| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09681796B2 |
Interface for viewing video from cameras on a surgical visualization system
A surgical device includes a plurality of cameras integrated therein. The view of each of the plurality of cameras can be integrated together to provide a composite image. A surgical tool that includes an integrated camera may be used in conjunction with the surgical device. The image produced by the camera integrated with the surgical tool may be associated with the composite image generated by the plurality of cameras integrated in the surgical device. The position and orientation of the cameras and/or the surgical tool can be tracked, and the surgical tool can be rendered as transparent on the composite image. A surgical device may be powered by a hydraulic system, thereby reducing electromagnetic interference with tracking devices. |
| US09681793B2 |
Surgical probe with interlocking attachment
A method of manufacturing an optical probe for use in ophthalmic procedures can comprise: positioning a ferrule within a proximal portion of a cannula, wherein an optical fiber extends at least partially through the ferrule towards an optical element disposed within a distal portion of the cannula; and coupling the cannula to the ferrule by applying laser energy to the cannula. An optical probe can be provided that includes a cannula including a proximal portion and a distal portion; a ferrule disposed within the proximal portion of the cannula, the cannula and the ferrule coupled together by engaged deformations in the cannula and the ferrule; and an optical fiber positioned at least partially within the optical probe, the optical fiber configured to receive a light from a light source and guide the light to an optical element positioned within the distal portion of the cannula. |
| US09681784B2 |
Compact automated window washing apparatus
An automated washing system for vertical surfaces of buildings comprises a frame assembly including a substantially planar base portion and a mast portion extending upwardly from the base portion. A pair of rolling wheels are disposed on the opposing sides of the base portion adjacent the rear end thereof. A main brush is rotatably disposed on the frame and partially enclosed by a shroud. An electric drive motor drives the main brush and is powered by an onboard battery. Bumper wheels disposed on the shroud extend laterally outwardly beyond from the opposing circular ends of the main brush. The angle between the mast and the base is configured to hold the main brush against the vertical surface of the building when the mast is lifted vertically by a cable attached to the mast. |
| US09681783B2 |
Sheet product dispenser
A sheet product dispenser is provided for sheet product from a roller. The sheet product dispenser includes a first roll of sheet product, called a stub roll, a main roll of sheet product, and a dispensing arrangement. A sensor is provided for detecting when sheet product on a stub roll is depleted. The sensor generates a signal in response to the depletion of the stub roll and a controller activates an electromechanical actuator. The actuator acts to operate a transfer bar that moves an end portion of the main roll sheet product adjacent a roller assembly that engages the main roller sheet product. |
| US09681780B2 |
Product dispensing system
A fluid dispensing system, fluid reservoir, refill container for refilling the fluid reservoir, and method of refilling the fluid reservoir are provided. The fluid dispensing system includes a refill connection port or nozzle to which a refill container is connected when refilling the fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir includes a piston head and an actuator for moving the piston head in a first direction and in a second direction. When the piston head is moved in the first direction, the fluid within the fluid reservoir is pressurized, causing the fluid to be dispensed through an outlet of the fluid reservoir. When the piston head is moved in the second direction, a vacuum is created within the fluid reservoir that draws fluid, from the refill container, into the fluid reservoir. The fluid dispensing system includes a valve to enable multiple refill containers to be coupled to the nozzle and/or the refill connection port. |
| US09681778B2 |
Food processing tool
A tool intended as an attachment or accessory for a food processor and configured to automate the delicate operation of folding ingredients together without expelling air is described. The tool includes first and second curved blades which depend from a casing part that is rotated within a processing bowl by means of a geared arrangement that picks up rotary drive from a drive shaft coupled to a driven outlet on the base of the food processor. The blades are disposed at different distances from the axis about which the casing rotates, so that the outer blade passes closer to the wall of the bowl than does the inner blade. |
| US09681776B2 |
Adapter for a slow cooker
An adapter for a slow cooker having one or more basins for food items and a perimeter configured to fit an upper rim of the slow cooker and also receive the cover of the slow cooker such that the original closure seal of the cover to the slow cooker is maintained. Another embodiment comprises at least first and second identically shaped trays configured to nest in side-by-side fashion when supported within the slow cooker. |
| US09681772B2 |
Full automatic turkish coffee cooking and serving method and machine
The present invention relates to a Turkish coffee cooking and serving machine having a cooking compartment whose inner volume is heated by a heater and wherein coffee mixture including Turkish coffee, water and optionally sugar is cooked; and when the cooking process is completed, providing transfer of the cooked coffee mixture in the cooking compartment through a discharge spout to a beverage receptacle for serving the cooked coffee to people. |
| US09681770B2 |
Cookware pressure indicator
A microwave pressure cooker including safety interlock mechanisms. A blow vent is provided in cooker lid, and a lock bar is pivoted to cooker lid in a position to block blow vent when lock bar is resting under its own weight. Free end of lock bar includes a lock tab. Lock tab extends through slot at periphery of lid. Cooker base includes handle with a cam section ending in a lock wall. Cooker lid is placed on base in a release position and rotated to a locking position. During this rotation lock tab rides over cam section and then falls adjacent lock wall, thus sealing blow vent. After cooking cover is physically prevented from rotating back to release position by lock tab abutting lock wall. User must physically lift lock bar to unseal blow vent to ensure internal pressure is released. A spline may hold lock bar in raised position. |
| US09681765B2 |
Interactive children's table dishes
An apparatus for encouraging children to eat meals through the use of interactive lights and audio is provided. In one embodiment is a bowl with lights embedded on its outer surface, capable of being illuminated by a controller in various lighting sequences. Also included is an audio speaker capable of reproducing audio stored in an internal controller. In other embodiments are a tray and dishes that use light and audio adapted for their specific application. |
| US09681764B1 |
Foldable chair blanket
A blanket comprises a seat portion, a back portion, and an extended leg portion attached to the seat portion. The leg portion may be foldable and adjustable so that it can be used to cover the legs or other parts of the body, as desired. |
| US09681761B2 |
Simply structured rack
A simply structured rack is disclosed, comprising a rack body formed as a chamber for accommodating bottles and cans, wherein the rack body is formed and surrounded by a first rack plate and a second rack plate, both of which comprise a main plate, a first connection plate and a second connection plate, the two ends of the main plate are curved towards the same side to form the first and the second connection plate, the first connection plate of the first rack plate is connected with the second connection plate of the second rack plate in a sliding manner, and the second connection plate of the first rack plate is connected with the first connection plate of the second rack plate in a sliding manner. |
| US09681757B2 |
Systems, components and related methods
The present invention is generally directed to systems related to sleeping, playing and provision of non-toxic environments, components related to those systems, and methods involving the systems or components. It is more particularly directed to systems, components and methods that aid early infant cognitive development, improve ventilation inside a crib, promote fresh and/or odor free air, promote thermoregulation and homeostasis, protect the person using the systems, components and methods from biological toxins, and create healthy sleeping environments for infants, toddlers, children and adults. One sleep system according to the present invention includes a cover, a core, and a bottom. The cover includes at least two raised areas. The raised areas have one or more heights ranging from 0.125 inch to 5.0 inches and diameters ranging of 0.25 to 10.0 inches. |
| US09681754B2 |
Collapsible rolling stool
The present invention is a collapsible stool with a plurality of legs that can be stored either freestanding or hung, and that has a single handle that is used to carry, initiate expansion or collapse of, or used to guide the stool when sitting. Further, the stool has a novel mechanism that allows a smooth transition from collapse to expansion and expansion to collapse using a single handle. This same mechanism allows the stool to stand upright in a stable position in both the expanded and collapsed configurations. |
| US09681753B1 |
Combination cooler support and drink display device
A combination cooler support and drink display device combined with a cooler support includes a frame that comprises a pair of front legs and a pair of back legs. Each of a pair of beams is pivotally coupled to a respective front leg and a respective back leg. A platform, which is rigid, is pivotally coupled to each of the front legs and each of the back legs. The frame is foldable. With the frame unfolded, the pair of beams are coplanar and in substantial parallelism with the platform. Each of a pair of side tables has an inner edge hingedly coupled to a respective beam. Cup holders are positioned in the side tables. The platform is configured to support and position a cooler to dispense drinks into cups, and the cup holders are configured to store the cups prior to and after filling. |
| US09681746B1 |
Platform on desktop with elevation function
Disclosed is a platform on desktop with elevation function, including a primary desktop, a primary desktop, an elevation assembly securely mounted to the primary desktop, and a secondary desktop securely mounted to the elevation assembly. The elevation assembly includes opposite arranged first and elevation frames. A positioning assembly includes a positioning member having spaced positioning holes to selectively receive an end of an upper guide pin mounted to a bar of the elevation assembly. A pull handle assembly is rotatably coupled to the positioning member for selectively disengaging the upper guide pin from the positioning member so as to allow the elevation frame to raise or lower down. |
| US09681745B2 |
Device and methods for extending a countertop
A portable detachable counter extension system uniquely mounts on top of an already existing surface including but not limited to a counter, bookshelf, radiator cover, bathroom vanity or any other suitable existing suitable surface. |
| US09681744B2 |
Light emitting oral care implement and method of detecting plaque
A toothbrush uses light to deliver an oral care benefit such as the detection of plaque or the whitening of teeth. In one embodiment, a toothpaste formulation contains ultraviolet brighteners as a whitening ingredient that has a whitening or bleaching effect when in contact with ultraviolet radiation. The activation of the brighteners may occur through the use of a toothbrush having a UV source. In yet another embodiment, a toothpaste formulation contains an oxidizing agent as a whitening ingredient, the activation of which occurs through the use of a toothbrush having a source of light energy which includes LEDs in the bristle field. |
| US09681743B2 |
Spiral bristle having strand components with different oral care additives, and oral care implement comprising the same
An oral care implement including at least one spiral bristle. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement having a handle; a head coupled to the handle; at least one bristle tuft extending from the head, the at least one bristle tuft comprising at least one spiral bristle comprising coextruded first and second strand components that are intertwined together to form the at least one spiral bristle; the first strand component comprising a first plastic and a first oral care additive; and the second strand component comprising a second plastic and a second oral care additive, Tine rein the first oral care additive is different than the second oral care additive. |
| US09681741B2 |
Grill cleaner
A grill cleaner with a handle and a head is provided. The handle includes a first end and a second end. The head is attached to the second end of the handle. The present invention further includes a grill brush including a block and a plurality of bristles protruding from the block. The grill brush is removeably attached to the head so that the grill brush may be easily replaced once the bristles have been worn down. A bristle wear indicator is attached to and protrudes from the head beyond the block and ending at a plane in between a first end of the plurality of bristles and a second end of the plurality of bristles. Therefore, once the bristles have worn down to the plane, the user is indicated to replace the grill brush. |
| US09681737B2 |
Shoulder strap retention device and method
Shoulder strap retention devices that are used to secure the shoulder straps of an article in position relative to a separate chest panel or protector so that they do not slip off the chest panel or the shoulders of a user carrying the article are disclosed. In one embodiment, the shoulder strap retention devices include a retention strap and anchoring strips that are secured to the retention strap and used to attach the shoulder strap retention device to an article having shoulder straps. |
| US09681733B2 |
Cosmetic liquid extractor comprising nonionic polymers
Aqueous liquid compositions are provided, which comprise nonionic polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), or combinations thereof, and which are free of or substantially free of salt-forming groups. The aqueous liquids form solid, flexible films after direct application to skin, and the films may be peeled from the skin to remove adhered keratotic plugs from pores of the skin. The compositions are easily applied to skin, without dripping, with fingers, a brush, or other applicators. |
| US09681731B2 |
Rotary dispenser-type cosmetics container
A rotary dispenser-type cosmetics container in which, when a button part rotates, guide protrusions move along a bottom surface of a pumping guide formed on an inner peripheral surface of the button part and then an ascending and descending member ascends and descends, whereby a pumping action is conducted. Therefore, the container discharges contents in a fixed state in which the height of the button part is not changed, and is thereby capable of preventing contents from unnecessarily leaking due to pressing a button by an external pressure. |
| US09681730B2 |
Flexible tube with applicator cap
A container (1) has an applicator cap (2) for a cosmetic product and a flexible tube (3) having a skirt (31) and a tube head (32) having a shoulder part (321) and a neck (322) with an opening (3221), The tube head (32) is connected to the skirt (31) by the shoulder part (321). The flexible tube (3) acting as a reservoir to contain some cosmetic product. The applicator cap (2has a base (21) and an applicator, the base (21) being designed to fix onto the tube head (32) and plug the opening (3221) and the applicator being fixed to the base (21) so as to be housed inside the flexible tube (3) when the base (21) is fixed to the tube head (32) and plugs the opening (3221). The skirt (2) is made of a multilayered plastics material (4) comprising at least one barrier layer (41). |
| US09681727B2 |
Cosmetic clutch carrying case
A cosmetic carrying case having a pair of clamshell members hinged together at a bottom edge thereof such that the members, when closed, form an interior chamber for containing cosmetics materials and, when open, provide access to the interior chamber, divided into two compartments. One of the compartments may include a magnetic surface adapted to removably secure cosmetic pans. A mirror may be pivotally combined with one of the interior compartments. One of the interior compartments may contain elastic straps for retaining cosmetic articles in a fixed position. |
| US09681724B2 |
Method for the gentle heat-assisted shaping of keratin fibers
A compound of formula (I) in which R1, R2 and R3 independently represent an aliphatic hydrocarbon group with 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and n and m independently represent integers from 1 to 10, is suitable for restructuring keratin-containing fibers that were exposed to heat of a temperature of 80° C. to 350° C. |
| US09681720B2 |
Single-piece cuffed jewelry sleeve and display board set: display-travel-storage all-in-one protective set
This invention is a Revolutionary protective Cuffed Jewelry Sleeve and Jewelry Display Board set for storing and protecting each individual pieces of jewelry stored within group storage of multiple items. Revolutionizing existing group storage solutions and adaptable to new and creative storage containers and hanging mechanism with effective protection and permanent organization of multiple pieces of jewelry stored together including eliminating damaging tangling, bunching and/or folding from use of under-sized jewelry boxes and drop-in bags and pouches commonly used for single-piece jewelry storage. Each individual piece of jewelry is secured in place to a Display Board with its style and length displayed and inserted inside its protective and securely cuff-capped Jewelry sleeve with a visible identification cuff displaying the jewelry identification and/or photo image for selection without visibility while simultaneously protecting and storing each individual stored-ready for display and packed-ready for travel. |
| US09681717B2 |
Foldable luggage
A wheel housing (340) for a luggage case may include first and second pieces (342, 344) pivotally joined together. At least one of the first and second pieces (342, 344) supports an axle (346) that supports a wheel (348). The first piece (342) includes a surface that conforms to a first surface portion of the luggage case (100, 300), and the second piece (344) includes a surface that conforms to a second surface portion of the luggage case (100, 300). The wheel housing (340) may advantageously be coupled to a luggage case (100, 300). The first piece of (342) the wheel housing (340) may be operatively coupled to a first support portion of the luggage case (100, 300), and the second piece (344) of the wheel housing (340) may be coupled to a second support portion of the luggage case (100, 300). The first and second support portions of the luggage case (100, 300) may be defined by a single sheet of material in some examples. |
| US09681715B2 |
Slender and comfortable wallet for enhanced folding money and credit/identification card carrying
A wallet for retaining a plurality of rectangularly configured credit, business and identification cards along with currency bills includes a case and a fabric partition dividing the wallet and cards into upper and lower sections with the cards being inserted within the sections with their larger sides parallel to the top and bottom edges of the case and perpendicular to its side edges, and with the case adapted for insertion via either section, top or bottom edge first, downwardly into a back pocket of a wearer's trousers, a purse or pocketbook without folding over. |
| US09681713B2 |
Foldable chair and cane, with a locking structure
A foldable chair includes a main stick, a fold unit and a retention unit. The fold unit includes a middle slider member movable along the main stick between lower and upper positions, and a foldable support leg connected to the middle slider members. The retention unit is configured to prevent fold operation of the support leg when the middle slider member is at the lower position, and to permit the fold operation of the support leg when the middle slider member is at the upper position. |
| US09681712B2 |
Key ring method and apparatus
A method for fabricating a fashion ring from a key is presented. The method includes supporting the key on first and second surfaces, forcing the key into a shaping aperture between the first and second surfaces with a round form, wrapping a first portion of the key around the round form with a first die, wrapping a second portion of the key around the round form with a second die, removing the wrapped key from the round form, and applying a finishing process to the wrapped key to form a fashion ring. |
| US09681710B2 |
Slide fastener
Provided is a slide fastener including: a first fastener stringer that includes a first element row and a first fastener tape, the first element row including a plurality of first elements and one or more second elements; a second fastener stringer that includes a second element row and a second fastener tape, the second element row including one or more second elements; and a slider that is slidable along the first and second element rows. Each of the first element and the second element includes a head coupled to a base via a neck. The base includes an opposite surface that is located at the opposite side of the head. The opposite surface of the second element is positioned farther from the opposed side edge than the opposite surface of the first element. At least two engaged second elements of the first and second element rows constitute a lock unit that is for locking the slider. |
| US09681708B2 |
Article of footwear having an upper with a matrix layer
Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) a sole structure; (b) an upper having lateral and medial side elements engaged with the sole structure, the upper made from a polymer matrix structure that extends through at least a heel region; (c) a size adjustment mechanism located at the heel region; (d) a heel tongue element located adjacent the size adjustment mechanism; (e) a shoe securing mechanism; (f) an instep tongue member; and/or (g) a bootie member located at least partially within the foot-receiving chamber. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed. |
| US09681702B2 |
Footwear with elongated cleats
A sole for an article of footwear having elongated cleats is provided. The elongated cleats extend toward the toe end of the sole and toward the heel end of the sole such that the heel-ward end of each of the elongated cleats is closer to the midline than each corresponding toe-ward end of the elongated cleats. The configuration and position of the elongated cleats can provide increased lateral and forward stability for a wearer's feet. |
| US09681701B2 |
Outsoles having grooves forming discrete lugs
Various arrangements for an article of footwear including an outsole having grooves forming discrete lugs are presented. The outsoles generally include a plurality of grooves formed in at least a portion of the outsole that extend from a lateral side of the outsole to a medial side of the outsole. The grooves may be linear or curved and generally extend in an angular fashion. The grooves may have a first depth at a perimeter of the outsole and a second depth, greater than the first depth, at the center of the outsole. The grooves form discrete lugs. In some arrangements, the lugs are diamond shaped. |
| US09681700B2 |
Article of footwear with bladder and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper, a footbed, an outsole, and a bladder that is disposed between the footbed and the outsole includes providing a plurality of layers. The layers include a top, outsole, first bladder, and second bladder layer. Also, the method includes molding the layers together substantially simultaneously to form the upper, the footbed, the outsole, and the bladder. |
| US09681693B1 |
Hair replacement system and method
A hair system includes a thin skin hair unit having adhesive pre-applied to the inside surface, a sheet of silicone is located on a dome shaped form, and the hair unit is located on the form and silicone layer for storage, shipping to the client, and removal and use by the client. |
| US09681685B1 |
Self-lighting pipe with removable lighter
A pipe that has a machined body that accepts a standard disposable type lighter. A mouthpiece fits in the bottom of the machined body. The mouthpiece has a tube that collects smoke from the bowl and also has a flared end so the smoker can extract the smoke. The end of the mouthpiece is also used to secure the lighter in place. Once assembled, the user fills the bowl of the pipe, pushes the lighter forward to ignite it and draws the flame into the bowl to light the pipe. Once lit, the user releases the lighter and can then smoke normally. |
| US09681675B2 |
Rack structure of yogurt machine
A rack of a yogurt machine is disclosed. The yogurt machine includes a main body, which has a surface to which a controller is mounted and is recessed to form an accommodation compartment for receiving a blower assembly mounted therein and in connection with the controller. At least one rack is mounted atop the main body and includes, at a lower portion thereof, a lower rack frame that is stacked on and coupled to the main body. The lower rack frame has an inner surface on which coupling projections are mounted and is coupled, with a top thereof, to an upper rack frame that is inwardly contracted with respect to and extends upward from the lower rack frame. The upper rack frame receives a horizontal support board therein and includes yogurt fermentation cups mounted thereto. A top cover is fit to a top rim of the upper rack frame. |
| US09681671B2 |
Method of forming dough composition
Described are dough compositions and methods, wherein the dough composition is prepared using a metabolized portion of dough comprising bubbles, metabolically active yeast, and developed dough matrix, combined with non-metabolized yeast, and wherein the dough composition preferably has useful properties such as yeast-leavened freezer-to-oven capabilities, without the need for chemical leavening agents or modified atmosphere packaging. |
| US09681669B2 |
Plant extracts comprising at least a phenolic compound, for inducing the natural defense of a plant against a pathogen, such as Phytophthora infestans
A sugar beet extract (SBE) induced defense in potato plants under green-house conditions and in field trial, without apparent toxicity for the plant. Treatment with SBE resulted in significant reduction of the size of Phytophthora infestans infection lesions and lower sporangia production. SBE had no apparent toxic effect, neither on the hyphal growth of the pathogennor on the germination of sporangia. SBE triggered PR-1 protein induction which suggests that the defense mechanism conferred by SBE could be via direct induced resistance. An array of phenolic metabolites and minerals was found in the SBE and constitutes potential inducers of the defense. |
| US09681667B2 |
Process to make pelletized granules based on endomycorrhizal fungi covered with minerals clays and their composition
The present invention relates to a composition of granulated or pelletized endomycorrhizal fungi spores coated with a covering of mineral clays and binders with calcium sulphate monohydrate and the production and use thereof in agriculture. |
| US09681663B2 |
Method for spray tank cleanout
A method for spray tank cleanout. In particular, the invention further relates to a method for reducing residual sulfonylurea pesticide contamination of a spray tank from which the sulfonylurea is applied, and a composition for achieving this method. |
| US09681660B2 |
Pentachlorophenol/borate compositions and uses thereof
Disclosed is a wood preservative composition comprising: an ester of boric acid; pentachlorophenol (PCP); and American Wood Preservative Association's (AWPA) P9 Type A solvent. The composition is useful for reducing insect and microbial decay in wood. Further disclosed are methods of making and using such compositions. |
| US09681657B2 |
Decoy with anchor device
A decoy comprising: (a) an anchor device comprising: (i) a crank; (ii) a spool connected to the crank; and (iii) a locking member located proximate to the spool, wherein a gap separates the spool and the locking member and the gap in a locked position is sufficiently small so that the spool is prevented from rotating and the gap in a deployment position is sufficiently large so that the spool free rotates; (b) an anchor; and (c) an anchor line connecting the anchor to the spool so that the spool in the locked position assists in retracting the anchor and in the deployment position allows the anchor to deploy. |
| US09681656B1 |
Method of preventing or minimizing trespassing of a hunting tree stand and an apparatus therefor
A method of preventing or minimizing trespassing of a hunting tree stand and an apparatus therefor. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner. |
| US09681654B2 |
Agricultural sprayer breakaway boom assembly
According to one embodiment, there is provided a breakaway hinge for an expandable boom on an agricultural vehicle. The boom includes of a first and a second section combined in a manner to allow the second section to move with respect to the first section when the second section encounters an obstruction. A breakaway hinge is provided between the first and the second section, and includes a first pivot member attached to the first section at an angle α with respect to a vertical line and a second pivot member attached to the second section at an angle θ with respect to the vertical line. A connecting member holds the first pivot member with respect to the second pivot member. |
| US09681653B2 |
Portable organic herbicide applicator
Embodiments provide an applicator configured to pressurize and heat a mixture of water and herbicide, and expel the heated and pressurized water/herbicide mixture from the applicator. In some embodiments, the herbicide may be an organic herbicide such as organic acids, simple sugars, surfactants, or ammonia. The applicator may include an inline heating element coupled with a spray tip of the applicator such that the inline heating element may receive a water/herbicide mixture from a water line of the applicator, heat the water/herbicide mixture, and then supply the water/herbicide mixture to the spray tip. |
| US09681646B2 |
Dosage compensating transgenes and cells
Methods and compositions for reducing expression of genes on Chromosome 21 (“Chr 21”) by targeting an XIST transgene to the Dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) gene or a Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) gene, and cells and transgenic animals comprising an XIST transgene inserted into a DYRK1A or RCAN1 allele, e.g., cells and animals trisomic for human Chr 21 and mouse Chr 16. |
| US09681645B2 |
Structure for attracting and accumulating aquatic organisms
A structure for attracting and accumulating aquatic organisms that is a simple, inexpensive, non-degradable unit, easy to assemble and use, as well as easy to retrieve and move for use in a different location, formed of a central 4″ PVC pipe having cut outs through which are inserted bar slats made of solid, generally rigid, 100% PVC material. The bar installation is a compressed fit into the cut-out sections of pipe, forming a compress fit, self-expanding, spring-lock design. Holes may be drilled in each end of the central pipe so that a hook may be inserted in one end, allowing the habitat structure to be hung from a dock or tethered to another stationary object, or retrieved with a boat hook for ease in removal and relocation. Alternatively, the use of coupling connections permits joining one habitat structure to another in order to form a larger habitat structure. |
| US09681643B2 |
Tug toy
A tug toy that includes at least two gripping members and a central portion, wherein the at least two gripping members are attached to the central portion, and wherein the central portion further includes a noise maker. |
| US09681638B1 |
Wheeled litter-sifting cart
The wheeled litter-sifting cart is a device that is adapted to store containers of cat litter as well as to sift out used cat litter for disposal of waste and potential re-use of cat litter. The wheeled cart is mobilized via a plurality of wheels that are affixed to a cart frame. The cart frame includes a bottom deck, intermediate deck, and a top deck. The bottom deck, the intermediate deck, and the top deck are all parallel with respect to one another, and are equally spaced elevationally, speaking. The top deck includes a first opening adjacent to a second opening. A hinged sifter is attached to the top deck in between the first opening and the second opening. In use, a first bucket is aligned underneath the first opening, a second bucket is aligned underneath the second opening, and soiled cat litter is sifted via the hinged sifter. |
| US09681637B2 |
Crowd gate control system and method
A crowd gate control system includes a holding pen for dairy livestock, wherein the holding pen is adjacent to an entrance to a milking parlor. The system further includes a crowd gate positioned at a side of the holding pen. The crowd gate moves in relation to the entrance to the milking parlor. A controller is initiates a first mode of operation of the crowd gate prior to the crowd gate reaching the entrance to the milking parlor. The first mode of operation is a pre-forward reverse step. The crowd gate moves away from the entrance to the milking parlor prior to initiating movement towards the entrance. |
| US09681634B2 |
System and method to determine a teat position using edge detection in rear images of a livestock from two cameras
A system includes a first camera, a second camera, and a processor wherein the second camera has a higher resolution than the first camera. The processor is communicatively coupled to the first camera and the second camera and is operable to determine a center coordinate of an udder of a dairy livestock based at least in part upon visual data captured by the first camera. The processor is also operable to determine a position of a teat of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the center coordinate and visual data captured by the second camera. |
| US09681631B1 |
Inbred corn line WUC55
An inbred corn line, designated WUC55, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line WUC55, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line WUC55 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line WUC55 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line WUC55, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line WUC55 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods. |
| US09681630B1 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV492277
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV492277. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV492277, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV492277 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV492277 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV492277. |
| US09681629B1 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV871614
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV871614. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV871614, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV871614 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV871614 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV871614. |
| US09681625B2 |
Soybean cultivar 38292104
A soybean cultivar designated 38292104 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 38292104, to the plants of soybean cultivar 38292104, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 38292104, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 38292104. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 38292104. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 38292104, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 38292104 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09681622B1 |
Maize inbred PH25KR
A novel maize variety designated PH25KR and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH25KR with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH25KR through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH25KR or a locus conversion of PH25KR with another maize variety. |
| US09681621B1 |
Maize inbred PH1DG1
A novel maize variety designated PH1DG1 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1DG1 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1DG1 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1DG1 or a locus conversion of PH1DG1 with another maize variety. |
| US09681615B2 |
Rapid breeding of plants
Various embodiments disclosed herein include systems, methods, compositions, and products by process for Rapid-breeding of plants. In certain embodiments, the systems and/or methods are at least partially automated. |
| US09681613B2 |
Water-level indicator and wide-mouth re-fill apparatus for sub-irrigated, containerized plants that attaches to a plant's growpot
A water-level indicator and re-fill apparatus for the sub-irrigation of potted plants. The indicator uses a float and shaft placed inside an outer tube attached to a potted plant as a way to visually indicate to the user when the reservoir of the sub-irrigation system is running low. While attached to the plant, the user may conveniently re-fill the apparatus after being notified of the water level without disassembling the apparatus or removing it from a decorative planter. |
| US09681608B2 |
Non-invasive sprinkler
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for an in-ground sprinkler to controller a liquid flow rate through a chamber, while reducing or eliminating leakage. Embodiments may utilize a flat, external surface that is configured to be flush with a ground surface to control the liquid flow rate through the in-ground sprinkler. In embodiments, a permanent magnet may be positioned on the flat, external surface to control an internal patch system. Responsive to the permanent magnet controlling the internal patch, liquid flowing through the chamber may be controlled. |
| US09681601B2 |
Hydraulic cylinder for an agricultural row unit having an uplift accumulator and a down pressure accumulator
An agricultural row unit includes a gauge wheel that engages the soil to control the elevation of the row unit; a soil-engaging tool mounted to permit vertical movement of the tool relative to the row unit; a hydraulic cylinder having a movable rod and containing a pressurized hydraulic fluid for applying a down force to the the tool to urge the tool into the soil; an uplift accumulator housed within the rod and exposed to the hydraulic fluid to permit upward movement of the tool in response to increased resistance by the soil to downward movement of the tool, while applying a force resisting upward movement of the tool; and a down pressure accumulator coupled to the hydraulic cylinder to permit downward movement of the tool in response to decreased resistance by the soil to downward movement of the tool, while applying a force resisting downward movement of the tool. |
| US09686895B2 |
Chip attach frame
A chip attach frame is used to align pins of an integrated circuit chip with pads on a chip carrier. A frame block has a socket defining two alignment edges that form a reference corner. The chip is lowered into the socket, and the chip carrier is inclined while it supports the frame block and chip until the chip moves under force of gravity to the reference corner. Once located at the reference corner, the chip position is carefully adjusted by moving the frame block in the x- and y-directions until the pins are aligned with the pads. The frame block is spring biased against movement in the x- and y-directions, and the position of the frame block is adjusted using thumbscrews. A plunger mechanism can be used to secure the integrated circuit chip in forcible engagement with the chip carrier once the pins are aligned with the pads. |
| US09686890B2 |
Electronic device
A structure for efficiently transferring heat generated from an electronic part or the like to a heat dissipation member is provided. A bus bar is used for a wiring pattern in an electronic device (60), such as a power line (2), a GND line (6) and the like. A heat transfer member (25) is held between a first bus bar that is a power line (2) connected to an electronic part and a second bus bar that is a GND line (6) connected to a heat dissipation member (7) to configure a heat dissipation structure in which heat generated from the electronic part is transferred through the power line (2), the heat transfer member (25) and the GND line (6) to the heat dissipation member (7). |
| US09686888B2 |
Heat dissipation lid having direct liquid contact conduits
A heat dissipation lid that includes a plate having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and at least one sidewall extending from the plate second surface. The heat dissipation lid also includes at least one fluid delivery conduit and at least one fluid removal conduit, each extending between the plate first and second surface, and at least one spacing projection extending from the plate second surface to establish and maintain a desired distance between the plate second surface and a microelectronic device, when the heat dissipation lid is positioned to remove heat from the microelectronic device. |
| US09686887B2 |
Liquid cooled metal core printed circuit board
The present disclosure further contemplates a system and method that cools metal core printed circuit boards by circulating a liquid coolant so that it contacts the base metal of the metal core printed circuit board. In one example the present disclosure contemplates a direct liquid cooled MCPCB system that may include a liquid cavity creating component coupled to the base plate of a MCPCB allowing a liquid coolant to come into contact with the base plate of the MCPCB for cooling of the MCPCB. The direct liquid cooled MCPCB system may minimize thermal bottlenecks between the electrical components and the cooling fluid while reducing the number of components required in previous liquid cooled electronics systems. |
| US09686886B2 |
Cooling mechanism of storage control apparatus
A cooling mechanism includes a plurality of first circuit boards arranged in parallel with each other, one or more first fans for generating a cooling wind in a first flow path formed along the plurality of first circuit boards, and a connection board arranged orthogonally to the first flow path and at a position different from a position of the first flow path, and coupling the plurality of first circuit boards. |
| US09686884B2 |
Safety mechanism for an electrical equipment rack
A safety mechanism is provided for an electrical equipment rack. The rack has a frame with a vertical frame element including vertically spaced at intervals mounting points which are apertures for accepting mounting pegs of a frame mountable portion of an electrical equipment unit mounting rail. The safety mechanism has a vertical strip member mounted for vertical movement adjacent the vertical frame element, and the vertical strip member includes spaced apertures corresponding to the apertures on the vertical frame element. The vertical strip member is movable between a fully raised position and a lowered position. The safety mechanism further includes a raising mechanism for raising the vertical strip member from a lowered position to the fully raised position. |
| US09686883B2 |
Modular elements employing latches with flexure bearings
Modular elements employing latches with flexure bearings are disclosed. A modular element may include a chassis body supporting electronic components. The body is in communication with a latch and a control member of the modular element. The modular element is removable from or secured to an enclosure using the latch. The latch may engage the enclosure and may remain engaged by being secured by interfacing with a catch of an arm of the control member. By connecting the arm to the control body with a flexure bearing, the flexure bearing may urge the catch into a detent of the latch to secure the latch and keep the modular element secured to the enclosure. The latch may be disengaged from the control member by removing the catch from the detent. In this manner, the modular element is efficiently secured and removed from the enclosure. |
| US09686880B1 |
Thermostat housing with pc board locating apertures
A thermostat that is configured to couple to a wall mountable connector includes a plurality of pins that extend out the back of the thermostat and that are intended to mate with corresponding pin terminals of the wall mountable connector and provide electrical connections between the thermostat and the wall mountable connector. In some cases, the plurality of pins of the thermostat are secured to a printed circuit board within the thermostat housing. A plurality of apertures formed in the back of the thermostat housing may be configured to accommodate the plurality of pins and to help align the printed circuit board with the thermostat housing. This may be particularly beneficial when assembling the printed circuit board with the thermostat housing. |
| US09686879B2 |
Electronic device and glass sealing method used therefor
An electronic device and a glass sealing method used therefor, with which a sufficient joint strength can be acquired only with the use of a glass sealing material without using an activated brazing material is provided. A crystal device includes an element loading member, lid member, a crystal vibration element, and a glass sealing material. The glass sealing material is provided in a ring-like form between the fringe of the lid member on a main surface side and the fringe of the element loading member on a main surface side, and keeps a space in vacuum. |
| US09686877B2 |
Locking structure between member to be supported and supporting body
A locking structure between a member to be supported and a supporting body includes an electronic component unit as a member to be supported, an electronic component unit housing part of an electrical connection box as a supporting body, a lock mechanism for upper insertion fitting (an engagement claw and a lock arm) that, when the electronic component unit is fitted to the electronic component unit housing part from an upper-side opening, locks the electronic component unit to the electronic component unit housing part to prevent the electronic component unit from escaping toward the upper-side opening, and a lock mechanism for lower insertion fitting (an engagement claw and a lock arm) that, when the electronic component unit is fitted to the electronic component unit housing part from a lower-side opening, locks the electronic component unit to the electronic component unit housing part to prevent from escaping toward the lower-side opening. |
| US09686876B2 |
Display for construction machine and construction machine
A display for a construction machine includes: a metal case that is detachably supported on a construction machine frame via a universal joint (a joint member); a liquid crystal display (a display unit) that is attached to the metal case; and a control board that is attached to the metal case and is configured to perform a display control on the liquid crystal display. |
| US09686875B2 |
Electrical device with incorporated cable duct
There has conventionally been a problem that a cable duct must be disposed as a separate member apart from a device when cable wiring between devices is carried out, and a fixed space is necessary for disposing the cable duct, and thus the space cannot be effectively used. An electrical device incorporates an electrical unit such as an inverter that is wired to a cable, and a cable duct part that houses a cable wired to another device, and has structure in which, by providing slide structure, the size of cable duct part can be adjusted in accordance with the requirements of cable wiring. |
| US09686869B2 |
Printed circuit board and method of manufacturing printed circuit board
A write wiring trace is formed over insulating layer. A coating layer, being directly in contact with at least a first portion of a surface of the write wiring trace, is formed over the insulating layer to cover the write wiring trace. A connection terminal is formed over the insulating layer to be electrically connected to the write wiring trace and exposed from the coating layer. |
| US09686867B2 |
Foldable machines
Methods to systematize the development of machines using inexpensive, fast, and convenient fabrication processes are disclosed. In an embodiment, a folding pattern and corresponding circuit design can provide the blueprints for fabrication. The folding pattern may be provided (e.g. laser machined) on a flat sheet of substrate material, such as a polymer. The circuit pattern may be generated by etching or applying (e.g. sputtering) a copper foil layer onto the substrate. Circuit components and actuators may then be added at specified locations. The flat substrate may then be folded along the predefined locations to form the final machine. The machine may operate autonomously to perform a task. |
| US09686863B2 |
Stack structure of high frequency printed circuit board
A stack structure of a high frequency printed circuit, mainly includes a transmission conductor pin group in a form of single row, where each signal pair and each transmission pair of the transmission conductor pin group respectively have a through hole portion thereon, and the inner layer of the circuit board has a trace portion in electric connection with the through hole portion, allowing each four terminals to be formed into one group. Utilizing the clever arrangement of the through hole portions and trace portions separates each terminal properly, thereby increasing the property of transmitted signals, and, at the same time, reducing noise interferences such as EMI and RFI. |
| US09686862B2 |
Capacitors for multilayer printed circuit boards
A capacitor in a multilayer printed circuit board is described. The capacitor may include a via of a via-in-pad type and a dielectric mixture filled in the via of the via-in-pad type. The via may be disposed under an integrated circuit contact pad of the multilayer printed circuit board. The dielectric mixture may include a nanoparticle-sized dielectric powder mixed with an adhesive material. |
| US09686861B2 |
Glass core substrate for integrated circuit devices and methods of making the same
Disclosed are embodiments of a glass core substrate for an integrated circuit (IC) device. The glass core substrate includes a glass core and build-up structures on opposing sides of the glass core. Electrically conductive terminals may be formed on both sides of the glass core substrate. An IC die may be coupled with the terminals on one side of the substrate, whereas the terminals on the opposing side may be coupled with a next-level component, such as a circuit board. The glass core may comprise a single piece of glass in which conductors have been formed, or the glass core may comprise two or more glass sections that have been joined together, each section having conductors. The conductors extend through the glass core, and one or more of the conductors may be electrically coupled with the build-up structures disposed over the glass core. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09686860B2 |
Printed circuit board and method of fabricating the same
A printed circuit board includes an insulating layer, a circuit pattern on the insulating layer, and a surface treatment layer on the circuit pattern. The surface treatment layer includes a bottom surface having a width wider than a width of a top surface of the circuit pattern. |
| US09686859B2 |
Patterned conductive substrate and method for manufacturing same
The present invention provides a transparent conductive substrate comprising: a transparent substrate, and a conductive pattern provided on the transparent substrate, wherein the conductive pattern comprises line breakage portions performing electric breakage, and a pattern of a broken line formed when the line breakage portions are connected comprises an irregular pattern shape. The present invention can minimize a moiré phenomenon and a diffraction phenomenon by external light by performing line breakage of a regular or irregular conductive pattern by using the irregular pattern. |
| US09686858B2 |
Composite module
A composite module includes outer ground electrodes on one main surface of a wiring substrate, a wiring electrode inside the wiring substrate, and a first ground electrode between the wiring electrode and the outer ground electrode. A cutout is provided in the first ground electrode at least at a portion of a region overlapping with the wiring electrode and the outer ground electrode when viewed from above, and the wiring electrode overlaps with at least one of the first ground electrode and the outer ground electrode when viewed from above to reduce stray capacitance produced on the wiring electrode and to adjust impedance of the wiring electrode while preventing signals leaked from the exterior from interfering with the wiring electrode. |
| US09686856B2 |
Transmission lines
A circuit may include a first transmission line that includes a first first-line conductor configured to transport a signal and a second first-line conductor. The circuit may also include a second transmission line that includes a first second-line conductor, a second second-line conductor electrically coupled to the second first-line conductor, and a third second-line conductor separated from and positioned between the first and second second-line conductors. The third second-line conductor may be electrically coupled to the first first-line conductor. The circuit may also include a conductive jumper electrically coupling the first and second second-line conductors. The conductive jumper may contact the first and second second-line conductors in a position near the coupling of the first and second transmission lines. |
| US09686848B2 |
Plasma cutting torch, nozzle and shield cap
A plasma torch assembly, and components thereof, is provided with optimized attributes to allow for improved torch durability add versatility. A torch nozzle is provided having a novel design, including exterior cooling channels running along a length of the nozzle. An improved inner retaining cap assembly is provided which imparts a swirl on shield gas flow. Additionally, a shield cap and outer retainer have optimized geometries to allow the torch to be made narrower to facilitate the cutting of complex 3-D shapes and bevel cuts not attainable with known mechanized plasma torches. |
| US09686844B2 |
Intense X-ray and EUV light source
An intense X-ray or EUV light source may be driven by the Smith-Purcell effect. The intense light source may utilize intense electron beams and Bragg crystals. This may allow the intense light source to range from the extreme UV range up to the hard X-ray range. |
| US09686841B2 |
Glass loudspeaker emitting sound and accoustically-driven light
A glass loudspeaker emitting sound and acoustically-driven light includes a glass substrate, a plurality of exciters, a light bar, a plurality of coupling collimators, a diffractive grating, and a control unit. The exciters are arranged at intervals on the glass substrate. The light bar is arranged toward the glass substrate and includes a plurality of light sources. The coupling collimators are arranged on the light-emitting path of the light sources. The diffractive grating is arranged on the glass substrate and toward the light bar. The control unit is electrically connected with the light bar and the exciters, and includes an acoustic signal receiving unit, an audio signal amplifier, an audio signal analyzer, and a current distributor. |
| US09686840B2 |
Multi-mode control device
A multi-mode control device is provided for controlling a load device. A high-power interface of the control device can be electrically coupled to a high-power module. An occupancy sensor can receive a first current from the high-power module via the high-power interface, and a trigger detection device can receive a second current that is less than the first current from a low-power module via a low-power interface. The processor can switch the control device from a high-power mode for powering the occupancy sensor to a low-power mode by causing a reduction in the current provided to the occupancy sensor and causing current to be provided to the trigger detection device. The trigger detection device can detect a trigger in the low-power mode. The processor can cause the control device to operate in the high-power mode based on the trigger's detection. |
| US09686833B2 |
LED driving apparatus and lighting apparatus including the same
An LED driving apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept may include a rectifier circuit rectifying alternating current (AC) power to generate driving power for operating a plurality of LED arrays; a controller integrated circuit (IC) including a plurality of internal switches connected to respective output terminals of the plurality of LED arrays and controlling a path of a current flowing in the plurality of LED arrays by adjusting operations of the plurality of internal switches according to a magnitude of the driving power; and a current controlling circuit connected to the output terminal of at least one of the plurality of LED arrays and controlling a current flowing in the at least one LED array. |
| US09686830B2 |
Device for supplying light sources with energy in a manner extending service life
A circuit is disclosed for supplying energy to a sequential circuit of typically non-linear loads by a current source. The load is preferably a series circuit of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Said current-operated load, preferably a LED series circuit, consisting of one to N elements is partially short-circuited and thus dimmed. |
| US09686829B2 |
Light emitting device current regulator circuit and control method thereof
A light emitting device current regulator circuit is disclosed. A light emitting device circuit has a first end for receiving light emitting device operation power, and a second end. The light emitting device current regulator circuit includes: an internal voltage generation circuit coupled to the second end, for generating an internal voltage according to a second end voltage to supply electrical power to the light emitting device current regulator circuit, wherein the supply voltage generation circuit includes a charge storage device for storing charges from the second end voltage to generate the supply voltage; and a current control circuit coupled to the second end, the current control circuit regulating the light emitting device current according to a control signal, wherein the control signal at least intermittently reduces the light emitting device current to zero or low current in order to raise the second end voltage. |
| US09686827B2 |
Circuit arrangement for operating light sources
A circuit arrangement for operating light sources includes input terminals for a power supply system voltage, a first rectifying circuit, a boost converter having output terminals, a half-bridge arrangement having two switches, which is connected to the output terminals of the boost converter, an inductance, the first terminal of which is coupled to the centre point of the half-bridge, and a second rectifying circuit, the first input terminal of which is coupled to the second terminal of the inductance and the second input of which is coupled to one of the output terminals of the boost converter. The output terminals of the second rectifying circuit are coupled to the inputs of a current-compensated inductor. At least one light source is connected to the output terminals of the current-compensated inductor, and the output terminals of the current-compensated inductor are coupled to an output terminal of the boost converter via filter capacitors. |
| US09686826B2 |
Microwave moisture lock cover
Methods of and device for retaining a moisture level of a food heated/reheated in a microwave oven are provided. The device includes a microwave splatter cover, a lid, or a lunch box integrated with a steam generator. The device is able to contain a steam generator capable of generating steam from added water when a microwave radiation is provided. The steam generator is able to rotatably couple with the center of the microwave cover. Water added to the cover is able to be temporary stored on the cover and subsequently flow to a dish structure underneath the cover. Alternatively, water is able to be added directly through a hole on the cover to the dish structure. |
| US09686821B2 |
Streamlined heater assembly with front and intermediate daisy chain power injection, shielding, and water resistant features
Heater modules are configured for streamlined daisy chain connectivity that includes front end and intermediate daisy chain power injection, water resistant heater assemblies, and shielding. A power injection device is configured with connectivity for insertion of power into heater modules that are in front and intermediate daisy chain positions while enabling data communications between heater modules positioned on opposite sides of the power injection locations. |
| US09686819B2 |
Methods, devices and systems for router access control
A method for controlling access to a router is provided. The method includes: transmitting a first connection request for establishing a connection using a visitor identity to a router, wherein the first connection request comprises a user identification of a first terminal device; receiving indication information which is transmitted from a second terminal device, the indication information indicating that access to the router is permitted; and transmitting a second connection request for establishing a connection to the router, wherein the second connection request comprises the received indication information. |
| US09686816B2 |
Pause signals for full-duplex wireless networks
System and method embodiments are provided for pausing data transmission in a full-duplex wireless network. Embodiments eliminate the deadlocks in the full duplex MAC layer and improve the system efficiency. In an embodiment, a method in a wirelessly enabled and full duplex enabled network component for pausing an ongoing data transmission includes beginning a transmission, with the network component, of first data to a first station; determining, with the network component, that transmission of a second data to a second station is required before completion of the transmission of the first data to the first station; transmitting, with the network component, a pause indicator to the first station notifying the first station that transmission of the first data will be paused; transmitting, with the network component, the second data to the second station; and resuming transmitting, with the network component, the first data to the first station. |
| US09686814B2 |
Method of reference cell maintenance
A method of reference cell maintenance for a mobile device in a wireless communication system is disclosed. the method comprises being configured a plurality of secondary cells, where one of the plurality of secondary cells is a reference cell for information reference for another secondary cell, and keeping the reference cell in activated when the reference cell is used by another secondary cell for information reference. |
| US09686812B2 |
System and method for wireless device pairing
Embodiments of the present invention include a system and method for wirelessly identifying and validating an electronic device in order to initiate a communication process with another device or a service. In an embodiment, the system includes a portable biometric monitoring device that is identified by a client device or a server for the purpose of initiating a pairing process. In an embodiment, pairing implies pairing the portable device to an online user account with minimal user interaction. After pairing, the portable device and appropriate client devices and servers communicate with little or no user interaction, for example to upload sensor data collected by the portable device. |
| US09686811B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless peer-to-peer communication with multiple radio interfaces
Methods, apparatus, computer program products and wireless devices are provided for performing a wireless P2P communication application in a wireless device equipped with two or more radio interfaces. A method comprises establishing a first transport layer connection for transporting meta-information of a P2P communication application via a first radio interface; and establishing a second transport layer connection with at least one peer node for transporting data chunks of the P2P communication application by using a network address of a second radio interface, so that the data chunks can be transported via the second radio interface. |
| US09686808B2 |
Centrally managed WI-FI
Described herein are techniques for providing centrally managed Wi-Fi using internet protocol (IP) connections between a central Wi-Fi access gateway and one or more radio nodes. The Wi-Fi access gateway establishes an IP connection with a radio node across a wide area network, wherein the radio node is configured to wirelessly connect to one or more Wi-Fi devices located near the radio node. The Wi-Fi access gateway receives Layer 2 data traffic over the IP connection, wherein the Layer 2 data traffic is associated with a Wi-Fi device from the one or more Wi-Fi devices connected to the radio node. The Wi-Fi access gateway controls one or more Wi-Fi services for the Wi-Fi device based on the Layer 2 data traffic so that the Wi-Fi access gateway can provide centrally managed Wi-Fi for the Wi-Fi device. |
| US09686806B2 |
Apparatus, system and method of transmitting discovery frames based on a transmission window
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of adjusting transmission intervals for discovery frames. For example, an apparatus may include a wireless communication unit to communicate over a wireless communication medium according to a discovery scheme including a plurality of contention-based discovery windows, the wireless communication unit is to select a discovery window according to a transmission interval, to schedule transmission of a discovery frame for the discovery window, and to adjust the transmission interval based on whether or not the wireless communication medium is observed to be busy during a predefined time period of the discovery window. |
| US09686805B2 |
Method for processing serving grant value, user equipment and network device
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for processing a serving grant value, a user equipment and a network device, so that it can prevent a serving grant value of a UE from being excessively low. The method includes: taking, by a user equipment, a maximum value of historical values of a power ratio of a data channel to a control channel as a maximum power ratio value after receiving a non-serving relative grant down command sent by a network device; and obtaining, by the user equipment, a first serving grant value according to the maximum power ratio value and a first threshold, where the first threshold is a threshold of a serving grant value or a threshold of the power ratio of the data channel to the control channel. |
| US09686803B2 |
Dynamic channel quality measurement procedure implemented in a wireless digital communication system to prioritize the forwarding of downlink data
A wireless digital communication system includes a base station in communication with a plurality of user equipment mobile terminals (UEs). The system prioritizes the forwarding of blocks of downlink data to designated ones of the UEs. The system employs adaptive modulation and coding (AM&C) to achieve improved radio resource utilization and provides optimum data rates for user services. Blocks of downlink (DL) data are received by the base station which requests downlink (DL) channel quality measurements only from those mobile terminals (UEs) with pending downlink transmissions. The UEs respond to the request by measuring and reporting DL channel quality to the base station, which then allocates resources such that the UEs will make best use of radio resources. The base station notifies the UEs of the physical channel allocation indicating the modulation/coding rate and allocated slots followed by transmission of blocks of downlink data which are transmitted to the UEs. |
| US09686800B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reporting channel quality indicator (CQI)
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for reporting Channel Quality Indicator (CQI). In certain aspects, a User Equipment (UE) may schedule switch from at least a first set of zero or more antennas used by the UE, to at least one second set of zero or more antennas, wherein the first and second sets differ by at least one antenna. The UE may determine a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) to be reported from the UE for use at a base station in a subsequent CQI subframe set, based at least on the scheduled switch. The UE may thereafter transmit the CQI to the base station. |
| US09686799B2 |
User equipment and method for matching interference channel codeword in inter-cell multi-aerial coordinated system
The embodiment of the present document provides a method for matching an interference channel codeword in an inter-cell multi-antenna coordinated system, including: a user equipment obtaining a signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), or obtaining a SINR and a signal to noise ratio (SNR), and comparing the SINR, or the SINR and the SNR, with a preset threshold, generating coordinated multi-point transmission/reception (COMP) policy information according to a comparison result, and transmitting the COMP policy information to the base station. The present document further provides a user equipment. |
| US09686795B1 |
Method and system for determining when to scan for neighbor sectors having a different frequency assignment
A wireless network includes first-configuration sectors with a first frequency assignment and second-configuration sectors with a second frequency assignment. When served by a first-configuration sector that borders a second-configuration sector, the mobile station receives (i) a neighbor list that identifies neighbor sectors of the primary sector, including the second-configuration sector, (ii) a primary-sector reference distance between a transmitter for the primary sector and a reference point in the primary sector, and (iii) a neighbor-sector reference distance between a transmitter for the second-configuration sector and the reference point. Based on the reference distances, the mobile station calculates a border distance between the primary sector's transmitter and a border between the sectors. The mobile station compares its distance from the primary sector's transmitter to the primary-sector reference distance and/or border distance. Based on the comparison, the mobile station selects a scanning algorithm that determines when to scan for the second-configuration sector. |
| US09686792B2 |
Multi-channel assignment method for multi-radio multi-hop wireless mesh networks
Techniques are described for automatically determining quasi-static per-link channel assignments for each radio in multiple-hop mesh networks having nodes with two or more radios and where only a small number of channels is available for use in the network. The method optimally assigns the channels to the radios of all of the nodes in the network so as to achieve the lowest interference among links and the highest possible bandwidth. |
| US09686789B2 |
Method and system for coexistence of radar and communication systems
A method for coexistence with a pulsed interference source in a communications network includes receiving a communications signal, determining a first portion of the communications signal that is affected by the pulsed interference source, blanking the first portion of the communications signal, and processing the communications signal. |
| US09686785B2 |
Transmitting device, receiving device, transmitting method, and receiving method
In a transmitting device, each of the plurality of mapping candidates that make up the search space is configured from the same number of control channel elements as an aggregation level value, the control channel elements are obtained by dividing each physical resource block into a predetermined number, and the quantity of resource elements contained in each of the predetermined number of control channel elements in each physical resource block adopts at least two types of values. A search space setting unit (102) sets a search space of which the aggregation level value is 2 or more so that, between a plurality of mapping candidates, variation in the total quantity of resource elements contained in the control channel elements that make up the mapping candidates is as small as possible. |
| US09686773B2 |
Cross-carrier scheduling
To effectively and efficiently provide control information, a broadcast pointer channel (BPCH) may be used to identify the type and perhaps relative location of control information that is being provided in a given frame structure, such as a sub-frame, frame, or superframe. A sub-frame (or like framing entity, such a frame or superframe) may have a BPCH and a corresponding system control information segment in which control information may reside. The system control information segment may have any number of control information blocks, wherein each control information block that is present may correspond to a particular type of control information. The BPCH is used to identify the type of control information that is present in a corresponding system control information segment, and if needed or desired, the relative locations of the various control information. |
| US09686771B2 |
Method and apparatus for using control plane to transmit and receive data
Methods and apparatus are described for transmitting and receiving data by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) over the control plane. The methods may receive data without the use of an Internet Protocol (IP) address. In an example method, a WTRU may enter an evolved packet system (EPS) mobility management (EMM)-registered control plane only (CPO) state after receiving an attach accepted message for CPO operation, and enter an EMM-deregistered state after receiving a detach message, a tracking area update (TAU) reject message or an attach reject message. In another method, a WTRU may switch between operational modes that use an IP address and a user plane to transmit and receive data, and the CPO mode. |
| US09686767B2 |
Device, method, and system for determining location
Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for determining location are presented. One example method includes obtaining a route comprising an ordered set of waypoints; receiving an indication of traversal of the route beginning at a first waypoint and recording a time associated with the indication; determining location information and time information at a sampling rate; for each subsequent waypoint of the ordered set of waypoints: receiving a signal indicating arrival at a current waypoint of the ordered set of waypoints, determining a time and a ground truth associated with the signal, and determining error information associated with each determined location between the prior waypoint and the current waypoint; and providing the error information to a remote device. |
| US09686763B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing channel in WLAN system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more specifically, disclosed are a method and an apparatus for accessing a channel in a WLAN system. A method for synchronizing channels from a station (STA) in the wireless communication system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: receiving from an access point (AP) setting information with respect to an least one slot allowing channel access by the STA; receiving a synchronization frame from the AP from a slot boundary of the at least one slot; and synchronizing the channels on the basis of the synchronization frame, wherein the synchronization frame may be a null data packet (NDP) frame. |
| US09686755B2 |
Base station, mobile station, wireless communications system, and wireless communications method
At a base station, a table is prepared that for each index value among multiple different index values, associates repetition counts of different channels correlated with each other. The base station acquires reception information indicating a reception state of a wireless signal at a mobile station, determines a repetition count for each channel based on the reception information, and acquires from the table, an index value corresponding to the respective repetition counts for the channels. The base station transmits to the mobile station, a wireless signal that includes the index value to notify the mobile station of the index value. The mobile station has a table that for each index value among different index values, associates repetition counts of different channels correlated with each other and acquires the repetition counts of the channels from the table, based on the index value from the base station. |
| US09686752B2 |
Method for configured maximum output power reporting and user equipment
A base station configured for carrier aggregation, includes: a receiver; and processing circuitry coupled to the receiver and configured to: allocate to a user equipment uplink resources for at least one activated serving cell configured with an uplink carrier, the uplink resources for new transmission and the allocated uplink resources may accommodate a power headroom report, and obtain, responsive to the allocated uplink resources, a configured maximum output power for an activated serving cell configured with an uplink carrier, where the activated serving cell has non-adaptive retransmission of uplink data, or the activated serving cell where the base station schedules channel state information but no allocated uplink grant for transmitting data of an uplink shared channel. |
| US09686750B2 |
Methods and apparatus for power consumption management during discontinuous reception
Methods and apparatus for adaptively adjusting temporal parameters such as e.g., wake-up times of digital tracking algorithms (such as timing, frequency and power control). In one exemplary embodiment, wake-up times for tracking loops are based on success/error metrics (e.g., Block Error Rate (BLER), Bit Error Rate (BER), Packet Error Rate (PER), Cyclic Redundancy Checks (CRC), etc.) of one or more previous discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles. In a second embodiment, wake-up times for tracking loops are based on residual frequency and timing errors, etc. |
| US09686738B2 |
Methods and apparatus for configuration of femtocells in a wireless network
Methods and apparatus that enable and optimize the simultaneous operation of several wireless femtocells having overlapping coverage areas. In one embodiment of the invention, a resource allocation (e.g., time-frequency grid for an OFDM or TDMA based wireless network) governs the simultaneous operation of several femtocells with overlapping coverage areas by specifying uses for resources. A resource allocation unit (RAU) entity is disclosed for managing and modifying resource allocations for femtocells. The community of femtocells can flexibly share resources according to the time-frequency grid, thereby maximizing spectral efficiency without requiring substantial network overhead. |
| US09686734B2 |
Determining content availability based on selective use of an active location system
A method may include receiving a request for content. The content may be associated with a content availability area. User devices located inside of the content availability area may be permitted access to the content. The method may include determining a first area entirely encompassed by the content availability area and/or a second area entirely encompassing the content availability area. The method may include obtaining first location information that identifies a location of a user device. The method may include selectively obtaining second location information based on whether the user device is located inside of the first area, outside of the second area, or outside of the first area and inside of the second area. The second location information may be more precise than the first location information, and may be used to determine whether the user device is located within the content availability area. |
| US09686729B2 |
Method, network and system for an improved operation of a cellular telecommunications network in an edge region of the radio coverage area
A method for operation of a cellular telecommunications network in an edge region of the radio coverage area of the cellular telecommunications network includes: in a first step, a user equipment receives from the further base station entity information comprising the specific cell identifier, wherein the specific cell identifier as well as additional information related to the further base station entity are transmitted by the user equipment to the serving base station entity; and in a second step, subsequent to the first step, the user equipment, upon reception from the further base station entity of identifier information comprising the specific cell identifier, and based on blacklist information received by the user equipment referring at least to the specific cell identifier, avoids transmitting additional information regarding the further base station entity to the serving base station entity and/or avoids consideration of the further base station entity in a cell-reselection procedure. |
| US09686722B2 |
Method and device for accounting in WiFi roaming based on AC and AP interworking
A WiFi roaming method and device which perform an authentication and accounting process once for multiple APs, thereby reducing the load of an authentication server (RADIUS) in a WiFi roaming method, which separates a terminal session management function and a traffic control function by a access controller and a access point interworked with a tunneling method according to a CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points) protocol. |
| US09686719B2 |
Beacon indication target wakeup time (TWT)
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for a relay to indicate a transmission interval it wishes to be protected by a restricted access window (RAW) restricting transmission by other devices. An apparatus for wireless communications is provided herein. The apparatus generally includes a processing system that is configured to identify a transmission interval. The apparatus also includes a transmitter that is configured to transmit a request requesting a wireless node to establish a RAW for restricting network traffic during the transmission interval. |
| US09686709B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for guaranteeing QoS of communication service in NAT scenario
A method includes: when a user equipment initiates a communication request, controlling an A-BGF network element to generate proxy SDP information according to calling party SDP information, and replacing the calling party SDP information with the proxy SDP information to establish a connection between the user equipment and a called party; after a connection between both communication parties is successful, instructing a PCRF network element to perform QoS resource reservation; and receiving a NAT-translated-to IP address and a port of the user equipment from the A-BGF network element, and instructing the PCRF network element to update source address information for the QoS resource reservation to the NAT-translated-to IP address and the port of the user equipment. The present invention achieves QoS guarantee of a communication service in a NAT scenario without imposing any special interface requirement on the user equipment. |
| US09686701B2 |
Method and apparatus for target cell throughput prediction prior to handover of a user equipment
In one example embodiment, a user equipment is currently being served over a first component carrier. The user equipment includes a processor configured to predict a quality of a pilot signal associated with a second component carrier, the second component carrier being a potential component carrier for a handover of the user equipment, and predict a data throughput based on the predicted quality of the pilot signal, the predicted data throughput being indicative of data throughput experienced by the user equipment after the handover of the user equipment to the second component carrier. |
| US09686696B2 |
Adjusting RAN capability based on data transport characteristics of a backhaul network in a telecommunication network
Method and radio base station for adapting a Radio Access Network, RAN, capability, in response to variations in transport characteristics, such as data transfer rate, maximum available bandwidth, and maximum used bandwidth, of a backhaul network. The radio base station is arranged to communicate data between a RAN and the backhaul network, said method comprising to obtain, by a controller, information related to the transport characteristics of the backhaul network. The method comprises further to determine, by the controller, based on the obtained information, an output level of the radio base station, and to adjust, by the controller, the output level of the radio base station to the determined output level. |
| US09686694B2 |
Techniques to support directional transmission and reception by wireless network boosters
Techniques to support directional transmission and reception by wireless network boosters are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to receive a directionally-transmitted booster reference signal, receive a system information message comprising timing offset information, and determine a time at which to send a link establishment message based on the timing offset information and a time of receipt of the directionally-transmitted booster reference signal. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09686692B2 |
Wi-Fi tile transfer
Various technologies described herein pertain to transferring geospatial tiles for Wi-Fi networks. A geospatial tile specifies a geographic region and includes data pertaining to a plurality of Wi-Fi networks having respective geographic coverage areas within the geographic region. A mobile device can receive an indicator that corresponds to a geospatial tile for retrieval by the mobile device. Further, the mobile device can request the geospatial tile from a tile management system based upon the indicator. Upon receiving the geospatial tile from the tile management system, the mobile device stores the geospatial tile in a tile cache. Further, the mobile device can automatically connect to a particular Wi-Fi network from the plurality of Wi-Fi networks utilizing data for the particular Wi-Fi network included in the geospatial tile when the mobile device is positioned within a geographic coverage area of the particular Wi-Fi network. |
| US09686691B2 |
Classification of a basestation
In one example embodiment, a method for classifying a basestation in a cellular communications network is provided that may include obtaining an identifier used by the basestation, comparing the identifier to a pool of identifiers reserved for a class of basestations, obtaining a frequency on which the basestation is operating, comparing the frequency to a pool of frequencies used by the class of basestations, and identifying the basestation as belonging to the class of basestations if the identifier is in the pool of identifiers and the frequency is in the pool of frequencies. Another method for classifying a basestation may comprise receiving a broadcast from the basestation including an attribute of the basestation, comparing the attribute with an attribute value range corresponding to the class of basestations, and identifying the basestation as belonging to the class of basestations if the received cell attribute falls within the attribute value range. |
| US09686689B2 |
Shared spectrum operation
Shared spectrum operation is disclosed for sharing spectrum among multiple wireless deployments. Coordination procedures between and among 2nd and 3rd Tier deployments include the use of beacons transmitted by the 2nd Tier for clearing access to spectrum occupied by 3rd Tier users and multiple 3rd Tier deployments sharing resources using a group-listen before talk (LBT) protocol, rather than a per-node LBT protocol. The 2nd Tier beacon signals are transmitted to alert 3rd Tier users of their presence, which, upon detection, will leave the particular spectrum within a predetermined time. For the shared LBT protocol, the 3rd Tier deployments share the channel with each other through an LBT with random backoff, in which the start time of clear channel assessment (CCA) procedure and the random backoff values are synchronized among nodes of the same deployment. |
| US09686688B2 |
Frequency channel selection by an LTE-U wireless access point operating in the presence of other LTE-U and Wi-Fi access points
A Long-Term Evolution-Unlicensed (LTE-U) access point (AP) is configured to operate wirelessly on any of multiple RF channels in an unlicensed frequency band. The AP detects other LTE-U APs and Wi-Fi APs operating on active ones of the multiple channels. The AP determines AP channel statistics for each detected AP. The AP determines, for each active channel, a per-channel metric based on the AP channel statistics. The AP ranks the active channels according to the corresponding per-channel metrics, and selects a best channel on which to transmit in the unlicensed frequency band from among the ranked active channels based on the rankings. |
| US09686687B2 |
Method and system for monitoring and processing wireless signals
A method and system for monitoring and processing a wireless signal are described. The method includes, if an authorized base station/Access Point (AP) receives a first abnormal signal from the terminal, which is identified as an unauthorized signal by a terminal, processing, by the authorized base station/AP, the first abnormal signal. If the authorized base station/Access Point (AP) receives a second abnormal signal from the terminal and the terminal cannot determine whether the second abnormal signal is the unauthorized signal or an authorized signal, identifying, by the authorized base station/AP, characteristics of the second signal and processing the second abnormal signal if the second abnormal signal is the unauthorized signal. |
| US09686686B1 |
Locating a lost device using crowd GPS
A method for lost device location is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a last known location from the lost device, receiving a command to lock the lost device at the lost device and locking the lost device. Machine identification data and current location data is transmitted from the lost device, that is accessible by a backend server, to a second device that is located within a designated proximity to the lost device. |
| US09686685B2 |
Method of reinforcing security of beacon device, and system and apparatus thereof
Provided are a method of reinforcing the security of a beacon device and a system and apparatus thereof. In particular, the stability of security is increased by performing user authentication and encrypting data during communication with a beacon device, so that identification information of the beacon device may be changed by establishing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication after the beacon device and a terminal are connected. Also, a user can be exactly identified using a beacon signal and authenticated, thereby conveniently providing additional services. Also, the location of a terminal may be determined using a BLE beacon signal terminal to reduce resources consumed to measure the location of the terminal. A service device may simplify logic for extracting information to be applied to a service. That is, when various information is provided to a client's terminal that receives an identifier of a beacon device broadcast from the beacon device, information provided to the client's terminal may be prevented from being changed by an unauthorized person. |
| US09686680B2 |
Method and apparatus for security communication of carrier aggregation between base stations
This invention discloses a method for security communication of carrier aggregation between base stations, which method comprises receiving, by a user equipment, a first message to add a cell controlled by a secondary base station as a service cell sent by a primary base station; and creating, by the user equipment, a security key for communication with cells controlled by the secondary base station according to security context of the primary base station and the first message. This invention further discloses the corresponding user equipment and base stations. Implementation of the method and apparatus according to the present invention makes it possible to effectively protect security of data transmission of the air interface and to avoid attacks on air interface security. |
| US09686676B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for a server controlled device wakeup
In an example embodiment, a method includes receiving, by an apparatus, from a remote server, a message including information about at least one device, the message including a second encryption key of the at least one device and an encrypted object encrypted with a first encryption key of the at least one device; transmitting, by the apparatus, an encrypted message that includes the encrypted object, encrypted with the second encryption key of the at least one device; and receiving, by the apparatus, from the at least one device, a message identifying or describing the at least one device, only if the at least one device has determined that the message transmitted by the apparatus is valid. |
| US09686662B2 |
Wireless headset and a headset system for transferring call between two telecommunication devices
A wireless headset system comprising a first telecommunication device, a second telecommunication device, such as a mobile phone or a smart phone and a wireless headset adapted to be wirelessly connected by a first radio link to the first telecommunication device. The headset system is adapted to transfer a call from the first telecommunication device to the second telecommunication device, when the first wireless link or a second radio link between the first telecommunication device and the second telecommunication device is broken or becomes sufficiently weak. The invention also relates to a method and a headset to be used with such a system. |
| US09686658B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive event notification control
Modern mobile communication devices have a number of features that enable the users to stay connected with people in their contacts list. These mobile devices also keep users informed about various events such as email, text messages, etc. While these features are useful they can be intrusive or distracting under some conditions. To reduce disturbances and intrusions, various notifications that inform the user about the new events on the mobile device may be temporarily disabled. However, event notifications must be explicitly re-enabled by the user when it is free to receive the notifications. The user may forget to re-enable the event notification which may lead to missed calls, event notifications, etc. A method and apparatus are provided that disable and enable event notifications on mobile devices adaptively to allow the users to reduce the intrusiveness of the mobile device notification when not required while minimizing any missed event notifications. |
| US09686657B1 |
Methods and systems for simultaneous talking in a talkgroup using a dynamic channel chain
A mobile radio has selectable transmit and receive channels, and is in a talkgroup that has a primary channel and multiple auxiliary channels. The mobile radio receives a broadcast-start command, and responsively selects its transmit channel to be the primary channel (if available) or an inactive auxiliary channel (if the primary channel is not available). The mobile radio receives user media via its user interface, and transmits that received user media on its selected transmit channel. The mobile radio scans for an auxiliary channel transitioning from inactive to active. Responsive to detecting such a transition, the mobile radio selects that auxiliary channel as its receive channel. The mobile radio mixes inbound media received on its selected receive channel with user media received via its user interface, and transmits the mixed media on its selected transmit channel. |
| US09686653B2 |
Predictive directional antenna targeting
A method of predictive targeting of a directional antenna is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of state information at a directional antenna control system from a mobile communication node, where the state information includes a position and a trajectory of the mobile communication node. The directional antenna control system logs the state information as a last known position and a last known trajectory of the mobile communication node. An estimated future position of the mobile communication node is determined based on the last known position, the last known trajectory, and a time period. Based on a loss of communication between the directional antenna and the mobile communication node, the directional antenna control system positions the directional antenna to establish a line-of-sight between the directional antenna and the estimated future position of the mobile communication node. |
| US09686647B2 |
Mobile WiFi network
A method, computer-readable medium, and system are provided for managing a dynamic wireless network. An aspect of this invention is to identify the occurrence of an overlap of coverage areas provided by separate wireless access points, at least one of which is mobile. |
| US09686646B1 |
Integrated geospatial activity reporting
Systems and methods for distinguishing between user mobile device location data indicating user locations within an area of interest or merely near an area of interest are disclosed. User geospatial location data is obtained at user mobile devices (e.g., smartphones) upon the triggering event of a user action (e.g., visiting a web site or using an application on the user mobile device). The location data is stored and compared against polygonal map data accurately and precisely defining a map area of the area of interest. A map view may be generated by generating markers having different styles for user location data within or near the area of interest, which markers may then be overlaid on a map including a polygon representation of the area of interest. Such map view may be augmented by additional data and presented as a report including location and additional data for a plurality of users. |
| US09686644B1 |
Geospatial-based detection of mobile computing device movement
Methods, systems and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for detecting movement of a mobile computing device based upon geospatial data about a property location of the mobile computing device. The mobile computing device generates a baseline geospatial profile including baseline altitude data, baseline pressure data, and a predetermined pressure range. The mobile computing device enters a first operational mode permitting a user to establish a user session on the mobile computing device. The mobile computing device obtains altitude data from a first sensor and pressure data from a second sensor, and generates a geospatial signature based upon the altitude data and the pressure data. The mobile computing device compares the geospatial signature and the baseline geospatial profile, and enters a second operational mode if a difference between one or more corresponding values of the baseline geospatial profile and the geospatial signature exceeds a predetermined threshold. |
| US09686643B2 |
Motion detection with Bluetooth low energy scan
An example method for providing motion detection via a Bluetooth low energy scan is disclosed. In particular, the method includes performing a scan via a Bluetooth unit of a computing device. Further, the method includes receiving one or more advertisement packets via the Bluetooth unit in response to the performed scan. The one or more advertisement packets may be associated with a respective Bluetooth device. Yet further, the method includes determining if a location of the Bluetooth unit has changed based on received one or more advertisement packets. The determining includes comparing the received one or more advertisement packets with a set of one or more reference advertisement packets. In addition, the method includes enabling an application processing unit in response to determining the Bluetooth unit has changed location. The application processing unit may be configured to determine the location of the Bluetooth unit. |
| US09686642B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing location information for a wireless communication device
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a SIM card obtaining GPS location data, second location data and communication session measurement data; monitoring for a wireless network connection between a controller of a wireless device and a wireless network; and, responsive to a failure to detect the wireless network connection, providing the aggregated location data to a wireless communication circuit of the SIM card for wireless transmitting via an antenna of the SIM card to a wireless access point to cause the wireless access point to transmit the aggregated location data to a location server. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09686640B2 |
Telemetric tracking of a portable computing device
A device and software utilizing Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technologies for monitoring and recovering portable computing devices and, a method and system for acquiring such devices, protecting data on such devices, and for compensating owners of devices. A GPS mechanism of the invention provides real time tracking of missing devices that may be coordinated with security agencies to intercept and recover missing computing devices. When a stolen device is unrecoverable, the invention may receive a signal to initiate data recovery where a wireless network is available to recover data for the owner. Alternatively, the GPS mechanism instructs the device to encrypt or destroy stored data files to prevent commercial espionage or privacy violations. The invention discloses a software system and method for computing a purchase price of the GPS mechanism, computing compensation for loss of the device and lost data. |
| US09686638B2 |
Input device having Bluetooth module and operation method therefor
Disclosed is an operation method for an input device having a Bluetooth module, where the input device is a peripheral device of a computer. The operation method includes the following steps: a Bluetooth module of the input device connecting to and communicating with a Bluetooth module of a smart watch or a smart phone via a Bluetooth communication protocol; when the input device and the smart watch or the smart phone are close and perform a same operation, the Bluetooth module of the input device receiving data via the Bluetooth module of the smart watch or the smart phone, where the data is produced when an operation of the smart watch or the smart phone is sensed by at least one sensor of the smart watch or the smart phone; and a microprocessor of the input device storing the data received by the Bluetooth module of the input device in a memory of the input device. |
| US09686637B2 |
Method of and system for pairing a Bluetooth master device with a Bluetooth slave device that is selected from a group of Bluetooth slave devices that are in Bluetooth-discoverable range with the Bluetooth master device
A Bluetooth master device is paired with a Bluetooth slave device that is selected from a group of Bluetooth slave devices that are in Bluetooth-discoverable range with the Bluetooth master device. The master device establishes with the slave devices unauthenticated communications, each containing a Bluetooth device address of the master device. The slave devices receive from the master device the Bluetooth device address. The selected slave device recognizes a manual action manually performed with the selected slave device by a user. The selected slave device initiates a pairing request, in response to recognition of the manual action, and communicates with the master device at the received Bluetooth device address. |
| US09686636B2 |
Method and apparatus for establishing communication between an image photographing apparatus and a user device
A method and apparatus for establishing communication between an image photographing apparatus and a user device is provided. In one implementation, the image photographing apparatus includes a communication module; a short-distance wireless communication module; and a controller. When tagging between the image photographing apparatus and a user device occurs, the short-distance wireless communication module provides connection information to the user device via short-distance wireless communication, the controller activates the communication module, and the communication module establishes communication with the user device using the connection information. |
| US09686635B2 |
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. |
| US09686630B2 |
System and method for control and management of resources for consumers of information
A system and method is provided for using information broadcast by devices and resources in the immediate vicinity of a mobile device, or by sensors located within the mobile device itself, to ascertain and make a determination of the immediate environment and state of the mobile device. This determination may be used to control and manage the actions that the device is asked to carry out by or on behalf of the user. |
| US09686626B2 |
Audio system and method
An audio system comprises at least one processor configured to receive multi-channel audio data and comprising a plurality of output channels. Control instructions are established based on preset positions of a plurality of speakers connectable to the output channels and further based on virtual positions of the channels of the multi-channel audio data. The channels of the multi-channel audio data are routed to the output channels based on the control instructions. |
| US09686622B2 |
Acoustic reproduction device and sound-collecting acoustic reproduction device
This acoustic reproduction device can suppress a loss in sense of volume and sense of comfort. The acoustic reproduction device causes a user to hear sound and is provided with a vibration unit (10), which includes a piezoelectric element (101) that flexes and a panel (102) that vibrates by being bent directly by the piezoelectric element (101), and with a holder (60), which holds the vibration unit (10) at a position where the vibration unit (10) contacts the user's ear. |
| US09686619B2 |
MEMS device with acoustic leak control features
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone in one embodiment includes a backplate, a back cavity aligned with the backplate, at least one post extending from the backplate toward the back cavity, a membrane positioned between the backplate and the back cavity and including an inner portion and an outer portion, a gap defined by a planar portion of the inner portion and the backplate, a spring arm defined in the outer portion and supported by the at least one post, a first leak path between the back cavity and the gap defined between the inner portion and the spring arm, a second leak path between the back cavity and the gap defined between the spring arm and the back cavity, and a first leak path constriction configured to restrict leakage through at least one of the first leak path and the second leak path. |
| US09686615B2 |
Electroacoustic converter and electronic device
In an embodiment, an electroacoustic converter (earphone 100) has an enclosure 41, piezoelectric sounding body 32, electromagnetic sounding body 31, and passage 35. The piezoelectric sounding body 32 includes a first vibration plate 321 having a periphery supported directly or indirectly on the enclosure 41, and a piezoelectric element 322 placed at least on one side of the vibration plate 321. The piezoelectric sounding body 32 has a second vibration plate and divides the interior of the enclosure 41 into a first space S1 and a second space S2. The electromagnetic sounding body 31 is placed in the first space S1. The passage 35 is provided in or around the piezoelectric sounding body 32 to connect the first space S1 and second space S2. The electroacoustic converter is capable of obtaining desired frequency characteristics easily. |
| US09686614B2 |
Electro-acoustic device
An electro-acoustic device is provided, including a frame; a magnetic circuit received in the frame and including a lower plate fixed on a bottom of the frame and a magnet attached on the lower plate; a vibration system received in the frame and including a vibrating diaphragm attached to a top of the frame; a cavity formed cooperatively by the lower plate, the frame and the vibrating diaphragm; a leak hole provided between the frame and the lower plate for communicating with outside of the electro-acoustic device; and a damper attached to the lower plate and located inside of the electro-acoustic device for covering the leak hole internally. |
| US09686613B2 |
Method for audio signal processing and system thereof
A method for audio signal processing and system thereof, the method includes the steps of: obtaining first audio signal information, obtaining second audio signal information, determining an audio parameter based on the first audio signal information and the second audio signal information, modulating the first audio signal information and the second audio signal information based on the audio parameter to generate a first outputting audio signal and a second outputting audio signal. |
| US09686610B2 |
Digital MEMS loudspeaker
Devices related to digital MEMS loudspeakers are discussed. Such devices may include an air pressure source, MEMS valves coupled to the air pressure source, and an audio modulator coupled to the MEMS valve to receive an audio signal and to control the MEMS valves via a modulation signal to provide an acoustic output. |
| US09686607B1 |
Audio processing devices with port output circuits controlled by PC beep signal activity
An audio processing integrated circuit chip, such as codec chip, includes at least one port output circuit configured to generate an audio signal to drive an external audio device and a PC beep circuit configured to receive a PC beep signal and to apply the received PC beep signal to an input of the at least one port output circuit. The chip further includes a control circuit configured to detect activity of the PC beep signal and to enable and/or disable the at least one port output circuit responsive to the detected activity. |
| US09686605B2 |
Precise tracking of sound angle of arrival at a microphone array under air temperature variation
A video conference endpoint detects a face and determines a face angle of the detected face relative to a reference direction based on images captured with a camera. The endpoint determines an angle of arrival of sound (i.e., a sound angle) received at a microphone array that transduces the sound relative to the reference direction based on the transduced sound and a sound speed parameter indicative of a speed of sound in air. The endpoint compares the face angle against the sound angle, and adjusts the sound speed parameter so as to reduce the angle difference if the compare indicates an angle difference greater than zero between the face and sound angles. |
| US09686603B2 |
Freely adjustable ergonomic bone conduction earphone rack
A freely adjustable ergonomic bone conduction earphone rack and bone conduction earphone using the same are disclosed. The rack includes a head-mounted unit, ear-hung units and mounting units, where the ear-hung unit is respectively configured on the two ends of the head-mounted unit, and the mounting unit is coupled to the ear-hung unit; the mounting unit has a connection section in connection with the ear-hung unit and mounting section for the mounting of a bone conduction vibrator, where at least the connection section is a soft plastic body, and the mounting unit is configured to be adjustable freely multi-directional relatively to the ear-hung unit with the deformation of the connection section. |
| US09686598B2 |
Power over ethernet electrical to optical interface converter
A portable, self-powered, interface converter for converting between Ethernet over twisted pair cables and Ethernet over optical fiber is described. In one implementation, the device may include a first interface to a power-over-Ethernet connection and a second interface to provide a connection to receive fiber optic cabling. A power-over-Ethernet (PoE) circuit may derive power from the PoE connection and output a corresponding power signal. A transcoder may perform physical layer conversion between Ethernet communications over twisted pair cabling connected to the first interface and Ethernet communications over the fiber optic cabling. The transcoder may be powered by the power signal output by the PoE circuit. |
| US09686597B2 |
Adaptive publishing for content distribution
Provided are methods and systems for managing, distributing, and publishing content. An exemplary method can comprise receiving, in a content management system, an asset for distribution. The method can also comprise generating a metadata object according to a submission standard or requirement of a destination asset distribution platform. The destination asset distribution platform can be external to the content management system and the metadata object can comprise data indicative of or associated with the asset. |
| US09686595B2 |
Systems and methods for providing audio-based guidance
Systems and methods for providing audio-based guidance features are provided. A guidance application may provide listings displays having listings for audio-friendly content. The listings may be indicated as listings for audio-friendly content. The guidance application may provide displays dedicated to listings for audio-friendly content. The guidance application provides audio-prompts describing display screens. The guidance application may determine a user's identity from a voice command and provide personalized guidance features. |
| US09686590B2 |
System and method for tagging content and delivering the tag to buddies of a given user
A method comprises retrieving a profile of a given user, the given user having a given-user device; delivering a content item to the given-user device; receiving one or more user-specified tags associated with the content item; identifying one or more buddies of the user as indicated in the profile; and delivering the one or more tags to the one or more buddies. |
| US09686588B2 |
Systems and methods for providing targeted user content blended with a media stream
A network system provides delivery of customized target content, such as advertising, to individual users. There is transmission of a common spot content stream to a large group of the users. Each home client user communicates through a telecommunications network, such as the Internet, for connection to a portal to receive continuing media, such as streaming audio or video. The user installs receiver software at his home client processor for receiving both the streaming media and a content stream. The media stream includes spot markers placed at appropriate locations in the media stream by the publisher to designate locations for insertion of spot content and optionally to identify specific characteristics of the media stream. The content stream includes content units, such as audio advertising, together with spot content frames, which include parameters having values designated by the spot content provider to be the target audience. A profile is produced at the home client having parameters with values associated with the home client user, such as geographic and demographic information. The receiver software at the home client matches the spot content frame for each spot content to the profile of the user to select those spot content units which have a match. These selected spot content units are stored at the home user and are blended into the media stream at the locations of the spot markers to produce an information data stream for the user that is customized for that user. A spot auditor at the home client measures the type and quantity of play back of the spot content received by the home user and this is reported to the spot content provider for measurement of the effectiveness in the distribution of the spot content. |
| US09686587B2 |
Playback method and apparatus
A video/audio playback method is provided which can provide simultaneous, multi-language support for consumers of television and multimedia. The method includes steps of: receiving a first playback data and a second playback data; converting first character information in the first playback data into a first audio signal; and simultaneously playing the first audio signal, and a second audio signal corresponding to the second playback data. The first audio signal and the second audio signal respectively correspond to a first playback language and a second playback language. |
| US09686582B2 |
Systems and methods for managing data in an intelligent television
An intelligent television can store and retrieve data about various functions of the television or associated with user behavior. The stored data streamlines the processes of providing electronic programming guide information, providing search results, providing statistics about content, providing channel information, etc. The unique set of data services in the intelligent television receive, store, manage, and retrieve the data for various of the applications or components. |
| US09686581B2 |
Second-screen TV bridge
A set top box can provide coordinated graphical user interfaces on a plurality of devices. The set top box can output first media content to a primary display (a television) and can output second media content to a second-screen device (a tablet). The primary display can display a video stream associated with the first media content. The second-screen device can display a video stream associated with the second media content. The video stream of the second media content can be displayed in a video display area on the second-screen device. The outputted video streams can be associated with the same content and can be substantially synchronized. The second application can receive user gestures on a touchscreen of the second-screen device to control the video stream displayed on the primary display. As a result, the second-screen device acts as a bridge to affect the displayed video stream on the primary display. |
| US09686576B2 |
Coordination of video stream timing in cloud-based video streaming system
A method to coordinate video stream timing is disclosed. In one embodiment, a request is received at a streaming platform coordinator (SPC) to create a plurality of synchronized media workflows for video sources. Using the plurality of video sources as input, the SPC transmits a request from the SPC to at least one video streaming platform to create the plurality of media workflows, which are assigned to a plurality of workers. The SPC causes the plurality of videos to be routed to the plurality of workers upon receiving the request to route them. The SPC then determines a set of timing offsets to synchronize the plurality of media workflows, and makes the set of timing offsets available to the plurality of workers so that the workers publish synchronized media outputs. A system to perform the method and a storage medium storing instructions to perform the method are disclosed too. |
| US09686566B2 |
Moving picture decoding device, moving picture decoding method, moving picture decoding program, and receiving device
A prediction information derivation unit derives inter prediction information candidates from inter prediction information of coded prediction blocks neighboring a prediction block subject to coding within the same picture as the prediction block subject to coding and inter prediction information of a prediction block in a coded picture that is different from the prediction block subject to coding. The prediction information derivation unit determines an inter prediction information candidate to be used for inter prediction of the prediction block subject to coding from the inter prediction information candidates that have been derived. A second bitstream generation unit codes an index that indicates the inter prediction information candidate based on the number of the inter prediction information candidates. |
| US09686564B2 |
Picture encoding device, picture encoding method, picture encoding program, picture decoding device, picture decoding method, and picture decoding program
A candidate list construction unit selects a plurality of blocks each having one or two pieces of motion information containing at least information about a motion vector and information about a reference picture from a plurality of neighboring encoded blocks of an encoding target block and constructs a candidate list containing candidates of the motion information used for the motion compensation prediction from the motion information of the selected blocks. A selected candidate generator generates a new candidate of the motion information by combining the motion information of a first prediction list derived by the first motion information deriving unit and the motion information of the second prediction list derived by a second motion information deriving unit. |
| US09686557B2 |
Quantizer parameter determination for video encoder rate control
An apparatus and corresponding method are provided for encoding video signal data by applying an adaptive quantizer parameter responsive to bit-rate; where a video encoder for encoding video signal data for an image block relative to at least one reference picture includes an adaptive quantizer for applying an adaptive quantizer parameter responsive to a current bit-rate; and where a corresponding method includes initializing an adaptive quantizer, calculating the bits used by the video signal data with the adaptive quantizer, assigning bits to each of a plurality of picture types, calculating a difference in adaptive quantizer responsive to the assigned bits from the previous number of bits used by the group of pictures and obtaining an updated adaptive quantizer for the video signal data, calculating an adaptive quantizer for a portion of the video signal data, encoding the portion of the video signal data, and obtaining the actual number of bits used for the encoded portion of the video signal data. |
| US09686551B2 |
Content adaptive entropy coding of partitions data for next generation video
Techniques related to content adaptive entropy coding of partitions data are described. |
| US09686549B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a reference frame and method and apparatus for encoding/decoding image using the same
An apparatus for generating a reference frame is disclosed including: an interpolation unit for interpolating a reference frame per fractional pixel; a virtual encoder for determining a block mode of a current frame and a motion vector according to the block mode by using an interpolated reference frame; an offset calculator for calculating an offset for each pixel of the interpolated reference frame by using the block mode and the motion vector; and an offset adder for generating an offset interpolated reference frame by adding the offset for each pixel to each pixel of the interpolated reference frame. By adding the offset calculated according to the block mode to the reference frame for the inter prediction and making the reference frame to be used for the motion estimation and compensation similar to the current frame to be encoded, motion prediction is accurate and compression efficiency is improved. |
| US09686548B2 |
Data encoding and decoding
A video coding or decoding method using inter-image prediction to encode input video data in which each chrominance component has 1/Mth of the horizontal resolution of the luminance component and 1/Nth of the vertical resolution of the luminance component, where M and N are integers equal to 1 or more, comprises: storing one or more images preceding a current image; interpolating a higher resolution version of prediction units of the stored images so that the luminance component of an interpolated prediction unit has a horizontal resolution P times that of the corresponding portion of the stored image and a vertical resolution Q times that of the corresponding portion of the stored image, where P and Q are integers greater than 1; detecting inter-image motion between a current image and the one or more interpolated stored images so as to generate motion vectors between a prediction unit of the current image and areas of the one or more preceding images; and generating a motion compensated prediction of the prediction unit of the current image with respect to an area of an interpolated stored image pointed to by a respective motion vector; in which the interpolating step comprises: applying a ×R horizontal and ×S vertical interpolation filter to the chrominance components of a stored image to generate an interpolated chrominance prediction unit, where R is equal to (U×M×P) and S is equal to (V×N×Q), U and V being integers equal to 1 or more; and subsampling the interpolated chrominance prediction unit, such that its horizontal resolution is divided by a factor of U and its vertical resolution is divided by a factor of V, thereby resulting in a block of MP×NQ samples. |
| US09686545B2 |
Method and apparatus for intra-prediction
An intra-prediction method is provided to predict a current block according to pixel values of an upper neighboring block and a left neighboring block. The method includes: acquiring, according to a prediction direction, mapped pixels in the left neighboring block for reference pixels in an upper neighboring block; calculating an average pixel value of pixel values of the reference pixels in the upper neighboring block and pixel values of their respective mapped pixels; and predicting, according to the prediction direction, a pixel value of a pixel in the current block by using the average pixel value. By using the method and apparatus for intra-prediction according to the present invention, a pixel value of a reference pixel used for prediction is acquired according to an average pixel value of reference pixels in an upper neighboring block and a left neighboring block of the current block. |
| US09686541B2 |
Image processing device and method
The present disclosure relates to an image processing device and method that enable suppression of an increase in the amount of coding of a scaling list.An image processing device of the present disclosure sets a replacement difference coefficient that is a difference between a replacement coefficient and a coefficient located at the beginning of a quantization matrix whose size is limited to not greater than a transmission size that is a maximum size allowed in transmission, the replacement coefficient being used to replace a coefficient located at the beginning of an up-converted quantization matrix which is obtained by up-converting the quantization matrix to the same size as a block size that is a unit of processing in which dequantization is performed, quantizes an image to generate quantized data, and transmit encoded data obtained by encoding the generated quantized data, replacement coefficient data obtained by encoding the replacement coefficient, and replacement difference coefficient data obtained by encoding the set replacement difference coefficient. The present disclosure can be applied to an image processing device. |
| US09686538B2 |
Self test of image signal chain while running in streaming mode
An imager including a self test mode. The imager includes a pixel array for providing multiple pixel output signals via multiple columns; and a test switch for (a) receiving a test signal from a test generator and (b) disconnecting a pixel output signal from a column of the pixel array. The test switch provides the test signal to the column of the pixel array. The test signal includes a test voltage that replaces the pixel output signal. The test signal is digitized by an analog-to digital converter (ADC) and provided to a processor. The processor compares the digitized test signal to an expected pixel output signal. The processor also interpolates the output signal from a corresponding pixel using adjacent pixels, when the test switch disconnects the pixel output signal from the column of the pixel array. |
| US09686534B2 |
Projection apparatus and method for controlling the same, and a computer-readable storage medium
A projection apparatus for projecting a plurality of stereoscopic images such that portions thereof overlap each other and displaying one stereoscopic image, the apparatus includes a projection unit adapted to project an indicator that is an image for adjusting a stereoscopic degree corresponding to a parallax between a projected left image and a projected right image, in an overlapping region where the plurality of stereoscopic images overlap each other; a detection unit adapted to detect a parallax between an indicator in the left image and an indicator in the right image based on a captured image of a projected indicator; and an adjustment unit adapted to adjust stereoscopic degrees of the plurality of stereoscopic images by an adjustment amount that is determined based on the detected parallax. |
| US09686526B2 |
Objective 3D video quality assessment model
There is provided a method of determining the quality of a three dimensional (3D) video stream, wherein the 3D video comprises at least one 3D view composition, each 3D view composition defining a plurality of two dimensional (2D) views. The method comprises determining a characteristic of each of a plurality of 2D views. The method further comprises calculating a variation in the characteristic, the variation calculated between the 2D views corresponding to the same 3D view composition. The method further still comprises calculating a quality score for the 3D video sequence, the quality score based upon the calculated variation. |
| US09686522B2 |
Display apparatus capable of seamlessly displaying a plurality of projection images on screen
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus. The display apparatus includes a screen having a reflective member formed in at least a portion thereof, a first scanner configured to output a first projection image to a first area of the screen by first-direction scanning and second-direction scanning, a second scanner configured to output a second projection image to a second area of the screen by first-direction scanning and second-direction scanning, a first light detector configured to detect light received from the first area of the screen, a second light detector configured to detect light received from the second area of the screen, and a processor configured to determine whether the first projection image and the second projection image projected onto the screen overlap or are separated based on the light received from the first area and the light received from the second area and to control the first projection image and the second projection image to be adjacent on the screen when the first projection image and the second projection image partially overlap or are separated. Accordingly, it is possible to seamlessly display a plurality of projection images. |
| US09686519B2 |
Apparatus for projecting a picture element
An apparatus for projecting a picture element based on at least a first and a second sample comprises a mirror configured to pivot about two axes, at least a first and a second light generation unit, and a processor being configured to output the first sample received at a first point in time at a second point in time to the first light generation unit and the second sample received at a first point in time at a third point in time to the second light generation unit. At least one of the second and third points in time is determined such that the distance between the actual first and second positions is reduced. |
| US09686516B2 |
Method and device for improving configuration of communication devices in a video projection system comprising multiple wireless video projectors
The present invention relates to improving configuration of wireless communication paths between devices in a video projection system comprising multiple wireless video projectors. When an initial radio communication setup is required between a managing node, e.g. a node comprising a master projector, and a node comprising a slave projector, for example following the powering up of the video projection system, the slave node receives setup information by radio communication means according to a sweeping sequence and transmits information by projecting sub-images. Sub-images advantageously comprise information relative to settings of the master node allowing reception in the corresponding slave node of a radio signal transmitted by the master node. |
| US09686515B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting quality defects in a video bitstream
There is provided an apparatus for detecting a quality defect in a video sequence, the apparatus comprising: a receiver arranged to receive a video bitstream representing a video sequence; and a defect module arranged to determine a measure of quantization parameter for each picture of the video sequence, the defect module further arranged to identify a quality defect when an abrupt change in the measure of quantization parameter occurs. |
| US09686514B2 |
Systems and methods for an automated cloud-based video surveillance system
Systems and methods for setting up a cloud-based video surveillance system with at least one local computing device and at least one video camera in a local area network. The at least one local computing device has a dedicated application installed and is operable to identify the at least one video camera on the same local area network and connect the at least one video camera to a cloud platform. The video surveillance system is accessible via the at least one local computing device or other authorized computing device locally and/or remotely. The video surveillance system is still at work when the at least one local computing device is turned off. |
| US09686513B2 |
Forest fire video monitoring system and method
The invention relates to the forest video monitoring. A method and system are provided for automatically binding a video camera to the absolute coordinate system and determining changes in the video camera binding. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of: in each of at least two predetermined time moments, aiming the video camera at an object a position of which in the absolute coordinate system centered in a point in which the video camera resides is known at said moment, and determining an orientation of the video camera in a native coordinate system of the video camera; and, based on the determined orientations of the video camera and positions of the object, calculating a rotation of the native coordinate system of the video camera in the absolute coordinate system. The calculated rotation of the video camera's native coordinate system is used to recalculate coordinates of an observed object from the video camera's native coordinate system into the absolute coordinate system. The technical result relates to the improved accuracy of locating the observed object. |
| US09686511B1 |
Positioning system and method for image capturing devices
A positioning system includes an image capturing device and a light-emitting microphone. When the microphone is working, a light emitting portion of the microphone emits light. The image capturing device captures an image of an area to include the light-emitting portion with an unadjusted capturing angle and focal distance and can adjusts the capturing angle and the focal distance to obtain an adjusted image. The light-emitting portion is to be located at a preset coordinated position in the target image before adjustments are made. The image capturing device captures images including a speaker at the microphone, applying an adjusting capturing angle and an adjusted focal distance. A positioning system is also disclosed. |
| US09686506B2 |
Method, apparatus, system, and storage medium for video call and video call control
The present disclosure provides a video call method, including: sending, by a first video terminal associated with a first account, a video call connection request to a video call control apparatus, to request to establish a video call connection with a second video terminal associated with a second account; receiving, by the first video terminal, video call preview information of the second account returned by the video call control apparatus; and displaying, in a video call interface of the first video terminal, the video call preview information of the second account, while the video call connection is being established. As such, video call preview information of a user may be displayed in advance when establishing a video call connection. The present disclosure further provides a video call apparatus, a video call control method and apparatus, a video call system, and a storage medium. |
| US09686505B2 |
Method for flicker detection and associated circuit
A method for flicker detection based on a plurality of images and associated circuit is provided. The method includes providing an integrated flicker signal for each image, including accumulating pixel data of a number of pixels along each row; performing a motion compensation including: comparing two integrated flicker signals of two images, and accordingly providing a flicker signal difference; performing a flicker feature extraction including: applying a frequency analysis on the flicker signal difference, and accordingly providing a normalized flicker feature value; and performing a flicker determination, including: calculating a likelihood according to the normalized flicker feature value, and, according to the likelihood, determining whether a flicker-free hypothesis should be rejected in favor of a flicker-suffered hypothesis. |
| US09686502B2 |
Audio routing for audio-video recording
Systems and methods for routing audio for audio-video recordings allow a user to record desired audio with captured video at the time the video is being captured. Audio from one or more sources may be routed to the video capture application and recorded with the video. In one or more examples, audio may be routed from another application, e.g., an audio playback application, running on the same device as the video capture application. In another example, audio may be received from a remote device through a wireless connection. Multiple streams of audio content may be mixed together prior to storing with video. The audio, upon reception, may then be routed to the video capture application for recordation. An audio progression bar may also be provided to indicate duration and elapsed time information associated with the audio being recorded. |
| US09686501B2 |
Photographing processing method and system based on mobile terminal
A photographing processing method based on a mobile terminal comprises the steps of: providing an option on the mobile terminal for setting a picture classification beforehand and providing an option for adding a classification label; receiving, by using the option for setting the picture classification, an operational instruction from a user in a photographing interface for selecting a certain classification as a currently photographing classification; and automatically appending, when a certain classification is selected as the currently photographing classification, corresponding picture information to a photographed picture after photographing the picture, and saving the photographed picture in a corresponding directory. |
| US09686498B2 |
Curvature adjustable display device
A curvature adjustable display device includes a base, a display panel arranged on the base, a rear cover arranged rearwards of the display panel and having a bottom extending into an interior of the base, connection sections arranged in the interior of the base and respectively connected to two opposite side edges of the rear cover, an adjustment mechanism arranged in a front portion of the base, and two chains arranged in the interior of the base and each having two ends respectively connected to the connection sections and the adjustment mechanism. Rotation of the adjustment mechanism stretches the chains and drives, via the connection sections, the rear cover to curve, and simultaneously, the rear cover drives the display panel to curve so as to achieve adjustment of curvature of the display panel. |
| US09686497B1 |
Video annotation and dynamic video call display for multi-camera devices
Systems and methods for the management of video calls are provided. A computing device dynamically determines which video stream, of multiple available video streams, is to be presented full-screen or otherwise most prominently during a video call when a user switches between cameras. The available video streams can include a video stream from a user-facing camera of the device, a video stream from a rear-facing camera of the device, or a video stream from another device. Video of the video call can also be annotated to identify individual items shown in the video, characteristics of the items, and the like. The annotations can be used to generate a summary report of the items in the video. |
| US09686496B2 |
Apparatus, systems, and methods for notification of remote control device modes
Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed for the current mode of one or more remote control devices to be displayed or played as an audio message either continuously or at various opportune times on other devices such as a presentation device (e.g., a television set). In this way, a user is able to quickly see the current mode of their remote control while watching programming on the display to determine if the remote control mode needs to be changed to control a particular device on the premises. Remote control command mode information may be communicated from the remote control in a separate remote control message or within remote control commands generated by the remote control. |
| US09686489B2 |
Image sensor and imaging system adopting analog buffer
An image sensor including an optoelectronic conversion circuit, a read circuit, a timing control and a serial interface is provided. The optoelectronic conversion circuit is configured to store a charge amount. The read circuit is coupled to the optoelectronic conversion circuit via a bit line. The timing control is configured to send at least one control signal to control the optoelectronic conversion circuit to store the charge amount and control the read circuit to read the charge amount stored in the optoelectronic conversion circuit. The serial interface is coupled to the timing control and configured to send a trigger signal to the timing control to activate the timing control to send the at least one control signal. |
| US09686488B2 |
Imaging systems with flicker mitigation and high dynamic range
An image pixel may include a shutter element that is operable in an open state during which a corresponding photodiode accumulates charge and a closed state during which charge is drained from the photodiode. During a first portion of an image frame, the image pixel may operate in a flicker mitigation mode in which a non-continuous exposure period is used. During a second portion of the image frame, the image pixel may operate in a high dynamic range mode in which images are obtained with exposures of varying lengths. To conserve memory requirements, the signal from the flicker mitigation mode may not be sampled until the end of the first exposure of the high dynamic range mode. |
| US09686487B1 |
Variable scan rate image generation
Variable scan rate image generation is disclosed. A scanning device scans a scene with a detector array at a first constant scan rate. Photon accumulation values are iteratively transferred from each set of detector elements in the detector array to an adjacent set of detector elements at a first transfer rate based on the first constant scan rate. Photon accumulation values of one set of the plurality of sets are iteratively read out at the first transfer rate. The first constant scan rate is accelerated to a second constant scan rate, and photon accumulation values are iteratively transferred from each set to an adjacent set at a second transfer rate based on the second constant scan rate, and photon accumulation values of the at least one set of the plurality of sets are iteratively read out at the second transfer rate. |
| US09686479B2 |
Method for combining multiple image fields
Methods for stitching multiple sub-images together to form a substantially seamless composite image are disclosed. Overlap regions formed by each pair of neighboring sub-images are periodically examined and key features common to the overlap regions in each sub-image of the pair are identified. A transformation is determined for each sub-image pair based on the positions of these key features. The transformation is split between the sub-images and applied to distort the overlap regions in each sub-image pair such that they are substantially aligned. Applying the transformations to each overlap region in the overall image enables creation of a substantially seamless composite image. In some embodiments, the process wherein the transformations are determined is run as a feedback loop to enable continuing refinement of the transformations. |
| US09686478B2 |
Generating high-dynamic range images using multiple filters
Systems and methods are provided for generating high-dynamic range images. In particular, a signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio objective associated with an imaging platform configured to capture one or more images of a region of interest using an image sensor having a first portion and a second portion can be determined. The SNR objective can specify a desired SNR response as a function of a brightness of the region of interest. A first integration time and a second integration time can then be determined based at least in part on the SNR objective. Data indicative of a plurality of image frames can then be obtained. Each image frame is captured by exposing the first portion of the image sensor for the first integration time and exposing the second portion of the image sensor for the second integration time. |
| US09686475B2 |
Integrated light sensor for dynamic exposure adjustment
The amount of resources needed to provide automatic exposure control (AEC) for a camera of a computing device, as well as the amount of latency required to determine an appropriate exposure setting for current conditions, can be improved utilizing an ambient light sensor (ALS) that is integrated with a camera module corresponding to the camera. The ALS can capture data regarding the amount of ambient light around the device, and a microprocessor or other component of the camera module can analyze the data using an AEC algorithm or other such process to determine one or more initial exposure settings for the camera. This process can be completed without sending image data to a host processor or other such component. Providing relatively accurate initial exposure settings can, in at least many situations, enable the AEC algorithm to more quickly converge to proper settings than is possible using conventional approaches. |
| US09686473B2 |
Lighting device for automatically change irradiation direction
A camera system includes a lighting device comprising a movable unit including a flash unit, an imaging apparatus, a setting unit, an operation unit, and a control unit. The setting unit sets an irradiation position which is to be irradiated with light from the flash unit. The operation unit accepts an operation for starting photographing preparation operation. The control unit performs driving control of the movable unit. When the operation unit accepts an operation for starting photographing preparation operation, the control unit performs driving control of the movable unit for irradiating the set irradiation position with light from the flash unit. When the operation unit does not accept an operation for starting photographing preparation operation, the control unit does not perform driving control of the movable unit for irradiating the set irradiation position with light from the flash unit. |
| US09686468B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An apparatus is described. An embodiment of an apparatus comprises a stationary first camera; a second camera; and a mechanical coupling enabling a first and a second camera position, wherein the mechanical coupling enables the rotation of the second camera with respect to the stationary first camera; wherein in the first camera position the first camera and the second camera are orientated in substantially opposite directions, and in the second camera position the second camera is orientated in substantially the same direction as the stationary first camera. |
| US09686467B2 |
Panoramic video
A direction of a sound source located in the surrounding of a detector of a panoramic video is established. A preset view of the panoramic video is determined based on the established direction. Playback of the panoramic video is based on the determined preset view. |
| US09686460B2 |
Enabling a metadata storage subsystem
The present disclosure provides techniques for enabling a metadata storage subsystem. A directory of available metadata is created, and the metadata is stored in various system data stores. The metadata is retrieved as requested by a host device, and the metadata is transferred to the host device. Additionally, the metadata is executed. |
| US09686457B2 |
High efficiency image sensor pixels with deep trench isolation structures and embedded reflectors
An image sensor with an array of pixels is provided. To minimize optical and electrical and crosstalk, the array of pixels may include deep trench isolation structures interposed between adjacent pairs of photodiodes. In order to maximize quantum efficiency, the array of pixels may include a reflective stack formed under the photodiodes and the deep trench isolation structures. The deep trench isolation structures may be formed from doped glass, doped polysilicon, or metal having a doped oxide liner. The reflective stack may include multiple layers of materials having different indices of refraction. The reflective stack may include oxide, nitride, and semiconductor layers. The deep trench isolation structures may extend from the top of the photodiodes down to the reflective stack. The deep trench isolation structures may have a 50 to 1 aspect ratio. |
| US09686452B2 |
Surveillance camera with integral large-domain sensor
A surveillance camera arrangement includes a first camera that performs panning movements about a pan axis, and that performs tilting movements within a plane of tilting motion. The plane of tilting motion is offset from, and substantially parallel to, the pan axis. A second camera is substantially aligned with the pan axis. The second camera has a wider field of view than the first camera. |
| US09686447B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a detecting unit that detects a start position and an end position of an effective image area of an analog image signal, and a determination unit that determines a candidate format as a format of the analog image signal if a first difference and a second difference satisfy a predetermined condition. The first difference represents a difference between the start position of the effective image area and a start position of an effective image area of the candidate format. The second difference represents a difference between the end position of the effective image area and an end position of the effective image area of the candidate format. |
| US09686445B2 |
Method and system for dynamically producing color validation patches
An image forming apparatus, a method, and a computer readable medium are disclosed for generating color patches for color validation of a print engine of an image forming apparatus. The method includes acquiring a validation result on a first color validation chart with a sensing device, the sensing device configured to read a color validation chart, the color validation chart having one or more color patches, and wherein the validation result compares a color accuracy of each of the one or more color patches from the first color validation chart to a target color; and determining an order of each of the color patches in a second color validation chart to be printed based on the validation result on the first color validation chart, wherein the order of the color patches in the second color validation chart is determined based on color patches that do not match the target color. |
| US09686444B2 |
Color separation and printing
The present disclosure relates to a computer implemented method for color separation for a printer, systems, and methods for printing using a printer. In some examples, the method for color separation for a printer comprises forming a color gamut for the printer in the form of a hull in a color space, the hull having vertices corresponding to Neugebauer Primaries, predicting the colorimetry in the color space of at least one Neugebauer Primary lying outside of an ink limit for the printer, determining the Neugebauer Primary area coverages that can produce a desired color in the color space using at least one Neugebauer Primary lying outside of the ink limit. |
| US09686438B2 |
Image processing apparatus configured to print image data among multiple recording sheets, image processing system, image processing method, and recording medium configured to perform same
An image processing apparatus, an image processing system, and an image processing method, are provided, each of which receives a user instruction for printing an image on a plurality of recording sheets with an addition image being added to the image at a preset position in the image; generates a plurality of items of image data to be formed on the plurality of recording sheets so as to obtain the image when the plurality of recording sheets are pasted together; determines a specific recording sheet of the plurality of recording sheets and a specific position on the specific recording sheet, based on the preset position of the addition image, a number of the plurality of recording sheets for forming the image, and an image forming direction in forming the image on the plurality of recording sheets; and adds the addition image to an item of image data corresponding to the determined recording sheet at the specific position on the specific recording sheet. |
| US09686435B2 |
Imaging apparatus and imaging apparatus control method
An imaging apparatus is configured to capture an object image, generate a RAW image, perform simple development on the RAW image during the image capturing operation, and store not only the developed image but also the RAW image in a storage medium. If the imaging apparatus displays an image during the image capturing operation and immediately after the image capturing operation, the imaging apparatus displays the image processed by the simple development. When the imaging apparatus completes processing of high-quality image development, the imaging apparatus replaces the image processed by the simple development with the image processed by the high-quality image development and displays the image processed by the high-quality image development. |
| US09686428B2 |
Equipment to determine line width of check image and image-forming apparatus using the same
In image-checking equipment, a detector reads a line-shaped check image formed on a sheet and acquires image data on the check image. A controller calculates an edge blur in a rising edge and a falling edge of the image data, calculates a line width of the check image. The controller refers to a correction table with the measured values of the edge blur and the line width of the check image, and acquires a corrected line width value based on the correction table to obtain the real line width of the check image. |
| US09686426B2 |
Pull printing system including printing data transmitter that transmits pull printing data and storage medium
A pull printing system includes a plurality of storage destination devices that store printing data for pull printing, and a printing data transmitter. The printing data transmitter transmits the printing data for the pull printing to at least one of the plurality of storage destination devices. The printing data transmitter selects a storage destination device to which to transmit the printing data from among the plurality of storage destination devices based on specific conditions of each of the plurality of storage destination devices and on specific requirements with respect to the conditions. |
| US09686425B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and recording medium
An image forming apparatus that shifts to a plurality of power states includes a notification unit that notifies, in a case where a power state of the image forming apparatus is shifted, a predetermined notification destination of the power state, a first setting unit that sets, as a notification method by the notification unit, a first notification method in which a reach confirmation is performed or a second notification method in which a reach notification is not performed, and a control unit that performs, in a case where the power state of the image forming apparatus is shifted to a specific power state, control of a notification by the notification unit in such a manner that a notification by the first notification method set by the first setting unit is switched to a notification by the second notification method. |
| US09686417B2 |
Device, computer-readable medium, and method for modifying services using advanced data collection capabilities
A device includes one or more processor, a display, and a module card. The one or more processor determines that a communication function of the device has terminated and sends a notification to the module card that indicates the termination. The module card sends a message to a server in response to receiving the notification and receives another message from the server. The message indicates that the device is ready to receive the other message. The other message includes an instruction and another notification, which is based on usage of an account and identifies an actionable category with respect thereto. The instruction causes the one or more processor to function as display, receiving, determining, and sending devices, which respectively display the other notification, receive an input response thereto, determine that the response corresponds to a confirmation to implement the actionable category, and send a further message including the response. |
| US09686416B2 |
Systems and methods for outgoing call redirection
Systems and methods for redirecting calls are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for redirecting calls may include receiving a first call request from a first user device via a first telephony service provider network to establish an off-net call with a second user device registered on a second telephony service provider network, determining that the first user device is associated with an account of the second telephony service provider network based on a communication identifier of the first user device included in the first call request, and sending a notification message to the first user device indicating that the off-net call may be established as an on-net call over the second telephony service provider network. |
| US09686415B2 |
Systems and methods of split billing
A method includes generating a request at an electronic device associated with a plurality of data usage accounts. The method also includes selectively encapsulating, by the electronic device, the request to generate an encapsulated request that identifies a destination endpoint provisioned for a first data usage account of the plurality of data usage accounts. The method further includes transmitting the encapsulated request from the electronic device to a network element. |
| US09686413B1 |
Conference call information sharing via interaction with social networking data
Examples of associating user information from social network sites with a conference call application may include a series of operations. One example operation may provide receiving a command to share at least one social networking application with a scheduled conference call and accessing an application programming interface (API) of the social networking application, and sharing user profile information with a graphical user interface (GUI) application of the scheduled conference call corresponding to the command to share the social networking application. |
| US09686409B1 |
Applying user preferences, behavioral patterns and/or environmental factors to an automated customer support application
A method and apparatus of applying user profile information to a customized application are disclosed. One example method of operation may include receiving an inquiry message or call from a user device, identifying and authorizing the user from inquiry message information received from the inquiry message, retrieving a user profile comprising at least one user preference, applying the at least one user preference to a user call processing application, and transmitting menu options to the user device based on the applied at least user preference. |
| US09686407B2 |
Customer service controller
Information about a request from a caller is provided in a customer service call center. In one embodiment, a customer service processor selects an agent based on the type of request and routes the call to the agent. The types of requests including one or more of cancelling all orders by a firm, canceling all orders by a trader, cancelling specific orders by a trader for more than one product, cancelling orders by more than one trader for a specific product, cancelling individual orders, changing the quantity of an individual order, and changing the quantity of a set of orders for a trader or a firm. Statistics may be collected regarding the call and stored for later use in a database. |
| US09686406B1 |
Issue detection for routing assistance requests
An issue is identified based on corresponding information indicative of steps taken in an on-boarding process and a velocity of transition through the steps. The issue is matched against an agent based on agent capabilities exposed by the agent. The issue and corresponding information are routed to the agent. |
| US09686399B2 |
Protection of a wireless communications device against unauthorized use
A method for protecting a wireless communications device against unauthorized use of functionality provided by the wireless communications device, the method comprising: receiving a binding command to bind the wireless communications device to a subscription identification module operationally coupled to the wireless communications device and associated with a subscription to a communications service; responsive to the received command, storing a module identifier identifying the subscription identification module; and storing a device identifier identifying the wireless communications device; obtaining an unbind code and storing the obtained unbind code; performing a module verification verifying that a subscription identification module identified by a stored module identifier is operationally coupled to the wireless communications device, performing a device verification verifying whether a wireless communications device identified by a stored device identifier is operationally coupled to the subscription identification module; and preventing operation of at least a part of said functionality unless the module verification and the device verification have been performed successfully. |
| US09686395B2 |
Apparatus and method for point-of-collection measurement of a biomolecular reaction
A system, methods, and apparatus for biomolecular measurements, monitoring, and tracking uses a smartphone-based system. A biological sample, including, but not limited to blood, saliva, biopsy, or sweat, is collected on a modular diagnostic test platform, which is then inserted into a smartphone accessory. Optical, electrical, mechanical, or other means are used to transduce a biomolecular binding event, including antibody, aptamer, enzymatic, base-pair matching, or other biological recognition reaction and communicate the results with the smartphone. Some specific examples of targets include 25-hydroxyvitamin D, folic acid, DNA, or proteins from infectious agents, and zinc. The result can then be presented quantitatively or turned into a more consumer-friendly measurement (positive, negative, above average, etc.), displayed to the user, stored for later comparison, and communicated to a central hub location where medical professionals can provide additional review. Additionally, social media integration can allow for device results to be broadcast to specific audiences, to compare healthy living with friends, to compete in health based games, create mappings, and other applications. |
| US09686390B2 |
Attachable electronic device holder
An attachable electronic device holder includes a substantially horizontal bottom support surface configured to at least partially support a weight of an electronic device. The bottom support surface includes a first edge and a second edge. A first substantially vertical surface is positioned proximate the first edge of the bottom surface and a second substantially vertical surface may be positioned proximate the second edge of the bottom surface. A fastener is attached to at least one of the bottom support surface, the first vertical surface, and the second vertical surface. |
| US09686387B2 |
Generation of mobile device vibratory notification
A mobile device includes a housing; a flexible display mounted in the housing; an actuator coupled to the flexible display; a processor; and a computer readable medium with computer-executable instruction stored thereon, that when executed by the processor cause the processor to initiate operations including: generating a vibratory notification by sending a command signal to the actuator to alter a position of the flexible display. |
| US09686385B2 |
Apparatus for wireless communication
An apparatus (122) including: a first feed point (26); a first radiator (28) coupled to the first feed point; a housing defining an interior surface (30) of the apparatus and including a first conductive cover portion (24) coupled to the first radiator; a ground member (18) coupled to the first conductive cover portion and positioned at least partially within the interior surface (30) of the housing, at least the first conductive cover portion and the first radiator having an electrical length configured to resonate in a first operational frequency band, the first radiator being configured to electromagnetically couple to the first conductive cover portion. |
| US09686383B2 |
Synchronization of traffic multiplexing in link aggregation
Synchronization of traffic multiplexing in link aggregation is described. In an embodiment, a first link aggregator and a second link aggregator are associated with a plurality of links. The first link aggregator maintains an identifier for each link indicating at least a state of enabled or disabled. A synchronized clock is established between the first link aggregator and the second link aggregator. A particular link of the plurality of links is transitioned. Wherein, the transitioning is performed by the first link aggregator sending, to the second link aggregator, a first message identifying a particular time to transition the particular link. The first link aggregator receives, from the second link aggregator, a second message indicating that the particular time is acceptable. In response to a determination that the second message indicates that the particular time is acceptable and that the synchronized clock has reached the particular time, transitioning the link. |
| US09686382B2 |
Double decoder system for decoding overlapping aircraft surveillance signals
In one example of this disclosure, two decoders perform a method for detecting and decoding overlapping radio surveillance signals. The first decoder detects a first automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) preamble from a signal stream received via a front-end unit. The first decoder decodes the first ADS-B signal associated with the first ADS-B preamble. The second decoder detects a subsequent ADS-B preamble from the signal stream while the first decoder is decoding the first ADS-B signal. The second decoder decodes the subsequent ADS-B signal associated with the subsequent ADS-B preamble. |
| US09686377B2 |
System and method for zero-footprint screen capture
A system for zero-footprint screen capture, comprising a communication server software module, a screen capture server software module, a web server software module, and a media upload server software module, wherein the web server, on receiving a request for a specific web page from a client application whose screen is to be captured, uploads a persistent screen capture software application to the client, and further wherein, upon receiving a connection request from the screen capture application, establishes a persistent connection to the screen capture application and, on receiving a notification from the communication server pertaining to an interaction involving a user of the client application, sends instructions via the persistent connection to the screen capture application, and wherein the media upload server receives via the established connection to the uploaded screen capture application one or more data packets containing screen capture graphics data. |
| US09686376B2 |
Method and apparatus for data interaction
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for data interaction, and the method includes: obtaining required times of data interaction between valid applications in a background application mode and a network; selecting a minimum required time from the current required times as a target required time of data interaction, and starting timing; when the target required time expires, obtaining each valid application whose current required time of data interaction is between two consecutive target required times, and determining the valid application as a target application; and activating a packet data protocol PDP, establishing a data link between the target application and the network, and performing data interaction, and then restarting timing. |
| US09686375B2 |
Media intelligence suite
A device may receive an indication to determine status information associated with a media content delivery of media content. The media content may be delivered via a content delivery system. The device may determine, based on information provided by devices included in the content delivery system, progress information associated with the media content delivery. The progress information may identify progress, associated with the media content delivery, with respect to one or more steps, associated with delivering the media content, performed by the devices included in the content delivery system. The device may determine the status information, associated with the media content delivery, based on the progress information. The status information may indicate the status of the media content delivery. The device may provide the status information such that the status information may be displayed as a visual indication of the status of the media content delivery. |
| US09686369B2 |
System and method for multihop service discovery with member station proxy service advertisements
Systems and methods for multi-hop service discovery within a mobile device cluster are disclosed. A seeker station may be seeking or may have found a desired service available from a provider station. The seeker station may receive the service announcement from the provider station, and become a proxy station, expanding the service area of the provider station. The proxy station may selectively transmit services and advertisements for services on behalf of the provider station based on restrictions placed on selection as a proxy station. Restrictions or conditions may be placed on the proxy station limiting the number of stations that may become proxy stations, limiting traffic within the cluster. Some restrictions may require a proxy station to be a member of the cluster or a member of a group within the cluster. Selection as a proxy station and frequency of transmission of service announcements by proxy stations may also be conditioned on various specific parameters or combinations of parameters as specified by the provider station. |
| US09686368B2 |
Aggregating endpoint capabilities for a user
A method and system for aggregating capabilities from multiple endpoints associated with a user are provided. The system aggregates the capabilities of the endpoints associated with a user into an aggregate view of available modes of communication for reaching the user. Then, the system publishes the aggregate view so that other users who want to send communications to the user will know the modes of communication available for that user. In addition, the system may designate certain modes of communication as preferred or as capable of reaching the user. |
| US09686365B2 |
System and method for event triggered information distribution
System and computer-based method for automatically distributing information upon the occurrence of predefined events is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a tool that provides an intuitive interface that allows users to easily create content to be stored and delivered to a recipient upon the occurrence of a predefined event related to the location of the recipient. Location data may be retrieved from the recipient's mobile device, or social media websites. The system provides a valuable location-based information delivery system that allows for shared experience capability across time. |
| US09686363B2 |
Aircraft communication system, aircraft communication method, and communication device
An aircraft communication system for performing communication between each of a plurality of devices installed in an aircraft, wherein the communication system is provided with a plurality of communication processing units provided corresponding to the plurality of devices and a plurality of communication lines for connecting between the communication processing units, the plurality of communication processing units being capable of bidirectional communication via the plurality of communication lines. Upon receiving a plurality of communication data from the plurality of communication lines, one of the communication processing units determines, on the basis of identification information included in the received plurality of communication data, whether the received plurality of communication data needs to be acquired and acquires the communication data determined to need to be acquired. |
| US09686360B2 |
Protocols, interfaces, and pre/post-processing for enabling son entities and features in base stations and wireless networks
LTE and HSPA/UMTS deployments are trending towards high density, heterogeneous and ad-hoc deployments. These deployments can be managed through Self-Organizing Network (SON) schemas. Enabling SON generally involves the introduction of new software and/or hardware entities into the network that can interact with existing base station and network entities (e.g., Enhanced Packet Core, Element Management System, and/or other network entities). In one embodiment, these interactions include the development and deployment of interfaces (e.g., APIs) and protocols between the SON entities and various network entities. For example, data collected on either side of an interface or protocol can be post-processed before consumption (e.g., for both data integrity purposes as well as bandwidth reduction purposes). As described herein, a full set of such interfaces and protocols with specific examples are disclosed to illustrate various techniques for providing protocols, interfaces, and pre/post-processing for enabling SON entities and features in base stations and wireless networks. |
| US09686357B1 |
Mapping content delivery
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to mapping content delivery. A client device provides, to a map management server, a request for a map of a geographic region. The client device receives, from the map management server, an identification of tiles for the map. The client device provides, to a first tile server, a request for the tiles for the map. In response to receiving the tiles from the first tile server: the client device displays the map of the geographic region based on the tiles. |
| US09686355B2 |
Third party initiation of communications between remote parties
A data transfer system is described herein that allows data to be sent directly between two computing devices at the request of a third party client computer. The system allows a third party to initiate data transfers between computers in a network file system. This results in a significant speed increase because little to no data travels over the third party's potentially slower connection. The data transfer system provides a mechanism to determine if the direct transfer would be more efficient than two separate read and write operations, based on measurements of bandwidth and latency between each computing device. The data transfer system provides support for the source server to compress the data and the destination server to decompress the data at the direction of a third party client to further save network bandwidth. |
| US09686352B2 |
Saturation detection and admission control for storage devices
Maximum throughput of a storage unit, and workload and latency values of the storage unit corresponding to a predefined fraction of the maximum throughput are estimated based on workloads and latencies that are monitored on the storage unit. The computed metrics are usable in a variety of different applications including admission control, storage load balancing, and enforcing quality of service in a shared storage environment. |
| US09686351B2 |
Group coordinator selection based on communication parameters
Embodiments described herein involve selecting a group coordinator device for a group of media devices. An example implementation includes receiving an instruction to form a zone group comprising a first media device and a second media device. The implementation also includes comparing one or more first communication parameters corresponding to a network connection of the first media device to one or more second communication parameters corresponding to a network connection of the second media device. The implementation further includes identifying the first media device as a group coordinator of the zone group based on the comparison and based on identifying the first media device as the group coordinator of the zone group, configuring the first media device to provide data indicating audio content and audio content playback timing information to the second media device to facilitate synchronous playback of the audio content as the zone group. |
| US09686347B2 |
Anticipatory resource allocation/activation and lazy de-allocation/deactivation
A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for managing resources in a server environment. The method includes determining, by one or more processors, to shut down a first resource consumer, wherein the first resource consumer is assigned a first virtual resource with a first set of one or more host resources. It is determined, by one or more processors, whether a second virtual resource assigned to a second resource consumer requires the first set of one or more host resources. If the second virtual resource assigned to the second resource consumer does not require the first set of one or more host resources, it is determined, by one or more processors, not to deactivate the one or more host resources assigned to the first virtual resource. |
| US09686343B2 |
Metasearch redirection system and method
Methods, systems, and computer program products for redirecting a user from a metasearch website to a service provider website. A first uniform resource locator (URL) may be received from a client device at a redirection system. The first URL may have a first format including a plurality of fields containing information related to a product distributed at the website of the service provider. A second uniform resource locator (URL) may be generated from the fields of the first URL. The second URL may have a second format that is predetermined by the service provider. The client device may be provided access to the website of the service provider using the second URL. |
| US09686336B2 |
Communicating apparatus
A communicating apparatus comprising a receiving module which comprises: a first receiving line, for receiving a second input data stream; a timing detecting apparatus, for detecting timings for a plurality of data units of the second input data stream; a data allocating apparatus, for allocating the second input data stream to X allocated data streams, wherein the X is a positive integer and the X is larger or equals to 2; and X second receiving lines, for respectively transmitting one of the X allocated data streams. |
| US09686335B2 |
Shared data communication bandwidths among mobile devices
Systems and methods are disclosed for connecting one or more mobile communication devices so that each device's data connections can be bundled to create a virtual connection to provide increased data communications bandwidth for one or more of the mobile communication devices to access applications and data on the Internet. |
| US09686334B2 |
Transmission method for media data stream and thin client
Disclosed are a method for transmitting a media data stream and a thin client, and the method includes: a media channel is established between a first thin client and a second thin client, wherein a first media module is pre-configured in the first thin client and a second media module is pre-configured in the second thin client; and the media data stream is transmitted between the first media module pre-configured in the first thin client and the second media module pre-configured in the second thin client through the media channel. The present disclosure solves problems of network time delay and data distortion caused by a fact in the prior art that media data need to be transmitted between a thin client and a virtual desktop through using a protocol such as RDP so as to implement interaction of data between two thin clients, thus achieving technical effectives of improvement on the data transmission rate and accuracy of data. |
| US09686322B2 |
Container interrupt services
A container application is a native application that provides a web based application with access a computer's system resources and windowing system. If a container application is associated with a window, then the web based application can alter or control many, or all, aspects of the container application's content area and meta user interfaces (Uis). Web based applications are downloaded from application servers and run inside container applications. A container application can run a web based application as a service. Services made from web based applications running in container applications are almost indistinguishable from operating system services when there is no associated window. |
| US09686320B2 |
Crisscross cancellation protocol
Technologies, systems, and methods for ordered message delivery that avoid message races or crisscrosses between communicating nodes. For example, if Node A sends message 3 towards Node B and, shortly thereafter, Node B sends message X to Node A, Node A would like to know whether or not message X reflects Node B's state after receiving message 3. If Node B received message 3 prior to sending message X, then proper state may be maintained between the nodes. But if messages 3 and X crisscrossed, or if message 3 was never properly received by Node B, then the state between the nodes may be corrupt. Technologies, systems, and methods are provided to avoid such corruption. |
| US09686317B2 |
Network node and method to control routing or bypassing of deployed traffic detection function nodes
A network is described herein which can control, through subscriber profile data and/or policy preconfigured control data, whether deep packet inspection for data flow/s for an Internet Protocol-Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session established by an end user should take place, or not, according to a defined “User Privacy Policy”, and, in the former case, to which traffic detection function (TDF) node the data flow(s) should be directed. |
| US09686316B2 |
Layer-2 security for industrial automation by snooping discovery and configuration messages
In one embodiment, a switch in a computer network listens to a device naming exchange on trusted interfaces to learn device names of devices reachable on interfaces of the switch. The switch then listens to the device naming exchange to learn a corresponding interface of the switch on which each particular (named) device is reachable, and associates each learned device name to the learned corresponding interface for that particular device. The switch then allows identity responses from only learned device names on their corresponding interface. In another embodiment, the switch also listens to an IP address assigning exchange on the trusted interfaces to learn IP addresses assigned to each particular device, and associates each learned IP address with a corresponding learned device name and its corresponding interface. The switch then allows address resolution responses from only learned IP addresses from their corresponding learned device names on their corresponding interface. |
| US09686315B2 |
Systems and methods for matching and scoring sameness
Systems and methods for matching and scoring sameness. In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method is provided, comprising acts of: identifying an anchor value X from the first digital interaction; identifying a first plurality of past digital interactions from which the anchor value X was previously observed, wherein each past digital interaction of the first plurality of past digital interactions has associated therewith a respective sameness score; select a second plurality of past digital interactions from the first plurality of past digital interactions based at least in part on the respective sameness scores; generating a profile for the anchor value X based on the second plurality of past digital interactions; and determining a biometric score for the first digital interaction. |
| US09686310B2 |
Method and apparatus for repairing a file
The present disclosure describes a method for repairing a file. A user device searches for a defect file corrupted by a virus file, obtains a virus file name of the virus file and transmits the virus file name to a server. The user device receives an indication transmitted by the server and generates first characteristic information according to the indication; wherein the indication includes information of positions of the defect file that will not be modified by the virus file. The user device transmits the first characteristic information to the server, such that the server obtains a repairing file corresponding to the first characteristic information. The user device replaces the defect file with the repairing file. |
| US09686308B1 |
Systems and methods for detecting and/or handling targeted attacks in the email channel
Techniques for detecting and/or handling target attacks in an enterprise's email channel are provided. The techniques include receiving aspects of an incoming email message addressed to a first email account holder, selecting a recipient interaction profile and/or a sender profile from a plurality of predetermined profiles stored in a memory based upon the received properties, determining a message trust rating associated with the incoming email message based upon the incoming email message and the selected recipient interaction profile and/or the sender profile; and generating an alert identifying the incoming email message as including a security risk based upon the determined message trust rating. The recipient interaction profile includes information associating the first email account holder and a plurality of email senders from whom email messages have previously been received for the first email account holder, and the sender profile includes information associating a sender of the incoming email message with characteristics determined from a plurality of email messages previously received from the sender. |
| US09686306B2 |
Using supplemental encrypted signals to mitigate man-in-the-middle attacks on teleoperated systems
Methods and systems for securing remotely-operable devices are provided. A remotely-operable device can receive a command related to a component of the remotely-operable device operating in an environment. The remotely-operable device can include a reality-rules database (RRDB) that is configured to store a plurality of reality rules with each reality rule relating to a constraint on the remotely-operable device. The remotely-operable device can determine a reasonableness value for the command based on a constraint, where the constraint is determined based on a constraint related to at least one reality rule of the plurality of reality rules stored in the RRDB. The remotely-operable device can encode the reasonableness value for the command in a feedback message. The remotely-operable device can send the encoded feedback message from the remotely-operable device. |
| US09686300B1 |
Intrusion detection on computing devices
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations. The operations include collecting, by a processing device, raw data regarding a user action. The operations also include converting, by the processing device, the raw data to characteristic test data (CTD), wherein the CTD represents behavior characteristics of a current user. The operations also include identifying, by the processing device, a characteristic model corresponding to the behavior characteristics represented by the CTD. The operations also include generating, by the processing device, a predictor from a comparison of the CTD against the corresponding characteristic model, wherein the predictor comprises a score indicating a probability that the user action came from an authenticated user. |
| US09686299B2 |
Threat assessment level determination and remediation for a cloud-based multi-layer security architecture
A device may obtain information regarding a security situation of a set of computing resources associated with a cloud-based platform. The information may be related to an ongoing security threat or a potential security threat. The information may be obtained utilizing one or more internet security resources. The device may determine a threat assessment level, of a set of threat assessment levels, for the security situation based on the information regarding the security situation. The information regarding the security situation may satisfy a set of threshold criteria for the threat assessment level. The device may perform one or more response actions associated with the threat assessment level based on the security situation. The one or more response actions may include providing an alert notification regarding the security situation that identifies the threat assessment level. |
| US09686297B2 |
Malicious message detection and processing
Malicious message detection and processing systems and methods are provided herein. According to various embodiments, a method includes detecting, via an intermediary node, a link included in a message, the link being associated with an unknown resource, hashing a unique identifier for a recipient of the message, coupling the hashed identifier with the link, creating an updated link and updated message, and forwarding the updated message to the recipient. |
| US09686294B2 |
Protection of communication on a vehicular network via a remote security service
Methods and systems for protecting components of a linked vehicle from cyber-attack are disclosed. These methods and systems comprise elements of hardware and software for receiving a packet; tunneling the packet to a terrestrial-based security service, analyzing whether the packet is harmful to a component in the vehicle, and at least one action to protect at least one component. |
| US09686289B2 |
Access enforcement at a wireless access point
A first set of access rules is received from an access configuration service. The first set of access rules specifies addresses of devices authorized for a first user. A second set of access rules is received from the access configuration service. The second set of the access rules specifies addresses of devices authorized for a second user. At a wireless access point, a network packet associated with the first user is received. The first set of access rules is applied to filter the network packet. |
| US09686288B2 |
Method and apparatus for constructing security policies for web content instrumentation against browser-based attacks
A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for constructing security policies for content instrumentation against attacks. In one embodiment, the method comprises constructing one or more security policies for web content using at least one rewriting template, at least one edit automata policy, or at least one policy template; and rewriting a script program in a document to cause behavior resulting from execution of the script to conform to the one or more policies. |
| US09686287B2 |
Delegating authorization to applications on a client device in a networked environment
Disclosed are various embodiments for delegating security authorization to at least one application executed on a client device. A computing device is employed to send to a remote server, from an agent application, a request for a first access credential. The first access credential is received from the remote server and a determination is made by the agent application in communication with a managed application, that the managed application requires a second access credential. In response to the determination being made that the managed application requires the second access credential, the second access credential is sent to the managed application, from the agent application. An indication that the agent is authorized to be in communication with managed applications regarding a need for access credentials is stored and the agent application determines where at least one of the managed applications requires an access credential. |
| US09686285B2 |
Securely transmitting authentication information
A device receives a request from a terminal device to start a session to authenticate a person associated with an account. The device creates the session. The session is associated with the terminal device. The device receives session information and authentication information from a user device operated by the person. The device determines the session based on the session information and generates an authentication message based on the authentication information. The device transmits the authentication message to the terminal device associated with the session to authenticate that the person is associated with the account. |
| US09686283B2 |
Using hash signatures of DOM objects to identify website similarity
Embodiments are directed to using a hash signature of a rendered DOM object of a website to find similar content and behavior on other websites. Embodiments break a DOM into a large number of data portions (i.e., “shingles”), apply a hashing algorithm to the shingles, select a predetermined number of hashes from the hashed shingles according to a selection criteria to create a hash signature, and compare the hash signature to that of a reference page to determine similarity of website DOM object content. Embodiments can be used to identify phishing websites, defaced websites, spam websites, significant changes in the content of a webpage, copyright infringement, and any other suitable purposes related to the similarity between website DOM object content. |
| US09686282B2 |
Automatic configuration of household playback devices
An example implementation involves a first playback device receiving, from a remote server over a wide area network, a configuration table corresponding to a secure network comprising the first playback device. The first playback device determines that the configuration table comprises an entry corresponding to a second playback device that is not part of the secure network. The first playback device listens, over an unsecure local area network, for transmissions from playback devices, and, while listening, receives a first message from the second playback device, the first message indicating that the second playback device is available to join the secure network. In response to receiving the first message, the first playback device transmits, to the second playback device over the unsecure local area network, a second message comprising configuration information for the second playback device to join the secure network. |
| US09686281B2 |
Trusted application migration across computer nodes
An embodiment includes a secure and stable method for sending information across a compute continuum. For example, the method may include executing an application (e.g., video player) on a first node (e.g., tablet) with a desire to perform “context migration” to a second node (e.g., desktop). This may allow a user to watch a movie on the tablet, stop watching the movie, and then resume watching the movie from the desktop. To do so in a secure and stable manner, the first node may request security and performance credentials from the second node. If both credential sets satisfy thresholds, the first node may transfer content (e.g., encrypted copy of a movie) and state information (e.g., placeholder indicating where the movie was when context transfer began). The second node may then allow the user to resume his or her movie watching from the desktop. Other embodiments are described herein. |
| US09686277B2 |
Unique identification for an information handling system
A mobile information handling system (IHS) includes an application (app) that may include a unique-identification tool and a device capability determination tool. The unique-identification tool may generate a signature string that is unique to the mobile IHS. The device capability determination tool may determine the hardware capability of the mobile IHS, the network capability of the mobile IHS and the capability of a network between the mobile IHS and a server IHS, and generate a device determination therefrom. The app may transmit the signature string and the device determination to a server IHS. In response to the signature string and device determination that the server IHS receives, the server IHS may generate and transmit a corresponding response containing specific data to the mobile IHS. The app may output the specific data by displaying the specific data on a display of the mobile IHS. |
| US09686273B2 |
Aggregator technology without usernames and passwords
Techniques are described in which to access a user's web applications, the user registers and signs on to an aggregator system using any supported login identity provider username and password. When the user registers for the first time, the system collects additional information to verify the user for a subsequent access to the system. The system also automatically creates a system secret username and secret, highly securely generated password, both of which are unknown and inaccessible to the user. The secret username and password are stored in an lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) server or database or in a distributed cloud database system. The system also maps the login identity provider user name to the secret user name and password for subsequent usage. |
| US09686271B2 |
Method and system for system for controlling online user account using a mobile device
A method and system for controlling online user account using a mobile device. The method includes receiving an option to lock an online account of a user from a service provider. The computer-implemented method also includes locking the online user account by using a mobile device. Further, the computer-implemented method includes initiating a user action at a later point of time. Furthermore, the computer-implemented method includes receiving an alert to unlock the online user account in order to perform the user action and obtaining an unlock password from the service provider. Moreover, the computer-implemented method includes unlocking the online user account with the unlock password by using the mobile device and performing the user action subsequent to the unlocking, thereby controlling the online user account using the mobile device. The system includes a computing device, a web browser, a service provider and a mobile device. |
| US09686267B2 |
Establishing and maintaining an improved single sign-on (SSO) facility
A client system associated with a user includes at least one hardware processor configured to initiate the following operations. A modified login page is received from a proxy hardware system. An asynchronous engine is loaded by a browser system executing on the client system and caused by a routine from the modified login page. A login process with an authentication profiling service is executed, using the asynchronous engine, to retrieve login information for a back-end server. The authentication process with the back-end server is completed using the asynchronous engine. The modified logic page is generated by the proxy hardware system by adding the routine to a login page being sent from the back-end server to the browser. |
| US09686260B2 |
Client distribution system, content distribution method, and client terminal
The user of any one portable terminal sends a content information request including a user ID to a distribution server. In response, the distribution server distributes a stream data of content that can be used on the user's terminal. If the user of first portable terminal intends to let a second portable terminal try out a certain content, the user sends to the distribution server the trial permission information including the user's own user ID, a content ID of the content of interest, and a digital signature. The distribution server authenticates the received information before distributing a streaming data of a trial-oriented content with the content ID and user ID attached to it as search keys. This allows the content that can be used on a given user terminal to be tried out on another user terminal without the latter user having recourse to the steps of searching for the content in question. |
| US09686259B2 |
System and method for efficient replication of and access to application specific environments and data
A peer-to-peer system and method for efficient replication of and access to application specific environments and their data that includes automatically accessing application specific metadata to determine the location of application specific data and then replicating or providing access to the application metadata and data to a set of peers. A system and method for efficient replication of and access to application specific environments and data that includes automatically accessing a source application's metadata to determine the location of the source application's data and then automatically transferring and transforming the application metadata and data to a target application's metadata and data. |
| US09686258B2 |
Computer system authentication using security indicator
A method to authenticate a first computer system over a network to a second computer system is disclosed. A login user interface (UI) is presented to a user of the first computer system while disconnected from the second computer system. The login UI presents at least one input field to receive login input from the user and a security indicator that has been previously selected by the user and that is local to the first computer system. Login input is selectively received from the user based on a determination that the user recognizes the security indicator as having been previously selected by the user. A connection is established between the first computer system and the second computer system over the network. The received user input is transmitted using the established connection to the second computer system for authentication of the first computer system. |
| US09686254B2 |
Method, wireless device, computer program and computer program product for assisting access to access protected services
It is presented a method for assisting access to access protected services in a cellular multimedia delivery system. The method is performed in a wireless device and comprises the steps of: obtaining a set of one or more service identifiers, each service identifier being associated with a service; for each service identified by one of the service identifiers, determining if the service is access protected by reading a configuration associated with the service, independent of any delivery method associated with the service; and transmitting, to a key manager server, a request for service keys for all services which have been determined to be access protected. A corresponding wireless device, compute program and computer program product are also presented. |
| US09686251B2 |
Devices and techniques for controlling disclosure of sensitive information
Devices and techniques for controlling disclosure of sensitive information are provided. A request for information may be received through a first communication channel. The request may be provided using an account of a user. First encrypted data, which includes the requested information and has been encrypted with a first asymmetric encryption key, may be decrypted. The decrypted information may be re-encrypted with a second asymmetric encryption key different from the first asymmetric encryption key to obtain second encrypted data comprising the information. The second encrypted data may be sent to the user through a second communication channel different from the first communication channel. |
| US09686248B2 |
Secure shared key sharing systems and methods
Systems and methods used to securely communicate a shared key to devices. One embodiment describes a method to securely communicate a shared key to a first device and a second device that includes receiving, using the first device, a shared key and unique identifier pairing associated with the first device from a key generator; receiving, using a trusted third party, the shared key and unique identifier pairing from the key generator; generating, using the first device, a signature using the unique identifier and the shared key; transmitting, using the first device, the signature and the unique identifier to the trusted third party; verifying, using the trusted third party, the unique identifier based on the signature; determining, using the trusted third party, the shared key when the unique identifier is verified; and transmitting, using the trusted third party, the shared key to the second device to enable the first device and the second device to communicate securely by encoding and decoding communicated data using the shared key. |
| US09686242B2 |
Protection of sensitive data of a user from being utilized by web services
Systems and methods for preventing web services from using sensitive data in customizing web pages for a user. In one embodiment, a protection system is implemented between the user and the web service. The protection system identifies past interactions of the user with the web service, identifies text in the past interactions between the user and the web service, and identifies subjects discussed in the text. The protection system then communicates with the user to determine which of the subjects are sensitive to the user, and deletes a history stored by the web service for the user that relates to the sensitive subjects. |
| US09686241B1 |
System and method for using unique device identifiers to enhance security
A method for detection and use of device identifiers to enhance the security of data transfers between electronic devices. A first electronic device can transmit access data to a second electronic device. The access data can be associated with a first access code that can be generated based at least in part on data representing a device identifier of the first electronic device. A device identifier can uniquely identify the first electronic device from a plurality of electronic devices. Transferring the access data can involve transforming the first access code into a second access code that can include data representing a device identifier associated with the second electronic device. Transforming the first access code into the second access code can facilitate access to a resource associated with the access data for a second user, but not for a first user. |
| US09686239B2 |
Secure data transmission
To securely transmit data from a communication terminal (TC) to an application server (SA) over a telecommunications network (RT), the communication terminal (TC) being connected to the application server (SA) via an unsecure access network (RAns) and being able to communicate with the application server (SA) via at least one secure access network (RAs), the communication terminal (TC) switches the connection with the application server (SA) from the unsecure access network (RAns) to a secure access network (RAs), when personal data (DonP) is likely to be entered or is entered by the user, transmits the personal data (DonP) to the application server (SA) via the secure access network (RAs), and switches the connection with the application server (SA) from the secure access network (RAs) to an unsecure access network (RAns). |
| US09686237B2 |
Secure communication channel using a blade server
Systems and methods to manage a network include a security blade server configured to perform a security operation on network traffic, and a controller configured to virtualize a plurality of network devices. The controller is further configured to program the network traffic to flow through the security blade server to create a secure network channel. A software defined environment may includes an application program interface (API) used to program the flow of the network traffic. The controller may use the API to virtually and selectively position the security blade server as waypoint for the network traffic. |
| US09686236B2 |
Mobile telephone firewall and compliance enforcement system and methods
Methods, systems, and software for mediating SMS messages, and especially type 0 SMS messages, in a wireless mobile communications device configured to send and receive data using a GSM protocol and including a subscriber identity module (“SIM”) including electronic hardware and computer software executed by the hardware such that the SIM is configured to send, receive, and process messages using a Short Message System (“SMS”) between the wireless mobile communications device and a communications network. One aspect includes a method for mediating SMS messages comprising: configuring electronic hardware on the wireless mobile communications device to implement a firewall on the wireless mobile communications device, the firewall configured to identify and optionally mediate infrastructure SMS messages. |
| US09686235B2 |
Mobile banking system with cryptographic expansion device
A mobile banking system that uses a cryptographic expansion device attached to a communication component of a mobile device and a secure gateway device to enable end-to-end secure communications between the mobile device and a payment processing network is disclosed. The cryptographic expansion device enables the mobile device to perform cryptographic operations on communications sent to and from the mobile device. The secure gateway device prevents unauthorized accesses to the payment processing network. |
| US09686234B1 |
Dynamically changing stream quality of protected content based on a determined change in a platform trust
Embodiments are directed towards dynamically changing a quality of content being played when a robustness or level of trust is determined to have changed for a computing device, or platform, currently playing at least one stream of the content. An initial level of trust is determined for the computing device, and is used to select a quality of content from the at least one stream of content for play. During play, when a change in the level of trust is detected for the computing device, a different quality of the content may be selected, and replaces the currently playing content. |
| US09686224B2 |
Social network reaction reporting device, reporting method, reporting program, and recording medium
A provision device (100) in a provision system providing a user conducting activities through a service with reactions of other users to the user is configured as follows. A presenter (101) presents a current state of the reactions from the other users to the user that have occurred while the user is conducting activities through the service to the user via the service while the user is conducting activities through the service. A notifier (102) gives notice of a summary of the reactions from the other users to the user that have occurred while the user is not conducting activities through the service to the user with no intervention of the service while the user is not conducting activities through the service. Then, as the user conducts a given operation on information contained in the notified summary, the notifier (102) prompts the user to start conducting activities through the service. |
| US09686223B2 |
System and method of creating a network based dynamic response list
A method and apparatus are provided that incorporate the steps of creating a friends list through a social networking site, a security system detecting an event within a secured area of the security system, the security system selecting at least one friend of the friends list based upon a relative geolocation of the at least one friend with respect to the secured area, and the security system sending an alert to the at least one friend notifying the at least one friend of the event. |
| US09686220B2 |
Debug and verify execution modes for computing systems calculating automation degree of implementation metrics
Non-automated read-and-reply console messages may be automated. These messages may be classified into impact groups in which the messages may be removed from the database or sent to an automation analyzer for analysis. As more messages become automated, a debugging mode may be enabled to allow an operator to respond to a message with a proposed action. If the proposed action is aligned with an action predetermined in response to the automation analysis, the operator may be allowed to respond to future actions. |
| US09686219B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for facilitating determination of a message recipient
Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating determination of a message recipient. A method may include determining a message to be sent in one of multiple active messaging conversations. The method may further include determining a conversation to which the message is relevant from among the active messaging conversations based at least in part on data from historical conversations. The method may additionally include designating the message to be sent to at least one recipient. The at least one recipient may be a party participating in the determined conversation. Corresponding apparatuses are also provided. |
| US09686213B2 |
Method and system for account recommendation
Method and device of recommending public social network accounts on a social network platform are disclosed. The method includes: a user device obtaining a user profile of a user account of the social network platform, the user profile including at least identity and online behavior information of a user associated with the user account; selecting one or more information items from the user profile in accordance with a matching algorithm for selecting the recommended public social network accounts; running the matching algorithm to obtain at least one recommended public social network account that matches the selected information items; and recommending the at least one public social network account to the user associated with the user account. |
| US09686209B1 |
Method and apparatus for storing packets in a network device
In a network device, a plurality of first counters for measuring respective fill levels of respective queues are maintained, the queues using respective dedicated areas of a memory and a shared area of a memory. A single second counter for measuring a fill level of a shared area is maintained. When a packet is enqueued, the respective first counter corresponding to the queue is updated, and if any part of the packet is stored in the shared area, the single second counter is updated. When the packet is dequeued, the respective first counter is updated, and if any part of the packet was stored in the shared area, the single second counter is updated. |
| US09686208B2 |
Stateless services in content management clients
Techniques to provide stateless services in a content management client are disclosed. A session manager is instantiated to service a request to access a content item. The session manager is used to obtain from a global session pool that is not specific to the session manager a session to service the request. The session is used to service the request. Once the request has been completed the session manager may be terminated, but the global session pool and associated object cache remain. |
| US09686202B2 |
Network-specific data downloading to a mobile device
A method, system, and/or computer program product downloads a blob of data onto a mobile device. A blob of data that is to be downloaded from a server to a mobile device via a particular network is identified. A first maximum chunk size for the first network for the particular network is identified, as is a timeout value for the mobile device when downloading a chunk of data. An optimal chunk size for chunking the blob of data is determined based on the timeout value of the mobile device and the maximum chunk size for the first network. The blob of data is partitioned into chunks of data based on the first optimal chunk size, and the chunks of data are transmitted from the server to the mobile device. |
| US09686201B2 |
Predictive management of a network buffer
Predictive management of a network buffer is contemplated. The network buffer maybe predictively managed to control packet drop based at least in part on predicted sojourn time. The predicted sojourn time may be determined to predict time needed from an arriving packet to travel through a queue of the network buffer. |
| US09686200B2 |
Flow cache hierarchy
Some embodiments provide a managed forwarding element (MFE that includes a set of flow tables including a first set of flow entries for processing packets received by the MFE. The MFE includes an aggregate cache including a second set of flow entries for processing packets received by the MFE. Each of the flow entries of the second set is for processing packets of multiple data flows. At least a subset of packet header fields of the packets of the multiple data flows have a same set of packet header field values, and a same set of operations is applied to said packets. The MFE includes an exact-match cache including a third set of flow entries for processing packets received by the MFE. Each of the flow entries of the third set is for processing packets for a single data flow having a unique set of packet header field values. |
| US09686198B1 |
Enhancing DOCSIS services through network functions virtualization
This disclosure describes techniques for provisioning a CMTS to re-direct customer traffic into virtualized network functions (NFVs) service chains. This disclosure describes, in one example, techniques for providing linkage between DOCSIS service flows and NFV service chains in the DOCSIS provisioning system by embedding information within cable modem boot files used to configured cable modems within the broadband system. In one example, the techniques facilitate the definition of an NFV service-chain in the DOCSIS cable modem boot file provisioning system. A supported CMTS, CCAP or Edge Router intercepts and interprets the configuration to install packet classifiers that steer specific subscriber flows, as detailed in the DOCSIS cable modem boot file, through the service-chain. |
| US09686191B2 |
Performing read operations in network on a chip architecture
Systems and methods to be used by a processing element from among multiple computing resources of a computing system, where communication between the computing resources is carried out based on network on a chip architecture, to send first data from memory registers of the processing element and second data from memory of the computing system to a destination processing element from among the multiple computing resources, by sending the first data to a memory controller of the memory along with a single appended-read command. |
| US09686190B2 |
Techniques for forwarding or receiving data segments associated with a large data packet
Examples are disclosed for forwarding or receiving data segments associated with a large data packets. In some examples, a large data packet may be segmented into a number of data segments having separate headers that include identifiers to associate the data segments with the large data packet. The data segments with separate headers may then be forwarded from a network node via a communication channel. In other examples, the data segments with separate headers may be received at another network node and then recombined to form the large data packet at the other network node. Other examples are described and claimed. |
| US09686187B2 |
Method and system for providing distributed allowed domains in a data network
Method and system for providing distributed domains in a fiber channel fabric including determining a domain configuration of a resource, retrieving one or more current domain configuration parameters, determining a list of domains in a fiber channel fabric, and generating an updated domain list for the resource in the fabric is disclosed. |
| US09686184B2 |
Gateway device for machine-to-machine communication with dual cellular interfaces
Gateway devices can use dual cellular interfaces to provide reliable communications for client machines. A gateway device can use one of the dual cellular interfaces as a primary interface and the other as a hot backup interface. The backup interface remains connected to a cellular network while communications are routed on the primary interface. Accordingly, the gateway device can rapidly switch communications between from the primary interface to the backup interface. Applications, for example, for ATM payment processing, vending machine telemetry, point of sale payment processing, kiosk internet connectivity, remote monitoring and control, mobile or electronic health, and remote information displays, may run on the gateway devices, on servers, on user devices, or a combination of these devices. |
| US09686183B2 |
Digital object routing based on a service request
A digital object may be routed via a network. Routing of a digital object may be based in part on a requested service, and/or on an ability of an intermediate node to provide the requested service, and/or on a willingness of the intermediate node to provide the requested service. |
| US09686180B2 |
Managing routing information for tunnel endpoints in overlay networks
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for managing routing information in overlay networks. A first tunnel endpoint in an overlay network may receive an encapsulated packet from a second tunnel endpoint. The encapsulated packet may have been encapsulated at the second tunnel endpoint based on another packet originating from a source host that is associated with the second tunnel endpoint. The encapsulated packet can include a source host address for the source host and a source tunnel endpoint address for the second tunnel endpoint. The first tunnel endpoint can then update a lookup table based on an association between the source host address and the source tunnel endpoint address. |
| US09686176B2 |
Constrained and viable path computation systems and methods
Path calculation systems and methods for determining a path, based on constraints and rules, for a connection at one or more layers in a network, include determining a path exploration map of the network based on a multi-layer network model of the network defining external edges and intra-node paths, the path exploration map comprising every external port in the network that is reachable from a source port; and utilizing the path exploration map to determine a viable path, from a destination port to the source port, subject to the constraints and the rules and based on a cost. |
| US09686175B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for testing network devices using simulated application traffic
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for testing network devices using simulated application traffic are disclosed. One method includes steps implemented in a network equipment test device including at least one processor. The method includes emulating data transfer operations of a plurality of server applications. The method further includes receiving application traffic from a plurality of different client applications. The method further includes queuing incoming connections received from the client applications. The method further includes, for each of the connections, attempting to correlate application-level data with one of the emulated server applications. The method further includes, in response to successful correlation of the received application-level data with one of the emulated server applications, performing application-specific processing for the emulated server application. Performing application-specific processing includes sending data from an emulated server application to a client application through a device under test. |
| US09686170B2 |
Measuring delay
Delay in the allocation of resources can be measured for a set of sequential requests for the resources. A start time for the receipt of the first request of the set can be recorded, followed by the incrementing of a request start time counter, with the current time minus the recorded start time, for each subsequently received request. A total time counter can be incremented, with the current time minus recorded start time, for each request allocation, and a request counter can be incremented for each request allocation. When determining that all received requests have been allocated, and decrementing the total time counter by the request start time counter, it is possible to determine an average delay time from the total time counter value divided by the request counter value. |
| US09686165B2 |
Systems and methods for indicating link quality
A method for indicating communication link quality by an electronic device is described. The method includes tracking local link quality information corresponding to a local receive link between the electronic device and a neighboring device. The method also includes receiving a request to indicate a link quality. The method further includes indicating the link quality. |
| US09686162B2 |
Identifying configuration inconsistency in edge-based software defined networks (SDN)
Identifying state inconsistency in edge-based software defined networks is disclosed. A verification server may receive controller network configuration data from a controller of an edge-based software defined network (SDN) and end-host network configuration data from at least one end-host of the SDN. The verification server may parse the controller network configuration data into a network state representation and the end-host network configuration data into the network state representation. The network state representation of the controller network configuration data and the end-host network configuration data may be compared to identify state inconsistency in the SDN. Responsive to identifying the state inconsistency, an alert and/or a report may be generated and transmitted to an administrator user interface. |
| US09686160B2 |
Apparatus and method of displaying status of wireless network
A method for providing a status of a wireless network, including: receiving a wireless signal from an access point and status information of the access point; determining processing capacity information of the access point based on the status information of the access point; and displaying wireless network information with respect to the access point, the wireless network information including the processing capacity information of the access point and signal strength information of the received wireless signal. |
| US09686157B2 |
Real-time adaptive processing of network data packets for analysis
A network monitoring system that summarizes a plurality of data packets of a session into a compact session record for storage and processing. Each session record may be produced in real-time and made available during the session and/or after the termination of the session. Depending on protocols, a network monitoring system extracts different sets of information, removes redundant information from the plurality of data packets, and adds performance information to produce the session record. The network monitoring system may retrieve and process a single session record or multiple session records for the same or different protocols to determine cause of events, resolve issues in a network or evaluate network performance or conditions. The session record enables analysis in the units of session instead of individual packets. Hence, the network monitoring system can analyze events, issues or performance of the network more efficiently and effectively. |
| US09686149B2 |
Information processing system, relay device, and information processing method
An information processing system includes an information processing device, a storage unit, a relay unit, and an update unit. The information processing device is an element of an information processing system. The storage unit stores integral information obtained by integrating information about the information processing device expressed as component information of the information processing system. The relay unit receives communication information including an update command for updating of the component information addressed to the information processing device, and transmits first communication information including the update command addressed to the information processing device and second communication information including the update command. The update unit receives the second communication information, and updates the integral information based on an update command included in the second communication information. |
| US09686148B2 |
Responsibility-based cache peering
A computer-implemented method, operable in a network comprising multiple delivery service endpoints running on a plurality of devices. Each delivery service endpoint delivers resources. A plurality of the multiple delivery service endpoints comprise a group, each node in the group having at least one kind of responsibility relating to delivery of resources. The method includes receiving, at the node, a request relating to a particular resource. The kind of responsibility the node has for the request is determined based on at least one kind responsibility assigned to the node for requests relating to the particular resource. Based on the determining, an attempt is made to process the request in accordance with kind responsibility assigned to the node for requests relating to the particular resource. |
| US09686146B2 |
Reconfiguring interrelationships between components of virtual computing networks
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an approach for reconfiguring interrelationships between components of virtual computing networks (e.g., a grid computing network, a local area network (LAN), a cloud computing network, etc.). In a typical embodiment, a set of information pertaining to a set of components associated with a virtual computing network is received in a computer memory medium or the like. Based on the set of information, a graphical representation (e.g., hierarchical tree) depicting the set of interrelationships between the set of components is generated. When a failure in the virtual computing network is detected, at least one of the set of interrelationships between the set of components is reconfigured based on the graphical representation and the set of rules to address the failure. |
| US09686142B2 |
Node-pair process scope definition and scope selection computation
A connected directed graphical representation of a process model that includes a plurality of process nodes and interconnections between the process nodes of the process model is displayed. A user selection of a subset of the process nodes of the displayed connected directed graphical representation of the process model is received. A process scope definition represented as at least one begin-end node pair is computed. The at least one begin-end node pair is usable to identify all selected nodes and interconnection path links that are reachable in a traversal from a begin node to an end node of each of the at least one begin-end node pair of the received user selection of the subset of the process nodes. The computed process scope definition is stored. |
| US09686139B2 |
Method and networking device for setting network connection parameters
The present disclosure discloses a method for automatically setting network connection parameters in a networking device, comprising: accessing a network; acquiring all network connection manners supported by the network; selecting a network connection manner to be used from the acquired network connection manners; and automatically setting network connection parameters for the selected network connection manner. Accordingly, the efficiency of setting network connection parameters may be improved. |
| US09686138B2 |
Information handling system operational management through near field communication device interaction
Configuration information to configure an information handling system is obtained by sending an identifier for the information handling system to a portable information handling system, such as a mobile telephone, with a first NFC communication. The mobile telephone retrieves the configuration information, such as through a network interface, and sends the configuration information to the information handling system with a second NFC communication. Configuration information includes a variety of information, such as IP and MAC address, BIOS settings, software applications, firmware versions and end user specific settings. |
| US09686128B2 |
Wireless network adapter and self-configuration method of same
Provided are a wireless network adapter and a configuration method of same. A wireless network adapter comprises: a self-configuration portion, used to configure the wireless network adapter as an access point adapter, and generate access information of a wireless network access point; a cable connection portion, connected to a second wireless network adapter, and used to transmit the access information to the second wireless network adapter and receive an acknowledgment message from the second wireless network adapter; and a wireless transceiver, connected to the second wireless network adapter. Another wireless network adapter comprises: a cable connection portion, used to receive access information from an access point adapter; a parameter storage portion, used to store the access information as a setting parameter; a self-configuration portion, used to configure the wireless network adapter as a client mode and generate an acknowledgment message; and a wireless transceiver, connected to a wireless network access point. Configuration of multiple wireless network adapters connected to each other may be implemented without any input parameter and without the need of access a configuration webpage by using a computer. |
| US09686124B2 |
Systems and methods for managing a network of moving things
Communication network architectures, systems and methods for supporting a network of mobile nodes. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide communication network architectures, systems, and methods for supporting a dynamically configurable communication network comprising a complex array of both static and moving communication nodes (e.g., the Internet of moving things). |
| US09686123B2 |
System for media distribution and rendering on spatially extended wireless networks
A system for media distribution and rendering over a spatially extended wireless network, comprising a plurality of media rendering devices configured as nodes in a spatially extended wireless network. The media rendering devices dynamically establish a hierarchical arrangement wherein a first media rendering device acts as a root node of the hierarchical arrangement. The first media rendering device receives media content over a network and distributes the media content to the remaining media rendering devices using the hierarchical arrangement. The media content is rendered synchronously by each of the plurality of media rendering devices. |
| US09686122B2 |
Methods for orientation and tilt identification of photovoltaic systems and solar irradiance sensors
The present invention relates to methods and systems for identifying PV system and solar irradiance sensor orientation and tilt based on energy production, energy received, simulated energy production, estimated energy received, production skew, and energy received skew. The present invention relates to systems and methods for detecting orientation and tilt of a PV system based on energy production and simulated energy production; for detecting the orientation and tilt of a solar irradiance sensor based on solar irradiance observation and simulated solar irradiance observation; for detecting orientation of a PV system based on energy production and energy production skew; and for detecting orientation of a solar irradiance sensor based on solar irradiance observation and solar irradiance observation skew. |
| US09686115B1 |
Method and circuit for detecting TMCC signal
Disclosed are a method and a circuit for detecting a TMCC signal. Using this method and circuit, as long as there is a synchronizing signal of the TMCC signal found in the ISDB-T signal received by the receiving device, the TMCC information can be collected from then on. Thereby, the delay time generated each time when the receiving device switches channels can be effectively decreased. |
| US09686112B2 |
System and method for controlling combined radio signals
A method for controlling a combined waveform, representing a combination of at least two signals having orthogonal frequency multiplexed signal components, comprising: receiving information defining the at least two signals; transforming the information defining each signal to a representation having orthogonal frequency multiplexed signal components, such that at least one signal has at least two alternate representations of the same information, and combining the transformed information using the at least two alternate representations, in at least two different ways, to define respectively different combinations; analyzing the respectively different combinations with respect to at least one criterion; and outputting a respective combined waveform or information defining the waveform, representing a selected combination of the transformed information from each of the at least two signals selected based on the analysis. |
| US09686111B2 |
Apparatus and method for sending and receiving broadcast signals
Disclosed herein is a broadcast signal transmitter. A broadcast signal transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an input formatting module configured to perform baseband formatting and to output the data of at least one Physical Layer Pipe (PLP), a BICM module configured to perform error-correction processing on the PLP data, a framing and interleaving module configured to interleave the PLP data and to generate a signal frame, and a waveform generation module configured to insert a preamble into the signal frame and to generate a broadcast signal by performing OFDM modulation. |
| US09686110B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting uplink signal in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and, more specifically, to a method and an apparatus for transmitting an uplink signal. The method for transmitting an uplink signal from a terminal in a wireless communication system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: receiving configuration information about candidates in a parameter set for a reference signal for physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) modulation; receiving information indicating a specific set among the candidates in the parameter set; and generating a sequence of the reference signal using the specific set and transmitting the generated reference signal to a base station, wherein the information indicating the specific set may have a maximum value of the minimum distance between a circular shift index of the reference signal generated by a terminal using the specific set and a circular shift index of a reference signal generated by another terminal using the specific set. |
| US09686109B2 |
Wireless communication device, integrated circuitry, and wireless communication method
A wireless communication device has an analog control loop circuitry that generates an analog control signal to adjust a phase of a voltage controlled oscillation signal, in accordance with a phase of a reception signal, a digital control loop circuitry that generates a digital control signal having a frequency determined by a frequency of a reference signal and a predetermined frequency setting code signal and having a phase opposite to a phase of the analog control signal, a voltage controlled oscillator that generates the voltage controlled oscillation signal, on the basis of the analog control signal and the digital control signal, and a data slicer that generates a digital signal obtained by digital demodulation of the reception signal, on the basis of a comparison result of the digital control signal and a predetermined threshold value. |
| US09686104B2 |
Reception of inter-symbol-correlated signals using symbol-by-symbol soft-output demodulator
A receiver comprises a sequence estimation circuit and a soft-input-soft-output (SISO) decoder. The sequence estimation circuit comprises circuitry operable to generate first soft bit decisions for symbols of a received inter-symbol-correlated signal. The SISO decoder comprises circuitry operable to decode the first soft bit decisions to generate corrected soft bit decisions. The circuitry of the sequence estimation circuit is operable to generate, based on the corrected soft bit decisions, second soft bit decisions for the symbols of the received inter-symbol-correlated signal, which are improved/refined relative to the first soft bit decisions. |
| US09686102B2 |
Sparse ordered iterative group multi-antenna channel estimation
Data can be received characterizing a first signal transmitted in an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system by a transmitter with one or more transmit antennas through a wireless channel and received by a receiver with a plurality of receive antennas, the first signal including a plurality of pilot pulses. A final estimated channel impulse response of the wireless channel can be determined for each pair of transmitter and receiver antennas by iteratively finding one or more significant delay taps of an intermediate channel impulse response estimate and adding the one or more significant delay taps to an error of the intermediate channel impulse response estimate. Data characterizing the final estimated channel impulse response can be provided. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described. |
| US09686099B2 |
Updating virtual network maps
A switch determines a path, not included in a first set of virtual networks associated with the switch. It is determined if the path can be added to an existing virtual network in the first set of virtual networks. If the path cannot be added, a new virtual network is created to include the path. |
| US09686097B2 |
Machine, program product, and computer-implemented methods for a hybrid command management aggregator
A machine, program product, and method for enabling interoperable and low-latency networking among service devices. The machine, program product and methods perform the tasks of automatically matching, upon the receipt of the incoming data transmission, the data transmission to a plurality of analog device protocols to determine the necessary instructions and transmission media to command and control the plurality of analog service devices according to the data transmission or a plurality of digital device protocols to determine the necessary instructions and transmission media to command and control the plurality of digital service devices according to the data transmission, determining an outgoing transmission media for the incoming data transmission, constructing outgoing data transmissions between any of the analog service devices and any of the digital service devices responsive to the matching of the analog and digital device protocols and the identification of the outgoing transmission media, and dynamically allocating frequency spectrum for data transmissions between any of the analog service devices and any of the digital service devices, the dynamic allocation being responsive to any of a service type, service demand, and quality of service threshold for the outgoing transmission media and digital and analog device protocols. |
| US09686095B2 |
Network analysis device, management system, network analysis method and program
An electronic message information collector collects packets transferred on a building management system network and analysis results as first electronic message information. A storage stores the first electronic message information collected by the electronic message information collector. An electronic message information collector collects packets transferred on an equipment network and analysis results as second electronic message information. A storage stores the second electronic message information collected by the electronic message information collector. An electronic message associator associates the first electronic message information stored in the storage and the second electronic message information stored in the storage. A display displays the analysis results of the association by the electronic message associator. |
| US09686093B2 |
Method for determining an optimal schedule of an appliance
A method of defining a message to be sent to at least one appliance regarding a schedule for performing a cycle of operation includes a step of acquiring pricing data from a source of information about a resource consumed by the appliance. A projected rate for the use of the resource by the appliance for a future series of time periods is calculated based upon a user preference. A projected schedule for performing the cycle of operation for a future series of time periods is created and then incorporated into the message that is transmitted to the appliance. |
| US09686092B2 |
Remote talk down to panel, camera and speaker
Methods and systems are described for storing video content collected by a home automation system. According to at least one embodiment, an apparatus for accessing video content collected by a home automation system includes a processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory which are executable by a processor to receive at a remote device live video content from a camera of the home automation system, and initiate real-time, two-way audio communication between the remote device and a user of the home automation system via the camera. |
| US09686091B2 |
Network address management and functional object discovery system
A network communication system includes a network address management and functional object discovery system. The network address management and functional object discovery system includes a network manager that manages network addresses for functional objects of electronic devices that communicate with each other over a network. The network manager may maintain a database that maps or associates unique IDs of the functional objects with associated network addresses. The network manager may provide non-conflicting instance IDs and network addresses to the electronic devices. The network manager may also provide instance IDs and/or network addresses for other electronic devices so that the electronic devices may communicate with each other over the network. |
| US09686090B2 |
Communication control method, base station, and user terminal
A communication control method is employed in a mobile communication system including a general cell supporting PTM transmission of MBMS data and a specific cell not supporting PTM transmission of the MBMS data. The method comprises: a step A of broadcasting general cell load information from the general cell; a step B of receiving the general cell load information broadcasted in the step A, by a user terminal which receives the MBMS data from the general cell in an idle mode with the general cell selected as a cell on which to camp; and a step C of controlling cell reselection from the general cell to the specific cell by the user terminal, based on the general cell load information received in the step B. |
| US09686083B2 |
Certificates for low-power or low-memory devices
Methods and systems for generating or validating compact certificates include receiving a first format of the certificate. Moreover, obtain a signature for the certificate in the first format. For each field of the certificate decode the field to obtain a value for the field from the first format and encoding the value for the field into a second format. Decoding and encoding for each field is done incrementally in the same order of the fields as the first format. In other words, a next field is not decoded from the first format until the field is encoded in the second format. Furthermore, a security envelope is encoded using the signature in the first format and the fields. |
| US09686082B2 |
Generating and processing an authentication certificate
A method and system for generating and processing an authenticity certificate. A request for a step certificate is received from a requester entity. The step certificate authenticates an involvement of the requester entity about an object. The request includes an object identifier, a requester entity type of the requester entity, and a requester identity certificate of the requester entity. The object identifier is hashed. A signature is created and includes the hashed object identifier, the requester entity type, a certifier identity certificate, and the requester identity certificate. A hashing result is generated by hashing a concatenation of the object identifier, the requester entity type, the certifier entity certificate, the requester identity certificate, and the signature. The step certificate is generated and includes the hashing result. The step certificate is encrypted. The encrypted step certificate is sent to the requester entity for subsequently storing the step certificate on a media. |
| US09686075B2 |
Key sharing network device and configuration thereof
A method of configuring a network device for key sharing, the method comprising obtaining (410) in electronic form at least two parameter sets, a parameter set comprising a private modulus (p1) a public modulus (N), and a bivariate polynomial (f1) having integer coefficients, the binary representation of the public modulus and the binary representation of the private modulus are the same in at least key length (b) consecutive bits, generating local key material for the network device comprising obtaining (420) in electronic form an identity number (A) for the network device, and for each parameter set of the at least two parameter sets obtaining a corresponding univariate polynomial, by determining, using a polynomial manipulation device, a univariate polynomial from the bivariate polynomial of the parameter set by substituting (430) the identity number into said bivariate polynomial, and reducing the result of the substitution modulo the private modulus of the parameter set, and electronically storing (450) at the network device the generated local key material, the generated local key material comprising the public modulus of each parameter set and the corresponding univariate polynomial of each parameter set. |
| US09686073B2 |
Secure and delegated distribution of private keys via domain name service
A third party system generates a public-private key pair, the public key of the key pair being an encryption key, and the private key of the key pair being a decryption key. The third party system publishes the encryption key as a DNS record of a third party system. The third party system receives a request to sign a message on behalf of a domain owner, the message to be sent to a recipient, and accesses an encrypted delegated private key published by the domain owner via a DNS record of the domain owner, the encrypted delegated private key encrypted using the encryption key. The third party system decrypts the encrypted delegated private key using the decryption key, and generates a signature for the message using the delegated private key. The third party system sends the signature and the message to the recipient. |
| US09686072B2 |
Storing a key in a remote security module
A system obtains assurance by a content provider that a content control key is securely stored in a remote security module for further secure communications between the content provider and the security module. A security module manufacturer, which has a pre-established trustful relation with the security module, imports a symmetric transport key into the security module. The symmetric transport key is unique to the security module. The content provider shares the symmetric transport key with the security module manufacturer. The content provider exchanging messages with the security module through a security module communication manager in order to get the proof that the security module stores the content control key. At least a portion of the messages exchanged between the content provider and the security module are protected using the symmetric transport key. The symmetric transport key is independent of said content control key. |
| US09686070B2 |
Dynamic polarization modulation and control
A method for sending a data from an electromagnetic radiator by polarization modulation of an electromagnetic wave includes radiating from the radiator first and second electromagnetic waves including first and second polarizations respectively, the first polarization being different than the second polarization. The first and second electromagnetic waves form a third electromagnetic wave having a third polarization different from the first or second polarization. The method includes modulating the third polarization responsive to the data by modulating one or more parts of the third electromagnetic wave. The data is sent in the third polarization. A system for sending a data includes an oscillator adapted to generate an oscillating signal, and a phase shifter coupled to the oscillator and adapted to generate a first phase-shifted oscillating signal having a first phase. The phase shifter is adapted to vary the phase difference across a predefined range in response to the data. |
| US09686064B2 |
Devices and methods for HARQ-ACK feedback scheme on PUSCH in wireless communication systems
Devices and methods of reducing overall Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request-Acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) of user equipment (UE) using a large amount of carrier aggregation are generally described. The UE may receive a subframe from an enhanced NodeB (eNB). The subframe may contain a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) formed in accordance with a Downlink Control information (DCI) format. The DCI format may comprise a Downlink Assignment Index (DAI) for Time Division Duplexed (TDD) and Frequency Division Duplexed (FDD) operation. The UE may determine, dependent on the DAI, a number and ordering of Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request-Acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) bits to be transmitted on a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) and subsequently transmit the HARQ-ACK bits. |
| US09686062B2 |
Virtual aggregation of fragmented wireless spectrum
Method and apparatus for aggregating spectrum in which multiple disjoint blocks of spectrum may be configured as one virtual contiguous block of spectrum by modulating onto each disjoint blocks of spectrum a respective portion of a data stream in which the data rate associated with the modulated portion is compatible with the available bandwidth of the disjoint spectrum block upon which is modulated. |
| US09686058B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling inter-cell interference in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting reduced power-almost blank subframe (r-ABS) setting information from a first cell to a second cell, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a step of the first cell transmitting to the second cell r-ABS pattern information for indicating the r-ABS which is setup by the first cell, and r-ABS power indication information for indicating transmission power of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) of the first cell from the r-ABS, wherein the PDSCH transmission power of the first cell can be set to a transmission power which is low compared to a common subframe. |
| US09686053B2 |
Frequency-domain high-speed bus signal integrity compliance model
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for testing channel compliance. The method generally includes identifying at least one design criteria and determining boundary sets of frequency domain parameters for compliant signal channels known to achieve the design criteria. The boundary sets may be used for verifying whether a particular signal channel is compliant by comparing values of frequency domain parameters for the particular channel to one or more of the boundary sets of frequency domain parameters for the known compliant channels. |
| US09686052B2 |
Communication-line-quality estimating apparatus, transmitter, and receiver
A communication-line-quality estimating apparatus of which a receiver receives from a transmitter a signal including known signals whose phase relation is known between the transmitter and the receiver. The communication-line-quality estimating apparatus includes a pilot adding unit that cumulatively adds up and averages a power value of a noise component calculated by addition or subtraction in a specified combination of the known signals, a first power calculating unit, a first averaging processing unit, a second power calculating unit that cumulatively adds up and averages a power value of the known signals, a second averaging processing unit, and a power-ratio calculating unit that estimates communication line quality using a noise signal power value input from the first averaging processing unit and a reception signal power value input from the second averaging processing unit. |
| US09686049B2 |
Method and system for Bluetooth (BT) delayed acknowledgement (ACK)
A method and system for Bluetooth (BT) delayed acknowledgment is presented. Aspects of the system may include an initiator device, such as a WLAN access point (AP), which enables transmission of a protocol data unit, such as a BlockAckReq frame, to a responder device, such as a Smartphone, via a first network, for example a WLAN. The Smartphone may be equipped with capabilities that enable communication via WLAN and Bluetooth networks. The AP may wait to receive a response protocol data unit, such as a BlockAck frame, via the first network (WLAN) for a response time duration. The response time duration may be based on the communication slot time duration for communication by the Smartphone on a second network, for example a BT piconet. The communication slot time duration may correspond to the time duration for a BT slot. |
| US09686048B2 |
Delayed automatic repeat request (ARQ) acknowledgment
Disclosed are examples in which the acknowledgement channel is used for retransmitting a frame received with error. A receiver is configured to transmit an acknowledgment for a frame when the frame is decoded following receipt of the last Pilot Control Group (PCG) of the same frame. The transmitter is configured to receive the acknowledgment of an earlier frame during a subsequent frame, and not to retransmit the earlier frame. The two frames may be adjacent. During connection setup negotiation, the system can determine the values of ack_mask1 defining allowed times for the receiver to acknowledge successful decoding of the subsequent frame, and ack_mask2 defining allowed times for the receiver to acknowledge successful decoding of the earlier frame. The two mask values provide non-overlapping allowed times, so the receiver can acknowledge within the subsequent frame (1) successful decoding of the earlier frame, and (2) successful decoding of the subsequent frame. |
| US09686042B2 |
Method and apparatus of transmitting pilot signal for frequency shared broadcasting
Disclosed is a method of transmitting, by a transmission device, broadcast signals in a frequency-shared terrestrial broadcast system. The method includes generating the broadcast signals including pilot signals arranged at a physical layer frame based on a group identification (ID) defined according to a broadcast service, and transmitting the generated broadcast signals to a reception device, wherein the positions of the pilot signals arranged at the physical layer frame are different by group IDs. |
| US09686041B2 |
End of communication detection
An apparatus for detecting the end of a communication is disclosed. The apparatus includes an interface circuit for receiving an encoded signal and a carrier signal recovery circuit coupled to an output of the interface circuit. The carrier signal recovery circuit is configured to output a carrier signal of the encoded signal and a second signal that is out of phase with the carrier signal. The apparatus also includes a decoding circuit configured to decode the encoded signal as a function of both the encoded signal and the carrier signal output by the carrier signal recovery circuit. The apparatus also includes a detection circuit configured to detect an indication of an end of a communication in the encoded signal as a function of both the encoded signal and the second signal. |
| US09686038B2 |
PHY-level wireless security
A method for communication includes generating a data transmission for transmission to a target receiver, and generating at least one jamming transmission having an amplitude that changes multiple times during the data transmission. The data transmission is transmitted to the target receiver using an antenna array, and the at least one jamming transmission is simultaneously transmitted using the antenna array. |
| US09686035B2 |
Spectrum management and timing optimization over multiple distribution points
Presented are systems and methods for spectrum management and timing optimization of communication networks have multiple distribution points, multiple remote transceivers, and a shared communication binder. In some embodiments, distribution points and communication lines are added to an active network by the allocation of unused time slots. In some embodiments, transmission collisions, near-end cross-talk, and far-end cross-talk, are predicted upon the addition of added distribution points and communication lines, and techniques are applied to reduce or cancel such phenomena. |
| US09686031B2 |
Methods and apparatus to detect a state of media presentation devices
Methods and apparatus to detect a state of media presentation devices are disclosed. An example state detector includes a detector to identify an operational frequency of a media presentation device to be monitored by the state detector; a frequency selector to, when the operational frequency is greater than a threshold associated with a sampling rate of a component of the state detector, select a first frequency for an oscillator signal, the frequency selector to select the first frequency based on the identified operational frequency; and a status identifier to, when the operational frequency is greater than the threshold, determine a state of the media presentation device based on whether a signal representative of a combination of the oscillator signal and an input received from an audio sensor includes an element greater than a reference value, wherein at least one of the detector, the frequency selector, or the status identifier is implemented via a logic circuit. |
| US09686024B2 |
True radio frequency (RF) power detector
A power detector is described herein that detects a true power provided by power amplifier of an RF transmitter. The power detector may include a plurality of voltage detectors that determine one or more voltages of a power amplifier included in the RF transmitter and/or a transformer included in the RF transmitter. At least one of the voltage detectors may be coupled to a sense inductor that senses one or more magnetic fields emitted by the transformer. The at least one voltage detector coupled to the sense inductor determines the voltage induced across the sense inductor as a result of the sensed magnetic field(s). The determined voltage(s) may be used to determine the load impedance of an antenna of the RF transmitter that transmits the RF signals. The load impedance may be used to accurately measure the power regardless of any impedance mismatches between the power amplifier and the antenna. |
| US09686023B2 |
Methods and systems of dynamically generating and using device-specific and device-state-specific classifier models for the efficient classification of mobile device behaviors
The various aspects provide a mobile device and methods implemented on the mobile device for modifying behavior models to account for device-specific or device-state-specific features. In the various aspects, a behavior analyzer module may leverage a full feature set of behavior models (i.e. a large classifier model) received from a network server to create lean classifier models for use in monitoring for malicious behavior on the mobile device, and the behavior analyzer module may dynamically modify these lean classifier models to include features specific to the mobile device and/or the mobile device's current configuration. Thus, the various aspects may enhance overall security for a particular mobile device by taking the mobile device and its current configuration into account and may improve overall performance by monitoring only features that are relevant to the mobile device. |
| US09686020B2 |
Signal processing device and signal processing method
A signal processing device that processes a digital signal formed by sampling an electric signal using a clock signal, the electric signal being obtained by converting an optical signal inputted from a transmission line, the signal processing device includes: a first chromatic dispersion compensator that compensates a waveform distortion caused by a chromatic dispersion with respect to the digital signal; a first nonlinear optical effect compensator that compensates a waveform distortion caused by a nonlinear optical effect with respect to one signal outputted from the first chromatic dispersion compensator; and a controller that detects a phase fluctuation of other signal outputted from the first chromatic dispersion compensator, and controls the clock signal based on the detected phase fluctuation. |
| US09686017B2 |
Bias control circuit for optical modulator, and optical transmitter comprising the same
A bias control circuit for an optical modulator including a pair of optical waveguides and a power monitor is disclosed. The bias control circuit includes a bias generator, a differential amplifier, and a controller. The bias generator provides a bias signal to one of the optical waveguides. The bias signal includes a dither signal having a predetermined frequency. The differential amplifier receives a monitor signal from the power monitor and a reference signal, and generates an amplified signal corresponding to a difference between the monitor signal and the reference signal. The controller detects frequency components contained in the amplified signal. The frequency components originates from the dither signal. The controller generates a control signal according to intensity of the frequency components. The bias signal is adjusted according to the control signal provided from the controller. |
| US09686015B2 |
Integrated optical network unit
An optical network unit includes a transmit/receive port and a silicon waveguide optically coupled to the transmit/receive port. The optical network unit also includes a tunable filter coupled to the silicon waveguide and providing a first output for a first frequency band and a second output for a second frequency band. The optical network unit further includes a polarization diverse receiver coupled to the tunable filter and a laser coupled to the tunable filter. |
| US09686014B2 |
Optical and RF techniques for aggregation of photo diode arrays
An active receiver structure that combines a large number of detectors without bandwidth penalty may provide a better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than conventional Radio Frequency over Glass (RFoG) networks. A transmission line receiver is used to combine a large number of optical detectors into a single radio frequency (RF) signal without a bandwidth penalty and a modest penalty in noise performance that results in an SNR that is much better than traditional optical combining techniques that are followed by a single detector. An optical multiplexer structure may be designed around the active splitter such that passive optical network (PON) operation is not impeded. |
| US09686006B2 |
Wireless communication system, base station, and wireless communication system control method
A wireless communication system includes a first communication station that connects with a higher-order station or a lower-order station in a communication path of multi-hop wireless communication and that carries out wireless communication with a mobile terminal in access areas in predetermined wireless resources that differ from relay areas for wireless communication with the higher-order station or the lower-order station in the wireless resources, and a second communication station that constitutes a communication path that differs from the communication path of the multi-hop wireless communication, that uses the wireless resources to carry out wireless communication with a mobile terminal, and that acquires information indicating the relay areas in the wireless resources. |
| US09686004B2 |
Adaptive methods for optimizing sounding and channel feedback overhead in SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO beam forming
Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus, and method for optimizing sounding and feedback overhead in a wireless digital network utilizing a beamforming technique by adaptively changing the frequency of sounding transmissions. The exemplary method comprises: transmitting a first plurality of sounding frames based on a first sounding interval, wherein the first sounding interval is a first period of time between transmissions of two sounding frames in the first plurality of sounding frames; receiving a plurality of feedback frames comprising information associated with the first plurality of sounding frames; based on the plurality of feedback frames: selecting a second sounding interval, different than the first sounding interval, for transmitting a second plurality of sounding frames; and transmitting the second plurality of sounding frames based on the second sounding interval, wherein the second sounding interval is a second period of time between transmissions of two sounding frames in the second plurality of sounding frames. |
| US09685998B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling orientation
An orientation control apparatus and a method thereof are provided. The orientation control apparatus for controlling orientation of a phased array antenna includes the phased array antenna and an orientation controller. In the phased array antenna, a plurality of antenna elements are disposed on a plane. The phased array antenna receives a signal transmitted from at least one transmitter. The orientation controller controls orientation of the phased array antenna based on a channel estimated result of each sub array where the plurality of antenna elements have been grouped in the phased array antenna. |
| US09685994B2 |
Antenna for wireless power transmission and near field communication
A dual antenna for wireless communication transmission (WPT) and near field communication (NFC) includes a loop antenna, and a dual loop antenna disposed at an inside and an outside of the loop antenna. |
| US09685987B2 |
Case for a hand held device
A housing assembly for a mobile device includes a cover formed from optically transmissive material, and opaque material formed over a portion of the cover. The opaque material is arranged to define a display portion which is optically transmissive. The housing assembly further includes a frame sized to receive the cover, and a first housing structured to couple with the frame, such that the cover, the frame, and the first housing are structured to define an enclosure sized to contain electrical components for the mobile device. |
| US09685981B2 |
Radio frequency system hybrid power amplifier systems and methods
Systems and method for improving operation of a radio frequency system are provided. One embodiment provides a radio frequency system that includes a first amplifier unit with a first logic gate, which receives an input analog electrical signal and a first bit of an amplifier control signal that enables or disables the first amplifier unit, and a first switching power amplifier that generates a first output analog electrical signal when enabled. The radio frequency system further includes a second amplifier unit with a second logic gate, which receives the input analog electrical signal and a second bit of the amplifier control signal that enables or disables the second amplifier unit, and a second switching power amplifier that generates a second output analog electrical signal when enabled. The first amplifier unit and the second amplifier unit are electrically coupled to enable the first output analog electrical signal and the second output analog electrical signal to be combined. |
| US09685980B2 |
Transmitting apparatus and interleaving method thereof
The transmitting apparatus includes: an encoder configured to generate a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) codeword by LDPC encoding based on a parity check matrix; an interleaver configured to interleave the LDPC codeword; and a modulator configured to map the interleaved LDPC codeword onto a plurality of modulation symbols, wherein the modulator is configured to map bits included in a predetermined bit group from among a plurality of bit groups constituting the LDPC codeword onto a predetermined bit of each of the modulation symbols. |
| US09685974B1 |
Switched capacitor circuit
A switched capacitor circuit includes a first sampling circuit having a first sampling capacitance element. The first sampling circuit receives an input voltage and outputs a sampled voltage according to a first sampling operation. A quantizer quantizes the sampled voltage output from the first sampling circuit and outputs a quantized value corresponding to the sampled voltage. A digital-to-analog converter outputs an analog signal in accordance with the quantized value from the quantizer. A first logic circuit outputs an instruction to start a sampling operation of a second sampling circuit, which is configured to sample the analog signal output from the digital-to-analog converter, when the quantizer completes quantization of the sampled voltage. |
| US09685973B2 |
Successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converting circuit and method thereof
A successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converting method includes executing a sampling operation and a comparing operation according to a conversion clock by using an SAR analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert an analog input signal into a digital output signal, and resetting a sampling and digital-to-analog converting circuit of the SAR ADC when a SAR procedure of the comparing operation is completed. |
| US09685968B2 |
A/D converter circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit
An analog-to-digital converter circuit having a simple design and capable of preventing an increase in surface area and other problems. An analog-to-digital converter circuit for converting an analog input signal to a digital quantity includes an analog-to-digital converter unit that converts analog input signals to pre-correction digital values, and a corrector unit that digitally corrects the pre-connection digital values output from the analog-to-digital converter unit. The corrector unit includes a weighting coefficient multiplier unit that outputs a post-correction digital value obtained by multiplying the weighting coefficients provided for each bit by each bit of the pre-correction digital value output from the A/D converter unit and summing them, and a weighting coefficient search unit that searches for weighting coefficients so as to minimize an error signal generated based on the post-correction digital value and an approximate value for the post-correction digital value. |
| US09685966B2 |
Fractional dividing module and related calibration method
A fractional dividing module includes an output clock generating circuit, for receiving an input clock signal and generating an output clock signal according to a first control signal, comprising a first delay unit, for delaying the input clock signal to generate a delayed input clock signal; and a selecting unit, for selecting one of the input clock signal and the delayed input clock signal to generate the output clock signal according to the first control signal; and a control circuit, for dividing the output clock signal to generate the first control signal according to a dividing control signal, wherein the dividing control is adjusted to control a frequency ratio between the output clock signal and the input clock signal. |
| US09685965B2 |
Electronic circuit for controlling an oscillator, and related method
An electronic circuit is described including an oscillator generating an oscillating signal having a cycle responsive to an input signal, a voltage detector producing a detection signal responsive to a power supply voltage, a frequency divider generating a frequency-divided signal obtained by dividing a frequency of the oscillating signal by a frequency-division ratio responsive to the detection signal, and an adder obtaining a sum of a first signal and a second signal and to supply a signal responsive to the sum to the oscillator as the input signal. The first signal is responsive to a difference in phase between the frequency-divided signal and a reference signal, and the second signal is responsive to the detection signal. A related method is also described. |
| US09685960B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a bit stream signal having a reduced output swing
An automotive radar apparatus includes a bit stream modulation circuit configured to generate a bit stream signal at an output thereof and a driver circuit having an input coupled to the output of said bit stream modulation circuit and configured to generate a corresponding driver bit stream signal having a reduced output swing at the driver circuit output. Also included is a filter circuit having an input coupled to the output of said driver circuit and configured to generate a filtered bit stream signal at the filter circuit output. Additionally included is a VCO having an input coupled to the output of said filter circuit and configured to generate an RF output signal at the VCO output. A corresponding method is also provided. |
| US09685959B2 |
Method for speeding up boolean satisfiability
A method for transforming a tautology check of an original logic circuit into a contradiction check of the original logic circuit and vice versa comprises interpreting the original logic circuit in terms of AND, OR, MAJ, MIN, XOR, XNOR, INV original logic operators; transforming the original circuit obtained from the interpreting, into a dual logic circuit enabled for a checking of contradiction in place of tautology and vice versa, by providing a set of switching rules configured to switch each respective one of the original logic operators INV, AND, OR, MAJ, XOR, XNOR, MIN into a respective switched logic operator INV, OR, AND, MAJ, XNOR, XOR, MIN; and complementing outputs of the original circuit by adding an INV at each output wire. The method further provides testing in parallel the satisfiability of the original logic circuit, and the satisfiability of the dual logic circuit with inverted outputs. Responsive to one of the parallel tests finishing, the other parallel test is caused to also stop. |
| US09685954B2 |
Pure memristive logic gate
According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided a device and method. The device may include a pure memristive logic gate, wherein the pure memristive logic gate consists essentially of at least one input memristive device and an output memristive device that is coupled to and differs from the at least one memristive device; wherein the pure memristive device is controlled by a single control voltage. |
| US09685950B2 |
Energy-saving electronic touch switch
The present invention discloses an energy-saving electronic touch switch, comprising a touch sensing module, a power supply module and a switch driving module, wherein the touch sensing module is used for receiving a touch sensing signal inputted by a capacitive touch switch, and controlling the action of the switch driving module according to the touch sensing signal, so as to switch on a power supply circuit for the load; and the power supply module feeds power to the touch sensing module. The touch switch can drive various loads and has a wider range of possible loads including inductive, capacitive or purely resistive loads and high-frequency switch power supply loads, such as energy-saving lights, AC (Alternating Current) motors, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) new light sources, common fluorescent lamps, and the like. The energy-saving electronic touch switch overcomes the disadvantages of small load range and weak load capacity of conventional switches. The energy-saving electronic touch switch employs chips with low power consumption such as LDO (Low Dropout Regulator) voltage regulator chips, touch chips, and the like, which can reduce the overall power consumption, wherein the overall power consumption is less than 2.2 mW and the single static overall power consumption is less than 10 mW (measured under an indicator lamp). The energy-saving electronic touch switch simplifies circuits and improves the power supply utilization rate. |
| US09685949B2 |
ESD protection circuit and RF switch
An ESD protection circuit is connected in parallel to a MIM capacitor between a first terminal and a second terminal. First Schottky diodes are connected in series to each other and have anodes connected on the first terminal side and cathodes connected on the second terminal side. Second Schottky diodes are connected in series to each other and connected in anti-parallel to the first Schottky diodes. When an RF signal is inputted to neither the first terminal nor the second terminal, the first terminal has a higher DC voltage than that of the second terminal. The number of the first Schottky diodes is greater than the number of the second Schottky diodes. The number of the second Schottky diodes is set such that an amplitude of the RF signal does not attenuate to predetermined amplitude of the RF signal when the RF signal passes through the MIM capacitor. |
| US09685945B2 |
Electric circuit
An electric circuit includes: a plurality of switching elements connected in parallel to each other, the plurality of switching elements including a first switching element and a second switching element; a control voltage application element applying a control voltage to a connection point at which respective gates of the plurality of switching elements are connected to each other; a connection point grounding element grounding the connection point; and a control circuit configured to put the first switching element into an ON state and maintain the second switching element in an OFF state during a stand-by period, and put the second switching element into an ON state after an elapse of the stand-by period. |
| US09685944B1 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and high frequency antenna switch
An integrated circuit includes a drive circuit with a first inverter circuit with a first transistor of a first conductivity type and a second transistor of a second conductivity type. The drains of the first and second transistors are connected. An output circuit is provided having a third transistor of the second conductivity with a gate connected to the drains of the first and second transistors. A capacitor is connected between the gate and a drain of the third transistor and has a capacitance greater than 0.5 pF and less than or equal to 3.0 pF. A gate width of the first transistor when divided by a gate width of the third transistor has a value of less than 1/100. The output circuit is configured to output a transmission signal from the drain of the third transistor. |
| US09685942B2 |
Circuit arrangement for the protection of at least one component of a two wire electrical current loop
A circuit arrangement for the protection of at least one component of a two wire electrical current loop, which is connected in series with a burden to an AC/DC electrical current source. The two wire electrical current loop has a rectifier a clock signal producer and a switch. The rectifier forms a DC circuit, wherein the component is connected in the DC circuit and wherein the clock signal producer outputs a clock signal to the switch for clocking the DC circuit. The circuit arrangement has a diode, wherein the conduction direction of the diode points from the anode of the diode to the cathode of the diode. The cathode of the diode is connected to the DC circuit, and the anode of the diode is supplied with a periodic or constant voltage from a first voltage source, and the voltage is at least periodically greater than a predetermined threshold value. |
| US09685940B2 |
Voltage comparator
Systems and methods for powering up circuits are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for power up comprises comparing a voltage of a first supply rail with a voltage of a second supply rail, and determining whether the voltage of the first supply rail is within a predetermined amount of the voltage of the second supply rail for at least a predetermined period of time based on the comparison. The method also comprises initiating switching of a plurality of switches coupled between the first and second supply rails upon a determination that the voltage of the first supply rail is within the predetermined amount of the voltage of the second supply rail for at least the predetermined period of time. |
| US09685935B2 |
Tunable transmon circuit assembly
Systems and methods are provided for a tunable transmon qubit. The qubit includes a first Josephson junction on a first path between a transmission line and a circuit ground and second and third Josephson junctions arranged in parallel with one another on a second path between the transmission line and the circuit ground to form a direct current superconducting quantum interference device (DC SQUID). The DC SQUID is in parallel with the first Josephson junction. A capacitor is arranged in parallel with the first Josephson junction and the DC SQUID on a third path between the transmission line and the circuit ground as to form, in combination with the first path, an outer loop of the tunable transmon qubit. A bias circuit is configured to provide a constant bias flux to one of the DC SQUID and the outer loop of the tunable transmon qubit. |
| US09685934B2 |
Multi-bit flip-flop with soft error suppression
A multi-bit flip-flop includes at least two storage stages. Each of the storage stages includes redundant latches to suppress state corruptions resulting from soft error upset at the storage stage. In addition, the multi-bit flip-flop includes a split clock path that routes different shared clock signals that control the timing of the latches. The shared split clock path reduces or eliminates the impact of soft errors on the clock signals, thereby further limiting the impact of such errors on data stored at the flip-flop. In particular, the split clock path can be distributed over disparate cells in a layout of multi-bit flip-flop, thereby reducing the likelihood that a transient charge will cause a soft error in all paths of the split clock path. |
| US09685933B2 |
Notch filter for ripple reduction
A notch filter is controlled synchronously with a chopper to filter out chopping ripple. In one embodiment, the notch filter is coupled to the differential output of the chopper and includes a sampling capacitor, a hold capacitor, and a second set of switches between the sampling capacitor and the hold capacitor. The second set of switches is temporarily closed once per chopper switching cycle to transfer charge from the sampling capacitor to the hold capacitor such that the ripple from the chopper is not transferred to the hold capacitor. The voltage across the hold capacitor may be coupled to any other circuit, such as to the differential inputs of an amplifier. |
| US09685932B2 |
Apparatus and methods for enhancing bandwidth in trench isolated integrated circuits
Provided herein are apparatus and methods for enhancing bandwidth in trench isolated integrated circuits. In certain configurations, an auxiliary trench forming floating regions between moat isolation regions can isolate parasitic sidewall capacitances of active device regions from ground or AC ground. In this manner the active device regions are merged by the auxiliary trench so as to improve circuit bandwidth and enhance circuit performance. When arranged or combined within a circuit branch, transistors within each floating moat can operate with relatively small parasitic displacement current and can have improved performance. |
| US09685931B2 |
High accuracy millimeter wave/radio frequency wideband in-phase and quadrature generation
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide circuits for generating high accuracy millimeter wave or radio frequency (RF) wideband in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) oscillating signals having acceptable amplitude and phase mismatch over process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) variations with reduced cost, area, and power consumption. In one example apparatus, a polyphase filter having a first stage and a second stage is provided. Each stage comprises resistive elements and capacitive elements. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide for intentional resistive and/or capacitive value mismatch between the resistive or capacitive values of one or multiple stages such that the phase mismatch between the resulting I and Q signals may be reduced without degrading the amplitude mismatch. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide for replacing the resistive elements in at least one stage with transistors operating in the triode region, where the on-resistance is controlled by a feedback network. |
| US09685929B2 |
MEMS/NEMS device comprising a network of electrostatically actuated resonators and having an adjustable frequency response, notably for a band-pass filter
A MEMS/NEMS device having an adjustable frequency response comprises an array of electrostatically actuated resonators, an electrostatic actuation circuit, electrical detection means, and means adjusting the frequency response of the resonators. The device comprises resonators having a movable portion, electrically connected in series between a first biasing potential VB and a second biasing potential VB2, each resonator biased to a potential Vi between VB and VB2, depending on position in the series. The electrostatic actuation circuit comprises, for each resonator, an actuation electrode facing the movable portion, all electrodes being connected in parallel to a common control potential VIN, the actuation voltage of each resonator being equal to VIN−Vi. The detection means comprises a detection output common to all resonators, the output being connected to an output potential Vout. The means for adjusting the frequency response varies the common control potential and/or at least one of the biasing potentials. |
| US09685927B2 |
Genetic EQ-setup
A method of adjusting an audio signal equalizer setting. A first and a second equalizer setting are selected from a population of equalizer settings for undergoing a binary comparing decision. The two equalizer settings are presented to a user by consecutively replaying an audio signal filtered by an equalizing unit according to the first or to the second equalizer setting respectively. The user's binary comparing decision between the first and the second equalizer setting according to his preferences is acquired. Further binary comparing decisions are performed until all members of the settings population have been part of a binary comparing decision. A score for the each presented equalizer settings is adapted based on the user's binary comparing decisions results. A weighted averaging is performed, based on the scores, in the frequency domain between the equalizer settings that received a high score, to obtain the result of the equalizer adjustment method. |
| US09685916B2 |
Audio interface circuits and methods
In one embodiment, an electronic device includes an audio connector port comprising a ground terminal and one or more audio output terminals, a first audio amplifier coupled to one of the audio output terminals, and a multiplexer having an output terminal coupled to the input terminal of the first audio amplifier. Sense circuits inside the electronic device may be alternately coupled through the multiplexer and first audio amplifier so that, in a first mode of operation, the multiplexer couples the audio signal to the first audio output terminal, and in a second mode of operation, the multiplexer couples an analog voltage corresponding to an internally sensed value to the first audio output terminal. Use of the audio connector and audio circuitry to access internal electrical parameters may facilitate testing and analysis of internal systems. |
| US09685911B2 |
Power amplifier module
In a power amplifier module for performing slope control of a transmitting signal, a gain variation due to a variation in battery voltage is suppressed while suppressing an increase in circuit size. The power amplifier module includes: a first regulator for outputting a first voltage corresponding to a control voltage for controlling a signal level; a second regulator for outputting a second voltage that rises as a battery voltage drops; a first amplifier supplied with the first voltage as a power-supply voltage to amplify an input signal and output an amplified signal; and a second amplifier for amplifying the amplified signal, wherein the second amplifier includes a first amplification unit supplied with the second voltage as the power-supply voltage to amplify the amplified signal, and a second amplification unit supplied with the battery voltage as the power-supply voltage to amplify the amplified signal. |
| US09685908B1 |
Variable capacitor used in integrated circuit of differential structure
The present invention related to a varactor used in an integrated circuit of a differential structure. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a variable capacitor connected between first and second signal lines which are differential signal lines included in an integrated circuit of a differential structure, including: a plurality of N-type semiconductors separately arranged; one or more P-type semiconductors disposed between the N-type semiconductors to make first and second PN junctions with N-type semiconductors contacting upper and lower portions thereof and to receive a control voltage, wherein, among the N-type semiconductors, first N-type semiconductors corresponding to (2n−1)-th (n being a positive integer) are connected with the first signal line, and second N-type semiconductors corresponding to 2n-th are connected with the second signal line, and parasitic capacitances of the first and second PN junctions are varied by adjusting the control voltage. |
| US09685906B2 |
Photoluminescence mapping of passivation defects for silicon photovoltaics
Methods for fast and accurate mapping of passivation defects in a silicon wafer involve capturing of photoluminescence (PL) images while the wafer is moving, for instance, when the wafer is transported on a belt in a fabrication line. The methods can be applied to in-line diagnostics of silicon wafers in solar cell fabrication. Example embodiments include a procedure for obtaining the whole wafer images of passivation defects from a single image (map) of photoluminescence intensity, and can provide rapid feedback for process control. |
| US09685902B2 |
System and method for controlling the power supply of an electric machine on the basis of the temperature thereof
A control system for controlling power supply of an electric machine of an automobile and which contributes to movement thereof, wherein the control system is connected, at an input thereof, to a mechanism estimating a temperature of a rotor of the electric machine and to a temperature sensor measuring a temperature of a stator of the electric machine. The control system includes mappings of a set of values for allocating supply currents of the electric machine on the basis of torque and rotational speed request values received at the input of the control system, and includes a switching mechanism for selecting the mapping, the supply current signals of which are transmitted to the electric machine, on the basis of the signals from the mechanism estimating the temperature of the rotor and from the stator-temperature sensor. |
| US09685896B2 |
Stepper motor control and fire detection system
Controlling a stepper motor. A stepper motor is driven towards an index position. An attempt is made to stop the stepper motor on the index position in a fashion that would ordinarily cause the stepper motor to ring at the index position. Characteristics of one or more subsequent pulses that would counteract the ringing are determined. The one or more determined subsequent pulses are issued to the stepper motor. |
| US09685894B2 |
Brushless motor controller and control method
When a set duty Dt of a PWM signal is less than a minimum duty (Dmin) that allows for pulse induced voltage detection, the PWM signal in which a duty D1 during a predetermined period is limited to Dmin and in which a duty D2 during the other period is adjusted so as to satisfy Dt=(D1+D2)/2 is applied to the switching elements connected to one of the two phases. When the duty D2 during the other period takes a negative value, the pulse-voltage application target during the other period is changed to the switching elements connected to the other of the two phases, and the duty D1 during the predetermined period is corrected and increased so as to compensate for an actual drop in the duty D2 during the other period corresponding to a dead-time period in a complementary PWM method. |
| US09685890B2 |
Flow induced electrostatic power generator for tubular segments
The present invention is directed to methods for harnessing flow-induced electrostatic energy in a tubular length and using this energy to power electrical devices (e.g., flowmeters, electrically-actuated valves, etc.). The present invention is also directed to corresponding systems through which such methods are implemented. |
| US09685888B2 |
Semiconductor module, upper and lower arm kit, and three-level inverter
A semiconductor module, an upper and lower arm kit, and a three-level inverter can be provided at low cost and with broad current ratings and voltage ratings using existing packages, without developing new packages. A first semiconductor module (100) on an upper arm side and a second semiconductor module (200) on a lower arm side are made using an existing package, and the semiconductor modules (100) and (200) are used to configure an upper and lower arm kit (300). Further, the upper and lower arm kit (300) is used to configure a three-level inverter (500). These devices can be formed using existing packages (56), and semiconductor modules (100), (200), the upper and lower arm kit (300), and the three-level inverter (500) can be therefore provided at low cost and with broad current ratings and voltage ratings. |
| US09685885B2 |
Power conversion apparatus with an inverted-voltage generation circuit
A power conversion apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a high-voltage side input terminal TIH and a low-voltage side input terminal TIL, first and second output terminals TO1 and TO2, a power conversion circuit 10 that converts direct-current power input between the high-voltage side input terminal TIH and the low-voltage side input terminal TIL to generate alternating-current power between the first and second output terminals TO1 and TO2, and an inverted-voltage generation circuit 30 that generates an inverted voltage of a common mode voltage generated between the first and second output terminals TO1 and TO2 and inputs the inverted voltage to the low-voltage side input terminal TIL. |
| US09685881B2 |
AC-DC rectifier system
According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a method for operating an AC-DC rectifier, the method comprising receiving, with a converter, input AC power having an input AC voltage waveform, controlling, during a positive half line cycle of the input AC voltage waveform, the converter to couple a second DC bus to ground, controlling, during the positive half line cycle of the input AC voltage waveform, the converter to maintain a positive DC link voltage on a first DC bus, controlling, during the positive half line cycle of the input AC voltage waveform, output circuitry to charge a first output capacitor and provide a positive output voltage to a positive output, and discharging, during the positive half line cycle of the input AC voltage waveform, a second output capacitor to provide a negative output voltage to a negative output. |
| US09685880B2 |
Power converters
A power conversion device includes a winding portion and a core portion. The winding portion can be embedded within a plurality of layers of a system printed circuit board. The core portion can be located within one or more elements of the power conversion device that are separate from the system printed circuit board. |
| US09685873B2 |
Power supply device, image forming device, and electronic appliance
This invention is concerning a power supply device that includes a cut-off unit configured to cut off voltage to be applied to a primary winding of a transformer and a coil added in series with the primary winding of the transformer, a first circuit configured to cause, in a case where the voltage to be applied is cut off by the cut-off unit, current to flow in such a way that energy accumulated in the transformer is led to a capacitor, and a second circuit configured to clamp, in a case where the voltage to be applied is cut off by the cut-off unit, voltage of the primary winding and the coil. |
| US09685871B2 |
Switching power supply apparatus and semiconductor device
A switching power supply apparatus includes a PFM control circuit that outputs a clock signal Set such that a switching frequency of a switching element varies in accordance with a load state. The clock signal Set determines a turn-on timing of the switching element. A reference value of a current flowing through the switching element determines a turn-off timing of the switching element. A modulation signal is applied to the turn-off timing of the switching element to modulate one of a peak value of a drain current flowing through the switching element and an on-time of the switching element. Input control is performed separately on the clock signal Set and the modulation signal. Accordingly, even when the clock signal Set and the modulation signal contribute to each other to offset each other, modulation effects are not cancelled. |
| US09685868B2 |
Synchronous rectifier for buck converter without the need for a comparator
A switch mode power supply, which functions in a continuous current mode and a discontinuous mode employing a zero crossing control circuit for determining a polarity of an inductor current and from the polarity of the inductor current, controlling an operational state of a switching section of the switch mode power supply such that the inductor current becomes approximately zero amperes at the end of each demagnetization phase of operation. |
| US09685867B2 |
Electrical power supply
A method supplies power from a power source to a load. The method includes, in a first mode, electrically coupling a step-down converter node of a step-down converter alternately to the power source via a conductive bypass path that bypasses a step-up converter and to ground. The step-up converter has an input electrically coupled to the power source and the step-down converter has an output electrically coupled to the load. The method further includes, in a second mode, coupling the step-down converter node alternately to the power source via the bypass path and to an output of the step-up converter. |
| US09685865B2 |
Power-supply apparatus having a high-side transistor and a low-side transistor
A power-supply apparatus according to an aspect includes an inductor, a transistor that supplies, in an on-state, a current to the input side of the inductor, a second transistor that becomes, when the first transistor is in an off-state, an on-state and thereby brings the input side of the inductor to a predetermined potential, a signal generation unit that generates voltage signals corresponding to a current flowing to the inductor, an amplifier that outputs a current according to the voltage signals, a converter that converts the current output from the amplifier into a voltage signal, and a control unit that controls the transistors based on a first feedback signal corresponding to the voltage on the output side of the inductor and the voltage signal, which is used as a second feedback signal. |
| US09685856B2 |
Charge pump circuit
A bipolar output charge pump circuit having a network of switching paths for selectively connecting an input node and a reference node for connection to an input voltage, a first pair of output nodes and a second pair of output nodes, and two pairs of flying capacitor nodes, and a controller for controlling the switching of the network of switching paths. The controller is operable to control the network of switching paths when in use with two flying capacitors connected to the two pairs of flying capacitor nodes, to provide a first bipolar output voltage at the first pair of output nodes and a second bipolar output voltage at the second pair of bipolar output nodes. |
| US09685855B2 |
Amplifier circuit and methods of operation thereof
A signal amplifying circuit and associated methods and apparatuses, the circuit comprising: a signal path extending from an input terminal to an output terminal, a gain controller arranged to control the gain applied along the signal path in response to a control signal; an output stage within the signal path for generating the output signal, the output stage having a gain that is substantially independent of its supply voltage, and a variable voltage power supply comprising a charge pump for providing positive and negative output voltages, the charge pump comprising a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of the states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage. |
| US09685851B2 |
Magnetic drive systems
A magnetic drive system comprising three members, a first and second of which form an input member and an output member each arranged to rotate relative to the third member, wherein two of the members have respective sets of permanent magnets, the two sets having different numbers of magnetic poles, and the other of the members comprises a cylindrical body having a plurality of pole pieces embedded therein, the pole pieces being arranged to modulate the magnetic field acting between the magnets, and wherein one of the pole pieces is of varying radial thickness. |
| US09685850B2 |
Voice coil motor and direct-acting servo valve using the voice coil motor
A voice coil motor 2 using a Dual Halbach Magnet Array has an outer magnet array 5 and an inner magnet array 6, wherein the inner magnet array 6 comprises axially magnetized magnets 6A, 6C and 6E and radially magnetized magnets 6B and 6D. Each of the axially magnetized magnets 6A, 6C and 6E of an inner magnet array 6 is formed of a monolithic magnet having ring-shape, whereas each of the radially magnetized magnets 6B and 6D of the inner magnet array 6 is formed of a plurality of split magnets divided in a circumferential direction. A fixing means 13 is provided to fix the radially magnetized magnets 6B and 6D and the axially magnetized magnets 6A, 6C and 6E of the inner magnet array 6 in an axially clamped manner. |
| US09685846B2 |
Stator or rotor of an electrical machine having basic and special bar conductors with multiple pitches
The present technology contemplates a stator or rotor of an electric machine comprising a main cylindrical body with a circular array of slots; at least one bar winding comprising a first and second plurality of basic conductors and a second plurality of special conductors. The first and second circular array comprise a first and second arc of legs of the first and second set of said conductors which are inserted as well as legs of the conductors. The present technology also contemplates electric machines and electric or hybrid drive vehicles comprising such stators of rotors. |
| US09685844B2 |
Motor and method of manufacturing motor
A motor may include a stator having coil groups of plural phases and a connector, the stator comprising a plurality of split stators. Each of the split stators may include a split core having an arc-shaped core back section and a tooth section, an insulator, a coil which has a lead-out line that is connected to the connector. The insulator may have a first void extending between a first inner wall and a first outer wall. The first inner wall may have a lead-in groove. The stator may have a support ring disposed on the upper side of the first void. The support ring may have a second void extending between a second inner wall and a second outer wall. A plurality of lead-out lines of different phases may respectively accommodated in the first void and the second void. |
| US09685843B2 |
Grounding device for electric machine and methods of assembling the same
A grounding device for an electric machine, having a rotating component and a stationary component, includes a core fabricated from a non-conductive material and a plurality of conductive fibers coupled to the core and extending therefrom. The plurality of conductive fibers are configured to electrically couple the rotating component with the stationary component such that an electrostatic charge on the rotating component is directed through the plurality of conductive fibers to the stationary component. |
| US09685841B2 |
Resettable electro-mechanically actuated connection unit for generators
An electrical generating system for an aircraft may include a first shaft connected with an engine gearbox, a second shaft connected with a generator of the aircraft, and a connection unit in which the first and second shafts are selectively engageable with one another. The connection unit may include a solenoid coil, an armature co-axial with the first and the second shafts, a plurality of balls positioned around the armature. The armature may include a first cylindrical segment and a second cylindrical segment. The armature may be selectively movable between a first axial position and a second axial position. When the armature is in a first axial position, the balls are positioned to transmit torque forces between the first shaft and the second shaft. When the armature is in a second axial position, the first shaft and the second shaft are free to rotate independently. |
| US09685839B2 |
Bearing implementation for a rotating electrical device
In one embodiment, an electric motor includes at least three bearings. The ball bearing utilized in the three bearings may be sized based on benchmark surface areas associated with the ball bearing utilized in a conventional electric motor having two bearings. Moreover, a technique may be implemented to reduce the diameter at a point on the shaft where a backup or second bearing makes contact with the shaft. When the motor begins to operate, for example, at a first time, the at least three bearings together handle a the load coming through the motor. When the front-most bearing degrades to a predetermined point or fails, for example, at a second time, the load transitions from the front most bearing to the second or backup bearing in the front plate. |
| US09685834B2 |
Outdoor fan motor and air-conditioning apparatus
In a motor, a connection portion between a lead wire and an aluminum wire is provided distant from a terminal block, with a leading end of a winding residing on one of cores that is not adjacent to a core that is at a position where the terminal block is provided. |
| US09685832B2 |
Stator insulator structure with reduced residual stress and improved durability
The electric motor includes a rotor and a stator, the stator having a conductive wire wound thereon via a stator core and insulators. The insulators include an annular outer peripheral wall portion with the conductive wire run on an outer periphery side of the peripheral wall portion, a plurality of winding body portions protruding radially from the outer peripheral wall portion, and an inner flange portion. The outer peripheral wall portion on the winding body portion side includes an outer peripheral surface formed in an arc shape. The radial thickness of the outer peripheral wall portion is increasingly greater toward the circumferential center of the winding body portions. |
| US09685828B2 |
Electric machine with multiple air gaps and a 3D magnetic flux
An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor, with the stator being equipped with at least one annular exciter unit that includes a coil and at least two annular yokes, with the rotor being equipped with a structure and at least one annular receiver unit. Each receiver unit includes at least two rows of magnets. Two sides of each yoke include teeth distributed angularly in a regular manner, and the teeth of the two adjacent yokes fit onto a face of the exciter unit, alternately forming north poles and south poles. Each row of the magnets is positioned opposite one face, forming an air gap with the exciter unit, with the electric machine thus including at least two air gaps, with a 3D magnetic flux thus circulating inside the said electric machine, dividing and regrouping itself in the vicinity of the magnets and of the yokes. |
| US09685817B2 |
Wireless power charging system
A wireless power charging system has a wireless power transmission apparatus formed to charge a plurality of wireless power receiving apparatuses located in a short distance therefrom, wherein the total charging time for the wireless power receiving apparatuses is saved. The wireless power transmission apparatus has a main control unit and a resonant converter unit, which transmit the electric signal to the wireless power receiving apparatus via the resonance signal generated from a primary charge core in order to charge the wireless power receiving apparatuses. The wireless power transmission apparatus also includes an output signal conversion module for transmitting a converted electric signal to the resonant converter unit and a received signal process module for processing a signal transmitted from the wireless power receiving apparatus. |
| US09685811B2 |
Wireless power receiver and controlling method thereof
Disclosed is a method for controlling a wireless power receiver including a charging unit. The method includes receiving wireless power, rectifying the received wireless power and outputting Direct Current (DC) wireless power, and determining whether the voltage of the rectified wireless power is greater than or equal to the allowable voltage of the charging unit. |
| US09685810B1 |
Fast charging of batteries
Disclosed are methods for intelligently charging a battery faster. In some embodiments, the method includes determining, by a computing device, a target state of charge (SOC) from a set of predefined SOCs, where at least one of the predefined SOCs is less than a 100% SOC. Further, the method includes determining, by the computing device, a state of a battery, where the state of the battery is indicative of one or more characteristics of the battery. Further, the method includes, based at least on the state of the battery, the computing device determining a pulse time and a rest time of a current for charging the battery to the target SOC. Yet further, the method may include the computing device charging the battery to the target SOC with the pulse time and the rest time of the current. |
| US09685800B2 |
Charging/discharging system
A charging/discharging device includes a charging/discharging connector that electrically connects a storage battery and the charging/discharging device, a cable that is connected to the charging/discharging connector at one end and is connected to the charging/discharging device at the other end, a power conversion unit, a control unit that controls an operation of the power conversion unit, and an abnormality detection unit that outputs an abnormality detection signal for stopping an operation of the power conversion unit to at least any of the control unit and the power conversion unit, when an output from a comparator and an ON signal from the control unit are input to an AND circuit. |
| US09685797B2 |
Systems and methods for balancing multi-cell batteries with a transformer and a rectifier circuit
Systems and methods for balancing multi-cell batteries are provided. In one embodiment, the battery balancing circuit includes a battery including a plurality of cells coupled in series, a first terminal and a second terminal, a transformer including a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings, where each secondary winding is coupled to one of the plurality of cells via a secondary switch and a rectifier circuit, where the primary winding is coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal of the battery, a primary switch in series with the primary winding of the transformer, and a control circuitry coupled to the primary switch, the plurality of secondary switches, and each of the plurality of cells. |
| US09685796B2 |
Current balancing device for parallel battery cells in an electrified vehicle
A current equalizer is provided for first and second battery elements connected in parallel to supply a DC link. A first constant resistance carries a first current from the first battery element to the DC link. A first variable resistance is connected in parallel with the first constant resistance. A second constant resistance carries a second current from the second battery element to the DC link. A second variable resistance is connected in parallel with the second constant resistance. A balancer inversely adjusts the first and second variable resistances in response to relative magnitudes of the first and second currents. As a result, the total currents supplied from each battery element to the DC link are equalized because the effective total resistance in series with each battery element compensates for the difference in the internal battery resistances. |
| US09685795B2 |
Transmission-guard system and method for an inductive power supply
Wireless power transfer between a power transmitter and a power receiver may include a power transfer established by a detector of the wireless power transmitter detecting a magnetic field from a wireless power receiver in proximity to the wireless power transmitter and activating the wireless power transmitter to transfer power to the wireless power receiver. |
| US09685793B2 |
Method and system for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor wireless power receiver
Methods and systems for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor wireless power receiver may include a receiver chip with an inductor, a configurable capacitance, and a rectifier. The method may include receiving an RF signal utilizing the inductor, extracting a clock signal from the received RF signal, generating a DC voltage utilizing a rectifier circuit, sampling the DC voltage, and adjusting the configurable capacitance based on the sampled DC voltage. The rectifier circuit may include CMOS transistors and T-gate switches for coupling to the inductor. The T-gate switches may be controlled by the generated DC voltage. A signed based gradient-descent algorithm may be utilized to maximize the DC voltage. The DC voltage may be sampled utilizing a comparator powered by the DC voltage, which may adaptively configure the capacitance. The inductor may be shielded utilizing a floating shield. The DC voltage may be increased utilizing a voltage-boosting rectifier. |
| US09685791B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling wireless power transfer to mobile devices
A system for controlling wireless power transfer to mobile devices is disclosed. The system includes a power transmitter configured to transmit power via a wireless coupling to the mobile devices. Each of the mobile devices includes a power receiver configured to receive the power from the power transmitter via the wireless coupling with the power transmitter. Each power receiver is configured to transmit control data modulated with a spreading code via the wireless coupling to the power transmitter. |
| US09685790B2 |
Maximum power point tracking for solar panels
Approximately one-half of the loss of delivered power from a solar panel having photovoltaic (PV) cells connected in series to form sub-panels due to shading is recovered at low hardware cost by connecting sub-panels in series and providing maximum power point tracking control in common for the series connected sub-panels such that the respective sub-panels produce equal voltages even in the presence of shading of a portion of one or more sub-panels. By doing so, the input voltage of respective power converters which control the voltage at which each sub-panel is operated can be placed close to the maximum power point of each sub-panel regardless of shading and maximum total power harvested even though the respective sub-panels are not operated at optimum voltages. |
| US09685788B2 |
Electric power control method and electric power control device
An electric power control method for an electric power load and an electric power storage device including assigning one of a peak shaving control or other services to at least one of time slots that are divided by a specific time unit, obtaining a consumption power of the electric power load of each of the time slots, determining power-purchase electric power according to the consumption power of each of the time slots, restricting a consumption power of the electric power load at one or more peak slots where the consumption power of the electric power load is more than or equal to a target power-purchase electric power upper limit, restricting the restricted consumption power of the electric power load and discharging the electric power storage device at one or more peak slots if the restricted consumption power of the electric power load is more than or equal to a target power-purchase electric power upper limit and the peak shaving is assigned. |
| US09685787B2 |
Metering optimal sampling
The present disclosure is directed to providing voltage via a power distribution system. A computing device receives delivered voltage information from metering devices metering power distributed to sites by a controller. The computing device determines a number of metering devices to use to generate a control signal to control operation of the controller. The number can be determined based on the delivered voltage information for each site. The computing device selects, based on the delivered voltage information, at least the determined number of metering devices to form a subset of metering devices for a subset of sites. The computing device uses the delivered voltage information of the subset of metering devices to generate the control signal. The control signal can control operation of the at least one controller distributing power to the plurality of sites. |
| US09685781B2 |
Solar photovoltaic system and a method for energy harvest optimization thereof and a method for fault detection thereof
This invention provides a solar photovoltaic system, comprising: a plurality of photovoltaic assemblies, for harvesting solar energy to generate DC currents; a plurality of micro-optimizers having input terminals coupled to the photovoltaic assemblies and having output terminals connected in series with each other, for optimizing output currents and/or output voltages of the photovoltaic assemblies, to generate maximum power; a manager configured to communicate with the plurality of micro-optimizers, for managing operating states of the micro-optimizers; and an inverter coupled to one or more strings of the micro-optimizers, for converting the optimized DC currents into AC currents and outputting the AC currents to a power grid. This invention further provides a method for energy harvest optimization and a method for fault detection of a solar photovoltaic system. |
| US09685775B2 |
Variable electric field balancing device
Variable electric field balancing device formed by a hollow assembly that, with geometric shapes that can be different on the outside, includes an upper passive capture element (2), as a capture electrode, a lower passive capture element (3), as a reception electrode, and an insulator element (4) that keeps them separated from each other at a distance (d) dependent on the conductivity coefficient of the materials, and that, also, externally covers the lower element (3) like a skirt to the lower base of the same, preventing the impact of a lightning bolt on the lower element (3) from being able to induce the generation of an upward leader, and there is also an expansion and compression valve (5) that connects the outside to the inside of the hollow assembly and which expands in phases of passage of current and/or absorption of external induced surges, and compressed at the end of the compensation of the field. |
| US09685774B1 |
Storage tank with bypass conductor cable
A lightning protection system for liquid storage tanks having floating roofs wherein lightning energy is not directed into the shell of the storage tank. The lightning protection system includes at least one low-resistance low-impedance bypass conductor cable configured for lightning related frequencies and for routing lightning energy and for bounding charges away from the shell of the storage tank. |
| US09685770B2 |
Vacuum wall-through structure
Disclosed is a vacuum wall-through structure to be installed in a hole formed in a wall of a vacuum chamber. The vacuum wall-through structure includes a cable holder that holds a cable at the center thereof and a cable holder cover installed outside the cable holder. |
| US09685769B2 |
Wire splicing device, wire splicing method, and method for manufacturing splice structure
A wire connection device includes: a holding base which is provided with a wire accommodation groove having a width, the wire accommodation groove being configured to accommodate a plurality of wires; a pressing plate which is positioned above the holding base; a heating body which is positioned above the pressing plate and includes a heating member; a first driver which drives the holding base and the pressing plate away from or toward one another; and a second driver which drives the holding base and the heating body toward or away from one another, in which the pressing plate which is driven toward the holding base by the first driver presses together the plurality of wires accommodated in the wire accommodation groove with solder interposed therebetween. |
| US09685768B2 |
Spout for switchgear, switchgear having spout, and method thereof
A spout for a connection between a bus bar and a circuit breaker in switchgear includes a housing and a fixed contact. The housing is formed of insulative material and includes a tubular body having an inner cavity and a radial first ventilation opening, a base portion having a first longitudinal opening, and a fixed contact receiving portion having a second longitudinal opening. The fixed contact is formed of a conductive material, has an outer contact surface exposed through the second longitudinal opening, and forms a portion of an outer surface of the spout. A switchgear includes a wall dividing a circuit breaker compartment from a bus bar compartment, and the base portion of the spout is securable to the wall. A method of increasing heat dissipation within switchgear using the spout includes securing a bus bar to the outer contact surface, and dissipating heat through the radial ventilation opening. |
| US09685767B2 |
Corona ignition device with improved seal
An electrically conductive glass seal for providing a hermetic bond between an electrically conductive component and an insulator of a corona igniter is provided. The glass seal is formed by mixing glass frits, binder, expansion agent, and electrically conductive metal particles. The glass frits can include silica (SiO2), boron oxide (B2O3), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO); the binder can include sodium bentonite or magnesium aluminum silicate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextrin; the expansion agent can include lithium carbonate; and the electrically conductive particles can include copper. The finished glass seal includes the glass in a total amount of 50.0 to 90.0 weight (wt. %), and electrically conductive metal particles in an amount of 10.0 to 50.0 wt. %, based on the total weight of the glass seal. |
| US09685766B2 |
Multiwavelength quantum cascade laser via growth of different active and passive cores
Disclosed is a method of forming a laser source capable of producing mid-IR laser radiation comprises growing a first core structure on a substrate, etching away the first core structure in one or more locations, and growing a second core structure on the substrate. At least one of the core structures comprises a quantum cascade gain medium emitting at a frequency within the range from 3-14 μm. Also disclosed is a laser source capable of producing mid-IR laser radiation comprising a quantum-cascade core positioned on a substrate for emitting within the range from 3-14 μm and a second core on the substrate positioned in-plane relative to the first core. The second core is one of a) a passive waveguide core b) a second quantum-cascade core and c) a semiconductor active core region. |
| US09685760B1 |
Programmable continuous wave high power laser diode system
The present invention provides a programmable continuous wave high power laser diode system, which comprised digital control unit, a switch module unit, and a latch current controlling unit so as to provide user to set the latch current of the high power laser diode via the digital control unit controlling the switch module unit and the latch current controlling unit, therefore, the laser diode system includes advantages of high system efficiency, reliability, low output ripple current range and fast switching reaction time. |
| US09685755B2 |
Laser system with wavelength converter
A method of controlling beam quality and stability of a laser apparatus, the laser apparatus comprising, a diode laser (10) providing first radiation of at least a first wavelength, and a frequency conversion unit (12) configured to frequency-convert the first radiation from the diode laser and to output the frequency-converted radiation (213), the frequency-converted radiation having at least a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, the diode laser (10) comprising at least a first and a second section (222,223), a first contact (220) for injecting a first current (I1) into the first section (222), a second contact (221) for injecting a second current (I2) into the second section (223), and means for controlling a temperature of the diode laser; wherein the method comprises monitoring a first parameter indicative of the power content of a dominant lobe of the first radiation; iteratively determining a combination of respective values of the first current, the second current and the temperature at which combination of respective values the monitored first parameter and a stability parameter indicative of a fluctuation over time of the monitored first parameter each fulfills a respective predetermined optimization criterion; and setting the first current, the second current, and the temperature to the determined combination of respective values. |
| US09685754B2 |
Optical scanning
A device for generating temporally distant light pulses is provided, the device including at least a first light source for generating a first sequence of light pulses at a first repetition rate, and a second light source for generating a second sequence of light pulses at a second repetition rate. In some embodiments the device includes at least one actuator element which influences the first and/or the second repetition rate, and a control element which charges the actuator element with a periodical modulation signal for periodical variation of the first and/or second repetition rate. A control circuit is also provided including at least a phase detector, a corrective element, a control element, and a superposition element that forms an actuator signal from a modulation signal and an output signal of the control element, and which charges the actuator element with the actuator signal. |
| US09685751B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector comprises a first terminal module, a second module and a shell. The first terminal module has a first insulator and a plurality of first terminals embedded in the first insulator. The first insulator has a first vertical portion, a first horizontal portion and a first tongue plate. The second terminal module has a second insulator and a plurality of second terminals embedded in the second insulator. The second insulator has a second vertical portion, a second horizontal portion and a second tongue plate. The second vertical portion and the second horizontal portion are separated from each other, and the second terminal connects the second vertical portion with the second horizontal portion. |
| US09685745B2 |
Connector terminal
A connector terminal includes a terminal body operable to be inserted into a terminal space formed in a housing, and an elastic contact piece arranged in the terminal body. The connector terminal contacts an inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical terminal while being inserted into the terminal space. The elastic contact piece includes a contact portion constituted of an arc surface, and also includes at least one projection formed on the contact portion, the at least one projection contacting an inner arc surface of the cylindrical terminal. The at least one projection extends in a length-wise direction of the cylindrical terminal. |
| US09685739B2 |
Electrical receptacle connector
An electrical receptacle connector includes a mount member received in a metallic shell. A tongue portion is integrally formed to a front portion of the mount member. A plurality of first receptacle terminals, a plurality of second receptacle terminals, and a grounding plate are held in the mount member and the tongue portion. The front ends of the first and second receptacle terminals are respectively inserted into two opposite surfaces of the tongue portion. Therefore, the first receptacle terminals, the second receptacle terminals, and the grounding plate are positioned with each other securely. Accordingly, when the connector is impacted by an external force, the components of the connector would not be detached from each other easily. |
| US09685734B1 |
Automatic power line disconnect apparatus
A power line disconnect apparatus includes a housing; an electrical connector that projects from a surface of a connector plate coupled to the housing, the electrical connector configured to receive a plug of a power cable; an ejector pin configured to project through a first aperture in the connector plate and eject the plug from the electrical connector; a microswitch configured to activate and deactivate a power circuit associated with the power cable; and a sensor pin configured to project through a second aperture in the connector plate, the sensor pin having a sensor pin extension, the sensor pin extension configured to control the microswitch. |
| US09685718B1 |
Connector structure
A connector structure includes a first connecting component, a rigid circuit board and a second connecting component. The first connecting component includes a first main body whereon a slot is formed, and a plurality of first terminals disposed on the first main body. Each first terminal includes a contacting portion extending into the slot, and a welding portion protruding out of the first main body. The rigid circuit board is assembled into the slot and contacts the contacting portions of the plurality of first terminals. The second connecting component is installed on the rigid circuit board and electrically connected to the plurality of first terminals. The second connecting component includes a second main body, a shielding plate, a plurality of second terminals and a metal shell. The second connecting component, the rigid circuit board and the first connecting component are cooperatively formed in a reverse L-shaped structure. |
| US09685717B2 |
Apparatus and method for a conductive elastomer on a coaxial cable or a microcable to improve signal integrity probing
A method and structure for improving signal integrity probing. A coaxial or a microcoaxial cable is threaded through an optional alignment substrate where the cable is used to support or align the cable or an array of cables. A conductive elastomer is placed on a cable or a microcoaxial cable to improve signal integrity probing. |
| US09685713B2 |
Antenna device
An antenna device capable of performing precise positioning by using a small number of components and having a low side-lobe characteristic is provided. An antenna device includes a primary radiator (3), a main-reflector (2), a sub-reflector (5), and a holding section (4) that fixedly maintains relative positions and directions of the sub-reflector (5) and the main-reflector (2). The holding section (4) includes a side part (42) in an integrated manner, the side part (42) being configured to enclose at least a part of a radio-wave path extending from the primary radiator (3) to the sub-reflector (5) as a shroud. |
| US09685712B2 |
Multi-band satellite antenna assembly with dual feeds in a coaxial relationship and associated methods
An antenna assembly includes a main reflector, and a subreflector spaced from the main reflector. The subreflector includes a frequency selective surface (FSS) material that is transmissive for a first frequency band and reflective for both a second frequency band and a third frequency band. A first antenna feed is adjacent the subreflector and is directed toward the main reflector. The first antenna feed is for the first frequency band. Second and third antenna feeds are arranged in a coaxial relationship adjacent the main reflector and are directed toward the subreflector. The second and third antenna feeds are for the second and third frequency bands, respectively. |
| US09685709B2 |
Method for designing a modulated metasurface antenna structure
A method for designing a surface pattern for an impedance surface which results in a position-dependent target impedance of said impedance surface, and the impedance surface having the position-dependent target impedance radiates a desired first-type electromagnetic field radiation in reaction to being irradiated by a second-type electromagnetic field radiation. The method includes obtaining a first modal representation on the basis of the first-type electromagnetic field radiation in terms of a set of base modes that are chosen in accordance with a model function of the position-dependent target impedance, and obtaining a second modal representation on the basis of the second-type electromagnetic field radiation and the model function in terms of the set of base modes. The method further includes obtaining a first position-dependent quantity indicative of the position-dependent target impedance on the basis of the first modal representation and the second modal representation by determining values for a plurality of parameters of the model function for maximizing an overlap between the first modal representation and the second modal representation, and obtaining, as the surface pattern, a second position-dependent quantity indicative of geometric characteristics of the impedance surface on the basis of the first position-dependent quantity and a relationship between geometric characteristics of the impedance surface and corresponding impedance values. |
| US09685708B2 |
Waveguide tube slot antenna and wireless device provided therewith
Provided is a waveguide tube slot antenna (1) including: a plurality of waveguides (2) arranged in parallel with each other; a plurality of radiating slots (3) formed along each of the plurality of waveguides (2); and a plurality of waveguide tubes (10) connected in parallel with each other, in which the plurality of waveguide tubes (10) each include a first waveguide tube forming member (11) and a second waveguide tube forming member (12) each having a transverse section having a shape with an end, the first waveguide tube forming member and the second waveguide tube forming member being configured to define one of the plurality of waveguides (2) by being connected to each other. |
| US09685705B2 |
Wide band antenna
A wide band antenna for interfacing an electronic device with a plurality of radio access technologies is provided. The antenna includes a first resonator and a second resonator. Both the first resonator and the second resonator are attached to an antenna feed structure. The length of the first resonator provides one mode of operation of the antenna, and the length of the second resonator provides a second mode of operation of the antenna. And a third mode of operation of the antenna is provided by mutual coupling and current flow between both the first resonator and the second resonator. |
| US09685701B2 |
High isolation antenna system
An antenna system supports a common resonance mode and differential resonance mode, each with approximately equal radiation resistance and bandwidth at a given operating frequency band. The antenna system includes a resonant antenna section, a counterpoise, and two antenna ports. The resonant antenna section includes two spaced-apart poles and a distributed network therebetween. Each of the poles has a proximal end connected to the distributed network and an opposite distal end. The distal ends of the poles are separated from each other by a distance of ⅓ to ⅔ of the electrical wavelength at the given operating frequency. Each of the two antenna ports is defined by a pair of feed terminals with one feed terminal located on the counterpoise and the other feed terminal located on a different one of the poles of the resonant antenna section. The resonant antenna section, counterpoise, and ports are configured such that a signal within the given operating frequency band applied to one port is isolated from the other port. |
| US09685695B2 |
Antenna system and antenna unit
An antenna system includes a case, an antenna configured for a first communication system, an inside orthogonal antenna configured for a polarization diversity communication system, and an outside orthogonal antenna configured for the polarization diversity communication system. The antenna for the first communication system and the inside orthogonal antenna are disposed inside the case such that a main radiation polarization plane of the inside orthogonal antenna is orthogonal to a main radiation polarization plane of the antenna for the first communication system. The outside orthogonal antenna is disposed outside the case such that a main radiation polarization plane of the outside orthogonal antenna is orthogonal to the main radiation polarization plane of the inside orthogonal antenna. |
| US09685694B2 |
Antenna module and mobile terminal using the same
The present disclosure relates to an antenna module and a mobile terminal having the same, and the antenna module may include a first conductive member connected to a feeding portion and a grounding portion, a second conductive member disposed to be separated from the first conductive member, a first connecting member configured to connect the first conductive member to the second conductive member at a position adjacent to the feeding portion, and a second connecting member configured to connect the first conductive member to the second conductive member at a position adjacent to the grounding portion, wherein a slit is formed on the first conductive member, and the slit is formed between the feeding portion and the grounding portion. |
| US09685687B2 |
System and method for a directional coupler
In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a directional coupler having a plurality of ports comprising an input port, a transmitted port, an isolated port and a coupled port, and an adjustable termination coupled to at least one of the plurality of ports. |
| US09685681B2 |
Battery pack
A battery pack including a battery cell including an electrode assembly arranged within a can and an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly, the can having an opening sealed by a cap plate, a top case attached to the battery cell at a top portion of the battery cell, the top case having an inner space and a protective circuit module including a protection circuit board arranged within said inner space of said top case and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, wherein the top case includes a top portion opposite from the electrode assembly and first and second pairs of opposed sides, the first pair of opposed sides having an edge, a portion of the edge has a recessed interference preventing portion, the recessed interference preventing portion corresponds to a location of a weld connecting an electrode tap to the electrode terminal. |
| US09685676B2 |
Modular bioelectrochemical systems and methods
Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) having configurations with spiral wound structures and with frame-and-plate structures are provided. Systems may allow for production of an electrical current that is at least partially generated by microorganisms connected directly or indirectly to an electrode. A spiral wound or frame-and-plate type bioelectrochemical system that may be used for energy or chemical production, and/or desalination may include an anolyte influent point, a catholyte influent point, electrodes, ion selective membranes, mesh separators, gas collection devices, an exterior containment vessel, and one or more external electrical devices. |
| US09685674B2 |
Polymer electrolyte composition, and polymer electrolyte membrane, membrane electrode assembly and solid polymer fuel cell each using same
Provided are: a practically excellent polymer electrolyte composition having excellent chemical stability of being resistant to strong oxidizing atmosphere during operation of fuel cell, and achieving excellent proton conductivity under low-humidification conditions, excellent mechanical strength and physical durability; a polymer electrolyte membrane, a membrane electrode assembly, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell each using the same. The polymer electrolyte composition of the present invention comprises at least an ionic group-containing polymer (A) and a phosphorus-containing additive (B), the phosphorus-containing additive (B) being at least one of a phosphine compound and a phosphinite compound. The polymer electrolyte membrane, the membrane electrode assembly, and the polymer electrolyte fuel cell of the present invention are structured by the polymer electrolyte composition. |
| US09685671B2 |
Arrangement and method for supplying energy to buildings
The present application relates to an arrangement for supplying energy to isolated buildings. The arrangement comprises at least one energy generating installation for providing an electrical current, at least one electrolyzer for producing hydrogen from water using the electrical current from the energy generating installation, at least one first chemical reactor for at least partially hydrogenating at least one substrate with an extended π-conjugated system using the hydrogen formed in the electrolyzer, at least one storage tank for storing the substrate hydrogenated at least partially in the first chemical reactor, at least one second chemical reactor for at least partially dehydrogenating the at least partially hydrogenated substrate which was produced in the first chemical reactor and stored in the storage tank with the release of hydrogen, and at least one fuel cell for the oxidation of the hydrogen release in the second chemical reactor with the release of energy. |
| US09685670B2 |
Method of operating hydrogen generator and method of operating fuel cell system
A method of operating a hydrogen generator includes: a step (a) of generating a hydrogen-containing gas by a hydrogen generation unit by using a raw material in the hydrogen generation unit; a step (b) of removing a sulfur compound from the raw material by a hydrodesulfurizer which is heated by heat transferred from the hydrogen generation unit; and a step (c) of performing an operation of supplying the raw material to the hydrogen generation unit after stopping the generating of the hydrogen-containing gas by the hydrogen generation unit. The step (c) is not performed unless, at least, a temperature of the hydrodesulfurizer is such a temperature at which carbon deposition from the raw material is suppressed. |
| US09685668B2 |
Flow battery
A flow battery comprising a first tank for an anode electrolyte, a second tank for a cathode electrolyte, respective hydraulic circuits provided with corresponding pumps for supplying electrolytes to specific planar cells, provided with channels on the two mutually opposite faces for the independent conveyance of the electrolytes, mutually separated by electrolytic membranes and electrodes, the planar cells constituting a laminar pack, on at least one front of the laminar pack there being an end plate provided, on a first face, with at least one channel for the access of the electrolytes that arrive from the laminar pack, with at least one discharge channel for the conveyance of the electrolytes that originate from the access channel to at least one outlet that is connected to a respective tank, and at least one mixing channel. |
| US09685660B2 |
Positive electrode for lithium-ion secondary battery and production process for the same, and lithium-ion secondary battery
A positive electrode for lithium-ion secondary battery is provided, the positive electrode being able to endure high-temperature and high-voltage driving modes or operations. At least parts of the surface of positive-electrode active-material particles are covered by a polymer coating layer, and an amino group and phosphoric-acid group are included in the polymer coating layer. Since the polymer coating layer includes a phosphoric-acid-based polymer, capacity declines are inhibited at the time of cycle tests. |
| US09685658B2 |
Composite particles for electrochemical device electrode, material for electrochemical device electrode, and electrochemical device electrode
Composite particles for electrochemical device electrode which contain an electrode active material, a non-water soluble particle-shaped polymer, and a water-soluble polymer having a sulfonic acid group are provided. According to the present invention, composite particles for electrochemical device electrode are high in fluidity, exhibit high adhesion with a current collector, and can provide an electrochemical device electrode which is high in initial capacity, low in internal resistance, an excellent in high temperature storage characteristics are provided. |
| US09685657B2 |
Composite precursor, composite prepared therefrom, a method of preparing a composite precursor and a composite, positive electrode for lithium secondary battery including the same, and lithium secondary battery employing the same
A composite precursor represented by Formula 1, a composite prepared therefrom represented by Formula 2, a method of preparing a composite precursor and a composite, a positive electrode for lithium secondary battery including the same, and a lithium secondary battery employing the same. aMn3O4-bM(OH)2 Formula 1 wherein in Formula 1, 0 |
| US09685652B2 |
Aqueous processing of composite lithium ion electrode material
A method of making a battery electrode includes the steps of dispersing an active electrode material and a conductive additive in water with at least one dispersant to create a mixed dispersion; treating a surface of a current collector to raise the surface energy of the surface to at least the surface tension of the mixed dispersion; depositing the dispersed active electrode material and conductive additive on a current collector; and heating the coated surface to remove water from the coating. |
| US09685651B2 |
Internally manifolded flow cell for an all-iron hybrid flow battery
In one example, a system for a flow cell for a flow battery, comprising: a first flow field; and a polymeric frame, comprising: a top face; a bottom face, opposite the top face; a first side; a second side, opposite the first side; a first electrolyte inlet located on the top face and the first side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte outlet located on the top face and the second side of the polymeric frame; a first electrolyte inlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte inlet; and a first electrolyte outlet flow path located within the polymeric frame and coupled to the first electrolyte outlet. In this way, shunt currents may be minimized by increasing the length and/or reducing the cross-sectional area of the electrolyte inlet and electrolyte outlet flow paths. |
| US09685649B2 |
Electrode assembly and secondary battery including the same
An electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrode plate having a fist electrode tab at an end of one side thereof, a second electrode plate having a second electrode tab, which is formed in a same direction as a longitudinal direction of the first electrode tab and is formed at a position not overlapping the first electrode tab, and a protrusion which is formed at a position overlapping the first electrode tab, and a separator insulating the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. Therefore, the electrode assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention and the secondary battery including the same may improve the stability of the secondary battery by preventing lithium ion accumulation in a separator. |
| US09685645B2 |
Battery pack venting system for electrified vehicle
A battery pack according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an enclosure that establishes a vent chamber and tubing in fluid communication with the vent chamber. A check valve is mounted outside of the enclosure and is connected to the tubing. The check valve permits flow of battery vent byproducts in a first direction but blocks the flow of atmospheric air in a second, opposite direction. |
| US09685644B2 |
Lithium ion battery
A multi-core lithium ion battery includes a sealed enclosure and a support member disposed within the sealed enclosure. The support member includes a plurality of cavities and a plurality of lithium ion core members which are disposed the plurality of cavities. The battery further includes a plurality of cavity liners, each of which is positioned between a corresponding one of the lithium ion core members and a surface of a corresponding one of the cavities. |
| US09685643B2 |
Electric storage device
An electric storage device includes an electrode assembly, a case housing the electrode assembly, a plastic member arranged at an outer surface of the case and including a joining surface facing the outer surface of the case, an external terminal supported by the plastic member and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, a sealing member arranged at the outer surface of the case, the sealing member including a joining surface facing the outer surface of the case, and an auxiliary terminal supported by the sealing member, the auxiliary terminal extending from inside to outside the case, being electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and being electrically connected to the external terminal. The plastic member includes a material having a hardness greater than a hardness of the sealing member. |
| US09685641B2 |
Solution-providing apparatus and method of manufacturing organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display using the apparatus
A solution-providing apparatus and method of manufacturing organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display using the apparatus are disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a storage unit, a spraying unit, a pipe, an emission-inducing unit, and a spectrometer. The storage unit is configured to store the solution that includes a light emissive material. The spraying unit is configured to spray the solution toward the substrate. The pipe interconnects the storage unit and the spraying unit. The emission-inducing unit is configured to excite the light emissive material of the solution that flows through the pipe so as to emit light from the solution. The spectrometer is configured to measure the wavelength and intensity of the light. |
| US09685640B2 |
Manufacturing method of display substrate using a carrier substrate and a sacrificial layer
A manufacturing method of a display substrate, including preparing a carrier substrate; preparing a mixture of an organic material, an inorganic particle, and solvent; coating the mixture on the carrier substrate; forming a sacrificial layer including the inorganic particle in the organic material by curing the mixture; forming a barrier layer on the sacrificial layer; forming a display substrate on the barrier layer; and separating the barrier layer and the display substrate from the carrier substrate by applying a laser to the sacrificial layer. |
| US09685639B2 |
Organic EL display device and method for manufacturing the same
An organic EL display device includes a display area, a measurement area provided outside the display area, an organic layer that is formed in the display area and in the measurement area and includes a light-emitting layer, and a conductive film that is formed on the organic layer in the display area and functions as the upper electrode. The conductive film covers the organic layer in the measurement area. |
| US09685638B2 |
Method for producing a component
Various embodiments may relate to a method for producing an optoelectronic component, including forming a first electrode on a substrate, arranging a first mask structure on or above the substrate, wherein the first mask structure comprises a first structuring region including an opening and/or a region prepared for forming an opening, arranging a second mask structure on or above the first mask structure, forming a second structuring region in the first mask structure and in the second mask structure in such a way that at least one part of the first structuring region in the first mask structure is formed outside the second structuring region in the first mask structure. |
| US09685637B2 |
Method and apparatus for repairing a display panel
An apparatus and method for repairing a display panel are provided. The apparatus includes a laser emitter that etches a faulty portion of the display panel and a first surrounding portion of the faulty portion by irradiating the faulty portion and the first surrounding portion with a laser and a guide disposed to face the laser emitter and configured to adjust at least one of a temperature of the faulty portion or a temperature of the first surrounding portion. |
| US09685635B2 |
Displays having polarizing structures formed using narrowband dichroic dyes
A display may have thin-film transistor circuitry on a substrate. An array of organic light-emitting diodes may be formed on the thin-film transistor circuitry. The organic light-emitting diodes may have anodes, cathodes, and emissive material located between the anodes and cathodes. A circular polarizer may be formed over the array of organic light-emitting diodes. The circular polarizer may include a linear polarizer and a quarter wave plate. The linear polarizer may be formed from one or more film layers having narrowband dichroic dyes so that the polarizer exhibits transmission peaks aligned with a selected subset of wavelengths and absorbance notches corresponding to the selected subset of wavelengths. The selected subset of wavelengths may cover the ranges where the light-emitting diodes are outputting light. Configured in this way, the polarizer will exhibit enhanced luminance at the desired wavelengths while suppressing ambient light reflections at other wavelengths in the visible spectrum. |
| US09685632B2 |
Encapsulating structure, the electronical package device and display apparatus that incorporates it
This present disclosure provides an encapsulating layer, an electronic package device and a display apparatus, relates to the field of electronics technology, and may decrease the thickness of the encapsulating layer, thereby achieving lightening and thinning of the electronic package device. The encapsulating layer comprises an encapsulating barrier layer and an organic coating layer directly formed on the encapsulating barrier layer; wherein the organic coating layer is a polymerizable organic coating layer; and the polymerizable organic coating layer comprises an unsaturated acrylate organic coating layer. The encapsulating layer is used for encapsulating an electronic device. |
| US09685631B2 |
Display device including tapered substrate
A display device is provided including a first substrate comprising a resin material provided with a plurality region provided with a plurality of pixels including a display device, and a second substrate provided facing the first substrate and installed with the pixel region, wherein an outer periphery side surface of the first substrate having a taper shape and including a barrier layer covering an upper layer, lower layer and the outer periphery side surface of the first substrate. |
| US09685620B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting device including a first region and a second region, the organic light emitting device including a flexible substrate; a driving circuit on the flexible substrate, the driving circuit including a thin film transistor; an organic light emitting element on the flexible substrate, the organic light emitting element connected to the driving circuit; an encapsulating thin film on the flexible substrate, the encapsulating thin film covering the organic light emitting element and the driving circuit; a first protection film facing the encapsulating thin film; a second protection film facing the flexible substrate in the first region; and a third protection film facing the flexible substrate in the second region, the third protection film having an elastic modulus that is less than an elastic modulus of the second protection film. |
| US09685616B2 |
Organic semiconductive component
A semiconductive component with a layer system includes at least one layer comprising a compound of the general formula (I) or (II). |
| US09685614B2 |
Material for organic electroluminescent element, and element using same
A compound represented by the following formula (1): |
| US09685613B2 |
Electroactive materials
There is disclosed a compound having Formula I In Formula I: Ar1 through Ar4 are the same or different and are aryl groups; L is a spiro group, an adamantyl group, bicyclic cyclohexyl, deuterated analogs thereof, or substituted derivatives thereof; R1 is the same or different at each occurrence and is D, F, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, silyl, or a crosslinkable group, where adjacent R1 groups can be joined together to form an aromatic ring; R2 is the same or different at each occurrence and is H, D, or halogen; a is the same or different at each occurrence and is an integer from 0-4; and n is an integer greater than 0. |
| US09685610B2 |
Method for producing a resistive random access memory
A method for producing a resistive random access memory includes preparing a first metal layer and sputtering a resistive switching layer on the first metal layer. Surface treatment is conducted on the resistive switching layer by using a plasma containing mobile ions to dope the mobile ions into the resistive switching layer. The polarity of the mobile ions is opposite to the polarity of oxygen ions. Then, a second metal layer is sputtered on the resistive switching layer. |
| US09685606B2 |
Patterning methods, methods of fabricating semiconductor devices using the same, and semiconductor devices fabricated thereby
A patterning method includes forming an etch-target layer on a substrate, forming mask patterns on the etch-target layer, and etching the etch-target layer using the mask patterns as an etch mask to form patterns spaced apart from each other. The etching process of the etch-target layer includes irradiating the etch-target layer with an ion beam, whose incident energy ranges from 600 eV to 10 keV. A recess region is formed in the etch-target layer between the mask patterns, and the ion beam is incident onto a bottom surface of the recess region at a first angle with respect to a top surface of the substrate and is incident onto an inner side surface of the recess region at a second angle with respect to the inner side surface of the recess region. The first angle ranges from 50° to 90° and the second angle ranges from 0° to 40°. |
| US09685605B2 |
Magnetic memory device having a magnetic shield structure
A magnetic memory device includes a magnetic memory unit having a plurality of magnetic memory cells, a first surface, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first and second surfaces extending in a direction parallel to a direction in which the magnetic memory cells are arranged, a first magnetic shield unit extending below the first surface, and a second magnetic shield unit having a first portion that extends over the second surface and a second portion that extends from the first portion towards the first magnetic shield unit and is directly in contact with the first shield magnetic unit. |
| US09685604B2 |
Magnetoresistive random access memory cell and fabricating the same
A magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) cell includes a free layer having a variable magnetic polarity, wherein the free layer has a first width; a pin layer having a fixed magnetic polarity, wherein the pin layer has the first width; a barrier layer located between the pin layer and the free layer, wherein the barrier layer has a second width that is less than the first width; a top electrode layer located above the free layer, the pin layer, and the barrier layer; a bottom electrode layer located beneath the free layer, the pin layer, and the barrier layer; and a capping layer encapsulating a sidewall of the barrier layer. |
| US09685600B2 |
Enhanced superconductivity of fullerenes
Methods for enhancing characteristics of superconductive fullerenes and devices incorporating the fullerenes are disclosed. Enhancements can include increase in the critical transition temperature at a constant magnetic field; the existence of a superconducting hysteresis over a changing magnetic field; a decrease in the stabilizing magnetic field required for the onset of superconductivity; and/or an increase in the stability of superconductivity over a large magnetic field. The enhancements can be brought about by transmitting electromagnetic radiation to the superconductive fullerene such that the electromagnetic radiation impinges on the fullerene with an energy that is greater than the band gap of the fullerene. |
| US09685595B1 |
Light-emitting diode chip packages and methods for manufacture thereof
A light-emitting diode chip package and a manufacturing process thereof sequentially includes a transparent layer, a fluorescent layer, a wafer layer, a light-emitting diode chip, a dielectric layer, a metal circuit layer, and a protective film and conductive blocks used to draw out the electrodes of the light-emitting diode chip. The outer surfaces of the fluorescent layer and the wafer layer retreat from the fluorescent layer down to the wafer layer to form a slant, and the dielectric layer, the metal circuit layer, and the protective film spread out to coat the slant. Simple techniques at low cost are involved. |
| US09685589B2 |
Optoelectronic component with a layer structure
An optoelectronic component includes a layer structure which has a first gallium nitride layer and an aluminum-containing nitride intermediate layer. In this case, the aluminum-containing nitride intermediate layer adjoins the first gallium nitride layer. The layer structure has an undoped second gallium nitride layer which adjoins the aluminum-containing nitride intermediate layer. |
| US09685586B2 |
Semiconductor structure
A nitride semiconductor structure and a semiconductor light emitting device including the same are revealed. The nitride semiconductor structure mainly includes a stress control layer disposed between a light emitting layer and a p-type carrier blocking layer. The p-type carrier blocking layer is made from AlxGa1-xN (0 |
| US09685583B2 |
Highly luminescent nanostructures and methods of producing same
Highly luminescent nanostructures, particularly highly luminescent quantum dots, are provided. The nanostructures have high photoluminescence quantum yields and in certain embodiments emit light at particular wavelengths and have a narrow size distribution. The nanostructures can comprise ligands, including C5-C8 carboxylic acid ligands employed during shell formation and/or dicarboxylic or polycarboxylic acid ligands provided after synthesis. Processes for producing such highly luminescent nanostructures are also provided, including methods for enriching nanostructure cores with indium and techniques for shell synthesis. |
| US09685582B2 |
Light emitting device and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a light-emitting device, the method including forming a first resin comprising a phosphor inside a cavity of a package body on which a light-emitting diode chip is mounted, measuring color coordinates of light emitted by combination of the light-emitting diode chip and the phosphor, and correcting the color coordinates by forming a second resin on the first resin. The first resin is not fully cured before measuring and correcting the color coordinates. |
| US09685577B2 |
Light emitting diodes and photodetectors
The present application relates generally to light emitting diodes and photodetectors as well as their methods of manufacture and use. In one exemplary embodiment, an integrated device may include a substrate, a light emitting diode formed on the substrate, and a photodetector formed on the substrate. In another embodiment, a device may include a light emitting diode formed on a substrate, and the light emitting diode may act as both a solid state light and as an optical transmitter. |
| US09685576B2 |
Back side illuminated image sensor with guard ring region reflecting structure
A photon detector includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) disposed proximate to a front side of a semiconductor layer. The SPAD includes a multiplication junction that is reversed biased above a breakdown voltage such that light directed into the SPAD through a backside of the semiconductor layer triggers an avalanche multiplication process. A guard ring is disposed in a guard ring region that surrounds the SPAD to isolate the SPAD in the semiconductor layer. A guard ring region reflecting structure is disposed in the guard ring region proximate to the guard ring and proximate to the front side of the semiconductor layer such that light directed into the guard ring region through the backside of the semiconductor layer that bypasses the SPAD is redirected by the guard ring region reflecting structure back into the semiconductor layer and into the SPAD. |
| US09685574B2 |
Solar cell module
Disclosed is a solar cell module. The solar cell module includes a solar cell panel including a plurality of solar cells; a protective substrate on the solar cell panel; and a ventilation unit for ventilating the solar cell panel. |
| US09685571B2 |
Solar cell module with high electric susceptibility layer
A solar cell module includes solar cells that are encased in a protective package and a high electric susceptibility layer that is placed on the solar cells. The high electric susceptibility layer is polarized such that a sheet charge is developed at the interface of the high electric susceptibility layer and the solar cells. The protective package includes an encapsulant that encapsulates the solar cells. The encapsulant may be a multilayer encapsulant, with the high electric susceptibility layer being a layer of the encapsulant. The high electric susceptibility layer may also be a material that is separate from the encapsulant. |
| US09685570B2 |
Light receiving apparatus, method for fabricating light receiving apparatus
A light receiving apparatus includes a light receiving device including a compound semiconductor substrate, photodiodes, and bump electrodes; and a semiconductor integrated device including a silicon substrate and read-out circuits. Bonded, the integrated device and the light receiving device face each other in a direction of a first axis through the bump electrodes. The light receiving device has a back surface with first and second back edges extending in a direction of a second axis intersecting with the first axis. The light receiving device has a first slope face extending from the first back edge along a first reference plane, and a second slope face extending from the second back edge along a second reference plane. The back surface of the light receiving device extends along a third reference plane intersecting with the first axis. The first and second reference planes are inclined with respect to the third reference plane. |
| US09685568B2 |
Photovoltaic module with flexible circuit
A photovoltaic module, and method of making, is disclosed in which a flexible circuit is electrically coupled to a plurality of photovoltaic cells, where the photovoltaic cells are electrically coupled in series to form a series of cells. Each photovoltaic cell has free-standing metallic articles coupled to the top and bottom surfaces of a semiconductor substrate. A cell interconnection element of each photovoltaic cell is electrically coupled to a free-standing metallic article of an adjacent photovoltaic cell, where the interconnection elements of the initial and final cells in the series serve as contact ends for the series of cells. Contact tabs of the flexible circuit are electrically coupled to the contact ends of the series of cells, and a junction box is electrically coupled to a junction box contact region of the flexible circuit. |
| US09685566B2 |
Method of manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device
A target made of a metal material is sputtered to form a metal film on a silicon carbide wafer. At this time, the metal film is formed under a condition that an incident energy of incidence, on the silicon carbide wafer, of the metal material sputtered from the target and a sputtering gas flowed in through a gas inlet port is lower than a binding energy of silicon carbide, and more specifically lower than 4.8 eV. For example, the metal film is formed while a high-frequency voltage applied between a cathode and an anode is set to be equal to or higher than 20V and equal to or lower than 300V. |
| US09685562B2 |
Semiconductor device, power diode, and rectifier
An object is to provide a semiconductor device having electrical characteristics such as high withstand voltage, low reverse saturation current, and high on-state current. In particular, an object is to provide a power diode and a rectifier which include non-linear elements. An embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor device including a first electrode, a gate insulating layer covering the first electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer in contact with the gate insulating layer and overlapping with the first electrode, a pair of second electrodes covering end portions of the oxide semiconductor layer, an insulating layer covering the pair of second electrodes and the oxide semiconductor layer, and a third electrode in contact with the insulating layer and between the pair of second electrodes. The pair of second electrodes are in contact with end surfaces of the oxide semiconductor layer. |
| US09685560B2 |
Transistor, method for manufacturing transistor, semiconductor device, and electronic device
A transistor with favorable electrical characteristics, a transistor with stable electrical characteristics, or a highly integrated semiconductor device is provided. In a top-gate transistor in which an oxide semiconductor is used for a semiconductor layer where a channel is formed, elements are introduced to the semiconductor layer in a self-aligned manner after a gate electrode is formed. After that, a side surface of the gate electrode is covered with a structure body. The structure body preferably contains silicon oxide. A first insulating layer is formed to cover the semiconductor layer, the gate electrode, and the structure body. A second insulating layer is formed by a sputtering method over the first insulating layer. Oxygen is introduced to the first insulating layer when the second insulating layer is formed. |
| US09685557B2 |
Different lightly doped drain length control for self-align light drain doping process
A method is provided for fabricating thin-film transistors (TFTs) for an LCD having an array of pixels. The method includes depositing a first photoresist layer over a portion of a TFT stack. The TFT stack includes a conductive gate layer, and a semiconductor layer. The method also includes doping the exposed semiconductor layer with a first doping dose. The method further includes etching a portion of the conductive gate layer to expose a portion of the semiconductor layer, and doping the exposed portion of the semiconductor layer with a second doping dose. The method also includes removing the first photoresist layer, and depositing a second photoresist layer over a first portion of the doped semiconductor layer in an active area of the pixels to expose a second portion of the doped semiconductor layer in an area surrounding the active area. The method further includes doping the second portion of the doped semiconductor layer with a third doping dose, the first dose being higher than the second dose and the third dose. |
| US09685554B1 |
Fin field effect transistor and semiconductor device
A FinFET including a gate stack, a semiconductor fin embedded in the gate stack, a source and a drain disposed is provided. The semiconductor fin extends along a widthwise direction of the gate stack and has a first concave and a second concave exposed at sidewalls of the gate stack respectively. The source and drain are disposed at two opposite sides of the gate stack. The source includes a first ridge portion embedded in the first concave and the drain includes a second ridge portion embedded in the second concave, wherein the first and second ridge portions extend along a height direction of the semiconductor fin. |
| US09685552B2 |
Silicon carbide field effect transistor
A silicon carbide field effect transistor includes a silicon carbide substrate, an n-type drift layer, a p-type epitaxy layer, a source region, a trench gate, at least one p-type doped region, a source, a dielectric layer and a drain. The p-type doped region is disposed at the n-type drift layer to be adjacent to one lateral side of the trench gate, and includes a first doped block and a plurality of second doped blocks arranged at an interval from the first doped block towards the silicon carbide substrate. Further, a thickness of the second doped blocks does not exceed 2 um. Accordingly, not only the issue of limitations posed by the energy of ion implantation is solved, but also an electric field at a bottom and a corner of the trench gate is effectively reduced, thereby enhancing the reliability of the silicon carbide field effect transistor. |
| US09685548B2 |
High electron mobility transistor and method of forming the same using atomic layer deposition technique
A HEMT made of nitride semiconductor materials is disclosed. The HEMT includes the GaN channel layer, the InAlN barrier layer, and the n-type GaN regions formed beneath the source electrode and the drain electrode at a temperature such that the InAlN barrier layer in the crystal quality thereof is not degraded, lower than 800° C. The n-type GaN regions are doped with silicon (Si) and have a ratio of silicon atoms against carbon atoms (Si/C) greater than 100. |
| US09685547B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus including barrier film provided between electrode and protection film
A semiconductor apparatus includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer formed above the substrate and including a nitride semiconductor, an electrode formed above the semiconductor layer and including gold, a barrier film formed above the electrode and a protection film formed above the semiconductor layer and including one of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, and a silicon oxynitride film. The protection film is formed on the barrier film. The barrier film includes a metal oxide material, a metal nitride film, or a metal oxynitride film. |
| US09685541B2 |
Method for forming semiconductor structure
The present invention provides a semiconductor structure, including a substrate, having a fin structure disposed thereon, a gate structure, crossing over parts of the fin structure. The top surface of the fin structure which is covered by the gate structure is defined as a first top surface, and the top surface of the fin structure which is not covered by the gate structure is defined as a second top surface. The first top surface is higher than the second top surface, and a spacer covers the sidewalls of the gate structure. The spacer includes an inner spacer and an outer spacer, and the outer pacer further contacts the second top surface of the fin structure directly. |