| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09724505B2 |
Coupling for medical fluids
A coupling apparatus includes a first component having a first non-mechanical valve, a second component having a second non-mechanical valve, and a third component having a first end for coupling with the first valve and a second end for coupling with the second valve. The third component has an elongated bore such that when the first end is coupled to the first valve and the second end is coupled to the second valve, a passageway is defined therethrough. The coupling apparatus includes a breakaway portion disposed between the third component and the second component and the first and second valves automatically close when the second and third components are separated from one another. |
| US09724503B2 |
On-demand drug release using magneto-electric nanoparticles
Disclosed herein are methods of delivering drugs to a subject in a controlled release fashion by administering a magneto-electric nanoparticle having ionic bonds to a drug then applying a magnetic field to weaken the ionic bonds and release the drug. |
| US09724501B2 |
Methods and systems for treating hydrocephalus
Methods for treating hydrocephalus using a shunt, the shunt having one or more CSF intake openings in a distal portion, a valve disposed in a proximal portion of the shunt, and a lumen extending between the one or more CSF intake openings and the valve, the method comprises deploying the shunt in a body of a patient so that the distal portion of the shunt is at least partially disposed within a CP angle cistern, a body of the shunt is at least partially disposed within an IPS of the patient, and the proximal portion of the shunt is at least partially disposed within or proximate to a JV of the patient, wherein, after deployment of the shunt, CSF flows from the CP angle cistern to the JV via the shunt lumen at a flow rate in a range of 5 ml per hour to 15 ml per hour. |
| US09724498B2 |
Three-lobe drainage hose
A drainage system includes a drainage tube, a tubular coupling, and a drainage hose. The drainage tube defines an inner passage and terminating in a first drainage end and a second drainage end. The tubular coupling has a first thickness that runs throughout the coupling and forms a passage and a stop determined by a second thickness. The drainage hose is formed by a profile which runs along a length of the drainage hose and terminates in a first drainage end and a second drainage end. |
| US09724497B2 |
Method of coating a catheter balloon having a fold
Various methods for optimizing coating of medical devices, such as balloon catheters are disclosed. One method configures catheter balloon folds based on balloon diameter and volume. Other methods include using a specifically-sized protective sheath, using a vacuum, using pressure, pulling the balloon through a coating solution, using at least one spacer or a wick between at least one fold for metering a therapeutic coating into the folds of the balloon, placing an intermediate layer between the balloon and the therapeutic coating, placing a soluble film having a therapeutic agent around the catheter balloon or inside the folds, and any combination thereof. Balloon catheters and catheter balloons having a specific folding configuration, a specifically-sized protective sheath, an intermediate layer, or a soluble film are also disclosed. |
| US09724496B2 |
Intravascular balloon and deflation wire
Angioplasty or valvuloplasty balloon catheters with a ripcord for cutting, ripping, or tearing a balloon can achieve faster deflation times. Methods using such catheters can improve patient outcomes in percutaneous transluminal valvuloplasty and angioplasty. |
| US09724495B2 |
Weeping balloon catheter with drug delivery through dilation balloon
A weeping balloon catheter includes a catheter having an elongate tubular body defining a medical device lumen and a liquid delivery lumen. A dilation balloon is disposed at a distal end of the elongate tubular body and is in fluid communication with the liquid delivery lumen. The dilation balloon includes a fluid communication channel through an outer wall of the dilation balloon. A flow restriction member is positioned along the fluid communication channel and has an open position permitting fluid communication along the fluid communication channel and a closed position blocking fluid communication along the fluid communication channel. A drug delivery path of the weeping balloon catheter is defined by the liquid delivery lumen and the dilation balloon. |
| US09724488B2 |
Cushion for a respiratory mask assembly
A respiratory mask assembly including a frame and a cushion provided to the frame. The cushion including a non-face contacting portion removably attached to the frame and a face-contacting portion adapted to engage a patient's face. The face-contacting portion includes a side wall, a rim extending from the side wall and curving inwardly into a cavity of the cushion, and a membrane substantially surrounding the rim and including an inside surface spaced from an outside surface of the rim. The cushion includes a gusset portion extending radially outwardly from the side wall of the face-contacting portion and a reinforcing ring between the gusset portion and the face-contacting portion. The reinforcing ring is constructed and arranged to act as a stiffening hoop to reduce the tendency of the cushion to expand when under pressure. |
| US09724486B2 |
In-exsufflation therapy auto-adjustment
The present disclosure pertains to a method and system configured to in-exsufflate a subject by controlling the in-exsufflation pressure waveform. In some embodiments, the system comprises a pressure generator, a subject interface, one or more sensors, one or more processors, electronic storage, a user interface, and/or other components. The system is configured to assist the subject to loosen and/or expel secretions by inducing a percussive pressure waveform delivered to the subject during inhalation and/or exhalation. The system is configured to control the in-exsufflation therapy delivered to the subject without requiring regular manual setting and/or adjustment of pressures, pressure amplitudes, a frequency range, and/or other parameters of the percussive pressure waveform. |
| US09724482B2 |
Nebulizer
A nebulizer includes an insertable container and a counter device for counting operations of the nebulizer. The nebulizer can be opened for replacing the container. The counter devices blocks opening of the nebulizer until a predetermined number for operations has been reached. |
| US09724481B2 |
Gas delivery system and surgery system
A gas delivery system supplying a body cavity with a given gas includes a first guide pipe for supplying the given gas into the body cavity and a second guide pipe installed in the first guide pipe for supplying the given gas into the body cavity at a flow velocity that differs from that of the first guide pipe. A flow velocity of the given gas that is supplied from a first conduit which is formed by the first guide pipe and the second guide pipe is faster than a flow velocity of the given gas that is supplied from a second conduit which is formed in the second guide pipe. |
| US09724479B2 |
Handheld medical substance dispensing system, apparatus and methods
Various handheld medical dispensing configurations and methods including the following. Handheld medical dispensing system comprises a syringe, which has a plunger, releasably mounted to syringe actuation apparatus, the apparatus having an actuator configured such that it can move the plunger more than once to dispense a plurality of amounts of substance from the syringe. A method of dispensing fluid from a syringe comprises holding a medical substance delivery system including a syringe, which has a needle, and which is secured to syringe actuation apparatus configured to dispense predetermined amounts of the substance from the syringe, penetrating the needle at one patient site and using the apparatus to deliver a predetermined amount of the substance, and penetrating the needle at another patient site and using the apparatus to deliver a predetermined amount of the substance. |
| US09724478B2 |
Injection device for delivering a fixed dose of liquid drug
An injection device for delivering a predetermined fixed dose of liquid drug, comprising a base member, a piston rod a first tubular member, and a second tubular member. |
| US09724474B2 |
Filter syringe
A syringe with a filter is disclosed. When liquid medicine for treatment such as an analgesic is suctioned into the syringe by using a syringe needle and then injected into a human body through the syringe needle, foreign substances generated in an ampule and the like are filtered in the syringe prior to the liquid medicine being injected into the human body as the foreign substances are suctioned into the syringe through the syringe needle. In addition, the filter is configured so that the filter can be installed into the syringe with ease. |
| US09724472B2 |
Auto-injector
According to the invention, an auto-injector for administering a dose of a liquid medicament (M) comprises of a substantially cylindrical housing arranged to contain a pre-filled syringe filled with the medicament (M), a needle shroud slibably arranged with respect to the housing and adapted to rest on the skin of a patient receiving an injection, a releasable drive means arranged within the housing that is capable of, upon release, translating the needle shroud in a proximal direction (P) towards a safe position (PS) and a rotating collar rotatably arranged within the housing. The needle shroud in the safe position (PS) surrounds the injection needle after the injection has been carried out. The rotating collar engages the needle shroud in a manner that forces the rotating collar to rotate within the housing when the needle shroud is translated in the proximal direction (P). |
| US09724471B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for medicament delivery
Certain exemplary embodiments comprise can comprise an auto-injector, which can comprise: a vial configured to store and/or contain an injectable medicament, the vial defining a vial longitudinal axis, and a housing comprising the vial. In various embodiments, the injectable medicament can be a medicine, medication, drug, pharmaceutical, prescriptive, agent, antidote, anti-venom, hormone, stimulant, vasodilator, anesthetic, and/or nutritional supplement that is substantially ready for injection. |
| US09724468B2 |
Devices and methods for adjusting basal delivery profile
The present disclosure presents systems, devices and methods for administration of a therapeutic fluid to the body of a patient at a transient basal delivery profile, and enabling modification of the transient profile. Some embodiments include a user interface enabling input of one or more transient basal related parameters, and a processor having a basal programming application operating thereon. The basal programming application configured for determining a transient basal profile based on at least one or more transient basal related parameters. The transient basal profile comprises a plurality of phases and wherein each of the plurality of phases is characterized by a duration and at least one basal rate. In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of phases includes either a basal overshot or a basal undershot. Some embodiments may also include a pump for dispensing the therapeutic fluid from a reservoir to the body of the patient. |
| US09724466B2 |
Flow meter
An flow meter includes a coupler, a support member, an image sensor, and one or more processors. The coupler is adapted to couple to a drip chamber. The support member is operatively coupled to the coupler. The image sensor has a field of view and is operatively coupled to the support member. The image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within its field of view. The one or more processors are operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive data thereform. The one or more processors (1) receive image data from the image sensor, and (2) determine an existence of a free flow condition by identifying an optical distortion of an area behind the free flow condition within the drip chamber using the received image data. |
| US09724465B2 |
Flow meter
An flow meter includes a coupler, a support member, an image sensor, and one or more processors. The coupler is adapted to couple to a drip chamber. The support member is operatively coupled to the coupler. The image sensor has a field of view and is operatively coupled to the support member. The image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within its field of view. The one or more processors are operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive data therefrom. The one or more processors (1) receive image data from the image sensor, and (2) determine an existence of a free flow condition by identifying an optical distortion of an area behind the free flow condition within the drip chamber using the received image data. |
| US09724462B2 |
Fluid-connection mechanism for patch-pumps
The present invention provides a selectively activatable patch-pump assembly, said patch-pump assembly comprising: • a sealed prefilled drug-reservoir containing a drug to be delivered; • an associated conduit in connection therewith; • a selectively activatable penetrator which penetrates said sealed prefilled drug-reservoir and facilitates drug access to said conduit; and • a selectively activatable, associated, cannula-containing assembly for delivering a drug subcutaneously to a subject, in fluid connection with said conduit; wherein a selective activation-step initiates penetration of said sealed prefilled drug-reservoir, drug access from said drug-reservoir to said conduit, drug access from said conduit to said cannula-containing assembly and delivery from said cannula-containing assembly, thereby being a selectively activatable patch-pump assembly. |
| US09724459B2 |
Medical device leak sensing devices, methods, and systems
Features for protecting against leaks in a fluid circuit are disclosed. In a first embodiment, a fluid circuit is housed by another fluid circuit that is configured to capture and convey leaks to leak detector. In a second embodiment, a first indicator of a leak is used to trigger confirmation by blood flow reversal and air detection in the blood circuit. |
| US09724451B2 |
Silicone rubber-based curable composition, method for producing silicone rubber, silicone rubber, molded article, and tube for medical use
The present invention provides a silicone rubber-based curable composition with which a silicone rubber having excellent tensile strength and tear strength is obtained, a method for producing a silicone rubber using the silicone rubber-based curable composition, a silicone rubber, a molded article using the silicone rubber, and a tube for medical use formed from the molded article. The silicone rubber-based curable composition of the present invention is characterized in that it includes a vinyl group-containing organopolysiloxane (A), an organohydrogen polysiloxane (B), silica particles (C), a silane coupling agent (D), and platinum or a platinum compound (E). |
| US09724449B2 |
Injectable fibrin composition for bone augmentation
The present invention relates to a biodegradable injectable composition for bone augmentation comprising fibrin, a contrast agent and calcium salt-containing particles, as well as a method for bone augmentation in a patient suffering from a bone disorder comprising injecting said composition into a non-mineralized or hollow portion of said bone. |
| US09724448B2 |
Materials for gastrointestinal obstruction prevention
Materials and methods for preventing gastrointestinal obstruction are provided. A peptide comprising between about 7 amino acids and about 32 amino acids in a solution may be introduced to a target site. The peptide may undergo self-organization under physiological conditions and/or in the presence of a cation. |
| US09724446B2 |
Method for obtaining a composite hemocompatible material and resulting material
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hemocompatible material comprising a synthetic substrate and animal biological tissue, according to which said animal biological tissue is dehydrated and adhered to said synthetic substrate by means of a dispersion of the material forming said synthetic substrate. According to the invention, the animal biological tissue is only dehydrated chemically by immersing said animal biological tissue in a bath consisting of a solution containing at least 80 wt % of polyethylene glycol. |
| US09724441B2 |
Storage device including target UV illumination ranges
Ultraviolet radiation is directed within an area at target wavelengths, target intensities, a target temporal distribution, and/or a target spatial distribution. The target attribute(s) of the ultraviolet radiation can correspond to at least one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations including a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, an ethylene decomposition operating configuration, and/or the like. |
| US09724439B2 |
Autoclave sterilization cabinet
A sterilization cabinet for use in an autoclave. The sterilization cabinet includes one or more filtered vents permitting sterilization agent to enter and exit the interior space of the cabinet during a sterilization cycle. Each vent is occluded by a cover plate. The cover plate contains a latch configured to accept a rod extending from the center of the vent and engage a notch disposed thereon. The floor of the cabinet is shaped to direct the liquid contained within the cabinet to flow into the drain port disposed within the floor. The drain assembly is used to expel the liquid from the cabinet while preventing microbes and contaminants from entering the cabinet. The hinges connecting the door to the cabinet can be used to adjust an angle of inclination, a horizontal position, and a vertical position of the door. |
| US09724438B2 |
Sterilizing method and apparatus
Methods and apparatus for sterilization are presented. An apparatus includes a sterilizing cabinet assembly including a cabinet having an access port and a bottom, the bottom configurable to induce a condensate to flow on the bottom to a vent port. The apparatus further includes a door connected to the cabinet, the door moveable between an open position permitting passage through the access port to an interior of the cabinet and a closed position precluding passage through the access port. The apparatus also includes at least one of the cabinet and the door having the vent port, and a filter overlying the vent port and forming a sealed interface with an adjacent portion of the one of the cabinet and the door. |
| US09724436B2 |
Alpha-emitting complexes
The present invention provides a tissue-targeting complex comprising a tissue targeting moiety, an octadentate hydroxypyridinone-containing ligand and the ion of an alpha-emitting thorium radionuclide. The invention additionally provides therapeutic methods employing such complexes, methods of their production and use, and kits and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such complexes. |
| US09724433B2 |
Local J-coupling dye-zeolite antenna composite materials
A dye loaded zeolite composite material comprises a plurality of zeolite crystals each having a plurality of straight through uniform channels extending between the proximal face and the distal face and having a channel axis parallel to and a channel width transverse to a longitudinal crystal axis A. Each channel contains a substantially linear arrangement of dye molecules comprising first and second dye molecules having an elongated shape with a longitudinal extension exceeding said channel width and a lateral extension not exceeding said channel width. Each dye molecule consists of a chromophore moiety arranged between a pair of terminal moieties, wherein: the chromophore moieties of the first and second dye molecules are substantially identical, the terminal moieties of the first dye molecules have a lateral extension larger than half of the channel width, the terminal moieties of the second dye molecules have a lateral extension smaller than half of the channel width, the linear arrangement of dye molecules comprises at least one pair of second dye molecules adjacent each other. |
| US09724430B2 |
Therapeutic gene-switch constructs and bioreactors for the expression of biotherapeutic molecules, and uses thereof
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating, ameliorating or preventing a disease or disorder in a subject by introducing into cells of the subject a therapeutic gene switch construct that controls expression of one or more therapeutic products. |
| US09724428B2 |
Medical devices for collecting pathogenic cells
Disclosed is a medical device constructed and arranged for contact with a flow of blood or other bodily fluid of a patient and including an attached binding agent or a roughened surface that binds to pathogenic cells targeted for elimination from the blood or other bodily fluid. Also disclosed are methods for making and using the device. |
| US09724427B2 |
Anti-Ly6E antibodies and immunoconjugates and methods of use
The invention provides anti-Ly6E antibodies, immunoconjugates and methods of using the same. |
| US09724424B2 |
Magnetic acoustic resonance light and homeopathic therapy crystal
A quartz or otherwise similar crystal (‘host crystal’) embedded with minerals, metals, homeopathic, organic/inorganic, and magnetic materials (which allow for magnetic interactions) and the method for embedded ‘host crystal’ with said materials is disclosed. The ‘host crystal’ can be any size, shape, cut, or color of crystal. A hole/depression is first drilled/etched anywhere on the quartz or similar ‘host crystal’, this hole is then filled with a chosen combination of materials using force/compression, and are semi-permanently sealed by compressing metal flake or powder onto/into the top of the material-filled hole in the ‘host crystal’. The compression of the materials inside of the ‘host crystal’ increases the natural piezoelectric, ionic emission, magnetic field, and vibrational properties/emissions, allows for magnetic interactions, increases their scientific and potential therapeutic effects, and has applications for decorative specimens, energy healing/homeopathic/vibrational therapies, water energizing/structuring, and is most often incorporated into gem, mineral, magnetic, and homeopathic light therapies. |
| US09724419B2 |
Peptide systems and methods for metabolic conditions
The present invention generally relates to compositions and methods for topical or transdermal delivery, and treatment of metabolic conditions. In some cases, the composition may include nitric oxide and/or peptides such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and/or GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone). The nitric oxide and/or peptide may be present within a first phase comprising a lecithin, such as phosphatidylcholine. In certain embodiments, the lecithin is present in liposomes, micelles, or other structures containing nitric oxide, peptides, or both. The composition can take the form of a gel, a cream, a lotion, an ointment, a solution, a solid “stick,” etc., that can be rubbed or sprayed onto the skin. Other aspects of the present invention are generally directed to methods of making or using such compositions, methods of promoting such compositions, kits including such compositions, or the like. |
| US09724414B2 |
Stable aqueous formulations of adalimumab
The invention provides aqueous pharmaceutical adalimumab compositions suitable for long-term storage of adalimumab, methods of manufacture of these compositions, methods of administration, and kits containing same. |
| US09724413B2 |
Methods of treating cancer using PD-1 axis binding antagonists and MEK inhibitors
The present invention describes combination treatment comprising a PD-1 axis binding antagonist and a MEK inhibitor and methods for use thereof, including methods of treating conditions where enhanced immunogenicity is desired such as increasing tumor immunogenicity for the treatment of cancer. |
| US09724412B2 |
Chymase compositions, antibodies, diagnostics, and therapeutic methods related thereto
The disclosure relates to chymase, antibodies to chymase, and diagnostic and therapeutic methods relates thereto. It has been discovered that above certain circulating levels of chymase, a patient has a high likelihood of arteriovenous fistula nonmaturation. Compositions and methods of detecting and measuring chymase levels are disclosure herein. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to methods of determining the effectiveness of creating an arteriovenous fistula in a subject diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. |
| US09724411B2 |
Methods for treating hypercholesterolemia and reducing LDL-C using antibodies to PCSK9
The present invention provides methods for treating hypercholesterolemia and reducing LDL-C. The methods of the present invention comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutic composition comprising an anti-PCSK9 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof. |
| US09724409B2 |
Treatment of inflammatory skin disease
The number of acne lesions in a human subject is reduced by administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition that includes a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that selectively binds IL-1α. Anxiety and other psychiatric conditions are also improved with this treatment. |
| US09724407B2 |
Horse allergen and methods
A method for performing in vitro diagnosis of type 1 allergy, comprises contacting an immunoglobulin-containing body fluid sample from a patient suspected of having Type 1 allergy with an immobilized horse allergen immobilized on a solid support, and detecting the presence, in the sample, of IgE antibodies specifically binding to the horse allergen, wherein the presence of such IgE antibodies specifically binding to the horse allergen is indicative of Type 1 allergy. A method for treatment of Type 1 allergy comprises administering to an individual susceptible to such treatment, the horse allergen, or a form of the horse allergen that is modified to abrogate or attenuate its IgE binding response. The horse allergen may be produced via a vector and a host cell comprising the vector. |
| US09724406B2 |
Constructs for enhancing immune responses
Chimeric protein constructs including a herpesvirus glycoprotein D (gD) and a heterologous polypeptide that interact with herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) and enhance and enhance an immune response against the heterologous polypeptide and methods for their use are provided. |
| US09724405B2 |
Rabies glycoprotein virus-like particles (VLPS)
The present invention is generally related to virus-like particles (VLPs) comprising rabies virus (RV) glycoproteins (G proteins) and methods for making and using them, including immunogenic compositions such as vaccines for the treatment and/or prevention of rabies virus infection. |
| US09724402B2 |
Neisseria meningitidis composition and methods thereof
In one aspect, the invention relates to an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to SEQ ID NO: 71 in another aspect, the invention relates to an immunogenic composition including an isolated non-lipidated, non-pyruvylated ORF2086 polypeptide from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, and at least one conjugated capsular saccharide from a meningococcal serogroup. |
| US09724400B2 |
Administration of plant expressed oral tolerance agents
Protein replacement therapy for patients with hemophilia or other inherited protein deficiencies is often complicated by pathogenic antibody responses, including antibodies that neutralize the therapeutic protein or that predispose to potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions by formation of IgE. Using murine hemophilia B as a model, we have developed a prophylactic protocol against such responses that is non-invasive and does not include immune suppression or genetic manipulation of the patient's cells. Oral delivery of coagulation factor IX (F. IX) expressed in chloroplasts, bioencapsulated in plant cells, effectively blocked formation of inhibitory antibodies in protein replacement therapy. Inhibitor titers were mostly undetectable and up to 100-fold lower in treated mice when compared to controls. Moreover, this treatment eliminated fatal anaphylactic reactions that occurred after 4 to 6 exposures to intravenous F. IX protein. While only 20-25% of control animals survived after 6-8 F. IX doses, 90-95% of tolerized mice survived 12 injections without signs of allergy or anaphylaxis. This high-responder strain of hemophilia B mice represents the first hemophilic animal model to study anaphylactic reactions. The plant material was effective over a range of oral antigen doses (equivalent to 5-80 μg recombinant F.IX/kg), and controlled inhibitor formation and anaphylaxis long-term, up to 7 months. Oral antigen administration caused a deviant immune response that suppressed formation of IgE and inhibitory antibodies. This cost-effective and efficient approach to oral delivery of protein antigens to the gut should be applicable to several genetic diseases that are prone to pathogenic antibody responses during treatment. |
| US09724399B2 |
Mimotopes of alpha-synuclein and vaccines thereof for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders
The present invention relates to the use of at least one compound comprising the amino acid sequence (Formula 1)(SEQ ID NO: 57) (X1)nX2X3PVX4X5X6(X7)m, wherein X1 is any amino acid residue, X2 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid (D) and glutamic acid (E), X3 is any amino acid residue, X4 is any amino acid residue, X5 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of proline (P) and alanine (A), X6 is an amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid (D) and glutamic acid (E), X7 is any amino acid residue, n and m, independently, are 0 or an integer of more than 0, and wherein the amino acid sequence according to Formula I is not identical with, or does not comprise the 8-mer polypeptide fragment of alpha-synuclein having the amino acid sequence DMPVDPDN (SEQ ID NO: 1), said compound having a binding capacity to an antibody which is specific for an epitope of alpha-synuclein comprising the amino acid sequence DMPVDPDN (SEQ ID NO: 1) for producing a medicament for preventing and/or treating synucleinopathies. |
| US09724397B2 |
Sustained release formulations comprising very low molecular weight polymers
The present invention relates to a parenteral, sustained and controlled release, semisolid formulation comprising an end-capped oligomer and at least one active substance without any supplementary viscosity reducing agent or excipient. |
| US09724396B2 |
Use of antagonists of growth hormone or growth hormone receptor to prevent or treat stress-sensitive psychiatric illness
The invention relates to methods for treating stress sensitive condition. For instance a subject having or at risk of having a stress-sensitive condition may be treated with a growth hormone (GH) antagonist in an effective amount to treat the stress sensitive condition. The GH antagonist may be, for instance, a growth hormone receptor (GHR) antagonist. |
| US09724393B2 |
Method for treatment of metastatic and refractory cancers and tumors with an inducer that overcomes inhibition of T cell proliferation
A method of treating a mammalian subject with cancer comprises administering to said subject having a cancer, e.g., a metastatic or refractory cancer or tumor, a small molecule inhibitor of a target signaling molecule of the MEK/MAPK pathway that impairs T cell activation, and administering to said subject a molecule that induces T cell proliferation in the presence of said inhibitor. The combination of a small molecule inhibitor of a target of the MEK/MAPK pathway and the T cell proliferation inducer reduces the proliferation of the cancer and tumor cells in vivo. Compositions and kits including these components are also provided. |
| US09724391B2 |
Combination preparation including a corticosteroid and exosomes
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for a combination therapy with a corticosteroid and exosomes. By means of the combination therapy diseases such as osteoarthritis, arthritis and/or degenerative spinal diseases can be treated. |
| US09724384B2 |
Methods to treat inflammation of the lung
The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising leukotoxin for the treatment of lung inflammation. |
| US09724383B2 |
Stabilized trimeric HIV-1 GP41 fusion inhibitor polypeptides comprising the N-terminal heptad repeat (NHR) and foldon (FD) trimerization motif
Disclosed herein are trimeric polypeptide pharmaceutical compositions comprising three monomers, each monomer comprising a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal heptad repeat (NHR or HR1) or C-terminal heptad repeat (CHR or HR2) of the transmembrane glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a trimerization motif. |
| US09724382B2 |
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising cyclosporin
The invention relates to liquid pharmaceutical compositions containing: a) a therapeutically effective dose of a cyclosporin; b) an aqueous carrier liquid; c) a first solubilizing substance selected among the group of phospholipids; and d) a second solubilizing substance selected among the group of non-ionic surfactants. Preferably, the cyclosporin is liposome solubilized. The inventive composition is suitable for oral, parenteral, nasal, mucosal, topical, and particularly pulmonary application in the form of an aerosol. |
| US09724376B2 |
Olive leaf powder
The present invention provides methods of producing high quality olive leaf powders using infrared dry blanching, drying, and milling. Also provided are powders prepared by the methods of the invention. The powders can be included in various food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and antimicrobial compositions. |
| US09724374B2 |
Capsule containing total flavonoids of desmodium styracifolium, method for preparing the same and use
A capsule containing total flavonoids of Desmodium styracifolium, a method for preparing the same and a use of the capsule containing total flavonoids of Desmodium styracifolium are provided. Specifically, the capsule includes total flavonoids of Desmodium Styracifolium provided in a form of alcohol extract of Desmodium Styracifolium and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. |
| US09724372B2 |
Calf administered bacterial composition
A juvenile animal feed additive, such as for calves, that promotes animal health and growth, reduces mortality and can act as an antibiotic substitute. The additive inhibits pathogen growth resulting in lower pathogen load within the animal and reduced pathogen sheading to the environment. The additive includes bacteria that inhibit E. coli O157:H7 growth by as much as 93% and Salmonella growth by as much as 97%, together with commensurate inhibition rates against the Big-Six Escherichia coli strains. The additive includes various combinations of the following pathogen-inhibiting bacteria: Lactobacillus animalis; Enterococcus faecium; and Pediococcus acidilactici. |
| US09724371B2 |
Feedlot administered bacterial composition
A feedlot administered animal feed additive that promotes animal health and growth, reduces mortality and can act as an antibiotic substitute. The additive inhibits pathogen growth resulting in lower pathogen load within the animal and reduced pathogen sheading to the environment. The additive includes bacteria that inhibit E. coli O157:H7 growth by as much as 93% and Salmonella growth by as much as 97%, together with commensurate inhibition rates against the Big-Six Escherichia coli strains. The additive includes various combinations of the following pathogen-inhibiting bacteria: Lactobacillus animalis; Enterococcus faecium; and Pediococcus acidilactici. |
| US09724370B2 |
Amniotic membrane preparations and purified compositions and therapy for scar reversal and inhibition
Compositions having a combination of specific biological components have been found to exert a number of useful effects in mammalian cells, including modulating TGF β signaling, apoptosis, and proliferation of mammalian cells, as well as decreasing inflammation in mice. These components can be obtained commercially, or can be prepared from biological tissues such as placental tissues. Placental amniotic membrane (AM) preparations described herein include AM pieces, AM extracts, AM jelly, AM stroma, and mixtures of these compositions with additional components. The compositions can be used to treat various diseases, such as wound healing, inflammation and angiogenesis-related diseases. |
| US09724369B2 |
Methods of maintaining fat volume
In one aspect, the invention is directed to a method of delivering fat to one or more sites in an individual in need thereof comprising introducing an effective amount of one or more epineural sheaths comprising adipose tissue to the one or more sites in the individual. In another aspect, the invention is directed to a method of maintaining or augmenting (increasing) fat volume at one or more sites in an individual in need thereof comprising introducing an effective amount one or more epineural sheaths comprising adipose tissue to the one or more sites in the individual. The one or more epineural sheaths comprising adipose tissue is maintained under conditions in which the fat volume is maintained and/or augmented at the one or more sites in the individual. |
| US09724368B2 |
Unextracted tooth root canal filler and dental tissue regeneration method for unextracted tooth
Disclosed is a root canal filler for non-extracted tooth which causes no internal resorption or external resorption in a tooth with complete root formation, shows no odontoclast, and contributes to the regeneration of a dental tissue in which odontoblasts are smoothly aligned on the dentin wall. After pulpectomy or enlargement/cleaning of an infected root canal, a root canal filler for non-extracted tooth, which comprises tooth pulp stem cells and an extracellular matrix, is inserted into the apical side of the root canal of the non-extracted tooth. The tooth pulp stem cells may be, for example, dental pulp CXCR4-positive cells. It is preferred to attach, to the crown side of the root canal, migration factor(s) including at least one factor selected from among a cell migration factor, a cell proliferation factor, a neurotrophic factor and an angiogenic factor. |
| US09724366B2 |
CD11 B[low] macrophages and conditioned media thereof for treating cancer and/or fibrosis
A conditioned medium of CD11blow macrophages and methods for preparing it are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the CD11blow macrophages conditioned medium or a culture of CD11blow macrophages and their use in the treatment of cancer or fibrosis are also provided. |
| US09724363B2 |
Skin compositions and methods of use thereof
Provided are body corrective cosmetic formulations and methods of use thereof. |
| US09724359B2 |
Neprilysin inhibitors
In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having the formula: where R1-R6, a, b, Z, and X are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds have neprilysin inhibition activity. In another aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds. |
| US09724358B2 |
Minocycline compounds and methods of use thereof
Methods and compositions for using a tetracycline compound to treat bacterial infections are described. In one embodiment, for example, the invention provides a method of treating a subject for an infection, comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of 9-[(2,2-dimethyl-propyl amino)-methyl]-minocycline or a salt thereof, such that said subject is treated, wherein said infection is selected from the group consisting of MSSA, MRSA, B-streptococci, Viridans Streptococci, Enterococcus, or combinations thereof. |
| US09724357B2 |
Methods for preserving photoreceptor cell viability following retinal detachment
Provided are methods for maintaining the viability of photoreceptor cells following retinal detachment. The viability of photoreceptor cells can be preserved by administering a hydrophilic bile acid (e.g., UDCA or TUDCA) to a mammal having an eye with a detached retina. Administration of the hydrophilic bile acid maintains the viability of the photoreceptor cells until such time that the retina becomes reattached to the underlying retinal pigment epithelium and choroid, thereby minimizing the loss of vision or visual acuity, which otherwise may occur as a result of the retinal detachment. |
| US09724356B2 |
Formulations of deoxycholic acid and salts thereof
The present application is directed to an aqueous pharmaceutical formulation comprising less than about 5% w/v sodium deoxycholate maintained at a pH sufficient to substantially inhibit precipitation of the sodium deoxycholate. Also disclosed herein, are methods for inhibiting precipitation of sodium deoxycholate in an aqueous solution comprising less than about 5% w/v of sodium deoxycholate, said method comprising maintaining pH of the solution of from at least about 8.0 to about 8.5. |
| US09724354B2 |
Combination of catalytic mTORC1/2 inhibitors and selective inhibitors of Aurora A kinase
Disclosed are methods for the treatment of proliferative disorders. Disclosed in particular, are methods for treatment of proliferative disorders such as cancer, by administering an mTORC1/2 inhibitor in combination with a selective inhibitor of Aurora A kinase. Preferred MTORC1/2 inhibitors include MLN0128 and the preferred Aurora A kinase inhibitor of the combination is MLN8237. |
| US09724353B2 |
Methods for treating intrapulmonary infections
This disclosure relates to the treatment of intrapulmonary bacterial infections, including treatment of nosocomial pneumonia lung infections with pharmaceutical compositions containing the cephalosporin ceftolozane. |
| US09724351B2 |
Compounds for the treatment of paramoxyvirus viral infections
Disclosed herein are new antiviral compounds, together with pharmaceutical compositions that include one or more antiviral compounds, and methods of synthesizing the same. Also disclosed herein are methods of ameliorating and/or treating a paramyxovirus viral infection with one or more small molecule compounds. Examples of paramyxovirus infection include an infection caused by human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). |
| US09724348B2 |
Crystalline forms
The present invention relates to novel crystalline polymorphic forms of 3-(2-{4-[(4-fluorophenyl)carbonyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethyl)-2-methyl-4H-pyrido[1,2-α]pyrimidin-4-one. The present invention also includes the methods of making crystalline polymorphic forms thereof and the use thereof for preparing a pharmaceutical composition. |
| US09724347B2 |
1-pyrazolyl-3-(4-((2-anilinopyrimidin-4-yl)oxy)napththalen-1-yl) ureas as P38 MAP knase inhibitors
There are provided compounds of formula (I) which are inhibitors of the family of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase enzymes, and to their use in therapy, including in pharmaceutical combinations, especially in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory diseases of the lung, such as asthma and COPD. |
| US09724344B2 |
Enhanced delivery of drug compositions to treat life threatening infections
Inhalable compositions are described. The inhalable compositions comprise one or more respirable aggregates, the respirable aggregates comprising one or more poorly water soluble active agents, wherein at least one of the active agents reaches a maximum lung concentration (Cmax) of at least about 0.25 μg/gram of lung tissue and remains at such concentration for a period of at least one hour after being delivered to the lung. Methods for making such compositions and methods for using such compositions are also disclosed. |
| US09724335B2 |
Solid dispersions of insoluble drug and preparation method thereof
The present invention relates to a solid dispersion characterized in that it comprises carbamic acid 3-(4-benzyloxy-phenyl)-isoxazol-5-ylmethyl ester as an active ingredient and a water-soluble polymer having a glass transition temperature lower than the melting point of the active ingredient as a carrier, and it is prepared via melt extrusion. The solid dispersion of the present invention remarkably increases the solubility and dissolution rate of the active ingredient which is an insoluble drug to efficiently improve the bioavailability when it is orally administered. |
| US09724333B2 |
Pyrazole derivative
Provided is a novel therapeutic means for Alzheimer's disease.In particular, provided is a compound represented by the following general formula (I): or a salt thereof. |
| US09724329B2 |
Stimulating immune response
Methods of treatment or prevention of a cancerous or pre-cancerous condition, of slowing or preventing growth of a cancerous condition, of stimulating a cell-mediated immune response, stimulating a Th1 helper T cell response against a pathogen in a mammal and of treating or preventing inflammatory diseases or disorders that involve administration of N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) or a physiologically acceptable salt, solvate, tautomer or prodrug thereof are provided. Also provided are formulations of an active agent. |
| US09724322B2 |
4-(phenoxyalkyl)thio)-phenoxyacetic acids and analogs
The invention features 4-((phenoxyalkyl)thio)-phenoxyacetic acids and analogs, compositions containing them, and methods of using them as PPAR delta modulators to treat or inhibit the progression of, for example, dyslipidemia. |
| US09724320B2 |
Composition for preventing or treating renal fibrosis comprising dimethylfumarate as active ingredient
The present invention relates to a composition for preventing or treating renal fibrosis comprising dimethylfumarate (DMF) as an active ingredient. The DMF according to the present invention has an excellent effect of reducing renal fibrosis by activating Nrf2 to inhibit TGF-β/Smad signaling, and thus is useful for preventing or treating renal fibrosis. |
| US09724315B2 |
Compounded transdermal pain management
The present embodiments relate to topically delivered medication (compounded) for treatment of pain, inflammation, muscle fatigue, spasms, and/or other ailments. A transdermal cream may provide the effective topical administration of multiple medications simultaneously. The transdermal cream may include a salt load of approximately 30% or greater. The transdermal cream may include a unique base composition such that the transdermal cream may be able to remain stable and avoid degradation for six months or more and capable of effective delivery of active ingredient concentrations exceeding approximately 40% or more of the total formulation weight. The active ingredients may include a nerve depressant, NSAID, muscle relaxant, opiate agonist, local anesthetic, NMDA receptor antagonist, and a tricyclic antidepressant. In one embodiment, the transdermal cream may comprise ketamine HCL, gabapentin, clonidine HCL and baclofen. The transdermal cream may deliver an enhanced topical delivery flux of ketamine via a single transdermal application. |
| US09724311B2 |
Curcumin compositions and uses thereof
Curcumin compositions herein are described for improving muscle performance, endurance capacity and resistance to fatigue, when administered in effective amounts to a subject in need of such improvement. The compositions are comprised of curcumin and at least one pharmaceutically and/or nutraceutically acceptable excipient such as a hydrophilic carrier and exhibit enhanced bioavailability. More particularly methods are described and include use of curcumin compositions to increase exercise time, performance and capacity and to prevent muscle soreness, fatigue and injury. The compositions enhance mitochondrial biogenesis by modulating mitochondrial function, increasing mitochondrial mass and oxygen consumption, thus increasing mitochondrial aerobic capacity. The compositions reduce oxidative muscle stress, by decreasing inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory markers. Curcumin compositions are safe for consumption for pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical purposes and are prepared by economic methods using conventional equipments and can be effectively used for enhancing muscle and exercise performance. |
| US09724308B2 |
Biodegradable multilayer constructs
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the field of tissue repair and regeneration. More specifically embodiments of present disclosure relate to devices or constructs and methods to prepare various devices or constructs useful in directing cellular repair and controlling tissue regeneration to prevent or minimize postsurgical or post traumatic adhesions, excessive scars and/or fibrotic reactions of injured tissues. |
| US09724307B2 |
Crosslinked nanoparticle composition
The present invention provides a process for preparing the nanoparticles. The process comprises first forming a water-in-oil emulsion from chitosan lactate, amoxicillin, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, glutaraldehyde or bis[sulfosuccinimidyl] suberate, and oil, and sonicating the mixture of to form nanoparticles comprising chitosan crosslinked by dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate and glutaraldehyde or by dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate and bis[sulfosuccinimidyl] suberate, wherein the nanoparticles have an average diameter of 100-600 nm and have amoxicillin entrapped by the crosslinked chitosan. The present invention is also directed to nanoparticles comprising crosslinked chitosan and amoxicillin, wherein amoxicillin is entrapped by the crosslinked chitosan. The nanoparticles have an average diameter of 100-600 nm, and the entrapped amoxicillin is at least 5% (w/w) of the total weight nanoparticles. |
| US09724304B2 |
Nanospheres for therapeutic agent delivery
Provided is a nanosphere for delivery of a therapeutic agent comprising: a polymer matrix; discrete liquid oil droplets dispersed in the polymer matrix; and a therapeutic agent dissolved or dispersed in the oil. In some embodiments, the nanosphere is pegylated. In some embodiments, the nanosphere has a diameter of from about 100 nm to about 300 nm. In further preferred embodiments, the nanosphere has a diameter of from about 150 nm to about 250 nm. In yet further embodiments, the nanosphere has a diameter of from about 180 nm to about 220 nm. In some embodiments, the oil comprises a lipid or a phospholipid. In further embodiments, the lipid or the phospholipid has a melting point below 20° C. In some embodiments, the polymer is a natural, modified or synthetic polymer. In further embodiments, the polymer is biodegradable. |
| US09724297B2 |
Sotalol compositions and uses of the same
The present invention provides oral solutions containing sotalol hydrochloride which advantageously avoid swallowing while providing with improved stability. The present invention also relates to methods of using the oral solutions for treatment of diseases and disorders, such as delay in reoccurrence of atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter and/or ventricular arrhythmias. |
| US09724295B2 |
Compositions for topical treatment of microbial infections
The present invention provides compositions and methods for topical treatment of infections. The compositions comprise glycerol monolaurate or a derivative thereof, and are administered topically, for example, to treat viral, fungal or bacterial infections. |
| US09724294B2 |
Composition and method for compounded therapy
The present embodiments relate to topically delivered compounded medications. A transdermal cream may provide the effective topical administration of multiple medications simultaneously. The transdermal cream may include low concentrations of local anesthetics, a NSAID, an anticonvulsant, and/or other active ingredients. For instance, the transdermal cream may include lidocaine, prilocaine, meloxicam, and lamotrigine and/or topiramate. Alternatively, the transdermal cream may include a lidocaine/prilocaine base cream to which is added a fine powder of one or more ground up medications to form a compounded medication. The compounded medication in powder form may be generated from grinding up tablets of NSAIDs, anticonvulsants, nerve depressants, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, NMDA receptor antagonists, opiate or opioid agonists, and/or other agents. The compounded medication in powder form may include meloxicam, lamotrigine, topiramate, and/or other active ingredients. In another aspect, the present embodiments relate to methods of compounding medications and transdermal creams or gels. |
| US09724290B2 |
Natural skin-care serum
A skin care composition for topical use wherein the composition comprises avocado & coconut cream oil, cucumber extract and dandelion root's extract and a method to prepare the composition comprising mixing coconut cream and avocado fruit to make a paste, followed by heating to remove moisture and then extract oil. Mixing the oil obtained with cucumber extract and dandelion extract. The composition is used as anti-aging and moisturizing composition and suitable to all skin types. |
| US09724286B2 |
Antiperspirant cosmetic agents having polyphosphoric acids
The invention relates to an antiperspirant cosmetic agent, including a) at least one substance, selected form the group of cosmetic oils that are liquid at 20° C. and 1.013 hPa, aromatic substances, and waxes, b) at least one antiperspirant aluminum salt in a total amount of 0.1 to 80 wt %, with respect to the total weight of the antiperspirant cosmetic agent, and c) at least one compound of formula (PP-I) |
| US09724284B2 |
Method for removing a tattoo
A method of removing a tattoo from skin of a human subject. The method has the step of applying to a region of the skin having the tattoo a reducing composition that includes a reducing agent and a penetration enhancer in admixture. The penetration enhancer is present in an amount effective to effect penetration of at least at least a portion of the reducing agent through the skin to the location of the tattoo. The reducing agent is present in an amount effective to at least partially decolorize or break up a pigment of the tattoo. The reducing agent can be selected from the group consisting of sodium oxymethylene sulfoxylate and sodium hydroxymethane sulfinic acid. |
| US09724283B2 |
Hair cleansing composition
An aqueous hair cleansing composition comprising (a) at least one alkyl poly glucoside; (b) at least one betaine compound; and (c) at least one acyl amino acid, wherein the composition is sulfate free. |
| US09724282B2 |
Stomatological composition
A stomatological composition is provided. The stomatological composition is capable of stably compounding an antibody obtained from a hen egg yolk, and preventing diseases in an oral cavity such as odontonecrosis and periodontal disease from occurring, or improving such diseases in the oral cavity. The stomatological composition includes at least one selected from the group consisting of lipase, protease and the antibody obtained from the hen egg yolk, citric acid and a metal salt of citric acid. A total amount of the lipase, the protease and the antibody obtained from the hen egg yolk is in the range of 0.001 to 10 wt %. When an amount of the citric acid is defined as “A” [wt %] and an amount of the metal salt of citric acid is defined as “B” [wt %], the following relation is satisfied: 0.005≦A/B≦1. Further, the stomatological composition of the present invention includes a polyglyceryl fatty acid ester or an amino acid-based ampholytic surfactant as a surfactant. Further, the stomatological composition of the present invention includes a collagen. |
| US09724281B2 |
Composition of resveratrol and method for its use in the treatment of skin conditions
Compositions of resveratrol having enhanced properties. The compositions of the invention can comprise resveratrol and one or more agents that increase the bioavailability, efficacy and/or bioactivity of the resveratrol. Compositions of the invention find use in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including skin conditions and preventative health maintenance. Methods of making the inventive compositions are also contemplated. |
| US09724280B2 |
Oral care compositions for tooth whitening
Described herein are oral care compositions (for tooth whitening) comprising a thickening system comprising a first thickening agent and a second thickening agent, wherein the first thickening agent comprises greater than 15 wt % of the mixture of the first and second thickening agents in the thickening system. The compositions comprise crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone complexed with hydrogen peroxide with a thickening system comprising silica and crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone. |
| US09724277B2 |
Microbeads for dental use
A method for decreasing dental hypersensitivity, including sizing a plurality of non-functionalized microbeads to be between 0.01 μm to 3 μm in diameter, suspending the plurality of non-functionalized microbeads in a fluid matrix to define a dental delivery composition, introducing the dental delivery composition into an oral cavity, introducing respective non-functionalized microbeads into a dental tubule, adhering respective functionalized microbeads each other and to the dental tubule to define an aggregate, and occluding the dental tubule with the aggregate. |
| US09724276B2 |
Dental materials and method of manufacture
Dental materials may be made from polyhydric phenols that are non-genotoxic and exhibit estrogenic activity less than that of bisphenol S, while exhibiting properties such as strength and flexibility comparable to those of conventional BPA-derived dental materials. |
| US09724274B2 |
Body made of ceramic material
Body made of a ceramic material, the body having as an integral part thereof a surface region reaching from the surface of the body down to a predetermined depth. According to the invention, the surface region is enriched with a magnesium component thereby forming a hydrophilic surface area. |
| US09724271B2 |
Methods and articles for preventing or reducing risk of developing a hyperallergenic immune system
Infant pacifiers, compositions, and methods of use thereof, for preventing or reducing risk of developing a hyperallergenic immune system or allergic condition are provided. |
| US09724265B2 |
Analgesic implant device and system
Techniques associated with an implant system for imparting vibratory massage to tissue within a body is disclosed. In some examples, a device includes a case having an engaging surface configured to conform to a surface in a pelvic region, a passage extending from an opening on the case to another opening on the case, the passage configured to receive a securing member, a vibration generator coupled to the case and configured to generate a vibration, and a power receiver coupled to the case, the power receiver comprising a receiving coil and configured to receive electrical energy from a remote source. |
| US09724262B2 |
Methods of diagnosing and treating neonatal reversion to fetal consciousness
This invention provides methods of diagnosing and treating syndromes of reversion to fetal consciousness in a neonate. |
| US09724261B2 |
Handcart
A handcart includes a main body, main wheels, support portions, auxiliary wheels, an extended portion, connection portions, a tilt angle sensor, and a gyro sensor. The main body is supported at one end thereof to be rotatable in a pitch direction relative to a pair of the main wheels. A bar-shaped connection portion of the extended portion is inserted through a tube portion at another end of the main body. The extended portion extends from the other end of the main body to a rear side in a travelling direction of the handcart. A region of each support portion from a rotation shaft of the main wheel to a rotation shaft of the auxiliary wheel and the extended portion are connected to each other by the connection portion. The connection portion is supported to be rotatable in the pitch direction relative to the support portion and the extended portion. |
| US09724257B1 |
Anti-bedsore bed
An anti-bedsore bed may comprise a bed unit, a first bed body, and a second bed body. The bed unit has a first mattress, and a bottom portion is coupled on a bottom surface thereof. Moreover, the bottom portion comprises six supporting units evenly arranged into three sets at positions corresponding to a user's upper, middle and lower back, and each of the supporting units has a sliding block moveably mounted on an upper surface of the bottom portion. Furthermore, each of the sliding blocks has a supporting rod, and an abutting unit is pivotally connected to an upper end of the supporting rod. The supporting rods are configured to move upwardly in a preset time interval, and the abutting units are adapted to uplift a user's body to detach from the first mattress for a designed time, thereby achieving the anti-bedsore effect. |
| US09724255B2 |
Hospital bed sensor system
A first embodiment provides a manually operable castor assembly for a hospital bed, including a wheel unit fittable to a bed frame and provided with a lock actuator. A sensor unit is provided with a trigger element and a sensor element, the trigger element being located on the manually operable brake actuator and the sensor element being located on the wheel unit. Another embodiment provides a manually operable safety side panel assembly including a hinge assembly coupled to the panel element and attachable to a bed frame, and a sensor unit including a trigger element and a sensor element, the trigger element being located on the manually operable actuator and the sensor element being located on a part of the side panel or hinge assembly. Monitoring apparatus monitors the manually operable bed safety device and including a control unit coupled to the sensor unit and an indicator unit controllable by the control unit and operable to give an indication of the state of the device. |
| US09724249B2 |
Absorbent article
The present invention addresses the problem of providing an absorbent article that has an improved ability to transfer menstrual blood from a liquid-permeable layer to an absorbent body and can reduce the amount of the menstrual blood remaining in the liquid-permeable layer. To solve this problem, provided is a sanitary napkin provided with a top sheet, a back sheet and an absorbent body that is interposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, wherein convex portions formed in an excretion orifice contact region of the top sheet are coated with a blood lubricity-imparting agent that has a kinetic viscosity of 0.01-80 mm2/s at 40° C., a water retention rate of 0.01-4.0 mass % and a weight-average molecular weight of less than 1,000. |
| US09724248B2 |
Latent elastic composite formed from a multi-layered film
A nonwoven composite that exhibits latent elastic properties is provided. The composite is formed from a multi-layered, elastic film laminated to a nonwoven web facing. Latent elasticity is imparted to the composite through the use of at least one base layer that contains a thermoplastic elastomer and at least one skin layer that contains a propylene/α-olefin copolymer. During formation, the film is stretched in one or more directions to orient the elastomer chains. Without intending to be limited by theory, the present inventors believe that the oriented state of the chains may be held in place by the relatively stiff semi-crystalline domains of the propylene/α-olefin copolymer. The stretched elastic film may subsequently be relaxed and bonded to a nonwoven web facing to form the composite. The composite may be later activated (e.g., heated at or above the softening point of the copolymer) to soften the crystalline domains and allow the chains to return to their unoriented state. This causes the film to retract, which forms buckles in the nonwoven facing. In this manner, the resulting composite becomes elastic in that it has the ability to stretch and recover due to the “latent” buckle formation in the nonwoven facing. |
| US09724241B2 |
Simplified hearing aid
A novel hearing aid allowing the user to clearly hear necessary sounds while cutting off noises is provided. The hearing aid includes a cylindrical body to be inserted into the external auditory meatus. The body has an outer surface of such a shape that when the body is inserted into the external auditory meatus, the outer surface substantially sticks firmly to the inner wall of the external auditory meatus. The body has an opening on its insertion end and another opening on its end opposite to the insertion end, both openings communicating without a substantially tapered portion. |
| US09724238B2 |
Ophthalmic interface apparatus, method of interfacing a surgical laser with an eye, and support ring for use with a suction ring
Apparatus and methods are provided for interfacing a surgical laser with an eye using a patient interface device that minimizes aberrations through a combination of a contact lens surface positioning and a liquid medium between an anterior surface of the eye and the contact lens surface. Further, support rings, ocular stability devices, and methods for interfacing an eye during laser surgery are provided. In an embodiment, by way of example only, a support ring includes a first end surface, a second end surface opposite the first end surface, and an outer surface extending between the first end surface and the second end surface. The second end surface has a width that is greater than a width of the first end surface and extends toward a central opening in the support ring to define a concave curvature configured to substantially match a curvature of a patient's eye. The outer surface includes an annular groove formed adjacent the first end surface and a plurality of exterior vacuum channels spaced around the annular groove and extends axially from the annular groove to the second end surface. |
| US09724235B2 |
Laser apparatus and method for laser processing a target material
In an embodiment, a laser apparatus comprises a semiconductor laser, e.g., of the VECSEL type, for generating pulsed laser radiation having a pulse duration in the femtosecond range or shorter and having a pulse repetition rate of at least 100 MHz; a selector for selecting groups of pulses from the laser radiation, each pulse group comprising a plurality of pulses at the pulse repetition rate, wherein the pulse groups are time-displaced by at least 500 ns; a scanner device for scanning a focal point of the laser radiation; a controller for controlling the scanner device based on a control program including instructions that, when executed by the controller, bring about the creation of a LIOB-based photodisruption for each pulse group in a target material, e.g. human eye tissue. |
| US09724231B2 |
Heating and/or cooling assembly
The present invention relates to a heating and/or cooling assembly such as a heat pad. The assembly includes a plurality of modules articulated together by connection means so that the assembly can be manipulated by a user to adopt a desired profile. At least one of the modules contains a thermal store in the form of a solid, liquid or gel responsive to heating or cooling externally applied to the assembly so that the solid, liquid or gel is heated or cooled, respectively, and remains in a heated or cooled state for a prolonged period of time after the externally applied heating or cooling is removed. |
| US09724223B2 |
Delivery system for a self expanding stent
A system for delivering a stent from a catheter sheath in a longitudinal direction comprising: a thumbwheel mounted on an axle, the axle being supported by opposite walls of a housing; a first pinion mounted on the axle; a second pinion mounted on the axle, whereby rotation of the thumbwheel causes rotation of the first pinion and rotation of the second pinion; a first rack, enageable with the first pinion at a first surface of the first pinion, the first rack being operably connected with a stent-engaging member; a second rack, engageable with the second pinion at a second surface of the second pinion, the second surface being disposed in a direction diametrically opposite the first surface, the second rack being operably connected with a sheath configured to confine the stent. |
| US09724218B2 |
Methods and systems for ostial stenting of a bifurcation
A system for treating a bifurcation includes first and second delivery catheters, each having an expandable member. A stent having a side hole is disposed on the second delivery catheter. A portion of the first delivery catheter is disposed under a portion of the stent. The first delivery catheter is slidable relative to the second delivery catheter, and the first delivery catheter passes through the side hole. Expansion of the first expandable member expands a proximal portion of the stent in a main branch vessel, and expansion of the second expandable member expands a distal portion of the stent in a side branch vessel. |
| US09724217B2 |
Branch stent graft deployment and method
A deployment device for deploying a self-expanding fenestrated stent graft. The device includes a fenestrated stent graft retained on an introducer. The introducer includes a main catheter and an auxiliary catheter preloaded within the introducer and extending from distal the distal end of the stent graft, into the lumen of the stent graft and through the fenestration. |
| US09724213B2 |
Nanocrystalline cellulose materials and methods for their preparation
Disclosed herein are methods for producing nanocrystalline cellulose and oxidized nanocrystalline cellulose from biomass. Also disclosed are methods for forming materials, and the materials formed from a fibrin matrix that incorporates the nanocrystalline cellulose and/or the oxidized nanocrystalline cellulose. |
| US09724210B2 |
Prosthetic and orthotic devices having magnetorheological elastomer spring with controllable stiffness
A prosthetic or orthotic device includes a body configured to support at least a portion of a human limb of a user wearing the prosthetic or orthotic device. The device can also include a shock absorption member coupled to the body. The shock absorption member includes one or more magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) springs disposed between a first portion of the body and a second portion of the body. The one or more MRE springs are selectively actuatable to vary a stiffness of the shock absorption member via the application of a magnetic flux, thereby adjusting a stiffness of the body of the prosthetic or orthotic device to a level corresponding to an activity level of the user. |
| US09724209B2 |
Spherical-arc rotating saw blade power tool for acetabular cup extraction
To remove a damaged acetabular cup attached to the hipbone, applicant positions the cutting surface of a curved cutting blade at the acetabular cup/hipbone interface. The blade mounts to a head. The powered drive shaft of a motor rotates the blade and head. A linkage, part of which may be around the drive shaft, moves longitudinally relative to the drive shaft under surgeon control. The linkage pivots the head and urges the blade into the interface. As the power tool rotates the curved blade and the linkage pivots the blade into the interface, the blade follows the hemispherical contour of the interface. Continued powered rotation of the drive shaft and blade and further pivoting of the blade cuts the cup from the hipbone. |
| US09724208B2 |
Expandable vertebral body replacement device, system, and methods
An expandable vertebral body replacement is presented. The device has an inner and outer housing longitudinally moveable on one-another which locks in place using a retention member. This can be locked or fortified by several described options. Also presented is a method for expanding said device embodiments and a system for an expandable vertebral body replacement. |
| US09724207B2 |
In-situ formed intervertebral fusion device and method
An orthopedic device for implanting between adjacent vertebrae comprising: an arcuate balloon and a hardenable material within said balloon. In some embodiments, the balloon has a footprint that substantially corresponds to a perimeter of a vertebral endplate. An inflatable device is inserted through a cannula into an intervertebral space and oriented so that, upon expansion, a natural angle between vertebrae will be at least partially restored. At least one component selected from the group consisting of a load-bearing component and an osteobiologic component is directed into the inflatable device through a fluid communication means. |
| US09724206B2 |
Device to be implanted in human or animal tissue and method for implanting and assembling the device
An implant or endoprosthesis suitable to be implanted in human or animal tissue includes two (or more than two) parts to be joined in situ. Each one of the parts includes a joining location, the two joining locations facing each other when the device parts are positioned for being joined together, wherein one of the joining locations includes a material which is liquefiable by mechanical vibration and the other one of the joining locations includes a material which is not liquefiable by mechanical vibration and a structure (e.g. undercut cavities or protrusions) suitable for forming a positive fit connection with the liquefiable material. The joining process is effected by pressing the two device parts against each other and by applying ultrasonic vibration to one of the device parts when the two parts are positioned relative to each other such that the two joining locations are in contact with each other. |
| US09724205B2 |
Biodegradable implant for intertransverse process fusion
A biodegradable implant for use in intertransverse process spinal fusion having an absorbable matrix having a bone generating material disposed therein. A molded biodegradable case being made of bioabsorbable polymer can at least partially surround the absorbable matrix to carry a substantial portion of compression force relative to said absorbable matrix. |
| US09724204B2 |
Method for inserting and positioning an artificial disc
A method for inserting an intervertebral artificial disc is provided with the intervertebral disc including a first endplate having a plurality of protrusions for attaching to an adjacent vertebrae and an extension portion extending towards a second adjacent vertebrae. A second endplate is provided with a plurality of protrusions for attaching to a second adjacent vertebrae and an extension portion extending towards the first adjacent vertebrae. A flexible member having an upper portion and a lower portion and a slider plate positioned within the upper portion of the flexible member is also provided. The extension portion of the first endplate is adapted to fit within a first cavity in the upper portion of the flexible member and the extension portion of the second endplate is adapted to fit within a second cavity in the lower portion of the flexible member. |
| US09724199B2 |
Orthopaedic implant and method for manufacturing such an orthopaedic implant
This orthopedic implant includes a polymer substrate with an outer surface intended to be secured to a bone tissue. The outer surface is covered with metal particles including titanium. The particles include large primary particles and small secondary particles. The primary particles and the secondary particles are evenly distributed over the outer surface. |
| US09724195B2 |
Translation catheters and systems
The present teachings generally relate to translation catheter systems and method of using thereof in treating defective mitral valves. Specifically, a translation catheter system includes a catheter configured to move substantially laterally along the mitral annulus and the lateral movement of the catheter is substantially continuous and substantially adjustable. Accordingly, a method of using such a translation catheter includes advancing a first wire across the mitral annulus at a first treatment location, delivering a catheter at or near the first treatment location, moving the catheter substantially laterally to a second treatment location, and advancing a second wire across the mitral annulus, where the distance between the first and second treatment locations is substantially adjustable and optionally visualized. |
| US09724193B2 |
Self-expandable heart valve with stabilizers
A prosthetic heart valve includes three bioprosthetic leaflets, each having an arcuate outer edge opposite a coapting edge and two tabs located on opposite sides of the coapting edge. The prosthetic heart valve also includes a self-expandable support frame defining three commissures spaced 120 degrees apart. Each commissure preferably includes two axially-extending attachment flanges with an axial slot therebetween. Each attachment flange includes a plurality of assembly holes through which sutures are passed to secure the leaflet tabs to the attachment flanges. The prosthetic heart valve also includes three outwardly flared U-shaped stabilizing members integrally formed with the leaflet support frame. The three stabilizing members having outer apices spaced 120 degrees apart and offset by 60 degrees from the three commissures. The stabilizing members are shaped to contact the surrounding aorta for stabilizing and anchoring the prosthetic heart valve in the implant position. |
| US09724188B2 |
System and method for ligament reconstruction
Systems and methods for ligament reconstruction provides an implant configured to position ligaments in the anatomic positions to thereby to restore the native anatomy and function of the reconstructed area. The implant includes a sheath, a first ledge, a second ledge, a first anchor and a second anchor. The sheath has an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the interior surface of the sheath forms a lumen configured to receive a sheath expander. The first ledge and the second are configured to separate the ligaments and acts as an anchor for the sheath in the bone tunnel. The first anchor and the second anchor are configured to engage the ligaments and be expandable outwards away from the lumen to provide fixation in a bone tunnel. When the implant receives the sheath expander, the ligaments can be separated, positioned, and secured in the bone tunnel. |
| US09724184B2 |
Filter with deployable anchors
An implantable and removable filter that may be implanted in and/or removed from a body lumen, such as the Vena Cava. The filter including tissue anchors on expandable anchoring legs, which can be selectively moved between a non-anchoring or pre-deployed configuration into an anchoring or deployed configuration by obturators that are movable inside the anchoring legs. |
| US09724183B2 |
Surgical method, kit of parts, and implant
A surgical method is provided, the method including the steps of: providing an artificial or allograft flexible planar structure; providing an implant, the implant including material liquefiable by mechanical oscillation, exposing a surface region of hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material; positioning the implant on an exposed area of the hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material; and fastening the implant to the hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material by impinging the proximal end of the implant with mechanical oscillation and simultaneously pressing the implant against the hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material while the distal end of the implant protrudes into a cavity of the hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material and regions of the liquefiable material are in contact with the hard tissue or hard tissue substitute material, and thereby liquefying at least a portion of the liquefiable material, and letting the liquefiable material resolidify. |
| US09724182B2 |
Connector cuff
An artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) system that includes an elastic tube to be wrapped around a urethra and having at least one connector. The elastic tube has a first end to receive and dispatch fluid and a second end to be connected to the at least one connector. The elastic tube receives and dispatches the fluid to expand and contract the elastic tube and to coapt the urethra for continence and open the urethra for voiding. |
| US09724179B2 |
Head portion and handle portion of an oral care device
An oral care device is disclosed. The oral care device includes a housing being at least partly formed of an electrically isolating material; a capacitor having a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes being electrically isolated by the electrically isolating material of the housing such that they are not exposed to an outside environment of the oral care device; and a processor unit being electrically connected to the first and second electrodes. The processor unit is arranged such that during operation of the oral care device it determines a capacitance (x) of the capacitor in order to determine whether the oral care device is within a user's oral cavity or not. |
| US09724177B2 |
Viewfinder with real-time tracking for intraoral scanning
Methods and systems for scanning an intraoral cavity of a patient provide capturing one or more viewfinder images of the intraoral cavity and scanning the intraoral cavity with an intraoral scanner to generate one or more topography scans of the intraoral cavity. The one or more topography scans may correspond to the one or more viewfinder images. The methods and systems further provide capturing a viewfinder image of a portion of the intraoral cavity, the viewfinder image overlapping with the one or more viewfinder images. An area of overlap of the viewfinder image with the one or more viewfinder images can be determined. One or more indicators of the area of overlap can be displayed on one or more locations of a display in order to provide guidance for positioning a field of view of the intraoral scanner. |
| US09724176B2 |
Alveolar bone augmentation kit
An alveolar bone augmentation kit includes lateral and vertical augmentation sets. The lateral augmentation set is made of a bone graft material. The lateral augmentation set can be implanted in an alveolar bone. The vertical augmentation set includes two attachment units and an adjustment and lift unit. The first attachment unit includes a post and a first fastener. The post secured to the alveolar bone by the first fastener. The adjustment and lift unit includes a beam, an elevating rod movably connected to the beam, and a joint for rotationally connecting the beam to the post. The second attachment unit includes a plate and a second fastener. A first portion of the plate is placed against the elevating rod. The second fastener is driven in the alveolar bone via an opening in a second portion of the plate and an aperture in the lateral augmentation set. |
| US09724171B2 |
Methods, systems, and devices for gauging a bone tunnel
Devices, systems, and methods are provided for gauging a bone tunnel. In one exemplary embodiment, a graft repair system can include an elongate pin, an elongate pusher shaft configured to be positioned over one opposed end of the pin when the pin is positioned within a bone tunnel, and a gauge member configured to be positioned over another opposed end of the pin when the pin is positioned within the bone tunnel. When the pusher shaft abuts the bone adjacent one of the open ends of the bone tunnel and the gauge member abuts the bone adjacent the other open end of the bone tunnel, an indicator mark on the pin can be visible through one or more windows formed in the gauge member. The indicator mark's position relative to each of the one or more windows can indicate one or more characteristics related to the bone tunnel. |
| US09724170B2 |
Catheters, catheter systems, and methods for puncturing through a tissue structure and ablating a tissue region
A percutaneous catheter system for use within the human body and an ablation catheter for ablating a selected tissue region within the body of a subject. The percutaneous catheter system can include two catheters that are operatively coupled to one another by magnetic coupling through a tissue structure. The ablation catheter can include electrodes positioned within a central portion. The ablation catheter is positioned such that the central portion of a flexible shaft at least partially surrounds the selected tissue region. Each electrode of the ablation catheter can be activated independently to apply ablative energy to the selected tissue region. The ablation catheter can employ high impedance structures to change the current density at specific points. Methods of puncturing through a tissue structure using the percutaneous catheter system are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for ablating a selected tissue region using the ablation catheter. |
| US09724163B2 |
Disposable sterile surgical adaptor
A sterile adaptor is provided. The adaptor includes a housing, a retractor plate assembling, and a disc. The retractor plate assembly is coupled to the housing and includes a spring plate between upper and lower retractor plates. The spring plate includes an aperture with leaves. The disc is movably coupled to the spring plate of the retractor plate assembly, with a first side of the disc couplable to a surgical instrument and a second side of the disc couplable to a manipulator arm of a robotic surgical system. The disc is capable of transmitting torque from the manipulator arm to the surgical instrument. |
| US09724161B2 |
Systems, apparatuses and methods of tool exchange
A system for exchanging at least one end tool includes at least one tool exchange device for retaining each of the at least one end tool and at least one operating instrument engageable with each of the at least one end tool. The tool exchange device includes a tool retaining mechanism having an opening and a plurality of engagement features to enable mutually exclusive engagement and disengagement of the tool retaining mechanism with each of the at least one tool. Each of the at least one tool is receivable in the opening and has a biasing member engageable with the plurality of engagement features for at least one of biasing to an engaged position and a disengaged position. |
| US09724157B2 |
Microwave sensing for tissue sealing
A system for monitoring the target tissue during a tissue sealing procedure is disclosed. The system includes a forceps having opposing jaw members movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one subsequent position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp the tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members includes a sealing member. The system also includes a generator coupled to the sealing members so that therapeutic energy is delivered to the target tissue. The generator includes an output stage configured to generate therapeutic energy and a microwave detector configured to measure reflected and/or absorbed microwave signals. The monitored microwave signals may be either the therapeutic energy signal or a separate non-therapeutic microwave monitoring signal. The generator also includes a controller operatively coupled to the microwave detector. The controller is configured to determine the state of the tissue based on the reflected and/or absorbed microwave signals and to control the delivery of therapeutic energy from the generator to tissue based on the microwave measurements. |
| US09724155B2 |
Nanoelectroablation control and vaccination
Techniques for treating a tumor and vaccinating against cancer are described. The techniques include treating the tumor by positioning electrodes over an interface between the tumor and non-tumor tissue and applying sub-microsecond pulsed electric fields. The positioning is facilitated by an imaginary contour line of a threshold value of the electric field. In an example, the imaginary contour line is overlaid over images that include the tumor such that the electrodes are properly positioned over the tumor. The techniques also include vaccinating against cancer by passing sub-microsecond pulsed electric fields through tumor cells of a subject sufficient to cause the tumor cells to express calreticulin on surface membranes. The tumor cells are extracted and introduced with the expressed calreticulin into the subject or another subject, thereby providing a vaccination. |
| US09724154B2 |
Irrigated ablation catheter with multiple sensors
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing and using an irrigated ablation catheter. The catheter may include a distal shell electrode having irrigation apertures. An insert disposed within the electrode has protrusions that mate with orifices in the shell of the electrode. Each protrusion has a port communicating with at least one interior lumen in the insert and a sensor is disposed in each port. A support seals the proximal end of the electrode and engages the insert. The plurality of sensors may be used to measure electrical and thermal characteristics surrounding the electrode and may help assess contact between the electrode and tissue and/or determine movement of the electrode during ablation. |
| US09724153B2 |
Deployment mechanisms for surgical instruments
A deployment mechanism for selectively deploying and retracting an energizable member and/an insulative member relative to an end effector assembly of a surgical instrument includes one or more actuators, a clutch assembly, and a drive assembly. The clutch assembly is configured to couple to the actuator(s) to provide rotational motion in the first direction in response to such rotation of the actuator(s) and to decouple from the actuator(s) in response to rotation thereof in the second direction. The drive assembly is operably coupled to the clutch assembly and is configured to convert the rotational motion provided by the clutch assembly into longitudinal motion to translate the energizable member and/or insulative member from a storage position to a deployed position and to translate the energizable member and/or the insulative member from the deployed position back to the storage position. |
| US09724150B1 |
Variable cryosurgical probe planning system
A cryosurgical system including a computer system programmed with software configured to perform the following steps: a) capturing at least one first view of a region of interest in a human body; b) capturing at least one second view of the region of interest; c) outlining the region of interest and at least one area outside the region of interest with the assistance of an operator; d) constructing a 3-dimensional model of the region of interest and the at least one area outside the region of interest utilizing the at least one first view and the at least one second view of the region of interest; and e) utilizing the 3-dimensional model of the region of interest and the at least one area outside the region of interest to determine at least one cryosurgical probe placement location. |
| US09724148B1 |
Surgical syringe devices and methods of use
Devices and methods for inserting bone cement into a patient during a surgical procedure. The methods may include inserting a tip of a nozzle at the desired location in the patient, such as an opening formed in a bone. An enlarged radial member may be positioned against the bone and covers the opening. Cement is moved through the nozzle and into the opening. The member may prevent escape of the cement from the opening. The nozzle may also be configured to facilitate insertion of the cement at the desired location within the patient. |
| US09724146B2 |
Method and apparatus for an orthopedic fixation system
An orthopedic fixation system includes a sterile packaged implant kit and a sterile packaged instrument kit. The sterile packaged implant kit includes at least one surgical implant, an insertion device, and an implant package adapted to receive the at least one surgical implant and the insertion device therein. The implant package maintains the at least one surgical implant and the insertion device sterile after sterilization of the sterile packaged implant kit. The sterile packaged instrument kit includes one or more instruments necessary to use the sterile packaged implant kit and an instrument package adapted to receive the one or more instruments therein. The instrument package maintains the one or more instruments sterile after sterilization of the sterile packaged instrument kit. |
| US09724145B2 |
Bone anchor assemblies with multiple component bottom loading bone anchors
Bone anchor assemblies and methods are provided having a multi-component bone anchor that is configured to allow the shank of the bone anchor to be bottom loaded into a receiver member. In one embodiment, a bone anchor assembly is provided having a shank with a distal threaded portion and a proximal head portion, a receiver member having an aperture formed in a distal end thereof through which the head portion of the shank can be received, the receiver member defining a polyaxial seat, a non-expandable outer ring configured to be polyaxially disposed within the polyaxial seat of the receiver member and defining a central opening through which the head portion of the shank can be received, and an expandable inner ring having an inner surface configured to mate with the head portion of the shank and an outer surface configured to mate with an inner surface of the outer ring to thereby lock the outer ring in a fixed position relative to the shank. |
| US09724139B2 |
Hammer toe implant and method
An implant includes an elongate threaded portion defining a first central longitudinal axis and a groove. The groove defines a second longitudinal central axis that extends in the same direction as the first central longitudinal axis. A blade portion extends from the elongate threaded portion and has a taper terminating at a point. |
| US09724136B2 |
Spinous process implants and associated methods
The present invention provides spinous process implant and associated methods. In one aspect of the invention the implant limits the maximum spacing between the spinous processes. In another aspect of the invention, a spacer has at least one transverse opening to facilitate tissue in-growth. In another aspect of the invention, an implant includes a spacer and separate extensions engageable with the spacer. In another aspect of the invention, instrumentation for inserting the implant is provided. In other aspects of the invention, methods for treating spine disease are provided. |
| US09724132B2 |
Devices and methods for cervical lateral fixation
Devices and methods are provided for treatment of the cervical spine. The devices and methods allow for treatment to be delivered from a lateral or posterior-lateral location of a subject, proximate to the cervical region of the spine. One exemplary embodiment of a spinal implant includes an elongate cage member and a plate member appended to a proximal end of the cage member. The plate member can be oriented in a manner such that it is asymmetric with respect to a long axis of the cage member. In another exemplary embodiment, an implant includes a cage member having a distal end that has an asymmetrical, bulleted shape such that the distal end is biased towards a superior or cranial direction. In a third exemplary embodiment, an implant includes a spinal fixation element and at least two mounting eyelets formed thereon. Exemplary methods related to implanting spinal implants from a lateral or posterior-lateral location are also provided. |
| US09724131B2 |
Spinal connectors and related methods
In some embodiments, a connector can be configured to couple a first fixation element (e.g., a first rod) to a second fixation element (e.g., a second rod). One or both of the first and second fixation elements can be included with the connector, or one or both can be separately provided. In some instances, at least one of the fixation elements is previously implanted in a patient. The connector can provide one or more degrees of freedom between the first and second fixation elements. The connector can also include a locking element configured to (1) lock one or more of the fixation elements to the connector, and (2) lock one or more of the degrees of freedom between the fixation elements. The connector can be configured to snap onto or otherwise engage a fixation element in a manner that provides tactile and/or audible feedback to the surgeon. |
| US09724129B2 |
Software for use with deformity correction
The present disclosure relates to software used in planning the correction of bone deformities preoperatively or postoperatively, and in particular relates to virtually manipulating rings and struts of an external fixation frame in order to plan the steps for making a desired correction to two or more bone portions of a patient. The software can be used prior to surgery, allowing a user to virtually define a bone deformity, and virtually add and manipulate fixation rings and struts to the bone deformity. Based on the virtual manipulations, a correction plan can be generated that describes length adjustments that should be made to the plurality of model struts over a period of time to correct the bone deformity. The software can also be used after surgical fixation of the fixation frame and struts to the deformed bone. |
| US09724128B2 |
Devices and methods for manipulating bodily tissues
A medical device includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and medial portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion. The first end portion defines a first axis. The second end portion defines a second axis. The first axis is disposed at an angle with respect to the second axis. |
| US09724127B2 |
Insertion system and insertion kit
Insertion System (2) and an Insertion kit is disclosed, the Insertion System comprising a housing (4) with a wall (6) defining a cavity (8), an actuator element (10), a first part (12) and a second part (14), the first part comprising a subcutaneous element (16) and a first base element (18) with at least one base plate engagement element (20), the second part comprising a needle hub (22) and at least one Insertion needle (24) secured to the needle hub with the second part movably arranged from a first position to a second position relative to the housing along an Insertion axis (X), wherein the housing comprises at least one first coupling element (28) for releasably securing the Insertion System to an inserter device, and wherein the actuator element comprises an outer part (32) external to the housing such that manual actuation of the actuator element in relation to the housing is enabled. |
| US09724124B2 |
Devices and methods for controlling depth of insertion
A medical device and a method for preparing a patient's body to receive a bodily implant are provided. The medical device includes a needle member configured to be inserted into a tissue layer. The needle member has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. An adjustment member is coupled to the proximal end portion of the needle member. The adjustment member includes an adjustment screw and a nut for setting a predetermined depth of insertion of the needle member within the tissue layer. The adjustment member further includes an adjustment member support configured to provide a support to the adjustment screw and the nut. The adjustment member is configured to move between a first position and a second position with respect to the adjustment member support to limit insertion of the needle member within the tissue layer to the predetermined depth. |
| US09724123B2 |
Rotational atherectomy device with exchangeable drive shaft and meshing gears
An atherectomy device with an exchangeable drive shaft is disclosed, having a drive shaft gear at a distal end of the exchangeable drive shaft for meshing engagement with a prime mover gear on the output shaft of the prime mover. The exchangeable drive shaft is inserted into an opening at the distal end of the handle housing and moved axially in a proximal direction. Surface features on at least the prime mover housing and the engageable drive shaft help to align the drive shaft gear with the prime mover gear for meshing engagement. |
| US09724122B2 |
Expandable lead jacket
Methods, devices and systems for separating an implanted object, such as a lead attached to a cardiac conduction device, from formed tissue within a blood vessel are provided. The methods, devices and systems for separating a lead from the tissue relate to dilating the tissue surrounding the lead from underneath the tissue and/or between the lead and the tissue. |
| US09724119B2 |
Methods of using high intensity focused ultrasound to form an ablated tissue area containing a plurality of lesions
A device and method for ablating tissue is disclosed comprising the steps of acquiring an anatomical image of a patient, correlating the image to the patient, guiding an ablating member within the patient while tracking the position of the ablating member in the patient, positioning the ablating member in a desired position to ablate tissue, emitting ablating energy from the ablating member to form an ablated tissue area and removing the ablating member from the patient. |
| US09724118B2 |
Techniques for cutting and coagulating tissue for ultrasonic surgical instruments
Various forms are directed to a method for operating an ultrasonic surgical instrument. The ultrasonic surgical instrument may be activated by generating a drive signal provided to the ultrasonic drive system to drive the end effector. A plurality of input variables may be applied to a multi-variable model to generate a multi-variable model output, where the multi-variable model output corresponds to an effect of the ultrasonic instrument on tissue. The plurality of input variables may comprise at least one variable describing the drive signal and at least one variable describing a property of the ultrasonic surgical instrument. When the multi-variable model output reaches a threshold value, feedback may be generated indicating a corresponding state of at least one of the ultrasonic surgical instrument and tissue acted upon by the ultrasonic surgical instrument. |
| US09724115B2 |
Retraction force sensing basket
A stone retrieval device includes a sheath and a stone retrieval basket that includes a distal region with a plurality of basket wires and a proximal region with one or more core wires. The stone retrieval basket is contained within the sheath and is movable out a distal opening of the sheath to cause the plurality of basket wires to open into a basket shape. The stone retrieval device further includes a lock mechanism that locks the position of the stone retrieval basket with respect to the position of the sheath and a basket force controller that includes a first control stage and a second control stage. The first control stage includes a sensor for measuring force on the stone retrieval basket when the lock mechanism is in an unlocked position, and the second control stage includes a sensor for measuring force on the stone retrieval basket when the lock mechanism is in a locked position. The stone retrieval device further includes an automatic release mechanism that releases the stone retrieval basket when the force on the stone retrieval basket exceeds a predetermined maximum force. |
| US09724114B2 |
Basket-type grasping forceps
In a discharge mechanism of basket-type grasping forceps according to the present invention, a support member can advance and retract relative to a plurality of basket wires, the position of the support member can be fixed, and an object inside a basket part is discharged to the outside of the basket part from a portion of the basket part proximal to the basket wires by movement of the support member and the basket part relative to each other. |
| US09724113B2 |
Retrieval devices and related methods of use
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a retrieval device may include a distally located end effector movable between a contracted state and an expanded state. The end effector may include a plurality of support members each including a passage. The end effector may also include a plurality of movable members. A first movable member may include a first portion extending into a first passage of the support member passages. The retrieval device may also include a proximally located handle assembly including a longitudinal actuator and a twisting actuator coupled to the plurality of movable members. The longitudinal actuator and twisting actuator may be configured to longitudinally move and twist the movable members without longitudinally moving and twisting the support members. |
| US09724106B2 |
Apparatus and methods for introducing portals in bone
An apparatus and method for introducing portals into bone is described herein. An example apparatus for introducing portals into bone includes a handle, a base, and a driving member. The driving member can be made to project past the base by operating the handle. The base is detachable from the handle. The apparatus also includes a guide coupled at a first end to the handle and at a second end to the base. The base is detachably coupled to the guide. A base coupling detachably coupling the base to the guide includes an actuating member movable between a coupled configuration wherein the base is coupled to the guide and an uncoupled configuration wherein the base is released from the guide. The actuating member is arranged so that motion of the handle toward the base moves the actuating member from the coupled configuration to the uncoupled configuration. |
| US09724105B2 |
Methods and apparatus for transpericardial left atrial appendage closure
Methods for closing a left atrial appendage rely on introducing a closure tool from a location beneath the rib cage, over an epicardial surface, and to the exterior of the left atrial appendage. The closure device may then be used to close the left atrial appendage, preferably at its base, by any one of a variety of techniques. One specific technique uses graspers and a closing loop. Methods may include advancing a closure tool adjacent to the left atrial appendage using a sub-xiphoid approach and closing the left atrial appendage using the closure tool. Methods may also include advancing a loop adjacent to the left atrial appendage using a sub-xiphoid approach and closing the left atrial appendage using the loop. |
| US09724102B2 |
Method and device for the intermittent occlusion of the coronary sinus
In a method for intermittently occluding the coronary sinus, in which the coronary sinus is occluded using an occlusion device, the fluid pressure in the occluded coronary sinus is continuously measured and stored, the fluid pressure curve is determined as a function of time, and the occlusion of the coronary sinus is triggered and/or released as a function of at least one characteristic value derived from the measured pressure values. The pressure increase and/or pressure decrease per time unit each occurring at a heart beat are used as characteristic values. |
| US09724099B2 |
Device and method for anastomosis
A device for anastomosis of a tubular structure comprises first and second hollow members having a rigid part and an elastic part, and a connection member for interlocking the first and second members. The elastic parts are essentially circular rings, and are made of a polymeric, a biocompatible and/or biodegradable material. The rigid parts have an outer surface that is partly semi-circular in cross section, wherein the diameter at a non-connecting end is larger than or equal to the diameter at a connecting end, which ends in an edge. The first and second members are connected to each other so that a distance is formed between the elastic parts. A cavity is formed between the rigid parts and the connection member and the tubular structure, when arranged in the device. |
| US09724098B2 |
Staple cartridge comprising an implantable layer
A surgical end effector comprising a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a compressible portion intermediate the staple cartridge and the anvil is disclosed. The compressible portion comprises a plurality of tubular members. |
| US09724090B2 |
Method and apparatus for attaching soft tissue to bone
A method and apparatus for securing soft tissue to bone can include forming a bore in the bone and carrying a flexible suture anchor into the bore. The flexible anchor can include a passage and can be coupled to a suture construct. The suture construct can include at least one self-locking adjustable loop, and the flexible anchor can include a first profile while being carried into the bore. A shape of the flexible anchor can be changed from the first profile to a second profile forming an anchoring mass to retain the flexible anchor in the bore. Tension can be applied to a portion of the suture construct to reduce a size of the self-locking adjustable loop and secure the soft tissue relative to the flexible anchor and the bone. |
| US09724089B1 |
Reciprocating needle drive without cables
An apparatus includes a housing, a drive gear assembly, and a drive arm. The housing defines a channel that receives a needle such that the needle is movable within the channel. The drive gear assembly is positioned within the housing and includes a first gear, a second gear, and a rack. The rack is translatable relative to the housing and is coupled with the first and second gears to rotate the first and second gears. The drive arm is coupled with the drive gear assembly and engages the needle to move the needle within the channel of the housing. |
| US09724088B2 |
Arthroscopic meniscal repair systems and methods
An arthroscopic meniscal tear repair device includes a catch needle and a transfer needle, which are pierced into a torn meniscus and advanced past the tear. Suture is transferred by a suture needle from the transfer needle through the meniscus and into the catch needle. The catch needle has an internal mechanism that retains the suture. The suture needle is then retracted back to its home position inside the transfer needle, leaving the free end of the suture across the meniscus and in the catch needle. The device is then retracted out of the meniscus, leaving behind a stitch across the meniscal tear inside the meniscus. A pre-tied knot of suture is then slid down the device and cinched up using a knot pusher having a dilation tip, thus completing the repair. |
| US09724085B2 |
Suture for soft tissue repair
A system for repairing a soft tissue includes a first suture anchor, a suture and a second suture anchor. The first suture anchor is disposed at a first location on a bone. The suture is defined by a first end and a second end. The second suture anchor disposed at a second location on the bone. The suture is passed through the first suture anchor and the second suture anchor to form a medial row and a lateral row to repair the soft tissue. |
| US09724083B2 |
Systems and methods for sealing openings in an anatomical wall
Devices, systems and methods are described herein for sealing openings in an anatomical wall. A sealing system includes an elongate tubular support for delivery to an anatomical opening to be sealed, a cover of bio-compatible material covering a distal portion of the tubular support, and an anchor assembly, the anchor assembly being designed to secure the cover material to the opening. The anchor assembly can include a plurality of distal anchors and a plurality of proximal anchors, a button, ring or donut, and/or a C-clip. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a closure member for closing off an end of the cover material after removal of the tubular support. |
| US09724075B2 |
Biopsy method and apparatus
A tissue sampling apparatus and method obtain a sample of tissue from a selected site and place a hemostatic plug at the selected site. The apparatus includes an external needle and an internal needle within the external needle. A chamber in the internal needle is divided by a divider member into a plug compartment for receiving a hemostatic plug, and a sample compartment for receiving a tissue sample. The divider member is resiliently biased into the plug compartment and the internal needle is movable relative to the external needle for admitting the hemostatic plug into the plug compartment and displacing the divider member into the sample compartment, and then closing the chamber. The apparatus then is advanced to the selected site where relative movement between the internal and external needles opens the chamber, allowing the divider member to expel the hemostatic plug from the plug compartment, and admitting a tissue sample into the sample compartment. Subsequent relative movement between the internal and external needles cuts the tissue sample from the surrounding tissue for removal from the selected site upon removal of the apparatus, while the expelled hemostatic plug remains at the site. |
| US09724063B2 |
Surrogate phantom for differential phase contrast imaging
A phantom material may be irradiated with varying energy x-rays to determine its phase shift properties. A determination of the difference between those phase shift properties and the phase shift properties of another material of interest can be represented and stored in terms of a polynomial function. The stored function can then be used in combination with a surrogate phantom shaped in the form of another object to obtain the phase shift properties of that other object as if it were made from the material of interest. |
| US09724061B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus and method of controlling the same
Provided are an X-ray imaging apparatus that is capable of tracking a position of an object of interest using a Kalman filter so as to reduce the amount of X-ray radiation exposure of a subject, calculating covariance indicative of accuracy of the tracing, and controlling a collimator so that the position of the object of interest and calculated covariance may be correlated with a position and an area of a region into which X-rays are radiated, and a method of controlling the X-ray imaging apparatus. |
| US09724058B2 |
Systems and methods for imaging large field-of-view objects
An imaging apparatus and related method comprising a detector located a distance from a source and positioned to receive a beam of radiation in a trajectory; a detector positioner that translates the detector to an alternate position in a direction that is substantially normal to the trajectory; and a beam positioner that alters the trajectory of the radiation beam to direct the beam onto the detector located at the alternate position. |
| US09724055B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods for lowering dental x-ray dosage including feedback sensors
Systems, devices, and methods are described for providing, among other things, an intra-oral x-ray imaging system configured to reduce patient exposure to x-rays, reduce amount of scatter, transmission, or re-radiation during imaging, or improve x-ray image quality. In an embodiment, an intra-oral x-ray imaging system includes an intra-oral x-ray sensor configured to communicate intra-oral x-ray sensor position information or intra-oral x-ray sensor orientation information to a remote x-ray source. |
| US09724054B2 |
Craniostat for acquiring extraoral dental radiographies
A craniostat for an extraoral dental radiographic apparatus includes an upper portion connected to a lower portion by two rods. The upper portion includes a rest for a patient's forehead, wherein the rest for the patient's forehead rest has an arched shape vertically sliding in a suitable seat inside a crossbeam supported by the rods. A method of use of a craniostat according to the invention is also described. |
| US09724053B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus
There is provided an X-ray CT apparatus including: an X-ray source; a wedge which is disposed between the X-ray source and a subject and in which a shield blocking apart of an X ray is formed; a wedge driving unit for moving position of the wedge; and a system control unit controlling the wedge driving unit during a scan execution period to control the position of the wedge. |
| US09724052B2 |
Doctor aware automatic collimation
A controller and a related method of controlling a collimator. The controller operates to select a collimator setting for collimator of an x-ray imager for acquiring an image of a ROI in a patient. The controller operates to select the collimator setting to optimize the patient dosage in respect of primary radiation and secondary radiation dosage of medical staff. A position detector supplies to the controller a current position of a person relative to a patient. Based on said supplied position, the controller's configured to perform an optimization procedure that takes into account the staff dosage in respect of the secondary radiation dosage to reduce the secondary radiation dosage. |
| US09724045B1 |
Systems and methods for replacing signal artifacts in a glucose sensor data stream
Systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating transient non-glucose related signal noise due to non-glucose rate limiting phenomenon such as ischemia, pH changes, temperatures changes, and the like. The system monitors a data stream from a glucose sensor and detects signal artifacts that have higher amplitude than electronic or diffusion-related system noise. The system replaces some or the entire data stream continually or intermittently including signal estimation methods that particularly address transient signal artifacts. The system is also capable of detecting the severity of the signal artifacts and selectively applying one or more signal estimation algorithm factors responsive to the severity of the signal artifacts, which includes selectively applying distinct sets of parameters to a signal estimation algorithm or selectively applying distinct signal estimation algorithms. |
| US09724040B2 |
Garment integrating a system for collecting physiological data
The invention relates to a system for collecting physiological data comprising a data collection device comprising at least one sensor module so configured as to capture physiological measurements, and a monitoring system so configured as to retrieve and transmit the physiological measurements; the data collection device comprising a garment wherein the sensor module and the monitoring system are integrated, with the monitoring system comprising at least two housings connected together mechanically in a flexible manner so as to conform to the shape of a part of the body whereon the monitoring system is able to be positioned; at least one flexible connecting member for mechanically connecting the at least two housings; a data acquisition and wireless communication module positioned in one of the two housings; a motion detection module installed in one of the two housings. |
| US09724039B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method recording anatomic orientation and position
Disclosed are systems, apparatuses and methods for recording images of one or more selected anatomical features, and to facilitate re-orientation and/or re-positioning of such images to one or more desired positions. |
| US09724034B2 |
Skin stimulus
Skin stimulus arrangements are described for creating a stimulus in the skin in the vicinity of a treatment or wound site to alleviate the perception of pain. First and second textured surfaces are provided for making contact with the skin, with the surfaces being moved to create a stimulus which alleviates the perception of pain. The movement may be linear, rotary or a combination of both, and just a single textured surface may be provided. |
| US09724031B2 |
Lancet
The invention relates to a lancet for performing an incision. The lancet has a blade for providing an incision and a trigger housed in a housing. The trigger has a first trigger arm, a second trigger arm and a flexible member connected to the second trigger arm. A resilient member may be disposed within the housing in a pre-cutting state in which it stores energy and arranged to exert a force for moving the second trigger arm and the blade from a first stowed position through a cutting position and to a second stowed position. |
| US09724030B2 |
Fluid handling device having a spring mechanism
A fluid handling device includes a receiving container with a piston arranged therein in a displaceable manner, such that the volume of a fluid receiving reservoir may be changed by a displacement of the piston. In addition, the fluid handling device includes an actuation mechanism configured to displace a carrier bearing upon actuation of the former. Finally, the fluid handling device includes a spring mechanism configured to transfer a force from the carrier bearing to the piston so as to effect, in response to displacement of the carrier bearing in a first direction, a displacement of the piston within the receiving container such that a volume of the fluid reservoir is increased. |
| US09724027B2 |
Microelectrodes in an ophthalmic electrochemical sensor
An eye-mountable device includes an electrochemical sensor embedded in a polymeric material configured for mounting in front of a surface of an eye. The electrochemical sensor includes a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a reagent that selectively reacts with an analyte to generate a sensor measurement related to a concentration of the analyte in a fluid to which the eye-mountable device is exposed. The working electrode can have at least one dimension less than 25 micrometers. The reference electrode can have an area at least five times greater than an area of the working electrode. A portion of the polymeric material can surround the working electrode and the reference electrode such that an electrical current conveyed between the working electrode and the reference electrode is passed through the at least partially surrounding portion of the transparent polymeric material. |
| US09724022B2 |
Apparatus for non-invasive glucose monitoring
An apparatus for non-invasive glucose monitoring includes a light source for emitting at least one ray of light; a first beam splitter, a set of photo detectors for measuring optical rotatory distribution (ORD) information and absorption energy information; a reference component receiving the light from the first beam splitter, and the light reflected by the reference component being transmitted to the set of photo detectors by the first beam splitter, wherein the light emitted from the light source is transmitted to the set of photo detectors by the first beam splitter and the eyeball to form a first optical path, the light emitted from the light source is transmitted to the set of photo detectors by the first beam splitter and the reference component to form a second optical path; and a processing unit receiving and processing the ORD information and the absorption energy information to obtain a glucose information. |
| US09724021B2 |
Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue
A body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site includes a single drive force generator. A plurality of penetrating members are operatively coupled to the force generator. The force generator moves each of the members along a path out of a housing with a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stops in the tissue site, and withdraws out of the tissue site. A flexible support member couples the penetrating members to define a linear array. The support member is movable and configured to move each of the penetrating members to a launch position associated with the force generator. |
| US09724018B2 |
Method for monitoring phrenic nerve function
Systems and methods for monitoring phrenic nerve function of a patient are disclosed, including, including establishing a diaphragmatic movement value threshold; positioning a diaphragmatic movement sensor on an external surface of an abdomen of the patient; applying a treatment regimen to a tissue region in proximity to the phrenic nerve; measuring a diaphragmatic movement value with the diaphragmatic movement sensor; comparing the measured diaphragmatic movement value to the established diaphragmatic movement value threshold; and generating an alert in response to the comparison. |
| US09724016B1 |
Respiration processor
Respiratory rate can be calculated from an acoustic input signal using time domain and frequency domain techniques. Confidence in the calculated respiratory rate can also be calculated using time domain and frequency domain techniques. Overall respiratory rate and confidence values can be obtained from the time and frequency domain calculations. The overall respiratory rate and confidence values can be output for presentation to a clinician. |
| US09724013B2 |
MR spectroscopy system and method for diagnosing painful and non-painful intervertebral discs
An MR Spectroscopy (MRS) system and approach is provided for diagnosing painful and non-painful discs in chronic, severe low back pain patients (DDD-MRS). A DDD-MRS pulse sequence generates and acquires DDD-MRS spectra within intervertebral disc nuclei for later signal processing and diagnostic analysis. An interfacing DDD-MRS signal processor receives output signals of the DDD-MRS spectra acquired and is configured to optimize signal-to-noise ratio by an automated system that selectively conducts optimal channel selection, phase and frequency correction, and frame editing as appropriate for a given acquisition series. A diagnostic processor calculates a diagnostic value for the disc based upon a weighted factor set of criteria that uses MRS data extracted from the acquired and processed MRS spectra for multiple chemicals that have been correlated to painful vs. non-painful discs. A display provides an indication of results for analyzed discs as an overlay onto a MRI image of the lumbar spine. |
| US09724005B2 |
Real-time multi-channel EEG signal processor based on on-line recursive independent component analysis
A real-time multi-channel EEG signal processor based on an on-line recursive independent component analysis is provided. A whitening unit generates covariance matrix by computing covariance according to a received sampling signal. A covariance matrix generates a whitening matrix by a computation of an inverse square root matrix calculation unit. An ORICA calculation unit computes the sampling signal and the whitening matrix to obtain a post-whitening sampling signal. The post-whitening sampling signal and an unmixing matrix implement an independent component analysis computation to obtain an independent component data. An ORICA training unit implements training of the unmixing matrix according to the independent component data to generate a new unmixing matrix. The ORICA calculation unit may use the new unmixing matrix to implement an independent component analysis computation. Hardware complexity and power consumption can be reduced by sharing registers and arithmetic calculation units. |
| US09724002B2 |
Methods, devices and systems for photoplethysmography at the nasal columella
Provided according to embodiments of the invention are photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors, systems and methods of using the same. In some embodiments of the invention, methods of obtaining a photoplethysmography (PPG) signals include securing a PPG sensor onto a nasal columella of an individual; and obtaining a PPG signal from the PPG sensor. |
| US09723997B1 |
Electronic device that computes health data
An electronic device includes a camera, an ambient light sensor, and a proximity sensor. The electronic device uses one or more of the camera and the proximity sensor to emit light into a body part of a user touching a surface of the electronic device and one or more of the camera, the ambient light sensor, and the proximity sensor to receive at least part of the emitted light reflected by the body part of the user. The electronic device computes health data of the user based upon sensor data regarding the received light. In some implementations, the electronic device may also include one or more electrical contacts that contact one or more body parts of the user. In such implementations, the health data may be further computed based on the an electrical measurement obtained using the electrical contacts. |
| US09723996B2 |
Method and apparatus for characterization of clot formation
Methods, apparatus and systems for characterizing changes in at least one physical property of soft tissue. A series of acoustic pulses is generated and directed into the soft tissue such that at least one of the pulses is of sufficiently high intensity to induce physical displacement of the tissue. Waves reflected off the tissue, or a flexible member that moves with the tissue, are received and measured to estimate at least one characteristic of the physical displacement induced thereby. Repetition of the generating, receiving and estimating steps provides characterization of the at least one physical property over time. Methods, apparatus and systems for characterizing at least one physical property of blood, by generating a series of acoustic pulses and directing the series of pulses into the blood such that at least one of the pulses is of sufficiently high intensity to induce physical displacement of the blood. Acoustic pulses and/or optical waves reflected from the blood, or a flexible member in contact with the blood that moves with the blood, are received and measured to estimate at least one characteristic of the physical displacement induced thereby. |
| US09723992B2 |
Mental state analysis using blink rate
Mental state analysis is performed by obtaining video of an individual as the individual interacts with a computer, either by performing various operations or by consuming a media presentation. The video is analyzed to determine eye-blink information on the individual, such as eye-blink rate or eye-blink duration. A mental state of the individual is then inferred based on the eye blink information. The blink-rate information and associated mental states can be used to modify an advertisement, a media presentation, or a digital game. |
| US09723991B2 |
Illuminator for photodynamic therapy
An apparatus and method for photodynamic therapy or photodynamic diagnosis using an illuminator comprising a plurality of light sources generally conforming to a contoured surface and irradiating the contoured surface with substantially uniform intensity visible light. The light sources may comprise generally U-shaped fluorescent tubes that are driven by electronic ballasts. The spacing of the U-shaped tubes is varied to increase the output at the edges of the illuminator to make the output more uniform. Also, different portions of the tubes are cooled at different amounts, to improve uniformity. A light sensor monitors output from the U-shaped tubes to provide a signal for adjusting the output from the tubes. |
| US09723987B2 |
Remote calibration of an implantable patient sensor
Techniques for remotely calibrating an implanted patient sensor with a remote networking device are described. In some embodiments, the sensor is a component of an implantable medical device (IMD). The remote networking device communicates with the IMD via a network to which the IMD and/or external programmer is connected. The IMD may transmit sensor information to the remote networking device when the IMD detects a problem with the sensor or when the patient indicates that therapy is not correctly selected for different activities. New calibration settings may be remotely generated by directly interrogating the sensor and/or communicating with the patient in order to associate sensor output with patient activities, motions, or postures. |
| US09723986B1 |
Physiological parameter measuring system
A physiological parameter measuring system includes a parameter sensing device attachable to a body of the subject. The sensing device detects at least one physiological parameter when activated, and a reading device monitors a temperature variation over time and determines whether the parameter has been so stabilized as to be reliably detected. A stability indication flag can be stored in the system so that subsequent monitoring of the parameter is instantly performed. |
| US09723985B2 |
Vital sign telemeter
A first detector is provided with a cuff adapted to be placed on an upper arm of a subject to detect noninvasive blood pressure of the subject. At least one second detector is adapted to be placed on a part of the subject to detect at least one vital sign of the subject. A single main body is detachably provided on the cuff while being connected with the first detector and the at least one second detector. A display is provided on the main body and operable to display the non-invasive blood pressure and the at least one vital sign as measurement data. A transmitter is provided in the main body and operable to transmit the measurement data to a receiver placed in a remote location. |
| US09723984B2 |
Method and device for monitoring biomechanical properties of the eye
A contact lens shaped measuring device comprises a sensor having a protrusion towards the cornea. The measuring device is flexible to a degree that it is flattened by a closing eye lid and the protrusion creates an indentation of the cornea. The force on the protrusion is measured by the sensor. Applying a constant lid acceleration/deceleration model to the movement of the lid and a mechanical model to the cornea, the tension of the cornea is determined and deduced from the force measured with the lid closed, yielding the true intraocular pressure. In an alternative, the protrusion is characterized by a discontinuity in its shape, or the sensor is subdivided, each subsensor being characterized by a protrusion of different shape. With the values obtained as extrema and at the discontinuity or with different protrusions, the tension of the cornea can be obtained by a (linear) extrapolation. |
| US09723983B2 |
Corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus
A corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus for photographing endothelial cells of a patient eye's cornea, includes: a cornea photographing optical system including an imaging device and configured to project light toward the cornea and photograph the corneal endothelial cells through the imaging device; a light projecting optical system to project detection light in a first oblique direction to the cornea to detect a focus state of the cornea photographing optical system relative to the cornea; a detecting optical system including a detector with arranged pixels and configured to receive, in a second oblique direction opposite to the first oblique direction, corneal reflection light resulting from the detection light and including reflection light from the corneal endothelium through the detector, and detect an intensity distribution of the corneal reflection light in a depth direction; and a controller to cause a monitor to display the intensity distribution output from the detector. |
| US09723981B2 |
Head mounted compact goggle based video oculography system with integral stimulus screen
A head mounted compact goggle based video oculography system is configured for use in VOG-based neuro-otologic testing. The system comprises: a goggle base surrounding the subject's eyes; an angled hot mirror within the goggle base; at least one digital camera attached to the goggle base along the top side of the goggle base taking images of at least one of the subject's eyes via a hot mirror reflection; an integral display for selectively displaying visual stimulus to the subject through the hot mirror and attached to the goggle base along the rear side of the goggle base; a controller coupled to the display generating each visual stimulus for each neuro-otologic test to be displayed to the subject via the display and coupled to each digital camera and receiving and storing data signals there from, the controller configured to calculate eye related data from the digital camera images during each neuro-otologic test, and configured to display the eye related data to users. |
| US09723980B2 |
System and method for tracking motion
Detecting position information related to a face, and more particularly to an eyeball in a face, using a detection and ranging system, such as a Radio Detection And Ranging (“RADAR”) system, or a Light Detection And Ranging (“LIDAR”) system. The position information may include a location of the eyeball, translational motion information related to the eyeball (e.g., displacement, velocity, acceleration, jerk, etc.), rotational motion information related to the eyeball (e.g., rotational displacement, rotational velocity, rotational acceleration, etc.) as the eyeball rotates within its socket. |
| US09723976B2 |
Optics for video camera 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. |
| US09723974B2 |
Image type laryngoscope apparatus
An image type laryngoscope apparatus includes a laryngoscope (3), a fastening device (1) and an image device (2). The image device is attached to the laryngoscope by the fastening device, and the signal transmitting unit (21) of the image device transmits image signals to a monitor (24) in a wire transmission manner or to a mobile device (4) in a wireless transmission manner, so that the operator can clearly inspect the present condition of a patient's throat by the image signals. |
| US09723972B2 |
Methods and apparatus for calibration of a sensor associated with an endoscope
Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure. |
| US09723970B1 |
Dishwasher lower rack stop
A dishwasher includes a treatment chamber configured to clean dishes; a rack in the treatment chamber configured to hold dishes, the rack including an upper horizontal bar, a lower horizontal bar and a vertical bar; and a stop removably attached to the rack. The stop includes a first latch that is latched to the upper horizontal bar, a second latch that is latched to the lower horizontal bar, a third latch that is latched to the vertical bar, and a stopper portion that extends below a lowest wire in the rack and is configured to abut a portion of the dishwasher to limit travel of the rack out of the dishwasher. |
| US09723968B2 |
Dishwasher having an improved cover arrangement
A dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, includes a wash container for holding items to be washed. The wash container has a front loading opening and is reinforced by a reinforcement element along at least one front edge region of the wash container. A cover arrangement is provided to at least partially cover at least one gap formed outside a water-conducting region of the wash container between the wash container and at least one surface running along the front edge region of the wash container. The cover arrangement includes at least one cover element having a fastening segment which is defined by an I-shaped cross section and extends in its longitudinal direction parallel to the surface. The I-shaped fastening segment is fixed in a fastening segment having a U-shaped cross section and configured on the reinforcement element. |
| US09723962B2 |
Dust inflow sensing unit and robot cleaner having the same
A dust inflow sensing unit and a robot cleaner having the same. The dust inflow sensing unit includes a light emitting element to emit a beam having a transmission region, a light receiving element having a reception region overlapping the transmission region of the light emitting element, and a guide member to restrict the reception region of the light receiving element to a designated range until the reception region reaches the light emitting element. |
| US09723961B1 |
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner has an agitator assembly, a belt drive system coupling the agitator assembly to a motor via a belt, and a belt shifting assembly which selectively shifts the belt between a drive pulley and an idler pulley on the agitator assembly. Trace rotational force transmitted to the agitator assembly when the belt is on the idler pulley is prevented from causing the agitator assembly to rotate by an anti-rotation member of the belt shifting assembly. |
| US09723960B2 |
Vacuum nozzle
A vacuum nozzle with a vacuum hose receptacle and two wing members pivotably connected to each order. Each wing member has a corresponding opening that is in fluid communication with the vacuum hose receptacle. The two wing members may be positioned at different angles to effectively vacuum a flat surface or at a corner of any degree angle formed from two adjacent surfaces (e.g., wall and floor or two vertical walls). |
| US09723953B2 |
Barbecue accessory with a chicken roaster
The invention relates to a barbecue accessory comprising a chicken roaster for preparing poultry, in particular chicken, arranged vertically on a barbecue. The barbecue accessory comprises a chicken roaster formed from a poultry holder and a base plate, and a roasting hood extending over the chicken roaster and surrounding, at least partially the roaster. A gap, through which the hot gases coming from the barbecue penetrate into the roasting hood, is provided between the hood and the base plate of the chicken roaster when in the ready-to-use state. |
| US09723948B2 |
Wok lid control apparatus applicable in fully automated cooking machine
A wok lid control apparatus (3) comprises a machine frame (100), a base (11), a drive mechanism (12) and a follow-up mechanism (13). The drive mechanism (12) comprises a linear motor (21), a connecting rod (22) and a wok lid holder (23). The follow-up mechanism (13) comprises a wok lid shaft (31), a bearing (32), and an elastic component (33). The wok lid holder (23) is provided with a through hole (231) for the wok lid shaft (31) to run through. A lower end of the wok lid shaft (31) is fixedly connected to a wok lid (20), while an upper end of the wok lid shaft protrudes through the through hole (231). An upper end of the elastic component (33) is connected to the bearing (32), and a lower end of the elastic component (33) is connected to the wok lid (20). |
| US09723944B2 |
Machine for the preparation of beverages
A beverage preparation machine for dispensing beverages comprising: a housing; a first reservoir station; a first reservoir for containing an aqueous medium, the first reservoir being connectable to said first reservoir station; an auxiliary module station for receiving an auxiliary module. |
| US09723939B2 |
Valve for a sippy cup and sippy cup including the same
A replaceable valve member for a sippy cup assembly is disclosed. The valve member is a flexible, resilient member for releasable mounting in the lid of the sippy cup. It includes a normally closed, but openable slit located within the sippy cup's spout when the valve member is in its operative position. The valve member includes another normally closed, but openable slit located at a vent in the sippy cup's lid when the valve member is in the operative position. The two slits open when suction is applied to the spout to enable liquid to be withdrawn through the spout. A recess is provided in a portion of the periphery of the valve member to preclude the trapping of residual liquid in the sippy cup. The valve member also includes an opening for releasably mounting it on a handle of the sippy cup in a storage position. |
| US09723933B2 |
Merchandising system and method of use
A guide assembly for a displaying a plurality of products is disclosed. The guide assembly includes a base, a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall. The base includes a product-supporting surface defining a longitudinal axis. Each lateral wall includes a plurality of support members and a rail. The support members extend upwardly from a lateral side of the base. The rail is spaced above the base and extends along portions of the support members. A proximal-most support member of the first lateral wall is longitudinally offset from a proximal-most support member of the second lateral wall. |
| US09723932B2 |
Mattress mount unit with height extending links that adjust a riser distance between a base and an air conduit clamp
A mattress mount unit that grasps a periphery of an air hose and that clips onto a bed sheet to prevent relative movement of the hose with respect to the bed sheet and that has a mattress mount base the lies beneath a mattress. The separation distance between the grip and the mattress mount base is defined by a plurality of height extension links that snap lock with each other, but which can be released from the snap lock position to remove or add height extension links as needed. |
| US09723929B2 |
Part with adjustable configuration for realizing armrests or backrests for seats
The element with variable shape (1) is composed of a cushion (10), having inside a fixed frame (20), which involves a lower section (13) of said cushion (10) and two symmetrical movable frames (25A), (25B), hinged above said fixed frame (20) and aimed at involving an upper section (14) of the cushion (10).The movable frames (25A), (25B) can rotate by 180° independently from each other, to direct a respective portion (14A), (14B) of said upper section (14) from an external horizontal configuration (HE) to an inner horizontal configuration (HI), passing through a vertical neutral configuration (N), in which the portion (14A), (14B) is substantially aligned with said lower section (13).The back (100) and sides (110) of a sofa (D) or armchair (P) are defined by respective elements (1), which can be configured in many ways so as to offer the maximum sitting comfort. |
| US09723928B2 |
Sitting bones cushion
A sitting bones cushion can include a right aperture and a left aperture, which can allow a person sitting on the cushion to experience reduced pressure on the person's lower pelvis. The sitting bones cushion can also include a right leg support cutout, a left leg support cutout, and a rear cutout, which can allow a person sitting in the cushion to experience reduced pressure on the person's coccyx, while having support and guidance to the position of the legs. The features of the cushion may promote a healthy sitting posture, proper spine alignment, and may reduce or prevent pain in the lower back and buttocks. Also disclosed is a method for configuring a support contour of a cushion. |
| US09723927B2 |
Chair supporting structure
A chair supporting structure comprises a base frame having a plurality of connecting arms which is downwardly inclined; a lower distal end of each connecting arm being formed with outer threads for combining with the connecting units; a plurality of legs being installed at a bottom of the a seat of a chair; an upper end of each leg being formed with an insertion hole; and a plurality of combining units for combining the base frame and let set; an upper end of the combining unit being formed with a combining hole which has inner threads; so that the outer threads of each combining arm being threadly engaged with the inner threads of the combining hole of the combining unit; a lower end of the combining unit being tightly engaged to the insertion hole so that the base frame is combined with the legs. |
| US09723920B1 |
Height-adjustable table with concealed wiring design
A height-adjustable table with concealed wiring design is provided herein, which includes table surface, table leg, table foot, driving mechanism, and control device. The table leg is connected between the table surface and the table foot and includes a telescoping tube structure. The driving mechanism includes motor, first threaded rod, and connecting tube. The first threaded rod screwed to one end of the connecting tube and the connecting tube are disposed in the telescoping tube structure. The motor is configured to drive the first threaded rod to alter the length of the telescoping tube structure. The control device includes wiring and a control interface. The wiring is disposed in the telescoping tube structure and spirals around the connecting tube. The wiring transmits power to the driving mechanism and transmits a control signal from control interface to the motor to drive the driving mechanism. |
| US09723919B1 |
Combination foldable and adjustable workstation
A workstation includes a frame supporting a work surface upon which a task can be completed and/or an item can be stored. The workstation can include a drive system for adjusting a height of the work surface above a surface supporting the workstation. The workstation can also be configured such that the work surface and other components of the workstation can be moved between an in use mode and a lower profile storage and/or transportation mode. |
| US09723918B2 |
Universally mounted work surface height adjustor with suction cups
An apparatus for adjusting the height of a work surface comprising a height-adjusting mechanism and a universal mount that ensures compatibility with a wide variety of desks and other work surfaces. The apparatus may include one or more suction cups for securing the work surface to the height adjustment mechanism. The apparatus may also include a bent universal adapter bracket. |
| US09723917B2 |
Table device and conveyance device
A table device including: a first base including a first reference surface; a second base including a second reference surface, and movable on the first reference surface in a direction parallel to a first axis; a first bearing member provided to the second base, and forming a gas bearing between the first bearing member and the first reference surface; a second bearing member provided to the second base, apart from the first bearing member relative to a direction parallel to a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and forming a gas bearing between the second bearing member and the first reference surface; and a table movable on the second reference surface. A distance between the first bearing member and the second bearing member is longer than a dimension of a moving range of the table relative to the direction parallel to the second axis. |
| US09723915B2 |
Brush cleaning method
A method for cleaning a brush includes inducing a static charge on a surface of a first plate, wherein the first plate comprises at least one of silicon nitride (SixNy) or silicon oxide (SiaOb), wherein a, b, x and y are integers. The method further includes rotating the brush in contact with the surface of the first plate. |
| US09723910B2 |
Device attachment for holding a device
An attachment to a mobile device, allowing a user to grasp and use the device. The attachment may include three concentric, interlocking rings. An outer ring adhered to a backing plate may be affixed to a surface of a device, such as a rear surface of a cell phone, smart phone, personal digital assistant, calculator, MP3 player, iPod, iPad, tablet computer or other mobile device. An inner ring attaches to a middle ring via a hinge mount. The grasping device may resemble a ring for a finger of a user, by which a user grasps the attachment and thus the mobile device. The inner and outer rings may be connected and interlocked by a mating middle ring. The middle ring allows the inner ring to rotate relative to the outer ring, allowing the user to conveniently position or orient the mobile device as desired. Other shapes may be used. |
| US09723908B1 |
Ear repoisitioning and shielding clamp
An ear repositioning and shielding clamp for protecting an ear from heat sources used in hair styling includes a pinch handle that is spring loaded. Each of a pair of jaws has a first edge coupled to the pinch handle. The jaws are substantially rigid. The jaws are biased to a closed position when the pinch handle is not pinched. Each of a pair of pads is coupled to a respective jaw. The pinch handle is configured to be pinched by the user, such that the jaws move in opposition to an open configuration to position the jaws around the ear. The pinch handle, upon release by the user, will motivate the jaws to resume a substantially closed position, inducing the user's ear to a safer position. The pads are configured to protect the user's ear from a nearby source of heat. |
| US09723907B2 |
Refillable lipstick with retractable sleeve
A refillable lipstick is provided. In one implementation, a high-quality permanent lipstick dispenser incorporates a screw-type catch or a magnetic catch that enables replacement of the lipstick within the dispenser. Lipstick refills may be installed and removed from the dispenser with an extractor. In an implementation, the dispenser includes a sleeve that is arranged to extend and retract within the dispenser, to provide access to the lipstick for removal and/or installation. |
| US09723905B2 |
Digital device emitting a scent with an image and method for controlling the same
A digital device including a scent emitting unit and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The digital device includes a display unit for displaying a first image including a first object having a first scent property and a second object having a second scent property, a sensor unit for sensing a distance from a specific body part of a user, a scent emitting unit, and a processor. The processor controls the scent emitting unit to emit any one of a first scent, a second scent or a mixture of the first scent and the second scent according to the distance from the specific body part of the user, and a mixture ratio of the first scent to the second scent in the mixture is changed according to a predetermined condition. |
| US09723903B2 |
Contact lens package with reduced head space
The packages described by this invention all have reduced “head space,” that is, the distance from lid to lens. Packages contain dimples to achieve this reduced head space. Specifically, packages are designed with dimple sag equal to or less than 1.90-mm, or volume displaced equal to or less than 360 μl. Combined with the existing primary packaging, it has been found that such conditions provide for reduction in folded lens rate during shipping and handling. As well, lenses stored or having an extended time in low head space packages in a “foil down” orientation now have characteristics closer lenses stored in a “foil up orientation.” |
| US09723901B1 |
Self-righting cane
A self-righting cane is provided that includes a handle portion having a grip and a collar. A shaft extends from the handle portion and is joined to the handle portion at the collar. A base supporting portion includes a weight disposed within the base supporting portion. The weight has an aperture such that the shaft connecting to the base supporting portion through the aperture. The weight disposed within the base supporting portion self-rights the cane and prevents the cane from falling over. |
| US09723899B2 |
Electronic watch clasp systems and methods
Embodiments of a watch can include a watch having an analog watch face, a first watch band portion, a second watch band portion and an analog watch face. The watch can include a butterfly clasp having a digital display and a circuit board associated with a controller. |
| US09723898B2 |
Wearable device with interior frame
A wearable device includes a wearable device structure having first and second ends. A support member is positioned at least partially positioned in the wearable device structure. Electronic circuitry is at a surface or an interior of the wearable device. The electronic circuitry provides at least identification of the wearable device. One or more batteries are coupled to the electronic circuitry. |
| US09723890B2 |
Article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with body and heel portions
An article of footwear may include a knitted component formed of multiple knitted component portions. The knitted component includes a body portion and a heel portion. The body portion is formed of unitary knit construction and extends through a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and at least partially into a heel region of the article of footwear. The heel portion is formed of unitary knit construction and extends through the heel region and includes a cuff that defines a throat opening of the upper for receiving a foot. The body portion and the heel portion are joined along adjacent edges to form the knitted component. Knitting directions of the knitted component portions vary along the adjacent edges. An overlay element may also be provided to cover a seam attaching the adjacent edges of the knitted component portions. |
| US09723889B2 |
Biomechanics aware headgear
Protective gear includes an outer shell layer connected to a middle shell layer through an outer energy and impact transformer layer. The middle shell layer is connected to an inner shell layer through an inner energy and impact transformer layer. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers flexibly connect the shell layers to absorb impact forces, rotational forces, shear forces, etc., and allow the various shell layers to move and slide relative to the other shell layers. The outer and inner energy and impact transformer layers may be constructed using gels, fluids, electro-rheological elements, magneto-rheological elements, etc. The protective gear may be formed as helmets or body protection for various activities and protect users from not only impact and penetrative forces, but rotational and shear forces as well. |
| US09723886B2 |
Helmet mirror
The present invention is an improved rear view mirror that removably attaches to a protective helmet. The helmet mirror, in its preferred embodiment, includes a bracket, an elongated adjustable arm, an adjustment nut, and a mirror, wherein the bracket and the adjustable arm are rubber-coated. The adjustable arm includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the bracket and the second end is attached to the mirror by means of the adjustment nut. The positioning of the mirror may be adjusted by bending the adjustable arm and/or pivoting the mirror about the adjustment nut. The bracket is bent to form a general J-shape when viewed from the side. The bracket is adapted to be wedged under the rim portion of a protective helmet to removably secure the device to the same. |
| US09723884B2 |
Slider for slide fastener
There is provided a slider for a slide fastener. A slider body includes an upper blade disposed at a front side of the slider body, which is a pull-tab attachment side, a lower blade disposed at a back side of the slider body, which is opposite to the front side, and a connecting post connecting the upper blade and the lower blade to each other. A fibrous fabric sheet is integrally fixed to a back surface of the lower blade at the back side, with an adhesive layer being interposed between the fibrous fabric sheet and the back surface of the lower blade. |
| US09723883B1 |
Sweat absorber for armpits
A garment protector for protecting an outer garment from perspiration, body oils, and the like includes a chest strap configured to wrap around an upper part of a torso of a wearer adjacent to armpits of the wearer. The garment protector includes first and second absorbers attached to the strap and configured to be held at the armpits of the wearer by the strap. The under garment further includes a first arm strap attached to the first absorber and configured to wrap around a first arm of the wearer, and a second arm strap attached to the second absorber and configured to wrap around a second arm of the wearer. |
| US09723882B2 |
Article of apparel convertible to a sleeping bag
An article of apparel convertible to a sleeping bag is comprised of a jacket having a body portion and a pair of detachable sleeves removably secured to respective shoulder portions of the portion by attachments. The body portion has an extendable waist section. The detachable sleeves have an elongated detachable closure extending longitudinally thereof to deploy the sleeve lengthwise whereby the pair of sleeves can be interconnected together to form a tubular leg pouch. The sleeves also have gussets extending from wrist bands thereof to expand when deployed. The top attachment zippers of the sleeves permit attachment of the tubular leg pouch to zipper fasteners in a lower edge of the extendable waist portion to form the sleeping bag. |
| US09723870B2 |
System comprising a simulated cigarette device and a refill unit
A simulated smoking device (1) comprising a simulated cigarette having a substantially cylindrical cigarette-like shape and a refill device (2, 50) having a substantially cuboid housing with a cigarette pack-like shape containing refill gas (32, 59) for the simulated cigarette and having means for selectively retaining the simulated cigarette. The simulated cigarette may be retained wholly within the housing. It may be retained at a location different from the refill location. A dose counter may be provided to give a visual indication of the doses in the refill device. |
| US09723862B2 |
Multilayer structure instant noodle and method for manufacturing same
A multilayer structure instant noodle which is manufactured through steps in which an inner layer noodle sheet is sandwiched between outer layer noodle sheets such that these noodle sheets are combined to form a single noodle sheet, the single noodle sheet is flat-rolled so as to form noodle lines, and the noodle lines are gelatinized and dried, and a blending amount of salt in the inner layer noodle sheet is higher than a blending amount of salt in the outer layer noodle sheet. |
| US09723859B2 |
Method for producing a high protein food
A high protein food may be produced via an extrusion process whereby acid casein is mixed with whey protein, alkali and water. Upon exiting the extruder, the mixture may be cut, dried, and/or tempered, milled and screened before being further processed or packaged. The final product may be configured as a crisp high protein food or a powdered high protein food. The protein content of the end product may be approximately 90-95% on a dry weight basis. |
| US09723858B2 |
Frozen confection dispensing apparatus
A frozen confection dispensing apparatus includes a freezer section and a dispensing section connected to the freezer section. A mixing section is attached to the dispensing section. A user interface allows a user to select a desired flavor. A flavoring section includes a plurality of flavor syrups connected to at least one of injection port within the mixing section. A motor assembly turns a shaft and includes a mixing blade to regulate flow of frozen confection product within the mixing section as well as to blend or homogenize the frozen confection product and flavor syrup at the point of dispense. |
| US09723857B2 |
Effervescent beverage containing grain degradation product with refreshing foam
An effervescent beverage containing a grain degradation product which contains creamy and tasty foam having a refreshing texture and a new texture of a prolonged creamy-foam retention is formed on the effervescent beverage upon drinking, a method for dispensing and a dispenser of such effervescent beverage are disclosed. According to the present invention, there is provided a method for dispensing the effervescent beverage containing a grain degradation product by cooling the effervescent beverage and pouring it into a vessel to serve, wherein foam having a snow-like refreshing texture and a new texture of a prolonged creamy-foam retention is formed on the effervescent beverage, said method comprising: forming a slurry containing the extract-frozen microparticles by cooling and stirring the effervescent beverage, preparing the frozen foam of the effervescent beverage containing the extract-frozen microparticles and fine bubbles by cooling and stirring the slurry and incorporating the outside gas into the slurry, and supplying the prepared frozen foam of the effervescent beverage to the effervescent beverage poured into a vessel as a foam component. |
| US09723856B2 |
Molding container
A molding container including a lid that can be smoothly pulled out of a molded frozen dessert with no damage to the molded frozen dessert is provided. The molding container 10 includes a main body 12 capable of containing a frozen dessert, and a lid 14 capable of molding at least part of the frozen dessert contained in the main body 12. A spiral step is formed on an outer surface 14c of the lid 14. |
| US09723853B2 |
High-protein food product and process for making
A dairy-based yogurt product having a protein level above 15%, sometimes more than 25%, with a smooth and rich texture and no grittiness. The yogurt product includes a particular selection of dairy proteins and other ingredients to raise the gelation temperature of the dairy proteins and avoid causing gelation or precipitation during pasteurization. Additionally, pasteurization temperatures, times and methods are selected to avoid gelation. Starting dairy proteins generally have relatively higher pH levels and low total acidity (TA) levels to help reduce gelation during pasteurization. Ingredients such as buffering agents and sequestering agents may be utilized to help raise the gelation temperature, as well as higher sugar levels which can control hydration of the proteins. |
| US09723851B2 |
Infrared dry blanching, infrared blanching and infrared drying technologies for food processing
This invention relates to food processing and, in particular, blanching and dehydration of foods. Conventional blanching and dehydration requires use of steam and forced hot air. This invention is the first to effectively use infrared radiation energy to perform simultaneous blanching and dehydration of fruits and vegetables. Since this technology does not involve the addition of steam or water in the process of blanching, it has been named “infrared dry-blanching” (IDB) technology. IDB is intended to be a replacement for current steam, water and/or microwave blanching methods. It can be used to produce many kinds of value-added dried, refrigerated, frozen and dehydrofrozen foods such as fruit and vegetable products. In general, the advantages of IDB include (1) uniform heating which enhances energy efficiency and limits damage from over-heating, (2) capability of zone heating to address differential density, (3) ability to treat large or small lots with the same piece of equipment, (4) portability, since equipment can be built on wheels, and (5) a safe, non-toxic process with no harmful side-effects to humans or the environment. |
| US09723850B2 |
Facility for manufacturing a restructured meat element
A facility that includes a means for forming meat fragments, and a movable support for the meat fragments, which is to convey said meat fragments in a longitudinal direction, through a means for cohesively compacting meat fragments to form a block of compacted meat fragments. The cohesive compaction means includes two movable compaction shoes for compacting the meat fragments between the movable support and said shoes. The shoes are mutually transversely offset relative to the longitudinal direction of conveyance. The shoes are each driven in a vertical alternating movement, such that the pads move relative to one another and out of phase with each other. |
| US09723846B2 |
Measuring device for individually detecting body features of slaughtered animal bodies that can be conveyed in a row and processing device comprising at least one such measuring device
The invention relates to an animal body measuring apparatus, designed to individually detect features of slaughtered animal bodies that are conveyable in a row at a distance from each other and along a path, in particular poultry bodies, which measuring apparatus comprises at least one sensor, a measurement passage space for conveying the animal bodies through along a measurement passage path, on which at least one said sensor is arranged, and a holding means. The holding means comprises a movement means, by means of which said sensor, by moving the sensor back and forth, is displaceable between the measurement position lying within the measurement passage space and an outer position permitting free passage of the animal bodies, which outer position as such lies completely outside the measurement passage space. A processing apparatus for removing the meat of slaughtered animal bodies, in particular gutted bodies of poultry whose extremities have been detached, comprises at least one measuring apparatus of the stated design. |
| US09723844B2 |
Synergistic Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and chlorantraniliprole mixtures for diamondback moth, beet armyworm, sugarcane borer, soybean looper, corn earworm, cabbage looper, and southwestern corn borer control
The present invention generally relates to the use of synergistic amounts of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and chlorantraniliprole for the control of diamondback moth, beet armyworm, sugarcane borer, soybean looper, corn earworm, cabbage looper and southwestern corn borer, wherein the ratio of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki to Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai is from about 1:0.47 to about 1:0.92, and the ratio of the total amount of Bacillus thuringiensis to chlorantraniliprole is from about 1:0.0001 to about 1:20. |
| US09723841B2 |
Herbicidal formulations comprising glyphosate and alkoxylated glycerides
The present invention generally relates to herbicidal compositions, and more particularly, herbicidal compositions containing glyphosate or a salt thereof and a surfactant comprising at least one mono and/or diglyceride alkoxylate. |
| US09723840B2 |
1-(pyridazin-3-yl)-imidazolidin-2-one derivatives as herbicides
The invention relates to pyrrolone compounds of the formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, Rb, Rc and Rd are as defined in the specification. Furthermore, the present invention relates to processes and intermediates for making compounds of formula (I), to herbicidal compositions comprising these compounds and to methods of using these compounds to control plant growth. |
| US09723839B2 |
Processes for the preparation of pesticidal compounds
The present application provides processes for making pesticidal compounds and compounds useful both as pesticides and in the making of pesticidal compounds. |
| US09723834B2 |
Composition containing a pyripyropene insecticide and a base
The present invention relates to a composition comprising a pyripyropene pesticide of the formula (I) or (II) as defined below and a base. The present invention relates also to methods of preparing and applying such compositions, as well as several uses thereof, and finally seeds, comprising said composition. |
| US09723832B2 |
Modular sample store
A modular sample store including a storage area; a service area; a transfer area; a motorized robot with a lifting device and at least one platform; and a controller. The sample store service area includes one integrally formed cubic vat module and the sample store storage area includes at least one integrally formed cubic vat module. Each one of the aforementioned vat modules includes an essentially horizontal vat floor and four joining vat walls that are connected to the vat floor and that are leaving an open vat space. The modular sample store also includes upper side walls and a cover plate to close the sample store. Each vat floor and vat wall includes an outside liner and an inside liner, which outside and inside liners in each case are separated by a clearance. This clearance is essentially filled with a polymer foam material that provides fixation of the outside and inside liners to each other as well as thermal insulation of and reinforcement to the thus integrally formed cubic vat module sandwich construction. |
| US09723831B2 |
System and methods for automated vitrification of biological materials
The present invention relaters to a system and methods for automated vitrification of mammalian oocytes or embryos. The system and methods enable automated processing of oocytes or embryos in vitrification solutions; robotically moving vitrification devices that carry processed cells for freezing in liquid nitrogen; automated sealing of the frozen devices; and transferring the sealed devices to an automated storage system for long-term cryopreservation. |
| US09723830B2 |
Filtration in organ perfusion apparatus
A filter for filtering perfusate is integrated with an exterior portion of an organ container. The filter may be used in an apparatus for perfusing an organ. The perfusion apparatus may include an organ container configured to contain an organ, the filter integrated with an exterior portion of the organ container, and another filter. At least the filter integrated with an exterior portion of the organ container may be provided in a sterilized disposable kit. |
| US09723823B2 |
Fishing line dispenser
A fishing line dispenser, the fishing line being wound about a spool having circular walls, and a bore, the dispenser including a base; a “” bracket including a column having front and rear ends, a cylindrical arm having a proximal end rigidly attached to the column's rear end, and having a spindle arm having a proximal end rigidly attached to the column's front end, the spindle arm being fitted for extension into the spool's bore; a pivot joint interconnecting the “” bracket and the base, the pivot joint having first and second halves, first half being positioned at the base's rear end, and the second half including the “” bracket's cylindrical arm; and a concavity positioned within the base for, upon the spindle arm's oppositely lateral extension into the spool's bore and upon downward pivoting of the “” bracket, receiving and frictionally engaging the spool's circular walls. |
| US09723822B1 |
Fishing rod with a flotation device
A fishing rod with a flotation device including a housing in a handle of a fishing rod body or in a tube attached to the fishing rod body. A flotation mechanism in the housing includes a water dissolvable plug within a front end thereof, a flotation body adjacent the plug, a discharge element, which is a spring or an amount of baking soda, adjacent a rear side of the flotation body, and a nylon cord anchored to the rear end and having a forward end attached to the flotation body rear side. Upon dissolution of the plug, the discharge element transforms from a contracted condition into an expanded condition and releases the flotation body from the housing. As the flotation body rises to and floats upon a surface of a body of water, the housing is elevated to make the fishing rod body accessible for retrieval. |
| US09723815B2 |
Feeding apparatus for supplying feed to a trough and a method of monitoring the functioning of such a feeding apparatus
A feeding apparatus is provided for supplying feed to a trough. The feeding apparatus includes a plurality of feed dispensers having respective outlets. The feeding apparatus further includes a slide, the slide being positioned below the outlets to receive feed falling from the outlets and guide the feed towards the trough. The slide includes a plurality of impact detectors located below the respective outlets to detect impact of feed on the slide. |
| US09723811B2 |
Trough
A freestanding trough has an elongate trough body 12 and transverse restraints 14. The trough body has a bottom portion 16 integrally formed with two side wall portions 18 from a resilient semi-rigid sheet. The restraints 14 extends transversely across the inside of the trough, intermediate the ends of the trough body 23, lower than upper edges of the side wall portions but higher than the bottom portion. The side wall portions 18 are restrained from moving outward, away from a longitudinal centerline of the trough, at least in part by a tension in the restraint 14 and the side wall portions are maintained upright in part by the tension in the restraint, and in part by the resilient semi-rigidity of the sheet. |
| US09723810B2 |
Apparatus for mixing and cutting animal feed and method of operating such an apparatus
An apparatus for mixing and cutting animal feed including a container with a sidewall, a rotary mixing and cutting device positioned inside the container and arranged to be driven by a driving unit. At least one counter element is provided at the sidewall. The apparatus includes a positioning device for moving the counter element between a retracted position and an inserted position, and a control unit to control the positioning device of the counter element and arranged to determine an indication of the amount of instantaneous power consumed by the driving units for driving the rotary mixing and cutting device and to control positioning device based on the determined indication of the amount of instantaneous power. |
| US09723806B2 |
Animal enclosure with dual door assembly
An animal enclosure including a plurality of members defining an interior of the enclosure. One of the plurality of members includes a first member having a frame structure and door assembly formed by a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical wires. At least two of the horizontal wires of the frame structure form a hook positioned inside the defined opening. The door assembly is coupled to the frame and moves between an open and closed positions. The door assembly includes a first door and a second door removably coupled to one another. The enclosure also includes a latch assembly for releasing the door assembly from the frame structure. In the closed position, at least one horizontal wire of the first door and at least one horizontal wire of the second door are coupled to the hooks formed by the at least two horizontal wires of the frame structure. |
| US09723804B2 |
Lettuce variety 81-64 RZ
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 81-64 RZ, which exhibits a combination of traits including resistance to downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) races Bl:1 to Bl:28, Bl:30-Bl:32 and Ca-I to Ca-VIII, resistance to currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) and resistance to corky root (Sphingomonas suberifaciens) race CA1, as well as having non-flabellate leaves. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 81-64 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 81-64 RZ. |
| US09723801B2 |
Cotton variety 14R952B2XF
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 14R952B2XF. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 14R952B2XF. Also provided by the invention are methods of using cotton variety 14R952B2XF and products derived therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 14R952B2XF with itself or another cotton variety and plants and seeds produced by such methods. |
| US09723797B2 |
Selection of mature fruit color in pepper plants
The invention provides methods and compositions for breeding pepper (Capsicum sp. such as Capsicum annuum) lines, including isogenic and nearly isogenic lines, displaying one or more mature fruit color(s) of interest. Predictive genetic markers and associated sequences and primers, associated with phenotypic diversity at the Ccs locus encoding Capsanthin-Capsorubin Synthase, and the Ze locus encoding Zeaxanthin Epoxidase are also provided, as well as methods for breeding pepper lines. Further provided are pepper plants, and plant parts including seeds, seed mixtures, fruit, and packaged fruit, which display mature fruit color(s) of interest. |
| US09723794B2 |
Power tool having an interchangeable blade assembly and method for interchanging the blade assembly
A power tool includes a housing, a blade assembly, a drive assembly within the housing for driving the blade assembly, and a cover that is coupled to the power tool and is movable between at least two positions. The blade assembly is fixedly retained by the power tool when the cover is in a first position and is detachable from the power tool when the cover is in a second position. The cover has tool-less means for coupling the blade assembly to the cover when the cover is in a second position. |
| US09723793B2 |
Cutting device for agricultural harvesting machines with preselecting device for preselecting groups of cutting knives
A cutting device for agricultural harvesters has a conveying channel and pivotably supported cutting knives arranged in a row on a frame. The cutting knives project in the cutting position into the conveying channel. A conveying member with conveying tines, rotatingly driven about a horizontal axis, interacts with the cutting knives for comminuting crop. Individual adjusting devices, each associated with one cutting knife, yieldingly support the cutting knives in the cutting position. A knife switching device is provided to move the cutting knives from the inoperative position into the cutting position. With a preselecting device a desired group of cutting knives can be selected that is pivoted into the cutting position upon activation of the knife switching device. The preselecting device is activatable with reduced force expenditure by eliminating resistances, caused by adjusting and connecting devices of the knife switching device, when preselecting the desired group of cutting knives. |
| US09723790B2 |
Weed seed devitalization arrangement
A weed seed devitalization arrangement for use with a. combine harvester, attached to the combine harvester, towed behind, or standalone. The weed seed devitalization arrangement receives weed seeds entrained in a. portion of the air and material previously discharged from a combine harvester or other crop/lawn cutung apparatus. The weed seed devitalization arrangement includes a roton'stator arrangement including but not necessarily excluding other elements, one or more stationary substantially circular array of weed seed impact members, the members being arranged so as to impact weed seeds being provided into the substantially circular array; and one or more rotatable substantially circular array of weed seed impact members, the rotatable array movable with respect to a stationary substantially circular array of weed seed impact members, the impact members of the rotatable substantially circular array arranged to impact weed seeds being directed through the rotatable substantially circular array. Another element may be a driven rotating clement at or near the central portion of the rotor/stator arrangement for receiving the portion of air and material discharged from the combine harvester entrained with weed seeds and for providing a flow of air and entrained material including weed seed into the arrays of the arrangement. |
| US09723789B2 |
Cart with folding auger having adjustable elevation
A cart having an adjustable elevation auger. A junction box may located within the opening of a sump of a bin of a cart. The junction box may have an open top, closed bottom and sides, and back wall. The back wall of the junction box may be secured to a bin wall by a hinge such that the junction box may pivot about a pivot axis. An auger housing may be connected to and extend from the junction box. An auger may extend through the auger housing and have an intake end disposed within the junction box. The auger housing and auger may pivot with the junction box about a pivot axis between a lowered position and an elevated position. The auger may be a corner auger and may be a folding auger. |
| US09723787B2 |
Fruit harvester platform
A mobile picking platform system includes a mobile picking platform having a mobile carriage with a superstructure supporting multiple adjustable picking stations. A storage box carrier on the mobile picking platform has a pick position with storage boxes held at optimum heights for access by pickers on the picking stations, an unload position in which full storage boxes are unloaded onto a ground surface, and a load position for receiving empty storage boxes.A storage unit carries empty storage boxes and facilitates transfer of storage boxes to the mobile picking platform. A shuttle trailer may also be included in the system to transfer empty storage boxes to the mobile picking platform and storage unit. The shuttle trailer has a down position in which full storage boxes may be picked up from a ground surface, and an up position for transferring storage boxes to the storage unit or mobile picking platform. |
| US09723785B2 |
Header latch mechanism for agricultural vehicle
A latching mechanism for securing a header to an agricultural vehicle has latching pins located on opposite sides of a centerline of the vehicle. The latching pins are movable between latched and unlatched positions from the same side of the machine. As one example, the harvester is an agricultural combine harvester and the header mounts to a feederhouse. The latching mechanism can be mounted to the feederhouse and moved into and out of engagement with the header to retain or remove the header. |
| US09723784B2 |
Crop quality sensor based on specular reflectance
A crop quality sensor, comprising an illumination source, an imaging device, and a processor executing application software. The illumination source is shone onto a crop sample, and an image is taken with the imaging device of the illuminated crop sample. The software executing on the processor is used to analyze the image to identify the outlines of individual kernels and to identify which of those outlines contain a specular highlight, indicative that the kernel is whole and unbroken, while the absence of such a specular highlight is indicative of a broken kernel. |
| US09723782B2 |
Quick-change blade cover assembly
A lawn care device may include a cutting deck housing at least one blade, a rotatable shaft, and a blade mount operably coupled to the rotatable shaft. The blade mount may include a clasp to secure the at least one blade within an engagement slot of the blade mount. The cover assembly may form a cavity with at least one sidewall extending substantially around a periphery of the blade mount. |
| US09723778B2 |
Agricultural system
A hydraulic control system for controlling the down force on an agricultural implement comprises a hydraulic cylinder containing a movable ram, a source of pressurized fluid coupled to the hydraulic cylinder on a first side of the ram by a first controllable valve, a fluid sump coupled to the hydraulic cylinder on the first side of the ram by a second controllable valve, and an electrical controller coupled to the valves for opening and closing the valves. The valves may be self-latching valves that remain in an open or closed position until moved to the other position in response to a signal from the controller. |
| US09723777B2 |
Supporting device for mounting a furrow device on a seed tube
A supporting device for operably connecting a furrow device to a seed tube of a planting unit for planting seeds into a furrow is provided. The supporting device may include a clip configured to engage the furrow device and the seed tube. The clip may be at least partially positioned inside the seed tube. The clip may at least partially engage a top surface of the furrow device. |
| US09723775B2 |
Tool mounting assembly for agricultural implements
A tool mounting assembly comprising a shank holder having an elongated passage and an elongated tool shank for an earth working or agricultural tool which is received within the passage and which includes a series of longitudinally spaced teeth. A rotatable adjuster is mounted on the shank holder and can cooperate with the teeth for moving the shank longitudinally of the passage to vary the operating depth of the tool. The shank can also cooperate with the adjuster to lock the adjuster against rotation which prevents longitudinal movement of the shank. A retaining member can be located in the passage for cooperation with the shank to hold the shank in this position. The adjuster may also be rotated to a position out of engagement with the shank teeth which allows for longitudinal sliding movement of the shank through the passage. |
| US09723773B2 |
Soil tillage apparatus and method
A soil tillage apparatus that includes a frame with a hitch arrangement for pulling the frame mounting, back from the frame front end, are sequently mounted earth cutter disks that individually turn when pulled through the soil to lift the soil above the ground, followed by a hammer tiller consisting of a rotor drum mounted to turn oppositely to the cutter disks and includes pivotally mounted tines that turn with the rotor drum above the ground to flail the clumps of soil lifted by the disks and pulverize the clumps of lifted soil, in mid-air, into soil particles that fall back to the ground, and are mixed into the soil by chiselers that follow the hammer tiller, and the frame may further mount a soil leveler wheel and soil packer wheel. |
| US09723772B2 |
Sod harvester with sod roll accumulator squeeze device
A sod harvester having a sod roll accumulator squeeze device configured to compact a sod roll while it is on a horizontal conveyor before it is picked up and moved by a sod carrier from a first location on the horizontal conveyor to a second location. The sod roll accumulator squeeze device is pivotally attached to a frame and controlled by a hydraulic cylinder that moves the accumulator squeeze device between an up position and a down position. The present invention is also a method of compacting a sod roll while it is at a first location on a horizontal conveyor of a sod harvester before it is moved by a sod carrier to a second location. The method includes providing an accumulator squeeze device that is pivotally attached to a frame and configured to compact the sod roll from the rear end of the sod harvester. |
| US09723771B2 |
Leaf shovel
A leaf shovel for shoveling leaves and other debris is provided. The shovel has a cover movable between an open position for gathering leaves on the blade of the shovel, to a closed position for retaining the leaves on the blade of the shovel. Once the cover is in the closed position, the shovel may be moved to the desired receptacle, holding the leaves in place. The cover is then moved to an open position to dump the leaves out of the shovel. |
| US09730367B1 |
Systems and methods to improve sensor sensitivity and range in an electronic computing device
Approaches are described for managing effects such as interference, crosstalk, and other types of noise in an electronic environment using a physical and/or electronic switch to improve electrode performance of a measurement system. Such approaches enable a component, such as a sensing electrode or other proximity sensing component of a measurement system of a computing device (e.g., a mobile phone, tablet computer, etc.) or other electronic device to be collocated, or otherwise placed in proximity, with one or more potential noise producing components, such as a ground plane, which can interfere or otherwise degrade the performance (i.e., electrode efficiency and/or electrode sensitivity) of the sensing electrode of the measurement system. |
| US09730365B2 |
Heat sink apparatus and method for power semiconductor device module
A heat sink has a base plate that has a first central portion, a second central portion, and a periphery, a first plurality of heat pipes embedded in the base plate that are arranged to convey heat away from the first central portion, and a second plurality of the heat pipes embedded in the base plate that are arranged to convey heat away from the second central portion, each of the heat pipes of the first and second pluralities having a hot end for receiving heat flow and a cool end for releasing heat flow. A switch package comprises an inner casing half mounted to a module facing surface of the heat sink base plate, a semiconductor module mounted to the module facing surface of the heat sink within the inner casing half, and an outer casing half that encloses the heat sink. |
| US09730364B2 |
Reversible contra-rotating fan system
A contra-rotating fan system includes a fan chassis. A first fan in the fan chassis includes blades that provide airflow in a first direction when the first fan rotates in a second direction, and provide airflow in a third direction opposite the first direction when the first fan rotates in a fourth direction opposite the second direction. A second fan adjacent the first fan in the fan chassis includes the same number of blades as the first fan. The first fan and the second fan rotate at the same time in opposite directions. The blades on the second fan provide airflow in the first direction when the first fan rotates in the second direction and the second fan rotates in the fourth direction, and provides airflow in the third direction when the first fan rotates in the fourth direction and the second fan rotates in the second direction. |
| US09730358B2 |
Unpowered auxiliary heat dissipation apparatus and device using the same
An exemplary heat dissipation apparatus includes a bracket, a reticular cover fixed to the bracket and a receiving space being defined with the bracket, and a tray received in the receiving space. The tray includes a first surface and a second surface. A number of first through holes is defined on the bracket. A number of second through holes is defined on the tray respectively corresponding to the first through holes, each of the second through holes extends obliquely from the first surface of the tray to the second surface of the tray relative to a vertical line of the first and second surfaces of the tray. A first magnet is installed on the first surface of the tray, a second magnet corresponding to the first magnet is installed on the bracket. |
| US09730357B2 |
Cable connector mounts for connector bricks of a cable communication system
A connector brick for a cable communication system includes a header frame including end walls and side walls defining a header opening. The header frame is configured for mating with at least one circuit card. A plurality of cable connectors are received in the header opening. Each cable connector has cables extending therefrom and each cable connector has a header holding signal contacts at a mating end of the header and configured for mating with a corresponding card connector of the corresponding circuit card. Cable connector mounts are coupled to the end walls and extend into the header opening. The cable connector mounts engage corresponding cable connectors to secure the cable connectors in the header opening. |
| US09730355B2 |
Provisioning of lightweight configurable servers with chassis base and cover designed for nested stacking
An information handling system (IHS) has a lightweight server (LWS) chassis that is user selectable from multiple LWS chassis. Each LWS chassis includes a chassis base having structural configuration that enables placement of the LWS chassis in a nested, stacked configuration with a second LWS chassis placed atop the LWS chassis and a third LWS chassis placed below the LWS chassis. Multiple LWS chassis can be stacked in a vertical space whose height is less than a sum of individual heights of each of the multiple LWS chassis. The IHS further includes compute components inserted into the LWS chassis and one or more connecting cabling interconnecting the at least two compute components. |
| US09730352B2 |
Clamp for panel-mounted electronics modules or other devices
A system includes (i) a module configured to be mounted on a panel and (ii) a clamp. The clamp includes a retaining section configured to receive and retain a threaded structure. The retaining section is also configured to be connected to and apply force against the module. The clamp also includes a contact section configured to contact the panel and apply force against the panel. The clamp further includes a connecting portion connecting the retaining section and the contact section. The connecting portion is configured to allow part of the threaded structure to contact the contact section in order to create the forces applied against the panel and the module. The connecting portion can be elastic such that a separation of the retaining section and the contact section changes as the threaded structure pushes against the contact section. |
| US09730351B2 |
Electrical connector assembly with holding member
An electrical connector assembly, adapted for electrically connecting an IC package or module to a printed circuit board, includes a metallic bracket surrounding a stationary electrical connector which is mounted upon the printed circuit board. A module equipped with another electrical connector is positioned upon and removably assembled to the stationary electrical connector. A locking/ejecting member is pivotally mounted upon the bracket to releasably lock the module in position. A retention lever is pivotally mounted upon the bracket to prevent the locking/ejecting member from inadvertently or mistakenly unlatching the locking member from the module. |
| US09730345B2 |
Supporting apparatus of housing
A housing supporting apparatus includes: a base-plate body having a base-plate axis; a connection plate body having one end formed with a connection plate axis and pivotally connected to one end of the base-plate body; a first supporting plate having a first axis pivotally connected to the one end of the connection plate body; and a second supporting plate having a second axis pivotally connected to one end of the first supporting plate. The second supporting plate has one end pivotally connected to the base-plate axis. |
| US09730342B2 |
Display apparatus
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including: a display module configured to be changed to a curved state, the display module comprising a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, the first and the second lateral edges protruding forward in the curved state; a base frame disposed behind the display module; a shield member rotatably connected to lateral ends in a widthwise direction of the display module; and a cover unit having a first end connected to the shield member and a second end opposite from the first end connected to the base frame and configured to spread and cover spaces between the display module and the base frame at the lateral ends of the display unit when the display module is in the curved state. |
| US09730341B2 |
Hybrid electric vehicle battery cover with electrical disconnect
A battery system includes a battery cover, a battery access panel removably connected to the battery cover, and a service disconnect switch. The service disconnect switch includes an electrical interlock switch. The service disconnect switch has a first position cooperating with the battery access panel to prevent removal of the access panel from the battery cover. In the first position, the service disconnect connects a traction battery to circuitry. The service disconnect also has a second position, the second position being displaced from the access panel and disconnecting the battery. |
| US09730338B2 |
Portable electronic device housing structures
Portable electronic devices are provided. Each device may be formed from two parts. A first part may be provided with components such as a display, a touch screen, a cover glass, and a frame. A second part may be provided with a plastic housing, circuit boards containing electrical components, and a bezel. Engagement members may be connected to the first and second parts. The engagement members may be formed from metal clips with holes and springs with flexible spring prongs that mate with the holes in the clips. The metal clips may be welded to frame struts on the frame and the springs may be welded to the bezel. Hard stop structures may be used to vertically align the first and second parts. A frame in the device may have an integral gasket. |
| US09730333B2 |
Photo-curing process for metallic inks
A solution of metal ink is mixed and then printed or dispensed onto the substrate using the dispenser. The film then is dried to eliminate water or solvents. In some cases, a thermal curing step can be introduced subsequent to dispensing the film and prior to the photo-curing step. The substrate and deposited film can be cured using an oven or by placing the substrate on the surface of a heater, such as a hot plate. Following the drying and/or thermal curing step, a laser beam or focused light from the light source is directed onto the surface of the film in a process known as direct writing. The light serves to photo-cure the film such that it has low resistivity. |
| US09730332B2 |
Surface treated copper foil and laminate using the same, printed wiring board, and copper clad laminate
A surface treated copper foil which is well bonded to a resin and achieves excellent visibility when observed through the resin, and a laminate using the same are provided. The surface treated copper foil to be laminated on a polyimide having the following ΔB (PI) of 50 or more and 65 or less before being laminated to the copper foil so as to form a copper clad laminate comprising a surface having a color difference ΔE*ab of 50 or more based on JIS Z 8730 through the polyimide and a difference between the top average Bt and the bottom average Bb in a brightness curve extending from an edge of the copper foil to a portion without the copper foil ΔB (ΔB=Bt−Bb) of 40 or more, wherein the brightness curve is obtained from an observation spot versus brightness graph of measurement results of the brightness of the photographed image of the copper foil through the polyimide laminated from the surface treated surface side with a CCD camera for the respective observation spots along the perpendicular direction of the extending direction of the observed copper foil. |
| US09730331B2 |
Display panel motherboard and manufacturing method thereof
A display panel motherboard and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The display panel motherboard comprises display panel regions (Q1) spaced apart from each other and precut regions (Q2) adjacent to the display panel regions. The manufacturing method comprises forming an electrical insulating layer (102); and removing at least portions of the electrical insulating layer provided on the precut regions (Q2). The method avoids the problem of other patterns offset on the display panel motherboard caused by the larger internal stress within the electrical insulating layer. |
| US09730328B2 |
Printed circuit board with embedded component and method for manufacturing same
A printed circuit board with embedded component includes a double-sided printed circuit board, an electronic component, a plurality of conductive paste blocks, an insulating layer and a wiring layer near the first wiring layer, an insulating layer and a wiring layer near the second wiring layer. The double-sided printed circuit board comprising a first wiring layer, a base, and a second wiring layer. The first wiring layer and the second wiring layer are arranged on opposite sides of the base. The second wiring layer includes a plurality of electrical contact pads. The base defines a number of conductive vias. Each electrical contact pad is aligned with and electrically connected to one corresponding conductive via. The conductive paste blocks are electrically connecting to the conductive vias. The electronic component is electrically connected to the conductive paste blocks. The two insulating layers cover the electronic component and the second wiring layer. |
| US09730326B2 |
Electrical contact arrangement for an electric motor and method for producing the same
Electrical contact arrangement for an electric motor and method for producing same. The present invention relates to an electrical contact arrangement for an electric motor, in particular for an EC drive of a motor vehicle fan, comprising an elongate contact which runs perpendicular to a planar basic conductor, wherein the basic conductor is in the form of a leadframe, and a conductive cohesive and/or form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection is provided between the leadframe and the contact. The present invention also relates to a method for the production of said electrical contact arrangement. |
| US09730320B2 |
Prepreg, laminate, metal foil-clad laminate, circuit board and LED module
A laminate with superior thermal conductivity, heat resistance, drill workability, and fire retardancy is provided. In a prepreg obtained by impregnating a woven or nonwoven fabric base with a thermosetting resin composition, the thermosetting resin composition contains 80 to 200 parts by volume of an inorganic filler per 100 parts by volume of a thermosetting resin, the inorganic filler contains (A) gibbsite type aluminum hydroxide particles having an average particle diameter (D50) of 2 to 15 μm and (B) magnesium oxide having an average particle diameter (D50) of 0.5 to 15 μm, and a compounding ratio (volume ratio) of the gibbsite type aluminum hydroxide particles (A) to the magnesium oxide (B) is 1:0.3 to 3. |
| US09730318B2 |
Rollable display device, method of manufacturing the same, and flexible display device
A rollable display device includes a flexible display panel, a housing, a grip part, and a connection part. The flexible display panel is configured to display an image. The flexible display panel is rolled and kept inside the housing. The grip part extends the flexible display panel from the housing to expose the flexible display panel to the outside of the housing. The connection part is between the flexible display panel and the grip part to connect the flexible display panel and the grip part. The connection part is not configured to display the image. |
| US09730316B2 |
Mobile device and manufacturing method thereof
A mobile device and a method of manufacturing a mobile device are disclosed. An aspect of the present invention provides a mobile device, which includes: a multi-layer circuit board including a plurality of circuit pattern layers and a plurality of dielectric layers and having a cavity formed on a lateral surface thereof toward an inside thereof; an electrode pad laminated in the cavity and configured to be electrically connected with the circuit pattern layers; and a conductive switch formed on an external peripheral portion of the cavity of the multi-layer circuit board in such a way that the conductive switch is separated from the electrode pad and is contactable with the electrode pad by an external force. |
| US09730314B2 |
Stackable security wraps
The present invention provides a security assembly for protecting a device includes first and second security wraps fitted to the device. The first security wrap covers a first area of the device. The second security wrap partially overlaps the first security wrap and covers a second area of the device. Each of the first and second security wraps has a security screen having first and second screen terminals and a conductive track extending between the first and second screen terminals. A conductive structure is disposed in an overlapping area between the first and second security wraps and coupled to the second screen terminal of the first security screen and to the first screen terminal of the second security screen. |
| US09730306B2 |
Optimized thermal nozzle and method of using same
Nozzle for thermal spray gun, thermal spray gun and method of optimizing nozzle of thermal spray gun. The nozzle includes a central bore comprising a conical bore and a cylindrical bore. The conical bore is delimited by a conical wall surface in a conical bore section, the cylindrical bore is delimited by a cylindrical wall surface in a cylindrical bore section, and the conical bore section and the cylindrical bore section are structured so that heat is removed more rapidly from the conical wall than from the cylindrical wall. |
| US09730303B1 |
Dimming control device and system
A dimming control device is configured to be electrically connected to a pull switch for controlling a lighting device. The dimming control device includes a control module and a power module. The control module is configured to be electrically connected to the pull switch for receiving a trigger signal that is indicative of a pulled duration for which a cord of the pull switch is pulled and held in a pulled state. The power module is controlled by the control module according to the trigger signal to operate the lighting device by turning on/off lighting elements of the lighting device, or steplessly adjusting brightness of light emitted from any lighting element that is turned on. |
| US09730300B2 |
Wireless lighting control system and its application thereof
The present invention generally relates to a wireless lighting control system and its application thereof, particularly for commercial application. Said wireless lighting control system mainly involves a novel communication protocol developed for functioning of the said lighting control system, which allows users to remotely control on/off, configure different layouts and settings, and time schedule the operation of different types of lighting fixtures including LEDs. |
| US09730298B2 |
Systems and methods for lighting control
Lighting units, systems, and methods are described herein for determining whether occupancy detections are legitimate or not. Methods and systems are further described herein for powering down a network of power over ethernet (PoE) components. |
| US09730294B2 |
Lighting device including a drive device configured for dimming light-emitting diodes
A lighting device with a drive device for dimming light-emitting diodes. The drive device comprises a dimming component that operates a switch in response to both a change in an input power signal and a system temperature. In one example, the dimming device can include a waveform generator that generates a signal with a waveform having levels that change in response to changes in temperature. The waveform defines the time during which the switch is open and closed, thereby determining the period of time the LEDs are energized. By operating the LEDs in this manner, the drive device effectively dims the LEDs to reduce the operating temperature and cool the LEDs. |
| US09730291B1 |
Color temperature adjustment based on dim level
A lighting device includes a light source that emits an illumination light. The light source includes a first group of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emits a first light and a second group of LEDs that emits a second light. The first light has a first Correlated Color Temperature (CCT), and the second light causes the illumination light to have a warmer CCT. The lighting device further includes a differential amplifier to adjust a current flow through the second group of LEDs. The second light is switched on when a current provided to the light source is below a threshold corresponding to the adjustable reference voltage. The lighting device also includes a current sensor to provide a sensor output signal to a second input of the differential amplifier, the sensor output signal having a second voltage corresponding to the current provided to the light source. |
| US09730290B2 |
Dimmable AC driven LED illuminating apparatus
A dimmable alternating current (AC) driven light emitting diode (LED) illuminating apparatus including a TRIAC dimmer configured to perform a dimming control using a phase control. |
| US09730285B2 |
Electronic circuit for driving LED strings including a plurality of regulation modules which function in sequence
An electronic circuit drives a plurality of LED strings connected in series. The electronic circuit includes a regulation module corresponding to each LED string, with the regulation module connected to the cathode terminal of the corresponding LED string. Each regulation module is further coupled to receive a reference voltage in phase with a rectified a.c. voltage. The regulation modules execute in turn and in sequence a current-regulation phase as a function of a trend of the reference voltage. Each regulation module, when executing the current-regulation phase, functions to regulate the current that flows in the corresponding LED string and in any previous LED strings in the series connection so that the regulated current is proportional to the reference voltage. |
| US09730283B2 |
Drivers and driving methods for a LED string, capable of providing LED short protection or avoiding LED flickering
The disclosure regards to drivers and driving methods for a LED string consisting of LEDs. The LED string and a current switch are coupled in series between a power line and a ground line. The power line is powered to regulate a signal representing a current passing through the LED string. An enable signal capable of switching the current switch is provided. Whether a predetermined event occurs is detected. When the predetermined event occurs, the enable signal is clamped to have a predetermined logic value, the current switch thereby being kept either open or short. |
| US09730279B2 |
Arc-shaped microwave oven
An arc-shaped microwave oven is disclosed, including a cooking cavity, an oven base, a microwave generation unit disposed within the oven base, and a control unit also disposed within the oven base, wherein the oven base includes a bottom portion and a back portion that is assembled with the bottom portion, the cooking cavity is formed by a cavity surrounded by the bottom portion, the back portion and a furnace door, the furnace door is in a hood shape and provided with a microwave shielding cover, and the microwave generation unit and the control unit are electrically connected to an operation/display unit. The furnace door can be movably connected to the back portion, the furnace door can swing up and down relative to the bottom portion and the back portion to open and close respectively, and the furnace door can be in an arc hood shape. |
| US09730277B2 |
Pressurizer heater for the primary cooling system of a pressurized-water nuclear reactor
The invention relates to a heating rod for a pressurizer of a primary cooling system of a pressurized-water nuclear reactor, the rod comprising a metal outer shell (36) of longitudinally elongate shape having an external surface (62), and a heating element (40) mounted inside the shell (36). It comprises an anti-corrosion coating (60) covering at least part of the external surface (62) of the shell (36). |
| US09730276B2 |
Flat heating element comprising twists and bends and method thereby to relieve heating element stress
Presented is a heating element, and method for producing same, comprised of strip material having a length, width and depth where the strip material is twisted at least once axially relative to its length and bent at least once across its width resulting in a generally flat profile. The twists and bends provide for expansion and contraction of the heating element and thereby provide stress relief during heating and cooling. |
| US09730275B2 |
Gas turbine engine systems
A gas turbine engine 10 comprises at least one rigid raft assembly that has a fluid passageway 210 at least partially embedded therein. The fluid passageway 210 is at least a part of a fluid system. In addition to the fluid passageway 210, the rigid raft assembly 200 also has at least a part of another system. For example, the rigid raft assembly may also include electrical conductors 252, which are part of an electrical system. The rigid raft assembly 200 may be lighter, easier to assemble, more robust and more compact than conventional solutions for providing systems to gas turbine engines. |
| US09730273B2 |
Heater module for heater of fluid infusion apparatus and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention includes: a laminated structure of an insulation substrate; a resistance pattern laminated on one side of the insulation substrate with a pure metal or an alloy which is a mixture of two or more metals at a predetermined ratio and having a resistance value which is set by a pattern having a length and a cross-sectional area; a first insulator layer coated on an upper surface of the resistance pattern by a predetermined method to protect and insulate the resistance pattern; a conductor layer in which a metal material is deposited on the upper surface of the first insulator layer by a predetermined method; and a thin film protective layer deposited on the upper surface of the conductor layer to provide insulation from the conductor layer, waterproofing, corrosion resistance, and chemical resistance. |
| US09730271B2 |
Systems and methods for splitting and recombining communications in multi-network environments
Systems and methods for providing dynamic substream definition and handover are provided. In embodiments, a user device includes a multiple radio access technology (RAT) communications modules and a communication controller. Each RAT communication module is further configured to communicate using a different RAT. The user device identifies available networks for communication. Then, the controller determines whether a need to split a communications stream exists (e.g., the user device is engaged in a bandwidth intensive application). If the communications stream is to be split, the controller defines the substreams (either equally or unequally) and assigns a first substream to a communication pathway in a first available network and assigns a second substream to a communication pathway in a second available network. The destination then recombines the substreams. In embodiments, the controller inserts synchronization in the substreams. |
| US09730269B2 |
Method and system for partitioning wireless local area network
The present disclosure discloses a method and system for partitioning WLAN in order to separate network traffic from different WLANs. Specifically, a network device receives a packet from a client connected to a first network device on an access network. The network device then determines that the received packet is associated with a VLAN that is pre-configured on the first network device based on the access network to which the client is connected. Furthermore, the network device transmits the packet to a MAC layer switching device, which is not configured with the VLAN that is pre-configured on the network device. The packet includes one of a DHCP discovery message, an ARP request message, a unicast message, a multicast message, and a broadcast message. The unicast message will be transmitted to the second network device on the pre-configured VLAN prior to being transmitted to another network device outside the pre-configured VLAN. |
| US09730267B2 |
Methods and devices for radio bearer release
The disclosure relates to a method (30) for radio bearer release performed in a base station node (2) of a communication system (5). The base station node (2) provides one or more radio bearers to a user equipment (1), and the communication system (5) comprises a serving gateway (4). The method (30) comprises: receiving (31) an error message from the serving gateway (4), the error message indicating a faulty radio bearer; awaiting (32), for a delay time, additional error messages indicating faulty radio bearers; and releasing (33) the one or more radio bearers being indicated as faulty. |
| US09730262B2 |
Method for controlling communication and electronic device thereof
A method of operating a first electronic device for improving call quality is provided. The method includes the operations of transmitting call data received through a first call between the first electronic device and a third electronic device to a second electronic device, using short-range wireless communication connected with the second electronic device, if a communication abnormality of the short-range wireless communication takes place, connecting a second call between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, generating a third call by merging the first call and the second call, and releasing a call connection of the first electronic device from the third call. |
| US09730258B2 |
Apparatus configured to report aperiodic channel state information for dual connectivity
Embodiments of a system and method for reporting channel state information (CSI) in a wireless network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) can include physical layer circuitry to receive, in a first subframe, a first aperiodic CSI request from a first cell group, and a second aperiodic CSI request from a second cell group. The UE can include processing circuitry to determine a number of requested CSI processes corresponding to the first aperiodic CSI request and the second aperiodic CSI request. Additionally, the processing circuitry can select a subset of the requested CSI processes when the determined number of requested CSI processes is more than five. Furthermore, the processing circuitry can calculate CSI for the selected CSI processes. |
| US09730256B2 |
Method and apparatus for discovering device in wireless communication network
A method and apparatus for discovering a device without an access point (AP) to perform P2P communication in a wireless communication network includes: receiving a probe request frame from another P2P device; determining whether a message requesting at least one of a phone number and user identification information is included in the received probe request frame; and transmitting a probe response frame including at least one of the phone number and the user identification information to the another P2P device when the message is included in the probe request frame. |
| US09730253B2 |
Enabling UE access domain selection for terminated speech/video calls
Methods, apparatuses, and systems are described for selecting an access domain for receiving a speech and/or video call at a mobile station of a mobile communications network in which calls are routed via a central service control common to a plurality of access domains. In one method, a terminating mobile station receives an INVITE and then, if the access network supports neither simultaneous circuit switched (CS) and packet switched (PS) connections nor voice over internet protocol (VoIP), the terminating mobile station transmits a message indicating that a CS bearer is required for a session. |
| US09730252B2 |
Quick connection between customized softap and STA
A method and apparatus for connecting a wireless station (STA) to an access point (AP). The STA broadcasts a probe request that includes a custom information element (IE), and receives probe responses from one or more APs in response to the probe request. The STA then identifies a target AP from the probe responses based at least in part on whether one or more of the received probe responses include the custom IE, and connects to the target AP. For example, the target AP may respond to the probe request by sending a probe response that includes the custom IE. The STA may thus identify a set of candidate APs based on one or more received probe responses that include the custom IE, and select the target AP from the set of candidate APs. |
| US09730251B2 |
Method for supporting an emergency call in a mobile communication system
A method for supporting an emergency service by a mobility management entity (MME) and a base station in a mobile communication system, and a MME and base station, are provided. The method for supporting an emergency service by a MME includes receiving, by the MME, a first message including information associated with an attach request of a terminal from a base station, determining, by the MME, whether the attach request is accepted based on information indicating an emergency service included in the first message, and transmitting, by the MME, a second message to the base station if the attach request is accepted, wherein if the information associated with the attach request includes the information indicating the emergency service, the attach request is accepted, and wherein the information indicating the emergency service is included in the first message using information included in a third message received from the terminal. |
| US09730247B2 |
Method and device for uplink transmission
A method for transmitting data in a wireless local area network and the device using the same are provided. A device transmits a plurality of data units via one or more subchannels. The plurality of data units have same access categories. |
| US09730246B2 |
Collision reduction mechanisms for wireless communication networks
A method includes wirelessly communicating with one or more stations that are partitioned into one or more groups. The method also includes generating a message that identifies one or more time periods during which each station of a first group of the one or more groups is permitted to contend for a communication channel or restricted from contending for the communication channel. The method further includes transmitting the message. |
| US09730245B2 |
Random access procedure in a cellular internet of things system
Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE). In some examples, a base station may allocate, to a UE, time and/or frequency resources for transmitting physical random access channel (PRACH) signals. The resource allocation may be apportioned based on a type and class of PRACH signal. For instance, a UE may be assigned a first subset of resources to transmit regularly scheduled traffic and a second subset of resources to transmit on-demand traffic. Regularly scheduled traffic may include, for example, sensor measurements reported to the base station on a predetermined time interval (e.g., 24 hour time interval). In contrast, an on-demand traffic may include an impromptu transmission, initiated based on a detection of at least one reporting trigger (e.g., sensing an abnormality at the UE). |
| US09730244B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling random access channel responses
A method and apparatus for supporting a random access using a random access channel (RACH) are disclosed. The WTRU detects a format of control information in at least one control channel element (CCE) of a common area in a control portion of a downlink transmission. The control information indicates a resource allocation in a data portion of the downlink transmission. The WTRU recovers a random access response assigned to the WTRU from the indicated resource allocation of the data portion on a condition that the at least one CCE has a random access radio network terminal identifier (RA-RNTI) assigned to the WTRU. |
| US09730233B2 |
Channel allocation method based on shapley value in wireless networks
A channel allocation method based on Shapley value in wireless networks is provided. The method comprises: disclosing by a PU (primary user) some idle channels denoted by serial numbers, a utilization rate threshold, a lowest selling price, and an increment between two bidding prices; SUs (secondary users) reporting the corresponding numbers of required channels to the PU; calculating a plurality of legal teams satisfying the utilization rate threshold; classifying the plurality of SUs; calculating the Shapley value of each SU in each legal team; calculating an estimated price of each multi-user in each legal team; determining the retained legal teams; performing an ascending auction process by the retained legal teams; and allocating the channels to the SUs in the winning team. |
| US09730229B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing resource between macro base station and small cell base station in mobile communication system
A method for allocating a resource by a Mobile Station (MS) in a mobile communication system includes performing a measurement operation and a measurement report operation; and being allocated a resource from a small cell Base Station (BS) or a macro BS based on a neighbor small cell BS change probability and a neighbor small cell BS list, wherein the neighbor small cell BS list includes information on neighbor small cell BSs, and the neighbor small cell BSs are neighbor small cell BSs of which received signal strengths for reference signals measured by the MS are equal to or greater than a threshold received signal strength, and wherein the neighbor small cell BS change probability is determined using a neighbor small cell BS list which is generated at a current timing point and a neighbor small cell BS list which is generated at a previous timing point. |
| US09730227B2 |
Dynamic frequency allocation of satellite beams
A method and apparatus for operating one or more satellites in a non-geosynchronous orbit (NGSO) satellite constellation are disclosed. In some aspects, the satellite may allocate a first frequency band to a first beam, and may allocate a second frequency band to a second beam. Then, if the first beam is disabled, the satellite may re-map the first frequency band from the first beam to the second beam. In this manner, frequency resources initially allocated to a disabled beam may be re-mapping to another, non-disabled beam. |
| US09730219B2 |
Method for determining a time multiplexing sequence for a MIMO radar
For providing time multiplexing sequences for transmit antennas of a linear or two-dimensional MIMO radar unit that includes antennas situated close to one another (collocated MIMO radar), a method that enables a precise angle estimation includes implementing an algorithm with which a transmit sequence of transmitters and their transmit times are determined so that object movements have essentially no influence on the angle estimation. In this way, as a function of previously known quantities, optimal time multiplexing sequences can be determined in each case. |
| US09730211B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving downlink signal considering antenna port relationship in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more specifically, to a method and an apparatus for transmitting or receiving a downlink signal considering an antenna port relationship. The method for enabling a terminal to receive a physical downlink sharing channel (PDSCH) signal in the wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention can determine a PDSCH start symbol index according to the predetermined priority and receive the PDSCH signal therethrough. The PDSCH start symbol index can be determined when a PDSCH start symbol value included in a PDSCH resource element mapping and Quasi co-location Indicator (PQI) parameter set is determined by an upper layer. The PDSCH start symbol index can be determined according to the PDSCH start symbol value for a cell receiving the PDSCH when the PDSCH start symbol value included in the PQI parameter set is not determined by the upper layer. |
| US09730209B2 |
Communication terminal device, base station device, and communication system
A communication terminal device includes a determining unit that determines a region size of a control channel in accordance with a PHICH duration value transmitted from a base station device, and an acquiring unit that acquires, on the basis of the region size, data to be sent to the communication terminal device. A base station device includes a first control unit that updates a CFI value at a first interval, a second control unit that updates a PHICH duration value at a second interval, the second interval being greater than the first interval, and a scheduling unit that performs scheduling of, only in a subframe in which the PHICH duration value matches the CFI value, data to be sent to a communication terminal device that is outside an arrival coverage of a signal including the CFI value. |
| US09730205B2 |
Multi-carrier modulation with hierarchical resource allocation
Methods and systems for communicating in a multi-carrier communication system are disclosed. Radio resources may be organized in at least three hierarchical levels. The hierarchical levels may comprise macroblocks, blocks, and radio resource elements. A macroblock may contain a plurality of blocks and a block may contain a plurality of radio resource elements. The radio resource elements may further correspond to subcarriers in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol. An index in a control message may specify a modulation and/or coding scheme (MCS) pattern indicting a MCS for each block within a macroblock. In an embodiment, fewer bits are used by the index to specify a MCS pattern that is used statistically more frequently, and more bits are used by the index to specify a MCS pattern that is used statistically less frequently. Signals may be transmitted over the plurality of macroblocks. |
| US09730199B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting uplink control information in wireless communication system
Provided are a method for a terminal transmitting uplink control information (UCI) through a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) in a wireless communication system, and a terminal using the method. A transmission power to be applied to the uplink control channel is determined on the basis of a value subordinate to a PUCCH format, and at least one type of UCI is transmitted from the physical uplink control channel by using the transmission power that is determined, wherein when the PUCCH format is PUCCH format 3, and the at least one type of UCI includes acknowledgement/negative-acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) and periodic channel state information (CSI), the value subordinate to the PUCCH format is determined on the basis of the number of bits of the ACK/NACK and the number of bits of the periodic CSI. |
| US09730195B2 |
Radio communication method, radio communication system, radio station, and radio terminal
A radio communication method, includes: notifying a radio terminal of first set information, from at least one communication point among a plurality of communication points, based on information of a reception level on the radio terminal, the first set information specifying one or more candidates of reception points to receive a signal transmitted from the radio terminal among one or more communication points capable of coordinated communication from the plurality of communication points; and notifying the radio terminal of second set information, from at least one communication point among the plurality of communication points, in reception of a signal from the radio terminal, the second set information specifying one or more reception points to be used for reception of a signal transmitted by the radio terminal among one or more reception points specified in the first set information. |
| US09730190B2 |
Terminal apparatus, communication system, and communication method
A terminal apparatus includes a downlink transceiver that receives downlink data via a base station governing a first cell and exchanges with the base station governing the first cell, control information that is for receiving the downlink data; and an uplink transceiver that transmits uplink data via a base station governing a second cell that is different from the first cell and exchanges with the base station governing the second cell, control information that is for transmitting the uplink data. |
| US09730188B2 |
Terminal device, base station device, retransmission method, and resource allocation method
The present invention provides a terminal device that allows constraints on user allocation to be prevented and spread codes to be allocated in a scheduler when non-adaptive HARQ is employed using a PHICH. A codeword generator (103) generates code words (CW) by encoding data, a layer mapping unit (108) places each CW in one or a plurality of layers, a DMRS generator (110) generates a reference signal for each layer in which a CW is placed by using any resource among a plurality of resources defined by a mutually orthogonal plurality of OCCs, and an ACK/NACK demodulator (102) receives a response signal indicating a retransmission request. When a response signal requesting retransmission of only a CW placed in a plurality of layers is received, the DMRS generator (110) uses each resource having the same OCC among the plurality of resources for the reference signals generated in the corresponding layers. |
| US09730184B2 |
Broadcast and paging channels for machine type communication
Methods, systems, and devices are described for facilitating Machine Type Communication (MTC) in a wireless communications system. Link budget-limited MTC devices may be supported. An MTC physical broadcast channel may be utilized for MTC and may be transmitted over one or more subframes different from a regular physical broadcast channel. The payload for the MTC physical broadcast channel may be reduced. The MTC physical broadcast channel may be utilized to indicate the presence of paging and/or to indicate a change in system information. One or more MTC-specific system information blocks may combine and/or simplify multiple system information blocks. The location of the MTC system information blocks may be predetermined or information about their location may be transmitted over the MTC physical broadcast channel. An enhanced paging channel may be used to indicate system information updates. |
| US09730183B2 |
Method for reporting a channel quality indicator by a relay node in a wireless communication system, and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a method for reporting a channel quality indicator for a relay node-dedicated physical downlink shared channel (R-PDSCH) from a base station by a relay node in a wireless communication system. More particularly, the method comprises the following steps: receiving one or more reference signals from the base station; calculating a channel quality indicator for the R-PDSCH on the basis of one or more reference signals; and reporting the channel quality indicator to the base station. |
| US09730176B2 |
Identifiers and triggers for capillary devices
Methods and apparatuses for capillary network device registration implemented in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are disclosed. Registration or bootstrap messages may be received by a capillary network device where the WTRU acts as a gateway for communication between the capillary device and a network such as a 3GPP network. A capillary network device identifier (CNDID) is sent to the capillary device. A packet data protocol (PDP) context or PDN connection may be established with the network and the CNDID may be sent to a machine type communications (MTC) server. The WTRU may create the registration message, establish a connection with the network, and forward the registration message to the MTC server. Methods and apparatuses implemented in a network are also disclosed for identifying, addressing, and triggering the capillary devices from the MTC server. The trigger message may include fields for group communication, reducing signaling, and enabling charging. |
| US09730175B2 |
Method and system for determining delay difference, base station and user equipment
The present document discloses a method and a system for determining a delay difference, and a base station and UE, the method includes: a serving cell receiving information of time measured by a neighboring cell at which uplink channel/signal information of UE for determining a synchronization delay is received; and the serving cell determining a synchronization delay difference between the UE to the serving cell and the UE to the neighboring cell according to information of time measured by the serving cell at which the uplink channel/signal information of the UE for determining the synchronization delay is received, and the information of time measured by the neighboring cell and at which the uplink channel/signal information of the UE for determining the synchronization delay is received, wherein the uplink channel/signal information measured by the serving cell is the same as the uplink channel/signal information measured by the neighboring cell. |
| US09730171B2 |
Mapping schemes for secondary synchronization signal scrambling
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmitter, a receiver and methods of operating a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes a synchronization unit configured to provide a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal having first and second segments. The transmitter also includes a secondary scrambling unit configured to provide a scrambled secondary synchronization signal, wherein scrambling agents for the first and second segments are derived from a primary synchronization sequence of the primary synchronization signal. The secondary scrambling unit is further configured to provide an additional scrambling of one of the first and second segments, wherein a second scrambling agent is derived from the remaining segment of a secondary synchronization sequence of the secondary synchronization signal. The transmitter further includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the primary synchronization signal and the scrambled secondary synchronization signal. |
| US09730170B2 |
Connection to access point
Technologies generally described herein relate to connection of a mobile device to an access point in a wireless communication system. Example mobile devices may include a receiver, a decoder and a data communication module. The receiver may be configured to receive a downlink synchronization signal from an access point through a cellular band. In some embodiments, the downlink synchronization signal is synchronized based on a signal from a base station. The decoder may be coupled to the receiver and configured to decode the received downlink synchronization signal to obtain information regarding the access point. The data communication module may be coupled to the decoder and configured to connect to the access point based, at least in part, on the obtained information regarding the access point. |
| US09730169B2 |
Power headroom reporting method and device for wireless communication system
Methods and apparatus are provided for reporting a Power Headroom (PH) of a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system having a plurality of aggregated uplink carriers. A method includes receiving a configuration message to configure at least one uplink carrier; triggering a power headroom report (PHR) for a first uplink carrier if a predetermined event occurs; detecting an allocation of an uplink transmission resource for the PHR; identifying whether the first uplink carrier for which a power headroom (PH) is to be determined is different from a second carrier to which the uplink transmission resource is allocated; determining the PH based on a first pathloss associated with the first uplink carrier, if the first uplink carrier is different from the second carrier; and transmitting the PHR generated based the determined PH. |
| US09730168B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting power headroom information in mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation
A method and apparatus for receiving a power headroom (PH) report by a base station in a mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation are provided. The method includes receiving an extended PH report (PHR) including respective PHs for multiple activated serving cells and respective indicators corresponding to the respective PHs through one of the multiple serving cells, and checking each indicator to determine whether a corresponding PH is calculated based on a real transmission or a reference format. It is determined that the corresponding PH is calculated based on the real transmission, if the each indicator is set to “0”, and it is determined that the corresponding PH is calculated based on the reference format, if the each indicator is set to “1”. |
| US09730167B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting power headroom information in mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation
A method and apparatus for transmitting a power headroom (PH) report by a terminal in a mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation are provided. The method includes determining respective PHs for multiple activated serving cells based on a real transmission or a reference format, setting respective indicators for the PHs, wherein each indicator indicates that a corresponding PH is determined based on the real transmission or the reference format, and transmitting, to a base station, an extended PH report including the PHs and the indicators on one of the multiple activated serving cells. The each indicator is set to “0”, if the corresponding PH is determined based on the real transmission, and the each indicator is set to “1”, if the corresponding PH is determined based on the reference format. |
| US09730162B2 |
Power management for WLAN client devices using low energy signaling
Methods, systems, and devices are described for using low energy (LE) signaling to indicate to a wireless station (STA), prior to transmission of a beacon, whether the beacon will further indicate that an access point (AP) has data to transmit to the STA. In one aspect, a method may include receiving, using a first radio of a wireless STA using a LE communication protocol, a first signal comprising an indication of a traffic indication map (TIM) of a wireless local area network (WLAN) beacon, and selectively powering up a second radio of the wireless STA to receive the WLAN beacon in response to the indication. In one aspect, the wireless STA may power up the first radio at a predetermined interval prior to a target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of the WLAN beacon. |
| US09730161B2 |
Radio module with schedule for controlling power consumption of a field device and transmitting field device data to a superordinated unit
A radio module for a field device, wherein the radio module contains a schedule, according to which process data, especially measurement data, are downloaded from the field device by means of the radio module and wirelessly transmitted to a superordinated unit. Based on the schedule, the radio module transmits to the field device control signals, which serve to control the power consumption of the field device. |
| US09730158B2 |
Synchronization for extending battery life
The present invention discloses a method and system for efficiently supporting data calls to WTRUs in systems that also support telephony. Various types of data is transmitted on a known schedule which is tightly synchronized to a predetermined time frame. The WTRUs synchronize their wake-up periods to search for data at times when data may or will actually be transmitted to them. |
| US09730157B2 |
Wireless local area network assisted network detection for user equipment
Methods, systems, and devices are described for detecting a communications network or assisting in the detection of a communications network. In a method for detecting a communications network, a beacon received from a device over a wireless local area network (WLAN) may be decoded to identify an information element (IE) in the beacon. The IE may indicate an availability of another network. When the IE is empty, a sleep mode may be entered (e.g., by a user equipment (UE)). In a method for assisting a detection of a communications network, a database including information indicating an availability of at least a first network may be accessed, and a beacon may be broadcast over a WLAN. The beacon may include an IE that indicates the availability of at least the first network. |
| US09730155B2 |
Power save aware multicast support
The present disclosure discloses a system and a method for providing power save aware multicast support. Specifically, a network device first determines that each of a first subset of client devices, of a plurality of client devices, is associated with a first characteristic indicating that the first subset of client devices is not in a power save mode. Based at least on the first determination, the network device transmits a message in a multicast format to the first subset of client devices. Second, the network device determines that each of a second subset of client devices, of the plurality of client devices, is associated with a second characteristic indicating that the second subset of client devices is in a power save mode. Based at least on the second determination, the network device transmits the message in a unicast format to each of the second subset of client devices. |
| US09730145B2 |
In-transit detection using low complexity algorithm fusion and phone state heuristics
System and methods are disclosed to use information available on the state of mobile devices in a heuristics-based approach to improve motion state detection. In one or more embodiments, information on the WiFi connectivity of mobile devices may be used to improve the detection of the in-transit state. The WiFi connectivity information may be used with sensor signal such as accelerometer signals in a motion classifier to reduce the false positives of the in-transit state. In one or more embodiments, information that a mobile device is connected to a WiFi access point (AP) may be used as heuristics to reduce the probability of falsely classifying the mobile device in the in-transit state when mobile device is actually in the hand of a relatively stationary user. Information on the battery charging state or the wireless connectivity of the mobile devices may also be used to improve the detection of in-transit state. |
| US09730144B2 |
System and method for mixed-mesh wireless networking
A mixed mesh wireless network that includes a Mixed Mesh network 105, and Energy Data Server (EDS) 110, EDS database 115, a Utility portal 130, and a Consumer portal 140. The EDS Server 110 is connected to Utility portal 130, Consumer portal 140 and EDS database 115 via a VPN. The wireless network 100 is adapted to connect end devices 150, for example, thermostats, meters, switches and other ZigBee supporting devices, appliances, or electronic devices to mixed mesh network 105. The network 100 is further adapted to connect mixed mesh network 105 to multiple consumer or end user applications 160 via the Internet, for example, desktops, notebooks, smart phones, or other computing or communications devices that may be used to manage, access and/or control end devices 150. |
| US09730142B2 |
Device and method for performing route search in wireless relay network, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A wireless communication device transmits data to a relay destination being one of first relaying devices capable of communicating out of relaying devices; obtains first information, from each first relaying device, that indicates a representative value of remaining operating times of relaying devices present on a relay route from the first relaying device to a target device; determines to perform a new route search, based on the first information; increases a transmission power; then transmits a request; receive responses from all or a part of second relaying devices, which are relaying devices that have received the request, including pieces of second information each of which indicates a representative value of remaining operating times of relaying devices present on a relay route from the second relaying device to the target device; and selects a relay destination of data from among the second relaying devices based on the pieces of second information. |
| US09730131B2 |
Method and system for managing handover in radio access networks
A method and system for managing handover from a first radio access network to second radio access network is provided. The method includes receiving information associated with one or more neighboring cells from a User Equipment (UE). The information associated with the one or more neighboring cell is measurement reports. Thereafter, the method deciding to perform Handover (HO) based on the measurement reports for the UE from the first radio access network to the second radio access network. Further, the method identifies a target cell from the one or more neighboring cells. The method then determines target cell capabilities. Thereby, the method sends at least one of a handover required message and a relocation required message along with the target cell capabilities to a core network element. The core network element then manages voice bearers and non-voice bearers based on the target cell capabilities. |
| US09730129B2 |
PDCP operation for dual connection
An apparatus of a communication network detects that a modification of a radio resource control connection for a user equipment is required. The apparatus decides, based on the detected modification requirement, if a re-establishment of a packet data convergence protocol is required for a first radio bearer and/or a second radio bearer, and indicates, in a radio resource control reconfiguration message, the first radio bearer and/or the second radio bearer for which re-establishment of the packet data convergence protocol is required. The user equipment detects, from the radio resource control reconfiguration message, that a modification of a radio resource control connection between the user equipment and the communication network is required, and re-establishes the packet data convergence protocol for the first radio bearer and/or the second radio bearer in accordance with the indication set in the radio resource control reconfiguration message. |
| US09730127B2 |
Handover method and apparatus of electronic device in wireless communication system
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for providing a handover of an electronic device and reselection of a base station (cell) in a wireless communication system, considering load of the base station. A method for performing handovers in an electronic device of a wireless communication system includes: when a handover is required, measuring power of signals received from a serving base station and nearby base stations, and obtaining load information of the serving base station and the nearby base stations; selecting the first candidate base stations capable of performing a handover, using the measured power of the received signals; selecting the second candidate base stations capable of performing a handover, based on the load information of the first candidate base stations; and transmitting information on the power of signals received from the selected second candidate base stations and a request message for a handover to the serving base station. |
| US09730123B2 |
Determining root sequence
It is presented a method, executed in a root sequence determiner for a base station controlling a first cell, the first cell being associated with at least one root sequence used for cell differentiation on a random access channel. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining information on root sequences of neighboring cells; when a root sequence conflict is found between the first cell and a neighboring cell, here denoted a conflict cell, determining if the conflict cell is of a higher priority than the first cell, the priorities of the first cell and the conflict cell being based on properties of the respective cells; and when the conflict cell is of a higher priority than the first cell, finding a new root sequence for the first cell, avoiding the root sequences of the neighboring cells. |
| US09730122B2 |
Method and terminal for processing data transmission service
A method for processing data transmission services and a terminal are disclosed. The method includes: after a radio link disconnection occurs in a process of only performing the data transmission services of a packet-switched domain in a dedicated state, if judging that a timing value configured with a first timer is 0, a terminal deleting a radio access bearer and a signaling connection of the packet-switched domain; and if judging that a timing value configured with a second timer is not 0, initiating a cell update process, wherein, the first timer is a timer used for monitoring reestablishment of packet-switched domain services; the second timer is a timer used for monitoring reestablishment of circuit-switched domain services. According to the above scheme, the flow of processing a stream interruption of the terminal in a data transmission process can be perfected, and the drawbacks of the existing flow can be solved. |
| US09730115B2 |
Method for supporting indication of a failure event to a source access system
A method for supporting indication of a failure event to a source access system is provided. The method includes notifying, by the source access system, information of a source cell to a target access system, routing, by the target access system, a message to the base station or the base station controller of the source access through a core network by use of the information of the source cell received from the source access system when the target access system needs to transmit a message to the source access system. By use of the method provided by the present disclosure, a problem of mobility robustness optimization (MRO) among different radio access technology (RAT) may be notified to the source access system, so as to avoid impact for a terminal, reduce operator configuration. |
| US09730111B2 |
Methods and systems for maximizing throughput for rate-adaptive wireless communication
Throughput for rate-adaptive wireless communication is maximized by accounting for the rate loss associated with selecting a transmission rate as a function of the actual rate supported by the channel. An optimal rate is selected by minimizing a set of average cost functions; each of the average cost functions is based on the delayed LQMs and rate-loss cost functions associated with selecting a candidate transmission rate as a function of a maximum rate supported by the channel. |
| US09730110B2 |
Combining bandwidth from multiple cellular connections into a single WLAN network
A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving an instruction to aggregate cellular bandwidth of a user device with the cellular bandwidth of one or more participating user devices; appending a shared character string to a network name of the user device based on receiving the instruction; scanning for wireless local area networks (WLANs) after appending the shared character string; identifying one or more WLAN networks with the network names having the shared character string, where the one or more WLAN networks are hosted by the one or more participating user devices; connecting to a particular WLAN network, of the one or more WLAN networks via a WLAN interface of the user device; combining bandwidth from the cellular interface of the user device with the bandwidth from the WLAN interface of the user device; and hosting a WLAN network providing a sum of the bandwidth from the WLAN interface and the cellular interface. |
| US09730109B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, and computer program
Random access operation is performed under a communication environment in which a plurality of communication modes having different transmission rate coexist with small overhead. A high-grade communication station spoofs information of a packet length and a rate in a decoding portion so that a value of (packet length)/(rate) corresponds to a duration where the communication is hoped to be stopped. The other station receiving the spoofed information receives the rest of the packet with the designated rate during the interval designated by the value of (packet length)/(rate). In this case, the packet length and the rate are not those of actually transmitted packet so that this packet is discarded. |
| US09730108B2 |
Network architecture using Wi-Fi devices
Methods and apparatuses for Wi-Fi network operation are disclosed. In one example, a plurality of Wi-Fi bases are discovered, each Wi-Fi base associated with a wireless Wi-Fi device. A Wi-Fi channel associated with a group of Wi-Fi bases is selected and its use evaluated. An operational parameter is configured responsive to the Wi-Fi channel utilization. |
| US09730106B2 |
Technique for load balancing between cellular network subscriptions in a router having both short range and cellular communication interfaces
A WLAN router connected via a cellular network (e.g. LTE) to the Internet is disclosed; a plurality of SIMs (subscriptions), each associated with a user of the router, may be plugged into the router (or soft SIMs used); simultaneous Internet access for a plurality of users is achieved, even if the WLAN router does only have one TX/RX equipment, by the following features: the WLAN router—when receiving a portion of network traffic for a user—determines the subscription that the portion is associated with and updates a data usage quota for the subscription accordingly by an amount of data corresponding to said portion; thereafter, it is decided whether future network traffic for that subscription shall be transmitted over the same network connection or another subscription's network connection based on the updated data usage quota; thus, the router carries out load balancing between the subscriptions. |
| US09730103B2 |
Single MPDU frame signaling
Embodiments of systems and methods for providing single MPDU frame signaling are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US09730099B2 |
Method, device, and system for measuring channel state information
The present invention discloses a method, a device, and a system for measuring channel state information, which relate to the communications field. The method includes: transmitting, by a base station BS, multiple sets of channel state indication reference signal CSI-RS resources; and notifying a user equipment UE of an aggregation mode of the CSI-RS resources, so that after the UE aggregates the multiple sets of CSI-RS resources according to the aggregation mode of the CSI-RS resources to form a measurement source, the UE performs CSI measurement according to a channel corresponding to CSI-RS ports on the measurement source. |
| US09730097B2 |
Method of efficient blind SCell activation
An effective SCELL activation procedure is proposed to reduce the SCELL activation time. For carrier aggregation, a secondary cell (SCELL) needs to be configured and then activated before a UE can perform normal operation. In a first embodiment, the UE performs measurements on a list of candidate SCELLs before SCELL configuration. In a second embodiment, the UE performs measurements on a configured SCELL with high priority after the SCELL is configured. In a third embodiment, the UE performs deactivated-state SCELL measurements with adaptive SCELL measurement interval based on a configured measurement cycle and a state machine. Small SCELL activation time allows energy saving and network scheduling gain. |
| US09730095B2 |
System and method for reducing mobile network signaling
Component for insertion into a cellular communication network to reduce redundant signaling on the network or between the network and other networks, comprises: an extractor, to extract signaling passing the insertion point towards a destination, modify the signaling and reinsert the signaling for sending onwards. The extractor comprises a signal part remover to remove a part determined to be present at the destination; and an inserter for inserting a flag into the signaling to indicate the removal. The modified signal is sent on to the destination where a complementary component reads the flag and reinserts the extracted part from a database of its own. Location update activity often involves redundant transfer of user profiles, which the components herein can save. |
| US09730089B1 |
Remote controlled WiFi transceiver for wireless home networks
A wireless transceiver apparatus including: a plurality of components coupled to one another to form transmit and receive paths for processing wireless communications on the at least one selected wireless communication channel; local control circuits and a remote and local (R/L) switch fabric. The local control circuits each control a distinct portion of the wireless transceiver's wireless operations via connections to a related subset of the plurality of components. The R/L switch fabric configured to switchably connect each of the subsets of the plurality of components to at least one of, a related one of the local control circuits and a remote server providing remote control of a related portion of the wireless transceivers wireless operations, to enable a configurable mix of local and remote control sources among the distinct portions of the wireless transceiver's wireless operations. |
| US09730086B2 |
Techniques for dynamic network optimization using geolocation and network modeling
Techniques for dynamic network optimization using geolocation and network modeling are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system for improving performance of a mobile communications network. The system may comprise one or more processors communicatively coupled to a mobile communications network. The one or more processors may be configured to determine allowable changes within a network and rank a cell or parameter based on a priority rule. The one or more processors may be further be configured to generate a plurality of network configurations and evaluate strength of the plurality of network configurations. The one or more processors may also be configured to output a set of network configurations that is strongest among the plurality of network configurations. |
| US09730081B2 |
Rapid and precise methodology for massive small cell deployment
Small cell deployment may be provided. First, access point data may be captured by a technician device from an access point. Next, the access point data may be transmitted from the technician device to a backend server. The technician device may then receive post-check results corresponding to the access point from the backend server. The post-check results may be based on the transmitted access point data. |
| US09730080B2 |
Network coverage planning method and apparatus of evolution communication system
The present invention provides a network coverage planning method and apparatus of an evolution communication system, wherein the method includes: obtaining the theoretical coverage parameter of a single base station of the evolution communication system by link budget; obtaining the theoretical coverage parameter of an entire network of the evolution communication system by network stimulation; calculating a reception level value of the evolution communication system under the wireless environment of a current network communication system in the same planning area to estimate a simulative measured coverage parameter of the evolution communication system; and planning the coverage parameter of the entire network of the evolution communication system according to the theoretical coverage parameter of the single base station, the theoretical coverage parameter of the entire network and the simulative measured coverage parameter. |
| US09730079B2 |
Joint positioning method and device
Disclosed are a joint positioning method and device, and the method includes: a positioning module is enabled after a terminal receives a positioning request; the positioning module determines a primary positioning submodule implementing a primary positioning mode and an auxiliary positioning submodule implementing an auxiliary positioning mode according to a communication scenario or a predetermined setting; implementing respectively positioning by the primary positioning submodule and by the auxiliary positioning submodule, and outputting respective positioning results to a comparison module of the terminal; the comparison module compares the positioning results, selects an optimal positioning result and sends the optimal positioning result and/or positioning results other than the optimal positioning result to the primary positioning submodule; and the primary positioning submodule reports the optimal positioning result and/or positioning results other than the optimal positioning result to a server or the terminal through an interaction module of the terminal. The present disclosure can solve a problem that existing positioning applications have limited methods and poor accuracy can be better solved. |
| US09730078B2 |
Configuring and optimizing a wireless mesh network
An interactive software-based network design tool that may be used to simulate and view the operation of a wireless mesh device network used in a process plant, such as a wireless HART device network, allows a user to create a model of a wireless network, input several design requirements, and automatically generate and view communication routes and schedules for the wireless network. The network design tool provides an interactive graphic interface for the addition, removal, and positioning of nodes and devices within the wireless network and a menu including several interactive screens for specifying threshold values, network topology selections, routing preferences, and other configuration parameters related to generating and optimizing communication routes and schedules within the wireless mesh network. The network design tool automatically applies a set of optimization rules along with the parameters input by user to the network model in order to generate efficient network configuration data. |
| US09730073B1 |
Network credential provisioning using audible commands
Devices, methods, and systems for provisioning network credentials onto a device using audible commands. In some instances, the device is a headless device without a graphical user interface. The device may include a limited number of speech models and phrases pre-programmed onto the device to enable the device to query a user to enter network credentials and have a dialog type interface with the user using local speech recognition techniques. Once the network credentials are entered and the device connects to the user's network, the device may change modes and limit the local speech recognition techniques. In this respect, the device may send audio input to a more powerful remote device for processing. |
| US09730071B1 |
Systems and methods for connecting purpose-built appliances to secure wireless networks
The disclosed computer-implemented method for connecting purpose-built appliances to secure wireless networks may include (1) receiving, via an unsecured wireless network, an identifier from a network device that is not connected to a secure wireless network associated with the computing device, (2) sending, via the unsecured wireless network, a token to the network device, (3) receiving confirmation from a user of the network device that the network device correctly displayed the token and that the user would like to connect the network device to the secure wireless network, and (4) in response to the confirming that the user would like to connect the network device to the secure wireless network, sending, via the unsecured wireless network, network credentials for the secure wireless network to the network device to enable the network device to connect to the secure wireless network. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09730069B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal including a display unit on which objects corresponding to at least one selected application from among multiple applications executable on the mobile terminal are output in a locked mode; a user identification unit that identifies at least one user of the mobile terminal and determines whether the at least one user is authorized to cancel the locked mode; and a controller that only grants access for at least one individually assigned application among the multiple applications to the user authorized to cancel the locked mode of the mobile terminal. The at least one user has access to only at least one assigned function among multiple functions included in the at least one individually assigned application. |
| US09730068B2 |
System and method for visitor guidance and registration using digital locations
A system including a smartphone or tablet of a visiting user accessing a web site and security system of a visited person, the security system having a secured area with the visited person located at a predetermined location within the secured area, the web site downloading an initial geographical location of the visiting user from the smartphone or tablet of the visiting user, a processor of the web site generating and sending a map to the smartphone or tablet based upon the downloaded initial geographic location of the visiting user and the predetermined location of the visited person, the smartphone or table displaying the generated map on a display of the smartphone or tablet guiding the visiting user from the initial location of the visiting user to the predetermined location of the visited person and the processor of the website dynamically updating the map displayed on the smartphone or tablet. |
| US09730065B1 |
Credential management
In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include receiving a registration request from a mobile device to create a credential management account for a user associated with the mobile device; generating a public key and a paired private key associated with the credential management account; transmitting a certificate signing request to a certificate authority system; receiving a digital certificate from the certificate authority system; receiving a request to retrieve a credential for the user from a credential issuing organization; transmitting a request for the credential for the user to the credential issuing organization system; receiving, from the credential issuing organization; transmitting the decrypted data to the credential issuing organization; receiving data for the credential for the user from the credential issuing organization system; and transmitting data encoding a portion of a badge representing the credential. |
| US09730063B2 |
Network access via telephony services
A method includes receiving, by a computing system of a first wireless network from a first device, a request to access a second wireless network secured with a network encryption key. The method includes determining that a user account associated with the first device permits access to the second wireless network. The method includes sending, to a registration device, a token that is usable by a second device to access the network encryption key. The method includes sending, via the first wireless network, the token to the first device for transmission of the token to the second device. The transmission of the token from the first device to the second device enables the second device to send a hash value based on the token to the registration device. The hash value enables the registration device to provide access to the network encryption key to the second device. |
| US09730062B2 |
AT command for secure ESM information
Systems and methods for transmitting AT commands indicating whether Evolved Packet System (EPS) Session Management (ESM) information should be transmitted securely are disclosed herein. A Terminal Equipment (TE) may transmit an AT command to a Mobile Termination (MT). The AT command may indicate whether protocol configuration options (PCO) should be ciphered and/or whether an access point name (APN) is provided. In some embodiments, the AT command may be a dedicated command and may only include a |
| US09730060B2 |
Method and system for transfering profiles of authentication module
A system for transferring a profile that is stored at an authentication module includes: a first terminal that includes a first authentication module and that operates based on a user profile that is stored at the first authentication module; a second terminal that includes a second authentication module and that requests the user profile by transmitting a first message including user identification information; and a management server that receives the first terminal and that acquires a profile that is stored at the first terminal based on user identification information and that transmits the acquired profile to the second terminal, wherein the first terminal exports the stored profile, and the second terminal installs a profile, having received from the management server at the second authentication module. |
| US09730051B2 |
Residential gateway having wireless and wireline interfaces
A hybrid residential gateway may provide network access using either a wireless access interface or a wired access interface. Network access over either interface may be authenticated using a single SIM card within the residential gateway. |
| US09730047B2 |
Communication system, communication apparatus, computer-readable storage medium having stored therein communication program, and communication method
An example system includes: a search communication apparatus searching for another communication apparatus; and search subject communication apparatuses searched for by the search communication apparatus. The search communication apparatus includes a search request transmission section transmitting a search request signal. The search subject communication apparatuses each includes: a search request reception section receiving the search request signal transmitted from the search communication apparatus; a search response transmission section transmitting a search response signal as response to the search request signal received by the search request reception section, to the search communication apparatus; and a search response monitoring section monitoring the search response signal transmitted from another search subject communication apparatus to the search communication apparatus. The search response transmission section transmits, as proxy response signal, to the search communication apparatus, the search response signal transmitted from the other search subject communication apparatus and monitored by the search response monitoring section. |
| US09730042B2 |
Aircraft data handoff
Systems and methods for collecting aircraft data from aircrafts within proximity of one another while in-flight are provided. In one embodiment, the method can include receiving, by a first aircraft, a first transmission from a second aircraft. The first transmission can include first data associated with the second aircraft. The method can include determining a communication time period based, at least in part, on the first data. The method can include sending, to the second aircraft, a second transmission that can include second data indicative of at least the communication time period. The method can include receiving, from the second aircraft, one or more third transmissions that can include third data indicative of one or more parameters of the second aircraft. A size of the third data can be based, at least in part, on the communication time period. |
| US09730041B2 |
Emergency call sending system and method thereof
An emergency call sending system includes a telematics unit including a determiner configured to determine whether a telematics antenna of a vehicle has a fault and a telematics terminal, and a user terminal connected to the telematics unit. An emergency call sending method includes determining whether a telematics antenna of a vehicle of an accident has a fault, and sending an emergency call to a telematics center through a user terminal connected to the telematics unit. |
| US09730040B2 |
Communication apparatus, system and method
A communication apparatus includes a computer. The apparatus includes a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals in communication with the computer. The apparatus includes a memory in communication with the computer. The apparatus includes a display in communication with the computer. The apparatus includes a first operational screen that appears on the display after the apparatus is turned on or woken up. The first operational screen is a first screen through which the computer can be activated and performed by the computer. The first operational screen having an emergency icon which when selected causes the computer to send with the transmitter a text stored in the memory to at least one remote contact stored in the memory along with location information from a GPS or tracking location system where the apparatus is currently located. A method for communicating. |
| US09730032B2 |
Computer-aided mapping of system information medium access control protocol messages
A method for computer-aided mapping of system information medium access control protocol messages onto a plurality of transport channels for transmission using an orthogonal frequency division multiple access method, wherein a scheduling of system information data packets information in the context of the mapping on a transport channel of the plurality of transport channels is carried out dependent on the type of the system information. |
| US09730031B2 |
Uninterruptable group communication sessions within a wireless communications system
A call request message is sent from an access terminal to an application server in order to request initiation of a group communication session to a communication group and to request that an allocation of the floor to the given access terminal for the duration of the given group communication session remain uninterrupted by call targets of the session. The application server announces the session, and sends a floor-grant to the access terminal after the session is accepted by at least one target. The access terminal forwards media to the application server which is then forwarded to the at least one target. The floor is not transferred away from the access terminal during the session. For example, floor requests are suppressed at the at least one target, or floor requests are sent by the at least one target but are then ignored or denied by the application server. |
| US09730026B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming communication group based on location history
Communication groups are formed based on mobile station location history. The process includes receiving, at a controller device, a group formation request from a requesting device, the request specifying a location and a time window, identifying one or more mobile stations determined to be within a threshold area relative to the location during the time window, and causing a communication group to be created including the identified one or more mobile stations. A further process includes a requesting device configured to identify a location and time window associated with an event, transmit a group formation request specifying the location and the time window and requesting formation of a communication group comprising mobile stations located within a threshold area relative to the location during the time window, and transmit using a communication group identifier provided to the requesting device. |
| US09730023B2 |
Communication based on geographical region
In some embodiments, a server establishes communication with user devices; the server receives location data identifying a location of each user device; the server determines a geographical region based on the location of each user device, each geographical region being different for user devices not at the same location; the server receives an audio stream from the first of the user devices; the server determines which of the other user devices are within the geographical region of the first user device; and the server transmits the audio stream to the other user devices that are within the geographical region of the first user device. In some embodiments, the server creates altered audio streams based on the distances between user devices. In some embodiments, the server changes the number of the other user devices that are within the geographical region of the first user device. |
| US09730022B1 |
Location-based screening verification
A method of utilizing location information to augment biometric screening. In some aspects, the method includes determining a mobile computing device's likely location, the mobile computing device associated with a user, and augmenting biometric analysis with the device's likely location. Augmenting biometric analysis with the device's likely location may involve increasing or decreasing a confidence level of the biometric analysis based on the device's likely location. The method may also include determining that the mobile computing device is not moving and entering into a waiting state until the mobile computing device is moving, and/or predicting the mobile computing device's likely location. The subject technology also encompasses mobile computing devices and/or systems programmed and/or configured to perform and/or facilitate the above methods. |
| US09730020B2 |
System for providing on-demand media content services based on geolocation information
Embodiments described in this disclosure include an application that connects users and media content providers to request on-demand media content services in a network based on geolocation information for media content capture and delivery. The techniques described in this disclosure can be adapted to provide an on-demand media content service that can facilitate establishing a large vendor network of media content providers (e.g., freelance photographers) with mobile devices configured to accept requests from users of the system for various entities of media content such as photo, video, and/or audio. Embodiments of this disclosure can be leveraged in a variety of different contexts where providing on-demand media content services can be valuable. |
| US09730015B1 |
Detecting location using WiFi hotspots
A method of detecting location includes receiving, on a mobile device, a plurality of previously stored WiFi hotspots; detecting, on the mobile device, a plurality of surrounding WiFi hotspots; comparing the plurality of surrounding WiFi hotspots to determine one or more differences between the plurality of previously stored WiFi hotspots; determining the differences satisfy a difference threshold; sending the plurality of surrounding WiFi hotspots to a location lookup system; and receiving a response from the location lookup system. |
| US09730014B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for LTE, wi-fi, and bluetooth coexistence
Methods, devices and systems for dynamic scheduling of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signals based at least in part on LTE schedules are disclosed. In some examples, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth can perform coexistence decisions including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth channel or Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) selection based on modem calculated Rx or Tx indications and device geo location, maximum allowed transmit power per channel for Wi-Fi, and the LTE modem connection state. |
| US09730013B2 |
Method, recording medium and electronic device of 3D geolocation
A method, a recording medium and an electronic device of 3D geolocation are provided. The method includes the following steps: distributing a plurality of samples that are already 2D-geolocated into a plurality of geographic areas according to 2D locations of the samples, wherein each sample includes a measurement report provided by a user equipment attached to a mobile network; generating a relative sequence of altitudes of the samples in each geographic area according to altitude-related data obtained from the samples in the geographic area; and determining the altitudes of the samples in each geographic area according to the relative sequence of the geographic area. |
| US09730012B1 |
System and method for identifying stolen wireless devices
A first antenna configured to receive a signal from each of a plurality of devices. A library contains at least one unique identifier for at least one target device. A second antenna is used to geolocate the target device once the first antenna locates it in the vicinity of the system. A processor is coupled to the first antenna to receive the signal from the plurality of devices and extract the unique identifier from the signal. The processor compares the unique identifier from the signal to the unique identifiers in the library. Upon a match, the second antenna is used to locate the target device. |
| US09730005B2 |
Container-located information transfer module
Techniques are described herein that transfer information using a container-located module. The module is coupled to sensor(s) that are configured to detect characteristic(s) pertaining to a medical substance that is included in a medical container. The module wirelessly transfers information that is based on the characteristic(s) to a requesting device in response to a request from the requesting device. |
| US09730000B2 |
Apparatus for constructing utilization information of sensor and method thereof
Provided are an apparatus for constructing utilization information of a sensor, capable of collecting information regarding various sensors installed in a mobile device of an occupant positioned within a vehicle from the mobile device, comparing the information regarding the sensors with characteristics of various sensors installed in the vehicle and performing analysis to generate utilization information so that the various sensors installed in the mobile device may be utilized in the vehicle, and a method thereof. The apparatus for constructing utilization information of a sensor constructs utilization information between various sensors provided in the mobile device and various sensors provided in the vehicle by matching the corresponding sensors of the mobile device in consideration of types, functions, and positions of the sensors of the vehicle. |
| US09729996B2 |
Mobile terminal, and method and device for updating setup information thereof
The invention relates to the technical field of mobile terminals and discloses a mobile terminal and a method and device for updating the setup information thereof. The method comprises: obtaining a National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) position message through the Global Positioning System (GPS); interpreting the NMEA message to obtain the current time and the current position information of the mobile terminal; obtaining a nation to which the current position belongs according to the position information, recognizing the language of the nation; and updating the setup information of the mobile terminal according to the recognized language and the current time. Through the invention, the setup information of the mobile terminal can be updated according to the location of the mobile terminal. |
| US09729995B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating a plurality of audio channels
An apparatus for generating a plurality of audio channels for a first speaker setup is characterized by an imaginary speaker determiner, an energy distribution calculator, a processor and a renderer. The imaginary speaker determiner is configured to determine a position of an imaginary speaker not contained in the first speaker setup to obtain a second speaker setup containing the imaginary speaker. The energy distribution calculator is configured to calculate an energy distribution from the imaginary speaker to the other speakers in the second speaker setup. The processor is configured to repeat the energy distribution to obtain a downmix information for a downmix from the second speaker setup to the first speaker setup. The renderer is configured to generate the plurality of audio channels using the downmix information. |
| US09729994B1 |
System and method for listener controlled beamforming
A system and method for providing assistive listening for a plurality of listeners in an environment including a plurality of acoustic sources. A microphone array in combination with an acoustic beamforming processor configured to receive the acoustic signals within the environment and to process the acoustic signals based upon a target location of an acoustic signal selected on a listener-controlled interface device to generate a steered beam pattern. The acoustic beamforming processor further configured to transmit the steered beam pattern to the listener-controlled interface device based on the target location selected. The listener-controlled interface device configured to provide the steered beam pattern to an ear-level transducer of a hearing-impaired listener. |
| US09729993B2 |
Apparatus and method for reproducing recorded audio with correct spatial directionality
An apparatus comprising: an input configured to receive from at least one co-operating apparatus at least one audio signal; an audio signal analyzer configured to analyze the at least one audio signal to determine at least one audio component position relative to the at least one co-operating apparatus recording position; and a processor configured to determine an position value based on the at least one cooperating recording position and the apparatus position, and further configured to apply the position value to the at least one audio component position, such that the at least one audio component position is substantially aligned with the apparatus position. |
| US09729989B2 |
Home automation sound detection and positioning
Systems, methods, devices, non-transitory computer-readable mediums, and apparatuses are presented for detecting and positioning sound in a home automation system. Indications of sounds and timestamps may be received from various home automation devices. Using the received indications, a sound magnitude for the sound and whether the sound originated inside or outside of the structure can be determined. The sound magnitude may be compared to an inside sound threshold level if the sound was determined to originate inside the structure or compared to an outside sound threshold level if the sound was determined to originate outside the structure. Sound information corresponding to the sound may be logged if the sound was determined to originate inside and the sound magnitude exceeds the inside sound threshold level or the sound was determined to originate outside and the sound magnitude exceeds the outside sound threshold level. |
| US09729988B2 |
Glitch detection and method for detecting a glitch
System and method for detecting a glitch is disclosed. An embodiment comprises increasing a bias voltage of a first capacitor, sampling an input signal of a first plate of the first capacitor with a time period, mixing the input signal with the sampled input signal, and comparing the mixed signal with a reference signal. |
| US09729985B2 |
Reproducing audio signals with a haptic apparatus on acoustic headphones and their calibration and measurement
Method and devices for testing a headphone with increased sensation are provided. The headphone can filter and amplify low frequency audio signals, which are then sent to a haptic device in the headphone. The haptic device can cause bass sensations at the top of the skull and at both ear cups. The testing system can evaluate the haptic and acoustic sensations produced by the headphone to evaluate if they have been properly assembled and calibrate the headphones if necessary. |
| US09729983B2 |
Hearing device with model control and associated methods
A hearing device includes: a processing unit configured to compensate for hearing loss of a user of the hearing device; and a memory unit; wherein the memory unit has stored therein: a hearing device identifier, and model data comprising model information data indicative of available models for the hearing device, the model information data comprising first model information and a signature; and wherein the processing unit is configured to: verify the model data, and proceed to a model update mode if verification of the model data fails. |
| US09729981B2 |
Identifying hearing prosthesis actuator resonance peak(s)
An auditory prosthesis comprising an actuator for providing mechanical stimulation to a recipient. The auditory prosthesis comprises a measurement circuit for use in determining the resonance peak(s) of the actuator. In an embodiment, the measurement circuit measures the voltage drop across the actuator and/or current through the actuator during a frequency sweep of the operational frequencies of the actuator. These measured voltages and/or currents are then analyzed for discontinuities that are indicative of a resonance peak of the actuator. In another embodiment, rather than using a frequency sweep to measure voltages and/or currents across the actuator, the measurement circuit instead applies a voltage impulse to the actuator and then measure the voltage and/or current across the actuator for a period of time after application of the impulse. The measured voltages and/or currents are then analyzed to identify resonance peak(s) of the actuator. |
| US09729976B2 |
Acoustic feedback event monitoring system for hearing assistance devices
The present disclosure relates to tracking of acoustic feedback events of a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid. Information about the acoustic feedback events is stored for analysis. Such information is useful for programming acoustic feedback cancellers and other parameters of a hearing assistance device. |
| US09729973B2 |
Wireless power transmission
A method, apparatus and software are disclosed for wireless power transmission in which the power transmission frequency is optimised. |
| US09729962B2 |
Stereo microphone device
There is provided an external stereo microphone device that makes it possible to change orientations of microphones over a wide range.An external stereo microphone attached to a mobile electronic device includes a pair of symmetrically-positioned microphones 60, a holder unit 40 having a pair of holders 46 symmetrically positioned so as to accommodate the pair of microphones 60 respectively and a joint 48 for joining the pair of holders 46 together, and a case 14 having a substantially-cylindrical portion 20 that rotatably supports the holder unit 40 and a body 18 that accommodates a circuit board 22 of the case 14. The joint 48 is a substantially-plate-shaped region that joins outer circumferential edges of the holders 46 together and that has a circumferential width which is one-half or less of an entire circumference of the holder unit. |
| US09729961B2 |
Actively suspended seat with bass loudspeakers
A system for a seat in a motor vehicle that has a cabin audio system and a bass loudspeaker that is able to generate sound in the cabin. The system includes a seat active suspension system with a vibration sensor coupled to the seat, and a controller that is responsive to the vibration sensor and that outputs control signals that are provided to an electromagnetic actuator that reduces seat vibrations. The active suspension system is arranged such that it can cause a change in the audio system. |
| US09729954B2 |
Audio headset having internal cord management features and related technology
A headset in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology includes a headpiece, an earpiece, an arm extending therebetween, and a cord extending through the arm. The arm includes elongate first and second segments through which the arm is operably connected to the earpiece and the headpiece, respectively. The first and second segments have a telescoping arrangement such that the arm is movable between a lengthened state and a shortened state. The arm further includes a hinge operable to rotate the arm about an axis and thereby move the arm relative to the headpiece between a folded state and an unfolded state. Increased slack in the cord preferentially gathers within an interior region of the second segment when the arm moves from the lengthened state toward the shortened state and when the arm moves from the folded state toward the unfolded state. |
| US09729953B2 |
Wearable earbuds having a reduced tip dimension
An earbud audio device includes a housing, a speaker component and a cushion, wherein the speaker component forms the tip of the earbud upon which the cushion may be situated. The speaker component is mechanically coupled to the earbud housing in a manner that allows the cushion to be coupled thereto, the speaker component and tip able to be partially inserted into a user's ear canal during use. The speaker component may be formed with a flange extending outward to provide a support for mechanically coupling the speaker component to the housing. The speaker component and housing may in some instances be mechanically coupled together as two threaded components. |
| US09729952B2 |
Flip out dog leg mountable ceiling speaker enclosure
An improved manually operated flip dog mountable ceiling speaker enclosure, for ceiling or other panel installation, has a biased sliding ratchet block that can be latched in place by an extension from a T-handle of an integral actuator rod. The ratchet block is controlled in its sliding motion by alignment rods extending from a vertical portion of a base and slidingly received in alignment bores of the ratchet block. A face of the ratchet block has downward pointing ratchet teeth that engage upward pointing ratchet teeth on a barrel of a flip dog to hold the flip dog in a clamped position. Over time, the biasing springs may lose their strength, but the latching of the ratchet block obviates this problem. |
| US09729950B2 |
Upgrading PON systems using a multi-cycle field AWG
The communication system has first and second optical systems and an optical feed fiber in communication with the first optical system and arranged to convey a feeder optical signal to the second optical system. The first optical system includes a multiplexer configured to multiplex/demultiplex between a first optical line terminal signal, a second optical line terminal signal, and the feeder optical signal. The feeder optical signal includes the first optical line terminal signal and the second optical line terminal signal. The first optical line terminal signal includes a first upstream free spectral range and a first downstream free spectral range. The second optical line terminal signal includes a second upstream free spectral range and a second downstream free spectral range. The second optical system is in communication with the optical feed fiber and is configured to multiplex and demultiplex between the feeder optical signal and optical network unit signals. |
| US09729949B2 |
Dynamic local decision control in software defined networking-based environment
Cross-layer information associated with a software defined networking-based (SDN-based) communication network is collected. One or more updates are sent to one or more network elements in the SDN-based communication network to control one or more local decisions made at the one or more network elements. The one or more updates are based on at least a portion of the collected cross-layer information. Preferably, the collecting and sending steps are performed by a controller implementing an SDN management plane associated with the SDN-based communication network. |
| US09729948B1 |
Systems and methods for discovery of a controller in openflow networks
Systems and methods for discovery of a controller in an OpenFlow network may include using an OpenFlow capable switch to discover the controller without the help of other components, such as DHCP. The link discovery protocol may be configured on the switch and the discovery process may use an out-of-band or an in-band communication. In one example, a link discovery protocol packet is sent out of all ports of a switch that meet the eligibility criteria. The response is guaranteed because of a TTL like mechanism in the packet. Each port on a switch that receives this link discovery protocol packet takes an action depending on its current state. |
| US09729946B2 |
High-capacity switch
Consistent with the present disclosure, an optical switch is provided that switches multiple wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signals. Each of the WDM signals includes optical signals having the same wavelengths. The WDM signals are supplied to optical splitters, which supply power split portions of the WDM signals to corresponding optical gates. Groups of the optical gates are associated with a corresponding switching block, which may include a cyclical arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), and the optical gates within each group are controlled so that one gate passes a received WDM signal portion while the remaining optical gates in the group are in a blocking configuration. As a result, the WDM portion received by the non-blocking gate is demultiplexed in the switching block and each of the wavelength components that constitute the selected WDM portion are supplied to corresponding outputs within the switching block. In a later time interval, a different optical gate may be rendered non-blocking so that a different WDM signal portion, supplied from a different optical splitter and carrying different information over the same wavelengths, may be input to the switching block. Thus, by controlling the optical gates, different WDM signal portions may be switched to, and thus demultiplexed by, a particular switching block. In addition, portions of the same WDM signal may be selectively supplied to different AWGs by appropriately control of the optical gates. |
| US09729944B2 |
Interchangable charm messaging wearable electronic device for wireless communication
Particular embodiments described herein provide for a wearable electronic device, such as a bracelet, coupled to a plurality of electronic components (which may include any type of components, elements, circuitry, etc.). One particular implementation of a wearable electronic device may include a bracelet portion, and at least one charm device configured to be affixed to the bracelet portion. The at least one charm device includes logic configured to receive a first interaction input, and send a first message including a first information indicative of the first interaction input and a first identifier associated with the at least one charm device to a second wearable electronic device. The first identifier is further associated at least a portion of the second wearable electronic device. |
| US09729938B2 |
Low latency visually lossless switching between different compression ratios
Systems and methods for low-delay video streaming featuring multiple video compression ratios. One embodiment of the system includes: a real-time video encoder (RT-VE) that receives an incoming high-definition uncompressed video (HD-UV), processes the incoming HD-UV according to first and second compression ratios, and sends the processed video over a resource reservation communication link to a real-time video decoder (RT-VD). The compression delay added by the RT-VE is below the duration of a single video frame, and the RT-VD converts the processed video into an outgoing HD-UV. Wherein on-the-fly switches between the first and second compression ratios, while continuing to receive the incoming HD-UV uninterruptedly, are both visually lossless switches and maintain a total delay between corresponding frames of the incoming HD-UV and the outgoing HD-UV that is below duration of two video frames. |
| US09729937B2 |
CATV digital transmission with BandPass sampling
Methods and systems capable of improving the transmission of data along an upstream path of a Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial Cable Network, from a transmitter in a node to a receiver in a Cable Modem Termination System. |
| US09729929B2 |
Channel tuning with synthesized key codes
Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate integrating and coordinating content requests received by a STB from multiple devices. The methods, systems, and apparatuses described in this disclosure enable the integration and coordination of content requests received from different devices by associating a content request with a key code and generating a synthesized key code. The synthesized key code can be customized according to a status of a corresponding STB. |
| US09729927B2 |
Systems and methods for generating shadows for a media guidance application based on content
Systems and methods for generating shadows for a media guidance application are provided. A display of a media asset is generated that includes a media object with a shadow at an object shadow position. Object shadow information is stored corresponding to the shadow of the object and the object shadow position. In response to receiving a user request to access a media guidance application, a media guidance application display corresponding to the user request is selected. A guide shadow is generated based on the stored object shadow information and the media guidance application display. The guide shadow is combined with the media guidance application display for display to the user. |
| US09729925B2 |
Automatically loading user profile to show recently watched channels
Aspects of the present disclose involve a method, a device, and a system comprising a processor and a machine-readable storage medium storing at a set of instructions for identification and authentication of user profiles associated with a digital television system and displaying information related thereto. In example embodiments, the method includes identifying a user profile registered with a content presentation device based on received identification data that includes biometric data. The method further includes receiving, from a server, identifiers of a set of recently watched channels associated with the user profile and causing presentation of a recent channels interface that includes selectable elements corresponding to the set of recently watched channels. |
| US09729922B2 |
Automatic self-help video playback for set-top box troubleshooting
A set-top box (STB) determines an occurrence of a first STB error during operation of the STB, and identifies a first error code that corresponds to the first STB error. The STB maps the first error code to a first self-help video of multiple self-help videos stored at the STB, and plays back the first self-video via a display device coupled to the STB. |
| US09729920B2 |
Attention estimation to control the delivery of data and audio/video content
A method implemented in a computer system for controlling the delivery of data and audio/video content. The method delivers primary content to the subscriber device for viewing by a subscriber. The method also delivers secondary content to the companion device for viewing by the subscriber in parallel with the subscriber viewing the primary content, where the secondary content relates to the primary content. The method extracts attention estimation features from the primary content, and monitors the companion device to determine an interaction measurement for the subscriber viewing the secondary content on the companion device. The method calculates an attention measurement for the subscriber viewing the primary content based on the attention estimation features, and the interaction measurement, and controls the delivery of the secondary content to the companion device based on the attention measurement. |
| US09729915B2 |
Detecting user devices to determine state of watched show
Devices, systems, and methods for detecting user devices to determine a state of a watched show are provided. A digital video recorder (DVR) is configured to store a media file associated with a media program. The DVR detects one or more user devices within a predetermined vicinity while the media program is being played. The DVR identifies users who are interested in the media program. The DVR tracks a watch status associated with the media program indicating which users have watched or are watching the media program based on the detected user devices. For stored media files, the DVR determines whether to delete the media file based on whether all users who are interested in the media program have completed watching the media program. The DVR may track user activity and/or vital signs based on sensor data from wearable devices, for example, to determine user reaction and/or user interests. |
| US09729910B2 |
Advertisement selection based on demographic information inferred from media item preferences
A content server monitors media preferences of a user associated with a partial user profile specifying partial demographic information about the user. The content server deconstructs the monitored media preferences to identify preferences of the user for musicological features of the media items. The content server infers profile information missing from the partial user profile responsive to the preferences of the user for musicological features of the media items, the inferring using baseline information associating profile information of a plurality of baseline users with preferences for musicological features of media items. The content server selects an advertisement using the inferred profile information, and provides the selected advertisement to a client device used by the user. |
| US09729908B1 |
Methods and systems for segmenting data and performing analysis
Apparatus and methods for segmenting television audience data are disclosed. The methods include receiving program level viewing data for one or more individuals. The methods also include creating one or more segments for the one or more individuals based upon the program level viewing data. The methods further include combining the one or more segments into one or more groups by applying a grouping function and performing analysis on the one or more groups, and generating reports based upon the analysis. |
| US09729899B2 |
Directed interpolation and data post-processing
An encoding device evaluates a plurality of processing and/or post-processing algorithms and/or methods to be applied to a video stream, and signals a selected method, algorithm, class or category of methods/algorithms either in an encoded bitstream or as side information related to the encoded bitstream. A decoding device or post-processor utilizes the signaled algorithm or selects an algorithm/method based on the signaled method or algorithm. The selection is based, for example, on availability of the algorithm/method at the decoder/post-processor and/or cost of implementation. The video stream may comprise, for example, downsampled multiplexed stereoscopic images and the selected algorithm may include any of upconversion and/or error correction techniques that contribute to a restoration of the downsampled images. |
| US09729898B2 |
Reducing latency in video encoding and decoding
Techniques and tools for reducing latency in video encoding and decoding by constraining latency due to reordering of video frames, and by indicating the constraint on frame reordering latency with one or more syntax elements that accompany encoded data for the video frames. For example, a real-time communication tool with a video encoder sets a syntax element that indicates a constraint on frame reordering latency, which is consistent with inter-frame dependencies between multiple frames of a video sequence, then outputs the syntax element. A corresponding real-time communication tool with a video decoder receives the syntax element that indicates the constraint on frame reordering latency, determines the constraint on frame reordering latency based on the syntax element, and uses the constraint on frame reordering latency to determine when a reconstructed frame is ready for output (in terms of output order). |
| US09729895B2 |
Moving picture decoding device, moving picture decoding method, and moving picture decoding program
A motion vector predictor candidate generation unit derives a plurality of motion vector predictor candidates by prediction from first coded prediction blocks neighboring a prediction block subject to coding within the same picture as the prediction block subject to coding, or from a second coded prediction block located at the same position as or in the neighborhood of the prediction block subject to coding in a picture different from that of the prediction block subject to coding, and adds the derived motion vector predictor candidates in a motion vector predictor candidate. The motion vector predictor candidate generation unit determines, for the purpose of obtaining a predetermined number of motion vector predictor candidates, which of first coded prediction blocks provides the motion vector from which to derive the motion vector predictor candidate, organizing the blocks in the order of priority. |
| US09729893B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding image, and method and apparatus for decoding image
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for encoding and decoding video. A video decoding method comprises reconstructing a residual value by entropy-decoding received bitstream and dequantizing and inverse-transforming residual value information, generating a final prediction unit by performing inter prediction on a prediction unit which is partitioned from a coding unit into at least two prediction units by asymmetric motion partitioning (AMP), the two partitioned prediction units comprising a first partitioned prediction unit and a second partitioned prediction unit, and reconstructing a picture by adding the final prediction unit to the residual values. |
| US09729886B2 |
Method for limiting the memory required for recording an audio, image or video file created by virtue of an apparatus in said apparatus
Method and apparatus for the digital encoding of a first raw file, the method includes: a first step of capturing the raw file, the raw file being an audio and/or image and/or video file; a second step of encoding the captured raw file into a second file, in a proprietary format (P); then, a third step for re-encoding the second file into a third file in a compatible format (C). |
| US09729881B2 |
Video encoding/decoding apparatus and method
A video decoding apparatus includes: a decoder to determine a size of a minimum block unit among block units in which quantization parameter information is decoded from a bitstream, determine a current block to be decoded by dividing a block larger than 16×16 into one or more blocks, decode, from the bitstream, a skip information and the motion information for deriving the motion vector of the current block without decoding information on residual signals of the current block, and decode, from the bitstream, prediction information of the current block and quantized transform coefficients of the current block; and a video reconstructor to determine the motion vector of the current block using the decoded motion information, reconstruct residual signals from the quantized transform coefficients by inversely quantizing the quantized transform coefficients using a quantization parameter, and reconstruct the current block based on the prediction information and the reconstructed residual signals. |
| US09729880B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus includes a quantization unit that further quantizes a quantized first code, and hence generates a second code; an inverse quantization unit that inversely quantizes the second code quantized by the quantization unit, and hence generates a third code; a calculating unit that calculates a difference between the first code and the second code; a first encoding unit that encodes the second code; and a second encoding unit that encodes the difference calculated by the calculating unit. |
| US09729874B2 |
Filtering method, moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture decoding apparatus, and moving picture coding and decoding apparatus
A filtering method according to the present invention is for filtering a plurality of blocks included in an image, and comprises: determining whether each of the blocks is an IPCM block or not; filtering a non-IPCM block that is not an IPCM block among the blocks to generate filtered data; outputting the filtered data as pixel values of the non-IPCM block, and outputting pixel values of the unfiltered IPCM block as pixel values of the IPCM block. |
| US09729868B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for testing a video system
Testing a video transmission system includes generating an optical signal and varying the colour by sweeping through a colour range. A first optical sensor captures the optical signal at intervals to generate frames. Transmitted frames are received by a second communication device. Received frames are provided to a display of the second communication device to reconstruct the frames. Colour information of frames displayed is obtained by a second optical sensor. Colour information of successive reconstructed frames is compared to determine deviation in capture rate of two successive frames of the first optical sensor, delay between capturing a frame by the first optical sensor and displaying the frame by the display, deviation in display rate of two successive frames displayed by the display and/or a loss of a frame. Audio information may be utilized in video and, conversational latency, synchronization between video and audio, and audio synchronization measurements. |
| US09729864B2 |
Camera based safety mechanisms for users of head mounted displays
The disclosure provides methods and systems for warning a user of a head mounted display that the user approaches an edge of field of view of a camera or one or more tangible obstacles. The warning includes presenting audio and/or displayable messages to the user, or moving the display(s) of the head mounted displays away of the user's eyes. The determination that the user approaches the edge of scene or a tangible obstacle is made by dynamically tracking motions of the users through analysis of images and/or depth data obtained from image sensor(s) and/or depth sensor(s) secured to either the head mounted display, arranged outside of the scene and not secured to the head mounted display, or a combination of both. |
| US09729863B2 |
Generating content based on shot aggregation
This disclosure provides an approach for aggregating elements that are common across shots in the rendering of image frames. In one embodiment, common elements are aggregated via a scene editor which stores the common elements in a scene layer, which is an asset that is a container for elements such as characters, locations, and the like that are common across shots. The scene layer permits new shots to be created that inherit the common elements, rather than from scratch or by manually copying elements from other shots. The scene editor may further receive elements specific to particular shots and store such elements in shot layers that are created on top of the scene layer and store differences from the scene layer. A rendering application then renders image frames on a shot-by-shot basis using the common elements stored in the scene layer and the shot-specific elements stored in the shot layers. |
| US09729859B2 |
Stereo type distance recognition apparatus and method
A stereo type distance recognition apparatus and method are provided. The stereo type distance recognition apparatus may include a plurality of sensors to generate a plurality of infrared (IR) signals, a communication unit to transmit the generated IR signals to an object, and a processor to compute a distance from the object, based on signals reflected from the object by the IR signals. |
| US09729856B2 |
Method and system for reliable 3D shape extraction of metal surface
The present invention relates to a method and system for reliable 3D shape extraction of a metal surface. In this method, images are acquired at the same time by simultaneously irradiating interference-free polarized lights to a metal object. A photometric stereo method is then applied based on the images except for images which make the extraction of a 3D shape of the metal object inaccurate. |
| US09729849B2 |
3D video coding including depth based disparity vector calibration
Systems, apparatus, articles, and methods are described including operations for 3D video coding including depth based disparity vector calibration. |
| US09729846B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating three-dimensional image reproduced in a curved-surface display
An apparatus for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image reproduced on a curved-surface display panel is disclosed. The apparatus may include a controller for determining depth information including at least one ratio of a left depth level to a right depth level, based at least in part on at least one curvature of the curved-surface display panel; and an image processor for generating the 3D image reproduced on the curved-surface display panel using the determined depth information. |
| US09729845B2 |
Stereoscopic view synthesis method and apparatus using the same
A stereoscopic image synthesis method includes the following: receiving a first image corresponding to a first view angle and a second image corresponding to a second view angle; obtaining a disparity map corresponding to the first image and the second image; determining a zero disparity region according to the disparity map; adjusting the disparity map according to the zero disparity region to obtain a shifted disparity map; linearly or non-linearly adjusting the shifted disparity map according to the shifted disparity map and a preset maximum range to obtain an adjusted disparity map; generating a plurality of virtual view angle images according to the adjusted disparity map, the first image, and the second image; and enhancing a two-dimensional depth cue of the virtual view angle images according to the adjusted disparity map. |
| US09729844B2 |
Image capturing device, image display method, and recording medium
In the related art, it was difficult to compare lengths of a plurality of objects which were present at different places. However, it is possible to easily compare lengths of photographed objects using an image capturing device which displays a length of an object which is calculated based on parallax information, by obtaining an image in which the object is photographed and the parallax information corresponding to the image as inputs, the device including an object extraction unit which extracts an image of an object using the parallax information from the photographed image; a comparison data maintaining unit which maintains the image of the object and the length of the object; an object comparison unit which compares the length of the object which is extracted using the object extraction unit to a length of comparison data which is extracted from the comparison data maintaining unit; and an image composition unit which combines a comparison result with the photographed image, and outputs the image. |
| US09729841B2 |
Video decoding system having compensation function
The present invention relates to a video decoding system having a compensation function, the video decoding system comprising: one AD converter; a synchronized signal level detector for detecting a synchronized signal level using a digital signal output from the AD converter; a color burst level detector for detecting a color burst level using the digital signal output from the AD converter; a compensation apparatus for compensating the video level and the high frequency components of an analog signal by using information detected by the synchronized signal level detector and the color burst level detector, and for compensating and transmitting a synchronized signal level to the AD converter; and a decoding apparatus for outputting a digital component image signal (YCrCb) using the digital signal output from the AD converter. |
| US09729839B2 |
Discharge lamp drive device, projector, and discharge lamp drive method
A discharge lamp drive device includes a resonant circuit section connected to a discharge lamp, a power conversion section configured to convert direct-current power into alternating-current power, and supply the discharge lamp with the alternating-current power via the resonant circuit section, and a control section configured to supply the discharge lamp with the alternating-current power having a first frequency and a second frequency higher than the first frequency in a lighting start period until the discharge lamp reaches a steady lighting state, the first frequency is a frequency for causing a resonance of the resonant circuit section, and the second frequency is a quasi-resonant frequency. |
| US09729836B2 |
Information processing system and method, information processing apparatus, image-capturing device and method, recording medium, and program
A feature extracting unit obtains sensor data from a plurality of sensors to calculate each feature. When an event determining unit determines the occurrence of an event based on each feature, a display data constructor generates remote-controller display data for displaying the event, and controls a remote-controller display device to display the remote-controller display data. When a user decision is input from a user input IF based on this display, a control unit controls the sensors to be turned ON or OFF. When an infrared sensor detects an abnormality, a microwave sensor whose power consumption is small after the infrared sensor is turned ON. When the microwave sensor detects an abnormality, a video camera and a microphone are turned ON, and the microwave sensor is turned OFF. A communication unit wirelessly transmits an image signal captured by the video camera and an audio signal processed by the microphone. Then, if the infrared sensor does not detect an abnormality, the video camera and the microphone are turned OFF. With this arrangement, power consumption can be suppressed. The present invention is applied to, for example, a security system, for example, for monitoring outside a vehicle by a video camera disposed in the vehicle when the vehicle is parked. |
| US09729828B2 |
Data structure of multimedia file format, encrypting method and device thereof, and decrypting method and device thereof
In a data structure of a multimedia file format, a movie box and a media data box are provided. In each box, a non-encrypted size field, a non-encrypted type field and box data field are provided. In box data of the movie box, information data regarding multimedia data is stored. The multimedia data is encrypted and stored in box data of the media data box. The information data is obtained by referring to the container in the movie box. This information data is held as encryption and encoding information data. By referring to the information data, a data unit of the encrypted multimedia data in the media data box is obtained, and the unit data is decrypted. |
| US09729824B2 |
Privacy camera
A privacy camera, such as a light field camera that includes an array of cameras or an RGBZ camera(s)) is used to capture images and display images according to a selected privacy mode. The privacy mode may include a blur background mode and a background replacement mode and can be automatically selected based on the meeting type, participants, location, and device type. A region of interest and/or an object(s) of interest (e.g. one or more persons in a foreground) is determined and the privacy camera is configured to clearly show the region/object of interest and obscure or replace the background according to the selected privacy mode. The displayed image includes the region/object(s) of interest clearly shown (e.g. in focus) and any objects in a background of the combined image shown having a limited depth of field (e.g. blurry/not in focus) and/or the background replaced with another image and/or fill. |
| US09729815B2 |
Method and electronic device for controlling content integrity using numerical data
A method and an apparatus for controlling content integrity. A method for operating in an electronic device can include including unique information of content in a watermark image, and inserting the watermark image to the content. |
| US09729813B2 |
Signal determination apparatus, optical projection apparatus, signal determination method, and storage medium
A signal determination apparatus for determining a format of an input image signal input from an image data output apparatus includes a storage unit to store numerical values of at least three parameters for defining a format of each of a plurality of image signals; and a determination unit to determine a format of the input image signal based on numerical values of at least three parameters of the input image signal and the numerical values of at least three parameters stored in the storage unit. |
| US09729810B2 |
Image sensor pixel with memory node having buried channel and diode portions
A global shutter (GS) image sensor pixel includes a pinned photodiode connected to a memory node by a first transfer gate transistor, and a floating diffusion connected to the memory node by a second transfer gate transistor. The memory node includes a buried channel portion disposed under the first transfer gate transistor and a contiguous pinned diode portion disposed between the first and second transfer gate transistors, where the two memory node portions have different doping levels such that an intrinsic lateral electrical field drives electrons from the buried channel portion into the pinned diode portion. The floating diffusion node similarly includes a buried channel portion disposed under the second transfer gate transistor and a contiguous pinned diode portion that generate a second intrinsic lateral electrical field that drives electrons into the pinned diode portion of the floating diffusion. A 6T CMOS pixel is disclosed that facilitates low-noise CDS readout. |
| US09729801B2 |
Blending images using mismatched source and display electro-optical transfer functions
Input video signals characterized by a source electro-optical transfer function (EOTF) are to be blended and displayed on a target display with a target EOTF which is different than the source EOTF. Given an input set of blending parameters, an output set of blending parameters is generated as follows. The input blending parameters are scaled by video signal metrics computed in the target EOTF to generate scaled blending parameters. The scaled blended parameters are mapped back to the source EOTF space to generate mapped blending parameters. Finally the mapped blending parameters are normalized to generate the output blending parameters. An output blended image is generating by blending the input video signals using the output blending parameters. Examples of generating the video signal metrics are also provided. |
| US09729795B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same
A mobile terminal including a camera; a display capable of display an image captured by the camera in real-time; and a controller capable of display a plurality of frames generated using images captured continuously since a start of the image capturing, and execute a function on the mobile terminal associated with one or more of the generated frames while the camera captures the image. |
| US09729793B2 |
Camera module
The present invention relates to a camera module including an auto focusing module vertically moving a lens, a handshake compensation module wrapping the auto focusing module, and tilting the auto focusing module to compensate handshake, a circuit board electrically connected to the handshake compensation module, a bottom case supporting the circuit board and coupled to the auto focusing module, a main circuit board fixed to bottom case and electrically connected to an image sensor module and the circuit board, and a spring unit arranged at a periphery of the main circuit board and having a symmetrical opening having thereinside a gap spaced apart at a predetermined distance. |
| US09729789B2 |
Method of 3D reconstruction and 3D panoramic mosaicing of a scene
The invention relates to a method of 3D reconstruction of a scene by means of 2D panoramic images of the scene, which comprises a step of processing these images. These images arise from a panoramic system moving in displacement along a determined trajectory, such that the image of at least one point of the scene is in at least 3 successive images obtained according to various directions; the step of processing these 2D successive images comprises the sub-steps: a) determining reconstruction planes in the scene to be reconstructed, b) determining, on the basis of pairs of panoramic images and for each pair, rectification planes corresponding to the reconstruction planes and projecting onto each of them a sector of each image of the pair, in a direct manner, so as to obtain two 2D rectified images, c) matching the two 2D rectified images so as to obtain an intermediate 3D reconstruction, d) transforming each intermediate 3D reconstruction into a 3D frame including the reconstruction planes so as to obtain a transformed intermediate 3D reconstruction, e) repeating steps b) to d) on the basis of a new pair of 2D panoramic images and of at least one other rectification plane, so as to obtain at least one other transformed intermediate 3D reconstruction, f) temporally fusing at least two transformed intermediate 3D reconstructions so as to obtain a 3D reconstruction of the scene. |
| US09729781B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method therein are disclosed, by which photos/videos can be conveniently taken/made using a plurality of different preview images taken with at least two cameras. The present invention includes a 1st camera, a 2nd camera, a touchscreen, and a controller controlling a 1st preview image taken with the 1st camera and a 2nd preview image taken with the 2nd camera in camera photograph mode to be simultaneously displayed on the touchscreen at least, the controller controlling an image/video corresponding to a prescribed one of the simultaneously displayed preview images to be taken/made. |
| US09729780B2 |
Imaging apparatus and controller for photographing products
The invention provides an all-in-one imaging apparatus for photographing products, particularly suitable for photographing fashion related products such as apparel products, fashion accessories or other life style products. The imaging apparatus comprising a table part, a portable controller for user interaction with the table part, and a storage for storing images. The table part comprises a substantially horizontal table surface for supporting the product, lights, a fixture for fixing a camera, a backlighting system below the table surface, and an embedded system comprising an embedded computer and a wireless communication controller. The embedded computer controls the camera, switches the backlighting system, wirelessly transmits a live stream from the camera to the portable controller, and wirelessly receives instructions from the portable controller. |
| US09729777B2 |
Photographing apparatus and control method for photographing apparatus
A photographing apparatus of the present invention, having a lens section including a photographing optical system for guiding photographing light flux and a body section capable of being attached to and detached from the lens section, comprises an image sensor having imaging pixels and pairs of focus detection pixels, a first memory for storing information relating to incident angle range of imaging light flux, a second memory, arranged in the body section, for storing information on light receiving sensitivity characteristic of the focus detection pixels, and a control amount calculate section for calculating information for focus adjustment control based on information that has been read out from the first memory and the second memory, wherein the information relating to incident angle range includes information relating to shape of a plurality of arcs based on openings of a plurality of lens groups contained in the photographing optical system. |
| US09729776B2 |
Camera auto-focus apparatus for performing lens position compensation to determine focused lens position and related camera auto-focus method
A camera auto-focus apparatus includes a lens scan control circuit, a lens position compensation circuit, and a lens position decision circuit. During an auto-focus procedure, the lens scan control circuit controls movement of a lens according to a plurality of lens positions, and obtains a plurality of focus values corresponding to the lens positions respectively. The lens position compensation circuit determines a position compensation value according to the movement of the lens. The lens position decision circuit determines a focused lens position according to the position compensation value, the lens positions and the focus values. |
| US09729774B2 |
Imaging device, autofocus method and program of the same
An imaging device includes a first imaging optical system; a first imaging unit that converts an optical image of a subject formed via the first imaging optical system into an electrical signal and produces an image signal of a first imaged image; a second imaging optical system; a second imaging unit that converts an optical image of the subject formed via a second imaging optical system into an electrical signal and produces an image signal of a second imaged image; and a control unit that independently control the first imaging optical system and the second imaging optical system and performs individually a focus adjustment of the first imaged image and the second imaged image. |
| US09729773B2 |
Interchangeable lens digital camera
Provided is an interchangeable lens digital camera that is capable of correcting a rolling shutter distortion in a live view image without delay in displaying the image. At the start of live view imaging, a lens controller in an interchangeable lens controls a shake detection sensor to detect the direction and amount of a shake, and produces deviation information on the basis of shake detection signals from the shake detection sensor, the deviation information indicating fluctuation in direction and amount of the shake for one frame of the live view image in the form of a parameter. The deviation information is transmitted to a body controller of a camera body through a serial communication unit, to correct the rolling shutter distortion on the basis of the deviation information. |
| US09729766B2 |
Hinge structure, support structure and electric apparatus
A hinge structure, comprising a plurality of bearings each of which has a cylindrical body formed by using a molding die, and a shaft member rotatably supported by the plurality of bearings. |
| US09729762B2 |
Method for synchronizing multimedia flows and corresponding device
The present invention relates to a reception device and a method for the processing of multimedia data flows in said device comprising an interface to a first network and an interface to a second network, said method comprising the following steps: receive, from the first network, a first flow comprising multimedia data through a first transport protocol fitted with a first data synchronization system; receive, from the second network, a second flow comprising multimedia data through a second transport protocol fitted with a second data synchronization system, said second synchronization system being based on timing references different from those of the first data synchronization system; characterized in that said first and second flows transport the same synchronization information in the payload field of the first and of the second transport protocol, said synchronization information comprising data indicating the moment from which said multimedia data must be rendered; synchronize said first and second flows by using said synchronization information; and perform a step for rendering said first and second multimedia flows. |
| US09729761B2 |
Color management system, non-transitory computer readable medium, and color management method for substituting a correction profile of a first medium as a correction profile for a second medium
A color management system includes a memory and a controller. The memory stores a correction profile for a first medium, the correction profile being provided for correcting a difference between multiple colorimeters. The controller uses, as an evaluation index and on a basis of a result of colorimetry performed on a second medium that is different from the first medium, at least one of a color difference, a hue difference, or a lightness difference between the first medium and the second medium and uses the correction profile for the first medium as a correction profile for the second medium in a case where the evaluation index is equal to or lower than a corresponding one of thresholds. |
| US09729760B2 |
Image forming apparatus generating conversion condition of measurement unit
The image forming apparatus including: a controller controlling the image forming unit to form a test image, controlling the measurement unit to measure the test image on the image bearing member, and controlling the transfer unit to transfer the test image to the sheet; a reception unit receiving a user instruction; a second generation unit generating the conversion condition based on the user instruction and the measurement result of the test image, wherein the sample image includes a first sample image, a second sample image, and a third sample image, a color difference between the first and second sample images is smaller than a threshold value, a color difference between the second and third sample images is larger than the threshold value, density of the first sample image is higher than density of the second sample image and density of the third sample image. |
| US09729757B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A filter processing unit performs a bandpass filter process for a difference between an output pixel value and an input pixel value of an adjacent pixel to a target pixel. An error diffusion unit performs an error diffusion process of a quantization error for output of the filter processing unit. A quantizer performs quantization for a value obtained by the error diffusion process and thereby determines the output pixel value of the target pixel. The bandpass filter process is performed with characteristics different from each other (a) in respective ones of a primary scanning direction and a secondary scanning direction and (b) for respective ones of the component colors of the image. Furthermore, a filter coefficient of the bandpass filter process independently for each component color of an image is corrected for banding reduction with a correction coefficient corresponding to an angle from the primary scanning direction. |
| US09729756B2 |
Image forming system that restrains increase of print data amount, image forming apparatus, and recording medium
An image forming system prints an image including a plurality of objects. At least a part of the objects overlap with one another. The image forming system includes a computer and an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a rendering circuit. When the rendering circuit processes the image object, the rendering circuit enhances a resolution of a part corresponding to the object in the image object based on a shape of the object overlapped at an upper side in the image object. When the rendering circuit enhances the resolution of the part corresponding to the object in the image object, the rendering circuit decides a color of the boundary based on the color information. |
| US09729755B2 |
Intelligent image correction with preview
As set forth herein, methods and systems for automated image defect detection. An input image is subjected to skew detection and contaminant detection. Upon detection of skew of and/or contaminants in the image data, correction data, including indicia of the contaminants/skew, correction angles and directions are calculated and displayed on an electronic representation of the document. Automatic correction may then be performed to correct the detected defects, allow the defects to remain, or re-scan the original document to generate new image data without the detected defects. |
| US09729754B2 |
Image processing apparatus for expansion processing
Embodiments may include a reception processor that receives image data corresponding to an image including a plurality of image objects. A controller may determine whether image objects are in contact with a boundary of a printing area of medium, and, based on a result of the determination, may perform expansion processing on one of the plurality of image objects that is in contact with the boundary of the printing area of the medium to expand image objects in contact with the boundary of the printing area and does not perform expansion processing on image objects not in contact with the boundary of the printing area of the medium such image objects not in contact with the boundary of the printing area are not expanded. Expansion image data including the expanded image objects and image objects on which expansion processing is not performed may be generated and output. |
| US09729752B2 |
Communication apparatus for multi-session communications, control method therefor, and storage medium
A communication apparatus that avoids a situation in which all sessions are occupied by fax transmission. The communication apparatus is capable of conducting fax communications via an IP network using a plurality of sessions. An acquisition unit acquires a receive session count which indicates the number of sessions set to be used exclusively for fax reception when the plurality of sessions include any unoccupied session which is a session available for fax communications. A transmission starting unit determines whether or not sessions corresponding in number to the receive session count acquired by the acquisition unit are able to be secured as the receive sessions, and start fax transmission using the unoccupied session if the sessions are able to be secured. |
| US09729749B2 |
Data management in a linear-array-based microscope slide scanner
Systems and methods for capturing image data using a line scan camera. In an embodiment, a line scan camera captures image data of a sample as a plurality of image stripes. A processor may coarsely align two or more of the plurality of image stripes according to a synchronization process while the line scan camera is capturing at least one of the plurality of image stripes. Subsequently, the processor may also finely align the two or more image stripes using pattern matching. |
| US09729741B2 |
Image processing apparatus capable of setting various processes using operation screen, portable terminal, information processing apparatus, control method for image processing apparatus, and storage medium storing control program therefor
An image processing apparatus that is capable of reducing a user's burden about setting of setting information while maintaining a desired security level about the setting information. An operation screen displays information. A holding unit holds setting information about a job when a user logs out from the image processing apparatus during execution of the job. A display control unit displays the setting information held by the holding unit on the operation screen when the user who logged out from the image processing apparatus during execution of the job logs in to the image processing apparatus again, and to restrict the displaying on the operation screen when a user other than the user who logged out from the image processing apparatus logs in to the image processing apparatus. |
| US09729739B2 |
Image processing apparatus, control method for image processing apparatus, and storage medium
In response to a start of a pinch-out operation in a first display area displaying a preview image, display is switched from a first display mode to a second display mode, and in a case where a pinch-in operation in the first display area ends and a display size of the preview image reaches a predetermined threshold, the display is switched from the second display mode to the first display mode. |
| US09729736B2 |
Information processing apparatus, storage medium, and information processing system
An information processing apparatus connectable to one or more devices via a network. The apparatus includes a measuring unit measuring an inclination of the apparatus; a determining unit determining whether the inclination of the apparatus relative to a given surface of one of the one or more devices is within a predetermined inclination range; a receiving unit that receives radio waves; an obtaining unit obtaining identification information from the radio waves; a radio wave strength measuring unit measuring strength of the radio waves; a selection unit determining whether to select a given one of the one or more devices based on the strength of the radio waves; and a connection unit connecting the information processing apparatus to one of the one or more devices selected by the selection unit and for which the inclination of the apparatus is within the predetermined inclination range. |
| US09729734B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes an accepting unit, a transmitting unit, a receiving unit, and a storing unit. The accepting unit accepts a transmission destination of input information for inputting setting information about a setting for the information processing apparatus. The transmitting unit transmits the input information to the transmission destination accepted by the accepting unit. The receiving unit receives the setting information transmitted from an external apparatus. The storing unit stores the setting information in a storage medium as a setting for the information processing apparatus. The setting information is received by the receiving unit. |
| US09729726B2 |
Seamless codec switching
In various embodiments, a corpus of codecs may be correlated with different, partially overlapping ranges of transmission characteristics. As channel conditions degrade or improve, the system may select a new codec with which to continue the connection based upon the corresponding overlapping range. Codecs may not be switched immediately when the transmission characteristics enter overlapping ranges, to avoid degrading the user's experience. If the characteristics remain in the overlap, or manifest a likely progression toward another region, then the transition may be effected. |
| US09729722B2 |
Conference call alerts
Conference call alerting is provided. A first device of a plurality of telecommunications devices initiates a telecommunications link between the first device and a second device of the plurality of telecommunications devices. The first device receives an interaction that includes a communications address of a third device of the plurality of telecommunications devices. The telecommunications link is modified to include the third device. In response to the third device joining the telecommunications link, the first device issues an alert to the second device and the third device, wherein the alert indicates that the third device has joined the telecommunications link. |
| US09729709B1 |
Location-based services for controlled-environment facilities
Systems and methods for developing, deploying, providing, and/or operating location-based services for controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving, from a resident of a controlled-environment facility, a request to establish a remote communication with a mobile device operated by a non-resident of the controlled-environment facility. The method may also include allowing or denying the request depending, at least in part, upon a physical location of the mobile device at the time of the request to establish the remote communication and subsequent monitoring during the allowed communication. The method may also include terminating an allowed remote communication based on the monitored location of the mobile device during the remote communication. In some cases, the method may also include comparing an indication of the physical location with a geo-fencing rule and taking a predetermined action in response to the comparison. |
| US09729706B2 |
Call-termination-triggered social interface
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving identifier-information from a device of a first user, wherein the identifier-information is associated with a source of an incoming communication; accessing a social graph including nodes and edges, where the nodes include a first node corresponding to the first user, and second nodes corresponding to second users; determining whether one or more reporting users, corresponding to second nodes within a specified degree of separation from the first node, have flagged the source of the incoming communication as a spam source; and sending, to the first user, a spam-notification object that includes information identifying one or more of the reporting users. |
| US09729704B2 |
Playing a personalized prerecorded audio of a call recipient to the call recipient to authenticate a telephone caller
An audio segment recorded by an individual is stored in a computational device controlled by an entity, where the computational device is coupled to a telephony device having a speaker and a microphone that are configurable to be enabled or disabled by the computational device. An electronic communication is initiated to the individual via the telephony device when the speaker and the microphone are both enabled. The stored audio segment is retrieved from an audio recording database that stores a plurality of audio segments of a plurality of individuals and played to the individual to authenticate the entity, in response to the initiating of the electronic communication to the individual. |
| US09729702B2 |
Client application enabling multiple line call termination and origination
In some implementations, a computing device may determine a location of the computing device. The computing device may have an associated first phone number. The computing device may determine that the location of the computing device is outside a geographic area in which a carrier associated with the first phone number provides service. The computing device may send a registration request to a local network indicating that the computing device is operating in an over the top mode. The computing device may originate an outgoing call from the computing device. The outgoing call appears to a called party to originate from a second phone number that is different from the first phone number. |
| US09729701B2 |
Device interface
The present invention relates to a small computing device with an improved interface. The interface comprises a display screen which extends the majority of length of the face of the housing, and a plurality of multi-function buttons extending on either side of the display screen. |
| US09729699B2 |
Apparatus and method for automatically detecting presence of external device in mobile terminal
An apparatus to control an external device includes a connector to electrically connect with the external device, a connection detector to determine whether the external device is electrically connected to the connector, and a controller to obtain level information corresponding to the external device from the connector, to determine a type of the external device based on the level information, and to control execution of a function of the apparatus based on the determined type, wherein the level information is different according to the type of the external device. |
| US09729695B2 |
Messaging client application interface
A user interface for a messaging client application can include a message list. By executing various input operations on a representation of a message in the message list, the user can take an action on the message. For example, a user operating a pointing device can perform a drag operation on a representation of the message in the message list, and the action to be taken on the message can be indicated by the direction and distance of the drag. Visual feedback can be provided during the drag operation to indicate the action that will be taken if the user ends the drag at the current location. |
| US09729692B2 |
Cable with memory
A cable for providing electric power from a power source to a mobile device, the cable having a first connector at a first end of the cable for connecting the cable to a mobile device and with a second connector at a second end for connecting the cable to the power source, wherein the cable comprises a memory module for backup and bidirectional transfer of data to and from the mobile device. |
| US09729689B2 |
Desktop telephone system
The present invention relates to a desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) and to a method for operating a desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) and may advantageously be utilized in voice communication systems connected to telephone networks (7, 11, 67). The present invention provides a desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) that can handle a number of ambiguous or complex situations that can occur in daily use of known headset systems.The desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) comprises two or more sound interface devices (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) each providing a sound interface to a user during telephone conversations and two or more gateway devices (2, 3, 62, 63) each serving as a telephone gateway between a telephone network (7, 11, 67) and each sound interface device (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) during telephone conversations. Each gateway device (2, 3, 62, 63) provides a call announcement signal (21, 41) in response to detecting an incoming telephone call (20, 40) from a telephone network (7, 11, 67), and each sound interface device (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) comprises an action detector (22, 30) providing a user accept signal (23, 31) in response to detecting a predefined accept action performed by the user. At least one gateway device (2, 3, 62, 63) provides the call announcement signal (21, 41) to a wireless control network (18), and at least one sound interface device (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) provides the user accept signal (23, 31) to the wireless control network (18). The desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) further comprises a control device (19, 52) adapted to receive a first call announcement signal (21, 41) and a first user accept signal (23, 31), at least one of these from the wireless control network (18), to determine a first gateway device (2, 3, 62, 63) as source of the first call announcement signal (21, 41), to determine a first sound interface device (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) as source of the first user accept signal (23, 31), to determine a relationship between the first call announcement signal (21, 41) and the first user accept signal (23, 31), and to cause the desktop telephone system (1, 51, 61) to establish an audio connection (15, 16, 17, 44, 47, 48) between the first gateway device (2, 3, 62, 63) and the first sound interface device (2, 3, 4, 8, 62, 63, 64) in dependence on the determined relationship. |
| US09729688B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal includes: a body in which an electronic component is installed; and a movement unit fastened to the body in at least a portion thereof, configured to output information processed in the mobile terminal, and the movement unit being flexible on the body as curvature of the body is varied, wherein the body includes a varied portion whose curvature is varied and fixed portions formed on both ends of the varied portion and having curvature which is not changed, wherein the varied portion includes a plurality of micro blocks formed in a movement direction and configured to form a predetermined curvature and an elastic member formed in the micro blocks and enabling the micro blocks to form a predetermined curvature when external force is applied or when external force is removed. |
| US09729685B2 |
Cover for a tablet device
Accurate and reliable techniques for determining information of an accessory device in relation to an electronic device are described. |
| US09729679B2 |
Using different TCP/IP stacks for different tenants on a multi-tenant host
Multiple TCP/IP stack processors on a host. The multiple TCP/IP stack processors are provided independently of TCP/IP stack processors implemented by virtual machines on the host. The TCP/IP stack processors provide multiple different default gateway addresses for use with multiple processes. The default gateway addresses allow a service to communicate across an L3 network. Processes outside of virtual machines that utilize the TCP/IP stack processor on a first host can benefit from using their own gateway, and communicate with their peer process on a second host, regardless of whether the second host is located within the same subnet or a different subnet. The multiple TCP/IP stack processors can use separately allocated resources. Separate TCP/IP stack processors can be provided for each of multiple tenants on the host. Separate loopback interfaces of multiple TCP/IP stack processors can be used to create separate containment for separate sets of processes on a host. |
| US09729674B2 |
Information processing system, clients, server, programs and information processing method
An information processing system including an IC chip, a client driving the IC chip to carry out predetermined processing, a server connected to the client by a communication network, wherein the client has a processing-command requesting section configured to request for transmission of a processing command to the server; an ID-acquisition-command sender section configured to transmit an ID acquisition command; a chip-ID extraction section configured to extract the chip ID; and a processing-command sender section configured to embed the extracted chip ID into the processing command and transmit the command. The server has a command-group sender section configured to send the command. The IC chip has a chip-ID sender section configured to transmit data; a chip-ID determination section configured to determine whether the chip ID in the command is identical with the chip ID of the IC chip; and a processing execution section configured to carry out the predetermined processing. |
| US09729672B2 |
Collaborative editing
Methods are provided for collaborative editing of documents which allow users who are editing source code to see previews of a compiled document as the process of editing continues. During editing, the source code is compiled to provide a compiled document from which previews can be produced. Steps can be taken to ensure that previews are only produced and/or sent to the user for those pages that have been changed since a previous compile. Moreover, a pre-compile checking process may avoid unnecessary attempts to compile incomplete or erroneous source code. |
| US09729671B2 |
Systems and processes for computer log analysis
Existing program code, which is executable on one or more computers forming part of a distributed computer system, is analyzed. The analysis identifies log output instructions present in the program code. Log output instructions are those statements or other code that generate log messages related to service requests processed by the program code. A log model is generated using the analysis. The log model is representative of causal relationships among service requests defined by the program code. The log model can then be applied to logs containing log messages generated by execution of the program code, during its normal operation, to group log messages for improved analysis, including visualization, of the performance and behavior of the distributed computer system. |
| US09729670B2 |
Information processing system and content download method
In an information processing system, a speculative DL content information acceptor 324 accepts identification information of content selected by a server. A list generator generates a speculative DL list of the accepted content identification information. Based on the speculative DL list, a DL processor sets the time of start of download of content data and downloads the content data at the set time. |
| US09729668B2 |
Automatic service extensibility
The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems, including a method for automatically extending a service associated with data access. A request is received from a client, the request being for data associated with a first service. The first service is identified by a service identifier included in the request and defining a first behavior associated with the first service and use of the requested data. Using the service identifier, an extension service is identified that is associated with the first service. The identifying occurs automatically based on additional registry entries for the extension service, without modifying original registry entries for the first service, and without modifying a first service implementation associated with the first service. Data responsive to the received request is provided to the client. The data is provided according to a second behavior associated with the extension service. |
| US09729666B2 |
Large scale storage system and method of operating thereof
A distributed storage system comprising interconnected computer nodes; each one of the computer nodes comprising at least one processing resource configured to execute a Unified Distributed Storage Platform (UDSP) agent; at least one of the computer nodes comprising one or more resources including at least one cache resource configured to cache objects and having corresponding cache-related parameters; at least one UDSP agent of a respective computer node having the at least one cache resource is configured to: monitor cache-related parameters of the at least one cache resource connected to the respective computer node, for determining whether the cache-related parameters meet at least one first SLS criteria; and in the case the at least one first SLS criteria is not met, initiate handoff of at least part of one or more cache object spaces of the at least one cache resource to at least one other computer node, which after receiving the at least part of one or more cache object spaces, its cache-related parameters meet at least one second SLS criteria. |
| US09729665B2 |
Content transmission method, content transmission device, and recording medium
A content transmission method including: searching, when a first information processing device receives a transmission request for a first content from a second information processing device, for a third information processing device within information processing devices, at least one of the information processing devices having a connection with the second information processing device and currently transmitting a second content to the second information processing device; and transmitting to the third information processing device, by the first information processing device, the first content and an instruction to transmit the transmitted first content from the third information processing device to the second information processing device in accordance with the transmission request. |
| US09729660B2 |
Method and system for detecting virtual machine migration
Method and system for detecting migration of a virtual machine are provided. The method detects that a first identifier for identifying a virtual machine and a second identifier identifying a source computing system hosting the virtual machine that accesses a storage space via a logical object have changed, when the virtual machine is migrated from the source computing system to a destination computing system. Thereafter, a storage device at the destination computing system is initialized to operate as a caching device for the migrated virtual machine. |
| US09729657B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing network resource transmission size using delta compression
A near end network optimizer receives, from a client device, a request for a network resource. Responsive to determining that a version of the network resource is stored in the near end network optimizer, a request for the network resource is transmitted to a far end network optimizer along with a version identifier that identifies that version. The near end network optimizer receives, from the far end network optimizer, a response that includes a differences file that specifies the difference(s) between the version of the network resource stored in the near end network optimizer with a most current version of the network resource. The response does not include the entire network resource. The near end network optimizer applies the specified difference(s) to the version that it has stored to generate an updated version of the network resource, and transmits the updated version of the network resource to the client device. |