| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09648795B2 |
Pick-and-place tool
A pick-and-place tool configured to pick and place at least one die on a workpiece includes a mounting head. The mounting head includes a die position determining unit configured to one of measure and detect an actual position of at least one die during a time between the placement of the at least one die on the workpiece and the picking up of a subsequent die for placement on the workpiece. |
| US09648790B2 |
Heat exchanger assembly for an electronic display
The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein provide a heat exchanger assembly for cooling power module bricks, having a plurality of heat exchanger layers where a top layer is in conductive thermal communication with the power module brick. A series of metallic plates are preferably positioned within each heat exchanger layer and are preferably aligned with the power module brick. A circulating fan may be positioned to force circulating gas across the power module brick and through the heat exchanger. An external air fan may be positioned to force external air through the heat exchanger. Pass through junctions may be positioned near edges of the heat exchanger to permit the circulating gas to cross paths with the external air without allowing the two gas flows to mix with one another. |
| US09648785B2 |
Computing rack airflow directing system and method
A computing rack airflow directing system includes upper and lower rails configured for releasable attachment to a computing rack, and a flexible curtain suspended between the upper and lower rails at upper and lower edges of the curtain, respectively. The curtain is movable along the rails from a retracted position proximate a first end of the rails to provide access to one or more equipment modules mounted in the computing rack to an extended position to form a plenum for directing an airflow between the equipment modules and an airflow port. The airflow port is formed at either the upper edge or the lower edge of the curtain. |
| US09648784B2 |
Systems and assemblies for cooling server racks
A cooling assembly for cooling server racks includes a server rack enclosure sub-assembly that includes at least one panel member defining a volume for receiving one or more server racks having a front portion and a rear portion, at least one of the panel members is a rear panel member; at least one frame member defines an opening for receiving the rear portion of the server racks to form a hot space between the rear panel member and the combination of the frame member and the rear portion of the server racks; a cooling sub-assembly disposed in thermal communication with the hot space to cool at least one server supported in the server rack and including a chassis receiving at least one heat exchange member for exchanging heat between a refrigerant fluid flowing through the heat exchange member and fluid flowing through the hot space heated by the server. |
| US09648783B1 |
Enhanced heat dissipation module having multi-layer heat isolation
An enhanced heat dissipation module having multi-layer heat isolation, made of copper, aluminum, iron, or a combination thereof, includes a protection box, used to receive an electric circuit board. On protection box is provided with at least a notch corresponding to high heat generating electronic components on the electric circuit board. A heat dissipater is provided with a large heat dissipation area disposed opposite to protection box, and it includes at least a fix seat disposed in protrusion on the heat dissipater. The fix seat extends into the notch of the protection box, to contact fully surface of the high heat generating electronic components. An elastic contact plate, disposed in front of the fix seat, to press against surface of the high heat generating electronic components. A plurality of heat conduction tubes are pressed onto the heat dissipater, with one end connected to the fix seat. |
| US09648782B2 |
Chip stack structures that implement two-phase cooling with radial flow
A package structure to implement two-phase cooling includes a chip stack disposed on a substrate, and a package lid that encloses the chip stack. The chip stack includes a plurality of conjoined chips, a central inlet manifold formed through a central region of the chip stack, and a peripheral outlet manifold. The central input manifold includes inlet nozzles to feed liquid coolant into flow cavities formed between adjacent conjoined chips. The peripheral outlet manifold outputs heated liquid and vapor from the flow cavities. The package lid includes a central coolant supply inlet aligned to the central inlet manifold, and a peripheral liquid-vapor outlet to output heated liquid and vapor that exits from the peripheral outlet manifold. Guiding walls may be included in the flow cavities to guide a flow of liquid and vapor, and the guiding walls can be arranged to form radial flow channels that are feed by different inlet nozzles of the central inlet manifold. |
| US09648773B1 |
Carrier with lifting and securing lever and minimized footprint
A carrier is disclosed for securing a computer drive within a chassis. The carrier provides improved access to the computer drive and drive connector using a lever and lifting pins. The lever and pins cooperate to lift the computer drive and the lifted access allows such carriers to be positioned with minimal separation, increasing the potential density of computer drives within the chassis. The lifted access also assists with computer drive maintenance. |
| US09648772B2 |
Control peripheral post of railway field devices provided with means to facilitate the extraction of the control modules
There is described a control peripheral post of railway field devices, comprising: —at least one row of control modules operatively connected or connectable by electric cables to field devices; —a support frame having a front side and housing said row of control modules; wherein said support frame comprises at least one anti-extraction bar positioned on the front side of the support frame, said bar being adapted to selectively take an extraction configuration, wherein said bar is positioned in such a way as to permit the extraction of the control modules from the front side of the support frame, and a blocking configuration, wherein said bar is positioned in front of said row of control modules so as to prevent the extraction of the control modules (4, 5) of said row from the front side of the support frame. |
| US09648771B1 |
Multi-piece rack shelf
A multi-piece shelf for an electronics rack, the electronics rack having a base and at least two vertical posts. The multi-piece shelf includes at least two side brackets and a removable shelf, the side brackets being separate components from the shelf. Each side bracket includes a vertical wall and a shelf mounting flange that is integral to and extends laterally from the vertical wall. A post mounting flange is integrally attached to at least a portion of the vertical wall for attaching to a vertical post. The removable shelf includes a flat bottom portion with at least two shovel lances formed on and extending downward and rearward from a lower surface of the bottom portion. Each shovel lance having a locking section that is spaced apart from the bottom portion and configured to it into an aperture in the shelf mounting flange. |
| US09648770B1 |
High-voltage, alternating current power supply
A high-voltage, AC power supply for an electrostatic discharge system comprises a chassis shaped to define an interior cavity, a high-voltage transformer for increasing the voltage received from an external power source, and an output connector module in electrical connection with the transformer for delivering the increased voltage to a high-voltage load, such as one or more anti-static bars. The transformer and the output connector are independently mounted onto the chassis within the interior cavity in a spaced apart relationship and are electrically coupled through one or more flying lead connectors in order to facilitate assembly. During operation, a resistive damping component in the output connector module regulates the output voltage and secondary current delivered to the load in order to render the power supply less susceptible to dielectric breakdown from partial discharge. |
| US09648767B2 |
Emergency lighting enclosure with integrated electrical box
A lighting equipment enclosure comprises a front plate assembly and a back plate assembly. The back plate assembly comprises a back plate including a partition that defines an area of the back plate, wherein the area includes a first access point and a second access point. The back plate assembly also comprises a snap electrical connector, a set of wires that extend from the snap electrical connector, and a partition cover that is attachable to the back plate, wherein when the partition cover is in a closed position, the partition cover covers a substantial portion of the area. The partition and the partition cover form a space in which electrical wires from independent power supplies may be attached to the sets of wires. |
| US09648766B1 |
Junction box
A junction box includes a main body in which circuit components are installed, a lower cover configured to cover a lower portion of the main body, one or more sockets installed on a lower surface of the main body, one or more connectors installed in the lower cover and configured to be coupled to the sockets, a single coupling bolt installed in the main body, and a single coupling nut installed in the lower cover and threadedly coupled to the coupling bolt. When rotationally operating the single coupling bolt, the main body is configured to move up or down with respect to the lower cover so that the sockets are coupled to or decoupled from the connectors while making up/down movement with respect to the connectors. |
| US09648764B2 |
Fixing structure of electric apparatus to vehicle
Provided is a fixing structure of an electric apparatus in an engine compartment provided in a front portion of a vehicle. The fixing structure includes a tray, a removal mechanism, and a protecting plate. The tray is fixed in the engine compartment and configured such that the electric apparatus is placed thereon. The removal mechanism is configured to remove the electric apparatus from the tray when the electric apparatus receives a predetermined impact force or more from a front side of the vehicle. The protecting plate is attached to the electric apparatus, and is configured to abut with a structural object placed at a rear side of the vehicle relative to the electric apparatus when the electric apparatus is removed from the tray due to the impact force so as to move rearward. |
| US09648762B2 |
Pressure resistant housing for an electric component
A pressure resistant housing for an electric component is provided. The pressure resistant housing is adapted for the use in a subsea application. A ceramic housing body houses the electric component. The ceramic housing body has a first opening and a second opening that are closed by a first metal lid and a second metal lid, respectively. |
| US09648760B2 |
Substrate structure and manufacturing method thereof
A substrate structure includes a dielectric layer, a metal foil, a patterned metal layer, a first patterned solder-resist layer and a second patterned solder-resist layer. The dielectric layer includes a first surface and a second surface, and the first surface has a plurality of recesses. The metal foil is disposed on the second surface. The patterned metal layer is disposed on the first surface, the patterned metal layer has a plurality of openings, and the openings are respectively corresponding to and expose the recesses. The first patterned solder-resist layer is filled in each of the recesses and corresponding to each of the openings. A top surface of the first patterned solder-resist layer is substantially coplanar with a top surface of the patterned metal layer. The second patterned solder-resist layer is disposed on the first patterned solder-resist layer and in the openings, and covers a portion of the patterned metal layer. |
| US09648753B2 |
Flexible printed circuit board and method for manufacturing same
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a flexible printed circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board manufactured by using the same. A circuit pattern is formed with a conductive paste on one surface of a base material, and the circuit pattern is sintered at a temperature of 290° C. to 420° C. to manufacture the flexible printed circuit board. As such, manufacturing costs can be reduced and productivity can be improved through a simple yet convenient process. Also, the circuit pattern is formed without a plating process, such that the problem of circuit pattern separation occurring during the plating process can be addressed and product reliability can be improved. |
| US09648748B2 |
Multilayer ceramic capacitor and board for mounting of the same
A multilayer ceramic capacitor may include three external electrodes disposed on a mounting surface of a ceramic body and spaced apart from each other, and first and second lead-out portions extended from a first internal electrode so as to be exposed through the mounting surface of the ceramic body and spaced apart from each other in a length direction of the ceramic body have one or more space portions, respectively, and a board for mounting thereof is provided. |
| US09648740B2 |
Ceramic substrate including thin film multilayer surface conductor
A ceramic substrate comprises a plurality of ceramic sheets, a plurality of inner conductive layers, a plurality of vias, and an upper conductive layer. The ceramic sheets are stacked one on top of another and include a top ceramic sheet. The inner conductive layers include electrically conductive material that forms electrically conductive features on an upper surface of each ceramic sheet excluding the top ceramic sheet. The vias are formed in each of the ceramic sheets with each via being filled with electrically conductive material. The upper conductive layer includes electrically conductive material that forms electrically conductive features on an upper surface of the top ceramic sheet. The upper conductive layer is constructed from a stack of four sublayers. A first sublayer is formed from titanium. A second sublayer is formed from copper. A third sublayer is formed from platinum. A fourth sublayer is formed from gold. |
| US09648731B2 |
Carrier tape for tab-package and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a TAB tap. The method includes forming a circuit pattern region having input/output terminal pattern on a base film, and forming an exposing region at a convey region having a sprocket hole for exposing the base film. Accordingly, the present invention provides a TAB tape that improves reliability of a product by fundamentally preventing the generation of metal particles by forming exposing regions that expose a base film through selectively etching and removing a metal layer of a convey region formed at both side of a TAB tape and having a sprocket hole, and that prevents short-circuit by partially removing a base film at a predetermined region not having a circuit pattern formed thereon through etching. |
| US09648729B1 |
Stress reduction interposer for ceramic no-lead surface mount electronic device
A stress reduction interposer is provided for disposition between first and second solder materials of first and second electronic devices, respectively. The stress reduction interposer includes a plate element having a central portion and a periphery surrounding the central portion and being formed to define first cavities having an upper area limit at the periphery and a second cavity having a lower area limit, which is higher than the upper area limit, at the central portion and third and fourth solder materials being disposable in the second cavity and in the first cavities, respectively, to be electrically communicative with the first and second solder materials. The third solder material is more compliant and has a higher melting temperature than at least the second and fourth solder materials. |
| US09648723B2 |
Process of fabricating printed circuit board
A circuit apparatuses include at least one circuit feature formed from patterning a conductive sheet. The conductive sheet includes an irregular surface and a planarized surface. Conductive sheet roughness is minimized in first regions of the circuit apparatus and is maintained in second regions of the circuit apparatus. Selectively planarizing portions of the conductive sheet allows for the utilization of lower cost rougher conductive sheets. The planarized surface allows for increased signal integrity and reduced insertion loss and the irregular surface allows for increased adhesion and enhancing reliability of the circuit apparatus. |
| US09648722B2 |
PCB embedded power module
A printed circuit board assembly comprises a printed circuit board having at least one conductive layer supported by a substrate layer, and at least one power semiconductor device, wherein the at least one power semiconductor device is at least partly embedded in the substrate layer. |
| US09648720B2 |
Method for manufacturing printed circuit boards
A method including: attaching a plurality of conductive tracks to at least one surface of a substrate, depositing a coating comprising at least one halo-hydrocarbon polymer on the at least one surface of the substrate, and soldering through the coating. |
| US09648719B2 |
High-frequency power supply device
A high-frequency input voltage and a high-frequency input current to a series resonant circuit are detected by a voltage detection unit and a current detection unit, respectively, and plasma input power is detected by a plasma input power detection unit based on the detected high-frequency input voltage and high-frequency input current. By directly detecting the plasma input power in this manner, the plasma input power may be accurately controlled regardless of the state of a plasma-generating gas or an analysis sample. Also, use of a switching circuit including a semiconductor device allows an inexpensive configuration compared with a configuration where a vacuum tube or the like is used. |
| US09648718B2 |
Plasma emission device, and electromagnetic wave generator used therein
A plasma emission device in an embodiment includes: an electromagnetic wave generator; a waveguide transmitting an electromagnetic wave emitted from the electromagnetic wave generator, an antenna receiving the electromagnetic wave transmitted through the waveguide; an electromagnetic wave focuser which is irradiated with the electromagnetic wave from the antenna; and an electrodeless bulb disposed in the electromagnetic wave focuser. A light-emitting material filled in the electrodeless bulb is excited by the electromagnetic wave focused by the electromagnetic wave focuser to perform plasma emission. The electromagnetic wave generator includes a cathode part and an anode part. A maximum output efficiency of the electromagnetic wave to be generated with an input power of 700 W or less is 70% or more. |
| US09648716B2 |
Direct three phase parallel resonant inverter for reactive gas generator applications
A power system for a reactive gas generator can include a direct three phase inverter. A resonant tank can further be included to receive a square wave output of the direct three phase inverter and provide a sine wave output. The power system can include an inverter controller that turns on and off selected switches of the direct three phase inverter based on states of the three phases of a three phase AC power supply, where a switch is turned on with an adaptive ON time and a modulated OFF time depending on a desired output power. |
| US09648714B2 |
Fuel system for lithographic apparatus, EUV source, lithographic apparatus and fuel filtering method
A fuel supply for an EUV radiation source is disclosed. The fuel supply comprises a reservoir (40) for retaining a volume of fuel (42), a nozzle (32), in fluid connection with the reservoir, and configured to direct a stream of fuel along a trajectory towards a plasma formation location, and a fuel contamination control arrangement (44) which separates contamination particles from the fuel. The contamination control arrangement comprises at least one acoustic filter. The acoustic filter may apply an acoustic standing wave to the fuel. Also disclosed is a method of controlling contamination in such a fuel supply. |
| US09648713B2 |
High-gain thompson-scattering X-ray free-electron laser by time-synchronic laterally tilted optical wave
An improved optical undulator for use in connection with free electron radiation sources is provided. A tilt is introduced between phase fronts of an optical pulse and the pulse front. Two such pulses in a counter-propagating geometry overlap to create a standing wave pattern. A line focus is used to increase the intensity of this standing wave pattern. An electron beam is aligned with the line focus. The relative angle between pulse front and phase fronts is adjusted such that there is a velocity match between the electron beam and the overlapping optical pulses along the line focus. This allows one to provide a long interaction length using short and intense optical pulses, thereby greatly increasing the radiation output from the electron beam as it passes through this optical undulator. |
| US09648704B2 |
Two-level LED security light with motion sensor
A two-level LED security light with a motion sensor. At night, the LED is turned on for a low level illumination. When the motion sensor detects any intrusion, the LED is switched from the low level illumination to a high level illumination for a short duration time. After the short duration time, the LED security light returns to the low level illumination for saving energy. The LED security light includes a power supply unit, a light sensing control unit, a motion sensing unit, a loading and power control unit, and a lighting-emitting unit. The lighting-emitting unit includes one or a plurality of LEDs which may be turned-on or turned-off according to the sensing results from the light sensing control unit. When the motion sensing unit detects an intrusion, the illumination of the LED security light can be immediately turned on to the high level to scare away the intruder. |
| US09648703B2 |
Lighting system and control method thereof
A lighting device may include a communication unit for establishing a communication connection with a terminal, a light emitting unit (including one or more light emitting units), and a controller for receiving physical information from the communication unit and controlling the light emitting unit based on the physical information. |
| US09648699B2 |
Automatic control of location-registered lighting according to a live reference lighting environment
According to the disclosed embodiments, a three-dimensional (3D) reference environment having one or more environmental lighting reference (ELR) sources is determined by a controller. Also, characteristics of the one or more ELR sources are tracked by the controller. Then, a lighting environment generated by the one or more ELR sources in the 3D reference environment is replicated by the controller by dynamically and automatically controlling one or more physical light sources that illuminate a physical subject according to the characteristics of the one or more ELR sources. |
| US09648697B1 |
Brightness monitoring for LED failures and daylighting target adjusting
A system monitors operational status of a lighting element. A lighting fixture processor instructs a lighting element to illuminate at a predetermined time, receives sensed light level information from the light sensing element, and transmits a wireless message including information representing the sensed light level. A room controller can control some or all of these steps. A daylighting arrangement includes a room controller that instructs the lighting fixtures of a lighting group to illuminate their lighting elements at a predetermined time of day. Sensed light level information is obtained and wirelessly transmitted to the room controller, which determines an initial daylighting target for the lighting fixture group based on an average of the sensed light level information. The room controller instructs the lighting fixtures to illuminate their respective lighting elements in accordance with the initial daylighting target. |
| US09648692B2 |
Portable lamp comprising a contact-less control device
A portable lamp, such as a headlamp, having control of the light power without the need for any manual switch is presented. The lamp comprises a power module for powering one or more light sources, first proximity detectors for detecting an object such as a finger moving close to the lamp, in one direction or another along a first axis X-X; and a control module receiving information generated by said first proximity detectors, said control module being configured for generating, from the direction of the movement of said object, a control information for switching-on, switching-off or adjusting the level of the intensity of the light power. |
| US09648688B2 |
Security lighting systems for perimeter security including infrared and LED lights and light intensity controllers
A security light system includes a plurality of light fixtures, whereby each light fixture has a light module including an infrared light and an LED that generates white light. Each light fixture includes a driver circuit for controlling operation of the infrared light and the LED. The system includes a light intensity controller for communicating with each light fixture. The light intensity controller includes a control element that enables an operator to selectively increase and decrease the intensity level of the infrared and white light generated by the infrared light and the LED. |
| US09648684B1 |
Capacitor-less LED drive
The capacitor-less LED drive is an LED drive circuit having a design based on the utilization of the internal capacitance of the LED to replace the smoothing capacitor in a conventional buck converter in a power supply. LED lighting systems usually have many LEDs for better illumination that can reach multiple tens of LEDs. Such a configuration can be utilized to enlarge the total internal capacitance, and hence minimize the output ripple. Also, the switching frequency of the buck converter is selected such that minimum ripple appears at the output. The functionality of the present design is confirmed experimentally, and the efficiency of the drive is 85% at full load. |
| US09648678B1 |
LED driver circuit with dimming control and programming interfaces
An LED driver circuit is provided with a dynamic operating range. A controller for a power converter is configured to regulate the output voltage and the output current generated by the power converter based on a dimming control signal from a dimming control interface, a sensed output from the power converter, and programmed maximum output voltage and maximum output current values. The tuning interface may be coupled to the dimming control interface and provide a sequence of digital pulses corresponding to a desired maximum output voltage and/or maximum output current. The controller may modify the programmed maximum output voltage and the maximum output current values based on the predetermined sequence of digital pulses received via the tuning interface circuit. |
| US09648677B2 |
LED driving circuit and method using single inductor
The present disclosure relates to LED driving circuit and method using a single inductor. A constant current controller controls a power stage circuit to provide a constant output signal, and thus to provide a constant current signal for an LED load. A dimming controller regulates luminance of the LED load. A constant voltage generating circuit receives the current signal at an output terminal of the power stage circuit and a reserve supply voltage for providing a supply voltage for the dimming controller. Compared with the prior art, the present disclosure does not need an independent power supply chip, and reduces components such as inductors and rectifying transistors. Thus, a peripheral circuit is simplified, and an overall size of the system is reduced. |
| US09648674B2 |
Method and apparatus for calculating an average value of an inaccessible current from an accessible current
In a power converter, a circuit determines an average value of an inaccessible current from an average value of an accessible current and a value of the operating duty cycle of the converter. A method of measuring an average value of an inaccessible current from a measured value of a current in a power converter by a duty cycle of a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal representing a duty cycle of the power converter. Coupling a voltage representing the measured value to an input of a low pass filter during a time period (D) and coupling the input of the low pass filter to a reference voltage during a time period (1−D). |
| US09648672B2 |
Multiple display-units LED light device has special light effects
The Multiple Display-units LED light device has special light effects which means the more than one of display-unit can be assembly into one viewing product install within the base by certain strength or assembly means which has the prong means or other unlimited power source mans to supply the electric signal to the said LEDs to make the eye-catching light effects. The display unit may have the build-in input-end or separated input-end to allow to match the said receptacle means of the base. The base with LED related circuit, prong means and other control means, IC means may disposed into the base or incorporated with sealed-unit to make the light beam to be seen by viewer though the viewing area for dedicated art, word, signal, data, design, motion liquid, 3 dimensional, geometric design, art, digital data, liquid crystal screen, LCD and colored image with color change LEDs for illumination. |
| US09648667B2 |
Programmable induction cooking system and method
A system and method for induction cooking using an induction cooking unit, an interface adapted to receive, store, and execute a plurality of instructions of a multistage programmable recipe using the induction cooking unit, a power supply, a controller coupled to said power supply, said interface, and said induction cooking unit. |
| US09648666B2 |
Warming temperature control device
To provide a warming temperature control device which prevents overheating with high accuracy and stability to ensure safety and is excellent in economy, between both electrodes of a DC stabilization power supply which drives a temperature control section, a fixed resistor with which a capacitor is connected in parallel, a first diode disposed in a forward direction with respect to the power supply, and a temperature detection element wire are connected in series, and an inter-wire short circuit protection circuit is included. A degree of leak of a polymer layer is determined by detecting a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of an input signal to the temperature control section on a time axis. When the difference increases to reach a predetermined set value, the temperature control section performs control such that a heating signal is not outputted. |
| US09648664B2 |
Communication terminal
A communication terminal, in particular an eCall terminal. The terminal comprises a communication unit and an interface for communication of the terminal with communication networks. The terminal comprises a determination unit for determining in which communication network the terminal is located. The terminal comprises a database in which communication network related data for a number of different communication networks are stored and in which said communication network related data are linked to paging channels of the respective communications networks. The terminal further comprises a scanning unit for scanning paging channels and an evaluation unit for evaluating information received via a paging channel. In addition the present invention relates to a method of scanning paging channel and to a method for activation of a communication terminal. |
| US09648663B2 |
Distributed cellular client network
A second cellular client delegates cellular communication to a first cellular client. The first cellular client determines that the first cellular client has been assigned to perform cellular communication for the second cellular client. The first cellular client receives a transmission from a cellular service-provider antenna intended for the second cellular client. The first cellular client sends a first command based on the transmission to the second cellular client. The first command instructs the second cellular client to enable the cellular functionality of the second cellular client. |
| US09648661B2 |
WLAN system scanning and selection
Techniques for performing WLAN system scanning and selection are described. A terminal performs multiple iterations of scan to detect for WLAN systems. A scan list containing at least one WLAN system to detect for is initially determined. For each scan iteration, a scan type may be selected from among the supported scan types. The selected scan type may indicate passive scan or active scan, frequency channels to scan, etc. A scan may be performed based on the selected scan type. Signal strength measurements are obtained for access points received during the scan and used to identify detected access points. After all scan iterations are completed, candidates access points are identified based on the scan results, e.g., based on the signal strength measurements for the detected access points and a detection threshold. The best candidate access point may be selected for association by the terminal. |
| US09648660B2 |
Tracking area management
The disclosure is related tracking area management in a femtocell network. A mobility management entity may receive, from a femtocell base station, macrocell tracking area information associated with the femtocell base station. The mobility management entity may combine the received macrocell tracking area information with femtocell tracking area information associated with the femtocell base station and storing the combined tracking area information as integrated tracking area information. |
| US09648655B2 |
Simulation of near-field communications
A computing device may identify one or more wireless broadcast signals that are each associated with a name that conforms to a specified wireless naming scheme. Responsive to identifying a particular wireless broadcast signal that is associated with a respective name conforming to the specified wireless naming scheme, the computing device may determine a signal strength of the particular wireless broadcast signal. The computing device may determine a likelihood that a remote device broadcasting the particular wireless signal is within a specified proximity of the computing device based at least in part on the signal strength of the particular wireless broadcast signal. Responsive to determining that the likelihood that the remote device is within the specified proximity of the computing device exceeds a specified threshold, the computing device may initiate an establishment of a wireless connection with the remote device. |
| US09648651B2 |
Methods and apparatus to determine distance between devices for device to device communication and proximity services
Various systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for communicating from device to device are described. Device to Device (D2D) communication may bypass use of a network when devices are in communicable proximity of each other. Knowledge of the relative locations of devices that either are already in D2D mode or are not yet in D2D mode but are capable of using D2D mode may be useful. Therefore, various techniques are described for determining distance between two or more devices. Relative locations may also be used to determine the proximity of two devices for some proximity service of common interest. |
| US09648643B2 |
Managing sounding reference signals in a wireless device
A wireless device receives a control message comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells grouped into a plurality of cell groups. The wireless device transmits a first sounding reference signal (SRS) in a first cell group overlapping in time with transmission of a first random access preamble in a second cell group. Transmission of a second SRS in the first cell group is dropped if: the second SRS transmission and a second random access preamble transmission in the second cell group overlap in time and the wireless device has insufficient transmission power. |
| US09648641B2 |
Data transmission method, base station, and terminal
A data transmission method is provided. The method includes obtaining configuration information, wherein the configuration information indicates transmission resources of a random access preamble and payload data corresponding to the random access preamble, transmitting the random access preamble and the payload data at the transmission resources, modulating the payload data using a modulation scheme supporting asynchronous transmission, and receiving feedback information, wherein the feedback information comprises an indication which indicates whether the payload data is successfully received. Various examples of the present disclosure also describe a method for receiving data with space multiplexing which is applied to a base station side, and further describe a terminal and a base station. Employing the examples of the present disclosure, transmission efficiency of long duty cycle and sporadic small data packets of a large number of devices in the Internet of Things in future communication systems can be improved. |
| US09648636B2 |
Intelligent M2M energy optimization algorithm
The invention provides for a method for power optimized transmission scheduling in an energy harvesting machine to machine device, comprising an internal power storage and an internal energy harvesting source and being configured for communication with a mobile communications network via a wireless link. The method comprises receiving an event triggering a decision to send data to the mobile communications network, monitoring at least one power parameter of said internal power source and scheduling said data for transmission based on the at least one power parameter. The invention also relates to a corresponding M2M device, to a network node and to a computer program for performing the method. |
| US09648634B2 |
System and methods for providing a transmission skipping policy to improve performance in a multi-subscriber identity module (SIM) wireless communication device
Methods and devices are disclosed for enabling improved performance on a multi-subscriber identification module (multi-SIM) wireless communication device. The wireless communication device may detect transmit activity on a modem stack associated with the first SIM, and detect a communication activity scheduled on a modem stack associated with the second SIM having a higher priority. If the transmit activity on the modem stack of the first SIM will impede the communication activity, the wireless device may identify subframes on the modem stack associated with the first SIM that overlap in time with the communication activity and for each identified subframe, blank symbols that conflict with the communication activity to develop a partially blanked subframe. The partially blanked subframe may be transmitted according to a blanking policy. |
| US09648630B2 |
Antenna array calibration using traffic signals
A calibration method for a base station removes distortion in traffic signals incurred in transmit paths of the base station. The transmit paths are coupled to an antenna array for transmitting the traffic signals in a wireless network. The method includes conditioning a traffic signal to reduce a correlation with another traffic signal before the traffic signals enter the transmit paths. For each of the traffic signals, an impairment estimation is performed based on the traffic signals captured before entering the transmit paths and the traffic signals captured before entering the antenna array. An approximate inverse of the impairment estimation is applied to each of the traffic signals before the traffic signals enter the transmit paths. |
| US09648627B2 |
Beacon timeslot allocation
Beacon transmissions by access points (e.g., femtocells) are controlled in an attempt to increase the number of beacons seen by the access terminals in the vicinity of the access points. In some aspects, interference between beacons is reduced by, for example, scheduling beacon transmissions of neighboring access points at different times. In some aspects, beacon transmissions are scheduled in a manner (e.g., allocated in substantially contiguous timeslots and/or allocated to different frequencies) that enables access terminals to acquire all relevant beacons in a relatively short time frame. |
| US09648622B2 |
Wireless communication device, wireless communication system, wireless communication method, and computer-readable medium for transmission of reference signals
There is provided a wireless communication device including a communication unit that transmits a reference signal, a first multiplication unit that performs multiplication of first transmission weight that is determined based on reception of the reference signal by a communication partner, and a second multiplication unit that performs multiplication of second transmission weight that is determined based on reception of the reference signal by the communication partner. The communication unit transmits a reference signal with weight that is obtained by multiplying the reference signal by the first transmission weight after determination of the first transmission weight. |
| US09648621B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication system, wireless communication method and program
A wireless communication apparatus is provided that performs wireless communication using a specified wireless channel and forms part of an ad hoc wireless network. The device includes a recording portion that records country ID information and recording-time information in to a storage medium, where the recording-time information indicates the time at which the country ID information was recorded in to the storage medium, a time determination portion that uses the recording-time information to determine whether a predetermined time period has elapsed from the time at which the country ID information was recorded, and a channel setting portion that, when the predetermined time period has not elapsed from the time at which the country ID information was recorded in the storage medium, sets a wireless channel to a frequency channel that can be used in the country indicated by the country ID information recorded in the storage medium. |
| US09648618B2 |
Mixer sequence design for N-path filters
A bandpass filter includes a plurality of parallel paths. Each path includes a first mixer, a low-pass filter, and a second mixer. The first mixer in each path receives the input signal and mixes the input signal with a periodic mixer sequence. The low-pass filter in each path is operable to filter an output of the associated first mixer. The second mixer in each path is coupled to receive an output of the associated low-pass filter and mixes said filter output with a periodic mixer sequence having a period that is divided into a plurality of time slots, wherein again the mixer value is constant during each time slot. A summer sums the outputs of the second mixers of each of the paths to generate an output of the bandpass filter. |
| US09648615B2 |
Location measurement optimized off-channel scanning and grouping of access points
A plurality of time slots are allocated during which a location procedure is performed for one or more target wireless devices. Select ones of a plurality of wireless access points at different positions are assigned to each time slot such that multiple wireless access points assigned to a given time slot are sufficiently separated. In addition, wireless access points are assigned to a corresponding one of a plurality of groups for each time slot such that wireless access points assigned to a group tune to a channel used by a wireless access point in the group that transmits one or more frames that are intended to provoke one or more response frames from the one or more wireless devices. |
| US09648613B2 |
Method and apparatus for gaining access in wireless LAN system
A method for gaining access according to one embodiment of the present invention in which a station (STA) gains access to a medium in wireless communication system comprises the steps of: sensing a carrier wave for a medium so as to transmit a set frame; and, if the medium is busy, executing a random back-off procedure, wherein the starting point of the random back-off procedure is indicated by a second parameter randomly selected from within a range in accordance with a first parameter. |
| US09648611B2 |
Techniques for setting up traffic channels in a communications system
A control channel supporting traffic control in epochs is divided into two control subchannels each being less than or equal to about a half epoch in duration and occurring serially in time. Slot allocation data may be transmitted and received independently over the subchannels. One subchannel may be used for transmitting forward slot allocation data and the other subchannel may be used for transmitting reverse slot allocation data. The channel split into two subchannels may be a paging channel. The forward and reverse slot allocation data may be transmitted between a base station processor and field unit. Forward and reverse traffic data may be staggered by at least about half an epoch. Transmission of traffic data happens within about two epochs after the assignments. |
| US09648608B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control information in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, particularly, a method in which a terminal transmits control information in a CA-based wireless communication system and an apparatus for the method, the method comprising: configuring a first cell and a second cell having different subframe configurations, wherein the second cell has any one of UL-DL configuration #0 to #6; receiving a DC) format including a DAI field, for the second cell; and transmitting HARQ-ACK information relating to the downlink DCI format. For HARQ-ACK timing, in cases where a reference UL-DL configuration applied to the second cell is any one of UL-DL configurations #1 to #6, the DAI field is used in a process of transmitting the HARQ-ACK information. For HARQ-ACK timing, in cases where a reference UL-DL configuration applied to the second cell is #0, the DAI field is not used in a process of transmitting the HARQ-ACK information. |
| US09648606B2 |
Configuration of control channels in a mobile communication system
The invention relates to a method, apparatus and system for configuring control channels in a mobile communication network and a mobile station. In order to suggest another improved scheme for configuring control channels, in particular control channels related to the transmission of user data the invention suggests aligning the size of the control channel information of different formats to an equal number of coded control channel information bits and/or modulation symbols for each control channel. The control channels may comprise scheduling related control information. According to another aspect of the invention, the size of the control channel information is aligned by means of modulation and/or coding, however the control channel information is aligned to one out of a set of numbers of coded control channel information bits and/or modulation symbols for each control channel. |
| US09648599B2 |
System and method for avoiding collisions between open discovery and cellular resources
A method for signaling control information in a communications system includes identifying a first subframe to carry first control information, and determining whether the first subframe is configured as a device-to-device (D2D) subframe. The method also includes transmitting the first control information in the first subframe to an evolved NodeB (eNB) when the first subframe is not configured as a D2D subframe, wherein the first control information is encoded with a first encoding rule in accordance with a first subframe, and transmitting the first control information in a second subframe when the first subframe is configured as a D2D subframe, wherein the first control information is encoded with a second encoding rule in accordance with the second subframe. |
| US09648598B2 |
User terminal, radio communication method and radio communication system
The present invention is designed to allow effective allocation of PUCCH resources, even when the ratio between uplink subframes and downlink subframes is changed in each cell, in CA by TDD. A user terminal communicates with a radio base station by means of TDD, in a communication band that is broadbanded by CA between a first cell and a second cell, and has a receiving section that receives downlink control information for the first cell and downlink control information for the second cell, allocated to a downlink control channel of the first cell, a retransmission control determining section that determines retransmission control for downlink signals transmitted from each cell, a transmitting section that feeds back retransmission control signals to the radio base station using the PUCCH of the first cell, and a resource selection section that selects the PUCCH resources to feed back the retransmission control signals, and, when the ratio of DL subframes is higher in the second cell than in the first cell, the resource selection section determines the PUCCH resources to allocate the retransmission control signals that correspond to the first cell and the second cell to, by different methods. |
| US09648589B2 |
Multiple radio devices for implementing dynamic band access background
A system and method are provided to implement dynamic spectrum access with individual multi-mode devices that incorporate multiple radios in a single device. A multi-mode device is configured to make use of the incremental spectrum by maintaining a data communication link via a base station that is operated by a primary operator to support communications in the primary operator's exclusively-licensed spectrum. This data communication link is maintained by a first radio, the data communication link being used to support a first level of data communication as well as to signal an availability of additional spectrum to the multi-mode device. The multi-mode device may request access to additional spectrum. A second radio may facilitate access to received additional spectrum with the multi-radio multi-mode device. |
| US09648588B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving channels in mobile communication system supporting massive MIMO
A channel transmission/reception method and an apparatus for transmitting/receiving channels between a base station and a mobile terminal efficiently in a mobile communication supporting massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transmission are provided. The method includes determining a resource to which a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) addressed to a terminal is mapped within a resource block, the DMRS resource being positioned in at least one of a first resource set capable of being allocated for DMRS and a second resource set symmetric with the first resource set on a time axis, and transmitting the DMRS and DMRS allocation information to the terminal. |
| US09648583B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for paging user equipment
A method, an apparatus, and a system for paging a User Equipment (UE) are provided. The method for paging a UE includes: sending a downlink data notification message inclusive of paging range indicator information to a core network control plane entity; receiving a paging message sent by the core network control plane entity and inclusive of a raging range; and initiating a paging to a UE corresponding to a user ID in the paging range. The apparatus for paging a UE includes: a first sending module, a first receiving module, and a paging initiating module. A system for paging a UE is further provided. With the method, apparatus, and system for paging a UE, the UE can be paged in only a set paging range. |
| US09648581B1 |
Robust geolocation system implementation for serving targeted advertisement and personalized content
A system receives geographic information from devices to determine and deliver relevant advertisements or personalized content for consumers. This ties a user's real-world location, with virtual leads (e.g., advertisements). The system uses geographical information gathered by mobile devices and saves the geographical information to consumer profiles. For example, the system can use different wireless radios present on mobile devices to gather different types of geographical information. Some radios include cellular, Bluetooth, global positioning system (or GPS), Wi-Fi, near field communications (or NFC), and other radios. |
| US09648578B2 |
Method for deactivating ISR capability for proximity service
One disclosure of the present specification provides a method for user equipment deactivating an idle mode signaling reduction (ISR) capability for a proximity service. The method for deactivating the ISR capability comprises the steps of: the user equipment activating ISR as a result of performing a routing area update (RAU) process or a tracking area update (TAU) process; the user equipment determining whether to deactivate the ISR for the proximity service; and the user equipment locally deactivating the activated ISR depending on the determination result. |
| US09648568B2 |
Hybrid dual-band satellite communication system
A hybrid satellite communication system in which a hub station transmits signals to remote stations through a satellite at a relatively low frequency which is unaffected by weather effects and in which the remote stations transmit signals to the hub station at a relatively higher frequency which enables the use of more economical equipment at the remote stations. The hub station senses the signal quality or strength received from each remote station and transmits power control signals to remote stations with poor signal strengths to cause such remote stations to increase their output power to overcome weather effects. The power control signals are transmitted on the lower frequency to prevent the power control signals from being masked by the weather effects. |
| US09648562B2 |
Transceiver front-end circuit for a cellular radio that employs components for reducing power consumption
A transceiver front-end circuit for a cellular radio architecture for a vehicle, where the transceiver circuit employs components for reducing power consumption. The transceiver circuit includes a receiver module having a delta-sigma modulator that converts analog receive signals to a representative digital signal in an interleaving process, where the delta-sigma modulator includes a combiner, a low noise amplifier (LNA), an LC filter and a quantizer circuit. The LC filter is a multi-order filter and the quantizer circuit is an interleaving quantizer circuit that interleaves multiple groups of bits from the filter. The order of the LC filter is selectively reduced in situations where a full dynamic range of the cellular radio is not required and a bit resolution of the quantizer circuit is reduced so as to reduce the power requirements of the cellular radio. |
| US09648552B2 |
Wireless network scanning strategies
A device may use positioning information to increase the efficiency a wireless local area network (WLAN) scanning process. To determine the presence of WLANs within range, a device may determine its own location. For example, the device may determine its own location using a satellite-based navigation system. The device may then determine a wireless scanning strategy based on the determined location. The determination may be further based on connection parameters, such as, channel information, network capabilities, and/or other connection parameters. |
| US09648548B1 |
WiFi mesh configuration
A wireless mesh network is configured. Each node is configured to function as either a gateway node or a relay node. To configure itself as a gateway node, an access node selects an SSID for each of its wireless interfaces that indicates it is an access node. When a relay access node is configuring itself, it scans for the SSIDs of available networks. The SSIDs of the mesh network are selected to indicate the number of other access points between a given access node and a direct wired connection (which is zero in the case of a gateway node.) The relay access node connects to the network having an SSID that indicates the fewest number of hops between itself and a direct wired connection. The SSID that is broadcast by the relay access node indicates the number of other access points between itself and a direct wired connection. |
| US09648546B2 |
Image recording device for vehicle with dual Wi-Fi access function and image sharing system using the same
The image recording device for a vehicle with dual Wi-Fi access function, includes: a imaging unit; a communicating module having an AP function unit which is adapted to function as an AP of a Wi-Fi communication and a STA function unit which is adapted to function as a STATION of a Wi-Fi communication, thereby allowing for access to a peripheral AP; a storage unit for storing the image information from the imaging unit; and a control unit. Wherein the control unit is configured to allow a specific smart phone as STATION to access the AP function unit, or selectively to allow the STA function unit to access a remote cloud server when it as STATION accesses a peripheral AP; to transfer an image information being imaged in real-time or an image information stored in the storage unit to the smart phone by using the AP function unit or to the cloud server via the peripheral AP by using the STA function unit; and to control an operation status thereof according to a control information received from the smart phone by using the AP function unit or from the cloud server by using the STA function unit. |
| US09648544B1 |
Community based network protocols
A computer-implemented method includes determining that network connectivity does not exist for a mobile data network. The computer-implemented method further includes initiating, via a wireless peer to peer communication protocol, a scan request to identify one or more peer devices, wherein each of one or more peer devices have a readiness score. The computer-implemented method further includes generating a routing table. The routing table includes the one or more peer devices located within a threshold distance. The computer-implemented method further includes generating a forwarding table. The forwarding table includes the one or more peer devices of the routing table that have a readiness score that exceeds a given threshold. The computer-implemented method further includes transmitting a data packet to each of the one or more peer devices of the forwarding table. A corresponding computer program product and computer system are also disclosed. |
| US09648543B2 |
System and method for accepting information from routing messages into a list
A system and method adds and manages entries on a list of entries of routing information to allow the top entry to be used for routing to a destination corresponding to the list. Costs of a wireless link may be a function of the success rate experienced on that wireless link. |
| US09648542B2 |
Session-based packet routing for facilitating analytics
A GTP correlation cluster (GCC) can automatically program a network element to forward copies of packets originating from a mobile device and having a shared attribute to the same analytic server, regardless of the regions into which the mobile device moves. The GCC can monitor attributes of copies of control packets that the network element receives. In response to detecting a changed attribute within a control packet originating from a mobile device, the GCC can update a session map specific to that mobile device in order to cause packets having that changed attribute to be forwarded to the same port to which packets having the former attribute were being forwarded prior to the change. As a result, the network element can ensure that packets belonging to a particular session still are forwarded to the same analytic server even if the mobile device has moved to a different region. |
| US09648540B2 |
Node device and data relaying method
A node device includes: a communication unit to transmit a data frame containing frequency information and receive the data frame; a storage unit to store a table in which frame identification information and the frequency information are associated; and a control unit to: determine whether a destination of the received data frame is its own node device; determine whether the frame identification information of the received data frame is registered in the table; determine whether the number of transmission times is less than or equal to the number of transmission times corresponding to the frame identification information registered in the table; update the frequency information corresponding to the frame identification information registered in the table with the frequency information of the received data frame; and increase the number of transmission times, wherein the communication unit transmits the data frame for which the number of transmission times is increased. |
| US09648539B1 |
Base station selection in ultra dense network handover scenarios
For an ultra dense network (UDN) having small cells of highly overlapped coverages, a user equipment (UE) selects in a handover process a preferred base station (BS) from candidate BSs for minimizing occurrence of handover events. The UE computes finite differences consisting of a first-, a second-, and one or more higher-order differences, according to received signal strength (RSS) values obtained for each candidate BS. A preference level, which is a total number of finite differences having consecutive order numbers, including the first-order difference, and being positive or non-negative, is computed for each candidate BS. One or more favorable candidate BSs from the candidate BSs are identified such that the group of such favorable candidate BSs has the same preference level that is maximum among all the preference levels computed for the candidate BSs. The preferred BS is selected from the group of such favorable candidate BSs. |
| US09648538B2 |
Mobile device with automatic switching between cellular and WiFi networks
A mobile communication device includes, in part, a cellular communication module, a first antenna adapted to receive and transmit data between the mobile communication module and a cellular network, a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication module, a second antenna adapted to receive and transmit data between the Wi-Fi communication module and a VoIP network, a signal monitoring circuit, and a switching circuit adapted to switch an existing communication from the cellular communication module to the Wi-Fi communication module or vice versa. |
| US09648537B2 |
Profile switching powered by location
A device and method for profile switching based on location and wireless network quality are provided. A client device determines relevant locations for a user of the client device based on a variety of factors. After determining that a location is of particular relevance to the user, the client device will proceed to collect wireless network parameters for each available wireless network at each of the relevant locations for the user. The client device then determines a quality score for each wireless network at each relevant location and proceeds to utilize the quality score to make wireless network profile switching decisions as the client device travels between the relevant locations. |
| US09648535B2 |
Method and apparatus for autonomous operation in cellular-based local area networks
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises configuring an autonomous mode for traffic offloading; and indicating the autonomous mode towards at least one terminal, wherein said autonomous mode supports local area radio access connectivity by internet protocols to reduce control from a core network. Related apparatus and computer program product are also described. |
| US09648534B2 |
Method and system of analyzing a plurality of cells in a cellular telecommunication network
The presently disclosed subject matter provides a method of analyzing a plurality of cells of a cellular telecommunication network, the plurality of cells providing telecommunication services to a service area and being set with one or more cell configuration parameters enabling a cell rating for mobile stations in the service area. The method comprises selecting one or more cells among the plurality of cells; changing at least one cell configuration parameter of at least one of the plurality of cells during an intervention period in order to affect a rate of the selected cells in the cell rating for the mobile stations in the service area; monitoring traffic events communicated using the selected cells during the intervention period; and determining radio coverage contribution information of the selected cells by correlating the monitored traffic events and the change of cell configuration parameter. |
| US09648533B2 |
Method and system for soft handoff in mobile broadband systems
The present invention provides a method and system for facilitating efficient handoff and data throughput in mobile broadband communication systems. Methods implemented by a system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention include selectively enabled soft handoff, performing Layer 2 bearer functions at the base station and using the mobile device to coordinate soft handoff and interference avoidance without the need for a centralized coordination function. |
| US09648531B2 |
Communication services to a moving platform
A method and apparatus are described for providing communication services to a mobile platform while moving, wherein the mobile platform communicates along two current communication links extending between the mobile platform and two network gateways. The method comprises: setting an H-VPLS service to enable provisioning of L2 services to the moving platform via at least one of the two current communication links; enabling the moving platform to exchange communications along one or both communication links; replacing one of the two current communication links while the mobile platform is moving, with another communication link extending towards a third network gateway, by using Pseudo Wire Redundancy (PWR) to re-route traffic from the communication link being replaced to the other communication link, thereby allowing the moving platform to continue provisioning the L2 services while communicating with two network gateways, being the third network gateway and one of the former two network gateways. |
| US09648525B2 |
System and methods for improving intra-frequency cell reselection on a wireless communication device in connected mode
Methods and devices for enabling improved cell reselection procedures on a wireless communication device with a first SIM is camped on a serving cell of a first network may include receiving a list of neighbor cells from system information that is broadcast in the serving cell, and performing signal measurements associated with the listed neighbor cells and the serving cell, and, based on the signal measurements, identifying neighbor cells that satisfy selection criteria. The wireless device may calculate ranking criteria for the serving cell and the identified neighbor cells, and determine whether an inter-frequency neighbor cell has a highest ranking criteria among all of the ranked cells. Upon determining that an intra-frequency neighbor cell has the highest ranking criteria, the wireless device may start a reselection timer and also start decoding the system information that is being broadcast in the intra-frequency neighbor cell that has the highest ranking criteria. |
| US09648521B2 |
Information acquiring method and base station
An information acquiring method and a base station. The method comprises: receiving by a target base station reception status information of a multimedia broadcast multicast service of user equipment reported by a source base station when the user equipment is handed over between cells; wherein the reception status information comprises information indicating that the user equipment is receiving a multimedia broadcast multicast service, or information indicating that the user equipment finishes receiving a multimedia broadcast multicast service. With the embodiments of the present invention, the source base station of the user equipment notifies the target base station of reception status information of multimedia broadcast multicast service of the user equipment when the user equipment is handed over between cells, thereby guaranteeing the continuity of the MBMS of the user equipment. |
| US09648517B2 |
Architecture and methods for traffic management by tunneling in hierarchical cellular networks
A hierarchical cellular network system having a core and comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein at least one node comprises a relay; and wherein at least one relay includes: a tunneling sub-system; a backhauling link subsystem interfacing between the tunneling subsystem and a node which is closer to the core than the relay; and a base station subsystem, interfacing between the tunneling subsystem and a mobile station or a node which is further from the core than the relay, wherein the tunneling subsystem is operative to perform the following, on data arriving from a base station subsystem belonging to another node from among the plurality of nodes: collecting the data; and encapsulating the results to be sent in an individual session into packets and sending the packets to the Backhauling Link Subsystem. |
| US09648514B2 |
Method and system for protocol layer enhancements in data offload over small cells
A method at a first wireless network element, the method receiving, from a second wireless network element, a plurality of packet data units (PDUs) for a user equipment; transmitting the PDUs to the user equipment (UE); compiling a PDU delivery status report in response to the transmitting of the PDUs; and sending the compiled PDU delivery status report to the second wireless network element. |
| US09648513B2 |
Optimized system access procedures
A base station subsystem (BSS) and a method are described herein for performing a procedure to increase an Access Grant Channel (AGCH) capacity by minimizing an amount of mobile station specific information carried within an immediate assignment message. Plus, a mobile station (MS) and a method are described herein for performing a procedure to increase an Access Grant Channel (AGCH) capacity by minimizing an amount of mobile station specific information carried within an immediate assignment message. |
| US09648504B2 |
Using subarrays of a beamformer for transmissions in a forward link
Methods, systems, and devices are described for transmitting across a broad azimuth using an antenna array. In one example, a method is described that includes forming two subarrays from an antenna array. Beamforming weights are selected for each subarray to cause the radiation patterns to be complementary over a range of the azimuth of a cell. The beamforming weights may be selected according to a recursive relation based on the number of antenna elements in each subarray. Information may be encoded, scrambled, and mapped to modulation symbols. A Space Frequency Block Code (SFBC) such as an Alamouti Code may then be used to form two signals to be transmitted over the two subarrays. |
| US09648500B2 |
Techniques for enabling wireless communications using subframe structures having different subframe durations
Techniques are described for wireless communications. A first subframe structure having a first subframe duration for communicating in a first carrier may be determined. A second subframe structure having a second subframe duration for communicating in a second carrier may also be determined. At least the second subframe structure having the second subframe duration may be used to communicate with at least one node. |
| US09648497B2 |
Mobile terminal and login control method thereof
A login control method and apparatus is provided for facilitating usage right authentication of a mobile terminal, when the user unlocks the mobile terminal. The login control method includes determining, when a lock image is displayed on a screen, a posture of a mobile terminal, detecting unlock information, comparing the unlock information with a pre-registered unlock information, selecting, when the unlock information and the pre-registered unlock information are identical, an operation mode corresponding to the matched unlock information, from a plurality of operation modes, as the current operation mode, and displaying an image representing the current operation mode. |
| US09648493B2 |
Using identifiers to establish communication
Confusion resulting from assigning the same node identifier to multiple nodes is resolved through the use of confusion detection techniques and the use of unique identifiers for the nodes. In some aspects an access point and/or an access terminal may perform operations relating to detecting confusion and/or providing a unique identifier to resolve confusion. |
| US09648483B2 |
Discovery method and apparatuses and system for discovery
The invention relates to methods, apparatuses, systems and computer program products for discovery of nearby devices (510, 520, 525, 540, 545). To facilitate discovery of nearby, i.e. proximal, devices, a discovery control signal (570, 572, 574, 576, 578) from a control device (530) may be used to control the discovery, e.g. how or when the discovery is carried out. The devices may send status information of their status to be used by the control device or the control system for forming the discovery control signal. The control device, e.g. a server, may form the discovery control signal based on this status information. Discovery of proximal devices may then be carried out based on the received discovery control signal. |
| US09648481B2 |
Calling a response provider based on detection of an emergency situation
Calling a response provider based on detection of an emergency situation includes: receiving sensor data describing at least one characteristic of physical surroundings of a computing device; receiving biometric data for a user of the computing device; selecting, in dependence upon the biometric data and the sensor data, a profile of trigger data from among a plurality of profiles of trigger data; determining that the sensor data and the biometric data satisfy a threshold criterion of the profile of trigger data for activating a response trigger; and in response to the determination, activating the response trigger, including automatically and without the user's intervention: establishing a connection to an emergency response provider; and providing information describing the user to the emergency response provider. |
| US09648479B2 |
Determination by PSAPs of caller location based on the WiFi hot spots detected and reported by the caller's device(s)
Location information associated with a wireless access point is used to assist with emergency call routing. Additionally, the location information can be used to assist with determining where an emergency call is physically originating from. This location information is one or more of enterable, detectable and/or populated with the assistance of a location determining device, such as a GPS, associated with the wireless network. The location information can also be dynamic to account for mobile wireless access points, such as a mobile access point provided on public transportation. The location information is also associatable with an outbound communication, such as an emergency communication, with this location information usable to route the communication to an appropriate entity(ies). |
| US09648476B2 |
Methods and arrangements for sensors
Generally, smart sensors, logic to process messages from smart sensors, and smart sensor systems are described herein. Embodiments may comprise logic such as hardware and/or code to communicate events as messages via a messaging system to post the messages to a messaging account. The messaging system may be a texting service like Twitter™ that captures the messages and then re-broadcasts the messages, e.g., immediately as a tweet or a cellular text message. In some embodiments, the smart sensor comprises a communications module with a Twitter™ application program interface (API) on a communications platform with a software/hardware framework to interconnect with one or more pluggable monitors with sensors. In other embodiments, the communications module may be integrated with one or more monitors. Further embodiments comprise a smart-device, which can provide status updates and event notifications to a user. |
| US09648474B2 |
Efficiently transmitting bulk data over a mobile network
A method for efficiently transmitting bulk data over a mobile network using predetermined fillable templates may include correlating records in a database with an input field of a predetermined fillable template and a report field of a predetermined report. The template may be provided to a user by way of a downloadable and executable mobile application. The method may include receiving discrete SMS messages populated into the input fields of the template by a user of a mobile device upon which the mobile application has been installed. The method may include associating each received SMS message with a corresponding report field of the predetermined report according. The method may include populating the corresponding report field of the predetermined report with report information based on the received SMS message. The method may also include providing the predetermined report to a computing device associated with a second user. |
| US09648467B2 |
Group communication configuration
A method includes generating, by a computing system, configuration information for configuring a communication application, the configuration information based at least in part on usage information associated with communication application configurations specific to a group comprising a plurality of users. The method further includes determining that a first user within the group is using the communication application for communicating via a client device with at least one other user in the group and responsive to the determining, sending the configuration information to the client device. |
| US09648466B2 |
Generating a model for positioning
A method for generating a model of an environment enabling positioning within the environment is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving distance-dependent measurements relating to a distance between a receiving unit position and a source position; receiving information relating to geographic positions, each defining a receiving unit position or a source position; forming a candidate model, which defines candidate source positions and candidate receiving unit positions; iteratively reducing a model error of said candidate model, wherein said model error comprises a weighted contribution from distance-dependent errors, which are based on a difference between a distance-dependent value between a candidate source position and a candidate receiving unit position and the corresponding distance-dependent measurement, and geographic position errors, which are based on a difference between a geographic position and a corresponding candidate position, and outputting, from said iterative reducing, determined locations for said plurality of sources to form said model of the environment. |
| US09648459B2 |
Information processing device, terminal separation determination system and terminal separation determination method
An information processing device includes: a communication unit that receives positions from a plurality of terminals each capable of calculating a position indicating a latitude and a longitude; an area determination unit that makes a decision, based upon the positions received at the communication unit, as to in which of areas defined in advance based upon latitudes and longitudes thereof, the terminals are located; and a separation determination unit that calculates an extent of separation to which an area where one terminal is located and an area where another terminal is located are separated from each other, and determines whether a predetermined relationship is achieved with regard to the extent of separation between the one terminal and the other terminal. |
| US09648457B2 |
Multi-signal geometric location sensing for access control
Various embodiments are generally directed to the provision and use of geometric location based security systems that use multiple beacons for determining a location. A beacon transmitted from an ultrasound broadcast as well as one or more different wireless broadcasts can be used to geo-locate a device and provide access controls based on the geo-location. |
| US09648455B2 |
Method for optimizing mobile device region monitoring and region management for an anonymous mobile device
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for reducing battery consumption while performing region monitoring. A mobile device requests, from a web server, N regions to be monitored within a circle having a first radius centered at a current location of the mobile device. The mobile device receives at most N closest regions and a second radius, wherein a personal region comprises an area of a circle having the second radius and centered at the current location of the mobile device. The second radius may be the same or different from the first radius. The mobile device monitors an updated location of the mobile device with respect to the previously defined personal region. The mobile device performs region monitoring of the received regions. When it is determined that the mobile device exits the personal region, requesting, from the web server, an update of the regions to be monitored. |
| US09648449B2 |
Electronic device and electronic system for radio connecting a plurality of electronic devices
A routing electronic device comprises a receiver/transmitter configured to: receive a first short-range radio signal carrying data indicating an incoming voice call request and the caller's phone number and transmit a signal carrying a first message indicating the incoming voice call request and the caller's phone number, receive a signal carrying a second message indicating an accepted incoming voice call and transmit the first short-range radio signal carrying data indicating the accepted incoming voice call, receive the first short-range radio signal carrying the audio data of a voice communication, and transmit a second short-range radio signal carrying said audio data of the voice communication. The device further comprises a processing unit configured to: receive the signal carrying the first message and transmit a third message indicating the caller's phone number, receive a fourth message indicating the accepted incoming voice call and transmit the signal carrying the second message. |
| US09648448B2 |
Power outlet and method of use
A power outlet for controlling power to an external device and transmitting data to the external device, the power outlet including: a housing containing at least one alternating-current power input connection; a power output connection; a data connector; a sensor module; a wireless communication module, including an antenna; a processing unit configured to receive data and control an electrically connected device through the power output connection and/or data connector based on the received data. |
| US09648447B2 |
System level procedures and methods to enable data sharing in cellular network
Methods and systems may enable the setup and configuration of proximity services between wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) over different sharing paths including via a direct air interface, a radio access network (RAN) or one or more network nodes. Mobility management entities (MMEs) may exchange messages to initiate, modify or terminate a proximity service session between WTRUs, and may negotiate data paths for proximity services with or without the assistance of WTRUs. WTRU-to-WTRU control plane messages may be exchanged between WTRUs with limited involvement from other network entities and may avoid the setup of resources for data plane communications. Mobility management entities (MMEs) may exchange messages to initiate, modify or terminate a proximity service session between WTRUs, and may negotiate data paths for proximity services with or without the assistance of WTRUs. |
| US09648445B2 |
Network selection and random access method and apparatus of machine-type communication user equipment in mobile communication system
A network selection, a random access method, and an apparatus of a Machine Type Communication (MTC) User Equipment (UE) for use in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) are provided. A cell selection method of an MTC terminal of the present disclosure includes receiving a message from a base station forming a cell, determining whether the message includes an MTC supportability indicator, and barring, when the message includes no MTC supportability indicator, scanning a frequency used in communication with the base station during a determined period. |
| US09648424B2 |
Tablet woofer
The present invention provides a tablet woofer, including: a vibration diaphragm, at least four mutually independent driving units, and a housing for accommodating and securing the vibration diaphragm and the driving unit. The driving unit includes independent voice coil units and magnetic circuit units, the voice coil units being attached and fixed to the vibration diaphragm. The woofer further includes a FPCB communicating with an internal circuit and an external circuit, and the FPCB is disposed at two sides of the housing, the part of the FPCB disposed on the side of the housing close to the voice coil units being electrically connected to the voice coil units, the part of the FPCB disposed on the side of the housing far away from the voice coil units being electrically connected to the external circuit. The woofer can solve the problems of thick and heavy voice coils and magnet performance surplus. |
| US09648421B2 |
Systems and methods for matching gain levels of transducers
A method (100) for matching characteristics of two or more transducer systems (202, 208). The method involving: receiving input signals from a set of said transducer systems; determining if the input signals contain a pre-defined portion of a common signal which is the same at all of said transducer systems; and balancing the characteristics of the transducer systems when it is determined that the input signals contain the pre-determined portion of the common signal. |
| US09648418B2 |
Active noise cancellation apparatus
Provided is an active noise cancellation apparatus capable of reliably reducing road noise by reducing vibration of a vehicle component part which generates road noise by using a vibration generator. A plurality of reference signal detectors are placed respectively on right and left knuckles for respectively supporting right and left wheels. A vibration generator and an error signal detector are placed on a vehicle component part. A controller performs respective adaptive controls based on each of reference signals and an error signal so as to reduce the error signal, and controls the vibration generator based on a sum of respective output values of the adaptive controls. |
| US09648417B2 |
Energy efficient charge reuse in driving capacitive loads
A method of charge reuse, the method may include repeating the steps of: electrically coupling a first group of capacitive loads to a second group of capacitive loads; wherein the capacitive loads of the first group and of the second group are Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) capacitive loads or Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) capacitive loads; charging the second group with a first charge provided from the first group; electrically disconnecting the first group from the second group; operating the second group while using the first charge; electrically coupling the first group to the second group; charging the first group with a second charge provided from the second group; electrically disconnecting the first group from the second group; and operating the first group while using the second charge. |
| US09648416B2 |
Interactive vehicle synthesizer
A method of operating an audio entertainment system in a vehicle includes detecting an operating parameter of the vehicle. A sensor signal corresponding to the detected operating parameter is transmitted. Music that is audibly produced within the vehicle is musically modified dependent upon the sensor signal. |
| US09648415B2 |
Vehicle approach warning apparatus
A vehicle approach warning apparatus outputting a warning sound signal for outputting a warning sound, and generating the warning sound according to the warning sound signal from a speaker, and notifying a pedestrian around a vehicle that the vehicle approaches to the pedestrian is provided. The vehicle approach warning apparatus includes a memory portion, a signal generation portion, a level adjustment portion, a signal synthesizing portion, and an amplifier. The memory portion stores a first sound source data for generating a signal of a low frequency component, and a second sound source data for generating a signal of a high frequency component. The signal generation portion generates the signal of the low frequency component, and the signal of the high frequency component. The level adjustment portion adjusts a level of the signal of the low frequency component and the high frequency component. |
| US09648410B1 |
Control of audio output of headphone earbuds based on the environment around the headphone earbuds
A headphone earbud may include a sensor to determine characteristics of an environment around the headphone earbud. The sensor may be integrated with the headphone earbud to measure a distance from the headphone earbud to a user's ear drum. This distance may be used to control an audio output of the headphone earbud, such as through an adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) algorithm. Control over the audio output may be performed by an audio integrated circuit (IC) integrated within the headphone earbud or within a mobile device coupled to the headphone earbud. |
| US09648403B2 |
Packaging of acoustic volume increasing materials for loudspeaker devices
There is provided an acoustic element for placement in a sound path of a loudspeaker device, the acoustic element comprising a container and an acoustic volume increasing material located in the container. In an embodiment, the container comprises wall portions with different physical characteristics. In other embodiments, the walls of the container are made of the same material. |
| US09648399B2 |
System having plastic waveguides
The present disclosure relates to a system having a plurality of electronic devices interconnected by way of dielectric waveguides. In some embodiments, the system has a plurality of electronic devices respectively including a data element and a multiplexing element. The data element has a plurality of electronic device terminals that output and receive data. The multiplexing element provides the data output from the plurality of electronic device terminals to a transceiver element, which generates a wireless signal that transmits the data in a manner that distinctly identifies data from different electronic device terminals. A plurality of dielectric waveguides are disposed at locations between the plurality of electronic devices. The plurality of dielectric waveguides convey the wireless signal between the plurality of electronic devices. By interconnecting electronic devices using dielectric waveguides, disadvantages associates with metal interconnect wires can be mitigated. |
| US09648398B2 |
Virtual channel declarative script binding
A method consistent with certain implementations involves receiving a triggerable declarative object (TDO) at a digital television receiver device that carries out a programmed script upon execution; the programmed script including a parameter discovery function that determines an operational parameter of the television receiver device and further includes a programmed function; initiating the execution of the TDO in order to initiate execution of the script on a processor of the television receiver device; running the script on the processor of the television receiver device in order to discover the operational parameter and in order to carry out the programmed function; and where the programmed function is conditional upon the discovered operational parameter of the television receiver. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US09648394B2 |
Video encoding and serving architecture
Techniques for delivering content, such as videos, over a network are described. A core server and an edge server are provided. The core server has local storage. The edge server has local storage. A set of video frames is partitioned into a first group and a second group. Video frames in the first group are encoded into a scalable encoded stream. The scalable encoded stream is sent to the local storage at the edge server. The second group of video frames is encoded into a set of supplemental encoded streams using the scalable encoded stream as a reference. The supplemental encoded streams are encoded such that the bit rate and/or resolution of any two supplemental encoded streams is different. The set of supplemental encoded streams is stored in the storage of the core server. |
| US09648393B2 |
System and method for layered delivery of media content quality
A method in a server for providing various Internet Protocol television signal qualities involves an IPTV signal having a first signal quality that is transmitted over a first network connection to a first device. A request to receive the IPTV signal over a second network connection at a second device with the IPTV signal having a second signal quality is received. A determination is made that the second network connection has sufficient bandwidth to transmit the IPTV signal at the second signal quality, and that the second device is capable of receiving IPTV signal. The transmission of the IPTV signal over the first network connection to the first device is ended. An endpoint for the transmission of the IPTV signal to the first device is determined. The IPTV signal is transmitted over the second network connection to the second device at the second signal quality beginning at the determined endpoint. |
| US09648392B2 |
Transmission of video signals
An apparatus, method, and system are described for transmitting a television program signal. A portion of a local frequency spectrum may be determined to be free, or relatively unused. A user selection of a television program or broadcast programming channel may be received from a program lineup in an electronic programming guide. The selected program may be selected from a gateway, translated, and transmitted over the portion of the frequency spectrum determined to be free. The translation may include converting a signal from the gateway into a National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) signal or a mobile TV signal. |
| US09648389B1 |
In-stream association of media content for video presentation
User-applied, in-stream association of media content with a video content item is disclosed. During presentation of a video content item, a user selects or otherwise identifies a media content item to be associated with the video content item. The user further selects or otherwise identifies a temporal position (e.g., time value) within the video content item with which the media content item is to be associated. In one example, a user selects and drags the media content item to or toward the video content item within a GUI to define the association. In at least some implementations, the video content item may be presented via a different device than the media content item, thereby forming a multi-platform association. |
| US09648388B2 |
Video-on-demand content delivery system for providing video-on-demand services to TV services subscribers
A video-on-demand (VOD) content delivery system has a VOD Application Server which manages a database of templates for presentation of video content elements of different selected types categorized in hierarchical order. A web-based Content Management System receives content uploaded online in file formats with metadata for title and topical area, and automatically converts it into video data format compatible with the VOD content delivery system indexed by title and topical area. A User Interface for the system delivers listings data to the viewer's TV indexed by title and topical area specified by the uploaded metadata. |
| US09648387B2 |
Methods and apparatus for enhancing network reliability and/or enabling phased deployment of video services
Methods and apparatus for automatically transitioning program delivery/reception between alternative sources, e.g., from a non-IP channel to an IP video source or between two alternative IP sources are described. The transition maybe triggered by a detected problem with the delivery via the non-IP channel or because of scheduled service. The transition may be in response to a command sent to a device or because the receiving device detects a problem with one of the content sources triggering an automatic switch to the alternative content source. In at least some embodiments the different content sources corresponding to different coding methods, e.g., with MPEG-2 encoded and packetized content being delivered by a non-IP content delivery channel and MPEG-4 being delivered using unicast IP content delivery techniques. The methods facilitate deployment of new services with IP content delivery being deployed initially on a regional basis with non-IP content delivery gradually being rolled out. |
| US09648384B2 |
Apparatus and method for searching broadcast channel
An apparatus for searching a broadcast channel may include a channel searching unit including first and second channel searching units searching broadcast channels of broadcast signals received from antennas, and a controlling unit controlling the first channel searching unit to search broadcast channels included in a first broadcasting standard, controlling the second channel searching unit to search broadcast channels included in a second broadcasting standard, and receiving searching results from the first and second channel searching units to generate effective channel list information. |
| US09648380B2 |
Multimedia device recording notification system
A command is received to record particular media content on a first device associated with a first user and the particular media content is scheduled for recording on the first device. A notification is provided to a second device associated with a second user of the scheduling of the recording of the particular media content on the first device. The second device may then schedule recording of the particular media content. The second device may schedule the recording of the particular media content without receiving a user command or subsequent to receiving a user confirmation to record the particular media content in response to the notification. |
| US09648379B2 |
Complimentary content based recording of media content
A particular method includes receiving search criteria and storage criteria associated with a user. Based on the search criteria, a search of program content metadata associated with programs is performed. The method further includes identifying, based on the search, one or more particular programs that satisfy the search criteria. The method includes determining whether the storage criteria would be satisfied if the one or more particular programs were recorded. The method includes, in response to determining that the storage criteria would not be satisfied if the one or more particular programs were recorded, sending a notification to the user indicating that the storage criteria would not be satisfied. In response to determining that the storage criteria would be satisfied if the one or more particular programs were recorded, automatically scheduling recordings of the one or more particular programs. |
| US09648378B2 |
Virtual user interface including playback control provided over computer network for client device playing media from another source
A server is deployed on a network and manages operation of a plurality of server instances each with a virtual frame buffer. A client establishes a connection with the server at a start of a user session. The server allocates a server instance to the client and a user interface application renders a corresponding graphical user interface to the virtual frame buffer of the allocated server instance. The server forwards updates of the graphical user interface from the virtual frame buffer to the client, where at least some of the updates include transparency information for blending the graphical user interface with additional visual information at the client. When the session is complete the server reclaims the server instance allocated to the client. In-room device requirements in guest rooms of a hospitality establishment are thereby minimized while providing enhanced user interface performance. Locations in other applications include private residences and businesses. |
| US09648376B2 |
Presentation of an avatar in a media communication system
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system that generates an avatar having a first behavior determined by a user profile of a user. An avatar profile is received from a content source for modifying the avatar according to a second behavior. The avatar is modified to generate an adaptive avatar based on the avatar profile. The adaptive avatar has, at least in part, the second behavior determined by the avatar profile, while retaining, at least in part, the first behavior determined by the user profile of the user. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09648372B2 |
Inserting personalized information into digital content
Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for personalizing media content. A server determines content data likely to be requested by users, and generates common sets of information using the content data. The server receives a request for a digital media stream from a client device, and generates a first set of frames which include content data specific to the user and keys corresponding to a selected common set of information. The server combines the first set of frames and the requested stream to generate a personalized stream. The server transmits the personalized stream to a downstream device, which generates a second set of frames using content data corresponding to the one or more keys. The downstream device combines the second set of frames and the personalized stream to generate an updated stream, and transmits the updated stream to the client device. |
| US09648369B2 |
Cross-platform schedule management interface
A method includes presenting a user interface providing access to content from multiple content providers and receiving, via the user interface, user input indicating selection criteria for recommending content. The selection criteria include an amount of time available to the user. The method includes providing, to a network device, an indication of the selection criteria and receiving, from the network device, information for providing recommended content options based on the selection criteria. The recommended content options are available from different content providers of the multiple content providers. The method includes presenting, to the user and via the interface, the recommended content options in association with the selection criteria. |
| US09648366B2 |
Management methods of a video device and corresponding video device
The invention relates to the remote management of a digital terrestrial television device. In order to improve the terrestrial television reception, a control command is transmitted by a distant remote management server through another communication channel, the control command requesting the video device to set at least a digital terrestrial television parameter related to a service list management. |
| US09648360B2 |
Relay apparatus, recording medium storing program for relay apparatus, information processing method, and information processing system
A relay apparatus configured to communicate with a server which transmits contents corresponding to identification information received by the server, and a terminal which acquires the contents corresponding to the identification information, the relay apparatus comprises: a communication unit configured to communicate with the server and the terminal; and a processor configured to: receive first identification information from the server through the communication unit; determine whether first contents corresponding to the received first identification information complies with a first format or a second format; transmit the first identification information to the terminal through the communication unit if the processor determines that the first contents complies with the first format; and transmits, to the terminal through the communication unit, second identification information corresponding to second contents which is acquired by converting the first contents if the processor determines that the first contents complies with the second format. |
| US09648359B2 |
Method and system for advertisement multicast pre-delivery caching
A method (600) for a system (200) for delivering a content offering (102) containing one or more advertisements (331) includes identifying one or more triggers (115,321,117,118) indicating that one or more advertisement avails (326,327,328) occur in the content offering. After advertisements are obtained, portions (332,333) of the advertisements are multiplexed with portions (334,335) of the content offering occurring between a trigger and a corresponding advertising avail. The portions of the advertisements are delivered to subscriber devices (206) such that all portions are delivered prior to the advertising avail occurring or completing at the subscriber device. |
| US09648355B2 |
Adaptive security camera image compression apparatus and method of operation
A lossy compression method optimizes bandwidth and storage for a security surveillance network. An appliance on a local network attached to event capture terminals transforms image files into a key frame and at least one subsequent frame. Decompression combines a subsequent frame with its key frame to provide an image with graduated resolution/noise clutter. A camera records, and forwards a plurality of image files compatible with JPEG. Key frames are selected from among the plurality of image files. A configurable low pass filter is reset for each train of a key frame and its subsequent frames. Each low pass filter is selectively applied to each pixel block within a subsequent frame. The transformation operates on coefficients of frequency bins. Meta data enables decompression of a single subsequent frame by reversing some of the transformations to provide a JPEG compatible file having selectively reduced resolution or noise clutter. |
| US09648346B2 |
Multi-view video compression and streaming based on viewpoints of remote viewer
Multi-view video that is being streamed to a remote device in real time may be encoded. Frames of a real-world scene captured by respective video cameras are received for compression. A virtual viewpoint, positioned relative to the video cameras, is used to determine expected contributions of individual portions of the frames to a synthesized image of the scene from the viewpoint position using the frames. For each frame, compression rates for individual blocks of a frame are computed based on the determined contributions of the individual portions of the frame. The frames are compressed by compressing the blocks of the frames according to their respective determined compression rates. The frames are transmitted in compressed form via a network to a remote device, which is configured to render the scene using the compressed frames. |
| US09648344B2 |
High efficiency video coding device and method based on reference picture type
The present technique relates to an image processing device and method capable of suppressing a decrease in encoding efficiency. The image processing device includes: a predictive vector generating unit that generates a predictive vector of a current parallax vector of a current block used in prediction using correlation in a parallax direction using a reference parallax vector referred when generating a predictive motion vector, when encoding the current parallax vector; and a difference vector generating unit that generates a difference vector between the current parallax vector and the predictive vector generated by the predictive vector generating unit. The present disclosure can be applied to an image processing device. |
| US09648333B2 |
High level syntax for HEVC extensions
A video coding device may identify a network abstraction layer (NAL) unit. The video coding device may determine whether the NAL unit includes an active parameter set for a current layer. When the NAL unit includes the active parameter set for the current layer, the video coding device may set an NAL unit header layer identifier associated with the NAL unit to at least one of: zero, a value indicative of the current layer, or a value indicative of a reference layer of the current layer. The NAL unit may be a picture parameter set (PPS) NAL unit. The NAL unit may be a sequence parameter set (SPS) NAL unit. |
| US09648325B2 |
Video decoding implementations for a graphics processing unit
Video decoding innovations for multithreading implementations and graphics processor unit (“GPU”) implementations are described. For example, for multithreaded decoding, a decoder uses innovations in the areas of layered data structures, picture extent discovery, a picture command queue, and/or task scheduling for multithreading. Or, for a GPU implementation, a decoder uses innovations in the areas of inverse transforms, inverse quantization, fractional interpolation, intra prediction using waves, loop filtering using waves, memory usage and/or performance-adaptive loop filtering. Innovations are also described in the areas of error handling and recovery, determination of neighbor availability for operations such as context modeling and intra prediction, CABAC decoding, computation of collocated information for direct mode macroblocks in B slices, reduction of memory consumption, implementation of trick play modes, and picture dropping for quality adjustment. |
| US09648321B2 |
Coding picture order count values identifying long-term reference frames
In general, techniques are described for coding picture order count values identifying long-term reference pictures. A video decoding device comprising a processor may perform the techniques. The processor may determine least significant bits (LSBs) of a picture order count (POC) value that identifies a long-term reference picture (LTRP). The LSBs do not uniquely identify the POC value with respect to the LSBs of any other POC value identifying any other picture in a decoded picture buffer (DPB). The processor may determine most significant bits (MSBs) of the POC value. The MSBs combined with the LSBs is sufficient to distinguish the POC value from any other POC value that identifies any other picture in the DPB. The processor may retrieve the LTRP from the decoded picture buffer based on the LSBs and MSBs of the POC value, and decode a current picture of the video data using the retrieved LTRP. |
| US09648317B2 |
Method of coding video and storing video content
A device comprising a video file creation module is configured to obtain a plurality of slices of coded video content. Parameter sets are associated with the coded video content. The video creation module encapsulates the plurality of slices of coded video content within one or more access units of a video stream. A first type of parameter set may be encapsulated within one or more access units of the video stream. A second type of parameter set may be encapsulated within a sample description. The sample description may include stream properties associated with the video stream. |
| US09648311B2 |
Stereoscopic display device
A stereoscopic display device is provided where the luminance variation encountered when the parallax barrier is switched is reduced for viewing from a wide region. The stereoscopic display device includes: a display panel that displays an image; a switch liquid crystal panel disposed to overlie the display panel and including a liquid crystal layer; a position sensor that obtains positional information about a viewer; and a control unit that receives the positional information from the position sensor and locally applies to the liquid crystal layer a first voltage for rendering the switch liquid crystal panel translucent and a second voltage for rendering the switch liquid crystal panel non-translucent to display a parallax barrier that depends on the positional information. The control unit includes a timing adjustment unit that delays a time point for switching from the lower one of the first voltage and the second voltage to the higher one relative to a time point for switching from the higher one to the lower one by a delay time that depends on the positional information. |
| US09648301B2 |
Image processing system based on stereo image
The present invention relates to an image processing system for pointing or making an augmented reality image by selectively capturing a left or right image of a stereo image of a 3D display, and detecting a mark from the captured image. |
| US09648300B2 |
Calibration of multi-camera devices using reflections thereof
The technology disclosed can provide capabilities such as calibrating an imaging device based on images taken by device cameras of reflections of the device itself. Implementations exploit device components that are easily recognizable in the images, such as one or more light-emitting devices (LEDs) or other light sources to eliminate the need for specialized calibration hardware and can be accomplished, instead, with hardware readily available to a user of the device—the device itself and a reflecting surface, such as a computer screen. The user may hold the device near the screen under varying orientations and capture a series of images of the reflection with the device's cameras. These images are analyzed to determine camera parameters based on the known positions of the light sources. If the positions of the light sources themselves are subject to errors requiring calibration, they may be solved for as unknowns in the analysis. |
| US09648298B2 |
Multi-view signal codec
A higher compression rate or better rate/distortion ratio is achieved by adopting or predicting second coding parameters used for encoding a second view of the multi-view signal from first coding parameters used in encoding a first view of the multi-view signal. The redundancies between views of a multi-view signal were found to be not restricted to the views themselves, such as the video information thereof. Rather, the coding parameters in parallely encoding these views show similarities which may be exploited in order to further improve the coding rate. |
| US09648292B2 |
Image projection apparatus
An image projection apparatus includes a light source, a color wheel, a controller. The controller controls, in a first mode, electric power supplied to the light source at a timing of a first color filter being irradiated with light from the light source to be a value higher than electric power supplied to the light source at a timing of a second color filter corresponding to a color having lower visibility than a color of the first color filter being irradiated with the light from the light source. Furthermore, the controller controls, in a second mode, the electric power supplied to the light source at the timing of the first color filter being irradiated with the light from the light source to be a value lower than the electric power supplied to the light source at the timing of the second color filter being irradiated with the light. |
| US09648290B2 |
Communication and monitoring system
An audio-video communication system comprises a wireless exterior module located proximate an entrance, a computerized controller running a software application, and a remote peripheral device. The wireless exterior module includes a proximity sensor for detecting a person at the entrance, a video camera for recording an image of the person at the entrance, a microphone for recording the person at the entrance, a speaker for playing audio to the person at the entrance, a transmitter for communicating sounds and images of the person at the entrance, and a receiver for receiving communications at the wireless exterior module. The computerized controller is disposed in wireless electronic communication with the wireless exterior module via the transmitter and the receiver of the wireless exterior module. The remote peripheral device is configured to electronically communicate with the computerized controller for viewing an image from the video camera communicated from the wireless exterior module. |
| US09648289B1 |
Doorbell-triggering method
A doorbell-triggering method first controls the doorbell trigger to switch to a hardware shutdown status when detecting the doorbell trigger is idle; controls the doorbell trigger to switch to an operating booting status to connect to a relay host when receiving a doorbell signal from a button unit of the doorbell trigger under the hardware shutdown status; sends a visiting message to a remote electronic device via the relay host; receives a return image/text message from the relay host and displaying the return image/text message on a display unit of the doorbell trigger. The present disclosed example can substantially reduce the power consumption and the requirement of network bandwidth via automatically switching to the hardware shutdown status when idle and using the image/text message having smaller data size to respond the visitor. |
| US09648286B2 |
Video monitoring system, video monitoring method, and video monitoring system building method
It is an objective of the present invention to reduce processing loads for video analysis utilizing information throughout the facility. A video monitoring system according to the present invention simulates a flow of a moving object within a video captured by multiple monitoring cameras, calculates a parameter correlated with a processing load for movement analysis of the moving object according to the simulation result, and specifies a processing scheme that is capable of reducing the processing load according to a correspondence relationship between the parameter and the simulation result (refer to FIG. 2). |
| US09648283B2 |
Distributed sensing and video capture system and apparatus
Systems and apparatus for sensing and video capture include at least one camera with an optical sensor that captures video image data of a first sampling rate. An auxiliary sensor captures auxiliary data at a second sample rate. A processor is communicatively connected to the optical sensor and auxiliary sensor. The processor transmits video image data captured at the first sample rate auxiliary sensor data captured at the second sampling rate across a data connection to a centralized computer that receives the video image data and the auxiliary sensor data and operate to present the video image data and the auxiliary sensor data on a graphical display. |
| US09648282B2 |
Media monitoring, management and information system
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring transmissions of media content (such as audio and audiovisual content) in order to obtain independent and objective data regarding the use of specific media content recordings or works within the transmissions. Processing and reporting of such data is provided in various ways to serve a variety of business needs. Methods for employing content identification technology to efficiently and automatically obtain reliable, accurate, and precise monitoring data are also disclosed. Various information products and services based on such monitoring systems are proposed. |
| US09648281B2 |
System and method for movie segment bookmarking and sharing
Several ways are provided for a viewer of a movie to create a deep tag, that is, a bookmark for a segment of the movie. The deep tag can be associated with descriptive text and sent to an address provided by the viewer, either an e-mail address or an instant messaging address. Additionally, before the deep tag is created, it can be checked whether the content owner of the movie is known. If known, the content owner's rules, if any, regarding deep tagging are followed. If unknown, a set of registered content owners can be alerted of the presence of new content. When ownership of the new content is established, the already-created deep tags can be updated in accordance with the content owner's rules, if any, regarding deep tagging. |
| US09648280B2 |
TV apparatus
A TV apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a TV body configured to display an image, and a camera module configured to be driven, in a case the TV body is protruded. |
| US09648277B2 |
Camera headband device and system with attachable apparatus
A headband camera device which transmits streaming video, images, GPS location data and voice communications via a smart phone app or transmit and store data independent of the smart phone app. A Bluetooth module or other short range transmission module in the headband facilitates voice communication by interfacing with a user's Bluetooth enabled smartphone or within a Wifi location. Alternatively, the camera headband device transmits streaming video, sends images and 2-way communications independently of a smartphone over a wireless network by use of an internal SIM card. |
| US09648273B2 |
Transmission system for transmitting high-resolution video signal by performing multi-value transmission changing in amplitude direction
A transmitter apparatus is provided with a first multi-value signal generator to convert the non-video signal of natural number “a”×natural number M bits other than a video signal into a multi-value signal of a multi-value number 2aM and to output a resulting signal, a second multi-value signal generator to convert the video signal of natural number “a”×natural number N bits into a multi-value signal of a multi-value number 2aN larger than the multi-value number 2aM and to output a resulting signal, and a transmission driver circuit to transmit the multi-value signal of the multi-value number 2aM in at least partial time interval of a blanking time interval and to transmit the multi-value signal of the multi-value number 2aN in an active time interval. |
| US09648271B2 |
System for filming a video movie
System for filming a video movie in a real space comprising: —a filming camera (9), —a sensor (16), —a computerized pinpointing module (27) for determining the location of the filming camera, —a monitoring screen (15), —a computerized compositing module (32) for generating on the monitoring screen (15) a composite image of the real image and of a projection of a virtual image, generated according to the filming camera (9) location data. |
| US09648268B2 |
Methods and devices for providing companion services to video
Methods and devices for providing companion services to video are described. In one example embodiment, the method includes: identifying text contained within a video; determining, by performing pattern matching, if the identified text in the video contains actionable text; and if the identified text in the video contains actionable text, providing access to one or more features based on the actionable text. |
| US09648267B2 |
Image sensor and control method for image sensor
The present technology relates to an image sensor and a control method for an image sensor which are capable of measuring illuminance of each color in an image sensor. Each of a plurality of pixel units includes a pixel and a reset transistor, and the pixel includes a photoelectric converting unit that performs photoelectric conversion on light of a certain color incident through a color filter and a transfer transistor that transfers charges obtained by the photoelectric conversion of the photoelectric converting unit and is controllable for each color. According to control of the transfer transistor, the charges are read from the photoelectric converting unit through the transfer transistor and the reset transistor, and a voltage corresponding to the charges is supplied to an AD converting unit connected to the reset transistor. The present technology can be applied to, for example, an image sensor that photographs an image. |
| US09648266B2 |
Driving method for image pickup device, driving method for imaging system, image pickup device, and imaging system
There are provided a driving method for an image pickup device, a driving method for an imaging system, an image pickup device, and an imaging system, which changes an operation for mixing signals generated by a plurality of pixels in accordance with an amplification factor of a signal processing circuit in the image pickup device or an amplification unit externally provided to the image pickup device. |
| US09648265B2 |
Imaging systems and methods for mitigating pixel data quantization error
An image sensor may have an array of pixels and readout circuitry. The array may include image pixels that generate signals in response to image light and reference pixels that generate signals in response to electrical noise. The readout circuitry may obtain first pixel values from the image pixels and may obtain second pixel values from the reference pixels. The readout circuitry may generate an extended precision pixel value based on the second pixel values that have an extended bit width relative to the each of the second pixel values. The readout circuitry may generate multiple dithered correction values by adding randomized sequences of least significant bits to the extended precision pixel value. The readout circuitry may mitigate visible quantization error and noise such as row-correlated and column-correlated noise in the final image by subtracting the dithered correction values from corresponding first pixel values. |
| US09648262B2 |
Imaging apparatus and imaging system
Because a conventionally known imaging apparatus includes a buffer element for each signal processing circuit, the number of buffer elements increases in proportion to the number of signal processing circuits. The delayed supply of a drive signal within a group of a plurality of signal processing circuits may require the operation timing margin to be set longer. In other words, the operational speed is hard to increase. First buffer circuits connected in series and second buffer circuits connected in parallel with the first buffer circuits are provided, and one second buffer circuit supplies a drive signal to a plurality of signal processing units. |
| US09648261B2 |
Account for clipped pixels in auto-focus statistics collection
An image processing pipeline may account for clipped pixels in auto focus statistics. Generating auto focus statistics may include evaluating a neighborhood of pixels with respect to a given pixel in a stream of pixels for an image. If a clipped pixel is identified within the neighborhood of pixels then the evaluation of the given pixel may be excluded from an auto focus statistic. The image processing pipeline may also provide auto focus statistics that do not exclude clipped pixels. A luminance edge detection value may, in some embodiments, be generated by applying an IIR filter to the given pixel in a stream of pixels to band-pass filter the given pixel before including the band-pass filtered pixel in the generation of the luminance edge detection value. |
| US09648260B2 |
Solid-state image taking device with uniform noise distribution
A solid-state image taking device including a pixel section and a scan driving section wherein on each pixel column included in the pixel area determined in advance to serve as a pixel column having the unit pixels laid out in the scan direction, the opto-electric conversion section and the electric-charge holding section are laid out alternately and repeatedly, and on each of the pixel columns in the pixel area determined in advance, two the electric-charge holding sections of two adjacent ones of the unit pixels are laid out disproportionately toward one side of the scan direction with respect to the optical-path limiting section or the opto-electric conversion section. |
| US09648259B2 |
Imaging apparatus and camera system for improving image quality
An imaging apparatus that forms an image of a light beam transmitted through an imaging lens on an imaging element includes a laminated material that is provided on the imaging element, the light beam being transmitted through the laminated material, the laminated material being provided at a position at which an end portion of an upper surface of the laminated material allows an outermost light beam out of light beams to be transmitted therethrough, the light beams entering a pixel in an outer end portion of the imaging element in an effective pixel area, the position having a width Hopt. |
| US09648255B2 |
Multi-modal optoelectronic vision system and uses thereof
The disclosure relates to assemblies, kits and methods for multi-mode optoelectronic observation and sighting system with cross-platform integration capability. More particularly, the disclosure relates to assemblies, kits and methods facilitating the analog fusion of VNIR and LWIR image sensors' data to a single, coherent display. |
| US09648251B2 |
Method for generating an HDR image of a scene based on a tradeoff between brightness distribution and motion
The present invention relates in general to a method of high dynamic range (HDR) digital imaging and determining and setting exposure parameters for detection of image data by an imaging device, such as a digital camera, to produce a high dynamic range (HDR) image of a scene. The method includes setting an exposure (Ei+1) for a next frame (fi+1) as a function of the current exposure (Ei), of a first brightness distribution (Hfulli) of colors of pixels of the current frame (fi) and of a second brightness distribution (Hmotioni) of colors of those pixels weighted by the motion of those pixels, such that motion is evaluated for those pixels in comparison with a previous frame (fi), capturing the next frame (fi+1) under the set exposure (Ei+1) and merging the next frame (fi+1) with at least the current frame (fi) into an HDR image. |
| US09648245B2 |
Low-light image capture method and image capture apparatus
An image capture method includes performing light metering with respect to a subject in response to a first control signal, setting an ISO value and a shutter speed value based on result of the light metering, increasing the ISO value by a first amount and decreasing the shutter speed value by a second amount in response to a second control signal to capture a plurality of images, where the second amount is greater than the first amount, performing gamma correction with respect to the plurality of images to increase brightness of each image, and synthesizing the plurality of gamma corrected images to obtain a single image with improved brightness. |
| US09648244B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
The zoom lens according to the present invention includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power that does not move for zooming; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power that moves during zooming; a third lens unit having a negative refractive power that moves along a locus convex toward the object side during zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end; a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power that moves during zooming; an aperture stop; and a fifth lens unit having a positive refractive power that does not move for zooming, in which the fourth lens unit has a lens surface having an aspherical shape with which the positive refractive power is weakened. |
| US09648242B2 |
Display control apparatus, display control method, program, and image pickup apparatus for assisting a user
There is provided a display control apparatus, including: a composition determining section configured to determine recommended composition of an input image; an image generating section configured to generate an image based on the recommended composition; and a display controller configured to control displaying the input image, the recommended composition, and the image based on the recommended composition, on a display section. |
| US09648240B2 |
Stabilizing platform
The present invention provides an apparatus and related methods for stabilizing a payload device such an imaging device. The methods and apparatus provide fast response time for posture adjustment of the payload device while reducing the energy used. |
| US09648238B2 |
Image processing device that synthesizes a plurality of images, method of controlling the same, storage medium, and image pickup apparatus
An image processing device that is capable of synthesizing a plurality of images by accurately correcting an image shift even in a photographing scene with a lot of external disturbances, such as noise. An image processing device synthesizes a plurality of images obtained by photographing an object that moves at a predetermined speed to thereby obtain a synthesized image. Each of the plurality of images is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a motion vector is detected from each of the blocks. Selection from the motion vectors is performed based on a focal length and an exposure interval applied when the plurality of images are obtained. Synthesis processing is performed by aligning the plurality of images based on the selected motion vectors, whereby the synthesized image is obtained. |
| US09648235B2 |
Portable terminal and method for driving the same
Disclosed is a portable terminal and a method for driving the portable terminal, the portable terminal including a camera module capturing an image of an object, a position information obtaining sensor detecting a motion of the portable terminal, and a controller driving the camera module using the motion of the portable terminal detected by the position information obtaining sensor. |
| US09648231B2 |
Image pickup apparatus having plurality of image pickup units, control method therefor, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus which is capable of reducing erroneous shooting when a third party other than a photographer has come within the field of view. A first detection unit detects a subject from first image data obtained as a result of shooting by a first image pickup unit. A second detection unit detects a subject from second image data obtained as a result of shooting by a second image pickup unit. When the first detection unit detects, from the first image data, the subject detected by the second detection unit, a shooting process is carried out in which a shooting operation is performed using the first image pickup unit, and image data obtained by the shooting operation is recorded. |
| US09648230B2 |
Use of wireless connection loss to facilitate identifying and recording video capture location
A method and system to facilitate identifying and recording capture location of recorded video. A computing system determines multiple locations where a first wireless communication module and second wireless communication module have lost wireless connectivity with each other, as possible locations where a video camera may be used to capture video. The computing system then outputs, for presentation to the videographer or another user, a location-selection prompt that specifies the multiple determined locations as candidate capture-locations for a video that was captured by the video camera. Further, the computing system receives, in response to the location-selection prompt, data that represents a user selection of one of the specified locations. The computing system then records the selected location as capture-location metadata for the video, such as capture-location data integrated with the video or in a database relationship with the video. |
| US09648228B2 |
Image pickup device and image pickup method
An image pickup apparatus performs at least one exposure adjusting operation on the image captured by the camera. While the display is displaying the image which the camera is capturing, the touch panel has a first region with a width, in a peripheral portion of the display, and a second region which is disposed at an inner side of the first region in the display. While the display is displaying the image which the camera is capturing, when the touch panel detects a touch in the second region, at least an exposure adjusting operation starts to be performed. After the exposure adjusting operation has started, and while the display is displaying the image which the camera is capturing, when the touch panel detects a touch in the first region, any operation relating to the exposure adjusting operation is not performed, and the started exposure adjusting operation is maintained. |
| US09648227B2 |
Focus estimating device, imaging device, and storage medium storing image processing program
A focus estimating device has an area setting unit which sets an area in which focusing of an image is determined and divides the area into a plurality of blocks, a block selecting unit which selects a block to be used for focus determination, a block focus determination unit which performs focus determination for each block from an edge in each color component of the block selected by the block selecting unit, and a focus determination unit which determines focusing of the area based on the focus determination. |
| US09648221B2 |
Autofocus system using phase difference data for electronic device and electronic device using the same
An electronic device including an image sensor, a phase difference autofocus (AF) sensor module, a reflection-type infrared (IR) cut-off filter, and an absorption-type IR cut-off filter, wherein the reflection-type IR cut-off filter is disposed on an optical axis to reflect a first portion of light incident thereon through an imaging lens to the phase difference AF sensor module and to allow a second portion of the light to be transmitted therethrough, the absorption-type IR cut-off filter is disposed between the image sensor and the reflection-type IR cut-off filter on the optical axis to filter the second portion of the light transmitted through the reflection-type IR cut-off filter, and the phase difference AF sensor module performs auto-focusing on a subject using the first portion of the light reflected from the reflection-type IR cut-off filter. |
| US09648218B2 |
Remote control of a camera module
A method performed by a camera module (110) to implement a remote control interface with a mobile device (120) includes establishing a wireless interface association between the camera module (110) and the mobile device (120), and transmitting, by the camera module (110) to the mobile device (120), a remote control file, whereby the mobile device (120) builds and displays a remote control view for the camera module (110). Real-time video frames are then generated in the camera module (110) for transmission to the mobile device (120) and display within the remote control view. The mobile device (120) can then be used to send camera parameter changes to the camera module (110) via the wireless interface. The mobile device (120) remotely monitors and controls the camera module (110). |
| US09648216B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device includes a first substrate having a plurality of organic light emitting structures thereon, a second substrate facing the first substrate to encapsulate the organic light emitting structures, an aperture under a lower surface of the first substrate, and an aperture controller under the lower surface of the first substrate. The organic light emitting structures define a pixel area. The second substrate has a light absorption area. The aperture corresponds to the light absorption area. The aperture controller is adjacent to the aperture. |
| US09648215B2 |
Communication device and control method thereof
A communication device capable of preventing a failure in light emission control caused due to communication with a lighting device such as the master and the slave. The communication device is capable of connecting to an image pickup device and transmits a lighting instruction from the image pickup device to a lighting device through a communication unit capable of performing bidirectional communication. It is determined whether or not the lighting device is ready for lighting. The lighting device is prevented from transmitting information to the communication unit when the lighting device is ready for lighting. |
| US09648213B2 |
Image sensor, image capturing apparatus, and control method of image capturing apparatus
An image sensor comprises: a pixel array having image forming pixels and phase-difference detecting pixels; and an outputting unit configured to add correction processing information, and position information of the phase-difference detecting pixels to image data obtained from the pixel array and to output the image data. |
| US09648212B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and computer program
An image processing device includes an edge strength calculation unit, and a mixing unit. The edge strength calculation unit calculates an edge strength of a pixel of interest in an input image from a stairs tone strength of the pixel of interest and a gradient of the pixel of interest, wherein the gradient is calculated from pixel values of the pixel of interest and pixels adjacent to the pixel of interest, and the stairs tone strength is indicative of differences between the gradient and a variance of the pixel of interest calculated from the pixel values of the pixel of interest and the adjacent pixels. The mixing unit calculates an illumination light component of the pixel of interest of the input image from an average value of the pixel of interest and pixel values adjacent to the pixel of interest, and a mixing ratio calculated from the edge strength. |
| US09648211B2 |
Automatic video synchronization via analysis in the spatiotemporal domain
Methods and systems for automatically synchronizing videos acquired via two or more cameras with overlapping views in a multi-camera network. Reference lines within an overlapping field of view of the two (or more) cameras in the multi-camera network can be determined wherein the reference lines connect two or more pairs of corresponding points. Spatiotemporal maps of the reference lines can then be obtained. An optimal alignment between video segments obtained from the cameras is then determined based on the registration of the spatiotemporal maps. |
| US09648210B2 |
Image forming apparatus including controller executing log-in process to put user in log-in state and image forming system including the same
An image forming apparatus includes an original setting part, an original reading device, an opening/closing member, a locking mechanism, a notifying mechanism, an original detecting part, a user detecting part and a controlling part. The opening/closing member is switchable between an opening posture and a closing posture. The locking mechanism holds the opening/closing member in the closing posture. The notifying mechanism notifies a user that the original is left behind on the original setting part. The controlling part operates the locking mechanism and the notifying mechanism on condition that the original detecting part detects the original and the user detecting part does not detect the user in a state where the original reading device has finished reading the original. The controlling part stops operation of the locking mechanism on condition that authentication of a specific user succeeds in a state where the locking mechanism is operated. |
| US09648208B2 |
Method and apparatus and using an enlargement operation to reduce visually detected defects in an image
Systems and method for improving the quality of document images are provided. One method includes identifying a plurality of image fragments within a previously received document image that includes text. The method further includes separating the plurality of image fragments into a plurality of classes. Each class includes a subset of the plurality of image fragments that are substantially similar to one another. The method further includes, for each of the plurality of classes: (1) processing a class of image fragments to generate a combined and substantially enlarged image fragment for the class; and (2) filtering the combined and substantially enlarged image fragment to generate a filtered image fragment for the class. The method further includes generating an improved document image by replacing or modifying the image fragments within the document image based on the filtered image fragments. |
| US09648207B2 |
Smart copy apparatus
A smart copy apparatus comprises a scanning module, a processing module and a printing module. The scanning module scans an original to obtain fragment scan images. The processing module electrically connected to the scanning module receives the fragment scan images, and determines a size of the original according to the fragment scan images to obtain a scan-size parameter, and generates print data according to the fragment scan images, the scan-size parameter and a print parameter. The printing module receives the print data, and prints the print data on a print medium. |
| US09648206B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer program
An output image having high visibility for a user is obtained. An effective image region for an image is designated. Whether a direction of the image is visually an upper or lower direction is detected. A header of a source document region in the image is detected. When the direction of the image is the upper direction, the effective image region is output as an output image with reference to the header of the source document region. When the direction of the image is the lower direction, the image is rotated, and the effective image region is output as an output image with reference to the header of the source document region. |
| US09648203B2 |
Facsimile apparatus for executing direct-print reception, memory reception, and interruption printing process, and printing method for facsimile apparatus
A facsimile apparatus is configured execute, as a reception method, a direct-print reception or a memory reception; switch the reception method from the direct-print reception to the memory reception when an instruction to execute a print job is received when the direct-print reception being executed; execute interruption printing by causing the printing device to print images in accordance with the print job after the reception method is switched to the memory reception; determine whether available capacity of the storage device used in the memory reception is less than a threshold value when the memory reception is being executed; stop the interruption printing when the available capacity of the storage device is less than the threshold value; and execute a particular printing process to print the facsimile data in the storage device and release the storage area corresponding to the facsimile data representing the printed image after the interruption printing is stopped. |
| US09648201B2 |
Image reading apparatus with judgment unit to judge data of a predetermined format for transfer and with executing unit to convert image data before the data of a predetermined format is judged for transfer, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
Disclosed is an image reading apparatus including: a reading unit configured to optically read an original and to output image data; an image conversion unit configured to convert the image data into data having a predetermined format; a storing unit configured to store the data having the predetermined format; a transfer unit configured to transfer the data to a designated destination; a judgment unit configured to judge whether the data can be transferred to the designated destination; and an executing unit configured to instruct the image reading apparatus to execute a process for reading the original and for converting the image data to store the data in the storing unit regardless of whether the judgment unit judges that the data can be transmitted, and to instruct the image reading apparatus to transfer the data after the judgment unit judges that the data can be transmitted. |
| US09648195B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and image capturing method
There is provided an image capturing apparatus. A first image capturing unit captures an image of a subject to generate image data. A second image capturing unit captures an image of a user who captures the image of the subject, for a predetermined period before and after the image of the subject is captured. An obtainment unit obtains first classification information by analyzing, in the image captured by the second image capturing unit, each of a state of the user before the image of the subject is captured and a state of the user after the image of the subject is captured. A recording unit records the first classification information in association with the image data. |
| US09648190B2 |
Image forming apparatus that performs user authentication by wireless communication, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus capable of returning from the power saving state and performing user authentication by one action of holding an authentication card over a card reader even when the apparatus is in the power saving state. The apparatus performs short-distance wireless communication with an external device. A controller performs control processing including at least authentication processing. When short-distance wireless communication with the device is started, a short-distance wireless communication section delivers a return-starting interrupt, to the controller, receives authentication data from the device to thereby store the authentication data during returning of the apparatus. The controller performs authentication processing based on the stored authentication data after returning of the apparatus from the power saving state, and notifies the device of an authentication processing result by a different channel. |
| US09648189B2 |
Image processing apparatus and power control method for image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus comprises a first detecting unit configured to detect an object, a power control unit configured to shift the image processing apparatus from a second power state to a first power state which consumes more power than the second power state when the first detecting unit detects an object, and a second detecting unit configured to detect a sheet ejected to a sheet ejecting unit. The power control unit does not shift the image processing apparatus to the first power state when the second detecting unit no longer detects the sheet before a lapse of a predetermined period of time after the first detecting unit detects an object. The power control unit shifts the image processing apparatus to the first power state when the second detecting unit detects the sheet before a lapse of the predetermined period of time after the first detecting unit detects an object. |
| US09648188B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of being set to power saving mode, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus that causes a user's will concerning which of a communication speed and power saving efficiency is given priority to be reflected on determination of a power saving mode. In shifting the apparatus to a power saving mode, a first setting inhibits disconnection of a communication link and a second setting indicates changing communication speed to a lower speed. One of the first and second settings is made according to a user's instruction. In the first setting, the apparatus is shifted to a first power saving mode. In the second setting, the apparatus is shifted to a second power saving mode. When the apparatus is shifted to the first power saving mode, the communication link is not disconnected. When the apparatus is shifted to the second power saving mode, the communication speed of the apparatus is changed to the lower speed. |
| US09648187B2 |
Sheet feed apparatus and sheet housing apparatus
In accordance with one embodiment, a sheet feed apparatus comprises a sheet housing section, a guide, an optical sensor, markers and a determination section. The sheet housing section houses sheets. The guide is arranged at a position corresponding to the size of the sheet housed in the sheet housing section. The detection position of the optical sensor varies by interlocking with the guide. The markers, which have different image features corresponding to the sizes, are arranged at the detection position of the optical sensor pre-determined according to the size of the sheet. The determination section determines the size of the sheet housed in the sheet housing section based on a detection result of the optical sensor. |
| US09648186B2 |
Scanning apparatus and sheet conveyer
A scanning apparatus is provided with a conveyer having a plurality of conveying rollers and configured to convey an original sheet, a scanning device configured to scan the original sheet, and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a detection process of detecting an error which causes stoppage of conveying the original sheet by the conveyer, an identifying process of identifying a type of the error detecting in the detecting process, and a notification process of notifying a user of an operation which the controller encouraging the user to execute when the controller causes the conveyer to re-convey the original sheet that has been stopped, depending on the type of the error identified by the identifying process. |
| US09648180B2 |
Information processing system performing operation based on tag information, information processing device, portable terminal and non-transitory computer readable recording medium
An information processing system comprising an information processing device and a portable terminal. The information processing device includes: a first wireless communication part that establishes wireless communication with the portable terminal; a screen controller that updates a screen displayed on a display part based on a user operation; a tag information storage that stores therein tag information which is sent to the portable terminal; and a tag information updating part that updates the tag information depending on the screen displayed on the display part. The portable terminal includes: a second wireless communication part that establishes wireless communication with the information processing device; and a controller that performs an operation depending on the screen displayed at the information processing device based on the tag information. |
| US09648178B2 |
Embedded job accounting system and method
A document processing system and method includes a first document processing device configured to send a job completion notification subscription, user account information, charge account information, and usage restriction information to a second document processing device, and in response receive job usage information from the second document processing device for each document processing operation completed by the second document processing device, such as printing, scanning, photocopying, and faxing. The first document processing device updates the user account, charge account, and usage restriction information based on the received job usage information, and sends updated user account, charge account, and usage restriction information to the second document processing device. |
| US09648175B2 |
Usage tracking in a distributed scan system
Approaches are provided for identifying, in a particular scan process definition that corresponds to the particular user interface object: scan settings data, processing settings data, and service tracking information; generating metadata that includes at least a portion of the scan settings data; and transmitting the scan data, the metadata, the processing settings data and the service tracking information to the scan server for processing, wherein processing of the tracking information by the scan server causes the scan server to generate service tracking data that includes at least a portion of the metadata and specifies processing of the scan data by a plurality of network services that are separate from both the scan device and the scan server. |
| US09648172B2 |
Devices for determining to terminate a charging session and systems thereof
The present invention aims to provide devices for determining to terminate a charging session and Systems thereof. A session termination decision device receives a decision request for terminating a charging processing of the current always on IP connectivity session from a charging session termination request device; the session termination decision device sends information relevant to a termination rule corresponding to the charging session of the current always on IP connectivity session to the initiating device for the charging session, in response to the decision request; and the initiating device for the charging session requests the OCS to terminate the charging session. Compared with the prior art, the present invention releases a Diameter charging session without totally removing the charging rules from IP-CAN, and keeps the IP-CAN session when there is no active service or data flow during long duration session, i.e. the always on IP connectivity session. It will significantly save System resources and reduce unnecessary charges to end users, and thus benefit both service providers and end users. |
| US09648171B1 |
Emotion recognition to match support agents with customers
An application infers emotional states of support agents from facial recognition data collected from support calls processed by the support agents. The application determines an outcome of each of the support calls based on feedback indicating user experience with the support agents. The application correlates outcomes of the support calls based on different topics with the emotional states. Upon receiving a request to initiate a support call, the application predicts, from the correlation, an emotional state that increases a likelihood of achieving a specified outcome for the support call based on a topic identified in the request. The application identifies an available support agent having the predicted emotional state, and assigns the identified support agent to interact with the user for the support call. |
| US09648169B2 |
System and method for web-based real time communication with optimized transcoding
A system and method is provided to allow for real-time communication between a web browser application and a contact center resource, where media codecs supported by the two parties may differ. A processor is configured to bridge the media exchanged between the browser and contact center resource. In bridging the media, the processor transcodes the media based on a first media codec for media directed to and from the web browser application, and further transcodes the media based on the second media codec for media directed to and from a contact center resource. |
| US09648165B2 |
System and method for provision of a second line service to a telecommunications device using dialed sequence
A method and system for providing a second line service (“SLS”) feature to a subscriber using a telecommunications device (“TD”) which includes receiving at a switch on the network of the subscriber's primary service provider a communication made up of a trigger and a directory number. When the communication is received at the primary service provider's switch, the switch parses the communication and detects the trigger. Once the switch has received the communication, the switch additionally transmits a query message to a SLS platform that manages the SLS feature. As a result of the switch's query message transmission, the switch receives a reply to the query message from the SLS platform. Based at least in part on the reply to the query message, the switch can route the communication such that the switch connects one or multiple voice channel circuit between the subscriber's TD and the terminating TD. |
| US09648162B2 |
Dialling phone numbers
Method and apparatus for effecting a voice communication between user terminals connected via a communication network include displaying a menu of country options to a user and receiving a number in local form. Formatting rules are recalled for a destination country selected by the user from the country options. A country prefix for the destination country is prepended to the number in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a formatted number. The formatted number is supplied to a client installed at the user terminal for effecting the voice communication using the formatted number. |
| US09648161B2 |
Edge injected speech in electronic communications
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving an input from an agent during a call with a caller where the input directs one or more processors to inject a recorded statement in the agent's voice into the call, and where the recorded statement in the agent's voice is stored in a computer-readable file. Obtaining the recorded statement in the agent's voice based on data associated with the input and in response to receiving the input. And causing the recorded statement in the agent's voice to be inserted into a media stream of the call. |
| US09648160B2 |
Communication system having user selectable features
A communication system comprising a server capable of establishing telephone communications between at least two users of a communication network and transcribe audio and/or voice communication signals of either or both users of a telephone call established by the server and the transcription is done in accordance with user selectable feature information entered by the users during a registration procedure to the communication system at a website residing in a registration server in communication with the communication system. The communication system may be part of the PSTN or the Internet or both. |
| US09648158B2 |
Echo path change detector
An echo path monitoring system for controlling an adaptive filter configured to estimate an echo of a far-end signal comprised in a microphone signal, the system comprising a comparison generator configured to compare the microphone signal with the estimated echo to obtain a first comparison and compare an error signal, which represents a difference between the microphone signal and the estimated echo, with the estimated echo to obtain a second comparison, and a controller configured to combine the first and second comparisons to form a parameter indicative of a state of the microphone signal and, in dependence on said parameter, control an operating mode of the adaptive filter. |
| US09648153B2 |
Method and device for incoming call notification
A method for incoming call notification is disclosed. The method may comprise, when receiving an incoming call, determining voice identification information of the incoming call according to number information of the incoming call, and playing the voice identification information of the incoming call. |
| US09648145B2 |
Communication apparatus and method thereof
A first table used for compression of a message to be transmitted to another communication apparatus and decompression of a compressed message received from the other communication apparatus is generated. After the first table is generated, the first table is updated based on data contained in a message to be transmitted to the other communication apparatus. The other communication apparatus is guided to transmit a predetermined message corresponding to a specific index in the first table. Integrity of the updated first table and a second table used in the other communication apparatus by referring to the predetermined message received from the other communication apparatus. The second table is used for compression of a message to be transmitted to the communication apparatus and decompression of a compressed message received from the communication apparatus in the other communication apparatus. |
| US09648143B2 |
Methods of processing data corresponding to a device that corresponds to a gas, water, or electric grid, and related devices and computer program products
Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described. |
| US09648140B2 |
Terminal device, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer program for terminal device, and system
A terminal device may receive server-side display order information transmitted from a server device. The server-side display order information may indicate a server-side display order, designated on a server side, of a plurality of object images included in a display screen displayed on a display unit of the terminal device. A terminal device may store terminal device-side display order information when a predetermined operation is received. The terminal device-side display order information may indicate a terminal device-side display order which is an order different from the server-side display order. A terminal device may display, in the display screen, the plurality of object images: in accordance with the server-side display order when a storage unit of the terminal device is not storing the terminal device-side display order information; and in accordance with the terminal-side display order when the storage unit is storing the terminal device-side display order information. |
| US09648139B2 |
Inserting server-side breakpoints requested by remote development clients
In some embodiments, a server application can provide a web document to a development application. The web document is dynamically generated from source files. The web document includes element code segments for rendering respective elements of the web document in a browser. Each element code segment includes respective metadata for identifying a respective source file used to generate the element code segment. The server application can receive a breakpoint request from the development application to insert at least one breakpoint in at least one source file identifiable using the metadata in the web document. The server application can insert the breakpoint in the source file responsive to the breakpoint request. The server application can provide an updated web document to the development application. The updated web document includes a subset of the element code segments dynamically generated by executing source code up to the breakpoint in the source file. |
| US09648137B1 |
Upgrading a descriptor engine for a network interface card
Examples of techniques for upgrading a descriptor engine for a network interface card (NIC) are disclosed. An example method may include: quiescing a transmit stream to the NIC; stopping a descriptor engine from providing new receive descriptors to the NIC; creating a copy in a memory of any receive descriptors already available to the NIC prior to the stopping the descriptor engine; setting a controller to redirect inbound traffic to the memory; logging a current configuration, state, and receive pointers of the descriptor engine; updating the descriptor engine; restoring a transmit configuration and a transmit state of the descriptor engine; and enabling a transmit stream of a data router such that transmit packets are created by the descriptor engine for transmission by the NIC. |
| US09648133B2 |
Optimizing traffic load in a communications network
Each application executing on an application server uses an extended version of the Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) language to define an application-specific rule set. The application server also includes a Just-In-Time compiler to compile the BPF rule set. The compiled rule set is downloaded to a Packet Forwarding Entity (PFE) in the network, and used to control how the PFE steers data packets generated by the application through a communications network. |
| US09648132B2 |
Method of enabling digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device
The invention enables digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device. An application running on the wireless device has been automatically adapted to parameters associated with the wireless device without end-user input (e.g. the application has been configured in dependence on the device OS and firmware, related bugs, screen size, pixel number, security models, connection handling, memory etc. This application enables an end-user to browse and search music content on a remote server using a wireless network; to download music content from that remote server using the wireless network and to playback and manage that downloaded music content. The application also includes a digital rights management system that enables unlimited legal downloads of different music tracks to the device and also enables any of those tracks stored on the device to be played so long as a subscription service has not terminated. |
| US09648130B1 |
Finding users in a social network based on document content
A method finds people within a network of people who are interested in the same topic. Individual user profiles, for people within the network of people based upon concepts featured in documents consumed by said people so that the individual user profiles include user-specific concepts, are provided in a database. A document concerning a topic of interest is selected. A computer system creates a model of the selected document including document-specific concepts featured in the selected document. A computer system compares the document-specific concepts to the user-specific concepts from the individual user profiles. Any matches as a result of the comparing step are determined. If there are any matches, at least one match is reported to a user. |
| US09648129B2 |
Image filtering based on social context
In particular embodiments, a computing device determines a social context of each of one or more images to provide for display to a user. The computing device determines a relevance of each of the social contexts to the user. The computing device provides for display to the user one or more of the images based at least in part on the relevance of the social context of each image to the user. |
| US09648128B2 |
Dynamic ad hoc cloud based memory management for mobile devices
Mechanisms are provided for generating a dynamically generated ad hoc cloud storage system of mobile devices. A mobile device transmits a request to dynamically generate an ad hoc cloud storage system, to other devices within a local vicinity of the mobile device. Responses are received from the other devices within the local vicinity of the mobile device indicating that a corresponding device is available to participate in the dynamically generated ad hoc cloud storage system. The dynamically generated ad hoc cloud storage system is generated using memory resources of the other devices corresponding to the responses. The mobile device captures recording data and distributes the recording data to the other devices for storage in memory resources of the other devices. |
| US09648125B2 |
Systems and methods for caching content with notification-based invalidation
Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for content delivery on the Internet. In certain non-limiting embodiments, a caching model is provided that can support caching for indefinite time periods, potentially with infinite or relatively long time-to-live values, yet provide prompt updates when the underlying origin content changes. In one approach, an origin server can annotate its responses to content requests with tokens, e.g., placing them in an appended HTTP header or otherwise. The tokens can drive the process of caching, and can be used as handles for later invalidating the responses within caching proxy servers delivering the content. Tokens may be used to represent a variety of kinds of dependencies expressed in the response, including without limitation data, data ranges, or logic that was a basis for the construction of the response. |
| US09648124B2 |
Processing hybrid data using a single web client
According to an aspect, techniques for processing hybrid data include receiving a web request and translating the web request into a translated native request. The translated native request and a native request are sent to a server via a single web client. A response is received from the server via the single web client. It is determined whether the response corresponds to the translated native request or to the native request. |
| US09648120B2 |
Integration of intentional noise into a communication channel to simulate activity
An example method of simulating activity to conceal actual activity associated with a wireless network includes generating, at a push server, a sham push message operable to simulate activity on a communication channel between a push service provider and a target mobile device. The sham push message includes an indication that the sham push message is not an actual push message from a third party associated with the mobile application. The method also includes retrieving an application registration identifier associated with the mobile application hosted on the mobile device. The target mobile device is subscribed to the push service provider for push message delivery. The method further includes encrypting the sham push message. The method also includes transmitting the encrypted sham push message to the target mobile device associated with the application registration identifier. |
| US09648119B2 |
Methods and devices for exchanging data
The present invention relates to the exchange of data between a server and a receiving device. The exchange method comprises receiving, at the receiving device, a push message comprising pushed data from the server; storing received pushed data in a cache memory of the receiving device, the stored data being identified as being of push type; transmitting, from the receiving device to the server, a request for data comprising information about pushed data stored in the cache memory of the receiving device; and receiving, from the server, at the receiving device, a response to said request comprising requested data. |
| US09648118B1 |
Distributed intelligent rich presence
A system, method and computer readable medium for distributed intelligent rich presence comprising filtering presence information of at least one presence source at the at least one presence source, distributing the filtered presence information to at least one presence watcher, and aggregating the filtered presence information at the at least one presence watcher. |
| US09648117B2 |
Systems and methods for receiving and processing detected events
Techniques for receiving and processing detected events are provided. A bit array may be received from a device. Each bit value in the bit array may indicate whether a user initiated event relating to interaction with a website was detected by the device. Data regarding a start time associated with the bit array may be received. Each bit value in the bit array is associated with a time increment after the start time. |
| US09648115B2 |
Alerts for monitoring user status
A method of monitoring a user of a communication system includes enabling a first user to initiate monitoring of a second user, automatically monitoring status of activity by the second user on the communication system, and delivering to the first user, one or more of an indication that the second user has added or changed a profile or away message, received a new or updated profile or away message comment, visited an Internet location, engaged in communication device activity, or has generated audio or visual input. |
| US09648112B2 |
Electronic device and method for setting network model
A method for setting network models of an electronic device includes setting a default network model list comprising a plurality of default network models for the electronic device and setting a sequence of the plurality of default network models. A specified network model that is used to connect the electronic device to a telecom company is searched from the default network model list according to the sequence. A code of the telecom company is acquired and a country where the telecom company is located is determined according to the acquired code. A network model list corresponding to the determined country is acquired from a database which stores a network model list corresponding to each predetermined country. The default network model list is updated to be the acquired network model list corresponding to the determined country. |
| US09648109B2 |
Image processing apparatus, shared address book display control method for the same, recording medium
An image processing apparatus includes a communicator portion that communicates with a portable terminal apparatus having an address book, a contact data obtaining portion that obtains contacts from the address book, the contacts including contact names and addresses, a registration portion that registers the contacts to a shared address book along with user identification information indicating the log-in user, a display, and a display controller that makes the display show the contacts at least by the contact name, the contacts being registered in the shared address book, that judges whether or not the shared address book contains contacts with different contact names but with identical addresses, and that, if it contains contacts with different contact names but with identical addresses, makes the display show any of the contacts by the contact name, the any contact having the user identification information indicating the log-in user. |
| US09648106B2 |
System and method for client policy assignment in a data storage system
A system and method for property assignment in a data storage system is presented. A data storage system defines a client configuration profile comprising a set of storage operation properties, wherein the storage operation properties regulate criteria for performing storage operations by the data agent on client devices that are associated with the client configuration profile. A storage management system associates a first client device to the client configuration profile; and communicates the set of properties of the client configuration profile to property tables of corresponding objects in the first client device. |
| US09648104B2 |
Configuration information acquisition method and management computer
A management computer configured to manage one or more storage apparatuses managing a plurality of resources transmits requests to the one or more storage apparatuses to, based on one or more basic information pieces for identifying the one or more storage apparatuses, acquire as a priority configuration information on, out of the plurality of resources, resources logically closer to a host computer of the one or more storage apparatuses. The management computer receives the configuration information corresponding to the requests from the one or more storage apparatuses, and incorporates the received configuration information into configuration management information for managing the configuration information on the resources managed by the one or more storage apparatuses. |
| US09648103B2 |
Non-uniform file access in a distributed file system
Data connections from a remote login session are identified and an identification query may be transmitted by the remote login session to endpoints (e.g., servers) of the data connections. In response to the identification query, identification information may be received from the endpoints. Furthermore, the identification information may be compared with a local identification of a local server that hosts the remote login session. A file created by the remote login session may be stored at an endpoint over a data connection where the local identification matches a portion or all of the identification information of the endpoint of the data connection. |
| US09648101B2 |
Synchronization of web service endpoints in a multi-master synchronization environment
A Web service synchronization protocol is provided that sets forth the metadata and messaging by which endpoints roam, share and synchronize common information with one another in a multi-master networked computing ecosystem. A general SOAP-based protocol is defined for synchronizing data between two endpoints where one or more of the endpoints supports a Web service. Defining messaging for knowledge-based transfers using XML Web services, the protocol allows devices, services and applications to synchronize through firewalls, allows for flexibility by allowing any common set or subset of information across endpoints and allows for extensibility by not prescribing the schema of the actual data being synchronized at the endpoints. |
| US09648095B2 |
System and method for processing data feeds
The present invention provides a method and a system for processing a plurality of data feeds. The method and system include acquiring the plurality of data feeds from one or more content servers via a network, adding a respective task of a plurality of tasks to each of the plurality of data feeds, queuing the plurality of tasks at a queuing database, fetching each of the plurality of tasks queued at the queuing database by one or more worker servers and asynchronously processing the plurality of tasks by the one or more worker servers. Each respective task of the plurality of tasks is a request for processing a data feed of the plurality of data feeds. |
| US09648094B2 |
Cloud processing system and method for synthesizing objects based on vehicle aggregation location registry data
A cloud computing system includes a network interface for interfacing with a wide area network. At least one wireless transceiver engages in bidirectional communication with a plurality of vehicle cloud processing devices within a corresponding plurality of vehicles in at least one vehicle aggregation location. A network control device receives requests for at least one cloud computing service via the wide area network and facilitates the at least one cloud computing service via the bidirectional communication with the plurality of vehicle cloud processing devices. |
| US09648090B2 |
Dynamic medical object information base
A dynamic medical object information base (DMOIB) is used with a communication protocol. A medical object information base (MOIB) may generally define rules of creation and modification of data defined for use in medical products. A dynamic version of the MOIB adapts to changing data classifications. DMOIB is preferably compatible with non-dynamic MOIB systems. DMOIB preferably reduces code space and simplifies management of software projects. DMOIB may allow for an entirely dynamic system using a discovery/negotiation process for determining full features of a device. DMOIB may also allow for generation of a dynamic interface to handle data from devices. |
| US09648088B1 |
Digital content prefetch for travel
This disclosure is generally directed to providing access to media content for travelers during a trip, where the trip may include lodging, transit, and/or activities. A service provider may obtain information about a user and a trip. The service provider may determine information about the user, such as account information that may identify media content that is typically accessible by the user. An amount of available space on a device may be determined that can be used to store prefetched content for the trip. Recommended content may be selected to fill the amount of space on the device. The recommended content may be based on information about the user, information about the trip, and/or other information. The recommended content may be downloaded onto the device prior to the trip so that the user has access to the content from the device during the trip. |
| US09648087B2 |
Allocating distributed storage and task execution resources
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module obtaining a plurality of data access requests and a request to execute a distributed computing function that includes a plurality of partial tasks. The method continues with the DS processing module allocating execution of the plurality of partial tasks to a set of distributed storage and task execution (DSTE) units in accordance with a desired executing efficiency and allocating processing of the plurality of data access requests in accordance with a desired data access efficiency. The method continues with the DS processing module establishing the desired executing efficiency and the desired data access efficiency to obtain a desired utilization of the set of DSTE units. |
| US09648084B2 |
System and method for providing an in-memory data grid application container
A system and method for providing an in-memory data grid application container, for use with an application server, is described herein. In accordance with an embodiment, an application server, such as WebLogic Server (WLS), can be used to host data grid applications, such as Coherence applications (in which case the application container can be referred to as a Coherence container), and deliver the same benefits that regular Java Enterprise Edition (EE) applications derive from being hosted in a WLS environment. A model for creating combined Java EE and data grid applications can also be provided, by merging the programming, packaging, and deployment models used for data grid with existing Java EE models. |
| US09648083B2 |
Scripting support for data identifiers, voice recognition and speech in a telnet session
Methods of adding data identifiers and speech/voice recognition functionality are disclosed. A telnet client runs one or more scripts that add data identifiers to data fields in a telnet session. The input data is inserted in the corresponding fields based on data identifiers. Scripts run only on the telnet client without modifications to the server applications. Further disclosed are methods for providing speech recognition and voice functionality to telnet clients. Portions of input data are converted to voice and played to the user. A user also may provide input to certain fields of the telnet session by using his voice. Scripts running on the telnet client convert the user's voice into text and is inserted to corresponding fields. |
| US09648075B1 |
Systems and methods for providing an event map
Provided are systems and methods for generating an event map of events located near a user's location. The event map may include embedded media, such as audio, video, images, and the like for events located within a specific geographic area, such as geographic radius around a user's location, and a specific timeframe. Each event may be displayed at a position on the event map that corresponds to the location of the event, and the embedded media for the event may be displayed at an event's position. Additionally, the event map may include data for each event, such as date and time of the event and links to event-related resources. |
| US09648074B2 |
Systems and methods for delivering media data based on geographical locations
The invention discloses a method performed at a server computer for location-based media data delivering. The method includes receiving first geolocation data that identify a first geolocation of a first client device, identifying a plurality of second client devices as located within a predetermined range of the first geolocation according to their respective second geolocation data, and in response to the identifying, retrieving media file log data that record information concerning a plurality of media files that have been transmitted to the plurality of second client devices. The method further includes in response to a media content request received from the first client device for requesting interested media data: identifying, among the retrieved media file log data, one or more media files as being associated with the interested media data, and transmitting information of at least one identified media file and the interested media data to the first client device. |
| US09648072B2 |
System and method for data stream fragmentation with scalability
A method of data conditioning is disclosed that in one aspect can include the steps of receiving a data stream, encoding a time code in the data stream to identify a portion of the data stream corresponding to a content fragment, and separating the identified portion of the data stream to define the content fragment, wherein the content fragment comprises the encoded time code. |
| US09648071B2 |
Cloud queue playhead
An example implementation may involve a computing system receiving, from a media playback system over the network interface, a request to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at a first media item. The computing system assigns a playhead pointer to a position within the particular cloud queue that corresponds to the first media item and transmits, to the media playback system over the network interface, an instruction that causes one or more playback devices of the media playback system to initiate playback of the particular cloud queue at the first media item. While the one or more playback devices play back the particular cloud queue, the computing system updates the assigned position of the playhead pointer to indicate the currently playing media item of the particular cloud queue. |
| US09648067B2 |
Reception of a digital content in trick mode
A terminal receives a digital content which is transmitted in the form of a data stream in a network. This digital content is received by the terminal with a reception throughput, a nominal rendering time being associated with the digital content. Activation of a trick mode corresponding to a modification of the nominal rendering time according to a modification factor associated with the trick mode is detected on the terminal. Data to be requested are then determined according to the modification factor and according to a value representative of reception throughput. The data are then requested from the network and the requested data are received. |
| US09648061B2 |
Sentiment analysis in a video conference
In an approach to determine a sentiment of an attendee of a video conference, the computer receives a video of an attendee of a video conference and, then, determines, based, at least in part, on the video of the attendee, a first sentiment of the attendee. |
| US09648057B2 |
Methods and systems for collaborative remote application sharing and conferencing
Systems and method for providing a collaborative conferencing capability to an application remotely-accessed by client computing devices. A client media sharing application is provided in a client tier, and the client media sharing application allows at least one of the client computing devices to share media with the client computing devices. A conferencing manager application that receives the shared media is provided to the server tier. The conferencing manager application makes the shared media available to the client computing devices. |
| US09648050B2 |
Routing of a service request aimed at an IMS subscriber
A serving call server control function (S-CSCF) server in an IMS network is configured to receive a service request targeting a client device belonging to the IMS network and under the charge of the S-CSCF server. The S-CSCF server uses information elements contained in the service request to perform verifications, including: determining that the requested service is a telephone service; and determining that the user of the target client device targeted in the service request has not subscribed to a telephone service with the operator of the IMS network. If the result of the verifications is positive, the S-CSCF server directs the service request to a telephone network to which the target client device belongs. The server is applicable to subscribers of an IMS network benefiting from non-conversational services in packet mode from the IMS network, but having telephone services supplied thereto by a circuit-switched network. |
| US09648049B2 |
System and method for extending IP multimedia subsystem to HTML5 environments
The present invention provides a system and method for real-time communication signaling between HTML5 endpoints and the IMS Core of a telecommunication network. The method adapts complex signaling on the server-side into simple operations towards the Web. In an embodiment the system includes a network-side controller communicating over an Internet domain protocol with a client-side controller. The client-side controller provides a JavaScript API to encapsulate the signaling layer. The network-side controller includes session border control functionality, terminates Internet domain communications with the client-side, parses, and normalizes the Internet domain communications into an internal protocol suitable for communication with telecommunications network systems. The system thereby provides a dedicated signaling channel with session border control for applications on the client to interact with telecommunications network services. |
| US09648048B2 |
Message handling in an IP multimedia subsystem
A method of handling a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) communication at a SIP application server within an IP Multimedia Subsystem, the method including handling a message received from a Serving Call/State Control Function node based upon a header of the message containing the URI of the served user. The SIP message is handled according to one of an originating case based upon a P-Asserted Identity contained in the SIP message or a terminating case using a Request-Uniform Resource Identifier (R-URI) of the SIP message, the appropriate case being identified in said header. |
| US09648045B2 |
Systems and methods involving aspects of hardware virtualization such as hypervisor, detection and interception of code or instruction execution including API calls, and/or other features
Systems, methods, computer readable media and articles of manufacture consistent with innovations herein are directed to computer virtualization, computer security and/or memory access. According to some illustrative implementations, innovations herein may utilize and/or involve a separation kernel hypervisor which may include the use of a guest operating system virtual machine protection domain, a virtualization assistance layer, and/or a instruction execution detection/interception mechanism (which may be proximate in temporal and/or spatial locality to malicious code, but isolated from it). The instruction execution detection/interception mechanism may perform processing, inter alia, for detection and/or notification of, and actions upon by a monitoring guest, code execution by a monitored guest involving predetermined physical memory locations, such as API calls. Such actions may include interception of API calls within the monitored guest and simulation thereof by the monitoring guest or another authorized guest. |
| US09648043B2 |
Services within reverse proxy servers
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for processing messages transmitted between computer networks. Messages, such as requests from client devices for web services and other web content may be transmitted between multiple computer networks. Intermediary devices or applications such as proxy servers may receive, process, and transmit the messages between the communication endpoints. In some embodiments, a reverse proxy server may be configured to dynamically generate Representational State Transfer (REST) services and REST resources within the reverse proxy server. The REST services and REST resources within the reverse proxy server may handle incoming requests from client devices and invoke backend web services, thereby allowing design abstraction and/or enforcement of various security policies on the reverse proxy server. |
| US09648040B1 |
Authorization check using a web service request
An authorization check web service request is disclosed. The web service request can include a parameter controlling whether or not to perform the action associated with the web service request. The parameter can be included in the web service request itself, or it can be separated therefrom, such as being included in a customer account. Using this parameter, the requestor can perform an authorization check without actually performing the action. Thus, customers can determine the authorization result of a request without actually processing the request itself. Customers and other services can use this parameter to determine their effective permissions. |
| US09648039B1 |
System and method for securing a network
Communications can be proactively monitored using a system that is rules-based instead of anomaly-based or signature-based. Large quantities of information can be processed to deliver actionable information in a timely and prioritized fashion. The system can include a graphical dashboard interface to facilitate the management of a network or a network of overlapping networks. The system can be used to monitor, validate, and tune all or substantially all security controls within the secured area that include all of the networks for a particular enterprise. Unique address identification heuristics and source address identification heuristics can be incorporated into the system. |
| US09648035B2 |
User behavioral risk assessment
A predetermined particular behavioral profile is identified associated with at least one particular user of a computing system, the particular behavioral profile identifying expected behavior of the at least one user within the computing system. Activities associated with use of the computing system by the particular user are identified and it is determined whether the identified activities correlate with the particular behavioral profile. Identifying an activity that deviates from the particular behavioral profile beyond a particular threshold triggers a risk event relating to the particular user. |
| US09648032B2 |
System and method for blocking execution of scripts
Disclosed are exemplary aspects of systems and methods for blocking execution of scripts. An exemplary method comprises: intercepting a request for a script from a client to a server; generating a bytecode of the intercepted script; computing a hash sum of the generated bytecode; determining a degree of similarity between the hash sum of the bytecode and a plurality of hash sums of malicious and clean scripts stored in a database; identifying a similar hash sum from the database whose degree of similarity with the hash sum of the bytecode is within a threshold of similarity; determining a coefficient of trust of the similar hash sum; determining whether the requested script is malicious based on the degree of similarity and the coefficient of trust of the similar hash sum; and blocking the execution of the malicious script on the client. |
| US09648031B2 |
Identifying an imposter account in a social network
A method for identifying an imposter account in a social network includes a monitoring engine to monitor user accounts of a social network, an identifying engine to identify attributes associated with each of the user accounts of the social network, a matching engine to match the attributes associated with each of the user accounts of the social network, a determining engine to determine when one of the user accounts is an imposter account associated with identity theft of a victim account, a calculating engine to calculate a threshold, and an executing engine to execute an action against the identity theft of the victim account by the imposter account. |
| US09648030B2 |
Identifying an imposter account in a social network
A system for identifying an imposter account in a social network includes a monitoring engine to monitor user accounts of a social network, an identifying engine to identify attributes associated with each of the user accounts of the social network, a matching engine to match the attributes associated with each of the user accounts of the social network, a determining engine to determine when one of the user accounts is an imposter account associated with identity theft of a victim account, a calculating engine to calculate a threshold, and an executing engine to execute an action against the identity theft of the victim account by the imposter account. |
| US09648029B2 |
System and method of active remediation and passive protection against cyber attacks
A system and method for active remediation and/or passive protection against cyber attacks includes an active remediation and passive protection server computer for monitoring at least a portion of network data between at least one first network and at least one second network to detect one or more attacks and/or unauthorized access to at least one first agent in the at least one first network by at least one second agent in the at least one second network. The active remediation and passive protection server computer executes at least one of (i) one or more active remediation mechanisms to actively respond to the one or more detected attacks and/or unauthorized access and (ii) one or more passive protection mechanisms to passively protect against the one or more detected attacks and/or unauthorized access. |
| US09648028B2 |
Verification of signed video streams
Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for, among other things, secure passphrase handling for computing devices. In one respect, a method is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of passphrase elements from an input device. The method also includes performing a sequence of secure delay processing operations, each operation generating a delayed output value from an initial value. The passphrase is verified upon completion of the sequence of secure delay processing operations. Further, initial values of respective secure delay processing operations are based on respective passphrase elements and, for each secure delay processing operation after a first secure delay processing operation, a delayed output value from at least one other secure delay processing operations. |
| US09648024B2 |
Using connections between users in a social networking system to regulate operation of a machine associated with a social networking system user
A social networking system includes information identifying a machine (e.g., a robot, a drone, a computer, a thermostat, etc.) and a connection between the machine and an owner of the machine, which is a user of the social networking system capable of authorizing an action by the machine. The owner of the machine associates permissions associated with various actions by the machine, where a permission associated with an action identifies one or more criteria for performing the action. Permissions may specify types of connections between social networking system users and the owner of the machine via the social networking system to allow social networking system users with specific types of connections to the owner of the machine to perform certain actions using the machine. |
| US09648022B2 |
Digital rights domain management for secure content distribution in a local network
Systems and methods for secure content distribution to playback devices connected to a local network via a residential gateway using secure links are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention includes a content server, a rights management server, a residential gateway configured to communicate with the content server and the rights management server via a network, and a playback device configured to communicate with the residential gateway via a local network. In addition, the residential gateway is configured to receive protected content from the content server, the playback device is configured to request access to the protected content from the residential gateway, the residential gateway is configured to request access to the protected content from the rights management server and the request includes information uniquely identifying the playback device, the rights management server is configured to provide access information to the residential gateway when the information uniquely identifying the playback device satisfies at least one predetermined criterion with respect to playback devices associated with the residential gateway, the residential gateway and the playback device are configured to create a secure link between the residential gateway and the playback device via the local network, and the residential gateway is configured to decrypt the protected content using the access information provided by the rights management server and to encrypt the decrypted content for distribution to the playback device via the secure link. |
| US09648021B2 |
HTTPS content filtering method and device
A method for an HTTPS content filtering device includes forwarding a domain name resolution request from a client to a DNS server. One or more virtual IP addresses are generated, which correspond to one or more real IP addresses of a domain name resolution result received from the DNS server. The one or more virtual IP addresses are added to the domain name resolution result and sent to the client. When an HTTPS access request from the client is received, a real IP address corresponding to the virtual target IP address is determined, and the HTTPS access request is sent to an HTTPS server with the obtained real IP address. An HTTPS access result is received and filtered, and the virtual IP address is defined as the resource IP address for sending the filtered HTTPS access result to the client. An HTTPS content filtering device is also provided. |
| US09648020B2 |
License management system
A license management system comprises at least one processor capable of executing processor-executable code coupled with a non-transitory processor-readable medium storing a master license database and processor-executable code for causing the processor to: (a) store a master state of a network device indicative of at least one license key associated with the network device in the master license database; (b) access information indicative of a license key request for the network device subsequent to the storing of the master state, the license key request including a current state of the network device; (c) compare the master state of the network device with the current state of the network device; and (d) in response to the master state differing from the current state of the network device, generate an error message and store the error message in non-transitory processor-readable medium. |
| US09648016B2 |
Predictive information transmission
Embodiments of a system and methods for predictive transmission of information are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a ground moving target indicator (GMTI) tracker module receives a current position estimate from a user equipment and to generate position and/or velocity estimates. A database system, including a mission/role database and user information database, receives the position and/or velocity estimates and transmits user information to the user equipment based on a predicted position of the user and the mission/role of a user. |
| US09648013B2 |
Systems, methods and devices for performing passcode authentication
The invention provides systems, methods and devices for performing passcode authentication. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of performing passcode authentication conducted at a mobile device is provided which comprises the steps of: receiving an authentication request from a security gateway; receiving a passcode entered by a user of the mobile device; comparing the entered passcode to a passcode offset securely stored in a hardware security module (HSM) coupled to the mobile device; and, if the entered passcode corresponds with the passcode offset, generating a secure authentication confirmation message and transmitting the confirmation message to the security gateway; or, if the entered passcode does not correspond with the passcode offset, generating a secure authentication denial message and transmitting the authentication denial message to the security gateway. |
| US09648005B2 |
Method and system for extending network resources campus-wide based on user role and location
A method, system, and computer readable medium is disclosed which utilizes the LISP control plane to increase communications and access to enterprise resources in a network with multiple subnetworks, such as a university setting. As a result, the various embodiments of the present invention provide a routing and services dimension to enterprise discovery protocol traffic, such as Apple Bonjour traffic. A LISP instance ID, which is carried in the LISP header, is used to associate one or more end user devices with specific enterprise resources in a particular subnetwork or a service domain, wherein these resources may be accessed by the end user device even if the end user device migrates to another subnetwork. Another embodiment of the invention limits routing services advertisements from enterprise services to a subset of end user devices associated with particular user EIDs by using L2-LISP multicast techniques. |
| US09648003B2 |
Delegating authorizations
Delegating authorizations sufficient to access services is contemplate. The authorization may be delegated in the form of a token or other transmissible construct relied upon to authenticate access to services, such as but not necessarily limited to conferring a user identity established via authenticated device for the purposes of enabling an unauthenticated or unsecured device to access a service associated with the user identity. |
| US09648002B2 |
Location-based user disambiguation
Embodiments are directed to validating the identity of a user. In one scenario, a computer system determines that a login account has been created for a user, where the creation includes generation of a first identifier for the user based on a user's determined location at the time of account creation. The computer system next receives a login attempt from the user that includes a second, different identifier and one or more login credentials. The computer system then determines the location from which the login attempt was received and, using the second identifier and the determined login location, identifies the user account corresponding to the user. The computer system further authenticates the user upon determining that the second identifier and login location match the first identifier. |
| US09648000B2 |
Authenticating a device when connecting it to a service
There is provided a method and apparatus for authenticating user equipment access to a device over a communications network. The method comprises: sending a first message to the user equipment, the first message requesting the user to power off the device; detecting that the device is not available; sending a second message to the user equipment, the second message requesting that the user power on the device; detecting that the device is available; and if both detections are positive, then authenticating user equipment access to the device. |
| US09647996B2 |
Low power device with encryption
A server is in communication with a low power device. The server has a handshake key (Kh) with a key exchange that provides for a communication session between a mobile device and the low power device. The mobile device does not have the (Kh). A user mobile device is in communication with the server and uses a cipher to provide a secured communication between the mobile device and the low power device. |
| US09647995B2 |
System and method of decoupling and exposing computing device originated location information
A system and method is provided to determine location information of a portable computing device and, in particular, to a secure and scalable system and method of decoupling and exposing handset originated location information to third parties. The system includes a location platform to determine location information of a remote user, and an encryption service configured to secure the location information of the remote user and send the secure location information to a content provider. |
| US09647989B2 |
System and method of data interception and conversion in a proxy
An intercepting proxy server processes traffic between an enterprise user and a cloud application which provides Software as a Service (SaaS). The intercepting proxy server provides interception of real data elements in communications from the enterprise to the cloud and replacing them with obfuscating information by encrypting individual real data elements without disturbing the validity of the application protocol. To the processing cloud application real data are only visible as encrypted tokens. Tokens included in results returned from the cloud, are intercepted by the intercepting proxy server, and replaced with the corresponding sensitive real data. In this way, the enterprise is able to enjoy the benefits of the cloud application, while protecting the privacy of real data. |
| US09647985B2 |
Location-aware rate-limiting method for mitigation of denial-of-service attacks
A network component has a set of one or more rules, each of which has a match component and an action component. If an incoming packet maps to the match component of a rule, then the packet is handled according to the rule's action component. If the rule also includes a limit component, then if the packet maps to the rule's match component, a family history of the rule is updated, and the packet is handled according to the rule's action component only if the rule's family history satisfies the rule's limit component. |
| US09647984B2 |
System and method for securely using multiple subscriber profiles with a security component and a mobile telecommunications device
System and method for allowing a mobile telecom device to use multiple profiles. The system and method includes operating a security function to perform a cryptographic operation on a profile using a cryptography key of the security function thereby producing a cryptographically protected profile, storing the cryptographically protected profile, and activating the cryptographically protected profile by operating the security function to verify that the cryptographically protected profile has been cryptographically protected using the cryptography key of the security function, and upon verifying that the cryptographically protected profile has been protected using the cryptography key of the security function, activating the cryptographically protected profile. |
| US09647980B2 |
Apparatus and methods for a scalable communications network
A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, transmitting a first request for an identity of a first regional name authority pointer server of a plurality of regional name authority pointer servers to a national domain name system server responsive to determining that a name authority pointer associated with a telephone number is not stored in cache memory, transmitting a second request for the name authority pointer to the first regional pointer server identified by the domain name system server, where the first regional name authority pointer server corresponds to a geographic region associated with the telephone number, and receiving the name authority pointer from the first regional name authority pointer server. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09647978B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service
The present invention provides flexible call processing. For example, a call processor system can receive an inbound call intended for a called party and place an outbound call to the called party. The call processing system can provide the called party with a call transfer option. |
| US09647977B2 |
Secure electronic mail system
An e-mail system is disclosed that overcomes many deficiencies of, but is backward compatible with, existing e-mail systems. Embodiments of the system may include various features, including but not limited to: (1) secure transfer of e-mail messages, without the need for users to replace existing e-mail clients or to change e-mail addresses; (2) tracking of all actions performed in connection with an e-mail transmission; (3) the ability for a recipient to view information about an e-mail message, optionally including information about how other addressees have responded to it, before deciding whether to retrieve the e-mail message; (4) the aggregation of entire e-mail conversations into a single threaded view; (5) the ability to include both private and public messages in a single e-mail communication; (6) sender control over downstream actions performed in connection with an e-mail message; (7) flexible control over cryptographic methods used to encrypt emails messages for storage. |
| US09647975B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying spam messages using subject information
Systems and methods for identifying a spam email message. A system can include a rules database configured to store a plurality of ratio determination rules, a vectors database configured to store a plurality of known vectors, a message processing tool configured to receive an email message, a gram building tool configured to build a k-skip-n-gram set of word combinations according he ratio determination rules, a vector building tool configured to receive the k-skip-n-gram set of word combinations, and build a vector for each k-skip-n-gram word combination, and a spam identification tool configured to determine a spam presence threshold based on the cosine similarity for each k-skip-n-gram word combination and the plurality of known vectors for the particular email message subject field subject category, and determine that the email message contains spam when the spam presence threshold is exceeded. |
| US09647974B2 |
Method and apparatus for event notification
A method (300) and apparatus are disclosed for event notification. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a presence services system (PSS) (102) can have a controller (104) that manages operations of a communications interface (110). The controller can be programmed to monitor (302) presence information of a plurality of communication devices of an end user operating in a communications system, and receive (316) a request from a calendar reminder system (CRS) for access to the presence information. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09647969B2 |
Email as a transport mechanism for activity stream posting
A method, system and computer program product for utilizing email as a transport mechanism for activity stream posting. The method, program system, and computer product may include receiving an email, with content, at a target email system of a target from a source email system of a source. Content that is to be posted to an activity stream is extracted from the email content. The extracted content is posted to the activity stream. The method, program system, and computer product may further include examining the email at the target to identify whether the email includes content that is to be posted to the activity stream, or the target email system may deliver the email to a designated email address mailbox assigned to emails containing content to be sent to the activity stream. A notification of the email may be provided or the mailbox may be checked for email. |
| US09647967B2 |
Method of providing instant messaging service and multiple services expanded from instant messaging service
Provided is a method of providing an instant messaging service and multiple services expanded from the instant messaging service, the method including displaying a chat window for a chat room related to an instant messaging service, receiving a touch event input by a user on the chat window, selecting one service among a plurality of services expanded from the instant messaging service in response to the touch event, and displaying a window related to the selected service. |
| US09647966B2 |
Device, method and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for performing instant message communication
An instant message communication device that includes a database, a data transmission module, a processing module, and a memory is provided. When commands stored in the memory are performed by the processing module, the following operations are performed. User information that includes a user account is received through the data transmission module. An instant message software robot is driven to add the user account into a robot contact list of a robot account. An account pair relation corresponding to the user account and the robot account is stored in the database. A request is transmitted to a user device having the user account through the data transmission module. The robot account is determined being added to a user contact list. The instant message software robot is controlled to perform an instant message communication with the user device through the data transmission device according to the account pair relation. |
| US09647964B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing message, and method and apparatus for transmitting message in electronic device
A method usable by an electronic device displays in display image, content of a plurality of transmitted and received conversation messages. In an aspect, the messages may be displayed for an individual date, sequentially collated by date and time. In response to at least one detected touch on a touch screen, the method may compress at least one of (a) the transmitted or (b) received, conversation messages and displays an image element representing at least one of the compressed conversation messages. |
| US09647963B2 |
Method for controlling the establishment of a connection within a transport network
A method for controlling the establishment of a connection with a transport network, said message consisting of extracting from a first signaling message a piece of switching status information for a transport switch of said node, configuring said transport switch within said switching status (65), estimating (64) a piece of time information regarding the configuration of said transport switch and generating a second signaling message intended for a network element of said transport network, said second signaling message comprising a piece of time information for determining a configuration end date of said transport switch. Said second signaling message may be transmitted without waiting for the end of communication of said transport switch. A controller is also described. |
| US09647956B2 |
Method and systems for dynamic allocation of network resources
Methods and systems for dynamic allocation of network resources for optimized voice capacity and quality management are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for dynamic allocation of network resources for optimized voice capacity and quality management may include providing; monitoring real-time call metrics and real-time network traffic capacity usage of a plurality of network devices having a network traffic capacity; and adjusting the network traffic capacity based on at least one of an analysis of historical network traffic, an analysis of the real-time call metrics, or an analysis of the real-time network traffic capacity usage, wherein adjusting network capacity comprises one of activating additional network devices to increase the network traffic capacity or deactivating one or more of the plurality of network devices to decrease the network traffic capacity. |
| US09647949B2 |
Systems and methods for network transmission of big data
Systems and methods are described herein for providing one or more data transfer parameters. A network map of a network is stored, and input data regarding a desired data transfer is received. The input data includes a sender identifier associated with a sender node in the network, a receiver identifier associated with a receiver node in the network, and a performance metric. A time for initiating the desired data transfer is determined based on the network map, the sender identifier, the receiver identifier, and the performance metric, and the determined time is provided as a recommendation for initiating the data transfer. |
| US09647946B2 |
Controlling data access and rate in a network
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for controlling data access and rate in a network. An enforcement application can detect a request for a data session and determine how and when the requested data session is to be established. The enforcement application can consider various data, input obtained at the user device, and/or other considerations including subscriber data and network data. Based upon these data, the enforcement application can determine network congestion, available resources, available bandwidth, an allocation rate of congestion credits (“credits”) for the user, a flow rate of the credits from an account to a credit pool, and a usage rate of the credits from the credit pool. The enforcement application can be configured to enforce the usage rate against a data session and to issue one or more commands to control the data session. |
| US09647945B2 |
Mechanisms to improve the transmission control protocol performance in wireless networks
A system located on either side of a wireless network for reducing the amount of collisions in the wireless network comprises a TCP server in communication with a TCP client using TCP protocols that use client acknowledgements, and an acknowledgement-summarizing device adapted to summarize at least one client acknowledgement from the TCP protocols in a summarizing acknowledgement, and to transmit the summarizing acknowledgement into the wireless network. The acknowledgement-summarizing device may be replaced or combined with an acknowledgement-aggregating device located on either side of the wireless network and adapted to aggregate one or more client acknowledgements from the TCP protocols into an encoded packet and to transmit the encoded packet into the wireless network. A device located between the TCP server and the TCP client is adapted to derive one or more client acknowledgements from a single acknowledgement flowing between the TCP server and the TCP client, and to transmit all the derived client acknowledgements into the network. |
| US09647943B2 |
Method for providing tiered load balancing for a hosted voice-over internet protocol (VoIP) private branch exchange (PBX)
A system and method is provided for two-tiered load balancing on a hosted voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) private branch exchange (PBX). The system includes a plurality of client devices, at least one device load balancer, and at least one call load balancer. The device load balancer identifies a device group to which each client device belongs; and a cluster of computing resources for processing calls for the device group. The cluster is assigned to the device group based on prescribed conditions. In response to a communications request, call load balancers in communication with the device load balancers dynamically determine if predefined conditions are currently being met within an identified cluster of computing resources. If the predefined conditions are currently being met, then the communications request for a primary client device associated with the request is established via one of a plurality of server nodes within the cluster of computing resources. |
| US09647940B2 |
Processing packets by a network device
A method and apparatus for performing a lookup in a switching device of a packet switched network where the lookup includes a plurality of distinct operations each of which returns a result that includes a pointer to a next operation in a sequence of operations for the lookup. The method includes determining a first lookup operation to be executed, executing the first lookup operation including returning a result and determining if the result includes a pointer to another lookup operation in the sequence of operations. If the result includes a pointer to another lookup operation, the lookup operation indicated by the result is executed. Else, the lookup is terminated. |
| US09647928B2 |
OSPF point-to-multipoint over broadcast or NBMA mode
A network device identifies an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) link between the network device and a layer 2 network as one of a point-to-multipoint over broadcast interface or a point-to-multipoint over non-broadcast multi access (NBMA) interface, and performs database synchronization and neighbor discovery and maintenance using one of a broadcast model or a NBMA model. The network device also generates a link-state advertisement for the network device, where the link-state advertisement includes a separate link description for each point-to-point link within the layer 2 network; and sends the link-state advertisement to each fully adjacent neighbor in the layer 2 network. |
| US09647926B2 |
Procedure to identify multi-homed prefixes for IS-IS LFA
A method of a network device identifies multi-homed prefixes in an intermediate system-intermediate system (IS-IS) area or IS-IS domain during shortest path first (SPF) computation for use in a loop free alternate (LFA) computation. The method and network device select a next node in a shortest path tree (SPT) and determine a set of prefixes associated with the selected node in the SPT. A next prefix from the set of prefixes of the selected node is selected and a check is made whether the selected prefix exists in the local RIB associated with another node of a same level, then the selected prefix is marked as a multi-homed prefix in the local RIB. A check is made whether all prefixes associated with the selected node are processed and whether all nodes in the SPT have been processed, before downloading the local RIB to a global RIB. |
| US09647924B2 |
Propagating LDP MAC flush as TCN
A first provider edge (PE) device is configured to: receive a Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) MAC Flush message from a PE device via an input port; flush a routing table in response to the LDP MAC Flush message; determine whether the LDP MAC Flush message comprises a PE identifier corresponding to the PE device; generate a Topology Change Notification (TCN) message based on the LDP MAC Flush message when the LDP MAC Flush message comprises the PE identifier corresponding to the PE device; and output the TCN message. |
| US09647923B2 |
Network device mobility
According to one example embodiment, an EID-NOTIFY packet is defined for use with the Location/Identifier Separation Protocol (LISP). A first-hop network element may send EID-NOTIFY responsive to decoding a data packet from a previously undetected host on its subnetwork. A site network element may receive EID-NOTIFY, and send a MAP-REGISTER message to a mapping system. EID-NOTIFY may have substantially the same format as MAP-NOTIFY. This may enable the site network element to be removed more than one hop from the subnetwork. |
| US09647919B1 |
Automated determination of maximum service throughput
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for determining the maximum throughput of a service are disclosed. A first sequence of load tests is initiated for a service host. Individual ones of the load tests comprise determining a respective throughput at the service host for a respective number of concurrent connections to the service host. The number of concurrent connections increases nonlinearly in at least a portion of the first sequence of load tests. The first sequence of load tests is discontinued when the throughput is not increased by a threshold from one of the load tests to the next. An estimated maximum throughput for the service host is determined based at least in part on the first sequence of load tests. The estimated maximum throughput corresponds to a particular number of concurrent connections to the service host. |
| US09647917B2 |
Maintaining consistency within a federation infrastructure
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for a joining node to join a ring of nodes within a rendezvous federation. Embodiments of the invention include establishing a neighborhood of multiple nodes on the ring of nodes. The joining node indicates its intent to take id-space ownership for a portion of the id-space between the joining node and a selected immediately adjacent node. The joining node initiates a one-way monitoring relationship with the selected immediately adjacent node. The joining node receiving an indication from the selected immediately adjacent node that indicates acceptance of the joining node's intent to take id-space ownership for a portion of the id-space between the joining node and the selected node and indicates establishment of a one-way monitoring relationship between the selected node and the joining node. The joining node agrees to participate in a one-way monitoring relationship with the selected node. |
| US09647907B1 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium for diagnosing a conference call
A system, method, and computer readable medium that facilitate diagnosing a conference call are provided. A tap is deployed at the ingress side and the egress side of one or more processing systems that handle each leg of a conference. When a conference is disrupted by noise, loss, or the like, an operator may initiate a command to systemically record each leg of the conference for a predetermined period of time. Each leg may then be analyzed to determine if it is the source of the disruption. |
| US09647904B2 |
Customer-directed networking limits in distributed systems
Methods and apparatus for supporting customer-directed networking limits in distributed systems are disclosed. A client request is received via a programmatic interface, indicating a particular lower resource usage limit to be imposed on at least one category of network traffic at a particular instance of a network-accessible service. Resource usage metrics for one or more categories of network traffic at the particular instance are obtained. In response to a determination that resource usage at the particular instance has reached a threshold level, one or more responsive actions are initiated. |
| US09647900B2 |
Devices and methods supporting content delivery with delivery services
A device supporting content delivery is configured to run at least one content delivery (CD) service of a plurality of CD services. The plurality of CD services include delivery services. |
| US09647896B1 |
Rule-based actions for resources in a distributed execution environment
A distributed execution environment provides resources such as computing resources, hardware resources, and software resources. Resource action rules (“rules”) may be defined and associated with resources in the distributed execution environment. The rules may be evaluated based upon resource state data defining the state of one or more resources. The results of the evaluation of the rules may be utilized to take various actions. For example, the results of the evaluation of rules may be utilized to generate a user interface (UI) object for providing information regarding the evaluation of the rule, to initiate a workflow, and/or perform another type of action. The results might also be utilized to prohibit certain types of operations from being performed with regard to a resource. The results might be propagated to other resources. A UI might also be provided for use in defining the rules. |
| US09647895B2 |
Mapping relationships among virtual elements across a system
A technique for mapping relationships among virtual elements across a system includes: for a server having a virtualized network interface controller (vNIC) with a plurality of vNIC links connected to a switch, identifying relationships between physical ports on the switch and virtual ports on the switch; for each vNIC link, identifying local area network (LAN) interface information on the server; creating data structures establishing topology information between the switch and the server; and creating a mapping of each vNIC link to a respective virtual port on the switch by correlating the topology information with the LAN interface information. |
| US09647892B2 |
Cloud-based service resource provisioning based on network characteristics
Provisioning a resource to provide a service based on network characteristics is disclosed. A request for a service may be received and network characteristics of current resources providing the service may be identified. If the network characteristics do not satisfy a load policy, a new resource is provisioned to provide the service. The location of the new resource may subsequently be transmitted. If the network characteristics do satisfy the load policy, then one of the current resources may be used to provide the service in response to the request. |
| US09647889B1 |
Standby instances for auto-scaling groups
A computing resource service provider may provide computing instances organized into logical groups, such as auto-scaling groups. Computing instances assigned to an auto-scaling group may be place into standby. Standby instances may still be managed by the auto-scaling group but may not contribute to the capacity of the auto-scaling group for auto-scaling purposes. |
| US09647887B2 |
Mobile computing device and wearable computing device having automatic access mode control
A system can include a mobile computing device and a wearable computing device. The wearable computing device can include a sensor that outputs an indication that the wearable computing device is not being worn. Responsive to receiving the indication that the wearable computing device is being not being worn, one or both of the devices can be operable to change an access mode of computing environment provided by the respective device from an increased access mode to a reduced access mode. |
| US09647886B2 |
Update appliance communication settings to compensate for temperature fluctuations
Systems and methods for updating appliance communication settings to compensate for temperature fluctuations are provided. In particular, an appliance that includes one or more data communication components that provide wireless communication functionality can monitor one or more characteristics describing data communication failures experienced by the one or more data communication components. When the monitored characteristics indicate that the appliance is experiencing an increased rate of communication failure, the appliance can log the temperature conditions at the data communication components. Periodically, the appliance can analyze the logged temperatures to identify one or more temperature ranges associated with increased communication failure. The appliance can then update one or more communication settings associated with such temperature ranges so as to compensate for anticipated temperature fluctuations. |
| US09647883B2 |
Multiple levels of logical routers
Some embodiments provide a managed network for implementing a logical network for a tenant. The managed network includes a first set of host machines and a second set of host machines. The first set of host machines is for hosting virtual machines (VMs) for the logical network. Each of the first set of host machines operates a managed forwarding element that implements a first logical router for the tenant logical network and a second logical router to which the first logical router connects. The implementation of the second logical router is for processing packets entering and exiting the tenant logical network. The second set of host machines is for hosting L3 gateways for the second logical router. The L3 gateways connect the tenant logical network to at least one external network. |
| US09647875B1 |
Bloom filters with variable hash
In a method of performing discovery, at least a plurality of identifiers associated with a plurality of respective communication devices is processed, using a first hash function, to generate a first bit string. The first bit string is indicative of whether each of the plurality of identifiers is included in a group. An indication that a new hash function should be used is detected, and, in response to detecting the indication that a new hash function should be used, at least the plurality of identifiers is processed, using a second hash function different than the first hash function, to generate a second bit string. The second bit string is indicative of whether each of the plurality of identifiers is included in the group. |
| US09647873B2 |
Pilot sequence design for long range WLAN
In a method for generating a physical layer (PHY) data unit, pilot tone contribution sequence values for a first set of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols and for a second set of OFDM symbols are determined using a pilot mapping function. The first set is to be included in a signal field of the data unit, and the second set is to be included in a data portion of the data unit. The first set and the second set are generated to include pilot tones modulated based on the pilot tone contribution sequence values determined, respectively, for the first set of OFDM symbols and for the second set of OFDM symbols. The signal field is generated to include the first set, and the data portion is generated to include the second set. The data unit is generated to include at least the signal field and the data portion. |
| US09647868B2 |
Handling signals
Apparatus comprises a memory configured to store a matrix of transmit data; a multi-element antenna; and a transmitter configured to transmit a signal from a multi-element antenna as part of a packet within a transmit period in a switching interval by: switching between different elements of the multi-element antenna in a sequence of transmit intervals within the transmit period; and deriving the signal for transmission in different transmit intervals from different ones of the transmit data in the matrix. Also, apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive plural packets; and an accumulator configured, for each packet, to accumulate signals received in a switching interval of the packet. The apparatus is configured to: derive a correlation metric for each of the packets from the accumulated signals for the packets; identify a packet with the best correlation metric; identify a direction associated with the packet identified as having the best correlation metric; and provide the direction as an output. |
| US09647865B1 |
Iterative-diversity COFDM broadcasting with improved shaping gain
Transmitter apparatus to broadcast coded orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed (COFDM) radio-frequency carriers conveying low-density parity-check (LPDC) coding transmits the same coded DTV signals twice some time apart. The coded DTV signals of initial transmissions and of final transmissions are mapped to quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) of the COFDM carriers according to first and second patterns, respectively. Bits that map to lattice points in the first mapping pattern more likely to experience error are mapped to lattice points in the second mapping pattern less likely to experience error. Bits that map to lattice points in the second mapping pattern more likely to experience error are mapped to lattice points in the first mapping pattern less likely to experience error. Receiver apparatus demaps QAM symbols in the earlier and later transmissions of twice-transmitted COFDM signals and maximal-ratio combines the de-mapping results at bit level, rather than symbol level. |
| US09647862B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting device to device communication
A method for operating a device in a wireless communication system supporting Device to Device (D2D) communication system includes receiving a reference signal from each of at least one transmitting device, estimating a frequency offset between the reference signals and a comparison reference signal corresponding to the reference signals, and adjusting a transmit frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator of the device using the estimated frequency offset estimation. An apparatus for compensating for a frequency offset of a device in a wireless communication system supporting Device to Device (D2D) communication system includes a frequency offset estimator configured to receive reference signals from each of at least one transmitting device, and estimating a frequency offset between the reference signals and a comparison reference signal corresponding to the reference signals, and a voltage controlled oscillator configured to adjust a transmit frequency using the estimated frequency offset. |
| US09647851B2 |
Ingress noise inhibiting network interface device and method for cable television networks
Ingress noise from subscriber equipment is mitigated or prevented from reaching a cable television (CATV) network. All upstream signals including ingress noise are initially transmitted to the CATV network whenever their instantaneous power exceeds a threshold which typically distinguishes ingress noise from a valid upstream signal. Whenever the instantaneous power is below the threshold, ingress noise is blocked from reaching the CATV network. A gas tube surge protection device is included to resist component destruction and malfunction arising from lightning strikes and other high voltage, high current surges. |
| US09647843B2 |
System and method for secure database queries
Disclosed are a system and method of performing secure computations on a protected database. Embodiments of the method provide, in a secure processor, a database of cryptographically hashed values based on a database of cleartext values, receive a cryptographically hashed query value as input into the secure processor wherein the query value is a hash of a cleartext value that corresponds to a cleartext query, perform a comparison operation within the secure processor to determine the presence of the hashed query value within the database of cryptographically hashed values and provide the results of the comparison operation to an external interface of the secure processor, wherein the contents of the database of cryptographically hashed values and the comparison operations are encapsulated within the secure processor and unexposed externally therefrom. |
| US09647836B2 |
Secure storage for shared documents
Embodiments are directed towards managing data storage for secure storage of shared documents. A user or an application may provide data destined for encryption and a public key. Instruction set information that references at least a seed file that may be installed on the network computer may be generated. An encryption key based on the instruction set information may be generated. Header information that includes the instruction set may be generated. And, the header information may be encrypted using the public key. A secure bundle that includes the public key, the encrypted header information, and the encrypted data may be generated and provided to the user that provided the data and the public key or the application that provided the data and the public key. Decrypting the data included in the secure bundle the above actions are generally performed in reverse. |
| US09647831B2 |
Flexible architecture and instruction for advanced encryption standard (AES)
A flexible aes instruction set for a general purpose processor is provided. The instruction set includes instructions to perform a “one round” pass for aes encryption or decryption and also includes instructions to perform key generation. An immediate may be used to indicate round number and key size for key generation for 128/192/256 bit keys. The flexible aes instruction set enables full use of pipelining capabilities because it does not require tracking of implicit registers. |
| US09647828B2 |
Synchronous transfer of streaming data in a distributed antenna system
Method and apparatus for generating a jitter reduced clock signal from signal transmitted over a communication medium includes receiving, with high speed data interface circuitry, a modulated signal that includes a binary encoded data stream. A recovered clock signal is generated from the modulated signal and tracks the long-term drift in the modulated signal. A jitter reduced clock signal is generated by filtering the recovered clock signal with a filtering circuit having a bandwidth sufficient to remove jitter while allowing the jitter reduced clock signal to track the drift in the modulated signal. |
| US09647827B1 |
Precision clock enabled time-interleaved data conversion
An apparatus comprises a photonic oscillator circuit configured to generate optical signals that are separated by a uniform delay; radio frequency (RF) generating circuitry configured to receive the optical signals and produce a series of reference clock signals having a same clock signal frequency, wherein each reference clock signal in the series includes a uniform delay from a previous clock signal in the series; and a plurality of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuits, wherein an ADC circuit includes a signal input to directly receive an RF input signal that is continuous in time and amplitude, and a clock input to receive a reference clock signal of the repeating series of reference clock signals, wherein the ADC circuits are configured to sample a RF input signal at the frequency of the reference clock signal with the uniform delay to sample interleaved digital values representing the RF signal. |
| US09647824B2 |
System and apparatus for clock retiming with catch-up mode and associated methods
An apparatus includes analog or mixed-signal circuitry that operates in response to a first signal, and digital circuitry that operates in response to a second signal. The apparatus further includes a signal retiming circuit. The signal retiming circuit retimes an output signal of a digital signal source to reduce interference between the digital circuitry and the analog or mixed-signal circuitry by retiming edges of the output signal of the digital signal source to fall on cycle boundaries of the first signal. |
| US09647821B2 |
Method for transmitting sub-frame designation information to a downlink in a radio communication system
A method of transmitting subframe designating information in downlink in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention includes generating the subframe designating information for designating a subframe of a specific type in a radio frame and transmitting the generated subframe designating information to a user equipment, wherein the subframe designating information includes initial location information indicating an initial location of the subframe of the specific type on the radio frame and period information indicating a period for the subframe of the specific type to be repeated. |
| US09647814B2 |
Method for transmission of control channel signals
The present invention relates to a method in a network control node for transmission of control channel signals in a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system employing scheduling of physical resource blocks (PRBs) used for each new transmission of a control channel signal, wherein each control channel signal is related to one or more control channel elements (CCEs); the method comprising the steps of: removing user specific reference signals in associated physical resource blocks (PRBs) if the associated physical resource blocks (PRBs) comprises at least one control channel signal; inserting control channel signals in the associated physical resource blocks (PRBs); and transmitting the associated physical resource blocks (PRBs). Furthermore, the invention also relates to a computer program, a computer program product, and a network control node device thereof. |
| US09647811B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving a reference signal in a wireless communication system
A method and base station for transmitting user equipment specific reference signals to a user equipment. The method includes applying a set of Walsh codes to the UE-RSs; and transmitting the Walsh code applied UE-RSs on resource block (RB) pairs allocated to the UE. The applying includes: applying the set of Walsh codes to the UE-RSs in a forward direction of a time domain on a first subcarrier of a first RB pair, in a reverse direction of the time domain on a second subcarrier of the first RB pair and in the forward direction of the time domain on a third subcarrier of the first RB pair so as to be a first UE-RS pattern. |
| US09647808B2 |
Bandwidth in wireless communications
Definition of a combined bandwidth is disclosed. Bandwidths for components of a combined bandwidth can be defined by selecting configurations for the bandwidths from a group of available bandwidth configurations. The bandwidths are combined to define a contiguously combined bandwidth in a resource block unit. At least one set of coefficients corresponding to the available bandwidth configurations are used. The contiguously combined bandwidth shall not exceeds a predefined maximum bandwidth. A transmission bandwidth can be defined. A channel bandwidth can be defined based on the defined transmission bandwidth. |
| US09647805B2 |
Method for beam coordination, and a base station and a user terminal therefor
The invention concerns a method for beam coordination between a first base station (M1) and a second base station (P1), wherein interfering beams (B2-B4) transmitted from the first base station (M1) are determined based on measured reference signals, dependent on a ranking of interfering beams (B2-B4) which shall be restricted in use, a restriction of a use of radio resources in the first base station (M1) in at least one ranked interfering beam (B3) is performed, and user terminals (UE1, UE2) served by the second base station (P1) are scheduled on radio resources which are restricted in use in the first base station (M1) in said at least one ranked interfering beam (B3), a base station and a user terminal therefor. |
| US09647801B2 |
Method for selecting modulation tiers for transmissions over an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) channel
With the introduction of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology to communication channels in a cable network, cable modems that receive data downstream over subcarriers of the OFDM channel are grouped into modulation tiers based on at least one metric. Modulation tiers are generated at a subcarrier group level such that network elements can use different profile tiers depending in the subcarrier group in use. A scheduler facilitates the scheduling of modulation tiers for network element destination groups across subcarrier groups, where the modulation tier for a network element may vary between subcarrier groups. The scheduler also facilitates scheduling multiple network element destination groups for transmission of a plurality of subcarrier groups for optimal transmission to the network elements. |
| US09647795B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal and method of transmitting and receiving a signal
According to one embodiment, a transmitter for transmitting at least one broadcast signal having PLP (Physical Layer Pipe) data includes: a BCH (Bose-Chadhuri-Hocquenghem) encoder configured to BCH encode the PLP data; an LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) encoder configured to LDPC encode the BCH encoded PLP data and output FECFrames (Forward Error Correction Frames); a mapper configured to map data in the FECFrames onto constellations by QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) schemes; a time-interleaver configured to time-interleave the mapped data; a frame builder configured to build a signal frame including preamble symbols and data symbols; and an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) modulator configured to modulate data in the signal frame by an OFDM scheme. The PLP data are processed by an LDPC scheme for a long or a short LDPC FECframe. The preamble symbols include signaling information for the time-interleaved PLP data. The data symbols include the time-interleaved PLP data. |
| US09647789B2 |
Optical transmission device, optical transmission system, and test method for alarm function
An optical transmission device includes a splitter configured to have at least a first port, a second port, and a third port that output branched input light, branching ratios of the first port and the second port being variable, and a controller configured to reduce an optical level of output light from the first port to be monitored and increase an optical level of output light from the second port according to the reduced optical level of output light from the first port by controlling the branching ratios. |
| US09647785B2 |
Communication apparatus, signal processing method, and recording medium storing a signal processing program
In a communication system incorporating a communication apparatus that transfers/receives a TS packet using MPEG-2-TS to synchronize a video signal with an audio signal includes a communication circuit to pad the TS packet with a null frame to reach a prescribed frame size when storing the TS packet that includes a PCR value in a frame. In the communication apparatus, the communication circuit deletes the null frame in the TS packet when receiving the TS packet. The communication apparatus further includes an encoder that outputs a PCR report signal that indicates that the generated TS packet includes the PCR value to the communication circuit. In the communication apparatus, the size of the frame is set in multiples of the size of the TS packet. The communication apparatus further includes an input device to configure whether the TS packet is padded automatically or manually. |
| US09647777B2 |
Icebreaker activities using an intelligent beverage container
Systems, devices, and methods are provided for conducting a social interaction. A first user account may be associated with a first beverage container. A second beverage container may be detected as being proximate to the first beverage container. A second user account associated with the second beverage container may be accessed to identify a commonality between the first and second user accounts. The commonality may be objective and/or subjective information or data about the users of the first and second beverage containers. Information indicative of the commonality may be displayed on an electronic display of at least one of the beverage containers. The electronic display may be flexible such that it conforms to a curvature of the beverage container. |
| US09647774B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving data on the basis of adaptive blind interference alignment
A method and apparatus are presented for transmitting a signal in accordance with an adaptive blind interference alignment (BIA) scheme in a wireless access system. A transmitter configures a first block including desired signals and interference signals on the basis of a number of receivers within a cell and a number of reception modes of the receivers. Further, the transmitter configures a second block including either the desired signals or the interference signals, and configures alignment blocks for each of the receivers by combining the first block with the second block. The transmitter transmits the alignment blocks to the receivers in accordance with transmission symbol patterns corresponding to the alignment blocks. Symbol vectors included in the alignment blocks for each of the receivers are configured to be overlapped between the receivers. |
| US09647766B2 |
Method, communication apparatus, and communication system
A method of communication through a network, executed by a communication apparatus that performs transmission by selecting a transmission mode, the method includes determining whether to transmit the data in either a first mode or a second mode when transmitting data; transmitting the data using a predetermined number of kinds of optical signals having different levels in light intensity when determined to transmit in the first mode; and transmitting the data using a fewer number of kinds of optical signals having different levels in light intensity than the predetermined number when determined to transmit in the second mode. |
| US09647762B2 |
Integrated parallel optical transceiver
Aspects of the present invention include an optical transceiver for providing transmission and reception of optical signals. The optical transceiver includes a carrier having two opposing surfaces and one or more openings extending from a first of the two opposing surfaces to a second of the two opposing surfaces. The optical transceiver includes a laser driver chip coupled to the first surface. The optical transceiver includes a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array chip coupled to the first surface. The optical transceiver includes a photodetector array chip coupled to the first surface. The optical transceiver includes a receiver amplifier chip coupled to the first surface. The optical transceiver includes an optical coupling element coupled to the second surface. The VCSEL array chip and the photodetector array chip are disposed such that optical signals can pass through the one or more openings in the carrier. |
| US09647761B1 |
Flexible rate communication signalling
Flexible rate communication signalling apparatus and methods are disclosed. A determination is made as to a set of one or more of first frames and second frames which would provide a desired communication rate. The first frames and the second frames have a common frame structure but different associated rates. The determined set of one or more of the first frames and the second frames, including received client signals, is generated. |
| US09647758B2 |
Cabling connectivity monitoring and verification
Connectivity between components in a system is monitored by applying a low voltage at one end of an RF cable, interpreted as a “0” logical state, and determining whether a similar voltage appears at the other end of the cable. If the cable is connected properly, the DC voltage applied at one end will appear at the other end and a proper indication is generated. If the expected voltage level does not appear at the other side, it means that RF connection was not correctly established and an alert is generated. Test systems for testing connectivity may include a first component comprising at least one port, at least one capacitor, and at least one resistor for providing high impedance. A controller provides a first logic state to the at least one port, scans multiple input ports of the system, and records a link corresponding to the applied first logic state. |
| US09647757B2 |
Systems and methods for optical modulation index calibration in a CATV network
Systems and methods for optical modulation index calibration in a CATV network. |
| US09647756B2 |
Adjustable return bandwidth in CATV nodes including RFoG optical units (R-ONU)
A Cable Television (CATV) node circuit has a forward pathway having a fiber optic input and a forward output. The first pathway passes a forward signal to the forward output in a first frequency range. A return pathway is coupled to the forward pathway. The return pathway has a fiber optic output. The return pathway passes a return signal to the fiber optic output in a second frequency range, wherein the first frequency range is higher than the second frequency range. A cancellation circuit is coupled to the forward pathway and the return pathway. The cancellation circuit separates and isolates the forward signal from the return signal. |
| US09647755B1 |
Light augmented system and method for secure device pairing
A light augmented system for securely pairing a computing device and a peripheral device may include a light emitting device provided in the peripheral device, and a light receiving device provided in the computing device. A sensing device may be included in one of the computing device or the peripheral device, and a magnet may be included at a specific location in the other of the computing device or the peripheral device. Upon detection by the sensing device of the magnet at the specific location and confirmation that the computing device and the peripheral device are in a secure closed position, a secure pairing operation may be carried out between the peripheral device and the computing device as the light emitting device transmits a pattern of light to the computing device, the pattern of light defining a bit stream of information corresponding to a pairing code known by the peripheral device and the computing device. |
| US09647754B2 |
Active system for sensing a target object
An active system includes a transmitting/capturing device having a detection device configured to capture a target object, where the transmitting/capturing device includes a laser source and a camera. The active system also includes a first control system configured to drive a first positioning system to align a beam path between the transmitting/capturing device and the target object, and a second control system configured to drive a second positioning system to align the beam path. The active system further includes a third control system configured to drive a third positioning system to align the transmitting/capturing device, where the third control system has an additional capturing device, and the third positioning system can be driven on the basis of data from the additional capturing device. |
| US09647753B1 |
Coherent optical receiver
A coherent optical receiver includes: an attenuator that adjusts a power of an input optical signal; a mixer that mixes an optical signal output from the attenuator and local oscillator light; a photo detector that converts an optical signal output from the mixer into an electric signal; an amplifier that amplifies an output signal of the photo detector; a gain controller that controls a gain of the amplifier; a memory that stores dependence information that indicates a relation between an input optical power of an optical signal of a specified wavelength and a gain of the amplifier; and a controller that calculates an input optical power of the target wavelength based on a gain of the amplifier and the dependence information, and controls an attenuation amount of the attenuator based on the calculated input optical power, when a WDM optical signal is input into the coherent optical receiver. |
| US09647748B1 |
Global broadband antenna system
An antenna system for a vehicle. The antenna system includes at least one antenna, wherein each of the at least one antenna is configured to send signals to and receive signals from one or more non-geostationary satellites. Additionally, the antenna system includes at least one directional antenna, wherein each of the at least one directional antenna is configured to receive signals from one or more geostationary satellites. Furthermore, the at least one antenna and the at least one directional antenna are configured to be communicatively coupled to a computing device on-board the vehicle. |
| US09647744B2 |
Methods and arrangements in a wireless communication system
Method and arrangement in a user equipment for adjusting signals transmitted in uplink to a network node, based on a feedback value received from the network node. The method comprises transmitting a signal, to be received by the network node. Further, the method comprises receiving a feedback signal from the network node, providing feedback on the transmitted signal. In addition, the method comprises obtaining a value of a time delay of the received feedback signal. Furthermore, the method comprises adjusting signals transmitted in the uplink according to the received feedback signal, wherein compensation is made for the obtained time delay value of the received feedback signal. |
| US09647742B2 |
Antenna architecture and operational method for RF test connector reduction
A method and system configures a wireless communication device to support various radio frequency test modes. A controller determines whether an RF test cable is connected between test equipment and a test connector while a corresponding transceiver(s) is operating. In response to determining that the RF test cable is connected between test equipment and the test connector while the corresponding transceiver is operating, the controller provides an antenna tuner configuration(s) corresponding to the operating transceivers to support a test mode which, for example, can include any of a carrier aggregation (CA) test mode and a diversity transmission test mode. However, if the RF test cable is not connected between test equipment and the test connector while the corresponding transceiver(s) is operating, the controller determines an antenna tuner configuration corresponding to a normal/non-test device communication mode. The controller configures the antenna tuner(s) using the determined antenna tuner configuration(s). |
| US09647740B1 |
Proximal user detection with a complex measurement receiver
A method, communication device, and computer program product mitigates Specific Absorption Rating (SAR) exposure to a user who is proximate to a communication device. The method includes an on-device measurement receiver of a communication device detecting a first complex reflected signal corresponding to transmit signals that are reflected by a first antenna. The method includes a controller determining a pair of first complex return loss values based on a first complex transmit power signal and the first complex reflected signal. The method includes the controller determining whether both the first complex return loss values differ from respective baseline values by respective Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) threshold amounts. In response to the controller determining that both the first complex return loss values differ by the respective SAR threshold amounts, the controller reduces an output power level of a transceiver that delivers power to the first antenna. |
| US09647736B1 |
Compressed training for massive MU-MIMO in a wireless local area network
A WAP including: an MU grouping module; a constrained station identifier: a precode matrix calculator and compressor, and a spatial mapper. The MU grouping module selects a downlink MU group of stations and a number of downlink streams. The constrained station identifier identifies any of the stations in the MU group that are constrained stations and a limit on the number of training streams supported for the most constrained station. The precode matrix calculator calculates a precode matrix “Q” for spatially separating the aggregate number of MU-MIMO downlink streams. The precode matrix compressor responds to the identification of any constrained stations in the MU group, by compressing the precede matrix Q into a compressed precode matrix “C(Q)”. The spatial mapper spatially maps a training portion of each packet with a selected one of C(Q) and Q as a precode matrix; based on whether or not a constrained station is identified within the MU group. |
| US09647734B2 |
Large-scale fading coefficient estimation in wireless massive MIMO systems
Efficient algorithms for estimating LSFCs with no aid of SSFCs by taking advantage of the channel hardening effect and large spatial samples available to a massive MIMO base station (BS) are proposed. The LSFC estimates are of low computational complexity and require relatively small training overhead. In the uplink direction, mobile stations (MSs) transmit orthogonal uplink pilots for the serving BS to estimate LSFCs. In the downlink direction, the BS transmits either pilot signal or data signal intended to the MSs that have already established time and frequency synchronization. The proposed uplink and downlink LSFC estimators are unbiased and asymptotically optimal as the number of BS antennas tends to infinity. |
| US09647729B2 |
System and method for data collection using near-field magnetic induction
A method of collecting location data from objects moving within a specified site includes providing at least one tag reader and a plurality of tags each configured to communicate via near-field magnetic induction across an open-air gap of at least two meters. The tag reader listens for a tag signal transmitted by any one or more of the tags. Each tag transmits a tag signal containing a unique identifier that is received at a tag reader. The tag signal is demodulated to determine the unique identifier associated with the particular tag. Also disclosed is a system for monitoring a condition within a shielded environment using a tag and a tag reader that communicate using near-field magnetic induction. |
| US09647726B2 |
Arrangement for managing wireless communication between devices
An arrangement for managing bi-directional wireless communication between a controller and a plurality of controllable-devices wherein each controllable-device is able to provide operable function specific instructions to the controller as to how it would like to be operated by the controller and wherein a proximity mechanism means provides bidirectional communications over a distance of a few centimeters between the controller and the or each controllable-device. |
| US09647725B1 |
Wireless power interface using an NFC antenna
A circuit comprises an antenna and a first port coupled to the antenna using a first reactive circuit. A first switching device is coupled across first and second input nodes of the first port, and configured to convey a signal across the first and second input nodes to a Near Field Communication (NFC) circuit in a first mode, and to isolate the NFC circuit from the antenna in a second mode. The antenna has a first resonance at a first frequency in a first mode and has a second resonance at a second frequency in a second mode. A second port is coupled to the antenna using a second reactive circuit. A rectifier has an input coupled to the second port and an output coupled to an energy storage device. A second switching device is coupled across the second port and configured to control an amount of current flowing through the rectifier by alternating between a first state and a second state at a third frequency when the circuit is in the second mode. |
| US09647718B2 |
Wireless communication method
A wireless communication method between a plurality of end-points by a plurality of base stations, based on frames that have a CSS-modulated preamble followed by a data body modulated at a narrower bandwidth, either by CSS or by a UNB modulation. The system permit to avoid or mitigate collision between packets and to increase the network capacity, maintaining the simplicity of detection inherent of CSS modulation. |
| US09647717B2 |
Digital pre-distortion parameter obtaining method and pre-distortion system
The present application relates to the field of digital pre-distortion processing. Disclosed in an embodiment of the present application are a pre-distortion parameter obtaining method and pre-distortion system for simplifying calculating complexity of a model while achieving good signal processing effect. The method comprises: after the beginning of periodic filtering processing, obtaining a pre-distorted signal after pre-distortion processing and a first feedback signal after power amplification (S101); obtaining a second feedback signal by eliminating the rated linear gain of the first feedback signal (S102); determining a pre-distortion parameter according to a matrix formed by the second feedback signal and a matrix formed by the pre-distorted signal (S103); updating the pre-distortion parameter index table according to the determined pre-distortion parameter (104). |
| US09647716B2 |
Sensor device and sensor arrangement
An integrated sensor device (130) according to an embodiment includes a sensing element (140) and a communication interface (150) to communicate with an external control device (110). The communication interface (150) includes a receiver circuit (160) to receive, from the external device, a signal indicating a request to change a transmission mode, and a transmitter circuit (170) to change the transmission mode based on the received signal. By using an embodiment, it may be possible to improve a trade-off between a robustness of a system comprising a sensor even under adverse operational conditions, simplifying such an implementation or architecture, its energy consumption and a bandwidth of its infrastructure. |
| US09647713B2 |
Smart ultra box, protective case and mobile phone protective case with the same
A smart ultra box adapting to a protective case is disclosed. The protective case can be assembled with a power bank to form a mobile phone protective case. The power bank provides an identification unit. The ultra box includes a main body, a conversion unit, a flexible printed circuit board, a processing unit and a memory unit. The processing unit connects to the conversion unit. The memory unit, connected to the processing unit, stores at least one PIN information. When the protective case assemble with the power bank, the ultra box according to the PIN information determines whether the identification unit is a real identification code of the processing unit; if not, the power bank stops power supply by the processing unit controlled; on the contrary, if yes, the power bank starts power supply by the processing unit controlled. |
| US09647709B1 |
Convertible data carrier cradle for electronic mobile device
A data carrier including a SIM card may be converted into a cradle to support a mobile communications device after the SIM card is removed and inserted into the device. The card body includes first, second, and third manipulation lines extending across the card body. The card body may be manipulated about these manipulation lines to form a stand and cradle comprising a first support portion to support a rear surface of the mobile communications device, a second support portion mobile to support a side surface of the mobile communications device, and a lip portion that secures the mobile communications device within the cradle. The lip portion is shorter in length than either the first or second support portions to limit obstruction of a display for the mobile communications device when disposed within the cradle to facilitate viewing of the display. |
| US09647706B2 |
Antenna tuning circuit
A system for tuning an impedance network for optimal signal strength is disclosed. The system includes a test tone generator, a radio frequency (RF) receiver, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) coupled to the RF receiver and a controller coupled to the RSSI. The controller is configured to output a control signal based on a RSSI value measured by the RSSI. |
| US09647704B2 |
Digital predistortion system and method based on envelope tracking and radio frequency system
Embodiments of the present disclosure a digital predistortion system and method based on envelope tracking, and a radio frequency system, so as to reduce complexity of the digital predistortion system based on envelope tracking. The system includes: a digital predistorter, a digital-to-analog converter, a frequency mixer, a power amplifier, and a power supply apparatus; where a value range of a predistortion signal that is obtained when the digital predistorter uses a first processing manner is within a first interval, and in this case, a value of a supply voltage generated by the power supply apparatus is a constant; a value range of the predistortion signal that is obtained when the digital predistorter uses a second processing manner is within a second interval, and in this case, a change of the supply voltage generated by the power supply apparatus tracks a change of an envelope signal of the predistortion signal. |
| US09647700B2 |
Power amplification module
A power amplification module includes a first amplification transistor that receives a first signal outputs an amplified second signal from the collector thereof; and a bias circuit that supplies a bias current to the base of the first amplification transistor. The first bias circuit includes a first transistor that is diode connected and is supplied with a bias control current; a second transistor that is diode connected, the collector thereof being connected to the emitter of the first transistor; a third transistor, the base thereof being connected to the base of the first transistor, and the bias current being output from the emitter thereof; a fourth transistor, the collector thereof being connected to the emitter of the third transistor and the base thereof being connected to the base of the second transistor; and a first capacitor between the base and the emitter of the third transistor. |
| US09647699B1 |
Dual supply voltage power harvesting in an open drain transmitter circuit
A power harvesting circuit for use in an open drain transmitter circuit is configured to generate two distinct harvested supply voltages at different voltage levels along with two distinct cascode voltages at different voltage levels. The harvested supply voltages are used to power circuitry in the transmitter circuit. The cascode voltages are used to bias cascode transistors in the open drain circuitry for different channels. |
| US09647696B2 |
Forward error correction with turbo/non-turbo switching
A forward error correction and differentially encoded signal obtained via a communication channel is supplied to a soft-input soft-output (SISO) differential decoder that is bi-directionally coupled to a SISO forward error correction decoder. Over a first portion of a plurality of decoding iterations of the differentially encoded signal, the SISO differential decoder and the SISO forward error correction decoder are operated in a turbo decoding mode in which decoded messages generated by the SISO differential decoder are supplied to the SISO forward error correction decoder and forward error correction messages are supplied to the differential decoder. Over a second portion of the plurality of decoding iterations of the differentially encoded signal, the SISO forward error correction decoder is operated in a non-turbo decoding mode without any messages passing to and from the SISO differential decoder. Decoder output is obtained from the SISO forward error correction decoder. |
| US09647691B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing trace data streams
An apparatus comprising: a lower-layer decoder configured to decode a data stream formatted according to a lower-layer protocol that interleaves portions of a first data stream and one or more additional data streams to produce separated data streams comprising the first data stream and separately the one or more additional data streams; and a higher-layer decoder configured to decode the first data stream formatted according to a higher-layer protocol to produce trace data, the higher-layer decoder comprising: synchronization logic configured to process the first data stream to detect a data pattern within the first data stream as a synchronization event; and decoding logic configured to use the synchronization event to synchronize decoding of the received first data stream to produce the trace data. |
| US09647690B2 |
Systems and methods for error correction coding
Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for error correction coding and decoding procedures for data storage or transfer. A plurality of data blocks is received. A plurality of checksum blocks are generated by multiplying the plurality of data blocks by a coding matrix, where the coding matrix comprises values of at least one basic interpolation polynomial and the multiplying is according to a finite field arithmetic for a finite field comprising all possible values of the plurality of data blocks and the plurality of coding blocks. The plurality of data blocks and the plurality of checksum blocks are stored in a data storage medium. |
| US09647689B2 |
Robust connection for low-energy wireless networks
A system and method for detecting and correcting bit errors in received packets is disclosed. The presence of bit errors in a received packet are detected using CRC bits carried in the received packet. One or more erroneous bits may be identified in a header of the packet. The erroneous bits are corrected by setting the erroneous bits to match the expected bit settings. The corrected packet is then error-checked using the CRC bits. Errors may be detected in two sequential packets where a second packet is a retransmission of a first packet. Differing bits are identified in the two sequential packets. A packet is modified to include additional combinations of the differing bits and then error-checked with each combination of the differing bits. If a modified packet passes error checking, then process the modified packet. |
| US09647688B1 |
System and method of encoding in a serializer/deserializer
A method of encoding a data word in a physical coding sublayer before serial transmission is provided, where data words comprising data bits are received, and the data words encoded using one or more 8B/10B encodings to generate 8B/10B transmission characters. ECC check bits are then generated, and the transmission characters and ECC check bits DC balanced prior to shuffling the bits together to form an encoded word to be transmitted. A receiver may decode by implementing a decode process with error correction. In some embodiments 26 data bits from two 13-bit word are encoded into a 40-bit encoded word. Bits of two or more encoded words may be interleaved for transmission, or multiple copies of encoded words sent. An integrated circuit serializer/deserializer comprises hardware to perform encoding and/or decoding. A hardware functional verification system may also implement the disclosed encoding/decoding for interconnections between emulation chips. |
| US09647686B2 |
Parallel processing of data having data dependencies for accelerating the launch and performance of operating systems and other computing applications
Representative embodiments are disclosed for a rapid and highly parallel decompression of compressed executable and other files, such as executable files for operating systems and applications, having compressed blocks including run length encoded (“RLE”) data having data-dependent references. An exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of processors or processor cores to identify a start or end of each compressed block; to partially decompress, in parallel, a selected compressed block into independent data, dependent (RLE) data, and linked dependent (RLE) data; to sequence the independent data, dependent (RLE) data, and linked dependent (RLE) data from a plurality of partial decompressions of a plurality of compressed blocks, to obtain data specified by the dependent (RLE) data and linked dependent (RLE) data, and to insert the obtained data into a corresponding location in an uncompressed file. The representative embodiments are also applicable to other types of data processing for applications having data dependencies. |
| US09647683B2 |
Entropy encoding and decoding scheme
Decomposing a value range of the respective syntax elements into a sequence of n partitions with coding the components of z laying within the respective partitions separately with at least one by VLC coding and with at least one by PIPE or entropy coding is used to greatly increase the compression efficiency at a moderate coding overhead since the coding scheme used may be better adapted to the syntax element statistics. Accordingly, syntax elements are decomposed into a respective number n of source symbols si with i=1 . . . n, the respective number n of source symbols depending on as to which of a sequence of n partitions into which a value range of the respective syntax elements is sub-divided, a value z of the respective syntax elements falls into, so that a sum of values of the respective number of source symbols si yields z, and, if n>1, for all i=1 . . . n−1, the value of si corresponds to a range of the ith partition. |
| US09647680B2 |
Walsh encoding for peripheral sensor interface 5
A sensor may encode data using a first encoding scheme. The first encoding scheme may include encoding a data bit, included in the data, using a first chip sequence that corresponds to a first set of current levels. A second encoding scheme may be used by another sensor to encode other data. The second encoding scheme may include encoding a data bit, included in the other data, using a second chip sequence that corresponds to a second set of current levels. The first chip sequence and the second chip sequence being different chip sequences. The sensor may modulate a current, based on the first set of current levels, to provide the encoded data. |
| US09647676B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing SAR input loading
The disclosure provides a successive approximation register analog to digital converter (SAR ADC). The SAR ADC includes a charge sharing DAC that includes an array of MSB (most significant bit) capacitors, an array of LSB (least significant bit) capacitors, and an error correction capacitor. A zero crossing detector is coupled to the charge sharing DAC. The zero crossing detector generates a digital output. A successive approximation register (SAR) state machine is coupled to the zero crossing detector and operates the charge sharing DAC in a sampling mode and a conversion mode. During the sampling mode an input voltage is provided to the array of MSB capacitors and the error correction capacitor. |
| US09647668B2 |
Apparatus for flexible electronic interfaces and associated methods
A semiconductor die includes at least one flexible interface block. The flexible interface block includes at least one interconnect, and at least one buffer coupled to the at least one interconnect. The flexible interface block further includes a routing interface coupled to circuitry integrated in the semiconductor die, and a controller coupled to provide communication between the routing interface and the at least one buffer. |
| US09647666B1 |
Transmitter and semiconductor device
A transmitter may include a pre-driver and a main driver. The pre-driver may be configured to generate a pull-up signal and a pull-down signal in response to an enabling signal and a first data. The main driver may receive an external voltage and a ground voltage. The main driver may be configured to generate a transmission data in response to the pull-up signal and the pull-down signal. The pull-up signal and the pull-down signal may be enabled to a voltage level higher than the external voltage applied to the main driver. |
| US09647663B1 |
Differential input buffer circuits and methods
An input buffer circuit that receives differential signals includes a first resistive path circuit, a second resistive path circuit and a feedback circuit. The first resistive path circuit may generate a first common mode voltage from the differential signals. The feedback circuit is coupled to the first resistive path circuit. The feedback circuit receives the first common mode voltage as an input. The second resistive path circuit includes a transistor circuit and a resistor formed in a serial circuit configuration. The second resistive path circuit may generate a second common mode voltage on a node formed between the transistor circuit and the resistor by controlling activation of the transistor circuit using outputs from the feedback circuit. The first common mode voltage may be substantially identical to the second common mode voltage. |
| US09647660B1 |
Apparatus and method for universal high range level shifting
Apparatus for converting a first input signal from a first voltage domain to an output signal for a second voltage domain, the apparatus configured to operate within the first voltage domain or within the second voltage domain. The apparatus comprising input driver circuitry configured to generate second input signal based on the first input signal and a control signal received by input driver circuitry. The apparatus also comprising selection circuitry configured to generate a selection signal based on the control signal. The apparatus also comprising cross-coupled circuitry configured to generate a level-shifted signal at an intermediate node based on the first input signal, the second input signal, and the selection signal. The cross-coupled circuitry comprises a first pair of parallel transistors and a second pair of parallel transistors. The apparatus further comprising output driver circuitry configured to generate output signal for the second voltage domain based on the level-shifted signal. |
| US09647657B1 |
Programmable slew rate power path switch with integrated super capacitor charging system
A fully integrated circuit configuration that can be used to control the power path of a pair of PMOS load switches is described. The circuit also integrates a programmable slew rate for the second PMOS load switch in order to control the power path from the input system voltage (battery or power supply) or from a backup source of power. The integrated circuit configuration also contains a charge pump circuit which can be used to charge the backup source of power to a voltage that is greater than the input voltage. |
| US09647650B2 |
Clock generating device
A clock generating device includes a first timing delay module, a multiplexer, and a second timing delay module. The multiplexer is electrically connected to the first timing delay module. The second timing delay module is electrically connected to the multiplexer. The first timing delay module generates a plurality of delayed clock signals based on a reference clock signal. The multiplexer outputs a first delayed clock signal and a second delayed clock signal, among the plurality of delayed clock signals, based on a clock generating signal. The second timing delay module generates an output clock signal based on the clock generating signal, the first delayed clock signal and the second delayed clock signal. |
| US09647647B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first circuit block that is connected between a first power supply voltage line and a first reference voltage line, a second circuit block that is connected between a second power supply voltage line and a second reference voltage line and transmits and receives signals with the first circuit block, a first clamp circuit that clamps a potential difference between the second power supply voltage line and the first reference voltage line, a resistor circuit that is connected between the second power supply voltage line and the second circuit block and includes a resistance value that is greater than an impedance of the first clamp circuit, and a second clamp circuit that clamps a potential difference between a line connected between the resistor circuit and the second circuit block and the first reference voltage line. |
| US09647638B2 |
Architecture to reject near end blockers and transmit leakage
A method and apparatus for minimizing transmit signal interference is provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a signal and amplifying the received signal. The received signal is then mixed with an intermediate frequency signal to obtain a baseband modulated signal. The baseband modulated signal is first filtered in an RC filter. The resulting signal is then divided by a preselected amount and the first divided portion is sent to a main path of a biquad filter, which produces a first stage biquad filtered signal. The second portion of the divided signal is sent to an auxiliary path of the biquad filter, and produces a second filtered signal. The first and second signals are then recombined and sent to the second stage of the biquad filter, where further filtering takes place. |
| US09647637B2 |
Saw filter with improved stop band suppression
A filter working with surface acoustic waves comprises a piezoelectric substrate (SU), a first transducer (IDT1) arranged in the acoustic track coupled to an input, having a first mean finger period (pi) assigned to a center frequency of a pass band of the filter and a second transducer (IDT2) arranged in the acoustic track coupled to an output, having the same first mean finger period (p1), and a reflector arranged between first and second transducer having a second mean finger period (p2) assigned to a stop band frequency different from the center frequency. Further, a new type of very broad bandwidth filters with small insertion loss and high return loss and high rejection are given that use a substrate that can propagate a PSAW and comprises fan shaped transducers. |
| US09647636B1 |
Piezoelectric package-integrated delay lines for radio frequency identification tags
Embodiments of the invention include delay line circuitry that is integrated with an organic substrate. Organic dielectric material and a plurality of conductive layers form the organic substrate. The delay line circuitry includes a piezoelectric transducer to receive a guided electromagnetic wave signal and to generate an acoustic wave signal to be transmitted with an acoustic transmission medium. An acoustic reflector is communicatively coupled to the acoustic transmission medium. The acoustic reflector receives a plurality of acoustic wave signals from the acoustic transmission medium and reflects acoustic wave signals to the piezoelectric transducer using the acoustic transmission medium. The transducer converts the reflected acoustic signals into electromagnetic waves which are then transmitted back through the antenna and decoded by the reader. |
| US09647628B2 |
Low-loss tunable radio frequency filter
A method of constructing an RF filter comprises designing an RF filter that includes a plurality of resonant elements disposed, a plurality of non-resonant elements coupling the resonant elements together to form a stop band having a plurality of transmission zeroes corresponding to respective frequencies of the resonant elements, and a sub-band between the transmission zeroes. The non-resonant elements comprise a variable non-resonant element for selectively introducing a reflection zero within the stop band to create a pass band in the sub-band. The method further comprises changing the order in which the resonant elements are disposed along the signal transmission path to create a plurality of filter solutions, computing a performance parameter for each of the filter solutions, comparing the performance parameters to each other, selecting one of the filter solutions based on the comparison of the computed performance parameters, and constructing the RF filter using the selected filter solution. |
| US09647626B2 |
LC composite component
An LC composite component includes one or more inductors, one or more capacitors, a magnetic layer, and a substrate. The substrate has a first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The magnetic layer is disposed to face the first surface of the substrate. The one or more inductors are disposed between the first surface of the substrate and the magnetic layer. The substrate has a thickness greater than that of the magnetic layer in a direction perpendicular to the first surface of the substrate. The substrate has a complex permeability having a real part and an imaginary part that are respectively smaller than the real part and the imaginary part of the complex permeability of the magnetic layer. |
| US09647625B2 |
Method for manufacturing BAW resonators on a semiconductor wafer
A method for manufacturing a wafer on which are formed resonators, each resonator including, above a semiconductor substrate, a stack of layers including, in the following order from the substrate surface: a Bragg mirror; a compensation layer made of a material having a temperature coefficient of the acoustic velocity of a sign opposite to that of all the other stack layers; and a piezoelectric resonator, the method including the successive steps of: a) depositing the compensation layer; and b) decreasing thickness inequalities of the compensation layer due to the deposition method, so that this layer has a same thickness to within better than 2%, and preferably to within better than 1%, at the level of each resonator. |
| US09647624B2 |
Adaptive loudness levelling method for digital audio signals in frequency domain
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to techniques for adjusting the amplitude of a digital audio signal in the frequency domain to control the perceived loudness of the audio signal at a desired level. In one embodiment, a method first adjusts the audio signal to a desired loudness level by applying an adaptive wideband gain and thereafter a multi-band compression is applied to further reduce a dynamic range of the audio signal, and noise analysis and temporal masking operations are also performed to provide a pleasant sound for a listener or listeners. |
| US09647622B1 |
System and method for offset voltage calibration
An embodiment method includes measuring, by a calibration device, a first output voltage of a variable gain amplifier (VGA) when the VGA is set at a first gain setting and measuring, by a calibration device, a second output voltage of the VGA when the VGA is set at a second gain setting different from the first gain setting. The method further includes calculating, by the calibration device, an offset voltage of a signal path including the VGA using the first output voltage and the second output voltage and calculating, by the calibration device, an internal offset voltage of the VGA using the first output voltage and the second output voltage. |
| US09647618B1 |
System and method for controlling common mode voltage via replica circuit and feedback control
The disclosure relates to a system and method for controlling a common mode voltage of an output differential signal of a differential signal processing circuit using a replica circuit and feedback control. The differential signal processing circuit includes two load devices, two input transistors, and two current-source transistors coupled in series between voltage rails, respectively. The replica circuit includes replica load device, replica input transistor, and replica current-source transistor coupled in series between the voltage rails. The common mode voltage of the input differential signal is applied to the replica input transistor to generate a replica output common mode voltage. A feedback circuit generates a bias voltage for the replica current-source transistor and the current-source transistors of the differential circuit to set and control the replica output common mode voltage and the output common mode voltage of the differential signal processing circuit to a target common mode voltage. |
| US09647617B2 |
Method for delivering a duty cycle limited signal to a speaker using a class D amplifier
A multi-channel Class D audio amplifier is provided to substantially reduce channel-to-channel crosstalk by employing in each channel a local triangle ramp generator controlled by a single global digital timing signal. The noise critical timing/integrating capacitor for the triangle ramp generator resides locally in each channel and adjacent to the PWM comparator of that channel and referenced to the local ground of that channel. The amplifier can also include a duty cycle limitation circuit to limit output power availability depending on the impedance of any attached loads (speakers). |
| US09647609B2 |
Transceiver using technique for improvement of phase noise and switching of phase lock loop (PLL)
A transceiver may include a reception (Rx) radio frequency (RF) part configured to process a received signal, a transmission (Tx) RF part configured to process a transmitted signal, and a phase lock loop (PLL) configured to provide a reception frequency to the reception RF part and provide a transmission frequency to the transmission RF part. The PLL may be controlled according to whether the reception RF part or the transmission RF part is on. In addition, a transceiver may include quenching waveform generator (QWGs) to control quenching waveforms of the RF parts corresponding to a plurality of antennas. The quenching waveforms may be generated respectively by VCOs operating at a same frequency. The QWGs may control the VCOs such that the quenching waveforms do not overlap. |
| US09647608B2 |
Wein bridge oscillator
An oscillator circuit that includes a Wien bridge oscillator circuit, a full-wave rectifier circuit, coupled to an output of the Wien bridge oscillator circuit, an integrator circuit, coupled to an output of the full-wave rectifier circuit, and a multiplier circuit. The multiplier circuit may include a first input coupled to the output of the Wien bridge oscillator circuit, and a second input, coupled to an output of the integrator, wherein the multiple signals are configured to provide dynamic gain control to the Wien bridge oscillator circuit. |
| US09647607B2 |
Roof mounted installation system
A solar power system is mounted to a solar power componentry support structure suspended above a pre-existing surface by a collective of solar collector suspension base supports. Suspended solar power system row support structure members and suspended solar power system column support structure members may for a solar component position lattice to which a matrix of individual solar power components such as solar panels can be attached. Solar module quick-fasten assemblages may serve also as solar componentry emergency releases and may include loose axis retainers and firm axis fasteners such as dual component, single point operative emergency releases and fasteners. Slide-in retainers and corner slot tabs can be included as well as frame alignment notches. Fulcrum pivot fasteners and slide wedge releases can aid in installation and release. Pre-sealed roof base supports such as semidome base supports can include a sandwiched membrane. |
| US09647605B2 |
Single-phase brushless motor driver and method
A driving circuit for a single-phase-brushless motor and a method that includes a driving-signal-generating circuit configured to generate a driving signal for supplying, to a driving coil of the single-phase brushless motor, an output circuit coupled to the driving signal generating circuit; and an induced voltage zero-cross detecting circuit having a plurality of inputs and an output, a first input coupled to the driving signal generating circuit and configured to detect a zero cross of an induced voltage in response to operation in the de-energized period. |
| US09647598B2 |
Method for electrically connecting a converter to an electrical machine
A method for electrically connecting a converter to an electrical machine supplied with current by the converter by closing a separate electrical connection between the converter and the machine. The connection includes multiple phases. In order to close the electrical connection without causing undue wear to the material, at least two phases of the connection are closed at different times. |
| US09647587B2 |
System and method for determining the position of a moving part driven by an electric motor
A system for determining the position of a moving part driven by an electric motor: a single position sensor, coupled to the electric motor, incrementally detects an amount of movement thereof; a direction switching arrangement controls a direction of movement of the electric motor; and a control unit, coupled to the single position sensor and the direction switching arrangement, at each incremental amount of movement detected by the single position sensor, determines a current position of the moving part based on a previous position thereof and the current direction of movement controlled by the direction switching arrangement. |
| US09647585B2 |
Brushless direct-current motor and control for power tool
Brushless direct-current (“BLDC”) motor and control for a power tool. A BLDC motor of a power tool is controlled in either a pulse-width modulation (“PWM”) commutation mode or a centerline commutation mode. When the motor is rotating slowly, the motor is operated using PWM commutation. When the motor is rotating at a speed greater than a threshold speed value, the operation of the motor is transitioned to the centerline commutation mode. When operating in the centerline commutation mode, the high-side field-effect transistors (“FETs”) and low-side FETs can each be used for motor speed control. By switching between speed control using the high-side FETs and speed control using the low-side FETs, the heat generated by freewheeling currents can be approximately evenly distributed among the high-side and low-side FETs. |
| US09647581B2 |
Motor drive having function of detecting failure in dynamic braking circuit
A motor drive according to the present invention has a dynamic braking circuit. The motor drive includes a motor drive control circuit for applying a voltage to windings of a synchronous motor and the dynamic braking circuit for a predetermined time by switching power transistors connected to a direct current power supply, a current detection circuit for detecting a current value outputted from the power transistor, and a failure determination circuit for determining the presence or absence of a failure in the dynamic braking circuit from the current value detected by the current detection circuit and a predetermined threshold value. When the presence or absence of a failure in the dynamic braking circuit is detected, the resistance of the dynamic braking circuit is changed. |
| US09647579B2 |
Energy harvesting device, method for manufacturing the same, and wireless device including the same
Provided are an energy harvesting device, a method for manufacturing the same, and a wireless device including the same. The energy harvesting device may include a support body, a first cantilever connected to the support body, and an electricity generation layer on the first cantilever. The first cantilever may have a thickness that gradually increases in a direction that is away from the support body. |
| US09647577B2 |
Power collector structure and method
A power collector structure connected to a base is repetitively deformed or bent. The power collector structure is bar-like, and is connected to the base in an essentially rigid manner. A power collector for converting mechanical energy to electric power is connected to the power collector structure. |
| US09647570B2 |
Photovoltaic system and method of operation
The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for electrical installations for converting and adapting a DC voltage of a voltage source, more particularly for a solar inverter of a photovoltaic installation, having an electrical output, which can be coupled to an inverter, wherein, at the electrical output, a potential in a positive branch of an intermediate circuit of the electrical installation can be increased in such a way that an output potential of a negative pole of the voltage source assumes a value greater than the potential of the negative pole before the increase, or the potential in a negative branch of the intermediate circuit of the electrical installation can be reduced in such a way that an output potential of a positive pole of the voltage source assumes a value lower than the potential of the positive pole before the reduction, and having a compensation device designed for compensating for the electrical power between the positive branch of the intermediate circuit of the electrical installation and the negative branch of the intermediate circuit of the electrical installation during the operation of the circuit arrangement. The present invention furthermore relates to a method and a photovoltaic installation. |
| US09647569B2 |
Matrix convertor, power generation system, and method for converting power with control command generation
A matrix convertor includes a power convertor and a controller. The power convertor includes a plurality of bidirectional switches disposed between a plurality of input phases and a plurality of output phases. The controller is configured to generate a control command and control the power convertor based on the control command. The control command includes a switching pattern that causes a first input phase among the input phases to be connected to one output phase among the output phases and that causes connection of the input phases to be switched between a rest of the output phases. In generating the control command, the controller is configured to set a lower limit to a period of time during which a second input phase among the input phases that corresponds to an intermediate voltage is connected to the rest of the output phases. |
| US09647568B1 |
Bi-directional multi-port applications
Methods and systems for bi-directional multi-port power conversion systems and applications are disclosed. In some sample embodiments, current-modulating power converters can be used to provide conversion between synchronous and asynchronous power. In some sample embodiments, current-modulating power converters can perform power conversion can be performed to and from three-phase AC with an active neutral line. In some sample embodiments, current-modulating power converters can convert between synchronous and asynchronous power and also support three-phase AC with active neutral. |
| US09647566B2 |
Switching power supply apparatus
A switching power supply apparatus includes: a dead time circuit that receives an output control signal and generates dead time signal to specify a time width when both first and second switching elements are turned OFF; an output signal generation circuit that generates first and second output signals which specify the ON time of the first and second switching elements respectively in accordance with the output control signal and the dead time signal; and a dead time adjustment circuit that adjusts the turn ON timings of the first and second switching elements by changing the time width of the dead time signal in accordance with the change of voltage of the DC input power or the change of the output voltage of the capacitor. |
| US09647562B2 |
Power conversion with switch turn-off delay time compensation
In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes driving an electronic switch in a switched-mode power converter in successive drive cycles, wherein driving the switch in each of the drive cycles comprises switching on the electronic for an on-period and subsequently switching off the electronic switch for an off-period. The method further includes establishing the on-period based on a comparison of an on-time signal with an off-threshold, calculating the off-threshold based on an output signal of the switched-mode power converter and a compensation offset, and calculating the compensation offset in one drive cycle based on an estimated delay time, wherein the estimated delay time is calculated based on a measured delay time and an estimated delay time of a previous drive cycle. |
| US09647561B2 |
Programmable current limit circuit for a programmable power supply
A control circuit of a power supply is provided. The control circuit includes a circuit and a PWM circuit. The circuit generates a limit signal in response to an output voltage of the power supply for limiting a switching current of a transformer of the power supply. The PWM circuit generates a switching signal in response to a feedback signal and the limit signal for switching the transformer and regulating the output voltage of the power supply. A level of the feedback signal is related to a level of the output voltage of the power supply. The output voltage of the power supply is programmable. |
| US09647560B2 |
Secondary-side dynamic load detection and communication device
A switching power converter provides regulated voltage to a load. The switching power converter comprises a transformer including a primary winding coupled to an input voltage and a secondary winding coupled to an output of the switching power converter. The switching power converter further comprises a power switch coupled to the primary winding and a rectifier coupled to the secondary winding. Current is generated in the primary winding responsive to the power switch being turned on and not generated responsive to the power switch being turned off. A detection circuit measures a voltage across the rectifier. If the detection circuit detects a decrease in the voltage across the rectifier outside of a blanking period, the detection circuit generates a current pulse in the secondary winding of the transformer. |
| US09647559B2 |
Circuit implementations reducing losses in a power supply
A power supply circuit includes a control switch, a synchronous switch, an inductor, and a voltage ramping circuit. A common node in the power supply serially connects the control switch to the synchronous switch. The common node is further coupled to the inductor that supplies current to a load based on switching the control switch and the synchronous switch to respective ON/OFF and OFF/ON states. The voltage ramping circuit generates and controls ramping of a gate voltage of the control switch based at least in part on a magnitude of a feedback voltage received on a circuit path from the common node. The multi-stage ramping of a switch control voltage reduces one or more of the following: i) QRR losses, ii) switching losses, and/or iii) a dead time of the power supply. |
| US09647557B2 |
Three phases controller for buck-boost regulators
Systems, devices and methods using three separate switching phases for a buck-boost regulator are disclosed. The regulator may operate in a boost mode, a buck mode or in a buck-boost mode. The output voltage remains constant through mode changes and the ripple voltage is well-controlled. If the input voltage is lower than the output voltage by a first threshold, the regulator operates in boost (step-up) mode. If the input voltage is higher than the output voltage by a second threshold, it operates in buck (step-down) mode. The regulator operates in the buck-boost mode when the difference between the input and output voltages is within a certain range. |
| US09647555B2 |
Chopper output stage for arc welder power source
Power sources are disclosed for electric arc welding or cutting processes, in which an interleaved multiphase switching converter is provided with a plurality of converter power circuits to convert a DC signal to a regulated signal suitable for welding. |
| US09647553B2 |
Bidirectional two-base bipolar junction transistor operation, circuits, and systems with double base short at initial turn-off
Methods, systems, circuits, and devices for power-packet-switching power converters using bidirectional bipolar transistors (BTRANs) for switching. Four-terminal three-layer BTRANs provide substantially identical operation in either direction with forward voltages of less than a diode drop. BTRANs are fully symmetric merged double-base bidirectional bipolar opposite-faced devices which operate under conditions of high non-equilibrium carrier concentration, and which can have surprising synergies when used as bidirectional switches for power-packet-switching power converters. BTRANs are driven into a state of high carrier concentration, making the on-state voltage drop very low. |
| US09647551B2 |
Switched power control circuits for controlling the rate of providing voltages to powered circuits, and related systems and methods
Switched power control circuits for controlling the rate of providing voltages to powered circuits are disclosed. In one aspect, a switched power control circuit is provided that is configured to control activation of a headswitch circuit such that the headswitch circuit gradually provides a supply voltage to a powered circuit rather than providing full supply voltage in a substantially instantaneous manner. To gradually ramp up an output voltage, the headswitch circuit is configured to provide the output voltage to the powered circuit in response to a control signal received on a control input. The control signal is generated by a control circuit in response to an enable signal. To prevent the headswitch circuit from providing the full supply voltage to the powered circuit instantaneously, a current sink circuit is configured to control a ramping rate of the output voltage generated by the headswitch circuit. |
| US09647541B2 |
Hysteretic control DC/DC converter switching frequency with reduced dependence on voltage and current
In a hysteretic control DC/DC converter apparatus having a coupling circuit that couples a voltage input to a voltage output, a control signal is generated based on a node voltage at a node in the coupling circuit. The node is alternately connected to a fixed potential and disconnected from the fixed potential in accordance with a frequency of the control signal. |
| US09647538B2 |
Voltage regulator, memory system having the same and operating method thereof
Provided herein are a voltage regulator, a memory system having the same and an operation method thereof. The memory system includes a memory device configured to store data, a controller configured to control the memory device, and a voltage regulator configured to supply a pump-out voltage to the memory device or the controller so that the memory device or the controller is operated in the following manner: until a level of the pump-out voltage is increased to a second reference voltage lower than a first reference voltage, the pump-out voltage is output using a clock having a first frequency; when the pump-out voltage exceeds the second reference voltage and does not exceed the first reference voltage, the pump-out voltage is output using a clock having a second frequency lower than the first frequency; and when the pump-out voltage exceeds the first reference voltage, the pump-out voltage is output using the clock having the first frequency. |
| US09647532B2 |
Control device for a PFC converter and corresponding control method
A control device for a converter of the switched-mode type provided with an inductor element and a switch element generates a driving signal for controlling switching of the switch element and determining alternately a phase of storage of energy in the inductor element as a function of an input quantity and a phase of transfer of the energy stored in the inductor element to an output element on which an output quantity is present; the control device generates the driving signal by means of a control based on the value of the output quantity in order to regulate the same output quantity. In particular, an estimation block determines an estimated value of the output quantity, and a driving block generates the driving signal as a function of said estimated value. |
| US09647526B1 |
Power-packet-switching power converter performing self-testing by admitting some current to the link inductor before full operation
Methods and systems for a startup self-test for bidirectional power converters. Voltage levels across bidirectional switches in a bidirectional power converter can be compared at various points in a circuit to determine whether a given switch is operating correctly. |
| US09647525B2 |
Power supply device with current limit based on output current and input voltage
A power supply device includes a first inverter that converts a first direct-current voltage into a first alternating-current voltage and outputs the first alternating-current voltage, and a second inverter that has an output connected in series with an output of the first inverter and converts a second direct-current voltage into a second alternating-current voltage synchronized with the first alternating-current voltage and outputs the second alternating-current voltage. |
| US09647523B2 |
Levitated-micro manipulator system
A system has a first operation substrate, the operation substrate having at least one sliding surface and at least one conductive trace in a layer in the substrate, at least one flex circuit magnetically coupled to the operation substrate, the flex circuit having at least one sliding surface and at least one conductive trace in the substrate, and at least one manipulator moveable across the sliding surfaces of the operation substrate and the flex circuit by magnetic fields generated by application of current to the conductive traces. |
| US09647521B2 |
Power generating device and an object for utilizing the power generating device
The present invention provides a power generating device, comprising the first shell, the sensor module, the second shell, the magnetic module, the cover and the elastic element. The sensor module is disposed in the first hollow portion. The second shell is disposed on the first shell. The magnetic module is disposed on the first fixture portion of the second shell. The cover is disposed on the external surface of the second shell, and the convex portion penetrates through the hole and holds the magnetic module in the first fixture portion. The elastic element is disposed between the first shell and the second shell. When the power generating device takes the external force, the second shell and the first shell do the relative movement; meanwhile, the first magnetism element of the magnetic module slides through the direction of the external force in the first slide gap and the induced current is generates on the induction coil by the change of the magnetic flux. |
| US09647513B2 |
Actuator unit, robot including the same, and reducing apparatus
An actuator unit, a robot including the same, and a reducing apparatus, the actuator unit including a driving unit; a sensor unit; a control unit; and a frame unit. |
| US09647511B2 |
Holding pieces for coils of a primary part of a ironless linear motor
A primary part of an ironless linear motor includes a cooling plate on which flat coils are disposed, each having a central opening. The coils are pressed onto the cooling plate by holding pieces which taper toward the cooling plate and engage in the openings in the coils. In this manner, an especially good contact is produced between the flat coils of the primary part and the cooling plate prior to encapsulating the primary part with a synthetic resin, the cooling effect of the preferably actively cooled cooling plate thereby being increased markedly. |
| US09647508B2 |
HVAC system having kinetic energy storage device
According to the present invention an HVAC system is provided. The HVAC system includes a heat exchanger containing a cooling fluid to be circulated, a blower assembly configured to generate an inlet air stream through said heat exchanger, and a kinetic energy storage device. The blower assembly is powered by an external electrical power supply. The kinetic energy storage device is configured to provide auxiliary power to the blower assembly in the event of an interruption of the external electrical power supply. |
| US09647501B2 |
Interior permanent magnet motor, compressor and refrigeration and air conditioning apparatus
A rotor outer peripheral surface includes first arcs and second arcs. The first arc is positioned in a magnetic pole center portion. The second arc is positioned in an inter-pole portion. The first arc bulges toward a radially outer side to a higher degree than the second arc. An air gap is varied in a manner of being increased as approaching from each of the magnetic pole center portions to the adjacent inter-pole portions. A hole defining portion of a magnet insertion hole on the radially outer side has a curvature of a third arc, and a hole defining portion of the magnet insertion hole on a radially inner side has a curvature of a fourth arc. An opening angle of a tooth tip portion, an opening angle of the first arc, and an opening angle of the third arc coincide with each other. |
| US09647495B2 |
Power load control with dynamic capability
A load control device is directly connected to a power utility line carrying electrical power using alternating current (AC) and to a load provided by a device located at premises. At the load control device, values are monitored for one or more load-responsive parameters of the electrical power over a period of time. A nominal value is determined for each of the one or more load-responsive parameters based upon the monitored values over the period of time. Threshold values are determined for the one or more load-responsive parameters based upon an acceptable deviation from the corresponding nominal value. A load-responsive parameter is detected as being outside of the threshold values. The load control device is then used to interrupt the providing of power to the load in response to the one or more load-responsive parameters being detected as being outside of the threshold values. |
| US09647493B2 |
Control device and power distribution system
A detection unit determines whether a commercial power supply is in a power failure state or a power distribution state. A power source connection management unit controls whether a solar cell is to be connected to a first power conditioner connected to a storage battery or to be connected to the commercial power supply via a second power conditioner. A load connection controller controls connection of the first power conditioner, commercial power supply, and a load. When the commercial power supply is in a power distribution state, the power source connection management unit does not cause the solar cell to be connected to the first power conditioner but connected to the commercial power supply via the second power conditioner, and the load connection controller causes the first power conditioner and the commercial power supply to be connected to the load. |
| US09647489B2 |
Brownout avoidance
Examples of the disclosure are directed to methods of managing power of various modules of an electronic device to prevent the voltage of the battery from falling to an undervoltage lockout (UVLO) threshold. In some examples, software operating on the electronic device or an associated electronic device (e.g., a paired electronic device) may assign power budgets to one or more modules, thereby preventing each module from drawing its maximum current capacity and causing the battery's voltage level to fall to the UVLO threshold. In some examples, a pre-UVLO threshold (i.e., a threshold higher than the UVLO threshold) may be used to modify the states of one or more modules to save power as the voltage of the battery approaches the UVLO threshold, but before the device must be fully powered off. |
| US09647488B2 |
Power supply apparatus having a power converter and solar cell module, power supply system and method of supplying power thereof
A method of supplying power from a solar cell module to a load includes measuring the output of the solar cell module, and controlling a power converter having a preset duty ratio to start operating in accordance with the measured output. Additionally, a power supply apparatus and a power supply system include a solar cell module having at least one solar cell to absorb sunlight, a power converter which converts power output from the solar cell module and supplies the converted power to a load, and a driving controller which measures the output of the solar cell module and controls the power converter having a preset duty ratio to start operating according to the measured output. Thus, electrical stress on the power converter is significantly decreased even though incident solar energy and/or the load is largely varied, so that the power converter may be stably driven to output the power. |
| US09647487B2 |
Wind-driven recharger for vehicle battery
In one illustrative embodiment, a wind-driven charging system includes a wind-driven rotation device coupled to a rotatable shaft, and a plurality of electric generators disposed at different longitudinal locations along the rotatable shaft and each of the plurality of electric generators are rotationally driven simultaneously by the rotatable shaft. By having the electric generators disposed at different longitudinal locations, more electric generators may be simultaneously driven by a common shaft. In some instances, a controller may be configured to enable more of the electric generators to provide electrical current to recharge a battery when the speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft increases, and may disable more of the plurality of electric generators to not provide electrical current when the speed of rotation of the rotatable shaft decreases. |
| US09647486B2 |
System and method for controlling chassis coupling current
An automotive vehicle may include a battery charger that receives electrical energy, via an electrical connection including a ground wire, from an electrical source remote from the vehicle, and outputs the electrical energy to at least one electrical load. The vehicle may also include at least one controller that commands a change in the electrical energy output by the battery charger. The battery charger, in response to the command, may control a rate of change in the electrical energy output such that a coupling current to the ground wire resulting from the change in the electrical energy output by the battery charger has a magnitude less than a predetermined threshold. |
| US09647482B2 |
Smart wireless charger
A wireless charging system is disclosed. The wireless charging system includes a coil to create electromagnetic field and a sniffer system to detect a presence of a low frequency (LF) signal. The sniffer system is configured to deactivate the coil for a predetermined duration and perform an operation to detect the presence of the LF signal. |
| US09647475B2 |
Charger, terminal, charging system, and charging control method
A charger for charging a terminal, includes: a power supply device configured to output a direct current (DC) charging current, the power supply device including a voltage output port and a feedback receiving port; a charging port configured to connect to the terminal, and to output the DC charging current from the power supply device to the terminal, the charging port including a power supply port and a data signal port, the power supply port being connected to the voltage output port and configured to output the DC charging current to the terminal; a charging control device; and a switch device provided between the feedback receiving port and the charging port, and configured to connect the feedback receiving port to the power supply port or the data signal port according to control of the charging control device. |
| US09647473B2 |
Apparatus and system for a multi-modal flashlight and charging base
Provided herein is an improved apparatus and system for providing a flashlight and charging base system. The flashlight of may include a light source, a power source having a charge level, a housing defining a major axis along which the housing extends, an adjustable ring disposed about the housing, where the adjustable ring is configured to be rotated between at least two positions, where each of the at least two positions define a different mode of operation, and a switch located proximate the barrel, where the switch is configured to turn the flashlight on and off. The adjustable ring may include a magnet, where the housing includes a Hall effect sensor, where the at least two positions of the adjustable ring are recognized by the position of the magnet relative to the Hall effect sensor. |
| US09647470B2 |
Rechargeable battery system
A rechargeable battery system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the rechargeable battery system includes a rechargeable battery having a first electrical connector, an alignment plate mounted to the rechargeable battery, wherein the first electrical connector is aligned to the alignment plate, a battery management system having a second electrical connector configured to mate with the first electrical connector, wherein the second electrical connector comprises a housing, at least one alignment pin secured to the housing, and an electrical contact, wherein the alignment pin is disposed in the housing in a determined position relative to the electrical contact, and an interface plate having a first interface portion and a second interface portion wherein the first interface portion is configured to mate with the alignment plate and wherein the second interface portion is configured to mate with the alignment pin to align the first electrical connector with the second electrical connector. |
| US09647466B2 |
Battery system in which information transmission occurs via insulating circuits
A battery system includes a battery module that is constituted with a plurality of serially connected battery cells, a plurality of integrated circuits that group the battery cells so as to perform processing on battery cells in each group, a first transmission path through which a command signal is transmitted via a first insulating circuit from a higher-order control circuit that controls the integrated circuits to a highest-order integrated circuit of the integrated circuit, a second transmission path through which a data signal collected by the integrated circuits is transmitted from the highest-order integrated circuit to a lowest-order integrated circuit, and a third transmission path through which the data signal is transmitted from the lowest-order integrated circuit to the higher-order control circuit via a second insulating circuit. |
| US09647458B2 |
Distributed phase balancing
Methods, systems, and computer program products for distributed phase balancing are provided herein. A method of use in connection with a distribution network having a phase imbalance includes determining one or more power consumption parameters associated with a given entity of the distribution network; determining one or more power supply parameters associated with the given entity of the distribution network; and computing, based on said one or more power consumption parameters and said one or more power supply parameters, at least one of (i) a level of power consumption increase and/or decrease and (ii) a level of power supply increase and/or decrease associated with one or more devices of the given entity to remedy the phase imbalance within the distribution network. |
| US09647449B2 |
Integrated circuit arrangement, method and system for use in a safety-critical application
An integrated circuit arrangement (100, 200, 600) has a first circuit part (102, 202, 602) which can be supplied with a first supply voltage (106, 206, 606), and a second circuit part (104, 204, 604) which can be supplied with a second supply voltage (108, 208, 608). The first circuit part and the second circuit part are arranged in a manner spatially separate from one another. The first circuit part has a first conduction element (110, 210, 310, 410, 610), and the second circuit part has a second conduction element (112, 212, 312, 412, 612). The integrated circuit arrangement also has a third conduction element (114, 214, 314, 414, 614), the third conduction element being arranged between the first conduction element and the second conduction element in such a manner that the third conduction element is arranged adjacent to the first conduction element and the third conduction element is also arranged adjacent to the second conduction element. The third conduction element can be supplied with a reference potential (116, 216, 616) at a first end, and the third conduction element is connected, at a second end, to an evaluation circuit (118, 218, 618) for detecting a short circuit from the first conduction element to the third conduction element or from the second conduction element to the third conduction element. |
| US09647444B2 |
Variable threshold current limiting circuit
A current limiting circuit for a motor controller includes a comparator. The comparator has a sensed current input, a current threshold input, and an overcurrent protection trip output. A variable resistance current threshold circuit is connected to the current threshold input. A first controller is connected to the variable resistance current threshold circuit via a plurality of connections. The first controller is configured to control a voltage output of the variable resistance current threshold circuit. |
| US09647440B2 |
Composite direct connector for high voltage line
The present invention relates to a composite direct connector for a high voltage line. The composite direct connector for a high voltage line according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a pair of terminal connecting rings electrically connected to each other; and ground terminals installed on the terminal connecting rings, respectively, and having a neutral line of a high voltage line on one side and a neutral line of a high voltage line on the other side connected to each other. According to the present invention as described thus far above, a neutral line for connecting a high voltage line and for external grounding is rendered unnecessary by a connecting member, thus making it easy to arrange ground wires within a structure, and affording easy construction without regard to access space. |
| US09647439B1 |
Liquid-tight and concrete-tight fitting for PVC jacketed metal-clad electrical cable
A liquid-tight and concrete-tight electrical fitting for securing PVC jacketed metal clad (PVC-MC) electrical cable to an electrical box or panel. The electrical fitting includes a tubular fitting body having a threaded inbound and outbound end, an MC ring, a grommet, a bushing, a sealing ring, a locknut, and a gland nut. The grommet includes an inbound end with a conical outer surface and an outbound end with a flat abutment surface. A conical inner surface is provided on the bushing for engaging the conical outer surface of the grommet. The MC ring is a continuous ring including an inbound end, an outbound end, a ring portion, and one or more fingers extending from the ring portion. The fitting facilitates liquid-tight and concrete-tight connection and proper electrical grounding of PVC-MC cable to an electrical box or panel. |
| US09647436B2 |
Electric sector cables
A high voltage electric cable having a longitudinal axis may include: a conductive core having a first cross sectional area; wherein the conductive core includes a solid, central conductor, and at least three solid, sector conductors stranded around the central conductor. The central conductor may have a second cross sectional area. A ratio of the second cross sectional area to the first cross sectional area may be of from 1/130 to 1/20. |
| US09647431B1 |
Wall mounted personal cabinet for jewelry and other items
A personal cabinet for jewelry, tobacco products and implements or other items has a housing mount. An actuator housing is located within the housing mount and defines an actuator housing receptacle. A spring urged inner case is movably connected with the actuator housing within the actuator housing receptacle and is linearly moveable to a contracted position and a projected position relative to the actuator housing and housing mount. A latch mechanism retains the inner case at the contracted position and a latch release mechanism is operated to release the inner case for spring urged linear movement to its projected position. A closure is pivotally mounted to the inner case and can be opened only when the inner case has been moved to its projected position. |
| US09647430B1 |
Load center, and bus assembly and operating method therefor
A bus assembly is for a load center. The load center includes a cover apparatus and an electrical switching apparatus. The cover apparatus has a number of cover segments. The bus assembly comprises a bus stab structured to be coupled to the number of cover segments and the electrical switching apparatus; a bus bar structured to be coupled to the number of cover segments; and a connection device comprising an element extending from a corresponding one of the bus stab and the bus bar. The connection device is structured to move between a FIRST position corresponding to the element being electrically disconnected from the other of the corresponding one of the bus stab and the bus bar, and a SECOND position corresponding to the element being electrically connected to the other of the corresponding one of the bus stab and the bus bar. |
| US09647429B2 |
Method of using barrier walls in electrical power transmission systems
A method of protecting an exposed switch mounted on a structural frame in an electrical power transmission system, the switch having one or more insulators extended from the structural frame, first and second conductor connectors supported on the one or more insulators, and a blade connected to pivot to close and open an electrical path between the first and second conductor connectors, the method including mounting a barrier wall adjacent the switch and on the structural frame. |
| US09647424B2 |
Single mode reflector using a nanobeam cavity
An integrated circuit includes an optical reflector with one or two bus optical waveguides and a one-dimensional, photonic crystal nanobeam cavity to provide single-mode reflection with a narrow bandwidth. In particular, the nanobeam cavity may be implemented on a nanobeam-cavity optical waveguide (such as a channel or ridge optical waveguide), which is optically coupled to the one or two bus optical waveguides. The nanobeam-cavity optical waveguide may include notches along a symmetry axis of the nanobeam-cavity optical waveguide that are partially etched from edges of the nanobeam-cavity optical waveguide toward a center of the nanobeam-cavity optical waveguide. Furthermore, a fill factor of the notches may vary as a function of location along the symmetry axis, while a pitch of the notches is unchanged, to define the nanobeam cavity. |
| US09647423B2 |
Flip chip type laser diode and lateral chip type laser diode
A flip chip type laser diode includes a removable substrate, a first semiconductor layer, an emitting layer, a second semiconductor layer, at least one current conducting layer, a patterned insulating layer, at least one first electrode and a second electrode. The first semiconductor layer is disposed on the removable substrate. The emitting layer is disposed on a part of the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer is disposed on the emitting layer and forms a ridge mesa. The current conducting layer is disposed on a part of the first semiconductor layer. The patterned insulating layer covers the first semiconductor layer, the emitting layer, a part of the second semiconductor layer and a part of the current conducting layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed on areas of the current conducting layer and the second semiconductor layer which are not covered by the patterned insulating layer. |
| US09647415B2 |
Laser apparatus and method of controlling laser apparatus
A laser apparatus according to embodiment may include: a laser chamber filled with a laser gain medium; a pair of electrodes disposed in the laser chamber; a charger configured to apply a charge voltage for causing a discharge to occur between the pair of the electrodes; a pulse power module configured to covert the charge voltage applied by the charger into a short pulsed voltage, and apply the short pulsed voltage between the pair of the electrodes; and a controller configured to calculate input energies Ein applied to the pair of the electrodes based on the charge voltage, calculate an integration value Einsum of the input energies Ein by integrating the calculated input energies Ein, and determine whether the integration value Einsum exceeds an integration lifetime value Einsumlife of input energy or not. |
| US09647412B2 |
Method for generating free electrons and free-electron laser system using the interaction with a laser undulator
The disclosure relates to a free-electron laser system and a method for generating a packet of relativistic electrons capable of propagating in a first propagation direction (Oz), and a device for generating an undulator beam capable of interacting with the packet of relativistic electrons. In the system, the undulator beam results from combining, at an interaction area through which the propagation direction (Oz) of the packet passes, at least two laser beams propagating in different directions and each of which has at least one non-zero component in a plane orthogonal to the propagation direction (Oz) of the packet. The disclosure also relates to a method for generating a free-electron laser beam involving trapping and guiding a packet of relativistic electrons injected into an interaction area and implementing such a free-electron laser system. |
| US09647411B2 |
Method of controlling wavelength of laser beam and laser apparatus
There is provided a method of controlling the wavelength of a laser beam. The method includes measuring an absolute wavelength of the laser beam; calculating a difference between a reference wavelength and the absolute wavelength of the laser beam; and adjusting the reference wavelength of the laser beam based on the difference between the reference wavelength and the absolute wavelength of the laser beam, at an interval shorter than an interval for which the absolute wavelength of the laser beam is measured. |
| US09647410B2 |
Multimode Fabry-Perot fiber laser
A multimode (“MM”) fiber oscillator is configured with MM active fiber doped with light emitters, a pair of MM passive fibers spliced to respective opposite ends of the MM active fiber, and a plurality of MM fiber Bragg gratings (“FBG”) written in respective cores of the MM passive fibers to provide a resonant cavity. The passive and active fibers are configured with respective cores which are dimensioned with respective diameters matching one another and substantially identical numerical apertures. |
| US09647400B2 |
Indicator wafer
An apparatus selectively connectable to the prongs of an electrical plug that provides an indication to a person of the presence of power to the prongs. |
| US09647398B2 |
Dual orientation electronic connector
A dual orientation connector having a connector tab with first and second major opposing sides and a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the connector tab. The plurality of contacts includes a first set of external contacts formed at the first major side and a second set of external contacts formed at the second major side. Each individual contact in the first plurality of contacts is electrically connected within the tab or body to a corresponding contact in the second plurality of contacts. In some embodiments contacts in the first and second pluralities of contacts that are directly opposite each other are coupled together. In some other embodiments, contacts in the first and second pluralities of contacts that are in a cater cornered relationship with each other are coupled together. The first plurality of contacts are symmetrically spaced with the second plurality of contacts and the connector tab is shaped to have 180 degree symmetry so that it can be inserted and operatively coupled to a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion orientations. |
| US09647396B2 |
Standing-type electrical receptacle connector
A standing-type electrical receptacle connector includes a first terminal module, a second terminal module, and a grounding plate that are received in a metallic shell. The first terminal module includes a first insulated member and first receptacle terminals. The second terminal module includes a second insulated member and second receptacle terminals. The first receptacle terminals include first ground terminals, and tail portions of the first ground terminals are extending out of the first insulated member. The second receptacle terminals include second ground terminals, and tail portions of the second ground terminals are extending out of the second insulated member. The grounding plate includes legs each disposed between the corresponding tail portions, each of the legs and the corresponding tail portions are aligned along a vertical line and inserted into the same ground soldering hole of a circuit board. Therefore, the cost for soldering procedure can be reduced. |
| US09647394B2 |
Shielded and multishielded coaxial connectors
A shielded coaxial connector including a central conductor and a waveguide to shield the central conductor from RF signals. |
| US09647393B2 |
Electrical receptacle connector
An electrical receptacle connector includes a metallic shell, an insulated housing, a plurality of first receptacle terminals, a plurality of second receptacle terminals, and a terminal organizer. The insulated housing is received in the metallic shell. The first receptacle terminals and the second receptacle terminals are respectively held at the top and the bottom of the insulated housing. The first receptacle terminals are longer than the second receptacle terminals. In assembly, the first receptacle terminals, of bar shape, are firstly processed with the terminal organizer. And then, the first receptacle terminals and the terminal organizer are assembled on the base portion and the tongue portion. Hence, the insert-molding procedure would not be affected by the first receptacle terminals with longer length. |
| US09647391B2 |
Connector
A lattice (29) is provided on a rear surface of a connector main body (10) and defines a plurality of insertion openings (28). The lattice (29) includes first and second walls (31, 32) extending parallel to each other in the same direction and third walls (33) intersecting the first and second walls (31, 32,). Rear ends of the first, second and third walls (31, 32, 33) are located more backward in the order of the second walls (32), the third walls (33) and the first walls (31). The first walls (31) provide identification from the surrounding by projecting more backward than the second walls (32). The third walls (33) achieve an improved resin flow by alleviating steps between the first and second walls (31, 32). |
| US09647390B1 |
Power cord lock
The present invention relates to cord locks to secure connections of cords, especially electric cords. Cord locks of the present invention can be used to prevent the undesired separation of male and female cord plugs. |
| US09647384B2 |
Back body for coaxial connector
A back body for a cable-connector assembly includes: an annular central portion; an annular mating portion that merges with one end of the central portion and is configured to mate with an outer conductor extension of a coaxial connector; and a plurality of fingers that extend axially from an opposite end of the central portion, the fingers being configured to flex inwardly to engage a jacket of a coaxial cable. The central portion, the mating portion, and the fingers define a bore configured to receive the coaxial cable. A radial clamp is configured to apply radially-inwardly directed pressure to the fingers. |
| US09647383B2 |
Right angle exit connector assembly
Connector assemblies are disclosed. More particularly, connector assemblies including a housing with an inclined wall are disclosed. The inclined wall helps maintain a folded flat cable by contacting substantially its entire fold edge. The housing with the inclined wall may be removably attached to the rest of the connector assembly. |
| US09647377B1 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector includes multiple terminals and an insulation body integrally formed with the terminals. Each terminal has a contacting portion and a head portion extending forward from the contacting portion. The insulation body includes a tongue extending along a front-back direction. Each contacting portion is partially insert-molded to the tongue and partially exposed to a surface of the tongue. Each head portion is embedded into a front end of the tongue. The insulation body has a first gate and a second gate. The first gate is located on a front end surface of the tongue, and the second gate is located in a middle portion or a rear portion of the insulation body. |
| US09647376B2 |
Tamper resistant receptacle
A tamper resistant receptacle having shutter doors engaging a toggle mechanism wherein each shutter door must engage the toggle mechanism to move the device into the open position. When engaged properly by insertion of force into both the hot and neutral openings of the device simultaneous by the hot and neutral blades of an electrical plug, the shutter doors pivot to contact the toggle platform with force sufficient to overcome a spring bias and allow the platform to descend downwardly a distance sufficient to uncover blade openings in the platform and allow the blades to engage the device's electrical contacts. If only one of the pivoting doors contacts the platform, the platform tips, or toggles, in the direction of the door which blocks the item inserted into the receptacle opening of the device from reaching the underlying electrical contact. |
| US09647373B2 |
Vehicle power connector
A power connector for a vehicle includes a receptacle with a central opening that can receive a cylindrical connector. Within the central opening are a center contact and a number of electrical contacts arranged in a generally circular configuration around the center contact. The receptacle further includes an extension area on either side of the central opening that hold one or more additional electrical contacts. A pair of covers are configured to open to expose the additional contacts and the center contact with the surrounding circular configuration of contacts. With both covers open, all the contacts in the receptacle are exposed. In one embodiment, the receptacle includes a generally hexagonal faceplate surrounding the receptacle. |
| US09647370B2 |
Connector
It is aimed to maximally suppress the inclination of a terminal fitting in a terminal accommodating chamber. A connector includes a terminal fitting having a wire connecting portion connected to an end of a wire, a housing having a terminal accommodating chamber into which the terminal fitting is to be inserted from behind, and a sleeve fitted on a rear side of the terminal fitting while surrounding the wire connecting portion of the terminal fitting and functioning to retain the terminal fitting by locking both front and rear end parts to the terminal fitting and a wall surface of the terminal accommodating chamber. An inclination regulating portion configured to regulate such inclination of the terminal fitting relative to the sleeve as to incline axial lines of the terminal fitting and the sleeve relative to each other is provided near a fitting part of the terminal fitting and the sleeve. |
| US09647362B2 |
Thermally sensitive contact lug
A contact lug for electrically conductively connecting at least two components, wherein the contact lug is designed to apply a contact pressure to at least one of the components, the contact pressure being exerted by elastic deformation of the contact lug, wherein the contact lug is at least partially formed from a bimetal in such a way that an increase in the temperature of this bimetal leads to an increase in the contact pressure. |
| US09647361B2 |
Connector
A connector comprises a housing and a terminal. The housing has a terminal accommodation portion and a bottom portion. The terminal accommodation portion opens upward in an up-down direction. The bottom portion is positioned under the terminal accommodation portion. The terminal has a base portion, a spring portion and a contact portion. The base portion is embedded in and held by the bottom portion. The spring portion extends upward from the base portion and is accommodated in the terminal accommodation portion. The contact portion is supported by the spring portion. The base portion is enclosed by the bottom portion in a predetermined plane perpendicular to the up-down direction and is in contact with the bottom portion with no gap in the predetermined plane. When the connector is seen from below, the base portion is partially visible, but the terminal accommodation portion is invisible. |
| US09647357B2 |
Peg press-fitting structure for connector
A peg press-fitting structure for a connector includes a peg which is made from a metal plate to fix a housing of the connector to a circuit board, and which is attached to the housing by being press-fitted from the distal end of the peg into a peg attaching slot of the housing of the connector. The housing is provided with an end wall where an entrance of the peg attaching slot opens. A press-fitting position regulating projection, which regulates the press-fitting position of the peg by abutting against the end wall of the housing where the entrance of the peg attaching slot opens, is provided closer to the base end of the peg than a press-fitted portion of the peg that is press-fitted into the peg attaching slot. |
| US09647349B1 |
Through-insulation strip light connector
A connector for light-emitting diode (LED) strip light is disclosed. The connector has a cavity with conductive longitudinal and transverse pins that, when the connector is assembled with an LED strip light in a cavity within the housing of the connector, penetrate the insulation of the strip light to make electrical contact with the strip light's conductors. The connector also includes gasket seals and a removable portion that exposes the cavity. The removable portion may include a window to expose any LEDs that may be within the housing of the connector. |
| US09647342B2 |
Modular feed assembly
In one embodiment, a modular feed assembly for an antenna has (i) a hub adapter for mounting the feed assembly onto the antenna hub and (ii) a distinct waveguide transition configured to be selectively mated to the hub adapter. By providing a modular design, the hub adapter can be selectively used with different waveguide transitions having different frequency characteristics to form feed assemblies for different antennas having different operating frequency ranges. The hub adapter and each waveguide transition have timing features that limit the rotation orientation between the two components to, for example, horizontal and vertical polarizations that are 90 degrees apart. The hub adapter has a resilient compression element that forms an annular seal between the hub adapter and a mated waveguide transition to inhibit RF leakage and keep the two components in place. The hub adapter has openings that allow the compression element to be formed in place. |
| US09647341B2 |
Antenna structure for distributed antenna system
One embodiment discloses an antenna structure. The antenna structure may comprise a transmit antenna element comprising a first transmit antenna sub-element and a second transmit antenna sub-element. The antenna structure can comprise a receive antenna element comprising a first receive antenna sub-element and a second receive antenna sub-element. At least one electronic component of the antenna structure may be coupled with a ground plane. The first transmit antenna sub-element, the second transmit antenna sub-element, the first receive antenna sub-element, and the second receive antenna sub-element may each comprise a first portion and a second portion. The second portion may be larger than the first portion. The first portion can be closer to a center position of an arrangement of the sub-elements than the second portion. In one embodiment, the arrangement of the sub-elements about the center position forms a four-leaf clover-like arrangement. |
| US09647340B2 |
Three-axis antenna
A three-axis antenna containing: a bobbin for housing a core, made of a resin having an top flange and a bottom flange both of which include four flange pieces at both ends of the winding column in the thickness direction of the core; a first coil and a second coil wound in the spaces between the flange pieces to cross each other at the upper and lower surfaces of the core; and a third coil wound at the side surface of the core and between the top flange and the bottom flange. |
| US09647335B1 |
Joint beamforming in point-to-point wireless communication networks
A system for transmitting information between nodes in a point-to-point wireless communication system. The system includes a node with an antenna array and a beamformer that is controllable to orient a main lobe of the antenna array in a desired direction. A spacing of the plurality of antenna elements in the array is adjustable to control a direction of a grating lobe of the antenna array to complete a communication link with a node in the network. Signals are simultaneously transmitted in the direction of the main lobe and the grating lobe to different nodes in the network. |
| US09647333B2 |
Array antenna, configuration method, and communication system
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the communication field and provide an array antenna. The array antenna includes: an antenna body, which is a multi-beam antenna, a single-beam antenna without grating lobes, or a single-beam antenna with grating lobes and transmits or receives a beam set by centering on the antenna body, where the beam set includes at least one beam; a planar reflection board, configured to reflect the beam set transmitted or received by the antenna body; and an adjusting unit, connected to the antenna body and/or the planar reflection board, and configured to adjust a relative position between the planar reflection board and the beam set of the antenna body so that the beam set of the antenna body can be transmitted or received in any direction after being reflected by the planar reflection board. |
| US09647330B1 |
Whisker reinforced high fracture toughness ceramic tips for radomes
A radome tip assembly has high fracture toughness due to a tip and a bushing fastener that attaches the tip to a radome where both the tip and bushing fastener are constructed from a mixture of aluminum oxide ceramic material and reinforcing silicon-carbide crystal whiskers and the radome is constructed of an oxide ceramic matrix composite material. |
| US09647329B2 |
Encapsulated molded package with embedded antenna for high data rate communication using a dielectric waveguide
An encapsulated integrated circuit has transceiver circuitry operable to produce and/or receive a radio frequency (RF) signal, wherein bond pads on the IC die are coupled to the transceiver input/output (IO) circuitry. An antenna structure is coupled to the IO circuitry via the bond pads. Mold material encapsulates the IC die and the antenna structure, wherein the antenna structure is positioned so as to be approximately in alignment with a core of a dielectric waveguide positioned adjacent the encapsulated IC. |
| US09647325B2 |
Flexible artificial impedance surface antennas for automotive radar sensors
A flexible, printable antenna for automotive radar. The antenna can be printed onto a thin, flexible substrate, and thus can be bent to conform to a vehicle body surface with compound curvature. The antenna can be mounted to the interior of a body surface such as a bumper fascia, where it cannot be seen but can transmit radar signals afield. The antenna can also be mounted to and blended into the exterior of an inconspicuous body surface, or can be made transparent and mounted to the interior or exterior of a glass surface. The antenna includes an artificial impedance surface which is tailored based on the three-dimensional shape of the surface to which the antenna is mounted and the desired radar wave pattern. The antenna can be used for automotive collision avoidance applications using 22-29 GHz or 76-81 GHz radar, and has a large aperture to support high angular resolution of radar data. |
| US09647322B2 |
Structural body and wireless communication apparatus
A first resin layer is provided with a step part formed in conformity with a shape of at least part of an electrically conductive pattern, and the first resin layer and a second resin layer closely adhere to each other in the step part. |
| US09647321B2 |
Antenna for portable device
An antenna device of a portable device such as a smartphone includes a connecting member having a conductive case and mounted on a circuit board of the portable device in a manner such that the case is connected to a ground surface of the circuit board; a radiator spaced from the circuit board; and at least one connecting pin provided between the case and the radiator. The radiator is connected to the ground surface through the connecting pin and the case. The antenna device advantageously may be easily installed in the internal space of a miniaturized, lightened and/or slimmed portable device by practically using a conductive component, e.g., the case, of the connecting member. |
| US09647318B2 |
Modular antenna system
A modular reconfigurable indoor antenna is disclosed. The antenna may include a bottom piece, a top piece, and a plurality of vertical members. The top piece may include an Ultra High Frequency (UHF) reception element. The plurality of vertical members may be disposed between the bottom piece and the top piece and coupled therewith. At least one of the plurality of vertical members may include a Very High Frequency (VHF) reception element. |
| US09647317B2 |
Radio communication module
Disclosed herein is a radio communication module, including: a printed circuit board provided with a receiving unit receiving a radio wave and provided with a via hole; an antenna including a connector which has a transmitting unit connected to the receiving unit formed thereat and forms a ring part outwardly bent at a tip thereof and forms a cut part at a circumference thereof so that the ring part is elastically deformed so as to be inserted and fastened into the via hole; a ground GND formed on the printed circuit board; and a discharge unit disposed between the receiving unit and the ground and including an ESD diode and a discharge line guiding electrostatic discharge (ESD) introduced from the outside to the ground. |
| US09647315B2 |
Directional coupler
A directional coupler includes a multilayer structure formed by stacking a plurality of dielectric layers including first and second dielectric layers; a main line including first and second main line portions that are electrically connected in series to each other; and a sub line electromagnetically coupled with the main line, the sub line including first and second sub line portions that are electrically connected in series to each other. The first main line portion and the first sub line portion are provided on the first dielectric layer. The second main line portion and the second sub line portion are provided on the second dielectric layer. In planar view along a stacking direction, the first main line portion and the second sub line portion overlap one another, and the first sub line portion and the second main line portion overlap one another. |
| US09647314B1 |
Structure of dual directional couplers for multiple-band power amplifiers
A directional coupler for a wireless communication device includes a first input port, a first output port, a second input port, a second output port, and a coupled port. The first input port and the first output port are respectively configured to receive and provide a first signal to be transmitted from the wireless communication device. The second input port and the second output port are respectively configured to receive and provide a second signal to be transmitted from the wireless communication device. A coupled port is configured to selectively provide a coupled signal corresponding to each of, in respective modes, the first signal and the second signal. |
| US09647313B2 |
Surface mount microwave system including a transition between a multilayer arrangement and a hollow waveguide
The invention relates to a surface mount microwave system, comprising a multilayer arrangement comprising a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer and a dielectric layer, wherein the first conductive layer is arranged on the dielectric layer, and wherein the dielectric layer is arranged on the second conductive layer, wherein the first conductive layer comprises a microwave circuit and wherein the second conductive layer forms a reference potential layer, a hollow microwave waveguide being at least partly formed in the second conductive layer, and a microwave transition structure for electromagnetically coupling the first conductive layer with the hollow microwave waveguide. According to some implementation forms, a reflector on a cover covering the multilayer arrangement may be avoided. |
| US09647312B2 |
Fixing structure of cable to wiring substrate, and cable, and manufacturing method of cable
A transmission line includes an insulator as a base member, a transmission conductor, and a ground layer. A connector is provided at a wiring substrate to fix the transmission line. The transmission line includes a signal columnar conductor having a solid columnar shape integrated with the transmission conductor, and ground columnar conductors having solid columnar shapes integrated with the ground layer. The connector has a through hole corresponding to the signal columnar conductor, and through holes corresponding to the ground columnar conductors. Conductive films are respectively provided on the inner peripheral surfaces of the through holes. The signal columnar conductor is inserted into the through hole, and the ground columnar conductors are respectively inserted into the through holes. |
| US09647310B2 |
Coplanar waveguide transmission line structure configured into non-linear paths to define inductors which inhibit unwanted signals and pass desired signals
A microwave structure having an input section for receiving both a common mode signal and a CPW differential mode signal; an output section; and a CPW transmission line, having a center conductor disposed between a pair of coplanar ground plane conductors, connected between the input section and the output section. The conductors of the CPW transmission line are configured to provide the common mode signal a different attenuation in passing to the output section than the CPW transmission line provides to the differential mode signal passing between the input section and the output section. |
| US09647309B2 |
Systems and methods for using power dividers for improved ferrite circulator RF power handling
Systems and methods for using power dividers for improved ferrite circulator RF power handling are provided. In one embodiment, a method for switching RF power using a high power circulator switch comprises: operating a ferrite circulator switch to direct RF power to either a first output port or a second output port, the ferrite circulator switch comprising at least three ferrite circulators arranged as a triad switch, wherein a first circulator is coupled to the first output port, a second circulator is coupled to the second output port; and using a waveguide power divider coupled between the first circulator and the second circulator, distributing reflected RF power received at the first output port or the second output port between a plurality of waveguide loads. |
| US09647308B2 |
Dielectric filter having dielectric resonators disposed within a casing and secured by an intermediate member
Provided is a dielectric filter that can be anchored in a stable manner without causing damage even when there is variation in the size of the parts. With this dielectric filter, one surface of washers has a concave part, which is equipped with an edge part formed at the perimeter of the one surface, a floor surface provided at a lower position than the edge part, and a tapered part formed between the edge part and the floor surface. The washers are arranged on the upper surface of and fastened by means of screws to dielectric bodies with the concave parts facing the dielectric bodies, with sheet metal therebetween. |
| US09647305B2 |
Electrode material, electrode, and battery
An electrode includes a plant-derived porous carbon material having an ability to catalyze oxygen reduction. |
| US09647304B2 |
Battery cooling structure including heat transfer sheet
A battery cooling structure in which a heat transfer sheet that can be deformed by pressure is held between a cooling plate and a cooling surface of a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and heat of the battery module is transferred from the cooling surface to the cooling plate via the heat transfer sheet to thus carry out cooling, wherein the cooling plate is a hollow member in which a cooling medium passage is formed for a cooling medium to flow, and the heat transfer sheet is formed so as to have a larger thickness in a middle part than in an outer peripheral part. |
| US09647300B2 |
Solar canopy with integral storage compartment to receive high capacity batteries
The technology of the present application provides a solar canopy having a cavity. The cavity defines at least one space that is sized and shaped to receive a high capacity battery, of which electric vehicle batteries are one example. The cavity includes an opening to allow access to the space. Contacts are arranged in the cavity to align with contacts of a battery inserted into the space to electrically couple the battery to the power electronics or power conditioner, which includes a power conversion system, and inverter, and a converter or transformer. The cavity also includes a heat dissipation system. |
| US09647293B2 |
Gel polymer composite electrolyte, polymer lithium ion battery comprising the gel polymer composite electrolyte and methods of preparing the same
A gel polymer composite electrolyte, a polymer lithium ion battery comprising the gel polymer composite electrolyte and methods of preparing the polymer lithium ion battery are provided. The gel polymer composite electrolyte is formed by swelling after a polymer membrane absorbs an electrolyte, wherein the polymer membrane is formed by thermocuring a polymer mixture comprising an acrylic emulsion, water and ammonia water, and the acrylic emulsion has a glass transition temperature ranging from about −30° C. to about 50° C. |
| US09647292B2 |
Battery cell assembly and method for manufacturing a cooling fin for the battery cell assembly
A battery cell assembly having a cooling fin with a tube and a flexible thermally conductive sheet disposed on the tube is provided. The tube has first, second, and third tube portions. The sheet has first, second, and third sheet portions. The first and second sheet portions are disposed on at least the first and second tube portions, respectively, and the third sheet portion extends between the first and second tube portions. The assembly further includes a first clamping member clamping the first sheet portion to the first tube portion, and a second clamping member clamping the second sheet portion to the second tube portion. The assembly further includes a battery cell disposed against the third sheet portion. |
| US09647291B2 |
Heater and supporting structure thereof
A heater includes a heater housing with a support plate secured to one end. A fuel cell stack assembly is disposed within the heater housing and includes a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent. The fuel cell stack assembly includes a fuel cell manifold for receiving the fuel and distributing the fuel to the plurality of fuel cells and for receiving the oxidizing agent and distributing the oxidizing agent to the plurality of fuel cells. A fuel supply conduit supplies the fuel to the fuel cell manifold and an oxidizing agent supply conduit supplies the oxidizing agent to the fuel cell manifold. The fuel cell stack assembly is supported on the support plate by one of the fuel supply conduit and the oxidizing agent supply conduit. |
| US09647286B2 |
System and method for generating power and enhanced oil recovery
A method for producing a purified carbon dioxide product suitable for EOR and surplus electricity uses a vaporous hydrocarbon feed and a SOFC system. A SOFC system includes a condensate removal system, an acid gas removal system, a hydrodesulfurization system, a sorption bed system, a pre-reformer, a solid oxide fuel cell, a CO2 separations system and a CO2 dehydration system operable to form the purified carbon dioxide product, where the SOFC system is operable to produce surplus electricity from the electricity produced by the solid oxide fuel cell. A method of operating the pre-reformer to maximize the internal reforming capacity of a downstream solid oxide fuel cell uses a pre-reformer fluidly coupled on the upstream side of a solid oxide fuel cell. A method of enhancing hydrocarbon fluid recovery from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation using a SOFC system. |
| US09647285B2 |
Fossil fuel power plant with integrated carbon separation facility
As integrated fossil fuel power plant and a method of operating the power plant is provided. The integrated fossil fuel power plant includes a gas turbine arrangement and a carbonate fuel cell having an anode side and a cathode side. The operating method for the integrated fossil fuel power plant includes partially expanding combustion gases in the gas turbine arrangement so that the temperature of the partially expanded combustion gases is optimized for reaction in the cathode side of the carbonate fuel cell, and feeding the partially expanded combustion gases at the optimized temperature to the cathode side of the carbonate fuel cell for reaction in the cathode side of the carbonate fuel cell. |
| US09647282B2 |
Method for controlling fuel cell system
Provided is a method of controlling a fuel cell system including a stop command sensing process of sensing a stop command output when the fuel cell system stops, an anode pressure increasing process of increasing pressure so that the pressure of the anode reaches a first predetermined pressure value, and a stop-time discharge process of performing discharge by consuming oxygen remaining within an oxidant off-gas while driving an oxidant off-gas circulation pump. |
| US09647281B2 |
Method of operating a fuel cell apparatus and fuel cell apparatus having a charge limiter
A method for operating a fuel cell device, the fuel cell device having a fuel cell, and a motor vehicle having a drive system and the fuel cell device are disclosed. In order to avoid energy which has been made available by the fuel cell device being used merely to heat the fuel cell and therefore not being available for a consumer, there is provision according to the invention that the energy to be stored is limited as a function of the ambient temperature and the fuel cell device has for this purpose an ambient temperature-determining unit and a charge limiter which is connected to the ambient temperature-determining unit in a control signal-transmitting fashion. |
| US09647280B2 |
Fuel cell vehicle
An object is to supply a sufficient amount of air to a fuel cell stack in a fuel cell vehicle when the fuel cell stack is mounted below a floor, the fuel cell stack configured to draw in air through an intake duct and discharge air to the exterior through an exhaust duct. An air introduction surface (26) faces upward or downward in a vehicle upper and lower direction, an intake passage portion (30) of the intake duct (28) extends along the air introduction surface (26) and vertical walls (31, 32) of left and right end portions of the fuel cell stack (11) while a pair of air introduction ports (33, 34) opens in left and right end portions of the intake passage portion (30), and an exhaust passage portion (39) of the exhaust duct (29) extends along an air discharge surface (27) and vertical walls (40, 41) of front and rear end portions of the fuel cell stack (11) while a pair of air discharge ports (42, 43) opens in front and rear end portions of the exhaust passage portion (39). |
| US09647277B2 |
Hydrolytically-stable hydrophilic coating for bipolar plates
A method for forming a hydrolytically-stable hydrophilic coating on a fuel cell flow field plate comprises contacting a flow field plate with a titanium oxide sol to form a titanium oxide layer disposed upon the flow field plate. The coated flow field plate is subsequently contacted with a silicon oxide sol to form a silicon oxide/titanium oxide bilayer disposed upon the flow field plate. A flow field plate formed by the method is also provided. |
| US09647276B2 |
Activation mechanism for a reserve battery cell
A biasing mechanism for pressurizing an electrolytic solution of a reserve battery cell, the biasing mechanism containing a compressed spring and a trigger operatively associated with the compressed spring. The trigger is configured to release the compressed spring to pressurize the electrolytic solution. |
| US09647275B2 |
Bi-functional catalysts for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution
A porous metal-oxide composite particle suitable for use as a oxygen reduction reaction or oxygen evolution reaction catalyst and sacrificial support based methods for making the same. |
| US09647274B2 |
Method of making a proton exchange membrane using a gas diffusion electrode as a substrate
One embodiment includes a method comprising providing a first catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer, depositing a wet first proton exchange membrane layer over the first catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer to form a first proton exchange membrane layer; providing a second catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer; contacting the second catalyst coated gas diffusion media layer, or second proton exchange membrane layer, with the first proton exchange membrane layer; and hot pressing together the catalyst coated diffusion layers and proton exchange membrane layer(s). |
| US09647273B2 |
Flow battery having electrodes with a plurality of different pore sizes and or different layers
A flow battery includes an electrode operable to be wet by a solution having a reversible redox couple reactant. In one embodiment, the electrode can have plurality of micro and macro pores, wherein the macro pores have a size at least one order of magnitude greater than a size of the micro pores. In another embodiment, the electrode includes a plurality of layers, wherein one of the plurality of layers has a plurality of macro pores, and wherein another one of the plurality of layers has a plurality of micro pores. In another embodiment, the electrode has a thickness less than approximately 2 mm. In still another embodiment, the electrode has a porous carbon layer, wherein the layer is formed of a plurality of particles bound together. |
| US09647272B1 |
Surface-treated copper foil
The present disclosure relates to a surface-treated copper foil which exhibits excellent affinity for an active material layer that is applied to the copper foil in the manufacture of a negative electrode (anode), for use in secondary lithium-ion batteries. The copper foil is plated with chromium and zinc and subsequently subjected to an organic treatment. The surface-treated copper has a surface tension of 34 to 58 dyne/cm and a surface roughness (Rz) of 0.8 to 2.5 μm, and comprises: (a) copper foil; (b) a zinc-chromium layer plated one or both sides of the copper foil, wherein the zinc content in the zinc-chromium layer is from 10 to 120 μg/dm2 and the chromium content in the zinc-chromium layer is from 10 to 35 μg/dm2; and (c) an organic hydrophobic layer applied to the zinc-chromium layer. |
| US09647261B2 |
Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
The present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that comprises a positive electrode sheet comprising a positive electrode active material layer, and a negative electrode sheet comprising a negative electrode active material layer. The positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet are arranged such that the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer face each other. The negative electrode active material layer comprises a face-to-face region NF that faces the positive electrode active material layer and a non-face-to-face region NNF that does not face the positive electrode active material layer. The non-face-to-face region NNF includes a high density part NHD having a density higher than that of the region face-to-face NF. |
| US09647259B2 |
Gas phase deposition of battery separators
Methods of making a battery component are provided. The method comprises gas phase depositing a composition onto an electrode, the composition comprising a first component and a second component, and removing at least a portion of the second component to form a separator comprising a porous polymer film on the electrode. The first component is selected from the group consisting of polymers, dimers and monomers. In some embodiments, the second component is selected from the group consisting of polymers, dimers and monomers and is different from the first component. The first component and the second component each form separate polymer phases and together form a layer. In some embodiments, the second component is selected from the group consisting of by-products and remaining portions of the first component from the forming the first polymer. |
| US09647258B2 |
Method for producing electrode covered with sodium metal
A current collector is covered with sodium metal through: (1) applying a sodium dispersion containing sodium metal and at least one substance selected from the group consisting of an imide salt and a binder, on a current collector in an inert gas environment (with an oxygen concentration of not more than 0.01% and a dew point of not more than −10° C.), followed by heating and drying; (2) pressure bonding a piece of solid sodium metal having a surface which exhibits a metallic luster onto a current collector in the aforementioned inert gas environment; (3) vapor-depositing sodium metal on a current collector in a reduced pressure environment; or (4) immersing a current collector having a surface fired at a temperature ranging from 150 to 300° C. in molten sodium metal after removing a coating film which is generated on a surface and formed from impurities, in the aforementioned inert gas environment. |
| US09647256B2 |
Battery, battery pack, electronic apparatus, electrically driven vehicle, electrical storage device, and power system
Provided is a battery in which an area density S (mg/cm2) of a positive electrode active material layer is 27 mg/cm2 or greater, and a porous film included in a separator has a structure satisfying the following Expressions. 0.04≦Ri≦−0.07L−0.09×S+4.99 Ri=τ2L/ε′ ε′=[{(L×ε/100)−Rz×0.46/3}/L]×100 τ={(1.216×ε′Td×10−4)/L}0.5 (Expressions) |
| US09647254B2 |
Coated separator and one-step method for preparing the same
In a one-step method for preparing a coated separator, a suspension of i) a ceramic, ii) a cermet, iii) a ceramic with an electrolyte, or iv) a cermet with an electrolyte in a carrier liquid is plasma sprayed without a carrier gas. The carrier liquid is water, alcohol, ethylene glycol, or mixtures thereof. |
| US09647251B2 |
Device for cooling batteries
A device for cooling batteries includes a cooling plate for receiving at least one battery thereon and at least one heat transfer element in heat transfer relationship with the cooling plate. A mechanical stress produced by a contact force causes the at least one heat transfer element to thermally abut the cooling plate. |
| US09647248B2 |
Secondary battery
A secondary battery including an electrode assembly; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate sealing the case; a terminal plate on the cap plate; a current collecting terminal penetrating through the cap plate and the terminal plate, the current collecting terminal being coupled with a top surface of the terminal plate and being electrically connected to the electrode assembly; and a reinforcing plate coupled with a bottom surface of the terminal plate to face the terminal plate. |
| US09647245B2 |
Flexible organic electroluminescent device and method of fabricating the same
A flexible organic electroluminescent device is disclosed which includes: a flexible substrate; a buffer layer entirely formed on the flexible substrate; a thin film transistor formed on the buffer layer and configured to include an active layer; a planarization film formed to cover the thin film transistor; an organic light emitting diode formed on the planarization film and configured to include a first electrode, an organic emission layer and a second electrode; and at least one silicon nitride layer formed above the active layer of the thin film transistor but under the planarization film and patterned into a plurality of island patterns. |
| US09647239B2 |
Electroluminescent device
The invention relates to an electroluminescent device (10) comprising a layer system with a substrate (40) and on top of the substrate (40) a substrate electrode (20), a counter electrode (30) and an electroluminescent layer stack with at least one organic electroluminescent layer (50) arranged between the substrate electrode (20) and the counter electrode (30), characterized in that at least one optical transparent outcoupling body (71) is provided on top of the substrate electrode (20) to increase the outcoupling of light generated by the at least one organic electroluminescent layer (50) at least partly covering the optical transparent outcoupling body (71). The invention further relates to a method to manufacture such a device. |