| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09731398B2 |
Polyurethane polishing pad
The polishing pad is for planarizing at least one of semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates. The polishing pad includes a cast polyurethane polymeric material formed from a prepolymer reaction of H12MDI/TDI with polytetramethylene ether glycol to form an isocyanate-terminated reaction product. The isocyanate-terminated reaction product has 8.95 to 9.25 weight percent unreacted NCO and has an NH2 to NCO stoichiometric ratio of 102 to 109 percent. The isocyanate-terminated reaction product is cured with a 4,4′-methylenebis(2-chlororaniline) curative agent. The cast polyurethane polymeric material, as measured in a non-porous state, having a shear storage modulus, G′ of 250 to 350 MPa as measured with a torsion fixture at 30° C. and 40° C. and a shear loss modulus, G″ of 25 to 30 MPa as measured with a torsion fixture at 40° C. The polishing pad having a porosity of 20 to 50 percent by volume and a density of 0.60 to 0.95 g/cm3. |
| US09731394B2 |
Machining method for a threaded section and machining device
The present invention prevents the occurrence of variation in the lead of a threaded section of a machined article (19a) resulting from the effects of thermal expansion of the machined article (19a) during machining. A thermal expansion amount that relates to the axial direction of the machined article (19a) during machining is measured by measurement means (13), history information for the thermal expansion amount that relates to the machined article (19a) during machining is obtained from the result of the aforementioned measurement, and a control unit (17a) determines the relative rotational speed of a rotary drive shaft (11) or the feeding speed of an axial feeding device (16a) with respect to the next machined object (19a) that is to be machined on the basis of the history information for the thermal expansion amount of the machined object (19a) that has been machined. |
| US09731393B2 |
Power tool and method of operating an automated drilling operation
A power tool includes a pneumatic motor with an output shaft, a spindle that is drivingly connected to the output shaft via a drive gear to provide a rotational movement to the spindle and via a feed gear to provide a translational movement to the spindle. A cylinder that governs the gear transmission to the feed gear is arranged to be translated between a retraction gearing position and an advancement gearing position. The retraction gearing includes a retraction torque limiting coupling adapted to be released when an operational torque (T) exceeds a retraction threshold torque (TR) in order to terminate retraction. A lock mechanism is arranged to selectively block the cylinder in the retraction gearing position through engagement between a tooth of a ratchet on the lock mechanism and a shoulder on the cylinder. The lock mechanism assures that the cylinder is kept in the retraction gearing position during an initial phase of the retraction of the spindle. |
| US09731391B2 |
Phone camera and sample stand
Camera phone accessories for using the camera phone to collect scientific data. |
| US09731390B2 |
Object positioning/fixing device
In an object positioning/fixing device that positions and fixes a target object on a base member in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction, a structure is provided in which, in a state in which the target object is pressed against the base member and fixed thereon by a fixation mechanism: first and second tapered engagement surfaces of first and second reference members are closely contacted against the inner circumferential surfaces of first and second annular engagement members via elastic deformation of the first and second annular engagement members; also first and second base end contact surfaces of the first and second reference members are contacted against the base member; and a pair of regulated surfaces of the second annular engagement member are closely contacted against a pair of regulating surfaces of a second installation hole via elastic deformation of the second annular engagement member. |
| US09731385B2 |
Orbital welder with wire height adjustment assembly
A welding system for applying a weld to a workpiece, the welding system including a frame, a welding torch mounted on the frame, the welding torch including an electrode; a wire guide adapted to direct a wire toward the electrode; a wire alignment assembly including a fixture frame having a wire guide holder mounted thereon, the wire guide being supported on the wire guide holder, wherein the wire alignment assembly includes multiple degrees of freedom for adjusting the position of the wire guide as needed for a given welding operation. |
| US09731382B2 |
Method for producing a body part of a vehicle and body part of a vehicle
A method is provided for producing a body part of a vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to providing a first profile part with at least one first welding flange and with a first opening as well as a second profile part with at least one third welding flange. The welding flange is at least partially arranged on the third welding flange subject to the formation of an at least partially closed form of the body part. The first welding flange and the third welding flange are arranged within the at least partially closed form. A first laser beam is guided through the first opening onto the first welding flange subject to the formation of at least one first laser weld seam between the first welding flange and the third welding flange. |
| US09731375B2 |
Method for plasma-cutting a workpiece by means of a plasma-cutting system and pulsating current
A method for plasma cutting a workpiece comprises providing a plasma cutting system having a plasma current source and a plasma torch, the plasma torch having an electrode and nozzle where the nozzle is a small distance from the electrode at a lower end of the plasma torch, forming a plasma chamber between the nozzle and the electrode. A current is produced with a plasma current source and the current flows through the plasma torch during the plasma cutting process. The current is then brought to pulsation during at least a partial time period during the plasma cutting process, with the pulsation occurring in a targeted or controlled manner with a freely selectable frequency. |
| US09731372B2 |
Modified series arc welding and improved control of one sided series arc welding
An electric arc welding system for depositing weld metal along a groove between two edges of a metal workpiece where the system contains a first power supply and a second power supply, each providing a welding waveform to respective welding electrodes. The positive output terminals of both power supplies are coupled to the same contact tip and the negative output terminal of one of the power supplies is not coupled to the workpiece. |
| US09731371B2 |
Engine drive with electrode storage
The subject innovation relates to engine driven welding systems and methods regulating an environmentally controlled electrode compartment within storage constraints to maintain electrode integrity regardless of environmental factors outside the container. Various sensors and controllers which directly or indirectly provide input to the engine of the engine driven welder are used to facilitate such regulation, which is conducted at least in part using the engine itself. |
| US09731370B2 |
Directly cooled substrates for semiconductor modules and corresponding manufacturing methods
A semiconductor module includes a substrate having a metallized first side and a metallized second side opposing the metallized first side. A semiconductor die is attached to the metallized first side of the substrate. A plurality of cooling structures are welded to the metallized second side of the substrate. Each of the cooling structures includes a plurality of distinct weld beads disposed in a stacked arrangement extending away from the substrate. The substrate can be electrically conductive or insulating. Corresponding methods of manufacturing such semiconductor modules and substrates with such welded cooling structures are also provided. |
| US09731359B2 |
Cutting insert and cutting tool including the same
An indexable cutting insert is suitable for vertical and oblique machining. The cutting insert has top and bottom surfaces, first to fourth side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces, and a screw hole passing through the top and bottom surfaces. The top surface has a mounting surface of a flat surface. The top and bottom surfaces are rotationally symmetric with each other. A cutting edge is formed at a junction between the top surface and the adjacent first and second side surfaces. A non-cutting edge is formed at a junction between the top surface and the adjacent third and fourth side surfaces. The first and second side surfaces form an acute angle with a plane extending from the mounting surface of the top surface. The third and fourth side surfaces form an obtuse angle with the plane extending from the mounting surface of the top surface. |
| US09731358B2 |
Step drill bit
A drill bit includes a shank, a transition portion, and a body portion defining a plurality of axially stacked, progressively sized steps. The steps include a first step and a terminal step coupled to the transition portion. The first step defines two tip flutes each disposed at a tip flute angle. The body portion defines two body flutes each extending from the first step to the transition portion and disposed at a body flute angle different from the tip flute angle. The drill bit includes a bit tip disposed at the distal end of the body portion and having a chisel edge, a first chisel surface on one side of the chisel edge, and a second chisel surface on an opposite side of the chisel edge. The first chisel surface defines a first relief angle. The second chisel surface defines a second relief angle different from the first relief angle. |
| US09731355B2 |
Diamond coated tool
The present invention provides a diamond coated tool which is resistant to exfoliation at an interface between a base material and a diamond layer. The diamond coated tool of the present invention is a diamond coated tool including a base material and a diamond layer coating a surface of the base material, and characterized in that the surface of the base material has an arithmetic average roughness Ra of not less than 0.1 μm and not more than 10 μm and an average length of roughness profile elements RSm of not less than 1 μm and not more than 100 μm, and that the diamond layer has a plurality of cavities extending from a portion bordering on the base material in a crystal growth direction. |
| US09731354B2 |
Cutting insert with micro-channels
A cutting insert includes a body having an upper face, a lower face, a plurality of planar flank faces joining the upper and lower faces, and a plurality of curved flank faces joining the plurality of flank faces. A T-land is formed at a downward sloping angle with respect to the upper face. A cutting edge is formed at an intersection of a respective flank face and the T-land. A curved cutting edge is formed at an intersection of a respective curved flank face and the T-land. A micro-channel is formed in one of the flank faces, the curved flank faces and the T-land and proximate one of the cutting edge and the curved cutting edge. |
| US09731344B2 |
Computer implemented systems and methods for optimization of sand for reducing casting rejections
A computer implemented system for optimization of sand for reducing casting rejections in a foundry utilizing the existing foundry components or machinery. The system is accessible online via a computer network. The system is enabled to provide a predicted or prescribed solution for the optimization of sand using at least a parameter relating to the aforementioned sand. Further, the system is enabled to determine the parameters contributing to casting rejections and provide a corresponding solution for reducing the rejections in the next casting batches for the particular foundry. The system includes a user interface module for enabling users to upload foundry related data into the system, a reporting module enabling the user to generate and understand current statistics of the foundry, and a processing engine which enables the system to perform mathematical computation of user queries and provide the desired predicted or prescribed solution to the user for the foundry. |
| US09731342B2 |
Chill plate for equiax casting solidification control for solid mold casting of reticulated metal foams
A method to manufacture reticulated metal foam via a dual investment solid mold includes pouring molten metal material into a mold while the mold is located on a chill plate. A method to manufacture reticulated metal foam includes pouring molten metal material into a mold while the mold is located on a chill plate, the chill plate configured to apply an externally driven temperature gradient in the mold so that solidification progresses from the chilled end to the non-chilled end. |
| US09731340B2 |
Process monitoring for high-speed joining
A process monitoring method for a joining operation of a joining element at a speed of at least 5 m/s, in particular placing a bolt at least 10 m/s into at least one component with the aid of a placing device which has the following features: A plunger for placing the joining element, a buffer which limits a maximum deflection of the plunger in the joining direction, and a distance measurement with which the deflection of the plunger can be detected, wherein the process monitoring comprises the following steps: Detecting the travel of the plunger during the joining operation as a function of time in the form of a distance-time curve, detecting a placement of the plunger on the buffer, evaluating the distance-time curve such that, in the presence of at least one maximum followed by at least one minimum in the distance-time curve and without the plunger contacting the buffer, a joint connection is judged to be OK. |
| US09731338B2 |
Wire bend fixture
A wire bending apparatus and a method for bending a wire and creating a loop in the wire is provided. The wire bending apparatus includes an anvil block that is connectable to a wire bending portion and connectable to a loop bending portion, such that the wire bending portion and the loop bending portion are rotatable. The anvil block includes a gap for holding a wire and the wire bending portion includes a groove for positioning the wire to be parallel to the direction of the wire when the wire bending portion is connected to the anvil block and rotated to form the bend in the wire. The loop bending portion includes a channel for engaging the wire when the loop bending portion is connected to the anvil block and rotated to form a loop in the wire. |
| US09731337B2 |
Part correcting device for automobile part
A part correcting device for an automobile part may include a body in which the part is disposed, a hydraulic apparatus which presses and fixes one side of the part disposed in the body, a warpage correcting apparatus which corrects a warpage of the part by rotating the other side of the part left or right while fixing the other side of the part disposed in the body, and a deformation correcting apparatus which corrects an angle of the part by pressing flanges formed on both sides of the part downwardly while fixing the flanges. |
| US09731333B2 |
Self-cleaning top burner for a stove
A pyrolytic cleaning top burner system for a stove having a normal cooking mode includes a top burner coupled to a stove, a cover for seating on the stove surface, means for heating a top burner, and an exhaust outlet. The cover covers at least the top burner in a cleaning mode. The heating means heats to a cleaning temperature in a cleaning mode that permits baked on food that is positioned under the cover to be disintegrated with heat. The exhaust outlet exhausts air from under the cover. A method for pyrolytically cleaning a top burner of a stove or cooktop is also disclosed. |
| US09731332B1 |
Material applicator and manifold therefor
A material applicator comprising a manifold including a primary body and a gate. The primary body includes a first inlet channel, first inlet connecting geometry, a second inlet channel, second inlet connecting geometry, a third inlet channel, third inlet connecting geometry, a first outlet channel, a second outlet channel, outlet connecting geometry, and a gate cavity. The gate is positioned in the cavity and includes a number of through-channels. The gate is configured to shift between a substance delivery position and a flushing position. |
| US09731329B2 |
Methods for removing ink from films
A method of removing ink from a film includes unrolling the film from a first roll, exposing the film to a cleaning composition, and scraping the cleaning composition from the film. The film and the cleaning composition pass adjacent a first nonabrasive cloth to spread the cleaning composition over a width of the film, and adjacent at least one additional nonabrasive cloth to scrub the ink from the film. The film may be polymeric, metallic, or a metalized polymer. A system includes a means for unrolling a film, at least one nozzle configured to expose the film to a cleaning composition, and a blade configured to scrape the cleaning composition from the film. The system also includes a first nonabrasive cloth configured to spread the cleaning composition over a width of the film, and at least one additional nonabrasive cloth configured to scrub the ink from the film. |
| US09731327B2 |
Device for sorting objects
A device for sorting objects includes an input conveyor device with a plurality of input storage devices, which are movable in an input conveying direction. A loading station loads each input storage device with one object. An output conveyor device has a plurality of output storage devices, which are movable in an output conveying direction. A sorting end point discharges the objects. A first transfer region, in which the input conveyor device and the output conveyor device are arranged, allows objects to be transferred from the input storage devices into the output storage devices. A second transfer region, separate from the first transfer region, in which the output conveyor device and the sorting end point are arranged transfers objects from the output storage devices to the sorting end point. An additional sorting end point in the second transfer region enables more flexibly operation of the sorting device. |
| US09731326B2 |
Screen device comprising screen rollers for preventing oversize grain from jamming
A screen device for sorting screening material into one or more fine grain fractions and one or more oversize grain fractions. The screen device includes a frame and a roller screen including screen rollers which are arranged, such that they can be rotary-driven about a roller axis each, next to each other and which are supported on the frame and which each comprise a roller body and one or more screen structures which protrude radially relative to the roller body. There is a fine grain screen gap between the roller bodies of respectively adjacent screen rollers, through which a fine grain fraction falls, while an oversize grain fraction is conveyed on the roller screen in the axial direction of the rollers when the screen rollers are rotary-driven. The roller body of at least one of the screen rollers widens radially in the axial direction of the rollers in an axial widening portion and the width of the fine grain screen gap which the widening roller body forms with the roller body of an adjacent screen roller decreases in the axial direction of the rollers along the widening portion. |
| US09731321B2 |
Polymerisation process and polymer product
A method of polymerizing monomer to form polymer at the surface of particulate material, said method comprising: providing a dispersion of said particulate material in a continuous liquid phase, said dispersion comprising a RAFT agent as a stabilizer for said particulate material, and said continuous liquid phase comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and polymerizing said one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers under the control of said RAFT agent to thereby form polymer at the surface of said particulate material. |
| US09731319B2 |
Stretchable sheets comprising a variety of layers and zones and methods to produce such products
The invention provides methods for producing flexible, stretchable, and/or elastic sheets and products having two or more zone having different material features and performance. The products can be comprised of material such as natural elastomers and other synthetic polymers. The method for producing stretchable products by spraying product material of different types over different zones of a workpiece former or conveyor belt. |
| US09731316B2 |
Composite stretch material
A nozzle assembly includes an upstream block, an upstream shim, an intermediate shim, a downstream shim and a downstream block arranged in this order in a machine direction MD from the upstream side to the downstream side. A lower end of the nozzle is formed with grooves as guide grooves to support elastics. A first pipe, a dispersion slit for a web and convergence slits for a web define first flow channels wherein the slits are respectively formed with outlets for a web. A second pipe, a dispersion slit for elastics and convergence slits for elastics define a second flow channels wherein the slits are respectively formed with outlets for elastics. The outlets for elastics are formed in the respective guide grooves and each of the outlets for a web lies between each pair of the adjacent outlets for elastics as viewed in the cross direction CD. |
| US09731315B2 |
Vacuum dip coating apparatus
There is provided a dip coating apparatus that includes a sealed case assembly for containing at least one workpiece to be coated. The dip coating apparatus also includes an air pump communicated with the sealed case assembly, for pumping air from the sealed case assembly and injecting air into the sealed case assembly. Further, the dip coating apparatus includes a fresh coating solution container containing a coating solution, which is communicated with the sealed case assembly, for injecting the coating solution to the sealed case assembly and a recycle coating solution container, which is communicated with the sealed case assembly, for retrieving the coating solution from the sealed case assembly. |
| US09731314B2 |
Coating system with multiple dispensing needles
A coating system and method including a web path moving a substrate past a contacting element including a distribution manifold having a cavity, and a multiplicity of needle tubes in fluid communication with the cavity, the needle tubes each having a needle tip dispensing a coating material towards a point of contact between the substrate and the contacting element. In some embodiments, the distribution manifold separates into a manifold containing the internal cavity, and a removable cartridge having the plurality of needle tubes. The coating system and method can be used to apply a pre-metered coating material to the substrate. |
| US09731309B2 |
Foam dispensing cap
A foam dispensing cap includes a cap body having a ceiling wall and a cylindrical side wall, and a partition member. An ejection pipe is erected on the upper surface of the ceiling wall. An air chamber is in the space below the ceiling wall. A liquid entry opening is in the partition member. In the air chamber, an air passage for flowing air within the air chamber and a liquid flow path for flowing the content liquid, which has passed through the partition wall and entered the air chamber, communicate with each other. The air passage and the liquid flow path are formed to merge, and a region ranging from the point of merging to the ejection pipe defines an air-liquid mixture flow path. When the squeeze container is tilted and squeezed, the content liquid is ejected in a foamy state from the leading end of the ejection pipe. |
| US09731307B2 |
Metered dosing bottle
An apparatus and method for accurately measuring and dispensing a predetermined amount of product from a dispensing system to a given surface area is disclosed. The dispensing system (100) includes a container (102) having a main chamber (106) to hold product and a dosing chamber (108) having an opening (110) in communication with the main chamber (106). The dosing chamber (108) is configured to hold a metered amount of product (112) received from the main chamber (106). A spray head (128) when connected to the container (102) is brought into operable and fluid communication with a dip tube (114), optionally cut to a selected length, which is positioned within the dosing chamber (108) for dispensing by activation of a trigger (136) product (112) to a given surface area or air space. |
| US09731306B2 |
Electrospray device
The invention related to a device (1) for spraying charged droplets of a liquid towards a target along a spraying direction, comprising: a reservoir (10) for storing the liquid (L), a first electrode (100) being arranged at an outlet (11) of said reservoir (10), a second electrode (200) forming a counter electrode to the first electrode (100) for accelerating said droplets (D) along the spraying direction (S), and a housing (30) holding the reservoir (10) as well as said electrodes (100, 200). |
| US09731303B2 |
Oscillating nozzles
An oscillating spray nozzle and related methods for providing spray patterns in a variety of oscillating patterns by driving movement of the nozzle with a progressing cavity displacement motor. By varying the design of the progressing cavity displacement motor, a variety of spray pattern geometries can be generated and a speed of the nozzle as it travels through the spray pattern geometries can be controlled. The oscillating spray nozzle can include a housing enclosing a progressing cavity motor that is operably connected to a spray nozzle. The progressing cavity motor includes a rotor member that is caused to rotate and oscillate within a stator member. The rotor member is operably linked to the spray nozzle, whereby the movement of the rotor member is communicated to the spray nozzle. |
| US09731301B2 |
Swing rotor with holding pins fixed to branch arms and having connection part connecting the branch arms for centrifuge and centrifuge
Provided is a swing rotor for a centrifuge. The centrifuge includes a swing type rotor body having a plurality of holding pins and a plurality of buckets held by the holding pins in a swingable manner. On the rotor body, a connection part is formed to connect two branch arms that diverge from an arm part on an outer peripheral side. A thickness-reduced part penetrating in the same direction as a driving shaft is formed in a region surrounded by the two branch arms on an inner peripheral side of the connection part. Since the branch arms deform accordingly to a certain extent, partial concentration of the stress applied on the holding pins due to a centrifugal load can be alleviated. Thus, the lifespan of the centrifuge can be improved and the centrifugal separation operation can be stabilized. |
| US09731296B2 |
Biochemical reactor
A biochemical reactor includes a temperature control device containing a substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a receiving hole, and a heating element. The substrate has a through hole for accommodating the vessel; the receiving hole is adjacent to the through hole for receiving the heating element; the first conductive layer has a connecting region formed on the wall of the through hole; and two terminals of the heating element are respectively connected electrically to the first and the second conductive layers. As such, the heat generated from the heating element can be transferred to the through hole via the first conductive layer to heat the vessel. |
| US09731295B2 |
Fluid connection device for biological analysis apparatuses, suitable fluidic component and biological analysis device equipped with same
A fluid connection device is provided for biological analysis apparatuses, intended to simultaneously connect a plurality of fluid conduits and at least one fluidic component including a connecting surface with a plurality of fluid ports, the device having: (i) a holding plate, (ii) removable attachment structure capable of pressing the holding plate against the connecting surface, (iii) connectors suitable for being fixed to the ends of the fluid conduits and provided with a seal suitable for allowing a sealed connection to be made between the connectors and the fluid ports, holding plate including through-openings opposite the fluid ports and being shaped in such a way as to be able to receive the connectors in through-openings and to hold them pressed against the connecting surface. A biological analysis apparatus implementing the device is also provided. |
| US09731290B2 |
Density phase separation device
A mechanical separator for separating a fluid sample into first and second phases within a collection container is disclosed. The mechanical separator may have a separator body having a through-hole defined therein, with the through-hole adapted for allowing fluid to pass therethrough. The separator body includes a float, having a first density, and a ballast, having a second density greater than the first density. A portion of the float is connected to a portion of the ballast. Optionally, the float may include a first extended tab adjacent a first opening of the through-hole and a second extended tab adjacent the second opening of the through-hole. In certain configurations, the separator body also includes an extended tab band disposed about an outer surface of the float. The separator body may also include an engagement band circumferentially disposed about at least a portion of the separator body. |
| US09731288B2 |
Stimulus responsive polymers for the purification of biomolecules
The present invention provides novel and improved stimulus responsive polymers and methods of using the same for the purification of biomolecules. |
| US09731287B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for regenerating catalyst particles
Apparatuses and methods are provided for regenerating catalyst particles. In one embodiment, a method for regenerating catalyst particles includes passing the catalyst particles through a halogenation zone and a drying zone. The method feeds drying gas to the drying zone and passes a first portion of the drying gas from the drying zone to the halogenation zone. The method includes removing a second portion of the drying gas from the drying zone and injecting a halogen gas into the second portion of the drying gas. Further, the method includes delivering the halogen gas and the second portion of the drying gas to the halogenation zone. In the method, substantially all of the drying gas fed to the drying zone enters the halogenation zone. |
| US09731286B2 |
Alumina catalyst support
The present invention is directed to a high surface area, high pore volume porous alumina, comprising: aluminum oxide, optionally, silicon oxide and aluminosilicates, and optionally one or more dopants, said alumina having a specific surface area of from about 100 to about 500 square meters per gram and a total pore volume after calcination at 900° C. for 2 hours of greater than or equal to 1.2 cubic centimeters per gram, wherein less than or equal to 15% of the total pore volume is contributed by pores having a diameter of less than 10 nm. |
| US09731280B2 |
Ferrite catalyst and preparation method thereof
Disclosed are a ferrite catalyst and preparation methods thereof. The catalyst is provided with a formula below, wherein A is Mg atom, Zn atom or a mixture of both atoms at any ratio; D is one or more atoms selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, W, Mn, Ca, Mo or V atom; Z is a catalyst carrier, which is one or more selected from the group consisting of calcium phosphate, calcium dihydrogen phosphate, aluminum phosphate, aluminum dihydrogen phosphate, ferric phosphate, magnesium phosphate, zinc phosphate, Mg—Al hydrotalcite, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate; a=0.01-0.6; b=0-0.30; c is a number balancing each valence; x, y represent the amounts of principal catalyst and carrier Z respectively, wherein the weight ratio y/x=0.5:1-7:1. x(FeAaDbOc)/yZ |
| US09731279B2 |
Thermal stability of copper-manganese spinel as Zero PGM catalyst for TWC application
Effect of the type of ZPGM material composition to improve thermal stability of ZPGM catalyst systems for TWC application is disclosed. ZPGM catalyst system samples are prepared and configured with washcoat on ceramic substrate, overcoat including doped Zirconia support oxide, and impregnation layer including either Cu1Mn2O4 spinel or Cu1Co1Mn1O4 spinel. Testing of ZPGM catalyst samples including variations of aging temperatures and different impregnation layer materials are developed under isothermal steady state sweep test condition for ZPGM catalyst systems to evaluate performance especially NOx conversions and level of thermal stability. As a result disclosed ZPGM catalyst systems with most suitable spinel that includes Cu1Co1Mn1O4 in impregnation layer exhibit high NOx conversion and significant improved thermal stability compare to Cu1Mn2O4 spinel, which is suitable for under floor and close coupled TWC application. The effect of adding Co to Cu—Mn spinel composition to improve thermal stability confirmed by TPR measurement. |
| US09731270B2 |
Converting ethane to liquid fuels and chemicals
Converting ethane may include directing a gaseous stream from a gas well into a fractionator for fractionating and producing a post-fractionator ethane stream, which is directed into a thermal activation unit for heating and raising the temperature of the post-fractionator ethane stream thereby creating an activated ethane stream, which is directed into a quench tower thereby creating a quenched stream, which may be converted in a catalytic conversion unit to a mixed product stream containing hydrogen and C1-C15 hydrocarbons; directing the mixed product stream into a first separation unit forming a stream of C4+ hydrocarbon product and a stream of C1-C3 hydrocarbons; directing the stream of C1-C3 hydrocarbons into a catalytic hydrogenation reactor thereby imparting hydrogen into a post-hydrogenation reactor stream, which is directed directly into a second separation unit thereby creating a light hydrocarbons recycle stream, which may be recycled into the thermal activation unit, and a hydrogen and methane stream. |
| US09731269B2 |
Method and apparatus for separating carbon and oxygen isotopes by using optical fiber laser
Provided is a method of separating carbon and oxygen isotopes by using a laser. In one preferred embodiment, the method includes performing a photolysis process on formaldehyde including a carbon or oxygen isotope by irradiation with ultraviolet light having a wavelength ranging from 340 nm to 360 nm to generate carbon monoxide having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein and hydrogen, performing a catalytic reaction on the carbon monoxide having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein and the hydrogen to synthesize carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) having a carbon or oxygen isotope enriched therein, and cooling the H2O to recover CO2 having a carbon isotope enriched therein or H2O having an oxygen isotope enriched therein. |
| US09731260B2 |
Means for manufacturing micro-beads comprising thermoplastic polymer micro-particles
The present invention relates to means for manufacturing micro-beads (polymer micro-particles) comprising thermoplastic polymer and having the average particle size of 10 μm or less, and extending into the nano-range. An original filament comprising a thermoplastic polymer is passed through an orifice under an air pressure (P1) and guided to a spray chamber under a pressure (P2; where P1>P2). The original filament having passed through the orifice is heated and melted under irradiation by an infrared beam, and is sprayed in microparticulate form from the orifice by the flow of air generated by the pressure differential between P1 to P2, whereby micro-beads comprising thermoplastic polymer micro-particles having an average particle size of 10 μm or less, and even less than 1 μm are manufactured. |
| US09731258B2 |
Mixing and dispensing curable multi-component materials
Methods, apparatus, devices and systems for mixing and dispensing multi-component materials. The mixing and dispensing may be performed using a mobile, enclosed dispenser that can be used to supply a mixed multi-component material at the point of use. In some embodiments, the components to be mixed into the multi-component material may be supplied in cartridges. |
| US09731256B2 |
Mixing impeller with leading edges minimizing accumulations on blades
An impeller blade formed of a central base portion having a center axis. At least a pair of impeller blades is extended outwardly from the central base portion, with each impeller blade further including an extension. A leading edge is formed on each of the impeller blades, with each leading edge being defined by an outer periphery of the central base portion, and each leading edge having at least a portion that forms a continuous curve with a radius decreasing outwardly toward a radial tip of the corresponding impeller blade, wherein the continuous decreasing radius curve of each leading edge is formed by a portion of an ellipse centered on the center axis, a short axis of the ellipse being equal to a long axis thereof divided by approximately three and one-half. Each blade extension is projected from the corresponding impeller blade opposite of the leading edge. |
| US09731254B2 |
Producing solutions from concentrates
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for locally producing a solution using a concentrate. In a localized solution production unit, a solution is identified in association with the concentrate. A mixing profile is selected from among a plurality of mixing profiles based on the solution identified. A base fluid is dispensed into a mixing container docked in a container dock. The mixing container includes a mixing impeller rotatably coupled to the mixing container via an impeller shaft extending from a base of the mixing container. A controller actuates an actuator in the container dock to cause an impeller in the mixing container to rotate. The concentrate is dispensed into the mixing container and mixed with the base fluid via the impeller based on the selected mixing profile. |
| US09731252B2 |
Aeration nozzle, and blockage removal method for said aeration nozzle
An aeration nozzle is provided, having on one end an air supply port (16a) connected to an aeration pump (13) and a waste water suction port (17) for suctioning waste water in a processing tank (3, 4), and having a micro-bubble generation unit (18), provided facing the air supply port, for mixing air supplied by the air supply port and waste water suctioned from the waste water suction port and generating micro-bubbles (9), wherein a plurality of blades of cylindrical micro-bubble generators (19) included in the micro-bubble generation unit (18) is configured such that tip ends of the blades are formed so as to face one another around the center of the cylindrical micro-bubble generators (19a, 19b); and by being formed from an elastic member (such as rubber), the tip ends of the blades are configured so as to bend with the base ends as starting points. |
| US09731251B2 |
Moisture permeable filter medium
Provided is a moisture permeable filter medium formed by laminating a hydrophobic layer having hydrophobicity and a hydrophilic layer having hydrophilicity together, in which one of the hydrophobic layer and the hydrophilic layer is composed of a PTFE porous film formed using PTFE, and the other of the hydrophobic layer and the hydrophilic layer is composed of an air permeable sheet to which air is permeable. |
| US09731245B2 |
Method of separating a gas using at least one membrane in contact with an organosilicon fluid
The present invention relates to a method of removing a gas from a mixture. The method includes contacting a silicone membrane with a feed mixture including at least a first gas component and contacting a second side of the membrane with an organosilicon sweep liquid, producing a retentate mixture depleted in the first gas component and an organosilicon sweep liquid enriched in the first gas component. The invention also provides methods of removing a gas from a liquid, and methods of regenerating and recycling an organosilicon sweep liquid. |
| US09731239B2 |
Fluoropolymer article for bacterial filtration
A filtration article including a composite filtration structure, a seal region positioned within the composite filtration structure, and an attachment weld that interconnects the seal region and an outer casing is provided. The composite filtration structure includes a stacked filter material including at least two fluoropolymer membranes and a support layer. The support layer may be formed of a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer. When heated, the polymer in the support layer melts and flows into the fluoropolymer membranes. In exemplary embodiments, the polymer is imbibed through the thickness of the fluoropolymer membranes. The attachment weld may be positioned at any location within the seal region so long as the attachment weld is positioned a distance from the outer periphery of the composite filtration structure. The filtration article is small in size, is lightweight, and may be used as a sterilizing grade filter. Methods of producing the filtration article also provided. |
| US09731237B2 |
Nonwoven fabric, method for producing the same, and filter formed with the same
The present invention provides a novel nonwoven felt fabric, which is made of at least one low-melting-point short fiber and at least one high-melting-point short fiber of same type or different types, wherein the fabric is stiff enough to be self-sustaining and have the ability of shape maintenance. The felt fabric exhibits excellent pleatability, moldability and compressive strength. The invention also provides a method for producing the felt fabric, and a filter comprising the felt fabric used as the material of a filter medium of the filter, wherein the filter medium requires no support structure to stand alone and persistently retains its shape. |
| US09731231B2 |
Laminar flow intake channeling device
A filtering unit is provided which may include a filter cap, a filter basin, a filter or membrane within the filter basin and an enclosed fluid intake channel, which may dispense fluid into the filter basin. The enclosed fluid intake channel may be coupled to the inlet port of the filtering unit and may slope in a downward manner to the bottom of the filter basin. The intake channel may have an open end at the bottom of the filter basin. The open end may be substantially parallel with the filter basin bottom and may dispense fluid into the filter basin. The fluid may flow from the intake channel and into the filter basin in a laminar manner. The fluid may fill the filter basin and flow from the filtering unit through an outlet port of the filtering unit. |
| US09731230B2 |
Aeration diffuser for pressurized liquid treatment module and method of operating same
An aeration diffuser (12) for a pressurized liquid treatment module includes a base having a gas passageway (32) and a liquid passageway (50) fluidically separated from the gas passageway. Liquid is injectable into the liquid passageway of the base of the diffuser. Liquid flows through the base of the diffuser and into the module to be filtered by filtration membrane(s) within the module. Gas is injectable into the gas passageway of the base of the diffuser. Gas flowes through the base of the diffuser separately from the liquid to aerate the filtration membrane(s) within the module. Further a module including one or more diffusers and a method of filtration is disclosed. |
| US09731229B2 |
Filtration support geometry and membrane
A filtering element for the filtration of a fluid medium comprises a rigid porous support of cylindrical shape having a longitudinal central axis (A) and a plurality of channels for the circulation of the fluid medium to be filtered and collection of filtrate on the periphery of the support. The channels are arranged in the support parallel to its central axis central (A) and define at least three filtering zones which are distributed concentrically and separated from each other by a continuous porous zone. The mean thickness of the porous zone (Z1) closest to the central axis (A) is smaller than the mean thickness of the porous zone (Zn-1) the closest to the periphery of the support (1) and, in the direction moving away from the central axis (A) of the support towards its periphery, the mean thickness of a porous zone is either identical to the next or smaller. |
| US09731220B2 |
Process and apparatus for simulated counter-current chromatographic separation using two adsorbers in parallel for optimized para-xylene production
The present invention describes a novel configuration for simulated moving bed separation processes characterized by using two adsorbers each containing 12 beds, these two adsorbers functioning in parallel. This novel configuration can be used to optimize para-xylene production. |
| US09731219B2 |
Methods and devices for open-bed atmospheric collection for supercritical fluid chromatography
A supercritical fluid chromatography system comprises a first pump for pumping a first flow stream comprising a compressible fluid and a second pump for pumping a second flow stream comprising a modifier fluid. The second pump is in parallel with the first pump. A column is located in a combined flow stream. The column is located downstream of the first and second pumps. The combined flow stream comprises the first flow stream, the second flow stream, and a sample. A detector is located downstream of the column. A gas-liquid separator is located downstream of the detector. The gas-liquid separator is configured to vent a majority of the compressible fluid while maintaining a majority of the sample, thus preventing aerosolization of the flow stream and minimizing sample loss as well as cross contamination. An open bed collector is located after the gas-liquid separator. |
| US09731216B2 |
Flying disc
A flying disc includes a hub composed of polymeric material, a ring composed of polymeric material and coupled to the hub. The hub and the ring may have different specific gravities by being composed of different materials or by having a weighting product embedded therein, or a weighting product may be carried between the hub and the ring. |
| US09731214B2 |
Playhouse with removable fastening system
A playhouse composed of a sheet material is provided that utilizes plastic windows, doors, and fasteners to secure various sections together. The fastener engages a clip that is attached to various sections. The fastener is then twisted to secure the windows and doors to the structure as well as securing two sections together. The playhouse is disassembled for easy storage under a bed or in a closet. Additionally, the fasteners, windows, door, and clips can be re-used with additional corrugated structures or kits. |
| US09731213B2 |
Balloons adaptor
A balloon adaptor formed from a single piece body for receiving therein a balloon flange. The balloon adaptor has a one-way valve that is located between an inflating opening and a balloon insertion opening. The balloon insertion opening has a forwardly diverging conical surface and ends, in a rearward portion thereof, with a sharp shoulder. The balloon flange abuts against a shoulder abutment surface that holds the balloon attached to the balloon adaptor during inflation of the balloon. The present invention also discloses a balloon release mechanism for easily releasing the inflated balloon from the balloon adaptor. |
| US09731212B2 |
Toy track system and a toy vehicle for moving therein
A toy track system for a toy car to move therein and along having a plurality of tube sections including at least first and second tube sections which are connectable endwise together to form part of the toy track system; and a connection module comprising: coupling means having first and second coupling parts which are provided on the first and second tube sections respectively and are inter-engageable with each other to prevent axial separation between the first and second tube sections; and interlocking means having first and second interlocking parts which are provided on the first and second tube sections respectively and are inter-engageable with each other to fix the first and second tube sections in one predetermined angular position relative to each other selected from at least two predetermined angular positions. The car has a wheel, a motor, gears, a presser, principal guiding members and auxiliary guiding members. |
| US09731209B1 |
Wall climbing toy
A wall climbing toy includes a frame body, a drive shaft, a plurality of spring-loaded release valves, a cam shaft, a drive unit, a left gear train, a shaft extension, a plurality of primary crank arms, a plurality of connecting rods, a plurality of suction cups, and a plurality of air tube units. When each of the spring-loaded release valves is displaced from a seal position to an open position, an air seal formed between a corresponding one of the suction cups and a flat surface is broken. When the drive shaft is driven concurrently with the cam shaft to rotate, the air seals formed between the suction cups and the flat surface are broken alternately so as to permit the connecting rods to be alternately pulled away from a flat surface. |
| US09731208B2 |
Methods of playing video games
Video game systems for executing instructions according to a video game contained on an item of first media including: an item of second media containing data defining an aspect of the video game; and a video game console including a housing, a first media device supported by the housing, a second media device supported by the housing, and a control unit supported by the housing and configured to control the first media device to read the item of first media and to control the second media device to read the item of second media. |
| US09731199B2 |
Method and apparatus for presenting gamer performance at a social network
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving at a computer device a plurality of stimulus signals generated by one or more gaming accessory devices of a gamer controlling a gaming application, generating a plurality of gaming stimulations based on the plurality of stimulus signals, generating a plurality of gaming action results from the gaming application responsive to the plurality of gaming stimulations, combining the plurality of gaming action results and the plurality of gaming stimulations to generate a plurality of hardware statistics associated with the gamer, and transmitting to a social network the plurality of hardware statistics associated with the gamer. |
| US09731197B2 |
Controlling a user interface of a computer device
A computer game mode module provides a navigable image on a display, the navigable image comprising a set of location icons each representing a location associated with a game mode object of multiple game mode objects of different types selectable at the location icon. A first game mode generates a first marker when a first game objective is attained. A second game mode generates a successful task signal which causes an electronic assistance message to be provide. A third game mode receives remote user input game data generated at other user devices. |
| US09731193B2 |
Systems and methods for roster management in fantasy sports contest applications
The fantasy sports contest application of the present invention alerts the user of necessary roster changes before an upcoming fantasy sports competition. The fantasy sports contest application may evaluate the user's team roster before an upcoming fantasy sports competition to ensure that all roster spots on the team roster are filled with athletes available for real-life competitions. The fantasy sports contest application may also identify roster changes and roster transactions that may be beneficial to a user's fantasy sports contest team roster.The fantasy sports contest application may recommend roster changes and roster transactions to the user by evaluating the performance of athletes using performance criteria. The performance criteria can be based on the past performance of athletes, either overall, or for certain situations. The performance criteria may be predefined by the system, user-editable, or any suitable combination thereof. |
| US09731192B1 |
Task-based content management
In some cases, one or more tasks may be selected for inclusion within a content item or portions of a content item such as different story arcs. Each such task may be completed based, at least in part, on an associated set of one or more actions and an associated set of one or more parameters. Also, in some cases, one or more node layouts may be generated in association with a content item or portions of a content item. Each node within a node layout may, for example, have at least one associated task within a respective content item or content item portion. |
| US09731191B2 |
System and method for providing marble game
Disclosed is a system and method for providing a marble game. The system for providing the marble game may provide a game board formed by aligning blocks, support a configuration of an occupied city block group by grouping city blocks in an identical color or city blocks aligned adjacent to each other, when a city block set as the occupied city block group is occupied associated with a first terminal, the system for providing the marble game may increase a toll by applying a weight to the toll of the city block, increase a subtraction with respect to an amount held by a second terminal and an accumulation with respect to an amount held by the first terminal, and provide a tension to a game. |
| US09731190B2 |
Method and apparatus for shuffling and handling cards
A card shuffler that moves cards one at a time from the bottom of a group that may be a deck in a deck-crib, to randomly designated single-card receptacles in a receiving or dealing rack, and methods for shuffling and for dealing cards. Either the deck-crib or the receiving rack is moved by a motor to align a single-card receptacle, randomly selected from among remaining empty single-card receptacles, with an outfeed slot of the deck-crib to receive each card to be moved from the deck-crib. A single card is moved from the deck-crib by a card mover mechanism that may include an auxiliary card pusher to ensure that the card is placed fully into the selected single-card receptacle. A controller can cause the dealing rack to move so as to allow a selected number of cards to be removed by the dealer for dealing as a player hand or a dealer hand. A card presentation pusher may make a group of the cards in the dealing rack available to be grasped by the dealer for removal. A card reader may be included, and positions in the receiving or dealing rack of cards identified by the card reader can be stored in memory in the controller. |
| US09731189B2 |
System and method for a card game
A card game comprising cards that contain indicia of a numerical digit from 0 through 9, or ‘W’ representing a wild function, printed and centered on all four-card edges. Some cards have duplicated digits in either opposing or adjacent positions. Other cards contain numerical or ‘wild’ sequences. Indicia are centered at the edges to card matching whereby the indicium may match and align with the indicia on other cards. Indicia calculate the play score based upon what does and does not match. All card corners contain a grouped visual representation of the four indicia on the edges so that a card's layout is legible regardless of its orientation when held in a fanned manner. Players complete the square 16-card playing area first and then continue to play atop the existing cards in separate board sections. This dynamic constantly changes the scoring landscape and requires a fluid strategy to manage. |
| US09731188B2 |
Adjustable roller skate
An adjustable roller skate is provided with a lower frame including a toe stop; a wheel assembly secured to the lower frame; an upper frame including a groove, a trough disposed rearward of the groove, a channel at a rear end, and a seat disposed in the trough and having a recess communicating with the channel; an adjustment mechanism including an externally threaded shaft disposed in both the channel and the recess, and a handle pivotably secured to a rear end of the externally threaded shaft and disposed externally of the upper frame; a sole including a toe cap, an internally threaded member on an underside of a rear end and threadedly secured to the externally threaded shaft, and a stem on the underside and slidably disposed in the groove; and a shoe disposed around an edge of the sole with the toe cap concealed. |
| US09731186B2 |
Snowmobile ski protector
A snowmobile ski protector that packs down the snow in front of the ski to reduce drag. It also protects the front of the ski from wear. It also repairs skis that are already worn out in the front. The present invention also stops worn skis from flexing and causing a snagging hazard. |
| US09731182B2 |
Systems and methods for measuring and/or analyzing swing information
In a first aspect, a system for monitoring a swing is provided that includes (1) a swing measurement device adapted to couple to a swinging object and to output a signal indicative of a characteristic of the swinging object; (2) a wireless transmitter coupled to the swing measurement device and adapted to wirelessly transmit the signal output by the swing measurement device; and (3) a wireless device adapted to receive the wirelessly transmitted signal and to provide information regarding the swinging object based on the received signal. The wireless device is a cellular telephone or personal digital assistant (PDA). Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US09731181B2 |
Ball shooting training apparatus
A ball shooting training apparatus comprises a support member. An arm receiving strut is coupled to the support member and extends in a rearward direction, and is configured for receiving an upper arm of a user. A guide support configured for receiving a forearm of the user is coupled to the support member and extends upward to a distal end to form a substantially 90 degree angle with the arm receiving strut. A support rod is coupled to the support member and extends upward from the arm receiving strut. A shot completion engagement is disposed at or near the distal end of the support rod, and in front of and above the distal end of the guide support. |
| US09731178B1 |
Golf club head with adjustable center of gravity
A golf club head comprising a slidable weight for adjusting the location of the club head center of gravity is disclosed herein. The club head has an S-shaped channel disposed in its sole and a slidable weight assembly comprising a retention plate, at least one bolt, and a weighted base. The weighted base comprises at least one spherical portion extending from its underside to permit the slidable weight assembly to slide smoothly within the channel, which preferably has a partially tubular cross-section along a vertical Z-axis. The bolt, when tightened, reversibly fixes the slidable weight assembly to a pair of rails extending into the channel from the channel's walls. |
| US09731176B2 |
Golf club
Disclosed herein are embodiments of iron-type golf club heads that comprise weight reducing features in the topline region of the club head that facilitate changing the Z-up location of the club head. In some exemplary embodiments, the body comprises a weight reducing feature in a topline weight reduction zone of the club head that extends over the entire face length from the par line to the toe portion ending at approximately the Z-up location of the iron type golf club head. The weight reducing feature results in a mass savings of about 2 g to about 20 g, and a Zup shift of about 0.5 mm to about 2.0 mm. |
| US09731175B1 |
Golf club head with adjustable weight bar
A golf club head with means for adjusting a center of gravity along more than one axis is disclosed herein. The golf club head comprises at least one rectangular weight bar disposed within a recessed region on the sole and adjustable within the recessed region. One end of the weight bar is reversibly fixed to the sole with a connection element, while the other end includes an engagement feature that engages a retention feature at the edge of the recessed region. The retention feature provides multiple locations at the edge of the recessed region to which the engagement feature can be fixed, and when the weight bar is in a configuration desired by a golfer, the weight bar can be reversibly secured to the sole and immobilized within the recessed region by tightening the connection element. The weight bar may also include a slidable weight assembly. |
| US09731174B2 |
Golf club head
A hollow golf club head comprises a head main body made of a metallic material and having a bottom portion including a first portion and a second portion being connected with the first portion having difference in level, and at least one weight member having a specific gravity larger than that of the head main body and attached to the second portion of the head main body. |
| US09731170B2 |
Golf clubs and golf club heads
Golf club heads include a golf club head body, a ball striking face, and a shaft engaging member configured to engage a golf club shaft with the golf club head body. The golf club head may be configured with a first piece and a second piece, which may be in the form of the shaft engaging member and a body member connected to the shaft engaging member. The shaft engaging member includes a base member and an arm extending from the base member, and the body member includes a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a club head body positioned behind the face, the second piece having a receiving slot positioned behind the face, where the base member of the first piece is at least partially received within the receiving slot. |
| US09731168B2 |
Multi-layered cores with thermoplastic and thermoset layers for golf balls
Multi-piece golf balls containing a multi-layered core structure having layers with different hardness gradients and specific gravities are provided. The core structure includes a small, heavy inner core (center) having a relatively high specific gravity with metal material preferably dispersed in a first thermoset composition. The intermediate core layer is preferably formed from a thermoplastic composition such as an ethylene acid copolymer ionomer resin; and the outer core layer is preferably formed from a second thermoset composition. The resulting ball has high resiliency and good spin control. |
| US09731159B2 |
Exercise equipment adapter
An exercise equipment adapter includes a first enclosure portion having a first divot portion and a second enclosure portion having a second divot portion. A hinge connection connects the first and second enclosure portions, the hinge connection arranging the first enclosure portion and the second enclosure portion in an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the first enclosure portion and the second enclosure portion are mated to each other, forming an enclosure, and the first and second divot portions forming a cavity. A locking mechanism is configured to lock first enclosure to the second closure in the closed position and a handle is connected to at least one of the first and second enclosure portions. |
| US09731157B2 |
Hand-held exercise apparatus and resistance mechanism for exercise apparatus
A hand-held exercise device comprises a frame, a handle attached to the frame, a spool element pivotally mounted to the frame, a pull-cord movable between a wound configuration in which the pull-cord is wound around the spool element and an unwound configuration in which the pull-cord is unwound from the spool element, a resistance element pivotally mounted to the frame, a transmission that couples the pull-cord to the resistance element such that pulling the pull-cord from the device causes the resistance element to rotate, and a damping means that acts to slow the rotation of the resistance element. The device provides a compact and lightweight form of exercise equipment that is easy to carry and easy to store. The device can be used with various fixtures, and also with a second handle fixed to the pull-cord, to allow the user to perform a wide range of exercises. Preferably the exercise device transmits exercise data to an external device that provides feedback and guidance to the user.A resistance mechanism for exercise apparatus allows a pull-cord to be coupled to a resistance element such that pulling the pull-cord from the mechanism causes the resistance element to rotate. A drive element is driven by a frictional force between the drive element and the pull-cord. The resistance element is coupled to the drive element by a transmission. |
| US09731155B2 |
Flame arrester with porous sleeve
The flame arrester is optimized for installation within fuel containers. The flame arrester has an optional elongate, generally cylindrical skeletal frame having opposing first and second ends. The first end is configured as a mounting flange adapted for permanent, immovable installation within the tank or container and the second end may include a spring-loaded check valve. The frame is covered by a woven or nonwoven textile material, or alternatively, by a porous or foraminous sheet material. Fuel and vapors pass through the cylindrical textile wall, the porosity of the textile serving to prevent flame propagation through the textile material. The pore size is between 0.4 mm and 3.2 mm. |
| US09731153B2 |
Apparatus and method for supporting distribution from aircraft
When distribution material is distributed over a target site on a ground surface from an aircraft, a distribution supporting apparatus offers support information to a pilot dropping the distribution material to efficiently distribute the distribution material. The distribution supporting apparatus includes: an input section to which information items on at least an aircraft velocity, an aircraft altitude, and a wind velocity are input; a computation section configured to compute a location at which the distribution material dropped from the aircraft arrives on the ground surface and a density distribution of the distribution material on the ground surface based on the information items input to the input section; and a display control section configured to display, on a display, the support information relating to the location and density distribution computed by the computation section. |
| US09731149B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring, verifying, and displaying progress of dose delivery in scanned beam particle therapy
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for real-time control of a charged particle pencil beam system during therapeutic treatment of a patient. In an aspect, the present disclosure is directed to measuring an actual shape, an actual intensity distribution, and an actual location at isocenter of the charged particle pencil beam. The actual data is compared to model treatment data in real time to determine if a statistically significant variance occurs in which case the charged particle pencil beam can be stopped mid-treatment for correction and/or analysis. |
| US09731146B2 |
Method for determining an irradiation plan
A method for determining an irradiation plan includes specifying a target volume to be irradiated and a condition to be fulfilled, and implementing a first optimization. Implementing the first optimization includes providing a first data record, in which the target volume is mapped, and determining a first parameter set for the irradiation planning by implementing a first optimization algorithm. The first parameter set is optimized with respect to the condition to be fulfilled by using the first data record. The method also includes implementing a second optimization that includes providing a second data record that has a higher resolution than the first data record, determining a second parameter set by implementing a second optimization algorithm. The second parameter set is optimized with respect to the condition to be fulfilled by using the second data record and using the first parameter set. The method also includes generating an irradiation planning data record from the second parameter set. |
| US09731140B1 |
Controller interface for an implantable stimulator device
Some computer-assisted methods include: presenting configuration options to a user of the implanted stimulator device, the configuration options comprising stimulation parameters for the implanted stimulator; receiving a user specification of the configuration options in response to the presented configuration options; receiving user feedback when the user specified configuration options are implemented at the implanted stimulator device, the user feedback comprising a quantitative index of pain resulting from implementing the user specified configuration options on the implanted stimulator device; building a user profile for the user based on the user specified configuration options and the user feedback, the user profile including the user specified configuration options as well as the corresponding quantitative index of pain; and selecting at least one configuration option based on the user profile when the configuration options are subsequently presented to the user for a later treatment. |
| US09731132B2 |
Methods for renal neuromodulation
Methods and apparatus are provided for renal neuromodulation using a pulsed electric field to effectuate electroporation or electrofusion. It is expected that renal neuromodulation (e.g., denervation) may, among other things, reduce expansion of an acute myocardial infarction, reduce or prevent the onset of morphological changes that are affiliated with congestive heart failure, and/or be efficacious in the treatment of end stage renal disease. Embodiments of the present invention are configured for extravascular delivery of pulsed electric fields to achieve such neuromodulation. |
| US09731130B2 |
Flexible artificial retina device
An implant apparatus comprising a plurality of photo sensors, a plurality of micro electrodes, a plurality of guard rings surrounding the micro electrodes and circuitry coupled to the photo sensors and the micro electrodes are described. The photo sensors may receive incoming light. The circuit may drive the micro electrodes to stimulate neuron cells for enabling perception of a vision of the light captured by the photo sensors. The guard rings may confine electric flows from the micro electrodes to the targeted neuron cells. The apparatus may be implemented in a flexible material to conform to a shape of a human eyeball to allow the micro electrodes aligned with the neuron cells for the stimulation. |
| US09731129B2 |
Deep electrode insertion fitting in cochlear implant patients with residual hearing
A hearing signal processor processes an input sound signal and generates an electrical communications signal for an upper range of sound frequencies, and an acoustic communications signal for a lower range of sound frequencies. An implanted electrical stimulation subsystem includes an electrode array with one or more electrode contacts in an acoustically perceivable cochlear region retaining residual natural hearing. The electrical stimulation subsystem receives the electrical communications signal and delivers corresponding electrical stimulation signals to the electrode contacts for electrical stimulation of adjacent neural tissue. An external acoustic stimulation subsystem receives the acoustic communications signal and delivers corresponding amplified acoustic stimulation signals to the ear canal of the patient. The upper range and the lower range overlap and the electrical stimulation signals and the amplified acoustic stimulation signals are coordinated for simultaneous delivery to the acoustically perceivable cochlear region. |
| US09731126B2 |
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator with automatic detection of leg orientation and leg motion for enhanced sleep analysis, including enhanced transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) using the same
Apparatus for providing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy to a user, the apparatus comprising: a housing; an application unit for providing mechanical coupling between the housing and the user's body; a stimulation unit for electrically stimulating at least one nerve of the user; a sensing unit for sensing the user's body movement and body orientation; and a reporting unit for providing the user with feedback based on the user's sensed body movement and body orientation. |
| US09731125B2 |
Method and system for altering body mass composition using galvanic vestibular stimulation
A device and method are provided for altering body mass composition in a human subject by applying galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) using electrodes placed in electrical contact with the subject's scalp at a location corresponding to each of the subject's left and right vestibular systems. The current source include a feedback loop for measuring a resistance across the subject's scalp and adjusting a voltage output to maintain a constant current across the subject's scalp. GVS may be applied for a predetermined period of time at regular intervals. |
| US09731122B2 |
Electroosmotic tissue treatment
Apparatus for driving fluid between first and second anatomical sites of a subject is provided, comprising (1) a first electrode, configured to be coupled to the first anatomical site of the subject; (2) a second electrode, configured to be coupled to the second anatomical site of the subject; and (3) a control unit, configured to (i) detect a pressure difference between the first and second anatomical sites, and (ii) in response to the detected pressure difference, drive fluid between the first and second anatomical sites by applying a treatment voltage between the first and second electrodes. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US09731108B2 |
Bio-medical electrode pad
The present application relates to an electrode pad comprising at least one electrode with an electrode terminal. A contact member such as a hydrogel is disposed on said electrode terminal and covered by a retainer mesh. The electrode terminal may be, for example, a silver electrode disposed on a flexible foil, and the contact member may be disposed in the aperture of a backing layer. The retainer mesh is designed to allow for an electrical contact of the contact member to an object such as the body of a person while at the same time mechanically retaining the contact member. Moreover, the electrode pad may comprise an array of several electrodes disposed on a carrier, said carrier having a slit separating at least two neighboring electrodes. |
| US09731107B2 |
Treatment
Methods and devices are described for preventing diastolic flow reversal and/or reducing peripheral vascular resistance in a patient. Also described are methods of cosmetic treatment, and methods of promoting delivery of therapeutic agents or contrast agents to bones and related tissues. |
| US09731106B2 |
Automatic lead identification using electric field fingerprinting
A method, programmer for a neurostimulator, and neurostimulation kit are provided. The kit comprises a neurostimulator, and a plurality of elongated lead bodies configured for being coupled to the neurostimulator, each having a plurality of proximal contacts and a plurality of distal electrodes respectively electrically coupled to the proximal contacts, wherein an in-line connectivity between the electrodes and proximal contacts carried by the different lead bodies differs from each other. Electrical energy is conveyed between the electrodes of the selected lead body and the tissue, an electrical fingerprint is measured at the proximal contacts of the selected lead body in response to the conveyed electrical energy, and the selected lead body is identified based on the measured electrical fingerprint. These steps can be performed by the programmer. |
| US09731097B2 |
Stabilizing device having a locking collet
A medical article, such as a catheter hub, is stabilized on a patient with a retainer having a base and clamp or moveable collet. A lever is configured to move the collet in a longitudinal direction relative to the based to secure the medical article to the retainer. When rotated, the lever pulls the collet in a direction away from the patient while collapsing the collet around at least a portion of the catheter hub. |
| US09731091B2 |
Elbow for a respiration mask
An elbow (1), for a respiration mask for the artificial respiration of a patient, includes an angular tube (30), which defines a breathing gas duct (10), with a tube port (11) with an inlet opening (12) for connecting a breathing tube (7) and with a mask port (13) with an outlet opening (14) for connecting the respiration mask (9). The elbow also includes an anti-suffocation valve (18) and carbon dioxide expiration openings (19). The elbow (1) is able to be switched, while being able to be handled in a simple manner, in different open and closed states for the anti-suffocation valve (18) and the carbon dioxide expiration openings (19). The elbow (1) includes only one (a single) switching member (20) for activating and deactivating the anti-suffocation valve (18) and the carbon dioxide expiration openings (19). |
| US09731085B2 |
Cartridge assembly having shared fastening means and drug delivery device
A cartridge assembly (200) having a shared fastening features for use with a drug delivery device (202). The cartridge assembly includes a cartridge holder (204), a drug cartridge (206), and a connector (208). The connector may be attached to the drug cartridge. The cartridge assembly further includes a fastening means (210, 212) for fastening to a drug delivery device, and this fastening means is shared between the cartridge holder and the cartridge or between the cartridge holder and the connector. The drug delivery device may be a reusable drug delivery device or a disposable drug delivery device. |
| US09731077B2 |
Syringe plunger with one piece hollow gasket and plunger rod
A plunger for a syringe, in which a plunger rod can be prevented by a simple structure from unavoidably falling out of place.The plunger for a syringe includes the plunger rod and a gasket. The gasket is closed at its upper end and has an inner space, and an opening having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the inner space is provided in the lower end of the gasket. The plunger rod has a collar installed at the tip of the plunger rod. When the collar is positioned in the inner space of the gasket, the plunger rod and the gasket are freely movably fitted together without intimate contact between them. |
| US09731075B2 |
Cartridge holder latch mating to axial through opening of bearing with central threaded opening
A drug delivery device for administering a predefined dose of a medicament comprising a housing is presented where the housing includes a body to accommodate a drive mechanism, a cartridge holder to accommodate a cartridge having a piston slidably disposed therein in an axial direction (z), and an interconnection between cartridge holder and body. The interconnection has, at least one displaceable or resiliently deformable latch element to mate with a corresponding bearing, and the latch element is displaceable or deformable in a direction (z, w) extending substantially parallel to a circumferential side wall of the body or cartridge holder. |
| US09731074B2 |
Automatic administration instrument for medical use
An automatic administration instrument includes a syringe and a partition wall in the syringe which partitions the syringe into different rooms for respectively holding plural kinds of drug solutions or a drug and a drug solution. A partition-wall driver displaces the partition wall and an injection needle is connected to the syringe. A body cap attached to the administration instrument body so as to cover the injection needle. The syringe, the partition wall, and the body cap are configured such that displacing the partition wall dissolves or mixes the drug solutions or the drug and the drug solution in a state that the injection needle is covered by the body cap. |
| US09731073B2 |
Dispense interface
The invention relates to a dispense interface for an ejection device comprising a first part and a second part, at least a first opening, a second opening and a third opening, a fluidic channel and a connection element for each of the openings, wherein the first part is joined to the second part to form at least a part of the fluidic channel connecting the openings with each other and wherein at least one connection element is configured to accept a needle assembly for a fluid tight connection with the corresponding opening and wherein at least one connection element is configured to provide a releasable push fit connection for a fluid tight connection with an ejection device in order to reduce the complexity and provide an easy usage of the dispense interface and at the same time overcome the problems of material compatibility and cross contamination. The invention also relates to a system with a dispense interface according to the invention. The invention further relates to a method for preparing a dispense interface according to the invention. |
| US09731069B2 |
Perpendicular infusion set and disposable inserter
An infusion set is disclosed that includes an inserter including an inserter housing having at least one flexible arm for holding an infusion set in a single axial position prior to insertion of at least a portion of a cannula of the infusion set, the inserter housing having a surface for contacting the patient's skin. The inserter also includes a movable plunger disposed within the inserter housing for releasing the infusion set from the inserter housing, impacting the infusion set, and imparting momentum to the infusion set to insert the cannula into the patient's skin. The inserter additionally includes a biasing element biasing the plunger toward the activated position. |
| US09731067B2 |
Mechanical injection pump and method of use
A mechanical injection pump wearable by a user to deliver a first fluid and a second fluid, including: a pump body having a first fluid chamber to hold the first fluid and a second fluid chamber to hold the second fluid; a common connector having a first inlet, a second inlet, and a common outlet; a first fluid system including the first fluid chamber, a first button drive connected to the first fluid chamber, and first fluid delivery path between the first fluid chamber and the first inlet; and a second fluid system including the second fluid chamber, a second button drive connected to the second fluid chamber, and second fluid delivery path between the second fluid chamber and the second inlet. Force by the user on the button drive increases pressure within the fluid chamber to drive a predetermined volume of the fluid from the fluid chamber. |
| US09731066B2 |
Device, system and method of automatic vessel access based on real time volumetric ultrasound
An automatic vessel access device based on real time volumetric ultrasound is provided. The automatic vessel access device comprises a probe configured to generate a VOI image of a candidate vessel in a real time volume ultrasound scan mode, a control device coupled to the probe, and at least one motor coupled to the control device. The control device comprises at least one processing module configured to determine at least one control parameter based on the VOI image, and a driver module coupled with the at least one processing module and configured to drive the at least one motor to automatically access the candidate vessel according to the at least one control parameter. |
| US09731065B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for tip vacuum control during aspiration
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for insertion in an eye of a patient for aspirating material from the eye in the treatment of an ocular condition, the apparatus comprising a needle disposed at a distal end of the apparatus, an aspiration channel extending from a distal aperture of the needle to a proximal end of the apparatus, and an irrigation sleeve coaxially disposed about the needle. The aspiration channel comprises a proximal portion having a first diameter, a bypass portion having a second diameter and at least one bypass port, and a distal portion having a third diameter. The second diameter is larger than the first diameter. The irrigation sleeve and the needle form an annular irrigation passageway therebetween. The bypass port is shaped and configured to establish fluid communication between the irrigation passageway and the aspiration channel. |
| US09731062B2 |
System and method for blood separation by microfluidic acoustic focusing
Systems and methods for cleansing blood are disclosed herein. The methods include acoustically separating undesirable particles bound to capture particles from formed elements of whole blood. After introducing the capture particles to whole blood containing undesirable particles, the whole blood and capture particles are flowed through a microfluidic separation channel. At least one bulk acoustic transducer is attached to the microfluidic separation channel. A standing acoustic wave, imparted on the channel and its contents by the bulk acoustic transducer, drives the formed elements and undesirable particles bound to capture particles to specific aggregation axes. After aggregating the particles, the formed elements exit the separation channel through a first outlet and are returned to the patient. The undesirable particles, bound to the capture particles, exit through a second outlet and can be discarded to saved for later study. |
| US09731061B2 |
Method and device for monitoring extracorporeal blood flow
A method and a device for monitoring an extracorporeal blood flow during an extracorporeal blood treatment with an extracorporeal blood treatment device. The extracorporeal blood treatment device may include the device for monitoring an extracorporeal blood flow. The arterial and/or venous patient access is monitored with a first and a second method, each of which there is a check for a presence of at least one criterion that is characteristic of a condition of the vascular access that is not in proper order, the criteria for the first and second methods being distinguished from one another. A blood pump, which is preferably an occlusion blood pump, is stopped once the presence of the at least one criterion of the first method has been established, while a venous cut-off unit remains open. Once the blood pump has been stopped, the presence of the at least one criterion is checked with the second method. The venous cut-off unit is not closed until the at least one criterion for the second method is present. Otherwise the blood pump is restarted to continue the blood treatment. |
| US09731059B2 |
Sensor and method of sensing for dialysis machine
A dialysis machine useful in hemodialysis can process or treat a reverse osmosis water flow received through the machine to prepare a dialysate. The machine can include an additive source to introduce an additive, such as bicarbonate, to the reverse osmosis water flow. The machine can include a sensor in fluid communication with the additive introduction point that can measure the conductivity or similar characteristic of the solution. During a first time period when additive is actively introduced to the reverse osmosis water flow, the sensor can measure a relatively high conductivity value. During a second time period when additive is not introduced to the reverse osmosis water flow, the sensor can measure a relatively low conductivity value. The dialysis machine can include a controller that processes these measurements to assist control and operation of the machine. |
| US09731056B2 |
Blood pump
A blood pump has a hollow body in which an impeller with a spiral blading produces an axial propulsion of blood along the impeller, as well as an at least partly actively stabilized magnetic bearing device and a hydrodynamic bearing device for the impeller. The impeller may be set into a rotation about a rotation axis of the impeller with a motor stator located outside the hollow body. The hollow body has an inlet for the flow of blood into the hollow body in an inflow direction which is essentially parallel to the rotation axis, and an outlet for the outflow of the blood out of the hollow body in an outflow direction which is offset to the rotation axis of the impeller to produce a non-zero outflow angle (α) between the inflow direction and the outflow direction. A total artificial heart can be formed from two such blood pumps. |
| US09731054B2 |
Breast pump comprising heating cup
A breast pump including a container, a host unit disposed above and communicating with the container, an electric heating cup disposed at the front end of the host unit and communicating with the container, an electric heating element, and heat insulation. The electric heating cup includes an inner cover and an outer cover which are integrated. The electric heating element and the heat insulation are disposed between the inner cover and the outer cover. The heat insulation is disposed between the electric heating element and the outer cover. Positive and negative electrodes of the electric heating element are connected to conducting plates disposed in the inner side of the outer cover via connection wires. The conducting plates extend to the outer side of the outer cover and are in electric connection to contact chips disposed at the lower front end of the host unit. |
| US09731053B2 |
Vacubrasion: universal air flow regulator and attachment for vacuum assisted microdermabrasion
The present invention provides a novel microdermabrasion system that provides safe and effective treatment for skin conditions such as acne, aging and sallow skin, fine wrinkles, surface skin scars, and other visually unappealing cosmetic skin disfigurements. This new invention provides a universal attachment and air flow/suction regulator which permits micro diamond chip based, crystal free microdermabrasion using a variety of standard vacuums and home based cleaning vacuums. Whereas currently available microdermabrasion devices have required a dedicated internal built in vacuum, this new invention allows the use of the universal attachment to most types of vacuums. |
| US09731041B2 |
Method and apparatus for sterilization with nitrogen oxide
Nitrogen oxide is used to safely sterilize inside of a space area or an object arranged within the space area. A sterilization method is provided to comprise: introducing nitrogen oxide liquid stored in a vessel (4) into a space area (2, 2′, 2″) to gasify nitrogen oxide liquid, and sterilizing inside of space area (2, 2′, 2″) or object (1) arranged in space area (2, 2′, 2″) with nitrogen oxide gas evaporated from nitrogen oxide liquid to completely annihilate and destroy microorganisms inclusive of bacteria and virus with nitrogen oxide gas for preventing the infection by microorganisms to human body and damage to precision components. |
| US09731039B2 |
Footwear sanitizing system
Introducing ultraviolet (UV) light to interior portions of footwear alters the environment inside a shoe or other footwear to destroy microorganisms or inhibit their growth. Visible light can also be used to prevent further microorganism growth. Introducing forced air flow through the footwear removes dampness in and thereby deodorizes the footwear. A preferred embodiment comprises an adjustable shoe tree equipped with a UV germicidal light source and electronic safeguards that prevent appreciable leakage of UV radiation outside the shoe. |
| US09731035B2 |
Method of imaging osteoarthritis using a folate conjugate
The invention relates to a method of treating or diagnosing a disease state mediated by monocytes. The method utilizes a composition comprising a conjugate or complex of the general formula Ab-X wherein the group Ab comprises a ligand that binds to monocytes, and when the conjugate is being used for treatment of the disease state, the group X comprises an immunogen, a cytotoxin, or a compound capable of altering monocyte function, and when the conjugate is being used for diagnosing the disease state, the group X comprises an imaging agent. |
| US09731034B2 |
Protease assay
The present invention provides a diagnostic reagent or assay for assessing the activity of a protease in vivo or in vitro and methods of detecting the presence of a cancerous or precancerous cell. The assays are comprised of two particles linked via an oligopeptide linkage that comprises a consensus sequence specific for the target protease. Cleavage of the sequence by the target protease can be detected visually or using various sensors, and the diagnostic results can be correlated with cancer prognosis. |
| US09731033B2 |
Methods and compositions relating to improved lentiviral vectors and their applications
The present invention provides HIV-derived lentivectors which are safe, highly efficient, and very potent for expressing transgenes for human gene therapy, especially, in human hematopoietic progenitor cells as well as in all other blood cell derivatives. The lentiviral vectors comprise a self-inactivating configuration for biosafety and promoters such as the EF1α promoter as one example. Additional promoters are also described. The vectors can also comprise additional transcription enhancing elements such as the wood chuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element. These vectors therefore provide useful tools for genetic treatments such as inherited and acquired lympho-hematological disorders, gene-therapies for cancers especially the hematological cancers, as well as for the study of hematopoiesis via lentivector-mediated modification of human HSCs. |
| US09731030B2 |
β-glucuronide-linker drug conjugates
Ligand Drug conjugate compounds comprising a β-glucuronide-based linker and methods of using such compounds are provided. |
| US09731028B2 |
Methods of treatment with arginine deiminase
The present invention relates generally to methods of treating cancer with arginine deiminase, and in particular pegylated arginine deiminase. |
| US09731027B2 |
Somatostatin-dopamine chimeric analogs
The present invention relates to novel somatostatin-dopamine chimeric analogs and their therapeutic uses for the inhibition, prevention, and/or treatment of neoplasia, neuroendocrine tumors, Cushing's disease/syndrome, and other conditions. |
| US09731026B2 |
Neat liquid pharmaceutical formulations
Essentially non-aqueous liquid pharmaceutical formulations are formed by mixing at least one pharmaceutically active ingredient and at least one other compound capable of interacting with the active pharmaceutical ingredient through non-covalent interactions to form a low-temperature transition mixture. The stable liquid formulations are readily obtained, even with drugs that are poorly soluble and/or unstable in water. |
| US09731021B2 |
Hydrogel composition for the treatment of dermatological disorders
The present patent application is related to a hydrogel composition which is essentially free of active drugs for the manufacture of a product for the treatment of dermatological disorders, especially perioral dermatitis, acne or seborrheic dermatitis. |
| US09731020B2 |
Dry glassy composition comprising a bioactive material
The present invention relates to formulations and methods for stabilizing and protecting of biologic materials during harsh storing and use conditions, wherein the formulations relate to embedded bioactive materials and biologics, including live bacteria, in a protective glassy matrix. |
| US09731019B2 |
Release system of hydrophobic proteins
The object of the present invention is novel release systems comprising specific hyaluronic acid amides combined with therapeutically and/or biologically active proteins with a mainly hydrophobic nature, for sustained, slow release over time which increases the efficacy of the medicament and the patient's compliance. |
| US09731018B2 |
Fast dissolving pharmaceutical composition
The subject invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising an open matrix network carrying a pharmaceutically active ingredient, wherein the open matrix network comprises both the polysaccharides levan and inulin. |
| US09731017B2 |
Polytetrafluoroethylene co-polymer emulsions
The present disclosure is directed to a class of fluorinated copolymers, such as a PTFE copolymers, that can be dissolved in low toxicity solvents, such as Class III Solvents, and that enable the creation of stable water-in-solvent emulsions comprising the fluorinated copolymers dissolved in a low toxicity solvents and a hydrophilic agent (e.g., a therapeutic agent) dissolved in an aqueous solvent, such as water or saline. |
| US09731016B2 |
Tyrosine-based lipids for delivery of therapeutics
This disclosure provides a range of tyrosine amino acid lipid compounds and compositions useful for drug delivery, therapeutics, and the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions. The amino acid lipid compounds and compositions can be used for delivery of various agents such as nucleic acid therapeutics to cells, tissues, organs, and subjects. |
| US09731008B2 |
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. |
| US09731007B2 |
Tumour necrosis factor receptor fusion proteins and methods of using the same
A chimeric fusion polypeptide is provided comprising an extracellular domain of a canine TNF receptor p60 or p80 polypeptide conjoined to an Fc region of a canine IgG immunoglobulin heavy chain. The chimeric fusion polypeptide may be used in the treatment or prevention of conditions in canines mediated by TNF expression. |
| US09731006B2 |
Attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vaccine vectors comprising modified matrix proteins
The present invention relates to vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) matrix (M) protein mutants. One mutant M protein includes a glycine changed to a glutamic acid at position 21, a leucine changed to a phenylalanine at position 111 and a methionine changed to an arginine at position 51. Another M protein mutant includes a glycine changed to a glutamic acid at position 22 and a methionine changed to an arginine at positions 48 and 51. Yet another VSV M protein mutant includes a glycine changed to a glutamic acid at position 22, a leucine changed to a phenylalanine at position 110 and a methionine changed to an arginine at positions 48 and 51. The present invention is directed also to recombinant VSVs (rVSV) having these M mutants and to vaccines based on the rVSV having the M mutants of the present invention. These new rVSVs having the mutant M were significantly attenuated and lost virulence, including neurovirulence, and are capable of inducing an immune responses against an antigen of interest. In addition, a rVSV serotype Indiana having the first described M mutant is capable of efficient replication at 31° C., and of poor replication or incapable of replication at about 37° C. or higher. |
| US09730999B2 |
Adjuvanted influenza virus compositions
The present invention relates to influenza vaccine formulations and vaccination regimes for immunising against influenza disease, their use in medicine, in particular their use in augmenting immune responses to various antigens, and to methods of preparation. In particular, the invention relates to multivalent influenza immunogenic compositions comprising an influenza antigen or antigenic preparation thereof from at least two influenza virus strains, at least one strain being associated with a pandemic outbreak or having the potential to be associated with a pandemic outbreak, in combination with an oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant. |
| US09730997B2 |
Alphavirus vectors for respiratory pathogen vaccines
Described herein are compositions and methods for stimulating an immune response to one or more proteins derived from one or more respiratory pathogens. In particular, the invention relates to alphavirus replicons, alphavirus vector constructs, alphavirus replicon particles expressing one or more antigens derived from one or more respiratory pathogens as well as to method of making and using these immunogenic compositions. |
| US09730995B2 |
Attenuated Bordetella strains
A mutated Bordetella strain comprising at least a mutated ptx gene, a deleted or mutated dnt gene and a heterologous ampG gene is provided. The attenuated mutated Bordetella strain can be used in an immunogenic composition or a vaccine for the treatment or prevention of a Bordetella infection. Use of the attenuated Bordetella strain for the manufacture of a vaccine or immunogenic composition, as well as methods for protecting mammals against infection by Bordetella are also provided. |
| US09730994B2 |
Compositions and methods for immunizing against C. difficile
This disclosure relates to methods for eliciting an immune response against C. difficile toxin A and toxin B in an adult human subject. The subject may be at risk for a primary symptomatic C. difficile infection. In some embodiments, a method is for eliciting an immune response against C. difficile toxin A and toxin B in an adult human subject at risk for a primary symptomatic C. difficile infection, and comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising C. difficile toxoid A and toxoid B at least three times, each administration being about seven days apart. |
| US09730993B2 |
Engineered anthrax lethal toxin for targeted delivery
The present invention provides methods and systems for targeted delivery of a compound to a target cell that over-expresses two different proteinases. Specifically, two different modified protective antigen proteins, each comprising a cleavage site recognized by a distinct proteinase in place of the native proteinase cleavage site recognized by furin, are administered in combination with a compound that contains a protective antigen binding site. Upon cleavage by the two proteinases the two modified protective antigen proteins form a hetero-oligomer, allowing the compound to bind to the hetero-oligomer and subsequently to be translocated into the target cell. |
| US09730991B2 |
Live attenuated Shigella vaccine
A live attenuated Shigella vaccine, which is based on a rough Shigella strain lacking LPS O-antigen which is non-invasive through a mutation of the invasion plasmid, specifically for use in the immunoprophylaxis of a subject to prevent infectious diseases, preferably enteral disease, and a Shigella strain, which is a S. flexneri 2a strain with a deletion of the rfb F, ipa B and/or ipa C genes, as well as a recombinant plasmid vector based on a mutated Shigella invasion plasmid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding at least one heterologous antigen, wherein the plasmid is mutated in at least one of the ipa B and/or ipa C genes. |
| US09730990B2 |
Anti-Mycoplasma spp. subunit vaccine
Provided in the present invention are anti-Mycoplasma spp. subunit vaccines, especially proteins suitable for being used as the active ingredient of the Mycoplasma spp. subunit vaccines, and a vaccine prepared therefrom. Upon experimenting, it is confirmed that the proteins can elicit an immune response having sufficient strength to avoid the infection of Mycoplasma spp. in pigs. The vaccine can comprise one of the aforementioned proteins as an active ingredient, or can comprise two or more of the proteins to form a form of cocktail vaccine. The vaccine of the present invention is not only more safe than conventional vaccines, but also has equivalent or even better immune effects. |
| US09730983B2 |
Methods for treatment of CD14-mediated disorders and responses
A method for blocking, inhibiting and/or decreasing cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) function, CD14-mediated cellular response and/or treating CD14-mediated pathological conditions is disclosed. The method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising: (a) a therapeutically effective amount of a recombinant protein comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the recombinant protein does not comprises a lectin-like domain 1 of a human thrombomodulin; and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle, carrier, diluent, excipients, and/or salt. |
| US09730980B2 |
Method of treating type I diabetes using apolipoprotein A-IV
Methods for treating type one diabetes mellitus in a subject in need thereof and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of type one diabetes mellitus are disclosed, including combination therapies with insulin. The methods include administering an effective amount of apolipoprotein A-IV to the subject having type I diabetes. The pharmaceutical composition includes apolipoprotein A-IV formulated for administration to a subject for the treatment of type one diabetes mellitus. |
| US09730976B2 |
Homo- and heterodimeric SMAC mimetic compounds as apoptosis inducers
The present invention relates to conformationally constrained homo- and heterodimeric mimetics of Smac with function as inhibitors of Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs), the invention also relates to the use of these compounds in therapy, wherein the induction of apoptotic cell death is beneficial, especially in the treatment of cancer, alone or in combination with other active ingredients. |
| US09730975B2 |
Chemical reprogramming of human glial cells into neurons for brain and spinal cord repair
Provided are methods and compositions from reprogramming human glial cells into human neurons. The reprogramming is achieved using combinations of compounds that can modify signaling via Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), and γ-secretase/Notch pathways. The reprogramming is demonstrated using groups of three or four compounds that are chosen from the group thiazovivin, LDN193189, SB431542, TTNPB, CHIR99021, DAPT, VPA, SAG, purmorphamine. Reprogramming is demonstrated using the group of LDN193189/CHIR99021/DAPT, the group of B431542/CHIR99021/DAPT, the group of LDN193189/DAPT/SB431542, the group of LDN193189/CHIR99021/SB431542, a three drug combination of SB431542/CHIR99021/DAPT. Reprogramming using functional analogs of the compounds is also provided, as are pharmaceutical formulations that contain the drug combinations. |
| US09730974B2 |
Combinations of extracts of Serenoa repens and lipophilic extracts of Zingiber officinalis and Echinacea angustifolia, the use thereof, and formulations containing them
Disclosed are compositions containing an extract of Serenoa repens, a lipophilic extract of Zingiber officinalis and a lipophilic extract of Echinacea angustifolia or Zanthoxylum bungeanum. |
| US09730972B1 |
Skin tightening lotion
Compositions for tightening the skin and reducing muscle pain, bruising, and swelling in skin and methods of forming such compositions. |
| US09730971B2 |
Feed for preventing and/or treating diseases caused by clostridium bacterium in livestock, and agent against clostridium
The present invention provides a controlling agent for a disease caused by a Clostridium bacterium, comprising a cashew nut shell liquid, a heat-treated cashew nut shell liquid, anacardic acid, cardanol, or anacardic acid and cardanol. |
| US09730967B2 |
Method and system for treating cancer cachexia
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to the field of Oncology, and in particular embodiments directed to a method of ameliorating, treating, or preventing a malignancy in a human subject wherein the steps of the method assist or boost the immune system in eradicating cancerous cells. In certain embodiments, administration of beneficial bacteria to an individual's microbiome that have been modified so as to produce effective amounts of desired compositions, compounds, agents, e.g. tomatidine, p53 protein, statins, etc., is employed to address cancerous conditions. In several embodiments, the administration of such beneficial bacteria and microbes to an individual's microbiome invokes either an active (or a passive) immune response to destroy, weaken or render less invasive certain cancerous cells, and preferably maintains muscle tissue to combat cancer cachexia. |
| US09730963B2 |
Cell transplantation
The present invention provides polymers for use in preventing damage to the membranes of cells in fat grafts. Mixing of a triblock copolymer such as poloxymer P188 with adipocytes or adipose tissue to be transplanted into a subject is thought to stabilize the membranes of the cells leading to more successful fat transplantation in soft tissue reconstruction or augmentation. Such methods may also be used in the transplantation of adult stem cells or other cells derived from fat tissue. Other agents such as lipoic acid may also be added to the polymer/cell compositions for cell transplantation. |
| US09730962B2 |
Modalities for the treatment of degenerative diseases of the retina
This invention relates to methods for improved cell-based therapies for retinal degeneration and for differentiating human embryonic stem cells and human embryo-derived into retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and other retinal progenitor cells. |
| US09730961B2 |
Adult stem cells/progenitor cells and stem cell proteins for treatment of eye injuries and diseases
The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for treating an ocular disease, disorder or condition in a mammal. The invention includes a population of mesenchymal stromal cells that possess anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, immune modulatory and anti-tumorigenic properties. The invention includes administration of TSG-6, STC-1, or a combination thereof to the ocular as a treatment for an ocular disease, disorder or condition in a mammal. |
| US09730959B2 |
Biocomposite for regeneration of injured tissue and organs, a kit for making the biocomposite, a method of making the biocomposite and a method of treating injuries
Provided is a biocomposite including cells, a genetic construction, and a scaffold and a method for repairing tissue and organs in mammalians with the biocomposite. The interaction of the components of the biocomposite provides a complex effect on reparative regeneration processes. Also provided is a method for administration of gene-cellular therapeutic constructions to a recipient which can be used in medicine and veterinary to provide reparative processes. After administering the biocomposite to a recipient, the scaffold structure releases the nucleic acids which enter into the cells of a recipient bed and cells of the transplanted product. The nucleic acids are expressed, which results in the increased concentration of a target product responsible for reparative processes. |
| US09730958B2 |
Method and apparatus for dermal delivery of a substance
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for delivering substances, e.g., therapeutic substances, into openings on or near a skin surface, such as hair follicles, pores and/or into sebaceous glands. This can be achieved by using an apparatus to direct a substance into the openings under pressure via one or more nozzles or slits. A portion of the sebum present in the hair follicle is optionally heated and/or removed, e.g. using low-pressure conduit located on the lower surface of the apparatus, before introducing the therapeutic substance. |
| US09730953B2 |
Methods of increasing solubility of poorly soluble compounds and methods of making and using formulations of such compound
The subject invention relates to novel soluble forms of planar ring structured organic compounds including flavonoids, and their production. The invention also includes the use of these novel formulations of planar ring structured organic compounds in the preparation of formulations and products. The invention also relates to a wide variety of applications of the formulations of the invention. The subject invention includes novel soluble forms and various formulations of flavonoids. Further, the invention includes novel methods of manufacturing the flavonoid formulations. The invention also relates to a wide variety of applications of the flavonoid formulations. |
| US09730952B2 |
Methods for treating and preventing mucositis
Methods for treating and preventing mucositis, in particular mucositis following the administration of chemotherapy drugs or a combination of said drugs with radiotherapy, are disclosed herein. More specifically, disclosed herein is the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of an anthocyanoside, a proanthocyanidin, or an extract containing at least one of an anthocyanoside or a proanthocyanidin for the treatment or prevention of mucositis. The therapeutically effective amount of the anthocyanoside, proanthocyanidin or extract can be administered alone or in combination with a therapeutically effective amount of at least one of an anti-inflammatory agent, immunomodulating agent, analgesic, antimicrobial agent or antifungal agent. Also disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions for treating and preventing mucositis. |
| US09730949B2 |
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors for treating optic neuropathy or congenital optic atrophy
The present invention relates to an ophthalmic composition comprising at least one angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle for use as an ophthalmic neuroprotector in treating an optic neuropathy or congenital optic atrophy. |
| US09730947B2 |
Method of treating lupus nephritis
Methods of treating patients and evaluating patients for disease stage and/or severity are disclosed. |
| US09730946B2 |
Use of vanadium compounds to accelerate bone healing
This invention provides a method of promoting bone healing by locally administering a vanadium-based insulin mimetic agent to a patient in need thereof. The invention also provides a new use of insulin-mimetic vanadium compounds for manufacture of medicaments for accelerating bone-healing processes. In addition, the invention also encompasses a bone injury treatment kit suitable for localized administration of insulin-mimetic vanadium compounds or compositions thereof to a patient in need of such treatment. |
| US09730940B2 |
Purine inhibitors of human phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta
The instant invention provides compounds of formula I which are PI3K-delta inhibitors, and as such are useful for the treatment of PI3K-delta-mediated diseases such as inflammation, asthma, COPD and cancer. |
| US09730935B2 |
Targeting a non-canonical notch signaling pathway for cancer treatment
Methods and compositions are provided for treating an individual having cancer. Aspects of the methods include administering to the individual an inhibitor of a non-canonical Notch signaling pathway gene in an amount effective to treat the cancer. Also provided are reagents, devices and kits thereof that find use in practicing the subject methods. |
| US09730933B2 |
Method for treating liver diseases of various origins
The invention relates to medicine, in particular to gastroenterology, and lies in the field of treatment of liver diseases of various origins. For this purpose, the hepatoprotective agent that is introduced to the patient is embodied as derivatives of bis(2-thio-4,6-dioxo-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydropyrimidine-5-yl)arylmethanes. The method provides reduction of the manifestations of cytolysis under the influence of damaging agents and a statistically significant reduction of dysproteinemia, it accelerates restoration of detoxifying processes of the liver, increases induction of endogenic interferon alfa and, consequently, makes the protection of liver cells during hepatitides of various origins more effective. |
| US09730925B2 |
Methods of treating cancer
This invention relates to methods of treating cancer in a subject such as a human and determining at least one of the following in a sample from the subject, such as a human: (a) the presence or absence of a mutation at the alanine 677 (A677) residue in EZH2; or (b) the presence or absence of a mutation at the tyrosine 641 (Y641) residue in EZH2; or (c) the presence or absence of an increased level of H3K27me3 as compared to a control, and administering to said human an effective amount of an EZH2 inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof if at least one of the A677 mutation, Y641 mutation, or increased level of H3K27me3 is present in the sample. |
| US09730919B2 |
Method of treating skin diseases
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, such as galantamine or donepezil, have been to be useful in the topical treatment of skin diseases and skin problems. |
| US09730916B2 |
Nutritional composition and method for improving heart failure
The disclosure provides a nutritional composition for improving a patient with heart failure; the nutritional composition is consisting of therapeutically effective high amounts of leucine and histidine. The disclosure also provides the nutritional supplement comprising the nutritional composition, which may be a beverage product, a dietary supplement or food. The disclosure further provides a method of using the nutritional supplement for treating patients with heart failure. |
| US09730915B2 |
Method for preventing or treating diseases associated with a reduced density of interferon receptors
The invention relates to medicine, in particular, to a method for preventing and/or treating a disease associated with a reduced density of interferon receptors, the method comprising administering an effective amount of glutaryl histamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Said disease may be hepatitis B, herpes, papilloma virus infection, or multiple sclerosis. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition for prevention and/or treatment of diseases associated with a reduced density of interferon receptors, wherein the composition comprises an effective amount of glutaryl histamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The invention solves a problem of providing a novel agent effective for overcoming a resistance to interferon therapy in diseases selected from the group including hepatitis B, herpes, papilloma virus infection, or multiple sclerosis. |
| US09730912B2 |
Pharmaceutical compounds
The invention provides the use of a compound for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of pain, wherein the compound is a compound of the formula (VI): or a salt, solvate, tautomer or N-oxide thereof; wherein the bicyclic group: is selected from the structures C1, C5 and C6: wherein n, R1, R2a, R3, R4a, R8 and R10 are as defined in the claims. The invention also provides the use of a compound of the formula (VI) for the manufacture of a medicament for the prophylaxis or treatment of a fungal, protozoal, viral or parasitic disease state or condition (other than a disease state or condition due to Plasmodium falciparum) or for use in the prophylaxis or treatment of Ewing's sarcoma, atherosclerosis or lupus erythematosus. |
| US09730909B2 |
Methods for targeting cancer stem cells
The invention provides naphthofuran compounds, polymorphs of naphthofuran compounds, naphthofuran compounds in particle form, purified compositions that contain one or more naphthofuran compounds, purified compositions that contain one or more naphthofuran compounds in particle form, methods of producing these naphthofuran compounds, polymorphs, purified compositions and/or particle forms, and methods of using these naphthofuran compounds, polymorphs, purified compositions and/or particle forms to treat subjects in need thereof. |
| US09730906B2 |
α-derivatives of cis-monounsaturated fatty acids for use as medicines
Alpha-derivatives of cis-monounsaturated fatty acids for use as medicines. The present invention refers to pharmaceutically acceptable compounds of Formula I, their salts and derivatives, where (a) and (b) can take any value between 0 and 14, (X) can be substituted by any atom or group of atoms with an atomic/molecular weight between 4 and 200 Da and (R) can be substituted by any atom or group of atoms with an atomic/molecular weight between 1 and 200 Da, for use as medicines. |
| US09730904B2 |
Prophylactic/ameliorating agent for adult diseases comprising 5-aminolevulinic acid, derivative of 5-aminolevulinic acid, or salt of 5-aminolevulinic acid or the derivative of 5-aminolevulinic acid as active ingredient
A pharmaceutical composition which is different from an existing therapeutic agent of an adult disease, of a biochemical reaction-inhibiting type, and which action mechanism is to improve the basal metabolism, wherein the composition has no side effects, and does not generate drug resistance against adult disease; and a method for preventing/treating an adult disease by using the same. A composition for preventing/ameliorating an adult disease such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, impaired liver function, renal failure, adiposity, erectile dysfunction, menopausal disorder, shoulder discomfort, and low back pain, comprising 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), its derivative, or salt thereof, preferably comprising ALA, its derivative, or salt thereof, and an iron compound such as sodium ferrous citrate, iron sodium citrate and iron ammonium citrate; a food or food material for preventing/ameliorating an adult disease comprising the composition; and a method for using the composition for preparing an agent for preventing/ameliorating an adult disease. |
| US09730903B2 |
Method of making wound gel containing antimicrobial composition
A gel useful in reducing bacterial colonization in or around the area of a wound can be provided from at least one PEG and an aqueous composition having a pH of from 2 to 4, a total solute concentration of from 1.8 to 4.0 Osm/L, and from 0.9 to 1.7 g/L of at least one cationic surfactant. The aqueous composition can include a buffer system that includes an organic acid and a salt of an organic acid. The resulting gel is effective even when free of materials having antimicrobial properties other than those provided by the aqueous composition such as sporicides, antifungals and antibiotics. |
| US09730902B2 |
Polyamine transport inhibitors as novel therapeutics
Novel polyamine transport inhibitors have been synthesized and demonstrated to block the uptake of native polyamines into human cancer cells. A combination therapy of the transport inhibitor and DFMO (a drug which blocks polyamine biosynthesis) provided synergistic activity against a metastatic human colon cancer cell line. The strategy uses polyamine depletion and polyamine metabolism to generate reactive oxygen species within cells as a novel way to treat cancers. This approach may be implemented for widespread use in the treatment of diseases which rely upon polyamine transport activity for proliferation. |
| US09730900B2 |
Transdermal estrogen device and delivery
Described are transdermal drug delivery systems for the transdermal administration of estrogen, comprising a polymer matrix and estrogen. Methods of making and using such systems also are described. |
| US09730897B2 |
Delivering functional nucleic acids to mammalian cells via bacterially-derived, intact minicells
Intact bacterially derived minicells containing functional nucleic acids or plasmids encoding functional nucleic acids can reduce, in targeted mammalian cells, drug resistance, apoptosis resistance, and neoplasticity, respectively. Methodology that employs minicells to deliver functional nucleic acids, targeting the transcripts of proteins that contribute to drug resistance or apoptosis resistance, inter alia, can be combined with chemotherapy to increase the effectiveness of the chemotherapy. |
| US09730888B2 |
Method of enhancing delivery of therapeutic compounds to the eye
The invention provides methods for enhancing the delivery of therapeutic compounds to the eye of a subject by administering plasmin or derivatives thereof and the therapeutic compounds to the eye. |
| US09730886B2 |
Amino-pyrimidine skeletal muscle modulators
Provided are compounds of Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, X and m are as defined herein. Also provided is a pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.Also provided are methods of using a compound of Formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. |
| US09730885B2 |
Extended release, abuse deterrent pharmaceutical compositions
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, at least one hydrophilic plastomer, at least one hydrophilic elastomer, and at least one deliquescent plasticizer, wherein the pharmaceutical compositions provide extended release of the API and have abuse deterrent properties. Methods for preparing the pharmaceutical compositions in which the components of the composition are humidified such that the deliquescent plasticizer deliquesces, thereby plasticizing the hydrophilic polymers. |
| US09730882B2 |
Cosmetic composition based on a supramolecular polymer, a hyperbranched functional polymer and a polyethylene wax
The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition and method for making up and/or enhancing the appearance of a keratinous substrate, comprising at least one supramolecular polymer, at least one detackifying ingredient which is a hyperbranched functional polymer, at least one fatty phase ingredient(s) and at least one polyethylene wax. The compositions of the present invention may optionally contain at least one colorant. |
| US09730880B2 |
Cosmetic or dermatological composition comprising alkyl polypentoside vesicles, and method for preparing the same
The present invention relates to a cosmetic or dermatological composition containing a continuous aqueous phase in which are dispersed vesicles based on at least one alkyl polypentoside, and also comprising at least one alcohol and at least one surfactant.More precisely, the cosmetic or dermatological composition comprises at least one cosmetic or dermatological active agent and at least one continuous aqueous phase in which are dispersed vesicles, said vesicles comprising at least one alkyl polypentoside obtained by reaction of a pentose and of at least a first and a second fatty alcohol comprising a different number of carbon atoms ranging from 10 to 12, said polypentoside having an average polymerization degree of less than or equal to 2, and said composition also comprising at least one surfactant having a HLB of less than 10, and at least one alcohol containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms. The present invention also relates to a process for preparing the composition, which consists in placing a mixture comprising alkyl polypentoside, the surfactant and the alcohol in contact with an aqueous phase with stirring. |
| US09730879B2 |
Method for producing carbohydrate partial esters
A process for the production of carbohydrate partial esters by transesterification of glycoses with fatty acid esters in the presence of emulsifiers and a catalyst mixture, to produce products with utility in the production of foods, cosmetic preparations, and in superabsorbancy applications. |
| US09730873B2 |
Skin-care oil
Cosmetic agents include liquid oils in a total amount of 80 to 99.5% by weight. The liquid oils include (a) at least one liquid oil with a spreadability value (25° C.) in a range of 100 mm2/10 min to less than 800 mm2/10 min, (b) at least one liquid oil with a spreadability value (25° C.) in a range of 800 mm2/10 min to less than 1050 mm2/10 min, (c) at least one liquid oil with a spreadability value (25° C.) in a range of 1050 mm2/10 min to 1800 mm2/10 min. The weight ratio of the total amount of the oils named under (a) to the sum of the respective total quantities of the oils named under (b) and (c) is in the range of 1 to 3 to 1 to 1. The cosmetic agents are suitable as skin care oils and provide a smooth skin feel and protect the skin against drying out. |
| US09730870B2 |
Sodium hypochlorite-based body wash compositions
Sodium hypochlorite-based compositions that are non-toxic and have antimicrobial and cleansing properties may include from about 0.025% to about 10% by weight of sodium hypochlorite. For example, the compositions may include less than 1% by weight of sodium hypochlorite (e.g., less than 0.5% by weight of sodium hypochlorite). The compositions may further include sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamide MEA, disodium EDTA, and deionized water. Such compositions may be applied externally to a mammalian body through rinse-off or leave-on applications. Compositions also may be incorporated as a component of other products, such as deodorants, towelettes, or powders. |
| US09730869B2 |
Hair coloring agent and hair dyeing method
Disclosed is a two-agent type hair coloring agent prepared by mixing a first agent and a second agent, wherein the first agent contains a dye component containing a basic dye as a main component, and an alkaline agent, the second agent contains a hydrogen peroxide solution as a main component thereof, and at least one of the first agent and the second agent further contains metal nanoparticles. |
| US09730866B2 |
Emulsion composition
An emulsion composition includes a compound having a diaminopyrimidine skeleton, at least one fatty acid component selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid having a total carbon number of 14 or more and a salt thereof, and an aqueous medium in an amount of 50% by mass or more with respect to the mass of the emulsion composition. The total amount of monohydric alcohol having a total carbon number of 3 or less and dihydric alcohol having a total carbon number of 3 or less is less than 10% by mass with respect to the mass of the emulsion composition. The emulsion composition has a pH of 6.5 or more. |
| US09730862B2 |
Composition and method for using medicament for endodontic irrigation, stem cell preparation and tissue regeneration
A single intra-canal substance composition for tissue dissolution, disinfection, tissue degradation, tissue removal and disinfection is provided. The composition includes calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium thioglycolate or calcium thioglycolate, to form an effective single intra-canal substance capable of degrading a cell by disrupting its disulfide bonds. Further, the composition may incorporate mineral oil, urea, cetearyl alcohol, D&C yellow No. 8, chromium hydroxide, theobroma cocoa seed butter, iron oxides, fragrances, water fragrance, lanolin, and ceteareth-20 to enhance its functioning. Furthermore, the composition that is bactericidal against Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, used in multiple applications in dentistry and medicine. Furthermore, the composition is a single intra-canal irrigant that eradicates microorganisms as it facilitates the chemo-mechanical debridement of the root canal system. |
| US09730856B2 |
Massage device and chair-type massage apparatus equipped with the massage device
A massage device for performing a kneading massage including paired left and right massage members, each having a treatment element, and a massage mechanism for operating at least one of the paired massage members to cause the treatment elements to move close to and away from each other in the horizontal direction to produce kneading actions. The massage member has an arm member extending substantially perpendicularly to the approaching/separating direction, and the treatment element is disposed at the front end of the arm member so that an extended line L extending along the protruding direction of the arm member passes through the interior of the treatment element. |
| US09730853B2 |
Apparatus for reducing symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases
Method and apparatus for improving mobility in patients affected by a neurodegenerative disease, through controlled and localized mechanical stimulation of the foot, at the tip of the big toe and the lower big toe metatarsal joint. Described herein is an apparatus comprising stimulators for the right and left foot and it attains such mechanical stimulation according to predetermined intensity parameters, stimulation sequence, duration and cyclical repetition. Mobility improvement was observed in particular in patients affected by Parkinson's disease. |
| US09730847B2 |
Microclimate system for a patient support apparatus
According to the present disclosure, a microclimate system includes a topper and an air box. The topper is configured to conduct air along a surface of the topper so that heat and moisture from a patient lying on the topper are drawn away from the surface. The air box includes a blower coupled to the topper to provide air to the topper to be conducted along the surface of the topper. The air box may also include an environmental sensor unit coupled configured to detect environmental information corresponding to the environment around the microclimate system. |
| US09730846B2 |
Nesting wheeled personal conveyances
A wheeled personal conveyance has a rear portion and a front portion, the front portion being configured to receive into the wheeled personal conveyance the rear portion of a like wheeled personal conveyance such that the like wheeled personal conveyance is at least partially nested within the wheeled personal conveyance. By one approach, a body frame as comprises the wheeled personal conveyance has a front portion that is laterally wider than a part of the body frame that comprises a part of the aforementioned rear portion of the wheeled personal conveyance. So configured, the wheeled personal conveyance can have a passenger area that is wider towards the front than towards the back. By one approach, arm rests are provided that connect to a seat of the wheeled personal conveyance and that move in conjunction with the seat as the seat pivots. |
| US09730845B2 |
First-aid kit
In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a first-aid kit, including a backing member, a plurality of step by step instructions arranged on the backing member, and a plurality of first-aid items, wherein each first-aid item is positioned in association with at least one of the instructions and relates to the at least one of the instructions. |
| US09730844B2 |
Absorbent article having a pair of rear side flaps
An absorbent article has longitudinal edges, front and rear end regions, and a central region between the end regions, and an absorbent core disposed between a topsheet and a backsheet. A pair of central side flaps extend laterally outward from longitudinal edges of the absorbent core in the central region, and a pair of rear side flaps extend laterally outward from longitudinal edges of the absorbent core in the rear end region. A support layer disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet in the rear end region extends from one of the rear side flaps to the other outboard of the longitudinal edges of the absorbent core but inboard of the longitudinal edges of the article. The support layer is absent in the central side flaps. A channel with a plurality of first areas and second areas alternately spaced along at least a portion of a length of the channel is present. |
| US09730837B1 |
Earplug sound blocker
An earplug and earplug kit having an ear insert, one or more filters that are interchangeable and that may be removably mounted to the insert for filtering various levels and types of sounds, and one or more decorative sound blocking members that are interchangeable and that may be removably mounted to the insert for reflecting or absorbing at least a portion of sounds directed toward a user's ear. |
| US09730832B2 |
Self-heated consumer spa products and applications thereof
The following description relates generally to self-heated consumer spa products heated by means of a prolonged exothermic chemical reaction for various therapeutic and/or spa applications for applying heat to portions of a person's body. |
| US09730831B2 |
Method of manufacturing an oral tray for stabilizing jaw joint relationships for treatment of sleep apnea
A method of manufacturing an oral appliance for treating sleep apnea of a patient that has a monolithic body with an upper tray with an upper recess formed to conform to the maxillary teeth of the patient and a lower tray with a lower recess formed to conform to the mandibular teeth, the monolithic body defining a coupling of a rear portion of the upper tray to a rear portion of the lower tray at an angle forming a orifice between front mandibular teeth and front maxillary teeth. |
| US09730827B2 |
Economical nasal dilator and method of manufacture
A nasal dilator comprises a laminate of vertically-stacked layers that form a unitary truss. The truss features end regions that engage outer wall tissues of a user's nasal passages, joined by an interconnecting region that traverses the bridge of the nose. The dilator acts to stabilize nasal outer wall tissues and prevent them from drawing inward during breathing. Dilator components are sized and shaped to engage the nose and provide effective dilation, and to facilitate lateral and longitudinal registration during manufacture, while reducing material waste. Methods of manufacture include progressive steps to fabricate and assemble components into finished devices. Some partially-assembled embodiments include a final assembly step performed by the user to create a dilator with a customized truss length. |
| US09730824B2 |
High torque active mechanism for orthotic and/or prosthetic devices
A high torque active mechanism for an orthotic and/or prosthetic joint using a primary brake which can be provide by magnetorheological (MR) rotational damper incorporating and an additional friction brake mechanism driven by the braking force generated by the MR damper. This combination of MR damper and friction brake mechanism allows an increase in torque density while keeping the same level of motion control offered by the MR damper alone. The increased torque density achieved by this high torque active mechanism allows to minimize the size of the actuating system, i.e. its diameter and/or breath, while maximizing its braking torque capability. In this regard, the friction brake mechanism is advantageously positioned around the MR damper, such that the dimension of the package is minimized. |
| US09730823B2 |
Rapist identifier cum rape victim protector
A rapist identifier cum rape victim protector is provided. Such a device is of a flexible sheath of liquid impermeable condom type substance that is divided into a tissue attachment means carrying section extending from a mouth and a concertina effect formed inner end section. Attachment means in the form of tines are carried along a carrier base that is constituted from zigzag formed coaxially arranged members that are spaced apart by linear spacers from which the tines extend. The tines and base form a carrier body that forms part of the section to the effect of enabling its expansion once exposed to an action of sheath penetration. The tines are formed to require professional assistance for the release of the identifier cum protector once having become attached to a penetrating member. |
| US09730820B2 |
Stent delivery system having a fibrous matrix covering with improved stent retention
Stent delivery system comprising a catheter shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and an expandable member provided at the distal end portion of the shaft, the expandable member having a delivery condition and a deployed condition and formed at least in part from a matrix of fiber elements to define a continuous surface substantially free of openings when in the delivery condition. |
| US09730818B2 |
Endoluminal device and method
An endoluminal device can be configured for precise positioning during deployment within a vessel. The endoluminal device can be a tack, stent, vascular implant or other type of implant. The endoluminal device can have circumferential member with an undulating configuration having multiple inward and outward apexes and struts extending therebetween. Two of the struts can be used to establish a foot for the precise positioning of the device during deployment. A method of placing the endoluminal device can include withdrawing an outer sheath such that a portion of the endoluminal device is expanded prior to the rest of the endoluminal device. |
| US09730817B2 |
Apparatus for manufacturing scaffold and scaffold manufactured by the same
In an apparatus for manufacturing a scaffold and a scaffold manufactured by the apparatus, a collector is disposed under a dispensing head that dispenses melted bio materials (polymer) for manufacturing the scaffold. The collector has a cylindrical tube shape. Both sides of the tube shape are fixed. Thus, the tube is securely fixed and bending of the tube is prevented. Also, accuracy and preciseness of the scaffold are improved. |
| US09730816B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling body parts and devices using ipsilateral motor cortex and motor related cortex
A system for controlling a body part includes a number of sensing devices that sense signals from a hemisphere of a brain. A signal translating unit translates the signals into a command signal for controlling the body part, which is on a same side of the body as the hemisphere of the brain. A prosthetic device receives the command signal from the signal translating unit and manipulates the body part in response to the command signal. |
| US09730812B2 |
Adjustable testing apparatus for an orthopaedic specimen such as a knee implant prosthesis
A testing apparatus for exposing an associated specimen(s) to motions along multiple axes is provided. The testing apparatus includes a test chamber and first, second, third, and fourth devices that impose different kinematic motions or forces on the specimen. A drive mechanism is connected to the first, second, third, and fourth devices so that motion from a single axis is conveyed by the first, second, third and fourth devices to deliver the desired kinematic motions and/or forces to the test chamber(s). At least one of the first, second, third, and fourth devices includes an adjustment mechanism to modify at least one of the devices. |
| US09730811B2 |
Device for testing a ceramic socket insert for hip joint implants
The invention relates to a device for testing a ceramic socket insert for hip joint implants having a receiving device, a pressure piece and optionally having a plunger, wherein the receiving device has a recess with a positioning region for receiving the socket insert and the recess has a receiving cone in the positioning region. According to the invention, in order for the device to be universally applicable to all socket inserts (monolithic, modular, pre-joined) and therefore replace all current devices, an annular ductile adapter piece having a conical outer surface contacting the receiving cone and an inner surface contacting the socket insert is arranged in the positioning region between the receiving device and the socket insert, wherein the friction between the receiving device and adapter piece is lower than between the adapter piece and socket insert. |
| US09730805B1 |
Intervertebral fusion device and method or use
Some embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus that (1) delivers a fusion member between two vertebral bodies after at least a portion of the fibrocartilaginous disc between the vertebral bodies has been removed, and (2) affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes (1) a fusion member that is delivered and positioned between the vertebral bodies, (2) a delivery mechanism that delivers and positions the fusion member between the vertebral bodies, and (3) an anchoring member that affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies. |
| US09730797B2 |
Bone joint replacement and repair assembly and method of repairing and replacing a bone joint
A bone joint repair and replacement assembly. A first portion comprising a bone plate is configured to attach to a distal or proximal end of a bone proximate the joint, generally coaxially with an axis defined by the bone. A second portion comprising an articular surface is configured to attach to the first portion, generally normal with respect to the axis, and inserted into the joint. Although versions of the assembly can be configured for use with several different pivotal joints, the invention is particularly suitable for full or partial replacement of an elbow, wherein the articular surface is pivotally attached to the first portion. Another embodiment of the invention is provided to repair a fractured bone head proximate the joint, and still another embodiment of the invention is provided to repair rotator cuff-related shoulder injuries. |
| US09730795B2 |
Endosseous implant
Endosseous implant to be applied to a human or animal bone, wherein the surface of the implant is made from titanium or a titanium alloy, said implant having a smooth or rough surface texture, which is characterized in that said surface has been treated with at least one selected organic phosphonate compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester or an amide thereof; process for producing said implants. |
| US09730794B2 |
Prosthetic mitral valve
A prosthetic mitral valve with a compressible and expandable stent that, when expanded, is circumferentially oval, elliptical, or D-shaped, with a major axis and a minor axis ratio of from about 3:4 to about 4:5. Embodiments of the stent comprise three commissure posts disposed towards an outflow end and three curved cusp regions between adjacent commissure posts. Three flexible leaflets are attached to the commissure posts in a tri-foil configuration. Embodiments of the prosthetic mitral valve include an atrial ring disposed at the inflow end of the stent. |
| US09730792B2 |
Truncated cone heart valve stent
A heart valve stent having a section with a heart valve implant and several proximally disposed tissue anchors, also comprising a plurality of anchoring threats, each with a proximate end fastened to the stent or valve and a distal end attached to tissue within a heart chamber to provide tension between the heart chamber tissue and the stent. |
| US09730788B2 |
Device for optically representing intraocular pressure, and a method for same
A device for optically representing intraocular pressure, having an arrangement which is implanted into the eye with a membrane that curves outwards when the intraocular pressure changes, and a contact surface, these altering the polarization for a spectral range of incident and reflected light in the region of their contact with one another, as well as a read-out arrangement that optically reproduces a planar image of the light which is reflected by the photonic crystal and whose polarization has been altered, and that comprises a polarization filter for the irradiated light and the light reflected by the photonic crystal. Also, a method for measuring intraocular pressure. |
| US09730784B2 |
Connective tissue repair pad
The invention relates to an implantable prosthetic device for the repair of connective tissue in an animal or a human. In one embodiment, an implantable prosthetic device (100) for the repair of connective tissue (500) in an animal or human is disclosed which comprises a biocompatible pad (101) having an open structure to provide a scaffold for the in-growth of tissue into the pad; and a reinforcement region (206) attached to or formed integrally with the pad. The device is arranged so that it can be attached to tissue by forming a puncture (301) either a) within the reinforcement region, or b) in an area of the pad which is inboard of the reinforcement region, so that a suture (300) can be located through the puncture, the reinforcement region serving to support tensile loading in the device during use by resisting pull-through of the suture. |
| US09730780B2 |
Intra-oral light-therapy apparatuses and methods for their use
In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a housing, an emitter, and an electronic circuit. The housing is configured to fit within a patient's mouth. The emitter is at least partially encased within the housing. The emitter is configured to emit an effective amount of light to the alveolar soft tissue when the housing is disposed within the mouth. The electronic circuit is operatively coupled to the emitter. The electronic circuit is configured to control the emitter when the housing is disposed within the mouth and the apparatus is in use during orthodontic treatment. The apparatus and its use for regulating tooth movement or maintaining or improving oral tissue health are disclosed herein. |
| US09730774B2 |
Bone graft injection device
An osteotome is shaped so as to define (a) a lumen through the osteotome, a distal end of the lumen opening through a distal opening disposed within 10 mm of a distal end of the osteotome, and a proximal end of the lumen opening through a proximal opening disposed at least 5 mm proximal to the distal opening, (b) a lateral external surface, at least a portion of which is shaped so as to define a screw thread that (i) has a distal thread end that is disposed within 10 mm of the distal end of the osteotome, and (ii) comprises one or more raised helical ribs going around the osteotome, and (c) one or more longitudinal drainage slots, which extend along at least respective longitudinal portions of the osteotome having respective longitudinal lengths of at least 5 mm, measured parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the osteotome. |
| US09730771B2 |
Endosseous dental implant assembly
An endosseous dental implant assembly includes a dental implant including an abutment portion for connecting to a tooth crown and a hollow base portion defining a cavity therein, and a bio-supportive or biodegradable scaffold carried by the hollow base portion of the dental implant in the biomimetic approach. The abutment portion is formed integrally with the hollow base portion. The scaffold is impregnated with regenerative stem cells, growth factors, biomorphic proteins, or autogenous cells. In the osseointegrated approach, bone graft material can be carried to the extraction socket without a scaffold. |
| US09730768B2 |
CAD-CAM AGP splint—a method of automatically producing or reproducing a customized AGP (anterior guidance package) equipped splint for a patient with/without a severe malocclusion via one time dentist visit
A method of automatically producing or reproducing a customized AGP (Anterior Guidance Package) equipped splint for a patient with or without a severe malocclusion is provided. The method of automatically producing or reproducing an AGP equipped splint according to current invention comprises of combining Virtual Articulation, CAD (Computer Aided Design)-CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) method with AGP and special retentive piece technology. The method of the current invention enables a patient with or without a severe malocclusion to receive his/her customized AGP equipped splint or a replacement thereof automatically without visiting the dentist again and again. |
| US09730767B2 |
Finger mountable dental hand piece device
The present invention relates to a finger mountable flexible dental hand-piece device. In one embodiment the hand piece device comprises of: a head portion and a body portion, wherein the head portion and the body portion are engaged by a flexible joint to provide flexible movement for the head portion. The head portion defines a head enclosed in a head shell, where the head shell is accompanied by a first finger band which is stipulated on the top of the head shell. The body portion has a first end and a second end; the first end of the body portion is to engage with the head portion, wherein there is a second finger band which is stipulated on the top of the body portion. |
| US09730763B2 |
Head restraining apparatus for a medical procedure
A head restraining device is provided for securing a patient's head to a bed. The head restraining device has a frame, a lower compliant support strap, and an upper compliant support strap. The frame has a first anchor assembly, a second anchor assembly, and a connecting mechanism for connecting the frame to the bed. The compliant support straps have a first end and a second end and support a portion of the patient's head. The first end of the upper compliant support strap and the first end of the lower compliant support strap are securable by the first anchor assembly and the second end of the upper compliant support strap and the second end of the lower compliant support strap are securable by the second anchor assembly. The head restraining device may be used for any surgical procedure where head fixation is needed. |
| US09730762B2 |
Automatic needle insertion location identification
A system for automatically identifying a needle insertion location from a medical diagnostic image, such as an MRI image, and providing a visual indication of the needle insertion location is disclosed. A grid plate is located proximate to an anatomical region and is preferably incorporated in an MRI support structure utilized to immobilize the anatomical region. An MRI scanner obtains an MRI image of the anatomical region, and an MRI technician places a marker on the MRI image, identifying the needle insertion location. The MRI image and the marker are transferred from the MRI scanner to another device, such as a tablet computer, which is configured to convert the MRI image and the marker to coordinates and an insertion depth. A visual indicator is located proximate to or integrated with the grid plate that provides the needle insertion coordinates and insertion depth to the MRI technician. |
| US09730757B2 |
Surgical instrument
A surgical instrument according to the invention, particularly a robot-guided surgical instrument, has a shaft end (1), a tool holder (2), which is mounted on the shaft end so as to be able to rotate about a yaw axis (G), and a tool (3) with a main lever (3A), in particular a blade and/or jaw, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to rotate about a pitch axis (N), and a gear transmission with a drive wheel (31), which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be rotatable about an input gear axis (G) by a driving means (200), and, in force-fit and/or form-fit connection therewith, an output wheel (30), which is mounted on the tool holder so as to rotate about an output gear axis (N) and by means of which the tool is rotatable about the pitch axis, or a wraparound transmission with a drive wheel, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be rotatable about an input gear axis by a driving means, an output wheel, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be able to rotate about an output gear axis and by means of which the tool is rotatable about the pitch axis, and two traction strands which are different from the drive means, are in particular connected and couple drive wheel and output wheel, or a differential transmission with an output wheel (350; 350A), which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be able to rotate about an output gear axis and by means of which the tool is rotatable about the pitch axis, wherein two traction strands are mutually offset in the direction of the output gear axis, in particular on both sides of the yaw axis, run in opposite directions from the output wheel and/or onto the output wheel and/or are both secured on the output wheel and/or are different from a driving means by which a drive wheel (110), firmly or operatively connected to the tool holder, is rotatable about the yaw axis. |
| US09730756B2 |
Hybrid catheter for vascular intervention
A catheter for debulking of an undesired deposit from an inner surface of at least one of a blood vessel wall and a stent located in a blood vessel, the catheter having a tip section comprising: circumferentially-directed laser optics; and a circular-action cutter, wherein said circumferentially-directed laser optics is configured to transmit laser radiation for modifying an area of the undesired deposit thereby preparing said area for penetration of said cutter, wherein said cutter is configured to cut through said modified area and thereby debulk at least a part of the undesired deposit. In addition, a catheter for pacemaker and ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) lead extraction is disclosed. |
| US09730753B2 |
Articulation joint features for articulating surgical device
An electrosurgical device comprises a body, an end effector, a cutting member, and a shaft. The end effector includes a pair of jaws that are operable to deliver RF energy to tissue that is clamped between the jaws. The cutting member is operable to sever tissue that is clamped between the jaws. The shaft extends between the body and the end effector. The shaft includes an articulation section that is operable to selectively position the end effector at non-parallel positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Some versions include a rotation section that is distal to the articulation section. The rotation section is operable to rotate the end effector relative to the articulation section. |
| US09730750B2 |
Device and method for real-time lesion estimation during ablation
Disclosed herein are ablation systems and methods for providing feedback on lesion formation in real-time. The methods and systems assess absorptivity of tissue based on a degree of electric coupling or contact between an ablation electrode and the tissue. The absorptivity can then be used, along with other information, including, power levels and activation times, to provide real-time feedback on the lesions being created. Feedback may be provided, for example, in the form of estimated lesion volumes and other lesion characteristics. The methods and systems can provide estimated treatment times to achieve a desired lesion characteristic for a given degree of contact, as well as depth of a lesion being created. The degree of contact may be measured using different techniques, including the phase angle techniques and a coupling index. |
| US09730742B2 |
Variable axis locking mechanism for use in orthopedic implants
A locking mechanism assembly to allow locking of a fastener in an orthopedic implant having its axis at a variable angle relative to the axis of threaded through opening in the implant. The assembly includes a locking insert, having threads which mates with the threads of the through opening and which includes a smooth opening that forms a torque driving recess and an annular flange. A fixator has a head portion with external threads of a harder material than that which forms the through opening so that the threads of the fixator will deform the insert to lock the fixator in a desired position relative to the plate. |
| US09730741B2 |
Temporarily secured bone reduction clamp
In one embodiment of the disclosure, a bone reduction clamp includes a first and second detachable clamp arm, each including a first handle and a first base portion. The first clamp arm and the second clamp arm temporarily become secured together with an unfixed pivot post. The unfixed pivot post is unfixed between the first detachable clamp arm and the second detachable clamp arm. The first clamp arm includes a first base portion including a first extender and a first tip portion secured together with a first unfixed joint. The first tip portion includes one or more first tip portion guide edges. The first detachable clamp arm includes a first ratcheted tooth member extending from detachable clamp arm, to attach with a second ratcheted tooth member extending from the second detachable clamp arm. |
| US09730735B2 |
Orthopedic fixation devices and methods of installation thereof
The present invention is generally directed to orthopedic fixation devices that comprise a coupling element and a bone fastener, whereby the bone fastener can be loaded into the coupling element through the bottom of a bore in the coupling element. The orthopedic fixation devices described herein can include modular locking clamp assemblies that can be fixed onto fasteners that are already implanted in bone. The modular locking clamp assemblies can include polyaxial locking clamp assemblies, as well as monoaxial locking clamp assemblies. |
| US09730733B2 |
Vertebral support device
A vertebral support device (1) is disclosed, which in various embodiments comprises at least two osseous anchoring implants (2), each designed to be anchored to a vertebra, and at least one linking element (3) fixed to the osseous anchoring implants (2) by fasteners (20) that maintain a fixed angle between the longitudinal axis (L) of the linking element (3) passing through rigid elements (34) of the linking element (3) and the insertion axis (DV) of the implants (2). The linking element (3) includes at least one elastic dampening element (31) that that allows the implant-bearing vertebrae some freedom of movement. The dampening element (31) accommodates the stresses imposed on the linking element (3) during movement of the vertebrae and tends to return the support device (1) to its normal configuration. |
| US09730725B2 |
Systems and devices for cutting tissue
Systems and devices are described which include a tissue cutting device including a central rotatable shaft having a first end and a second end; a motor operably coupled to the first end of the central rotatable shaft, the motor including circuitry configured to rotate the central rotatable shaft; a tethering component; and an elongated flexible cutting component having a first end and a second end, the first end of the elongated flexible cutting component secured to the central rotatable shaft at a position between the first end and the second end central rotatable shaft, the second end of the elongated flexible cutting component operably coupled to the tethering component, the tethering component configured to at least one of extend and retract the elongated flexible cutting component; wherein extension and retraction of the elongated flexible cutting component by the tethering component changes a shape formed by the elongated flexible cutting component. |
| US09730723B2 |
Fluid injection device
A fluid injection device includes a fluid supply unit that accommodates and supplies fluid, a fluid injection unit that injects fluid supplied from the fluid supply unit, and a driving waveform generating device which is equipped with at least one adjusting device, a one-input multiple-control parameter changing unit that simultaneously changes plural control parameters for determining a fluid injection condition of the fluid injection unit on the basis of a signal from the at least one adjusting device, and a driving waveform generator that generates and outputs a driving waveform of the fluid injection unit on the basis of the control parameters set by the one-input multiple-control parameter changing unit. |
| US09730719B2 |
Surgical instrument with single drive input for two end effector mechanisms
Methods for treating tissue, and surgical assemblies and related methods are disclosed in which a single input is used to sequentially articulate two members. A surgical assembly includes an end effector, a base supporting the end effector, an input link movable relative to the base through a range of motion between a first configuration and a second configuration, and an actuation mechanism. The end effector includes a first articulated member and a second articulated member. The actuation mechanism drivingly couples the input link to the first articulated member within a first portion of the range of motion and drivingly coupling the input link with the second articulated member within a second portion of the range of motion so that a movement of the input link from the first configuration to the second configuration articulates the first articulated member and then articulates the second articulated member. |
| US09730717B2 |
Medical manipulator system
A medical manipulator system has an operating unit including a grip handle and a composite input unit, a working unit detachably mounted on the operating unit and including an end effector, and a controller for controlling the operating unit. The controller judges starting and ending of a surgical case and increments the usage count of the working unit based on a manner in which the working unit is mounted and dismounted, and the times at which the working unit is mounted and dismounted, and disables the working unit if the usage count of the working unit exceeds a preset count. |
| US09730713B2 |
Arthroplasty jig
A method and system for performing a total joint arthroplasty procedure on a patient's damaged bone region. A CT image or other suitable image is formed of the damaged bone surfaces, and location coordinate values (xn,yn,zn) are determined for a selected sequence of bone surface locations using the CT image data. A mathematical model z=f(x,y) of a surface that accurately matches the bone surface coordinates at the selected bone spice locations, or matches surface normal vector components at selected bone surface locations, is determined. The model provides a production file from which a cutting jig and an implant device (optional), each patient-specific and having controllable alignment, are fabricated for the damaged bone by automated processing. At this point, the patient is cut open (once), the cutting jig and a cutting instrument are used to remove a selected portion of the bone and to provide an exposed planar surface, the implant device is optionally secured to and aligned with the remainder of the bone, and the patient's incision is promptly repaired. |
| US09730707B2 |
Surgical instrument with graduated markings correlating to angulation
A surgical instrument includes a first member defining an axis and including an end surface and a passageway. A second member is movably disposed within the passageway and includes a tip and a plurality of spaced apart markings. The second member is movable between a first configuration in which the tip extends parallel to the axis and a second configuration in which the tip extends transverse to the axis. The end surface is aligned with a first one of the markings when the second member is in the first configuration and the end surface is aligned with a second one of the markings when the second member is in the second configuration. Methods are disclosed. |
| US09730701B2 |
Retrieval wire centering device
An occlusive implant system may include a catheter having a lumen extending therethrough, a core wire slidably and rotatably disposed within the lumen, the core wire having a threaded member disposed at a distal end, and a medical implant having an expandable frame, an occlusive element disposed on the frame, and a threaded insert coupled to a proximal portion of the frame, wherein the threaded member is removably coupled to the threaded insert. |
| US09730700B2 |
Stent graft delivery system
A system for treating an aneurysm comprises an elongate flexible shaft and an expandable member. An expandable scaffold is disposed over the expandable member and may be expanded from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. A double-walled filling structure is disposed over the scaffold and has an outer wall and an inner wall. The filling structure is adapted to be filled with a hardenable fluid filing medium so that the outer wall conforms to an inside surface of the aneurysm and the inner wall forms a substantially tubular lumen to provide a path for blood flow. In the expanded configuration the scaffold engages the inner wall of the filling structure. A tether is releasably coupled with the filling structure and the flexible shaft thereby constraining axial movement of the structures relative to each other. |
| US09730696B2 |
Surgical pin compression wound dressing device
A surgical pin compressive wound dressing housing is described as a device that couples with a wound dressing material or sponge of a specific type and provides a protective closed environment for the surgical point of entry wound where surgical pins or wires are applied. In addition, this device serves to stabilize such surgical pins or wires as they protrude from the surgically made pin site wound upon a patient's skin. Such pins or wires are often utilized, but not limited to, the fixation of fractured bones or when anatomic stabilization is needed. The unique cup like design of the wound dressing housing allows it to couple with a specific type of wound dressing material that has similar geometric features. The top of the wound dressing housing has a central pin hole whereby a pin stem extends upward. Together both the pin hole and pin stem receive the surgical pin or wire which can then be stabilized by the plastic closure snap in the front of the device after the wound dressing housing, and its corresponding wound dressing material, is pressed downward toward the surgical pin or wire point of entry wound. A hinge in the back of the device allows the wound dressing housing and its associated pin stem to split into equal right and left halves upon opening the device. This allows the device to be placed around the surgical pin or wire in question. By utilizing both the left and right hand clasps the user can close the device thus engaging the closure snap in the front of the wound dressing housing which secures the device in the closed position. |
| US09730688B1 |
Devices and methods for surgical suturing
An apparatus and a method for surgical suturing with thread management. An illustrative apparatus for tissue suturing includes a cartridge having a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis, a reciprocating needle drive, and an actuator capable of releasably engaging the needle drive to rotate the needle. A method for suturing tissue is provided that includes placing a suturing device having a cartridge containing a suturing needle to span at least one tissue segment, activating an actuator to cause rotational movement of the suturing needle through the at least one tissue segment, and deactivating the actuator to stop an advancing movement of the suturing needle to cause a suturing material to be pulled through the at least one tissue segment forming a stitch. |
| US09730687B2 |
System for providing surgical access
One embodiment is directed to a system for closing a wound created at least partially across a tissue structure wall, comprising: a helical needle; a suture member coupled to the helical needle and configured to be pulled along a helical pattern with helical movement of the helical needle; an outer delivery member rotatably coupled to the helical needle; a drive shaft axially movably coupled to the outer delivery member; and a plurality of suture guide struts projecting distally from the outer delivery member; wherein upon helical insertion of the helical needle relative to the outer delivery member, the helical needle is advanced such that it becomes disposed around the guide struts, such that the guide struts prevent radial migration of the suture as it is helically wound into the tissue structure. |
| US09730686B2 |
System and method of soft tissue anchoring to metaphyseal bone plate
A bone plate a re-orientable tab that provides a buttress support to fragments of the surrounding concave joint rim. The tabs can be re-orientated to contact the rim to provide close support. Each tab includes a hole sized to closely receive a K-wire to permit the K-wire to apply a bending load to a tab in situ to bend the tab about a lower recess between the tab and the remainder of the head. A soft tissue anchor is sized to pass through the hole in the tab, and into a hole drilled into the underlying bone. The soft tissue anchor has a bone engaging first portion and second portion comprising a length of flexible suture, to which is affixed a needle. The needle and suture can be used to draw tissue about the joint capsule. |
| US09730667B2 |
Control apparatus and tomography apparatus
A tomography apparatus for readily imaging an object while reducing radiation exposure doses includes a filter that adjusts distribution of a radiation dose transmitted therethrough from a radiation source, a radiation detection unit that detects a radiation dose transmitted through the filter and through an object, a holder that holds the object, an acquisition unit that acquires information about the holder, and a control unit that controls the distribution of the transmitted radiation does according to the information about the holder acquired by the acquisition unit. |
| US09730665B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus and control method for separating tissue images
An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an image separator configured to extract a first tissue image having a small amount of motion of a tissue, the small amount of motion being smaller than a threshold amount of motion, and to extract a second tissue image with a large amount of motion of a tissue, the large amount of motion being larger than the small amount of motion, from a plurality of image frames, and an image processor configured to correct the second tissue image according to the large amount of motion of the tissue. |
| US09730664B2 |
Multi-bed elastic motion correction
A set of first modality data (e.g., MR or CT) is provided. The set of first modality data comprises a plurality of mu-maps, a plurality of motion vectors and a plurality of gated data. Each of the mu-maps corresponds to one of the beds. A set of second modality data (e.g., PET/SPECT) is provided. The set of second modality data comprises a plurality of frames for each of the beds. Each of the plurality of frames is warped by one or more motion vectors of the plurality of motion vectors. A single-bed image is generated for each bed by summing the frames corresponding to the bed. A whole body image is generated by summing the single-bed images for each of the beds. |
| US09730662B2 |
System and method for tracking blood flow
A method and system for tracking blood flow within a vessel of a patient are presented. At least one or more medical images of the patient are acquired showing at least one vessel of the patient. A user marks a proximal point and a distal point on a vessel of interest on the medical images. The vessel of interest is tracked and corrections are made to the tracking using a tracking algorithm. A composite image is generated that encodes time to peak contrast agent intensity at each point of the vessel of interest as well as the intensity of the contrast at that time. A graph of time to peak contrast agent intensity versus distance from a proximal point of the vessel of interest is calculated and displayed to a user. |
| US09730661B2 |
Manifold valve device
A triple three-way valve device comprises: a valve body (1) having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the valve body (1) is connected with a control knob (2) that is radially rotatable relative to the valve body (1); and a valve rod (3) having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the valve rod (3) is provided within the valve body (1) and is fixedly connected with the control knob (2). The distal end of the valve body (1) is connected with a seat body (4), which is connected with a plurality of liquid passages and a high pressure pipe passage; a selection member (5) provided at the distal end of the valve body (1), wherein, depending on the position of the control knob (2), the selection member (5) selects the communication relationships between the plurality of liquid passages of the seat body (4), the high pressure pipe passage and the valve rod. With the triple three-way valve device, angiocardiography surgery is simplified, and surgery safety and efficiency are improved. |
| US09730654B2 |
Detection of the position of a moving object and treatment method
The invention relates to a method for determining the position of an object moving within a body, wherein the body is connected to markers, a movement signal is determined based on the measured movement of the markers, images are taken from the object using a camera or detector, wherein the camera or detector is moved with respect to the object, it is determined from which direction or range of angles or segment the most images corresponding to a predefined cycle of the movement signal are taken, and using at least some or all of the images of the segment containing the most images for a specified movement cycle, an image of the object is reconstructed. |
| US09730651B2 |
Correcting and reconstructing x-ray images using patient motion vectors extracted from marker positions in x-ray images
A method and a system for correcting and reconstruing a plurality of projection images based on detected patient motion. The method includes obtaining a plurality of projection images generated by a scanner. Each of the plurality of projection images includes at least three markers. Each of the at least three markers has a measured three-dimensional position and measured positions on a detector panel of the scanner in a first dimension and a second dimension. The method further includes determining a position error vector for each of the plurality of projection images based on the at least three markers in each of the plurality of projection images, the position error vector defining patient motion in the projection image. The method finally includes combining each position error vector for each of the plurality of projection images with geometric parameters associated with the scanner to derive a projection matrix for each of the plurality of projection images, and generating reconstructed images corrected for patient motion from the plurality of projection images and the projection matrix for each of the plurality of projection images. |
| US09730644B1 |
Circuits and methods for selecting a mode of operation of a photoplethysmographic sensor
Processing a photoplethysmographic (“PPG”) signal in a monitoring device that monitors a property of blood flow. A switching component is operated to select between at least a first light source when the mode selection signal specifies the first mode of operation and a second light source when a mode selection signal specifies the second mode of operation. A selected one of the first light source and the second light source, as selected by the switching component, is then operated. A first digital signal representing a detected light signal from the selected light source is obtained, and a second digital signal is generated from the first digital signal based at least in part on the selected mode of operation. The second digital signal is provided to a processor for use by the processor in measuring a property of blood flow. |
| US09730639B2 |
Elongated conductors and methods of making and using the same
Elongated conductors are provided. Aspects of the elongated conductors include: an elongated structure having a proximal region and a distal region, where the elongated conductor includes two or more insulated conducting members that are in fixed relative position along at least a portion of the elongated structure and extend from the proximal region to the distal region. A pattern of insulation openings among the insulated conducting members is present at one or both of the proximal and distal regions. Aspects of the invention further include methods of making the elongated conductors, as well as devices that include the elongated conductors. |
| US09730636B2 |
Minimally invasive medical instrument
The present invention relates to a minimally invasive medical instrument (100) having a proximal end (100b) and a distal end (100a) and comprising a sensor arrangement (10) arranged at the distal end (100b) of the medical instrument (100). The sensor arrangement (10) comprises a sensor (20) configured to generate sensor data in the form of an electrical sensor signal, and a data conversion device (40) configured to convert the electrical sensor signal into an optical signal and comprising an electrical input (41) for receiving the electrical sensor signal and an optical output (42) for transmitting the optical signal. The sensor arrangement (10) further comprises an optical fiber (50) configured to transmit the optical signal from the distal end (100a) to the proximal end (100b), the optical fiber (50) coupled to the output of the data conversion device (40) for receiving the optical signal, the optical fiber (50) extending from the distal end (100a) to the proximal end (100b) of the instrument (100). The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such a minimally invasive medical instrument (100). |
| US09730634B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for mapping the location of a nerve
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for mapping the location of a nerve. The apparatus includes at least one stimulation module, a stimulation detection module, a distance module, and a mapping module. The stimulation module stimulates a nerve with an electrical stimulation current from at least one stimulation electrode. A stimulation detection module detects a muscle reaction resulting from stimulation of the nerve by the at least one stimulation electrode. The distance module uses information from the at least one stimulation electrode and from the stimulation detection module to calculate a distance between the at least one stimulation electrode and the nerve. The mapping module maps a location on the nerve using at least two distances calculated by the distance module and position information of the at least one stimulation electrode for each of the at least two distances calculated. |
| US09730629B2 |
Vaginal biomechanics analyzer
The present invention includes a device and method for measuring skin elasticity that comprises: a probe with one or more holes, a vacuum source, a pressure sensor, and one or more infrared or optical proximity sensors aligned about the one or more holes, wherein the probe further comprises a raised area surrounding the one or more holes; and a processor for recording the deformation of the skin using a control unit comprising a microcontroller connected to the one or more infrared or optical proximity sensors and the one or more pressure sensors, to measure an amount of skin drawn into and out of the one or more holes to determine the distance between the one or more proximity sensors and the skin both inside and outside the probe. |
| US09730625B2 |
Automated blood sampling device
Devices are provided to automatically access blood from beneath or within skin. These devices include an injector configured to drive a needle into the skin and subsequently to retract the needle from the skin. These devices additionally include a seal to which suction is applied. To drive the needle into the skin, the needle is first driven through the seal, creating at least one hole in the seal. The suction applied to the seal acts to draw blood from the puncture formed in the skin by the needle, through the at least one hole in the seal, and to a sensor, blood storage element, or other payload. These devices can be wearable and configured to automatically access blood from skin, for example, to access blood from the skin at one or more points in time while a wearer of a device is sleeping. |
| US09730621B2 |
Remote monitoring of analyte measurements
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for remote monitoring. In some example implementations, there is provided a method. The method may include receiving, at a remote monitor, a notification message representative of an event detected, by a server, from analyte sensor data obtained from a receiver monitoring an analyte state of a host; presenting, at the remote monitor, the notification message to activate the remote monitor, wherein the remote monitor is configured by the server to receive the notification message to augment the receiver monitoring of the analyte state of the host; accessing, by the remote monitor, the server, in response to the presenting of the notification message; and receiving, in response to the accessing, information including at least the analyte sensor data. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also disclosed. |
| US09730618B2 |
Kinetics of physiological response to activity during activities of daily living
A physiological response to activity (PRA) during a subject's activities of daily living (ADL) can be used, such as to generate useful diagnostic information about the subject. This can involve using a template, such as an impulse response template. The technique can be used with an implantable or other ambulatory medical monitoring or therapy device, such as a cardiac function management device, or with a local or remote external interface device. |
| US09730617B2 |
Power measurement method and apparatus
The power used by a user in performing the vertical component of a movement is estimated. An accelerometer attached to a user measures the acceleration experienced by the user during movement. A processor configured to receive the measurements of the acceleration from the accelerometer, be attached to the user, estimate the vertical accelerations from the received acceleration measurements, and estimate the power used from the vertical accelerations. |
| US09730615B2 |
Automated surface-based anatomical analysis based on atlas-based segmentation of medical imaging
A non-invasive imaging system, including: a non-invasive imaging scanner; a signal processing unit in communication with the imaging scanner to receive an imaging signal from a subject under observation; and a data storage unit in communication with the signal processing unit, wherein the data storage unit stores template data corresponding to a tissue region of the subject, and wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to generate a surface map to encode a property of a subvolume of the tissue region using the template data. |
| US09730613B2 |
Locating intravascular images
The invention includes imaging catheters having image collectors co-located with radiopaque labels, methods of using the imaging catheters, and systems for locating the position of intravascular images within the body. In some instances, an angiogram is used to determine the precise location of the co-located radiopaque labels, and thus, the position of the intravascular image. |
| US09730608B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining the position of a surgical tool relative to a target volume inside an animal body
The invention relates to a method for determining the position of a surgical tool relative to a target volume inside an animal body according to a pre-plan comprising the steps of i) obtaining a plurality of two-dimensional images of said target volume using imaging means, each 2D-image being represented by an image data slice I(x,y,z); ii) reconstructing from said plurality of image data slices I(x,y,z) a three-dimensional image of said target volume using transformation means, said 3D-image being represented by a volumetric image data array V(x,y,z); iii) displaying said three-dimensional image of said target volume to an user using displaying means. |
| US09730600B2 |
Medical device for high resolution mapping using localized matching
Medical devices and methods for using medical devices are disclosed. An example mapping medical device may include a catheter shaft with a plurality of electrodes. The catheter shaft may be coupled to a processor. The processor may be capable of collecting a first set of signals from a first location, collecting a second set of signals from a second location, characterizing the first set of signals over a first time period, characterizing the second set of signals over a second time period, comparing the first set of signals to the second set of signals and matching a first signal from the first set of signals with a second signal from the second set of signals. |
| US09730592B2 |
Method and apparatus for management of heart failure hospitalization
A hospitalization management system including a heart failure analyzer that receives diagnostic data including at least sensor data representative of one or more physiological signals sensed from a hospitalized patient using one or more sensors and assesses risk of rehospitalization for the patient using the diagnostic data. The outcome of the risk assessment is used during and following the patient's hospitalization for reducing the risk of rehospitalization. |
| US09730590B2 |
System or method for assessing a subject's peripheral blood circulation
A system for assessing blood circulation in a subject's limb, including detection means for detecting a signal dependent upon the arterial blood volume in a limb of the subject when the subject is in a first posture and also when the subject is in a second posture, different to the first posture; and processing means for calculating a quantitative indicator that is dependent upon the ratio of the signal for the first posture to the signal for the second posture. |
| US09730587B2 |
Diagnostic simulator
A testing apparatus for an optoacoustic device includes a light pulse sensor operatively connected to a light output port of the optoacoustic device, the light pulse sensor being adapted to sense a pulse of light capable of generating an optoacoustic response in a subject and to distinguish between the light pulse and the at least one other light pulse on the basis of the predominant wavelength. The light pulse sensor outputs a trigger signal associated with the distinguished light pulse when such light pulse is sensed. A transducer signal simulator outputs a first plurality of electrical signals simulating those produced by a transducer array and reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse at a first wavelength in response to a trigger signal from the light pulse sensor associated with a light pulse having a first wavelength. The simulator outputs a second plurality of electrical signals simulating those produced by a transducer array and reflective of an optoacoustic response in a subject to a light pulse at a second predominant wavelength in response to a trigger signal from the light pulse sensor associated with a light pulse having a second wavelength. Conductors carry the plurality of electrical signals output by the transducer signal simulator to the pins of a multi-pin connector. |
| US09730586B2 |
Apparatus and method for brain fiber bundle microscopy
An intracranial implant to position a fiber bundle to a specified region of a brain of an animal. The implant may include a base support to be fixed to a skull of the animal over an orifice drilled in the skull, a hollow conduit arranged through the base support to guide the fiber bundle to the brain of the animal through the drilled orifice and a first locking member arranged on the base support, to cooperate with a ferrule of the fiber bundle, the first locking member configured to lock the fiber bundle to the specified region of the brain of the animal. |
| US09730584B2 |
Glucose measuring device for use in personal area network
A glucose measuring system includes a glucose meter that incorporates wireless communication capabilities. The meter can advantageously be a low cost meter by eliminating expensive components, such as the display. The user nevertheless is able to retrieve and view his or her glucose values by referring to displays within the glucose measuring local area network. Feedback via these displays can advantageously be used by the diabetic to create a higher level of confidence and safety. |
| US09730578B2 |
Self guided subjective refraction instruments and methods
A refraction device determines a refraction end point to provide corrective optics for a test subject. The device includes an adjustable optical system providing corrective optics to the test subject and an adjustable viewing target disposed along an optical path such as to be viewable through the adjustable optical system by a test subject. The adjustable viewing target includes a directional indicator linked synchronously to at least two choices of corrective optics presented to the test subject. |
| US09730577B2 |
Endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus and endoscope cleaning method
An endoscope cleaning/disinfecting apparatus includes an endoscope connection section, a liquid supply conduit, a gas feeding conduit, a first gas feeding section, a first exhaust section, and a control section that performs a step of filling the gas feeding conduit with a cleaning liquid, a step of opening the first exhaust section, a step of allowing a gas to flow from the first gas feeding section to the endoscope connection section and feeding a two-phase gas-liquid fluid with which the gas feeding conduit is filled into the conduit of the endoscope and a step of closing the first exhaust section a predetermined time after allowing the gas to flow. |
| US09730573B2 |
Narrow band in-vivo imaging device
An in-vivo imaging device for capturing one or more narrow band images of the gastrointestinal tract, or other body lumens or cavities of a patient, using one or more narrow band illumination sources and an imager having an array of light sensitive elements. |
| US09730571B1 |
Foldable dish rack
A foldable dish rack having a case including a base, a lid, and a side wall extending from the periphery of at least a portion of the base, and a mat including a plurality of projections and a first mat hinge dividing a first mat portion and a second mat portion that provides for the second mat portion to fold relative the first mat portion from a planar configuration to a folded configuration whereby the second mat portion rests flat on the first mat portion, with the lid connected to a portion of the side wall by a case hinge such that the lid is capable of converting from a closed configuration against the side walls to an open configuration approximately perpendicular to a plane of the base. |
| US09730569B2 |
Woven fabric for mop cloth
A woven fabric for a mop cloth contains: at least one wrap yarn broadwise woven by a plurality of fibers, plural first fiber yarns, and plural second fiber yarns. Each second fiber yarn is a textured yarn, and each first fiber yarn is a grey yarn. A length of each first fiber yarn is equal to or is more than that of each second fiber yarn, such that two thread ends of each first fiber yarn extends out two sides of each at least one wrap yarn. Thereby, the woven fabric contains a single material or plural materials (such as the grey yarn with a predetermined hardness and the textured yarn with a predetermined flexibility) to absorb fluids and to scrape objects on the floor, thus enhancing cleaning capacity. |
| US09730567B2 |
Cleaning glove
A cleaning glove is provided. The cleaning glove is made of leather and may be tanned. The cleaning glove includes an outside surface and an inside surface. The inside surface is formed to receive a hand of a user. The body portion may further include a first side forming a thumb portion and a second side opposite the first side. The present invention includes at least a first side scraper attached to the second side of the body portion. The side scraper includes a rigid material. |
| US09730565B2 |
Vacuum device
A vacuum device includes a device body, a dust-collecting box, a fan and a detection unit. The device body further has a duct outlet and a fan outlet. The dust-collecting box located inside the device body is spatially connected to the duct outlet. The fan located inside the device body at a place beside the dust-collecting box is spatially connected to the fan outlet. The detection unit located close to the fan outlet further includes a sensor and a rotation assembly; in which the sensor further has an infrared-emitting component and an infrared-receiving component, the rotation assembly is able to pass rotationally through a space between the infrared-emitting component and the infrared-receiving component, and the infrared-emitting component is to emit an infrared to the infrared-receiving component for detecting the rotation assembly. |
| US09730561B2 |
Multipurpose rolled tissue dispenser stand
A multipurpose rolled tissue dispensing stand having a pair of tubular legs attached to a pair of tubular vertical rods further attached at their top ends to a horizontal rod holding a tissue dispensing unit comprised of a base plate holding a tissue dispensing orifice with a serrated edge at the front end and a handle with a lock at the back end. A tubular tissue holding rod is attached to the vertical rods and holds the rolled tissue on the stand. The handle on the base plate of the tissue dispensing unit can be unlocked and actuated to swing the base plate up when inserting the tissue roll into the tissue holding rod and actuated down to place the base plate locked over the tissue. A standard tissue dispensing box with an open bottom can be placed over the rolled tissue dispensing stand. |
| US09730559B2 |
Electro-mechanical paper sheet material dispenser with tail sensor
A paper sheet material dispenser apparatus for dispensing paper sheet material from a roll of paper sheet material having a tail portion includes a sensor structure having a light emitter and a light sensor for sensing the absence of a replacement tail portion projecting from a housing exit opening and for activating an electric motor to rotate a roll support drum and cause the replacement tail portion to project from the exit opening. |
| US09730557B2 |
Keyed dispensing cartridge with valve insert
A dispensing system for dispensing cleaning product for hand sanitization comprises a cartridge having an internal reservoir for containing hand sanitization product, a nozzle configured in one of a plurality of key shapes, and a dispenser having a receptacle opening adapted to receive and engage the nozzle of the cartridge when the receptacle opening is configured in one of a plurality of key shapes corresponding to the key shape of the nozzle, the dispenser having a fluid communication passage for dispensing fluid for hand washing, whereby only cartridges and dispensers which have matched key shapes will engage each other for operative discharge of the hand wash cleaning product. The system includes a valve insert member which prevents leakage of fluid unless the nozzle key matches the receptacle opening. The valve insert member is in the form of a cup shaped member of elastomeric material, said member having a curved top having at least one slit having two slit edges, said slit defining a valve which is normally closed when the two slit edges are in mutual contact, but which slit edges separate when the curved top is penetrated, to thereby open the valve. Two slits can be provided in a cross-pattern. |
| US09730552B2 |
Oven cavity temperature lowering by forced air
A matchbox oven is disclosed. The matchbox oven includes a housing, a slider, a mover, a heat source and a blower. The housing includes a cavity having two openings. The mover moves the slider in and out of the cavity through the two openings. The heat source provides heat to the cavity for heating up any food item placed within the cavity. The slider includes multiple stoppers to serve as oven covers for preventing heat within the cavity from escaping through the two openings. The slider can also be utilized as a heat sink for lowering the cavity's temperature during oven operation. When a new cook temperature is substantially lower than the temperature of the cavity, the blower forces heated air within the cavity to exit through the two openings before the starting of and/or during the initial portion of a new cook cycle. |
| US09730551B2 |
Filter cartridge containing vinegar wetting cotton for descaling flow passages
A container within which is a liquid absorbing material that is wetted by a wetting liquid. The liquid absorbing material has a liquid retention characteristic for retaining the vinegar—such that the liquid retention ability reduces as a surface tension of the wetting liquid reduces due to a temperature rise of the wetting liquid over time. The temperature rise of the wetting liquid comes about when heated water at a higher temperature than the wetted liquid comes into contact with the wetting liquid. Preferably the liquid absorbing material is cotton and the wetting liquid is vinegar, such as apple vinegar. The container has an open top closed by a cover or lid and has a bottom. After piercing the cover of lid, heated water to pass through to enter confines of the container and heat the vinegar and mix with it for cleaning a machine that uses single serving beverage filter cartridges. |
| US09730547B2 |
Beverage preparation machines
A delivery head for a beverage preparation machine comprising a movable first part, a fixed second part and a cartridge guide; the first part being movable between an open position and a clamping position; the cartridge guide being operatively engaged with the first part and slidably movable relative to the second part between a loading position and a dispensing position; the cartridge guide being located in the loading position when the first part is in the open position so as to enable loading of a cartridge into the cartridge guide; wherein on movement of the first part into the clamping position the cartridge guide is slidable into the dispensing position due to the operative engagement of the cartridge guide with the first part. |
| US09730545B2 |
Baby formula preparation device
A baby formula preparation device including a reservoir assembly, a mixing chamber, a dispensing area, a heating chamber and a control unit operably connected to the reservoir assembly, mixing chamber, dispensing area and heating chamber is provided. The reservoir assembly includes a dry powder reservoir, a water reservoir, a heating element, a dry powder metering device and a water metering device. The mixing chamber is operatively in communication with the dry powder reservoir and water reservoir for mixing a predetermined quantity of dry powder and a predetermined quantity of heated water together to form formula mixture. The mixing chamber further includes a nozzle for dispensing the formula mixture into a baby bottle. The baby formula preparation device further includes a heating chamber for heating a food container. |
| US09730543B2 |
Apparatus for cooking food in an airtight bag
A cooking apparatus includes a dual-chamber container with an inner container for holding a food item to be cooked and an outer container for maintaining contact between a temperature-controlled heat transfer liquid and the inner container while the food is being cooked. The dual-chamber container includes an inlet fluid port and outflow fluid port which may be coupled directly to corresponding fluid port connectors on a temperature control unit, or an intervening fluid coupling assembly may convey heat transfer liquid between the control unit and the dual-chamber container. Some control units are adapted to simultaneously control cooking temperature for more than one dual-chamber container. Some dual-chamber containers have a flexible inner container that is separable from an outer container which may be a rigid container or a flexible container. |
| US09730541B2 |
Window treatment closure device and method
A window treatment device is provided including a main body, secondary body, elongated rod, curtain rod, and grommet. The elongated rod may connect with the main body and/or the secondary body. The grommet may be removably insertable into the main body. The secondary body may be movable about the elongated rod. The main body may at least partially be enclosed by the curtain rod. A method is provided for constructing a window treatment device. |
| US09730537B1 |
Travel cloud pillow
A pillow has a knit cover with a crimped siliconized polyester fill. The pillow is sewn into a spheroid shape, which can be adorned with any desired decoration, such as forming the pillow to resemble the head of a character. The outer cover is made of a polyester derived knit matrix in which the weft of the knit matrix has been scratched and raised to produce a nap averaging 2 mm in height. The outer cover is sliver knit on a warp machine to create a unique texture and feel. After knitting, the fibrous yarn is sheared to create a velvet-like pile. The fill encased within the spheroid is 100% siliconized polyester fiber that is created by melt spinning. The fiber has been crimped at an average 9 crimps per inch. The pillow contains no more than 70 grams of fiber per one inch of diameter. This ratio provides the optimal deformation and pressure for a heightened sensory experience. |
| US09730536B2 |
Pillow for side sleeping
A pillow for sleeping on one's side that comfortably accommodates the user's shoulder by having an indentation at a middle section of the pillow. The indentation is created by a first interior face and a second interior face that tapers inwardly towards a center axis from lateral sides of the pillow. The first and second interior faces also taper from a top side towards the bottom side of the pillow. The indentation can be replicated on the opposite side so that the pillow can be reversible. |
| US09730534B2 |
Magnetic mounting system and method
The disclosure includes in one aspect a mounting sticker comprising a non-adhesive front side defined by a planar sticker body and a rear side defined by the planar sticker body and including a planar magnetically receptive member disposed thereon with the magnetically receptive member completely peripherally surrounded by a portion of the sticker body, at least a portion of the sticker body defining the rear side comprising an adhesive. The sticker body can define a teardrop shape having a circular head portion with a peeling tip extending from the head portion and terminating at a point defined by an acute angle. |
| US09730533B2 |
Apparatus and method for displaying items
A frame for displaying items such as photographs, drawings, paintings, or documents, as well as a method of displaying such items, is provided. A substantially flat panel has a plurality of holes extending through the panel. A line, such as a string or rope, extends through each of the holes alternately through the front side of the panel and through the back side of the panel. The line is pulled taut to substantially remove slack in the line so that the line runs along the front surface of the panel between pairs of holes. The line is configured to cover corners or edges of a display item, thereby holding the display item securely in place within the frame. |
| US09730532B2 |
System for distributing gas cylinders, including means for identifying the type of cylinder, comprising a color sensor and a sensor for detecting ferromagnetic material
This system (10) for distributing gas cylinders, wherein the gas cylinders (11) are likely to be of different types defined by different shapes, volumes and colors, comprises means (20) for identifying the type of gas cylinder (11), the identification means (20) comprising a first sensor (60) for sensing the color of the gas cylinder. The identification means (20) also include a sensor (62) for detecting ferromagnetic material. |
| US09730530B2 |
Wire grid security enclosure with heavy duty latch mechanism
A wire grid security enclosure with heavy duty latch mechanism is utilized to secure contents while allowing viewing of the contents within. The enclosure includes a base mount onto which a lateral wall is positioned. The enclosure includes an upper panel that closes the top portion of the lateral wall as well as a first door and a second door that are opened to gain access to the enclosure. The first door and the second door are prevented from opening by a first hooked rod and a second hooked rod. The first hooked rod and the second hooked rod are removably engaged to the upper panel as well as to the first door and the second door. The first hooked rod and the second hooked rod connect via a first locking tab and a second locking tab that are positioned on the first hooked rod and the second hooked rod. |
| US09730526B2 |
Child transport device
The present disclosure relates to a child transport device for a child. The child transport device is transformable between a vehicle configuration adapted for attachment in a vehicle, and a carrying configuration adapted for carrying the child against a body of a person. The child transport device comprises a main body, which comprises a safety harness adapted to attach the child to the main body. In the vehicle configuration, a front portion of the main body is adapted to be supported by a first support element, and a rear portion of the main body is adapted to be supported by a second support element, the main body being adapted to be tensioned, such that it when tensioned bridges a distance between the first and second support elements. The disclosure further relates to a method of attaching the child transport device to a vehicle. |
| US09730525B2 |
Adjustable bed position control
The present invention provides an adjustable bed handheld remote control that may include a handheld housing, a touch sensor on a front face of the handheld housing, a transmitter and the like. The touch sensor may be presented in a slider form and may be adapted to facilitate a user in adjusting a frame position of an adjustable bed. The transmitter may be electrically coupled to a processor and may receive input from the touch sensor, for communication control signals to the adjustable bed in accordance with the input received from the touch sensor. |
| US09730523B2 |
Foldable composite bed frame
A bed frame which can be assembled without the use of additional tools and may be collapsed for shipping. The bed frame comprises a pair of side rails, three cross rail assemblies and mounting brackets. Each of the cross rail assemblies is adjustable in length and comprises multiple movable members. Each cross rail member has a projection which fits inside a cavity of a leg assembly secured to one of the side rails. To disassemble the bed frame, the cross rail assemblies may be removed from the side rails without any tools. |
| US09730513B2 |
Modular furniture unit having power distribution
A modular furniture unit can be configured to provide power distribution in conjunction with other furniture features. Embodiments of furniture arrangements may utilize one or more modular furniture units to provide one or more of such features (e.g. storage, seating, privacy, work surface, lighting, etc.). In some embodiments, the modular furniture unit includes an elongated upper member having an upper slot that has a first end and a second end opposite its first end. At least one leg is attached to the first end and at least one leg is attached to the second end. The elongated upper member may have a channel through which power cabling passes and outlets that are connected to such cabling. Different elements can be connected to the upper member via the upper slot or a downward facing opening of the upper member and/or to the legs to provide different furniture arrangements. |
| US09730512B1 |
Table frame and table
A table frame for a table has a first column and a second column for supporting a table top, a cross member of hollow profile construction by which the first column and the second column are interconnected with each other and a first cantilever support mounted on the top end of the first column and a second cantilever support mounted on the top end of the second column. The first and the second column each have two projections at respective top ends thereof. The cross member, at each end section thereof, has a pair of oblong holes disposed on its lower side and through which the two projections of the respective column extend into the cross member. Each cantilever support has a first and a second flange which are arranged spaced-apart from one another, each of the flanges abutting the cross member on a lateral side portion thereof. |
| US09730508B2 |
Backpack for a mobile device user
The present invention discloses a back pack for a mobile device user.A back pack for a mobile device user according to the present invention comprises a body; a support board adjacently facing a front side of the body in parallel; a hinge, being provided on the front side or on a lateral side of the body, for pivotally coupling the support board and the body; and a multiple positioning fix unit to fix the support board at an open position, wherein the support board is pivotally coupled to the body by the hinge and the multiple positioning fix unit so as to adjust an open angle of the support board. |
| US09730507B2 |
Retractable shoulder strap for portable objects
A retractable shoulder strap for portable objects, such as bags, purses, briefcases or carry-on luggage, comprises a shoulder pad, an elongated strip of pliant material, a plurality of holes positioned at substantially uniform intervals along the length of the elongated strip, and retractors located inside the shoulder pad. Extendible guide wires passing through the plurality of holes connect the ends of the elongated strip to the retractors, which are spring-biased to automatically retract the guide wires and stow the elongated strip inside internal storage spaces in the shoulder pad, thereby eliminating slack in the strap when no tension is applied to the ends of the elongated strip. When tension is applied to the ends of the elongated strip, the portions of the elongated strip stowed in the internal storage spaces of the shoulder pad are automatically extracted, thereby increasing the length of the strap to facilitate normal over-the-shoulder use. |
| US09730503B2 |
Tool for applying cosmetics to eyelash
A tool for applying cosmetics to an eyelash. The tool includes a container containing eyelash cosmetics; a lid coupled with the container; a first part of tongs disposed at the lid; a second part of tongs hinge-coupled to the first part of tongs and to approach the first part of tongs or separate from the first part of tongs; a knob installed at the first part of tongs to protrude out of the lid; a tightening ring surrounding the first part of tongs and the second part of tongs and to provide elastic force in a direction in which the first part of tongs and the second part of tongs approach each other; and a first brush and a second brush respectively coupled to an end portion of the first part of tongs and an end portion of the second part of tongs. |
| US09730498B2 |
Method of connecting jewelry components
Two plates, corresponding to the diameter of a length of riveting material being used, act as gauges and are placed separately on the top and bottom of at least one components to be made into a jewelry item. The length of material, such as a wire or tubing, is passed through holes in all the components, and the holes of the plates. This allows the jewelry maker to cut the length of material flush with the exposed surface of the plate on the top of the stack. This automatically measures the optimal length of material needed to span the combined thickness of all the components to be riveted together, while providing the desired length exposed at the top and bottom of the stacked pieces, to fashion a properly formed and secure flattened rivet head on each end of the length of material. |
| US09730496B1 |
Lanyard end connector
A lanyard end connector has a connector body and a connector holder. The connector body has a first body end with an enclosed opening adapted for receiving a lanyard end, a second body end having an attachment structure, a central portion defining a connector body frame that delineates a connector body chamber having at least one side window opening, and at least one lanyard tab connected to the connector body frame and adapted for rotatable movement into and away from the at least one side window opening. The connector holder has a holder body with first and second holder end openings and a circumferential holder body wall defining a holder body chamber where the connector body is disposed within the holder body chamber. |
| US09730494B1 |
Self-fitting, self-adjusting, automatically adjusting and/or automatically fitting shoe/sneaker/footwear
Provided is a self-fitting and automatically adjustable footwear wherein the shoe upper and/or shoe tongue have or are attached to a shape memory material (‘SMM”). Upon stimulation, the SMM deforms and brings the footwear to self-assemble about a foot, which further brings two clasp members close to each other and facilitates the clasp thereof to form a self-assembled and closed footwear. The clasp members may be integrated with straps or shoelaces, and optionally SMM. The footwear may include a motor, a control unit, and sensors which enable a motor-actuated fine tensioning of the footwear. A push button to enable manual opening of the footwear may be affixed on the footwear or removably attached to multiple surfaces/locations. The entire assembly generates data transmittable to health care providers and other data trackers. The footwear may include a battery, which may be charged by placing the footwear on a charge dock station. |
| US09730493B2 |
Elastic closure for footwear
The elastic closure for footwear is a releasable closure for an open upper of an article of footwear. The elastic closure includes an elastomeric loop having opposed first and second ends, an anchoring member, such as a button, secured to the first end of the elastomeric loop, and an aglet secured to and covering the second end of the elastomeric loop. In use, the aglet and the second end of the elastomeric loop are inserted from above through a first eyelet of an upper of the article of footwear, so that the aglet and the second end of the elastomeric loop may be drawn through a second eyelet of the upper from below. The button prevents the first end of the elastomeric loop from passing through the first eyelet. The second end of the elastomeric loop is then stretched across the upper and releasably secured about the button. |
| US09730491B2 |
Safety toe cap made from nano composite material and preparation method of nano composite safety toe cap
The invention discloses safety toe caps made from nano composite material and a preparation method of the nano composite safety toe cap. The toe caps are made from multi-layers of laminated glass fiber cloth coated with resin paste, wherein the percentage ratio of the resin paste to the glass fiber cloth is as follows: the resin paste accounts for 30-45%, the glass fiber cloth accounts for 55-70%, and the total sum is 100%; the resin paste comprises the following components in percentage by mass: 30-50% of thermosetting resin, 0.1-5% of modified carbon nanotubes, 10-30% of modified nitrile rubber, 5-25% of polyurethaneacrylate, 1-5% of prepolymerized silane oligomer, 0.5-2% of a high-temperature initiator such as tert-Butyl peroxybenzoate, 1-2% of a medium-temperature initiator such as tert-Butyl peroxy-2-ethylhexanoate, 5-20% of a shrinkage-reduction additive, 1-10% of thickener A, 1-3% of thickener B and 2-5% of inner demolding agent. The safety toe caps made from the nano composite material is are high in pressure resistance and impact resistance, light in weight and thin in wall thickness. |
| US09730489B2 |
High heel for exercising achilles tendons while walking
The present invention relates to a high heel for women, and particularly, to a high heel which not only prevents weight from being concentrated to the toe when worn but also absorbs shock to achieve walking comfort, and in which stress is provided to the arch of the sole to prevent deformation of the toes and exercise the Achilles' tendon such that joints are protected and the posture is corrected thereby preventing damage to the spine. To this end, a protrusion part 1 is formed at a part to support a back end of the arching of the sole, and an inclined surface 2 inclined downward from a back end of the protrusion part 1, which positions the heel of the sole to an end part of the high heel such that the Achilles' tendon can be exercised while walking. |
| US09730488B2 |
Adjustable multi-bladder system for an article of footwear
An adjustable multiple bladder system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The bladder system includes an outer bladder that may be inflated using an external pump. A valve member is disposed within the outer bladder and divides the outer bladder into two distinct inflation chambers. The inflation chambers may be inflated separately. |
| US09730487B2 |
Contoured fluid-filled chamber
A sole structure for an article of footwear may include a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer about peripheral portions of the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer to define an interior void between the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may also include a tensile member bonded to, and extending between, the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may include a bond inhibiting material located between the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer, the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer being unbonded in an unbonded area in which the bond inhibiting material is disposed. The chamber may include an outwardly extending bulge in the unbonded area. |
| US09730482B2 |
System and method for airbag deployment and inflation
A helmet with an airbag assembly coupled to the shell of the helmet. The airbag assembly includes an airbag and an inflation device. The inflation device is configured to at least partially inflate the airbag upon deployment of the airbag assembly. The helmet also includes a processing circuit disposed at least partially within the shell. The processing circuit is configured to receive helmet data regarding a second helmet, transmit deployment data regarding inflation of the airbag assembly, and control operation of the inflation device to inflate the airbag based on the helmet data. |
| US09730479B2 |
Insulating apparel
Articles of apparel and a method for manufacturing an article of apparel are disclosed. An insulation layer for an article of apparel may include a flexible polyurethane foam. The foam may be generated by polymerization in a pressurizable chamber at a pressure sufficient to prevent the foam from completely filling the chamber. A shell layer may include wind resistant, breathable material. The shell layer may include an outer layer of the article of apparel. |
| US09730477B2 |
Ambidextrous fish scale-textured glove
The described invention relates to an ambidextrous working glove having fish scale-textured inner and outer surfaces and methods of making same. |
| US09730473B2 |
Non-burning type flavor inhaler and capsule unit
A non-burning type flavor inhaler includes a main body unit having the non-inhalation end; and a capsule unit configured to be attachable/detachable to/from the main body unit. The main body unit includes an aerosol source, an atomizer, and a power source. The capsule unit includes a solid flavor source, and a filter adjacent to the inhalation end side with respect to the flavor source. A part of an outer surface of the flavor source except a portion adjacent to the filter is covered with a predetermined film composed of an impermeable member. The main body unit is provided with a breaker for breaking the part of the predetermined film in a part adjacent to the capsule unit. |
| US09730470B2 |
Filter for a smoking article
A filter (11) for a smoking article (10) comprises a first flow path (13) through the filter, a second flow path (14) through the filter, the second flow path being disposed around the first flow path, and a selector (16) for allowing flow selectively through the first and second flow paths. |
| US09730467B2 |
Food forming drum
The present invention relates to a food forming drum comprising a multitude of rows of cavities. The present invention further relates to the process of manufacturing the inventive drum. |
| US09730465B2 |
Plant based beverages, and methods for preparation thereof
The present invention provides a method for preparing a plant derived beverage product or process intermediate, the method including the steps of: providing a crushed or liquefied extract of a plant material, exposing the extract to a size exclusion purification means involving membrane filtration (such as nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis or cross flow filtration) to provide a beverage product or a process intermediate thereof, wherein the purification means is capable of at least partially separating an undesirable component, from a desirable component. The purification methods may be applied to plant materials to selectively remove various components, while leaving others. This allows for the preparation of custom plant extract beverages. |
| US09730463B1 |
Separation of components from whole stillage
A multi stage process for separating oil, protein, fiber and clean water from a stream containing whole stillage byproduct from ethanol production is disclosed. In a first step, fibers are separated in a two-step process that includes a plate separator and a press. In a subsequent step, the liquid stream separated from the fibers and contains oil, protein and water is treated with a composition that causes the protein to gel. The liquid stream is then processed in a phase separator that drains the oil by gravity, removes the water by an impeller under pressure and removes the solidified protein using a scroll. |
| US09730461B1 |
Multiple-level skinning apparatus
A skinning machine for any meat product, and particularly for poultry cuts. The machine includes two or more skinning stations, each of which may remove skin between a gripper and a closely-fit pinch block. The skinning stations are vertically distinct so that the first skinning station skins a first side of the product, and the second skinning station receives the product at a position lower vertically and skins the second side of the product. The product falls through a path between the two skinning stations to permit the product to rotate about one-half of a rotation. The product lands on a conveyor beneath the first skinning station that transports the product to the second skinning station facing the opposite direction from when it was in the first skinning station. By making the vertical drop sufficient, the poultry cut rotates the unskinned face down prior to skinning. |
| US09730459B2 |
Dough compositions for extended shelf life baked articles
Dough compositions that can be baked to provide baked articles (e.g., cinnamon rolls) having an extended shelf life of about 7 days or greater (e.g., about 14 days, about 21 days, or about 28 days or greater). The dough composition may be a developed dough compositions or an under-developed dough compositions. The dough compositions may include one or more shelf life enhancing agents. |
| US09730457B2 |
Method and apparatus for cutting dough products having holes from a dough sheet
A apparatus may be used to cut a dough product having a hole from a dough sheet. The stamping apparatus may have multiple cutting blades, depending from a platen, that are configured for cutting complementary open shapes, in phases, that together form a closed shape defining the dough product periphery. The stamping apparatus may also have a tubular cutting blade depending from the platen, configured to cut a closed shape defining the dough product hole, that is nested within one of the blades that is configured to cut an open shape. The tubular cutting blade may be retractable about a finger contained therewithin that remains in a fixed position in relation to the tubular cutting blade as the blade retracts. Air trapped within the tubular cutting blade, between the finger and a cutout dough piece that does not form part of the dough product, may become compressed during blade retraction. The compression may facilitate ejection of the cutout dough piece from the tubular cutting blade. The finger may be omitted in some embodiments. |
| US09730452B2 |
Methods to induce drought tolerance in crops
The present invention is directed to methods for improving drought stress tolerance of a cereal grain comprising applying an effective amount of at least one gibberellin to the cereal grain during early vegetative growth stage. The present invention is also directed to methods for improving yield of a cereal grain comprising applying an effective amount of at least one gibberellin to the cereal grain during early vegetative growth stage. |
| US09730450B2 |
Use of isosorbide monoesters as antimicrobial active substances
The use of one or more compounds of the formula (I) in which R is a straight-chain or branched saturated alkyl group having 5 to 11 carbon atoms or a straight-chain or branched mono- or polyunsaturated alkenyl group having 5 to 11 carbon atoms as antimicrobially active compound is described. The use is preferably in cosmetic, dermatological or pharmaceutical compositions, in crop protection formulations, in washing or cleaning compositions or in paints or coatings. |
| US09730444B2 |
Herbicidal compositions comprising isoxaben and aminopyralid
Herbicidal compositions and methods of controlling undesirable vegetation using a combination of (a) isoxaben, (b) aminopyralid or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof, and optionally (c) flufenacet and (d) diflufenacet provide control of broad-leaved weeds. |
| US09730443B2 |
Methods and compositions for the generation of peracetic acid on site at the point-of-use
Methods for the generation of non-equilibrium solutions of peroxyacetic acid are disclosed. These methods comprise introducing triacetin and aqueous hydrogen peroxide to water, mixing, and then adding an aqueous source of an alkali metal or earth alkali metal hydroxide. Triacetin is converted rapidly and with a high conversion rate into peracetic acid. These methods produce solutions with a high level of peracetic acid. |
| US09730442B2 |
Use of 4-phenylbutyric acid for improving the tolerance of plants to harmful biological organisms
The present invention relates to the use of 4-phenylbutyric acid, or one of the salts thereof, for improving the resistance of plants to harmful biological organisms, in particular to bacteria, viruses and nematodes, and for inhibiting hypersensitive cell death induced by such harmful biological organisms. The present invention also relates to the use of 4-phenylbutyric acid, or one of the salts thereof, as an antimicrobial agent for preventing or treating plant diseases caused by phytopathogens. |
| US09730439B2 |
Preformed concentrate for delivery of water insoluble film forming polymers
A preformed concentrate, capable of forming emulsion/micro-emulsion upon dilution with water, for providing peripheral desiccating effect on leaves/crops comprising: (i) a water insoluble film forming polymer; (ii) a long chain substituted amide; and (iii) an oil soluble surfactant. |
| US09730433B2 |
Infrastructure for solar power installations
The technology provides a plurality of examples for implementing solar cell, solar panels, and solar collection devices on natural looking installations such as faux trees and plants as well as objects mimicking natural ones. The technology allows the installation of solar power generating installations in a distributed manner on land and water. The installation of, for example, artificial plants as carriers of solar cells provides a number of benefits to society in addition to the generation of power. The aesthetics of a community are maintained, while at the same time the need for maintain natural plants is eliminated, providing financial and environmental savings for consumers and municipalities. |
| US09730427B2 |
Pet fountain assembly with lift tube
A pet drinking fountain assembly having a pump forming part of a fountain mounting arrangement that includes a lift tube coupling a cover to the pump coupled to a lower basin by a mount. The mount and lift tube attenuate pump noise and vibration by providing isolation from the basin and cover and can function as dampeners. In a preferred embodiment the pump is part of a pump module that includes a module housing to which the pump is attached by another noise-attenuating mount. Each mount is formed by one or more suction cups with the cups and lift tube made of vibration dampening material, such as a resilient vibration dampening or isolating material that can be an elastomeric material. The module includes a lift tube coupling discharge that registers in fluid flow communication with a pump outlet and can include a ring or bushing therebetween providing additional noise attenuation. |
| US09730426B2 |
Enhanced bolster structures, systems, and processes
An enhanced bolster, such as connectable to a pet bed, comprises an outer cover having an inner volume, and a mechanism for attachment to a pet bed. The inner volume may be filled directly with stuffing, or may include an inner stuff sack. While the stuffing may comprise a wide variety of stuffing items, the enhanced bolster or bolster stuff sack may preferably be filled with a plurality of items supplied by the owner, and may preferably inherently include a scent that is desirable or comforting to the intended animal, e.g. the scent of a known person or animal. For embodiments having permeable bolster stuff sacks, the entire bolster stuff sack assembly may preferably be laundered, e.g. washed and dried, as a unit, i.e. with the stuffing retained. The enhanced bolsters may preferably be provided without stuffing, but with instructions on how to stuff the enhanced bolster. |
| US09730424B2 |
Space divider of a milking parlor arrangement, and milking parlor arrangement
A space divider (4) of a milking parlor arrangement for at least one milking parlor (3) for milking milk-producing animals (T), wherein the space divider (4) is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal (T) to be milked, has an arm device (6) having a milking cluster (5, 5′), which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device (6) is arranged with the milking cluster (5) in the parking position in the space divider (4), wherein the milking cluster (5, 5′) can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal (T) to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof. The milking cluster (5, 5′) comprises two halves, wherein each half has a specific set of at least one teatcup (5a). The space divider (4) is designed in such a way that no additional space is required between adjacent animals (T), so that many animals (T) can be milked in a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1′, 1″) while the smallest possible amount of space is required. A milking parlor arrangement (1, 1′, 1″) has at least one external robot (12). |
| US09730419B1 |
Soybean variety 01064108
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01064108. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01064108. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01064108 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01064108 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09730417B1 |
Maize inbred PH2G6T
A novel maize variety designated PH2G6T and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH2G6T with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH2G6T through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH2G6T or a locus conversion of PH2G6T with another maize variety. |
| US09730416B1 |
Maize inbred PH2DNP
A novel maize variety designated PH2DNP and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH2DNP with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH2DNP through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH2DNP or a locus conversion of PH2DNP with another maize variety. |
| US09730410B2 |
Variety corn line FB6455
The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated FB6455, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line FB6455 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line FB6455, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line FB6455, and plants produced according to these methods. |
| US09730407B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH116314
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH116314. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH116314, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH116314 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH116314. |
| US09730400B2 |
Three dimensional vegetation growing systems
Three-dimensional vegetation growing systems provide an enclosed hydroponic environment for growing plants. The system serves to uniformly expose the plants to nutrients, liquids, and light from multiple directions while the plant rotates. In some embodiments, the three-dimensional vegetation growing systems may include a system housing configured to form an enclosed hydroponic growing environment; at least one light source in the system housing, the at least one light source configured to emit light; a distribution portion in the system housing, the distribution portion configured to discharge a vegetation growth sustaining liquid; and at least one conveyor device in the system housing, the at least one conveyor device disposed in proximity to the distribution portion, the at least one conveyor device configured to support vegetation and rotate the vegetation in the system housing as the vegetation receives the vegetation growth sustaining liquid from the distribution portion and the light from the at least one light source. Other embodiments of the three-dimensional vegetation growing systems are also disclosed. |
| US09730394B2 |
Graze harvesting of mushrooms
A method and system for controlling harvesting of mushrooms from a bed during a mushroom graze harvest operation account for both mushroom separation and stagger, thereby providing for automatic and proper selection of which mushrooms in the bed are to be harvested in a given shift. |
| US09730388B2 |
Parallel oscillating rails of a shaker harvester
Rail assembly 302 may comprise rail 322 mechanically coupled to oscillating members 305 and 307. In operation, oscillating members 305 and 307 may reciprocate about vertical axes 352 and 353 of vertical shafts 309 and 311, respectively. Reciprocation of the oscillating members may cause rail 322 to travel in arcuate paths 802 and 804. Arcuate paths 802 and 804 may be located in a two-dimensional plane that is perpendicular to vertical shafts 309 and 311. Rail 322 may impart a force on the trunk of a vine so as to dislodge the fruit from the vine. |
| US09730384B2 |
Vegetation cutting device
A vegetation cutting device comprising a housing rotatably coupled to a shaft; a cutting head comprising a rotary cutting device for cutting vegetation, the cutting head being coupled to the shaft and being arranged to move between an edging mode in which the rotary cutting device rotates in a substantially horizontal plane; a motor mounted in the housing, the motor being arranged to drive the rotary cutting device; and a switching device mechanically coupled between the housing and the shaft and arranged to be actuated when the shaft rotates relatives to the housing thereby changing the speed of the rotary cutting device when the cutting head moves between the edging mode and trimming mode. |
| US09730383B2 |
Slip controlling belt tension system
A yard maintenance device having a working assembly selectively rotatable based on operation of an engine of the device may include a belt drive system. The belt drive system may include at least one driven pulley operably coupled to the working assembly, a drive shaft operably coupled to the engine, a drive belt configured to selectively couple the drive shaft to the at least one driven pulley, a tension adjustment assembly, and a control unit. The tension adjustment assembly may be configured to operably couple to at least one component of the belt drive system to adjust a position thereof to modify tension of the drive belt. The control unit may be configured to provide electronic control of the tension adjustment assembly. |
| US09730381B2 |
Moisture removal attachment for powered lawnmower
An attachment for a power lawnmower enables cutting wet grass and includes a cross bar adapted to be supported by the forward end of the lawnmower. An elongated support member has a front frame portion and a rear frame portion, where the rear frame portion is secured transversely to the cross bar and extends forwardly therefrom. A rigid bracket is connected transversely to the front frame portion of the elongated support member and cantilevered above the ground. A flexible member has a first side secured along the rigid bracket and has a second side extending below the rigid bracket. The flexible member is adapted to contact the wet grass during forward movement of the lawnmower in order to remove moisture from the wet grass. |
| US09730378B2 |
Adjustable width row unit for planter transport
An agricultural planting apparatus includes a chassis and a row unit carried by the chassis that defines a width. The row unit includes a unit body carried by the chassis; a metering device carried by the unit body; at least one furrowing disc carried by the unit body; at least one closing disc carried by the unit body behind the furrowing disc(s); a restraining member carried by the mounting body; and a pressing wheel carried by the unit body, pivotally movable about an axis of rotation relative to the unit body, positionable behind the closing disc(s), and reversibly connectable to the restraining member. The pressing wheel has a constrained pivoting configuration when connected to the restraining member that resists pivoting and a freely pivoting configuration when disconnected from the restraining member to reduce the width of the row unit when pivoted in an upward direction about the axis of rotation. |
| US09730377B2 |
Planter with on-board seed treatment
A planter is provided with onboard seed treatment for treating seeds on the go during row-crop planting of an agricultural field. The seed treatment system of the planter allows for selective planting of specific zones of a field with treated seed, which may include planting different zones of the field with seeds having different treatments. The planter may store untreated seed in bulk and include a seed treatment system that selectively and precisely treat the untreated seeds during treatment events by way of an injection or spray nozzle system that applies liquid treatment to the seeds traveling along a tightly defined travel path, such as within pockets of a belt that carries the seeds through a seed tube. |
| US09736968B2 |
Device for clamping a printed circuit board module in a mounting groove
A device for retaining a printed circuit board module in a mounting groove of a cold plate, the device comprising an elongated housing made of metal, which has a cross-section in the shape of a horizontal U. A pressure piece made of metal is mounted in the housing so as to be displaceable transversely relative to the rotational axis of the housing and comprises a flat clamping surface on the front side. A rotary cylinder can be rotatably mounted in the housing so as to be transversely displaceable relative to the rotational axis. During a rotation, eccentric guide elements can be used to effect a forward displacement of the rotary cylinder. The pressure piece follows the displacement of the rotary cylinder and slides outward. The waste heat of the printed circuit board module is transported via the housing and the pressure piece to the cold plate. |
| US09736965B2 |
Playback device for aircraft
A playback device for an aircraft has a casing; a circuit board; a power unit placed away from the circuit board in a first direction; a heat sink attached to the circuit board; a cooling fan that is placed on an opposite side of the power unit with reference to the circuit board and spaced from a periphery of the casing and that sends an exhaust stream to the heat sink; a partition interposed between the circuit board and the power unit; and first outlets for letting out exhaust streams into which an exhaust stream has diverged upon collision against the partition after passing through the heat sink. |
| US09736962B2 |
Efficient temperature forcing of semiconductor devices under test
A temperature-forcing system and method for controlling the temperature of an electronic device under test comprises a temperature-forcing head, including a face positionable in thermal contact with the device, and an evaporator, in direct or indirect thermal contact with the face; and a refrigerant circulation subsystem, including a compressor, a condenser, a flow control device for inducing a pressure drop in the refrigerant, and a conduit circuit through which the refrigerant is flowable. The subsystem cooperates with the evaporator so as to define at least one closed loop through which a corresponding bi-phase refrigerant is circulatable, so that, during circulation, the refrigerant is maintained in a liquid phase between the compressor and the flow control device and in a gaseous phase while flowing through the evaporator. The temperature of the device is therefore switchable by the head at a rapid rate of 50 to 150 degrees Celsius per minute. |
| US09736961B2 |
Top loading cartridge
A top loading cartridge is provided herein. The top loading cartridge includes a support member, a rail member, and a lock mechanism. The support member to receive an electronic module. The rail member attached to the support member to engage with a tray that receives the top loading server cartridge. The lock mechanism to lock the top loading cartridge. |
| US09736958B2 |
Server assembly with front opening
A server assembly having a housing and a tray mounted in the housing are provided. The tray had a top surface and a front surface, and an open position in which the top surface of the tray is accessible and a closed position in which the top surface of the tray is inaccessible. A first set of chip connections in the top surface can vertically removably receive at least one first storage device. The front surface of the tray can define at least one opening below the top surface configured to horizontally removably receive at least one second storage device. The first set of chip connections electronically couple the at least one first storage device with the server assembly and are inaccessible when the tray is in the closed position, and the openings are accessible regardless of whether the tray is in the open or closed position. |
| US09736957B2 |
Hybrid thermoplastic gels and their methods of making
Methods, compositions, apparatuses, and systems are provided for a hybrid thermoplastic gel or sealant. The methods comprise providing (a) a base polymer having at least one functional group capable of crosslinking, (b) a functionalized extender, and (c) heat, and reacting the base polymer and functionalized extender in the presence of the heat to form the hybrid thermoplastic gel. The gel composition may comprise 5-40 wt % of a base polymer, 60-95 wt % of a functionalized extender, and 0-10 wt % of a crosslinker. A closure or interconnect system may comprise a housing, a cable, and a hybrid thermoplastic gel or sealant. A telecommunications apparatus may comprise a telecommunications component and a sealant that forms a seal with the telecommunications component. The sealant may comprise a sealant material having a first range of elongation followed by a second range of elongation. |
| US09736956B2 |
Electronic device having display module
An electronic device is provided comprising a display module comprising a display area and a peripheral area abutting on a side of the display area, wherein the display module comprises a glass layer extending across the display area and the peripheral area, and wherein the glass layer comprises a first recess positioned over the peripheral area. |
| US09736949B2 |
Flexible display and flexible display device
A flexible display (5) and a flexible display device are disclosed. The flexible display (5) includes a flexible display body on which a support body structure (3) is configured to provide supporting when the flexible display body is in wrapped state or un-wrapped state. The flexible display (5) and display device can prevent over-bending of a display substrate by the strength of the substrate, and can also automatically keep the display substrate flat when unwrapped, and prevent damage of the display substrate due to the over bending, and can also be worn on wrist conveniently. |
| US09736948B2 |
Systems and methods of manufacturing printed circuit boards using blind and internal micro vias to couple subassemblies
Systems and methods of manufacturing printed circuit boards using blind and internal micro vias to couple subassemblies. An embodiment of the invention provides a method of manufacturing a printed circuit including attaching a plurality of metal layer carriers to form a first subassembly including at least one copper foil pad on a first surface, applying an encapsulation material onto the first surface of the first subassembly, curing the encapsulation material and the first subassembly; applying a lamination adhesive to a surface of the cured encapsulation material, forming at least one via in the lamination adhesive and the cured encapsulation material to expose the at least one copper foil pad, attaching a plurality of metal layer carriers to form a second subassembly, and attaching the first subassembly and the second subassembly. |
| US09736947B1 |
Nano-copper via fill for enhanced thermal conductivity of plated through-hole via
A process of constructing a filled via of a printed circuit board comprises drilling a via hole through a body of the printed circuit board, desmearing a barrel of the via hole, metallizing a outer surface of the via barrel, electroplating the via barrel, pushing nano-copper solder into the via hole and heating the circuit board in order to melt the nano-copper solder within the via hole. The nano-copper solder improves the thermal conductivity of the printed circuit board for applications when heat needs to be conducted from one side of the printed circuit board to another. |
| US09736944B2 |
Structure, wireless communication device and method for manufacturing structure
A first resin layer (1) has: a covered region which is covered by a second resin layer (2) and an exposed region (1a); a contact part (1b) which is provided in the exposed region (1a); and a bend part (1c) which is provided between (a) a boundary between the covered region and the exposed region (1a) and (b) the contact part (1b). |
| US09736942B2 |
Coil component, its manufacturing method, and circuit substrate provided with the coil component
Disclosed herein is a coil component that includes a drum-shaped core having a flange portion and a winding core around which a wire is wound. The flange portion includes first and second side surface opposite to each other, and a mounting surface. The mounting surface of the flange portion includes first and second convex portions and a concave portion positioned therebetween. The first convex portion has a third side surface parallel to the first side surface of the flange portion. The second convex portion has a fourth side surface parallel to the second side surface of the flange portion. A level difference between the first side surface and the third side surface is larger than a level difference between the second side surface and the fourth side surface. |
| US09736940B2 |
Low permeability electrical feed-through
A low permeability electrical feed-through involves a laminated structure having a conductor layer sandwiched between adjacent insulator layers, which are sandwiched between adjacent diffusion control layers, where the laminated structure provides a relatively narrow and long, high aspect ratio diffusion channel to inhibit the leakage of gas from within a sealed device to the external environment. The electrical feed-through may comprise lower and upper electrical connection pads that are positioned within different regions of the feed-through but still electrically connected by way of a first via positioned in a sealed region, the conductor layer, and a second via positioned in an external environment region. |
| US09736937B2 |
Conductive film, method for manufacturing the same and display device comprising the same
The present application relates to a conductive film, a method for manufacturing the same, and a display device including the same. |
| US09736933B2 |
Conductive sheet including mesh pattern having improved visibility for observation, and touch panel and display device including the same
In the mesh pattern of the conductive sheet of the invention in which openings having different shapes are arrayed in plan view, a standard deviation of an area of each of the openings is equal to or greater than 0.017 mm2 and equal to or less than 0.038 mm2, in a two-dimensional distribution of centroid positions of the openings; a standard deviation for a root mean square deviation of each of the centroid positions which are disposed along a predetermined direction, with respect to a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction is equal to or greater than 15.0 μm; or a standard deviation over a radial direction of a value expressed by a common logarithm of a standard deviation along an angular direction in a power spectrum of the mesh pattern is equal to or greater than 0.965 and equal to or less than 1.065. |
| US09736932B1 |
Magnet wire for 3D electronic circuitry
A method of and device for making a three dimensional electronic circuit. The method comprises coupling one or more magnet wires with a substrate along a surface contour of the substrate, immobilizing the one or more magnet wires on the substrate, and forming the electronic circuit by electrically coupling the one or more magnet wires with an integrated circuit chip. |
| US09736931B2 |
Flexible display device
A flexible display device includes a flexible display panel, a flexible printed circuit board extending from the display panel, an integrated circuit chip that is mounted on at least one surface of the flexible printed circuit board and is configured to drive the display panel, and a protection member attached to a rear surface of the display panel. When the flexible printed circuit board is flexed to be partially positioned on the rear surface of the display panel, the protection member is positioned between the display panel and the integrated circuit chip. The flexible display device prevents the integrated circuit chip stacked with the display panel from making direct contact with the display panel using the protection member. Thus, even if the display device is deformed into, for example, a flexed or rolled state, it is possible to prevent the display panel from being damaged. |
| US09736928B2 |
Patterned substrates with darkened conductor traces
The present disclosure provides an article having (a) a substrate having a first nanostructured surface that is antireflective when exposed to air and an opposing second surface; and (b) a conductor micropattern disposed on the first surface of the substrate, the conductor micropattern formed by a plurality of traces defining a plurality of open area cells. The micropattern has an open area fraction greater than 80% and a uniform distribution of trace orientation. The traces of the conductor micropattern have a specular reflectance in a direction orthogonal to and toward the first surface of the substrate of less than 50%. Each of the traces has a width from 0.5 to 10 micrometer. The articles are useful in devices such as displays, in particular, touch screen displays useful for mobile hand held devices, tablets and computers. They also find use in antennas and for EMI shields. |
| US09736925B2 |
Packaged semiconductor device having a shielding against electromagnetic interference and manufacturing process thereof
A packaged device has a die of semiconductor material bonded to a support. An electromagnetic shielding structure surrounds the die and is formed by a grid structure of conductive material extending into the support and an electromagnetic shield, coupled together. A packaging mass embeds both the die and the electromagnetic shield. The electromagnetic shield is formed by a plurality of metal ribbon sections overlying the die and embedded in the packaging mass. Each metal ribbon section has a thickness-to-width ratio between approximately 1:2 and approximately 1:50. |
| US09736923B1 |
Alloy bonded graphene sheets for enhanced thermal spreaders
A heat spreader for printed wiring boards and a method of manufacture are disclosed. The heat spreader is made from a plurality of graphene sheets that are thermo-mechanically bonded using an alloy bonding process that forms a metal alloy layer using a low temperature and pressure that does not damage the graphene sheets. The resulting heat spreader has a higher thermal conductivity than graphene sheets alone. |
| US09736922B2 |
Beam position monitor for electron linear accelerator
The deviation of an electron beam is measured in a drift tube of a linear accelerator, the wave to be decoupled having a frequency range that corresponds to a multiple of the basic frequency of the acceleration field. Coupling probes, a mixer-based receiving concept with high dynamics and sensitivity, a method for evaluating the measuring signals and a calibration method for calibrating out non-linearities are specified. Disruptive influences through the acceleration field are minimized by the measurement method according to the invention and the frequency range to be evaluated. The high evaluated frequencies also offer geometrically small coupling probes which one can introduce into a drift tube in which only the field of the electron beam to be evaluated exists. |
| US09736920B2 |
Apparatus and method for plasma ignition with a self-resonating device
Methods and apparatus for igniting a process plasma within a plasma chamber are provided. One or more self-resonating devices are positioned within a plasma chamber relative to a plasma generation volume within the plasma chamber. The plasma generation volume is defined by the plasma chamber. Each of the self-resonating devices generates an ignition plasma. The ignition plasmas cause a partial ionization of an ignition gas. The partially ionized ignition gas allows for ignition of a process plasma by applying an electric field to the plasma generation volume. |
| US09736919B2 |
RF power distribution device and RF power distribution method
Provided are an RF power distribution device and an RF power distribution method. The RF power distribution device includes an impedance matching network for transferring power from an RF power source and a power distribution unit for distributing the output power from the impedance matching network to at least one electrode generating capacitively-coupled plasma. The power distribution unit includes a first reactive element connected in series to a first electrode, a variable capacitor having one end connected in parallel to the first reactive element and the first electrode and the other end grounded, and a second reactive element having one end connected to a first node where the one end of the variable capacitor and one end of the first reactance device are in contact with each other and the other end connected to a second node where a second electrode and an output terminal of the impedance matching network are connected. |
| US09736916B2 |
Plasma electrode for a plasma arc torch with replaceable electrode tip
Plasma electrode (1) for a plasma arc torch consisting of an electrode body, at least one electrode core (4) disposed on the electrode tip, wherein the plasma electrode (1) is constructed in at least two parts and consists of the electrode tip (2) and an electrode part (3), and out of the electrode tip (2) and a electrode part (3) consists, and that the electrode tip (2) is held replaceably on the electrode part (3). |
| US09736915B2 |
Driver for a light source
An arrangement for driving one or more light sources is provided. According to an example embodiment, the arrangement includes observing durations of active periods, wherein an active period corresponds to a continuous period of operating power being supplied to a driver apparatus, selecting one of a plurality of lighting programs for the driver apparatus in accordance with the observed durations of one or more active periods, wherein a lighting program defines the desired characteristics of light provided by the one or more light sources as a function of time for a subsequent active period, and controlling, in response to an active period, provision of operating power from the driver apparatus to the one or more light sources in accordance with the most recently selected lighting program. |
| US09736914B2 |
Intelligent lighting control
Method for controlling a plurality of luminaire units with at least one dedicated light source, and at least functionally connected control entity incorporating a wireless transceiver, the luminaire units configured to communicate via a mesh network established utilizing the wireless transceivers thereof, wherein at least one of the luminaires is electrically connected to a user-operable switch device for controlling the luminaire, the method including detecting, at the at least one luminaire, signal triggered by switching action, determining, in response to the detection, at the at least one luminaire unit a control action of the at least one light source and a message to be wirelessly transmitted in the mesh network to enable other luminaire units in the network to execute a responsive luminaire control action as configured in the control logic entities thereof based on the captured message, and executing the control action and transmission of the message. |
| US09736912B2 |
Illumination device and communication system
An illumination device includes a reception portion configured to receive a terminal ID stored by a radio terminal; a transmission portion configured to transmit the received terminal ID and a device ID; an illumination portion configured to emit light from a light source; and a housing portion configured to be detachably provided to the illumination portion and include a secondary battery capable of supplying power to the reception portion and the transmission portion. |
| US09736910B2 |
Lighting system that self detects the relative physical arrangement of its sources
Systems and methods are disclosed that allow a lighting system to self-determine the relative positions of its different light sources. Direct light source to light source distances are measured and trilateration is used to locate each light source in three dimensional space. The relative position of each light source is provided with regard to the lighting system itself and does not need to refer to a GPS system or to the position or orientation of the installation. The self-determining system allows lighting systems to be quickly installed and later commissioned using the positioning information provided by the lighting system itself. |
| US09736903B2 |
Illumination device and method for calibrating and controlling an illumination device comprising a phosphor converted LED
An illumination device described herein includes at least a phosphor converted LED, which is configured for emitting illumination for the illumination device, a first photodetector and a second photodetector. A spectrum of the illumination emitted from the phosphor converted LED comprises a first portion having a first peak emission wavelength and a second portion having a second peak emission wavelength, which differs from the first peak emission wavelength. The first photodetector has a detection range, which is configured for detecting only the first portion of the spectrum emitted by the phosphor converted LED. The second photodetector has a detection range, which is configured for detecting only the second portion of the spectrum emitted by the phosphor converted LED. Methods are provided herein for calibrating and controlling each portion of the phosphor converted LED spectrum, as if the phosphor converted LED were two separate LEDs. |
| US09736901B2 |
LED scanning array driver chip and regulation method capable of self-regulating brightness linear change
An LED scanning array driver chip and a regulation method capable of self-regulating brightness linear change are provided. The LED scanning array driver chip is provided with LED current non-linear automatic control circuits to automatically regulate the average current of LEDs for the brightness of the LEDs to become bright or dark linearly, enabling each LED of the LED array to control the current non-linear change individually. This greatly reduces the time resource for a MCU to write registers inside the driver chip. |
| US09736900B1 |
Quantum dot tunable assemblies and methods
A tunable light generating assembly uses ultraviolet and blue light emitting diodes to pump red and green quantum dots in a quantum dot layer to generate white light. A dielectric mirror substrate having a wavelength selective reflectance is configured to reflect ultraviolet wavelengths, and to pass blue and longer wavelengths. The portion of the ultraviolet light that is not absorbed in the quantum dot layer is reflected rather than transmitted, where it has another chance to be absorbed in the quantum dot layer, thereby increasing the overall conversion efficiency. The increased energy associated with the ultraviolet light further results in greater conversion efficiency in the quantum dot layer. The ultraviolet and blue LEDs may be driven by an electronic circuit that varies the amount of power applied to each LED to control the brightness and color balance of the generated white light. |
| US09736899B2 |
Lighting apparatus
A lighting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a main body from which light is emitted; and a stand supporting the main body. The main body includes: an inner body connected to an end of the stand; an outer body disposed to surround the inner body at a position that is spaced apart from an outer circumferential surface of the inner body; and a light emitting module disposed inside the outer body. The outer body is rotatable in a state where the outer body is connected to the inner body. |
| US09736897B2 |
Dimmable LED illuminant system
A dimmable LED illuminant system is provided, comprising at least two LED illuminant chains connected in parallel and/or back-to-back and having in each case at least one light emitting diode, wherein the LED illuminant system has a control unit and is fed via a supply, which is designed to receive dimming information supplied via the supply and to switch on and/or off in stages individual ones of the LED illuminant chains connected in parallel/back-to-back depending on the supplied dimming information and for the implementation thereof. |
| US09736896B2 |
Driver assembly and method for detecting an error condition of a lighting unit
A driver assembly (100) for a lighting unit (230) comprises a control unit (110). The lighting unit (230) comprises a plurality of strands (240, 250, 260), wherein each strand comprises a series circuit (242, 252, 262) of light-emitting diodes and a current source (243, 253, 263) with a first and a second terminal (246, 256, 266), and wherein the series circuit (242, 252, 262) of diodes is connected between a supply voltage input (231) of the lighting unit (230) and the first terminal of the current source (243, 253, 263) and the second terminal (246, 256, 266) of the current source is connected to a reference potential terminal via a resistor (245, 255, 265). The control unit (110) is designed for generating a corresponding control signal for a voltage converter (210) from a respectively adjusted control value, wherein said voltage converter is designed for making available an output voltage at the supply voltage input (231) of the lighting unit (230) based on the control signal, for acquiring a measured value at each of the second terminals (246, 256, 266) of the current sources (243, 253, 263), for storing an adjusted control value for each strand (240, 250, 260) based on the acquired measured values and for detecting whether an error condition exists in one of the strands (240, 250, 260) based on the stored control values. |
| US09736892B2 |
High-frequency heating cooker
A high-frequency heating cooker includes: a heating chamber; a high-frequency heating unit; a tray table; a tray table rotating shaft which includes a cylindrical shaft portion and which holds the tray table; and an electric motor which rotates the tray table. The electric motor is fixed to the heating chamber by an electric motor mounting plate, and is configured to transmit a force of an electric motor rotating shaft to the tray table rotating shaft. The tray table rotating shaft transmits a rotating force to the tray table, and is made of a resin molding material. The tray table rotating shaft includes a tray table rotating shaft protrusion formed on a side surface of the cylindrical shaft portion, thereby being configured not to be easily removed from interior of the heating chamber. |
| US09736885B2 |
Terminal device and packet processing method
A packet processing method, the method includes, receiving TCP packets from a wireless access point. An A-MSDU packet is created by aggregating TCP ACK frames generated by the received TCP packets. When the current data transmission speed is less than or equal to a first threshold value and timeout for the A-MSDU packet sent to the wireless access point continuously occurs over a first predefined time, a transmission time interval is reduced by the first preset value and the packet size value is re-calculated according to the adjusted transmission time interval. When the current data transmission speed is greater than or equal to the second threshold value and the size of the created A-MSDU packet that achieves the packet size value occurs over a second predefined time, the packet size value is increased by the second preset value. |
| US09736879B2 |
Wireless communications system, wireless station, base station, and communications method
A wireless communications system includes a base station; and a wireless station. The base station, after receiving a first control signal that includes classifying information, configures by a second control signal, transition of a communication mode and releases by a third control signal, the transition of the communication mode. The wireless station performs transition of a mode of communication by the communication mode configured by the second control signal, and releases by the third control signal, the transition of the communication mode. |
| US09736876B1 |
Method and apparatus for establishing links and maintaining consistent link information between stations
A method including, while link status information of first and second stations conflict, one of: receiving a request signal from the second station and based on the request signal, transmitting a response signal from the first station to the second station via a previously established link, where the request signal requests establishment of a new link between the first and second stations; and transmitting a data signal including a packet to the second station, where the data signal satisfies an address resolution protocol. The method further includes: subsequent to receiving the request signal or transmitting the data signal, tearing down the link status information of the first station including changing the link status information of the first station to match the link status information of the second station; and subsequent to tearing down the link status information of the first station, establishing the new link with the second station. |
| US09736862B2 |
Systems and methods for delay indication in a wireless message
Systems, methods, and devices for a delay indication in a wireless message are described herein. In one aspect an apparatus for wireless communication is provided. The apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive a first message from a second apparatus. In some aspects, the first message is a request-to-send (RTS) message. The access point further including a processing system, configured to generate a second message in response to reception of the first message. The second message comprising a delay indicator, the delay indicator indicating a delay after which a third message may be transmitted by the second apparatus, and a transmitter configured to transmit the second message to the second apparatus. |
| US09736861B2 |
Adaptive UL-DL TDD configurations in a heterogneous network
Technology for adapting uplink-downlink (UL-DL) time-division duplexing (TDD) subframe configurations in a heterogeneous network (HetNet) is disclosed. One method can include a reference enhanced Node B (eNB) determining a preferred adaptive UL-DL configuration. The eNB can receive node configuration information for at least one neighboring node. The eNB can reconfigure an adaptive UL-DL configuration for at least one of the reference eNB and the at least one neighboring node based on the node configuration information and sounding reference signal (SRS) subframe scheduling of the reference eNB and the at least one neighboring eNB. |
| US09736857B2 |
Techniques for interference mitigation in directional multi-gigabit networks
Techniques for interference mitigation in directional multi-gigabit networks are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to send, from a source device, a first reverse direction grant (RDG) indicating that a sink device may transmit to the source device, detect interference with a received sink device data transmission at the source device, select a grant deferral period, and upon conclusion of the grant deferral period, send a second RDG indicating that the sink device may transmit to the source device. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09736855B2 |
System and method for multiple station camping channels in a wireless communication network
Systems and methods for wireless communication are disclosed. In one aspect an access point transmits a message to a first device and a second device on a first channel, the message sufficient to inform the first device to camp on a first channel during a time slot and the message sufficient to inform the second device to camp on a second channel during the time slot. The access point further determines whether the first channel is busy during the time slot. If the first channel is determined to not be busy during the time slot, the access point communicates with the first device on the first channel during the time slot. If the first channel is determined to be busy during the time slot, the access point communicates with the second device on the second channel during the time slot. |
| US09736853B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method in wireless power transmission system
A communication apparatus in a wireless power transmission system includes an operating mode converter configured to switch an operating mode of the communication apparatus between a transmitting mode and a receiving mode according to a predetermined timing; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit state information of a channel occupied by a source including the communication apparatus using a continuous wave signal while the communication apparatus is operating in the transmitting mode irrespective of whether the communication apparatus is performing communication via the occupied channel. The source including the communication apparatus is configured to transmit wireless power. The occupied channel has been assigned to the source including the communication apparatus from a plurality of channels available in a communication cell for assignment to a plurality of sources each configured to transmit wireless power. |
| US09736845B1 |
Over the air signaling of dynamic frequency selection (DFS) operating parameters to client devices
Over the air signaling of dynamic frequency selection operating parameters to client devices is disclosed. In an embodiment, a multi-channel master device determines a maximum range value of a radar detection umbrella associated with the multi-channel master device based on a first range representing a range at which the multi-channel master device detects a first radar transmission transmitted by a radar device at a defined transmission power; determines a compliance range value based on a second range representing a range at which the multi-channel master device detects a second radar transmission transmitted by the radar device at a dynamic frequency selection (DFS) compliance threshold transmission power; and determines a margin range value based on a third range representing a range at which the multi-channel master device detects a third radar transmission transmitted by the radar device at a transmission power that is lower than the dynamic frequency selection compliance threshold transmission power. |
| US09736842B2 |
Communication control apparatus, communication control method, radio communication system and terminal apparatus for an extension band added to the component carrier to an excess frequency band either on an upper side or on a lower side of the component carrier
[Object] To utilize the extension band in the band-filling efficiently.[Solution] There is provided a communication control apparatus including: a communication control unit that controls radio communication performed by one or more terminal apparatuses on a component carrier having a basic bandwidth. The communication control unit sets an extension band to be added to the component carrier only to an excess frequency band either on an upper side or a lower side of the component carrier. |
| US09736839B2 |
Integrated circuit for sequence reporting and sequence generation
Disclosed are a sequence report method and a sequence report device for reducing a signaling amount for reporting a Zadoff-Chu sequence or a GCL sequence allocated for a cell. Indexes starting at 1 are correlated to different ZC sequences and are allocated for cells so that the indexes are continuous. When such ZC sequences are reported from BS to UE, a start index indicating the start of the continuous indexes is combined with the number of allocated sequences and they are reported as allocation sequence information by a report channel. The UE and the BS share the correlation between the ZC sequences and the indexes and the UE identifies a usable sequence number according to the correlation and the allocation sequence information reported from the BS. |
| US09736837B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for enabling provision of an additional special subframe configuration
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for enabling provision of an additional special subframe configuration to one or more communication devices. A method and apparatus may generate one or more parameters defining a new special subframe configuration associated with downlink communications. The new special subframe configuration is generated in addition to one or more other special subframe configurations. The new special subframe configuration includes information indicating a plurality of downlink symbols that exceed a number of downlink symbols of one of the other special subframe configurations which reduces overlap between a first system and a second system, the plurality of downlink symbols minimize interference between the first and second systems and increases utilization of resources. The method and apparatus may provide a message to one or more communication devices to enable at least a first subset of the communication devices to detect the new special subframe configuration. |
| US09736834B2 |
Apparatus, method, and system of inter-node communication
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of inter-node communication. For example, a first node may communicate with a second node, e.g., via a backhaul link, one or more messages including a restriction recommendation and/or a restriction setting, for example, a precoding restriction, a Relative Narrowband TX Power indication (RNTP) setting, and/or a Relative Wideband Transmit Power (RWTP) setting. |
| US09736832B2 |
Wireless communications system that supports multiple modes of operation
A wireless communications system is presented that adapts its mode of operation between spatial and non-spatial multiplexing in response to transmission-specific variables. Mode determination logic determines, in response to a received signal, if spatial or non-spatial multiplexing should be used to transmit a subscriber datastream between the BTS and the UE. The mode determination logic receives a measure of a transmission characteristic of the signal, compares the transmission characteristic to a transmission characteristic threshold and selects either spatial or non-spatial multiplexing in response to the comparison. The transmission characteristic includes at least one of delay spread, post-processing signal-to-noise ratio, CRC failure, residual inter-symbol interference, mean square error, coherence time, and path loss. |
| US09736830B2 |
Systems and methods utilizing an efficient TBS table design for 256QAM in a cellular communications network
Systems and methods relating to the use of a Transport Block Size (TBS) table that supports 256 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a wireless device determines a TBS for a downlink transmission from a radio access node to the wireless device using a TBS table that supports both a first set of modulation schemes and 256QAM. The TBS table comprises a first set of rows from a preexisting TBS table that supports the first set of modulation schemes but not 256QAM and a second set of rows added to the preexisting TBS table to provide the TBS table, where the second set of rows substantially reuse TBS values from the first set of rows. The wireless device receives the downlink transmission from the radio access node according to the Downlink Control Information (DCI) and the TBS determined for the downlink transmission. |
| US09736829B2 |
Downlink control management in an unlicensed or shared spectrum
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication. In one method, at least a first carrier may be monitored for an indication of a clear channel assessment (CCA) for a second carrier in a shared spectrum, and communication may take place using the second carrier based on the indication. In another method, a CCA may be performed for a second carrier second carrier of a shared spectrum, and an indication of the CCA for the second carrier may be transmitted on a first carrier. |
| US09736827B2 |
Radio communication system, radio base station, and communication control method that can reduce an inter-base station interference between downlink control channels
A picocell base station (PeNB) uses a downlink control channel, the frequency band of which overlaps with the frequency band of the downlink control channel used by a macrocell base station (MeNB), to transmit downlink control information for controlling radio communication with a radio terminal (PUE) connected to the picocell base station (PeNB). The picocell base station (PeNB) comprises an X2 interface communication unit (140) which uses inter-base station communication to transmit to the macrocell base station (MeNB) usage control information for controlling the control channel usage that is the usage of a radio resource used as the downlink control channel by the macrocell base station (MeNB). |
| US09736822B2 |
Terminal device and transmission method
A control unit (208) transmits a response signal on an uplink control channel on the basis of a rule. In the rule, error detection result pattern candidates are associated with multiple resources of the uplink control channel used in the transmission of the response signal and with phase points within each resource, and at least a specific pattern candidate, wherein the pattern for a specific error detection result with respect to downlink data of a first unit band is identical to the error detection result pattern when communication with the base station (100) occurs using only the first unit band, and the error detection results other than the specific error detection result are all NACK or DTX, is associated with the first resource of the multiple resources. In addition, at least the first resource of the multiple resources is arranged within the first unit band. |
| US09736820B2 |
Method and device for transmitting control information
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting uplink control information and to an apparatus for the same. The present invention relates to a method and to a device for said method which comprises the steps of selecting one uplink control channel resource corresponding to a plurality of HARQ-ACKs from among a plurality of uplink control channel resources, and transmitting a bit value corresponding to the plurality of HARQ-ACKs by using the selected uplink control channel resource. |
| US09736817B2 |
Method and arrangement for D2D discovery
A method for sending beacon signals is provided. The beacon signals are to be received by a slave device to discover the master device for Device to Device communication. The master device receives information from a network node. The information informs about a set of available peer discovery resources to be used in a peer discovery frame by the master device for sending beacon signals. The beacon signals are detected by the slave device. The master device obtains a beacon transmission probability. At each specific peer discovery frame, the master device determines according to the beacon transmission probability, whether or not a beacon signal shall be transmitted during that specific peer discovery frame. When determining to transmit a beacon signal during that specific peer discovery frame, master device sends the beacon signal by choosing one of the peer discovery resources out of the received set of available peer discovery resources. |
| US09736816B2 |
Method for transmission of an E-DCH control channel in MIMO operations
Systems, methods, and instrumentalities are disclosed for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to determine rank, offset, or inter-stream interference control information, for example, which may be associated with uplink MIMO operations. A method to control a WTRU may include receiving a special E-RNTI that is associated with a channel. The channel may be associated with a rank indication. The channel may be an E-AGCH-like channel. The channel may have a similar encoding structure as an E-AGCH. The channel may be an E-ROCH. The channel may be received, and it may be determined that the channel is associated with the special E-RNTI. At least one of a rank or an offset may be determined, and the WTRU may be configured with the determined rank or offset. An inter-stream interference (ISI) offset may be received, for example, via RRC signaling, and may be applied to an uplink transmission of a primary stream. |
| US09736815B2 |
Method and apparatus for focused data communications
A method and apparatus for focused communication is disclosed. The method includes a base transmitter array in communication with at least one client device at the same frequency. The base transmitter array provides a focused data communication to the client device. |
| US09736812B2 |
Method for using a user equipment with a first public land mobile network and with a second public land mobile network, user equipment, program and computer program product
A method for using a user equipment with a first public land mobile network and a second public land mobile network includes operating the user equipment, with respect to the first public land mobile network, according to a discontinuous reception scheme in an idle mode of the user equipment and operating the user equipment, with respect to the second public land mobile network, in a connected mode of the user equipment. In the connected mode with respect to the second public land mobile network, transmission of data from the second public land mobile network to the user equipment is prevented during a paging occasion time interval of the discontinuous reception scheme corresponding to the first public land mobile network. |
| US09736811B1 |
Determining a customized paging area
A customized paging area is created for a wireless device comprising a first access node and at least one second access node proximate to the first access node. A unique identifier is associated with the determined first access node and the determined at least one second access node of the customized paging area. When the wireless device communicates with a third access node which is not associated with the unique identifier, a second customized paging area is created for the wireless device comprising a third access node and at least one fourth access node proximate to the third access node. A second unique identifier is associated with the determined third access node and the determined at least one fourth access node of the customized paging area. |
| US09736807B2 |
Apparatus system and method of time-of-flight positioning via neighbor list
Systems and methods are directed to use of a neighbor list for wireless indoor navigation. The neighbor list may include related information regarding all neighboring access points (APs). The neighbor list can be transmitted, at least partially, to include the related information of a desired number of or all APs in the neighbor list from one AP to a wireless device. The neighbor list can be transmitted in a Neighbor Report Response (NRR) or a time-of-flight (ToF) Response and allow the wireless device to scan for minimal number of APs for ToF measurements. By using the neighbor list, power consumption and time can be significantly reduced during wireless indoor navigation. |
| US09736806B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for wireless synchronization of multiple multimedia devices using a common timing framework
Apparatuses and methods for wireless synchronization of multiple multimedia devices using a common timing framework are disclosed. In one aspect, a wireless multimedia source device is configured to establish wireless connections with a plurality of multimedia sink devices. The wireless multimedia source device is further configured to calculate a correction time interval for each multimedia sink device based on a difference between a master program clock reference (MPCR) and a local program clock reference (LPCR) feedback signal from the multimedia sink device. Presentation time stamp (PTS) data is generated based on the correction time interval and provided to the multimedia sink device. In another aspect, a wireless multimedia sink device is configured to receive a correction time interval based on a difference between an MPCR for the multimedia source device and an LPCR for the multimedia sink device, and calculate an updated LPCR based on the correction time interval. |
| US09736799B2 |
Synchronization method and base station
Embodiments of the present application provide a synchronization method and a base station. In the embodiments of the present application, a first base station receives, on at least one part of channels in a receiving band supported by the first base station, at least one first downlink synchronization signal sent by at least one second base station, and selects a first downlink synchronization signal from the at least one first downlink synchronization signal, to enable the first base station to execute time synchronization according to the selected first downlink synchronization signal, which can avoid a problem in the prior art of low reliability of time synchronization caused by low availability of a GPS signal, and relieve interference suffered by a base station from another base station caused by a problem of asynchronous receiving and sending time or inaccurate time synchronization, thereby improving signal quality of an air interface. |
| US09736796B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting power headroom in support of multiple link connections
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for reporting power headroom in support of multiple link connections. The method comprises: receiving, by a user equipment, one or more configured power headroom report parameters from at least one of multiple base stations to which the multiple link connections are connected; maintaining, at the user equipment, multiple groups of power headroom report timers respectively corresponding to the multiple link connections and maintaining multiple groups of triggering conditions for reporting power headroom respectively corresponding to the multiple link connections, wherein a number of groups of the multiple groups of the power headroom report timers and the number of groups of the multiple groups of triggering conditions for reporting the power headroom are identical to the number of connections of the multiple link connections respectively; if at least one triggering condition of one group of the triggering conditions for reporting the power headroom is met with respect to a corresponding base station of the multiple base stations, then calculating the power headroom for the corresponding base station and generating a power headroom report; and sending the power headroom report to the corresponding base station. |
| US09736795B2 |
Signal transmission power adjustment in a wireless device
A wireless device transmits a first signal in a first cell group and transmits a second signal in a second cell group. The wireless device adjusts a signal transmission power of one of the first signal and the second signal if a power value exceeds an allowable transmission power and if an overlapping in time exceeds a first duration. |
| US09736787B2 |
Mobile station device, communication system, communication method and integrated circuit
A mobile station (MS) communicates in a plurality of subframes on a plurality of cells. The MS receives one or more PDSCHs in a plurality of downlink subframes on each of the plurality of cells. Further, the MS generates ACK/NACK for receptions of the one or more PDSCHs. The MS also selects one PUCCH resource from a plurality of PUCCH resources in an uplink subframe, in accordance with the ACK/NACK. In addition, the MS sets a transmit power for a PUCCH transmission on the selected PUCCH resource using a PUCCH format in accordance with at least one parameter. Furthermore, the MS transmits, with the set transmit power, information related to the ACK/NACK on the selected PUCCH resource. Also, the MS determines a value of the parameter in accordance with the number of cells where the one or more PDSCHs have been received in the plurality of downlink subframes. |
| US09736784B2 |
Communication control device, communication control method, and communication control system
There is provided a communication control device including a power distribution unit configured to distribute, to one or more secondary systems, a transmission power accepted for a secondary usage of a frequency channel which is protected for a primary system, and a notification unit configured to notify each secondary system of a value of a second transmission power which is decided depending on a value of a first transmission power distributed by the power distribution unit. Upon updating the transmission power, only in a case where a value of the second transmission power which is previously notified and a value of the first transmission power which is newly distributed by the power distribution unit satisfy a predetermined condition with respect to a certain secondary system, the notification unit notifies the secondary system of a new value of the second transmission power. |
| US09736783B2 |
Device adapter, device system, and start control method
A device adapter which is connectable to the field devices, includes an interface which is connectable to the field devices, a power source configured to supply electric power to the field devices connected to the interface, and a start controller configured to perform a start control of the field devices connected to the interface to make a total power consumption of the field devices connected to the interface be within a range permitted in accordance with an explosion-proof standard. |
| US09736781B2 |
Determining points of interest within a geofence
Embodiments of apparatus, packages, computer-implemented methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media are described herein for a mobile computing device with a primary processing unit configured to operate in a normal mode and a reduced power mode. The mobile computing device may include a secondary processing unit, coupled with the primary processing unit, configured to provide, to a remote computing server, location data of the mobile computing device. The secondary processing unit may be configured to receive, from the remote computing server, one or more POIs contained within a geofence, identified based on the provided location data. The providing and receiving may be performed on behalf of the primary processing unit while the primary processing unit is in the reduced power mode. Operation of the secondary power processing unit may require less power than operation of the primary processing unit in the normal mode. |
| US09736778B2 |
Method, system and apparatus of time of flight operation
An apparatus, a system and a method of waking up a station in a wireless local area network (WLAN) to perform time of flight (ToF) measurements. A wake-up signal for waking the station may be configured for a low energy signaling. |
| US09736774B2 |
Apparatus and method for a wireless device to receive data in an eco state
An apparatus and method for a wireless device to receive data in an eco state is provided. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, upon determining that data is to be transmitted to the wireless device in the eco state, a network node operates to transmit a unicast notification message to the wireless device in order to inform the wireless device of the impending data transmission. According to another embodiment of the disclosure, in response to receiving the unicast notification message, the wireless device operates to receive the data in accordance with the unicast notification message. To this end, the wireless device might for example try to receive data for a time period following the unicast notification message. Meanwhile, the wireless device may remain in the eco state. |
| US09736773B2 |
Techniques for power saving operations in a wireless network
Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, method and other techniques to initiate a transaction session at a transaction session start time to communicate a transaction between a first device and a second device, receive a first frame comprising information indicating an occurrence of another transaction session between other devices and a time reservation to reserve time for the other transaction session, receive a second frame comprising second information indicating a truncation of the other transaction session at a truncation time and before an expiration of the time reservation, and shift a subsequent transaction session start time for at least one subsequent transaction session between the first device and the second device based on a difference between the transaction session start time and the truncation time. |
| US09736771B2 |
Energy efficient management of heterogeneous multi-hop wireless networks
A wireless multi-hope network of nodes including data nodes and at least one sink node. The data nodes include battery-powered nodes (BPNs) having active and sleep periods and mains-powered nodes (MPNs) having only active periods, wherein each data node transmits the packets only within corresponding active periods. A BPN includes a transceiver for transmitting and receiving data packets and a processor for determining a schedule of active and sleep periods of the BPN independently from the active and sleep periods of other data nodes in the network and independently from commands transmitted by the sink node, and a battery for providing energy to the transceiver and the processor. The processor switches the transceiver ON and OFF according to the schedule. |
| US09736768B2 |
Gateway selection method and device
The present invention relates to the technical field of wireless communications. Disclosed are a gateway selection method and device, which are used to solve the problem of how to select a packet data gateway (PGW) for a mobile relay node (RN). In the present invention, a mobility management entity (MME) receives an initial UE message carrying identity indication information of the RN and sent by a donor base station DeNB; acquiring subscription data of the RN from a home subscriber server (HSS); the MME determining, according to the identity indication information and/or subscription data of the RN, whether the RN is a mobile RN, and if the determination is yes, selecting a PGW located in a core network as the PGW of the RN. By means of the present invention, the problem of how to select the PGW for the mobile RN is solved. |
| US09736767B2 |
Identification-assisted wireless network connections
Systems and methods for transmitting location-specific information such as wireless network connectivity information are generally disclosed herein. One embodiment includes device configurations and techniques implemented to establish a secondary wireless network connection to exchange the location-specific information between a location-aware device and a location-unaware device. In other embodiments, the location-specific information exchanged via the secondary wireless network connection includes the transfer of the connectivity information, such as a Service Set Identifier (SSID) or network authentication information, from a primary network-aware device to establish a primary network connection at a primary network-unaware device. |
| US09736766B2 |
Method for finding instrument for wi-fi direct P2P (peer to peer) communication and apparatus therefor
The present invention relates to a method for performing communication between terminals (D2D). Specifically, the method is characterized in that when a terminal communicating with another terminal is to perform an additional communication with yet another terminal, the channel sequence of the communicating terminal is determined, and one of the two terminals communicating with each other is defined as the channel synchronization reference terminal performing synchronization. |
| US09736763B2 |
Method and apparatus for autonomous OFDMA beacon reception measurement
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include configuring the device to monitor the presence of the OFDMA beacons and the quality of the OFDMA beacon receptions. The device may transmit the beacon reports that detail the sensed beacons from the beaconing device during an OFDMA beacon opportunity. In another aspect there is provided a method. The method may include configuring a dedicated beacon quality measurement agreement between two or more devices. Based on the agreement defining the beacon transmission and reception periodicity, one device transmits a beacon and the other devices in the agreement monitor the beacon. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described. |
| US09736758B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing service-specific access control in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for performing service-specific access control in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE) acquires different sets of barring information for a voice application, a video application and other application, and decides whether or not access is allowed according to the sets of barring information for the other application if an application except the voice application and the video application is offered. |
| US09736757B2 |
Digital message delivery using ad-hoc distributed device networking
Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for digital message delivery using ad-hoc distributed device networking. In some embodiments, it may be determined that a first device comprising a first device cloud is within a dead zone. A second device with a second device cloud may be identified as a carrier device. Data may be transmitted to the second device cloud of the carrier device using a wireless network connection. An acknowledgement may be received from the first device that the first device cloud of the first device received the data from the second device cloud of the carrier device while in the dead zone. |
| US09736756B2 |
Centralized status server for call management of location-aware mobile devices
Systems, methods and computer program products for utilizing location information in a virtual private branch exchange (vPBX) system are described. In some implementations, the vPBX system can use the location information to determine an availability status of a user of a mobile device (e.g., out of the office, in the office, at home, busy, and the like). The vPBX system can obtain the geographic coordinates of the mobile device and correlate these coordinates with known coordinates for locations associated with the user (e.g., the user's office, home, or other predefined locations). An inference of the user's availability can then be determined based on the correlation (e.g., whether the user is currently out of the user's office, at the user's home, or at another location). The user's availability can be made available to other users associated with the vPBX system, and can be used for call management (e.g., routing). |
| US09736754B2 |
Data distribution to portable electronic devices
Various embodiments of systems and methods for data distribution to portable electronic devices are described herein. Initially a data server receives a data download request from one or more portable electronic devices. Next the requested data is divided into a plurality of data portions. Next based on an-hoc network, a data-transfer route between the one or more portable electronic devices and a plurality of portable electronic devices connected to the data server are identified. The data server then forwards the plurality of data portions to the plurality of portable electronic devices connected to the data server. Finally, based on the identified data-transfer route, the requested data from the one or more portable electronic devices to the other portable electronic devices is transferred. |
| US09736753B2 |
Control apparatus and communication control method
A HEMS constituting a ZigBee network with at least one of equipment, comprises a processing unit processing an application to control the equipment, and a ZigBee control unit managing route information by each of the equipment according to a ZigBee protocol. The processing unit selects one of either a first mode or a second mode in accordance with the number of the equipment included in the ZigBee network, In the first mode, notification of the equipment to be controlled is sent from the processing unit to the ZigBee control unit, and the ZigBee control unit controls communication route to the equipment to be controlled. In the second mode, the processing unit decides the communication route to the equipment to be controlled, and notification of the communication route is sent from the processing unit to the ZigBee control unit. |
| US09736750B2 |
Radio communication system and communication control method
A radio communication system includes: a visit information storage unit that stores plural visit information elements each indicating information on a visit to a cell visited by a user equipment; a cell visit detector that detects that the user equipment that was visiting a first cell starts a visit to a second cell differing from the first cell; a ping-ponging state determiner that determines whether a ping-ponging state has occurred, in which state start and ending of a visit to the second cell is repeated, wherein the determination is made based on a visit information element on a visit to the second cell visited by the user equipment; and a calculator that calculates a visit time length of the visit to the second cell in accordance with the determination by the ping-ponging state determiner. |
| US09736745B2 |
Network interworking
A method of operating a mobile terminal for network interworking is provided. The method includes receiving at the mobile terminal a first parameter from a first wireless communication network indicating a preference for offloading a new or current data flow to another network, the first parameter comprising a value within a first range. The method further comprises obtaining at the mobile terminal a random or pseudorandom value within a second range that at least partially overlaps the first range. The method further comprises determining whether to initiate or maintain at least one data flow between the mobile terminal and the first network or another network according to the first parameter and the random or pseudorandom value. |
| US09736737B2 |
Method of handling random access procedure with deactivation timer
A method of handling random access procedure on secondary cell in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises starting a deactivation timer for a secondary cell, performing a random access procedure for the secondary cell, and when the deactivation timer expires during the random access procedure, aborting the random access procedure or completing the random access procedure unsuccessfully. |
| US09736735B2 |
Configuration handling-based operating method in wireless communication system and apparatus supporting same
Disclosed is an operation method carried out by user equipment in a wireless communication system. The method comprises: connecting to a first serving cell; connecting to a second serving cell; and handling configuration used for operating from the second serving cell when the second serving cell is released from being a serving cell. The first serving cell is a primary cell (PCell), and the second serving cell is a secondary cell (SCell). |
| US09736734B2 |
Method and apparatus for enabling cell reselection for WTRU operating in discontinuous reception
A method for discontinuous reception (DRX) implemented in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) during cell reselection including initiating cell reselection; disabling DRX operation, wherein disabling DRX operation enables continuous reception; transmitting a CELL UPDATE message; receiving a CELL UPDATE CONFIRM message; and enabling DRX operation based on the received CELL UPDATE CONFIRM message. |
| US09736727B2 |
Communication control method, user terminal, and processor
A communication control method is a method for performing offload to transfer a traffic load of a cellular base station to an access point. The communication control method comprises a step of maintaining without releasing the first connection, by a user terminal that have established a first connection with the cellular base station, even when the offload is started after establishing a second connection with the access point; and a determining step of determining, by the user terminal, whether the offload is continued or canceled after the offload is started. |
| US09736717B2 |
Access method, base station, access point and user equipment
Embodiments of the present invention provide an access method, a base station, an access point and a user equipment. The access method includes: a base station sends a first message to an access point through a first communication interface, for requesting the access point to establish a second bearer with a user equipment UE, the second bearer being based on a second communication interface, wherein the first message carries an identifier of the UE and an identifier of an E-RAB; and the base station establishes a first bearer with the access point, the first bearer being based on the first communication interface, wherein the first bearer and the second bearer correspond to the E-RAB. |
| US09736715B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting a reference signal in a relay communication system
A method and apparatus for transmitting reference signals in a relay communication system are provided. The method transmits reference signals via a type 2 relay node in a relay communication system and includes a base station (BS) allocating a plurality of antenna ports in a mutually exclusive manner so that the antenna port of the BS and the antenna port of a peripheral relay node do not overlap each other, the BS and relay node transmitting reference signals to a user equipment (UE) via the corresponding antenna ports that are mutually exclusively allocated and the BS receiving channel state information from the UE to obtain channel state information between the BS and the UE and channel state information between the relay node and the UE. |
| US09736713B2 |
Reduced user equipment impact from performing wider bandwidth measurements
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for wide bandwidth measurements. In some example embodiments, there is provided a method. The method may include receiving, at a user equipment, an indicator and a measurement bandwidth, wherein the indicator represents whether the user equipment is enabled to perform a wide bandwidth measurement, and wherein the received measurement bandwidth represents a maximum allowed measurement bandwidth; and performing, by the user equipment, the wide bandwidth measurement, when the received measurement bandwidth equals or exceeds a threshold and the indicator represents a request to the user equipment to perform the wide bandwidth measurement. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described. |
| US09736712B2 |
Distributed small-cell search
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for distributed small cell scanning. In some example embodiments, the method may include receiving, at a first user equipment, an indication to perform a distributed scan for one or more carrier frequencies with at least a second user equipment proximate to the first user equipment; performing, by the first user equipment in response to the received indication, the distributed scan by measuring a first carrier frequency during a first time period; and sending a measurement report of the first carrier frequency, when detected by the first user equipment. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described. |
| US09736711B2 |
Methods and devices for adjusting signal strength of router
A method and a device are provided for adjusting signal strength of a router. In the method: the device monitors a number of terminals wirelessly connected to the router during a preset time period. The device determines a signal-strength level of the router according to the number of the terminals wirelessly connected to the router during the preset time period. The device adjusts the signal strength transmitted by the router according to the signal-strength level. Through the present disclosure, a router may automatically control the signal strength transmitted by itself. |
| US09736710B2 |
Mobile accelerator
Techniques for providing mobile device content delivery acceleration are discussed herein. Some embodiments may provide for a system including a mobile device and a mobile accelerator system. The mobile accelerator system may include point of presences (“POPs”) configured to facilitate accelerated content delivery to the mobile device from a content server. For example, the mobile device may be configured to: determine an entry POP from POPs of a mobile accelerator system; and create a dedicated transport channel with the entry POP. The entry POP of the mobile accelerator system may be configured to: receive a query to a content server from the mobile device via the dedicated transport channel; determine at least a portion a dynamic path between the mobile device and the content server; and route data transfers between the mobile device and the content server through the at least a portion of the dynamic path. |
| US09736709B2 |
Receiver with frequency deviation detection capability and method therefor
A receiver includes an analog receiver and a digital processor. The analog receiver has an input for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal, and an output for providing a digital intermediate frequency signal. The digital processor has an input for receiving the digital intermediate frequency signal, and an output for providing digital symbols. The digital processor measures peak-to-peak frequency deviation of the digital intermediate frequency signal, and performs a digital signal processing function on the digital intermediate frequency signal to provide the digital symbols based on the peak-to-peak frequency deviation so measured. |
| US09736708B2 |
Transparent mesh overlay in hub-spoke satellite networks
In a satellite-based communication network comprised of a central hub and plurality of remote terminals configured to transmit data to and receive data from the central hub in accordance with EN 301 790 (DVB-RCS), and where one or more of these remote terminals may be configured to include an additional receiver module configured to receive MF-TDMA transmission of other remote terminals, a mesh receiver and methods for coupling the mesh receiver with the host remote terminal. In addition, described herein are methods for synchronizing the mesh receiver on the network's timing and frequency and for utilizing the available link power for achieving efficient connectivity. |
| US09736707B2 |
Energy saving mode with maintained number of advertised transmit antennas
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for wireless communications, wherein first number of transit antennas is advertised, but a different number of transmit antennas are actually used for transmission. |
| US09736706B2 |
Managed access system with monitoring device to determine system operability
A managed access system for mobile wireless devices (MWDs) in a facility that is geographically within a wireless communications network includes a plurality of antennas arranged at the facility and at least one MWD monitoring device. Radio equipment is coupled to the antennas. A management access controller cooperates with the radio equipment to communicate with a given MWD within the facility, block outside communications via the wireless communications network when the given MWD is an unauthorized MWD, and provide outside communications when the given MWD is an authorized MWD. The management access controller cooperates with at least one MWD monitoring device to determine whether the radio equipment and at least one MWD monitoring device both detect the given MWD. |
| US09736700B1 |
Cellular communication equipment radio resource adaptation
A cellular communication radio resource adaptor. The adaptor comprises a data store, at least one processor, a non-transitory memory, and an application. The application accesses a network management system (NMS) of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) identified in an inventory of radio access network (RAN) equipment to read cell site equipment setting information. The application analyzes the cell site setting information and presents a map of an area overlaid with a graphical indication of the cellular communication radio resources owned or leased by a service provider and overlaid with a graphical indication of the cellular coverage areas by each cell site. The service provider may then adapt RAN equipment of the cell sites to efficiently use cellular communication radio resources. |
| US09736698B2 |
Partitioning a coordination area in a wireless network
The present invention relates to a wireless network, and more specifically, to a method and apparatus for partitioning a coordination area in a wireless network, the method comprising: obtaining antenna directions of respective cells, base station locations of respective cells, and scope of a coordination area within the wireless network; determining an initial coordination area based on the scope of the coordination area and the base station locations in respective cells; partitioning the initial coordination area into an inner area and an outer area; partitioning the outer area into an inward area and an outward area based on the antenna directions of cells within the outer area and the base station locations of cells within the outer area; and combining the inner area and the inward area within the outer area into a new coordination area. The method is simple and easy. It may solve a problem of coordination area edge caused by partitioning a coordination area and meanwhile avoid the association between coordination areas, thereby reducing the complexity of scheduling. |
| US09736691B2 |
Method and system for providing Wi-Fi service by Wi-Fi device
A method and a system for providing a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) service, in which when multiple counterpart devices are selected based on manufacturer information and support information on supported functions and capability defined in a service information field of each beacon message or each probe response message, a final device is determined by checking multiple pieces of signal information of the selected counterpart devices, are provided. The method includes receiving messages from multiple counterpart devices, selecting one or more counterpart devices, each of which supports a requested service, from an identical manufacturer when the messages are received, checking multiple pieces of signal information of the selected counterpart devices when the number of the selected counterpart devices is greater than one, and determining a device having the signal information satisfying set conditions as a final device. |
| US09736688B2 |
Systems and methods for programming, controlling and monitoring wireless networks
A system for programming, controlling and monitoring wireless networks enabling a wireless device (Dev) being utilized and integrated into car electronic control module or home (or business) alarm/security system. This system also presents a general control (robotic) device, which controls general input and output functions, where plurality of cellular handsets, internet devices can co-control, monitor, share and exchange information through the cellular, the internet networks and other wire/wireless network. |
| US09736687B2 |
Method for synchronizing encryption information between SCell and UE
The present application discloses a method for synchronizing encryption information between a SCell and UE, which includes that: the SCell transmits a COUNT value of RB established for the UE to a PCell; the PCell transmits the COUNT value received from the SCell to the UE; and the PCell receives a COUNT value of RB established on the SCell that is saved by the UE from the UE. Or, the SCell and the UE may directly exchange the COUNT value of RB. By the present application, the security and correctness of data can be ensured. |
| US09736685B2 |
Cloaking with footprints to provide location privacy protection in location-based services
A method for using a location-based service while preserving anonymity includes receiving a location associated with a mobile node, receiving an anonymity level associated with the mobile node, computing a region containing the location of the mobile node and a number of footprints based on the anonymity level, wherein each of the footprints from a different user, and providing the region to a location-based service to thereby preserve anonymity of the mobile node. A method also allow a mobile device or its user to specify the anonymity level by selecting a public region consistent with a user's feelings towards desired privacy. |
| US09736679B2 |
System for controlling a vehicle computer using a mobile telephone
A vehicle computer has a vehicle display and a vehicle input device, and a mobile telephone has a mobile telephone display and a mobile telephone input device. A method for controlling the vehicle computer using the mobile telephone has the following steps: an application is run on the mobile telephone; a control command for the vehicle is entered into the application by a user using the mobile telephone input device; a software library, which can be used by multiple applications, is operated by the application; the mobile telephone is connected to the vehicle computer via a local network connection using the software library, a software interface for the software library being implemented in the vehicle computer; the control command is transmitted to the software interface; and the control command is carried out by the vehicle computer. |
| US09736677B2 |
Cloud identification method, device and system for a double-card mobile communications device
The present invention provides a cloud identification method, device and system for a double-card mobile communications device. The cloud identification method is applicable to a double-card mobile communications terminal or a device in communication with the double-card mobile communications terminal. The method comprises: detecting whether a configuration factor matching each SIM card exists in a mobile communications terminal, and when the matched configuration factor exists, implementing matching, the configuration factor comprising at least one of basic parameter and an implementation function for providing a complete communications function; when the matching configuration factor does not exist, analyzing a system function or data, or monitoring and analyzing a system event of a conversation process, and obtaining a matching configuration factor; applying the obtained configuration factor to the mobile communications terminal application to complete the matching, and saving the basic parameter and the implementation function. The present invention changes a conventional obtaining mode, and greatly saves manpower and financial resources. |
| US09736672B2 |
Targeted group-based discovery for wireless communication devices
Techniques described herein may provide for device discovery of direct communication paths, to enable direct mode communication, between communication devices. The discovery of the communication paths may be based on identifiers that may be defined at the application level and included in device discovery requests. In one implementation, the identifiers may be SIP-URIs (session initiation protocol (SIP)-uniform resource identifiers (URIs)). |
| US09736671B2 |
Data usage recommendation generator
The method include receiving, by one or more computer processors, a request for data usage, the request for data usage being associated with a mobile device. The method further includes identifying, by one or more computer processors, a current data usage quantity, the current data usage quantity being associated with the mobile device. The method further includes determining, by one or more computer processors, whether the current data usage quantity is beyond a threshold data usage. The method further includes responsive to the data usage quantity being beyond the threshold data usage, receiving, by one or more computer processors, mobile device information associated with the mobile device. The method further includes analyzing, by one or more computer processors, the mobile device information. The method further includes determining, by one or more computer processors, access for the request based on the mobile device information and the current data usage quantity. |
| US09736663B1 |
Messaging session enhancement with user data
Computer media, systems, and computer-implemented methods for enhancing SMS messaging sessions with user data are provided. A data sharing agreement between a service provider and a receiving entity, such as broadcaster or a consumer goods manufacturer, is established. A user with a wireless device sends an SMS message to the receiving entity. Data associated with the user is retrieved by the service provider in accordance with the data sharing agreement and is transmitted to the receiving entity along with the SMS message. |
| US09736662B2 |
Mobile messaging short code translation and routing system and method
Provided herein is a system, method and product for performing address translation and routing of short codes. The embodiment described herein primarily supports the wireless and standardized SMS; however, one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the present invention can also be applied to any mobile messaging technology, e.g., Multimedia Messaging Service (“MMS”), etc. |
| US09736655B2 |
Mobile device safe driving
In embodiments of mobile device safe driving, a mobile device can display a device lock screen on an integrated display device, and transition from the device lock screen to display a driving mode lock screen. The transition to display the driving mode lock screen occurs without receiving a PIN code entered on the device lock screen. The mobile device implements a safe driving service that is implemented to activate a safe driving mode of the mobile device, and disable features of the mobile device while the safe driving mode is activated. |
| US09736653B2 |
Method and system of indoor positioning of a user and delivery of information thereto
Methods and systems of indoor positioning of a user and delivery of information thereto are described. A system may include a communication device and a plurality of networked devices. The communication device may receive incoming information which is intended for receipt by a user, and transmit a request signal responsive to the receiving of the incoming information. Each of the networked devices may receive the request signal, and determine which one of the networked devices is situated to notify the user of the incoming information. The networked device situated to notify the user may proceed to notify the user of the incoming information. |
| US09736652B2 |
Activity recognition systems and methods
Systems and methods for recognizing and/or predicting activities of a user of a mobile device are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods may predict a future activity and/or location of a mobile device user based on current and/or historical device data and/or other personal information relating to the user. In some embodiments, probabilistic determinations and/or other statistical models may be used to predict future activities and locations of a mobile device user. The disclosed systems and methods may further utilize location and/or activity recognition and/or prediction methods to deliver personalized services to a user of a mobile device at a particular time and/or location. |
| US09736651B2 |
Method and system for providing dash optimization for mobile devices
An approach is provided for location-based TCP throughput predictions and carrier-assisted video rate adaptation, including predicting a future location of a user device based on one or more location parameters associated with the device, a user of the device, or a combination thereof, predicting a transmission control protocol (TCP) throughput for at least one segment of a multimedia file based on the future location of the device, and transmitting the at least one segment based on the predicted TCP throughput. |
| US09736649B1 |
Antenna positioning using data across air interface types
Disclosed herein are techniques for determining a location of an antenna supporting structure. Crowdsourced data associated with antennas that are installed on a same antenna supporting structure but are used for different air interface types and/or data from aerial images can be used, alone or in combination, to more accurately and more efficiently determine the location of the antenna supporting structure and therefore the locations of the antennas on the antenna supporting structure. |
| US09736636B1 |
Geofence prioritization
Systems, methods and tools for prioritizing the transmission of geofences based on the social influences and interactions with the geofences previously performed or discussed by associates of a user. Embodiments may search a user's social media connections and friend's lists for associates of the user that may have interacted with, commented about or used one or more of the geofences. As a function of the social influences of the user's associates, the disclosed systems, methods and tools may calculate a rating for each geofence based on the popularity of the geofence or probability that the user may enjoy interacting with the geofence. Embodiments may prioritize the transmission of the geofences being downloaded to the user's client device as a function of the ratings assigned, therefore downloading and displaying the most popular geofences and/or the geofences most likely to appeal to the user first. |
| US09736632B2 |
User apparatus and area information notification method
A user apparatus includes processing modules that execute processing using basic area information, and an area information supply module that supplies basic area information to the processing modules. The area information supply module includes an event detection unit that detects an event, an area information acquisition unit that acquires basic area information in accordance with an event being detected, and an area information notification unit that notifies the processing modules of the basic area information. The area information acquisition unit acquires detailed area information in accordance with a request signal being received. The area information notification unit notifies a processing module of the detailed area information. |
| US09736630B2 |
System and method to facilitate assistance in distress situations
A system may comprise a processor-based portable device having a communication unit and a position determining unit and a life circle database. One or more life circle records are defined in the life circle database. Each life circle record is associated with a position/location and comprises contact information and/or instructions to be applied for contacting at least one responder and/or for performing one or more predefined operations in case of a distress situation of a bearer of the processor-based portable device. A life circle record to be used at a distress situation is selected on the basis of a current position of the processor-based portable device. |
| US09736629B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting location estimation message in wireless communication system
Provided are a method and an apparatus for transmitting a message through a terminal in a wireless communication system. The terminal receives positioning reference signals (PRS) from a reference cell and at least one of the neighbor cells, receives an auxiliary data provision message including a reference cell PRS muting sequence for indicating a muting pattern of the PRS transmitted through the reference cell and a neighbor cell PRS muting sequence for indicating the muting pattern of the PRS transmitted through at least one of the neighbor cells from an enhanced serving mobile location center (E-SMLC), and transmits a reference signal time difference (RSTD) measured on the basis of the PRS received from the reference cell and the at least one of the neighbor cells to the E-SMLC. |
| US09736627B2 |
Method and apparatus for discovery of location context identifiers based on approximate location
As part of a localized positioning solution, a mobile device may transmit a request message to a server to obtain information about location contexts near the mobile device. In response, the server may, in some implementations, transmit a response message back to the mobile device that identifies a list of nearby LCIs and an area that encompasses these LCIs. The mobile device may store the returned LCI information and the returned area information in corresponding databases for later use. In some implementations, time limits may be placed on the returned area information after which the information is deemed stale. |
| US09736626B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating speed of a mobile terminal
Systems, devices and techniques for wireless communications include receiving a plurality of wireless transmissions over an observation period from a transmitter of a mobile terminal, calculating a plurality of frequency offset values based on the received plurality of wireless transmissions and estimating a speed value based on the plurality frequency offset values. In some implementations, the speed value is determined as a function of a computed frequency offset measurement error. Implementations can be made to include estimating channel characteristics in communication between a base station and the mobile terminal based on the estimated speed and optimizing a property in communications with the mobile terminal based on the estimated channel characteristics. In some implementations, the property can include a modulation scheme or scheduling of transmissions for communications between the base station and the mobile terminal. |
| US09736624B2 |
Communication device, communication device control method and program
A communication device performs a first writing of writing, to a memory, one of application information used to activate an application and setting information used to establish communication with a second wireless communication system, transmits the written information to a communication partner device via a first wireless communication unit, performs a second writing of writing, to the memory, in a case where the transmission is performed, either the application information or the setting information, whichever was not previously written, and transmits the information written in the second writing to the communication partner device via the first wireless communication unit, in a case where the communication starts in a condition that the writing is being performed. |
| US09736621B2 |
Local communication interception
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, comprising communication circuitry configured to receive a message, and execution circuitry configured to, in response to the message comprising an instruction to intercept a direct device-to-device (D2D) communication, render the apparatus capable of storing at least in part the direct device-to-device communication in at least one of the apparatus and a memory. The intercepting may comprise lawful interception. |
| US09736615B2 |
Systems and methods for delivery of personalized audio
There is provided a media device for use in a system including a plurality of speakers. The media device includes a memory configured to store a software application, and a processor configured to execute the software application to transmit one or more audio calibration signals to the plurality of speakers for emission by the plurality of speakers, receive, from a user device, information relating to a detection of the one or more audio calibration signals by the user device, and analyze the information received from the user device to determine a position of the user device. |
| US09736612B2 |
Orientation-responsive acoustic array control
An audio device includes a casing configured for operation in a first orientation and a second orientation different from the first orientation, an orientation input device disposed on the casing to detect an orientation of the casing relative to the direction of the force of gravity, and a plurality of acoustic drivers disposed on the casing and operable to form a plurality of acoustic interference arrays, each of which is associated with one of a plurality of audio channels. The acoustic drivers of the audio device operate in a first frequency range and modify at least one of the acoustic interference arrays in response to a change in the orientation detected by the orientation input device. |
| US09736610B2 |
Manipulation of playback device response using signal processing
An example playback device (i) provides a center channel of audio content to one or more first audio drivers and one or more second audio drivers so that the center channel is reproduced according to a first radiation pattern and (ii) provides a side channel of audio content to the one or more first audio drivers so that the side channel is reproduced according to a second radiation pattern. The first and second radiation patterns may combine to form a response lobe that has a maximum between the respective maxima of the first and second radiation patterns. An example non-transitory computer-readable medium and an example method, both related to the example playback device, are also disclosed herein. |
| US09736608B2 |
Method and apparatus for higher order ambisonics encoding and decoding using singular value decomposition
The encoding and decoding of HOA signals using Singular Value Decomposition includes forming (11) based on sound source direction values and an Ambisonics order corresponding ket vectors (|Y(Ω5))) of spherical harmonics and an encoder mode matrix (Ξ0χs). From the audio input signal (|χ(Ωs))) a singular threshold value (σε) determined. On the encoder mode matrix a Singular Value Decomposition (13) is carried out in order to get related singular values which are compared with the threshold value, leading to a final encoder mode matrix rank (rfine). Based on direction values (Ωl) of loudspeakers and a decoder Ambisonics order (Nl ), corresponding ket vectors (IY(Ωl )) and a decoder mode matrix (Ψ0χL) are formed (18). On the decoder mode matrix a Singular Value Decomposition (19) is carried out, providing a final decoder mode matrix rank (r find). From the final encoder and decoder mode matrix ranks a final mode matrix rank is determined, and from this final mode matrix rank and the encoder side Singular Value Decomposition an adjoint pseudo inverse (Ξ+)† of the encoder mode matrix (Ξ0χs) and an Ambisonics ket vector (Ia′s) are calculated. The number of components of the Ambisonics ket vector is reduced (16) according to the final mode matrix rank so as to provide an adapted Ambisonics ket vector (|a′l ). From the adapted Ambisonics ket vector, the output values of the decoder side Singular Value Decomposition and the final mode matrix rank an adjoint decoder mode matrix (Ψ)† is calculated (15), resulting in a ket vector (|y(Ωl )) of output signals for all loudspeakers. |
| US09736604B2 |
Audio user interaction recognition and context refinement
A system which tracks a social interaction between a plurality of participants, includes a fixed beamformer that is adapted to output a first spatially filtered output and configured to receive a plurality of second spatially filtered outputs from a plurality of steerable beamformers. Each steerable beamformer outputs a respective one of the second spatially filtered outputs associated with a different one of the participants. The system also includes a processor capable of determining a similarity between the first spatially filtered output and each of the second spatially filtered outputs. The processor determines the social interaction between the participants based on the similarity between the first spatially filtered output and each of the second spatially filtered outputs. |
| US09736602B2 |
Actuator systems for oral-based appliances
Actuator systems for oral-based appliances utilizing transducers which are attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a dental or oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such oral appliances may be a custom-made device which receives incoming sounds and transmits the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element. The transducer element may utilize electromagnetic or piezoelectric transducer mechanisms and may be positioned directly along the dentition or along an oral appliance housing in various configurations. |
| US09736597B1 |
Optical fiber based microphone array for detecting acoustic emissions generated by an area of interest
A microphone array for detecting acoustic emissions generated by equipment. The array includes at least one grid having a plurality of sensors each including a compact arrangement of optical fiber having first and second optical fiber ends wherein the first optical fiber end of a first sensor is terminated. The array also includes an optoelectronic device coupled to a second optical fiber end of a second sensor, wherein the optoelectronic device generates laser light that is transmitted through the plurality of sensors in the grid and is reflected back to the optoelectronic device to enable detection of acoustic emissions. |
| US09736596B2 |
Microphone
A microphone includes a case including a plurality of sound holes; a first sound device installed at positions corresponding to at least two sound holes in the case; a second sound device spaced apart from the first sound device in the case and installed at a position corresponding to at least one sound hole; and a semiconductor chip electrically connected to the first sound device and the second sound device, where the at least two sound holes formed in the positions corresponding to the first sound device are each formed in upper and lower surfaces of the case on the basis of the first sound device. |
| US09736595B2 |
Two port speaker acoustic modulator
A two-port air pump speaker that includes at least two active, phase-modulated, bi-directional shutters and an ultrasonic pumping chamber having at least two ports; a first port facing towards the listener, the forward port, and a second port facing another direction, the backward port which may be behind an acoustic baffle or inside a speaker enclosure. A two-port speaker with two active steering shutters can create continuous bi-directional airflow which leads to low distortion reproduction of low audio frequencies. The same improved design can be used also for other applications where acoustic modulation is required, especially in ultrasonic frequencies. |
| US09736593B1 |
Electro-acoustic transducer
An electro-acoustic transducer includes a base and a plurality of vibration portions. Each of the vibration portions includes a piezoelectric transduction layer and has two connection ends and a free end. The connection portions are connected to the base, and the free ends are separated from one another. The piezoelectric transduction layers are adapted to receive electrical signals to deform, such that the vibration portions are driven to vibrate and generate corresponding acoustic waves. The vibration portions are adapted to receive acoustic waves to vibrate, such that the piezoelectric transduction layers are driven to deform and generate corresponding electrical signals. |
| US09736591B2 |
Loudspeaker, an armature and a method
A loudspeaker having a first magnet configured to output a first magnetic field in a first magnet gap, an elongate armature extending through the first magnet gap, a first coil configured to generate a magnetic flux in the armature, a first diaphragm, a first element configured to transfer force and/or movement from the armature to the first diaphragm, a base and a first and a second support element, the first support element connecting the armature to the base at a first longitudinal position at a first side of a predetermined portion along the length of the armature, and the second support element connecting the armature to the base at a second longitudinal position at a second, opposite side of the predetermined portion. The base may flex between a U-shape and an inverted U-shape and may thus provide force to move the diaphragm. |
| US09736589B1 |
Music and home theater wireless ceiling system
Music and home theater ceiling system that optionally replaces any type of equipment of music and home theater of ten channels; the system simplifies in one main ceiling unit and three peripheral devices any kind of device of this range and also allows the user to install, use and distribute a complicated system of this type and allows to change the channel loudspeaker layout in a very simple way just by rotating the main unit installed at the electrical outlet box of the lamp; the invention has a bridged wall switch that allows controlling the main unit device lights without interrupting its operation. The system receives the audio signal via Bluetooth® and decodes all channels to emit sounds and effects in different directions to immerse the listener into a three-dimensional sound during a movie or video playing. |
| US09736586B2 |
Condenser microphone
A condenser microphone includes a first grounded-plate electron tube having a plate to which a dc power is supplied, and a cathode provided with an output terminal, a self-biasing circuit that is connected to the cathode of the first electron tube and that generates a grid bias voltage of the first electron tube by voltage drop with a cathode current, and a second grounded-cathode electron tube having a plate to which a series circuit of the first electron tube and the self-biasing circuit is connected as a load circuit. A positive phase output from a first condenser microphone unit is supplied to a grid of the first electron tube, and a reverse phase output from a second condenser microphone unit is supplied to a grid of the second electron tube. |
| US09736581B2 |
Control and protection of loudspeakers
A nonlinear control system and a loudspeaker protection system. In particular, a nonlinear control system including a controller, an audio system, and a model is disclosed. The controller is configured to accept one or more input signals, and one or more estimated states produced by the model to produce one or more control signals. The audio system includes one or more transducers configured to accept the control signals to produce a rendered audio stream therefrom. An active loudspeaker with an integrated amplifier is disclosed. A loudspeaker protection system and a quality control system are disclosed. More particularly, a system for clamping the input to a loudspeaker dependent upon a bank of representative models is disclosed. |
| US09736578B2 |
Microphone-based orientation sensors and related techniques
An orientation detector can have a first microphone, a second microphone, and a reference microphone spaced from the first microphone and the second microphone. An orientation processor can be configured to determine an orientation of the first microphone, the second microphone, or both, relative to a user's mouth based on a comparison of a relative strength of a first signal associated with the first microphone to a relative strength of a second signal associated with the second microphone. A channel selector in a speech enhancer can select one signal from among several signals based at least in part on the orientation determined by the orientation processor. A mobile communication handset can include a microphone-based orientation detector of the type disclosed herein. |
| US09736574B2 |
Acoustic device
An acoustic device that has a neck loop that is constructed and arranged to be worn around the neck. The neck loop includes a housing with a first acoustic waveguide having a first sound outlet opening, and a second acoustic waveguide having a second sound outlet opening. There is a first open-backed acoustic driver acoustically coupled to the first waveguide and a second open-backed acoustic driver acoustically coupled to the second waveguide. |
| US09736573B2 |
Sound system
The present disclosure provides a sound system. The sound system includes a box body and a loudspeaker arranged in the box body. An internal space of the box body is partitioned into a first chamber and a second chamber by a partition board in a sounding vibration direction of the loudspeaker. A vibration side of the loudspeaker is intercommunicated with the first chamber, and a side of the loudspeaker opposite to the vibration side is intercommunicated with the second chamber. At least one of the first chamber and the second chamber is intercommunicated with the outside. |
| US09736572B2 |
Playback based on received sound waves
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for acoustic optimization. An example playback device includes a first transducer to at least one of output sound waves and receive sound waves, a second transducer to at least one of output sound waves and receive sound waves, and an acoustic grille positioned in relation to the first transducer, where the acoustic grille is to reflect sound waves received at a first angle of incidence. |
| US09736571B2 |
Headphone suspension system
A headphone suspension system includes a headband assembly, a first earcup and a first suspension assembly elastically coupling the first earcup to a first end of the headband assembly. The headphone suspension system further includes a second earcup and a second suspension assembly elastically coupling the second earcup to a second end of the headband assembly. |
| US09736570B2 |
Earphone nozzle comprising tractrix-curved acoustic passage
An earphone includes a driver and a nozzle. The driver has a transducer diaphragm. The nozzle has an internal passage having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a wall connecting the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The wall has an inner surface within the passage. The inner surface extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. The outlet opening is smaller area than the inlet opening. The inner surface is configured, based on at least one tractrix, between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The nozzle is attached to the driver with the transducer diaphragm facing the inlet opening and the inlet opening positioned nearer to the diaphragm than is the outlet opening. |
| US09736565B2 |
Protection assembly for ear-mounted sound-output device
A protection assembly for an ear-mounted sound-output device, the assembly comprising: one pair of sound-output unit covers, each cover having an inner space formed therein and a first open end to allow a sound-output unit of the ear-mounted sound-output device to be received in the inner space, and a coupling hole defined at a second closed end of the cover, wherein the first and second ends are opposite to each other; and one pair of connection lines, each line coupled to each of one pair of the ear-mounted sound-output unit covers at the second end of the cover, each line having a first end passing through the hole, each line having a stopper received in the inner space at the first of the line, each line having a loop at a second end of the line to allow a sound-transfer cable connected the sound-output unit to slidably pass through the loop. |
| US09736564B2 |
Flexible earphone cover for earphones with sensors
The flexible earphone cover has a flexible main body and a flexible ear cone that extends from the main body. The flexible main body is configured to substantially encase a portion of an earphone. The flexible main body defines an internal cavity for receiving the earphone. It also defines a first opening at a side of the cavity for receiving the earphone there-through. The flexible main body defines a second opening at a side of the cavity. The flexible main body defines a third opening at a side of the cavity. The flexible main body further defines a fourth opening next to the first opening and a fifth opening next to the third opening. The flexible ear cone defines a converging passageway from the second opening to an exit configured to direct sound into an ear canal of an ear of a user. |
| US09736561B2 |
Smartpen configured for hands free audio recording
A smartpen configured for hands free audio recording is disclosed. One example smartpen may be configured so that a microphone contained in the smartpen is automatically oriented for unobstructed reception of ambient sound when the smartpen is placed on a supporting surface. Another example smartpen may have a weight distribution that causes the smartpen to roll to a desired orientation of the microphone when the smartpen is placed on a supporting surface with the microphone in a different orientation. Still another example smartpen may have one or more surface features disposed on a surface of the body of the smartpen, where the surface features are configured to position the microphone in a desired orientation when the smartpen is placed on a supporting surface. |
| US09736559B2 |
Ring in ring passive optical network system for providing fiber to the home with reduced number of fibers
A mini-optical line termination (OLT) includes at least one management card for providing control and management functions. A plurality of network cards having a predetermined number of ports are configured to support a predetermined number of subscribers by providing a gigabit passive optical network to the subscribers. At least one network device is coupled to an upstream device and the plurality of network cards. The at least one network device is configured to control the forwarding of data between the upstream device and the subscribers. |
| US09736558B2 |
Optical path fault recovery
The embodiments disclosed herein provide fast recovery of a network signal path by, in the event of a failure or unacceptable degradation in a signal in the original network path, diverting the optical signal passing through the network to a preselected bypass optical path which is maintained in a warm or operational state. The optical elements on the bypass optical path are available network resources which may, during part or all of the time the bypass path is designated for a node in the primary optical path, be in use to transmit other optical signals in the network. By maintaining the resources in the designated bypass path in a warm or operating state, fast rerouting and recovery of an interrupted signal is possible. |
| US09736557B2 |
Method for assigning and processing a label in an optical network, optical communication device, and optical communication system
The present invention discloses a method for assigning and processing a label in an optical network. The method includes: learning that a label switched path is required to be established in an optical network; generating a label, in which the label is used for indicating that a first optical channel data unit is multiplexed to a second optical channel data unit; the label includes a tributary slot type indication field that is used for indicating a tributary slot type of the second optical channel data unit, and the label further includes a tributary slot assignment indication field that is used for indicating a tributary slot occupied in the second optical channel data unit into which the first optical channel data unit is multiplexed; and sending the label to a node on the label switched path by a signaling message of GMPLS. |
| US09736553B2 |
System and method for managing sensor network uplink and downlink communications
A network includes a supervisory sensor in communication with a wireless network and a non-supervisory sensor in communication with the supervisory sensor, wherein the non-supervisory sensor communicates with the wireless network through the supervisory sensor. The supervisory sensor may be configured to receive downloads from a server communicating through the wireless network and to collect data from the non-supervisory sensor. The supervisory sensor may be configured to transmit the collected data to a server on the wireless network. Moreover, the non-supervisory sensor and the supervisory sensor each have an active state and an inactive state and wherein the supervisory sensor may be in the active state while the non-supervisory sensor is in the inactive state. |
| US09736550B2 |
Processing emergency alert system messages
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for processing an emergency alert message (e.g., a national warning system message e.g., an Emergency Alert System (EAS) message). The methods may comprise a digital media server receiving the message. The digital media server may notify client devices (that are connected to that server via a residential Local Area Network) that it has received such a message. The client devices notified may be those that have requested (e.g., to the digital media server) that they are notified if the digital media server receives such a message. The digital media server may convert the message from being in a first format to being in a second format. The digital media server may acquire, and provide for use by the client device, information that may be used a client device to ascertain whether the message is a new, an updated, or a duplicate message. |
| US09736549B2 |
Method and apparatus for selection of content from a stream of data
A main stream contains successive content elements of video and/or audio information that encode video and/or audio information at a first data rate. A computation circuit (144) computes main fingerprints from the successive content elements. A reference stream is received having a second data rate lower than the first data rate. The reference stream defines a sequence of the reference fingerprints. A comparator unit (144) compares the main fingerprints with the reference fingerprints. The main stream is monitored for the presence of inserted content elements between original content elements, where the original content elements have main fingerprints that match successive reference fingerprints and the inserted content elements have main fingerprints that do not match reference fingerprints. Rendering of inserted content elements to be skipped. In an embodiment when more than one content element matches only one is rendered. In another embodiment matching is used to control zapping to or from the main stream. In another embodiment matching is used to control linking of separately received mark-up information such as subtitles to points in the main stream. |
| US09736548B2 |
Multipath rate adaptation
An end-to-end multimedia streaming system can include a streaming server and a destination. The streaming server includes a content source, which sends multiple description coding-encoded content over a plurality of paths to the destination. The destination includes an aggregator for aggregating the descriptions from the multiple paths, decoding and recombining them to recover the content. A feedback sender at the destination generates traffic performance variables based on the channel conditions of the multiple paths, and sends these variables to a feedback receiver at the streaming server. The feedback receiver utilizes the feedback information to make adjustments to the transmissions of the content, and to synchronize the transmissions over the multiple paths. |
| US09736546B2 |
Transcoder enabled cloud of remotely controlled devices
Various embodiments are directed to one or more transcoder devices in communication with an input device such as a remote control device and multiple destination devices in which the transcoder device(s) facilitate communication between the remote control and the various destination devices in the vicinity. The transcoder device(s) can also provide the user with an environmental awareness of conditions and events surrounding the user. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09736541B1 |
Pairing a set-top box and personal computing device using a visual code
Embodiments are configured in part to pair or associate a portable or personal computing device with a set-top box (STB) to enable use of the paired device with an associated STB. Processing of a displayed visual code can be used to establish a pairing relationship and allow a paired STB to process navigation, control, and/or other commands from a paired device. |
| US09736536B2 |
Countermeasures against audio/video content security domain crossing
Techniques for preventing circumvention of digital rights management protections on electronic content are provided. A method according to these techniques includes receiving a content stream, obtaining samples from the content stream, generating a histogram based on the samples from the content stream, classifying the content stream as including audio content or non-audio content based on the histogram, and modifying portions of the content stream responsive to classifying the content stream as including non-audio content. The content stream can be modified such that any video content included in the content stream would be rendered unplayable, while audio content included in the content stream remains playable. |
| US09736533B2 |
Anticipatory video signal reception and processing
A system and method that provide reduced latency in a video signal processing system. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise receiving a current request from a user for first video information. Such a request may, for example, be received with a user interface module. A first video stream and a second video stream may be received simultaneously, where the first video stream comprises the first video information currently requested by the user, and the second video stream comprises second video information not currently requested by the user. A video receiver module may, for example, perform such receiving. The first video stream may be processed to present the first video information to the user at the current time. Further, the second video stream may be pre-processed in preparation for being presented to the user in the future. A video processing module may, for example, perform such video stream processing. |
| US09736532B2 |
Set-top box with enhanced content and system and method for use of same
A set-top box with enhanced content and system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless transceiver is located within a housing, which also interconnectively includes a television input, television output, a processor, and memory. The set-top box may establish a pairing with a proximate wireless-enabled interactive programmable device having a display. Content, such as the Internet, movies, music, or games, for example, may be imported from the programmable device and reformatted at the set-top box for display on a television via the television output, thereby creating an experience on the television parallel to the experience on the programmable device. Virtual remote control functionality may then be provided by a spoken sequence of words. |
| US09736531B2 |
Video media streaming device
According to an aspect, an apparatus may include a media streaming device including electronic circuitry configured to receive media content wirelessly from a media content source, and an output cord segment having a first end portion integrally coupled to a structure of the media streaming device, and a second end portion configured to be coupled to a receiving device, where the electronic circuitry is further configured to transmit the received media content through the output cord segment to the receiving device. The apparatus may include a power cord segment having a first end portion configured to be coupled to the media streaming device, and a second end portion configured to be coupled to a power source. |
| US09736528B2 |
Content delivery for viewing devices within a customer premises
A streaming device may broadcast multimedia content, such as television signals, to electronic devices in a customer premises. The device may include a tuner to receive a signal, corresponding to a number of television channels, and to extract a second signal corresponding to a selected channel. The device may include a media processor to transcode the extracted signal to a second encoded format. The device may further authenticate a destination device as a destination device that is authorized to receive at least some of the television channels, and receive, from the destination device, channel selection information that identifies the selected channel. The device may further include a communication interface to transmit the signal, in the second encoded format, to the destination device. |
| US09736526B2 |
Real-time scrubbing of videos using a two-dimensional grid of thumbnail images
A computer-implemented method for traversing a video file includes populating a two-dimensional array with representative images corresponding to a portion of the video and causing the two-dimensional array to be displayed. The two-dimensional array includes a location indicator configured to traverse the two-dimensional array in a direction parallel with one dimension of the two-dimensional array in response to navigation information associated with the portion of the video. The location indicator is further configured to indicate a position in the video by highlighting one of the representative images populating the two-dimensional array. Because an end-user is provided with a large set of statically displayed representative images during navigation of a video timeline, the end-user can visually identify a desired target scene, even when traversing a the timeline relatively quickly. |
| US09736524B2 |
Methods of and systems for content search based on environment sampling
The present disclosure provides user interface methods of and systems for displaying at least one available action overlaid on an image, comprising displaying an image; selecting at least one action and assigning a ranking weight thereto based on at least one of (1) image content, (2) current device location, (3) location at which the image was taken, (4) date of capturing the image; (5) time of capturing the image; and (6) a user preference signature representing prior actions chosen by a user and content preferences learned about the user; and ranking the at least one action based on its assigned ranking weight. |
| US09736517B2 |
System and apparatus for enhancing delivery of media services
A system and apparatus for enhancing delivery of media services is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request for content information received during a presentation of a first multimedia program on equipment. The request is provided by a signal disassociated with a satellite signal to the equipment providing the multimedia satellite service. The content information is provided to a remote mobile device concurrent with the presentation of the first multimedia program at the equipment. A selection obtained from the mobile device is identified from among the content information provided to the mobile device, and the selection is provided to the equipment. Operation of a media processor of the equipment is directed based on the selection. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09736516B1 |
Method and system for automating advertising insertion and reconciliation
A system and method for operating an ad extraction and reconciliation system for a broadcast system includes an extraction manager module that receives an advertisement schedule for an advertisement from an ad sales module. The system also includes a controller module that receives broadcast channel schedule data for broadcast channel signal from a broadcast channel system and generating an advertising content data request signal for advertising content data including an advertisement content identifier for the advertisement. The ad extraction manager module forms an advertisement insertion schedule having advertisement content identifier and an advertising insertion spot associated with the advertising content identifier. The controller communicates the advertisement insertion schedule to a broadcast scheduling system. |
| US09736512B2 |
Technique for providing programming content through a communications network having limited bandwidth
In a cable television system, a specific carrier is assigned to deliver programming content of a program channel to a service area for a period, defined as a function of viewership of the program channel during that period. For example, the program channel is assigned the specific carrier during the time when it has a generally strong viewership. Otherwise, the program channel is assigned a carrier on an as needed basis, i.e., only when one or more subscribers in the service area request such a program channel. Viewing statistics are generated to identify viewership patterns or viewing habits of the subscribers in the service area with respect to a given program channel. In another embodiment, based on the viewing statistics, popular and unpopular programs, program elements, program lineups, program channels are identified on a temporal and/or regional basis. |
| US09736510B2 |
Methods circuits devices systems and associated computer executable code for transmitting a video stream to a mobile communication device
Disclosed are methods, circuits, devices, systems and associated computer executable code for transmitting video data to a client device, optionally over a wireless communication link. According to some embodiments, a video pacing agent may be integrated or otherwise functionally associated with a segment of a communication network and may regulate and/or pace video data delivery to a client device, wherein regulating and pacing may factor an estimation of a state or fullness level of a receive buffer on the client device. |
| US09736508B2 |
DTV receiving system and method of processing DTV signal
A digital television (DTV) receiving system includes an information detector, a resampler, a timing recovery unit, and a carrier recovery unit. The information detector detects a known data sequence which is periodically inserted in a digital television (DTV) signal received from a DTV transmitting system. The resampler resamples the DTV signal at a predetermined resampling rate. The timing recovery unit performs timing recovery on the DTV signal by detecting a timing error from the resampled DTV signal using the detected known data sequence. The carrier recovery unit performs carrier recovery on the resampled DTV signal by estimating a frequency offset value of the resampled DTV signal using the detected known data sequence. |
| US09736507B2 |
Broadcast signal transmission method and apparatus for providing HDR broadcast service
The present invention relates to a broadcast signal transmission/reception method and an apparatus therefor for providing a HDR broadcast service. The broadcast signal transmission method according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: generating LDR video data by converting the dynamic range of HDR video data; generating residual information; generating a base layer stream by encoding the generated LDR video data; generating an enhancement layer stream by encoding the generated residual information; generating signaling information including information for decoding the enhancement layer stream; multiplexing the generated base layer stream, the enhancement layer stream and the signaling information into one broadcast stream; generating a broadcast signal including the multiplexed broadcast stream; and transmitting the generated broadcast signal. |