as an emergency shutdown mode in which the fuel cell undergoes emergency shutdown when the on-off valve of the fuel gas supply line is closed. |
| US09564642B2 |
Durable fuel cell with platinum cobalt alloy cathode catalyst and selectively conducting anode
The degradation associated with repeated startup and shutdown of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells comprising PtCo alloy cathode catalysts can be particularly poor. However, a marked and unexpected improvement in durability is observed as a result of incorporating a selectively conducting component in electrical series with the anode components in the fuel cell. |