US09044627B1
An automatic self-contained fire suppression system and method are provided herein. Stovetop fires are a well known residential and commercial hazard. The fire suppression system described mounts on a back wall or back splash above the stove mount. By mounting on the back wall, the system is free from interconnections with apparatus mounted above the stovetop, such as hoods, microwave ovens, lights, fans, and vents. Using a hopper containing fire suppressing matter, a power spring, drive shaft, and a bladed spinner, fires suppressing powder is distributed over the stovetop surface. The fire suppression action is triggered automatically via failure of a heat sensitive frangible link.
US09044626B2
Gas masks and canisters for gas masks have a chemical sorbent that protects the respiratory system of the wearer from gaseous compounds. The remaining service indication systems for respiratory protections systems provide a warning to the wearer that the capacity of the chemical sorbent to adsorb or absorb further compounds is nearly depleted. A remaining service life indication system has a computer memory device for storing information concerning the canister for determining an end of the service life of a gas mask, a canister and/or a cartridge and such devices from the input of various sensors.
US09044618B2
A valvuloplasty system comprises a balloon adapted to be placed adjacent leaflets of a valve. The balloon is inflatable with a liquid. The system further includes a shock wave generator within the balloon that produces shock waves. The shock waves propagate through the liquid and impinge upon the valve to decalcify and open the valve.
US09044613B2
A transcutaneous waveform generator capable of producing a therapeutic shaped wave that may be administered to the user without perception of electrical stimulation.
US09044611B2
Systems and methods are provided for migrating cells implanted or endogenous in tissue. The system may include first and second delivery electrodes configured for insertion in tissue and a direct current (DC) power source operatively coupled to the first and second delivery electrodes. The system further may include a programmable controller operatively coupled to the DC power source, wherein the programmable controller is programmed to direct the DC power source to deliver an electric field between the first delivery electrode and the second delivery electrode at a stimulation to nonstimulation ratio sufficient to cause the cells to migrate within tissue selectively.
US09044596B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a method of applying infrared neural stimulation (INS) to the central nervous system (CNS) of a target. The methods includes applying a pulsed infrared laser at a stimulation site in the CNS; and evoking responses from a region of interest of the CNS that is at or adjacent to the stimulation site by the pulsed infrared laser. In the method, the pulsed infrared laser penetrates a predetermined penetration depth of the stimulation site. Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus for applying INS to the CNS of a target. The apparatus includes a generator generating a pulsed infrared laser, which penetrates a predetermined penetration depth of a stimulation site to evoke a response from the CNS, and an optical medium adapted for delivering the pulsed infrared laser at the stimulation site of the CNS.
US09044589B2
Electrode constructions comprise an inner wall structure with an electrode assembly disposed therein that includes a number of stimulation sites disposed at different locations along its length thereby forming an electrode array. An outer insulating layer is disposed over the electrode assembly and comprises a number of openings disposed therethrough at locations corresponding to the stimulation sites to thereby permit direct contact between the stimulation sites and an adjacent external object.
US09044583B2
A valve is provided for mounting on the hub of an introducer needle to provide a flashback chamber, to prevent outflow of blood from the introducer needle and to allow a guide wire to be inserted into the introducer needle in a bloodless seal-tight manner. The valve employs a seal ring having a slit through which the guide wire may be passed. A port is also provided to vent air from the introducer needle through an air filter that prevents passage of blood.
US09044582B2
An apparatus for transdermal fluid delivery includes a handle and a tip, having a skin applying surface, being driven to move by a driving unit. A fluid delivery structure has an aperture formed at the skin applying surface and a vacuum entry port. An abrading structure, an electrode structure, and a micro-needling structure are selectively provided at the skin applying surface with the fluid delivery structure to provide multiple functions of the tip. A flow of fluid is delivered onto the skin applying surface through the fluid delivery structure to interact with the abrading elements and the electrodes before the fluid is returned and collected, so that three different skin treatments of abrasive peeling, electrical stimulation, and liquid infusion are achieved in one single structure for improving a skin structure.
US09044576B2
A catheter including one or more bidirectional valves is provided. The catheter includes a tubular body having proximal and distal ends, and inner and outer surfaces, and at least one valve formed near the distal end of the tubular body. The valve includes a deformation portion that defines a slit that is openable and closable. The openable/closable slit communicates from the inner surface to the outer surface of the tubular body, wherein the distance between the inner surface and the outer surface of the tubular body progressively becomes thinner approaching the openable/closable slit within the deformation portion.
US09044572B2
A catheter holder which is compact and which can be relatively easily released while holding the unhoused portion of the catheter stably includes: an attachment portion for receiving or being attached to a portion of a holding tube housing a portion of the catheter, and a plurality of hold portions integral with the attachment portion and holding an unhoused portion of the catheter, which is exposed outside the holder tube.
US09044568B2
An ultrasound catheter with fluid delivery lumens, fluid evacuation lumens and a light source is used for the treatment of intracerebral hemorrhages. After the catheter is inserted into a blood clot in the brain, a lytic drug can be delivered to the blood clot via the fluid delivery lumens while applying ultrasonic energy to the treatment site. As the blood clot is dissolved, the liquefied blood clot can be removed by evacuation through the fluid evacuation lumens.
US09044564B2
A nasal cushion for a mask system includes a side wall defining a breathing chamber, an undercushion extending from the side wall, and a membrane that at least partially covers the undercushion. The membrane is adapted to seal along the nasal bridge, sides of nose, corners of nose, and upper lip of the patient's face in use. The undercushion is only provided along the side of nose, corner of nose, and upper lip regions of the cushion. The undercushion includes a flap or extending portion in each side of nose region that is wider than the other regions thereof and adapted to engage and provide a force into the sides of the patient's nose in use.
US09044543B2
Structures and protocols are presented for configuring an unmanned aerial device to perform a task, alone or in combination with other entities, or for using data resulting from such a configuration or performance.
US09044536B2
A system and method for a patch-like, self-contained multi-component substance infusion device which provides one or more substantially hidden patient needles which can be placed in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir assembly that includes a rigid bladder portion used in conjunction with a non-distensible bladder film, such as a metallized film. The device can be attached to a skin surface via an adhesive contact and a pressurization system provides a pressure to the contents of a fluid reservoir assembly. Improvements to dry powdered formulations for reconstitution for preferred use in the device are also disclosed.
US09044534B2
A breast milk pump that is easier to disassemble for cleaning and is easier to reassemble. It includes a housing, a cup-like displacement chamber a connection channel and a milk collection container releasably attached. A suction bell is connected to an inlet of the connection channel. It further includes a cup-like membrane element and a coupling element and a lever with rotatable mounting.
US09044533B2
A method for emptying the rectum by using an electronic sanitary appliance arranged on a toilet, comprises: extending out a rectum flushing nozzle so that it locates underneath of the anus of a user who is seated on the toilet; spraying a first linear water flow to the anus from the rectum flushing nozzle, modifying the relative position between the rectum flushing nozzle and the user's anus so that the first linear water flow aims at the anus; spraying the anus with a second linear water flow from the rectum flushing nozzle to pass through the anus and into the rectum; spraying continuously the second linear water flow and stopping spray of the second linear water flow when the user has a desire to defecate, then the user discharges the substance in the rectum.
US09044525B2
Provided is a water absorbent resin having excellent liquid permeability, water absorbent speed, anti-impact stability, and weather resistance. Provided is a polyacrylic acid (salt)-based water absorbent resin powder in which the water absorption capacity without load (CRC) is 30 to 45 [g/g], the water absorption capacity under load (AAP 0.3) is 20 to 35 [g/g], the water absorption capacity under load (AAP 0.7) is 10 to 28 [g/g], and the weight average particle diameter (D50) is 300 to 500 μm, characterized by including p-methoxyphenol; having a degradable soluble component (0.05% L-A (saline) for 2 hours/60° C., one hour extraction rinse/room temperature) of 40% by weight or less; and having a internal gas bubbles ratio of 0.1 to 2.5%, as specified by the following equation. (Internal gas bubbles ratio)[%]={(True density)−(Apparent density)}/(True density)×100
US09044522B2
A spray dispenser includes a housing for placement in a space. The housing is adapted to receive at least one container having a material therein for emission into the space in response to at least one of a timer, manual actuation and sensory input. The spray dispenser further includes at least three sensors distributed around a perimeter of the housing for the detection of sensory input.
US09044518B2
The present invention relates to new auristatin compounds and prodrugs thereof, compositions comprising them and uses thereof.
US09044507B2
The present invention relates to the use of immunogenic peptides comprising a T-cell epitope derived from a viral vector antigen and a redox motif such as C-(X)2-[CST] or [CST]-(X)2-C in the prevention and/or suppression of immune responses to viral vectors and in the manufacture of medicaments therefore.
US09044499B1
The invention discloses an engineered oncolytic respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), NS1 and NS2 gene deficient RSV (ΔNS1/NS2 RSV), and its usage to treat different types of human melanoma by killing cancer cells with in vitro evidences.
US09044498B2
Provided herein are lyophilized viral formulations useful for the stabilization and storage of viruses and methods of preparing these formulations. The lyophilized viral formulations described herein include a virus (e.g., a purified virus) and a non-viral composition including excipients. The formulations can be used, for example, to retain the infectivity or immunogenicity of viruses during periods of storage.
US09044497B2
The disclosure relates to a solid glass matrix of polysaccharide, saccharides and polyols as delivery vehicles for preservation and post gastric administration of a probiotic. The delivery vehicle is capable of releasing the probiotic at their site of action. The present invention further includes methods of making and using the solid glass matrix delivery vehicle of the invention.
US09044492B2
A method for modulating double-strand break-induced mutagenesis at a genomic locus of interest in a cell, thereby giving new tools for genome engineering, including therapeutic applications and cell line engineering. A method for modulating double-strand break-induced mutagenesis, concerns the identification of effectors that modulate double-strand break-induced mutagenesis by use of interfering agents; these agents are capable of modulating double-strand break-induced mutagenesis through their respective direct or indirect actions on said effectors. Methods of using these effectors, interfering agents and derivatives, respectively, by introducing them into a cell in order to modulate and more particularly to increase double-strand break-induced mutagenesis. Specific derivatives of identified effectors and interfering agents, vectors encoding them, compositions and kits comprising such derivatives for modulating or increasing double-strand break-induced mutagenesis.
US09044486B2
Provided is a method for treatment and/or prophylaxis of FIP (feline infectious peritonitis) in cats. The method is performed by administering to a cat a composition comprising a therapeutic and/or prophylactic amount of a cysteine protease inhibitor. The cysteine protease inhibitor can be a selective cathepsin B inhibitor. Also provided is a method for inhibiting FIPV (Feline infectious peritonitis virus) replication. The method comprises contacting a cell infected with FIPV with a cysteine protease inhibitor in an amount effective to inhibit replication of FIPV. It is expected the method will be effective for therapy or prophylaxis of FIP in any species of cat and will be effective against any strain of feline coronavirus.
US09044485B2
This disclosure provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising ceftolozane, pharmaceutical compositions comprising ceftolozane and tazobactam, methods of preparing those compositions, and related methods and uses of these compositions.
US09044481B2
Provided are novel lipidated oxoadenines which are useful as immunostimulators and adjuvants and are shown to be inducers of interferon-a and other immunostimulatory cytokines.
US09044471B2
Methods of treating and or preventing substance abuse/dependence, and alcohol abuse/dependence in particular. Combinations of medications are also disclosed.
US09044470B2
Provided are methods of treating or preventing viral infections caused by or associated with a Dengue virus using iminosugars.
US09044468B2
The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is increasingly recognized as a viable target for imaging and therapy of cancer. Various 99mTc/Re-labeled compounds were prepared by attaching known Tc/Re chelating agents to an amino-functionalized PSMA inhibitor with or without a variable length linker moiety. Ex vivo biodistribution and in vivo imaging demonstrated the degree of specific binding to engineered PSMA+ PC3 PIP tumors.
US09044457B2
The present invention provides antibodies and antibody fragments that specifically recognize and agonize the death receptor 4 (DR4). Also provided in the invention are polynucleotides and vectors that encode such molecules and host cells that harbor the polynucleotides or vectors.
US09044441B2
The invention regards the use of triiodothyronine sulfate, commonly named T3S, as a medicament having thyromimetic activity for the treatment of pathologies due to organic deficiency of triiodothyronine (T3), as such or in association with thyroxine (T4), and pharmaceutical formulations for oral administration thereof.
US09044439B2
Compositions containing low doses of lipoic acid-based active agents and methods for using the same are provided. In particular, compositions containing low dose lipoic acid, lipoic acid derivatives, and lipoic acid seleno-derivatives and are provided to prevent and/or treat ocular diseases.
US09044435B2
Disclosed in certain embodiments is a controlled release oral dosage form comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a drug susceptible to abuse together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients; the dosage form further including a gelling agent in an effective amount to impart a viscosity unsuitable for administration selected from the group consisting of parenteral and nasal administration to a solubilized mixture formed when the dosage form is crushed and mixed with from about 0.5 to about 10 ml of an aqueous liquid; the dosage form providing a therapeutic effect for at least about 12 hours when orally administered to a human patient.
US09044433B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating diseases associated with dyslipidemia, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, obesity, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, and related aspects of and conditions associated with metabolic syndrome. The compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful for regulating the lipid balance (lipid homeostasis) in a subject. Compositions and methods including a Nuclear Transport Modifier may be administered to a subject to modulate the transport of transcription factors, mediated by nuclear import adaptors, into the nucleus of a cell resulting in a decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood and liver, a decrease in atherosclerotic lesion size, a decrease in body weight and in hyperglycemia, a reduction of fatty liver inflammation, and an improvement in liver function.
US09044424B2
The present invention provides methods for modification and regulation of glucose metabolism by administering to an animal a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPIV) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, where the inhibitor has a Ki for inhibition of DPIV of 10 nM or less; and the inhibitor is administered in an amount sufficient to increase the plasma half-life of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) but not sufficient to suppress the immune system of the animal.
US09044420B2
Compositions and methods are provided herein for improved dual immunization strategies that induce in a subject an immune response that includes a humoral immune response and cellular immune response, both CD4 and CD8 T lymphocyte immune responses, thereby providing a complete adaptive immune response to one or more antigens. The methods described are therefore useful for treating and/or preventing (i.e., reducing the likelihood or risk of occurrence) different diseases, disorders, and conditions such as cancers and infectious diseases for which induction of both a humoral immune response and cellular immune response is desired and beneficial.
US09044416B2
A method of photoprotecting a keratinous substrate comprising applying a composition onto the keratinous substrate, the composition comprising at least one phenolic compound chosen environmental at least one ortho-diphenol, at least one phenolic compound having a carboxylic acid moiety, and mixtures thereof, —a compound chosen from at least one pelyarn!ne, at least one water solvable metal salt, and mixtures thereof; and a cosmetically acceptable carrier. The present disclosure also relates to photoprotective compositions for application onto hair and skin, the compositions comprising at least one phenolic compound chosen from at least one ortho-diphenol, at least one phenolic compound having a carboxylic acid moiety, and mixtures thereof; a compound chosen from at least one polyamine, at least one water soluble metal salt, and mixtures thereof; and a cosmetically acceptable carrier.
US09044409B2
The invention relates to the use of chromen-4-one derivatives of the formula I where R1 and R2 may be identical or different and are selected from H, —C(═O)—R7, —C(═O)—OR7, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, hydroxyalkyl groups and/or cycloalkyl groups and/or cycloalkenyl groups, R3 is H or alkyl groups, R4 is H or OR8, R5 and R6 are selected from —H, —OH, alkyl groups, alkenyl groups and hydroxyalkyl groups, and R7 is H, alkyl groups, a polyhydroxyl compound, such as, preferably, an ascorbic acid radical or glycosidic radicals, and R8 is H or alkyl groups, where at least two of the substituents R1, R2 and R4-R6 are different from H or at least one substituent from R1 and R2 is —C(═O)—R7 or —C(═O)—OR7, for the care, preservation or improvement of the general state of the skin or hair.
US09044408B2
Cosmetic and dermatological compositions comprising N-heteroarylbisamide analogs and methods of using such compositions to impart anti-aging benefits to the skin and/or improve skin conditions resulting from reduced collagen and hyaluronic acid production are disclosed. The N-heteroarylbisamides are believed to stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid production and restore or maintain homeostasis for these compounds.
US09044407B2
Methods for ameliorating the effects of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH)-related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men, comprising orally administering an effective amount of multi-carotenoids compositions. Multi-carotenoids composition for oral administration comprising about 71% by weight, of a tomato extract containing therein about 2% to 10% by weight of lycopene, about 0.25% to 2% by weight of phytoene, and about 0.2% to 2% by weight of phytofluene, and about 29% by weight, of a suitable encapsulating matrix. A suitable encapsulating matrix is an edible oil exemplified by soya oil, pumpkin seed oil, grape-seed oil and the like. The tomato extract may additionally comprise one or more of at least one carotene selected from the group comprising β-carotene, γ-carotene, and δ-carotene, a phytosterol, a tocopheral and a phospholipid. Use of multi-carotenoids compositions for the treatment of urinary tract malfunctions including benign prostate hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms.
US09044398B2
An abuse-deterrent pharmaceutical composition has been developed to reduce the likelihood of improper administration of drugs, especially drugs such as opiods. In the preferred embodiment, a drug is modified to increase its lipophilicity. In preferred embodiments the modified drug is homogeneously dispersed within microparticles composed of a material that is either slowly soluble or not soluble in water. The abuse-deterrent composition retards the release of drug, even if the physical integrity of the formulation is compromised (for example, by chopping with a blade or crushing) and the resulting material is placed in water, snorted, or swallowed. However, when administered as directed, the drug is slowly released from the composition as the composition is broken down or dissolved gradually within the GI tract by a combination of enzymatic degradation, surfactant action of bile acids, and mechanical erosion.
US09044397B2
Implantable medical devices having galvanic particulates are disclosed. The particulate may be coated onto at least part of a surface of the medical device. In addition, the galvanic particulates may be contained in the material used to manufacture the antimicrobial medical devices, or may be embedded into the surface of the medical devices. The present invention also provides novel coating methods and processing methods. The present invention further provides a combination of galvanic particulates with an aqueous gel, a method of making this combination, and a method of treatment using this combination. The devices and compositions may have advantageous characteristics and effects including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, tissue regeneration promoting, and pain reduction or elimination.
US09044391B2
The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and using a rapid dissolving, high potency, substantially amorphous nanostructured aggregate for pulmonary delivery of tacrolimus and a stabilizer matrix comprising, optionally, a polymeric or non-polymeric surfactant, a polymeric or non-polymeric saccharide or both, wherein the aggregate comprises a surface area greater than 5 m2/g as measured by BET analysis and exhibiting supersaturation for at least 0.5 hours when 11-15-times the aqueous crystalline solubility of tacrolimus is added to simulated lung fluid.
US09044390B1
The present invention provides for methods of obtaining an extract of Cannabis plant material as well as subsequent processing of the extract to provide a concentrate of Cannabis. The present invention also provides for pharmaceutical dosage forms (e.g., oral thin films and transdermal patches) that include the concentrate (or extract) of Cannabis, as well as methods of medical treatment that include administering the pharmaceutical dosage forms.
US09044389B2
The invention relates to new isoxazoline compounds of formula wherein the variables have the meaning as indicated in the claims; in free form and in salt form; and optionally the enantiomers and geometrical isomers thereof. The compounds of formula (I) are useful in the control of parasites, in particular ectoparasites, in and on warm-blooded animals.
US09044381B2
The present invention is concerned with delivering a pharmaceutical composition to the brain of a mammalian subject for treating brain diseases or disorders. The process includes the steps of: (i) providing a dispersion of the pharmaceutical composition as particles having an average particle size of from about 150 nm to about 100 microns, and (ii) administering the dispersion to the mammalian subject for delivery to the brain of a portion of the pharmaceutical composition by cells capable of reaching the brain. The dispersion of the pharmaceutical composition as particles, for example, can be phagocytized or adsorbed by the cells prior or subsequent to administration into the mammalian subject. The dispersion of the pharmaceutical composition can be administered to the central nervous system or the vascular system. After administration, the loaded cells transport the pharmaceutical composition as particles into the brain.
US09044376B2
The prevention invention relates to a moxa holder support and a moxibustion device comprising the same, and more particularly, to a moxa holder support which provides comfort to a patient receiving moxibustion, and to a moxibustion device in which the temperature of part of a human body, to which moxibustion is applied, can be easily controlled according to the characteristics of the related organ of the human body. When receiving moxibustion using the moxa holder support according to the present invention, a patient can feel comfortable because part of the patient's skin to which moxibustion is applied comes into contact with the leather connected to the bottom of a main body of the moxa holder support and the texture of pig skin, cow skin or sheep skin used as the leather in the present invention is similar to that of human skin. In addition, the moxibustion device according to the present invention, in which a moxa holder having a different thickness or a different number of air holes is employed depending on part of a human body to be treated can facilitate the control of the temperature of the part to be treated according to the characteristics of the related organ of the human body.
US09044372B2
The invention provides a compression device for the limb of a mobile patient. The device includes an inflatable sleeve adapted to surround the limb; a conduit attached to the sleeve for delivering fluid to the sleeve; and a portable, wearable controller attached to the conduit that generates and controls the flow of fluid in the device.
US09044369B2
The present invention relates to a novel approach to improving the use of wheelchairs by offering the ability for the wheelchair to transition between accommodation for a seated position, and accommodation for a standing position, more particularly, wherein the inventive mobile manual standing wheelchair allows for a standing position during the course of mobile use, and which also permits fixed gearing of multiple speeds that also accommodates forwards and backwards motion.
US09044368B2
A patient positioning wedge, mattress, pillow, pod, or other surface or apparatus for preventing or relieving pressure ulcers or other types of wounds through low air loss therapy, alternating pressure therapy, or both, and the ports, controllers, and manifolds used in combination. The mattress includes a plurality of perforated or otherwise porous air cells for supporting the patient's body weight. The mattress further includes valves and accessory ports to pump air into accessories, such as patient positioning wedges, pods, and pillows. Each accessory also includes perforated or otherwise porous air cells. The air cells in the mattress and accessories allow for low air loss therapy and/or alternating pressure therapy by passing air between the contact surface of the mattress or accessory and the contact surface of the patient, thus helping alleviate pressure, heat, friction, and moisture, while maintaining support and stability of the patient.
US09044364B2
A portable human transport system for use in field medical rescue operations comprising a fully collapsible litter element attached to one or more rescue harnesses via a choke braking system which minimizes unnecessary patient movement during transport. The transport system may be used by a single rescuer or by multiple rescuers.
US09044358B2
An absorbent article is provided with a waist-cuff to prevent body waste from leaking beyond a waist-opening. An elastic sheet is used for the waist-cuff to be held in contact with the wearer's skin even if the wearer moves. The waist-cuff and a chassis may be joined to each other so as to be separated from each other in the vicinity of an absorbent structure to assure that fitness of the waist-cuff to the wearer's skin is not significantly affected by movement of the wearer and, at the same time, to assure that leg-cuffs can rise without being collapsed by the waist-cuff. The ends of the leg-cuffs are interleaved between the waist-cuff and the chassis to prevent body waste from leaking through a clearance which would otherwise be defined between the leg-cuffs and the waist-cuff.
US09044357B2
A diaper includes front and rear waist members and a crotch member. The front and rear waist members are respectively formed with first narrowly-spaced elastic zones, widely-spaced elastic zones and second narrowly-spaced elastic zones adjacent one to another. Front and rear ends of the crotch member are bonded to respective sides of the front and rear waist members so that the crotch member's front and rear ends may positionally correspond to the second narrowly-spaced elastic zones. Cover sheets are attached to the side of the crotch member to cover the crotch member's front and rear ends respectively. A length dimension of the cover sheet in the longitudinal direction is set to be smaller than those of the front and rear waist members and a length dimension of the cover sheet in the transverse direction is substantially equal to those of the front and rear waist members.
US09044348B2
A prosthetic device, system and method is arranged to generate negative pressure inside a prosthetic socket. A pump mechanism is connected to a prosthetic foot and has a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the prosthetic socket during gait for drawing air from the prosthetic socket in step phase, and expelling air into the atmosphere in swing phase. The vacuum assisted suspension results in secure and intimate suspension as the negative pressure formed inside the prosthetic socket holds a residuum firmly to walls of the prosthetic socket. The vacuum is preferably formed at the distal area of the prosthetic socket, and sealed by a suspension liner having a seal component.
US09044347B2
A hybrid bioelectrical interface (HBI) device can be an implantable device comprising an abiotic component operable to transmit charge via electrons or ions; a biological component interfacing with the neural tissue, the biological component being sourced from biologic, biologically-derived, or bio-functionalized material; and a conjugated polymer component that together provide a way to chronically interface living neural tissue with electronic devices for extended durations (e.g. greater than 10 years). In some embodiments, conjugated polymers provide a functional electrical interface for charge transfer and signal transduction between the nervous system and an electronic device (e.g. robotic prosthetic limb, retinal implant, microchip).
US09044342B2
The present invention relates to devices and methods for treating one or more damaged, diseased, or traumatized portions of the spine, including intervertebral discs, to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. The present invention relates to an expandable interbody spacer.
US09044337B2
Anchoring devices, anchoring systems for intervertebral implants, intervertebral implants, and instruments and methods for implanting implants are disclosed. In preferred configurations, these various objects share the feature of comprising or cooperating with an anchoring device having a body comprising at least one curved plate elongated along a longitudinal axis, designed to be inserted through a passage crossing at least a part of implant, in order to penetrate into at least one vertebral endplate and attach implant onto this vertebral endplate by means of at least one stop retaining the implant, characterized in that the body comprises at least one longitudinal rib on at least a part of at least one of its faces, said rib being designed to cooperate with a groove made in passage of implant. In some preferred configurations, anchoring device comprises withdrawal stops or latches, and/or means for withdrawing the anchor from an inserted position.
US09044329B2
An article of apparel, including a garment such as underwear, boxers, or briefs is provided that has an integral support system. The garment is configured to provide improved genital support while the wearer exercises, plays sports, or engages in a physical activity. The garment includes a portion configured as an article of clothing such as underwear, for example, made of cotton and spandex/elastane material, and includes a support pouch, a wide waistband, support straps slidingly disposed through retaining means, and other supportive features. Use of the garment can eliminate the need for the user to wear multiple support layers or uncomfortable compression underwear in order to gain adequate support while exercising, playing sports, or engaging in other physical activities.
US09044323B2
The present invention provides a bearing material that is excellent in durability and is capable of maintaining wear resistance over a long period of time. The bearing material of the present invention is a high wear-resistance bearing material 10 for being used under a humid environment comprising: a base body 12 made of a polymer material having a methylene group; and a polymer layer 30 covering a bearing surface 16 of the substrate 12, the polymer layer 30 comprising polymer chains which have a phosphorylcholine group and are grafted from the bearing surface 16, wherein a phosphoric index of the sliding surface 16 which is calculated by dividing a peak intensity of phosphate group in an infrared spectrum measured on the sliding surface by a peak intensity of the methylene group therein is not less than 0.28.
US09044320B2
A device for the transvascular implantation and fixation of prosthetic heart valves having a self-expanding heart valve stent (10) with a prosthetic heart valve (11) at its proximal end is introducible into a patient's main artery. With the objective of optimizing such a device to the extent that the prosthetic heart valve (11) can be implanted into a patient in a minimally-invasive procedure, to ensure optimal positioning accuracy of the prosthesis (11) in the patient's ventricle, the device includes a self-expanding positioning stent (20) introducible into an aortic valve positioned within a patient. The positioning stent is configured separately from the heart valve stent (10) so that the two stents respectively interact in their expanded states such that the heart valve stent (10) is held by the positioning stent (20) in a position in the patient's aorta relative the heart valve predefinable by the positioning stent (20).
US09044318B2
An expandable stent for an endoprosthesis used in the treatment of a narrowing of a cardiac valve and/or a cardiac valve insufficiency for reducing longitudinal displacement of a valvular prosthesis relative a stent when implanted. In one embodiment, the stent may comprise at least one fastening portion by which the valvular prosthesis is connectable to the stent. In another embodiment, the stent further comprises positioning arches and retaining arches, whereby at least one positioning arch is connected to at least one retaining arch via a first connecting land. In another embodiment, the stent may comprise at least one auxiliary arch which connects the respective arms of the at least one retaining arch connected to the at least one positioning arch.
US09044314B2
A fixation device for securing a transplant in a bone tunnel, having a strap with a plurality of protrusions disposed along its length, a fastening member with an aperture therein for passing the strap, and a connection element disposed at a distal end of the strap for engaging a transplant is provided. The fixation device is configured such that, when the distal side of the fastening member lies substantially flush against an outer surface of the bone, a longitudinal axis of the aperture is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bone tunnel. A method for securing a transplant in a bone tunnel using the aforementioned fixation device is also provided.
US09044313B2
Disclosed herein are methods and devices for securing soft tissue to a rigid material such as bone. A tissue anchoring device is described that comprises an anchor body and a spreader such that tissue may be captured or compressed between outside surfaces on the anchor and inside surfaces of a bone tunnel to secure the tissue within the tunnel. An anchoring device is described that comprises an anchor body having compressible tabs with teeth, and a spreader that forces the compressible tabs into an expanded state when inserted into anchor body, facilitating engagement between bone and the teeth of the compressible tabs. Also described is an inserter tool that can be used to insert the anchor into bone and move the spreader within the anchor to expand the anchor and capture the tissue between the anchor and the bone. Methods are described that enable use of the bone anchoring device to secure a tissue graft into the tibial and femoral bones during anterior cruciate ligament (“ACL”) reconstruction.
US09044312B2
An apparatus is disclosed including a workspace for receiving a stent and a delivery device for the stent; a source for exposing the stent in the workspace to a plasticizing agent, vapor, or moisture, wherein the stent can be reduced in diameter in the workspace while under exposure of the plasticizing agent, vapor or moisture; and a device for reducing the diameter of the stent in the workspace to position the stent on or within the delivery device.
US09044304B2
A variable-applanation patient interface can include a lens support system, attachable to a distal end of an ophthalmic surgical laser system; a contact lens, supported by the lens support system and configured to make contact with an eye-surface; and an adjustable coupler, coupled to at least one of the lens support system and the contact lens, and configured to be coupled to a non-central region of the eye-surface, to accommodate the contact lens to contact a central region of the eye-surface with a central applanation, to enable a change between the central applanation and an extended applanation, and to accommodate the contact lens to contact an extended region of the eye-surface larger than the central region with the extended applanation.
US09044299B2
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device and method for treating recurrent corneal erosion. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of contacting an epithelium layer of a cornea with an array of glass micro-rods including a plurality of sharp features having a length that penetrates a Bowman's layer of the eye, wherein the plurality of sharp features of the array of glass micro-rods produces a plurality of punctures in the Bowman's layer of the eye that are of micro-scale or less. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method and device for drug delivery. In one embodiment, the device includes an array of glass micro-rods, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature opposite a base of the array of glass micro-rods, wherein the sharp feature includes a treated surface for delivering a chemical compound to the eye.
US09044298B2
Generally described herein are automatic, self-adjusting, gastric banding systems and improvements thereof, that are capable of automatically relaxing and contracting in response to a large bolus passing through the area of a patient's stomach constricted by a gastric band. Alternatively, and/or in addition in one or more embodiments, the gastric banding systems described herein may also help prevent pouch dilatation and/or erosion. The apparatus and systems described herein aid in facilitating obesity control and/or treating obesity-related diseases while generally being non-invasive once implanted. Furthermore, certain embodiments of the self-adjusting gastric banding systems disclosed herein are automatically adjustable without complicated fluid control mechanisms, flow rate limiting devices, and/or valves. The automatic adjustments may also be made in response to other changes in the patient's esophageal-gastric junction, for example, in response to size, shape, and or location changes.
US09044296B2
A system for attaching a natural tooth to a dental implant. The system comprises a dental prosthesis and an elastomeric cushion. The dental prosthesis has a first end and a second end. The first end is fixed to a natural tooth and the second end is engaged with a dental implant. The elastomeric cushion is positioned in contact, either directly or indirectly, with at least a portion of the dental implant and at least a portion of the dental prosthesis such that the elastomeric cushion permits movement of the second end relative to the dental implant in response to movement of the natural tooth transferred through the dental prosthesis to the second end.
US09044295B2
An interdental cleaning device is adapted for use with a dental floss roll and includes a main body and a floss holder. The main body defines a receiving space configured to receive the dental floss roll. The floss holder is pivotally connected to the main body and defines a guiding channel that is in spatial communication with the receiving space. The floss holder has a securing end, and an open end that is spaced apart from the securing end and that is formed with an opening to spatially communicate the guiding channel with external environment. A to-be-used segment of the dental floss roll is extendible through the opening of the open end via the guiding channel so as to be secured at the securing end of the floss holder.
US09044294B1
A dental suction adapter can include a first tube including a tapered portion and a presenting end, the presenting end being configured to fluidly engage an interior of a mouth, and a second tube including a transition tube connected to the tapered portion of the first tube and a connection taper extending from the transition tube opposite the first tube, the connection taper being configured to be connected to an end of an aspirator tube, wherein the adapter is configured to increase a velocity of air at the presenting end compared to a velocity of the fluid at the aspirator tube.
US09044273B2
A spinal fixation device includes a bone screw, a nut, a bearing, a slider, and a plate construct. The screw has a head with a nut connection and a screw portion. The nut has an exterior wall and a bore connecting to the nut connection. The bearing has an exterior and defines a bore fitting therein the nut connection and the exterior wall of the nut. The slider defines a bore fitting the nut exterior wall therewithin and has an exterior with a given shape. The elongate plate construct has a first end defining a first opening shaped to accept the exterior of the bearing therein and a second end defining a second opening shaped to accept the slider therein and having a corresponding shape to the given shape to permit the slider to slide in at least a portion of the second opening.
US09044271B2
An external fixation system comprising: first and second planar at least part-circular ring elements, the first ring element having a circumferential track extending along the part-circular circumference thereof; a plurality of struts each having a first and second end, the first end of each strut coupled to the first ring by a first connector and the second end of each strut coupled to a second ring by a second connector, the first connector including a spherical joint; the second connector non-rotatably coupled to the second ring, the strut second end being coupled to the second connector by a U-joint; shuttles mounted on the track of the first ring for movement there along with one shuttle coupled to each strut; and means for controlling the angular position of each strut second end and means for controlling the position of each shuttle along the circumferential track on the first ring.
US09044269B2
The invention relates to a medical tracking marker (12) for localizing or tracking an object (10) by means of a medical tracking system (30), said marker comprising a first part (1) which is to be fixed on the object (10), and a second part (2) which is to be connected to the first part (1), wherein the first and second parts (1, 2) comprise interconnecting elements (4, 6) which are adapted to provide a positionally determined connection between the first part (1) and the second part (2) while the first part is located under a surgical drape (20) and the second part is located above said surgical drape (20), with the drape (20) placed between the two parts (1, 2). The invention also relates to a method of referencing an object (10) using a medical navigation system, wherein a medical tracking marker such as has been described above is localized or tracked by means of a medical tracking system (30), and wherein the object is registered by means of the first part (1) of the marker (12) in a preliminary referencing step, in particular for imaging purposes, which is later adapted to form a final referencing step for navigation using the second part (2) which has been placed on the first part in a positionally defined, pre-determined manner.
US09044263B2
Devices including, but not limited to, a self-expandable member having a proximal end portion and a main body portion. The self-expandable member is movable from a first delivery position to a second placement position, in the first delivery position the expandable member being in an unexpanded position and having a nominal first diameter and in the second position the expandable member being in a radially expanded position and having a second nominal diameter greater than the first nominal diameter for deployment within a vessel or duct of a patient. The expandable member includes a plurality of cell structures with the cell structures in the main body portion extending circumferentially around a longitudinal axis of the expandable member and the cell structures in the proximal end portion extending less than circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the expandable member to form first and second peripheral rails that vary in width along their lengths.
US09044262B2
A method for the extraction of follicular units from a donor area on a patient. The method includes scoring the outer skin layers with a sharp punch, and then inserting a blunt punch into the incision to separate the hair follicle from the surrounding tissue and fatty layer. The method will significantly decrease the amount of follicular transection and increase the rate at which follicular units can be extracted.
US09044261B2
A surgical instrument includes a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency. An ultrasonic blade extends along a longitudinal axis and is coupled to the transducer. A controller receives a feedback signal from the ultrasonic blade. A lumen is adapted to couple to a pump. The lumen conducts a fluid therethrough based on the feedback signal.
US09044256B2
Medical devices having a platform and an arm movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. In some embodiments, the platform comprises at least one of a magnetically-attractive material and a material capable of being magnetically-charged. Methods of use.
US09044253B2
A microwave field-detecting needle assembly includes a needle assembly. The needle assembly includes a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a junction member disposed between the distal portion and the proximal portion. The junction member includes a recess defined therein. The needle assembly also includes a rectifier element disposed in the recess. The rectifier element includes a first terminal electrically coupled to the distal portion and a second terminal electrically coupled to the proximal portion.
US09044245B2
A method of ablating an epicardial tissue region, including positioning a medical device adjacent the epicardial tissue region, the medical device having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode located in between the first and second electrodes; delivering an irrigation fluid to the tissue region; and ablating at least a portion of the tissue region by sequentially activating the third electrode in a monopolar radiofrequency delivery mode and activating the first and second electrodes in a bipolar radiofrequency delivery mode.
US09044235B2
An instrument for deploying a surgical implant includes a handle, a shaft, and a frame arm coupled to the shaft. A magnetic clip system is disposed on the frame arm for releasably retaining a surgical implant to the frame arm. The magnetic clip system includes a clip, a first ferromagnetic member, and a second ferromagnetic member. The magnetic clip system biases the clip towards a closed position.
US09044234B2
Disclosed herein are devices, systems and methods for using such devices and systems for treating incisions and wounds. In an aspect, disclosed is a device having a generally planar tension relief module and a flexible sealant structure sized to cover the tension relief module, the flexible sealant structure comprising a lower adhesive surface. The tension relief module includes a conduit structure having a plurality of support structures on an upper surface of the conduit structure and at least one opening extending through the conduit structure from a lower surface to the upper surface. At least a portion of the conduit structure is adapted to be aligned with a longitudinal axis of the incision. The tension relief module also includes opposing adhesive structures coupled to the conduit structure. The lower adhesive surface of the flexible sealant structure and the upper surface of the conduit structure form a flow pathway.
US09044226B2
Methods and devices for securing soft tissue to a rigid material such as bone are disclosed herein. A bone anchor is described that comprises a base and a top such that suture material may be compressed between surfaces on the base and top to secure the suture to the anchor. Also described is an inserter that can be used to insert the bone anchor into bone and move the anchor top relative to the anchor base to clamp suture material there between. Also described is a soft-tissue and bone piercing anchor and associated inserter. Methods are described that allow use of the bone anchors to provide multiple lengths of suture material to compress a large area of soft tissue against bone.
US09044224B2
Barbed medical devices include a multifilament elongate body and a monofilament fragment. The multifilament elongate body has an outer surface. The monofilament fragment has a first portion positioned within the multifilament elongate body and at least a second portion which extends beyond the outer surface of the multifilament elongate body to form a barb.
US09044222B2
Methods are described wherein bone constructs of a patient are used to arthroscopically attach sutures to torn or dysfunctional tissue. A suture or multiple sutures are passed through intersecting/bisecting tunnels formed in the bone. An end of the suture extends from each of the tunnels, and the ends are used to secure the tissue to the bone, such as by arthroscopic tying of the ends, and pulling the tissue against the bone. Devices for performing the methods are also described.
US09044214B2
A needle assembly comprises an outer cannula and an inner cannula. The outer cannula and the inner cannula have complementary tissue receiving apertures. A tissue piercing tip is secured relative to one or both of the inner cannula or the outer cannula. A cutter is slidably disposed in the inner cannula. The cutter is configured to sever tissue protruding through the transverse apertures. A hub releasably secures at least part of the needle assembly relative to the body of a biopsy device.
US09044206B2
A pulse detector (100) includes a pulse wave sensor (10); a pulse wave signal filtering section (200) having a first adaptive filter (202a) and second adaptive filter (202b), and an adaptive filter switching section (17); and a pulse wave frequency analyzer (400), wherein the adaptive filter switching section (17) starts an adaptive processing of the second adaptive filter (202b) at a first time point partway through a second interval in which the first adaptive filter (202a) is continuously carrying out adaptive processing, where the second interval occurs in the first interval, and switches from the first adaptive filter (202a) to the second adaptive filter (202b) at a second time point, which is a time point after the first time point and which is the end point of the second interval.
US09044204B2
A person monitoring system is operable to predict the onset of an adverse condition of a person. The system receives first information corresponding to a feature of a person support apparatus and second information corresponding to a physiological characteristic of the person. The system calculates a condition score as a function of the first and second information. In some instances, the system alerts a caregiver if the condition score exceeds a predetermined threshold. Alternatively or additionally, the person monitoring system alerts a caregiver when a person supported on a person support apparatus is regaining consciousness by monitoring one or more of a change in position, a heart rate, and a respiration rate. A person monitoring system that monitors a person's quality of sleep and presents information concerning the quality of sleep to one or more interested parties is also disclosed.
US09044203B2
A fixing device for attaching to a lumen wall, the device including a base (18) and a fixing mechanism (5) fixed on the base (18). The fixing mechanism (5) includes a housing (5a), at least a set of clamping brackets (3), and a rotating shaft (7). A bracket hole (3b) is formed on each clamp bracket (3), and the rotating shaft (7) passes through the bracket hole (3b) and fixes each set of the clamping brackets (3) on the housing (5a) of the fixing device.
US09044201B2
The present invention relates to a system and a method of measuring a physiological variable in a body. A basic idea of the present invention is to measure a physiological variable in a body by means of employing a sensor (314) which is arranged to be disposed in the body for measuring the physiological variable. The sensor must be provided with a supply voltage in order to be operable. Therefore, a control unit (322) disposed outside the body provides this supply voltage to the sensor. The control unit also receives, from the sensor, via a wired connection (311), signals that represent the physiological variables that are measured. The control unit is arranged with a communication interface (401, 701) and a modulator (301) for wireless spread spectrum communication of the measured physiological variables for presentation purposes.
US09044191B2
A radiographic image capturing apparatus includes a mobile cart unit, a plurality of devices used for capturing a radiographic image, and an electric power supply activator enabling supply of electric power between the devices, based on an instruction of permission to supply electric power.
US09044190B2
A system and method for generating CT-type three dimensional imaging information from a conventional C-arm fluoroscope system. This enables the adaptation of widely used C-arm installations to provide CT-type information. The system uses a three dimensional target disposing in a fixed position relative to the subject, and obtains a sequence of video images of a region of interest of a subject while the C-arm is moved manually or by a scanning motor. Images from the video sequence are analyzed to determine the pose of the C-arm relative to the subject by analysis of the image patterns of the target. Images are selected from the video sequence according to predetermined criteria. A set of two-dimensional image data with associated positional data is obtained, which is used to reconstruct a three dimensional volumetric set of imaging data of the region of interest of the subject.
US09044188B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for managing epilepsy. In one embodiment, a method of the present invention characterize a patient's propensity for a future epileptic seizure and communicates to the patient and/or a health care provider a therapy recommendation. The therapy recommendation is typically a function of the patient's propensity for the future epileptic seizure.
US09044184B2
The invention relates to a spreadable medical instrument for endoscopic interventions having a base body, a handle positioned on the base body, and at least two spatula blades that are connected with the handle and can be displaced between a closed starting position and at least one working position parallel and/or at an angle to one another by means of an adjustment device, in such a way that the adjustment mechanism is positioned on the handle so that it is possible simultaneously to grip the handle and activate the adjustment mechanism with the same hand. To create a spreadable medical instrument that has the widest possible range of applications and is easy and safe to operate, it is proposed with the invention that the adjustment mechanism is configured as a continuous, adjustable screw-in mechanism.
US09044182B2
A system is disclosed that extracts bodily fluid to a reaction chamber for monitoring a substance or property of the patient fluid. In one embodiment, a pump is used to advance the sample of bodily fluid through a filter to produce a filtrate. Another pump advances filtrate into the reaction chamber, while another pump advances reactant into the reaction chamber. A sensor in communication with the reaction chamber determines a concentration of nitric oxide or one of its metabolic products. Methods are also disclosed.
US09044179B2
Provided is a durable oxygen sensitive probe of sufficient strength to withstand direct tissue pressures in vivo, the probe comprising a sensor chamber within a biocompatible, gas-permeable membrane containing an oxygen sensitive analyte solution producing oxygen quenchable phosphorescence when excited. Further provided is a tissue oxygen detection and measurement system comprising the probe, and methods for use of the probe and the system to directly, rapidly and accurately measure tissue oxygen levels in a patient without reliance on blood vessels or fluid protection of the probe.
US09044177B2
A lancet pricking device comprises a lancet, a launching spring, a trigger part and a holder housing the lancet, launching spring and trigger part. The lancet comprises a lancet body, lancet cap and pricking needle. The pricking needle is in both the lancet body and lancet cap. The trigger part has a pair of arms positioned inside the holder. The launching spring is attached to the lancet body. The lancet body is secured to the arms of the trigger part by an abutment of the lancet body on the arms such that the launching spring is compressed before a pricking operation. The trigger part cannot be pushed toward the inside of the holder before the lancet cap is removed, but can be pushed toward the inside of the holder after the cap is removed. The lancet body warps when pressed to release the secured lancet body.
US09044170B2
The present invention discloses a method and signal processing device (620) for analyzing a ballistocardiogram (BCG). The actual energy content of the cardiac part of the BCG in a predefined time window is determined and compared with a reference value. A difference between the actual energy content and the reference energy content exceeding a predefined threshold is indicative of the presence of an arrhythmia in the evaluated part of the BCG because the force exerted by an arrhythmic ventricular contraction, if at all present, is typically substantially smaller than the force exerted by a ventricular contraction of a regular heartbeat. This insight facilitates a more accurate detection of the presence of arrhythmias in a BCG compared to BCG detection schemes based on a heart rate analysis.
US09044163B2
The endoscope apparatus includes an illumination unit for irradiating at least three kinds of illumination light having different wavelengths including standard light, first and second reference light onto a biological object, a switching unit for periodically switching the illumination light, an imaging unit for capturing image data by the illumination light in each imaging frame, and an acquisition unit for acquiring biological function information from the captured image data. The irradiation order of illumination light is switched at least in order of the first reference light, the standard light and the second reference light, a standard image by the standard light and reference images by the reference light are acquired, and the biological function information is calculated based on the standard image and the reference images.
US09044160B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for generating and changing a magnetic field in a field of view (28), said magnetic field having a, in particular ball-shaped or line-shaped, first sub-zone (62) having a low magnetic field strength and a second sub-zone (64) having a higher magnetic field strength. The proposed apparatus comprises at least three pairs of first coils (136a-136d), wherein the coils are arranged along a ring around the field of view and wherein the two coils of each pair are opposingly arranged on opposite sides of the field of view, at least one pair of second coils (116) opposingly arranged on opposite sides of the field of view at the open sides of said ring, generator means (110, 130) for generating current signals for provision to said first and second coils for generating the desired magnetic fields by said first and second coils, and control means (150) for controlling said generator means.
US09044157B2
In an exemplary assessment system of speech sound listening, an output section presents a speech sound to a user as an auditory stimulation; a positive component determination section determines whether a positive component appears in an event-related potential of an electroencephalogram signal of the user in a range from 600-900 ms from a starting point, the starting point being a point in time at which the speech sound is presented, and outputs an assessment result as to whether the user is listening to the speech sound with strife or not; and a negative component determination section determines whether a negative component appears in the event-related potential in a range from 100-300 ms from a starting point, the starting point being the point in time at which the speech sound is presented, and outputs an assessment result as to whether the user is annoyed by the speech sound or not.
US09044152B2
Among other things, a rotatable drum for a radiology imaging modality is provided herein. The rotatable drum comprises a bore, defined by an inner circumference of a sidewall of the rotatable drum. In one embodiment, the sidewall comprises one or more apertures through which radiation may pass. By way of example, a radiation source and a detector array may be mounted outside of the bore (e.g., on an outside surface of the sidewall) and apertures in the sidewall may permit radiation to pass from the radiation source to the detector array without being attenuated by the sidewall of the drum. In another embodiment, the detector array may be comprised of a plurality of detector modules that may be individually mounted/dismounted from the rotatable drum, and in one example, may provide structural support to the rotatable drum.
US09044150B2
A biometric monitoring device having a heart rate sensor for measuring various biometric information is provided. In some embodiments, the biometric monitoring device allows the person to take and/or display a heart rate reading by a simple user interaction with the device, e.g., by simply touching a heart rate sensor surface area, moving the device in a defined motion pattern, or clenching the fist. Some embodiments of this disclosure provide a biometric monitoring device that allows a person to get a quick heart rate reading without removing the device or interrupting their other activities. Some embodiments provide heart rate monitoring with other desirable features such as feedback on data acquisition status.
US09044145B2
A pulse wave analysis device stores a pulse waveform for multiple beats, and calculates a pulse wave analysis index by analyzing the pulse waveform. In the calculation of the pulse wave analysis index, pulse waveform shapes of each beat that constitute the pulse waveform for multiple beats are integrated, and beats for which a degree of approximation between the integrated pulse waveform shape and the pulse waveform shape of the beat is low are excluded as targets of calculation of the pulse wave analysis index.
US09044142B2
A method of detecting a brain tumor includes administering indocyanine green to a living body; exposing brain tissue in the living body; irradiating the exposed brain tissue with excitation light of indocyanine green; obtaining an image based on fluorescence of the excited indocyanine green in the brain tissue, wherein the image is obtained using an endomicroscope; and identifying portions of the brain tissue corresponding to the brain tumor based on the image.
US09044137B2
A wireless communication terminal may include a power supply unit that supplies direct current (DC) power, a wireless communication antenna, a wireless communication module that transmits communication data to an external terminal through the wireless communication antenna, an activation signal output unit that converts an electromagnetic wave received through the wireless communication antenna into DC power, and generates and outputs an activation signal if the converted DC power is greater than or equal to a predetermined power value, and a control unit that performs control such that the DC power is supplied from the power supply unit to the wireless communication module if the activation signal is output from the activation signal output unit.
US09044124B2
A paper dispenser dispenses paper sheet by sheet. Paper projects from a dispenser housing in an operational position so that it can be pulled off from a supply roll by hand. The paper dispenser has a delivery roller driven by the web of paper that is being pulled. A stop which is moved from a rest position to a blocked position against the force of a return spring blocks the rotation of the delivery roller so that the sheet is torn off due to the pulling power, and is slowed down by a braking device when returning to the rest position. A post-delivery device is configured to further drive the delivery roller once the sheet has been torn off and completes the rotation in a time-delayed manner so that the paper projects from the dispenser housing and can be pulled again.
US09044122B2
An actuator includes first and second means for shifting, and those means are pistons, located within first and second components respectively, such that when the actuator is fitted over toilet lid each piston extends in substantially opposite directions. The first shifting means is activated upon the sensor detecting a predetermined condition, such as a hand passing over the sensor and shifts the position of the seat from the raised position such that the center of gravity is shifted past vertical, thereby causing the seat to shift to the lowered position. The second shifting means is triggered after a predetermined time, for example one second, to cause the toilet seat lid to be moved from the raised position such that the center of gravity is shifted past vertical, thereby causing the lid to shift to the lowered position to be substantially flush with the toilet seat.
US09044111B2
A plate that is designed to be held in one hand of a user together with a drinking glass.
US09044108B1
The present invention relates to a combination storage and display system, and in particular to a system that is modular, provides high density storage and easy display of mattresses. In one embodiment, the rack has a base frame with several longitudinal rails. Several display frames are also provided (one for each longitudinal rail). The display frames have a translating bar that is movable relative the longitudinal rails. The display frame has a post and an angled support. The angled support holds the mattress in a nearly vertical orientation. A mattress support is pivotally connected to the post. The mattress support has a base, two ears, a leg and a lip. The lip engages a small portion of a side of the mattress. The leg pivotally depends from an ear.
US09044101B2
An apparatus includes a frame forming a sleeping space. The apparatus includes a climate control system connected to the frame, the climate control system having a hot side and a cold side, wherein the cold side is positioned toward the sleeping space. The apparatus includes an insulating canopy supported by the frame. The insulating canopy includes an outer layer, a separator layer, a reflective layer, and an inner layer. The separator layer provides an air cavity that reduces conductive heat transfer between the surface layer and the reflective layer.
US09044099B2
A chair including a writing tablet that can be used with both a right handed and a left handed seat occupant. The chair includes a writing tablet that is supported on a tablet arm. The tablet arm is pivotable beneath the seating element of the chair such that the tablet arm can be positioned on either the right side or left side of the user. The writing tablet is pivotally mounted to the tablet arm such that the writing tablet can pivot toward and away from the seat occupant. The writing tablet is further movably mounted to the tablet arm such that the writing tablet can move toward and away from the seat occupant. The seating element of the chair is pivotably mounted to a support structure including chair legs and preferably caster wheels.
US09044095B2
A release handle is adapted to activate a portion of a chair or sofa, such as a foot rest or a recline mechanism. The handle allows a user to selectively control the movement of functions of the chair. The handle is coupled to a cable, which is used to release a mechanism on the chair, such as the footrest. The handle includes a grip that is coupled to an annular tube at one end. The annular tube is telescopically coupled to a guide tube. The annular tube protects the cable within the annular tube to prevent wear to the cable and to prevent breakage.
US09044087B1
A seating assembly including a base having a bottom ring supported by casters, a pan supported by the bottom ring, a central hub forming an upwardly opening cavity, a plurality of legs extending outward and downward from the central hub to the bottom ring, a one-piece molded seat shell, a mounting bracket forming four apertures and including a female connector and at least one rib member that extends downward adjacent the female connector, the at least one rib member including end edges that forms first and second stop surfaces, the mounting bracket attached to the bottom of the seat by passing fasteners through the apertures, a support arm, a mounting assembly including, a cup member, a base tube, an annular mounting collar and a pivot cover forming an upwardly opening annular channel and an inverted U-shaped opening, the pivot cover attached to the mounting collar with the first end of the support arm extending through the inverted U-shaped opening and the at least one rib member received within the annular channel.
US09044086B1
A storage rack unit includes a pair of spaced planar end plates, an intermediate stabilizer panel and a plurality of dowels which extend between the two end plates. Each of the end plates has spaced dowel end receiving holes, each of whose longitudinal axes are angled with respect to a line perpendicular to the plane of each end plate. The angles of the holes in the first end plate are different from the angles of the holes in the second end plate. The provision of these angled holes in the two end plates allows the construction of each storage rack unit without the use of ancillary fasteners. Several such storage rack units can be joined together to form a composite storage rack system.
US09044085B2
Modular furniture includes several members connected together without fasteners or other hardware. While some of the members slide together, some members are locked in place by other members. The modular furniture includes one or more members that engage other members in a twist and lock fashion that helps hold the modular furniture together during everyday use. The twist and lock may be achieved using a substantially L-shaped slot in one member and a corresponding slot in a mating member, which allows the mating member to rotate (twist) within the L-shaped slot. The modular furniture is locked together at several different members and stages of assembly, and includes a final stop member that assures the furniture cannot come apart inadvertently during normal use.
US09044080B2
The invention is a shoulder strap carrying device, system, and method. The carrying device has swappable containers that connect to the straps via fasteners under the arms of the wearer. The containers enable the user to organize and easily access the personal items being carried. More particularly, the invention is a “Figure 8” shoulder strap that loops around a wearer's arms and has fasteners substantially beneath a wearer's underarms to hold multiple swappable containers, cases, and utility devices for storing various personal items.
US09044076B2
A hair implement, such as a comb, brush, or pick, is disclosed that includes a handle section containing a ring insert within an annular opening in the handle section. When the hair implement is not in use, it may be held on a user's finger and rotate out of the way without the need for the user to disengage his or her finger from the hair implement, such as when using other hair implements.
US09044064B2
An article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure may include an outsole including ground engaging members and a reinforcement member. The reinforcement member may extend between (1) a first mounting member located in a forefoot region of the outsole and configured to connect the reinforcement member to the outsole, and (2) a second mounting member located in a heel region of the outsole and configured to connect the reinforcement member to the outsole. The first mounting member may be located adjacent to a ground engaging member in the forefoot region of the outsole and the second mounting member is located adjacent to a ground engaging member in the heel region of the outsole.
US09044063B2
An article of infant footwear includes a sole made of a flexible, compliant layer of material with a thickness of between about 1 mm and about 3 mm. The article of infant footwear includes an upper attached to the sole, the upper and the sole together define a void to receive a foot. The upper has a heel cap independently movable relative to a remaining portion of the upper. The article of infant footwear further includes lateral and medial expanders. The lateral expander has a first end attached to a lateral heel portion of the upper and a second end attached to the heel cap. The medial expander has a first end attached to a medial heel portion of the upper and a second end attached to the heel cap. Each expander independently moves between a relaxed state and a stretched state to accommodate receipt of the infant foot.
US09044060B2
A convertible shoe enables people to easily modify a single shoe to form a total of at least three different shoe types. This reduces the bulkiness/amount of a traveler's luggage and reduces the burden of traveling without limiting a traveler's options of available shoe types. The convertible shoe can include a front removable shoe upper to convert between an open-toe and a closed-toe shoe. The convertible shoe can further include a rear removable shoe upper to convert the shoe between closed-back shoe and a sandal-type shoe. The sandal-type shoe can include a removable strap to convert between a strapped and a strapless sandal-type shoe.
US09044059B2
An article of footwear includes a tongue, a collar located at an upper portion of the footwear, and a gaiter having a lower portion integrally fixed to the collar of the footwear. The tongue and the collar together define an opening, preferably sized to receive a wearer's foot. The gaiter includes first and second fastening flaps and a fastening device (or fastening means) located on the first and second fastening flaps. The gaiter is configured to switch between high and low positions, the high position being a position in which a substantial portion of the gaiter extends above the upper-most portion of the footwear, and the low position being a position in which a substantial portion of the gaiter is located below the upper-most portion of the footwear.
US09044044B2
Disclosed are an immune-boosting food composition containing a green tea hydrolysate as an active component, and a method for preparing the same.
US09044043B2
This invention relates to a balanced fat composition and use thereof in a liquid nutritional composition, in particular suitable for tube feeding. This invention further relates to said liquid nutritional composition for providing enteral nutrition to patients in need thereof, in particular for providing a complete enteral nutrition, in particular for providing a long-term enteral nutrition. More specifically, the balanced fat composition and the liquid nutritional composition comprising said balanced fat composition comprises specific amounts of linoleic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), at least one medium chain fatty acid (MCFA), and at least one mono-unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA). The invention relates further to a method for providing enteral nutrition to patients in need thereof comprising administering an effective amount of said liquid nutritional composition comprising the balanced fat composition according to the invention.
US09044034B2
The present invention is directed to a cheese product having a blue cheese flavor and appearance a method of making the same. The method includes generating a coagulum comprising whey and curd from a pasteurized milk product, cutting and stirring the coagulum to release the whey from the curd, draining the whey from the curd, forming an emulsifier, adding the emulsifier to the curd, and pressing the curd into blocks. The emulsifier is preferably formed by blending oil and a paste and heating the oil and the paste. The paste preferably includes, among other ingredients, inert Penicillium roqueforti. A preferred version of the method further includes adding black pepper and ash to the curd. The resulting cheese product, unlike blue cheese, is elastic, does not crumble, and can be sliced and shredded.
US09044030B2
Hook groups formed by hooks in a number identical to a maximum number of loops of sausage to be suspended from a stick are provided on a wrapping connector moving body of a conveyor with a respective hook absent zone interposed between adjacent ones of the hook groups. When the sausage is suspended from all the hooks of one hook group, the supply of the sausage to the conveyor is interrupted, and the sausage whose supply to the conveyor has been restarted after the hook absent zone moved a predetermined distance is suspended from a first hook of an ensuing hook group to form one loop by a last hook of the one hook group and a first hook of the ensuing hook group.
US09044026B2
An apparatus is disclosed for concurrently imprinting and piercing of dough consisting of flour, water and yeast to produce loaves imprinted with an image that represents Coptic religious symbols including Coptic letters, crosses, circles and squares. The imprinting is accomplished using embossed patterns engraved onto an upper plate that is pressed onto a lower plate containing the dough placed inside depressions disposed below the surface of the lower plate. The imprinting is implemented after the step of proofing the dough in a process for preparing the loaves that includes the steps of flattening, proofing, imprinting and baking.
US09044025B2
An apparatus configured for concurrently cutting, imprinting and piercing of a sheet of dough consisting of flour, water and yeast to produce imprinted loaves is disclosed. Arrays of molded frames each containing edged borders and an emboss pattern are placed onto the surface of a cylinder member configured for rotating onto a sheet of dough to simultaneously cut out loaves, imprint the loaves with the emboss pattern and pierce the loaf with pins. The emboss pattern contains areas raised above the surface of the cylinder member and recessed areas below that surface. The emboss patterns include a plurality of Coptic religious symbols that are imprinted onto the loaves to form a Korban used for ceremonial purposes. The emboss pattern is heated and initiates a par-baking process when the cylinder member engages the dough. The formation of the Korban loaves is completed by baking the loaves in the oven.
US09044023B2
A method and system for preparing naan bread is provided. A conveyor oven is used to bake flattened and pre-shaped naan bread loaves. The conveyor oven uses high temperature gas heat to bake the naan, imparting traditional characteristics such as the slightly smoky or scorched appearance. The oven interior is preferably lined with stone, granite, clay or porcelain to enhance baking and provide traditional flavor.
US09044017B2
The present application provides processes for making pesticidal compounds and compounds useful both as pesticides and in the making of pesticidal compounds.
US09044016B2
The present invention relates to N-thio-anthranilamide compounds of the formula (I), the stereoisomers, the salts, the tautomers and the N-oxides thereof, wherein R1 is halogen or halomethyl; R2 is hydrogen, halogen or cyano; R3 is hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 haloalkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl or the like; R4 is halogen; R5 and R6 independently of each other are optionally substituted C1-C6-alkyl, C3-C6-cycloalkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl, C2-C6-alkynyl, phenyl, or together represent an (hetero)aliphatic chain, or the like; k is 0 or 1. The present invention further relates to a method for combating or controlling invertebrate pests, to a method for protecting plant propagation material and/or the plants which grow therefrom, to plant propagation material comprising at least one compound according to the present invention, to a method for treating or protecting an animal from infestation or infection by parasites, to a process for the preparation of a composition for treating infested or infected animals and/or for protecting animals against infestation or infection by parasites, and to a compound according to the invention for use as a medicament.
US09044011B2
The present invention relates to compositions for the control of pests, to processes for their preparation, and to methods of treating surfaces with such formulations for the sustained weather-resistant control of pests. The composition includes a pesticide and an aqueous polymer dispersion.
US09044009B2
A molluscicidal composition, comprising: a molluscicide; a molluscicidal activity promoting additive comprising a calcium-containing salt of ethylene disuccinic acid or calcium ions and ethylenediamine disuccinic moieties, having at least 1 mole of calcium per mole of ethylenediamine disuccinic acid; and a carrier material edible to molluscs.
US09044007B2
The present invention discloses a method for storing and preserving previously sectioned, snap-frozen, and desiccated biological tissue samples at ambient conditions. Also disclosed are devices and systems for ambient storage of biological tissue sections, and methods for forming said devices.
US09044003B2
A trigger mechanism for an animal cage having a door that can be closed by linking to hanging bait comprises a frame for mounting to that cage. The frame includes a first support pivotally mounted at its base end, a second support fixedly mounted substantially perpendicular to the frame; and a door actuation bar pivotally mounted to the frame at one end. That actuation bar connects to a latch on the cage door and pulls on that latch to close the door when an animal inside the cage engages bait hanging from a strike arm pivotally mounted at one end to the second frame support. A link arm pivotally mounted at one end to the first frame support connects at its opposite end to an intermediate point along the strike arm with varying levels of tension. A kit for converting animal cages from floor pedal actuation to this hanging bait improvement is also disclosed.
US09043995B2
The present invention relates to a transgenic fish having at least one genomically integrated expression cassette containing a 5′-regulatory nucleotide sequence responsive to hormones, particularly estrogenic hormones, connected in a functional manner upstream of a nucleotide sequence encoding a reporter protein. The present invention further relates to methods of using the transgenic fish for various purposes, including, for example: (1) identifying estrogenic endocrine disruptors; (2) monitoring estrogen-like activity of test samples; (3) identifying anti-estrogenic endocrine disruptors; and (4) investigating the effects of endocrine disruptors on liver regeneration. Expression cassettes, host cells, and transgenic cells of aquatic animals are also disclosed.
US09043990B2
A litter-based flush toilet for cats based on a modified flushing rim commercial service sink made of vitreous china equipped with an added moveable drain plug. The sink tramway is modified to lower the water level below the level of the drain plug, resulting in a dry bowl between flushes. The plug prevents flushable biodegradable litter from prematurely entering the drain and provides a safety factor for inquisitive digging cats. The commercial plumbing version has a conventional commercial flushing valve and lever, either hand or foot operated. The residential version has an oversized conventional toilet tank complete with flush handle and flapper valve. To flush, the pet owner activates the actuator to dislodge the cover from the drain and flushes the pet waste and absorbent material down the drain. The user then replaces the plug and refills the bowl with about an inch of fresh litter.
US09043988B2
In certain embodiments, a milking box comprises a storage area comprising a retractable hose, a hose lift belt, a cup holder base, a cup holder, and a cup holder bracket. The retractable hose couples to a cup and suspends the cup in the storage area. The hose lift belt couples to the retractable hose and is operable to retract the retractable hose. The cup holder base defines an aperture through which the retractable hose is positioned. The cup holder comprises a rimmed structure adapted to hold an attachment end of the cup. The cup holder is coupled to the cup holder bracket. The cup holder bracket is operable to open and close such that when closed, the rimmed structure of the cup holder aligns with the attachment end of the cup that is suspended from the retractable hose.
US09043985B1
A wheat variety designated W030154L1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W030154L1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W030154L1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W030154L1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W030154L1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W030154L1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US09043978B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP09006 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP09006, cells from soybean variety XBP09006, plants of soybean XBP09006, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP09006. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP09006 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP09006, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP09006, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP09006. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP09006 are further provided.
US09043963B2
A tree stump excavation tool for use mounted for rotation from an excavation machine arm has first and second side plates extending from a body and a unitary plate mounted to lower ends of the side plates. The unitary plate has a generally helical profile and defines a blade with multiple, pointed teeth integrally formed along its forward edge. The teeth, disposed for cutting engagement with a substrate of soil and stump roots, are laterally spaced apart along the axis of rotation of the tool and angularly spaced in a direction of substrate ripping motion, wherein the teeth are engaged separately and in sequence for cutting the substrate. An excavation machine with a tree stump excavation tool is also described.
US09043960B2
Apparatuses and methods for connecting two segments of commercial landscape edging. Typically, landscape edging has a cylindrical portion that sits on or above the ground and a panel that inserts into the ground. A connector can be used to link together pieces of edging to form a continuous edge. In embodiments, a connector includes a body that can be inserted into the cylindrical portion of two pieces of landscape edging. The connector can include a ridge and a tab that extends from the body, such that when the body is inserted into the cylindrical portion of edging, the tab is adjacent to the panels of edging. One or more fasteners can be used to attach the edging panels to the tab of the connector, joining two pieces of edging via the connector.
US09043958B1
A round bale mover for attachment to either a tractor mounted front-end loader or a tractor three-point hitch for moving a pair of round bales. First and second bale teeth extend from a first end of the bale mover for supporting a first bale thereon. Third and fourth bale teeth extend from a second end of the bale mover for supporting a second bale thereon. The first and second bale teeth are selectively movable towards and away from the third and fourth bale teeth. The third and fourth bale teeth are selectively movable towards and away from the first and second bale teeth. The bale mover enables the first and second bales to be moved towards one another and moved away from one another.
US09049808B2
[Subject Matter] To provide a printed wiring board in which no warping occurs even if interlayer insulation layers without core material are laminated on a core substrate.[Solution(s)] To lower the thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) to 20˜40 ppm, inorganic particles are added to core substrate 30 formed by impregnating glass-cloth core material with glass-epoxy resin. Furthermore, thickness (a) of core substrate 30 is set at 0.2 mm, thickness (b) of upper-surface-side first interlayer insulation layer (50A) at 0.1 mm, and thickness (c) of lower-surface-side second interlayer insulation layer (50B) at 0.1 mm. In setting so, using thin core substrate 30 and interlayer insulation layers (50A, 50B) without core material, it is thought that warping does not occur in the printed wiring board.
US09049804B2
A monitor has a rear panel formed by injection molding plastic around a metal cooling element. The monitor includes a display panel, control electronics, a module support, and a monitor housing. The housing includes a front frame, the cooling element and a rear panel frame. The cooling element has cooling ducts formed between cooling fins. The rear housing panel frame has fin extensions that extend the fins of the cooling element into the rear housing panel frame. The display panel attaches to one side of the module support, while the control electronics attach to the other side. The front frame and the rear panel frame screw together, and the display panel and control electronics are clamped between the front frame and the rear panel frame. The monitor can be attached to a vehicle by slipping a retaining member into a T-shaped duct formed between two fins on the cooling element.
US09049784B2
A flexible display includes: a display panel which is flexible; and a flexible circuit board which is disposed on a side of the display panel and includes an integrated circuit element provided on a surface thereof and an opening portion. The opening portion is in a shape extending in a second direction vertical to a first direction which is parallel to the side of the display panel to which the flexible circuit board is connected, and the integrated circuit element and the opening portion are arranged in the first direction.
US09049782B2
A mobile device case includes a reel assembly, including a reel, a supporting plate, and a hub between the reel and the supporting plate. The hub includes a first cavity between the hub and the supporting plate for housing a spring, and a second cavity between the hub and the reel for housing a flat flexible cable (FFC). The spring is wound in a first direction, while the FFC is wound in a second direction. The FFC includes a first end for electrically coupling to a female jack connector of a device. A female connector is electrically coupled to a second end of the FFC for engaging a male jack connector of user-provided headphones. When the reel rotates in the first direction, the spring tightens and the FFC loosens. When the reel rotates in the second direction, the spring loosens and the FFC tightens.
US09049781B2
Provided is a display apparatus. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a guide member supporting a peripheral area of a back surface of the display panel, an adhesion member fixing the guide member to the display panel, and a bottom cover supporting a lower portion of the guide member.
US09049780B2
A method of arranging a plurality of components of a circuit board for optimal heat dissipation and a circuit apparatus having a plurality of components arranged by performing the method are provided. The method includes arranging a predetermined number of the plurality of components in the order of size of the components in a heat dissipation area having a predetermined width on a virtual straight line connecting the air inlet unit and the air outlet unit.
US09049778B2
The present invention relates to novel polyamic acid; a photosensitive resin composition satisfying excellent flexibility and low stiffness and exhibiting excellent heat resistance and plating resistance; a dry film obtained from the photosensitive resin composition; and a circuit board including the dry film.
US09049773B2
Provided are circuits and methods for a digital controller for an electronic ballast for a fluorescent lamp, comprising a feed-forward loop that provides information about a voltage firing angle, and a pulse width modulator that controls a duty ratio of at least one power switch of the electronic ballast according to the information. The digital controller may include a duty ratio controller implemented in the pulse width modulator. The digital controller may include one or more functions such as dimming, maintaining high power factor throughout the dimming range, low lamp power detection, lamp soft-start, and DC-link capacitor over-voltage detection for end of life protection or lamp failure protection. In one embodiment the ballast is a single stage, single switch ballast.
US09049772B2
In at least one embodiment of the disclosure, a driving device for a discharge lamp includes an alternating current supply section and a frequency modulation section. The alternating current supply section supplies two electrodes of the discharge lamp with an alternating current. The alternating current comprises a plurality of modulation periods. The frequency modulation section modulates a frequency of the alternating current so as to provide a plurality of retentive periods within each of the modulation periods. Each retentive period has a constant frequency that is different from a frequency of its temporally adjacent retentive periods. The frequency modulation section lengthens a length of at least one of the retentive periods in the modulation period in response to a predetermined condition occurring. The frequency of at least one of the retentive periods is equal to or higher than a predetermined reference frequency.
US09049767B2
An exemplary electronic censer with control system includes a main body, an LED disposed on the main body and a control system mounted on the main body. The control system includes a driver received in the main body, a wind force sensor exposed out of the main body and a controlling unit electrically connecting the driver. The wind force sensor measures a wind force therearound and samples a wind force signal S corresponding to the measured wind force to the controlling unit. The controlling unit analyzes the wind force signal S and thereby delivers instructions to the driver to regulate a light emitting state of the LED. A method for controlling the electronic censer with control system is also provided.
US09049766B2
A LED driver using a PWM signal for dimming control includes a power converter and a current regulator. The power converter provides an output voltage and a load current for a plurality of LEDs. The current regulator provides a load current dependent signal for the power converter to speed up load transient response caused by variation of the load current, to reduce the ripple of the output voltage, and thereby to avoid audio noise during PWM dimming.
US09049765B1
A system and method for converting alternating current from at least two types of electronic ballasts for fluorescent bulbs into direct current for an array of LEDs. The device is assembled such that it can fit into existing fluorescent bulb fixtures. Alternating current from a contemplated electronic ballast can have one of two peak-to-peak voltages and the circuitry of the device will convert either alternating current into approximately the same direct current. In doing so, the array of LEDs is illuminated providing an LED alternative to fluorescent light bulbs.
US09049763B1
The present invention relates to an LED luminaire driving circuit with high power factor, comprising: a filter unit, a rectifier unit, a transformer unit, a power switch unit, a zero current detecting unit, a feedback unit, an error amplifier unit, and a power switch driving unit. Particularly, the LED luminaire driving circuit proposed by the present invention does not include any optocoupler feedback circuits, so it is able to effectively reduce the entire circuit manufacturing cost of this LED luminaire driving circuit. Moreover, this LED luminaire driving circuit can selectively work under CCM operation or DCM operation with high power factor (PF˜1), and provide stable output voltage signal and output current signal to load end. In addition, this LED luminaire driving circuit performs excellent stability and current modulation error rate (<±3%).
US09049762B2
A constant voltage dimmable LED (Light Emitting Diode) driver is disclosed that is compatible with all types of dimmers, including conventional phase cut (TRIAC) dimmers, and behaves like a conventional constant voltage driver which can be connected to any size of LED load that has a matching voltage rating. The driver produces a continuous train of pulses for driving the LED load and obtains an averaged measure of the voltage at the AC input for controlling the duty cycle of the continuous train of pulses. Therefore, when the averaged measure of the voltage at the AC input is reduced by a dimmer, the duty cycle reduces, resulting in a dimmed LED. The driver can be created by adding a few components to a conventional wide input range AC-DC converter without or with very little modifications.
US09049761B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) bulb has a shell and a base attached to the shell. An LED is within the shell. A driver circuit provides current to the LED. The driver circuit has a power factor control circuit that includes a tracking circuit configured to produce a tracking signal indicative of the voltage of the supply line. The power factor control circuit also includes a switch-mode power supply (SMPS) controller having an input pin and an output pin. The tracking circuit is connected to the input pin. Based on the signal at the input pin, the SMPS controller is configured to change a frequency of an output signal on the output pin.
US09049758B2
Described embodiments include a tungsten-halogen lighting system and a method. A described system includes a sealed glass envelope containing a halogen gas. The system includes at least two tungsten filaments enclosed within the glass envelope. Each tungsten filament of the at least two tungsten filaments is configured to generate light in response to a flow of electric current. The system includes a controller circuit configured to manage the at least two tungsten filaments in response to a tungsten filament management schedule. The tungsten filament management schedule includes controlling tungsten redeposition by the halogen regenerative cycle on each tungsten filament of the at least two tungsten filaments.
US09049757B2
The invention relates to selecting a light source from a plurality of light sources, particularly to the selecting of a light source by pointing to it with a light source selection device. An embodiment of the invention relates to a light source selection device (10) comprising—at least one photosensor (36, 38, 40) with a field of view (20, 22, 24), wherein light (26, 28, 30) from one or more light sources (32, 34) may be received by the photosensor within the field of view, and—a photosensor output signal processing unit (42) being adapted to select one or more light sources by processing the light received by each photosensor. The present invention may be for example used to select appliances or devices or objects provided with the ability to transmit coded light in the ultra violet, visible or infra red spectra, for example lights, climate, curtains, kitchenware, etc.
US09049755B2
A user-programmable, motion-activated fixture application having floodlights, a nightlight or wall wash light, and a user-interface having dedicated pushbuttons for time, sensitivity, and timer functionality selection by the user. Two proximity sensors detect the presence of infrared-emitting bodies both in front of and below the sensor housing. An ambient light sensor is employed to determine whether it is presently daytime or nighttime, and to identify transitions between the two. A linear array of display LEDs is shared among the time, sensitivity, and timer switches, showing the current setting selected by the user with as each switch is depressed.
US09049753B1
A smart metered light fixture including a light source. The light fixture includes a surge protection device with a monitor that indicates when surge protection fails. The light fixture includes a power supply monitor configured to collect real-time AC current, voltage, and power factor measurements from a power supply. An operational characteristic monitor monitors an operational characteristic of the light source, such as current consumption, wattage, real-time temperature, a brightness level, and/or an efficiency of the light fixture. A communication device positioned between the power supply receives information from the monitors and wirelessly transmits information regarding the monitored operational characteristic and information and/or power supply measurements to a remote user equipment. The communications device may also receive control instructions from the remote user equipment for controlling aspects of the light source.
US09049751B1
Microwaveable packages having highly conductive susceptors and methods for using same are provided. In a general embodiment, the microwaveable packages include a container defining an interior and having a microwave shielding material surrounding the interior. At least a portion of the microwave shielding material is a highly conductive susceptor. The highly conductive susceptor may include a standard microwave susceptor layer and a layer including a substrate having a source of mobile charges. Methods for increasing a surface heating of a food product are also provided and include, in a general embodiment, providing a food product in an interior of a container, which has a microwave shielding material surrounding the interior, and heating the food product in the container in a microwave oven for a predetermined amount of time.
US09049748B2
In a radio access system for supporting multi-radio access technology (RAT), the present invention provides a method for allowing a terminal to transmit and receive data with a first base station for supporting a first RAT and a second base station for supporting a second RAT, and the method comprises the steps of: receiving, from said first base station, a first message which indicates scanning execution for said second base station; allowing said first message to include control information which is necessary for the scanning execution of said second base station, and executing the scanning for said second base station on the basis of said control information; and transmitting, to said first base station, a multi-RAT scan report message which contains the result of the scanning execution for said second base station.
US09049738B2
A sectorized scheduling method for the high speed uplink packet access service is provided in the present invention, the method comprises: obtaining the current sector load of each sector and the current high speed uplink packet access service HSUPA mobile station load of each sector, and the maximal allowable sector load of each sector; obtaining the rest available sector load based on the maximal allowable load and the current sector load, performing load assignment for each sector based on the rest available sector load and the distribution of HSUPA mobile station in various sectors. A sector based scheduling system for the high speed uplink packet access service is also provided in the present invention. The present invention correctly associates the HSUPA UE load and the sector load, solves the problem of the larger overload or the larger underload, and improves the HSUPA throughput by several times.
US09049735B2
A method and system to facilitate mobile relay and group mobility in a wireless network. In one embodiment of the invention, the wireless network facilitates a mobile relay station that has logic to switch communication with a first base station to a second base station while maintaining logical communication with its associated mobile station(s). By doing so, the handover of the mobile relay station from a source base station to a target base station is transparent to the mobile station(s) that are connected with the mobile relay station in one embodiment of the invention.
US09049733B2
Methods and apparatus for use in a wireless system are described where initiation of packet transmission is constrained in accordance to control actual packet transmission in a manner that reduces contention and possible collisions beyond that provided by lower layer resource contention mechanisms, e.g., 802.11 carrier sensing and/or transmission back-off timing mechanisms. Through higher level, e.g., MAC constraints, on packet transmission initiation, an air interface which employs carrier sensing can be used and controlled in a manner which reduces collisions and interference in applications where small packets, e.g., packets which can be transmitted in a fraction of the maximum permitted transmission time. The methods allow small packets in such systems to be transmitted on a periodic or semi-periodic basis in many cases.
US09049719B2
The base station determines a possibly-allocated domain, which is a band that may be used in communication with the mobile station, with respect to each mobile station, and determines a frequency band to be allocated to the mobile station within the determined possibly-allocated domain. Then, the base station transmits possibly-allocated-domain information indicating the possibly-allocated domain and allocation information, which is information indicating allocation of the frequency band, to the mobile station. Then, the base station and the mobile station communicate with each other in accordance with the possibly-allocated-domain information and the allocation information.
US09049716B2
An eNB10-1 receives high-interference RB information from eNB10-2 to eNB10-4, and acquires a transmission power value for UE40-10. When the transmission power value for UE40-1 is greater than or equal to a transmission power threshold value, eNB10-1 restricts the assignment of high-interference RBs to UE40-1, and when the transmission power value for UE40-1 is less than the transmission power threshold value, eNB10-1 assigns high-interference RBs to UE40-1 in a preferential manner.
US09049710B2
A method for transmitting a downlink control channel in a mobile communication system and a method for mapping the control channel to physical resources using a block interleaver are provided. In order to transmit a downlink control channel in a mobile communication system, information bits are modulated to generate one or more modulation symbols according to a specific modulation scheme, the modulation symbols are interleaved using a block interleaver, and the interleaved modulated symbols are mapped to resource elements allocated for transmission of at least one control channel in a subframe, thereby transmitting the at least one control channel.
US09049709B2
A base station device causing no decrease in system throughput and guaranteeing the reception quality at a terminal when a DCI directed toward the terminal is mapped to a PDCCH region and an R-PDCCH region. A search space setting unit (103) sets a search space having a plurality of allocation candidates, in both regions. An allocation unit (106) allocates control information to a resource in one allocation candidate in the search space. The ratio of the number of allocation candidates in the R-PDCCH region to the number of allocation candidates in the PDCCH region in the search space for a terminal using DM-RS in the R-PDCCH region is equal to or greater than the ratio of the number of allocation candidates in the R-PDCCH region to the number of allocation candidates in the PDCCH region in the search space for a terminal using CRS in the R-PDCCH region.
US09049705B2
Provided are a base station, a terminal, a band allocation method, and a downlink data communication method in which a mapping method for synchronization signals and report signals is implemented with high resource usage efficiency when a first system in which an independent single communication is allocated to a unit band co-exists with a second system in which a plurality of unit bands can be allocated to a single communication. In a base station, an OFDM signal generation unit maps primary synchronization channel (P-SCH), secondary synchronization channel (S-SCH), primary broadcast channel (P-BCH), and dynamic broadcast channel (D-BCH), which can be decoded by both an LTE terminal and an LTE+ terminal, to some of a plurality of unit bands. The OFDM signal generation unit also maps D-BCH+, which can be decoded only by an LTE+ terminal, to all of the plurality of unit bands to produce a multiplexed transmission signal.
US09049704B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting control information by means of a terminal in a CA-based wireless communication system, including the steps of: forming first and second cells that include different subframe configurations, wherein the second cell includes TDD UL-DL configuration #0; receiving a UL grant by means of the first cell; and transmitting data corresponding to the UL grant by means of the second cell.
US09049695B2
Techniques are provided for association decisions by a user equipment (UE) or the like. In one example, there is provided a method that may involve discovering a peer UE, and determining a first metric for the peer UE. The method may further involve determining a second metric for a base station in a wireless area network (WAN). The method may further involve deciding whether to associate with the peer UE for peer-to-peer (P2P) communication or with the WAN for communication via the base station based on the first and second metrics. For example, the first metric may be determined based on received power of the peer UE at the first UE, and the second metric may be determined based on received power of the base station at the first UE.
US09049675B2
The present invention provides a method and a device for power control of a High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel (HS-DPCCH). If a User Equipment (UE) is in a soft handover state and configured to a multi-flow transmission mode, the UE obtains a first HS-DPCCH power offset and an HS-DPCCH adjustment step size that are corresponding to each cell group in all cell groups of the UE. The UE determines a second HS-DPCCH power offset of the cell group according to the HS-DPCCH adjustment step size and the first HS-DPCCH power offset. The UE adjusts current transmit power of the HS-DPCCH according to the second HS-DPCCH power offset of the cell group.
US09049669B2
A base station device is provided with a MAC unit 30 which performs processing on a MAC layer for wireless communication, a scheduler 10 which performs scheduling for determining allocation of radio resources, and a radio resource management unit 70 which manages the radio resources. The scheduler 10 is connected to the radio resource management unit 70 so as to obtain information from the radio resource management unit 70 without intervention of the MAC unit 30.
US09049658B2
A group owner of a peer-to-peer communication network is configured to determine whether all client devices associated with the peer-to-peer communication network support direct data communication. The group owner is configured to implement an awake mode for a portion of each beacon interval when all the associated client devices support direct data communication. The group owner is configured to implement a sleep mode for a remaining portion of each beacon interval to save power at the group owner without interrupting communications between the associated client devices.
US09049656B2
A code phase is detected on the basis of a signal received by an RF receiving circuit unit which is a receiving unit that receives a GPS satellite signal. When the code phase is within a predetermined edge of a PRN code, a control of suppressing intermittent driving of the RF receiving circuit unit is performed.
US09049655B2
A method of performing uplink synchronization in a wireless communication system includes transmitting a random access preamble which is randomly selected from a set of random access preambles, receiving a random access response, the random access response comprising a random access preamble identifier corresponding to the random access preamble and a time alignment value for uplink synchronization, starting a time alignment timer after applying the time alignment value, starting a contention resolution timer after receiving the random access response, wherein contention resolution is not successful when the contention resolution timer is expired, and stopping the time alignment timer when the contention resolution timer is expired.
US09049654B2
An OFDM-based multiple access method and a communication device controlling the same are provided. The OFDM-based multiple access method includes transmitting a predetermined synchronization control signal to many and unspecified terminals, and receiving a test message from the terminals in response to the synchronization control signal; classifying the terminals that receive the test message in a first unit time from a predetermined reference time after the transmission of the synchronization control signal into a first group, and classifying the terminals that receive the test message in a certain n-th unit time from the reference time into an n-th group; allocating use permission time of sub-channels to the groups; and the terminals transmitting/receiving data through partial occupation of the sub-channels and symbols at a time allocated to the corresponding groups.
US09049649B2
One embodiment of a method for configuring consumption of service includes identifying a service to be consumed by a user, identifying a plurality of bearer technologies across which at least one electronic device can access the service, selecting one of the plurality of bearer technologies for use in configuring the at least one electronic device, and configuring the at least one electronic device for the service using one of a plurality of management frameworks according to the selected bearer technology.
US09049643B2
The present invention relates to a method by which a terminal transmits/receives data to/from a first base station supporting a first radio access technology and a second base station supporting a second radio access technology in a wireless access system supporting multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT), the method comprising the steps of: executing an initial network entry to the first base station; executing a multi-RAT capability negotiation with the first base station to exchange information needed to access the second base station; a step for executing a scanning on at least one second base station included in the coverage of the first base station, on the basis of the information received from the first base station through the multi-RAT capability negotiation step; executing an access to one second base station of said at least one second base station; and simultaneously transmitting/receiving data to/from the first base station and the second base station accessed through the access step, wherein the step of executing a scanning comprises a step of receiving from the first base station a multi-RAT scan command message for commanding the scanning of said at least one second base station, and a step of executing a scanning of said at least one second base station.
US09049640B2
A portable encoded information reading (EIR) terminal for incorporation in a data collection system can comprise a terminal module communicatively coupled to a wireless interface module via a wired interface. The terminal module can include a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and an encoded information reading (EIR) device. The wireless interface module can include a microcontroller, a memory, and at least one wireless communication interface. The wireless interface module can establish one or more wireless links with one or more peer EIR terminals, to join a wireless network which is collectively formed by the peer EIR terminals. The wireless interface module can receive or transmit beacons containing at least an identifier of a path selection protocol which is used for unicast, multicast and broadcast frame transmission within the wireless network.
US09049636B2
The present invention relates to a method of transmitting and receiving data in soft handoff of a wireless communication system. According to an aspect of the present invention, in the method of receiving data in soft handoff of a wireless communication system, a mobile station receives a first sequence being generated by interleaving transmission data using a first inter leaver pattern, and also receives a second sequence being generated by interleaving the transmission data using a second interleaver pattern. Then, the mobile station combines and decodes the first sequence and the second sequence before receiving an entire frame having the first sequence allocated thereto.
US09049632B1
Systems, methods, and software for providing network access information to a wireless communication device are provided herein. In one example, method of operating a communication system is provided. The method includes communicating with a wireless communication device over a long-term evolution (LTE) wireless communication link provided by a first wireless access node, detecting a handoff from the first wireless access node to a second wireless access node for the wireless communication device when the wireless communication device is in an idle mode of operation, and responsive to the handoff, transferring network access information for a non-LTE network to the wireless communication device.
US09049628B2
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods and apparatus for selective better system reselection for wireless devices capable of cell reselection. An apparatus for wireless communication is configured to receive a message from a current system, the message including a neighbor list having one or more neighbor systems. The apparatus compares the neighbor list to a local preferred systems list, and determine an existence of a preferred neighbor system in the local preferred systems list. The preferred neighbor system has higher priority than that of the neighbor systems in the neighbor list. The apparatus determines whether to perform Better System Reselect (BSR) for the preferred neighbor system instead of cell reselection based on the determination.
US09049625B2
A route switching method, when a mobile node is switching between access routers, the method comprises: the second access router sending a context transfer message to the third access router, the third access router updating a Cache for Destination Terminal and a Cache for Source Terminal in a cache of the third access router according to the context transfer message; the second access router updating its cache according to the context transfer message, and updating a Cache for Destination Terminal in a cache of a first access router. Several route switching methods and route switching systems are also involved. Based on the Context Transfer Protocol, it enables the access router to transfer the address information of the mobile node associated with a session connection by the context transfer message directly during the switching, without the process in which the new access router inquires the routing manager, thereby reducing the delay caused by inquiring the routing manager, and thus decreasing the possibility of message lost.
US09049623B2
A first method (and related first apparatus) includes transmitting, in a handover request message, an indication of a first protocol version; a second method (and related second apparatus) includes receiving, in the handover request message, the indication, deciding, based on the received indication and a second protocol version, on a value of an information element included in a handover request acknowledgement message to be transmitted, the information element indicating usage of a first or second signaling scheme, and transmitting the handover request acknowledgement message including the information element; and in the first method receiving the handover request acknowledgement message including the information element; and a third method (and related third apparatus) including receiving the handover command message including the information element, and configuring according to one of the first and second signaling schemes indicated by the information element.
US09049619B2
A method and apparatus of reporting a power headroom in a wireless communication system are provided. A user equipment receives an uplink resource allocation for a first serving cell and determines whether a power headroom report is triggered. If the power headroom report is triggered, the user equipment determines a first power headroom for the first serving cell and a second power headroom for a second serving cell based on the uplink resource allocation.
US09049615B2
A user equipment is configured to operate in an idle mode according to an MDT configuration. When receiving a modify/setup signal from a base station, the user equipment is configured to update the MDT configuration accordingly in the idle mode and perform one or multiple corresponding logged MDTs according to the updated MDT configuration.
US09049614B2
Embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of wireless communications, relating specifically to a method and a device for handling a mobility management context, for use in solving the problem in the prior art of an increase in signaling consumption or network load due to the absence of a defined duration of storage for the mobility management context on a network side. The method comprises: upon a network congestion and rejecting a request from a terminal, a network side device activating a first context timer for the terminal; if the request of the terminal is received and accepted before the first context timer times out, the network side device retaining a mobility management context corresponding to the terminal; if the request of the terminal is not received, or is received but not accepted before the first context timer times out, the network side device deleting the mobility management context corresponding to the terminal. As the duration of storage is defined for the mobility management context on the network side, the signaling consumption and the network load are thereby reduced.
US09049612B2
Adaptive link diversity is employed for enhanced coverage and capacity during user data communication in a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System). Specifically, current radio conditions associated with the user data are monitored and analyzed. Moreover, a switching and/or concurrent transport mechanism is implemented for communication between a NodeB and UE (User Equipment), when the current radio conditions change beyond a predefined level. In particular, a CS (Circuit Switched) over HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) connection is reconfigured to an R99 (Release 99) CS connection, or a concurrent R99 CS connection is provided along with the CS over HSPA connection, when detected that radio conditions have degraded beyond a predefined threshold. In one aspect, the selection between switching to a new transport mechanism and, adding a concurrent transport mechanism is based on an analysis and/or operator defined conditions.
US09049611B2
A backhaul radio is disclosed that operates in multipath propagation environments such as obstructed LOS conditions with uncoordinated interference sources in the same operating band. Such a backhaul radio may use a combination of interference mitigation procedures across multiple of the frequency, time, spatial and cancellation domains. Such backhaul radios may communicate with each other to coordinate radio resource allocations such that accurate interference assessment and channel propagation characteristics assessment may be determined during normal operation.
US09049610B2
A timer for processing data blocks is proposed for a receiver of a mobile communications system. If the timer is not running, the timer is started based a data block. The data block has a sequence number higher than a sequence number of another data block that was first expected to be received. If the timer is stopped or expires, the timer is based on a highest sequence number of a data block among data blocks that cannot be delivered to a higher entity. The timer can be used to prevent a stall condition in mobile communications.
US09049604B2
A method of detecting a hole area to be generated in a cover area of a communication system which includes a plurality of base station apparatuses and mobile station apparatuses, includes: measuring received powers from the plurality of base station apparatuses at the mobile station apparatuses, and, based on the received power from the other base station apparatus among a plurality of base station apparatuses other than the base station apparatus which covers a cell in which the mobile station apparatuses are positioned, detecting a hole area to be generated when a signal output from the base station apparatus is stopped.
US09049602B2
Communications are established with a first base station and the communications include first validation information associated with the first base station. Second validation information is obtained and the second validation information is stored in a data structure. The second validation information is associated with a second and valid base station. The first validation information is compared to the second validation information stored in the data structure and it is determined whether the first base station is valid based upon the comparison. When the comparing indicates that the first base station is not valid, a warning is initiated to a user.
US09049600B2
Discussed is a mobile terminal, including a touch screen configured to display visual information, a camera unit configured to detect user's gaze information and a controller configured to execute an application in response to a user input, wherein an execution screen of the application is displayed on the touch screen, detect the user's gaze information, and stop displaying the execution screen of the application based on an elapsed time from when the user's gaze information is not detected, wherein the elapsed time is varied based on a type of the application.
US09049595B2
Various implementations are described herein for using a connectivity exchange to provide ubiquitous wireless connectivity and a marketplace for exchanging wireless connectivity. Wireless service providers join the connectivity exchange and enable users to access the Internet using their wireless connectivity via the connectivity exchange. Users are authenticated via the exchange and rates and terms for users to access the Internet are negotiated. General service providers provide services via the exchange.
US09049593B2
Techniques for securing a coverage of a wireless system provided by a stationary or mobile node are disclosed. The node may be provided with at least one encryption key. The key may comprise an encryption function table having therein varying functions, such as time-varying physical layer functions, such as transmit power or beam shape/direction of the node. In accordance with the key, coverage associated with transmissions from the node may be varied.
US09049588B2
Traffic data is communicated between a wireless device and a core network control node in a predefined transmission mode in which traffic data is communicated in a control channel for carrying control messages.
US09049582B1
A method and apparatus to manage a communication device are disclosed. The method includes receiving a first message comprising a first battery charge level of the communication device and a first time associated with the first battery charge level, storing a first database entry comprising information comprised in the first message, in a battery charge database, determining based on data from the battery charge database, or retrieving from a power management database, a power management efficiency factor of the communication device, determining an expected operational time of the communication device based on the first message and the power management efficiency factor, and transmitting an indication that the battery charge level is low when the determined operational time remaining meets an expected operational time criteria, to the communication device.
US09049575B2
The present disclosure is descriptive of discovering structure, content, and context of a media event, e.g., a live media event, using real-time discussions that unfold through short messaging services. Generally, a sampling of short messages of a plurality of users is obtained. The sampling of short messages corresponds to a media event. A segment in the media event is identified using the sampling of short messages, and at least one term taken from the sampling of short messages is identified. The at least one term is indicative of a context of the identified segment.
US09049566B2
The disclosure discloses a method and device for receiving an MBMS by a UE in carrier aggregation, including that: a User Equipment (UE) with MBMS capability determines all Component Carriers (CC) that can be received by the UE at the UE's geographic location; the UE determines an MBMS-bearing CC in the all CCs; and the UE receives the MBMS from the MBMS-bearing CC. By the disclosure, the problem of incapability of the UE to receive the MBMS from the CC due to the network side not knowing the requirement of the UE for receiving the MBMS can be solved.
US09049565B2
A method for devices that are near each other to exchange owner profile information. Upon entering an area where inter-device communication with nearby devices is possible, a key is exchanged among all participating devices in the area and subsequently owner profile information is synchronized between devices. All devices also maintain a count of how often a specific owner profile and so its owner was encountered.
US09049563B2
A location aware intelligent transportation system determines ranges between a plurality of communication devices, including at least one mobile communication device. A method includes receiving receive messages transmitted from a plurality of other communication devices. Each receive message includes a transmit count stamp corresponding to a remote counter value. The mobile communication device generates a receive count stamp for each receive message. The method includes dynamically associating and disassociating the mobile communication device with a plurality of sub-groups of the plurality of other communication devices. The associating and disassociating are based at least in part on receiving receive messages from a predetermined number of other communication devices for each sub-group. For each sub-group currently associated with the mobile communication device, the method includes generating range estimates between the mobile communication device and the other communication devices in the particular sub-group. The range estimates are based on a combination of the transmit count stamps and the receive count stamps.
US09049561B2
A system for communicating track information within a consist having at least a first and second locomotive may include a first transceiver associated with the first locomotive and configured to receive the track information from a remote transceiver. The system may include a communication link connecting the first locomotive with the second locomotive and a communication controller associated with the first locomotive. The communication controller may be configured to identify a lead locomotive and send a signal to the lead locomotive indicating that the track information is fully received from the remote transceiver. The communication controller may be configured to, if the lead locomotive is a locomotive other than the first locomotive, send the track information to the lead locomotive via the communication link, and if the lead locomotive is the first locomotive, send at least a portion of the track information to the second locomotive via the communication link.
US09049556B1
The communication device comprising a voice communication implementer, an email reception notifying implementer, and an area dependent notice type changing implementer.
US09049550B2
A method in an LCS server of a wireless communication system is provided for positioning of an LCS target. Information is obtained relating to a first predefined geographical area, where it has been determined that a probability that the LCS target is located within the first predefined geographical area is below a threshold. A request is received for a positioning of the LCS target and the obtained information relating to the first predefined geographical area is used for the positioning of the LCS target.
US09049547B2
A computer-implemented method of presenting place-related content on a computing device entails, in response to receiving input identifying a place, obtaining place-related content for the place from a place database that stores place-related data related to each one of a plurality of places and presenting the place-related content from the place database in a consolidated place-specific view. This technology provides a place-centric view that presents a consolidated view of place-related content for a selected place.
US09049545B2
The present disclosure provides a system and method for determining a location of an item using the services of an existing cellular infrastructure. A search request comprising a first item identifier of the item is received by a tracking service server from a user. A second item identifier of the item is retrieved by the tracking service server from a tracking service database. A search signal comprising the second item identifier is transmitted from the tracking service server to at least one mobile service provider system. The search signal is transmitted by the at least one mobile service provider system to a plurality of communicatively coupled transmitting towers which are configured to locate the item by capturing radio frequency signals, comprising the second item identifier, emitted by an identification tag coupled to the item.
US09049544B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for supplying a local service (LS) using a LS information server that is based on a distributed network. The LS may be supplied to the terminal through at least one of an LS information server, a root server, and a neighboring LS information server.
US09049541B2
A method for the automatic management of terminal-dependent information in a wireless communication system including the detection of the unique identity for the terminal that the subscriber is currently using; adaptation of information for the type of terminal detected; and presentation of the adapted information on the said terminal.
US09049540B2
A display device is provided comprising a housing, a communication means within the housing configured to receive content from a local content source device external to the housing and to transmit messages to the local content source device, wherein the content comprises a static screen image, a storage means configured to store the content having been received from the content source device, wherein the storage means stores no more than a single static screen image and a display configured to display the content. A method for use with the display device is further provided.
US09049526B2
The present subject matter relates to a method and apparatus for a compact programming block for a hearing assistance device, such as a hearing aid. In one embodiment, the compact programming block is formed in a programming block module with another component and the programming block module includes a flexible circuit design. The design incorporates a first flexible circuit disposed in a programming module that receives a second flexible circuit connection. The programming block module includes a plurality of contact springs and is shaped to provide a small profile that is integrated with a microphone housing. The integrated microphone and programming block module can be used in a hearing assistance device. In various embodiments, the programming block is integrated with a pushbutton, and the integrated pushbutton and programming block can be used in a hearing assistance device.
US09049522B2
A piezoelectric microspeaker and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The piezoelectric microspeaker includes a substrate having a through hole therein; a diaphragm disposed on the substrate and covering the through hole; and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators including a piezoelectric member, a first electrode, and a second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to induce an electric field in the piezoelectric member. The piezoelectric actuators include a central actuator, which is disposed on a central portion of the diaphragm and a plurality of edge actuators, which are disposed a predetermined distance apart from the central actuator and are formed on a plurality of edge portions of the diaphragm.
US09049515B2
A wearable wireless communication device is provided, including a behind-the-ear main electronics enclosure housing wireless communication electronics, a main electronics enclosure mount engaging the behind-the-ear main electronics enclosure, an ear mount fitting the main electronics enclosure mount, and a decorative mount including a speaker. The decorative mount attaches to the ear mount which is configured to fit over an ear of a wearer. Signals are transmitted from the main electronics enclosure to the main electronics enclosure mount, to the ear mount, and to the speaker in the decorative mount. Audio from the speaker is provided to the ear of the user. Pierced ear and non-pierced ear versions are provided, wherein the ear mount for the non-pierced ear version includes a clip that clips to the wearer's ear lobe. The pierced ear version includes a conductive post that passes through a piercing in the wearer's ear.
US09049512B1
A headset may comprise at least one ear cup and an ear cup shaper configurable into at least two configurations. When the ear cup shaper is configured in a first of the configurations, the ear cup is shaped to contact the temple of a wearer of the headset. When the adjustable ear cup shaper is configured in a second of the configurations, the ear cup is shaped to accommodate the temple piece of a pair of eyeglasses of a wearer of the headset. The ear cup may comprise a filler material such as foam, and the adjustable ear cup shaper when configured in the second of the configurations may create a depression in the foam. The adjustable ear cup shaper may comprise a strap and/or a plunger.
US09049508B2
An electronic device may be coupled to an accessory such as a pair of earphones. The earphones may have multi-user sensor structures that determine whether or not the earphones are being shared by multiple users. The multi-user sensor structures may include an angle sensor configured to measure an angle at the Y-junction of a cable associated with the pair of headphones. When the first and second speakers are both located in the ears of a single user, the electronic device may perform functions such as playing audio content. When one of the speakers is located in an ear of a first user while the other of the speakers is located in an ear of a second user, the electronic device can automatically take actions such as switching from stereo to mono playback, playing a different type of audio content to each earphone, or other suitable action.
US09049507B2
An efficient electronics package comprising an integrated circuit, a transistor case packaging, a power supply, an actuation segment and a sensor segment, wherein engagement of the integrated circuit causes the actuation segment to be activated. The integrated circuit may be engaged, for example, by a level-hold trigger or the sensor segment.
US09049500B2
Fiber optic terminals, systems, and methods for providing differentiated network services to subscribers of a fiber optic network are disclosed. In certain embodiments, fiber optic terminals and methods are disclosed for providing more than one network service to subscribers supported by the same fiber optic terminal. In one embodiment, a fiber optic terminal is provided comprising a first optical path connected to a first network-side optical fiber providing a first network service to a first subscriber-side optical fiber. The fiber optic terminal also comprises a second optical path connected to a second network-side optical fiber providing a second network service differentiated from the first network service to a second subscriber-side optical fiber. In this manner, differentiated network services can be provided to subscribers supported by the fiber optic terminal by configuring connections of the subscribers to either the first optical path or second optical path in the fiber optic terminal.
US09049489B2
An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT.
US09049487B2
A wireless communication device receives a menu selection from a user indicating a user preference to receive video with captions instead of audio. The wireless communication device transfers a message indicating the user preference to a wireless communication network. The wireless communication device receives a content selection for the video content from the user and transfers a content request for the video content to the wireless communication network. The wireless communication network obtains and modifies the video content to replace the audio with the captions and transfers the modified video content to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device displays the modified video content with the captions and without the audio.
US09049486B2
An information processing apparatus includes: an acquisition target content determination unit that determines an acquisition target content item which is a target acquired by a content acquisition unit among related content items related to a reference content item, on the basis of processing performance of the content acquisition unit which acquires various content items via a communication network and can communicate with a content presentation control unit which performs a control so as to present the reference content item; and an acquisition processing unit that causes the content acquisition unit to acquire the acquisition target content item.
US09049485B1
A system and method for facilitating interactions between a client browser and a video hosting server is provided. An interface can be generated that allows client devices and users to upload videos to the video hosting server. Modules in the video hosting server and/or the client device can process (transcode, compress, tag, and etc.) the videos and then store the videos to a video database. The interface can also enable searching for videos that are stored in the video database through keyword searches. The interface can also display related and/or suggested videos based on the video being displayed and/or contextual information about the user. The interface can be customizable with different views and layouts.
US09049483B2
Systems and methods are operable to enforce parental controls at a mobile media device. An exemplary embodiment establishes a communication link between the mobile media device and a local media device, receives parental control setting information from the local media device at the mobile media device, receives at least one media content event and rating information associated with the received media content event at the mobile media device, compares at the mobile media device the rating information associated with the received at least one media content event with the parental control setting information received from the local media device, and prevents presentation of the at least one media content event by the mobile media device if the rating information associated with the received media content event violates the parental control setting information.
US09049482B2
An interactive learning tool that combines computer-based educational content recordings and video-based educational content recordings.
US09049473B1
A system and method for processing multiple streams over a single playback channel includes a receiving device and a tuner module having a first tuner and a second tuner. The first tuner has a first device node within the receiving device associated therewith. The second tuner has a second device node within the receiving device associated therewith. A multiplexer has a playback device module associated therewith. A tuner driver configures the playback device module for a first multiplexer channel and a second multiplexer channel. The tuner module communicates a first tuner signal and a second tuner signal to the receiving device. The playback device communicates first data signals from the first tuner through the first multiplexer channel to a first destination. The playback device communicates second data signals from the second tuner through the second multiplexer channel to a second destination.
US09049469B2
A method of decrypting an encrypted message. The method comprises storing a wearer decryption code in a memory of a wearable mobile device having a head-worn augmented display which generates an augmented reality view for a wearer of the wearable mobile device, capturing using the wearable mobile device a video sequence including at least one frame imaging a visible code using an image sensor of the wearable mobile device, processing the video sequence to identify the visible code, decrypting the visible code using the wearer decryption code to create an decrypted content, and presenting the decrypted content on top of at least some of the visible code in the augmented reality view.
US09049466B2
A video transmitter identifies regions in pictures in a compressed three-dimensional (3D) video comprising a base view video and an enhancement view video. The identified regions are not referenced by other pictures in the compressed 3D video. The identified regions are watermarked. Pictures such as a high layer picture in the base view video and the enhancement view video are identified for watermarking. The identified regions in the base view and/or enhancement view videos are watermarked and multiplexed into a transport stream for transmission. An intended video receiver extracts the base view video, the enhancement view video and corresponding watermark data from the received transport stream. The corresponding extracted watermark data are synchronized with the extracted base view video and the extracted enhancement view video, respectively, for watermark insertion. The resulting base view and enhancement view videos are decoded into a left view video and a right view video, respectively.
US09049463B2
A method begins by storing, in response to storage requests, a single encoded copy of broadcast data as a plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The broadcast data is encoded in accordance with an error coding dispersal storage function to produce the plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method continues by receiving a playback requests for the broadcast data. The method continues for each of the plurality of playback requests by retrieving, based on the error coding dispersal storage function, a unique combination of encoded data slices and sending the unique combination of encoded data slices to a requesting entity corresponding to one of the playback requests.
US09049459B2
Systems and methods for a video multi-codec encoder are provided. Video input data including a plurality of video frames is accepted. At least one codec Y subsystem is applied to frame data that includes at least one video frame of the plurality of video frames, where the frame data includes at least an unencoded portion of the plurality of video frames before one or more of the at least one codec Y subsystem is applied. The at least one codec Y subsystem includes at least partial Yi codec functionality. Yi is a codec selected from video codecs ={Y1, . . . , Yn}. At least one codec Z subsystem is applied to the frame data, where the at least one codec Z subsystem includes at least partial Z codec functionality. Video output data is generated including simple Z-encoded video data of the at least one video frame using the frame data.
US09049456B2
An improved system and method for providing improved inter-layer prediction for extended spatial scalability in video coding, as well as improving inter-layer prediction for motion vectors in the case of extended spatial scalability. In various embodiments, for the prediction of macroblock mode, the actual reference frame index and motion vectors from the base layer are used in determining if two blocks should be merged. Additionally, multiple representative pixels in a 4×4 block can be used to represent each 4×4 block in a virtual base layer macroblock. The partition and motion vector information for the relevant block in the virtual base layer macroblock can be derived from all of the partition information and motion vectors of those 4×4 blocks.
US09049453B2
In an encoding process of a moving image, a macro block as a unit of encoding is further divided into a plurality of DCT blocks or integer conversion blocks to detect an edge of each of the DCT blocks or the integer conversion blocks. Quantization control of the macro block is performed according to detected edge information.
US09049452B2
In HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), a 2N×2N coding unit can be partitioned into various partition types hierarchically. The coding system uses a criterion to determine the best partition, where RD-rate is often used as the criterion. N×N partition at level k becomes redundant if 2N×2N at level k+1 will be evaluated. In order to eliminate the above redundancy, the allowable partition sizes are constrained according to a method previously disclosed. In the current invention, the complexity is further reduced. According to one embodiment, N×N partition is not allowed for any INTER mode regardless of the coding unit size. Furthermore, flexibility is provided so that either the method and apparatus with further complexity reduction can be selected or an alternative method and apparatus can be selected. Syntaxes to support embodiments according to the present invention are also disclosed.
US09049444B2
This disclosure describes apparatuses and methods of encoding coefficients associated with a block of video data. In one example, a method may comprise selecting a scan order for the coefficients based on an intra coding mode used to predict the block of video data and a transform block size used in transforming the block of video data, and generating a syntax element to communicate the selected scan order for the block of video data.
US09049443B2
There are provided methods and apparatus for transform selection in video coding. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding at least a block in a picture by selecting a transform to apply to a residue of the block from a set of two or more available transforms. The transform is selected based on at least one of an inter prediction mode used to predict at least one reference for the block, one or more values corresponding to a motion vector, a value of a residue of one or more previously encoded blocks, a value of prediction data for the block, one or more transform selections of one or more neighboring reconstructed blocks, and a quantization step applied to transform coefficients for the residue of the block.
US09049441B2
A 3D image display apparatus and a 3D image display method are provided. The 3D image display apparatus generates a 2D image region and a 3D image region, forms shutter patterns for the 3D and 2D image regions, and adjusts a light emitting direction according to the shutter patterns. Accordingly, the 2D and 3D images may be selectively displayed on one screen.
US09049437B2
A solid state illuminator for a stereoscopic display includes a first solid state light source, a wavelength conversion color wheel, an actuator, a multi-band filter, and an optical module. The first solid state light source provides a first light beam with a first wavelength. The wavelength conversion color wheel includes a first transmission segment and a reflection segment. The first light beam passes through the first transmission segment and is converted into a second light beam with a second wavelength, and is reflected by the first reflection segment and is converted into a third light beam with the second wavelength. The multi-band filter transmits a portion of each of the second light beam and the third light beam, and reflects another portion thereof. The wavelength ranges of these two portions are not overlapped. The optical module guides light beams to the multi-band filter.
US09049436B2
A three dimensional image display device includes a liquid crystal display panel assembly which includes a first pixel and a second pixel disposed adjacent to each other in a vertical direction. The first pixel comprises a first subpixel and a second subpixel disposed adjacent to each other in the vertical direction, and the second pixel includes a third subpixel and a fourth subpixel which are disposed adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. The first subpixel and the third subpixel, or the second subpixel and the fourth subpixel display black in a three dimensional (3D) display mode and display a normal image in a two dimensional (2D) display mode.
US09049435B2
An image providing apparatus includes: a user location acquisition unit which acquires locations of users; a barrier adjustment unit which adjusts at least one of a space between a display and a barrier screen, a size of a barrier slot, and a left/right movement amount of the barrier slot at least based on a user's location of at least one of the users; an image generation unit which generates an image of which a view point region is adjusted, by the barrier adjustment unit, to the user's location; and an image output unit which outputs the generated image on a display.
US09049431B2
A method and system is disclosed for generating a caption relative to a three-dimensional (3D) image. The caption may be generated such that it appears relative to a screen plane of an output device used to render the 3D image. The caption may be added to left and right viewpoint images included within images used by the output device to render the 3D image as a function of the positioning of the caption relative to the screen plane.
US09049429B2
The present invention relates to a connection problem determination method and a connection problem determination apparatus for an image input device, and the connection problem determination apparatus, for an image input device, which includes: a network connection sensing unit which senses the network connection between a network video record system and a network-connectable image input device which provides a specific image; a timer which generates signals at regular time intervals in accordance with a clock pulse; a time delay measuring unit which measures a time delay on the basis of the signals from the timer if no network connection is sensed; and a connection problem determination unit which determines that there is a connection problem if the time delay is a predetermined threshold value or greater.
US09049420B1
A relative quality score is provided that takes into account properties of an encoded version of a source video. For example, one such quality score calculates a difference of higher and lower quality transcoded versions of the source video, and computes quality metrics for each to evaluate how similar the transcoded versions are to the source video. A relative quality score quantifying the quality improvement of the high-quality version over the low-quality version is computed. The relative quality score is adjusted based on a measurement of the quality of the source video. If the relative quality score for the video indicates a sufficient quality improvement of the high-quality version over the low-quality version, various actions are taken, such as retaining the high-quality version, and making the high-quality version available to users, e.g. via a video viewing user interface.
US09049415B2
A method, digital video recording (DVR) device/system and computer program provide a mechanism for recording video content associated with unpredictable events. A user specifies particular event classifications, keywords, or other control parameters from which the occurrence of an event can be determined, and when such event is detected, the DVR is triggered to record content from a specified channel/location. The events can be detected from feeds such as RSS feeds, websites, video content scans or other mechanisms. The event detection may be provided by a remote service that is accessible for user-configuration via a network, or the event detection may be performed in a DVR device or local computer system.
US09049414B2
Provided are an image recording and playing method including generating a play list including 3D information and recording the generated play list to a recording medium.
US09049407B2
Systems and techniques can be used to correct color of an image by expanding red, green, blue (RGB) values at each pixel of the image using a base of order-root functions f(R,G,B). In one aspect, a method includes receiving an image, where a plurality of pixels of the received image have input RGB values that depend on a sensor used to acquire the image; expanding, by an image processor, the input RGB values of the plurality of pixels using a nonlinear base, such that each term of the nonlinear base scales linearly with exposure or brightness of the image; and adjusting, by the image processor, the image by transforming the expanded input RGB values of the image to output RGB values that are independent of the sensor used to acquire the image and scale linearly with the exposure or illumination of the image.
US09049406B2
Audio and video signals are synchronized for pleasing presentation of content. As content is streamed to a device, an audio portion may lag or lead a video portion. Spoken words, for example, are out of synch with the lip movements. Video time stamps are synchronized to audio time stamps to ensure streaming content is pleasing.
US09049397B2
A face detection processing unit performs a face detection process by rotating an image in increments of a predetermined angle and acquires a rotation angle at which a face is detected. An angle correction unit acquires an angle between the face and a shoulder by pattern matching and corrects the rotation angle of the image. A human-image orientation identification unit identifies a correct orientation of a human image based on the rotation angle. An image-characteristic analysis unit analyzes a frequency distribution and a brightness distribution of a non-human image. A non-human image orientation identification unit identifies the correct orientation of a non-human image based on distribution characteristics of a frequency of brightness with respect to an axis in a predetermined direction. An image-data updating unit incorporates information regarding the correct orientation in the image data.
US09049395B2
A processing circuit for an X-ray sensor for collecting at least a first pixel information of a first pixel and a second pixel information of a second pixel is provided. The processing circuit comprises an amplifier (112), a feedback loop (113) and a first collecting device (111). It is provided a compensation for a non-linearity in the pixels or in the pixel circuits (100, 200) by applying an inverse non-linearity (125) in the periphery of the X-ray sensor. A processing circuit (110) may provide a copy of a pixel voltage and/or of a pixel charge. In the case of pixel charge a non-linear characteristic of a pixel capacitance may be compensated.
US09049392B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a layout in which one sharing unit includes an array of photodiodes of 2 pixels by 4×n pixels (where, n is a positive integer), respectively, in horizontal and vertical directions.
US09049387B2
A method of generating view-dependent compensated images is disclosed. A uniform image is projected on a reflective screen, resulting in a first captured image. The distribution of specular highlight is predicted according to the first captured image, thereby obtaining model parameters. Calibration images are estimated according to the model parameters and a viewing angle, and a compensated image is generated according to the calibration images at the viewing angle.
US09049384B2
A video processing apparatus analyzes an input video input from a video input unit, detects a plurality of moving bodies included in the input video, determines a main moving body and a sub moving body, and determines a sub picture position for superimposing and displaying a sub video in a main video in a picture-in-picture form. This video processing apparatus performs cut-out processing on the main video and the sub video from the input video, and synthesizes the cut-out main video and sub video to generate a picture-in-picture synthesized video in which the sub video is superimposed at the sub picture position of the main video in the picture-in-picture form. The picture-in-picture synthesized video is output in one stream.
US09049380B2
An image capture apparatus generating an image, a dynamic range of which is expanded by composing two images having different exposure amounts, includes an imaging unit which continuously outputs images captured to have two different exposure amounts. A system control unit of the image capture apparatus stores in a memory an image of the first frame of two frames to be composed, which are continuously output from the imaging unit, and composes an image of the second frame output from the imaging unit and the image held in the memory so as to expand a dynamic range. The system control unit generates tone compression characteristics based on the image held in the memory and an image obtained by reducing a resolution of the held image, and compresses tones of the composed image using the generated tone compression characteristics.
US09049375B2
An optical unit may include a fixed body; a movable module which holds an optical element; a swing support point which swingably supports the movable module; a shake correction drive mechanism which swings the movable module with the swing support point as a swing center around two axial lines intersecting an optical axis direction of the optical element between an outer peripheral face of the movable module and the fixed body; a first photo reflector provided between a bottom part of the movable module and the fixed body at a position superposing on one of the two axial lines and that detects displacement of the movable module; and a second photo reflector provided between the bottom part of the movable module and the fixed body at a position superposing on the other of the two axial lines and that detects displacement of the movable module.
US09049372B2
Determination is made whether or not a cross point coordinate of a zoom value and a degree of luminance belongs to the continuous imaging area of a two-dimensional coordinate plane. When the cross point coordinate is in a single imaging area, since the provability of shake occurrence is low, a first imaging processing is operated. In contrast, when the cross point coordinate is in the continuous imaging area, a shake correction flag representing the execution of the shake correction is set. A multiplane addition composition imaging is not performed uselessly under an imaging condition where the provability of shake occurrence is low. As a result, since the multiplane addition composition imaging is not performed without inevitability, it is possible to avoid a disadvantage that a useless addition processing is executed to thereby generate noise in a shot image stored in an image memory medium.
US09049367B2
Systems and methods for synthesizing higher resolution images using images captured by camera arrays
A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology.
US09049365B2
The image capturing apparatus (10) includes an image sensor 16 photoelectrically converting an object image formed by an image taking optical system (62), first and second photoelectric conversion elements provided in the image sensor or a focus detection element and photoelectrically converting paired focus detecting images formed by light fluxes passing through pupil areas of the image taking optical system, a filter processor (20) performing an image signal restoration process using a filter on first and second image signals obtained from the first and second photoelectric conversion elements, and a focus detector (20, 40) detecting a focus state based on a phase difference between the first and second image signals after the image signal restoration process. The filter processor calculates a contrast direction in which the object image has contrast, by using an output from the image sensor, and changes the filter depending on the contrast direction.
US09049364B2
By determining using a linear adjustment, a directional adjustment, or a focus scan adjustment on a movable lens unit according to which range region the sharpness of a digital image or a region of interest of the digital image falls in, best focus control performance may be simply and rapidly fulfilled.
US09049359B2
A camera body, to which a lens unit configured to form an optical image of a subject is attachable, comprises a body mount to which the lens unit is attachable, an imaging element configured to convert the optical image of the subject into an electrical signal, and a shutter unit. The shutter unit is disposed between the body mount and the imaging element and provided so that an optical path can be blocked between the lens unit and the imaging element. The shutter unit is configured to be in an open state while the lens unit is removed from the body mount.
US09049356B2
The image processing apparatus includes an image inputting part configured to acquire a captured image produced by an image pickup system including an optical system and an image sensor, a filter producing part configured to produce an image restoration filter, and a restoration processing part configured to perform an image restoration process on the captured image by using the image restoration filter to produce a restored image. The filter producing part is configured to set amplification factors for respective frequency components in the image restoration filter according to a frequency characteristic of an alias signal that may be generated in the image sensor.
US09049352B2
Cameras can be used to detect if unauthorized visitors enter pool areas. Cameras can send alerts to remote computing devices regarding unauthorized pool entry. Several embodiments include using a camera to take an image of a pool area, sending the image from the camera to a remote computing device, displaying the image on the remote computing device, and using the remote computing device to select a detection zone. Some embodiments include ignoring certain portions of the camera's field of view in response to detection zone selections.
US09049351B2
A method is provided for manufacturing a remote video inspection device. The method includes: applying an insulating coating to an exterior surface of a conduit; forming an imager housing on one end of the conduit using an overmolding process, the imager housing having a cavity configured to receive a circuit board assembly having an imaging device disposed thereon; feeding wires through the conduit and electrically coupling the wires to the circuit board assembly; inserting the circuit board assembly into the cavity of the imager housing; affixing a cap over the cavity of the imager housing; sliding an insulating finger guard over an opposing end of the conduit; affixing the finger guard along the conduit at a location proximate to the opposing end of the cable, such that the finger guard extends radially outward from the cable; and attaching a connector to the opposing end of the conduit. In this way, the remote inspection device has been designed to meet certain electrical safety standards.
US09049349B2
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a video frame from an encoder associated with a first camera that is coupled to a network; appending the video frame to a data block; associating a parity block to the video frame; evaluating whether the data block is full; and communicating the data block to a second camera in the network. In other embodiments, the method can include receiving additional video frames from the encoder; appending the additional video frames to a plurality of data blocks; and aligning particular sizes of the plurality of data blocks to a plurality of corresponding disk write sizes.
US09049329B2
A small, compact multifunction printing device provides excellent ease of use with little possibility of slips and continuous paper jamming inside. The multifunction printer has a check processing unit and a continuous paper processing unit. The check processing unit has a U-shaped check conveyance path that opens to the front of the printer and enables handling slips to be processed and the processed slips from the front of the printer. A continuous paper conveyance path that conveys continuous paper fed from a paper roll in the roll paper compartment from the back to the front of the printer is formed on the inside of the check conveyance path, enabling replacing roll paper and removing processed continuous paper from the front. The conveyance paths are independent of each other, the printing positions thereof are separated, and conveyed slips and continuous paper will not interfere with each other.
US09049328B2
A CPU checks a detecting state of a document set sensor at a point when the trailing end of a document sheet is assumed to pass through a separating position at which the document sheet is separated by a separation roller, based on a document length determined based on a detecting output from an abutting sensor. If the document set sensor does not detect a document sheet, the CPU determines that the next document sheet is not present. If the document set sensor detects a document sheet, the CPU checks a detecting state of the document presence detecting sensor. If the document presence detecting sensor detects a document sheet, the CPU determines that the next document sheet is present.
US09049319B2
A wireless mode between a scanner and an image communication apparatus is changed, in response to completion of image transmission from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, completion of print of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, completion of transmission via a communication line connected to the image communication apparatus of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, instructions to stop print of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, instructions to stop transmission via the communication line connected to the image communication apparatus of the image sent from the scanner to the image communication apparatus, and states of the scanner and the image communication apparatus at a predetermined time and so on. For example, a low power consumption mode and communication mode of Bluetooth communication are switched to each other.
US09049312B2
The presently disclosed embodiment provides an interactive tool for printed image artifact characterization that successfully combines the advantages from both a human visual system and automated image quality characterization. In the interactive tool provided, the user may specify coarse level information, such as the region of interest in a print image, to be examined by the automated image-quality characterization algorithm, which can then employ sophisticated algorithms, e.g. signal processing, feature extraction, estimation and classification, to find precise fine-level descriptors.
US09049311B2
An application may provide a communication session platform for a first participant to communicate to a second recipient in a service provider capacity. For instance a doctor, lawyer or other service provider may initiate a call application on a their user device and the device may transmit a communication session request to another user device of a patient or client, via the call application. The application may also provide transmitting a consent request to the client user device requesting consent to a term described by a pre-recorded content segment and receiving a confirmation message from the client user device agreeing to the consent request, and bridging the communication session between the client user device and the service provide user device.
US09049310B2
A method for the communication of data with respect to at least two telephony user devices in a data communications network comprises determining call party details for a telephone call. The telephone call involves at least a first device and a second device. The call party details include first and second identities associated with the first and second devices respectively. A separate communications session is established on the basis of the first and second identities. The communications session is separate from the telephone call and is for the communication of data to and/or from the at least two devices. An alert activation request for an alert mechanism associated with the at least one of the at least two devices is transmitted via the communications session. The alert activation request is capable of causing the at least one of the at least two devices to activate the alert mechanism.
US09049304B2
Each of the cellular phones includes a specification information storage unit for specifying the cellular phone itself, an image information storage unit that stores image information, an operation information creation unit that creates operation information for operating a display image, and a transmission unit that transmits, to the communication terminal, a communication signal including the specification information, the image information and the operation information. The communication terminal includes a reception unit that receives the communication signal from each of the cellular phones, a display information storage unit that stores, as display information, the image information included in the received communication signal, a display unit, and a display control unit for reading out display information of the cellular phone, from the display information storage unit, and for displaying the display information as an image on the display unit, and for controlling the display image displayed on the display unit based on the operation information.
US09049301B2
Provided is a method of removing an earphone noise of a portable terminal includes: recognizing a connection of an earphone through an interface unit; applying power to a mike bias port in case the earphone is recognized; sensing a signal which indicating a detachment of the earphone from the interface unit during applying power to the mike bias port; and discharging the power of the mike bias port when the detachment occurs.
US09049293B2
A method, system, and computer program for routing an incoming voice call in real time is presented. A call is received from a caller to an intended receiving wireless telecommunication device. In response to the call failing to connect to the intended receiving wireless telecommunication device, a short range wireless query signal is transmitted to determine if an other wireless communication device is within a predefined proximity to the intended receiving wireless telecommunication device. If the intended receiving wireless telecommunication device receives a response from the other wireless telecommunication device indicating that the other wireless telecommunication device is within the predefined proximity to the intended receiving wireless telecommunication device, then the call is rerouted to the other wireless telecommunication device.
US09049292B2
In an embodiment, a mobile device that is configured to receive calls on a first telephone network via a first telephone number is configured to receive calls on a second telephone network via a second telephone number. A subscriber interface module (SIM) is installed into the mobile device enabling the mobile device to communicate with the second telephone network. A username, password, and telephone number for the second network are obtained. The mobile device registers the username, password, telephone number for the first network and telephone number for the second network with the first telephone network. A telephone call is received from the first telephone network and a personal identification code is employed to verify the registration.
US09049286B2
A user provides at least one electronic contact address, such as a telephone number, during a registration process. The user is verified by establishing a connection with the user via the electronic contact address. Notification events are established, and the electronic contact address re-verified with the user via the electronic contact address when the notification event occurs. A re-verification code is conveyed to the user, which is returned by the user via an on-line form or telephone entry.
US09049284B2
An electronic device includes a case, a multi-directional input unit having an annular base and a flange that extends from an outer circumferential surface of the annular base and fits part of the case, the flange guiding light emitted from a light source and radiating the light; and a cover having a through-hole through which part of the multi-directional input unit passes, the cover abutting the flange and being secured to the case.
US09049274B2
A computer system for connecting a user to a scheduled call, including a processor in communication with non-volatile memory and code for receiving a user phone number where the user may be contacted and information allowing access to the user's calendar or email, code for accessing the user's calendar or email and identifying the scheduled call in the user's calendar or email, the scheduled call having information including at least a scheduled call number and a scheduled call time, code for placing a call to the scheduled call number before the scheduled call time, code for placing a call to the user at the user phone number before the scheduled call time, code for confirming the user has answered the call to the user, and code for connecting the call to the user to the call to the scheduled call number.
US09049271B1
A method for managing media communications. In one embodiment, the method comprises establishing a session to a computer over a network and through a switch; generating first and second frames of an image stream; identifying updated regions of the first and the second frames, wherein the updated region of the first frame has a first size and the updated region of the second frame has a second size different from the first size; compressing, based on a value from a congestion manager, the updated regions of the first and the second frames to generate a first and a second encoding, respectively; transmitting the first encoding over the session at a first rate determined from the first size and the value; and transmitting the second encoding over the session at a second rate determined from the second size and the value, wherein the second rate is different from the first rate.
US09049266B2
In one embodiment, a network server layer provides disjoint channels in response to client-layer disjoint path requests. For example, the network layer can be an optical network, and the client layer may be a packet switching layer (e.g., label switching, Internet Protocol). In one embodiment, a server-layer node receives a client-layer disjoint path request to provide a server-layer channel through a server-layer network. The client-layer disjoint path request includes an identifier corresponding to an existing client-layer path that traverses a current channel through the server-layer network that does not include the server-layer node. The server-layer network determines a particular channel through the server-layer network that is disjoint to the current channel based on route information of the current channel, and then signaling is performed within the server-layer network to establish the particular channel.
US09049263B2
A PT (Push-To) service among SIP based session services, and particularly, a method and terminal for establishing a PT session in order to allow a certain user to use a PT box service under control of a PT server in a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) based service, are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method of providing a Push-To (PT) box service, includes storing, in a PT server, PT box setting information of a terminal; receiving, by the PT server, a session invitation directed to the terminal; and determining, by the PT server, a routing of the session invitation to a PT box for the terminal based on at least the PT box setting information.
US09049259B2
The method of presenting and accessing visual, video, stream media or multimedia actions and activities feeds is described. A method includes monitoring, tracking, capturing & recording each user's sequences of a plurality of actions and activities with associate data and metadata from one or more sources based on one or more preferences, privacy settings and filtering of action or activity types, storing and processing each user's said plurality of actions and activities in a database in image frame(s), video, streaming media or multimedia data format with contextual, relevant and location & position specific one or more actions or activities items & associate data and metadata, generating visual, video, stream media or multimedia actions and activities feeds for one or more actions or activities for one or more determined receiving users based on one or more filters, preferences and privacy settings of sender(s) and/or receiver(s), dynamically presenting said visual or video actions and activities feeds from one or more sources or senders to one or more determined receiving or viewing users based on one or more filters, preferences and privacy settings of sender(s) and/or receiver(s), allowing viewing user to select, search, match, load, download, edit, filter, access, process and play, forward, backward, pause, stop said visual or video actions and activities feeds based on one or more preferences and settings, dynamically presenting current image frame(s), video, stream or multimedia data position specific or action or activity item(s) video clip specific one or more contextual, associate and relevant action or activity item(s) with associate data and metadata and allowing user to dynamically access said one or more presented dynamic, contextual, associate and relevant action or activity item(s) and associate data and metadata.
US09049250B2
A system and method are directed towards providing non-requested content to a mobile terminal based on characteristics of, and tracked usage of the mobile terminal to request content through an online portal service, which provides access to content in multiple subject areas. A mobile user profile is created from the characteristics and patterns of the tracked usage. The tracked usage information includes the time, location, frequency at which the content was requested. Based on the mobile user profile information, content related to previously requested content is provided to the mobile terminal upon a trigger that is related to the requested content. The trigger event may include the mobile terminal returning to a location from which certain content was previously requested. The non-requested content may further be based on a related general user profile that indicates usage of an alternate electronic device to access content through the portal.
US09049243B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method which allows for the seamless integration of the sending mechanism with the media acquiring mechanism of a portable device. In this manner the end-user has instant access to media sharing with complete control over how the media is shared. This integration is accomplished by presenting to the user a series of screens that are available directly from the media creation applications (e.g. cameras or audio recorders) and media viewing applications (e.g. photo galleries or screen savers) on the device. When a photo (or other media) is captured or viewed, a series of pre-established processing options, including on-device uses for the media, internet services and accounts, email addresses and/or phone numbers to which the media can be sent are presented to the user. Some options require no further user interaction. Defaults are also available which require no user interaction at all, combining together the manual selection of certain processing options or destinations with the automatic selection of other processing options or destinations. Thus, the sending process becomes essentially a selection process allowing the user to override defaults by either selecting from choices tailored to the user including already known address information of potential recipients or to allow the media to be automatically sent to a previously identified location according to the current “default” user preferences. In the situation where a new address or phone number is desired, the user can add such information in a simple and straight-forward manner.
US09049242B2
An atomic write descriptor associated with stripe buffer list metadata.
US09049241B2
A system discovers peer nodes in a failover system, establishes a secure channel between at least two of the peer nodes, and exchanges state information over the secure channel.
US09049232B2
Methods and apparatus for a configurable-quality random data service are disclosed. A method includes implementing programmatic interfaces enabling a determination of respective characteristics of random data to be delivered to one or more clients of a random data service of a provider network. The method includes implementing security protocols for transmission of random data to the clients, including a protocol for transmission of random data to trusted clients at devices within the provider network. The method further includes obtaining, on behalf of a particular client and in accordance with the determined characteristics, random data from one or more servers of the provider network, and initiating a transmission of the random data directed to a destination associated with the particular client.
US09049229B2
Methods and systems analyze historical NXD traffic to predict future DNS traffic. In one embodiment, a system may count NXD responses generated by an Authoritative DNS server during a particular time period and calculate the variance in NXD traffic for domains over time. The system may then generate a coefficient of variance (CoV) value for each domain observed. Finally, the system may predict positive domain traffic based upon the calculated CoV data. In other embodiments, the system may also base the prediction on the classification of domains as “original” domains or “re-registered” domains. In another embodiment, the system may also base the prediction on the “size” of name servers. Additionally, or alternatively, the system may determine the number of unique name servers for a domain and base the prediction on the number of unique name servers for a particular domain name.
US09049224B2
A system and method for identifying anomalies in information requests. The information requests are modeled into a plurality of basic elements and association among the basic elements are tracked. The association of one information request is compared with a plurality of bitmap tables and counters representing a baseline information from a historical behavior information. If the association of this information request differs from the baseline information, an alert is issued. The system responds dynamically to changing baselines in assessment of which behaviors constitute an anomaly.
US09049223B2
A user system includes terminal equipment configured to receive and send data through a communication network; a terminal security support system removably insertable in, and configured to cooperate with, the terminal equipment; and a trusted user platform for the terminal equipment. The trusted user platform includes an information protection system configured to implement security functionalities, configuration instances for the information protection system, and a trusted communication agent configured to provide a safe communication between the terminal security support system and a remote management centre through the terminal equipment to allow the information protection system to be remotely configured from the remote management centre. The terminal security support system includes an integrated circuit card and/or a memory card which wholly supports the trusted user platform, and the terminal equipment is configured to send data to be subjected to security control to, and to receive security-controlled data from, the trusted user platform.
US09049221B1
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for detecting suspicious web traffic are provided herein. A method includes generating a database comprising information corresponding to each of multiple connections between one or more destinations external to an enterprise network and one or more hosts within the enterprise network, wherein said multiple connections occur over a given period of time; processing multiple additional connections between one or more destinations external to the enterprise network and one or more hosts within the enterprise network with one or more filtering operations to produce one or more filtered connections, wherein said multiple additional connections occur subsequent to said given period of time; and analyzing said filtered connections against the database to identify a connection to a destination external to the enterprise network that is not included in the information in the database.
US09049219B2
A method is disclosed for specifying a transmission channel within a multichannel communication system for a slave of the communication system, as well as to a device of a multichannel communication system. In at least one embodiment of the method, wherein a master can communicate with a safe slave and with a normal slave within the communication system, the transmission channel of a slave of the communication system is specified explicitly as a function of the slave type of the slave.
US09049217B2
A technique is disclosed for providing high availability (HA) capability with a plurality of storage servers, which may be virtual storage servers (VSSs), in a shared-nothing storage environment. The technique uses a proxy mechanism to route requests originating at one storage server to an HA partner storage server, where the proxy is implemented inside a VSS logically below the RAID layer. The technique also involves distributing non-shared storage devices “owned” by a storage server so that existing storage device-based heartbeat and fencing mechanisms can function unmodified for HA VSSs in shared-nothing environments. For example, a third, external host can be used to provide and export its non-shared storage to first and second storage servers, where the first and second storage servers do not own the non-shared storage on their local physical host machine.
US09049211B1
Methods and apparatus for performing a user challenge are disclosed. An example computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a server, a request, including a set of login credentials, to access an online service of the server and verifying the received credentials. In the event the login credentials are invalid, the request is denied, and, in the event the login credentials are valid, a challenge is provided to a user that provided the login credentials. The challenge includes: requesting that the user identify a geographic location of a previous successful login; receiving a response to the challenge, the response including a user provided geographic location; and determining if the challenge is satisfied by determining if the provided location is within a threshold distance of a previous login location associated with the user credentials. If the challenge is satisfied, the request is granted. If the challenge is not satisfied, the request is denied.
US09049209B2
Methods and apparatus to route a communication session in an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network are disclosed. An example method comprises determining at a tElephone NUMber mapping (ENUM) query server if a called destination associated with an ENUM query request message is subject to re-direction, and determining at the ENUM server a final destination for the called destination when the destination is subject to redirection, the final destination being different from the called destination.
US09049205B2
A broadcast routing system with dynamic end node response capability includes a first node for creating a request for broadcasting, a broadcasting application running on, or available to the first node for broadcasting the request, one or more destination nodes enabled to monitor a broadcasting channel or channels and to receive the request, and a software routine running on or available to each of the one or more destination nodes for determining which, if any, of more than one destination node may service the request.
US09049197B2
A system and method for handling call recording failures for a contact center. A processor receives information on a first media controller currently assigned to a telephony call. The first media controller bridges a first media path between the first and second communication devices and records, into a storage device, media exchanged in the first media path during the telephony call. The processor detects failure of the first media controller during the telephony call, where the failure of the first media controller tears down the first media path. In response to detecting the failure, the processor bridges a second media path between the first and second communication devices until a second media controller is identified. In response to the second media controller being identified, the second media controller is signaled to bridge and record media exchanged during the telephony call.
US09049169B1
Email synchronization between a mobile device and a messaging server may be performed through a mobile email protection system. The mobile email protection system may parse network traffic for the email synchronization to retrieve an email element of an email. The mobile email protection system may scan the email element for protected content indicated in preconfigured compliance templates. The mobile email protection system may also scan the email element for prohibited content to prevent the prohibited content from being received by the messaging server.
US09049168B2
In a computer-implemented method of generating event notifications, in-home data is received. The in-home data and environment data (e.g., weather, law enforcement, etc.) is generated by, or based on information generated by, a device located at a residence of an individual, and is analyzed to determine whether it is indicative of an event that should be reported to one or more neighboring residences and/or businesses. If the data is indicative of such an event, a notification is generated and transmitted to the relevant residences and/or businesses.
US09049166B2
An integrated system for messaging content delivery for use in a wireless network that incorporates a messaging application broker that interfaces with messaging applications; management applications, a plurality of user devices, and external networks. The interfaces use the appropriate protocols to interact with the messaging applications, management applications, user devices and external networks.
US09049162B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for providing message compression instructions by communicating with a plurality of sender machines and a plurality of receiver machines and monitoring one or more messages from the plurality of sender machines. The disclosed systems and methods may also identify a part of the one or more messages that is frequently included in a plurality of the messages sent by the plurality of sender machines, dynamically determine compression instructions to compress this part of the message, and provide the compression instructions to at least one of the plurality of sender machines, such that the compression instructions reduce size of the messages having the part of the message associated with the compression instructions.
US09049158B2
Communication session admission control systems and methods are disclosed. A state of a communication system is monitored, and admission of a communication session into the communication system is controlled based on a random admission control procedure and a current state of the communication system. Monitoring of the current state of equipment in the communication system, connections in the communication system, communication sessions in progress in the communication system, special monitoring sessions established in the communication system, and/or an overall state of the communication system can have several benefits. These benefits may include improving utilization of resources in the system, and providing a session admission control scheme that is capable of reacting to actual observed conditions and adapting to changing system topologies following a fault, for instance. Random admission control further avoids all or nothing session blocking, which can have the undesirable effect of prompting a high number of session retries.
US09049156B2
A wireless network includes a base station which can serve terminals directly, or via multi-hop transmission paths via relay stations. The base station transmits a downlink sub-frame which includes a first set of frame control information and a second set of frame control information. The second set of frame control information occupies a different position within the downlink sub-frame compared to the first set of frame control information. A relay station is able to transmit a downlink sub-frame to a terminal, or another relay station, while still being able to receive a set of frame control at a different time during the downlink sub-frame. The invention is especially useful in a wireless network in which the downlink transmissions of a base station and a relay station are synchronized to one another and where the downlink transmissions of a base station and relay station occupy the same, or similar, frequency bearer.
US09049146B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for designing a test network in an integrated application, and configuring remote network devices through a network design application to test a network design. One embodiment of the present claimed subject matter is provided as a system for automatically configuring remote network devices to simulate a network connection. The system includes a plurality of computing devices which are physically coupled to one or more network devices, wherein the network devices are automatically configured to comprise a test network corresponding to a remote test network topology design.
US09049127B2
The methods and devices discussed herein provide service clustering within a TRILL network without relying on an additional service insertion framework. A TRILL network can include one or more flow distribution RBridges for distributing flows to service nodes. Each flow distribution RBridge can have a virtual base identifier and one or more virtual cluster identifiers. An example method can include maintaining N service cluster load balancing structures and receiving a packet that is encapsulated with an inner header (source/destination addresses) and an outer header (ingress/egress RBridge identifiers). The method can include determining whether the egress RBridge identifier is a virtual cluster identifier, and if so, applying a hash function to a predetermined flow tuple and selecting a service node associated with the hash value from one of the N service cluster load balancing structures. The method can include forwarding the packet to the selected service node.
US09049125B2
An enhanced general input/output communication architecture, protocol and related methods are presented.
US09049123B2
A system, method and computer program product for determining policy follow-up action based on user-specified codes are set forth. When determining policy follow up action based upon user specified codes, a policy system receives function templates for permissible actions on a given resource type; each function template is annotated with indications of success and failure; the policy system performs an action on the resource; the policy system receives a status indication (or exception); the status indication is compared against the annotated function template; and, the policy system determines its next action based on that comparison.
US09049118B2
A first sensor transmits one or more probes to a host device identified on a network, each probe used to obtain information regarding the host and the plurality of probes are prioritized according to probe type. A set of replies to the plurality of probes are received and it is determined that a first of the plurality of probes is the highest priority probe for which a reply from the host device was received. A second probe transmitted by a second sensor is identified as the highest priority probe for which a reply from the host device was received by the second sensor, where the first sensor is designated as a primary sensor and the second sensor is designated as a secondary sensor. Respective priorities of the probe types of the first and second probes are compared to determine whether to perform a probe handover to the second sensor.
US09049114B2
A network access device (NAD) is configured to automatically establish a connection to a WAN. The NAD tests IP configurations according to a first priority scheme at least until a currently best scoring one of the IP configurations is selected for use to communicate over the WAN. The testing of the IP configurations includes transmitting requests according to a first priority scheme and tracking any replies reflecting which IP configurations are valid. The first priority scheme is for selecting among IP configurations for testing and prioritizing a first type of IP configuration over a dynamically determined type of IP configuration. Which IP configurations of the dynamically determined type that are to be tested are determined by attempting to obtain DHCP leases using different VLAN IDs according to a second priority scheme of VLAN IDs to include in DHCP requests.
US09049113B1
Method and systems for a network device are provided. The method includes receiving configuration data having a primitive sequence comprising a first primitive and a second primitive at a first clock rate at a port of the network device; writing the configuration data into a smoothing module of the port at the first clock rate; reading the configuration data out of the smoothing module at a second clock rate; allowing a primitive to be inserted or deleted in the smoothing module to prevent smoothing module underflows or overflow; regenerating the primitive sequence at the second clock rate; and transmitting the regenerated primitive sequence to the destination port.
US09049109B1
A method and apparatus for a connection manager have been disclosed. By providing for persistent connections with clients, the connection manager allows for servers to communicate with clients, which would otherwise be inaccessible.
US09049106B2
Providing gateway redundancy is disclosed. On each of a master and a standby gateway a single IP routing redundancy protocol instance is associated with a plurality of subscriber subnets. On each gateway, the respective single IP routing redundancy protocol instance is used to provide gateway redundancy for the plurality of subscriber subnets.
US09049102B1
Disclosed are various embodiments of a system. In one embodiment, among others, a method comprises intercepting a communication between a first party and a second party in a communication forum. The communication includes first party proxy information as an intended recipient information. The method further comprises accessing a communication pair using the intended recipient information. The intended recipient information is associated with second party proxy information. The second party proxy information is associated with second party information. Additionally, the method comprises determining whether the identity of the sender is valid.
US09049092B2
A data transmission system for a display device, which is an mBnB encoding system encoding a signal of m (m is a natural number) bits into a signal of n (n is a natural number and n>m) bits on the basis of a certain translation table to be transmitted thereafter, the system including: an output driver of outputting a gray scale voltage in accordance with the data decoded at a receiver side, in which in the translation table, a bit pattern with a larger data change index from among 2n pieces of bit patterns of the n bits of the data is assigned to a bit pattern with a larger amplitude of the gray scale voltage from among 2m pieces of bit patterns of the m bits of the data.
US09049088B2
An offset estimation apparatus for a multi-carrier communication system is provided. The offset estimation apparatus includes an FFT unit configured to transform a reception signal and to generate multiple symbols, a conjugate multiplier configured to receive and conjugate multiply two consecutive symbols corresponding to predetermined subcarrier indices to generate multiple correlating complex numbers, a powering unit configured to raise the correlating complex numbers by a received exponent to generate multiple powered correlating complex numbers, and a calculation unit configured to estimate a frequency offset according to the powered correlating complex numbers.
US09049074B2
An email client method and server that allow a conference organizer to schedule a conference (e.g., conference call) using a calendar feature found in today's email applications. When the email client is installed to work with the user's email application, an option becomes available to allow access to a conferencing scheduling feature. The server is adapted to receive an incoming conference request via a data message (e.g., email message) and coordinate acceptances to the request. At the time of the conference, the server retrieves a list of conference participants/attendees and their contact information. The server determines whether or not each participant/attendee is a server participant. If the participant/attendee is a server participant, the server will initiate the conference by calling the multiple contact numbers associated with the participant/attendee. Otherwise, the server will call one contact number associated with the participant/attendee.
US09049073B2
Systems and methods for allocating media assets to a plurality of transport streams in a mixed service system to allow simultaneous receipt of at least two media assets using a single stream selector are provided. The mix-service content delivery system comprises a content delivery server comprising control circuitry. At a first time, the first instance of the at least two media assets may be allocated to different transport streams. A user request to simultaneously receive the at least two media assets may be received. A viewing history based on the user request may be generated during a predetermined time period. At a second time after the first time, the control circuitry may allocate a second instance of the at least two media assets to a same transport stream of the plurality of transport streams. The allocations may be determined based on the generated viewing history.
US09049066B2
A method and apparatus for communication in a system employing differing transmission protocols. It is determined whether a first time slot of one transmission protocol is adjacent to a second time slot of another transmission protocol, and if a first symbol within the first time slot is adjacent to a second symbol of the second time slot. A pilot power and/or a number of pilot sub-carriers or tones of the first symbol is increased and channel estimation is performed on the first symbol.
US09049058B2
A communication device is configured to perform symbol mapping of bits to generate modulation symbols using one or more modulations. The device may employ a blended modulation composed of bit labels or symbols having different numbers of bits per symbol and different modulations. For example, the device may symbol map bit labels/symbols having first number of bits per symbol to first modulation, and the device may symbol map labels/symbols having second number of bits per symbol to second modulation. The device may be configured to perform forward error correction (FEC) or error correction code (ECC) and coding of information bits to generate coded bits that subsequently undergo symbol mapping. The device may be configured to operate based on different operational modes based on substantially uniform steps of rates, or bits per symbol, and energy per bit or symbol to noise spectral density ratio (Eb/N0 or Es/N0).
US09049040B2
A controller device (209) is enabled to provide a virtual user interface of an electrical device (201) to be remotely used and to generate control messages (241) for controlling the electrical device by providing the controller device with a proxy (211) of the electrical device. The proxy is a movable software package which can be used for representing the electrical device in the controller device. The proxy can be configured to have a limited time-to-live in the controller device and/or a surrounding system may have been arranged to send to the controller device a proxy removal message when the corresponding electrical device is leaving the system or a data transfer connection to it has otherwise been lost. Therefore, a sufficiently up-to-date awareness of the electrical devices and a capability of remotely using them can be maintained in the controller device.
US09049037B2
A system and method for collecting signals includes an IP network, a remote facility and a local collection facility in communication with the local collection facility through the IP network. The local collection facility receives channel signals, encoding the channel signals into respective IP signals, communicating the respective IP signals through an IP network to the remote facility. The remote facility controls an antenna switch at the local collection facility to communicate a first channel signal of the channel signals to a monitoring receiver circuit module. The local collection facility generates a monitoring signal at the monitoring receiver circuit module and communicates the monitoring signal through to a remote facility through the IP network.
US09049030B1
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a core network node configured to associate with a native multicast group a first client device that is associated with a first virtual local area network (VLAN) and operatively coupled to the core network node via a first access network node and an aggregation network node. The core network node can associate with the native multicast group a second client device that is associated with a second VLAN and operatively coupled to the core network node via a second access network node and the aggregation network node. The core network node can define a multicast VLAN including the first VLAN and the second VLAN based on the native multicast group. The core network node can receive a multicast data unit associated with the native multicast group and can also define a single instance of the multicast data unit for the multicast VLAN.
US09049027B2
A digital signature is applied to digital documents/information. In certain instances, juridically strong digital signatures are achieved. Cloud computing technologies may be used to aid in the production of the cryptographically secure, authenticated digital signatures. Digital signatures may be produced with a digital notarization. The techniques of generating a digital signature may not require the use of traditional public key infrastructure (PKI).
US09049010B2
A portable encryption device with logon access controlled by an encryption key, with an on board cryptographic processor for reconstituting the encryption key from a plurality of secrets generated by a secret sharing algorithm, optionally shrouded with external secrets using an invertible transform resistant to quantum computing attacks. Another embodiment provides file decryption controlled by a file encryption key, with the on board cryptographic processor reconstituting the file encryption key from a version of the file encryption key which has been shrouded with a network authorization code. A method for encryption of a plaintext file by hashing, compressing, and encrypting the plaintext file, hashing the ciphertext, hashing the plaintext hash and the ciphertext hash, and sealing the ciphertext together with the resulting hash. A portable encryption device for performing the method is also disclosed.
US09049002B2
Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards the elimination of physical layer identity ambiguities for uplink detection in a wireless network. Some of the example embodiments are directed towards a source network node, and corresponding methods therein, for assigning an unique uplink physical layer identity for a user equipment uplink transmission of a first user equipment being served by the source network node. The unique uplink physical layer identity is provided to ensure that at least one second user equipment, which may be in proximity to a non-serving cell associated with the uplink transmission, does not have a physical layer identity ambiguity with the first user equipment. Some of the example embodiments are also directed towards a target network node, and corresponding methods therein, for performing uplink detection of the first user equipment using the unique physical layer identity described above.
US09049000B2
There exists a need to reduce re-transmission delays in real time feeds (such as video) by sending the packet with sufficient repair/recovery information inside the packet container so the relaying stations and/or the receiving devices can fix errors in transmission by perusing the contents of the packet and the repair information, and modify the packet and then relay it. By providing the relaying station the ability to fix the error, retransmission of the packet is avoided along each relay station along the network path from source to destination and also by receiving devices that would otherwise request a re-transmission. This application teaches a method so real time streams (e.g. video) may be more efficiently transported over a CSMA based network.
US09048994B2
Downclocking and/or adaptive sub-carriers for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Communication device operation within a wireless local area network (WLAN/WiFi) is effectuated in the frequency spectra typically associated with television broadcast channels. Operation is made on a secondary non-interfering basis to such television broadcast channels. Any desired channel bandwidth (e.g., 6 MHz, 7 MHz, 8 MHz, etc.) may be employed. Adaptation with respect to the number of data sub-carriers within different respective packets may be made in accordance with two or more respective operational modes. For example, modification of the number of data sub-carriers in different respective packets may be made to increase the signal bandwidth from a first band was to a second bandwidth. Also, appropriate frequency down-clocking of a first channel bandwidth may be performed to generate the desired channel bandwidth to be employed within an available television broadcast channel bandwidth.
US09048989B2
Using an allocated control channel resource in a relay transmission frame, with an identified starting point, in a semi-static allocation scheme is disclosed. The control signaling may be mapped to the allocated control channel resource using different mapping schemes. Also disclosed is decoding a control channel element from a relay transmission frame received via a wireless relay link. The control channel resource associated with the relay transmission frame may be allocated in a semi-static allocation scheme. A starting indicator may be extracted from the decoded control channel element. A part of control signaling may be extracted from the decoded control channel element using the extracted starting indicator.
US09048987B2
According to various embodiments, a joint detection/decoder device may be provided. The detector and decoder device may include: an input circuit configured to receive an input signal; a survivor splitting circuit configured to produce a plurality of survivors of a next instance based on at least one survivor of a previous instance and based on the input signal; and a survivor discarding circuit configured to discard survivors based on a set of predetermined criteria; wherein each survivor has an associated bit sequence.
US09048986B2
A method for mitigation of lost resource allocation synchronization between a user equipment (UE) and an evolved Node B (eNodeB) during a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) transmission and/or retransmission process is described. The method includes determining whether resource allocation is out of synchronization between a user equipment (UE) and an evolved Node B (eNodeB) during a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmission and/or retransmission process. The method further includes mitigating a loss of resource allocation synchronization between the UE and the eNodeB during the HARQ transmission and/or retransmission process.
US09048979B2
A method comprising generating a baseband information signal by mixing a received modulated carrier signal with a local oscillator (LO) signal having an LO frequency; obtaining baseband signal samples of the baseband information signal having a baseband signal magnitude and a baseband signal phase; determining a cumulative phase measurement associated with baseband signal samples having a baseband signal magnitude greater than a threshold; and, applying a correction signal to compensate for an LO frequency offset of the LO frequency based on the cumulative phase.
US09048960B2
Various embodiments, relate to a communications system in which communications devices of users and communications devices of vehicular systems communicate safety messages through a cellular communications band or the DSRC (Dedicated short-range communications) vehicular communications band or a combination of both. Various methods and apparatus are directed to communicating safety messages between vehicles and pedestrians/cyclists through the use of a cell phone, thus improving the impact of vehicular communications. In some embodiments, at least some cell phones in a communications system includes both a DSRC communications capability and a cellular communications capability.
US09048958B2
An optical communications system and method at least doubles the data rate of the optical fiber link without requiring a redesign of the backplane ASIC. This is made possible in part through the incorporation of at least one gearbox integrated circuit (IC) is incorporated into the system that is compatible with the current ASIC design. The gearbox IC receives N lanes of electrical data signals from the ASIC, with each electrical data signal having a data rate of X Gbps, and outputs N/2 lanes of electrical data signals, with each electrical data signal having a data rate of 2X Gbps. The high-speed optical transceiver module receives the N/2 electrical data signals output from the gearbox IC and produces N/2 respective optical data signals having a data rate of 2X Gbps for transmission over the optical fiber link.
US09048955B2
A tunable dispersion compensation device includes a plurality of tunable dispersion compensators coupled in series, a controller configured to control an amount of chromatic dispersion to be set in each of the plurality of tunable dispersion compensators, and a table including a correspondence relationship between an amount of chromatic dispersion and a wavelength band, for each of the plurality of tunable dispersion compensators, wherein the controller decides an amount of chromatic dispersion to be set in each of the plurality of tunable dispersion compensators, based on a total amount of chromatic dispersion desired for the plurality of tunable dispersion compensators and the correspondence relationship included in the table so that a difference between bandwidths of a first tunable dispersion compensator having the widest wavelength band and a second tunable dispersion compensator having the narrowest wavelength band, among the plurality of tunable dispersion compensators, is within a given range.
US09048944B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for reducing signal interference between Bluetooth (BT) and WLAN (e.g. WiFi) communications in an information handling system. The WLAN receiver has configurable front-end filter circuitry. Based upon information concerning the BT frequency region for current BT communications, the WLAN receiver can adjust or set its configurable front-end filter circuitry to filter out the BT communications. As the BT communications hop from frequency to frequency, the WLAN receiver can continue to adjust its configurable front-end filter circuitry accordingly. Example implementations for the configurable front-end filter circuitry include bandpass filters and selectable low pass and high pass filters. These filters are selected and/or tuned such that BT frequency regions are filtered from the WLAN input signal before further WLAN signal processing is conducted, thereby improving the performance of simultaneous BT and WLAN communications.
US09048937B2
The method for operating a UWB device having at least one transmitting antenna and/or at least one receiving antenna comprises the following steps: controlling the transmitting antenna (12) or the receiving antenna (12′) with a control pulse signal (13,13′) having a sequence of substantially sinusoidal pulses of alternating polarity and differing amplitudes and particularly having the waveform of a fifth-order Gaussian pulse signal, wherein the transmitting antenna (12) can be alternately supplied with current pulses of differing polarity and differing magnitude by switching on and off first electronic switch units (16) that are coupled to the transmitting antenna (12) and have resistances associated with the amplitudes of the pulses to be generated, wherein each first switch unit (16) has a specifiable, particularly equal, number of first switching transistors (18,19), each having substantially identical on-state resistance values (R), wherein the resistance of a first switch unit is adjusted either by using only one of the first switching transistors (18,19) or by using a plurality of first switching transistors (18,19) connected in parallel, and wherein the first switch units (16) are controlled sequentially according to a specifiable temporal schema and each for a control time interval of a predetermined length.
US09048930B2
One or more processing units are programmed to select from among M tones in a frequency domain representation of a signal, a set of tones including at least a strongest tone (relative to background noise) and a tone adjacent thereto. From among M complex numbers in the frequency domain representation of the signal, a set of complex numbers are identified and denoted as a vector Z, corresponding to the selected set of tones. Vector Z is then multiplied with each of M columns of a matrix G which is predetermined to identify a sub-resolution maxima in Z. The M products that result from the vector multiplication of Z and G are used to determine and store in memory at least one or both of: (A) a flag indicating presence or absence of narrowband interference in the signal; and (B) an estimate of a frequency of the narrowband interference.
US09048927B2
A solar powered cell phone includes a cell phone main housing including conventional cell phone components including; a rechargeable power storage unit connected to cell phone internal mechanisms; and, at least two solar cell panels connected to the rechargeable power storage unit, wherein at least one of the at least two solar cell panels is movably connected to the main housing and has a first position, being a closed position for storage, and having a second position, being an open position for charging.
US09048924B2
A method for operating a relay station in a wireless communication system includes: obtaining information regarding assigned subframes among a plurality of subframes; monitoring a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) carrying information regarding a radio resource allocation within the assigned subframes; and receiving data from a base station on the basis of the radio resource allocation of the monitored PDCCH. The relay station may operate to guarantee compatibility with an existing terminal in a wireless communication system. Also, a method for assigning radio resources between a base station and the relay station is defined.
US09048923B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a system and method for wirelessly identifying and validating an electronic device in order to initiate a communication process with another device or a service. In an embodiment, the system includes a portable biometric monitoring device that is identified by a client device or a server for the purpose of initiating a pairing process. In an embodiment, pairing implies pairing the portable device to an online user account with minimal user interaction. After pairing, the portable device and appropriate client devices and servers communicate with little or no user interaction, for example to upload sensor data collected by the portable device.
US09048922B2
For VoIP calls over a communication system in which a remote terminal is requesting to a hub-gateway, bandwidth may be allocated according to a dynamic technique based on the packet rate between an access device and the remote terminal by sending a bandwidth request message from the access device to the hub-gateway or to the remote terminal containing information on bandwidth allocation requirements for a given set of VoIP calls. The hub-gateway or the remote terminal identifies the received messaged information and analyzes the information on bandwidth allocation requirements contained in the messaged information. In addition, the hub-gateway, or the remote terminal, upon necessity, sends a request to the hub-gateway for bandwidth to be allocated in accordance with the analyzed information on bandwidth allocation requirements.
US09048919B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for identifying a spectral region in a radio frequency spectrum, determining a signal strength of the spectral region, determining a correlation factor by correlating the signal strength of the spectral region, identifying from the correlation factor interference in the spectral region, repeating a determination of the correlation factor and an identification of the interference until a desired confidence level has been achieved, and generating coefficient data to substantially suppress the interference in the channel responsive to achieving the desired confidence level. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09048917B1
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to processing received spatially diverse transmissions. In some implementations, an apparatus includes: circuitry configured to receive signals from separate communication inputs; circuitry configured to filter the signals to reduce noise, interference, or both; circuitry configured to estimate covariance of the separate communication inputs, including estimating a correlation between the separate communication inputs; and circuitry configured to apply the covariance estimation to the filtering circuitry to effect noise whitening and to force an underestimation of the correlation between the separate communication inputs as applied.
US09048907B2
Example embodiments are directed to methods of reducing interference in a communication system. A method includes receiving, by a transmitter, first and second quantized matrices from a mobile station. The first and second quantized matrices are based on an estimated channel matrix and an estimated interference matrix. The method further includes determining, by the transmitter, a transmission beamforming vector based on the first and second quantized values.
US09048901B2
A process transmitter is configured to measure a process variable of an industrial process. The process transmitter includes a process variable sensor which senses the process variable and responsively provides a process variable sensor output. Sensor circuitry is coupled to the process variable sensor. A housing to encloses the sensor circuitry and the output circuitry. The sensor circuitry electrical couples to the housing. The sensor circuitry wirelessly communicates with the output circuitry.
US09048899B2
Transmission quality is improved in an environment in which direct waves dominate in a transmission method for transmitting a plurality of modulated signals from a plurality of antennas at the same time. All data symbols used in data transmission of a modulated signal are precoded by hopping between precoding matrices so that the precoding matrix used to precode each data symbol and the precoding matrices used to precode data symbols that are adjacent to the data symbol in the frequency domain and the time domain all differ. A modulated signal with such data symbols arranged therein is transmitted.
US09048894B2
The disclosed invention provides an efficient method for beam training to enable spatial multiplexing MIMO operation and spatial combining in a wireless network. The invention discloses a simple and efficient beam-training algorithm and protocol for MIMO operation that operates in high SNR condition for reliable MIMO operation. In one novel aspect, the best MIMO beam combinations are determined after TX sector sweeping and RX sector sweeping. In addition, the selection criteria includes not only signal quality, but also considers mutual interference and leakage among multiple MIMO spatial streams to improve overall MIMO performance.
US09048893B1
In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides transmitters, receivers, and methods of determining channel state information for a maximum likelihood (ML) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) receiver, as well as transmitting and demodulating signals based on the determined channel state information. A ML MIMO receiver receives a first MIMO signal from a MIMO transmitter. Channel characteristics of the first MIMO signal are determined based on decision feedback equalization (DFE) processing. The DFE-determined channel characteristics, or information derived from the DFE-determined channel characteristics, are reported to the MIMO transmitter and the MIMO ML receiver decodes a second MIMO signal based on ML processing. The second MIMO signal is modulated and encoded by the MIMO transmitter according to a modulation and coding scheme in accordance with (1) the DFE-determined channel characteristics or (2) the information derived from the DFE-determined channel characteristics.
US09048890B1
An integrated circuit device, set forth by way of example and not limitation, includes an IC package provided with a plurality of leads and enclosing: a) a buffer amplifier, b) a switching-mode power amplifier having an input coupled to the output of the buffer amplifier and having an output coupled to at least one of the plurality of leads, and c) a digital controller. A method, set forth by way of example and not limitation, for controlling the power output of a RF transmitter circuit without the need for an attenuator includes developing a signal source, applying the signal source to a buffer amplifier to provide an amplified signal, applying the amplified signal to a switching-mode power amplifier to provide a power output signal, and controlling a gain of the switching-mode power amplifier in response to a digital command.
US09048883B2
An electronic system includes a shared antenna, a diplexer and a processing circuit. The shared antenna corresponds to a first frequency band and a second frequency band, wherein the first frequency band meets a wireless radio frequency identification (RFID) standard, and the second frequency band meets a near field communication (NFC) standard. The diplexer receives a wireless signal from the shared antenna, and divides the signal into a WIRELESS RFID signal component corresponding to the first band and an NFC signal component corresponding to the second band. The processing circuit is coupled to the diplexer, and arranged to process the WIRELESS RFID signal component and the NFC signal component.
US09048877B2
A Turbo code parallel interleaver and a parallel interleaving method are disclosed by the disclosure. The Turbo code parallel interleaver comprises: an interleaving unit, configured to generate a column address for parallel-reading data and a row address of each row of data being row-interleaved, input the column address and the column address after delay to a CB matrix unit, input the row address of each row to a switching output unit, and input the row address of each row after delay to a switching input unit; a switching output unit, configured to receive the data of each row output by the CB matrix unit, perform the inter-row interleaving for the data of each row according to the row address of each row, and input the interleaved data to a parallel MAP unit for the MAP computing; and a switching input unit.
US09048875B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe device, methods, computer-readable media and system configurations for performing data decoding and error correction. In various embodiments, a plurality of bits of encoded data may be received, e.g., by an iterative decoder. In various embodiments, the iterative decoder may generate a set of m tuples A, each tuple in set A including a symbol comprising a group of bits of the encoded data and a probability associated with the symbol. In various embodiments, the encoded data may be decoded using the set of m tuples. In various embodiments, this may include allocating fewer bits to storage of a probability associated with a first tuple of the set A than are allocated for storage of a probability associated with a second tuple of the set A. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09048873B2
A data encoding system includes a data encoder circuit operable to encode each of a number of data sectors with a component matrix of a low density parity check code matrix and to yield an output codeword. The data encoder circuit includes a syndrome calculation circuit operable to calculate and combine syndromes for the data sectors.
US09048868B2
It is decided whether to adjust data associated with a decoder. In the event it is decided to adjust the data associated with the decoder, the data is adjusted to obtain adjusted data and decoding is performed on the adjusted data. In the event it is decided to not adjust the data associated with the decoder, decoding is performed on the data associated with the decoder.
US09048866B2
The present disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for checking decoded data, an apparatus and a method for decoding, and a receiving terminal. The apparatus for checking decoded data includes: an arithmetic unit to perform a check computation on decoded bits output from decoders in every clock cycle to obtain a computation result, where the check computation is performed by: denoting each decoded bit as a polynomial, computing the sum of the polynomials and performing polynomial modular arithmetic on the sum; and an output unit configured to output a check result, where the check result is the sum of the computation results in all the clock cycles during a decoding process. A real-time check computation of decoded data may be realized, so that power consumption may be saved.
US09048865B2
Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses, methods and techniques for converting a discrete-time quantized signal into a continuous-time, continuously variable signal. An exemplary converter preferably includes: (1) multiple oversampling converters, each processing a different frequency band, operated in parallel; (2) multirate (i.e., polyphase) delta-sigma modulators (preferably second-order or higher); (3) multi-bit quantizers; (4) multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters, such as resistor ladder networks or current source networks; (5) adaptive nonlinear, bit-mapping to compensate for mismatches in the multi-bit-to-variable-level signal converters (e.g., by mimicking such mismatches and then shifting the resulting noise to a frequently range where it will be filtered out by a corresponding bandpass (reconstruction) filter); (6) multi-band (e.g., programmable noise-transfer-function response) bandpass delta-sigma modulators; and/or (7) a digital pre-distortion linearizer (DPL) for canceling noise and distortion introduced by an analog signal bandpass (reconstruction) filter bank.
US09048862B2
Storage systems and methods to improve space saving from data compression by providing a plurality of compression processes, and optionally, one or more parameters for controlling operation of the compression processes and selecting from the plurality of compression processes and the parameters to satisfy resource limits, such as CPU usage and memory usage. In one embodiment, the methods takes into account the content-type, such as text file or video file, and select the compression process and parameters that provide the greatest space savings for that content type while also remaining within a defined resource-usage limit.
US09048857B2
An analog-to-digital converter circuit includes a plurality of conversion stages that are cascaded to be coupled in series. Each of the plurality of conversion stages includes a signal holding circuit configured to hold an input voltage, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the input voltage into a digital signal based on a first reference voltage, a digital-to-analog converter configured to generate a first voltage according to the digital signal, the first reference voltage, and the input voltage, an amplifier configured to amplify the first voltage to generate an output voltage, and a reference holding circuit configured to hold a holding voltage that is in proportion to the first reference voltage. The amplifier is coupled to the reference holding circuit to receive and amplify the holding voltage to generate a second reference voltage.
US09048850B2
A frequency synthesizer is disclosed that includes an oscillator having an output to deliver a signal of a controllable frequency. The oscillator includes a capacitor bank responsive to an N-bit control signal to exhibit a capacitance. The oscillator output frequency is based on the capacitance. Control logic generates the N-bit control signal and determines each bit of the N-bit control signal through a binary search step and a modulation of a least-significant-bit (LSB) of the N-bit control signal. The LSB modulation, combined with the binary search for each bit, results in a higher accuracy frequency estimation.
US09048837B2
A cascode transistor includes: a first switch; a second switch that has a withstand voltage higher than that of the first switch and is cascade coupled to a drain of the first switch; and a circuit in which a third switch and a capacitor are coupled in series with each other and that is provided between a connection node and a source of the first switch, the connection node being a node at which the first switch and the second switch are coupled to each other.
US09048834B2
A physically unclonable function (PUF) includes a plurality of PUF elements to generate an N-bit PUF signature. For each bit in the N-bit PUF signature, a PUF group of K number of individual PUF elements indicating a single-bit PUF value is used to generate a group bit. The group bits are more repeatable than the individual PUF elements. The value K may be selected such that (K+1)/2 is an odd number.
US09048833B2
Some embodiments provide a circuit for accessing stored data in a configurable IC that includes several configurable circuits. The IC also includes several storage circuits. Each storage circuit has (1) several storage elements for storing data for the configurable circuits, and (2) output circuitry for outputting data stored in the storage elements. The output circuitry includes a first set of interconnects for receiving at least a first repeating periodic signal and for periodically outputting data from at least two storage elements to the configurable circuits.
US09048825B2
An object of one embodiment of the present invention to provide a latch circuit includes a level shifter and a buffer in which transistors each including a channel region formed in an oxide semiconductor film are connected in series. Thus, data can be held in the latch circuit even when power is not supplied.
US09048824B2
Described is a chip comprising: a pull-up driver with a first impedance, the pull-up driver coupled to a node; a pull-down driver with a second impedance, the pull-down driver coupled to the node; and an equalizer coupled to the pull-up and pull-down drivers, wherein the equalizer is operable to be trained to deemphasize a signal driven on the node while maintaining the first and second impedances substantially constant.
US09048821B2
A relaxation oscillator circuit includes a comparator including a first input, a second input, a bias input, and an output. The first input is coupled to a charging node, and the second input is configured to receive a reference voltage. The relaxation oscillator circuit further includes a first bias circuit configured to provide a bias signal to the bias input of the first comparator when a first node voltage on the charging node exceeds a first reference.
US09048820B2
A high-speed fully differential clock duty cycle calibration circuit applied to calibrating the clock duty cycle in a high-speed system. The circuit detects the duty cycle with a continuous time integrator, and directly adjusts the duty cycle on a clock transmission link so as to increase the working speed. Being of a fully differential circuit structure, the circuit can calibrate the duty cycle under a designated process within a higher and wider frequency range, and has relatively good constraining force for process mismatch and common mode noise. The circuit comprises adjustment level ADJ1 and ADJ2, a first buffer level BUF1, a second buffer level BUF2 and a duty cycle detection level DCD.
US09048807B2
Surface acoustic wave resonators for use in high temperature applications including a piezoelectric substrate, at least one interdigital transducer supported by the piezoelectric substrate, and a grating reflector supported by the piezoelectric substrate, the grating reflector being fabricated of a heavy metal and comprising a plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes being electrically isolated from at least one other electrode. Methods of making surface acoustic wave resonators are also included.
US09048804B2
A device for fixing a gain or attenuation factor for a gain or attenuation element during a transmission of a sequence of synchronization-data symbols registers the signal level of a received signal at the input of the gain or attenuation element. It then identifies the start of transmission of the sequence of synchronization-data symbols on the basis of the signal level of the registered, received signal and signals the time interval for the fixing of the gain or attenuation factor starting with the identified start of transmission of the sequence of synchronization-data symbols.
US09048798B2
Methods, systems and devices are provided for controlling a hearing aid. Embodiments include receiving an input audio signal from a microphone. Also, a facial movement indication may be received from a facial movement detector measured contemporaneously with the input audio signal. Additionally, whether a first movement pattern associated with the wearer speaking is a movement match to the facial movement indication may be determined. In this way, a first gain profile may be applied to the input audio signal for generating an augmented audio segment in response to determining the first movement pattern is the movement match to the facial movement indication. Also, a second gain profile may be applied to the input audio signal for generating the augmented audio segment in response to determining the first movement pattern does not match the facial movement indication. Thus, the augmented audio segment may be output.
US09048787B2
Radio Frequency (RF) signal conditioning circuitry, which includes RF detection circuitry and RF attenuation circuitry is disclosed. The RF detection circuitry receives and detects an RF sample signal to provide an RF detection signal. The RF attenuation circuitry has an attenuation circuitry input, and receives and attenuates the RF sample signal via the attenuation circuitry input to provide an attenuated RF signal. The RF attenuation circuitry presents an attenuation circuitry input impedance at the attenuation circuitry input. The attenuated RF signal and the RF detection signal are provided concurrently.
US09048783B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, circuits and methods are provided for using a reconfigurable voltage controlled oscillator to support multi-mode applications. A voltage control oscillator circuit comprises a resonant circuit, a first oscillator circuitry coupled to the resonant circuit, and a second oscillator circuitry coupled to the resonant circuit. The voltage control oscillator circuit further comprises switching circuitry configured to select, based on an operating metric, one of the first oscillator circuitry and the second oscillator circuitry for providing an output voltage.
US09048781B2
There is provided an abnormality diagnosis device including: a storage storing power generation output data representing a current and a voltage of electrical power generated by each of the subsystems according to sampling time; a correcting unit configured to correct, for each of the subsystems, at least the current out of the current and the voltage in the power generation output data to a current corresponding to a standard insolation condition to generate corrected data including a corrected current and either one of a corrected voltage or the voltage in the power generation output data; a gradient estimating unit configured to produce, for each of the subsystems, an approximation graph of the corrected data and calculate a gradient of the approximation graph; and an abnormality diagnosing unit determining a subsystem for which the gradient satisfies a first threshold to be a subsystem including an abnormal module.
US09048778B2
A rotor phase/speed estimating device includes a high-frequency voltage injection unit, a high-frequency current amplitude detection unit of a fundamental wave component, a correlation signal generation unit, and a rotor phase generation unit. The high-frequency voltage injection unit applies a high-frequency voltage to an AC motor. The high-frequency current amplitude detection unit of a fundamental wave component detects a primary Fourier coefficient equivalent value. The correlation signal generation unit is arranged to generate a correlation signal using the Fourier coefficient equivalent value. The rotor phase generation unit is arranged to generate an estimated value of the rotor phase and an estimated value of a rotor speed using the correlation signal.
US09048772B2
A method for operating an electric motor is provided, wherein a motor actuating signal is generated and transmitted to the motor. In order to reduce the noise generated by operating the motor, a suitable additional signal is generated and overlaid on the motor actuating signal when the motor actuating signal is transmitted to the motor.
US09048758B2
An electromechanical motor assembly includes a stator, a body to be moved and a stator support. The stator has a plurality of electromechanical actuators for moving the body by repetition of steps ensuring that at least one of the electromechanical actuators is in non-sliding contact with the body at every time. The assembly further includes a force applying arrangement for supplying a normal force (N) between the stator and the stator support by at least one spring arrangement. The spring arrangement has a spring constant in the direction (Z) normal to the surface of the body that is lower than 5% of the ratio between the normal force and the average height uncertainty of the surface of the body. The force applying arrangement includes a lateral fixing plate attached between the stator and the support parallel to the main motion direction (X) and juxtaposed to the surface of the body.
US09048755B2
The present techniques include methods and systems for operating an inverter to maintain a lifespan of the inverter. In some embodiments, the switching frequency and/or the output current of the inverter may be changed such that stress may be reduced on the inverter bond wires of the inverter. More specifically, embodiments involve calculating the aging parameters for certain operating conditions of the inverter and determining whether the operating conditions result in aging the inverter to a point which reduces the inverter lifespan below a desired lifespan. If the operating conditions reduce the inverter lifespan below the desired lifespan, the switching frequency may be reduced to a lower or minimum switching frequency of the inverter and/or the output current of the inverter may be reduced to a maximum output current at the minimum switching frequency.
US09048753B2
A PFC converter that reduces a superimposed voltage generated by an inrush current into a filter capacitor operates such that, when a commercial alternating-current power supply is connected to input terminals of a PFC converter, a rectified voltage is applied to a filter capacitor via a diode bridge and a charging current flows through the filter capacitor. At the same time, the rectified voltage is also applied to a series circuit including a diode and a capacitor and a charging current for the capacitor flows through the series circuit. Accordingly, a charging time constant becomes large and a superimposed voltage generated by the inductance component of a line or a line filter connected to the line and the charging current becomes low.
US09048752B2
An off-line power converter includes an integrated circuit power factor controller including a multi-function input terminal, a drive terminal for providing a drive signal to a gate of a drive transistor, a processing circuit coupled to the multi-function input terminal and, based on a signal received from the multi-function input terminal, providing at least one current signal representative of a current conducted in the off-line power converter, and at least one voltage signal representative of a voltage provided to a load, and a controller for providing the drive signal selectively in response to the at least one current signal and the at least one voltage signal.
US09048746B2
An electrical device having at least one interference suppression capacitor (6, 60) that is actively discharged when there is an interruption to the mains voltage (7) by connecting an electrical load (69) in parallel. For this purpose, the device has a monitor for the mains voltage (7) and means for connecting (68) the electrical load.
US09048735B2
A power supply device includes: a first switching element and a flywheel semiconductor element which are connected in series to a first DC power source in this order; and a reactor and a second DC power source which are connected in series in this order to a node between the first switching element and the flywheel semiconductor element. A second switching element and a charge circuit for charging a line between the first switching element and the second switching element are interposed between the reactor and the second DC power source. Abnormality of each element is determined from a voltage of each portion of the power supply device measured when the first and second switching elements and the flywheel semiconductor element are driven and controlled.
US09048734B2
A negative current protection system for a low side switching converter FET, for use with a switching converter arranged to operate high and low side FETs connected to an output inductor to produce an output voltage. The negative current protection system includes a current sensing circuit which produces an output Vcs that varies with the current in the high side FET, a negative current threshold generator which produces a threshold signal −Ith which represents the maximum negative current to which the low side FET is to be subjected, and a comparison circuit arranged to compare the valley portion of Vcs and -Ith and to set a flag if Vcs<−Ith at a predetermined time in the switching cycle—typically after the converter's blanking time. When the flag is set, the system preferably responds by adjusting the operation of the switching FETs to reduce the negative current.
US09048731B2
A rectifying apparatus (power receiving apparatus) 100 is configured to receive electric power output from the power transmitting apparatus 101. The rectifying apparatus 100 is mobile equipment, such as a battery, a smartphone incorporating a battery and a tablet PC, or equipment for a battery charger connected to the equipment. The rectifying apparatus (power receiving apparatus) 100 may be any other equipment that receives electric power output from the associated power transmitting apparatus 101, including a rechargeable electric car, a household appliance and a product for underwater application.
US09048729B2
A step-up/down DC-DC converter and switching control circuit are described. According to one implementation, a switching control circuit generates on/off signals of a first switching device supplying a current to a voltage conversion inductor of a step-up/down DC-DC converter and a second switching device receiving a current from the inductor. The switching control circuit includes an error amplifier circuit, an inverter amplifier circuit, a waveform generator circuit, a first voltage comparator circuit, a second voltage comparator circuit, and a voltage generator circuit. An inverting reference voltage supplied to the inverting amplifier circuit is set to an electric potential so as not to fall below a highest electric potential of triangle waves supplied to the first and second voltage comparator circuits.
US09048728B2
Two hysteresis levels, a high level and a low level, may be used to set a period (and the switching frequency) of the output voltage of a DC-DC converter, as well as the output ripple of the converter. These two thresholds may be changed using pairs of switches. By controlling the sequence and the duration of the on-time of the switches, spectral spurs in the output can be controlled and the amplitude and the frequency band of interest can be reduced. Additional spur reduction may be possible by randomizing the control of the switches.
US09048727B2
A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
US09048726B1
A control system for a power drive section of a three-phase system is disclosed. The control system comprises a positive sequence channel, a negative sequence channel, and a zero sequence channel. The positive sequence channel processes positive sequence error signals, the negative sequence channel processes negative sequence error signals, and the zero sequence channel processes zero sequence error signals. Each sequence channel includes a harmonic repetitive controller, a repetitive controller compensator, and a fundamental frequency controller configured to operate in parallel with the harmonic repetitive controller and repetitive controller compensator. Both the repetitive controller compensator of the negative sequence channel and the repetitive controller compensator of the positive sequence channel are configured with the same, first frequency response. The repetitive controller compensator of the zero sequence channel is configured with a second frequency response that is different from the first frequency response.
US09048713B2
Provided are an electric power steering system and a method for checking an initial driving thereof, in which no additional redischarging and charging time is required by simultaneously determining a freezing of a safety switch and/or a safety switch off of a sub MCU, which monitors a state of a main MCU, thereby shortening initial driving time of the electric power steering system. The electric power steering system includes: a power supply; a motor configured to generate steering auxiliary power; a safety switch provided between the power supply and the motor and configured to control supply of power; a main MCU configured to control an operation of the safety switch; and a sub MCU configured to monitor a state of the main MCU. The main MCU applies an on driving signal to the safety switch, receives front and rear stage voltages of the safety switch, and determines that the safety switch has been frozen and/or a safety switch off function of the sub MCU has failed, when there is no potential difference between the received front and rear stage voltages.
US09048711B2
A field structure of an electrical machine includes a plurality of field slots. Each field slot extends from a first surface of the field structure into the body of the field structure. Each filed slot also has a T-shaped cross-sectional area dimensioned to accommodate a magnet pole assembly comprising a corresponding cross-sectional area.
US09048708B2
An electronics drive module is connected to the flange of a drive motor assembly. The module includes: a metal frame including a peripheral wall; and a metal floor. A power supply PCBA is located adjacent the upper surface of the metal floor, and a switching chip assembly is located adjacent the lower surface of the floor. The base plate of the switching chip assembly conducts heat into the floor and conducts heat into the mounting flange. An environmental seal is located between the lower edge of the frame and the sealing surface of the mounting flange and extending coextensively with the lower edge of the peripheral wall such that a sealing zone is defined within the peripheral wall of the frame and the first and second thermal interfaces are located within the sealing zone.
US09048703B2
Disclosed is a system for controlling a power trunk in a trunk-equipped vehicle, including: a motor configured to transfer power to the trunk to drive the trunk; a velocity sensing unit configured to sense a velocity of the motor; a control unit configured to compute a current trunk position and an operational velocity based on information on the velocity of the motor sensed by the velocity sensing unit and control the motor based on the computed position and the operational velocity, wherein a predetermined target velocity and the operational velocity are compared, and a difference between the target velocity and the operational velocity is compensated using a proportional integral derivative (PID) control scheme. It is possible to constantly control an open/close velocity of a power trunk regardless of a change of external environments when a power trunk is opened or closed in a vehicle having a power trunk system.
US09048697B2
This specification discloses an intelligent and digitalized process level interface which is referred to herein as an Intelligent Process Interface (IPI). The input of the IPI includes both analog and digital channels and therefore the IPI can be used for substations in transition or retrofit stages with both conventional and non-conventional primary devices. The IPI acts not only as a digitalized interface, but also as an intelligent supervisory and control unit for switching functions. The architecture of the IPI is flexible and allows for the functionality to be distributed to several devices.
US09048694B2
Connection schemes for offshore power generation with an internal collection grid include a power generation system which includes a plurality of generator-rectifier subsystems. The scheme further includes a medium voltage DC (MVDC) collection network with positive pole cables and negative pole cables connected to the DC outputs of the generator-rectifier subsystems. At least one offshore substation includes a positive bus bar and a negative bus bar correspondingly connected to the positive pole cables and negative pole cables of the MVDC collection network and a plurality of main DC-DC converters. Each main DC-DC converter includes multiple modules connected to the MVDC bus bars and each module has a positive and a negative output such that the modules' outputs are serially connected to one another. The schemes may also include a high voltage DC (HVDC) transmission system connected to the modules' outputs and at least one DC/AC converter at an onshore substation.
US09048693B2
An apparatus for detecting an impairment of a solar array. The apparatus comprises an impairment detection module for performing a comparison of a power production profile and at least one reference profile, wherein the power production profile and the at least one reference profile are for at least one of the solar array, at least one solar subarray of the solar array, or at least one solar panel of the solar array. The apparatus determines, based on the comparison, whether the impairment exists.
US09048692B2
The present invention relates to a power converter architecture and its operation principle that supplies an electric load with a controlled direct voltage from both a local direct current electricity source as well as an alternating current (AC) mains with maximum power conversion efficiency. For the case that the local electricity source can not provide enough electricity to the local load it is additionally supplied with electricity from the AC mains. In other case electricity is also feed into the AC grid when a local source can provide more electricity than needed to supply local loads.
US09048691B2
A converter, and in particular a current source converter, including a bridge having an AC terminal for each of one or more AC lines, and first and second DC terminals. A converter arm is connected between each respective AC terminal and the first DC terminal, and between each respective AC terminal and the second DC terminal. Each converter arm includes a first power semiconductor switching device capable of being turned ‘on’ and ‘off’ by gate control and having a recovery time. The converter is adapted to be operated in one or more inverting modes.
US09048687B2
A power supply device includes: a main power supply configured to feed power to a load with constant-voltage output using an external power supply; an auxiliary power supply configured to feed power to the load using an internal power storage unit; a constant-current/constant-voltage switching power supply configured to feed a part of current flowing through the load by which part the current exceeds an upper limit value of output current of the main power supply instructed by a current upper-limit instruction unit, with the constant-current output from the auxiliary power supply; and an output switching unit switching the constant-current/constant-voltage switching power supply from the constant-current output to the constant-voltage output when a power cut monitoring unit determines stop of power supply from the external power supply.
US09048686B2
A power supply system of the present invention aims to achieve optimization of the efficiency and therefore includes: z (z is a natural number equal to or larger than 2) power supplies (PS-1 to PS-z) connected in parallel; and a controller (8) for the number of power supplies in operation which controls the number of power supplies in operation among the power supplies (PS-1 to PS-z). The controller (8) for the number of power supplies in operation determines the number of the power supplies in operation based on values of intersection currents i1 to i(z-1) which are determined through processes of: identifying output loss characteristics with respect to load currents of the z power supplies (PS-1 to PS-z) by use of convex functions f1 to fz, respectively; obtaining a function hn expressing a conversion efficiency of a total load current at the time of operating the n (n is a natural number equal to or smaller than z) power supplies (PS-1 to PS-z) based on the functions f1 to fz; and obtaining an intersection current iq (q is a natural number equal to or smaller than (z−1)) which is a current of an intersection point between a function hq and a function h(q+1). (Greek letter eta is replaced with h.)
US09048684B2
A transfer system may be provided. The transfer system may comprise a first transfer switch comprising first normally closed contacts and first normally open contacts. In addition, the transfer system may comprise a second transfer switch comprising second normally closed contacts and second normally open contacts. Furthermore, the transfer system may comprise third normally closed contacts with a solid state switch in parallel. A source monitor may be configured to monitor the quality of a primary source and a backup source. And a source control may be configured to operate the first transfer switch, the second transfer switch, the third normally closed contacts, and the solid state switch to transfer a load from the primary source to the backup source in response to the monitored quality of the primary source and the backup source.
US09048680B2
The invention provides an electricity distribution system, which can keep a voltage to ground low, and can commonly detect abnormity, such as an electrical leak etc. produced in AC and DC feed lines. An AC-DC converter 21 is installed between the AC feed line (branch electrical circuit Lb) of a single phase three wire system for supplying the power to AC devices 41, and the DC feed line (main electrical circuit Ld) of a three wire system for supplying the power to DC devices. The DC feed line comprises a neutral wire N commonly connected to a neutral wire N of the AC feed line within the AC-DC converter 21, a positive voltage wire L+ having a positive electrical potential to an electrical potential of its neutral wire N, and a negative voltage wire L− having a negative electrical potential to the electrical potential of its neutral wire N. A voltage of +150 [V] is applied to the positive voltage wire L+, and a voltage of −150 [V] is applied to the negative voltage wire L−.
US09048676B2
A charging circuit that simultaneously charges a battery with an electrical current supplied from an external power source and supplies the electrical current supplied from the external power source to a load includes a power supply circuit to supply an electrical current from the battery to the load when a load current required by the load is greater than a maximum supply current of the external power source, a detector to detect a voltage of the battery, and a controller to control power supply to the load as well as charging the battery. When the detected voltage of the battery is lower than the predetermined threshold, the controller stops supplying the electrical current from the battery to the load and charges the battery with the electrical current supplied from the external power source.
US09048671B2
The electrical consumption mitigation provided by energy storage systems can be unreliable when a consumption peak lasts long enough to deplete the energy stored and the remainder of the peak is unmitigated. By implementing a waiting period between detecting the peak and discharging the energy storage in which characteristics of the peak are observed, a peak mitigation system can lengthen the effective discharge duration of the energy storage system and prevent unmitigated plateaus from appearing. For example, when a consumption plateau is detected, the system may discharge at a slower rate than when a spike is detected in order to prolong mitigation activities before the conclusion of the plateau. Thus otherwise-incurred demand-related utility charges can be reduced without having to increase the capacity of the mitigation system. In some cases, these processes are performed with respect to the bounds of demand-averaged time periods used to calculate demand charges.
US09048654B2
Various systems and methods are provided for minimizing an inrush current to a load after a voltage sag in a power voltage. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising the steps of applying a power voltage to a load, and detecting a sag in the power voltage during steady-state operation of the load. The method includes the steps of adding an impedance to the load upon detection of the sag in the power voltage, and removing the impedance from the load when the power voltage has reached a predefined point in the power voltage cycle after the power voltage has returned to a nominal voltage.
US09048649B2
A method and apparatus for managing icing of a plurality of transmission lines in a power transmission system. A power transmission system comprises a plurality of transmission lines and a control system. A first amount of power flows into the power transmission system through the plurality of transmission lines and a second amount of power flows out of the power transmission system through the plurality of transmission lines. The control system is configured to change a flow of power through the plurality of transmission lines such that icing of the plurality of transmission lines is managed. The first amount of power flowing into the power transmission system and the second amount of power flowing out of the power transmission system remains substantially constant during the change in the flow of power through the plurality of transmission lines.
US09048642B1
An electrical outlet raceway that eliminates the necessity of daisy chaining or doubling of electrical cords within the raceway. The electrical outlet raceway includes a modular system of several components that can be assembled together in order to provide additional electrical outlets on a wall, including a raceway back plate, a cordless receptacle, a raceway cover, a coupler, and one or more faceplates for attaching a high or low voltage component to the raceway. The electrical outlet raceway may also include a corner, end caps, and means for attaching faceplates to the raceway. Cordless receptacles enable the use of off-the-shelf electrical cords, thus allowing the installer to plan a given installation and obtain the proper number and lengths of electrical cords required to construct the planned installation. This eliminates the inefficiencies caused by the corded receptacles of conventional electrical raceways.
US09048630B2
A semiconductor laser diode includes a substrate. A semiconductor layer sequence on the substrate has at least one active layer designed for generating laser light that is emitted along an emission direction during operation. At least one filter layer has a main extension plane that is parallel to a main extension plane of the active layer and that is designed to scatter and/or absorb light that propagates in the semiconductor layer sequence and/or the substrate in addition to the laser light.
US09048626B2
The present invention features a laser based system configured with a noise detection unit. The system includes a mode-locked oscillator. A noise detection unit includes at least one optical detector that monitors optical pulses generated by the mode-locked oscillator and produces an electrical signal in response to the optical pulses. The noise detection unit includes a first filter to transmit signal power over a signal bandwidth which includes the mode-locked laser repetition frequency, frep. The noise detection unit may include one or more filters to transmit power over a noise bandwidth that substantially excludes repetition frequency, frep. Non-linear signal processing equipment is utilized to generate one or more signals representative of the power in the signal bandwidth relative to the power in the noise bandwidth. The system includes a controller operable to generate a signal for controlling the laser based system based on the relative power.
US09048625B2
Normal group velocity dispersion mode-locked optical frequency combs are provided on-chip. On-chip coherent frequency comb generation includes pulses showing temporal durations of about 74 fs. Pump detuning and bandpass filtering are provided for stabilizing and shaping the pulses from normal group velocity dispersion microresonators.
US09048624B2
According to a finite difference between inverse numbers of arrangement periods (a1 and a2) in first and second periodic structures, when seen in a thickness direction of a semiconductor laser element, at least two laser beams that form a predetermined angle (δθ) with respect to a lengthwise direction of a first driving electrode (E2) are generated in the semiconductor laser element, one of the laser beams is set to be totally reflected in a light emission end surface, and a refractive angle (θ3) of the other laser beam is set to be less than 90 degrees.
US09048615B1
A slab gas laser has a live slab electrode and a ground slab electrode with the live slab electrode and the ground slab electrode defining a primary gas discharge chamber therebetween. The live electrode is in electrical communication with a first AC power supply to provide a first excitation signal. A pre-ionizing cell comprises a live electrode and a ground electrode defining a pre-ionizing gas discharge chamber therebetween. The live electrode is in electrical communication with a second AC power supply distinct from the first AC power supply to provide a second excitation signal delivering a discharge of electrons from the pre-ionizing gas discharge chamber. The pre-ionizing and the primary gas discharge chambers are aligned such that the pre-ionizing cell is oriented with the edges of its live and ground electrodes adjacent and substantially parallel to edges of the ground slab and live slab electrodes, respectively.
US09048613B2
A hybrid vertical cavity laser includes an optical circuit substrate including a grating having refractive index units having a lower refractive index and a higher refractive index with respect to each other that are alternately arranged in a first direction, and a waveguide guiding light in the first direction, a mesa structure on the optical circuit substrate, the mesa structure including a first-type semiconductor layer including an exposed portion, an active layer, a second-type semiconductor layer, and an upper reflective layer sequentially stacked in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a first electrode on the exposed portion, and a second electrode on the upper reflective layer. An overlapped length between the waveguide and a mesa aperture forming an opening through which light produced from the active layer enters the grating is D, a pitch of the grating is p, and 0
US09048604B2
The invention relates to a method (9) and an adjustment arrangement (2) for orientating contact pins (4) of an electric component (1) and to an electric component (1) having a plurality of contact pins (4). So as to be able to orientate the contact pins (4) as precisely and efficiently as possible along a contact contour (K) at least in portions and thus be able to fit the electric component (1) securely on a contact carrier, the invention provides that a plurality of contact pins (4) arranged along the contact contour (K) in advance are orientated simultaneously by a shaping body (3) to form the contact contour (K), the shaping body (3) being part of the adjustment arrangement (2).
US09048603B2
The current diverter rings and bearing isolators serve to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One embodiment of the current diverter is substantially arc shaped with a plurality of radial channels extending there through. A conductive assembly may be positioned in each radial channel such that a contact portion of the conductive assembly is positioned adjacent a shaft passing through the center of the current diverter ring. The arc-shaped body may be particularly useful during installation over certain existing shafts.
US09048602B2
A cover for an electronic device is provided that may include a connector housing integrally molded with the cover. The connector housing may define a cavity configured to receive a connector plug therein, and a plurality of connector springs may be configured to contact the connector plug when the connector plug occupies the cavity. The plurality of springs may be protected and, as such, may not be visible when the cover is removed from the electronic device.
US09048598B2
A low voltage power receptacle assembly is provided for use in a modular electrical system. The receptacle assembly includes a housing that defines an internal cavity for receiving and protecting various high and low voltage electrical components, and for providing convenient access to low voltage power outlets associated therewith. The receptacle assembly houses at least two electrical bus bars that are spaced apart and that conduct line voltage received from a relatively high voltage power input. A low voltage transformer has at least two electrical contacts for engaging the electrical bus bars, and is operable to convert the line voltage to a lower output voltage at the power outlets. An isolator body has a non-conductive wall positioned between the electrical bus bars to maintain electrical isolation thereof.
US09048596B2
An electrical connector and method for mounting to mating member with an arcuate cylindrical member. The electrical connector includes a housing and a mounting member extending from the housing. The mounting member has latching members and a mating member receiving section. The mating member receiving section has an arcuate configuration which cooperates with the arcuate cylindrical member to maintain the electrical connector on the arcuate cylindrical member. The latching members have latching arms, with each latching arm having an arcuate configuration which cooperates with a surface of the mating member to prevent unwanted rotation of the electrical connector relative to the mating member.
US09048591B2
An electrical connector electrically connecting a chip module to a printed circuit board includes an insulative housing including a top insulative housing and a bottom insulative housing matched with the top insulative housing, a number of terminals received in the top insulative housing and the bottom insulative housing and at least one shielding plate fixed in the insulative housing and located beside the terminal, the electrical connector further employs a grounding plate assembled between the top insulative housing and the bottom insulative housing, the grounding plate electrically connects with the shielding plate and the shielding plate has a pair of clips fixed to the grounding plate.
US09048587B2
Externally insulated coaxial connector (2) for connecting two electrical coaxial components, the connector comprising an insulative housing 6 defining first and second intersecting passageways (18, 20) for respectively receiving at least portions of the coaxial components and having central longitudinal axes (16, 22) which are not aligned with each other and may be mutually perpendicular. The connector further comprising a first shield member (54) which is at least partly accommodated by the first passageway (18) and a second shield member (120) which is at least partly accommodated by the second passageway (20) and is engageable with the first shield member (54) by movement of the second shield member (120) with respect to the second passageway (20). Engagement of the first and second shield members (54, 120) with each other and engagement of first and second core connection members (44, 110) with each other may be by means of push-fit inter-engagement.
US09048578B2
A boss drawing-in groove of a lever includes: a lever inversion groove portion configured to cause the lever drawing-in boss to rotate the lever in an opposite direction opposite to a fitting rotation direction, in response to an insertion of a male connector into a hood with the lever being positioned at an initial rotation position; a drawing-in groove portion configured to guide the lever drawing-in boss by a rotating operation of the lever in the fitting rotation direction and cause the male connector to be fitted into a female connector; and a lever inertial rotation portion configured to rotate in the fitting rotation direction due to an inertial force of the lever after rotation of the lever in the opposite direction and cause the lever drawing-in boss to move to the drawing-in groove portion.
US09048577B2
A lever connector includes a first connector housing, a second connector housing that includes a distal fitting portion to which a distal end of the first connector housing is fittedly connected, and is attached to a connector attaching plate in a state of inserting the second connector housing through a connector attaching hole of the connector attaching plate, a lever pivotally that is equipped on the first connector housing and fits the first connector housing into the second connector housing by a pivoting operation of the lever, and a grommet that is mounted on the first connector housing and ensures a waterproofing property of an inside of the first connector housing. The lever includes a lever body and an operation plate. The grommet includes an operation plate a tubular portion.
US09048560B2
A method for producing modular electrical connectors having varying contact element configurations includes providing a common header component having a plurality of receptacle spaces defined therein. A plurality of different contact sub-assemblies are provided having varying contact element configurations, with each of sub-assembly having a common size configured for receipt in the receptacle spaces. A pattern of the contact sub-assemblies is defined for a particular desired connector configuration from any combination of the contact sub-assemblies, and the contact sub-assemblies are fitted and adhered into the receptacle spaces in the header component according to the pattern. A kit may be provided with the modular components for making the connectors.
US09048551B2
An electrical connector (2) housing (1) for connecting at least one cable lug (31) to a threaded terminal of an electrical device (4), including, for each lug, a hole (11) for receiving a screw (12) for retaining a lug in a threaded terminal, which hole has a lateral slot (13) designed to allow a lug to penetrate the hole, a lower opening (14) for connecting the lug to a threaded terminal and an upper opening (15) designed to allow the passage of a screwing tool for the screw, the size of the upper opening of the hole at its widest point being strictly less than the size of the hole at its widest point, said opening being designed so as to allow the passage of the screwing tool and having a section which is less than the section of a human finger.
US09048536B2
A mobile communication device and an impedance matching method thereof are provided. The mobile communication device includes an antenna, a power amplifier, a tunable matching circuit, a power detection circuit and a controller. The tunable matching circuit determines an output impedance encountered by a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted by the power amplifier to the antenna when the RF signal enters the tunable matching circuit. The power detection circuit detects a forward power of the RF signal entering the antenna and a reflected power of the antenna. The controller tunes the tunable matching circuit according to a frequency range currently used by the mobile communication device, the forward power and the reflected power to steer the output impedance toward a corresponding load-pull impedance that the power amplifier has in the frequency range.
US09048529B2
A resonator structure of an electric apparatus, wherein the resonator structure is configured to interact with a radio frequency signal. The resonator structure includes a dielectric resonator element configured to resonate as a response to the radio frequency signal for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic energy wirelessly, and a conductive grounding structure magnetically coupled with the dielectric resonator element and configured to resonate with the dielectric resonator element. The conductive grounding structure includes at least a portion of the casing of the electric apparatus.
US09048524B2
Various embodiments of methods and apparatus' for compensating for a phase shift on a communication device are described herein. In an embodiment, an antenna of a communication device is tuned based on a characteristic of the communication device, thereby causing a phase shift of a signal that is to be transmitted via the antenna. A property of the signal at the antenna after the phase shift is measured. The phase shift is compensated for based on the measured property.
US09048520B1
A quick-release clamp that is placed over a pair of waveguide flanges and then locked into place. The device eliminates the need for laborious removal and reinstallation of numerous small nuts and bolts from the waveguide flanges, which are a time consuming component of every maintenance job done on the waveguides. The device consists of a formed clamp that conforms the to the shape and size of a particular waveguide flange pair. The clamp is hinged in one corner and has a securing mechanism in the opposite corner. The inside of the clamp has gaskets than ensure a tight secure fit for the clamp. In this way, a variety of waveguide flanges can be opened and sealed quickly and easily.
US09048510B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly, the method including: preparing an electrode laminate including at least one negative electrode, at least one positive electrode, and at least one separation film; generating a separation film assembly by bonding remaining portions of the separation film positioned in regions not corresponding to shapes of the negative electrode and the positive electrode; and cutting the separation film assembly so as to correspond to the shapes of the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and an electrode assembly manufactured by the method.
US09048508B2
A subject is to provide a nonaqueous electrolyte excellent in cycle performances such as capacity retention after cycling, output after cycling, discharge capacity after cycling, and cycle discharge capacity ratio, output characteristics, high-temperature storability, low-temperature discharge characteristics, heavy-current discharge characteristics, high-temperature storability, safety, high capacity, high output, high-current-density cycle performances, compatibility of these performances, etc. Another subject is to provide a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery employing the nonaqueous electrolyte. The subjects have been accomplished with a nonaqueous electrolyte which contains a monofluorophosphate and/or a difluorophosphate and further contains a compound having a specific chemical structure or specific properties.
US09048505B2
A system and/or method for replenishing lithium-ion battery capacity that is lost due to side reactions over the lifetime of a battery in one embodiment includes a battery with a first electrode, a second electrode, a separator region configured to electronically isolate the first and second electrodes, a first portion of lithium metal encapsulated within a first ionically insulating barrier configured to prevent transport of lithium ions therethrough, a memory in which command instructions are stored, and a processor configured to execute the command instructions to (i) determine a first lithium content of the first electrode, (ii) compare the first lithium content of the first electrode to a first threshold, and (iii) activate the first portion of lithium metal based on the comparison of the first lithium content to the first threshold.
US09048498B2
The substrate-supported anode for a high-temperature fuel cell comprises an at least three-layer anode laminate on a metallic substrate. Each of the layers of the anode laminate comprises yttria-stabilized zirconia and nickel, wherein the mean particle size of the nickel decreases from one layer to the next as the distance from the substrate increases. The last layer of the anode laminate, which is provided for contact with the electrolyte, has a root mean square roughness of less than 4 μm. The overall mean pore size of this layer is typically between 0.3 and 1.5 μm. Starting powders having a bimodal particle size distribution of yttria-stabilized zirconia and nickel-containing powder are used at least for the first and second layers of the anode laminate. The mean particle size of the nickel-containing powder is reduced from one layer to the next, whereby it is advantageously no more than 0.5 μm in the last layer of the anode laminate.
US09048495B2
Disclosed herein is a cathode active material coated with a fluorine compound for lithium secondary batteries. The cathode active material is structurally stable, and improves the charge-discharge characteristics, cycle characteristics, high-voltage characteristics, high-rate characteristics and thermal stability of batteries.
US09048487B2
A secondary battery which can maintain alignment between a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate and can improve the cell stability and life characteristic of the battery, and a manufacturing method thereof. A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate; a second electrode plate; a first separator between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate and including a central portion and an outer portion at a periphery of the central portion; and a second separator at a side of the first electrode plate or the second electrode plate opposite a side facing the first separator, the second separator including a central portion and an outer portion at a periphery of the central portion of the second separator, and the outer portion of the first separator and the outer portion of the second separator contact each other at least at a joining part.
US09048483B2
A power supply device includes battery cells, separators, and fastening members. The plurality of battery cells have a rectangular-box exterior shape. The separators are interposed between the battery cells, which are arranged side by side. The fastening members securely hold a battery assembly of the battery cells and the separators, which are alternately arranged side by side. The surfaces of each of the battery cells is covered by an electrically insulating covering member. Each of the separators has recessed parts that form a plurality of gas-flowing paths between the battery cells so that cooling gas can flow along surfaces of these battery cells when this separator is interposed between these battery cells. Edge parts of the recessed part, which forms the gas-flowing paths, are rounded.
US09048477B2
A battery pack having increased resistance against external impact by increasing a coupling strength between a bare cell and a case, resulting in increased reliability and quality. The battery pack includes a bare cell, a circuit module electrically connected to the bare cell, a frame case surrounding the bare cell and including a channel groove arranged at a region facing the bare cell, a coupling reinforcement portion arranged in the channel groove to couple the frame case to the bare cell and a metal label attached to side surfaces of the bare cell.
US09048467B2
The invention relates to a fuel cell system with at least one fuel cell for electrochemical conversion of two reactants. The fuel cell has two electrode areas, having a first supply line for supplying a first reactant to a first electrode area, and an outlet line, for emission of residual gas from the first electrode area. The residual gas has an electrochemically unconsumed portion of the first reactant, a recirculation element, for feeding the residual gas from the outlet line into the first supply line, and an outlet valve in order to emit the residual gas into an area surrounding the fuel cell system. The invention provides for the fuel cell system to have a monitoring unit in order to control the outlet valve. In particular, the monitoring unit opens the outlet valve when the energy required to feed the residual gas by the recirculation element exceeds an energy potential of the first reactant which is present in the residual gas.
US09048466B2
A flat fuel cell assembly including a MEA, a cathode porous current collector, an anode porous current collector, a gas barrier material layer, a case, and at least one air baffle is provided. The cathode porous current collector and the anode porous current collector are disposed at two opposite sides of the MEA. The gas barrier material layer is disposed at a side of the cathode porous current collector and has at least one opening for exposing a surface of the cathode porous current collector. The case is disposed at a side of the MEA, the gas barrier material layer is disposed between the case and the MEA, and an air channel is located between the gas barrier material layer and the case. Additionally, the air baffle disposed within the air channel.
US09048454B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus includes pixel electrodes formed on a substrate for respective pixels. Auxiliary electrodes are formed on at least parts of the periphery of the pixel electrodes. A first organic function layer is formed on the substrate and covers the pixel electrodes and the auxiliary electrodes. An emissive layer is formed on the first organic function layer for the respective pixels. A second organic function layer is formed on the substrate and covers the emissive layer. A cathode electrode is formed on the entire substrate and faces the pixel electrodes and covers the second organic function layer. Secondary cathode electrodes are formed, on at least parts of the auxiliary electrodes, in contact with the cathode electrode through a contact hole.
US09048452B2
A method for manufacturing an organic light emitting display device includes mounting in a chamber a substrate where a transparent electrode is to be formed and a SnO member that is a source of forming the transparent electrode, injecting argon gas and oxygen into the chamber, and evaporating the SnO member to be deposited on the substrate.
US09048451B2
A laminated structure which can reduce defect by preventing deposition failure or holes of an insulating film, manufacturing method, and a display unit that employ same are provided. The laminated structure as an anode for organic light-emitting devices is provided on a flat surface of a substrate. In the laminated structure, an adhesive layer made of ITO, a reflective layer made of silver or an alloy containing silver, and a barrier layer made of ITO are layered in this order from the substrate side. A cross sectional shape of the laminated structure in the laminated direction is a forward tapered shape. A sidewall face of the adhesive layer, the reflective layer, and the barrier layer is totally covered by an insulating film, and deposition failure or holes of the insulating film is prevented. A taper angle made by the sidewall face and the flat surface is preferably from about 10° to about 70°. The laminated structure can be used as a reflective electrode, a reflective film, or a wiring for a liquid crystal display.
US09048450B2
The invention describes an OLED device (1) comprising an active layer (13) between a first electrode (11) and a second electrode (12); a contact means (3, 34, 35) for connecting the electrodes (11, 12) to a power supply (2); and a brightness distribution controlling means (20, 21, 21′, 24, 24′, 25, 25′), which brightness distribution controlling means (20, 21, 21′, 24, 24′, 25, 25′) comprises a plurality of openings (20), wherein an opening (20) extends through the second electrode (12) and the active layer (13) to expose an area (21, 21′) of the first electrode (11); and a plurality of selectively addressable current distribution lines (24, 24′, 25, 25′), wherein a current distribution line (24, 24′, 25, 25′) is arranged to extend between a contact means (3, 34, 35) and an exposed area (21, 21) such that an electrical connection can be established between the power supply (2) and the first electrode (11) to (specifically) regulate the brightness of the active layer (13) in the vicinity of the exposed area (21, 21′) accessed by that current distribution line (24, 24′, 25, 25′), and whereby the current distribution lines (24, 24′, 25, 25′) are electrically connected to each other by means of the first electrode (11). The invention further describes an OLED lighting arrangement (4) comprising such an OLED device (1), a line regulation means (22) for regulating the current flow through a selectively addressable current distribution line (24, 24′, 25, 25′) between the contact means (3) and the first electrode (11) to regulate the brightness of the active layer (13) in the vicinity of the exposed area (21, 21′) accessed by that current distribution line (24, 24′, 25, 25′); and a brightness distribution controller (41) for controlling the line activation means (22) to address a specific current distribution line (24, 24′, 25, 25′). The invention also describes a method of manufacturing an OLED device (1) with a brightness distribution controlling means (20, 21, 21′, 24, 24′, 25, 25′). The invention also describes a method of controlling the brightness of distribution of such an OLED device in such an OLED lighting arrangement.
US09048444B2
A flexible display device includes a display panel including a plastic substrate where an organic light emitting diode and a thin film transistor are formed; a circuit portion applying a power signal and a data signal, which are supplied from an external portion, to the display panel; and a support member coupled to the plastic substrate, wherein the display panel and the circuit portion are bent around the support member.
US09048442B2
Disclosed is a composition containing a metal complex and an organic compound, wherein the difference between the absolute value of the energy level of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbit of said metal complex and the absolute value of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbit of said organic compound, as calculated with a computational technique, is less than 0.40 eV.
US09048440B2
Provided is a material for organic electroluminescence device containing (a) a phosphorescent metal complex containing a monoanionic bidentate ligand and a metal having an atomic weight of 40 or greater, wherein the monoanionic bidentate ligand is represented by the following formula (A): wherein, each of E1a, E1d, E1e, E1f, E1k, E1l, E1p, and E1q independently represents a carbon atom or a hetero atom, each of Z1, Z2, and Z3 independently represents an aromatic ring or aromatic heterocycle, the aromatic ring or aromatic heterocycle may have a substituent, and a skeleton represented by the formula (A) has, in total, a 18π electron structure, and the bidentate ligand represented by the formula (A) may be coupled to another ligand to form a tridentate or higher-dentate ligand; and (b) a structural isomer represented by the same chemical formula as that of the phosphorescent metal complex (a) but different sterically in a coordination method of the ligand, wherein the structural isomer (b) is contained in an amount of 0.05 mass % or greater but not greater than 5 mass % relative to the phosphorescent metal complex (a).
US09048435B2
An organic semiconductive material comprising at least one matrix material and at least one doping material, wherein the doping material is selected from an organic compound and wherein the matrix material is selected from an diamine compound, also an organic component and a mixture for producing a doped semiconductor layer.
US09048434B2
Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent device having long life, while exhibiting high luminous efficiency. Also disclosed are an illuminating device and a display, each using such an organic electroluminescent device. In the organic electroluminescent device, a compound represented by the general formula (A) which is suitable as a host material for a phosphorescent metal complex is used at least in one sublayer of a light-emitting layer.
US09048432B2
The present invention provides a perylenebisimide-polyester copolymer and a transesterification process for the preparation thereof. The perylenebisimide-polyester copolymer prepared is useful in organic light emitting diodes, solar cells and such other photovoltaic applications.
US09048431B2
The devices can be fabricated by a method that permits active polymer chains to be polymerized on the surface of an electrode such that the active polymer chains are aligned with one another. The active polymer chains can also be covalently linked to a second electrode so the active polymer chains are located in an active layer of the device. The polymerization method can be paused and resumed at any point in the polymerization so nanoparticles can be added into the active layer. Additionally, the polymerization method allows that active polymer chains to be polymerized so they include junctions such as p-n junctions and Schottky junctions.
US09048425B2
Embodiments generally include a method of forming a nonvolatile memory device that contains a resistive switching memory element that has an improved device switching capacity by using multiple layers of variable resistance layers. In one embodiment, the resistive switching element comprises at least three layers of variable resistance materials to increase the number of logic states. Each variable resistance layer may have an associated high resistance state and an associated low resistance state. As the resistance of each variable resistance layer determines the digital data bit that is stored, the multiple variable resistance layers per memory element allows for additional data storage without the need to further increase the density of nonvolatile memory devices. Typically, resistive switching memory elements may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices, such as digital cameras, mobile telephones, handheld computers, and music players.
US09048420B2
A power generation unit includes a beam (a deforming member) having a piezoelectric element and deforming while switching a deformation direction, an inductor electrically connected to the piezoelectric element, a switch disposed between the piezoelectric element and the inductor, a memory (a storage section) adapted to store switching period information (information of a characteristic vibration period of the beam), and a control circuit (a control section) adapted to control one of a timing at which the switch is set to a conductive state and a timing at which the switch is set to a nonconductive state in accordance with the switching period information stored in the memory.
US09048417B2
A magnetic memory device is provided. The magnetic memory device includes a first vertical magnetic layer and a second vertical magnetic layer on a substrate, a tunnel barrier layer between the first vertical magnetic layer and the second vertical magnetic layer, and an exchange-coupling layer between a first sub-layer of the first vertical magnetic layer and a second sub-layer of the first vertical magnetic layer.
US09048409B2
A light emitting diode (LED) package includes a semiconductor stack including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer disposed between the first and second semiconductor layers, the first and second semiconductor layers having different conductivity types, a first contact layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer, a second contact layer disposed on the second semiconductor layer, a first insulation layer contacting the first contact layer, a second insulation layer disposed on the first insulation layer, a first bump disposed on a first side of the semiconductor stack, the first bump being electrically connected to the first contact layer, a second bump disposed on the first side of the semiconductor stack, the second bump being electrically connected to the second contact layer, and a third insulation layer disposed on side surfaces of the first bump and the second bump.
US09048407B2
The present invention is a method for mounting, on a ceramic substrate (9), an LED chip (1), in which an upper surface of a positive electrode (6) is in a higher position than an upper surface of a negative electrode (5). The method includes the steps of: (i) laminating resist (16) on the negative electrode (5) and the positive electrode (6) and forming openings (16a and 16b) in the resist (16); (ii) forming bumps (11 and 12) in the respective openings (16a and 16b); (iii) removing the resist (16); and (iv) bonding bumps (11 and 12) to the ceramic substrate (9). A cross-sectional area of the opening (16a) is larger than a cross-sectional area of the opening (16b).
US09048395B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device package and a lighting system. The light emitting device package includes a semiconductor light emitting device, a first encapsulant over the semiconductor light emitting device, and a second encapsulant having a refractive index greater than a refractive index of the first encapsulant over the first encapsulant.
US09048387B2
A light emitting device with improved light extraction efficiency includes an n-type layer, a p-type layer, an active region sandwiched between the n-type layer and the p-type layer, a characteristic AlGaN layer over which the n-type layer is formed, and an AlN layer on which the characteristic AlGaN layer is formed. The characteristic AlGaN layer has gradually enlarging bandgap width from that of the n-type layer to that of the AlN layer in the direction pointing from the n-type layer to the AlN layer. The light-emitting device may further include a nanoporous AlN layer over which the AlN layer is formed.
US09048386B2
While maintaining unity of wavelength of light emitted from a semiconductor light emitting element, decrease of light emission efficiency with an increase in environmental temperature is suppressed. A semiconductor light-emitting element includes: an n-cladding layer; a light emitting layer laminated on the n-cladding layer; and a p-type semiconductor layer laminated on the light emitting layer. The light emitting layer includes a first barrier layer to an eighth barrier layer and a first well layer to a seventh well layer, and a single well layer is sandwiched by two barrier layers. The first well layer to the fifth well layer have a common standard well thickness and a common composition, and the sixth well layer and the seventh well layer are set at a maximum well thickness larger than the common standard well thickness and have a composition whose band gap energy is larger than that of the common composition.
US09048383B2
The invention relates to a light-emitting diode chip, comprising an n-type semiconductor layer (3), a p-type semiconductor layer (4), an active region (2) between the n-type semiconductor layer (3) and the p-type semiconductor layer (4), a lateral surface (14), which limits the n-type semiconductor layer (3), the p-type semiconductor layer (4) and the active region (2) in a lateral direction, and a doped region (1), in which a dopant is introduced into a semiconductor material of the light-emitting diode chip, and/or comprising a neutralized region (1), wherein the doped region (1) and/or the neutralized region (1) are formed at the lateral surface (14) at least in the region of the active region, and the light-emitting diode chip is intended to emit incoherent electromagnetic radiation during operation.
US09048379B2
A light-emitting device of an embodiment of the present application comprises a semiconductor layer sequence provided with a first main side, a second main side, and an active layer; a beveled trench formed in the semiconductor layer sequence, having a top end close to the second main side, a bottom end, and an inner sidewall connecting the top end and the bottom end. In the embodiment, the inner sidewall is an inclined surface. The light-emitting device further comprises a dielectric layer disposed on the inner sidewall of the beveled trench and the second main side; a first metal layer formed on the dielectric layer; a carrier substrate; and a first connection layer connecting the carrier substrate and the semiconductor layer sequence.
US09048377B2
Provided are a light emitting device, a method for fabricating the light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting unit. The light emitting device includes a support member having a stepped portion on a side surface, a light emitting structure on the support member, the light emitting structure including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer to generate light, and an electrode supplying a power to the first conductive type semiconductor layer. The support member has a first surface on which the light emitting structure is disposed and a second surface having an area greater than that of the first surface.
US09048376B2
A multi-junction solar cell device includes a substrate having a first lattice constant, a first optoelectronic conversion layer having a second lattice constant, and a second optoelectronic conversion layer having a third lattice constant wherein the value of the first lattice constant is between that of the second lattice constant and the third lattice constant.
US09048375B2
Systems and methods are provided for fabricating pyrite thin films from molecular inks. A process is provided that comprises dissolving simple iron-bearing and sulfur-bearing molecules in an appropriate solvent and then depositing the solution onto an appropriate substrate using one of several methods (roll-to-roll coating, spraying, spin coating, etc.), resulting in a solid film consisting of the molecules. These molecular precursor films are then heated to 200-600° C. in the presence of sulfur-bearing gases (e.g., S2, H2S) to convert the molecular films into films of crystalline iron pyrite (FeS2).
US09048368B2
A light emitting device includes a conductive support member, and first and second light emitting structures. A channel layer is provided around lower portions of the first and second light emitting structures. A first electrode is coupled to a first conductive first semiconductor layer of the first light emitting structure, and a second electrode is coupled to a second semiconductor layer of the first light emitting structure. A third electrode is coupled to a third semiconductor layer of the second light emitting structure, and a fourth electrode is coupled to a fourth semiconductor layer of the second light emitting structure. A first connection part is coupled to the first electrode and the conductive support member, and a second connection part is coupled to the second and third electrodes. A third connection part is coupled to the fourth electrode and has one end provided on the channel layer.
US09048366B2
Embodiments generally relate to optoelectronic semiconductor devices such as photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, a method for forming a device includes forming an absorber layer made of gallium arsenide (GaAs) and having one type of doping, and forming an emitter layer made of a different material and having a higher bandgap than the absorber layer. An intermediate layer can be formed between emitter and absorber layers. A heterojunction and p-n junction are formed between the emitter layer and the absorber layer, where the p-n junction is formed at least partially within the different material at a location offset from the heterojunction. A majority of the absorber layer can be outside of a depletion region formed by the p-n junction. The p-n junction causes a voltage to be generated in the cell in response to the cell being exposed to light at a front side.
US09048360B2
Disclosed are a solar cell, a solar cell with interconnection sheet attached, and a solar cell module wherein a surface of an electrode for first conductive type is covered with a migration suppressing layer for preventing a metal forming electrode for first conductive type from precipitating, and at least one of a surface of migration suppressing layer covering electrode for first conductive type and a surface of electrode for second conductive type is covered with an insulating member.
US09048355B2
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided which can suppress corrosion by chemicals in processes, while preventing generation of thermal stress on a mark. A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer with a front-side main surface and a back-side main surface opposed to the front-side main surface, a plurality of light receiving elements formed in the semiconductor layer for performing photoelectric conversion, a light receiving lens disposed above the back-side main surface for supplying light to the light receiving element, and a mark formed inside the semiconductor layer. The mark extends from the front-side main surface to the back-side main surface. The mark has a deeply located surface recessed toward the front-side main surface rather than the back-side main surface. The deeply located surface is formed of silicon.
US09048354B2
Methods of manufacturing an integrated circuit device including a through via structure are provided. The methods may include forming an isolation trench through a substrate to form an inner substrate, which is enclosed by the isolation trench and forming an insulating layer in the isolation trench and on a surface of the substrate. The methods may also include forming a hole, which is spaced apart from the isolation trench and passes through a portion of the insulating layer formed on the surface of the substrate and the inner substrate and forming a conductive layer in the hole and on the insulating layer formed on the surface of the substrate. The methods may be used to manufacture image sensors.
US09048351B2
An LED die includes a transparent substrate, an N-type layer, an active layer and a P-type layer successively arranged on a first surface of the transparent substrate. A part of the N-type layer is exposed. The LED die further includes an electrode structure arranged on the P-type layer and the exposed surface of the N-type layer. A light outputting surface is formed on a second surface of the transparent substrate. The light outputting surface is a smoothly concave and arc-shaped surface. An LED automobile lamp with the LED die and a method for manufacturing the LED die are also provided. The light outputting surface of the LED die directly faces a lens of the LED automobile lamp.
US09048346B2
Provided are embodiments of a light emitting device and fabrication methods thereof. The light emitting device can include a buffer layer provided between a substrate and a semiconductor layer incorporating a high fusion point metal. In a fabrication method of the light emitting device, the buffer layer incorporating a high fusion point metal can be formed on a substrate, and a semiconductor layer can be formed on the buffer layer.
US09048337B2
A memory device, system and fabrication method relating to a vertical memory cell including a semiconducting pillar extending outwardly from an integrally connected semiconductor substrate are disclosed. A first source/drain region is formed in the semiconductor substrate and a body region and a second source/drain region are formed within the semiconductor pillar. A first gate is coupled to a first side of the semiconductor pillar for coupling the first and second source/drain regions together when activated. The vertical memory cell also includes a storage capacitor formed on an extended end of the semiconducting pillar and electrically coupled to the second source/drain region.
US09048332B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes: a first-process for placing, on a first-substrate on which traces and first-electrodes are formed, each of the first-electrodes being connected to one of traces, a second-substrate in which through-holes corresponding to the first-electrodes and relay-members are disposed, each of the relay-members being formed of solder, penetrating through one of the through-holes, and projecting from both ends of the one of the through-holes, so that the first-electrodes are aligned with the through-holes in a plan view; a second-process for melting the relay-members so that the relay-members are connected to the first-electrodes, after the first-process; and a third-process for placing a semiconductor substrate on which a second-electrodes corresponding to the first-electrodes are formed on a side opposite to the first-substrate across the second-substrate, after the second-process, to connect the first-electrodes and the second-electrodes to each other via the relay-members.
US09048317B2
The disclosure relates to a semiconductor device. An exemplary structure for a contact structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising a major surface; a fin structure extending upward from the substrate major surface, wherein the fin structure comprises a first fin, a second fin, and a third fin between the first fin and second fin; a first germanide over the first fin, wherein a first bottom surface of the first germanide has a first acute angle to the major surface; a second germanide over the second fin on a side of the third fin opposite to first germanide substantially mirror-symmetrical to each other; and a third germanide over the third fin, wherein a third bottom surface of the third germanide has a third acute angle to the major surface less than the first acute angle.
US09048313B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of gate electrodes including a part extended in a first direction in a plane parallel with the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has a second semiconductor layer including a plurality of first conductive type pillars and second conductive type second pillars that are disposed on the first semiconductor layer, extending in the first direction in the plane parallel with the semiconductor substrate and in a third direction intersecting with a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and arranged adjacent to each other in an alternate manner.
US09048311B2
A laminate including a supporting member which is light transmissive; a supported substrate supported by the supporting member; an adhesive layer provided on a surface of the supported substrate which surface faces toward the supporting member; and a release layer which is made of a fluorocarbon and is provided between the supporting member and the supported substrate, the release layer having a property that changes when it absorbs light coming through the supporting member.
US09048303B1
A Group III-nitride-based enhancement mode transistor includes a heterojunction fin structure. Side faces and a top face of the heterojunction fin structure are covered by a p-type Group III-nitride layer.
US09048302B2
A field effect transistor has an MOS structure and is formed of a nitride based compound semiconductor. The field effect transistor includes a substrate; a semiconductor operating layer having a recess and formed on the substrate; an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor operating layer including the recess; a gate electrode formed on the insulating layer at the recess; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the semiconductor operating layer with the recess in between and electrically connected to the semiconductor operating layer. The recess includes a side wall inclined relative to the semiconductor operating layer.
US09048301B2
A transistor device and method for forming a nanowire field effect transistor (FET) device are provided. A device layer including a source region and a drain region is formed, where the source region and the drain region are connected by a suspended nanowire channel. Etch stop layers are formed beneath the source region and the drain region. The etch stop layers comprise support structures interposed between a semiconductor substrate and the source and drain regions. The suspended nanowire channel is formed by etching a sacrificial material beneath the suspended nanowire channel. The etching is selective to the sacrificial material to prevent the removal of the etch stop layers beneath the source region and the drain region.
US09048299B2
A method for patterning vias in a chip comprises forming a photomask layer including a gap on a patterned hardmask layer including a plurality of trenches and in contact with a uniform layer on a substrate, wherein the gap overlaps with two or more of the trenches. The method further comprises exposing a portion of the uniform layer under the gap using a photo exposure process, etching the exposed portion of the uniform layer with the photomask layer to obtain a plurality of vias extended partially through the substrate, and further etching the vias to obtain corresponding through-substrate vias. Another method comprises patterning a plurality of vias in a plurality of trenches of a hardmask layer on a substrate using a single photo exposure step and a photomask comprising a single gap that overlaps with the trenches.
US09048293B2
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. An additional spacer is formed at a lateral surface of an upper part of the bit line so that the distance of insulation films between a storage node and a neighboring storage node contact plug is increased. Accordingly, the distance between the storage node and the neighboring storage node contact is guaranteed and a bridge failure is prevented.
US09048290B2
A thin film transistor (TFT) array includes a substrate, a thin film transistor, a first wall, a transparent electrode and a color resist. The thin film transistor is disposed on the substrate. The first wall is disposed on the substrate and separates a first contact hole from a pixel region on the substrate, wherein the first contact hole exposes a drain electrode of the thin film transistor. The first wall has a first sidewall facing towards the first contact hole and a second sidewall facing towards the pixel region, wherein the slope of the first sidewall is gentler than the slope of the second sidewall. The transparent electrode is electrically connected to the drain electrode of the thin film transistor through the first contact hole. The pixel region is filled with the color resist.
US09048277B2
To reduce defects of a semiconductor device, such as defects in shape and characteristic due to external stress and electrostatic discharge. To provide a highly reliable semiconductor device. In addition, to increase manufacturing yield of a semiconductor device by reducing the above defects in the manufacturing process. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor integrated circuit sandwiched by impact resistance layers against external stress and an impact diffusion layer diffusing the impact and a conductive layer covering the semiconductor integrated circuit. With the use of the conductive layer covering the semiconductor integrated circuit, electrostatic breakdown (malfunctions of the circuit or damages of a semiconductor element) due to electrostatic discharge of the semiconductor integrated circuit can be prevented.
US09048263B2
A non-volatile memory and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. In this method, a first oxide layer having a protrusion is formed on a substrate. A pair of doped regions is formed in the substrate at two sides of the protrusion. A pair of charge storage spacers is formed on the sidewalls of the protrusion. A second oxide layer is formed on the first oxide layer and the pair of charge storage spacers. A conductive layer is formed on the second oxide layer, wherein the conductive layer is located completely on the top of the pair of charge storage spacers.
US09048255B2
A method comprises forming a first trench and a second trench, depositing a dielectric material in a lower portion of the first trench, depositing a gate electrode material in the second trench and an upper portion of the first trench, forming a first N+ region and a second N+ region through an ion implantation process, wherein the first N+ region and the second N+ region are on opposite sides of the first trench and forming an accumulation layer along a sidewall of the second trench.
US09048245B2
A method including providing a fixture comprising a trap ring, a base plate having a recess adapted to receive a laminate substrate, the base plate including an opening and an adjustable height center button disposed in the opening, the opening being located within the recess and located in a center of the laminate substrate, characterizing the laminate substrate for warpage characteristics by using one of room temperature techniques and elevated temperature techniques, determining a horizontal plane distortion based on the warpage characteristics, and placing the laminate substrate into the fixture with an adjustment to correct the horizontal plane distortion, the adjustment is provided by the adjustable height center button, wherein the adjustable height center button contacts the laminate substrate. The method further includes fluxing the laminate substrate, placing a chip onto the laminate substrate, and placing the fixture into a reflow furnace to join the chip and the laminate substrate.
US09048232B2
A package is connected at a first side to a printed circuit board and with a die fixed to it on a second side opposite to the first side. The package has an integrated pre-match circuit to provide an impedance match for a signal to be sent to a circuit external to the package. The signal has a predetermined main frequency component. The pre-match circuit has a pair of transmission lines and a pair of stubs on a predetermined layer of the package and connected to the pair of transmission lines. The pair of stubs have a length such as to form a short circuit for an harmonic frequency of the main frequency component in the signal.
US09048231B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a semiconductor device and methods of forming a semiconductor device. An embodiment is a method of forming a semiconductor device, the method comprising forming a conductive pad in a first substrate, forming an interconnecting structure over the conductive pad and the first substrate, the interconnecting structure comprising a plurality of metal layers disposed in a plurality of dielectric layers, bonding a die to a first side of the interconnecting structure, and etching the first substrate from a second side of the interconnecting structure, the etching exposing a portion of the conductive pad.
US09048223B2
A package structure having silicon through vias connected to ground potential is disclosed, comprising a first device, a second device and a conductive adhesive disposed between the first device and the second device. The first device comprises a substrate having a front surface and a back surface, and a plurality of through silicon vias filled with a conductor formed within the substrate. The first device is externally connected to the second device by wire bonding.
US09048215B2
A semiconductor device includes a first layer of a first-type, a second layer of a second-type formed on the first layer, a third layer of the first type formed on the second layer, a first electrode connected to the second and third layers, a second electrode connected to the first layer, a third electrode embedded in a trench formed through the third and second layers and into the first layer, a fourth electrode embedded in the trench below the third electrode, and an insulating layer formed in the trench around the fourth electrode. The first layer includes a first region that is in contact with the insulating layer and at which a concentration of the first-type dopant is lower than the concentration at a second region that is formed around the first region.
US09048205B2
An organic light emitting diode includes: a substrate; an encapsulation substrate facing the substrate and including a transmission region through which light is transmitted and an absorption region through which the light is not transmitted; a sealant between the substrate and the encapsulation substrate; and a pixel unit between the substrate and the encapsulation substrate, and including a plurality of pixels respectively including an organic light emitting element. The absorption region of the encapsulation substrate includes photoreactive crystals.
US09048203B2
A light emitting device having high definition, a high aperture ratio, and high reliability is provided. The present invention achieves high definition and a high aperture ratio with a full color flat panel display using red, green, and blue color emission light by intentionally forming laminate portions, wherein portions of different organic compound layers of adjacent light emitting elements overlap with each other, without depending upon the method of forming the organic compound layers or the film formation precision.
US09048192B2
A method of forming a pattern includes forming a mask pattern on a substrate; etching the substrate by deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) and by using the mask pattern as an etch mask; partially removing the mask pattern to expose a portion of an upper surface of the substrate; and etching the exposed portion of the upper surface of the substrate. In the method, when a pattern is formed by DRIE, an upper portion of the pattern does not protrude or scarcely protrudes, and scallops of a sidewall of the pattern are smooth, and thus a conformal material layer may be easily formed on a surface of the pattern.
US09048190B2
Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided. In some embodiments, a method of processing a substrate having a first layer may include disposing a substrate atop a substrate support in a lower processing volume of a process chamber beneath an ion shield having a bias power applied thereto, the ion shield comprising a substantially flat member supported parallel to the substrate support, and a plurality of apertures formed through the flat member, wherein the ratio of the aperture diameter to the thickness flat member ranges from about 10:1-1:10; flowing a process gas into an upper processing volume above the ion shield; forming a plasma from the process gas within the upper processing volume; treating the first layer with neutral radicals that pass through the ion shield; and heating the substrate to a temperature of up to about 550 degrees Celsius while treating the first layer.
US09048189B2
Plasma processing methods of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus which can minimize the amount of impurities adhered to the surface of a wafer, when a desired process using plasma is performed. According to the plasma processing methods of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, after the desired process is completed, the plasma generated over the wafer is diffused, and then the wafer is de-chucked.
US09048174B2
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a buffer layer on a substrate, an graded aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) layer disposed on the buffer layer, a gallium nitride (GaN) layer disposed on the graded AlGaN layer, a second AlGaN layer disposed on the GaN layer and a gate stack disposed on the second AlGaN layer. The gate stack includes one or more of a III-V compound p-doped layer, a III-V compound n-doped layer, an aluminum nitride (AlN) layer between the III-V compound p-doped and n-doped layers, and a metal layer formed over the p-doped, AlN, and n-doped layers. A dielectric layer can also underlie the metal layer.
US09048170B2
A method for forming optical devices. The method includes providing a gallium nitride substrate member having a crystalline surface region and a backside region. The method also includes subjecting the backside region to a laser scribing process to form a plurality of scribe regions on the backside region and forming a metallization material overlying the backside region including the plurality of scribe regions. The method removes at least one optical device using at least one of the scribe regions.
US09048164B2
A solid state imaging device includes a P-type semiconductor substrate 1A, a P-type epitaxial layer 1B grown on the semiconductor substrate 1A, an imaging region VR grown within the epitaxial layer 1B, and an N-type semiconductor region 1C grown within the epitaxial layer 1B. The solid state imaging device further includes a horizontal shift register HR that transmits a signal from the imaging region VR, and a P-type well region 1D formed within the epitaxial layer 1B. The N-type semiconductor region 1C extends in the well region 1D. A P-type impurity concentration in the well region 1D is higher than a P-type impurity concentration in the epitaxial layer 1B. A multiplication register EM that multiplies electrons from the horizontal shift register HR is formed in the well region 1D.
US09048163B2
A transistor may include an active layer having a plurality of oxide semiconductor layers and an insulating layer disposed therebetween. The insulating layer may include a material that has higher etch selectivity with respect to at least one of the plurality of oxide semiconductor layers. The electronic device may include a first transistor and a second transistor connected to the first transistor. The second transistor may include an active layer having a different structure from that of the active layer included in the first transistor. The active layer of the second transistor may have the same structure as one of the plurality of oxide semiconductor layers constituting the active layer of the first transistor.
US09048161B2
A method for fabricating a sensor includes: forming, on a base substrate, a pattern of a source electrode and a drain electrode, a pattern of a data line, a pattern of a receiving electrode, a pattern of a photodiode, and a pattern of a transparent electrode disposed by using a first patterning process; forming a pattern of an ohmic layer by using a second patterning process; forming a pattern of an active layer by using a third patterning process; forming a pattern of a gate insulating layer by using a fourth patterning process, wherein the gate insulating layer has a via hole above the transparent electrode; and forming a pattern of a gate electrode, a pattern of a gate line, and a pattern of a bias line connected to the transparent electrode via the via hole above the transparent electrode by using a fifth patterning process.
US09048155B2
A plurality of photoelectric conversion elements including a first photoelectric conversion element, a second photoelectric conversion element, and a third photoelectric conversion element, are arranged in a photoelectric conversion apparatus of the present invention. Provided, between the first photoelectric conversion element and the second photoelectric conversion element, is a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and of a first width in which a signal charge is a minor charier. And, provided, between the first photoelectric conversion element and the third photoelectric conversion element, is a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type in a higher impurity concentration and of a second width narrower than the first width at a position deeper in a semiconductor substrate rather than a depth of the first semiconductor region.
US09048146B2
A means of forming unevenness for preventing specular reflection of a pixel electrode, without increasing the number of process steps, is provided. In a method of manufacturing a reflecting type liquid crystal display device, the formation of unevenness (having a radius of curvature r in a convex portion) in the surface of a pixel electrode is performed by the same photomask as that used for forming a channel etch type TFT, in which the convex portion is formed in order to provide unevenness to the surface of the pixel electrode and give light scattering characteristics.
US09048144B2
With an increase in the definition of a display device, the number of pixels is increased, and thus the numbers of gate lines and signal lines are increased. Due to the increase in the numbers of gate lines and signal lines, it is difficult to mount an IC chip having a driver circuit for driving the gate and signal lines by bonding or the like, which causes an increase in manufacturing costs. A pixel portion and a driver circuit for driving the pixel portion are formed over one substrate. At least a part of the driver circuit is formed using an inverted staggered thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor is used. The driver circuit as well as the pixel portion is provided over the same substrate, whereby manufacturing costs are reduced.
US09048140B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor integrated circuit including: a cell layout region including circuit cells subject to power control the supply and interruption of power to which is controlled by a power switch, and always-on circuit cell groups which are always powered after the activation; a main line laid out in the cell layout region and applied with a source or reference voltage; and first and second branch lines which branch from the main line in the cell layout region.
US09048133B2
A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In the semiconductor device, an upper part of a storage node contact plug is increased in size, and an area of overlap between a storage node formed in a subsequent process and a storage node contact plug is increased, such that resistance of the storage node contact plug is increased and device characteristics are improved. The semiconductor device includes at least one bit line formed over a semiconductor substrate, a first storage node contact plug formed between the bit lines and coupled to an upper part of the semiconductor substrate, and a second storage node contact plug formed over the first storage node contact plug, wherein a width of a lower part of the second storage node contact plug is larger than a width of an upper part thereof.
US09048131B2
An apparatus is disclosed for a memory cell having a floating body. A memory cell may include a transistor over an insulation layer, the transistor including a source, and a drain. The memory cell may also include a floating body including a first region positioned between the source and the drain, a second region positioned remote from each of the source and drain, and a passage extending through the insulation layer and coupling the first region to the second region. Additionally, the memory cell may include a bias gate at least partially surrounding the second region and configured for operably coupling to a bias voltage. Furthermore, the memory cell may include a plurality of dielectric layers, wherein each outer vertical surface of the second region has a dielectric layer of the plurality adjacent thereto.
