US09095729B2

The present invention is a wireless power system which includes components which can be recharged by harvesting wireless power, wireless power transmitters for transmitting the power, and devices which are powered from the components. Features such as temperature monitoring, tiered network protocols including both data and power communication, and power management strategies related to both charging and non-charging operations, are used to improve performance of the wireless network. Rechargeable batteries which are configured to be recharged using wireless power have unique components specifically tailored for recharging operations rather than for providing power to a device. A wireless power supply for powering implanted devices benefits from an external patient controller which contains features for adjusting both power transmission and harvesting provided by other components of the wireless power network.
US09095726B2

Electrode voltage monitoring circuitry for an implantable neurostimulator system having a plurality of electrode-driver integrated circuits (ICs) in provided. Electrodes from either or both ICs can be chosen to provide stimulation, and one of the IC acts as the master while the other acts as the slave. Electrodes voltages on the slave IC are routed to the master IC, and thus the master IC can monitor both electrode voltages on the slave as well as electrode voltages on the master. Such voltages can be monitored for a variety of purposes, and in particular use of such voltage is disclosed for determining the resistance between electrodes and to set a compliance voltage for stimulation.
US09095720B2

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to, or are for use with, an implantable system including a lead having multiple electrodes implantable in a patient's left ventricular (LV) chamber. In accordance with an embodiment, the patient's LV chamber is paced at first and second sites within the LV chamber using a programmed LV1-LV2 delay, wherein the LV1-LV2 delay is a programmed delay between when first and second pacing pulses are to be delivered respectively at the first and second sites within the LV chamber. Evoked responses to the first and second pacing pulses are monitored for, and one or more LV pacing parameter is/are adjusted and/or one or more backup pulse is/are delivered based on results of the monitoring.
US09095716B2

A intracorporeal medical capsule is shown and described. The capsule includes an elastically deformable base having an anchor at one end and coupled to a capsule body at the opposite end. An energy harvesting element is elastically coupled to a seismic mass within the capsule body. The elastically deformable base increases energy harvested at the energy harvesting element due to elastic movement of the capsule body in the presence of blood flow around the capsule body.
US09095706B2

Electrotransport drug delivery devices, system and methods of using configured to determine if a current is present between the anode and cathode when drug is not intended to be delivered by the device. These devices/systems may include an off-current module to determine that any current (e.g., which may be inferred by measuring potential difference between the anode and cathode of the device) flowing between the anode and cathode is below a threshold value when the device is not supposed to be delivering drug, thereby preventing unintended delivery of drug and/or alerting a user that unintended delivery of drug may occur.
US09095703B2

The present disclosure relates to permanently implantable electrode structures or probes of the type used, in particular, in cardiac pacemakers, ICDs, CRT-Ds and/or neurostimulators. Such electrode structures or probes include at least one control element, the physical-chemical state of which can be specifically manipulated using external excitation, such that local degradation or dissolution of a part of the implant or the entire implant takes place in this region. As a result of this partial dissolution, for example, the electrode structure or at least a portion thereof is modified such that the conditions for explantation are improved and/or parts of an implanted electrode structure that remain in the body are functionally deactivated.
US09095700B2

A therapy assembly configured for at least partial insertion in a living body. A plurality of fixation structures are disposed radially around the therapy delivery element proximate the electrodes. The fixation structures include wires having a diameter in a range between about 0.004 inches and about 0.020 inches. The wires have a first end attached to the therapy delivery element and a second end attached to a sliding member configured to slide along the therapy delivery element. The fixation structures are configured to collapse inward to a collapsed configuration when inserted into a lumen of an introducer and to deploy to a deployed configuration when the introducer is retracted. A fitting is located at proximal end of the introducer that releasably locks the therapy delivery element to the introducer, such that torque applied to the fitting is substantially transmitted to the distal end of the therapy assembly.
US09095696B2

The invention relates to a device for magnetic field therapy which is preferably adapted for producing nuclear magnetic resonances in the tissue to be treated. The device comprises a base and two side parts having coils integrated therein.
US09095695B2

A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the success of a proposed HIFU Treatment, of an ongoing HIFU Treatment, and/or of a completed HIFU Treatment. An energy density of a given HIFU Treatment may be used as a comparison factor between the given HIFU Treatment and other HIFU Treatments and as a predictor of the success of the given HIFU Treatment. One exemplary energy density is the amount of energy deposited in the treatment region divided by the volume of the treatment region. Another exemplary energy density is the amount of energy deposited in the treatment region divided by the pre-treatment mass of the treatment region. A method and apparatus is disclosed to detect the presence of focal hyperechoic features and non-focal hyperechoic features. A method and apparatus is disclosed to detect the presence of an acoustic obstruction.
US09095692B2

A method for treating poison ivy and similar poison plant induced rashes utilizes a sealed pouch containing a mixture of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-oxidant property ingredients. The pouch is placed in a container filled with boiling water. The ingredients in the pouch permeate through the water. A metal applicator has a spoon-shaped section with a curved lower surface and a handle. The spoon-shaped section is inserted into the boiled herbal water mixture. The bottom surface of the curved lower surface of the spoon-shaped section is then momentarily placed on the pustule or red bump of the poison ivy. The applicator is then lifted up away from the area. Usually two or three touches with the applicator on the effected area will completely remove the itching and the itching and pustule will be entirely eliminated within twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
US09095679B2

A catheter assembly includes a tubular insertion portion; a support portion that is connected to a proximal end side of the insertion portion and has therein a flow passage communicating with an inside of the insertion portion; a valve body that is disposed in the flow passage and includes: a blocking membrane configured to inhibit a flow of fluid, and an opening/closing part configured such that the blocking membrane is at least partially openable and closeable via the opening/closing part; and an insertion member which is arranged proximal of the blocking membrane and is insertable into the opening/closing part by moving in a distal direction. The opening/closing part is formed as a single slit penetrating the blocking membrane, the slit having a distal end opening and a proximal end opening, and a length of the distal end opening being smaller than a length of the proximal end opening.
US09095675B2

A filter to be used in the expiratory branch of a ventilator, includes a housing arranged with an inlet passage and an outlet passage, a main filter element, a pre-filter member arranged before the main filter element as seen in the flow direction and an air permeable, material capable of collecting medicament droplets in the air stream through the main filter element.
US09095659B2

An insertion head for medical or pharmaceutical applications includes a base having a lower side which can be positioned on organic tissue; an insertion means movably mounted by the base and insertable into the tissue; where the insertion means is movable relative to the base from a protective position in which a free end of the insertion means is short of the lower side of the base, into an insertion position in which the free end protrudes beyond the lower side; a handle which projects from the base and includes a first handle component and a second handle component movable relative to the base and the first handle component; and a coupling that transmits a movement of the second handle component into a movement of the insertion means.
US09095653B2

The invention relates to a method for the controlled dosage of a medicament as a function of time by means of a method for the determination of a corresponding dosage profile and corresponding control of a dosage instrument.
US09095644B2

A fluid collector has a container, a T-tube, a first screw unit and a second screw unit. The T-tube is connected to the container and has a main pipe and a branch pipe. The first screw unit is mounted in an outlet end of the main pipe. The second screw unit is mounted in a connecting end of the branch pipe, which is connected to the main pipe. The branch pipe has a detecting opening far from the connecting end and connects to a detecting device. By changing the length of the first and second screw units, different detecting values of the pressure are adjusted according to containers with different capacities. Moreover, with the flowing resistance resulting from the first and second screw units, different pressure variations are performed when liquid or air passes through the T-tube. Therefore, massive hemorrhage is clearly identified to keep the patient safe.
US09095638B2

A control system for controlling a machine for the temperature processing of containers for food products, having a movement element for moving containers to be processed on a movement path along which at least one temperature-processing zone is defined, the temperature-processing zone being divided into sub-zones each having a respective injection assembly for injecting processing fluid on the containers and a respective adjusting assembly for setting the temperature of the injected processing fluid. The control system is provided with a control unit coupled to the adjusting assemblies of the sub-zones for regulating the temperature of the processing fluid by performing a prediction of the output temperature of the containers located on the movement path based on a current operating condition of the machine and a past thermal trend for the containers, and controlling the adjusting assemblies based on the predicted output temperature.
US09095634B2

A toothbrush sanitation device includes a base with a container for immersing toothbrush bristles in a sanitizing, disinfecting or cleaning fluid and a lid. The base includes a perimeter flange with an annular protrusion and an annular cavity that are circular and concentric to the base and has a height that is 20% to 40% of the total height of the device. The container has a cylindrical inner wall with a rounded bottom and a conical outer wall which tapers toward an open end of the container, and has one or more level tags indications. The lid has a column and a fitting zone disposed in an open end adjacent to the column. An inner wall of the fitting zone is cylindrical, and the external taper of the container and the internal cylindricity of the fitting zone define a locking line.
US09095627B2

The embodiments provide prodrug compounds of Formulae I-XV. The present disclosure also provides compositions, and their methods of use, where the compositions comprise a prodrug compound of Formulae I-XV that provides controlled release of an opioid. Such compositions can optionally provide a trypsin inhibitor that interacts with the enzyme that mediates the controlled release of an opioid from the prodrug so as to attenuate enzymatic cleavage of the prodrug.
US09095623B2

The present disclosure provides inter alia conjugates of formula (I): wherein n, R1, R2, Rx, Z, X, Y and Z are as defined herein. A conjugate of formula (I) can also be converted to a conjugate of formulae (II) or (III) as described herein. Without limitation, the conjugates can be used to make controlled release materials and chemical sensors.
US09095622B2

The invention relates to (among other things) oligomer-PTK inhibitor conjugates and related compounds. A compound of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits advantages over PTK inhibitor compounds lacking a water-soluble, non-peptidic oligomer.
US09095614B2

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical dosage forms, for example to a tamper resistant dosage form including an opioid analgesic, and processes of manufacture, uses, and methods of treatment thereof.
US09095609B2

The invention relates to therapeutic compositions for the treatment of dry eye, more specifically to compositions comprising a TRPM8 receptor agonist ligand. Furthermore, the invention relates to therapeutic compositions for the treatment of epiphora, more specifically to compositions comprising a TRPM8 receptor antagonist.
US09095605B2

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting or preventing viral infection, which comprises an effective dose of poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA), and more particularly, to a pharmaceutical composition, a functional food, and a feedstuff additive capable of inhibiting viral infection and preventing viral diseases, which comprise poly-gamma-glutamic acid having an infection-inhibiting effect against viruses, such as an influenza virus, inducing respiratory infection or systemic infection, as an effective ingredient.The composition containing poly-gamma-glutamic acid as an effective ingredient according to the present invention, is effective for use as an animal feedstuff additive or a pharmaceutical agent for preventing influenza virus infection and various viral diseases as well as a pharmaceutical composition and a functional food to promote human health.
US09095593B2

This disclosure concerns compounds which are useful as inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) and are thus useful for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are mediated or sustained through the activity of PKC. This disclosure also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods of using these compounds in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, processes for preparing these compounds and intermediates useful in these processes.
US09095592B2

Receptor protein kinases (RPTKs) transmit extracellular signals across the plasma membrane to cytosolic proteins, stimulating formation of complexes that regulate key cellular functions. Over half of the known tyrosine kinases are implicated in human cancers and are therefore highly promising drug targets. A large-scale loss-of-function analysis of tyrosine kinases using RNA interference in the clinically relevant Erb-B2 positive, BT474 breast cancer cell line showed that Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a cytosolic, non-receptor tyrosine kinase that has been extensively studied for its role in B cell development, is required, in altered form, for BT474 breast cancer survival. This alternative form contains an amino-terminal extension that is also present in tumorigenic breast cells at significantly higher levels than in normal breast cells.
US09095589B2

Described herein are methods of inhibiting angiogenesis, and treating and preventing disorders associated with angiogenesis by administering anti-angiogenesis compounds to a subject.
US09095576B2

The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions, containing 4-[1-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole, (S) 4-[1-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole or (S) [3-(1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)ethyl)-2-methylphenyl]methanol, their use as pharmaceuticals for the treatment of retinal diseases, for retinal neuroprotection and vision enhancement.
US09095574B2

Embodiments herein provide formulations and methods for treatment of inflammatory skin diseases using allantoin in an amount from about 0.5% to about 15.0% by weight. Inflammatory skin diseases treated by embodiments herein include, without limitation, cutaneous porphyria, sclerodema, epidermolysis bulosa, psoriasis, decubitus ulcers, pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, venous stasis ulcers, sickle cell ulcers, ulcers caused by burns, eczema, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiform, contact dermatitis, arthritis, gout, lupus erythematosus, acne, alopecia, carcinomas, psoriasis, rosacea, miliaria, skin infections, post-operative care of incisions, post-operative skin care following any variety of plastic surgery operations, skin care following radiation treatment, care of dry, cracked or aged skin and skin lines as well as other conditions affecting the skin and having an inflammatory component, symptoms thereof, or a combination thereof. Symptoms treated may include pain, inflammation, redness, itching, scarring, skin thickening, milia, or a combination thereof.
US09095573B2

Disclosed herein are methods and materials for promoting neurogenesis of endogenous and transplanted stem cells. Specifically exemplified herein are methods that comprise transplanting neural stem cells in conjunction with a regimen of (+)phenserine treatment.
US09095569B2

A method of promoting wound healing, treating fibrosis and/or promoting angiogenesis is provided. The method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a procollagen, thereby promoting wound healing, treating fibrosis and/or promoting angiogenesis in the subject.
US09095567B2

An immunogenic composition comprising a plurality of capsular polysaccharides from Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F conjugated to a carrier protein, and further comprising at least one preservative, preferably 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE). The preservative-containing immunogenic compositions of the invention confer resistance to one or more micro-organisms and are useful for producing multi-dose vaccine formulations having advantageous properties with respect to long term stability of the different antigenic determinants in the immunogenic composition of choice. Related compositions and methods for measuring the efficacy of one or more preservatives in a vaccine formulation are also provided.
US09095557B2

The present invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a Compound (a) of a class of peptide Compounds and at least one further Compound (b) for the prevention, alleviation or/and treatment of epileptic seizures.
US09095555B2

The present invention provides stable, fast-acting liposomal and micelle formulations of cannabinoids that are suitable for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
US09095551B2

An object of the present invention is to enable the repair and regeneration of articular cartilage, which could not be achieved by conventional therapies, and to provide a safe and inexpensive agent that is effective for the treatment of joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. According to the present invention, a combined formulation for simultaneously, separately, or sequentially administering a hyaluronic acid and an animal mucin-type glycoprotein for the treatment of joint diseases is provided.
US09095541B2

A method of diagnosing and treating a human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumor in a subject is disclosed. The method includes administering to the subject, an effective amount of composition having a peptide 12-20 amino acid residues in length and selected for its ability to bind preferentially to a subtype of human GBM cells identified as brain tumor initiating cells (BTICs) or highly invasive glioma cells (HIGCs).
US09095537B2

The invention relates to a kit of parts, suitable for use in a therapy of cancer, wherein said kit comprises:(i) a recombinant protein comprising one or several polypeptides bearing one or several epitopes of one or several tumor-associated antigens, said polypeptides being inserted in the same or different permissive sites of an adenylate cyclase (CyaA) protein or of a fragment thereof, wherein said CyaA fragment retains the property of said adenylate cyclase protein to target Antigen Presenting Cells or a mixture of such recombinant proteins wherein at least one of said epitopes, or tumor associated antigens, or insertion sites of CyaA protein, or fragment of said CyaA protein is different between the various recombinant proteins in the mixture; and said kit of parts further comprises at least one of the following compounds; (ii) an agent, suitable for modulating a regulatory immune response in a patient ad optionally; (iii) an adjuvant component suitable for activating the innate immune response in a patient.
US09095536B2

The present invention is directed to methods of producing conjugates of Aβ peptide immunogens with protein/polypeptide carrier molecules, which are useful as immunogens, wherein peptide immunogens are conjugated to protein carriers via activated functional groups on amino acid residues of the carrier or of the optionally attached linker molecule, and wherein any unconjugated reactive functional groups on amino acid residues are inactivated via capping, thus retaining the immunological functionality of the carrier molecule, but reducing the propensity for undesirable reactions that could render the conjugate less safe or effective. Furthermore, the invention also relates to such immunogenic products and immunogenic compositions containing such immunogenic products made by such methods.
US09095533B2

A composition-of-matter comprising an antibody or antibody fragment including an antigen-binding region capable of specifically binding an antigen-presenting portion of a complex composed of a human antigen-presenting molecule and an antigen derived from a pathogen is disclosed.
US09095532B2

The present invention relates to an anti-aging or antioxidant composition which contains, as an active ingredient, a plant stem cell line derived from the cambium of Panax ginseng, including wild ginseng and ginseng, or an extract thereof, a lysate thereof and a culture thereof. The composition has minimized side effects compared to existing anti-aging agents and antioxidants, and thus is safe for the skin. Also, the composition of the present invention shows an antioxidant effect of inhibiting reactive oxygen species caused by exposure to UV radiation that is the major cause of skin aging, and it can effectively reduce or inhibit aging-related factors. Thus, the composition is useful for the prevention and inhibition of aging.
US09095528B2

Composition containing, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, two or more volatile linear alkanes, and one or more nonprotein cationic polymers, with a volatile linear alkanes/polymer(s) ratio by weight of greater than or equal to 1.2. Use in the treatment of keratinous substances, preferably keratinous fibres, such as the hair.
US09095522B2

A composition comprising purified water using ozonation, ionization, or distillation or any combination thereof wherein alcohol may be substituted for, or combined with water at least one emollient including but not limited to chitosan, and aloe vera gel, individually or in any combination; an oil component with spf boosting agents including but not limited to; ethyl macadamiate, non-toxic silicone oil and essential oils, butter milk, waxes impregnated with inorganic sun-block or sunscreen agent and organic/inorganic micronized particles, wood powder and bentonite clay, keratin, either individually or in any combination; at least one inorganic sun-block or sunscreen agent including any metal oxide, glass microsphere, silica and silica compound, and optionally metal oxide pigments with particles that are micronized, submicronized, nanoparticle sized, or otherwise individually or in any combination that can be homogenized in either a water phase, a water-aloe phase, an oil phase or any phase of said composition; at least one emulsifier wherein said emulsifier includes but is not limited to a phospholipid and/or liposome or an aloe vera gel or an ester of coconut oil individually or in any combination, for emulsifying the water, water-aloe, or oil phase in combination with an homogenizer; where any of components are preferably mixed with an homogenizer and where an appropriate thickening agent including but not limited to xanthan gum, carageenan, either individually or in any combination is added as required.
US09095521B2

The present invention relates to methods for improving muscle strength and treating muscular dystrophy.
US09095511B2

The invention relates to a stabilization of fluid oil-based suspensions comprising a hydrophobic silica, and medicaments based on such suspensions.
US09095510B2

Aspects of the invention include sunscreen formulations that include uniform, rigid, spherical nanoporous calcium phosphate particles. Also provided are methods of making the sunscreen formulations. The sunscreen formulations find use in sunblocking applications.
US09095505B2

The present invention relates to the use of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pyrethroid compound for inhibiting unwanted eye movement and for treating eye movement disorders, such as, but not limited to, nystagmus. The invention is directed to methods for treating unwanted eye movement and eye movement disorders by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pyrethroid compound that is lambda cyhalothrin or an analog thereof, through topical administration of the composition or incorporation of the composition into a contact lens or an ocular device for implantation into the eye. It further provides for pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of eye movement disorders and methods of preparing them.
US09095499B2

The subject matter of the invention is a container system having an inner container for receiving ready-to-use liquid, in particular dialysis liquid, and an outer container surrounding the inner container to receive spent liquid such that the inner container has through-openings which establish a fluidic connection for the liquid in the outer container.
US09095495B2

The present invention relates to a system and method for dispensing a therapeutically effective amount of dosage containing a medicament including an instrument for inputting data from a user, analyzing the inputted data to determine an appropriate amount of medicament to be administered to the user, and a dispenser for sizing and dispensing a therapeutically effective amount of the medicament. The medicament may be in the form of a continuous roll of oral thin film including the medicament.
US09095492B2

A bilateral upper limb exercise device (10) for exercising a user's arms comprising a central mounting structure (12) that is mountable to a fixed surface or structure (15), left and right limb supports (14a, 14b) for supporting the forearm and/or hand of a respective arm of the user, and a pair of articulated linkage arms (22a, 22b) that are pivotably coupled to opposite sides of the central mounting structure (12) and which are arranged to support a respective limb support (14a, 14b) for movement in at least two degrees of freedom in a two-dimensional (2D) movement plane. A mirroring mechanism is also operatively coupled to the articulated linkage arms (22a, 22b) such that movement of the opposing limb support relative to a central line of symmetry of the device.
US09095483B2

Apparatus for a perineal wash system includes a seat with a pair of pads spaced apart front to back to define a gap. The pads and frame define front and rear access areas dimensioned to allow a caregiver to access the perineal area of a seated person. In various embodiments at least one pad is movable sideways and may include a biasing spring, an operating handle, and/or a latch. The seat is suitable for a shower chair, a wall-mounted chair, and a bathtub chair. A gas spring optionally lifts one end of the seat. In one embodiment a perineal washer is supported adjacent the seat. The washer receives a nozzle of a sprayer and redirects the spray through a movable conduit to direct liquid upward to the perineum. In one embodiment a commode pot below the seat has a gap sufficient to avoid pinching dangling body parts.
US09095479B2

A disposable absorbent product includes a topsheet defining an interior face of the disposable absorbent product configured to face a wearer thereof during use. A backsheet overlays the topsheet, with the backsheet defining an exterior face of the disposable absorbent product configured to face away from the wearer during use. An absorbent core is disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet for storing fluid secreted by the wearer of the disposable absorbent product. The absorbent core includes at least one absorbent structure and a wrapping element that envelops the at least one absorbent structure. The wrapping element has a main substrate layer and an adhesive coating layer thereon that is substantially adhered to the substrate layer and which defines an impermeable film layer on the substrate.
US09095474B2

An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent article includes a guide member that guides an elastic member fed on a web configuring a component of the absorbent article and being conveyed in a continuous state. The guide member includes: an arm member having a tip portion that is a feeding position of the elastic member to the web, and a base portion separated from the tip portion; a first driving member that swings the arm member about the base portion of the arm member as a rotational axis; and a second driving member that performs a back and forth movement of the arm member and the first driving member in a first direction in which the tip portion is close to a contact point where the elastic member is in contact with the web, and a second direction in which the tip portion is separated from the contact point.
US09095473B2

A process for manufacturing a package of folded absorbent articles is disclosed. In one embodiment, the process includes providing a plurality of absorbent cores, and embossing at least one fold line into each core, each fold line defining a fold region. The process further includes folding each core along the fold region of each fold line to create a plurality of folded absorbent garments, and placing the plurality of folded absorbent garments into a container. In particular embodiments, each core can include two transversely opposed absorbent ears. The process can include folding each core along the fold region of each fold line to move each ear closer to a longitudinal centerline of the core to create a plurality of folded absorbent garments. A package of folded absorbent articles is also disclosed.
US09095471B2

A method of treating obstructive sleep apnea comprising reducing an effective amount of extracellular fluid of a patient suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.
US09095469B2

A method for installing a fiberglass cast on and removing the cast from an individual includes an open ended pliable thin-walled polymer guide track and cutting tool designed to track along said guide track to cut the cast and to prevent, while a cast is being removed, injury to the individual.
US09095461B2

An endoluminal vascular repair system includes an aorta stent graft having a fenestration with a first reinforcement around the fenestration. The fenestration aligns with a branch vessel when deployed. A branch vessel stent graft has a flaring portion at a proximal end of the branch vessel prosthesis that has a second reinforcement around its circumference to engage the reinforcement around the fenestration, and a tubular portion. When deployed, the flaring portion retains the proximal end within the aorta stent graft, and the tubular portion extends through the fenestration and into the branch vessel.
US09095460B2

A method of reducing blood flow within an aneurysm includes: injecting a contrast agent into a blood vessel including an aneurysm; deploying an occlusion device across the aneurysm; producing an image of the aneurysm including the contrast agent; and withdrawing the delivery device from the vessel after observing that the aneurysm has been obstructed by a desired amount. The image may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Observing that the aneurysm has been obstructed may include determining a degree of obstruction, for example by comparing an area or volume of the contrast agent in a first image and a second image. The desired amount may be a certain degree of obstruction, identification of a shape indicative of stasis such as a flat surface, an approximate hemisphere, a mushroom, or a crescent. If the occlusion device does not achieve the desired amount, a second occluding device may be deployed.
US09095454B2

An intraoral orthosis having a first shell and a second shell, the shells being connected together by an adjustable connection device. The adjustable connection device has two notched tabs that are arranged respectively on either side of one of the shells, each notched tab co-operating in adjustable manner with a respective adjustment housing, arranged correspondingly on either side of the other of the shells, each notched tab having adjustment teeth to adjust the position of the shells one relative to the other, and locking housings to lock the position. The locking housings are oriented transversally relative to the adjustment teeth.
US09095453B2

A trial system for an implantable joint replacement includes a guide assembly having a baseplate and a guide plate, the guide plate rotatable relative to the base plate about a rotation axis extending through the guide plate and the baseplate while directly connected to the baseplate. An adjustment mechanism is actuable to selectively control the rotational juxtaposition of the guide plate relative to the baseplate. The rotation axis may be medially offset from the center of the guide assembly. A single instrument may be used to rotate the guide plate relative to the base plate and lock the plates in the selected juxtaposition. The guide plate provides in situ positionable cutting guidance for implantation of prosthetic joint components. The system may further include an articulating insert trial mounted on the guide assembly to determine preferred joint alignment and/or optimal positioning of the guide plate.
US09095450B2

An implant inserter for use in ALIF spine surgery, wherein the inserter has a flexible bracket, biased closed, onto which two long blades can be removably attached.
US09095447B2

An expandable interbody fusion device includes superior and inferior endplates that are configured to receive a sequentially inserted stack of interlocking expansion members or wafers. The like-configured wafers include features on their top and bottom surfaces that interlock the wafers in multiple degrees of freedom so that the wafer stack is not disrupted when the fusion device is fully expanded. One of the interlocking features includes a plurality of prongs projecting from an upper surface of the wafers and into a recess defined in the lower surface of an adjacent previously inserted like-configured wafer. The prongs and recesses are configured to prevent retrograde movement of each new wafer in a direction opposite the direction of insertion. Other interlocking features prevent movement in the direction of insertion, transverse to the insertion direction and vertically within the stack.
US09095445B2

An interbody spacer includes an elongated body with a maximum width between opposite side walls and a maximum height between upper and lower bearing surfaces. The interbody spacer also includes a leading end nose connecting the side walls to facilitate insertion of the interbody spacer into a disc space between vertebrae in an insertion orientation, from which the interbody device is then rotated to position the upper and lower bearing surfaces in contact with the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae. The leading end nose forms a blunt convex nose between the upper and lower bearing surfaces to maximize the bearing surface area available to contact the adjacent endplates.
US09095443B2

An implant configured to completely replace degenerated or damaged nucleus pulposus in an intervertebral disc. The implant comprises a silicone elastomer shell that is implanted into a void within the annulus fibrosus created by at least partial removal of the nucleus pulposus therefrom. A colloidal suspension of platinum cured silicone-based polymer and carbon nanotubes is injected into the elastomer shell. The colloidal suspension is irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, particularly infrared or near infrared light, to the point that it hardens. The hardened implant becomes a mechanical replacement for the original nucleus pulposus in the intervertebral disc.
US09095440B2

A device is provided including a distal nail portion and a proximal nail portion that can be connected to each other to attain a rigid configuration. The device is placed internally within the medullary cavities of at least two bones forming a joint to accomplish arthrodesis of the joint. The device is placed intramedullarily to minimize incision size, excessive bone resection and post-operative tendon damage and tenderness. Additionally, a method for using the device is provided that includes placing and affixing the distal nail in a bone of a joint, placing the proximal nail in another bone of a joint, connecting the distal nail to the proximal nail, doing the desired geometrical adjustments, affixing the proximal nail to the distal nail by tightening the connection and affixing the proximal nail to the other bone of the joint to attain a rigid configuration.
US09095432B2

A prosthetic valve is provided for implantation in a stenosed aortic valve. The prosthetic valve includes a radially collapsible frame configured for advancement through a patient's vasculature using a catheterization technique. A collapsible valvular structure is sewn to the frame for permitting blood to flow in only one direction. An internal cover extends along an internal surface of the frame. The internal cover forms a tubular sleeve positioned between a lower extremity of the frame and the valvular structure. The internal cover prevents the passage of blood through spaces between bars of the frame. An upper end of the internal cover is sutured to the valvular structure. The internal cover is preferably made of pericardium.
US09095428B2

An artificial heart with a centrifugal pump is disclosed. In one embodiment, the artificial heart includes an impeller disposed in a housing. The impeller is configured to rotate to circulate blood through the housing. The impeller may include a set of blades on a first side of the impeller and a set of vanes on a second side opposite the first. The blades on the first side and the vanes on the second side allow blood circulation from both the first and the second sides of the impeller. The artificial heart may also or instead include a diffuser with adjustable vanes that enable variation in the output characteristics of the artificial heart pump. Various other artificial hearts, pumps, systems, and methods, including control systems and methods, are also disclosed.
US09095427B2

A device for insertion in a tracheostoma which includes a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis, a flexible flange which is provided on an outer surface of the device body and has unfolded configuration which it extends essentially from the outer surface of the body to the outside and has a folded configuration in which it is folded in the direction towards the longitudinal axis of the device body, as well as a pin-shaped insertion aid having a means for retaining the flange in its folded orientation, wherein the flange is formed by at least two wings each of which have a recess proximate a tip of the wing, in which the retaining means is removably introduced, and the wings have a shape memory that orients the wings, when unrestrained, away from the longitudinal axis of the device body.
US09095421B2

A prosthesis includes a tubular body of a graft material, a plurality of stents coupled to the tubular body, and a coupling. The coupling has a plurality of overlapping leaflets successively coupled to the tubular body around an opening formed in the graft material. The leaflets in a non-deployed configuration lay flush with the graft material of the tubular body and partially cover the opening, and the leaflets in a deployed configuration extend radially outward from the graft material of the tubular body. Delivery and deployment of a branch vessel prosthesis through the opening causes the leaflets to transform from the non-deployed configuration to the deployed configuration, and causes a diameter or width of a passageway defined by the leaflets to increase. Leaflet material properties, as well as size, shape, and sewing patterns on adjacent leaflets may be varied in order to vary the flexibility and/or orientation of the coupling.
US09095414B2

The embodiments include method of nonlinear optical photodynamic therapy of tissue including the steps of providing pulsed infrared laser light for two-photon excited fluorescence tissue exposure, and selectively focusing the pulsed infrared laser light within the tissue at a focal plane to activate a photosensitizing agent to generate free radicals within a highly resolved axial and lateral spatial domain in the tissue. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for performing nonlinear optical photodynamic therapy of tissue including a pulsed infrared laser for providing two-photon excited fluorescence beam tissue exposure, a scanner for selectively and controllably moving the tissue and the beam relative to each other, and optics for selectively focusing the pulsed infrared laser light within the tissue at a point in a focal plane to activate a photosensitizing agent to generate free radicals within a highly resolved axial and lateral spatial domain in the tissue.
US09095403B2

A coloring liquid especially for shading pre-sintered ceramic dental restorations, utilizes a combination of metal salt, solvent and acid to achieve natural tooth coloring of standard dental shades. By adjusting the respective ingredients, different shades can be provided and color penetration can be sufficient to preserve aesthetics in the sintered restoration even when some of the ceramic material is removed.
US09095392B2

A bone cement delivery unit having a rigid support structure with a first portion configured to engage and retain a bone cement reservoir against its casing, a second portion supporting a transmission system and a third portion supporting and guiding a slidable push rod along the injection direction. The delivery system may include a control unit sliding the push rod opposite to the injection direction before stopping the push rod if the quantity of the bone cement pushed out of the reservoir has reached at least a predetermined minimum value, such as to eliminate residual flow. Also, the delivery system may include an adaptor including members electrically connected to the control unit, with the cement reservoir including a sensor for monitoring curing of the bone cement in electrical contact with the members of the adaptor.
US09095375B2

The present invention relates to a method for planning the positioning of a ball joint prosthesis, in particular a hip joint prosthesis, wherein the prosthesis includes a stem and a cup and the method comprises the following steps: —determining the position of at least one point lying on the rim of the joint socket, in particular the position of at least two points lying in an anterior region of the acetabulum; —defining a requirement for the position and/or orientation of the cup on the basis of the determined positions of the at least one point. The present invention also relates to a method for optimizing the positioning of a ball joint prosthesis, in particular a hip joint prosthesis, wherein the prosthesis includes a stem and a cup and the method comprises the following steps: —defining at least one requirement for the position and/or orientation of the cup; —calculating an optimum position and/or orientation of the cup on the basis of all the defined requirements being fulfilled.
US09095372B2

Systems for insufflation and recirculation of insufflation fluid in a surgical procedure include a control unit having a fluid pump, a supply conduit, a return fluid conduit and a pressure-controlled valve. The pressure-controlled valve is in fluid communication with an insufflation gas supply, the supply conduit and the return conduit and is adapted and configured to respond to pressure control signals to adjust position and thereby system flow parameters, to reduce entrainment of air from the surrounding environment, and to increase the concentration of insufflation gas in an operative space, and/or to reduce an overpressure condition in the operative space.
US09095365B2

A handling device for a micro-invasive surgical instrument includes a gripping device to manually hold and guide the handling device, a shaft coupling to detachably mechanically couple the handling device with a proximal end of a shaft, a rod coupling that can slide inside the handling device for detachable mechanical coupling with a proximal end of a transmission rod that can be slid inside a shaft coupled with the shaft coupling, and an orientation device to rotate a proximal end of a transmission rod, which has been inserted into the handling device, into a predetermined orientation or into one of several predetermined orientations.
US09095364B2

A medical device and a system and for dilating a stenotic airway of a patient are described. The medical device comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a shaft system having an inflation lumen and a ventilation lumen the proximal end. The shaft system has a proximal shaft section and a distal shaft section. An inflatable balloon is attached to the distal shaft section in a position that is proximal to the distal end. The ventilating tip is distal to the balloon on the distal shaft section and has one or more radially facing openings. A method for treating a stenotic airway includes inserting the medical device into a patient's airway, and dilating and ventilating the airway.
US09095358B2

Systems and methods are provided for priming or purging an electrosurgical fluid irrigation system. The electrosurgical system can include a high frequency power supply, a fluid delivery system, a handheld device having one or more electrodes, and one or more connectors for connecting the handheld device to the fluid delivery system and the RF generator. The electrosurgical system may be configured to deliver RF current and irrigation fluid until a threshold current level is detected, which is indicative of a continuous flow of fluid at the electrode and purging completion. The systems and methods of purging an electrosurgical system may further include dynamically controlling an RF output and fluid delivery system in accordance with varied parameters of detected threshold current levels.
US09095356B2

An orthopaedic surgical instrument assembly includes a tibial base trial adapted to be positioned on a surgically-prepared proximal end of a patient's tibia, an intramedullary orthopaedic surgical instrument engaged with a lower surface of the tibial base trial, and a fastener configured to pivot relative to the tibial base trial. The fastener is configured to engage with the intramedullary orthopaedic surgical instrument to removably couple the intramedullary orthopaedic surgical instrument to the tibial base trial.
US09095355B2

Customized patient-specific orthopaedic surgical instruments are disclosed. Methods for fabricating and using such instruments are also disclosed.
US09095353B2

Disclosed herein are tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US09095351B2

Apparatus and methods are provided to concentrate energy delivery in non-superficial target tissue within a trigone region of a human bladder wall to modulate bladder function.
US09095347B2

An over shoe for use with electrosurgical instruments having a pair of juxtaposed jaw members pivotably associated with one another, at least one of which includes an electrically conductive surface disposed thereon which is in electrical engagement with an electrosurgical energy source. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the over shoe includes a tissue contacting wall configured and dimensioned to selectively and substantially overlie the electrically conductive surface of the electrosurgical instrument. The tissue contacting wall is fabricated from a non-conductive material and includes a plurality of apertures formed therethrough. In another embodiment, the tissue contacting wall is electrically conductive and is configured for selective engagement atop on of the jaw members.
US09095345B2

The present invention discloses a rongeur type bone and cartilage removal device incorporating a pistol shaped body exhibiting a forward extending barrel terminating in a powered saw drive including a plurality of blades. A passageway extends through an interior of the barrel and communicates the forward chain drive with a rearward positioned debris collection chamber. A power supply is incorporated into the body and, upon actuating a trigger, closes a circuit with the saw drive and a separate vacuum inducing drive in order to successively excise increments of bone for evacuation through the passageway and into the collection chamber. Another variant of the rongeur type bone removal device includes first and second pivotally secured handles, the first handle terminating at a forward end in a first jaw exhibiting a plurality of extending teeth, with second handle terminating in a second jaw opposing the first jaw and exhibiting a continuous blade edge against which the teeth seats during pivotal motion of the jaws.
US09095336B2

A knotted suture device is disclosed. The device may have a surgical needle attached to one or both ends of the suture. The device has a plurality of loops formed by knots. An anchor member is attached to the device. The device when used in a surgical procedure can be secured without the need to tie a knot.
US09095330B2

A medical device for collecting cells includes a perforated tube and a brush disposed therein for collecting cells from tissue adjacent the tube. The tube includes a perforated portion and tissue can be drawn into the perforations in response to a vacuum applied to the tube. The brush can be inserted into the tube with the head portion of the brush aligned with the perforated portion to collect cells form the tissue that has been drawn into the perforations by the vacuum. The brush can be removed from the tube and another brush can be inserted to increase cell collection amounts.
US09095329B2

An electromagnetic thermotherapeutic apparatus includes: a plurality of needle units respectively having head portions and needle portions; a base unit having a base plate that is formed with a plurality of first through holes, and a base pad that is formed with a plurality of second through holes, the needle portions of the needle units removably extending through the second and first through holes, the head portions of the needle units abutting against the base pad; a temperature monitor disposed between the base plate and the base pad; an upper unit disposed above the base pad and abutting against the head portions; and a clamp unit clamping and pressing the base unit against the upper unit.
US09095326B2

A biopsy system includes a biopsy device having a translating cutter for severing tissue samples and a vacuum control module. The vacuum control module is separate from the biopsy device. The vacuum control module includes a vacuum pump and vacuum canister, and is portable by a single hand. The vacuum canister and the vacuum control module have complimentary ports that are configured to couple upon insertion of the vacuum canister into the vacuum control module. The complimentary ports provide fluid communication between a vacuum pump in the vacuum control module and a reservoir in the vacuum canister. The biopsy device may be placed in fluid communication with the vacuum pump via the canister without the user having to separately connect any tubes with the canister or pump.
US09095312B2

A body-mountable pyruvate sensing device includes an electrochemical sensor embedded in a polymeric material configured for mounting to a surface of an eye. The electrochemical sensor includes a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a reagent localized near the working electrode that selectively reacts with pyruvate. Application of a voltage between the working electrode and the reference electrode causes a current related to a concentration of pyruvate in a fluid to which the electrochemical sensor is exposed; the current is measured by the body-mountable device and wirelessly communicated.
US09095310B2

Disclosed is a radiographic apparatus including a detachable manipulation panel which includes a capturing device to generate X-rays and to irradiate the X-rays to a subject so as to capture the subject, a controller connected to the capturing device to control the capturing device, and a manipulation device mounted to the capturing device to allow an inspector to input commands to control the capturing device, wherein the manipulation device is detachably mounted to the capturing device and, in a state in which the manipulation device is separated from the capturing device, is connected to the controller using a wireless interface to control the capturing device.
US09095307B2

A sleep apnea diagnostic system includes a housing that is configured to be attached to near the nose of a patient's face to sense physiological information of a patient. The housing includes sensors to sense the physiological information. The physiological information may be, for example, air flow through the nose or the mouth or both. The physiological information further may be, for example, blood volume. The sleep apnea diagnostic system includes at least one processor in the housing or external to the housing or both to analyze the physiological information to determine whether the patient has experienced irregular or abnormal respiratory activity and to detect respiratory effort. The analysis may be real time or delayed.
US09095304B2

A portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has an ultrasonic probe, and a main body including a display unit provided on a front surface of the main body. An input device is provided at a rear surface of the main body to receive user command information from a user, which allows the user to operate the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus with a hand that is gripping the portable ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The apparatus may be used by moving the ultrasonic probe in contact with a surface of an object, sending ultrasonic signals from the object surface, receiving reflected ultrasonic signals from the object, and converting the ultrasonic signals into electrical signals.
US09095302B2

In a method described for generating magnetic resonance exposures in which diffusion-coded raw data are acquired with of a diffusion gradient measurement sequence having a number of partial diffusion gradient sequences, at least one diffusion coding gradient pulse is emitted in each partial data set, and raw data of a k-space region are acquired during a first echo after a defined first echo time the k-space regions in total covering a complete k-space. Raw data of an established navigator k-space region are acquired during a second echo after a second echo time the navigator k-space region being identical for different partial diffusion gradient sequences. Reference raw data are acquired by a reference measurement sequence with multiple partial reference sequences.
US09095299B2

A hollow disposable sleeve suction retractor. The sleeve suction retractor is an ergonomically shaped combination suction/retractor instrument for holding and retracting tissues, suctioning tissue pieces, blood and fluids and a surgical smoke plume from an electrosurgery device all at the same time. The suction sleeve retractor is comfortable to hold securely and allows a surgeon a clear line of sight on an area of tissue dissection. It can be used without the need for having another hand (e.g., surgeon's or an assistant, etc.) sponge or separate suction devices in a wound. It is economical to purchase and does not have to be sterilized or autoclaved since it disposable.
US09095294B2

A lancing device and lancet are provided with depth-control, lancet ejection, and/or guidance mechanisms. The depth-control mechanism includes a dial rotationally mounted at a distal end of the housing of the lancing device, the dial being coupled to a linkage whereby rotation of the dial imparts translational movement to a stop surface of the linkage to limit the stroke of the lancet and thereby control lancing penetration depth. The ejection mechanism includes an ejector that is advanced into contact with a transversely flared flange of the lancet to discharge the lancet from the lancing device. The guidance mechanism includes an inner guidance housing for restricting out-of-axis movement of a lancet carrier.
US09095291B2

Disclosed herein are sensors that include: (a) a circuit board that includes an electronic processor; (b) a plurality of radiation sources, each source being attached to the circuit board; and (c) a spectral detector attached to the circuit board, the spectral detector being configured to analyze radiation derived from one or more of the plurality of radiation sources. During use, the sensors are configured to be worn on a portion of a body of a subject. The electronic processor is configured to cause two or more of the plurality of radiation sources to direct incident radiation to the subject, to cause the spectral detector to analyze radiation from the subject, and to determine one or more properties of the subject based on the radiation from the subject. Methods of making and using these sensors are also disclosed.
US09095290B2

Methods and systems for providing data communication in medical systems are disclosed.
US09095284B2

Implantable systems and methods (e.g., using an implantable medical device) for measuring distance including a transmit/receive acoustic transducer implantable at a first location for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals, an echo acoustic transducer implantable at a second location for receiving the acoustic signal from the transmit/receive acoustic transducer and in response thereto transmitting a return echo signal to be received by the transmit/receive acoustic sensor, and a controller to control transmission of the acoustic signal from the transmit/receive acoustic transducer at a transmit time and determine a receive time corresponding to the time the transmit/receive acoustic transducer receives the return echo signal. The distance between the transmit/receive acoustic transducer and the echo acoustic transducer is determined as a function of the transmit time and the receive time.
US09095281B2

Presented here are new processing techniques for optical coherence tomography (OCT) data that allow for improved visualization and use of full-range OCT images. These techniques minimize the central line artifact and the complex conjugate artifact without requiring additional system hardware or significantly increasing post-processing time. The central line artifact is minimized by normalizing each A-scan to account for ripples at the zero-delay position. The complex conjugate artifact is minimized by segmentation of a layer or layers that cross the zero-delay position, and in some embodiments by further segmentation of other surfaces based on the segmentation of the initial layer or layers. The segmentation information is then used to selectively attenuate the complex conjugate image. It may also be used for other purposes, such as dewarping.
US09095279B2

A macular health measurement and storage system comprises a plurality of macular-pigment measurement machine for measuring macular pigment density in humans, a plurality of computers each of which is associated with a corresponding one the macular-pigment measuring machines, and a central host. The plurality of macular-pigment measurement machines include a device for receiving macular pigment data from a patient, at least one data transfer port, and at least one processor that enables the transfer of the macular pigment data from the transfer port. The plurality of computers include a first port coupled to the data transfer port of the corresponding macular-pigment measurement machine for receiving the macular pigment data. Each of the computers includes a second port for transferring patient data. The central host is coupled to the second ports on each of the plurality of computers. The central host includes a storage device for storing the patient data.
US09095276B2

An improved apparatus and method for capturing and analyzing the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. The CO2 level of air drawn into the system (10) is monitored to distinguish inhalation and exhalation of breath. Upon detection of a decrease in the CO2 level in the air drawn into the system (10), indicating a transition between exhalation and inhalation a pair of flow selector valves (26, 28) are operated to capture the end-tidal volume of air drawn into the system (10) immediately prior to the detection of the decrease in the CO2 level. Incoming air is diverted around the captured volume of air, and the CO2 levels are continually monitored to ensure that the captured volume of air corresponds to the end-tidal portion of an exhalation. Once the captured volume of air is positively identified as the end-tidal portion of an exhalation, the captured volume is routed through a gas analyzer (44) for analysis of one or more predetermined gas levels.
US09095263B2

A patient couch for a medical diagnosis and/or treatment device includes a metal-free fluoroscopy section and at least two couch sections that are connected to each other in an articulated manner and may be pivoted relative to each other using a motor-driven adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is arranged outside of the metal-free fluoroscopy section.
US09095262B2

An embodiment of the invention includes a system for the guidance of a catheter to different regions of tissue (e.g., cardiac tissue) for therapy (e.g., ablation therapy). A plurality of electrodes, such as an array of electrodes, may be configured to perform various tasks. First, some electrodes may measure cardiac polarization. Second, some electrodes may function as magnets (e.g., electromagnets) that guide a separate ablation catheter towards the electromagnetic electrodes. These electromagnetic electrodes may be positioned adjacent tissue that is now recognized (possibly due to the electrodes that measure cardiac polarization) as being in need of ablation therapy. Thus, the electromagnetic electrodes may cooperate with an ablation catheter to render a system with magnetic guidance capabilities using intracardiac magnetic field generation. The system may control electromagnetic forces from the array of electrodes to guide the ablation catheter tip to the desired therapy location. Other embodiments are described herein.
US09095260B2

A measurement apparatus according to the present disclosure including a plurality of transparent electrodes provided on a surface of a display, an acquisition part acquiring an imaging signal obtained by imaging the surface of the display from an inside of the display, a configuring part configuring electrode pair candidates from the plurality of transparent electrodes based on the imaging signal acquired in a state that a subject touches the surface of the display, an electrocardiographic waveform signal measurement part measuring electrocardiographic waveform signals of the subject using respective electrode pair candidates configured, and a determination part determining a measurement electrode pair from the electrode pair candidates based on the electrocardiographic waveform signals measured using respective electrode pair candidates. This measurement apparatus is applicable to, for example, performing a personal authentication process of the subject based on the electrocardiographic waveform signal.
US09095247B2

A floor maintenance device (10) comprising a base portion (40), a squeegee portion (30) joined with the base portion (40), the squeegee portion being composed of rubber or other elastic material, and a fastening portion (50) of a cloth (60) to attach the cloth to the floor maintenance device (10). The cloth fastening portion is formed by a groove (51) to which the cloth can be attached by placing a thick edge (61) of the cloth in the groove. In the edge portion of the cloth, there is a compatible thick edge which can be placed in the groove forming the cloth coupling portion in the floor maintenance device.
US09095242B2

A transmission module of a toilet seat sanitation paper dispenser includes a housing, a gear assembly and a lever assembly. The housing has a plurality of sets of positioning holes, a set of first central holes and a set of second central holes. The gear assembly has a front gear, an intermediate gear unit and a rear gear unit. The front gear and the rear gear unit are coupled to the plurality of sets of positioning holes. The intermediate gear unit is capable of being optionally coupled with the set of first or second central holes. The front gear is engaged with the intermediate gear unit, and the intermediate gear unit is engaged with the rear gear unit. The lever assembly is connected to the front gear to drive the front gear to rotate.
US09095237B2

A cutting board having a removable resilient band is provided. The cutting board includes a planar body defining a top surface, a parallel bottom surface and a uniform width peripheral side. The cutting board also includes a removable resilient band that is configured to engage the periphery of the body. The removable band has a width complementary to the width of the body and defines footings that each has a width greater than the width of the body. The periphery of the body may have a continuous groove and the removable band may have a continuous tongue that fits the groove.
US09095236B2

A system for preparing a liquid food from a food substance comprising a device and a capsule removably insertable in the device, by passing water through the substance in the capsule. The device includes a water injection head for injecting water in the capsule and a capsule holder for holding the capsule in the device, a mechanism for centrifugally driving the capsule, and a perforating member configured relative to the capsule in the device to open outlets at the periphery of the capsule. The capsule includes a pierceable membrane, and the perforating member is suited to be engaged through the membrane for forming with the perforated membrane a filter for retaining solid particles in the capsule and orifices in the membrane for enabling the centrifuged liquid to leave the capsule.
US09095233B2

A container is provided with a lid having a push-button trigger mechanism that operates both a drink seal for a drinking opening and a vent seal for a vent opening. The trigger translates in a straight line transverse to a longitudinal axis of the container body during the entire movement of the trigger to define a straight-line actuation stroke. The vent opening is initially opened during a first portion of the actuation stroke of the trigger, and the drink opening is initially opened during a second portion of the actuation stroke of the trigger.
US09095228B2

A frame of a cradle for children, has a containing structure including a wall of flexible non-elastic fabric, shaped by cutting and stitching it to fit round a concavity that contains a backrest and a seat. The wall of the concavity opposite the backrest is made of an elasticized fabric, and is sewn along the edges of a window cut in the non-elastic fabric, obstructing it. The backrest and seat are cellular panels over which padded covers are placed. The cover over the backrest is sewn crosswise to the cover over the seat and to the non-elastic wall at the base of the window, so that the backrest, when loaded, is inclined relative to the seat. The non-elastic wall is turned back on three sides and sewn to a second elastic wall opposite the first to form a bag-shaped structure with an opening for flexible laminae of a cradle frame.
US09095224B2

Provided is an air mattress configured so that the pressure within each of bladder-shaped cells is variable, wherein the sleeping comfort of a person lying on the air mattress is not reduced.The air mattress has a plurality of air cell groups, each of which constituted by a plurality of bladder-shaped cells and lined up with respect to the lengthwise direction of the air mattress; an air supply/release pump; an air tube linking the bladder-shaped cells and the air supply/release pump in an independent first system for each of the air cell groups and an independent second system for each of specific bladder-shaped cells out of the plurality of air cell groups; and a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure within the bladder-shaped cells for each of the first and second systems. One or a plurality of specific air cell groups is constituted by an upper section, a middle section, and a lower section of bladder-shaped cells lined up in the lengthwise direction of the air mattress; the pressure in the lower section bladder-shaped cells is controlled by the first system and the pressure in the middle section bladder-shaped cells is controlled by the second system; and the upper section bladder-shaped cells communicate with the middle section bladder-shaped cells.
US09095223B2

A bed and trampoline apparatus includes a frame having a pair of opposed upstanding side walls and a pair of upstanding end walls extending between opposed ends of the side walls, the side walls and the end walls collectively defining an interior area and an open top that provides access to the interior area. The side walls and end walls collectively include an inner surface that defines a channel extending thereabout. A mattress is positioned in the interior area. A plurality of springs are spaced apart and situated in the channel, each spring having a first end coupled to one of a respective side wall or respective end wall and a second end coupled to the mattress so as to suspend the mattress proximate the channel.
US09095220B1

An infant seat covering system comprises a cover, two elastic side straps having hooks at the ends thereof, a plurality of ovoid clasps and cooperating eyelets for engaging an infant seat, two retraction hooks for engaging a series of retraction eyelets disposed longitudinally along a back portion of the cover, the retraction hooks being disposed near an upper portion of the cover on a front portion of the cover whereby the cover can be retracted to one or more retracted positions according to the refraction eyelets.
US09095215B1

A system of controlling various actuators associated with human support surfaces is disclosed. Such a system is made up of a support surface, a controller, and an actuator. The system may optionally include batteries, a means of charging the batteries, and a graphical user interface as well as a communication link between the graphical user interface and the support surfaces. The actuators are capable of altering contour and/or firmness, of a support surface, they may be vibrational or heating/cooling in nature, and they may also alter the overall relative position of a support surface to another support surface, and/or to the ground plane.
US09095214B2

A door closure device includes a pivot pin adapted to engage an associated appliance hinge, and a channel rotatably connected to the pivot pin and adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door. A cam is non-rotatably engaged with the pivot pin. The cam comprises a lobed edge including a closing portion. A spring rod is slidably engaged with the channel, and a cam follower is operably engaged with the spring rod. A spring is engaged between the spring rod and the channel and biases the cam follower into engagement with the lobed edge of the cam. The follower moves along the lobed edge of the cam when the channel is rotated relative to the cam and the spring induces a door-closing torque on the channel when the follower is engaged with the closing portion of the cam lobed edge.
US09095212B2

A storage case includes a frame, a top plate, and a drawer. The top plate covers an open upper side of the frame. The drawer is movable through an open front side of the frame. A bottom plate of the frame includes grooved rails and guide walls. The grooved rails are formed at left and right sides of the bottom plate. The guide walls are formed at left and right sides of the inner surface of the bottom plate so that the left and right side plates of the drawer are slidable along the guide walls. The drawer includes guide projections formed at rear left and right sides of the bottom plate. The guide projections are fitted to the grooved rails so that the guide projections are movable along the grooved rails.
US09095201B2

Disclosed is an expandable carrier for transporting and chilling bulk beverage containers, such as wine boxes of varying size. The device comprises an insulated housing having a hollow interior and an opening with a cover that aligns with the spout on the wine box, a securable opening that provides access to the housing interior, and an accordion-like section that can expand and contract based on the size of the wine box contained therein. A user can place a wine box in the housing, and adjust the accordion-like section as needed to create a secure fit. The user can then transport the carrier with the included shoulder strap, which enables the device to be quickly and easily moved from one location to another.
US09095198B2

Disclosed is a compact for containing a loose powder, such as cosmetic finishing powder, including a base, a cover, a sifter, and a platform compressible against the sifter. The platform may comprise an inner portion flexibly coupled to an outer portion via a gasket disposed on at least a portion of a bottom surface of the inner portion. The compact may have an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the cover may apply a downward force on the inner portion, compressing the gasket against the sifter and creating a seal to isolate the loose powder.
US09095174B2

Disclosed are various embodiments of an electronic hookah. In some embodiments, the electronic hookah comprises a body, a power supply, and one or more smoking units having a smoking device, a connection socket, a tube, an air flow switch, and a power connector. The tube is disposed between the connection socket and the air flow switch, and the smoking device is releasably attached to the connection socket. Further, the power supply provides power to the connection socket over the power connector, and the connection socket provides power to the smoking device to produce smoke or vapor. The smoking device may comprise an atomizer and smoke juice containing flavorings, coloring agents, nicotine, and/or a vaporizing base.
US09095173B2

A smoking article provides one or more sheets of material that can be rolled and packaged, at least one sheet including cellulose. In one embodiment, cellulose and tobacco sheet material are separately rolled layers that can optionally be wrapped around a form casing (or pre-rolled inside) and then packaged. In another embodiment, the sheet is a laminated sheet of tobacco and cellulose layers that can be optionally wrapped around (or pre-rolled inside) a form casing. These sheets can be filled with custom tobacco to make one or more new cigars for an end user. In another embodiment, a complete cigar filled with tobacco material can be disassembled by an end user to produce tobacco and cellulose sheets, enabling the end user to form two new cigars using his or her own custom tobacco.
US09095165B2

It is to provide a pharmaceutical composition which is different from an existing therapeutic agent of an adult disease, of a biochemical reaction-inhibiting type, and which action mechanism is to improve the basal metabolism, wherein the composition has no side effects, and does not generate drug resistance against adult disease; and a method for preventing/treating an adult disease by using the same. It is to provide a composition for preventing/ameliorating an adult disease such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, impaired liver function, renal failure, adiposity, erectile dysfunction, menopausal disorder, shoulder discomfort, and low back pain, comprising 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), its derivative, or salt thereof, preferably comprising ALA, its derivative, or salt thereof, and an iron compound such as sodium ferrous citrate, iron sodium citrate and iron ammonium citrate; a food or food material for preventing/ameliorating an adult disease comprising the composition; and a method for using the composition for preparing an agent for preventing/ameliorating an adult disease.
US09095164B2

A food composition for consumption by mammals is designed to increase the production of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. A serving of the food composition has a total weight and includes, in order of decreasing weight, a meat, a brassica vegetable, and brown rice.
US09095161B2

An animal feed mixture containing DL-methionyl-DL-methionine and salts thereof for animals kept in aquacultures is provided. Methods for preparing DL-methionyl-DL-methionine of formula (I) and methods to fractionate the diasteriomeric forms obtained are also provided.
US09095153B2

The invention relates to a method for processing and preparing a green milk powder, comprising the following steps: a. pretreatment: cutting a plant from the position 2-5 cm away from the ground when the tender plant grows to 25-45 cm, washing by tap water to remove soil and impurities on the surface thereof, washing by fresh water after ozone bacteria-killing at room temperature, washing by deionized water, and crushing the tender plant; b. filtering: juicing the obtained crushed tender plant, filtering and taking juice; c. mixing: evenly mixing the juice with raw milk proportionally to prepare into homogenized liquid; d. concentrating: evaporating and concentrating the obtained homogenized liquid by an evaporator to prepare concentrated solution; and e. drying: drying the concentrated solution to prepare into green milk powder. The invention has simple process flow and the processing procedure does not damage thermo-sensitive substances such as vitamin C, chlorophyll, SOD and the like in tender plant.
US09095150B1

Techniques and devices are described for preparing a fish fillet. The techniques and devices facilitate the removal of the skin and/or rib bones of the fish from the meat that forms the fillet. In embodiments, the techniques employ a fish skinning device that includes a roller and a blade. The roller is configured to contact the skin included on a fillet so that rotation of the roller causes the fillet to be directed toward the blade. The roller and blade are configured so the skin passes between the roller and blade and is generally separated and directed away from the meat. A blade float assembly permits the blade to float with respect to the blade during use to receive the skin or rib bones of the fish fillet between the roller and the blade.
US09095147B2

A food processing apparatus for detecting and cutting tough tissues from food items such as fish, meat, or poultry. At least one x-ray machine associated to a first conveyor for imaging incoming food items on the first conveyor based on a generated x-ray image indicating the location of the tough tissues in the food items. A vision system supplies second image data of the food items subsequent to the imaging by the x-ray machine. The second image data including position related data indicating the position of the food items on the second conveyor prior to the cutting. A mapping mechanism determines an estimated coordinate position of the food items on the second conveyor by utilizing the x-ray image and tracking position data. The processor compares the estimated coordinate position of the food items to the actual position on the second conveyor based on the second image data.
US09095145B2

A method and system for the direct injection of a concentrated additive is disclosed. In one aspect, the concentrated additive comprises asparaginase. Because dilution of asparaginase in chlorinated drinking water can reduce the activity of the enzyme thereby making the enzyme less effective the direct injection of the enzyme into a dough can increase the acrylamide reduction in food products.
US09095143B2

A method for producing an antimicrobial agent, by cutting, or cutting and then milling a plant belonging to the family Juncaceae: mixing the cut plant with a nutrient source for a seed culture of mushroom mycelia, to form a mixture; inoculating the seed culture of mycelia to the mixture of the plant belonging to the family Juncaceae and the nutrient source and then culturing the seed culture at a growth temperature for the seed culture of mycelia to produce the antimicrobial agent.
US09095140B2

The present invention relates to the use of novel and of known dithiine-tetracarboximides for controlling phytopathogenic fungi, and to methods of controlling phytopathogenic fungi in plant protection, and to plant protection compositions comprising these dithiine-tetracarboximides.
US09095136B2

The present invention relates to novel 2-iodoimidazole derivatives, to processes for preparing these compounds, to compositions comprising these compounds and to their use as biologically active compounds, in particular for controlling harmful microorganisms in crop protection and in the protection of materials and as plant growth regulators.
US09095135B2

The disclosure is capsules containing an active arthropod agent and to methods of making and using the same. The active arthropod agent can be a fatty acid having six or more carbon atoms. The capsules have a polymeric wall that controls the release of the active arthropod agent. The active agent can repellent, impair and/or kill insects.
US09095133B2

The present invention provides a redispersible powder and aqueous dispersions of nanoparticles of water insoluble organic pesticides. The invention further provides methods for preparing the redispersible powder and the aqueous dispersion, wherein the methods include preparation of an oil-in-water nanoemulsion or microemulsion and solvent removal. The present invention also provides pesticidal compositions of the redispersible powder or aqueous dispersions, and their agricultural use in combating pests.
US09095128B2

A flexible fishing lure is provided that includes a outer shape having a transverse opening for receiving a plurality of alternatively formed lure fin members allowing a user to change the action of a lure by fin selection without replacing the lure. Multiple internal channels within the lure are adaptively provided for receiving a variety of scent sticks, sound generators, light generators, flavor generating means. Flow internal channels extend from a front opening to gill openings allowing a water flow along an inserted scent or flavor stick member to pass through the lure body and exit proximate fin, nair, belly, or other locations simulating an injured or wounded fish leaking bodily fluids or blood. Other features to simulate wounded features. Replacement fins and weighting constructions allow a user to tailor a weight and action enabling a circling or injured motion during retrieval. The lure includes a flexible holographic-type attractive film and physical shape having a level-maintaining physical shape.
US09095127B2

A selectively bendable remote access gripping tool, includes a jaw portion having a pair of jaws or nets movable relative to each other between clamped and opened positions thereof, a handle portion spaced apart from the jaw portion by a bendable central portion that has a hollow, corrugated member that is bendable, and a cord extending through the hollow bendable member that connects the jaw portion and the handle portion.
US09095124B2

A canine bolus bag including sheet material; a back sheet having a rear body and first and second projections extending upwardly from the body; the first and second projections connected to the body in spaced relation to define an aperture between the projections; a front sheet having a forward body portion, secured to the rear body at an edge thereof to form an upwardly opening pouch; the front sheet further includes a third projection extending from an upper edge of the pouch, the third projection being arranged to hang downwardly from the outside of the pouch in use; wherein the first and second projections are configured to be located on opposite sides of a dog's tail and tied together to secure the pouch; wherein the third projection may be tied to the first or second projections to close the pouch after use.
US09095122B2

Acoustic tags have been used for years in fisheries research to study survival and behavior of fish in various aquatic environments. The described techniques, devices and systems enhance the ability of researchers to understand the effect on fish mortality by predators through an acoustic tag that includes a digestible fuse. When the implanted acoustic tag comes in contact with the digestive fluids in a predator's stomach, the fuse coating is dissolved causing the fuse to disintegrate and result in an open circuit. The open circuit in turn signals the electronics in the acoustic tag that the tagged fish has been consumed. In response, the electronics alter the tag transmit signal to indicate that predation has occurred.
US09095120B1

A pet kennel is described. The pet kennel includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion and the lower portion join together to define a pet chamber to house a pet. The upper portion includes a cooling media compartment above the pet chamber. The cooling media compartment is in fluidic communication with the pet chamber to provide hydration to the pet housed in the pet kennel.
US09095109B2

A soybean cultivar designated S110180 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S110180, to the plants of soybean cultivar S110180, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S110180, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S110180. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110180. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S110180, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S110180 with another soybean cultivar.
US09095107B2

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety NE1115163 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety NE1115163 and its progeny, and methods of making NE1115163.
US09095106B1

A novel canola variety designated D3154S and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred canola varieties. Methods for producing a canola plant that comprises crossing canola variety D3154S with another canola plant. Methods for producing a canola plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into D3154S through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the canola seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This discovery relates to the canola variety D3154S, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of canola variety D3154S. This discovery further relates to methods for producing canola varieties derived from canola variety D3154S.
US09095102B2

A convenient, water-saving and labor-saving FROG irrigation controller and system are provided, which determine the appropriate water budget and schedule for the property's landscaping based on evapotranspiration data for the geographic area, regulation data (any mandated and voluntary watering restrictions), and property-specific data, with consideration given to reduction in watering days, increase in soil watering depth, and day of year. Once set, the FROG controller provides incremental adjustments over the course of the year; the homeowner no longer needs to re-set the watering program seasonally to comply with local mandated and voluntary watering restrictions. Compliance is automatic and obligatory, meeting the water saving goals of the local water authority. Optionally presented is a web-based wizard used to determine a customized water budget/schedule that is input into the FROG controller through a data storage unit or wireless input.
US09101085B2

In an expanding device that can more effectively expand an adhesive tape in its wafer-attached region and can pick up components on the adhesive tape with high accuracy, a central first portion of an adhesive tape, including a portion with a wafer attached thereto, is laid on a top surface of a heating table, a non-heated ring is disposed to surround an outer peripheral edge of the heating table, a heat insulation is laid on an upper surface of the non-heated ring, a second portion of the adhesive tape located outwardly of the first portion thereof is located on or above the insulation, a third portion of the adhesive tape located outwardly of the second portion is held by a holder, and the holder is movable up and down relative to the heating table and the non-heated ring by a drive unit.
US09101084B2

A method of fabricating a printed circuit board is disclosed. The method includes opening a first window in a first base board and opening a second window in a second base board and a resin layer. The resin layer is between the second base board and the first base board. The method further includes bonding the first base board and the second base board through the resin layer; placing a heat dissipating conductor in the first window in the first base board through the second window; placing a resin portion on the first base board in the second window; embedding a sub-board in the second window of the second base board; and bonding the sub-board with the first base board through the resin portion.
US09101083B2

A flexible circuit with multiple independent mounting points can be mounted (soldered) to substrates by independently (and concurrently) positioning mounting points in x, y, and theta (angular rotation) with vacuum chucks. In one embodiment the vacuum chucks can be guided by computer aided vision to locate and match fiducials on the flex circuit with fiducials on the substrate. In one embodiment, hot bars can be used in a subsequent bonding operation to secure an adhesive coupling between the flexible circuits and the substrate.
US09101080B2

A modular computing system for a data center includes one or more data center modules including rack-mounted computer systems. An electrical module is coupled to the data center modules and provides electrical power to computer systems in the data center modules. One or more air handling modules are coupled to the data center modules. The data center module may include two pre-fabricated portions, each portion including a row of racks of computer systems. The two computing module portions of the data center module may combine to form a computing space when coupled to one another.
US09101073B2

A server cabinet includes a rack, a server, a switch, and a first supporting member. The rack includes two columns located at a front end of the rack. The server is installed between the columns. The switch is installed in the rack above the server. Opposite ends of a front side of the switch are fastened to the columns of the rack. The first supporting member includes a connecting plate mounted to a rear side of the switch, and a supporting plate extending out from an end of the connecting plate and located below the switch. A raised portion protrudes down from the supporting plate. The raised portion is supported on the server.
US09101055B2

In order to measure a three-dimensional shape, feature information is read from a database. A board is transferred to a measurement position. A measurement head is transferred to an inspection area of the board. Light of a first lighting device for three-dimensional measurement and light of a second lighting device for two-dimensional measurement is illuminated onto the inspection area to photograph a first reflection image and a second reflection image that are reflected from the inspection area. The inspection area is realigned by comparing the feature information with at least one of the photographed first and second reflection images to inspect distortion of the inspection area. The realigned inspection area is inspected. Thus, the three-dimensional shape may be precisely measured.
US09101052B2

An electronic apparatus includes a base, a sliding member and a sliding mechanism. The sliding mechanism includes a first magnet disposed in the sliding member, and a first electromagnet disposed in the base opposite to the first magnet. The first magnet and the first electromagnet are capable of producing a first repulsive force and a first attracting force, the sliding member alternately slides back and forth between the different locations of the base driven by the first repulsive force and the first attracting force.
US09101044B2

A circuit module includes a substrate, a mount component, a sealing body, a trench and a shield. The substrate has a mount surface. The mount component is mounted on the mount surface. The sealing body has a main surface and an outer peripheral surface, the sealing body sealing the mount component, the main surface sandwiching the mount component between the main surface and the mount surface, the outer peripheral surface covering the mount component on the mount surface. The trench has a groove-like shape, the trench being recessed from the main surface of the sealing body to the mount surface, the trench being formed to leave a space between the trench and the outer peripheral surface. The shield covers the main surface and the outer peripheral surface of the sealing body, the shield being filled in the trench.
US09101034B2

An organic light emitting device includes, a first organic light emitting diode unit, a second light emitting diode unit, and an optical component. The first organic light emitting diode unit is connected with the second organic light emitting diode unit, and an internal angle is formed between the two organic light emitting diode units. The first organic light emitting diode unit, the second organic light emitting diode unit, and the optical component are connected together to form a triangle structure. A first light emitting region of the first organic light emitting diode unit and a second light emitting region of the second organic light emitting diode unit are overlapped on the optical component and forming a third light emitting region. A uniform light can be obtained by adjusting the first organic light emitting diode unit and the second organic light emitting diode unit respectively.
US09101029B2

A first LED emits visible light of an emission color such that with respect to a CIE(1976)L*u*v* color space chromaticity diagram, the chromaticity is exterior to a prescribed white light region wherein the absolute value of a deviation duv from the blackbody radiation locus is at most 0.02 and the color temperature is within a range of from 2,500K to 10,000K, and the deviation duv from the blackbody radiation locus is larger than 0.02, and a second LED emits visible light of an emission color such that with respect to the above chromaticity diagram, the chromaticity is exterior to the prescribed white light region, and the deviation duv from the blackbody radiation locus is smaller than −0.02.
US09101027B2

Disclosed is a kit for converting an existing high discharge light unit to an LED based light unit, with the option of including a networked capability among a group of LED light units. The kit includes a drop-in component mounting plate on which are mounted an LED light source, sensors including a thermal sensor, a control unit, a DC power supply, a heat sink, and a dimmer unit. A wired or wireless transceiver allows the LED light units to operate as a network, with two way flow of information from the LED light units to a control unit.
US09101026B2

An LED-based light can be installed in a conventional light fixture. The LED-based light can include a sensor operable to output a first signal indicative of whether an area of one or more of the rooms is in an occupied state or a non-occupied state, and the LED-based light can also include an LED controller operable to control at least one LED in the light in response to the first signal. Additionally, the LED-based light can include a transmitter operable to output a second signal indicative of whether the area is in the occupied state or the non-occupied state to a building environment regulator.
US09101019B2

An LED luminescence apparatus includes a plurality of LED units connected in series which are configured to receive a unidirectional ripple voltage, a plurality of switch units, one end of each being connected to the cathode of one of the plurality of LED units, a plurality of constant current control circuit units, one end of each being connected to an another end of a respective switch unit to receive a current from the respective switch unit, each of the constant current control circuit units being configured to output a current control signal to the respective switch unit to control a magnitude of the received current to have a specific value, and a current comparison unit to receive currents flowing from the plurality of switching units, and generate a plurality of switching control signals for the respective switch units to sequentially drive the plurality of constant current control circuit units.
US09101010B2

A circuit for powering high-efficiency lighting devices from a thyristor-controlled dimmer includes a power converter for powering the high-efficiency lighting devices from input terminals of the circuit. The circuit also includes a control circuit that controls the input current drawn by the input terminals at least while the power converter transfers energy to the lighting devices. The circuit also includes a sensing circuit that determines or measures at least one attach current characteristic at the input terminals and stores an indication of the characteristic for subsequent operation of the control circuit.
US09101009B2

A circuit arrangement may include an input for coupling to a supply voltage; n semiconductor light source units comprising a driver device; wherein the units are coupled in parallel, wherein each driver device comprises a PWM controller. A respective controller is designed to provide a PWM signal at a respectively predefinable frequency to a control electrode of a respective converter switch. The arrangement includes current measuring devices which are designed for measuring the current through a respective string having at least one semiconductor light source; and a control device having control outputs, wherein each controller has a clock input, wherein a respective control output is coupled to a respective clock input of the controllers, wherein the control device is designed to provide clock signals at its control outputs, said clock signals being phase-shifted by 360°/n with respect to one another.
US09101007B2

A display panel includes a substrate, a luminous display array, a thin film encapsulation, an auxiliary layer, an optical film and an optical clear adhesive. The luminous display array is disposed on the substrate. The thin film encapsulation layer is disposed on the substrate, covering the luminous display array. The auxiliary layer is disposed on the then thin film encapsulation. The auxiliary layer has an even top surface, and a shore hardness ranging from D4 to D60. The optical film is disposed on the auxiliary layer. The optical clear adhesive is disposed on the even top surface of the auxiliary layer for attaching the auxiliary layer and the optical film.
US09101004B2

A public lighting system includes at least one street lamp (1) of the type including a lighting device (3), a device for converting renewable energy into electric energy (4), and a post switch (6) for alternately connecting either the lighting device (3) or the generator (4) to a power line (5). The lighting system further includes a line switch (70) that switches between a first position, in which the power line (5) is connected to a power grid (8), and a second position, in which the power line (5) is connected to an inverter (71) interposed between the line switch (70) and the power grid (8).
US09101001B2

A display backlight assembly includes a light guide panel having first and second principal faces and at least one edge surface. A display screen is aligned with and substantially perpendicular to the first principal face of the light guide panel. The assembly also includes a light source with one or more white LEDs and one or more first color LEDs, where each first color LED emits a first color of light that is red, green, blue, or yellow. Each white LED and each first color LED is positioned to emit light into the light guide panel. A controller is electrically coupled to the light source and capable of independently setting an intensity value for each white LED and for each first color LED. The controller controls illumination of the LEDs independently as needed to provide backlighting with the selected intensity.
US09100998B2

A light emitting apparatus includes: a first transistor having a first end a second end, and a first control electrode; a light emitting device having a first electrode and a second electrode; a second transistor having a third end connected to the first end and a fourth end connected to the first electrode; a third transistor having a fifth end connected to the first electrode and a sixth end connected to an first power supply line; a fourth transistor having a seventh end connected to the first control electrode and a eighth end connected to the first end; a capacitive device which has a third electrode connected to first control electrode and a fourth electrode; and a fifth transistor having a ninth end connected to the fourth electrode and a tenth end connected to a data line.
US09100997B2

A method for transmitting control information from a control apparatus to an operating device for a light-emitting means may include a) modulating control information onto a supply line by means of the control apparatus during a modulation phase, wherein a switchable shunt of the device is connected between the first and second supply connections; b) decoding the control information in a decoder of the device; b1) activating the demodulation by the decoder when the absolute value for the voltage at the two supply connections falls below a first threshold value; and c) actuating a converter of the operating device in accordance with the decoded control information.
US09100991B2

An ergonomic armrest includes an outer surface layer formed of a pliable electrostatic discharge (ESD)-safe material. The ergonomic armrest also includes a first metal layer configured to structurally support the outer surface layer and transfer heat from a first edge of the ergonomic armrest proximate to a heat source to a second edge of the ergonomic armrest opposite the heat source. The ergonomic armrest further includes an insulating layer configured to reduce heat transfer from the heat source to the first metal layer.
US09100989B2

An approach is provided for discovering proximity-based and/or location-based services over an ad-hoc network. A request to share at least one content item from at least one device is determined. Further, one or more compressed representations of the at least one content item are generated, where the one or more compressed representations include at least one link for retrieving the at least one content item. Furthermore, the one or more compressed representations are broadcast in one or more broadcast messages over an ad-hoc network to one or more other devices.
US09100987B2

A method includes establishing an ad-hoc network between a borrower and at least two lenders of bandwidth and establishing one lender of the at least two lenders as a multiplexer to manage data flow over the ad-hoc network between the borrower and lenders of the at least two lenders of bandwidth. The method may include providing a computer infrastructure to perform the steps of the invention. A system is also provided which includes a server having a database containing data associated with one or more lenders and a borrower in an ad-hoc network and at least one hardware and/or software component. The system may further include computer usable medium having readable program code embodied in the medium to perform processes of the invention.
US09100984B2

A wireless device may be configured to operate in one of two modes where each mode uses a different channel list to perform operations in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 standard. In a first mode, the wireless device operates as an access point that sets up channels using one channel list in order to facilitate communications within a basic service set (BSS). In a second mode, the wireless device uses a second channel list to operate as a station and scan for a BSS. The first channel list contains a subset of the channels contained in the second channel list. The channels in each respective channel list may be reconfigured to adapt to changes in the configuration of a BSS and the devices communicating therein.
US09100964B2

The present disclosure generally relates to an uplink control signal design for wireless system. One example method of a subscriber station (SS) includes performing network entry in a multi-carrier wireless environment using a primary carrier, receiving timing information corresponding to the primary carrier, receiving a first control signaling via the primary carrier, the first control signaling assigning at least one secondary carrier, transmitting uplink data via the secondary carrier using an uplink transmission timing of the secondary carrier, the uplink transmission timing of the secondary carrier being assigned the same as an uplink transmission timing of the primary carrier, and determining an adjustment of the uplink transmission timing or frequency of the secondary carrier.
US09100958B2

A wireless device receives messages indicating CSI measurement resources of cells belonging to at least two base stations or belonging to at least two sectors of a base station. The wireless device measures CSI employing at least CSI measurement resources of the cells. The wireless device quantizes the measured CSI jointly across cells and encodes and transmits the jointly quantized CSI. The wireless device receives a resource assignment for data packet(s). The wireless device receives signals carrying the data packets from multiple cells.
US09100954B2

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting response information on downlink data through multiple information blocks to be bundled in a wireless system in a time division duplex (TDD) mode. The method for transmitting response information according to the present invention comprises the following steps: coding response information on the downlink data; scrambling the coded response information; and transmitting the scrambled response information to a base station, wherein, if a portion of the bits of the coded response information are information bits that indicate ACK/NACK on the downlink data, the scrambling step involves scrambling the coded response information using a specific scrambling sequence, and the specific scrambling sequence includes information on the number of information blocks to be bundled.
US09100951B2

Technology for concurrent transmission of various types of feedback information is disclosed. Different types of feedback information are processed according to a predetermined regime that can allow the various types of feedback information to be separated after combination and transmission to the receiving end of a communication link. Some predetermined regimes may include use of orthogonal carrier codes/sequences, mapping to I and Q branches in a dual branch architecture, and concatenation according to a predefined scheme. Consideration is also made for reducing transmission power levels while insuring transmission of important types of feedback information with respect to the various types of feedback information.
US09100948B2

A resource used by a wireless terminal device to communicate with a terminal device in an internal network is appropriately managed. In a communication system 201, an internal network connection device 102 allocates, to a wireless terminal device 150, 151, its own resource for communicating with a terminal device 161 in an internal network 51, transmits data received from the wireless terminal device 150, 151 via the wireless base station device 101, to the terminal device 161, and transmits data received from the terminal device 161, to the wireless terminal device 150, 151 via the wireless base station device 101. The internal network connection device 102 or the wireless base station device 101 determines whether or not the allocation of the resource to the wireless terminal device 150, 151 should be maintained. Upon receiving a determination that the allocation of the resource should not be maintained, the internal network connection device 102 cancels the allocation of the resource.
US09100938B2

In one example of digital relay for out of network devices, a communications device includes a detecting component configured to detect that one or more communication endpoints is within communication range, a message receiving component configured to receive a digital message from a first communication endpoint, and a message relaying component configured to transmit the digital message to the second communication endpoint, wherein the first communication endpoint and the second communication endpoint are not communicatively coupled to each other.
US09100935B2

A method and apparatus are disclosed for changing Time Division Duplex (TDD) Uplink (UL)-Downlink (DL) configuration. According to one embodiment, the method includes receiving by the UE a signaling for TDD UL-DL reconfiguration and changes from an old TDD UL-DL configuration to a new TDD UL-DL configuration. The method further includes considering by the UE before a specific timing that a number of Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel (PHICH) groups is determined by the old UL-DL configuration at least for overlapped non-UL subframes between the new TDD UL-DL configuration and the old TDD UL-DL configuration.
US09100918B2

A method is disclosed for saving power in a user equipment (UE), which includes discovering at least one available access technology radio access network (RAN) having at least one access technology type, switching off power to a removable Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) having subscription information for a second technology type different from a first technology type when a first technology type RAN is the only access technology RAN available, and establishing access to first technology type RAN user subscription information in a nonvolatile memory (NV) on the UE when a first technology type RAN is the only access technology RAN available.
US09100914B2

Methods and arrangements for enabling reduced battery consumption in a mobile terminal. A method involves determining a scheduling priority associated with the mobile terminal and/or a load level in a cell associated with the mobile terminal. The method further involves determining whether a criterion is fulfilled based on the determined scheduling priority and/or load level, where the criterion is associated with an anticipated waiting time until being scheduled. If the criterion is fulfilled the DRX settings of the mobile terminal are adjusted, such that said settings are in accordance with the anticipated waiting time associated with the criterion. Thereby, reduced battery consumption in the mobile terminal is enabled.
US09100912B2

A terminal intermittently operates while receiving paging information and other necessary information from a base station. In the terminal cycles of DRX with different lengths are combined in a hierarchy manner to determine an intermittent operation period. Upper DRX in the hierarchy has a longer cycle than lower DRX. A period using a cycle of the immediately lower DRX is determined based on information on the cycle of the upper DRX. An intermittent operation of a communication processing unit is controlled based on information on the cycle of DRX in a period using information on a cycle of the lowermost DRX.
US09100907B2

The present invention relates to the field of network communication technologies, and discloses a method, a device, and a system for establishing an on-demand route. The method includes: determining that a stable route needs to be established; establishing the stable route and recording a route entry corresponding to the stable route in a route table; determining an effective time of the stable route, in which the effective time of the stable route is longer than the effective time of another common route; and performing an aging operation on the route entry according to the effective time of the stable route.
US09100904B2

A method and system for matching bandwidth is provided. The method includes receiving by a first interface device, data. The data is divided into a plurality of data packets and stored within an internal buffer. A first data packet is transmitted to a first communication device communicatively coupled to the first interface device. The first data packet is transmitted from the first communication device to a second interface device via a first communication network. A second data packet is transmitted to a second communication device communicatively coupled to the first interface device. The second data packet is transmitted from the second communication device to the second interface device via a second communication network associated with the second communication device.
US09100899B2

An apparatus and method for mobile search using search triggers including establishing a search state for a mobile search; defining a search scheduler based on the search state; determining to collect a search trigger for the search scheduler based on the search state; updating the search state using the collected search trigger and in accordance with the search scheduler; and performing a search for a search type based on the updated search state and in accordance with the search scheduler.
US09100896B2

A method of updating repeatedly-transmitted information from a network to a user equipment in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The network transmits an indicator to the user equipment, the indicator indicating that repeatedly-transmitted information has been updated, and transmits the updated repeatedly-transmitted information to the user equipment in accordance with the indicator. The user equipment receives the updated repeatedly-transmitted information only if it receives an indicator from the network, the indicator indicating that the repeatedly-transmitted information has been updated.
US09100892B2

Methods and apparatus for dynamic, adaptive scanning of communication channels are provided. A device alternates between scan cycles and rest cycles. A scan cycle includes interleaved intervals of scanning and resting. A scan interval may involve active or passive scanning, and a rest interval may be active or inactive. An active rest interval is spent tending to a communication requirement other than scanning (e.g., an infrastructure connection, a peer-to-peer connection). An inactive rest interval may be spent in a low-power mode of operation. Rest cycles, like rest intervals, may also be active or inactive. Durations of rest cycles and rest intervals increase each time a scan cycle completes without detection of any significant event or signal (e.g., until they reach a maximum). Upon detection of a significant event, they decrease, possibly by being reset to default durations.
US09100886B2

A method is provided for performing handover of at least a first User Equipment from a first cell to a second cell in case of failure of the first cell.The first cell is controlled by a first Remote Radio Unit connected to a Main unit, and the second cell is controlled by a second Remote Radio Unit connected to the Main Unit, and the second cell has the same or a larger coverage area as the first cell. The method comprises the steps of monitoring the state of the connection between the first Remote Radio Unit and the Main Unit, and sending handover information to the User Equipment through the second cell using resources assigned for control signalling in said first cell, if the state of the connection between said first Remote Radio Unit and said Main Unit indicates that said first Remote Radio Unit has ceased to be functional
US09100883B2

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for data and/or control offloading and handover in heterogeneous wireless communication networks are provided. Data and/or control packets can be offloaded to a coordinating base station while a user equipment (UE) remains associated with its serving cell. The packets are still transferred between the serving base station and the core network, and the offloaded data and/or control packets are forwarded from the serving base station to the coordinating base station for transmission to the UE. Furthermore, during a handover process, the serving base station and coordinating base station may independently schedule and send a handover command to the UE to reduce the radio link failure rate.
US09100870B2

The present invention provides various methods for transmitting channel state information relative to one or more serving cells in a carrier-coupled environment, and devices for supporting the same. As one embodiment of the present invention, a method for reporting channel state information (CSI) in a wireless access system that supports carrier coupling comprises the steps of: allowing a terminal to receive information related to a CSI report mode for one or more serving cells from a base station; and allowing the terminal to report the channel state information (CSI) on the one or more serving cells to the base station by considering the CSI report mode. In this case, if first type CSI for a first serving cell and second type CSI for a second serving cell are transmitted on the same subframe, the terminal can report CSI for one serving cell only, to the base station, according to priorities of CSI report types related to the CSI report mode.
US09100867B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, determining an adaptive threshold from the average composite wideband power level, detecting narrow band interference according to the adaptive threshold, and configuring a filter to substantially suppress the detected narrow band interference. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09100866B2

According to one embodiment, a method for receiving a Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS) for measuring a channel includes: receiving CSI-RSs on resource elements (REs) in a subframe configured for the CSI-RSs from a base station, wherein if each CSI-RS of the received CSI-RSs is transmitted from each of four or more transmit antenna ports of the base station, at least two REs on which each CSI-RS is received are associated with each of the four or more transmit antenna ports; and transmitting channel state information based on the received CSI-RSs.
US09100863B2

A mobile carrier may selectively offload backhaul data traffic between cell sites and the core network to existing alternative relay networks to increase available backhaul bandwidth to meet higher data traffic demands without adding additional network ‘infrastructure. Data traffic may be offloaded from a cellular network to the alternative relay network based on at least one of a bandwidth capacity of the alternative relay network, a bandwidth availability of the alternative relay network, or a data class of the data. The amount of data that is offloaded to the alternative relay network may then be adjusted based on a blocking probability that is calculated for the alternative relay network.
US09100861B2

A system and method for transporting user-requested framed data from a gateway device to a handheld viewing device includes an information source, a gateway device, a relay network and a handheld viewing device. The gateway device includes a fetch and cache component, storage, and a wireless transport layer. The wireless transport layer delivers content from the gateway to the handheld viewing device. The user of the handheld device is then graphically presented with a representative form of the data and is thus able to manually select certain frames of data through a user interface.
US09100847B2

Systems, methods, and devices for determining an acquisition threshold boundary value and applying that boundary value to identify which incoming signals are directed to a device, based on matching the device syncword with the syncword for the incoming signal. For some implementations using ANT protocol, syncwords composed of the last four bits of the preamble and first 14 bits of the network address identify each device. Incoming syncwords are correlated with the device's syncword, and the correlation compared to threshold boundary value which is based on the characteristics of the individual syncword, including syncword bit stream inter-symbol interference.
US09100844B2

A method and apparatus of selecting which of a plurality of receiver chains of a mobile unit to receive wireless signals, is disclosed. One method includes measuring a first receive signal quality while all of the plurality of receiver chains are receiving wireless signals, and measuring a second receive signal quality while a subset of the plurality of receiver chains are receiving wireless signals. The subset of the plurality of receiver chains are selected to receive wireless signal unless the first receive signal quality is a threshold better than the second receive signal quality. If the first receive signal quality is a threshold better than the second receive signal quality then all the plurality of receiver chains are selected to receive wireless signals.
US09100837B2

A radio communication system, a radio communication method, a radio base station and a control station in which, even when a radio base station performs state control, radio parameters in neighboring base stations may efficiently and appropriately be self-optimized, are disclosed. The radio communication system includes a plurality of radio base stations (eNB1, eNB2 and eNB3) and a control station (O&M (OMC)) connected to the radio base stations. One of the radio base stations notifies state control information including information regarding the state control to the control station before or after execution of state control in the one radio base station. The control station notifies at least one of management information regarding the radio parameter updated in accordance with the state control and the state control information to the radio base stations connected to the control station, with the exclusion of the one radio base station that notified the state control information.
US09100834B2

The inventive methods and apparatus disclosed herein allocate and assign uplink reference signals to cells (104, 106) within a cell cluster (100, 302, 402, 502) based on the type of cell. According to an embodiment, uplink reference signals are allocated within a cell cluster (100, 102, 302, 402, 502) by partitioning a set of uplink reference signals allocated to the cell cluster (100, 102, 302, 402, 502) into mutually exclusive subsets of uplink reference signals. One of the subsets is allocated to each of the border cells (104) and the entire set of uplink reference signals is allocated to the interior cells (106). Accordingly, more uplink reference signals are available for assignment to mobile devices (310, 410, 510) served by the interior cells (106) than by the border cells (104). In one embodiment, uplink reference signals are statically or semi-dynamically assigned to mobile devices (310, 410, 510) served within the border cells (104) and dynamically assigned to mobile devices (310, 410, 510) served within the interior cells (106).
US09100833B2

A base station apparatus for operation as part of an access network of a mobile telecommunications network includes; a housing; a radio interface unit and a core network interface unit in the housing; a network line section between the radio interface unit and the core network interface unit; and a measuring apparatus, operatively connected to the network line section. The measuring apparatus is configured to detect at least one line parameter of the network line section, the at least one line parameter including a line parameter from the group of line parameters consisting of: the input impedance of the network line section; the insulation value of the network line section; the capacitance of the network line section; and the inductance of the network line section.
US09100828B2

In one or more embodiments, a first device such as a mobile phone can establish a wireless connection with second device, and the second device can act as a bridge between the first device and a peripheral device, such as a printer, so that the first device need not establish a secure pairing or other type of direct connection with the peripheral device. The second device provides a profile of the peripheral to the first device. The first device can then use the profile to access the peripheral device via the second device, with the second device passing data between the first device and the peripheral identified by the profile. This bridging feature simplifies the process of using the peripheral devices, since no secure pairing or other configuration procedure is needed to enable the first device to access the peripheral.
US09100804B2

A data message is received from a machine-to-machine (M2M) device over a mobile communication network. The data message includes: a Machine Identification (MID) number of a machine coupled to the M2M device and/or an identifier of the M2M device; location information of the machine; and an alert based on a condition of the machine satisfying a service or alarm criterion. A database associated with the application server is searched for different solutions for the machine satisfying a service or alarm criterion. The machine is then matched with one or more providers that can service the machine for each solution. A tailored response data message, based on the machine location information, the identified condition and the matched provider(s), is sent to the user of the machine.
US09100803B2

Methods and systems for managing a pool of subscriber identities, and wirelessly provisioning mobile devices to use one or more of the subscriber identities when a subscriber is roaming on a different network. When a subscriber's mobile device connects to a visited network, a subscriber identity server can be notified. The subscriber identity server may have access to a plurality of available subscriber identities (e.g., registered to various service providers), and may select a suitable subscriber identity matching the subscriber's visited network. The subscriber identity can be communicated to the subscriber's mobile device, which can be reprogrammed to assume the new subscriber identity.
US09100801B2

A Wi-Fi direct communication system and method are used for regenerating a group of an electronic device in the Wi-Fi direct communication system, and an operation mode is determined in information of an obtained profile. When the operation mode is a group owner mode, the electronic device is set to an automatic group owner. At least one device included in the profile information is retrieved, and the retrieved device is invited to the group. When the invitation is completed, the group regeneration is completed.
US09100800B2

A questionnaire system in which a mobile device is used by user to create questionnaires and send it to other recipients. The questionnaire is created by user of a mobile device using audio inputs for a questionnaire preamble and question preambles. A server in the network incorporates other generic portions of the questionnaire as necessary. Thus, a user can make adhoc questionnaires, send them to recipients and receive the results provided by the recipients from their respective mobile devices.
US09100797B2

A method is provided for exchanging information to locate a key fob. The method comprises transmitting a wireless locator signal from a first portable wireless device, the wireless locator signal conveying the identity of the first portable wireless device and receiving a first once-adjusted wireless locator signal from a distant wireless device locator system, the first once-adjusted wireless locator signal comprising at least some information conveyed in the wireless locator signal.
US09100795B2

An apparatus, method, and system for determining geofence data based on estimated time of arrival are provided. At a computing device, geofence data is determined, wherein geographic boundaries associated with the geofence data are based on a given estimated time of arrival (ETA) from one of the given location and a current location of a handheld communication device. Given location data associated with the given location is transmitted to the handheld communication device, via a communication interface, when the current location of the handheld communication device and the given location are each within the geographic boundaries such that the handheld communication device is transportable to the given location within the given estimated time of arrival.
US09100794B2

Disclosed herein is a mobile communicator that includes a contact operable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and positioned to complete an electric circuit when the contact is in the closed position thereby activating the mobile communicator and providing the mobile communicator with functionality. The mobile communicator includes a display, a notification mechanism, a user interface, a transmitter and a receiver. Further, the mobile communicator includes an initial default disabled state. The mobile communicator remains in the initial default disabled state even when the contact is in the closed position and the activating electrical circuit is complete. A logic of the enabling system is configured to change the initial default disabled state of the mobile communicator to an enabled state, wherein the at least one of the plurality of functions become enabled, when a condition is satisfied.
US09100788B2

A system, device and method for a proximity sensor network are disclosed. The proximity detection device includes a short range wireless receiver, a wireless network transceiver; and a controller connected to the receiver and transceiver. The device receives a short-range radio signal from a user's mobile communications device, and locates the user and takes various actions based on the identity of the user.
US09100787B2

Techniques for initiating and, if desired, modifying location services for Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) and other location architectures are described. To initiate SUPL service, a SUPL Location Platform (SLP) transmits a SUPL initial session message applicable to any service request to a SUPL enabled terminal (SET) and receives in response the service capabilities of the SET. The SLP selects and requests service from the SET consistent with the service capabilities of the SET. The SET may initiate SUPL service by requesting the service capabilities of the SLP. The SET selects and requests service from the SLP that is consistent with the service capabilities received from the SLP. The SET and SLP communicate to determine a position estimate for the SET. The service may be modified before or while communicating between the SET and the SLP to determine a position estimate for the SET.
US09100778B2

The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method for determining a wireless access point location. The method includes a step for receiving session data from at least one mobile device, wherein each instance of the received session data includes one or more global positioning system (GPS) data points, one or more sensor data points, and one or more WiFi scan data points, wherein the one or more WiFi scan data points are associated with one or more wireless access points (WAPs). The method also includes a step for calculating a location of at least one of the one or more WAPs using at least a portion from each of the received one or more global positioning system (GPS) data points, the one or more sensor data points, and the one or more WiFi scan data points.
US09100772B2

An approach is provided for multi-device media presentation. One or more neighboring devices are detected based, at least in part, on a request to present one or more media files at at least one device. One or more media presentation capabilities of the one or more neighboring devices are determined. At least one subgroup of the at least one device, the one or more neighboring devices, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the one or more media presentation capabilities is formed. A layout comprising the at least one subgroup for a multi-device presentation of the one or more media files is determined.
US09100765B2

An audio or video enhancement module incorporates advanced audio enhancement effects. These advanced effects cover a wide range including but not limited to 3D audio spatialization (virtualization) and transient enhancement. The device is configured for receiving an audio input signal, in analog or digital form, enhancing the received signal, and transmitting an output audio signal having the enhanced effects embedded in the signal. The output signal may be either digital or audio. Further, the output signal may be a mono signal, a stereo signal, a MIDI signal, or a multichannel signal (such as 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, etc.). User input to the module is provided to control the amount of audio enhancement.
US09100764B2

Disclosed herein, among other things, is an apparatus for connection to a hearing assistance device having a DAI compatible interface compatible with direct audio input (DAI) signals. According to an embodiment, the apparatus includes a connector to connect to the DAI-compatible interface. The connector includes audio and ground connections compatible with the DAI-compatible interface. The connector further includes a power connection adapted to provide power to the hearing assistance device. The apparatus also includes a power source electrically connected to the connector. The power source is adapted to charge one or more energy storing devices, such as batteries, within the hearing assistance device, according to various embodiments. In an embodiment, the power source is adapted to supplement power provided to the hearing assistance device by the one or more energy storing devices within the device.
US09100756B2

Digital signal processing microphone occlusion detection is described that can be used with a noise suppression system that uses two types of noise estimators, including a more aggressive one based on two audio signals (such as for non-stationary noises) and a less aggressive one based on one audio signal (such as for stationary noises). Decisions are made on how to select or combine the outputs of the noise estimators into a usable noise estimate, based on an occlusion function. The occlusion detection may alternatively be used to trigger an alert to users of multi-microphone audio processing systems, such as smart phones, headsets, laptops and tablet computers. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US09100751B2

A docking station for sound amplification and sound quality enhancement is provided. The docking station includes a support structure for holding a mobile terminal having an internal speaker to sustain the posture of the mobile terminal, and a body for supporting the support structure, and for physically contacting the speaker to increase the volume of sound output from the speaker. The body includes a collecting hole for contacting the speaker to collect sound waves, and a guide hole that extends from the collecting hole through the body to the outside along an extension direction, is divided into two branches within the body to guide the collected sound waves along different paths, and has a horn shape whose cross section increases along the extension direction. Hence, the docking station can increase the volume of audible sound and sound quality without separate supply of power.
US09100750B2

A loudspeaker comprising a housing and a membrane mounted in said housing, which membrane can be set vibrating so as to produce sound, wherein the loudspeaker has at least one sound channel which extends between the membrane and the outer side of the housing, and wherein one or more local sound barriers are provided in the sound channel, which sound barriers locally block at least 15% of the cross-sectional area of the sound channel, such that amplification of the sound pressure occurs in the audible frequency range due to resonance.
US09100746B2

A mobile terminal handwriting pen is provided, and the handwriting pen is integrated with an earphone. The handwriting pen includes: a pen nib, which is an earphone plug; a pen body, one end of which is fixedly connected to the pen nib, and the other end is movably connected to a pen cap, wherein, an earphone cord is set within the pen body, and both ends of the earphone cord are respectively connected with the earphone plug and an earplug; and the pen cap, which movably cooperates and connects with the pen body and on which the earplug is set. The present invention has a simple structure and less production cost, and it is easy to be standardized and massively produced, which is convenient for usage and promotion.
US09100745B2

Modular audio headphone devices comprise a first user-wearable accessory and at least one headphone configured for releasable attachment to the first user-wearable accessory. The at least one headphone comprises a speaker. A speaker housing is coupled to the speaker and may be configured to form an acoustic cavity proximate at least a portion of the speaker. The at least one headphone may be configured to provide a first emitted sound pressure level (SPL) profile over a range of frequencies when the at least one headphone is attached to the first user-wearable accessory, and to provide a different second emitted SPL profile over the range of frequencies when the at least one headphone is not attached to the first user-wearable accessory.
US09100738B2

A loudspeaker includes a motor assembly including a magnet having a first face and a second face, a back plate abutting the magnet first face, a pole piece centrally disposed with respect to the back plate and extending beyond the magnet second face, and a top plate concentrically disposed with respect to the pole piece and extending beyond the magnet second face. A non-magnetic conducting frame is attached to the top plate, a non-magnetic conducting cap is disposed within the motor assembly and encircling the pole piece, a first non-magnetic conducting ring is disposed within the motor assembly and encircling the pole piece, and at least one second non-magnetic conducting ring is disposed within the motor assembly and abutting the back plate.
US09100731B2

A low power microphone circuit for a vehicle is provided that includes: at least one microphone transducer; a digital signal processor for receiving output signals from the at least one microphone transducer and for generating a digitally processed audio signal; an output amplifier for amplifying the audio signal from the digital signal processor and modulating an input voltage with the audio signal; and a DC power supply for supplying power to the digital signal processor. The output amplifier and the DC power supply may be electrically coupled in series. The DC power supply and the output amplifier may be powered by the input current, where the input current is no greater than about 6 mA.
US09100728B2

Described is an apparatus and method employing one or more environmental instruments in communication with a communication server that monitors the operation of the environmental instruments based on a task schedule.
US09100726B2

A media (e.g., Blu-Ray) first content package includes a link to an application for sending second content to a remote device, especially a mobile telephone. The application is included in the first content. The second content is not included in the first content. The application presents a list of second content choices, selectable by a user. The application receives a destination address for the second content from user input and sends the destination address to a second content server. The second content server contacts the remote device having the indicated destination address, and confirms that receipt of second content will be accepted. Upon receiving confirmation, the second content server transmits the second content to the remote device. The technology may be used to provide content to mobile devices, such as mobile phones, in association with distributed media such as Blu-Ray discs configured for being played by a media player.
US09100725B2

A recording and reproducing apparatus for displaying a content file list, a content file list displaying method and a recording medium storing a program performing the method, which are capable of easily identifying a paused content file and memorizing a point of the content file which reproducing is paused and content of the content file at the paused point, are provided. The method includes: determining whether or not a paused content file exists; creating a content file list capable of identifying the paused content file with reference to the result of the determination; and displaying the created content file list.
US09100712B2

A content downloader system including a display for displaying a user interface enabling a user to select content to be downloaded and initiate downloading; a set-top-box coupled to the display for providing the user interface and for receiving an Indication of the content to be downloaded; and a content downloader coupled to and separate from the set-top-box, the content downloader for receiving the content. The content downloader has at least one memory component for storing content, at least one input/output connection for communicating to electronic devices, optionally including a removable memory card and optionally including an encryption/decryption unit. The content downloader may have an identification whereby its identity is authenticated by the content provider. The content downloader downloads the content selected by the user after successful authentication whereby the selection is made using the display and the set-top-box, and the content downloaded to the content downloader separate than the set-top-box.
US09100692B2

According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a first display, a transmitter and a controller. The first display is configured to display first video. The transmitter is configured to transmit second video to a second electronic device having a second display. The controller is configured to determine a first resolution of the second video based on the first video, to convert the second video to the first resolution, and to transmit the converted second video to the second electronic device.
US09100689B2

A content moving device which enables providing content stored on a first user device, such as a DVR, in a first format and resolution to be provided to a second user device, such as a portable media player (PMP) in a second format and resolution. The content moving device identifies content on the first user device as candidate content which may be desired by the PMP and receives the candidate content from the DVR. The content moving device transcodes the candidate content at times independent of a request from the PMP for the content. The content moving device may provide a list of available transcoded content to the PMP for selection, and provide selected content to the PMP. The content moving device may also provide information relating to any protection schemes of the content provided to the PMP, such as DRM rights and decryption keys. The content moving device performs the often computationally intense and time consuming transcoding of user content to enable the user to move content between different user devices in a convenient manner.
US09100678B2

An image display method comprises uploading images from a terminal of users to a server via a network, storing the images uploaded by the users in the server, calculating a value of the stored images, displaying a predetermined number of images among the stored images at the terminal in a manner in accordance with the value of the images.
US09100673B2

A digital broadcasting transmission and/or reception system having an improved reception performance and a signal-processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter comprises a TRS encoder for to TRS-encode a MPEG-2 transmission stream having null data for inserting a Known data and a TRS parity at predetermined positions, randomizer to input and randomize data stream from the TRS encoder, a null packet exchanger to replace the null data for inserting the Known data to the known data, and an encoder for encoding a data streams to which the Known data is inserted. Accordingly, the present invention detects the known data from a signal received from a reception side and uses the detected known data for synchronization and equalization and further uses the TRS parity for correcting error of the received signal, so that the digital broadcasting reception performance can be improved at poor multipath channels.
US09100671B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for supporting a variable-length transport packet in an Audio/Video (AV) communication system. Data to be transmitted is determined. It is determined whether a transport packet is the variable-length transport packet. A header having information indicating whether the transport packet is the variable-length transport packet is generated. When the transport packet is the variable-length transport packet, an optional header having length information of the transport packet is generated, and the data and the transport packet having the header and the optional header, are transmitted. When the transport packet is not the variable-length transport packet, the determined data and the transport packet having the header are transmitted.
US09100654B2

An apparatus and method for video watermarking are provided. The apparatus and method include receiving a bit stream encoded by a video encoder by a spatial domain information analyzer and extracting information from a spatial domain of an image with respect to code words forming the bit stream, grouping the code words for each segmented domain by a domain classifier based on the information from the spatial domain, determining a sign of the each segmented domain by a domain sign determiner and inserting a watermark in the each segmented domain according to the sign determined by the domain sign determiner by a watermark bit inserter.
US09100649B2

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for encoding or decoding a video signal. The method for processing a video signal according to the present invention determines the type of a block in accordance with the information which indicates whether to partition or merge the current block, acquires predicted values of each sub-block using restored peripheral pixels for each sub-block, and restores the current block using the acquired values. Here, pixels used for acquiring predicted values may include restored pixels for other sub-blocks contained in the current block, and the type of sub-blocks can be taken into account in a prediction mode for acquiring predicted values.
US09100645B2

The stereopsis display device comprises: a scan driver, transmitting a plurality of scan signals to a plurality of scan lines; a gate driver, transmitting a plurality of gate signals to a plurality of gate lines; a data driver, transmitting a plurality of data signals to a plurality of data lines; a controller controlling the scan driver, the gate driver, and the data driver, generating image data signals corresponding to a left-eye image period and a right-eye image period respectively, during one frame, and supplying them to the data driver; and a display unit, including a plurality of pixels, connected to a corresponding scan line, among the plurality of scan lines, the plurality of gate lines, and a corresponding data line, among the plurality of data lines.
US09100644B2

A stereoscopic image display device includes a scan driver, a data driver, a light emission control driver, a display unit including a plurality of pixels, and a controller controlling the scan driver, the data driver, and the light emission control driver. The controller generates image data signals corresponding to a left-eye image display period, a right-eye image display period, and a black image display period during one frame and supplies the image data signals to the data driver. The black image display period, in which a black image according to the black data signal is displayed, and a shutter stabilization period, in which a left eye glass and a right eye glass of shutter spectacles are opened/closed, overlap each other between the left-eye image display period and the right-eye image display period.
US09100640B2

A monoscopic video camera may capture, via at least one image sensor, two-dimensional video, and may capture, via at least one depth sensor, corresponding depth information for the captured two-dimensional video. The monoscopic video camera may then configure color related processing of video information corresponding to objects in the captured 2D video based on the captured corresponding depth information. Configuring color processing may comprise setting and/or adjusting color information associated with the objects. In this regard, setting and/or adjusting color information may be based on shadow, shade, and/or edge related information associated with the objects, which may be generated and/or modified based on the captured corresponding depth information based on the captured corresponding depth information. Configuring color processing may be based on surrounding regions adjacent to the objects. The surrounding regions adjacent to the objects may be determined based on the captured corresponding depth information.
US09100624B2

An image processing apparatus includes a plurality of sensors arrange for reading different patches in a chart for color correction that includes a plurality of patches, a unit configured to acquire information on a color gamut, a color gamut division unit configured to divide the acquired color gamut into divided color gamuts, a determination unit configured to determine a plurality of patches to be used in a measurement of each divided color gamut, and a chart data generation unit configured to generate chart data of the chart in such a way as to allow one and the same sensor of the plurality of sensors to measure the plurality of patches of a respective divided color gamut determined by the determination unit.
US09100621B2

An intra prediction method and a device using the intra prediction method are provided. The intra prediction method includes the steps of: deriving a current prediction mode as a prediction mode of a current block; constructing neighboring samples of the current block with available reference samples; filtering the available reference samples; and generating predicted samples of the current block on the basis of the filtered available reference samples. The filtering step includes performing the filtering using the available reference sample located in the prediction direction of the current prediction mode and a predetermined number of available reference samples neighboring to the prediction direction of the current prediction mode.
US09100620B2

A system and method for automatically adding a color bar as a rendering job ticket attribute and dynamically generating the color bar based on the rendering job attribute. The color bar can be added in association with the rendering job ticket along with a set of sub-attributes that include parameters associated with the color bar. The dynamic color bar can be automatically configured to include spot colors associated with the rendering job and the parameters can be specified in a device-independent way. Upon receiving the rendering job with the dynamic color bar attribute, the rendering device can render each page of the job in association with the color bar. The dynamic color bar generation instructions can be detected in the job ticket generated by a print driver thereby enhancing the use of the color bar in a color rendering application.
US09100616B2

A method and apparatus for displaying a plurality of secondary images based on image data of a primary image include displaying a primary image and a plurality of secondary images based on the image data of the primary image. Each of the plurality of secondary images is displayed having a size based on a relevance of each respective one of the plurality of secondary images to the primary image. The primary image can be selected from a plurality of images or a frame of a video. Subsets of secondary images can be displayed in clusters including images having content similar to particular content of the primary image.
US09100614B2

A method of facilitating navigation of a graphical user interface is presented. In the method, an image associated with the graphical user interface is generated for presentation to a user. The image includes a plurality of image elements, wherein the image elements collectively occupy less than the entirety of the image. An input indicating a location not coinciding with at least one of the image elements is received. One of the image elements is selected based upon the proximity of the location with the one of the image elements.
US09100608B2

Provided is a tilt angle correction apparatus including a deriving unit that based on pixel values of plural pixels corresponding to a predetermined side of an original document of image information obtained by reading the original document, derives a tilt angle of the side relative to a predetermined reference and derives a degree of reliability of the derived tilt angle, and a correction unit that corrects a direction of an image shown by the image information, based on the derived tilt angle when the degree of reliability is over a predetermined threshold.
US09100607B2

Disclosed is an image display apparatus that sets a thinning rate, determined according to a designated display magnification ratio, with reference to plural display magnification ratio ranges, and a predetermined thinning rate determined in association with each display magnification ratio range, stores page image data, obtained from an apparatus storing information about the job, into a storage section by thinning page image data, pasts the thinned page image into a frame having a size according to the designated display magnification ratio, and displays the image pasted into the frame. When a display magnification ratio is changed within an identical display magnification ratio range, the image display apparatus pastes, by utilizing page image data according to a thinning rate before the change, the page image after magnifying it to fit into a frame having a size according to a display magnification ratio after the change.
US09100602B2

Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device including a pixel array, two vertical scanning circuits, and a control part. The pixel array has a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form. The two vertical scanning circuits are configured to sequentially select and scan each of the pixels in a vertical direction per row. The control part is configured to generate, based on a mode signal corresponding to an imaging mode, a driving switch signal to stop driving of one of the two vertical scanning circuits.
US09100596B2

A communication device is provided, which includes a controller configured to select a first bandwidth, calculates a first communication time for transmitting data using the first bandwidth, to sum one or more periods of a first charging unit time for the first bandwidth to calculate a second communication time that is equal to or longer than the first communication time and closest to the first communication time, to calculate a data amount of a terminal data section to be transmitted within a last period of the first charging unit time, and to select a second bandwidth for transmitting the terminal data section at a lowest communication fee within a second charging unit time for the second bandwidth, the controller controlling a communication unit to transmit data other than the terminal data section using the first bandwidth and transmit the terminal data section using the second bandwidth.
US09100583B2

An image processing apparatus includes an image obtaining portion 200 that obtains a first and second images having exposures different from each other, a region selecting portion 203 that selects a first region different from a region containing a luminance saturation part from the first image, and that selects a second region corresponding to the region containing the luminance saturation part of the first image from the second image, an image restoration processing portion 201 that performs an image restoration processing using an image restoration filter generated based on an optical transfer function for the first region of the first image and the second region of the second image, and an image replacing portion 202 that replaces the region containing the luminance saturation part of the first image with the second region of the second image so as to synthesize the first and second regions to generate one image.
US09100581B2

Samples of a scene are acquired in synchronization with finely interleaved varying conditions such as lighting, aperture, focal length, and so forth. A time-varying sample at each pixel for each condition is reconstructed. Time multiplexed interleaving allows for real-time, live applications, while handling motion blur naturally. Effects such as real-time video relighting of a scene is possible. Time interleaved exposures also allow segmentation of a scene, and allows for constrained special effects such as triangulation matting using a multi-color interleaved chroma key.
US09100574B2

Systems (490), methods (340), and machine-readable and executable instructions (428) are provided for depth mask assisted video stabilization. Depth mask assisted video stabilization can include creating a first depth mask from a first frame (101, 201) and a second depth mask from a second frame (102, 202) to obtain depth information (342) and defining a first list of feature points (111-1a, 111-2a, 111-3a, 111-4a, 113-1a, 113-2a, 113-3a, 113-4a, 113-5a) from the first frame (101, 201) and a second list of feature points (111-1b, 111-2b, 111-3b, 111-4b, 113-1b, 113-2b, 113-3b, 113-4b, 113-5b) from the second frame (102, 202) (344). Depth mask assisted video stabilization can also include comparing feature points from the first list of feature points (111-1a-111-4a, 113-1a-113-5a) with feature points from the second list of feature points (111-1b-111-4b, 113-1b-113-5b) to find a number of common feature point pairs (111-1a, 111-1b), (111-2a, 111-2b), (111-3a, 111-3b), (111-4a, 111-4b), (113-1a, 113-1b), (113-2a, 113-2b), (113-3a, 113-3b), (113-4a, 113-4b), (113-5a, 113-5b)) (345) and creating a number of motion matrices from the common feature point pairs ((111-1a, 111-1b), (111-2a, 111-2b), (111-3a, 111-3b), (111-4a, 111-4b), (113-1a, 113-1b), (113-2a, 113-2b), (113-3a, 113-3b), (113-4a, 113-4b), (113-5a, 113-5b)) (346). Depth mask assisted video stabilization can also include including the motion matrices in a correction matrix (348) and applying the inverse of the correction matrix to the second frame (102, 202) to perform video stabilization (350).
US09100549B2

Methods, devices, computer program products and systems are provided for referring media content at communication devices, such as wireless communication devices. The methods, systems and devices allow for all forms of media content to be referred, such as audio, video, multimedia content and the like and, in particular advertising content. In addition, the methods, systems and devices provide for the content providers to optimize the delivery schedules and/or methods of delivery based on the volume of referrals. In addition, by tracking the volume of referrals, content providers can alter billing structure, such as advertising rates associated with advertising content.
US09100547B2

This invention relates to a system (2000) for providing individual users access to audio/visual content which has been broadcast to a plurality of users on a scheduled basis. The system comprises means for storing the content, means for enabling a user to download the content in the form of a downloadable file, and means for enabling a user to view the content by opening and playing the downloaded file. The means for opening and playing the downloaded file preferably being adapted to open and/or play the downloaded file only within a fixed time period after the scheduled broadcast time of the content.
US09100545B2

In certain embodiments, an imaging device includes an image sensor that includes a detector array. The detector array includes a plurality of detectors operable to receive a charge generated by light. The detector array also includes a plurality of detector sub-arrays each including one or more of the plurality of detectors. The one or more detectors of each detector sub-array are in a time delay and integration (TDI) configuration. The image sensor of the imaging device is operable to, for each of the plurality of detector sub-arrays of the detector array, generate an image signal corresponding to a scan of an object.
US09100537B2

A method and apparatus are provided for motion estimation in a sequence of images. One or more motion vectors representing movement of a camera or viewer position or direction are determined between each pair of fields or frames in the sequence of images. A set of candidate motion vectors is then determined for deriving positions of objects in a field or frame from the positions of objects in a previous field or frame. This set of candidate motion vectors is adjusted using the motion vectors representing movement of camera or viewer position and thus a set of motion vectors is derived for a sequence of images using the adjusted set of candidate motion vectors.
US09100535B2

A device for motion estimation in video image data is provided. The device comprises a motion estimation unit (11, 21) for estimating a current motion vector for an area of a current image by determining a set of temporal and/or spatial candidate motion vectors and selecting a best motion vector from the set of candidate motion vectors. The motion estimation unit (11, 21) is further adapted for substantially doubling one or more of the candidate motion vectors and for including the one or more substantially doubled candidate motion vectors in the set of candidate motion vectors.
US09100532B2

An image processing apparatus includes an output signal obtaining unit that is connected to a pixel group having a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel and obtains a first output signal, a second output signal, and a third output signal, a spectral sensitivity determination unit that determines a first spectral sensitivity, a second spectral sensitivity, and a third spectral sensitivity, which are spectral sensitivities of the first, second, and third output signals, respectively, with respect to a wavelength of incident light entering the pixel group, an output signal amplification unit that amplifies the first, second, and third output signals based on the first, second, and third spectral sensitivities, respectively, and an image generation unit calculates pixel values of the first pixel, the second pixel, and the third pixel from the first output signal, the second output signal, and the third output signal amplified, and generates an image.
US09100529B2

A power supply unit includes a first power supply configured to supply electric power to a load using electric power supplied from an external power source; a second power supply configured to store the electric power supplied from the external power source and supply the stored electric power to the load; a no-power detecting unit configured to monitor a voltage of the external power source and detect no electric power from the external power source; and an output switching unit configured to switch the electric power to be supplied to the load to the electric power supplied from the second power supply when the no-power detecting unit detects no electric power. A first setting value that is a target output voltage of the first power supply is larger than a second setting value that is a target output voltage of the second power supply.
US09100524B2

A plurality of edges of sensor substrates are connected in a longitudinal direction in a sensor substrate unit. Farthest tips of sensor chips at the edges of the sensor substrates are positioned inside of farthest edges of the edges in the longitudinal direction. The edges of the connected sensor substrates overlap each other in a thickness direction of the sensor substrates in plan view.
US09100521B2

An image reading apparatus includes: an opening/closing portion configured to be rotatable around a hinge shaft; a biasing portion configured to apply a force to the opening/closing portion such that moment of the hinge shaft rotation higher than moment of the hinge shaft rotation according to self-weight of the opening/closing member is generated in a state in which the opening/closing portion is placed in a range up to a predetermined rotation angle from a closed position with respect to the apparatus main body, and moment of the hinge shaft rotation that is balanced with the moment of the hinge shaft rotation according to the self-weight of the opening/closing portion is generated in a state in which the opening/closing portion is opened more than the predetermined rotation angle; and a holding portion configured to maintain the opening/closing portion at the closed position.
US09100517B2

A set value management service updates virtual configuration data of an image forming apparatus, returns a response including a notification instruction that instructs image forming apparatus to notify surrounding image forming apparatus that virtual configuration data has been updated in response to virtual configuration data acquisition request from the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus performs an update notification indicating that virtual configuration data has been updated to the surrounding image forming apparatus in response to the notification instruction included in the response. Then, the surrounding image forming apparatus that received the notification performs virtual configuration data acquisition request to the set value management service.
US09100515B2

An image forming apparatus is connected to an information processing device and at least one external image forming apparatus through a communication circuit. The image forming apparatus includes a communication section, an image forming section, an image processing section, and an assignment control section. The image processing section performs image processing on print data received from the information processing device. The assignment control section determines a print destination for processed print data subjected to image processing by the image processing section from the image forming apparatus of its own and the at least one external image forming apparatus.
US09100514B2

Methods and systems for coded rolling shutter are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, methods and system are provided that control the readout timing and exposure length for each row of a pixel array in an image sensor, thereby flexibly sampling the three-dimensional space-time value of a scene and capturing sub-images that effectively encode motion and dynamic range information within a single captured image.
US09100509B1

Techniques for efficient coding of digital media data are presented. A resource controller component dynamically allocates computing resources between an estimator component and a coder component. The estimator component generates initial motion estimation of a raw video frame of a sequence, based on a previous raw video frame, in parallel with the coder component encoding the previous raw video frame to generate a reconstructed previous video frame. The coder component encodes the raw video frame based on the reconstructed previous video frame. The coder component can dynamically allocate initial subsets of bits for respective coding units of the raw video frame based on residual data identified from the initial motion estimation. After completing encoding of a specified number of coding units, the coder component can dynamically adjust bit assignments for remaining coding units of the raw video frame based on initial residual data and identified real residual data.
US09100507B2

The present invention relates generally to a customer premises based method for detecting the presence of a micro-filter on a VDSL connection. According to certain aspects, the method uses SELT test signals that are transmitted from the customer premises modem and whose associated echo signals are received and analyzed by the customer premises modem. According to further aspects, specific characteristics of several different SELT signals are utilized to robustly and effectively determine the presence or absence of the micro-filter/splitter.
US09100492B2

Provided is a mobile communication terminal including: a camera module which captures an image of a set area; a microphone module which, when a sound including a voice of a user is input, extracts a sound level corresponding to the sound and a sound generating position; and a control module which estimates a position of a lip of the user from the image, extracts a voice level from the sound level corresponding to the position of the lip of the user and a voice generating position from the sound generating position, and recognizes the voice of the user based on at least one of the voice level and the voice generating position.
US09100483B1

A work schedule for an employee, such as a contact center agent, may indicate various time periods when the agent should be engaging in specific types of work activities during their work shift. During the work shift, the agent may indicate an activity code identifying a type of work activity the agent is presently engaged in. The agent may deviate from the planned work schedule in various ways, including by starting later than the scheduled start time or leaving earlier than the scheduled end time. The agent may be allowed to “make up” a work-related time deficiency by working through a scheduled break or working earlier or past their scheduling work shift. If the agent successfully makes up the work-related deficiency within a time limit, then no improper deviation from the planned schedule is noted. Otherwise, a work-related deficiency condition may be recorded.
US09100480B2

A contact center is described along with various methods and mechanisms for administering the same. The contact center proposed herein provides the ability to, among other things, reward positive agent behavior and performance by providing the agent with rewards and incentives. The rewards and incentives are provided to the agent by altering one or more aspects of the routing logic in the contact center.
US09100477B2

A method includes receiving a notification that indicates that a call from a caller has been received at a remote network-based messaging system at a computer terminal. The computer terminal is connected to the remote network-based messaging system via a data connection. The method includes displaying a pop-up view at the computer terminal to notify a subscriber of the call. The pop-up view includes call screening options and an option to add information identifying the caller to an electronic address book that is not a call log. The method includes sending a request to intercept the call from the computer terminal to the remote network-based messaging system via the data connection and sending information that indicates a destination device from the computer terminal to the remote network based messaging system. The call is routed from the remote network-based messaging system to the destination device.
US09100476B1

A caller information server provides caller identification (ID) information to a mobile device. The server receives caller ID information from local address books stored on multiple mobile devices. The caller information server aggregates the received caller ID information to generate a pooled address book. The caller information server may determine whether names within the caller ID information are legitimate and store or filter the information accordingly. When a mobile device receives a call from a telephone number for which it lacks caller ID information in its local address book, the mobile device sends a request for the caller ID information for the telephone number, to the caller information server. The server identifies caller ID information associated with the telephone number in the pooled address book, and sends this information to the mobile device.
US09100474B2

This invention is about WCTS Server System, WCTS Terminal and Method to provide Caption Telephone Service. By using voice in wireless and data network, WCTS Sever System provides Wireless Captioned Telephone Service, WCTS), which is one of Telecommunication Relay Service Types. This invention provides convenience by providing the same method of non-handicapped person with WCTS terminal when a deaf person who can speak is speaking on the phone with non-handicapped person. On the other hand, this invention also provides the method of direct dialing to a deaf person who can speak, not the method of indirect dialing that uses representative number of relay center.
US09100473B2

A method and system for displaying and producing computer based documents seamlessly to users that relate to their telephone calls is provided. The invention is able to be used with social media, where the mobile station searches for the social media page of the caller based on the Caller ID and displays it to the recipient of the call on the mobile station screen, possibly with other Internet search results. The method and system allow the user to obtain the newest public information about the person who calls him or he decides to call, or any documents that might be intermittent between the people. The system adds “bandwidth”, i.e. speed, efficiency and more dimensions to personal communication, as the users of the inventive system can also visually see by documentation what is going on in the relationship between two or more people.
US09100472B2

Example methods and apparatus to pre-qualify user communities for communication services are disclosed. An example method comprises configuring a first remote network demarcation associated with a first loop to a loop-back state, interrogating the first loop to determine a first parameter representative of the first loop, configuring a second remote network demarcation associated with a second loop to the loop-back state, interrogating the second loop to determine a second parameter representative of the second loop, and compiling a report based on the first and second parameters, the report containing a value that represents a degree to which a communication service can be provided to a user community associated with the first and second loops.
US09100469B2

A user who wants to follow a call made by or to a specific entity (typically a person) sends a request to be notified when the entity makes or receives a call. The call is an audio or video call. The call can be based on a specific subject that the user has identified. When the entity makes or receives a call, a call processor detects that the call has been made. In response to the call, a notification is sent to the user. If the user has defined a subject, the system determines if the call is on the subject. If the call is on the subject, the notification is sent. If the call is not on the subject, the notification is not sent.
US09100467B2

Methods and systems for supporting the alternate routing of calls between endpoints, such as session initiation protocol (SIP) endpoints, are provided. An inner gateway alternate route (IGAR) application is invoked when the primary, Internet protocol, communication network is overloaded or otherwise unable to handle a call. The IGAR application assigns incoming and outgoing trunks, and serves as a contact point for session managers in routing the trunk call.
US09100450B2

An electronic control unit has a gateway function for connecting a plurality of communication networks formed in a vehicle with each other and performs functions allotted beforehand by transmitting and receiving signals via the communication networks. The electronic control unit includes a plug-in connecting portion (39) to be plug-in connected with a relay unit (4) for converting protocols applied to the respective communication networks, thereby connecting the relay unit (4) with a communication bus (10), in the case of performing the gateway function, and a communication circuit portion (36) for transmitting and receiving signals between the communication bus (10) and the relay unit (4) when the relay unit (4) is plug-in connected with the plug-in connecting portion (39).
US09100449B2

A performance enhancing proxy network device is configured to operate in a virtual inline mode, in which selected network traffic is redirected to and through the network device by a router using simple routing policies. In this way, the network device can be coupled to the router in series but can still operate as if it were physically connected inline.
US09100448B2

A communication device and method for throttling transmitted data is provided. Token parameters of an aggregate token bucket, associated with a communication application, are distributed, at a processing unit, to respective application token buckets associated with at least two further applications. The communication application is enabled to receive respective data from the at least two further applications for transmission to a network via a communication interfaces. The respective data received from the at least two further applications is throttled via the respective application token buckets.
US09100447B2

To provide a content delivery system, a content delivery server, an information processing terminal, a content delivery program and a content delivery method with which content can be delivered appropriately while accommodating variations in resource conditions. A content server receives a delivery request from an information processing terminal and a resource condition of that terminal, modifies content corresponding to the delivery request in accordance with the resource condition, and delivers the content . The information processing terminal extracts the resource condition, transmits the resource condition and/or a content delivery request to the content server, receives the content delivered from the content server, and executes the content.
US09100444B2

Systems, methods, and tangible computer-readable storage mediums for tracking collaboration are presented. More particularly, embodiments relate to providing, using a processor, an environment for collaboration between users; and tracking, using the processor, information regarding the collaboration; such that the tracked information includes rights information regarding rights of the collaborating users. Some further embodiments include storing, in a non-transient, computer-readable storage medium, the rights information. Some further embodiments include determining compensation for at least one user based on the rights information. Some further embodiments include: storing, in a non-transient, computer-readable storage medium, initial content; and storing, in the storage medium, additional content, such that the additional content builds on the initial content.
US09100442B2

A method of managing an address book of an image forming apparatus that supports a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection includes connecting the image forming apparatus to an external wireless device in the P2P connection method through a wireless local area network (WLAN); operating a soft access point (AP) module of the image forming apparatus so that the image forming apparatus operates as an AP; allocating an internet protocol (IP) address to the wireless device by driving a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server unit (DHCP server) of the image forming apparatus; and registering the wireless device connected to the image forming apparatus in the address book, which stores wireless devices that are connectable to the image forming apparatus, with the allocated IP address.
US09100431B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for a database associating a plurality of device vulnerabilities to which computing devices can be subject with a plurality of remediation techniques that collectively remediate the plurality of device vulnerabilities. Each of the device vulnerabilities is associated with at least one remediation technique. Each remediation technique associated with a particular device vulnerability remediates that particular vulnerability. Further, each remediation technique has a remediation type are selected from the type group consisting of patch, policy setting, and configuration option. Still yet, a first one of the device vulnerabilities is associated with at least two alternative remediation techniques.
US09100425B2

Novel methods, components, and systems for automatically detecting malicious software are presented. More specifically, methods, components, and systems for the automated deployment of generic signatures to detect malicious software. Even more specifically, computer implemented methods for determining whether a software application is likely malicious including computing at a client component a generic fingerprint for a software application, transmitting the generic fingerprint data to a server component, receiving at the client component information from the server component relating to the generic fingerprint of the software application, and following a prescribed set of actions based on the information received from the server.
US09100424B1

A system and method for providing secure, end-to-end data service enabling real-time data over the Internet is disclosed. The system and method provides a communication framework between sensors, devices, and machinery and the users of that data from any remote location that is connected to the Internet without requiring open inbound firewall ports, while at the same time enabling high data rates, low latency and full bi-directionality. The graphical and networking features of RIA frameworks in combination with the disclosed system and method provide low-latency, real-time data applications in a web browser securely over the Internet.
US09100421B2

Mechanisms are provided for performing centralized monitoring of application sessions across a distributed computing environment comprising a plurality of application servers. A request to perform an application session monitoring operation to monitor at least one of input or output streams of application sessions associated with a specified user account identifier is received. A plurality of application instances upon which to perform the requested application session monitoring operation are identified. An application session monitoring request is transmitted to a plurality of session control clients associated with the application instances on a plurality of application servers of the distributed computing environment. The application session monitoring request causes each session control client to monitor at least one of an input or an output stream of application sessions of application instances that are associated with the specified user account identifier, and report results of the monitoring back to the data processing system.
US09100419B2

A long-term signature system acquires electronic signature data for each of a series of pieces of original data, transmits the acquired electronic signature data to a predetermined server, and acquires a time stamp issued for the electronic signature data from the predetermined server. Verification information is acquired for verifying the electronic signature data and the time stamp from a predetermined server. Long-term signature target data for confirming unfalsification of the original data, the electronic signature data, the time stamp, and the verification information is acquired for each of the pieces of original data. The acquired long-term signature target data is transmitted to a predetermined server, and long-term signature data having an archive time stamp issued for the long-term signature target data applied thereto is acquired.
US09100409B2

A server farm for processing client requests comprising a first server having a first processor and a first network interface controller communicatively coupled to the first processor, and a second server comprising a second processor and communicatively coupled to the first server, wherein the first network interface controller is configured to maintain a state table associated with at least the first server and the second server and respond to receipt of a request packet from a client by, initiating by the first processor execution of a software application associated with the request packet when the state table corresponds to a first state, and selectively forwarding the request packet to the second server when the state table corresponds to a second state.
US09100402B2

Aspects relate to a cognitive agent that performs functions associated with a desired result. The functions performed by cognitive agent supplement other activities performed at a same time. In such a manner, the cognitive agent can function as a surrogate for a user. A performed activity can trigger implementation of another activity that is an extension of the performed activity. Cognitive agent can perform functions that can be represented as an avatar. Further, cognitive agent can be associated with a diagnostics component that evaluates an operating condition. Based on the operating condition cognitive agent can implement automatic actions associated with mitigating failures and/or prolonging the life of machinery.
US09100399B2

A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for providing portable composite solutions. The mechanism deploys a set of virtual images for a plurality of components of a composite solution to a build environment to form a set of virtual machines. The mechanism deploys a network virtual image to the build environment to form a network virtual machine. The network virtual machine comprises a router. The mechanism configures the router to create a private subnet with a set of fixed addresses and set of host names for the composite solution. Optionally, the mechanism may discover the fixed addresses during the build phase. The mechanism optionally installs middleware components to the set of virtual machines for the composite solution to form a set of solution virtual machines. The mechanism captures the set of solution virtual machines as a set of solution virtual images as a portable composite solution.
US09100395B2

A method and computer program product for using a vibration signature as an authentication key to authorize access of a user computer to a network. A vibration device generates a vibration signal of the vibration signature. In one embodiment, a router detects and validates the vibration signal, and then the router starts a session of connecting the user computer to the network. In another embodiment, the user computer decodes the vibration signal of the vibration signature to a security set identifier and a security key, and then sends to a router. In response to validating the security set identifier and the security key, the router starts a session of connecting the user computer to the network.
US09100393B2

A simulacrum security device and methods. In one embodiment, a simulacrum or likeness of a physical security device is provided for use in conjunction with a software emulation of the security device. In one implementation, a “faux SIM card” is provided that does not contain Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) information itself, but instead enables a user to download Electronic SIM (eSIM) information (e.g., from a network or eSIM server) which is loaded into a software emulation of a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) device. The faux card is printed with an activation code, scan pattern, or other activation or access information. The subscriber purchases the faux card, and enters the activation code into a device; the entered activation code enables the device to log onto a network, and download the appropriate eSIM data. Delivery of eSIM information as enabled by the faux card addresses deficiencies in existing SIM distribution schemes, provides users with an enhanced perception of security, and further addresses various legal requirements.
US09100379B2

Disclosed herein is a transmitting apparatus, including: a stream inputting portion inputting plural transport streams; an information adding portion adding additional information containing therein a stream identifier used to identify at least corresponding transport stream to respective transport stream packets of the plural transport streams thus inputted; a stream synthesizing portion synthesizing the plural transport streams in which the additional information is added to each of the transport stream packets, thereby obtaining one stream; and a stream transmitting portion transmitting the resulting one stream to an external apparatus. The information adding portion adds the additional information forward, backward or midway with respect to each of the transport stream packets.
US09100375B2

A method of establishing a secure communication link comprises: (a) receiving a request that (i) includes an identifier of a client and (ii) was sent in response to a determination that a DNS request from the client corresponds to a first computer configured to communicate securely; (b) comparing the received client identifier to at least one stored client identifier; (c) determining, based on the comparison, whether the client is authorized to communicate with the first computer; (d) generating a resource used to establish the secure communication link between the client and the first computer; (e) generating a message in response to determining that the client is not authorized to communicate with the first computer; and (f) in response to determining that the client is authorized to communicate with the first computer, making the resource available to the client to automatically establish the secure communication link.
US09100362B2

Techniques are provided for a peer-to-peer web traffic management. A first mapping between identifiers and peers in a network is established. Upon receiving a first request associated with a first identifier and classifiers, based, at least in part, on the first identifier, a first peer retrieves a first global counter snapshot and a first local increment counter, and uses them to determine whether the first peer can service the first request. If the determination is positive, then the first peer services the first request, and updates the first local increment counter. If the first local increment counter exceeded a threshold value, then the first local increment counter is transmitted to a second peer, and then reset to zero. In response to the first peer receiving a first global counter associated with the first global counter snapshot, the first global counter snapshot is updated with the first global counter.
US09100351B2

A method for forwarding data in a layer-2 network is provided. A first node receives a first data packet including a customer destination MAC address and customer data; generates a second data packet including a source virtual MAC address, a destination virtual MAC address and at least part of the first data packet. The at least part of the first data packet includes the customer destination MAC address and the customer data. The source virtual MAC address is a virtual MAC address assigned to the first node, and the destination virtual MAC address corresponds to the customer destination MAC address. The virtual MAC address assigned to the first node includes a first virtual MAC address segment with a first mask, which indicates a virtual MAC address space including virtual MAC addresses of child nodes of the first node. Then the first node forwards the second data packet.
US09100349B2

An Ethernet/Fiber Channel network interface device which can be configured by a user to operate on an FC SAN, a CEE network or both. In one embodiment the configuration can be done using jumpers or connections to the pins of a chip, thus allowing a manufacturer to only inventory one device for use with either or both networks. In a second embodiment the configuration can be done in software by setting registers and memory values on the device. This embodiment allows the device to be changed between configurations without removing it from the server or blade. The devices according to the preferred embodiments further reduce power consumption by shutting down portions of the chip not needed based on the configuration of the device.
US09100347B2

Delay-sensitive burst scheduling in a network is carried out through communications between source and destination nodes. A distributed scheduler at each destination node selects timeslots for burst arrivals from requesting source nodes, irrespective of timeslot selections made by distributed schedulers at other nodes.
US09100344B2

A method of providing a new network service to selected subscribers, who are already receiving known network services, uses labels. A distinct label is assigned to each network service and is also attached to subscribers already receiving that service. To access newly selected subscribers for providing a further service or a notification, the method uses predetermined subscriber-access-labels which lead to a class of intended subscribers. The intended subscribers are listed by using the subscriber-access-labels and a label-matching-algorithm in a flat hierarchy to generate a list of the newly selected subscribers. The list assists to dispense either a new network service or otherwise to reach them. Label matching also enables producing a desired list of specified network services. A computer readable medium for the method is included. The present method enables faster service by avoiding a largely hierarchical approach to retrieving customer listings, and is well suited for applications like AJAX®.
US09100340B2

Networking systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention can provide robust filtering to enable users to customize their networking environments. A networking system can comprise a plurality of interfaces, a request unit, a management unit, and a filter unit. Each interface can include a plurality of displayable objects, each of which can represent some user of the networking system. The request unit can receive from a client a request for one of the interfaces. The management unit can manage filters, where each active filter hides one or more users from one or more other users. When an interface is requested by a client associated with a first user, the filter unit can apply the active filters to the requested interface to exclude displayable objects that represent users hidden from the first user by one or more active filters.
US09100335B2

A technique for determining a boundary IP address is disclosed. The technique includes processing a header to extract candidate IP address, locating a gateway IP address, and selecting the boundary IP address based on the location of the gateway IP address.
US09100333B2

Converged network management application and system is provided that delivers a management platform as a service that can view and/or manage all managed networks in the aggregate, or any one of them individually (including individual devices within the managed networks), in a secure and efficient manner, providing continuously available intelligence in real time on the managed networks and systems, and overcoming integration issues including conflicting address schemas, the need to avoid unnecessary infrastructure, and the need acquire all necessary information in real time within applicable memory and bandwidth constraints.
US09100330B1

Read delay or write delay is added to server computers of a geographically distributed data processing system so that when writing to a dataset occurs at a first server and reading from the dataset occurs at a second server, the sum of any delay of returning an acknowledgement of completion of each write request and any delay in the reading of data for each read request is at least the data transmission delay between the two servers. For certain client applications such as NFS, the added delay is sufficient to compensate for the transmission delay without the use of a conventional read lock, which would require a round-trip delay. The method can provide an up-to-date global view of the dataset at each of the servers. The method can also provide equal performance of read access and write access at each of the servers.
US09100329B1

A device receives traffic; identifies an address associated with the traffic; determines whether the address is associated with an aggregate interface, the aggregate interface being associated with a first port and a second port. The first port corresponds to a first node in a first state, that indicates that the first node is available to forward the traffic, and the second port corresponds to a second node in a second state, that indicates that that the second node is not available to forward the traffic. The device transmits the traffic to the first node via the first port and to the second node, via the second port, when the address is associated with the aggregate interface. Transmitting the traffic enables the second node to forward the traffic when the first node changes from the first state to the second state.
US09100325B2

This disclosure describes techniques for restricting activity of a status indicator if a received data unit is determined to be a protocol control unit that is selected for filtering. In one embodiment, a method is described that comprises receiving a data unit from a network, determining whether the received data unit is a protocol control unit, and restricting activity of a status indicator if the received data unit is determined to be the protocol control unit, or allowing activity of the status indicator if the received data unit is determined to be data other than the protocol control unit.
US09100323B1

In general, the invention is directed to techniques for reducing deadlocks that may arise when performing fabric replication. For example, as described herein, a network device includes packet replicators that each comprises a plurality of resource partitions. A replication data structure for a packet received by the network device includes packet replicator nodes that are arranged hierarchically to occupy one or more levels of the replication data structure. Each of the resource partitions in each of the plurality of packet replicators is associated with a different level of the replication data structure. The packet replicators replicate the packet according to the replication data structure, and each of the packet replicators handles the packet using the one of the resource partitions of the packet replicator that is associated with the level of the replication data structure occupied by the node that corresponds to that particular packet replicator.
US09100314B2

A system that processes single stream multicast data includes multiple queues, a dequeue engine, and/or a queue control engine. The queues temporarily store data. At least one of the queues stores single stream multicast data. A multicast count is associated with the single stream multicast data and corresponds to a number of destinations to which the single stream multicast data is to be sent. The dequeue engine dequeues data from the queues. If the data corresponds to the single stream multicast data, the dequeue engine examines the multicast count associated with the single stream multicast data and dequeues the single stream multicast data based on the multicast count. The queue control engine examines one of the queues to determine whether to drop data from the queue and marks the data based on a result of the determination.
US09100312B1

A network device which controls the flow of packets from a best-effort client is provided. The network device includes a flow controller which transmits transaction messages between the best effort client and an arbiter, and an average rate monitor which comprises a counter which increments at an amount of (x−1) when a transaction occurrence is detected by the average rate monitor, and decrements at an amount of 1 per cycle when a transaction occurrence is not detected by the average rate monitor. The best-effort client is only given a grant by the arbiter when the counter has a value of zero.
US09100308B2

Techniques are presented for facilitating and monitoring wireless network connections. Clients and intermediate nodes are configured to interact with one another via network connections. Initially, the clients wirelessly connect to a select one of the intermediate nodes. Tests may be periodically issued to the clients and to the intermediate nodes to measure and track performance and quality of the network connections. Billing records may also be recorded and billing policies verified for client activities occurring during the network connections.
US09100301B2

Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to manage alarm configurations of servers are disclosed. An example system includes a processor, an alarm linkage database to store information representative of alarm configurations for a plurality of servers, and a memory comprising machine readable instructions. When executed, the instructions cause the processor to perform operations comprising accessing alarm configurations in the alarm linkage database for a subset of the plurality of servers in response to a first request, initiating a change in respective alarm configurations of the subset of the plurality of the servers, and initiating propagation of the alarm configuration to the subset of the servers, the subset including more than one server.
US09100289B2

In one example, a controller device includes one or more network interfaces communicatively coupled to one or more devices of a virtual network, and a processor configured to determine, for the virtual network, a set of two or more related processes executed by respective devices in the virtual network, receive via the network interfaces data for the set of two or more related processes, and aggregate the data for the set of two or more related processes to form aggregated data for the set of two or more related processes.
US09100281B2

A provider edge device, associated with a virtual private local area network service (VPLS) system, includes a memory to store instructions to implement a pseudowire mechanism to receive a first data frame from a source customer edge (CE) device associated with the VPLS system, incorporate the first data frame into a first VPLS packet, determine whether the source CE device is a single-homed CE device or a multi-homed CE device, and incorporate, into the first VPLS packet, a first pseudowire label, if the source CE device is a single-homed CE device, and incorporate, into the first VPLS packet, a second pseudowire label, different from the first pseudowire label, if the source CE device is a multi-homed CE device; and a processor to execute the instructions.
US09100269B2

A method of managing traffic flow in a packet network. A working sub-network is provided, which comprises one or more provisioned static working paths between at least one source node and one or more destination nodes in the network, and the working sub-network with a service instance. A backup sub-network is provided, which comprises one or more dynamic protection paths between the at least one source node and the one or more destination nodes, and the backup sub-network associated with the service instance. During a normal operation of the network, forwarding subscriber traffic associated with the service instance through the network using the working sub-network. Following detection of a network failure affecting the service instance, the subscriber traffic associated with the service instance is switched for forwarding through the network using the backup sub-network.
US09100268B2

Various exemplary embodiments are a method and related system and computer-readable medium including one or more the following: receiving a data packet; analyzing the data packet using deep packet inspection (DPI) to determine an application associated with the data packet; determining an MPLS tunnel corresponding to the application associated with the data packet; and forwarding the data packet through the MPLS tunnel. In various exemplary embodiments, the step of analyzing the data packet including examining information in layers 2 through 7 of the data packet or analyzing the data packet to match an application signature. Furthermore, in various exemplary embodiments, the method and related system and computer-readable medium also includes adding a marking to the data packet to indicate the application associated with the data packet.
US09100264B2

The present invention provides a digital receiver configured to demodulate or decode a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal from a transmitter. The receiver digitally demodulates or decodes the pulse-width modulated signal so as to obtain (binary) values of data modulated on pulse periods of the pulse-width modulated signal. The digital receiver includes multiple delay cells coupled to one another in series and a sampling circuit coupled to one of the delay cells. A sequential coupling of the delay cells composes a signal path, and each of the delay cells is designed to provide a corresponding delay to a corresponding input signal propagating along the signal path so as to generate a delayed signal as its output.
US09100261B2

Methods and systems are disclosed for frequency-domain amplitude normalization for symbol correlation in multi-carrier communication systems. Digital samples associated with input signals received from a communication medium are processed using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to generate complex frequency components. Each complex frequency component is normalized with respect to its amplitude, and the frequency-domain, amplitude-normalized frequency components are multiplied with frequency components for reference symbol(s) to generate frequency-domain correlation values. These frequency-domain correlation values are analyzed to determine if a correlation exists between the amplitude-normalized frequency components and the predetermined reference frequency components. A correlation detection output is then generated that indicates whether or not a symbol synchronization was achieved. The disclosed embodiments are particularly useful for symbol correlation in received signals for power line communication (PLC) systems.
US09100256B2

Various systems and methods are provided for channel estimation. These systems and methods (a) determine a coherence bandwidth for the channel, (b) adapt the channel estimation based on the coherence bandwidth, and (c) perform channel estimation by transmitting a channel estimation symbol over a channel. In some embodiments, the channel estimation is adapted based on the coherence bandwidth. This may include selecting a number of channel estimation symbols to transmit in a packet. Additionally, the number of channel estimation symbols transmitted in a packet can be selected by increasing the number of channel estimation symbols when the coherence bandwidth of the channel is high or decreasing the number of channel estimation symbols when the coherence bandwidth of the channel is low.
US09100255B2

A unified frame structure for filter bank multi-carrier (FBMC) and orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) waveforms may allow FBMC and OFDM frames to be communicated over a common channel without significant inter-frame gaps. The unified frame structure may set an FBMC frame duration to an integer multiple of an OFDM frame element duration to enable alignment of FBMC frames and OFDM frames in the time domain. The unified frame structure may also map control channels in the FBMC and OFDM frames to common resource locations so that the respective control channels are aligned in the time and/or frequency domains. The unified frame structure may also share synchronization channels between FBMC and OFDM frames. Additionally, overhead in an FBMC time division duplexed (TDD) communications channel can be reduced by overlapping time windows appended to FBMC blocks.
US09100247B2

A novel alternative concept for handling dynamic provisioning changes and ongoing network reconfiguration and incremental reoptimization in general. A prime motivation is concern about the dependency of existing concepts for dynamic provisioning on the real-time coherence of databases of network state at diverse geographic locations. Not only is the continual updating of such global state everywhere in the network an intensive real-time load, but inevitable incoherencies pose hazards in network operation. The alternative proposal is a framework that makes use precise time synchronization and the computational power of network nodes to solve identical local instances of incremental reoptimization problems in situ. The new scheme removes the database coherency hazard, reduces signaling volumes, and increases resource efficiencies in service provisioning. It also provides a framework in general for continually ongoing incremental or (if desired) total reoptimization of network configuration.
US09100245B1

A user can have media files associated with a user account in a shared resource environment, enabling the user to access those files from multiple devices and locations. Instead of uploading each file, a process can scan the files to determine corresponding copies already stored to the shared resource environment, which can be associated with the user account without uploading another copy. In cases where encryption or other protection prevents the content of a file from being verified, a fingerprint of unencrypted records of the file can be generated and compared against an index of fingerprints for previously encountered files. If the fingerprint matches information stored for a media file, and the fingerprint meets at least one validity criterion, a copy of the media file can be associated with the user account even though the user's copy cannot be read, or potentially even played, by a component of the environment.
US09100242B2

The present disclosure discloses a method and network device for maintaining captive portal user authentication. Specifically, the disclosed system determines an association status between a client and an access point in a wireless network, as well as whether to remove an entry corresponding to the client from a network layer (L3) cache based on the association status. If it is determined that the entry is to be removed, the disclosed system removes the entry corresponding to the client from the network layer (L3) cache. Note that, the association status can be determined based on one or more of an indication by a station management process at the network device, and a detection of radio link activities.
US09100241B2

A method and system for deploying content to client applications is provided. Inbound messages are accepted from a client application running on a client device via a proxy IP/port. The inbound messages are packaged into an internal message format with an HTTP redirector. The packaged message is forwarded to a back-end server via a message router. A response is received form from a web server. The response is packaged into the internal message format with the back-end server. The response is then forwarded to the HTTP redirector via a message router. The response can then be transferred to the client application running on the client device, via the proxy IP/port.
US09100240B2

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for performing a synchronization of data. These mechanisms and methods for performing a synchronization of data can enable a more efficient synchronization, time and resource savings, an enhanced user experience, etc.
US09100239B2

An information processing system includes a first information processor and a second portable information processor connected via a network. The first processor includes a first receiver receiving client identification information and a document template type from the second processor, and a first transmitter transmitting client-related information and a document template to the second processor. The second processor includes a current-position acquisition unit, a determiner determining a first client to be visited, a second transmitter transmitting first-client identification information and the document template type to the first processor, a second receiver receiving first-client-related information and/or a document template from the first processor, a document-template storage unit, a creation unit creating a document based on the document template and the first-client-related information, and a deletion unit deleting the first-client-related information and the document when the current position is distant from the first client or when a second client is determined.
US09100236B1

In one example, an intermediate network device sends packets that advertise a transmission control protocol (TCP) window size of zero bytes to a client device and a server device. The device, after sending the packets, receives a first zero-window probe packet from the client device including data representing a first current sequence number for a client-to-server packet flow of an established network session, and a second zero-window probe packet from the server device including data representing a second current sequence number for a server-to-client packet flow of the network session. The device also initializes a TCP state based on the first and second current sequence numbers, and acts as a TCP proxy for packets following the first zero-window probe packet of the client-to-server packet flow based on the TCP state and packets following the second zero-window probe packet of the server-to-client packet flow based on the TCP state.
US09100229B2

A method of calibrating data slicer-latches in a receiver to remove offset errors in the slicer-latches. A known voltage is applied to all but one of the inputs of the slicer-latch. The remaining input receives an offset cancelation voltage from a DAC is stepped upward from a minimum voltage until the slicer-latch output transitions by incrementing a codeword to the DAC and the codeword that resulted the transition is saved. Then the offset cancelation voltage is swept downward in steps from a maximum voltage until the slicer-latch output transitions and the codeword that caused the transition is averaged with the stored codeword. The average of the codewords is applied to the DAC to generate the offset cancelation voltage used during normal operation of the receiver.
US09100228B2

A method and system for canonical channel estimation in the Long Term Evolution uplink where a multi-frequency signal is generated and then converted to frequency spectrum which is then convolved in the frequency domain with a truncated window function to obtain a time domain channel impulse response. The time domain channel impulse response can be then transformed to a frequency domain to produce a down sampled user channel response, which can be then linearly interpolated to provide a channel estimate for a plurality of subcarriers. Such an approach achieves channel estimation within Long Term Evolution at only canonical locations to reduce complexity without loss in channel entropy.
US09100213B1

In general, techniques are described for synchronizing gateway layer two (L2) addresses of routers that cooperate to provide interconnectivity to multiple, separate L2 networks. In one example, a router includes a VPLS module that establishes a VPLS instance to provide L2 connectivity between a local L2 network for the router and a remote L2 network for the router, wherein the router is addressable by a gateway L2 address. A synchronization module receives a gateway L2 address synchronization message that includes an additional gateway L2 address for an additional router. An integrated routing and bridging (IRB) interface of the router receives a L2 PDU from the local L2 network on an attachment circuit for the VPLS instance attached to the interface card, and a forwarding unit routes a layer three (L3) packet carried by the PDU when the PDU has an L2 destination address that matches the additional gateway L2 address.
US09100211B2

A double ring network system configured with two or more transmission stations each including a pair of bi-directionally communicative communication ports, including any adjacent two transmission stations as terminal stations, and any transmission station as a base, as mutually connected in a ring form by communication ports through a transmission line, for intercommunications between transmission stations, in which the transmission stations are each adapted to determine whether or not frame signals are received from adjacent transmission stations, transmit route identifying frame signals for identification of routes to adjacent transmission stations, when having failed in reception, and set own station as a terminal station substituting for a current terminal station, when having received no responses to the route identifying frames from adjacent transmission stations, so they are kept from arriving at ring-like connected subsequent transmission stations.
US09100204B2

A method and an apparatus for broadcasting data using a frame structure having a plurality of sections in a system performing inter-device direct communication are provided. In the method, whether there is data to broadcast is determined. Broadcast indicate information is exchanged with neighbor devices via a retrieve section for retrieving information about neighbor devices, the broadcast indicate information representing an indication of whether data is broadcast. A data transmission section is divided into a broadcast section and a unicast section. A broadcast signal is received during the broadcast section.
US09100203B2

In embodiments of the present invention, multicast traffic is simultaneously routed via all switches participating in the trunk (can be referred to as partner switches). A respective partner switch synchronizes the local multicast state information with all other partner switches. For a respective multicast group, a plurality of partner switches can be the part of the corresponding multicast distribution tree and obtain multicast traffic from uplink sources. For the multicast group, only one partner switch is elected as the primary forwarder which forwards the multicast traffic via the trunk. Another partner switch can become the primary forwarder for the multicast traffic of another multicast group and provide load sharing of multicast traffic between partner switches. Furthermore, because the partner switches have the multicast traffic and state readily available, in the event of a switch or link failure to the primary forwarder, another partner switch can readily become the primary forwarder.
US09100196B2

Adding a separate communication link between an intelligent midspan Power Source Equipment (PSE) device and a network device (or between the midspan PSE device and a powered device (PD)) enables data communication from the network device to the intelligent midspan PSE device. The communication link provides a communication channel that the intelligent midspan PSE device may use to perform additional functions such as reallocating power, budgeting power, enabling or disabling Power over Ethernet (PoE) for a particular PD, prioritizing PoE management, and the like.
US09100193B2

In a method for protecting sensor data from manipulation, in the context of an authentication of the sensor, a number used once is sent from a control unit to the sensor, the sensor generating with the use of the number used once a cryptographic authentication message and sending at least a first part of the cryptographic authentication message to the control unit. In addition, the sensor data are provided with a cryptographic integrity protection, time-variant parameters being added to the sensor data and the sensor data being sent with the cryptographic integrity protection and the added time-variant parameters from the sensor to the control unit. For calculation of the initial parameters, at least a second part of the cryptographic authentication message is utilized.
US09100162B2

Adaptive generation of channel state feedback (CSF) based on base station CSF scheduling. CSF report scheduling information may be received. CSF metrics may be generated based at least in part on the CSF report scheduling information. A CSF report including the CSF metrics may be transmitted to the base station. Periodicity of CSF report scheduling or other CSF report scheduling factors may be taken into consideration in generation of the CSF metrics.
US09100155B2

A method of wireless communication includes determining a number of symbols for uplink control information (UCI) on each of a plurality of layers, multiplexing symbols for the UCI with data on multiple layers such that the symbols are time aligned across the layers, and sending the multiplexed symbols on the multiple layers on uplink. In some designs, the number of symbols for the UCI may be determined based on a spectral resource parameter.
US09100148B2

A dynamic resource allocating apparatus of a first base station that manages a first cell in a cellular communication system including the first cell and a plurality of cells adjacent to the first cell determines time resource division vector in which one time resource division period is formed of a plurality of time division intervals and calculates time resource division vector for maximizing utilities of user terminals in a set up objective function to update the time resource division vector. Among the plurality of time division intervals, a first time division interval is operated by a time resource reuse coefficient 1 for user terminals positioned in center regions of a first cell and a plurality of adjacent cells, and the remaining time division intervals excluding the first time division interval are operated by a time resource reuse coefficient n for user terminals positioned at edges of the first cell and the plurality of adjacent cells.
US09100138B2

A method for automatic topology discovery implemented in a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) network is disclosed. The WDM network contains a number of wavelength switching devices, and the method starts with selecting an unassigned wavelength between a pair of wavelength switching devices. For a first port of a first wavelength switching device, a pass through state is configured between the first port and a coupling port of the first wavelength switching device, and a first probing signal is sent at the unassigned wavelength to the first wavelength switching device. The method continues with detecting iteratively the first probing signal at the unassigned wavelength through each of a set of ports of a second wavelength switching device during a time period, and recording a connection between the first port of the first wavelength switching device and a port of the second wavelength switching devices when the first probing signal is detected.
US09100135B2

A method is described for synchronizing a clock of a client in a packet based communication network with respect to a reference time provided by a timeserver. Packets containing at least one timestamp indicating a sending time of the packet are sent from the timeserver and received at the client. Upon arrival of each packet at the client, the arrival time is determined and the delay between the timestamp and the arrival time is also determined for a first plurality of packets. A first variation of the delays of these packets is calculated and based on this calculation a first observation frame is defined whose size depends on the first variation of the packet delays. The first observation frame comprises a second plurality of delays associated with the first plurality of delays. Further, a first representative delay based on the second plurality of delays is determined. Based on the first representative delay a relation between the clock of the client and the reference time is calculated and the clock of the client is synchronized to the reference time based on the calculated relation.
US09100133B2

The present disclosure relates to carrying synchronization through Ethernet, Optical Transport Network (OTN), and other asynchronous protocols. In one exemplary embodiment, timing markers or symbols are used in packets to enable a downstream device to recover timing based upon a time differential between markers or symbols. Advantageously, enabling Ethernet, OTN, etc. to carry synchronous information will de-risk switching from SONET/SDH to Ethernet and/or OTN for service providers. The present disclosure also includes frame decomposition scheme of the Ethernet stream. Ethernet packets are broken into fixed bandwidth and excess bandwidth. The fixed bandwidth is subdivided into fixed (negotiated) flits, with each flit corresponding to a specific user or combination of users like a private tunnel. This offers service providers a method to provide deterministic and more secure bandwidth over Ethernet to multiple clients.
US09100123B2

A Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable (QSFP) transceiver module is provided that is configured to interface with a QSFP host and to send and receive a plurality of data signals at a data rate of up to forty gigabits per second (40 G). A plurality of 10GBase-T ports with Registered Jack (RJ) 45 connectors is also provided, wherein each of the 10GBase-T ports is configured to interface with a 10GBase-T device to send and receive a plurality of data signals at a data rate of ten gigabits per second (10 G). Cables are configured to interface with the QSFP transceiver module and with corresponding ones of the 10GBase-T ports with the RJ45 connectors. Each of the plurality of cables operates as a data channel for data flow between the QSFP transceiver module and the corresponding ones of the 10GBase-T ports with the RJ45 connectors.
US09100114B2

The invention provides circuitry integrated into a silicon chip that measures aspects of an RF signal on a transmission line in order to provide data that is ultimately used by an antenna tuner circuit to substantially match the impedance of the antenna with that of the transmission line providing the RF frequency to be transmitted.
US09100106B2

A transmitter for Electric Field Communication (EFC) is provided. The transmitter includes a preamble code generator, a preamble symbol generator, and a transmission electrode. The preamble code generator masks each of at least two repetitive preamble codes so that information indicating broadcast information is included in the at least two repetitive preamble codes. The preamble symbol generator multiplies a spreading code to spread the masked at least two repetitive preamble codes and generate preamble symbols. The transmission electrode transmits the preamble symbols. Since additional information transferred based on the size of a correlation value of a preamble symbol is used, a broadcast frame can be retrieved even when all packets inside a superframe are not demodulated.
US09100105B2

A splitter includes, in parallel between trunk terminals and branch terminals, a signal branching circuit that blocks distributed power and passes a PLC communication signal and a power branching circuit that blocks the communication signal and passes the distributed power. In the signal branching circuit, impedance viewed from the branch terminal side is matched with characteristic impedance of a power line and impedance viewed from the trunk terminal side is higher than impedance viewed from the branch terminal side, in the frequency band of the communication signal. In the power branching circuit, input/output impedance is set to be sufficiently higher than the impedance of the signal branching circuit viewed from the trunk terminal side, in the frequency band of the communication signal.
US09100102B2

Embodiments include methods of powerline communications using a preamble with band extension is provided. A method may include receiving a packet data unit PDU. Bit-level repetition is applied to at least a portion of the PDU to create a repeated portion. Interleaving is performed per a subchannel. Pilot tones are inserted in the interleaved portion. Each data tone is modulated with respect to a nearest one of the inserted pilot tones. The PDU is transmitted over a power line.
US09100097B2

A glasses-type communications apparatus, including: a frame; a display module set on the frame configured to receive data information and generate a corresponding visual picture according to the data information for the user to watch; a camera module set on the frame configured to obtain image information and transfer the image information; and a communications module set on the frame configured to set up a communications channel with an external processing apparatus by using a communications protocol, where the communications module receives data transmitted by the external processing apparatus through the communications channel, so as to parse the data to obtain the data information, and send the data information to the display module; where the communications module is further configured to receive the image information output by the camera module, and transfer the image information to the external processing apparatus by using the communications channel.
US09100094B2

A system and method are provided for tuning a serial link. The method includes receiving, by a receiver circuit, an offset correction pattern transmitted over a serial link and sampling the received offset correction pattern based on an offset correction parameter to generate a sampled signal. A distribution of the sampled signal is computed and the offset correction parameter is set based on the distribution. The system includes a receiver circuit that is coupled to the serial link and an offset correction unit that is coupled to the receiver circuit. The receiver circuit is configured to receive the offset correction pattern and sample the received offset correction pattern based on the offset correction parameter to generate the sampled signal. The offset correction unit is configured to compute the distribution of the sampled signal and set the offset correction parameter based on the distribution.
US09100091B2

The present disclosure outlines mechanisms, systems, methods, techniques and devices that reposition a RMC symbol in a TDD frame. In one aspect, a method queues data transmission units (DTUs) for transmission in a TDD OFDM communication system, with each of the DTUs occupying a single symbol partially or fully, or multiple symbols, of a series of symbols in a TDD frame. The method also forms a management symbol for transmission in a kth symbol position of the series of symbol positions, k>1. The method further transmits the symbols sequentially in the TDD frame.
US09100088B2

A signal processing circuit, which is within a satellite reception assembly, may be operable to analyze actual frequency information corresponding to a plurality of downconverted signals. Each of the downconverted signals may be downconverted using one or more corresponding local oscillators (LOs). Based on the analyzing, one or more of the following may be determined: one or more frequency offsets associated with the one or more corresponding LOs and one or more actual guard bands. The signal processing circuit may generate information on the determined frequency offsets and the determined actual guard bands. The signal processing circuit may perform, based on the generated information, one or both of a band stacking operation and a channel stacking operation so as to prevent channels/bands being stacked on each other or being overlapped. The signal processing circuit may perform, based on the generated information, frequency corrections for channel tuning in a gateway.
US09100083B2

A radio-frequency (RF) front-end supporting at least a first and second wireless communication bands includes a mixer arranged for mixing a received signal with a first local oscillation signal when the shared receiver front-end performs the reception operation according to the first wireless communication band, and for mixing the received signal with a second local oscillation signal when the shared receiver front-end performs the reception operation according to the second wireless communication band, wherein the first and second local oscillation signals are different in frequency.
US09100081B2

A radio reception device for vehicle 100 (200) includes a variable phase shifter 22, an amplitude regulator 23, and an adder 24, and has an arrangement in which a signal of an RF, IF, or baseband stage of a radio receiver mixed with a noise is added to a phase-inverted component of the noise to remove only the noise. Therefore, sound distortion due to loss of sound information does not occur so that a quality sound can be provided.
US09100078B2

A radio frequency (RF) receiver includes a digital tuning engine; I-path and Q-path analog filters, tuned by the digital tuning engine; and a digital compensation circuit. The digital tuning engine executes a RC (resistor-capacitor) time constant calibration to adjust respective cut-off frequencies of the I-path analog filter and the Q-path analog filter. The digital tuning engine executes a filter mismatch calibration to match the I-path analog filter and the Q-path analog filter. The digital tuning engine executes a filter residual mismatch calibration to match an I-path response from the I-path analog filter to the digital compensation circuit and a Q-path response from the Q-path analog filter to the digital compensation circuit.
US09100076B2

Methods and apparatuses that apply a time-varying delay to symbols to be transmitted from one or more antennas are provided. In a first embodiment, first and second transmission orders for samples in first and second data symbols, respectively, are determined. First and second cyclic prefixes are appended to the beginnings of the first and second transmission orders, respectively. The first and second data symbols are then provided to the same antenna for transmissions beginning at different time slots in accordance with a delay diversity scheme. In a second embodiment, either the first data symbol or the second data symbol can be provided to different antennas for transmissions beginning at different time slots in accordance with a delay diversity scheme.
US09100075B2

A method to implement a Multiple Input Multiple Output transmission mode In the method of the invention, said MIMO transmission mode comprises using a certain number of antennas in a user equipment and a given number of antennas in a radio access node for the communication between said user equipment and said radio access node, said communication carried out by means of a communication channel, said communication channel represented by a channel matrix. The method of the invention is characterized in that it comprises uncorrelating at least part of the coefficients of said channel matrix when said communication channel is degenerate by making use of at least one additional antenna in each of said radio access node and said user equipment in order to change the radiation pattern associated to transmission layers of said communication enabling the use of an enhanced MIMO transmission mode.
US09100072B2

Apparatuses, methods, and devices for wireless communication. One aspect of the subject matter described in the disclosure provides a method of selecting one of a plurality of antennas. The method includes receiving, at a first antenna, a first training field of a training frame. The method further includes receiving, at a second antenna, a second training field of the training frame. The method further includes selecting one of the first and second antennas based on at least one training field.
US09100061B2

A switchable filter and diplexer circuit includes a plurality of bandpass filters having passbands for the frequency bands in which communication across a communication channel is desired and a plurality of diplexers, the diplexers having a plurality of passbands. A plurality of switches are provided to select one of the bandpass filters or diplexers from among the plurality of bandpass filters and diplexers for communication on a communication channel. An additional switching capability is provided to select a first passband of a given diplexer when a second passband of that diplexer is selected by the plurality of switches.
US09100060B2

In accordance with an embodiment, a filter network is configured to be coupled to a first switch, a second switch, and an output port. The filter network includes a first filter coupled between the first switch and the output port, and the second filter coupled between the second switch and the output port. The first filter has a pass band having a first frequency range that includes a first frequency, and a stop band that includes a second frequency that is a distortion product of the first frequency. The second filter has a second frequency range that includes the second frequency and the stop band that includes the first frequency. The second frequency range is higher in frequency than the first frequency range.
US09100058B2

Provided is a portable communication device including a receiver, a transmitter, an adjustment signal generator, an adjustment signal detector, and a control circuit unit. The transmitter transmits an adjustment signal to the receiver in order to adjust a received resonant frequency. The adjustment signal detector detects a parameter including information on a transmission state of the adjustment signal at a time of transmitting the adjustment signal. Then, the control circuit unit corrects a deviation of the received resonant frequency based on a detection result of the adjustment signal detector.
US09100056B2

A contactless connector includes a first communication chip configured to at least one of transmit and receive wireless RF signals, a second communication chip configured to at least one of transmit and receive wireless RF signals, and a waveguide structure between the first and second communication chips. The waveguide structure conveys RF signals between the first and second communication chips.
US09100055B2

A radio apparatus comprising: a radio frequency processing module for converting radio frequency signals from an antenna to intermediate frequency signals; an intermediate frequency processing module located remotely from the radio frequency processing module, for receiving intermediate frequency signals and processing said signals according to at least one communications protocol; and a digital data link for connecting the radio frequency processing module and the intermediate frequency processing module, for transfer of the intermediate frequency signals.
US09100054B2

A method may be provided to detect and correct data errors in a data system where a data message has been encoded with outer parity bits based on the data message using an outer encoding technique to provide an outer codeword and with inner parity bits based on the outer codeword using an inner encoding technique different than the outer encoding technique to provide an inner codeword. The method may include using the inner parity bits and an inner decoding technique corresponding to the inner encoding technique to perform inner decoding of the inner codeword. Responsive to performing inner decoding of the inner codeword without error, the data message may be extracted from a result of inner decoding the inner codeword without using the outer parity bits to decode the result of inner decoding the inner codeword. Related systems are also discussed.
US09100052B2

A low-density parity check (LDPC) encoding method for increasing constraint length includes determining a LDPC code block H-matrix including a systematic submatrix (Hsys) of input systematic data and a parity check submatrix (Hpar) of parity check bits. The method includes diagonalizing the parity check submatrix (Hpar). The method includes identifying a set of rows of the H-matrix that form a complete set of the input systematic data. The method includes selecting an input bit granularity (γ) and encoding latency. The method further includes obtaining a quasi-cyclic LDPC (QC-LDPC) convolutional code H-Matrix. Further, the method includes combining the set of rows into a single row.
US09100050B2

The disclosure provides a method and device for implementing Viterbi decoding. The method comprises the following steps: calculating branch path measurement values of received code words and reference code words; parallel accumulating the branch path measurement values and measurement values corresponding to states to obtain accumulated values according to a state transition diagram, selecting a maximum accumulated value as a new measurement value of a next state, and saving all survival path selection results until data for decoding ends; and starting traceback from a final state to obtain decoded data according to the survival path selection results. In the disclosure, by modifying the traditional serial or serial-parallel mixed mode for calculating accumulated path measurement values to a multi-path fully-parallel calculation mode, the throughput rate of the system data is improved, and the decoding delay is merely in μs level.
US09100049B2

A bit interleaving method involves applying a bit permutation process to bits of a QC-LDPC codeword made up of N cyclic blocks each including Q bits, and dividing the codeword after the permutation process into a plurality of constellation words each including M bits, the codeword being divided into F×N′/M folding sections (N′ being a subset of N selected cyclic blocks and being a multiple of M/F), each of the constellation words being associated with one of the F×N′/M folding sections, and the bit permutation process being applied such that each of the constellation words includes F bits from each of M/F different cyclic blocks in a given folding section associated with a given constellation word.
US09100047B2

A method for reducing noise on a power distribution network of a printed circuit board includes determining whether a given data signal may be a problematic data signal. The given data signal is issued onto a signal distribution network of the printed circuit board if the given data signal is determined to not be a problematic data signal. The given data signal is encoded into an encoded data signal if the given data signal is determined to be a problematic data signal, and the encoded data signal is issued onto the signal distribution network.
US09100036B2

There is provided a receiving device includes: a plurality of interpolation unit circuits, each interpolation unit circuit configured to perform interpolation processing of a sampling value obtained by asynchronously sampling input data, based on an interpolation ratio, so that sampling data synchronous with the input data and continuous in time is generated, wherein one of the interpolation unit circuits is provided in parallel with another of the interpolation unit circuits for a channel previous to a channel in which switching of the interpolation ratio is performed.
US09100035B2

A snapout calculator, and wherein the snapout calculator determines where the reference levels for the various comparators shall be placed after each asynchronous sample is generated.
US09100032B2

Analog-to-digital converter arrangements and corresponding methods are provided, wherein a reduction signal is subtracted from an analog input signal if a signal level of the input signal exceeds a threshold value.
US09100018B2

A gate driver circuit applicable to an inductive load, an inverter module, and an inverter apparatus are provided. The gate driver circuit includes a high side driver having a first output side and a first control side and generating a high side gate signal; and a low side driver generating a low side gate signal, wherein the high side driver includes a first VS pad formed on the first output side; a first output pad formed on the first output side, a first VB pad formed on the first control side; and a second VB pad formed to be adjacent to the first VB pad on the first control side and electrically connected to the first VS pad; and a first circuit unit connected to the plurality of pads to provide the high side gate signal through the first output pad.
US09100007B2

A slew rate booster, switchably enabled selector, or other arrangement may be included in a cascode amplifier to keep the current buffer/common gate transistor and the input/common source transistor saturated as the voltage at the source of the current buffer transistor drops during a transient input voltage spike at the gate of the input transistor. In some instances a higher potential may be supplied to a gate of the current buffer transistor during an initial phase of the settling period than during a second phase of the settling period when a lower potential may be applied. Other techniques may be used in different embodiments. Devices and methods are provided.
US09100004B2

A buffer system is provided that reduces threshold current using a current source to provide power to one or more stages of the buffer system. The buffer system may also include delay management techniques that balances all of, or part of, a delay that may be imparted to an input signal by the current source. In addition, hysteresis techniques may be used to provide enhanced noise management of the input signal.
US09099998B2

In an embodiment of the invention, a flip-flop circuit contains a 2-input multiplexer, a master latch, a transfer gate and a slave latch. The scan enable control signals SE and SEN of the multiplexer determine whether data or scan data is input to the master latch. Clock signals CKT and CLKZ and retention control signals RET and RETN determine when the master latch is latched. The slave latch is configured to receive the output of the master latch, a second data bit D2, the clock signals CKT and CLN, the retain control signals RET and RETN, the slave control signals SS and SSN. The signals CKT, CLKZ, RET, RETN, SS, SSN and PREN determine whether the output of the master latch or the second data bit D2 is latched in the slave latch. Control signals RET and RETN determine when data is stored in the slave latch during retention mode.
US09099995B2

Oscillator circuits and methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a circuit includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a regulator coupled to a supply input of the VCO. The circuit also includes an oscillation dampening circuit coupled to an output of the regulator. A resistance or a capacitance of the oscillation dampening circuit is configured to vary based on current provided to the VCO.
US09099993B2

CMOS integrated circuits with very low consumption when idle, and notably the SRAM volatile memories, are provided. The inverters of the circuit are made up of an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor. A bias circuit applies a first rear bias voltage NBIAS to the wells of the NMOS transistors and a second rear bias voltage PBIAS to the wells of the PMOS transistors. The bias circuit comprises: a detection array made up of many inverters in parallel, having a common output supplying a logic signal whose value depends on the rear bias voltages applied to the array, a circuit for producing incrementation or decrementation pulses, controlled by the output of the detection array, and an integration circuit linked to the pulse-producing circuit, for producing and varying, progressively by increments in response to these pulses, a bias voltage PBIAS and a bias voltage NBIAS.
US09099991B2

Disclosed are an inverter, a NAND gate, and a NOR gate. The inverter includes: a pull-up unit constituted by a second thin film transistor outputting a first power voltage to an output terminal according to a voltage applied to a gate; a pull-down unit constituted by a fifth thin film transistor outputting a ground voltage to the output terminal according to an input signal applied to a gate; and a pull-up driver applying a second power voltage or the ground voltage to the gate of the second thin film transistor according to the input signal.
US09099983B2

A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator device includes an acoustic reflector formed over a substrate and a resonator stack formed over the acoustic reflector. The acoustic reflector includes multiple acoustic impedance layers. The resonator stack includes a first electrode formed over the acoustic reflector, a piezoelectric layer formed over the first electrode, and a second electrode formed over the piezoelectric layer. A bridge is formed within one of the acoustic reflector and the resonator stack.
US09099980B2

There is described herein a real-time scheme, implementable in software, hardware, or a combination thereof, to detect a resonating frequency of a structure from a sensed signal and dynamically set the center frequency of an adaptive compensator for effective attenuation of the resonating frequency.
US09099974B2

Exemplary systems and methods enable a user of a mobile device that is communicatively coupled to a remote device to adjust the audio output volume level of an application running on the remote device using audio volume adjustment inputs on the mobile device. The application produces an audio output signal that has an adjustable audio volume output level. The mobile device receives the audio output signal from the remote device. The mobile device detects an audio volume adjustment input. The mobile device redirects the audio volume adjustment to the remote device to control the audio output volume level of the application.
US09099946B2

A high speed energy storage flywheel comprises a rotor which is located in a vacuum chamber provided in a stator housing and is supported by magnetic bearings with respect to the stator housing. A fluid tank used for releasing in a controlled manner, a fluid inside the vacuum chamber and therefore create a braking effect on the rotor by friction.
US09099939B2

A linear electro-polymer motor includes a fixed member, a linear shaft having an axis, a polymer actuator, and a bias member. The polymer actuator includes a first end fixedly connected to the linear shaft and a second end fixedly connected to the fixed member. The bias member includes a first end fixedly connected to the linear shaft and a second end fixedly connected to the fixed member. The polymer actuator changes length after receipt of voltage to linearly move the linear shaft along the axis.
US09099938B2

A multiple dc sources bi-directional energy converter includes a plurality of direct current (DC) power sources; one alternating current (AC) power source; at least one stacked alternating current (AC) phase, each stacked alternating current (AC) phase having at least two or more full bridge converters, each respectively coupled to one of the direct current power sources, each full bridge converter having an inductor electrically coupled thereto; and a local controller coupled to each full bridge converter controlling the firing sequence of the switching devices in said full bridge converter to generate an approximately nearly sinusoidal voltage waveform when operated as a voltage source inverter in one direction or generate an approximately nearly constant direct current (DC) output when operated as a full-wave active rectifier in the opposite direction.
US09099928B2

The present application provides a synchronous rectifying apparatus and a control method thereof, the apparatus comprising: a transformer, a primary circuit, a rectifying circuit, a self-driving circuit, a PWM control circuit and an auxiliary control module including at least one auxiliary control circuit and at least one auxiliary winding, wherein the auxiliary control circuit includes at least one auxiliary switch and is electrically coupled to the Pulse Width Modulation control circuit and the auxiliary winding via the auxiliary switch, and the auxiliary winding is electrically coupled to the transformer; wherein before the transfer switch of the primary circuit is controlled to be turned on by the switching control signal, the auxiliary switch is controlled to be turned on by the auxiliary control signal, and the synchronous rectifier of the rectifying circuit is controlled to be turned off through the self-driving signal.
US09099924B2

A target voltage generator for use with a DC to DC converter, the DC to DC converter having a first input for receiving a voltage to be converted, an output for outputting a converted voltage, a first reference voltage input for receiving a first reference voltage and a controller arranged to compare the output voltage of the DC to DC converter with the first reference voltage and to modify the operation of the DC to DC converter so as to reduce a difference between the output voltage and the first reference voltage; the target voltage generator comprising a circuit arranged to compare the output voltage of the DC to DC converter with a second reference voltage and to use a result of the comparison to generate or modify the first reference voltage.
US09099912B2

An electromagnetic coupling comprises a stator, a first rotor in which a first polar tooth and a second polar tooth are provided along a circumferential direction in an alternating manner, and a second rotor. The first rotor comprises a first polar tooth ring in which a plurality of the first polar teeth are provided along a circumferential direction with a gap therebetween, and a second polar tooth ring in which a plurality of the second polar teeth are provided along a circumferential direction with a gap therebetween, and which is placed opposing the first polar tooth ring such that the second polar teeth are placed in respective gaps between adjacent ones of the first polar teeth.
US09099911B2

A universal motor includes a wound rotor and a stator. The stator has stator windings and a stator code. The stator core has at least two poles with the stator windings wound thereon and a yoke connecting the poles. Each pole has a neck and a pole shoe forming a continuous pole arc facing the rotor. The ratio of the diameter of the motor to the width of the stator core measured across the poles is between 0.65˜0.95.
US09099903B2

Provided herein is an apparatus, having a cylindrical structure extending from a base; a stator assembly having a stator ring and a plurality of stator teeth extending from an outer diameter of the stator ring; and a stator assembly support having a supporting means for supporting at least one of the stator ring or the plurality of stator teeth, wherein the stator assembly support is configured to dampen mechanical vibrations in the base.
US09099896B2

A stator for an electric motor, in particular for an external rotor motor, has a basic body (3) with a laminated stator core and with stator coils arranged on the laminated stator core. Each of the stator coils has a winding wire start and a winding wire end. Each winding wire start is attached to contact pins. The basic body (3) is extrusion-coated with a sleeve made from plastic, from which contact pins at least partially protrude. In order to reduce the manufacturing costs, a contact holder (2) encased in the sleeve together with the basic body (3) is pushed via the free ends of the contact pins onto the basic body (3), wherein the contact holder (2) encases the contact pins with a sealing section (11) in a gap-free, sealing manner.
US09099890B2

A system for enhancing decentralized coordinated Volt/Var control (CVVC) includes a memory device configured to store a plurality of operational measurements of an electric distribution system. The electric distribution system includes a plurality of capacitive devices. The system also includes a processor coupled in communication with the memory device. The processor is programmed to determine a plurality of potential configurations for the plurality of capacitive devices. The processor is also programmed to determine a priority of switching of each of the plurality of capacitive devices as a function of at least one of at least one actual voltage measurement of the electric distribution system, at least one power factor determination of the electric distribution system, at least one voltage parameter, at least one power factor parameter, and an availability of each of the capacitive devices.
US09099885B2

An object is to provide a wireless power feeding system using the resonance method, which can increase power transmission efficiency. The wireless power feeding system includes a power transmission coil electrically connected to a high-frequency power supply, a power transmission resonance coil for transmitting power by electromagnetic induction with the power transmission coil, a power reception resonance coil for exciting high-frequency power by magnetic resonance, a load coil for exciting high-frequency power by electromagnetic induction with the power reception resonance coil, a load, and a variable element. The load includes a microprocessor for controlling the impedance of the load, a battery charger, and a battery. The battery charger is configured to charge the battery with the high-frequency power excited by the load coil.
US09099878B2

Disclosed are a wireless power transmitter capable of transmitting power wirelessly according to an impedance of an output side and a wireless power transceiver. There are provided a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power transceiver including: a wireless power transmitting unit converting input power into a preset transmission power and transmitting the converted input power wirelessly; and a controlling unit controlling a transmission of the transmission power according to a level of output impedance of the transmission power output from the wireless power transmitting unit.
US09099876B1

An energy storage cell, or a plurality of energy storage cells assembled into an apparatus, are self-orienting relative to one or more adjacent energy storage cells. The energy storage cells are capable of sensing their polarity orientation of at least one other energy storage cell and self-orienting its own polarity responsive thereto. Thus, a method for self-orienting a subject energy storage cell includes: sensing the polarity of an adjacent energy storage cell; and setting the polarity of the subject energy storage cell responsive to the sensed polarity if the polarities of the adjacent energy storage cell and the subject energy storage cell are incompatible.
US09099869B2

A power supply system with prioritized network selection is disclosed. In one aspect, the system can be connected to the output of N power supply networks (R1, . . . , RN), N being an integer greater than or equal to 2. It includes N controllable energy transfer members (T1, . . . , TN) each connected to a power supply network (R1, . . . , RN), control subsystem (14) for selecting one power supply network (R1, . . . , RN) by commanding the controllable member (T1, . . . , TN) connected to the selected power supply network (R1, . . . , RN) into a closed position, and energy storage subsystem capable of delivering a storage voltage (Ve). It may also comprise an energy converter connected to the output to the N controllable energy transfer members (T1, . . . , TN), the control subsystem being able to command the energy converter and the N controllable energy transfer members (T1, . . . , TN) to select at most one energy source from among the N power supply networks (R1, . . . , RN), as a function of the N input voltages (V1, . . . , VN) and the storage voltage (Ve).
US09099865B2

A digital protective relay includes at least one daughter PCB having an electronic circuit which generates electromagnetic interference noise or high frequency noise; and a backplane printed circuit board having, on an upper surface thereof, a plurality of first connectors for connection with the daughter PCB, connected to the daughter PCB through the first connectors, and providing a noise discharge path along which the electromagnetic interference noise or the high frequency noise from the daughter PCB flows to an external ground.
US09099864B2

An electronic device may include protection circuitry coupled to a connector port. The connector port may be a reversible connector port that receives a mating reversible connector plug with either first or second orientations. The connector port may include contacts for receiving and/or transmitting signals during communications between the electronic device and the accessory device. The protection circuitry may monitor signals received at the contacts to determine whether transient or permanent connection faults exist. In response to determining that a connection fault exists at any of the contacts, the protection circuitry may electrically disconnect the faulty contacts from processing circuitry in the electronic device.
US09099838B2

A laser system can include a laser and a laser output modulator to modulate the output of the laser.
US09099836B2

A laser beam amplifier with high optical axis stability is provided. The laser beam amplifier includes: a container for accommodating a laser medium; a pair of electrodes for performing discharge in the laser medium to form an amplification region for a laser beam in the laser medium; and an optical system for forming an optical path between a first point, upon which the laser beam is incident, and a second point, from which the laser beam is outputted, such that the amplification region is located in the optical path between the first point and the second point, wherein the first point and the second point are conjugate to each other, and the laser beam incident upon the first point is amplified while passing through the amplification region at least twice and then transferred to the second point.
US09099831B2

An electrical power connector preparation method for making electrical power connectors by: employing a cold drawing technique with a series of dies to repeatedly draw a metal round rod into a thin thickness conducting contact bar, processing one end of the thin thickness conducting contact bar into a mating contact portion, stamping a part of the thin thickness conducting contact to form a mounting portion, repeating the aforesaid steps to obtain a large amount of metal contacts, using one or multiple contact material strips to hold multiple metal contacts in multiple sets, electroplating the metal contacts, using an insert molding technique to mold an electrically insulative terminal block on each set of metal contacts, and then assembling each set of metal contacts and the associating electrically insulative terminal block with one respective electrically insulative housing so that multiple electrical power connectors are obtained after removal of the contact material strips.
US09099824B2

An electrical connector is adapted to be alternatively connected to an audio plug or another device plug. The electrical connector includes a hollow insulating main body having an insertion opening that has an audio insertion portion corresponding in shape to the audio plug and a main insertion portion corresponding in shape to the another device plug, a main terminal module including main terminals partially exposed in a receiving space of the insulating main body for electrical connection with the another device plug, and an audio terminal module including audio terminals partially exposed in the receiving space for electrical connection with the audio plug.
US09099823B2

A buffering device for fixing a flexible cable includes a fixing part and a moving part. The two connecting ends of the flexible cable move relatively to each other. One of the connecting ends is connected to a circuit board. The fixing part defines two sliding cutouts fixed at two opposite sides of the flexible cable and adjacent to the connecting end of the flexible cable clamping and sandwich the flexible cable between the mount and the circuit board. The moving part includes a movable support and two second cushions. The movable support comprises a top support frame and a bottom support frame. The movable support is inserted into the sliding cutouts and moves back and forth in the sliding cutouts. The two second cushions sandwich the flexible cable between the top support frame and a bottom support frame.
US09099821B2

A busbar plate includes a busbar plate main body and total plus/minus terminal blocks. The busbar plate main body includes a terminal accommodating chamber part having a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers. The total plus/minus terminal blocks are externally attached to terminal accommodating chambers at two ends of the busbar plate respectively, and are formed of terminal block main bodies and busbars. One ends of the busbars are fastened to total plus/minus terminals in the terminal accommodating chambers at the two ends, the other ends of the busbars are fastened to an adjacent module or a connecting busbar of an external equipment. Flexible resin material is used for the busbar plate main body, and high strength resin material is used for the terminal block main bodies.
US09099813B1

Electrical connector assembly including an electrical connector having signal contacts and ground contacts that are coupled to a connector housing and disposed along a mounting side of the connector housing. The electrical connector assembly also includes a contact organizer that is positioned along the mounting side of the connector housing. The contact organizer has signal windows and ground passages extending therethrough that are defined by respective inner surfaces of the contact organizer. The ground contacts engage the inner surfaces of the ground passages when the contact organizer is held in a pre-loaded position away from the mounting side. The contact organizer moves to a seated position against the mounting side when the electrical connector is mounted to the circuit board. Each of the signal contacts is surrounded by an air gap that exists between the signal contact and the inner surface of the corresponding signal window.
US09099799B2

An electrical termination unit for a microelectronic device, the electrical termination unit including, a carrier; and at least one metal tab being attached to the carrier; wherein the carrier is provided with at least one connection area where one electrical lead is to be electrically connected to one metal tab, and wherein the at least one connection area is configured to retain the least one electrical lead at least in one spatial dimension in a defined position relative to the one metal tab prior to a metallurgical connection process.
US09099794B2

Concave serrations are provided in an inner surface of a conductor crimping portion of a crimp terminal. A number of circular concave portions are provided in the inner surface of the conductor crimping portion as the concave serrations so as to be scattered in a state of being spaced aside from one another. A diameter of an inner bottom surface of each circular concave portion is set within a range of 0.15 (an error range is ±0.04) mm to 0.8 (the error range is ±0.04) mm. A serration angle between an extension surface of the inner bottom surface and an inner side surface of each circular concave portion is set within a range of 60 to 90 degrees. A shortest distance of a flat surface portion between peripheries of mutually adjacent circular concave portions is set to be 0.17 (the error range is ±0.09) mm.
US09099791B2

A cable assembly including a coaxial cable having active components mounted thereon, a housing substantially surrounding the coaxial cable, and a launch connector mounted to the outside of the housing and in connection with the coaxial cable.
US09099789B1

Methods and systems for radiating electromagnetic energy with a dual-band inverted slot antenna are described. The dual-band inverted slot antenna may be formed of a metallic member with two open ends at one or more edges of the metallic member. The inverted slot antenna is configured to radiate electromagnetic energy in response to the RF signal at two resonant modes.
US09099777B1

Antenna unit cells suitable for use in antenna arrays are disclosed, as are antenna arrays and mounting platform such as an aircraft comprising antenna unit cells. In one embodiment, an antenna unit cell comprises a dielectric substrate having a length extending along a first axis and a width extending along a second axis, a first plurality of radiating elements disposed on a first side of the dielectric substrate, a second plurality of radiating elements disposed on a second side of the dielectric substrate, opposite the first side, a feed pin coupled to at least one of the first plurality of radiating elements, and a shorting pin coupled to each of the first plurality of radiating elements and to a ground plane. Other embodiments may be described.
US09099774B2

An apparatus including an antenna having an active element and a parasitic element; and at least one support, where the antenna is at least partially on the at least one support, where the at least one support includes a first section coupled to a second different section, where the active element is at least partially on the first section, and where the first section is at least partially formed with a first manufacturing process and a first material. The parasitic element is at least partially on the second section, and the second section is at least partially formed with a second different manufacturing process and a second different material.
US09099771B2

An electronic device may be provided with a display and wireless circuits. The wireless circuits may include antenna structures and radio-frequency transceiver circuitry that transmits and receives radio-frequency signals using the antenna structures. A ground plane for the antenna structures may be located in the center of the electronic device under the display. A resonating element may be used to reduce signal interference that otherwise arises when simultaneously operating the display and the antenna structures. The resonating element may be implemented using an L-shaped structure have an arm that extends parallel to one of the edges of the display.
US09099770B2

A communication terminal device includes a printed wiring board disposed in a casing, a feed pattern provided on a main surface of the printed wiring board, a radiation plate including a substantially planar radiation portion substantially perpendicular to the main surface of the printed wiring board and a lead portion connecting the radiation portion to the feed pattern, and a component mounted on the main surface of the printed wiring board to overlap the lead portion when the main surface of the printed wiring board is viewed from above, the component including a conductive material, a magnetic material and/or a dielectric material. The radiation portion is connected to the lead portion at a side spaced away from the main surface of the printed wiring board, and an area of the lead portion is located at a predetermined distance from the main surface of the printed wiring board.
US09099756B2

Flame retardant electrolyte solutions for rechargeable lithium batteries and lithium batteries including the electrolyte solutions are provided. The flame retardant electrolyte solution includes a lithium salt, a linear carbonate-based solvent, at least one ammonium cation, a phosphoric acid-based solvent, and an additive including oxalatoborate.
US09099755B2

This invention relates to a lithium secondary battery, the tab shape of which is improved, thus increasing the safety and improving the electrical properties thereof. The lithium secondary battery includes an electrode group composed of a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first electrode tab connected to the first electrode, and a second electrode tab connected to the second electrode. The first electrode tab includes a first portion connected to the first electrode and a second portion, which is not the first portion, the width of the first portion being less than the width of the second portion.
US09099746B2

Disclosed is an electricity storage device including a first electrode (a positive electrode (20)), a second electrode (a negative electrode (21)), and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The first electrode contains, as an active material, an organic compound having a quinone skeleton. The second electrode has a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode. The non-aqueous electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt and a solvent represented by the following formula (1): R—O(CH2CH2O)n—R′  (1) where R and R′ are each independently a saturated hydrocarbon having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 2 to 6.
US09099744B2

The present invention relates to a novel particulate porous carbon material containing a carbon phase and at least one pore phase, and to the use of such materials in lithium cells, especially lithium-sulfur cells. The carbon phase forms, with the pore phase, essentially unordered co-continuous phase domains, such that the distance between adjacent domains of the pore phase is not more than 50 nm. The invention also relates to a process for producing such carbon materials and to composite materials comprising elemental sulfur and at least one inventive particulate porous carbon material.
US09099741B2

A cathode, electrochemical cell and process for making either is disclosed. The cathode includes iron disulfide which exhibits multiple peaks representing distinct maxima of mean diameters for the volume-based particle size distribution. All of the maxima are less than 20 microns. A combination of natural pyrite ore and synthetic iron disulfide may be mixed to achieve the desired distribution, or a combination of natural pyrite ores may be processed in different manners to achieve the desired characteristics.
US09099733B2

Disclosed herein is a safety device mounted at one side of a battery pack including two or more battery cells or at least one battery module such that the safety device is first short-circuited when a needle type object penetrates the battery pack to secure safety of the battery pack, the safety device including a pair of conductive sheets spaced apart from each other, an electrically insulative housing to surround outsides of the conductive sheets excluding fronts of the conductive sheets in a state in which the conductive sheets are inserted and mounted in the housing, a sealing member to cover the fronts of the conductive sheets, and a connection member to connect the conductive sheets to a cathode and an anode of one of battery cells constituting the battery module.
US09099726B2

Provided are a secondary battery that reduces space restriction during the formation of a protective circuit module (PCM) and improves reliability of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device and a method of fabricating the secondary battery. The secondary battery includes a battery cell including a cell tab and the PCM. The PCM includes a circuit board, a first terminal, a second terminal, and the PTC device. The circuit board includes an upwardly exposed external terminal. The first terminal is disposed below the circuit board and has one end connected to the cell tab and the extending other end. The second terminal is disposed below the circuit board and has one end connected to the external terminal and the extending other end. The PTC device is disposed between the first terminal and the second terminal and below the circuit board.
US09099712B2

A battery pack having excellent assembling efficiency and strength against drop impact. The battery pack includes: an electrode assembly; a case that has a space accommodating the electrode assembly and includes a wing portion having a plurality of through-holes in at least one direction of the outer circumference; and a frame that includes a frame body disposed to encompass the outer circumference of the case and a frame coupling unit integrally formed with the frame body and coupling the case to the frame body via the through-holes.
US09099699B2

A system for distributing energy among a plurality of power consumers may include a plurality of reaction cells configured to receive electrolytes and provide electric power. The system may also include a first tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including positively charged electrolytes and a second tank configured to contain a supply of fluid including negatively charged electrolytes. The system may also include at least one pump configured to pump fluid among the plurality of reaction cells and the first and second tanks. The system may include a controller configured to control operation of the at least one pump based on a desired power supply to at least one of the plurality of power consumers.
US09099695B2

The battery pack comprises: a bare cell including a can, wherein the can includes an opening on one side, and a cap plate sealing the opening of the can, wherein the cap plate has at least one groove formed on one surface; a circuit board including at least one lead tab. wherein the lead tab is coupled to the cap plate by a fixing body; and a coupling member coupled with the fixing body in the groove. The coupling member and the bare cell are made of different materials. Therefore, in the battery pack, the internal resistance between the bare cell and the protective circuit board does not increase, or the cover case is not separated when an external shock is applied.
US09099688B2

A delamination apparatus includes a stage mounted with a lower supporting member, a donor film laminated to the lower supporting member, and an acceptor substrate sealed between the lower supporting member and the donor film, a first gripper positioned at an end side of the stage, the first gripper being configured to grip an end of the donor film and to move with the end of the donor film away from the acceptor substrate, and a first filling roll positioned over the donor film, the first filling roll being configured to blow ions toward the donor film while rotating toward the first gripper.
US09099686B2

A donor film includes a base film including a first area and a second area surrounding the first area, the second area having an organic material binding property that is different from an organic material binding property of the first area, a light-to-heat conversion pattern on the base film at the first area, a reflection layer on the base film at the second area, and a transfer layer on the light-to-heat conversion pattern and the reflection layer.
US09099685B2

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display that is flexible is disclosed. According to one aspect it includes: a flexible substrate, a moisture permeation preventing layer formed on the flexible substrate, a barrier layer formed on the moisture permeation preventing layer, an OLED formed on the barrier layer, a thin film encapsulation layer covering the OLED, and a lower protection film attached beneath the flexible substrate.
US09099674B2

An organic light-emitting display device which is transparent by improving a transmittance in transmitting regions and which reduces a voltage drop in an opposite electrode comprises: a substrate having a transmitting region and pixel regions separated from each other by the transmitting region; thin film transistors positioned on the substrate and disposed in the pixel regions, respectively; a passivation layer covering the thin film transistors, formed in the transmitting region and the pixel regions, and having a first opening formed in a location corresponding to at least a portion of the transmitting region; pixel electrodes formed on the passivation layer so as to be electrically connected to the thin film transistors, respectively, located in the pixel regions, and disposed so as to overlap and cover the thin film transistors, respectively; an opposite electrode facing the pixel electrodes, formed so as to be able to transmit light, and located in the transmitting region and the pixel regions; an organic emission layer interposed between the pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode so as to emit light; and a conduction unit formed of a conductive material, disposed so as to overlap with the first opening, and contacting the opposite electrode.
US09099668B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting system having favorable luminance uniformity in a light-emitting region when the lighting system has large area. According to one feature of the invention, a lighting system comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a layer containing a light-emitting substance formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, an insulating layer which is formed over a substrate in a grid form and contains a fluorescence substance, and a wiring formed over the insulating layer. The insulating layer and the wiring are covered with the first electrode so that the first electrode and the wiring are in contact with each other.
US09099661B2

An organic electrical device can include a first dielectric substrate including a PVDF-TrFe-CFE terpolymer, a first semiconductor region coupled to a first surface of the first dielectric substrate, and a first gate region coupled to a second surface of the first dielectric substrate, the second surface opposite the first surface and opposite the first semiconductor region. The organic electrical device can include an organic field-effect transistor (OFET), comprising the first gate region, the first dielectric substrate, a first source region, and a first drain region respectively electrically coupled to the first semiconductor region. An electrostrictive actuator or mechanical sensor can be co-integrated on the first dielectric substrate, the actuator or sensor including first and second conductive regions located on opposite surfaces of the first dielectric substrate. The actuator or sensor can be electrically coupled to the OFET, and controlled at least in part by the OFET.
US09099657B2

Provided is a photoelectric conversion element containing at least: a semiconductor layer containing a semiconductor and a dye which is supported by the semiconductor, and a hole transport layer containing a hole transport compound, wherein the dye is a compound represented by Formula (1), and the hole transport compound is a polymer made from 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene:
US09099654B2

Disclosed are benzofluorene compounds of formula (1) exhibiting excellent performance when applied to an organic electroluminescent device, wherein Ar1 and Ar2 are aryl which may be substituted; R1 and R2 each are independently hydrogen, alkyl which may be substituted, cycloalkyl which may be substituted or aryl which may be substituted, and at least one of R1 and R2 is aryl which may be substituted; and the substituents in Ar1, Ar2, R1 and R2 each are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 3 to 12 carbon atoms and aryl having 6 to 30 carbon atoms.
US09099648B2

According to one embodiment, a manufacturing method of a semiconductor memory device includes forming a stacked body in which word line material layers and insulating layers are alternately stacked on a base layer. The method includes forming first holes on the stacked body so as to be arranged in a first direction and in a second direction that intersects with the first direction. The method includes forming resistance-change films on inner walls of the first holes, forming bit lines inside the resistance-change films in the first holes, and dividing the stacked body in the first direction by forming second holes so that a portion in the stacked body adjacent to the resistance-change films in the second direction. The method includes forming inter-bit line insulating films in the second holes.
US09099644B2

A phase change memory cell includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit comprises a first electrode, a carbon nanotube layer and a second electrode electrically connected in series. The first circuit is adapted to write data into the phase change memory cell or reset the phase change memory cell. The second circuit comprises a third electrode, a phase change layer and a fourth electrode electrically connected in series, at least part of the phase change layer is overlapped with the carbon nanotube layer. The second circuit is adapted to read data from the phase change memory cell or reset the phase change memory cell.
US09099641B2

Embodiments of the invention implement MEJs having improved read-write characteristics. In one embodiment, an MEJ includes: ferromagnetic fixed and free layers, a dielectric layer interposed between the ferromagnetic layers, and an additional dielectric layer proximate the free layer, where the fixed layer is magnetically polarized in a first direction, where the free layer has a first easy axis that is aligned with the first direction, and where the MEJ is configured such that when subject to a potential difference, the magnetic anisotropy of the free layer is altered such that the relative strength of the magnetic anisotropy along a second easy axis that is orthogonal to the first easy axis, compared to the strength of the magnetic anisotropy along the first easy axis, is magnified during the application of the potential difference, where the extent of the magnification is enhanced by the presence of the additional layer.
US09099637B2

Provided is a phase change memory, including: at least one wiring layer each including a first conductive layer and a phase change layer horizontally disposed on the first conductive layer; a heater layer disposed to vertically contact with the at least one wiring layer; and a second conductive layer disposed to contact with the heater layer in parallel therewith, and through which current flows from at least one electrode into the at least one wiring layer. The phase change layer may be made of a phase change material and may have a thickness less than a thickness of the first conductive layer.
US09099631B2

A semiconductor light-emitting device, and a method of manufacturing the same. The semiconductor light-emitting device includes a first electrode layer, an insulating layer, a second electrode layer, a second semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a first semiconductor layer that are sequentially stacked on a substrate, a first contact that passes through the substrate to be electrically connected to the first electrode layer, and a second contact that passes through the substrate, the first electrode layer, and the insulating layer to communicate with the second electrode layer. The first electrode layer is electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer by filling a contact hole that passes through the second electrode layer, the second semiconductor layer, and the active layer, and the insulating layer surrounds an inner circumferential surface of the contact hole to insulate the first electrode layer from the second electrode layer.
US09099612B2

This application provides a semiconductor light-emitting device and the manufacturing method thereof. The semiconductor light-emitting device comprises a semiconductor light-emitting structure and a thinned substrate. The semiconductor light-emitting structure comprises a plurality of semiconductor layers and a plurality of first channels, wherein a plurality of first channels has a predetermined depth that penetrating at least two layers of the plurality of semiconductor layers.
US09099600B2

Disclosed are a nitride semiconductor light-emitting element having a superior current spreading effect as a result of using a current spreading part containing current spreading impurities, and a method for manufacturing same. The nitride semiconductor light-emitting element according to the present invention comprises: an n-type nitride layer; a current spreading part, which is formed from nitride comprising current spreading impurities, and which is disposed on the n-type nitride layer; an activation layer disposed on the current spreading part; and a p-type nitride layer disposed on the activation layer, wherein the current spreading impurities comprise carbon (C).
US09099597B2

A light emitting diode is provided which can obtain emission at the shorter wavelength side of the emission range of normal 6H-type SiC doped with B and N. A porous layer 124 consisting of single crystal 6H-type SiC of porous state is formed on a SiC substrate 102 of a light emitting diode element 100. Visible light is created from blue color to green color when the porous layer 124 is excited by ultra violet light emitted from the nitride semiconductor layer.
US09099594B2

According to one embodiment, a nitride-semiconductor light-emitting element includes a laminated body, a pair of two transparent conductive layers, a current-blocking layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The laminated body includes a nitride semiconductor, a first layer including a first conductivity-type layer, a second layer including a second conductivity-type layer, and a light-emitting layer sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer. The two transparent conductive layers are laterally separated from each other by a prescribed region. The prescribed region is a portion of a surface of the first layer. The current-blocking layer covers respective surfaces of the two transparent conductive layers.
US09099588B2

A thin-film component comprising a film structure and an electrically conductive protection device is disclosed, together with a method for the production and use thereof.
US09099572B2

A semiconductor light emitting element includes: an n-type semiconductor layer; a light emitting layer alternately laminating plural barrier layers and plural well layers; and a p-type semiconductor layer, wherein the light emitting layer includes three or more well layers and four or more barrier layers, each well layer being sandwiched by the barrier layers, one barrier layer contacting the n-type semiconductor layer, and another barrier layer contacting the p-type semiconductor layer, the well layers include plural n-side well layers from the n-type semiconductor layer side and one p-side well layer on the p-type semiconductor layer side, and a V-shaped concave portion including inclined surfaces is generated in the light emitting layer, and in at least one of the n-side well layers, a concentration of atoms of In on the inclined surface is not more than 50% of a concentration of atoms of In in the n-side well layer.
US09099571B2

A device is disclosed which includes at least one integrated circuit die, at least a portion of which is positioned in a body of encapsulant material, and at least one conductive via extending through the body of encapsulant material.
US09099563B2

A thin film semiconductor device has a semiconductor layer including a mixture of an amorphous semiconductor ionic metal oxide and an amorphous insulating covalent metal oxide. A pair of terminals is positioned in communication with the semiconductor layer and define a conductive channel, and a gate terminal is positioned in communication with the conductive channel and further positioned to control conduction of the channel. The invention further includes a method of depositing the mixture including using nitrogen during the deposition process to control the carrier concentration in the resulting semiconductor layer.
US09099560B2

A photolithography process for forming an island-shaped semiconductor layer is omitted, and a transistor is formed by at least two photolithography processes: a photolithography process for forming a gate electrode (including a wiring or the like formed from the same layer as the gate electrode) and a photolithography process for forming a source electrode and a drain electrode (including a wiring or the like formed from the same layer as the source electrode and the drain electrode). By using electron beam exposure, a transistor in which a distance between the source electrode and the drain electrode (channel length) is short can be formed. For example, a transistor whose channel length is less than 50 nm can be obtained.
US09099558B2

This application discloses a Fin FET structure and a method for forming the same. In the Fin FET structure, there are lower stress spacers disposed over the lower portion of the fin's opposite sidewalls, asserting one stress type to suppress the carrier mobility; there are also upper stress spacers disposed over the upper portion of the fin's opposite sidewalls, asserting an opposite stress type to increase the carrier mobility. Therefore, the leakage current in the fin FET is reduced and the device performance is improved. In the method, the stress spacers are formed by depositing stress layers and etching back the stress layers, where stress types and magnitudes are controllable, resulting in a simple process.
US09099553B2

A MOSFET includes: a substrate having a first trench formed therein, the first trench opening on a side of one main surface; a gate insulating film; and a gate electrode. The substrate includes an n type source region, a p type body region, an n type drift region, and a p type deep region making contact with the body region and extending to a region deeper than the first trench. The first trench is formed such that a distance between the wall surface and the deep region increases with increasing distance from the main surface of the substrate.
US09099550B2

A semiconductor device has a MOSFET and a Schottky barrier diode. A source electrode of the MOSFET is disposed over a main surface of the semiconductor substrate and is coupled to a source region in a well region of the semiconductor substrate. The Schottky barrier diode is adjacent to the MOSFET and includes a part of the source electrode and a part of the main surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US09099549B2

A first reticle set designed for manufacturing dies with a limited number of cores is modified into a second reticle set suitable for manufacturing at least some dies with at least twice as many cores. The first reticle set defines scribe lines to separate the originally defined dies. At least one scribe line is removed from pairs of adjacent but originally distinctly defined dies. Inter-core communication wires are defined to connect the adjacent cores, which are configured to enable the adjacent cores to communicate during operation without connecting to any physical input/output landing pads of the resulting more numerously cored die, which will not carry signals through the inter-core communication wires off the P-core die. The inter-core communication wires may be used for power management coordination purposes or to bypass the external processor bus.
US09099544B2

A memory cell formed of a semiconductor nanorod having its ends heavily doped to form source and drain regions and having its central portion including, between the source and drain regions, an N-type region surrounded on a majority of its periphery with a quasi-intrinsic P-type region, and wherein the P-type region itself is surrounded with an insulated gate.
US09099542B2

A carbon nanotube field-effect transistor is disclosed. The carbon nanotube field-effect transistor includes a first carbon nanotube film, a first gate layer coupled to the first carbon nanotube film and a second carbon nanotube film coupled to the first gate layer opposite the first gate layer. The first gate layer is configured to influence an electric field within the first carbon nanotube film as well as to influence an electric field of the second carbon nanotube film. At least one of a source contact and a drain contact are coupled to the first and second carbon nanotube film and are separated from the first gate layer by an underlap region.
US09099540B2

A system and method for making semiconductor die connections with through-silicon vias (TSVs) are disclosed. A semiconductor die is manufactured with both via-first TSVs as well as via-last TSVs in order to establish low resistance paths for die connections between adjacent dies as well as for providing a low resistance path for feedthrough channels between multiple dies.
US09099538B2

Conductors in a 3D circuit that include horizontal lines with a plurality of vertical extensions in high aspect ratio trenches can be formed using a two-step etching procedure. The procedure can comprise providing a substrate having a plurality of spaced-apart stacks; forming a pattern of vertical pillars in a body of conductor material between stacks; and forming a pattern of horizontal lines in the body of conductor material over stacks, the horizontal lines connecting vertical pillars in the pattern of vertical pillars. The body of conductor material can be deposited over the plurality of spaced-apart stacks. A first etch process can be used to form the pattern of vertical pillars. A second etch process can be used to form the pattern of horizontal lines. The conductors can be used as word lines or as bit lines in 3D memory.
US09099523B2

A semiconductor controlled rectifier comprises a first lightly doped region (100) having a first conductivity type (N) and a first heavily doped region (108) having a second conductivity type (P) formed within the first lightly doped region. A second lightly doped region (104) having the second conductivity type is formed proximate the first lightly doped region. A second heavily doped region (114) having the first conductivity type is formed within the second lightly doped region. A buried layer (101) having the first conductivity type is formed below the second lightly doped region and electrically connected to the first lightly doped region. A third lightly doped region (102) having the second conductivity type is formed between the second lightly doped region and the buried layer. A fourth lightly doped region (400) having the second conductivity type is formed between the second lightly doped region and the buried layer.
US09099514B2

An apparatus, a system and a method are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes a wafer holder including a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions are formed of the same continuous material. The first portion includes a first upper surface and a first lower surface, and the second portion including a second upper surface and a second lower surface. The apparatus further includes an interface between the first and second portions. The interface provides for a transition such that the first upper surface of the first portion tends toward the second upper surface of the second portion. The apparatus further includes a tapered region formed in the first portion. The tapered region starts at a radial distance from a center line of the wafer holder and terminates at the interface. The tapered region has an initial thickness that gradually decreases to a final thickness.
US09099511B2

An apparatus and method is described that allows accurately registered, high resolution patterning of thin films on discrete lengths of flexible substrate material that are unwound from a drum and after processing are rewound onto another drum. Discrete lengths of the substrate—are clamped to a chuck and the chuck moved in a direction parallel to the length of the substrate. Accommodating units are provided for accommodating length changes in the substrate both upstream and downstream of the chuck. A processing head is moved across the width of the substrate when clamped to the chuck and pattern formation is by one, or a combination, of laser ablation, laser exposure or ink jet printing using either or both subtractive and additive processes.
US09099510B2

In one embodiment, a flipping module operable to flip a workpiece delivered by a robot in a vacuum transfer chamber (VTC) includes a gripper disposed outside a working envelope of the robot in a parked position in a vacuum environment of the VTC, and an actuator operable to move the gripper from the parked position to a receiving position, and to rotate the gripper and workpiece to thereby flip the workpiece.
US09099508B2

The invention relates to a method for automatic measurement and for teaching-in of location positions of objects (11) within a substrate processing system (20, 26) in which a sensor carrier (1) is moved by means of a robot end effector (24). Sensor units (2, 3, 4, 5a, 5b) of the sensor carrier (1) are moved along straight movement lines (B1, B2, B3) across the edges (10a, 10b) of the object (11), wherein each of the sensor units (2, 3, 4, 5a, 5b) output at least one sensor signal which changes its value upon detection of an edge (10a, 10b). From the positions of the signal changes along the respective straight movement lines (B1, B2, B3), the location position of the object (11) is determined. Furthermore, the invention relates to a substrate like movable, wireless sensor carrier for carrying out the method according to the invention, with a carrier plate (1a), at least one first sensor unit (4, 5a, 5b) which is mounted on the carrier plate (1a) and which is arranged to detect a first object edge (10a) and a second object edge (10b) of the object (11) during a movement of the sensor carrier (1) on a straight movement line (B1) perpendicular to an object surface (13), and at least one second sensor unit (2, 3) which is mounted on the carrier plate (Ia) and which is arranged to detect at least a first object edge (10b) of the object (11) during a movement of the sensor carrier (1) on a straight movement line (B2) parallel to the object surface (13).
US09099502B2

The present invention provides a chemical-liquid mixing method and a chemical-liquid mixing apparatus capable of sufficiently generating a peroxomonosulfuric acid that is effective in removing a resist from a substrate, when a sulfuric acid and a hydrogen peroxide solution are mixed with each other. At first, an inner tank 10 is filled up with a sulfuric acid and the sulfuric acid overflowing from the inner tank 10 is allowed to flow into an outer tank 12. Then, a hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied into the inner tank 10 and the hydrogen peroxide solution is allowed to flow into the outer tank 12 whereby the two kinds of liquids of the hydrogen peroxide solution and the sulfuric acid are stored in the outer tank 12. Simultaneously when the hydrogen peroxide solution flows into the outer tank 12, a return pump 16 is activated.
US09099499B2

An embodiment of the disclosed invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which includes the steps of: forming a first insulating film; performing oxygen doping treatment on the first insulating film to supply oxygen to the first insulating film; forming a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an oxide semiconductor film electrically connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode, over the first insulating film; performing heat treatment on the oxide semiconductor film to remove a hydrogen atom in the oxide semiconductor film; forming a second insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film; and forming a gate electrode in a region overlapping with the oxide semiconductor film, over the second insulating film. The manufacturing method allows the formation of a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which has stable electrical characteristics and high reliability.
US09099498B2

A semiconductor device in which fluctuation in electric characteristics due to miniaturization is less likely to be caused is provided. The semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor film including a first region, a pair of second regions in contact with side surfaces of the first region, and a pair of third regions in contact with side surfaces of the pair of second regions; a gate insulating film provided over the oxide semiconductor film; and a first electrode that is over the gate insulating film and overlaps with the first region. The first region is a CAAC oxide semiconductor region. The pair of second regions and the pair of third regions are each an amorphous oxide semiconductor region containing a dopant. The dopant concentration of the pair of third regions is higher than the dopant concentration of the pair of second regions.
US09099497B2

The application discloses a pixel driving circuit and a fabrication method thereof as well as an array substrate, the pixel driving circuit including a switching and a driving TFT, the method including: on a substrate, fabricating a gate, a gate insulation GI layer, an oxide semiconductor layer, and an etching stop ESL layer simultaneously in turn; depositing simultaneously source/drain metals of the switching TFT and the driving TFT, the drain metal of the switching TFT extending and covering the GI layer on the gate of the driving TFT by etching; depositing a protection layer; etching off the protection layer, the drain metal of the switching TFT and the GI layer at a via hole by using a via hole process, to expose the gate of the driving TFT; depositing an ITO layer connecting the drain of the switching TFT and the gate of the driving TFT at the via hole.
US09099491B2

A method for fabricating a heterojunction field-effect transistor includes implanting p-type dopants form an implanted area in a first layer of III-V semiconductor alloy, removing an upper part of the first layer and of the implanted area by maintaining vapor phase epitaxy conditions, stopping the removal when the density of the dopant at the upper face of the implanted area is maximal, forming a second layer of III-V semiconductor alloy by vapor phase epitaxy on the implanted area and on the first layer, forming a third layer of III-V semiconductor alloy by vapor phase epitaxy in order to form an electron gas layer at the interface between the third layer and the second layer, and forming a control gate on the third layer plumb with the implanted area.
US09099486B2

Disclosed is an integrated circuit comprising a substrate (10) carrying plurality of circuit elements (20); a metallization stack (30) over said substrate for providing interconnections to at least some of said circuit elements, the metallization stack comprising a plurality of patterned metal layers (31) spatially separated from each other by respective electrically insulating layers (32), at least some of said electrically insulating layers comprising conductive portions (33) that electrically interconnect portions of adjacent metal layers, wherein at least one of the patterned metallization layers comprises a plurality of ion-sensitive electrodes (34), each ion-sensitive electrode being electrically connected to at least one of said circuit elements, a plurality of sample volumes (50) extending into said metallization stack, each sample volume terminating at one of said ion-sensitive electrodes; and an ion-sensitive layer lining at least the ion-sensitive electrodes in said sample volumes. A method of manufacturing such an IC is also disclosed.
US09099481B2

In one embodiment, methods for making semiconductor devices are disclosed.
US09099479B2

A microelectronic unit can include a carrier structure having a front surface, a rear surface remote from the front surface, and a recess having an opening at the front surface and an inner surface located below the front surface of the carrier structure. The microelectronic unit can also include a microelectronic element having a top surface adjacent the inner surface, a bottom surface remote from the top surface, and a plurality of contacts at the top surface. The microelectronic unit can also include terminals electrically connected with the contacts of the microelectronic element. The terminals can be electrically insulated from the carrier structure. The microelectronic unit can also include a dielectric region contacting at least the bottom surface of the microelectronic element. The dielectric region can define a planar surface located coplanar with or above the front surface of the carrier structure.
US09099477B2

The three-dimensional integrated circuit has a first semiconductor chip and a second semiconductor chip stacked on the first semiconductor chip, wherein each of the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip is provided with a power supply wiring layer which has a wiring pattern structure for stably supplying a power supply voltage to an internal circuit of the semiconductor chip, and a ground wiring layer in succession, and one of the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip further includes a second ground wiring layer or a second power supply wiring layer on a surface facing to the other semiconductor chip.
US09099474B2

According to certain embodiments, a silicide layer is formed after the fabrication of a functional gate electrode using a gate-last scheme. An initial semiconductor structure has at least one impurity regions formed on a semiconductor substrate, a sacrifice film formed over the impurity region, an isolation layer formed over the sacrifice film and a dielectric layer formed over the isolation film. A via is patterned into the dielectric layer of the initial semiconductor structure and through the thickness of the isolation layer such that a contact opening is formed in the isolation layer. The sacrifice film underlying the isolation layer is then removed leaving a void space underlying the isolation layer. Then, a metal silicide precursor is placed within the void space, and the metal silicide precursor is converted to a silicide layer through an annealing process.
US09099469B2

Provided is an e-fuse structure of a semiconductor device. the e-fuse structure may include a fuse link formed of a first metal material to connect a cathode with an anode, a capping dielectric covering a top surface of the fuse link, and a dummy metal plug penetrating the capping dielectric and being in contact with a portion of the fuse link. The dummy metal plug may include a metal layer and a barrier metal layer interposed between the metal layer and the fuse link. The barrier metal layer may be formed of a second metal material different from the first metal material.
US09099464B2

A first capacitor recess and a wiring trench are formed through an interlayer insulating film. A lower electrode fills the first capacitor recess, and a first wiring fills the wiring trench. An etching stopper film and a via layer insulating film are disposed over the interlayer insulating film. A first via hole extends through the via layer insulating film and etching stopper film and reaches the first wiring, and a first plug fills the first via hole. A second capacitor recess is formed through the via layer insulating film, the second capacitor recess at least partially overlapping the lower electrode, as viewed in plan. The upper electrode covers the bottom and side surfaces of the second capacitor recess. A capacitor is constituted of the upper electrode, etching stopper film and lower electrode. A second wring connected to the first plug is formed over the via layer insulating film.
US09099452B2

In one implementation, a semiconductor package includes a patterned conductive carrier including partially etched segments. The semiconductor package also includes a control FET having a control drain attached to a first partially etched segment of the patterned conductive carrier. In addition, the semiconductor package includes a sync FET having a sync source and a sync gate attached to respective second and third partially etched segments of the patterned conductive carrier. The semiconductor package further includes a heat spreading conductive plate situated over a control source of the control FET and over a sync drain of the sync FET so as to couple the control source and the sync drain to a switch node segment of the patterned conductive carrier.
US09099450B2

A package structure includes a flexible-rigid PCB and a chip. The flexible PCB includes a flexible PCB, a glue piece and an outer trace layer. The flexible PCB includes two bending portions and a fixing portion connected between the two bending portions, and includes an insulating layer and an inner trace layer formed on the insulating layer. The glue piece is adhered to the fixing portion. The outer trace layer is adhered to the glue piece and includes conductive pads. The fixing portion, the glue piece and the outer trace layer form a rigid portion, the bending portions form flexible portions. The chip is packaged on the rigid portion and includes electrode pads electrically connected to the conductive pads.
US09099449B2

Resilient electrical interposers that may be utilized to form a plurality of electrical connections between a first device and a second device, as well as systems that may utilize the resilient electrical interposers and methods of use and/or fabrication thereof. The resilient electrical interposers may include a resilient dielectric body with a plurality of electrical conduits contained therein. The plurality of electrical conduits may be configured to provide a plurality of electrical connections between a first surface of the electrical interposer and/or the resilient dielectric body and a second, opposed, surface of the electrical interposer and/or the resilient dielectric body. The systems and methods disclosed herein may provide for improved vertical compliance, improved contact force control, and/or improved dimensional stability of the resilient electrical interposers.
US09099440B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a manufacturing method of an array substrate, an array substrate and a display. The manufacturing method comprises: forming a gate electrode of a TFT on a substrate; forming a metal oxide semiconductor thin film and a top metal thin film, and performing a mask process to the metal oxide semiconductor thin film and the top metal thin film, in order to form an active layer opposing the gate electrode and a source electrode and a drain electrode of the TFT respectively; and forming a passivation layer overlying the source electrode and the drain electrode, wherein during the mask process to the top metal thin film, a hydrogen peroxide-based etchant with a pH value between 6 and 8 is used to etch the top metal thin film.
US09099430B2

A zirconium oxide based dielectric material is used in the formation of decoupling capacitors employed in microelectronic logic circuits. In some embodiments, the zirconium oxide based dielectric is doped. In some embodiments, the dopant includes at least one of aluminum, silicon, or yttrium. In some embodiments, the zirconium oxide based dielectric is formed as a nanolaminate of zirconium oxide and a dopant metal oxide.
US09099426B2

One embodiment includes a power module. The power module includes a power switching device, at least one spot cooler and a base cooler. The at least one spot cooler and base cooler are configured to lower an average surface junction temperature and to isothermalize the surface junction temperature of the power switching device. The at least one spot cooler is embedded in at least one of a heat sink base or base cooler of the power module, and the at least one of the heat sink base or base cooler are attached onto a double side metalized substrate that is attached to the power switching device. In one embodiment, the power module further includes a trench structure cut into the double side metalized substrate.
US09099425B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element, a mounting member including Cu, and a bonding layer provided between the semiconductor element and the mounting member. The bonding layer includes a first region including Ti and Cu, and a second region provided between the first region and the mounting member, and including Sn and Cu. A first position along the first direction is positioned between the semiconductor element and a second position along the first direction. The first position is where the composition ratio of Ti in the first region is 0.1 times a maximum value of the composition ratio of Ti. The second position is where the composition ratio of Sn in the second region is 0.1 times a maximum value of the composition ratio of Sn. A distance between the first position and the second position is not less than 0.1 micrometers.
US09099409B2

An organic EL display device includes an organic EL section including an organic layer held between a first electrode and a second electrode, one of the two electrodes serving as a reflective electrode, and the other serving as a translucent electrode; a blue pixel portion including a blue color filter configured to mainly transmit a light component in a blue wavelength region of light emitted from the organic EL section; a green pixel portion including a green color filter configured to mainly transmit a light component in a green wavelength region of the light emitted from the organic EL section; and a red pixel portion including a wavelength conversion layer configured to absorb at least one of the light component in the blue wavelength region and the light component in the green wavelength region of the light emitted from the organic EL section and emit light in a red wavelength region.
US09099408B2

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display includes a substrate having a plurality of pixel areas, which serves as a light-emitting area, and a non-pixel area, which serves as a non-light-emitting area. The OLED display also includes a plurality of first electrodes formed over the substrate in areas respectively corresponding to the pixel areas and a plurality of organic light-emitting layers formed over the first electrodes. The OLED display further includes a pixel defining layer formed in the non-pixel area of the substrate to cover a boundary surface of the organic light-emitting layers and to define the pixel areas, and a second electrode formed over the organic light-emitting layers and the pixel defining layer.
US09099396B2

A semiconductor device includes a conductive layer formed on the surface of a post-passivation interconnect (PPI) structure by an immersion tin process. A polymer layer is formed on the conductive layer and patterned with an opening to expose a portion of the conductive layer. A solder bump is then formed in the opening of the polymer layer to electrically connect to the PPI structure.
US09099392B2

The present invention provides a method of fabricating an erasable programmable single-poly nonvolatile memory, comprising the steps of: defining a first area and a second area in a first type substrate; forming a second type well region in the first area; forming a first gate oxide layer and a second gate oxide layer covering a surface of the first area, wherein the second gate oxide layer extends to and is adjacent to the second area; forming a DDD region in the second area; etching a portion of the second gate oxide layer above the second area; forming two polysilicon gates covering the first and the second gate oxide layers; and defining a second type doped region in the DDD region and defining first type doped regions in the second type well region.
US09099391B2

A semiconductor package includes a base, a die attached to the base, a lead and a connector electrically connecting the lead to the die. A mold compound encapsulates the die, the connector, at least part of the base, and part of the lead, so that the lead extends outward from the mold compound. An electrical insulation layer separate from the mold compound is attached to a surface of the mold compound over the connector. The electrical insulation layer has a fixed, defined thickness so that the package has a guaranteed minimum spacing between an apex of the connector and a surface of the electrical insulation layer facing away from the connector.
US09099388B2

A device includes insulation regions over portions of a semiconductor substrate, and a III-V compound semiconductor region over top surfaces of the insulation regions, wherein the III-V compound semiconductor region overlaps a region between opposite sidewalls of the insulation regions. The III-V compound semiconductor region includes a first and a second III-V compound semiconductor layer formed of a first III-V compound semiconductor material having a first band gap, and a third III-V compound semiconductor layer formed of a second III-V compound semiconductor material between the first and the second III-V compound semiconductor layers. The second III-V compound semiconductor material has a second band gap lower than the first band gap. A gate dielectric is formed on a sidewall and a top surface of the III-V compound semiconductor region. A gate electrode is formed over the gate dielectric.
US09099382B2

According to one embodiment, a III-nitride transistor includes a conduction channel formed between first and second III-nitride bodies, the conduction channel including a two-dimensional electron gas. The transistor also includes at least one gate dielectric layer having a charge confined within to cause an interrupted region of the conduction channel and a gate electrode operable to restore the interrupted region of the conduction channel. The transistor can be an enhancement mode transistor. In one embodiment, the gate dielectric layer is a silicon nitride layer. In another embodiment, the at least one gate dielectric layer is a silicon oxide layer. The charge can be ion implanted into the at least one gate dielectric layer. The at least one gate dielectric layer can also be grown with the charge.
US09099373B2

A solid-state imaging device including a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels are arranged. The pixels each includes a photoelectric conversion section, a transfer transistor, a plurality of floating diffusion sections receiving a charge from the photoelectric conversion section through the transfer transistor, a reset transistor resetting the floating diffusion sections, a separating transistor performing on-off control of a connection between the plurality of floating diffusion sections, and an amplifying transistor outputting a signal corresponding to a potential of the floating diffusion sections.
US09099372B2

The inventive concept relates to a CMOS image sensor and an operating method of the CMOS image sensor. The operating method according to an embodiment of the inventive concept includes generating photoelectrons at a photo sensor element during a first time; generating photoelectrons at the photo sensor element during a second time shorter than the first time; and sensing the photoelectrons generated at the photo sensor element. A gate voltage of a transfer transistor connected to the photo sensor element is set differently at the first time and the second time. With an embodiment of the inventive concept, a dynamic range of the CMOS image sensor increases.
US09099366B2

A photosite is formed in a semiconductor substrate and includes a photodiode confined in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the substrate. The photodiode includes a semiconductor zone for storing charge that is formed in an upper semiconductor region having a first conductivity type and includes a main well of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type and laterally pinned in a first direction parallel to the surface of the substrate. The photodiode further includes an additional semiconductor zone including an additional well having the second conductivity type that is buried under and makes contact with the main well.
US09099361B2

An active matrix display device having a pixel structure in which pixel electrodes, gate wirings and source wirings are suitably arranged in the pixel portions to realize a high numerical aperture without increasing the number of masks or the number of steps. The device comprises a gate electrode and a source wiring on an insulating surface, a first insulating layer on the gate electrode and on the source wiring, a semiconductor layer on the first insulating film, a second insulating layer on the semiconductor film, a gate wiring connected to the gate electrode on the second insulating layer, a connection electrode for connecting the source wiring and the semiconductor layer together, and a pixel electrode connected to the semiconductor layer.
US09099353B2

The formation of overlap areas in sophisticated semiconductor devices is a critical aspect which may not be efficiently evaluated on the basis of conventional measurement and design strategies. For this reason, the present disclosure provides measurement techniques and systems in which overlying device patterns are transformed into the same material layer, thereby forming a combined pattern which is accessible by well-established defect inspection techniques. Upon geometrically modulating some of these combined patterns, a systematic evaluation of overlap process windows may be accomplished.
US09099342B2

According to one embodiment, a transistor includes: a structural body; an insulating film; a control electrode; a first electrode; and a second electrode. The structural body includes a first through a third semiconductor regions, and includes a compound semiconductor having a first and a second elements. The first electrode is electrically continuous with the third semiconductor region. The second electrode is electrically continuous with the first semiconductor region. The structural body has a first region provided above a lower end of the second semiconductor region and a second region other than the first region. The first region is a region formed by making a ratio of concentration of source gas of the second element to concentration of source gas of the first element larger than 1.0. Impurity concentration of the first conductivity type in the first region is higher than that in the second region.
US09099332B2

Lead frames for light emitting device packages, light emitting device packages, and illumination apparatuses employing the light emitting device packages. The lead frame including a plurality of mounting portions on which a plurality of light emitting device chips are mounted; a plurality of connection portions for circuit connecting the plurality of light emitting device chips; a terminal portion extended from the plurality of connection portions. The light emitting device package is formed by directly mounting the plurality of light emitting device chips on the lead frame and packaging the mounted light emitting device chips on the lead frame. The lead frame includes a plurality of connection portions for circuit connecting the plurality of light emitting device chips and a terminal portion in which a part of a circuit thereof is exposed.
US09099310B1

Disclosed is that a method of manufacturing horizontally aligned single crystalline inorganic nanowire patterns, including mixing an inorganic precursor and an organic polymer in water or an organic solvent to prepare an inorganic-polymer liquid, forming inorganic precursor/organic polymer composite nanowire patterns aligned on a substrate using the inorganic-polymer liquid, and irradiating eximer laser along the aligned inorganic precursor/organic polymer composite nanowire patterns.
US09099308B2

An embodiment of a method for manufacturing a semiconductor wafer includes providing a monocrystalline silicon wafer, epitaxially growing a first layer of a first material on the silicon wafer, and epitaxially growing a second layer of a second material on the first layer. For example, said first material may be monocrystalline silicon carbide, and said second material may be monocrystalline silicon.
US09099307B2

A method for making an epitaxial structure includes following steps. A substrate having an epitaxial growth surface is provided. A first epitaxial layer is epitaxially grown on the epitaxial growth surface. A graphene layer is applied on the first epitaxial layer. A second epitaxial layer is epitaxially grown on the first epitaxial layer.
US09099299B2

A method of removing a hard mask used for patterning gate stacks including patterning gate stacks on a substrate, wherein the hard mask is deposited over the gate stacks. The method further includes depositing a dielectric layer on the substrate after the gate stacks are patterned and planarizing a first portion of the dielectric layer. The method further includes removing a second portion of the dielectric layer and the hard mask by using an etching gas and etching the remaining dielectric layer by using a wet etching chemistry.
US09099294B1

A process for forming an optical package comprises at least partially encasing a first leadframe strip in a first mold compound thereby forming a molded leadframe strip, mounting at least one optical semiconductor device on the molded leadframe strip, at least partially encasing the molded leadframe strip, and singulating the molded leadframe strip to form discrete packages for optical applications. An apparatus for forming an optical package comprises means for at least partially encasing a first leadframe strip in a first mold compound thereby forming a molded leadframe strip, means for mounting at least one optical semiconductor device on the at least one molded leadframe strip, means for at least partially encasing the molded leadframe strip, and means for singulating the molded leadframe strip to form discrete and grid array packages.
US09099293B2

A method of lighting a high-pressure discharge lamp is configured to change a power to be supplied to the high-pressure discharge lamp in accordance with a luminance parameter of an image content. The method includes switching between a low temperature operation and a high temperature operation so as to maintain a condition that mercury encapsulated into an arc tube part of the high-pressure discharge lamp constantly partially deposits without evaporating. The low temperature operation is performed where the temperature in the arc tube part is less than or equal to the deposition temperature of the mercury, whereas the high temperature operation is performed where the temperature in the arc tube part is greater than the deposition temperature of the mercury.
US09099285B2

Provided are a plasma processing method and a plasma processing apparatus which may form a protective film on the surface of an etching stop layer and suppress clogging of openings of holes when etching an oxide layer are provided. The plasma processing method forms a plurality of holes having different depths in multi-layered films that include an oxide layer, a plurality of etching stop layers made of tungsten, and a mask layer. The plasma processing method includes an etching process in which a processing gas is supplied to generate plasma such that etching is performed from the top surface of the oxide layer to the plurality of etching stop layers so as to form hole having different depths in the oxide layer. Here, the processing gas includes a fluorocarbon-based gas, a rare gas, oxygen, and nitrogen.
US09099284B2

A reactive correction to chamber impedance changes without the need to change the process recipe is disclosed. The reactive correction may be done automatically and repeatedly during processing. A control of RF power application to a plasma processing chamber is performed, so as to minimize reflected power and efficiently apply the RF power to the plasma. Autotuning of the RF power application is enabled without modifying a qualified process recipe. The autotuning can be applied using frequency matching and RF matching network tuning.
US09099282B2

A charged particle beam focusing apparatus includes a charged particle beam generator configured to project simultaneously at least one non-astigmatic charged particle beam and at least one astigmatic charged particle beam onto locations on a surface of a specimen, thereby causing released electrons to be emitted from the locations. The apparatus also includes an imaging detector configured to receive the released electrons from the locations and to form images of the locations from the released electrons. A processor analyzes the image produced by the at least one non-astigmatic charged particle beam and in response thereto adjusts a focus of the at least one non-astigmatic charged particle beam.
US09099278B2

The present invention relates to a protective enclosure for an ion gun and to a device for depositing materials through vacuum evaporation comprising such an enclosure and methods of using each. According to the invention, the protective enclosure comprises a side wall intended to surround said ion gun, and an open upper end, said protective enclosure having a longitudinal axis, a truncated tube shape on its open upper end resulting from an inclined surface relative to said longitudinal axis, and having a lower part and an upper part.
US09099277B2

A pattern definition (PD) device for use in a charged-particle multi-beam processing or inspection apparatus includes at least two deflection array devices positioned in a stacked arrangement. A particle beam (Ib) traversing the PD device is formed into a plurality of beamlets, which can be deflected or blanked by the two deflection array devices. Each deflection array device comprises a plurality of blanking openings allowing passage of beamlets, and a plurality of deflecting devices, each deflecting device being associated with a respective blanking opening and comprising an electrostatic electrode. The deflecting devices are selectively activatable and configured to influence, when activated, the beamlets traversing said respective blanking openings so as to deflect said beamlets off their nominal paths. Each deflection array device is configured to act on only respective subsets of beamlets by selectively deflecting them, while allowing the other beamlets to traverse the respective deflection array device without deflection.
US09099273B2

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a plurality of nanostructures comprising the steps of providing a plurality of protruding base structures (104) arranged on a surface of a first substrate (102), providing a seed layer mixture, comprising a solvent/dispersant and a seed material, in contact with the protruding base structures, providing a second substrate arranged in parallel with the first substrate adjacent to the protruding base structures, thereby enclosing a majority of the seed layer mixture between the first and second substrates, evaporating the solvent, thereby forming a seed layer (110) comprising the seed material on the protruding base structures, removing the second substrate, providing a growth mixture, comprising a growth agent, in contact with the seed layer, and controlling the temperature of the growth mixture so that nanostructures (114) are formed on the seed layer via chemical reaction in presence of the growth agent.
US09099267B2

A hybrid circuit breaker for use in the field of medium and high-voltage hybrid circuit breakers comprising an arc-control device (110), a vacuum switch (20) and a single mechanical control apparatus for controlling the opening and closing of the vacuum switch (20) with the control apparatus comprising a control rod (31) for controlling the movement of a movable contact (22) relative to a stationary contact with the movable contact secured to a movable control rod (32), via a holding system including a flexible toroidal helical spring (38) placed in a groove of the movable contact and in a groove located in the movable control rod and further comprising an energy accumulation system including a spring (34) for causing the flexible toroidal helical spring (38) to release the movable control rod from the movable contact and cause the movable contact to make contact with the stationary contact.
US09099256B2

A cover assembly for an automatic transfer switch (ATS) is provided. The ATS includes an operator-panel portion and a pole-assembly portion, wherein the operator-panel portion comprises at least one solenoid and associated wiring. The cover assembly includes and operator-panel cover and a pole-assembly cover. The operator-panel cover is configured to cover the operator-panel portion such that the at least one solenoid and associated wiring are substantially enclosed, the operator-panel cover comprising a first plurality of ventilation louvers for heat dissipation. Further, the pole-assembly cover is configured to cover the pole-assembly portion, the pole-assembly cover comprising a second plurality of ventilation louvers for heat dissipation.
US09099243B2

There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic body including a dielectric layer; and an internal electrode formed in the ceramic body, wherein on a cross-section of the ceramic body in a width-thickness direction, a thickness Te of the internal electrode satisfies 0.1 μm≦Te≦1.0 μm, and when the internal electrode is divided into three regions including a central region and both edge regions in a width direction of the ceramic body and a ratio of an actual total length of the internal electrode corresponding to the sum of lengths of electrode portions to an ideal total length of the internal electrode is defined as connectivity S of the internal electrode, connectivity of the internal electrode in the edge regions satisfies 75%≦S≦98%, and a ratio of connectivity of the internal electrode in the edge regions to connectivity of the internal electrode in the central region is 0.9 to 0.98.
US09099237B2

Cooling systems include a first passageway forming member that includes first and second ends and at least one connecting recess that opens into first and second passageways formed by the first passageway forming member. A second passageway forming member includes first and second ends and inlet and outlet ports proximate the first end such that the first end, including an elastomeric seal and the inlet and outlet ports, is sealably insertable in and removable from the at least one connecting recess, where the inlet port opens into the first passageway and the outlet port opens into the second passageway, and where, when the first end is inserted in the at least one connecting recess, the elastomeric seal is sandwiched between and in substantial contact with both the first end and the first passageway forming member.
US09099236B2

A reactor 1 of the present invention includes: a combined product 10 provided with a coil 2 and a magnetic core 3 where the coil 2 is disposed; and a case 4 storing the combined product 10. The case 4 includes: a bottom plate portion 40 fixed to a fixation target when the reactor 1 is installed in the fixation target; a side wall portion 41 attached to the bottom plate portion 40 to surround the combined product 10; and a heat dissipation layer 42 formed on the inner face of the bottom plate portion 40 to be interposed between the bottom plate portion 40 and the coil 2. The bottom plate portion 40 is made of aluminum, and the side wall portion 41 is made of an insulating resin. The heat dissipation layer 42 is made of an adhesive agent whose thermal conductivity is high and which exhibits an excellent insulating characteristic. Since the bottom plate portion 40 is structured as a separate member from the side wall portion 41, the heat dissipation layer 42 can easily be formed and, moreover, the heat dissipation layer 42 can be made of a material possessing an excellent heat dissipating characteristic. Since the insulator 5 evenly presses the coil 2 against the heat dissipation layer 42, an even more excellent heat dissipating characteristic is achieved.
US09099230B2

An amorphous metal thin-film non-linear resistor (AMNR) is provided. The AMNR is an electronic device possessing symmetric non-linear current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, an exemplary configuration of which may comprise three sequentially deposited layers which include a lower amorphous metal thin-film (AMTF) interconnect, a thin-film insulator located on top of the AMTF interconnect, and two upper conductive contacts located on top of the insulator and disposed in the same physical plane.
US09099220B2

A flat-type cable suitable for use in high frequency communications. The cable has a plurality of longitudinally extending and substantially parallel passageways, each housing a twisted pair conductor. The twisted pair conductors are disposed in the cable in a manner that the twisted pair conductors with the longest lay lengths are disposed in the passageways closest to the edges of the cable, and the passageways farther away from the edges of the cable house twisted pair conductors with progressively shorter lay lengths.
US09099215B2

A method of manufacturing a non-firing type electrode comprising steps of: (A) applying a conductive paste on a substrate; (B) heating the applied conductive paste at 50 to 350° C. to form an electrode; and (C) pressing the electrode at 10 to 1000 kN/m2 of plane surface pressure or at 5 to 300 kN/m of linear pressure.
US09099210B2

There is provided a radioactive sludge transfer apparatus for transferring sludge stored in a sludge storage tank with supernatant solution to a transfer tank including: a transfer apparatus body; a stifling apparatus for blasting the supernatant solution to the sludge to thereby produce sludge solution in the one tank; sludge solution transfer apparatus for transferring the sludge solution to the transfer tank; an attitude control float; a floating force control ballast tank; and control device for remotely controlling the stifling apparatus, the sludge solution transfer apparatus and the floating force control ballast tank.
US09099205B2

Disclosed are a zirconium alloy for a nuclear fuel cladding having a good oxidation resistance in reactor accident conditions, a zirconium alloy nuclear fuel cladding prepared by using thereof and a method of preparing the same. The zirconium alloy includes 1.0 to 1.2 wt % of niobium (Nb); at least one element selected from tin (Sn), iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr); 0.02 to 0.1 wt % of copper (Cu); 0.1 to 0.15 wt % of oxygen (O); 0.008 to 0.012 wt % of silicon (Si) and a remaining amount of zirconium (Zr). The amount of Sn is 0.1 to 0.3 wt %, the amount of Fe is 0.3 to 0.8 wt %, and the amount of Cr is 0.1 to 0.3 wt %. A good oxidation resistance of the nuclear fuel cladding may be confirmed under accident conditions as well as normal operating conditions of a reactor, thereby improving economic efficiency and safety.
US09099204B2

Methods, processes, and systems of transportable nuclear batteries are provided. In one embodiment, the battery may comprise a sealed reactor shell, a reactor core, and a generator. In further embodiments, the transportable nuclear battery may comprise a nuclear fuel in the reactor core wherein the fuel comprises plutonium, carbon, hydrogen, zirconium and, thorium. In some embodiments, the fuel may comprise hydrogen-containing glass microspheres, wherein the glass microspheres, may be coated with a burnable poison, and other coating materials that may aid in keeping the hydrogen within the microsphere glass at relatively high temperature. The disclosed methods, processes and systems may aid in providing energy to remote areas.
US09099203B2

A test method of a semiconductor device and a semiconductor test apparatus. The test method includes providing a semiconductor device including a substrate having an active region and an isolation region, a volatile device cell including a gate insulation layer and a gate on the active region, a junction region in the active region, a capacitor connected to the junction region, and a passing gate on the isolation region, providing a first test voltage to the gate and a second test voltage greater than the first test voltage to the passing gate to deteriorate interfacial defects of the gate insulation layer, and measuring retention characteristics of the volatile device cell.
US09099197B2

A semiconductor integrated circuit according to one aspect of the present invention may includes a plurality of driving circuits to drive a respective plurality of word lines with either a first voltage supplied from a first power supply or a second voltage supplied from a second power supply in accordance with a control signal, and a plurality of gate transistors in each of which a gate is connected to one of the plurality of word lines, and a connection state between a storage node and a bit line is changed based on the voltage provided to the word line connected to the gate. In the semiconductor integrated circuit, a gate oxide film of each of the plurality of gate transistors is thinner than a gate oxide film of each of transistors constituting the plurality of driving circuits.
US09099195B2

A hybrid nanotube, high-performance, dynamically reconfigurable architecture, NATURE, is provided, and a design optimization flow method and system, NanoMap. A run-time reconfigurable architecture is provided by associating a non-volatile universal memory to each logic element to enable cycle-by-cycle reconfiguration and logic folding, while remaining CMOS compatible. Through logic folding, significant logic density improvement and flexibility in performing area-delay tradeoffs are possible. NanoMap incorporates temporal logic folding during the logic mapping, temporal clustering and placement steps. NanoMap provides for automatic selection of a best folding level, and uses force-direct scheduling to balance resources across folding stages. Mapping can thereby target various optimization objectives and user constraints. A high-density, high-speed carbon nanotube RAM can be implemented as the universal memory, allowing on-chip multi-context configuration storage, enabling fine-grain temporal logic folding, and providing a significant increase in relative logic density.
US09099192B1

A non-volatile memory device includes a sector pass/fail indicator circuit configured to store a pass/fail indicator for each sector in a first block of memory cells. The pass/fail indicator has a first value indicating the respective sector has failed erase verification and has a second value indicating the respective sector has passed erase verification. The sector pass/fail indicator circuit set the respective pass/fail indicators to the second value for one or more sectors in the first block after the respective sectors pass erase verification following a previous block erase operation of the first block. The first block is subjected to subsequent block erase operation where only word lines associated with the sectors having a pass/fail indicator having the first value are biased to the first bias voltage level.
US09099190B2

A non-volatile memory device includes a sense amplifier for comparing a conduction current of a selected one of a plurality of memory cells with a reference current. The sense amplifier includes an amplification stage having a first input terminal for receiving a first comparison voltage, a second input terminal for receiving a reference value, and an output terminal for providing a second comparison voltage. A buffer stage has an output terminal for providing a comparison current according to a difference between the conduction current and the reference current, and an input terminal for stabilizing the first comparison voltage at the reference value and the second comparison voltage at a comparison value unbalanced with respect to the reference value according to the comparison current. A latching stage indicates a logic level stored in the memory cell according to a difference between the comparison value and the reference value.
US09099185B2

Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, a memory cell is provided with a plurality of available programming states to accommodate multi-level cell (MLC) programming. A control circuit stores a single bit logical value to the memory cell using single level cell (SLC) programming to provide a first read margin between first and second available programming states. The control circuit subsequently stores a single bit logical value to the memory cell using virtual multi-level cell (VMLC) programming to provide a larger, second read margin between the first available programming state and a third available programming state.
US09099184B2

Data is read from memory cells, including at least one victim cell and at least one aggressor cell, using an element graph. Reading the data includes defining function nodes corresponding to probability density functions with respect to a first physical characteristic of the at least one victim cell and a second physical characteristic of the at least one aggressor cell, defining variable nodes corresponding to at least one first data value stored in the at least one victim cell and at least one second data value stored in the at least one aggressor cell, and defining edges connecting the function nodes and the variable nodes.
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