US09963097B2

In a seatbelt device, at a time of an emergency of a vehicle, gas is supplied via a tube interior into a chest bag, and the chest bag is inflated and expanded. Here, the tube is disposed at a thickness direction one side of a webbing at positions at which a lap webbing, at a thickness direction other side thereof, is interfered with by a seat cushion and a passenger. Therefore, the tube being crushed by the seat cushion and the passenger, and the lap webbing, can be suppressed, and supplying of gas via the tube interior into the chest bag being limited can be suppressed.
US09963090B2

A cap provided for use in capping a sewage drain tube of a vehicle and/or opening where a sewage drain tube is located. The sewer drain cap includes a chamber with a lid, useful for storage. Apertures to allow air flow or ventilation and to aid in removal and replacement of the sewer drain cap are provided. A sealing member for the drain tube cap is also provided for attaching to and/or sealing a drain tube and/or opening where a sewage drain tube is located.
US09963084B2

An agricultural vehicle including a chassis, a cab attached to the chassis, a seat positioned in the cab, a console associated with the seat and a track system coupled to the console. The track system includes a track and a display device. The track is connected to the console, and the track has first and second features. The display device is movingly coupled to the first feature and to the second feature. The display device is configured to be pushed along the track.
US09963079B2

A holder and system for holding or retaining trailer components, such as trailer chains and/or electrical components, is disclosed. In an embodiment, a holder includes a first portion and a second portion configured for connection to the first portion. In an embodiment, the holder comprises first and second portion that are configured to form an opening that encircles a portion, such as a shaft, of a trailer lift. An embodiment of a system for holding or retaining trailer components may include trailer lift and a holder portion that extends outwardly from a portion of the trailer lift.
US09963075B2

An actuator assembly configured to adjust a viewing axis of a vehicle mirror is disclosed. The assembly comprises a toggle switch and a pivot plate rotationally coupled to the toggle switch proximate a first axis. The assembly further comprises a support bracket rotationally coupled to the pivot plate along a second axis and rotationally coupled to the toggle switch along the first axis. The support bracket is configured to support the vehicle mirror, and a rotation of the toggle switch is configured to move the pivot plate relative to the support bracket.
US09963073B1

A door mirror assembly is configured to be mounted on a support arm and a bracket, the door mirror assembly being moveable about the support arm and bracket via an actuator. The door mirror assembly includes a housing having a peripheral edge that defines an aperture. The door mirror assembly also includes a bezel having a mounting surface and an opposed surface, the opposed surface having a projecting edge extending therefrom by which the bezel is connected to the peripheral edge of the housing. The door mirror assembly further includes a mirror connected to the mounting surface of the bezel.
US09963068B2

A computing device for a vehicle proximity condition detection and haptic notification system is provided. The computing device includes one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing device, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to operate, upon detection of a vehicle proximity condition, at least one portion of the vehicle as a haptic device in a user-selected manner directed to informing a vehicle occupant of the vehicle proximity condition, and directed to suggesting to the occupant a vehicle control command that is responsive to the proximity condition.
US09963063B2

Provided is a strap rolling device for quickly and easily coiling items such as cargo straps. The apparatus comprising a base plate, a manual crank assembly, a strap reel assembly, a gear assembly and a chain for the gear assembly. The manual crank assembly is attached to the base plate, and is used to turn the gear assembly. The gear assembly enhances the rotational motion of the manual crank assembly, and is attached to the strap reel assembly, allowing the strap winder to perform the task of winding a cargo straps in a more efficient manner than can be done without gears. The apparatus contains hardware for mounting the device directly to a flat-bed truck with a clamp, or, in another embodiment, for mounting the device onto a stake hole.
US09963054B2

In an initial position, a movable plate (50) is rotatably connected to a fixed plate (40) by a connecting mechanism (70) (a shaft member (80) and a groove (72)). In a switching position, the movable plate (50) is slidably connected to the fixed plate (40) by the connecting mechanism (70) in a manner that enables the movable plate (50) to slide toward a seat width direction center side. When the movable plate (50) is pushed toward the seat width direction center side by the bladder (60), the movable plate (50) and a support pad are rotated from the initial position to the switching position. Then, the movable plate (50) that has rotated to the switching position is pushed toward the seat width direction center side, by the bladder (60), and the movable plate (50) and the sup port pad slide from the switching position toward the seat width direction center side.
US09963049B2

A rail pair (1), for a vehicle seat (10), includes at least a lower seat rail (S1) and an upper seat rail (S2), which engage around one another in such a way that a rail profile is formed and which can be moved in relation to each other in a longitudinal direction (L) and can be interlocked by a rail locking device (2). Rolling elements (4) are arranged between the seat rails (S1, S2) in an interaction region. The upper seat rail (S2) includes two side walls (S2.1, S2.2), which two side walls (S2.1, S2.2), in a vertical orientation, protrude largely in parallel and perpendicularly from a bottom region (S2.3). One of the side walls (S2.2) is bent outward in a continued course in some regions of the longitudinal direction (L).
US09963048B2

A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle, the seat slide apparatus includes: a lower rail which is fixed to a vehicle floor; an upper rail which is slidably engaged with the lower rail; and a rolling element circulation unit having rolling elements and interposed between the lower rail and the upper rail in a state where the rolling elements are able to be circulated, in which the lower rail includes a bottom wall portion, sidewall portions, and upper wall portions, the upper rail includes a main body portion, and folded-back portions, the rolling element circulation unit includes a case having an annular accommodating path accommodating the rolling elements, between the lower rail and the upper rail, an upper rolling element circulation unit and a lower rolling element circulation unit are provided to be disposed at two positions spaced apart from each other, and the upper rail includes a pedestal portion.
US09963035B2

A dashboard assembly for a vehicle includes a dashboard defining a receiving niche. The niche is alignable with a driver seat location, and is selectively fillable by each of a removable steering module and a removable filler module. The removable steering module includes a steering module base. A steering wheel support is fixed to the steering module base. A steering wheel is rotatably fixed to the steering wheel support. A steering wheel connector connects the steering wheel to a vehicle steering actuator. The removable filler module includes a filler module base.
US09963031B2

A vehicle lower portion structure for a hybrid vehicle has a vehicle drive battery 32 that is mounted on top of the center floor panel 18 and on a vehicle lower side of a rear seat 26, a fuel tank 34 that is formed so as to include a tank main body portion 36 that is disposed on the vehicle lower side of the center floor panel 18 and an in-tunnel extension portion 38A that is disposed inside the floor tunnel 20 and communicates with the tank main body portion 36, and a fuel pump 40 that is provided at a position within the in-tunnel extension portion 38A where the fuel pump 40 is able to be extracted via an extraction hole 20C formed in the floor tunnel 20.
US09963020B2

A vehicle door hinge system may include an actuator configured to pivot a vehicle door and a door hinge. The actuator may include a door strut. The door hinge may include a body strap, a door strap, and a strut strap having a strap end and a strut end. The strap end may be attached to the body strap, and the strut end of the strut strap and the door strut may be pivotally coupled to one another, such that the door of the vehicle is opened when the door strut is extended and closed when the door strut is retracted.
US09963019B2

An extended-range sun visor assembly includes a rail and a sun visor panel. The sun visor panel is releasably mounted to the rail at an inboard sun visor panel end and slidably mounted to the rail at an outboard sun visor panel end. The rail may be fixed at opposite ends thereof to a vehicle roof panel and/or headliner. The sun visor panel is releasably mounted at the inboard end by a snap fit retainer, and slidably mounted at the outboard end by a shaft coupler configured to slide along a longitudinal axis of the rail. The shaft coupler pivots or swivels around a shaft coupler vertical axis.
US09963018B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to vehicles and vehicle roof structures for concealing one or more sensors. Vehicle roof structures according to the present disclosure include a roof panel and a window extending at least up to the roof panel. A headliner extends along an interior portion of the roof panel to the window and is at least partially spaced from the roof panel in a direction of an interior of the vehicle to provide a sensor mounting volume therebetween, wherein the window extends along at least a portion of the sensor mounting volume. One or more sensors are positioned behind the window within the sensor mounting volume to provide a signal indicative of a characteristic of an environment of the vehicle detected by the one or more sensors through the window.
US09963005B2

A mountable hitch frame assembly for three-wheeled vehicle that secures to the rear portion of an existing three-wheeled vehicle frame to position a hitch receiver assembly rearwardly projected overtop a rear swing arm assembly of the existing three-wheeled vehicle whereby objects and accouterments are mountable securely in tow and force and inertia exerted when towing objects and accouterments is distributable directly into the existing three-wheeled vehicle frame.
US09963003B2

In a method for assisting a driver of a vehicle, a closed loop control device and/or open loop control device is switchable into multiple warning stages such that: if at least one temperature value measured by a temperature sensor exceeds a first defined threshold value, the closed loop control device and/or open loop control device switches into a first warning stage in which it is indicated to the driver to stop the vehicle within a defined period of time and/or within a defined section of road and/or that the driver is not to exceed a defined speed value. If the measured temperature value exceeds a second defined threshold value, greater than the first threshold value, the closed loop control device and/or open loop control device switches into a second warning stage in which it is indicated to the driver that the driver is to stop the vehicle immediately.
US09962994B2

The present invention increases the bonding strength between a spoke and a tread ring and/or between a spoke and a hub to improve durability. An airless tire provided with a tread ring, a hub, and a spoke, wherein the spoke is integrally provided with: an outer annular portion of which the outer peripheral surface is bonded to the inner peripheral surface of the tread ring via a first adhesion layer; an inner annular portion of which the inner peripheral surface is bonded to the outer peripheral surface of the hub via a second adhesion layer, and a spoke portion which couples the inner and outer annular portions. The inner peripheral surface of the tread ring and/or the outer peripheral surface of the hub is composed of a roughened surface having a surface roughness (Ra) (arithmetic average roughness) of 3-1000 μm or a surface roughness (Rz) (ten-point average roughness) of 30-5000 μm.
US09962993B2

A brake mechanism for mobile currency vaults includes a braking gear coupled to a vault wheel to govern rotational movement of the wheel. An interference tab is biased to an interference fit between the gear's teeth to stop rotation of the wheel. Disengaging the gear is controlled near the handles of the vault, which also provide steering control, so that users must actively disengage the interference tab to allow the wheel to rotate. The brake mechanism also has a brake release for locking in a disengaged or engaged position. The brake release spans the mobile currency vault from a front wheel to a rear handle. The brake release also has a control, preferably at a rear end of the vault, requiring activation by a key and an indicator pusher.
US09962991B2

A force-distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke includes a force-distributing body having a free-end first surface and a second surface disposed at an opposite side of the first surface. The force-distributing body has a spoke-receiving opening that extends through the first surface, wherein the spoke-receiving opening is formed eccentrically in the force-distributing body.
US09962978B2

A can printing apparatus 1 includes a main printer 2 having plural plate cylinders 47 for printing different colors and performing printing onto side surfaces of cans, a secondary printer 6 performing additional printing to the side surfaces of the cans after the printing by the main printer, and a can inspection machine 5 inspecting a printing state. The can inspection machine 5 includes a can rotation device 51 which rotates cans C, a can imaging device 52 which takes images of the cans C and an image processing device 53 which processes the taken images, and the secondary printer 6 includes a printing head 6a which faces a side surface of a can held by the can rotation device 51 of the can inspection machine 5 and a processing unit which gives an instruction of printing to the printing head 6a based on a predetermined printing pattern and processing data of the image processing device 53 of the can inspection machine 5.
US09962971B2

A printhead capping system includes: a fixed plate; first and second sliders slidably movable along the fixed plate; a mounting bracket having a cap assembly mounted thereon; and first and second arms interconnecting the mounting bracket and the respective first and second sliders. Movement of the first and second sliders towards each other causes lateral movement of the cap assembly away from the fixed plate, and movement of the first and second sliders away from each other causes lateral movement of the cap assembly towards the fixed plate.
US09962958B2

A droplet discharge apparatus includes a recording section that performs recording by discharging ink droplets onto a recording medium, and a drying section including a plurality of drying units that perform drying of the recording medium on which ink droplets have been impacted, wherein the drying units are movably disposed in a predetermined drying area in which the drying of the recording medium is performed.
US09962954B2

A thermal printer includes: a plurality of heat elements that are to be heated by applying an electrical power; a printing controller that applies a first electrical power to heat elements not to be used for printing, the first electrical power depending on the number of heat elements not to be used for printing among the plurality of heat elements; and a thermal head that prints using the plurality of heat elements.
US09962948B1

A fluidic delivery device having improved volumetric efficiency. The device includes a fluid container having a standpipe at a lower end of the container and open areas located below a fluid entrance end of the standpipe; a first fluid permeable body located in the fluid container above the fluid entrance end of the standpipe; and one or more second fluid permeable bodies located in the open areas of the fluid container below the first fluid permeable body and below the fluid entrance end of the standpipe.
US09962943B1

An inkjet printhead assembly includes a repositionable shutter mechanism adapted to block a slot through which drops of ink ejected from the array of nozzles pass before they impinge on the print medium. The shutter mechanism includes an actuator rod having a first actuation feature, and a repositionable shutter blade extending in a cross-track direction having first and second tabs affixed to its ends. The first tab includes a second actuation feature that engages with the first actuation feature of the actuator rod. An actuator is configured to translate the actuator rod, thereby pivoting the repositionable shutter blade about the pivot axis between a first pivot position where the shutter blade blocks the slot and a second pivot position where the shutter blade is moved away from the slot so that drops of ink can pass through the slot.
US09962941B2

A recording apparatus includes a discharge section configured to discharge an ink from a nozzle onto a medium, a common flow path configured to supply a liquid to the nozzle, an ink supply path configured to supply the ink to the common flow path, filling liquid supply paths configured to supply a filling liquid to the common flow path, an air release path configured to release air in the common flow path, and a switching between section configured to switch the opening and closing of the ink supply path, the filling liquid supply paths, and the air release path.
US09962931B2

Examples include estimation of pen to paper spacing (PPS). Examples include an alignment pattern printed on a medium at a target speed, an optical scan procedure performed on the printed alignment pattern to determine values of cross-media misalignment for first and second portions of the alignment pattern, determination of a dynamic swath height error (DSHE) effect value based on the values of cross-media misalignment, and estimation of an amount of PPS based on the determined DSHE effect value and the target print speed.
US09962923B2

A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) image-wise exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a hydrophilic support and a coating containing a colorant precursor to form a lithographic image consisting of printing areas and non-printing areas, b) developing the plate precursor to remove the coating in the non-printing areas from the support, and c) drying the plate precursor, and d) subjecting the plate precursor to heat or radiation to induce a colour change of the coating in the printing areas, wherein before step b) the coating in the non-printing areas and the support are characterised by a CIE 1976 colour difference ΔE1 which is 5.0 or less, and after step d) the CIE 1976 colour difference ΔE2 between the coating in the printing areas and the non-printing areas is more than 6.8.
US09962920B2

A separation device for a backlight source is provided. The separation device includes a machine table, at least one separation platform, where each separation platform is located above the machine table and secured at a fixed position relative to the machine table and is configured to support a display module and secure a backlight source of the display module thereon; a plurality of guide columns arranged perpendicular to the machine table, at least one adsorption mechanism arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the at least one separation platform, where each adsorption mechanism is arranged at a side of the corresponding separation platform away from the machine table and configured to adsorb a display screen of the display module on the corresponding separation platform, and a driving unit configured to drive each adsorption mechanism to move in the lengthwise direction of the plurality of guide columns.
US09962918B2

The present invention relates to a production method for a support type ceramic membrane using tape casting, wherein, when producing a multifunctional membrane comprising a membrane structure such as a general electrochemical device or electrolysis cell or fuel cell, a dense-structure coating membrane or porous functional (separation) membrane is produced on one or more surfaces of a porous support.
US09962917B2

A vacuum bag (18) is placed around the inner forming surface (IML) of an inner mandrel with radially retractable sectors (11a, 11b) having parallel longitudinal slots (17) with composite stringers (30) in the slots (17). An inner support (31) in each stringer is covered by an impermeable tubular bag (32). A composite skin (37) is laminated around the stringers (30), the coated supports (31, 32) and the inner forming surface (IML). An outer curing tool (50, 51) closes around the skin (37) defining an fuselage barrel outer forming surface (OML), leaving an annular gap (G) between the skin outer surface (37) and the outer forming surface (OML). Vacuum is applied between the vacuum bag (18) and the outer tool (50, 51), enlarges the uncured barrel diameter, releasing the barrel from the inner mandrel (10) and bringing the skin outer surface (37) into contact with the outer tool inner surface (IML).
US09962897B2

A new package or box type having an internal core or frame structure comprising of plastic or other polymer material sandwiched between two cardboard sheets an all sides of the box forming the outer walls of the box. The walls of the box containing the frame structure are more resistant to bursting or crushing than conventional corrugated cardboard used in the industry for transporting goods. Use of plastic or polymers applied to the core frame results in less material consumption than conventional corrugated cardboard. This invention yields higher package strength throughout the package structure and not just the edge of the package in order to negate the use of the double corrugated walls design as widely used in corrugated card board to achieve similar package strength quality while minimizing package weight and preserving exterior package composition of cardboard for handling purposes.
US09962889B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing fiber-reinforced composite materials, in which a multiplicity of continuous filaments or woven fabric is impregnated optionally together with reinforcing materials, comprising caprolactam and other starting materials for polyamide 6 or other starting materials for copolymers of caprolactam, passed through at temperatures of 70 to 100° C., and anionically polymerized at temperatures of 100 to 190° C., and optionally repolymerized at temperatures of 90 to 170° C.
US09962885B2

The present invention relates to a device for manufacture of three-dimensional models by means of a 3D printing process, whereby a spreader device is used to deposit particulate material in layers on a build platform and the particulate material flow, which occurs perpendicular to the spreading direction, is transferred into containers that are actively cleaned by sliders or brushes at the spreader device. It exploits the fact that particulate material that is moves dynamically can only bridge small height differences. The arrangement can be implemented in a space-saving manner beneath the spreading plane.
US09962882B2

Apparatus for producing an object by sequentially forming thin layers of a construction material one on top of the other responsive to data defining the object, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of printing heads each having a surface formed with a plurality of output orifices and controllable to dispense the construction material through each orifice independently of the other orifices; a shuttle to which the printing heads are mounted; a support surface; and a controller adapted to control the shuttle to move back and forth over the support surface and as the shuttle moves to control the printing heads to dispense the construction material through each of their respective orifices responsive to the data to form a first layer on the support surface and thereafter, sequentially the other layers; wherein each printing head is dismountable from the shuttle and replaceable independently of the other printing heads.
US09962876B2

A molded article 1 is configured such that an insert 2 is made of a steel plate and includes a cylindrical part 2A and an annular part 2B, a plastic 4 is annular in shape so as to be joined to the annular part 2B, inner diameter D1 of the plastic 4 is larger than inner diameter D2 of the annular part 2B so that no burrs at a gate mark E protrude to the inner diameter side of the molded article 1, the injection molding is conducted with a disc gate arranged on an inner peripheral surface F of the plastic 4 at a position separated from a surface of the annular part 2B, and the gate mark E resides on the inner peripheral surface F of the plastic 4 at a position separated from the surface of the annular part 2B.
US09962874B2

An injector for a plastic material injection molding apparatus whose cylindrical pin-shaped valve that is axially displaceable between an advanced fully closed position and a retracted position of maximum opening, is provided in proximity to a distal end thereof with a reduced diameter cylindrical portion which delimits with the outlet end of the tip of the nozzle terminal an annular passage having a constant cross-section. When the pin valve is between fully closed and maximum opening positions, the reduced diameter cylindrical portion can be selectively positioned in intermediate positions so as to vary the axial extension of the annular passage to adjust the pressure drop of the injected plastic material.
US09962873B2

A method and apparatus for injection molding a foamed product. A short shot of formable resin is injected into a cavity (124) defined by respective inner surfaces (134,136) of a plurality of molding plates (120,122) at an amount less than a volume of the cavity (124), the resin comprising a chemical foaming agent. The injected resin is allowed to foam for a predetermined period of time, during which the injected foamable resin foams and expands to substantially fill the cavity (124) and a portion of an outer surface face of the foamable resin contacts the respective inner surfaces (134,136) of the molding plates (120,122). Pressurized gas is injected into the cavity (124) after the predetermined time has elapsed to urge the skinned outer surface of the foamed resin against the inner surfaces (134,136) of the molding plates (120,122).
US09962869B2

An automated method and system for making painted vehicle body panel skins and vehicle body panels. The method includes transferring a mold having a mold surface from an entrance station to a paint station within a dispensing area. The method further includes applying paint on the mold surface to form a layer of paint on the mold surface at the paint station. The method still further includes spraying curable polyurethane elastomer on the painted surface at a spray station within the dispensing area. The paint and spray stations may be coincident. The method still further includes, after the step of spraying and while the polyurethane elastomer is uncured, transferring the mold with the paint and the uncured polyurethane elastomer from the spray station to at least one accumulator station in a curing area to allow the polyurethane elastomer to completely cure in the mold and form the skin.
US09962865B2

Apparatus and methods are disclosed which reduce stress formation in potting heads for porous hollow filtration membranes. In one example, there is disclosed a potting sleeve for forming a potting head which includes a first fixed portion and a second portion which is movable relative to the first fixed portion to reduce a peripheral extent thereof. In another example, a method of mounting a porous hollow membrane in a membrane filtration apparatus includes positioning a portion of porous hollow membranes within a mold and introducing a curable potting material into the mold so as to immerse the portion of the porous hollow membranes and at least part of one or more deformable members in the potting material. The method further includes at least partially curing the potting material to form a potting head and removing the potting head and the one or more deformable members from the mold.
US09962863B2

A mold may include a plurality of nanostructures configured to form a lithographic pattern when imprinted into a material. Imprinting may include imprinting the mold a first predetermined distance, modifying a temperature of the material, and altering a position of the mold based on the temperature modification. One or more thermal elements may alter a temperature of a first section of the material and/or one or more nanostructures for a predetermined pulse time less than an equilibrium time required for the mold and/or material to reach a stable temperature state. A first thermal element may selectively alter the temperature of a first section of the material and/or a first nanostructure and a second thermal element may selectively alter the temperature of a second section of the material and/or a second nanostructure. The one or more thermal elements may include one or more thermoelectric elements.
US09962856B2

A press for making a cutting tool green body having at least one helical flute includes a die having an opening with a helical protrusion and a punch having at least one helical groove having a shape that matches a shape of the helical protrusion. An electrical punch drive system is arranged to simultaneously rotate the punch, relative to a longitudinal axis of the opening in the die, and axially advance the punch into and along a direction of the longitudinal axis of the opening in the die. A method for making a cutting tool green body having at least one helical flute is also disclosed.
US09962854B2

A method for producing at least one cutting strand segment of a cutting strand comprises punching at least one cutting strand segment out of a band material. The at least one cutting strand segment includes at least one cutting element and at least one cutter carrier element having at least one connecting element.
US09962848B2

The present invention concerns the field of graphic apparatuses and in particular its object is an apparatus and a relative method for the so-called “weeding” of plastic or paper films having or more self-adhesive, double sided adhesive or electrostatic layers coupled with a support liner treated with a non-stick agent. The apparatus comprises analysis and cutting means adapted to map and execute weeding assisting cuts.
US09962842B2

This slit blade block includes multiple comb teeth adjacent to multiple outer blade pieces. Each comb tooth has a leading end surface, and a protruding part protruding in a direction away from the outer blade pieces. The protruding parts include an apical part that is the outermost end in said direction away from the outer blade pieces. The leading end surfaces of the protruding parts are positioned between the leading end surfaces and the base end surfaces of the adjacent outer blade pieces. Length L1 in the height direction, defined by the apical part of the protruding parts and the leading end surfaces of the protruding parts, is less than or equal to thickness L2 of the outer blade pieces, defined by the leading end surface and the base end surface of the outer blade pieces.
US09962841B2

A gantry robot system may include a gantry, a slide movably mounted on the gantry, an articulated arm mounted on the slide for performing a machining operation, a workpiece feeder for moving a workpiece relative to the gantry, the workpiece feeder having a first guide element mounted on and selectively positionable on the gantry, and a second guide element movably mounted on the gantry, the second guide element connected to and selectively positionable by the first guide element to engage workpieces of varying widths, and a computer control connected to actuate the slide, the articulated arm, and the workpiece feeder in a coordinated manner to perform a preselected machining operation on the workpiece.
US09962833B2

A system and method for maneuvering a robotic end-effector using one or more motors that have a force limiter that is adaptable to take into account any effects of a changing gravitational force as the system moves. In one embodiment, the system includes an actuator, such as a drive motor, for applying a force vector to actuate a function of the end effector, such as moving the end-effector along a track that is attached to a contoured surface. Further, a force limiter coupled to the actuator is configured to interrupt the actuating if the force exceeds a first threshold. Further, the system includes an orientation detector to determine any changes in orientation with respect to gravity so as to adjust the force limit accordingly. Thus, if the force limiter determines that a threshold has been exceeded, the force limiter may limit or interrupt the motion while taking changing gravitational forces into account.
US09962831B2

A biomimetics based robot and process for simulation is disclosed. The robot may include filament driven and fluid pumped elastomer based artificial muscles coordinated for slow twitch/fast twitch contraction and movement of the robot by one or more microcontrollers. A process may provide physics based simulation for movement of a robot in a virtual setting. Successfully tested movement data may be stored and embedded into a robot at build and/or before a new movement in programmed into the robot.
US09962828B2

An end-of-arm tool is described and includes an outer sheet and an inner sheet. The end-of-arm tool may be reinforced with a backing plate attached to the inner sheet and a front plate attached to the outer sheet. The end-of-arm tool may also include spacers to provide structure and rigidity to the end-of-arm tool at passages configured for the installation of workpiece interface tools, for example, spring plungers.
US09962827B2

A hand tool frame has a track base and at least one positioning mount. The track base has a bottom panel and a slide rail. The bottom panel has multiple positioning holes formed through the bottom panel. The at least one positioning mount is slidably mounted on the track base, and each one of the at least one positioning mount has a sliding seat and an extending element. The sliding seat is slidably mounted in the slide rail and engages with one of the multiple positioning holes. The extending element is formed on the sliding seat and extends out of the slide rail. Then, the at least one positioning mount may engage with the track base at a specific position.
US09962823B2

A hammer drill includes a main body which houses a driving motor having a brush and a brush holder unit which holds the brush and switches a position of the brush, and a main handle which is movable to the main body. Further, a coil spring which biases the handle is provided. In a state that the coil spring biases the handle, the handle is moved against the main body in a longitudinal direction of a hammer bit and vibration transmission from the main body to the handle is prevented. Further, interference of a lever of the brush holder unit and the handle is prevented by a part of an opening formed on the handle.
US09962818B2

An apparatus and its method of use enables a thermoplastically deformable fastener assembly to be deformed to hold an installation preload torque after the fastener has been torqued to a predetermined value.
US09962815B2

A driver tool has a grip handle. The grip handle has a grip handle height less than a grip handle width. A first axis base is mounted to the grip handle. The first axis base includes a first saddle flange and a second saddle flange. A pair of primary link pins are mounted to the first saddle flange and the second saddle flange defining a first axis of rotation. A coupler link is mounted on the first axis of rotation to rotate on the first axis of rotation relative to the first axis base. A pair of secondary link pins mounted to the coupler link. The pair of secondary link pins define a second axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the first axis of rotation. A driving link is mounted to the second axis of rotation. The driving link includes a driving socket.
US09962809B2

A system including at least one means for mechanical processing of surfaces using a blasting agent (5), in particular steel or cast iron beads. An additive (6) for degreasing and cleaning of the surface to be blasted (2) and/or of the blasting agent is provided with the blasting agent (5), and comprising a granular material (6), which exhibits a lower breaking strength under the mechanical stresses that the blasting agent (5) is subject to during the blasting procedure than the at least one means for mechanical processing of the surfaces themselves. As the granular material (6) breaks down, additional additive (6) is added into the blasting agent (5) such that the proportion of the additive (6) in the blasting agent mixture blend (5) remains largely generally constant even at a prolonged operation of the device.
US09962808B2

A sphere size measuring unit (15) measures respective diameters of an object sphere in the course of processing and a standard sphere made of the same material as that of the object sphere and furthermore having a target diameter of the object sphere. A size difference calculation unit (161) calculates a size difference between the diameter of the object sphere and the diameter of the standard sphere. A determination unit (162) compares the obtained size difference with a threshold value so as to determine whether or not the diameter of the object sphere reaches the target value.
US09962803B2

A lens edging system includes: an edger configured to perform edging to a spectacle lens in accordance with three-dimensional edging locus data obtained from edging shape data by calculation; a three-dimensional circumferential length measurement device configured to measure a circumferential length of the spectacle lens edged by the edger; and an edging size management device configured to correct a calculation parameter used for calculating the edging locus data, based on a difference between a measured circumferential length obtained by a three-dimensional circumferential length measurement device, and a theoretical circumferential length obtained by calculation.
US09962800B2

To provide a tool changer of a machine tool that makes it possible to surely execute machining as designated in a machining program without any need for the editing of the machining program or the replacement of tools and without complicating the device structure. The tool changer 11 includes a tool correspondence table A showing a correspondence relation between a program-designated tool T0001 designated in a machining program O0001 and an actual use tool T0003 actually used according to the machining contents designated in the machining program, wherein the actual use tool corresponding to the program-designated tool is found by using the tool correspondence table A and the found actual use tool is decided as a subsequent process tool.
US09962792B2

A method for repairing one or more holes in a near wall of a component is provided. The method includes determining updated hole information, including an updated location, of a first hole in the near wall of the component. The method also includes directing a confined laser beam of the confined laser drill towards the near wall of the component at the updated location of the first hole to drill through a coating of the component extending over and/or positioned in the first hole. The method also includes sensing a characteristic of light reflected from the updated location of the first hole and determining the confined laser beam of the confined laser drill has drilled through a portion of the coating of the component extending over and/or positioned in the first hole based on the sensed characteristic of light.
US09962790B2

A support comprises a ceramic supporting surface, on which a circuit board may be placed for cutting to be performed by means of optical radiation generated by a laser. The ceramic supporting surface remains unchanged as said laser radiation hits it.
US09962787B2

A friction stir welding method for bonding a to-be bonded material, includes: a step of supplying nitrogen and introducing nitrogen into the to-be bonded material while melting the to-be bonded material; and a step of friction stir welding a portion of the non-bonded material in which the nitrogen is introduced. A friction stirring device for bonding a to-be bonded material, includes: a heating source for melting the to-be bonded material; a nitrogen supply source for supplying nitrogen to a melted portion of the to-be bonded material and introducing nitrogen into the to-be bonded material; and a friction stir tool for friction stir welding a portion of the non-bonded material in which the nitrogen is introduced.
US09962784B2

The invention relates to a thread forming tool having a thread part based on a helical effective surface (1), and an adjoining clamping shank (2), wherein the helical effective surface (1) is formed by pressing lobes (5) and the thread part extends from a chamfer or taper (6) in the direction of the clamping shank (2). Furthermore, at least one axially oriented, groove-like cooling channel (7) that runs between the pressing lobes (5) and extends from the chamfer or taper (6) to the clamping shank (2) is provided. According to the invention, the width of the at least one cooling channel (7) increases from the chamfer (6) in the direction of the clamping shank (2).
US09962780B2

A band saw machine includes a working platform, a cutting machine, a vertical displacement element causing the cutting machine to move vertically, a height sensor and a central processor. The working platform includes a reference plane for placing a workpiece. The cutting machine includes a driving wheel, a driven wheel, a band saw wound on the driving wheel and the driven wheel, and a motor that electrically drives the driving wheel. The band saw includes a starting cutting tooth and a processing cutting tooth sequentially arranged. The height sensor detects a starting cutting point of the workpiece farthest from the reference plane. The central processor receives information of a position of the starting cutting point, and controls a displacement speed of the vertical displacement element and a first rotational speed of the motor to cause the starting cutting tooth to first cut at the starting cutting point.
US09962778B2

A table saw includes a safety system to protect a user from injury. The safety system detects a sensed condition and rapidly moves a saw blade away from the user. The safety system includes a dual ratchet mechanism to prevent the blade from rebounding back above a work surface after an initial rapid retraction of the blade. The table saw has a swing arm that rotates to move the blade below the work surface. A first ratchet engages a first contact surface of the swing arm after rotation of the swing arm over a first range of angular displacements to prevent counter rotation of the swing arm. A second ratchet engages a second contact surface of the swing arm after rotation of the swing arm over a second range of angular displacements to prevent counter rotation of the swing arm.
US09962777B2

An apparatus for improving the accuracy of machines which shear plate materials in general and sheet metals in particular. The apparatus comprises an indicator that is magnetically mounted to the shearing blade and extends downward toward the work table of the machine to give an indication of where the blade will pass through the metal.
US09962774B2

A cutting tool may include a cutter body, and a cutting insert group coupled to the cutter body, wherein the cutter body includes a working length, wherein the cutting insert group forms a continuous cutting edge, and wherein the continuous cutting edge extends continuously through the working length of the cutter body.
US09962767B2

The present disclosure various apparatuses, and systems for 3D printing. The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, software and systems for a step and repeat energy irradiation process; controlling material characteristics and/or deformation of the 3D object; reducing deformation in a printed 3D object; and planarizing a material bed.
US09962762B2

A PISTON FOR COLD-CHAMBER INJECTION MACHINES comprising a support (2) and an external body (3) with a sealing ring (5), joined by a bayonet lock ring (6) independent of the external body (3) and divided into two parts (6a) fitted onto a groove (21) in the support (2) and connected by long screws (7) inserted into threaded holes (61). The piston preferably includes a spring bush (4) as a part that adjusts to the container, independent of the external body (3) and of the bayonet lock ring (6), under which a conical spring ring (8) is included which exerts pressure on the two parts that form the bush (4), tending to expand the same. The piston also includes alternating transverse grooves (81) along the edges thereof for receiving conical metal tips (9) inserted through holes (63) in the bayonet lock ring (6).
US09962752B2

A press-forming method which press-forms a final shaped article which comprises a top sheet part, vertical wall parts, and flange parts and which has at least one bent part in a longitudinal direction, which method forms the top sheet part, vertical wall parts, bent part, and flange parts, includes a first shaping process of bending a flange part at an intersecting part until an angle of the flange part with a horizontal line becomes α1 in a plane which includes a horizontal line which connects an intersecting part of a vertical wall part and a flange part and a center of curvature of the bent part and which is vertical to the high strength steel sheet and a second shaping process of additionally bending the flange part after the first shaping process at the intersecting part until the angle of the flange part with the horizontal line becomes α2 in that plane, makes the additional bending angle β of α1-α2 predetermined ranges, and thereby reduces the warping and torsion of the final shaped article.
US09962747B2

A composition is provided including biospheres and bacteria, wherein the biospheres are cellulosic biopolymers and sized in the range from 500 nanometers to 80 microns and have a minimum free swell absorption capacity of 400 times by weight and a maximum free swell absorption capacity of 1200 times by weight, wherein the composition is formable as a gelatinous matrix.
US09962733B2

Self-assembled block copolymer films having two or more blocks are manufactured by distributing a solution containing at least one block copolymer onto the substrate so as to partially coat a substrate surface, obtaining an intermediate product. A block copolymer is self-assembled by heating the intermediate product. The self-assembling step includes Rapid Thermal Processing, which is performed by heating the intermediate product up to a first target temperature, ranging from a glass transition temperature to an order-disorder transition temperature of the block copolymer, through a temperature rising ramp having a rate of temperature change not lower than 5° C./second; maintaining the intermediate product at the target temperature for a time interval not longer than 60 minutes, whereby a sample is obtained on the surface of which a self-assembled film of the block copolymer has been made; and cooling the sample down to the ambient temperature through a temperature descending ramp.
US09962727B2

Disclosed is a slot die, which includes a feed unit for introducing a coating material, a chamber for accommodating a coating material supplied through the feed unit, a slit communicating with the chamber to discharge the coating material, and a die body having die lips which form the slit, wherein the chamber includes a chamber block which has an inner space for accommodating the coating material and is configured so that the entire block is exchangeable with respect to the die body, and wherein a coating width is determined by a width of the inner space of the chamber block.
US09962713B2

An electrostatic collector is provided, including a collection chamber, delimited by a tubular wall, and a support holding an electrode in position in the collection chamber and for removing it from the collection chamber, the support including a guide, passing transversally through the collection chamber, the first and second ends of which are fixed to the wall, the guide including a through opening configured to hold the electrode; a first attachment element, including at least one electrically conducting part, that will extend at least partly in the guide, from the first end towards the opening; and a second attachment element, including at least one electrically insulating part, that can move in translation in the guide from the second end towards the opening and from the opening towards the second end.
US09962710B2

A magnetic roll having a rotation axis, the magnetic roll including an axial series of segmented rings, each of the rings' segments incorporating a permanent having an outer end, an inner end, an axial end, an oppositely axial end, a circumferential end, a counter-circumferential end, a north pole positioned at the inner or outer end, and a south pole positioned oppositely from the north pole; a bonding matrix rigidly interconnecting the rings; and a magnetic armature operatively spanning between the permanent magnets' inner ends.
US09962703B2

Devices, systems, and methods for detecting molecules of interest within a collected sample are described herein. In certain embodiments, self-contained sample analysis systems are disclosed, which include a reusable reader component, a disposable cartridge component, and a disposable sample collection component. The reader component may communicate with a remote computing device for the digital transmission of test protocols and test results. In various disclosed embodiments, the systems, components, and methods are configured to identify the presence, absence, and/or quantity of particular nucleic acids, proteins, or other analytes of interest, for example, in order to test for the presence of one or more pathogens or contaminants in a sample.
US09962702B2

A particle manipulation system uses a MEMS-based, microfabricated particle manipulation device which has a sample inlet channel, output channels, and a movable member formed on a substrate. The device may be used to separate a target particle from non-target material in a sample stream. In order to improve the sorter speed, accuracy or yield, the particle manipulation system may also include a microfluidic structure which focuses the target particles in a particular portion of the sample inlet channel. This focusing element may include cavities of variable cross section along the channel length. In addition, a filtering element may also be included upstream of the focusing element.
US09962699B2

An automatic analyzer cartridge, spinnable about a rotational axis, has fluid and aliquoting chambers, a metering chamber connected to a vent that is nearer to the rotational axis than the metering chamber, first and second ducts connecting the fluid and aliquoting chambers, and the metering and aliquoting chambers, respectively. Metering chamber side walls taper away from a central region, wherein capillary action next to the walls is greater than in the central region. Fluid flows to the metering chamber using capillary action via the second duct that has an entrance and exit in the aliquoting and metering chambers, respectively; the exit being closer to the rotational axis than the entrance. A downstream fluidic element connects to the metering chamber via a valve. A fluidic structure receives and processes a biological sample into the processed biological sample and has a measurement structure that enables measurement of the processed biological sample.
US09962696B2

The present invention relates to phaseguide patterns for use in fluid systems such as channels, chambers, and flow through cells. In order to effectively control filling and/or emptying of fluidic chambers and channels, techniques for a controlled overflowing of phaseguides are proposed. In addition, techniques of confined liquid patterning in a larger fluidic structure, including approaches for patterning overflow structures and the specific shape of phaseguides, are provided. The invention also proposes techniques to effectively rotate the advancement of a liquid/air meniscus over a certain angle. In particular, a phaseguide pattern for guiding a flow of a liquid contained within a compartment is provided, wherein an overflow of the phaseguide by a moving liquid phase is controlled by a local change in capillary force along the phaseguide, wherein said overflow by the liquid over the phaseguide is provoked at the position of the local change in capillary force.
US09962693B2

An embodiment of the invention relates to a fluidic system (200) in which a first channel (210) and a second channel (230) are separated by a fluidic stop (220), for example a region with a hydrophobic coating and/or a structure (220) with non-capillary internal dimensions. Moreover, it comprises a flexible element (240) that is deformable to enable a flow of a medium across the fluidic stop.
US09962686B2

The present invention relates to a hybrid nanostructured photocatalyst, comprising a first nanoparticle comprising silver halide (AgX); a second nanoparticle, which is formed on an outer surface of the first nanoparticle and comprises Ag; and a polymer formed on any one outer surface of the first nanoparticle and the second nanoparticle, and a preparation method thereof. Specifically, the present invention provides a hybrid nanostructured photocatalyst having a high photocatalytic activity in a visible light region and a preparation method thereof.
US09962676B2

Disclosed herein is a method of: treating an organic polymer with an electron beam-generated plasma; exposing the treated polymer to air or an oxygen- and hydrogen-containing gas, generating hydroxyl groups on the surface of the polymer; reacting the surface with an organosilane compound having a chloro, fluoro, or alkoxy group and a functional or reactive group that is less reactive with the surface than the chloro, fluoro, or alkoxy group; and covalently immobilizing a biomolecule to the functional or reactive group or a reaction product thereof.
US09962669B2

Methods of forming polycrystalline diamond include encapsulating diamond particles and a hydrocarbon substance in a canister, and subjecting the encapsulated diamond particles and hydrocarbon substance to a pressure and a temperature sufficient to form inter-granular bonds between the diamond particles. Cutting elements for use in an earth-boring tool include a polycrystalline diamond material formed by such processes. Earth-boring tools include such cutting elements.
US09962665B2

An axial impeller has blades formed from sheet metal blanks that are configured from taking a desired impeller blade and mathematically “unwinding” the blade to its flat counterpart. Preferably, the impeller blade is formed from a single rolling operation. The result of a thin, elongate blade, preferably having a trailing edge that defines a helix with rearwardly skewed, forwardly raked blades, provides an efficient impeller having good anti-ragging properties.
US09962660B2

A gas separation module comprising gas separation elements, said elements comprising at least two membrane sheets and a permeate carrier sandwiched between the membrane sheets, wherein the permeate carrier comprises at least two macroporous layers and a gas-impermeable sheet located between the macroporous layers.
US09962643B2

A method for treating a biogas containing siloxanes, includes: firstly, filtering the siloxane-containing biogas with a filter made from activated carbon fabric, such as to adsorb the siloxanes in the filter; and, secondly, regenerating the filter by passing an electric current through the filter while it is subjected to a flushing gas flow. A device carries out the method.
US09962641B2

A yoke arrangement is provided including three leg assemblies connected together to releasably mount a filter assembly to a tube sheet. The filter assembly can include a filter element having a first end cap that acts as a spring. The filter assembly can have filter elements with end caps having built in end stops to prevent over-compression.
US09962632B2

A inflow control device includes a housing. A filter media disposed in the housing. A closure member; and a spring disposed between the closure member and the filter media. A method for controlling fluid loss for a period of time.
US09962630B2

A craneless MGS vessel and U-tube assembly can be delivered on a winch truck to a drilling site and assembled in a far shorter time and without the need of having a crane and crane operator attend to the movement and placement of the MGS vessel and attached U-tube mud lines to a mud handling system in a drilling rig. The MGS vessel of the present application can be a standard type of MGS vessel well known in the industry. By fabricating this MGS vessel with attached and moveable U-tube connectors for the mud line, the system can be moved and assembled at the drill site without crane intervention.
US09962626B2

A distiller for processing liquid influent, including a heating chamber. An evaporation arrangement can be positioned above the heating chamber and can include spaced apart evaporation surfaces forming a bottom evaporation stage, multiple intermediate evaporation stages, and an upper evaporation stage. The bottom evaporation stage can be in thermal contact with the heating chamber, and the multiple intermediate and upper evaporation stages can be sequentially positioned above the bottom evaporation stage one above another. The bottom and intermediate evaporation stages can evaporate at least a portion of the liquid influent applied thereon forming vapor and heating the stage positioned above with the vapor. A liquid delivery system can provide the liquid influent to the upper evaporation stage for initial evaporation, and transfer at least a portion of the liquid influent in the upper evaporation stage and intermediate evaporation stages downwardly in sequence to a stage below until reaching the bottom evaporation stage for sequential evaporation at each evaporation stage. A solids transfer system can move solids on an evaporation surface of the bottom evaporation stage remaining from evaporated liquid influent to the heating chamber for combustion and providing heat.
US09962625B2

This disclosure relates to a method for continuous recovery of (meth)acrylic acid and an apparatus used for the recovery method. The method of continuous recovery of (meth)acrylic acid according to the present invention may remarkably reduce the amount of extraction solvent used and energy consumption of the total process, and minimize polymerization of (meth)acrylic acid in the recovery process, thus enabling stable recovery of (meth)acrylic acid and operation of a continuous process.
US09962624B2

A method of the present invention for producing a halohydantoin compound by refining, in a dryer (1), a composition containing at least one of water and elemental halogen, an organic solvent, and the halohydantoin compound, the method includes the steps of: (i) removing the organic solvent from the composition; and (ii) removing the at least one of the water and the elemental halogen from the composition refined in the step (i).
US09962620B2

A lift system configured to lift an article (e.g., a batten). The lift system includes a first cable configured to be coupled to the article, a second cable configured to be coupled to the article, a drive mechanism coupled to the first cable and the second cable and operable to raise and lower the article, a first loft block including a first loft sheave to redirect the first cable from a first substantially horizontal axis to a first substantially vertical axis, and a guide member to direct the second cable along a second substantially horizontal axis. The lift system further includes a second loft block including a second loft sheave to redirect the second cable from the second substantially horizontal axis block to a second substantially vertical axis.
US09962619B2

A tethered balloon assembly the balloon, to be inflated via the tether which is to be subsequently closed by a one way valve to keep the balloon inflated and allow additional inflation as desired, controllable by its tether.
US09962618B2

A reconfigurable toy vehicle is provided, the toy vehicle having: a first configuration and a second configuration; a main body portion, having a forward end, a rearward end and a pair of side members extending from the forward end to the rearward end; at least two telescopic wings attached to the main body portion; a retractable canopy movably secured to the main body portion, the retractable canopy being configured to cover a portion of the main body portion when the toy vehicle is in the second configuration; and a folding rear portion pivotally mounted to the main body portion, wherein movement of the folding rear portion causes the toy vehicle to transition between the first configuration to the second configuration.
US09962616B2

A computer game program implements a position information obtaining function of obtaining first position information indicating a first position in a game field and second position information indicating a second position in the game field, a position information updating function of respectively updating the first position information and the second position information to move the first position and the second position in response to an operation input by a player, a position identifying function of determining a third position on a first line in accordance with the second position, the first line being a fine that passes through the first position and a predetermined fixed position set in the game field, and a direction determining function of determining a direction in which a predetermined game effect is produced in the game field, in accordance with the first position, the second position, and the third position.
US09962614B1

A toy for use with respect to videogame play may include information of a game character and/or game object, with the toy including a digital signature which a game device may check to determine that the toy is a genuine toy. In various embodiments security keys may be required to read information of the toy, and the security keys may be generated by a peripheral device of a videogame system. In some embodiments some of the information may be stored on the toy in encrypted form.
US09962613B2

A game device includes an area determination section that determines an area in which a virtual camera is located in a game space, an enemy character control section that controls the motion of an enemy character, and a game control section that controls an attack on the enemy character in the area in which the virtual camera is located, the game control section setting an input section among a plurality of input sections to be an input section that allows the player to perform an area change input based on the determination result of the area determination section, changing the area in which the virtual camera is located when the input section that allows the player to perform the area change input has been operated, and enabling an attack input for attacking the enemy character when an input section other than the input section that allows the player to perform the area change input has been operated, and the enemy character control section controlling the enemy character based on the determination result of the area determination section.
US09962600B1

A cue stick is fitted with an extension adapter secured in its butt end having an external extension connector adapted to matingly engage with an internal extension connector of an extension to secure the extension to the butt end. The external extension connector is not covered by the bumper and can be left on when the extension is fitted to the cue stick, but when the extension is secured, the extension and butt end of the cue stick will be substantially flush with each other, the external extension connector now being located inside of the extension.
US09962593B1

Disclosed is a system for measuring a baseball or softball catcher's response, or “pop” time. The system includes a first sensor operable to detect a catcher catching a pitched ball, a second sensor operable to detect a baseman catching a ball thrown by the catcher, and a device with circuitry operable to calculate a pop time based on signals from the first and second sensors. Alternative embodiments allow measurement of time for a pitcher to deliver a pitch to the catcher, and other throwing and catching sequence metrics. Also disclosed are accompanying methods.
US09962591B2

A motion analysis method includes: specifying a first axis along a longitudinal direction of a shaft of a golf club when a user is at a standstill using an output of a sensor unit; and estimating a prescribed position between head and chest of the user when the user is at a standstill using the output of the sensor unit and body information of the user, and specifying a second axis which connects the estimated prescribed position and a hitting position.
US09962579B2

Multi-piece golf balls having a solid core and cover are provided. The ball contains a small, heavy inner core and surrounding outer core layer. The inner core preferably contains metal materials such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, nickel, iron, tin, and bronze particles dispersed in a thermoset or thermoplastic polymeric matrix. Preferably, the polymeric matrix comprises polybutadiene rubber. The outer surface of the inner core preferably has a non-uniform structure and includes projecting members. For example, the outer surface may contain multiple projecting ribs with gaps located between the ribs. The ball includes a cover surrounding the core structure. The cover may be multi-layered.
US09962577B1

A polyurethane coating for a golf ball that is based on polyol mixture containing acrylic polyol and BEPD based caprolcatone polyol is disclosed herein. The polyurethane coating comprises a part A component and a part B component, with the part A component comprising an acrylic polyol, a BEPD polyol, a 3-Oxazolidineethanol, a fluorosurfactant, a hindered amine light stabilizer, a UV-absorber, an optical brightener, a dibutyltin dilaurate catalyst, and an organic solvent, and the part B component comprising an aliphatic polyisocyanate and an organic solvent.
US09962575B2

An apparatus used to strengthen muscles of the neck, which includes a head strap that wraps snugly and comfortably around the head of a user, a hook and loop fastener component that connects the head strap with an elastic tube at each end of the tube; and a handle that is attached along the elastic tube. The user wears the apparatus around the head, and extends the handle taut to create tension in the neck. When the elastic tube is extended, the user performs full range of motion exercises to strengthen the neck. A user of this apparatus has increased neck strength which correlates with a lower risk for sustaining a concussion.
US09962572B2

Weight lifting strap which is looped around the wrist and wrapped in helical fashion about a weight lifting bar or the like and gripped by the hand with opposite sides of the strap facing the bar and the hand, and the strap being fabricated of a woven material with rubberized strands on the side of the strap which faces the bar.
US09962557B2

An aesthetic treatment device including: a multi illumination system having at least one source in the visible region, disposed around a periphery of a predetermined area of skin; an imaging device, sensitive to the illumination system, to discern features on or in the skin within the predetermined area of skin to be treated; multiple treatment light sources mounted on an optical bench and aimed and focused to a point of treatment in the predetermined area of skin; a mechanical guidance system to guide the multiple treatment light sources; and a pulse generator to control power output of the multiple treatment light sources based upon the treatment to be applied to the predetermined area of skin.
US09962551B2

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.
US09962550B2

Systems and methods for providing rate responsive pacing therapy to a heart of a patient. One example method for providing rate responsive pacing therapy includes sensing cardiac electrical data with a leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) that is implanted within or proximate the heart. From this location, the LCP may provide pacing therapy to the heart based at least in part on the sensed cardiac electrical data. An implantable medical device located remotely from the heart may sense patient activity, and may wirelessly communicate patient activity data from the implantable medical device to the LCP, sometimes using conducted communication. The LCP may be then determine an adjustment to the provided pacing therapy (e.g. adjust the pacing rate) based at least in part on the received patient activity data signal.
US09962540B2

A biocompatible carbon based electrode, and its preparation process are described. The electrode is formed by first and second biocompatible chemically oxygen terminated or H-terminated carbon-based materials. The first material is configured to promote the growth or at least the direct interfacing of adult neurons on the first material without substantially promoting the growth and direct interfacing of glial cells on the first material. The second material presents a peptide coating to promote the growth and at least the direct interfacing of adult glial cells.
US09962525B2

The present disclosure relates to a catheter device comprising a catheter hub in which a valve member is disposed, a needle fixed in a needle hub, the needle extending through the valve member in the catheter hub in a ready position, and a tubular receptacle in which the needle hub is displaceably guided and biased by a spring in a proximal direction relative to the receptacle, wherein the needle hub is releasably held in the ready position in the receptacle against the force of the spring by frictional force between needle circumference and catheter or catheter hub, which frictional force is reduced on retraction of the needle through the catheter hub such that the force of the spring prevails.
US09962524B2

A securement system includes a securement device which permits various medical articles, for example, an indwelling catheter and one or more medical lines, to be fluidly connected to one another. The securement device can be releasably secured relative to an anchor pad which itself is secured to a patient. In this way, the securement system can secure an interconnection of medical articles relative to a patient.
US09962520B2

A multi-lumen tube set is disclosed for use during a laparoscopic surgical procedure performed within a patient's abdominal cavity, which includes at least a first lumen configured to extend between a first surgical access port accessing the patient's abdominal cavity and an external vacuum source, and a branching conduit communicating with the first lumen and configured for connection to a second surgical access port accessing the patient's abdominal cavity to facilitate smoke evacuation from the patient's abdominal cavity during a laparoscopic surgical procedure.
US09962517B2

Problems associated with BPH can be negated using the present ergonomically pre-contoured, valved urinary catheter. To insert, the flexible tee beam is oriented on axis with the upper catheter. It will self-toggle into the tee orientation once inside the bladder, because of a small-bore elastic tubing that extends full length inside the main catheter. The catheter assembly will remain in place until the user tugs down hard enough on the outside-the-body, small diameter, valve-actuation tensor to cause the tee beam to fold double and be small enough to be pulled from the urethra. Lesser tugs actuate the compact, distal-end valve to allow urine flow. The smooth outer surfaces of the catheter assembly will help assure that reproductive functions will not be affected.
US09962516B2

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and devices for improved drainage systems and tubing. In one embodiment, a context-sensitive flow interrupter is provided that inhibits or facilitates flow of fluid when engaged with a mating holder. In another embodiment, outflow is optimized through control of the pressure in gas pockets in a tube, drainage tube or assembly. In one such embodiment, gas pockets are vented to inhibit excessive back-pressure or suction on an organ, vessel or cavity being drained. In another such embodiment, loops in the tubes are avoided by using a mechanical template in the form of a groove or peg assembly to thread the slack in the drainage tube to generate a monotonic gradient. In another embodiment, such as for active drainage systems, a bypass channel is provided that allows an applied vacuum to go around an obstruction created by the collection of fluid in an undrained dependent loop.
US09962513B2

A mask assembly suitable for the treatment of sleep disordered breathing may include a mask to provide pressurized air to a patient; upper and lower slot features located on each side of the mask; a headgear assembly including a back portion; a pair of upper straps provided to the back portion, each upper strap having a loop portion and a hook portion at a free end thereof for releasably attaching to the loop portion; a pair of lower straps extending away from the back portion, each lower strap having a loop portion and a hook portion at a free end thereof for releasably attaching to the loop portion; and a connection region of each loop portion of each strap, the connection region being adapted to receive a respective hook portion, the connection region being wider than each respective hook portion along each respective hook portion's entire length.
US09962507B2

A droplet delivery device and related methods for delivering precise and repeatable dosages to a subject for pulmonary use is disclosed. The droplet delivery device includes a housing, a reservoir, and ejector mechanism, and at least one differential pressure sensor. The droplet delivery device is automatically breath actuated by the user when the differential pressure sensor senses a predetermined pressure change within housing. The droplet delivery device is then actuated to generate a stream of droplets having an average ejected droplet diameter within the respirable size range, e.g, less than about 5 μm, so as to target the pulmonary system of the user.
US09962505B2

A nebulizer comprises a head detachably coupled to a body. The head comprises a nebulizer, an air channel and a flow sensor. A nebulized liquid is released in an air channel that ends in a mouth piece through which a user inhales and exhales. The inhaling and exhaling causes a flow in the air channel which is detected with the flow sensor. The nebulizer is controlled by a controller included in the body.
US09962503B2

A needle that consists of two pieces: the first piece has a tip, a shaft, a spring and a bi-color indicator, and the second piece has two parallel hollow lumens; one lumen is for fluid entrance and passage, and the other lumen configured to receive the first piece. When the hypodermic needle tip touches the skin or being inside a tissue the spring will be squeezed and the first piece will be situated backward in its primary position. When the tip of the needle just enters any cavity or any vessel the spring will be freed and pushes the first piece forward with the change of the color of the bicolored indicator.
US09962499B2

According to the invention a safety device for a pre-filled syringe comprises a substantially cylindrical and hollow support body and a hollow needle shield slideably arranged relative to the support body. The support body comprises at least one resilient arm and the hollow needle shield or a needle shield assembly comprises at least one curved actuation ramp. The curved actuation ramp protrudes in a lateral direction (L) perpendicular to a central axis (A) of the safety device. The curved actuation ramp comprises a first lateral dimension (L1) at a proximal end of the needle shield and a second lateral dimension (L2) exceeding the first lateral dimension (L1) at a distal end of the needle shield. The resilient arm engages the curved actuation ramp when the needle shield is slid relative to the support body.
US09962497B2

An injector includes a hollow needle; a main body unit including a needle holding portion that holds the needle; and a protection device configured to cover the needle before and after puncturing a puncture target with the needle. The protection device includes: an inner member attached to the needle holding portion and being freely rotatable around an outer periphery of the needle holding portion; and an outer member configured to (i) cover an outer side of the needle and the inner member before puncturing, (ii) expose the needle by moving toward a proximal end side relative to the main body unit at a time of puncturing, and (iii) cover a distal end of the needle by moving toward a distal end side relative to the main body unit after puncturing.
US09962493B2

An dual-dose syringe system is an apparatus that includes a tubular housing and a plunger. The tubular housing attaches onto a variety of syringe and needle assemblies and mounts the plunger within the syringe. The tubular housing prevents the plunger from simply traversing into the syringe. The tubular housing includes a first lateral-half portion and a second lateral half-portion that snaps onto each other and encloses a syringe. The tubular housing further includes a key slot that engages the plunger. The plunger includes a plurality of cross bars that predetermine two doses. Each of the plurality of cross bars is positioned perpendicular to a corresponding adjacent bar, forcing a user to purposefully twist the plunger in order to administer a dose. The apparatus further includes at least one spring-loaded barb that prevents the reuse of the apparatus.
US09962492B2

A syringe assembly having a barrel for containing one or more medicaments and a stopper disposed in the barrel defining and separating a first volume and a second volume within the syringe assembly. The stopper includes a permanent seal fluidly sealing the stopper to the barrel about the entire perimeter of the stopper intermediate the first volume and second volume, and a channel bypassing the permanent seal, the channel having a first opening in fluid communication with the second volume and a second opening selectively sealed from the first volume by a resilient seal. The resilient seal is moveable between a sealing configuration and an open configuration to selectively seal the channel from the first volume and is moveable from the sealing configuration to the open configuration upon fluid pressure in the first volume or second volume exceeding a first pressure threshold.
US09962491B2

An indicating member for attachment to a syringe includes: a tag for indicating at least one administration condition of a liquid medicament, the tag including a through hole, an engaging section extending from the tag and configured to be attached to an engaging hole of a syringe, and a hanger that is provided with the tag via the through hole, and is configured to extend around and thereby hang from at least one of (i) a syringe barrel of the syringe, (ii) a nozzle of the syringe, (iii) a liquid medicament delivery tube attached to the syringe, and (iv) a syringe barrel nozzle connection section attached to the syringe.
US09962482B2

Some embodiments of an infusion pump system include a controller device that is configured to removably attach to a pump device in a manner that provides a secure fitting, an overall compact size, and a reliable electrical connection. In particular embodiments, the controller device can be secured to the pump device in a generally side-by-side arrangement. The compact size can enhance discreteness and portability of the infusion pump system.
US09962480B2

The invention relates to a system and method for obtaining a cellular fraction enriched with defined cells effective in promoting a defined cellular response from an in vivo cellular sample. The system is closable to the atmosphere, and includes a cell suspension collection tube containing gel and anticoagulant, adapted such that, when containing cell suspension and centrifuged after treatment the collection tube yields separation fractions, a first fraction comprising cellular fluid, a second fraction comprising gel layer, a third fraction comprising enriched cellular portion on top of the gel layer and a fourth fraction comprising a cell poor portion. The cell poor portion may be extracted and discarded prior to extracting the enriched cellular portion.
US09962478B2

Systems and methods for performing a therapeutic red blood cell exchange procedure are disclosed. In one aspect, a system includes a first flow path for flowing whole blood from a patient. A separator communicates with the first flow path for separating at least red blood cells from plasma. Second and third flow paths communicate with the separator for respectively flowing the separated plasma and red blood cells from the separator. A flow controller is associated with the flow paths to control fluid communication between the flow paths. The controller is configured to perform the procedure to achieve a target fraction of patient cells remaining, target hematocrit, and a target patient fluid volume change at the completion of the procedure based on data input by the operator.
US09962463B2

The present invention relates to methods for making cross-linked, oxidatively stable, and highly crystalline polymeric materials. The invention also provides methods of treating irradiation-cross-linked antioxidant-containing polymers and materials used therewith.
US09962452B2

The present invention provides novel, non-covalently bound complexes of serum albumin and analogs of poorly soluble drugs, such as camptothecin. The novel complexes are significantly more water-soluble than the camptothecin analogs and are useful as prodrug forms of the camptothecin analogs for the treatment of mammalian cell proliferative diseases, such as cancer.
US09962451B2

A composition for treating or preventing inflammatory-related conditions includes as an active principle a carrier which exhibits a plurality of a scavenger structure capable of mitigating the activity of a mediator of inflammatory-related conditions. The scavenger structure includes a nucleophilic center complying with the formula X1(—R″—)(—R′)mHn where: a) X1 is a single-bonded heteroatom selected amongst N, O and S and exhibits a free electron pair; b) m is 0 or 1 and n is 1 or 2; c) —R″— is a bivalent organic group providing attachment to the carrier via one of its free valences and to X1 at the other free valence; and d) R′— is a monovalent organic group attached to the X1 via its free valence. A method for treating or preventing inflammatory-related conditions in an individual suffering from such conditions includes: providing the composition; and contacting the mediator within or separate from the individual.
US09962448B2

Compounds and methods for targeted immune system delivery are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions including the disclosed compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient are also disclosed. Methods of targeted delivery to an antigen-presenting cell, and methods of treating or preventing a disease or condition susceptible to treatment by immunomodulation are disclosed.
US09962447B2

The invention relates to a supramolecular aggregate of formula (VI) wherein A is an active substance, and X1, X2, X3 and X4, independently to each other, are a moiety of Formula (I) containing a maleimido functionalization and at least one among X1, X2, X3 and X4 is present in Formula (VI). In a preferred embodiment the maleimido-functionalized core is PWT2. The supra-molecular aggregate can be used in the field of drugs, vaccines, as ligands for GPCR, i.e. agonists as well as antagonist, as antibiotics and as diagnostics eventually in complex with radionuclides.
US09962442B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing a suspension of agglomerates of magnetic alkoxysilane-coated metal nanoparticles, wherein an aqueous suspension of magnetic metal nanoparticles is incubated with alkoxysilane, wherein the incubation is carried out essentially in the absence of an organic solvent. The present invention further relates to suspension of agglomerates of magnetic alkoxysilane-coated metal containing nanoparticles obtainable by the method of the present invention and to a composition comprising agglomerates of magnetic alkoxysilane-coated metal nanoparticles, wherein the agglomerates have an average size of 30 to 450 nm, preferably of 50 to 350 nm and especially of 70 to 300 nm as determined by light scattering.
US09962435B2

The invention provides for immunogenic compositions against West Nile Virus. The immunogenic compositions, in alternate embodiments, also include other equine pathogens. The West Nile Virus composition of the present invention advantageously provides for protection against North American Dominant West Nile Virus strains or isolates.
US09962434B2

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treatment of microbial infections and for the enhancement of resistance to infection. The invention comprises administration of an effective amount of a protein isolated from bacterial lysate compositions for the treatment of pathological compositions of microbial infections. The present invention can also be used to enhance the immune system to prevent infections be the administration of an effective amount of compositions.
US09962428B2

A composition having tissue repair activity, which is capable of promoting reactions associated with tissue repair, contains at least one selected from the group consisting of a first component that is a protein having a monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) activity, a second component that is a protein having the extracellular domain activity of sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectin-9 (Siglec-9), and a third component that is at least one of chondroitin sulfate and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan.
US09962392B2

There is provided a transnasal anticonvulsive pharmaceutical composition including a poorly soluble anticonvulsant. The anticonvulsive pharmaceutical composition comprising a poorly soluble anticonvulsant as an active component, which is transnasally spray-administered, comprises diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and fatty acid ester, wherein the fatty acid ester is selected from the group consisting of caprylocaproyl polyoxylglyceride, isopropyl palmitate, oleoyl polyoxylglyceride, sorbitan monolaurate 20, methyl laurate, ethyl laurate, and polysorbate 20. Also, the anticonvulsive pharmaceutical composition comprising a poorly soluble anticonvulsant as an active component, which is transnasally spray-administered, comprises diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, fatty acid ester, methylpyrrolidone, water and alcohol. Therefore, the transnasal anticonvulsive pharmaceutical composition may be useful to highly enhance the bioavailability of the poorly soluble anticonvulsant. Also, the transnasal anticonvulsive pharmaceutical composition may be useful to allow the poorly soluble anticonvulsant to show the improved viscosity and/or enhanced solubility in order to effectively deliver the poorly soluble anticonvulsant at a therapeutic dose.
US09962384B1

Disclosed is a levosimendan compound, an optically active isomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is used for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases caused by tau aggregation or phosphorylation, such as neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer disease). In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a health functional food for preventing or treating tau aggregation-related diseases, containing a levosimendan compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, stereoisomer or solvate thereof.
US09962372B2

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a combination of benzydamine and an antimycotic active ingredient, said combination having a synergistic effect in the treatment of mycosis.
US09962371B2

Disclosed in certain embodiments is a pharmaceutical composition for parenteral administration comprising: an aqueous solution comprising ketorolac or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount from about 0.1 mg/mL to about 10 mg/mL; and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient; wherein the formulation is substantially free of alcohol.
US09962365B2

Disclosed are compositions, devices, and methods to prevent and recover from detrimental effects of alcohol consumption, including significant undesirable symptoms of a hangover consciously felt by the alcohol consumer, as well as those that may not be consciously experienced. The present technology comprehensively targets multiple negative effects of hangovers. In one aspect, a composition includes dihydromyricetin (DHM); and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). The composition may further include Prickly Pear Extract, Milk Thistle, Ginger Root, Vitamins B, C, and E, electrolytes, and/or sugars.
US09962363B2

Methods for the treatment of systemic disorders treatable with mast cell stabilizers, including mast cell related disorders, are provided.
US09962361B2

An isothiocyanate functional surfactant, wherein the protonated form of said surfactant is represented by the following chemical structure: wherein X includes an integer ranging from approximately 1 to approximately 25, and wherein Y includes an integer ranging from approximately 6 to approximately 25.
US09962356B2

The present invention is directed compositions derived from green coffee bean extract and methods for the use and manufacture of such compositions. The compositions of the invention have unique ratios of chlorogenic acids which offer a therapeutic effect in the treatment of a variety of conditions and disorders. Methods for using the compositions of the invention include, but not limited to, methods for treating obesity and methods for regulating serum lipids.
US09962354B2

The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for suppressing the growth of microorganisms on selected areas of the skin for an extended period of time, such as one hour, twenty four hours, seventy two hours, or longer. An area of the skin is selected for the suppression of the growth of microorganisms and a microorganism growth suppressing agent is topically applied to the selected area of the skin. The microorganism growth suppressing agent may be comprised in a pharmacologically acceptable vehicle such as an emulsion or soap. The microorganism growth suppressing agent comprises free conjugated fatty acid such as conjugated linoleic acid.
US09962353B2

The present invention relates to use of a tall oil fatty acid and/or a tall oil fatty acid which is modified by saponification in binding toxins.
US09962348B2

The present invention discloses novel agents and methods for diagnosis and treatment of melanoma. Also disclosed are related arrays, kits, and screening methods.
US09962345B2

The present invention relates to oral liquid compositions of guanfacine. The liquid compositions can be immediate release or extended release compositions. The compositions comprise guanfacine in a concentration from about 0.1 mg/mL to about 12.0 mg/mL of the composition. The liquid compositions can be in the form of ready-to use liquid compositions or reconstituted liquid compositions. It further relates to processes for the preparation of said oral liquid compositions.
US09962340B2

Transdermal delivery devices for the delivery of cannabidiol (CBD) are shown and described. In a reservoir-patch design, a microporous, hydrophilic membrane and a backing define a reservoir that houses a mixture of CBD, a polar liquid, and a gelling agent. The hydrophilic membrane is coated with an amine-compatible silicone skin adhesive. In a monolithic design, a release liner is coated with a mixture of CBD and a PIB or amine-compatible silicone skin adhesive laminated to the backing material. In either design, the CBD may be provided as a pure compound or as a component of a cannabis oil.
US09962336B2

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a stable extended release suspension composition comprising multiple coated cores of an active ingredient by using a suspension base, wherein the suspension base ensures substantially similar in-vitro dissolution release profile of the active ingredient upon storage of the suspension compositions for at least seven days.
US09962334B2

The present invention is directed to ophthalmic devices that are loaded with therapeutic agent. The devices provide prolonged release of the therapeutic agent to the eye. The ophthalmic devices are typically formed of an ophthalmic material that is particularly desirable for the loading of therapeutic agent and/or the therapeutic agent is typically particularly desirable for loading to the ophthalmic material.
US09962327B2

The present invention relates to a cosmetic or dermatological composition of sol/gel type for making up and/or caring for keratin materials characterized in that it comprises the product resulting from the reaction: (a) of at least one alkoxysilane monomer or oligomer of formula (I) R1xSi(OR2)(4-x) or of formula (II) [R1y (OR2)z SiO ((4-γ-ζ)/2)]η in which R1 represents, independently, a nucleophilic group other than a hydroxyl, or a (Ci-C2o)alkyl group, R2 represents, independently, a (Ci-Cio)alkyl group, and (b) of an amount of water corresponding to a number of moles of water, determined according to the following equation: X−(llAlkoxysilanes×llbAlkoxy groups)/nH2o with nH2o=Number of moles of water, nAikoxysiianes=Number of moles of alkoxysilane compounds, nbAikoxy groups=Weighted mean of the number of alkoxysilane groups per alkoxysilane compound, and X is a number greater than 2. It also relates to an associated cosmetic process and an associated kit for coating keratin materials.
US09962319B2

A dentinal tubule sealant including apatite particles (A) having an average particle diameter of 500 nm or less, a filler (B) having an average particle diameter of 1 to 10 μm, and a dispersant (C), wherein the weight ratio (A/B) of the apatite particles (A) to the filler (B) is 0.05 to 15, the dentinal tubule sealant contains 15 to 95 parts by weight of the dispersant (C) relative to 100 parts by weight in total of the apatite particles (A) and the filler (B), and the total amount of the apatite particles (A), the filler (B), and the dispersant (C) is 85 parts by weight or more relative to 100 parts by weight of the dentinal tubule sealant. There is thereby provided a dentinal tubule sealant excelling in dentinal tubule sealability immediately after treatment, durability of dentinal tubule sealing, ease of operation, and storage stability.
US09962315B2

Disclosed is an electrically-driven skin stimulation module for forming a relatively high potential difference between power terminals of different polarities without a voltage booster circuit to make a lot of current flow through human skin such that function of iontophoresis may be remarkably improved.
US09962313B2

A compression garment and methods of forming and operating the same. In one embodiment, the compression garment includes an electrically stimulated auxetic material having a dimension responsive to an electrical signal, an electrical contact coupled to the electrically stimulated auxetic material and an electrical power source. The compression garment also includes a controller, coupled to the electrical contact and the electrical power source, configured to provide the electrical signal to control a pressure produced by the compression garment via the electrically stimulated auxetic material.
US09962301B2

A closure element comprising a composite web comprising: a nonwoven web; an elastically extensible film strip joined to the top surface of the nonwoven web; a nonwoven material disposed on top of the film strip; and a strip of a fastening material disposed on top of the nonwoven web, wherein the nonwoven material overlaps the edges of the strip of fastening material and the strip of fastening material at its edges overlapped by the nonwoven material has projections which extend into the nonwoven material, as well as absorbent articles that include closure elements.
US09962300B1

An elongated hand held sensor is removable from a strap for use. The strap can also be used to form a loop that is attached to another object, such as a handle or other fixture, such as a bedroom furnishing. The sensor may contain an electrode at one end in signal communication with a capacitive measurement circuit on a circuit board in the sensor device housing. The electrode is optionally shaped to have adjacent portions that match the non-planar shape at the distal end of the housing.
US09962289B2

Provided is a fragmentation tip, an intraocular surgery device, a method for suppressing an occurrence of cavitation, and a cataract surgery method, which can suppress the occurrence of cavitation. The fragmentation tip, which is attached to an intraocular surgery device configured to apply ultrasonic vibration, includes: a cylindrical support portion configured to be mounted on the intraocular surgery device; and a cylindrical tip body provided at a distal end of the support portion to be in communication with an internal space of the support portion, wherein the tip body has a cross sectional shape having a length in a first direction that is larger than a length in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, and vibration is applied to the support portion so that the tip body rotates back and forth about an axis of the tip body that passes through its center in the first and second directions.
US09962274B2

An implant delivery catheter enables permanent modification of the implant length in the vicinity of the treatment site prior to radial expansion thereof. The implant is releasable carried between inner and outer tubular members of the delivery catheter which, upon repositioning relative to one another using an actuator mechanism, impart any of tensile, compressile or torquing forces to the implant causing permanent modification of the implant length. In one embodiment, the circumference of the implant is substantially similar both before and after modification of the implant length. In another embodiment, the implant includes a plurality of strut sections interconnected by bridges which are capable of the deformation along the longitudinal axis of the implant.
US09962273B2

An adjustable socket system includes a distal portion and proximal portion. An axis extends between the distal and proximal portions. A plurality of struts are connected to the distal portion and distributed circumferentially about the axis. The struts at least in part define a receiving volume adapted to receive a residual limb and are movable between an expanded configuration in which at least some of the struts are moved radially outward relative to the axis to loosen the fit of the adjustable system, and a closed configuration in which at least some of the struts are moved radially inward relative to the expanded configuration to tighten the fit of the adjustable socket system. A tightening system is operatively connected to the struts and arranged to tighten and loosen the fit of the adjustable socket system on one or more areas of the residual limb.
US09962263B2

The invention relates to a hip joint prosthesis comprising a shaft-like section that can be inserted into a femur, and a proximally arranged end cap assembly which closes a hollow space of the hip joint prosthesis. According to the invention the end cap assembly carries a coil assembly that is connected to a first electrode with a first pole and to a second electrode with a second pole. The first and the second electrodes enclose surfaces of the hip joint prosthesis, and in a state in which the end cap assembly closes the hollow space of the hip joint prosthesis, the coil assembly is predominantly arranged in the hollow space.
US09962258B2

A prosthetic heart valve comprises a collapsible and expandable support frame comprising a longitudinal axis. The frame comprises a first circumferential undulating structure defining an outflow end of the frame, and a second circumferential undulating structure spaced apart from the first circumferential undulating structure. The frame also comprises a plurality of struts longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the frame, and connecting the first circumferential undulating structure to the second circumferential undulating structure. Each strut of the plurality of struts comprises a first end terminating at a trough of the first circumferential undulating structure, and a second end terminating at a peak of the second circumferential undulating structure. The prosthetic heat valve also comprises a biological tissue valve coupled to the frame. The prosthetic heart valve is configured to be collapsed for introduction into a patient using a catheter and to be expanded for deployment at an implantation site.
US09962255B1

The novel design of the one piece self-locking scleral buckle eliminates the need for a separate tire, band and sleeve by incorporating the band with the tire and making the device self-locking so the sleeve is no longer necessary. As one piece of silicone replaces the need for three separate pieces of silicone scleral buckling surgery is simplified thus making the procedure faster, safer and more efficient. The novel design of the scleral buckle placement instrument allows the surgeon to more firmly grasp the silicone material making the procedure faster and more efficient.
US09962252B2

A vessel protector system includes an outer sheath, an inner tube disposed within the outer sheath and moveable in a longitudinal direction relative to the outer sheath and at least one protector coupled to the inner tube, each of the at least one protector having a body formed from a filtering material and extending between a leading end and trailing end coupled to the inner tube, the body having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. A snare is coupled to the leading end of the body at one end, and having a second end passing through the interior of the outer sheath, whereby the exertion of a pulling force on the second end of the snare contracts the at least one protector.
US09962250B2

A surgical implant (20) comprises a flexible basic structure (22) having a face and a plurality of resorbable film pieces (26) attached to the face of the basic structure (22). Each film piece (26) comprises a plurality of solid protrusions (28) emerging from the respective film piece (26) in a direction away from the basic structure (22).
US09962241B2

The invention concerns a single tooth implant for a fixed tooth replacement having a substantially cylindrical base body which can be inserted into a bore made in a jaw bone, an abutment which can be inserted into the annular recess of the base body and having a bore for receiving a holding screw and a fixing head for the tooth replacement, and a holding screw which can be inserted into the blind bore in the base body and which passes through the abutment.
US09962232B2

A medical support device includes an arm having a drill attached at a tip part of the arm, a first position obtainer obtaining a representative position of the drill attached to the arm, a second position obtainer obtaining a bury start position, and a controller. The controller controls the arm and applies a burying reaction force to the drill in a burying direction, i.e., a direction from the bury start position to an inside of a implant area, when the representative position of the drill obtained by the first position obtainer is at the inside of the implant area relative to the bury start position.
US09962229B2

A catheter procedure system includes a bedside system having a guide wire, a guide wire advance/retract actuator coupled to the guide wire and a guide wire rotate actuator coupled to the guide wire and a workstation coupled to the bedside system. The workstation includes a user interface, at least one display and a controller coupled to the bedside system, the user interface and the at least one display. The controller is programmed to advance the guide wire through a path using the guide wire advance/retract actuator, determine if the guide wire is in a desired path based at least on at least one image of a region of interest, rotate the guide wire using the guide wire rotate actuator if the guide wire is not in the desired path, wherein the guide wire is rotated a predetermined amount, and retract the guide wire using the guide wire advance/retract actuator. The steps of advancing the guide wire and retracting and rotating the guide wire using guide wire advance/retract actuator and the guide wire rotate actuator are repeated until the guide wire is in the desired path. The guide wire is advanced to a desired position using the guide wire advance/retract actuator.
US09962225B2

An apparatus for treatment of soft tissue includes a source of radiation, a handpiece which is adapted to transmit radiation emitted from the source of radiation to a region of soft tissue, resulting in irradiated soft tissue, said handpiece being positioned adjacent to or in contact with said soft tissue region, a grid element adapted to hold at least one temperature sensor in contact with or embedded in said region of soft tissue, and a microprocessor, which converts a signal from the at least one temperature sensor into a measure of damage produced in at least two components of the irradiated soft tissue, said components comprising at least one normal tissue component and at least one malignant, hypertrophic, diseased, or unwanted component.
US09962222B2

An electrosurgical instrument includes jaws having an electrode configuration utilized to electrically modify tissue in contact with one or more electrodes. The instrument is removably connectable to an electrosurgical unit via an electrosurgical connector extending from the instrument and a receptacle on the electrosurgical unit. The electrosurgical instrument is rotatable without disrupting electrical connection to the electrodes of the jaws. One or more of the electrodes is retractable. The electrosurgical unit and instrument optimally seals and/or cuts tissue based on identifying the tissue and monitoring the modification of the tissue by the application of radio frequency energy.
US09962221B2

A bipolar forceps includes a mechanical forceps including first and second shafts each having a jaw member extending from a distal end thereof and a handle disposed at a proximal end thereof for effecting movement of the jaw members relative to one another about a pivot. A disposable housing is configured to releasably couple to at least one of the shafts and an electrode assembly is associated with the disposable housing. The electrode assembly includes electrodes releasably coupleable to the jaw members. At least one of the electrodes includes a knife channel configured to receive a knife blade therethrough to cut tissue grasped between the jaw members. A switch is configured to initiate delivery of electrosurgical energy from the source of electrosurgical energy to the electrodes. An actuation mechanism is configured to selectively advance the knife blade through the knife channel to cut tissue.
US09962219B2

A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending from the housing, and an end effector assembly that is disposed at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector assembly includes a tubular portion, a connection arm, and a toolbox. The tubular portion defines a lumen and the connection arm is extendable from the lumen. The toolbox has a micro-tip that is configured to be selectively secured to a connection tip of the connection arm. The toolbox has a transport configuration where the toolbox is disposed within the lumen and a deployed configuration where the toolbox is disposed entirely outside of the lumen.
US09962218B2

A device (10) for tissue coagulation, in particular for fusion, encompasses an electric source (18), which is connected or which can be connected to electrodes (12, 13) for influencing biological tissue (11) with current. A control unit (22) controls the source (18) during phases I and II of the tissue fusion. These phases I and II correspond to operating phases I, II and III of the device (10). During operating phase I, a monitoring unit (23) determines the energy E1, which is applied into the tissue (11). In the subsequent operating phases II and III, the control unit (22) controls the source (18) by means of the determined energy E1. Such a device turns out to be particularly reliable and to be robust in use.
US09962216B2

A treatment device to treat a living tissue, includes: first and second holding portions; a rotary member including a working portion including an edge portion which is rotated around a central axis equal to or substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis, the rotary member capable of moving the edge portion from the first holding portion to the second holding portion; a first guide portion provided in the first holding portion and capable of guiding the edge portion toward the second holding portion through the holding surface of the first holding portion; and a second guide portion provided in the second holding portion, and capable of guiding the edge portion to the second holding portion through the holding surface of the first holding portion.
US09962213B2

The present invention relates to an orthopedic fastener driver which can be used with a variable angle fixation system, and in particular in which the driver has a variable angle drive tip that is capable of screwing a fastener in an orthopedic plate assembly at a variable angle relative to the drive axis of the driver, and further wherein the driver has a drive mechanism including an interference clutch mechanism that disengages so as to limit the relative depth of the fastener in the plate assembly as to avoid driving the fastener or fastener assembly through the plate.
US09962211B2

An improved handheld instrument assembly for penetrating into a patient's spine, the instrument assembly has a needle, an outer sleeve, and a removable handle. The needle has a shaft with a bone penetrating tip at a distal end and an enlarged head rotationally fixed to the needle shaft at a proximal end. The outer sleeve is for receiving the needle. The removable handle is configured to removably attach to and engage the handle attachment from the distal side or the proximal side at the discretion of a surgeon. The removable handle has a “T” shaped body. The removable handle has a slotted opening on a frontal side, the slotted opening being sized to pass over the outer sleeve between the distal end and the handle attachment when the needle is inserted into the patient.
US09962204B2

Embodiments of present invention include modular bone plate systems and various methods of bone fixation using the same. The system makes available to the practitioner an array of plates, screws and pins with different sizes, curves, and functions to overcome complication of the procedure with minimal rework and soft/hard tissue intervention, treat osteoporotic bones and articular fracture to name a few.
US09962202B2

A bone fusion device includes a first anchor for insertion into a hole formed in a first phalange, and a second anchor for insertion into a hole formed in a second phalange. A rod includes a handle and a distal end, with the distal end being associated with each of the first anchor and the second anchor. The rod includes a breakaway portion between the handle and the distal end allowing the handle to be manually separated from the distal end.
US09962200B1

A prosthetic joint is secured to the bones forming the original joint by utilizing strictly mechanical fasteners, for example, a threaded rod engaging a tapped intramedullary canal. Cross locking members may be provided. The need for bone cement is avoided. The prosthetic joint may be used to replace one end of one bone forming the joint, utilizing the naturally occurring end of the other bone. Alternatively, both bone ends may be replaced with prosthetic joint portions. The decision to replace one or both bone ends may be made mid-surgery. The prosthetic joint portions are secured together utilizing ligament reconstruction members made from portions of the patient's tendons or allograft tendons. A bearing forming the interface between the two joint portions is designed to wear in order to protect the remaining components from wear, and to be easily replaced in relatively simple future surgeries.
US09962191B2

A spinal fixation device includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis, a bone screw member, a locking ring, and a crush ring. The bone screw member includes a head that is selectively securable within the housing and a threaded shaft. The locking ring is disposed within the housing and is radially expandable to a partially expanded position when the head of the bone screw member is positioned therein to retain the head within the housing. The crush ring is disposed within the housing proximal to the locking ring and adjacent the head of the bone screw member. The crush ring pushes against the head of the bone screw member when it transitions from an initial state to a deformed state when a force is applied thereto, which expands the locking ring to a fully expanded position to fix the bone screw member to the housing.
US09962185B2

The present subject matter provides a trocar and sheath assembly for placement of implantable devices adjacent a body lumen, and a method of using the trocar and sheath assembly for implanting an implantable device at a target site for controllable coaptation of a patient's urethra.
US09962178B2

Mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses including an inverting, rolling conveyor region (“tractor”) at the distal end that are configured to grab and remove thrombus material. In particular, described herein are mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses that are adapted to prevent premature deployment of the tractor, e.g., by including a tractor hold (e.g., a housing, a lock, a clamp, etc.) or the like to secure the outer end of the tractor against and/or relative to the elongate inversion support.
US09962165B2

Apparatus for delivering material into a patient includes a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end. Material, preferably of filamentary or thread form, is fed from a material supply into a Y-fitting having a main branch and a side branch. The side branch is connected to a source of driving fluid able to feed drive fluid under pressure into the material carrier so as to pull material forwardly and out of the distal end of the catheter. The assembly includes an inner cannula within which material is passed from the material source. This increases the speed of delivery of material though the device and reduces the amount of drive fluid which is required.
US09962162B2

In one embodiment, a hook fastener has a plurality of hooks and a loop fastener has a plurality of loops to secure tissues sections to one another. At least one of these fasteners has a porous surface to allow tissue ingrowth to secure the fastener to the tissue. In another embodiment, only a single fastener is used, with a section of tissue being treated to engage and mate with the fastener. The disclosed tissue fastening systems can be used for a number of applications. One such example includes fastening tissue sections by wrapping a tissue fastener around the tissue and securing the fastener on itself. A suture may also be secured with the tissue fastener.
US09962159B2

Surgical instruments are disclosed that are couplable to or have an end effector or a disposable loading unit with an end effector, and at least one micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device operatively connected to the surgical instrument for at least one of sensing a condition, measuring a parameter and controlling the condition and/or parameter.
US09962158B2

A surgical instrument that comprises a housing, an elongate shaft configured for operable attachment to a surgical end effector, and a selectively lockable rotation system is disclosed. The selectively lockable rotation system comprises a mounting member coupled to the elongate shaft and being rotatably supported on the housing for selective rotation relative to the housing about a longitudinal axis defined by the elongate shaft. The selectively lockable rotation system further comprises a switch member supported for selective longitudinal movement relative to the housing and the mounting member between an unlocked position wherein the mounting member is freely rotatable relative to the housing and a locked position wherein a locking formation on a distal end of the switch member is in retaining engagement with the mounting member to prevent the mounting member and the elongate shaft from rotating relative to the housing.
US09962136B2

A method of reconstructing time-varying position of individual radioactive point sources directly from Positron Emission Tomography (PET) measurements is provided that includes using a PET scanner to acquire list-mode coincidence events of a moving radioactive point source, using an appropriately programmed computer to model a trajectory of the moving radioactive point source as a 3D function of a temporal variable, then apply an optimization procedure to find the trajectory that minimizes a distance between the trajectory and the recorded list-mode coincidence events, and using the PET scanner to output a real time position of the radioactive point source.
US09962122B2

Apparatus and methods related to an underbody support for supporting a body of a being, such as during surgery to prevent contact pressure injuries. In certain embodiments, the underbody support may include one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume. At least one of the inflatable chambers may include one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, and the one or more compression sensitive switches may be located within the inflatable chamber. In some embodiments the one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the said inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume.
US09962117B2

Needle support assembly for a venous blood collection device with evacuated vial, comprising a support body having a coupling seat for a vein needle and coupling seat for a vial needle. The support body is provided with an inner chamber having an entrance and an exit. The support body is made at least partially in transparent or semi-transparent material to permit the visualization of the blood flow. The inner chamber has a mean cross-section greater than the cross-sections of both the coupling seats and is divided into compartments communicating with each other which define one or more channels for the blood flow from the entrance to the exit. Each channel defines a path for the blood which moves away from the entrance to the exit. Each channel defines a path for the blood which moves away from the straight line connecting the entrance and the exit and has a smaller cross-section than the mean cross-section of the inner chamber.
US09962116B2

A sampling device for a sampling container. A pair of elongate flexible arms extend from a side wall away from a bottom end. The arms being oppositely located across a base chamber. A lower member has a flange and an aperture. A collar extends from the flange and is adapted to retain an end of a spring. An elongate cover has a first end and a second end. The first end being adapted in use to connect to a base and the second end being adapted in use to connect to an upper member. The upper and lower members are adapted to move along the axis by the positioning of a sampling container in the sampling chamber and the application of a force towards a base, permits a needle or blood bag tube located within a connector to discharge liquid into a sampling container.
US09962114B2

Sleeves and cases for protecting medical devices against contamination, and methods for cleaning and disinfecting medical devices are provided. The various embodiments enable a single medical device to be used by more than one patient successively while reducing the risk of disease transmission from patient to patient.
US09962113B2

The invention relates to a sensor (2) including: a microelectrode assembly (21); and β-pancreatic cells (23) or islets (230) of Langerhans in culture on the microelectrode assembly (21); characterized in that the microelectrode assembly (21) is designed to measure dynamically, continuously and in real time, electrical signals (V) produced by the β-pancreatic cells (23) or the islets of Langerhans (230) upon physiological activation. The invention also relates to the field of devices that can be implantable in the body of a patient, and including an insulin dispenser for dispensing an amount of insulin. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a sensor and to such a device and a use of such a sensor.
US09962111B2

Activities, actions and events during user performance of physical activity may be detected using various algorithms and templates. Templates may include an arrangement of one or more states that may identify particular event types and timing between events. Templates may be specific to a particular type of activity (e.g., types of sports, drills, events, etc.), user, terrain, time of day and the like.
US09962110B2

A system for assessing an intervertebral disc space comprises an elongated catheter with proximal and distal ends and an expandable body carried at the distal end of the elongated catheter. The expandable body includes a distal cap portion. The system further includes a mandrel extending through the elongated catheter and the expandable body and attached to the distal cap portion. The mandrel is movable within the elongated catheter and the expandable body to reposition the distal cap portion relative to the distal end of the elongated catheter while the expandable body is positioned within the intervertebral disc space.
US09962109B2

A portable hand-held spirometer is disclosed for use in taking respiratory tests and storing and displaying test results. The configuration of the spirometer includes handgrips that are positioned to ensure that the user is properly positioned to provide maximum breathing required for valid test results to be obtained. The spirometer also includes a progressively illuminated indicator that can be viewed by the user during a test to provide an indication in real-time to the user of the expected/desired duration of the exhalation or inhalation test. The indicator is completely illuminated only when the measured accumulated volume of air passing through the spirometer equals a predicted volume determined based on the age, gender, height, weight and ethnicity of the user stored in the spirometer. The structures and arrangement of a turbine assembly and sensors is also disclosed. Further, a method of receiving, storing and displaying information on the spirometer via a color touch screen display is also disclosed.
US09962105B2

The present disclosure provides a method for improving imaging resolution of electrical impedance tomography (EIT). More specifically, the present disclosure forms virtual electrode(s) using an electric current steering technique, which is used to improve imaging resolution of an EIT system without physically increasing a number of conducting electrodes. The EIT system of the present disclosure may includes a plurality of conducting electrodes, at least one signal generator, at least one signal receiver and at least one electric current steering device. In other words, the present disclosure applies both the electric current steering technique and the virtual electrode technique to EIT. Consequently, imaging resolution of EIT can be improved without physically increasing the number of conducting electrodes.
US09962102B2

A method and implantable medical device for determining a flutter event in response to a cardiac signal that includes sensing the cardiac signal, determining a sensing window in response to the sensed cardiac signal, the sensing window having a first portion and a second portion. A first derivative signal and a second derivative signal are determined in response to the sensed cardiac signal within the first portion and the second portion of the sensing window, and a sum of amplitudes of the second derivative signal within one or both of the first portion and the second portion of the sensing window is determined, and the flutter event is determined in response to the determined sum of amplitudes.
US09962098B2

A bioelectric interface for monitoring, detection and transmission of detected ECG data is provided comprising a sensory system for detecting bio-physiological measurements utilizing spatially resolved potential profiles obtained from a localized cluster of sub-electrodes to form constituent sets of miniature sensor arrays. Using only a single macro-electrode, two or more sets of sub-electrode arrays are used to measure bipolar spatial gradients obtained from measured cardiac potentials. The sets of sub-electrodes containing the clusters are optimized to attain measurable gradients of diagnostic value. A minimax procedure allows bio-potential sensory acquisition through a bi-directional digital steering process, which essentially comprises monitoring, detection, selection, grouping, recording and transmission of ECG waveform characteristic data.
US09962094B2

A vascular endothelial function inspection apparatus includes a first cuff that is mounted to a first part of a subject, a cuff pressure control unit that controls a pressure applied to the first cuff, a pressure sensor that is connected to the first cuff, a cuff pressure detection unit that detects a cuff pressure from an output of the pressure sensor, a pulse wave detection unit that detects pulse waves from the output of the pressure sensor, a blood pressure measuring unit that measures a blood pressure value based on the cuff pressure and the pulse waves, a storage unit that stores therein an elasticity index value indicating an elasticity of a blood vessel of the subject, and an analysis unit that performs data processing for evaluating an endothelial function of the blood vessel.
US09962087B2

A method for automatically identifying and localizing anatomical regions of a left ventricle of a heart using a segment model, the method including receiving a volumetric MR image series of one or more time-points in a heart cycle with associated myocardial boundaries, representing the heart, performing a long-axis partitioning on each image of the volumetric image series, performing a short-axis partitioning volumetric image series, generating a polar map, wherein each image of the volumetric image series is mapped to a location on the polar map, wherein the location is characterized using the long-axis partitioning and the short-axis partitioning, and generating a mapping from the polar map to a voxel in an associated image of the volumetric image series representing an anatomical location.
US09962082B2

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a sensor related to measurement of biometric information, at least one module that performs a specific function, a memory that stores an instruction related to operations of the sensor and the module, and at least one processor electrically connected to the sensor, the at least one module, and the memory to execute the instruction. When acquiring an event related to initiation of the measurement of the biometric information, the processor may deactivate at least one function of a module, or execute an instruction such that the deactivation state is maintained or the operating mode (for example, a low power mode) of the electronic device is changed.
US09962061B2

A dishwasher (2.1, 2.2) has at least one wash system for spraying wash liquid and at least one final-rinse system for spraying final-rinse liquid, wherein a control device (50) is provided for actuating the at least one wash system and/or the at least one final-rinse system in accordance with a predefined execution program. To save on resources during operation, and meet the requirements for hygienic operation, which are defined in hygiene guidelines applicable locally (in a territorially delimited manner) at least a first execution program is stored in the control device (50), the execution program created taking into account requirements for hygienic operation which are applicable in a first territorial region, and at least a second execution program is stored in the control device (50), the second execution program created taking into account requirements for hygienic operation which are applicable in a second territorial region.
US09962056B2

A self-wringing flat mop includes a flat mop head, a mop handle and a holding sleeve. The mop handle includes a connection rod, a holding rod, and a transmission assembly. The holding rod is operated to rotate. The transmission assembly transmits rotation to the connection rod. The connection rod drives the flat mop head to collapse and wring out water. The transmission assembly includes a first engaging member and a second engaging member for undertaking engagement-disengagement actions. The holding rod includes a limiting rib. The holding sleeve sleeves the mop handle and includes a control lever. The control lever is turned pivotally with respect to the holding sleeve to separate the first engaging member from the second engaging member and restore the collapsed flat mop head to the flattened state. The holding sleeve includes a unidirectional limiting ring corresponding to the limiting rib.
US09962053B2

Provided is a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner includes a main body including a cord reel around which a power cord is wound and a cord reel button for operating the cord reel.
US09962045B2

A dispensing apparatus for strips of coiled flexible material having at regular intervals tear lines to form the strips. The apparatus includes a casing receiving the coil, the casing having a circular opening for the passage and distribution of a strip of coiled flexible material under a tensile stress. The casing also includes at least one washer fixed on the casing concentrically with the distribution opening, wherein the internal diameter of the at least one washer is smaller than the diameter of the opening. The one or more washers are made of an elastomeric material capable of being deformed under the effect of the material distribution through the opening for achieving, concomitantly, a strip cut along a tear line. The one or more washers cooperate with an element manually operable and arranged to reduce the internal diameter of the one or more washers.
US09962042B2

An article support for a surface, the support including a base having a first end portion and a second end portion, the base first end portion is adjacent to the surface. A reservoir is disposed within the second end portion, the reservoir having a terminating margin periphery forming an aperture. An omni-directional substantially planar extension originating at the margin periphery and outwardly terminating in an outer perimeter, the planar extension has a segmented primary surface and a secondary surface wherein the secondary surface faces the first end portion. A portion of the primary surface is formed from an inverted equilateral square pyramid wherein an apex of the pyramid is disposed within the aperture. Operationally, the article is placed upon the primary surface, the article having a plurality of point contacts upon the primary surface causing the article to clear the margin periphery for drainage from the article into the reservoir.
US09962033B2

A device associable with a steam dispensing nozzle of a coffee machine for the production of a milk-based beverage including a milk container fitted with a lid in which there is incorporated a mixing device having a mixing chamber a channel for the inflow of steam into the mixing chamber, a channel for the inflow of milk into the mixing chamber, a channel for the inflow of air into the mixing chamber, and a channel for dispensing the beverage produced in the mixing chamber. The air inflow channel, the milk inflow channel, the steam inflow channel and the dispensing channel can be made in one piece of elastically deformable rubber.
US09962030B2

Coffee makers with features for rapid and/or multiple extraction processes, and associated systems and methods, are shown. A representative method for brewing coffee includes placing ground coffee on a filter element of a brew chamber, directing heated water into the brew chamber and in contact with the ground coffee and, during a first phase, brewing coffee in the brew chamber without subjecting the coffee to a pressure differential of at least 150 torr between the brew chamber and a coffee chamber to which the brew chamber is coupled, the coffee chamber having a capacity of 200 mL or more. The representative method further includes, during a second phase, extracting the coffee from the brew chamber through the filter element and into the coffee chamber via a pressure differential of at least 150 torr between the brew chamber and the coffee chamber.
US09962027B2

A chair mat including a body having a perimeter. The perimeter is defined by a rear linear portion disposed opposite an arcuate lip portion, left and right rear arcuate portions separated by the rear linear portion, a left front arcuate portion separated from the left rear arcuate portion by a left linear portion, a right front arcuate portion separated from the right rear arcuate portion by a right linear portion, a left arcuate inwardly projecting portion separating the left front arcuate portion and the arcuate lip portion, and a right arcuate inwardly projecting portion separating the right front arcuate portion and the arcuate lip portion.
US09962015B2

A showcase includes: a case main body; and article mounting shelves that mount articles as objects to be stored. The showcase causes the articles to be visually recognized through a customer serving face. Each of the article mounting shelves includes: a pair of brackets supported by a pair of shelf columns; and a shelf board. Each of the brackets includes locking pieces that are provided with respective notches at lower ends of predetermined areas. The showcase is supported by each of the shelf columns by causing the locking pieces to be inserted into corresponding inner face locking holes formed on an inner face of each of the shelf columns and causing lower edges of the inner face locking holes to relatively enter the notches, to cause the locking pieces to be locked to the inner face locking holes.
US09962011B1

Recline assemblies for stroller seats are disclosed. In some examples, a recline assembly for a stroller seat includes a seat base, a seat back connector rotatably coupled to the seat base, and a napper bar connector rotatably coupled to the seat base. In some examples, the napper bar connector is releasable from a locked position in response to rotation of the seat back connector relative to the seat base. In some examples, the napper bar connector is rotatable relative to the seat base in response to being released from the locked position.
US09962006B2

A bed base capable of fixing mattress includes a base frame and a fixation member. The base frame includes at least one insertion hole. The fixation member includes at least one horizontally extended part, at least one insertion part downwardly extended from an end of the horizontally extended part, and a stopper part upwardly extended from the other end of the horizontally extended part. The insertion part is inserted into the insertion hole of the base frame, the horizontally extended part is placed on a top surface of the base frame, and the stopper part is used to stop at a side edge of the mattress. Therefore, the assembly or disassembly of the fixation member can be achieved without tool assistance.
US09961998B2

A driving mechanism for a slide rail assembly with a first and a second rails includes a first driving device, a locking device, a swing member and a second driving device. The first driving device includes a first elastic member and a first base. The first elastic member accumulates a first driving force when the swing member abutting against a locking part of the locking device. The second driving device is mounted to the second rail and includes a second base movably connected to the first base, a blocking member movable in a guiding section of the second base, and a second elastic member. When the second rail and the second base are moved from a retrieve position toward an open position relative to the first rail, the blocking part abuts against a portion of the guiding section for allowing the second elastic member to accumulate a second driving force.
US09961985B2

A case for a powered toothbrush comprises a housing having an interior for receiving a powered toothbrush, and a cover, wherein the cover substantially obfuscates the interior but is sufficiently light-transmissive to communicate the presence of an indicator from within the interior. Also provided is a powered toothbrush and case system.
US09961979B2

“Hair Dryer with control switches underneath handle” (1) consisting of external body (2), provided of cable (2a), wire (3) and buttons/switches (4), and internally, engine (5), electrical resistance (6) and internal cabinet (7) that delimits heating air chamber (8), aforementioned cabinet (7) extending frontally out in short nozzle (7a), said hair dryer (1) incorporating digital hour counter (“hour meter”) (9associated with the appliance's engine (5), and presenting its buttons/switches (4) moved to the bottom (10) of the cable (2a), being provided cold air flow system, configured by spacing (11) and (12) that delimit cold air input and output, creating a cold air flow around and along the entire length of the outer surface of the internal cabinet (7), which isolates this latter of the inner surface of the body (2).
US09961978B2

A mechanism and method for easily replacing a zipper of a zippered hardside luggage, wherein one side of a zipper is fixed to an upper case body by an upper zipper fastener, and the other side of the zipper is fixed to a lower case body by a lower zipper fastener; the upper zipper fastener and the lower zipper fastener have a respective notch; a removable notch fastener is arranged at the joint between the upper case body and the lower case body at the notch; and the replacement method comprises: firstly removing the notch fastener, pulling out the old zipper from the notches of the upper zipper fastener and the lower zipper fastener, then passing a new zipper through the notches of the upper zipper fastener and the lower zipper fastener, and finally mounting the notch fastener.
US09961973B2

A walking cane clamp is provided which includes a clip dimensioned and configured to releasably secure the walking cane clamp to a support member, the clip being attached to a cane fastener, the cane fastener including a body portion and a biasing member pivotally attached to the body portion, the body portion defining an opening and a receptacle dimensioned and configured to receive a portion of a cane shaft, the biasing member defining an open position and a closed position of the receptacle, the biasing member being pivotally biased toward the closed position in which a portion of the biasing member covers a portion of the opening sufficient to secure the cane shaft within the receptacle. Also provided is a system for securing a walking cane to a walker or a rollator which includes a walking cane clamp as described herein and a base for receiving the walking cane. Also provided is a walker or rollator which includes a walking cane clamp as described herein and an optional base for receiving a walking cane.
US09961972B1

A jewelry product that is to be worn by a user and that is formed as a threaded main shaft, along with a hanging link for support of the threaded main shaft from a body part. One or more decorative nuts are for threaded engagement with the threaded main shaft, and a securing member is for attaching the hanging link with the threaded main shaft. In another embodiment there is a partially closed loop that is comprised of separate loop portions, a pivot pin that connects the separate loop portions and that enables the separate loop portions to open and close, a sleeve disposed about the partially close loop and slideable to cover and uncover the pivot pin and a threaded main shaft engaged with the threaded opening of the respective heads.
US09961967B2

A strap tie-down assembly for adjustably binding a strap includes opposed first and second handles pivoted to each other about an axle configured to windably receive a strap for binding. A lock is mounted in the assembly for movement between a locked position, in which the lock prevents movement of the axle, and an unlocked position, in which the lock allows movement of the axle.
US09961956B2

A modular sandal. The modular sandal includes a sole having an upper side and a lower side. Slots disposed on the lower side include an interior wall and a width. Channels extending from the lower side of the sole through the upper side of the sole include a diameter. Each of the channels is positioned within one of the slots. A strap including locking tabs is pivotally affixed to the sole. Each locking tab is configured to pivot between a locked position and an unlocked position. Each locking tab is configured to pass through each channel when in an unlocked position. Each locking tab frictionally engages the interior wall of each slot when in a locked position, thereby anchoring the strap to the sole.
US09961950B2

A necktie with integrated, individually addressable, multi-colored light emitting diode (LED) modules arranged in a rectangular matrix format. These LED modules are connected together and controlled by means of an onboard microcontroller. Functionality is included in order to facilitate the installation of custom light patterns by the user after manufacture. The device includes an onboard wireless communication module in order to facilitate communication with an external control interface, such as an application on a smartphone, so the light patterns displayed by the LEDs may be modified based on user input.
US09961947B2

Provided is activewear with one or more waistband pockets. More particularly, athletic garments such as pants comprising one or more waistband pocket are included. The athletic garments include a body portion comprising fabric with an upper edge terminating as a 360° waistline and waistband composed of at least four pieces of fabric. A first and second piece of fabric define a first pocket on the waistband and a third and fourth piece of fabric define a second pocket on the waistband. Further, 360° of the waistline is attached to a bottom edge of the waistband. The first pocket and second pocket each include at least one opening to provide access to that pocket. Additionally, waistbands composed of at least six pieces of fabric are described as well as methods of manufacturing waistbands.
US09961946B2

Existing brassieres fail to provide adequate comfort and lift to many women with breasts of size C cup and larger. The invention is a cushiony pad which is attached via a flap to the inside of a brassiere cup. When donning the brassiere, the woman inserts the pad into the inframammary fold, between the underside of the breast and the chest. The pad acts as a platform for the breast, allowing the breast to rest on top of it, lifting the breast up and providing comfort and support.
US09961945B2

A sport bra having an adjustable underband tightening assembly is provided herein. The sport bra comprises a front portion having a pair of breast covering structures, a pair of shoulder straps, and a front underband segment comprising a first wing extending away from a first side of the front underband segment and terminating in a first free end and a second wing extending away from a second side of the front underband segment and terminating in a second free end. The sport bra further comprises a back portion having a central body portion, a pair of shoulder straps secured to the shoulder straps of the front portion, and a back underband segment unaffixed to the front underband segment in an un-worn configuration.
US09961944B2

This invention relates to a multi-adjustable bra which is constructed for adequate support of the breasts yet permitting it to be worn with backless, strapless, and/or halter neck evening gowns, dresses or tops without disclosing unsightly straps either across the back or over the shoulders of the wearer.
US09961943B2

An athletic sock formed from a yarn comprising Coolmax® polyester fibers, cotton fibers and Lycra® polyurethane-polyurea copolymer fiber. The sock has a toe portion, at least one compression portion, a heel and ankle portion, and an upper band at the top portion of the sock.
US09961942B2

An electronic cigarette, including an air regulation ring assembly, an atomizing core assembly, and a base assembly. The air regulation ring assembly includes a mouthpiece having a fixing base and a rubber silicon ring, a first sealing ring, an air regulation ring having a fixing base, a second sealing ring. The atomizing core assembly includes a liquid barrier, a third sealing ring, a limit cover, a fourth sealing ring, a first piece of cotton, a second piece of cotton, a pair of heating wires, a fixing ring of the heating wires, a first insulating ring, and a heating wire connector. The base assembly includes a glass tube, a fifth sealing ring, a copper thread ring, a second insulating ring, and a connector.
US09961937B2

The invention is related to an electronic cigarette and an assembly method therefor. The electronic cigarette comprises an electronic cigarette body and a mouthpiece device connected at one end of the electronic cigarette body. The electronic cigarette body is provided with at least one first smoke channel. The mouthpiece device is provided with a second smoke channel. The mouthpiece device is in a sliding butting connection with the electronic cigarette body. The junction between the mouthpiece device and the electronic cigarette body is provided with an elastic assembly. The elastic assembly is used to enable the first smoke channel and the second smoke channel to be in communication with one another or to be staggered from one another and not in communication. The beneficial effects of the electronic cigarette are that a child may be prevented from smoking the electronic cigarette by accident, and assembly is easy.
US09961934B2

A method for threshing and pneumatic separation of tobacco leaves, including: 1) transporting a mixture of the tobacco slices and stems from a primary threshing set into primary pneumatic separation unit for sorting out tobacco slices, and transporting a remaining mixture into a secondary threshing set; 2) transporting the mixture from the secondary threshing set into a secondary pneumatic separation unit for sorting out the tobacco slices and qualified stems, and transferring a remaining mixture to a tertiary threshing set; 3) transporting the mixture from the tertiary threshing set into a tertiary pneumatic separation unit for sorting out the tobacco slices and the qualified stems, and transferring a remaining mixture into a quaternary threshing set; 4) transporting the mixture from the quaternary threshing set into a quaternary pneumatic separation unit for sorting out the tobacco slices and the qualified stems, and returning a remaining mixture to the quaternary threshing set.
US09961932B2

The invention pertains to the use of a composition comprising per serving between 50-300 kcal; between 10 g and 35 g proteinaceous matter; and at least 2.5 microgram vitamin D, for the manufacture of a nutritional product for (a) the treatment or prevention of muscle mass decrease, (b) stimulation of muscle mass increase; or (d) stimulating muscle mass preservation, in obese or overweight adults of at least 40 years of age participating in a weight loss program. The inventors surprisingly found that nutritional supplementation with a low-caloric composition rich in protein, particularly whey protein and leucine, compared to an iso-caloric control supplement without protein, synergistically leads to preservation of muscle mass during a weight loss program involving a hypocaloric diet and a resistance exercise program in overweight/obese older adult.
US09961925B2

The present invention provides a method for reducing EC precursor, citrulline, in soy sauce by inoculating T. halophilus BBE R23 during soy sauce fermentation. Compared to the control, citrulline and EC in soy sauce prepared with T. halophilus BBE R23 is decreased by 86% and 50%, respectively. Addition of 106 CFU/mL T. halophilus BBE R23 also increases volatile flavoring compounds and free fatty acids concentration in the soy sauce product. The present invention provides a method of making soy sauce that not only reduces accumulation of EC precursor citrulline but also improves soy sauce flavor.
US09961924B2

This invention provides a feed for fish farming which is excellent in terms of stability of feed supply and feed shelf life and which has excellent feed intake and feed efficiency.The feed for fish farming has an outer layer and an inner layer, characterized in that a composition constituting the outer layer has a breaking stress of 5×104 to 1×106 N/m2, a cohesiveness (30%) of 0.4 to 1.0, and a breaking strain of 30 to 80%. The feed for fish farming is characterized by having an outer layer constructed from a heat-induced gel which comprises a protein and/or a starch, and an inner layer comprising a composition which contains nutrient ingredients having fish meal and an oil as essential ingredients.
US09961922B2

Improved animal feeds and/or waters are provided, which include amendments comprising one or more copolymer salts serving to reduce volatilized ammonia derived from the excrement of animals. The copolymers are preferably water soluble and have substantially equimolar amounts of maleic and itaconic moieties.
US09961921B2

Edible residues of ethanol production, e.g., distillers grains and solubles, are produced that are low in, or substantially free from, antibiotic residues. Antibiotics or bacteria present in edible residues resulting from ethanol production are inactivated by irradiating the edible residues.
US09961914B2

The present invention discloses a method to prepare a fruit ferment containing propionic acid and/or a salt thereof comprising i) obtaining a liquid fruit preparation, ii) optionally supplementing the liquid fruit preparation with water and/or with additional components to support fermentation, iii) fermenting the optionally supplemented liquid fruit preparation with a propionic acid-producing bacterial strain, iv) optionally further processing the fermentation product, to obtain the fruit ferment. Next to a propionic acid-producing bacterial strain, a lactic acid-producing bacterial strain may be used in the fermentation. The invention also relates to a fruit ferment obtainable by said method and the use in a food, beverage, as a probiotic and to improve the sensory properties and/or the storage stability is also disclosed.
US09961907B2

A blade member has a shaft portion connected to a rotating shaft, and a blade plate portion projecting from the shaft portion toward an outer peripheral wall of a container. The blade plate portion has a plane-like configuration without being formed with a through-out portion, and extends in an up-and-down direction along the shaft portion. The blade plate portion has a projection portion, at a tip end side apart from the shaft portion, projecting upwardly. A top portion of the projection portion is non-edge surface without being formed with an angled portion.
US09961900B2

The present disclosure describes a formulation comprising a nanoparticle including a polymer-associated herbicide, such as fenoxaprop or pyroxsulam with an average diameter of between about 1 nm and about 500 nm; wherein the polymer is a polyelectrolyte and a dispersant or a wetting agent. The disclosure describes various formulations and formulating agents that can be included in the formulations.
US09961888B2

A line roller includes a cylindrical guide member including a guide surface on an outer perimeter for guiding a fishing line, an axle bearing member rotatably supporting an inner perimeter surface of the guide member, and a support member supporting the axle bearing member. The axle bearing member includes an inner ring supported by the support member, an outer ring integrally rotatable with the guide member, a rolling body disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a grease holding unit holding water-repellent grease between the inner ring and the outer ring.
US09961887B2

A fishing device which includes a tow boat, a noise generator, a Catamaran boat plate, a collection net assembly, a Catamaran, two rigid tow bars and a plurality of bent tubes. The collection net assembly includes an inlet net frame, a collection net, a rectangular outlet door and two blocking nets. The problems in conventional fishing methods: low fish catch and large manpower requirement which is not suitable for large scale fishing in fishing with fishhooks and small fishing nets, as well as failure to provide classification fishing for silver carp which in turn resulted in low fishing efficiency, low work efficiency and wasting of manpower in seine fishing, can be resolved effectively.
US09961885B2

Animal sustenance-dispensing stations described herein may be capable of supplying food or water to animals, of controlling electrical loads that prevent liquid sustenance freeze-up or overheating and other loads that help sanitize the sustenance, that illuminate the station, or that generate sounds; of acquiring and processing data from a variety of sensors both internal and external to the station, and of reporting both raw and processed data. They may also be capable of wirelessly communicating with other stations, or with non-station devices over wireless communication networks to facilitate reporting of sensor and other data, and to support configuration of station controller operational and reporting behavior. Station configurations may facilitate monitoring of video and audio activity of nearby animals, tagged animals visiting the station, weather conditions in the station's vicinity, station food or water supply levels, and other parameters according to the sensors of a given embodiment.
US09961883B2

Apparatus and methodologies for inducing a non-steady state in an animal to determine the metabolic efficiency of the animal. According to at least some embodiments herein, apparatus and methodologies for non-invasive, rapid infrared thermography of animals induced into non-steady biological states can be used to determine the animals' metabolic efficiency.
US09961882B2

Improvements in a retractable Snap-On Leash is disclosed. The Snap-on Leash is always on the collar and can be used on nearly any collar that is available in the market place. This further allows the retractable snap-on leash to be removed and placed on a different collar when as the animal grows and when the collar wears out or is damaged. The owner simply needs to locate the handle to extend the leash. A lanyard retainer, stop or lock can be incorporated to limit the extension length less than the length of the leash spooled in the housing. The retracting mechanism allows the leash to be retracted automatically at the end of a walk or as the dog changes distance from the owner. The handle conforms to the shape of the housing to minimize a surface that can catch on anything that the dog might encounter.
US09961876B2

The invention described herein is a vehicle-based feed distribution system comprising: a hopper assembly where a metal ball is located in a hopper outlet located at a bottom portion of a hopper, where an auger inside a horizontal dispensing tube is driven by an auger drive means that directs a feed mix from a hopper longitudinally down the horizontal dispensing tube extending out from the hopper outlet, and where a feed outlet at a distal end of the horizontal dispensing tube distributes the feed mix; where the hopper assembly is coupled to a tow vehicle, and where the tow vehicle controls the auger drive means to meter distribution of the feed mix.
US09961874B2

This invention is related to a double grab, its rinsing cup and milking machine provided therewith, and the method for automatically applying test cups to the teats of an udder of an animal to be milked. The double grab according to the invention includes: —a first housing part provided with a first magnet designed to hold a first teat cup; —a second housing part, installed substantially in a horizontal plane next to the first housing part, provided with a second magnet designed to hold a second teat cup; —whereby each housing part is provided with separate pivoting means that can be activated and is designed to make the related housing part pivot around a pivoting axis which in use, extends substantially in a horizontal direction, substantially in a widthwise direction of the arm.
US09961850B1

An inbred corn line, designated OOA20LY, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line OOA20LY, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line OOA20LY with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line OOA20LY with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line OOA20LY, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line OOA20LY and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods.
US09961846B2

A sunflower seed having imidazolinone resistance and an oleic acid content of greater than 85 percent is provided. Sunflower cultivars designated E83329, OI1601A, OI2653R, and OI1601B and having high oleic acid and imidazolinone resistance, plants and seeds of the E83329, OI1601A, OI2653R, and OI1601B sunflower cultivars, methods for producing a sunflower plant produced by crossing the E83329, OI1601A, OI2653R, or OI1601B cultivar with itself or with another sunflower plant, and hybrid sunflower seeds and plants produced by crossing the E83329, OI1601A, OI2653R, or OI1601B cultivar with another sunflower line or plant are also provided.
US09961825B2

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for controlling an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units. In some embodiments, seeds are planted by rotating a seed disc in a first direction; seeds are then unloaded from a seed disc into a seed pool by rotating the seed disc in a second direction. In some such embodiments an amount of rotation in the second direction is selected to ensure that seeds are released into the seed pool and not released from the seed meter.
US09961824B2

An agricultural implement includes a toolbar that extends transverse to a tongue when in a field use configuration. The toolbar can be lifted and/or rotated relative to the tongue to transition between a field use and a transport use. A lifting assembly includes one or more actuators and linkage systems to lift the toolbar attached thereto in an arced manner in moving from a field use configuration to a transport configuration. A rotating mechanism can also include one or more actuators to rotate the toolbar about a pivot member. An anti-rotation link includes a member is connected to the toolbar and can be positioned at least partially within a groove to mitigate rotation of the toolbar, such as during the lifting of the toolbar.
US09968014B2

A shielding cover includes a first frame, a second frame, a first cover and a second cover. The second frame is arranged adjacent to the first frame and defines at least one slot. The first cover covers the first frame and includes at least one first latch corresponding to the at least one slot thereon. The second cover covers the second frame and comprises at least one second latch. The at least one slot is exposed from the second cover, the at least one second latch abuts between the first frame and the second frame, the at least one first latch is latched in the at least one slot. A shielding cover assembly and an electronic device employing the shielding cover are also provided.
US09968013B2

The invention relates to a switch cabinet with a cooling apparatus which has a first closed coolant circuit and a second closed coolant circuit separated fluidically from the first coolant circuit, the first coolant circuit having a refrigerating machine or a cold water set and the second coolant circuit having a heat pipe arrangement.
US09968006B2

Apparatuses and methods are provided for locking an air-moving assembly within a chassis when in operational state. The apparatus includes a locking louver assembly having a louver(s) and locking mechanism. The louver(s) is disposed at an air inlet or outlet of the air-moving assembly, and pivots between operational and quiesced orientations, dependent on presence or absence, respectively, of airflow through the air-moving assembly. The locking mechanism includes a keying element(s) affixed to the louver(s) to pivot therewith, which includes an elongated key(s) oriented in a first direction when the louver(s) is in operational orientation, and a second direction when in quiesced orientation. A key-receiving element(s) is associated with the chassis and includes a key opening(s) which receives and accommodates movement of the elongated key(s) between the first and second directions, and prevents removal of the air-moving assembly from the chassis with the key(s) oriented in the first direction.
US09968003B2

A cooling device 100 includes a first heat receiving unit 400, a second heat receiving unit 410, a first heat dissipating unit 700, and a second heat dissipating unit 710. The first heat dissipating unit 700 and the second heat dissipating unit 710 have a flat plate shape and have a structure in which air passes in a direction approximately perpendicular to a principal surface having a flat plate shape and a first principal surface 730 that is a principal surface having a flat plate shape in the first heat dissipating unit 700 and a second principal surface 740 that is a principal surface having a flat plate shape in the second heat dissipating unit 710 are arranged so as to face to each other. As a result, the size of the cooling device 100 can be reduced without degrading a heat dissipation performance to dissipate heat generated by a heat generating element.
US09967991B2

A semiconductor device, including a plurality of semiconductor modules, each including a semiconductor element, a main terminal and a wiring portion that connects the semiconductor element and the main terminal, and at least one busbar that each includes a terminal portion, and a plurality of attachment portions, the attachment portions being respectively connected to the main terminals of the semiconductor modules, such that the at least one busbar connects the semiconductor modules in parallel. The largest resistance among all resistances between the terminal portion and each of the attachment portions in each busbar is 10% or less of a resistance of the wiring portion in each semiconductor module. The largest inductance among all inductances between the terminal portion and each of the attachment portions in each busbar is 10% or less of an inductance of the wiring portion in each semiconductor module.
US09967990B2

Provided is an electronic apparatus that has enhanced strength and reduced weight. An electronic apparatus includes: a housing having two faces that face each other, having an accommodation space therein, and having an opening on one of the two faces; and an electronic device contained in the accommodation space. The housing is configured of a first member and a second member that are divided in the faces, and has a device insertion opening on at least one of opposing faces of the first member and the second member.
US09967987B2

The present invention discloses an electronic device enclosure and an electronic device. The electronic device enclosure includes: a housing enclosing an exterior of an electronic component; and a baffle plate which is away from the housing by a preset distance and is disposed on an inner side of the housing, where at least one opening is disposed on each of the housing and the baffle plate, where positions of the opening of the baffle plate and the opening of the housing are mutually staggered in a perpendicular direction, and the opening of the housing faces a non-opening area of the baffle plate in the perpendicular direction.
US09967984B1

A power adapter package comprises a power conversion module, an input board assembly comprising terminals for receiving power from an input source and delivering power to the input of the power conversion module, an output board assembly for receiving power from the output of the power conversion module and delivering power to a load via output terminations, a signal isolator comprising a bridge board spanning a distance between the input board and the output board, a case comprising top and bottom covers, and end cap assemblies for supporting and insulating input and output terminations. The bridge board may comprise a multilayer substrate comprising galvanically isolated and magnetically coupled transformer windings. The input and output boards may be soldered to contacts formed along a peripheral edge of the power conversion module.
US09967979B2

A light-emitting device includes a plurality of light-emitting elements mounted on a wiring board, and a plurality of wirings that are provided on the wiring board and each connect predetermined ones of the plurality of light-emitting elements in series. A central element-connection wiring has a longest wiring length among the plurality of wirings, and a voltage applied to a central element is a lowest one of voltages applied to the plurality of light-emitting elements. A closest one of the plurality of light-emitting elements to a center of an element mounting region of the wiring board is defined as the central element, and a wiring that connects in series the central element is defined as the central element-connection wiring.
US09967969B2

A multilayer printed circuit board includes a plurality of wire layers and mounted with a switching power supply, wherein at least three broad patterns, which are formed on at least three wire layers, and a via for connecting the at least three broad patterns are provided to a power supply path connecting a connector, which is to be connected to an external power supply, and the switching power supply, a first capacitor is connected to the connector-side broad pattern, a second capacitor is connected to the switching power supply-side broad pattern, and a π-type filter is configured with parasitic inductance, which is generated by the at least three broad patterns and the via, the first capacitor, and the second capacitor.
US09967963B2

Examples of a system for generating and confining a compact toroid are disclosed. The system comprises a plasma generator for generating magnetized plasma, a flux conserver for receiving the compact toroid, a power source for providing current pulse and a controller for actively controlling a current profile of the pulse to keep plasma's q-profile within pre-determined range. Examples of methods of controlling a magnetic lifetime of a magnetized plasma by controlling a current profile of the current pulse are disclosed.
US09967945B2

An electronic device comprises a voltage conversion unit, a first load unit, a current adjusting unit, and a control unit. The voltage conversion unit is configured to transfer an input voltage to an output voltage. The current adjusting unit electrically is coupled with the second terminal of the load unit. The current adjusting unit is configured to control a first driving current flowing through the first load unit according to a first current reference signal. The control unit is electrically coupled with the first load unit and the voltage conversion unit. The control unit is configured to generate a first voltage reference signal according to the first current reference signal and generate a first control signal to the voltage conversion unit according to a voltage of the second terminal of the first load unit and the first voltage reference signal.
US09967944B2

A PWM dimmer includes a source terminal, a load terminal, a power stage, an interface, and control circuitry. The power stage is coupled between the source terminal and the load terminal and is configured to receive from the source terminal an AC supply signal and provide a pulsed AC load signal to the load terminal in response to a control signal. The AC supply signal has a sinusoidal envelope with a positive half-cycle and a negative half-cycle for each cycle. The pulsed AC load signal tracks the envelope and includes a plurality of pulses in the positive half-cycle and the negative half-cycle for each cycle. The interface is configured to receive dimming control information bearing on a dimming level from a user or remote terminal. The control circuitry is configured to receive the dimming control information from the interface and generate the control signal based on the dimming control information.
US09967939B2

A thermal foldback control circuit electrically connected to a light emitting diode (LED) driver. The thermal foldback control circuit includes a voltage divider and a shunt regulator. The voltage divider includes a first resistor component, a second resistor component in a series-type configuration with the first resistor component, and an output. The first resistor component has a first resistance and the second resistor component has a second resistance that varies in response to a temperature at a reference point. The output is configured to output a reference voltage based on the first resistance and the second resistance. The shunt regulator is in a parallel-type configuration with the voltage divider and is configured to receive the reference voltage and control a driver output of the LED driver based on the reference voltage.
US09967936B2

An examination light apparatus including a touch-less control component that enables a user to control the apparatus without requiring physical contact between the user and the apparatus. The apparatus employs an LED control component that is configured to adapt its electrical interface to a variable quantity of light emitting diodes in order to interface with each of a plurality of lamp heads that each can include a unique arrangement and quantity of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes (LEDs) provide a high level of light quality, quantity and intensity (luminosity) while requiring low power consumption and low space and weight requirements and are employed without requiring a cooling fan. Uniform mechanical and electrical interfaces between the control component and other portions of the examination lamp provide for efficient and simple manufacturing of various examination light configurations.
US09967932B1

An LED controller for a multiple LED channel system using PWM method for LED dimming function incorporates a digital dimming control circuit to generate the PWM signals for driving the LED channels to spread out or cancel out the power supply transients generated by the LED transient current during PWM modulation for dimming operation. The digital dimming control circuit implements a power supply transient reduction method whereby the active period of the PWM signals for some of the LED channels are shifted within the switching cycle to align at least some of the rising signal edges with some of the falling signal edges so as to cancel out the voltage transients on the LED power rails generated at the signal transitions. Furthermore, the rising and falling signal edges that are not lined up are spread out through the PWM switching cycle so that the power supply transients are spread out.
US09967930B2

The present disclosure provides a driving system for a semiconductor light source and a semiconductor lighting device. The driving system comprises: a transformer, the transformer comprising a first coil (201) and a second coil (202) mutually coupled to each other, the second coil (202) being used for receiving an input voltage; a switching device which is connected in series to the second coil (202) and used for controlling energy storage and energy release of the second coil (202); and an outputting device which is connected in parallel to the second coil (202) and used for supplying power to the semiconductor light source. An induced signal is generated on the first coil of the transformer due to a coupling effect between the first coil and the second coil and is used for controlling the switching-on and switching-off of the switching device.
US09967913B2

In view of the above, a wireless network access device is provided. In an example implementation, the wireless network access device includes a radio interface having a plurality of individually addressable radio paths for providing a connection to corresponding radio modules. Each radio module includes a radio configured to communicate with client devices in a corresponding coverage area. Each radio module is configured to operate independently of the other radio modules. A network interface is included to provide data network access. The wireless network access device includes a processor to manage communication between the client devices that communicate with the radio modules and a data network via the radio interface and the network interface when the wireless local area network device includes at least one connected radio module.
US09967910B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for establishing a device-to-device (D2D) group amongst a plurality of user equipments (UEs). In one embodiment a target UE transmits, using D2D communication, a request message inviting at least one other UE to be part of a D2D group with the target UE. A neighbor UE receives the request message and transmits a report message indicating that the neighbor UE will be part of the D2D group with the target UE. A base station receives the report message and transmits to the target UE and to the neighbor UE a confirmation message indicating that the neighbor UE is in the D2D group with the target UE.
US09967908B2

In a direct mode two-way radio frequency communications system having a plurality of direct mode traffic channels, a first direct mode subscriber unit (DMSU) monitors a preconfigured direct mode control channel (DMCC), the DMCC being a channel that is monitored by all DMSUs that are idle in the system, and which is time divided into slots including traffic channel status slots (TCSSs), each TCSS associated with another physical direct mode traffic channel (DMTC) in the communication system. Responsive to detecting a request to initiate a new call, the DMSU selects a first DMTC on which to transmit the call, transmits during the next TCSS of the DMCC associated with the selected DMTC a header indicating the first DMSU's intention to transmit a new call on the selected DMTC, and subsequently switches to the selected DMTC and transmits the new call.
US09967906B2

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for wireless roaming are disclosed. An access point receives a communication request from a wireless device and determines a home broadcast domain associated with the wireless device. The access point determines that the home broadcast domain is different than the broadcast domain associated with the access point and proceeds to identify a second access point that is associated with the home broadcast domain of the wireless device. The access point establishes a tunnel between the access point and the second access point for routing traffic associated with the wireless device.
US09967899B2

A method and apparatus for controlling an uplink transmission power in a mobile station of a mobile communication system. The method includes transmitting uplink data in a first transmission interval, receiving a transmission power control information over a downlink control channel, and determining a transmission power of uplink data to be transmitted in a second transmission interval. The transmission power is determined based on the received transmission power control information and a transmission power of the uplink data transmitted in the first transmission interval. The first transmission interval and the second transmission interval are included in a same Hybrid Automatic Retransmission reQuest (HARQ) process.
US09967886B2

The present disclosure proposes a hierarchical beamforming method and a base station and a user equipment using the same. The method includes following steps. A network entry procedure is performed via a plurality of coarse beams by using a superframe header of a superframe corresponding to each of the coarse beams. In response to a success message associated with the network entry procedure being received, a network entry done message is transmitted by using a preferred coarse beam among the coarse beams. A user equipment (UE) connection is performed via a plurality of fine beams within a direction range of the preferred coarse beam, so as to determine a preferred fine beam by using a frame header of a basic frame corresponding to each of the fine beams, and perform a data packet transmission by using a packet transmission block of the basic frame corresponding to the preferred fine beam.
US09967884B2

A dedicated backhaul for whole home coverage variously applies optimization techniques, e.g. using the 5 GHz high band or low band as a dedicated backhaul; using the 2.4 GHz band as backup if the 5 GHz band fails to reach between nodes; using Ethernet when it is better than the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands and it is available; and using a spanning tree protocol or a variant to avoid loops. The dedicated backhaul is used if the received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the dedicated channel is above a threshold. In embodiments, a daisy chain uses probe request contents to communicate hop count and link quality between the nodes by attempting to route directly if link quality is better than a defined threshold. For each extra hop, there must be some percentage gain over smaller hops. If the link is below some threshold, it is not used.
US09967882B2

A method comprising mapping data onto odd frequency subcarriers of a plurality of non-overlapping frequency subcarriers, wherein each of the non-overlapping frequency subcarriers comprises a center frequency that is an odd integer multiple of a lowest center frequency, producing a time signal based on the mapping, applying soft clipping (SC) to signal amplitudes of the time signal according to a polynomial function, and producing a positive-amplitude signal based on the applying.
US09967878B2

Provided are a terminal device that communicates with a base station apparatus, in which, in a case where second information is not received, whether or not to perform transmission on a physical downlink shared channel in a DwPTS of a special subframe that is based on a UL-DL configuration that is indicated by first information is stipulated based on a special subframe configuration that is based on fourth information and on a cyclic prefix in downlink, and in a case where second information is received, whether or not to perform the transmission on the physical downlink shared channel in the DwPTS of the special subframe that is based on the UL-DL configuration which is indicated by third information is stipulated based on the special subframe configuration that is based on the fourth information and on the cyclic prefix in downlink.
US09967874B2

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more specifically, to a method and an apparatus for transmitting or receiving a downlink signal considering an antenna port relationship. The method for enabling a terminal to receive a physical downlink sharing channel (PDSCH) signal in the wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention can determine a PDSCH start symbol index according to the predetermined priority and receive the PDSCH signal therethrough. The PDSCH start symbol index can be determined when a PDSCH start symbol value included in a PDSCH resource element mapping and Quasi co-location Indicator (PQI) parameter set is determined by an upper layer. The PDSCH start symbol index can be determined according to the PDSCH start symbol value for a cell receiving the PDSCH when the PDSCH start symbol value included in the PQI parameter set is not determined by the upper layer.
US09967867B2

A method in a network node comprises providing to a user equipment a dedicated physical control channel (DPCCH), the DPCCH having an associated first fractional dedicated physical channel (F-DPCH) for conveying transmit power control commands to the user equipment for power controlling the DPCCH, and providing to the user equipment a secondary dedicated physical control channel (S-DPCCH), the S-DPCCH comprising an uplink control channel for communicating transmit power control commands, the S-DPCCH having an associated second F-DPCH for conveying transmit power control commands to the user equipment for power controlling the S-DPCCH. The method comprises receiving, from the user equipment, a downlink transmit power control command, the downlink transmit power control command carried on the S-DPCCH; and controlling a transmit power of the second F-DPCH associated with the S-DPCCH based on the downlink transmit power control command carried on the S-DPCCH.
US09967861B2

The embodiments of the present invention provide an uplink resource scheduling method, a wireless base station and a mobile station. The method comprises: generating group dedicated signaling respectively for mobile station groups managed by the wireless base station, wherein group dedicated signaling of each mobile station group indicates uplink resources allocated to the mobile station group; multiplexing the generated group dedicated signaling into different positions of a first channel and transmitting the multiplexed group dedicated signaling; generating mobile station dedicated signaling for each mobile station in each of the mobile station groups, wherein the mobile station dedicated signaling at least includes group information indicating the mobile station group to which the mobile station belongs; and multiplexing the generated mobile station dedicated signaling into a second channel and transmitting the multiplexed mobile station dedicated signaling.
US09967859B2

One illustrative method for a wireless device in a wireless local area network (WLAN) includes receiving a network interworking indicator at the wireless device, the network interworking indicator indicating support of a capability of the WLAN to communicate information relating to a wireless network. A request for network information identifying one or more networks is transmitted from the wireless device to the WLAN. The network information is received in response to the request for network information. The network information is provided in a container field of a generic container.
US09967857B2

The present invention discloses a method for reading a system message, including: receiving, by a terminal device, a paging message containing a system message state indication in a discontinuous reception (DRX) period, the terminal device includes a terminal device of which the DRX period is larger than a broadcast control channel (BCCH) modification period; determining, by the terminal device and according to the system message state indication in the paging message, that a system message state changes; reading and recording, by the terminal device, a system message corresponding to a current BCCH modification period, or reading and recording a system message corresponding to a next BCCH modification period immediately adjacent to the BCCH modification period; and communicating by the terminal device according to the read and recorded system message. Thus, the electric quantity of a battery can be saved, so that a UE can reduce power consumption.
US09967852B2

Techniques described herein may be used to create and manage a network of customer premise equipment (CPE) devices (e.g., a CPE network). CPE devices may be rapidly initialized by integrating a process for initializing the CPE devices with a wireless network with a process for initializing the CPE devices with the CPE network. Configuration information for controlling the CPE devices may be managed and stored in a centralized location as machine-readable, computer-programming objects, which may be combined to provide a comprehensive view of the CPE network. Network services may be efficiently introduced into the CPE network and managed by creating virtual CPE devices that are associated with the CPE devices of the CPE network.
US09967848B2

Embodiments are provided for syncing multiple electronic devices for collective audio playback. According to certain aspects, a master device connects (218) to a slave device via a wireless connection. The master device calculates (224) a network latency via a series of network latency pings with the slave device and sends (225) the network latency to the slave device. Further, the master devices sends (232) a portion of an audio file as well as a timing instruction including a system time to the slave device. The master device initiates (234) playback of the portion of the audio file and the slave devices initiates (236) playback of the portion of the audio file according to the timing instruction and a calculated system clock offset value.
US09967840B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a device for obtaining a secondary timing advance. The method includes: after a secondary cell activation command is received or after a secondary cell is activated, if a secondary time alignment timer TAT of the secondary cell does not run, initiating, by a terminal, a random access procedure; and obtaining, by the terminal, the secondary TA according to a TA received in the random access procedure. With the method and the device for obtaining a timing advance according to embodiments of the present invention, a terminal initiates a random access procedure to obtain a secondary timing advance after the terminal receives a secondary cell activation command sent by a base station or after a secondary cell is activated, thereby saving signaling overhead and system resources.
US09967839B2

Provided herein is a PLC synchronization method including allocating a predetermined value with respect to a plurality of modulation symbols depending on whether sum of squared magnitude of in-phase component and orthogonal component is arranged in a predetermined range, calculating first moving sum and second moving sum of a value allocated to the plurality of modulation symbols, and performing PLC (physical layer link channel) synchronization based on the plurality of modulation symbols having maximum value of the first moving sum and the second moving sum.
US09967822B2

To provide a portable terminal, method or/and program that can reduce the energy consumption by automatically transmitting and receiving data based on the signal strength, rather than the user manually transitioning from sleep mode to active mode. The terminal processing means commands the terminal to transition from the sleep mode to active mode based on the signal strength, and the data transmission and/or reception means to perform data transfers.
US09967819B2

A method is presented for controlling timers in a wireless communication system. When an idle mode signaling reduction (ISR) function of a user equipment (UE) is activated in the UE, a periodic tracking area update (P-TAU) timer and a periodic routing area update (P-RAU) timer are started. The P-TAU timer and the P-RAU timer run in the UE for updating a Mobility Management Entity (MME) and a Serving General packet radio service Support Node (SGSN) independently. The ISR function is activated when an update message activating the ISR function is received by the UE. When the P-TAU timer expires and the UE cannot initiate a tracking area update (TAU) procedure as a mobility management backoff (MM-BO) timer is running, a deactivate ISR timer corresponding to a first type network is started. The MM-BO timer is a timer configured to start when a MM-BO time value is received in the UE.
US09967817B2

A user equipment (UE) is configured to adaptively switch between different techniques/methods for performing inter-frequency or inter-radio access technology measurement. The UE may use one technique for measurement based on certain communication conditions and in response to a change in communication conditions may switch to another measurement technique. Different techniques may be used such as using a network configured communication gap, using a connected discontinuous reception cycle off-period for measurement, or other techniques.
US09967814B2

A method and apparatus for a device in which when an attempt on a frequency to camp on a cell fails, there is an indication stored in relation to the frequency of the failed camping attempt.
US09967813B1

A method may include creating a priority order among two or more transport media based on an availability of each transport medium when a request to establish an outbound communication session is received. The method may further include receiving the request to establish an outbound communication session with a contact and selecting a transport medium of the two or more transport media based on the priority order and one or more user identifications associated with the contact. The method may also include selecting a software controller in response to the selection of the transport medium based on the software controller being associated with the selected transport medium and sending the request to establish the outbound communication session to an electronic device by the selected software controller through the selected transport medium. The method may also include establishing the outbound communication session with the electronic device through the selected transport medium.
US09967802B2

Techniques for transmitting and receiving wireless communications over an unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band are disclosed, including techniques for transmitting and receiving system information blocks over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, techniques for gaining access to the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band by performing extended clear channel assessments (ECCAs), techniques for transmitting and receiving synchronization signals and reference signals over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, techniques for identifying starting times of downlink transmissions over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, techniques for transmitting and receiving clear channel assessment (CCA)-exempt transmissions over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, techniques for performing random access over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band, and techniques for dynamically modifying a transmission mode over the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum band.
US09967800B2

Technologies are generally described for providing wireless communications. In some examples, a method performed under control of a cloud system may include receiving, from an end device, first information including at least one of a location of the end device, a location of an access point to which the end device accesses, a media access control (MAC) address of the end device and a MAC address of the access point; determining that the end device moves to around the location of the access point and returns to around the location of the end device based at least in part on the first information; and instructing the access point to provide a wireless local area network to the end device with suppressed channel hopping.
US09967796B2

Systems and methods are provided for performing efficient vertical handoffs in a wireless user device are provided. The user device can comprise a mobile phone, computer table, handheld computer, or other computer system capable of connecting to more than one mobile wireless network that use different wireless communication protocols. Various efficient scanning methods are disclosed that are efficient in terms of battery usage, thermal performance, processing power, throughput performance, or a combination thereof.
US09967795B1

A system, method, and computer readable medium for provisioning communication services by an IP-based femtocell network is provided. Service of a user equipment may be transferred from one femtocell to another femtocell via a femtocell handoff procedure. Femtocell systems of the femtocell network perform link quality measurements and may distribute the link quality measurements to neighbor femtocells. A femtocell system may periodically evaluate the link quality with the user equipment. If an evaluation is made that the user equipment needs to be transferred to another site, the servicing femtocell site may evaluate the most recent link quality measurements received from neighboring femtocell sites and select a femtocell site for handoff. In the event that the femtocell network is deployed in an area serviced by a macrocellular network, handoff routines may provide preference for transferring the user equipment to a target femtocell system rather than a macrocell site.
US09967792B2

A satellite includes a first communication path for communicating with one or more gateways using a first frequency band while communicating with a set of the user terminals using a user frequency band and a second communication path for communicating with the one or more gateways using a second frequency band while communicating with at least a subset of the user terminals using the user frequency band. The second frequency band has a lower capacity than the first frequency band. Communication between the one or more gateways and the satellite can be switched between the first communication path and the second communication path for any of a number of reasons including as part of an incremental roll-out of services, in response to degradation in link quality or other reason.
US09967783B2

There is provided a method, including: receiving, by a target base station, information that a handover of a plurality of user equipment currently connected to a source cell is needed to a target cell; causing a device-to-device, D2D, cluster generation, wherein each generated D2D cluster is controlled by a predetermined user equipment connected to the target cell and acting as a D2D cluster head; determining D2D cluster-specific radio resource commitment information for each generated D2D cluster; indicating corresponding D2D cluster-specific radio resource commitment information to each D2D cluster head; and receiving a handover request from at least one D2D cluster head, wherein the handover request is for handing at least one member of the corresponding D2D cluster over to the target cell.
US09967780B2

A method implemented by a network node coupled to a network, the method comprising inserting a location hint in a request for a content, wherein the location hint specifies one or more network locations that are known by the network node to hold at least part of the content, sending the request to the network, wherein the request comprises a content name that describes the content, and receiving a data message corresponding to the request from the network, wherein the data message comprises at least a portion of the content.
US09967773B2

Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for padding and decoding coding for a HE-SIG-B field are disclosed. An apparatus of an access point or station is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to determine a number of symbols of a longest high-efficiency signal B (HE-SIG-B) field of a plurality of HE-SIG-B fields. The processing circuitry may be further configured to encode a plurality of HE-SIG A fields to comprise a number of symbols of a longest HE-SIG-B field of the plurality of HE-SIG-B fields each HE-SIG-A field. The processing circuitry may be further configured to encode each of the HE-SIG-B fields of the plurality of HE-SIG-B fields to comprise a common block and a number of user blocks, and if a number of symbols to encode the common block and the number of user blocks is less than the number of symbols of the longest HE-SIG-B field, encode a duplicate portion.
US09967769B2

Recovery control is provided for recovering data packet flow control between a network node (14) and a radio base station (18) over a radio network interface (2). The base station communicates with at least one user equipment, UE, (10) over a radio interface (3) and measures information relating to a data transmission rate over the radio interface and an amount of a downlink packet queue (22) in the base station associated with the UE communication. In one embodiment, the base station sends at least some of the measurement information to the network node. A process controller (52, 40, 84) in the network node processes the measurement information to determine a desired amount to be stored in the downlink packet queue. The process controller determines a commanded bit rate to transmit data from the network node to the downlink packet queue based on the determined desired amount and transmits data to the radio base station in accordance with the commanded bit rate.
US09967756B2

The present invention discloses a cell management method and a base station. The method includes: obtaining, by a base station, configuration information, where the configuration information includes information about at least two cells, the first cell and the second cell belong to different public land mobile networks PLMNs or are managed by different network element management systems; and managing, by the base station, the at least two cells according to the configuration information. According to the present invention, it can implement collaborative management of cells that are in different PLMNs or different network element management systems under a shared base station.
US09967753B1

A method of managing a wireless communication network. The method comprises collecting network performance data from enhanced node Bs (eNBs) by an application executing on a computer system and collecting user equipment (UE) performance data from UEs, where the UE performance data comprises self-location information at the time of a wireless coverage outage experienced by the UEs. The method further comprises, for each eNB, analyzing by the application network performance data associated with the eNB and UE performance data of wireless coverage outages experienced by UEs determined based on their self-location information to have been proximate to the eNB when its wireless coverage outage was experienced, and, based on the analysis of network performance data in combination with UE performance data, taking action to manage the wireless communication network.
US09967751B2

A mobile network-based tenant network service implementation method and system and network elements are disclosed. The method includes: an MME of a mobile network performing identity authentication of a tenant network to which UE belongs on the UE; after the UE passes the identity authentication of tenant network, the MME selecting a local exchange node for the UE; the MME transmitting a creation/update message of a local exchange forwarding table to the local exchange node; the local exchange node creating or updating the local exchange forwarding table and generating a forwarding table entry of UE, wherein the forwarding table entry comprises identification information of UE; after UE bearers establishment are completed, the local exchange node writing UE bearer information into the forwarding table entry of UE; and the local exchange node implementing message forwarding of the tenant network according to the local forwarding table, thereby implementing a tenant network service.
US09967747B2

Systems are provided that allow users to access resources in a manner that addresses inherent deficiencies in existing authentication systems. During a typical authentication process, the system may connect the user to one or more authenticators in real time through a variety of communications channels so that the authenticators may verify that the user is who he/she purports to be. In this way, a user may be authenticated and allowed to complete transactions that require access to protected resources/transactions. In some embodiments, the system may automatically identify authenticators for a user via an onboarding process by searching the user's electronic files, accessing social and professional networking sites, searching one or more credit reporting databases, or other such means. Based upon the determinations made by the authenticators, and other factors, such as the trust scores assigned to authenticators, an authentication engine may be used to calculate a confidence score regarding the user's identity that may be utilized in determining whether to grant the user access to protected resources/transactions.
US09967743B1

The embodiments described herein include a transmitter that transmits a power transmission signal (e.g., radio frequency (RF) signal waves) to create a three-dimensional pocket of energy. At least one receiver can be connected to or integrated into electronic devices and receive power from the pocket of energy. A wireless power network may include a plurality of wireless power transmitters each with an embedded wireless power transmitter manager, including a wireless power manager application. The wireless power network may include a plurality of client devices with wireless power receivers. Wireless power receivers may include a power receiver application configured to communicate with the wireless power manager application. The wireless power manager application may include a device database where information about the wireless power network may be stored.
US09967740B2

The embodiments herein provide a method and system for creating a secure connection for a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless network including a UE, carrier aggregated with at least one first serving frequency served by a first eNB and at least one second serving frequency served by a second eNB. A unique non-repetitive security base key associated with the second eNB is generated using a freshness parameter and security key associated with the first eNB. The use of a different freshness parameter for each security base key derivation avoids key stream repetition. Further, a user plane encryption key is derived based on the generated unique non-repetitive security base key associated with the second eNB for encrypting data transfer over at least one data radio bearer.
US09967723B2

A roaming wireless user device on a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) may initiate a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) emergency call to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). Accordingly, a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) of the VPLMN may receive an anonymous Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message for the LTE emergency call. The anonymous SIP invite message lacks a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) of the wireless user device but has an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of the wireless user device. The anonymous SIP invite message is forwarded to a Location Retrieval Function (LRF) in a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) of the VPLMN. The LRF obtains a MSISDN of the wireless user device that matches the IMEI in the anonymous SIP invite message from a database of the GMLC, such that the MSISDN is routed with the LTE emergency call to the PSAP.
US09967707B2

In some examples, a first entity is configured to request weather data for a region of interest from a second entity. The second entity may transmit the requested weather data to the first entity in response to receiving the request. In some examples, the second entity only transmits the weather data to the first entity only in response to receiving a specific request for the weather data. Conversely, the first entity may only receive the weather data from the second entity in response to transmitting a request for the weather data.
US09967705B2

Systems and methods include data storage that stores user information for a plurality of user devices, a beacon that is configured to be associated with a first unique identifier, a meeting server that receives, from the data storage, data that includes user information one of the user devices, assigns the first unique identifier to one of the user devices based in part on similarities between the user information and an entity associated with the beacon, and creates a digital asset that includes the first unique identifier and first information, and a communication interface associated with the meeting server that transmits, via a network, the digital asset to the one of the user devices. The beacon broadcasts the first unique identifier via a short-range transmission at a first location and the one of the user devices detects the first unique identifier at the first location, compares it to the identifier associated with the digital asset, and displays a notification that includes the first information if there is a match.
US09967703B1

A disclosed location engine estimates a wireless terminal as being indoors or outdoors by utilizing information that includes metadata from previous packet-level transmissions involving both i) wireless terminals that are known to have been indoors and ii) wireless terminals that are known to have been outdoors, while the metadata was collected. Based on this metadata for previous transmissions, one or more classification features are computed. Then, for a wireless terminal that is to be classified during a communication transaction (e.g., voice, data, SMS, etc.) with respect to the terminal being either indoors or outdoors, features that are representative of that wireless terminal for the transmissions are evaluated against a characterization that is a composite of one or more previously-computed classification features. The features that are representative of the wireless terminal can be derived from the metadata associated with the wireless terminal during the transaction being analyzed.
US09967697B2

A device may comprise at least one wireless transceiver, a memory configured to store a local pasteboard, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive local selections of data to be placed on a local pasteboard, broadcast advertisements indicating that the local data is on the local pasteboard, and wirelessly transmit the local data to remote device pasteboards. The processor may also be configured to receive advertisements indicating that remote data is available on remote pasteboards of other devices, request the remote data in response to a paste command, wirelessly receive the remote data, and paste the remote data.
US09967695B2

A long term evolution (LTE) protocol and a technology for designing an entity of the LTE protocol in layer 2 are provided. The method includes receiving a control message including packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) configuration information from an external communication device, determining whether data of a PDCP protocol data unit (PDU) received by the communication device is compressed according to the received PDCP configuration information, and when the data is compressed based on a result of the determination, decompressing the data.
US09967693B1

Monaurally-recorded mono or stereo recordings may be processed and converted into binaurally-recorded audio recordings. An analog process of performing this involves output of at least subsets of the monaurally-recorded recording, such as isolated instrument/vocal tracks, to be played to a dummy with two microphones. A digital process of performing this includes simulating audio input from simulated locations corresponding to audio sources. A neural network process of performing this includes training a neural network using speakers and microphones and then automating conversion from monaural audio to binaural audio based on the training of the neural network. The neural network can also be trained with output speakers to eliminate or reduce dead zones and/or speaker crosstalk.
US09967678B2

A unidirectional condenser microphone unit is provided that have directionality unaffected by the external environment, and a method of manufacturing the unidirectional condenser microphone. The unidirectional condenser microphone unit having an interior and an exterior, the unidirectional condenser microphone includes a diaphragm, a fixed electrode facing the diaphragm, the fixed electrode constituting a capacitor with the diaphragm, an insulating base disposed in a back face side of the fixed electrode, the insulating base supporting the fixed electrode, an air chamber disposed in the back face side of the fixed electrode, and a gap disposed between the fixed electrode and the insulating base. The fixed electrode includes at least one sound hole in communication with the air chamber. The insulating base includes a communication hole establishing communication between the gap and the exterior of the microphone unit. The air chamber and the gap are in communication with each other.
US09967675B2

An electrodynamic loudspeaker (10) including: a chassis (15), at least one magnetic circuit (20) secured to the chassis, at least one movable assembly (30) with respect to the chassis, the assembly (30) including a convex diaphragm (53) turned towards the outside of the loudspeaker, and at least one energizing coil (57) defining an axis (D) of the loudspeaker, a first suspension joint (35) connecting the assembly and the chassis, and a second suspension joint (40) of the assembly, the second joint being axially further away from the diaphragm than the first joint. The assembly further comprises at least one connecting member (59) secured to the diaphragm, the second joint including a radially inner attachment point (81) attached on the connecting member, and a radially outer attachment point (83) attached on the chassis.
US09967671B2

An apparatus may include an ear piece housing, an intelligent control disposed within the ear piece housing, and a transceiver disposed within the ear piece housing and operatively connected to the intelligent control. An apparatus may further include a microphone operatively connected to the intelligent control, a speaker operatively connected to the intelligent control, and a sensor operatively connected to the intelligent control. An apparatus is adapted to receive input from the microphone and/or the sensor and communicate the input through the transceiver to an electronic device in operative communication with the transceiver.
US09967669B2

The present invention is applicable to the field of audio recording and provides a recording device and a fixed apparatus. The recording device includes several fixed apparatuses that are stacked, and the fixed apparatus has a first fixed structure and a second fixed structure; the first fixed structure includes a first simulated face structure and first simulated ear structures, and the first simulated ear structures simulate a mutual position relationship between human ears and a human face and are disposed on two sides of the first simulated face structure; the second fixed structure includes a second simulated face structure and second simulated ear structures; the second simulated face structure and the first simulated face structure are inverted to each other, and the second simulated ear structures and the second simulated face structure are inverted to each other; and audio collectors are disposed at simulated ear canal openings of the first simulated ear structures and the second simulated ear structures.
US09967668B2

Systems, methods, and sets for capturing and reproducing a binaural recording are provided. In one embodiment, the binaural recording is captured using an earpiece set that includes a pair of earpieces each including a frame, a microphone, and a transducer. The frame is adapted to be worn on an ear, and defines an ear-insertion end and a posterior end opposite the ear-insertion end. The ear-insertion end is adapted to be positioned within an ear canal. The microphone is coupled to the frame for capturing ambient sound, and adapted to be positioned outside the ear canal and substantially coplanar with a tragus of the ear.
US09967666B2

Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to audio content rendering. A method of rendering audio content is disclosed, which includes determining a priority level for an audio object in the audio content, selecting a rendering mode from a plurality of rendering modes for the audio object based on the determined priority level and rendering the audio object in accordance with the selected rendering mode, the rendering mode indicating an accuracy of the rendered audio object. Corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
US09967664B1

A micro speaker assembly including a micro speaker having a top plate, a bottom plate parallel to the top plate, a magnet assembly coupled to one of the top plate or the bottom plate, a compliant member positioned between the magnet assembly and the top plate or the bottom plate, the compliant member operable to be displaced in response to an acoustic input, and a voice coil coupled to the compliant member. The assembly further including an optical sensor coupled to the micro speaker, the optical sensor having a light emitter and a light detector, the light emitter and the light detector being fixedly coupled to the top plate or the bottom plate, and the optical sensor being operable to produce a displacement signal corresponding to a displacement of the compliant member and a temperature signal corresponding to a temperature of the magnet assembly.
US09967657B1

A directional loudspeaker box with directional acoustic transmission holes includes a hollow housing and a loudspeaker. The hollow housing is provided with a front opening at the front end and has a peripheral portion adjacent to the front opening and formed with a plurality of directional acoustic transmission holes. The loudspeaker is fixed in the hollow housing and generates sound that can propagate out of the hollow housing through the front opening and the directional acoustic transmission holes. The angle at which each directional acoustic transmission hole is formed with respect to the central axis of the loudspeaker is a function of the axial distance between the directional acoustic transmission hole and the loudspeaker, wherein the smaller the axial distance, the larger the angle, and the larger the axial distance, the smaller the angle. Thus, the directional loudspeaker box effectively deals with near- and far-field sound effects.
US09967652B2

A coaxial loudspeaker apparatus (10) comprising a first unit (20) being arranged to propagate sound in a first frequency range; a second unit comprising a first waveguide (30) arranged to propagate sound in a second frequency range that is higher than the first frequency range, and a second waveguide (60) arranged to move, during operation, relative to the first waveguide (30); wherein the second waveguide (60) extends substantially in prolongation of the first waveguide (30). The invention also extends to a loudspeaker (190) incorporating the coaxial loudspeaker apparatus (10).
US09967647B2

A headphone detector including a headphone and a processor. The headphone has a microphone and a speaker, and the microphone is configured to generate an audio signal based on an output of the speaker. The processor is configured to receive the audio signal, determine a characteristic of the audio signal, and assess whether the headphone is on ear or off ear based on a comparison of the characteristic to a threshold. In another aspect, an off-ear detection (OED) system includes a headphone and an OED processor. The headphone has a speaker, a feedforward microphone, and a feedback microphone. The OED processor is configured to determine whether the headphone is off ear or on ear, based at least in part on a headphone audio signal, a feedforward microphone signal, and a feedback microphone signal.
US09967644B2

A case for an earbud includes a receiving cavity sized and shaped to accept the earbud within the receiving cavity. The case includes one or more housing magnetic components configured to magnetically attract and secure the earbud within the receiving cavity. The one or more housing magnetic components can be configured to form a Halbach array to increase the magnetic force of the one or more housing magnetic components. The earbud includes a speaker magnet and a separate magnetic element that are arranged to be attracted to the one or more housing magnetic components such that the earbud is attracted into the receiving cavity.
US09967629B2

Systems, methods and media for purchasing and commenting on identified products in streamed media are provided. In one example, a method comprises receiving program content and data describing program content from a content source and identifying product-related metadata associated with the program content. The product-related metadata includes data relating to one or more products or services displayed in the program content. In one embodiment, the program content is communicated to a display device for presentation to a first user in the display device. User commentary is received from a second device and communicated to the first user while the first user is viewing the program content. Commentaries of other users, for example in a wider social group, can also be presented to the first user.
US09967610B2

An exemplary computer-implemented television service system detects, while a media content processing device is presenting a user interface view associated with a television service within a display screen in communication with the media content processing device, an input command provided by a user of the media content processing device and representative of a request for customer support. In response, the system identifies a context within which the input command is provided by the user, selects, based on the identified context, customer support content provided by the television service and associated with the user interface view being presented within the display screen, and directs the media content processing device to present the customer support content within the user interface view. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
US09967609B2

A method and apparatus are provided for supporting a CoMP communication by an eNB of a mobile communication system. The method includes: receiving a channel measurement report relating to at least one transmission channel from a UE; and transmitting channel feedback information including information of interference with surrounding eNBs performing the CoMP communication on the at least one transmission channel, to a central controller, based on the received channel measurement report. In the method, adjacent cells can cooperate to transmit data through a CoMP transmission for a UE located in a cell boundary area in a cellular mobile communication system.
US09967597B2

A method includes generating, at a server, a composite stream that includes a first packet and a second packet. The first packet includes first data associated with a video stream and a native audio stream from a first content source. The second packet includes second data corresponding to a first audio stream from a second content source. The method also includes initiating a transmission of the composite stream to a media device.
US09967592B2

Techniques for advanced residual prediction (ARP) in video coding may include receiving a first encoded block of video data in a first access unit, wherein the first encoded block of video data was encoded using advanced residual prediction and bi-directional prediction, determining temporal motion information for a first prediction direction of the first encoded block of video data, and identifying reference blocks for a second prediction direction, different than the first prediction direction, using the temporal motion information determined for the first prediction direction, wherein the reference blocks are in a second access unit.
US09967590B2

This disclosure describes filtering techniques applied by an encoder and a decoder during the prediction stage of a video encoding and/or decoding process. The filtering techniques may enhance the accuracy of predictive data used during fractional interpolation, and may improve predictive data of integer blocks of pixels. There are several aspects to this disclosure, including a useful twelve-pixel filter support that may be used for interpolation, techniques that use coefficient symmetry and pixel symmetry to reduce the amount of data needed to be sent between an encoder and a decoder to configure the filter support for interpolation, and techniques for filtering data at integer pixel locations in a manner that is similar to sub-pixel interpolation. Other aspects of this disclosure concern techniques for encoding information in the bitstream to convey the type of filter used, and possibly the filter coefficients used. Predictive coding of filter coefficients is also described.
US09967586B2

A method and apparatus for spatial motion vector prediction (MVP) candidate derivation for Direct mode and Skip mode in three-dimensional video coding are disclosed. The motion vector of each neighboring block is associated with a corresponding reference picture index pointing to a corresponding reference picture. For both the Direct mode and the Skip mode, the motion vector of each neighboring block is selected as the spatial MVP candidate for each neighboring block only if the corresponding reference picture index is the same as a selected target reference picture index. In one embodiment, the target reference picture index is set to 0. In another embodiment, the target reference picture index corresponds to a majority of the corresponding reference picture indexes associated with the neighboring blocks in Direct mode or Skip mode.
US09967574B2

A method of decoding multi-layer video includes decoding a first layer picture, storing the decoded first layer picture in a decoded picture buffer (DPB), and marking the first layer picture as a short-term reference picture; obtaining interlayer reference picture set (RPS) information regarding a second layer picture having a same first picture order count (POC) as the first layer picture; marking the first layer picture, which is marked as the short-term reference picture, as a long-term reference picture, based on the interlayer RPS information; performing interlayer prediction with respect to the second layer picture with reference to the first layer picture; decoding the second layer picture based on a result of performing the interlayer prediction; and, after the second layer picture is decoded, marking the first layer picture, which is marked as the long-term reference picture, as a short-term reference picture.
US09967571B2

A method of decoding a image according to an embodiment of the present invention, which supports a plurality of layers, may comprise the steps of: receiving information on a reference layer used to decode a current picture for inter-layer prediction; inducing the number of valid reference layer pictures used to decode the current picture on the basis of the information on the reference layer; and performing inter-layer prediction on the basis of the number of valid reference layer pictures.
US09967565B2

One aspect of the present invention discloses an image compression method based on local dynamic quantization. The method includes the following steps: (1) obtaining an image in a raw format, and parsing information about the obtained image; (2) performing image block partitioning on raw data collected from the image; (3) obtaining statistics of pixel values of the image blocks; (4) calculating a quantization step; (5) calculating an offset of each pixel; (6) performing quantization by: performing a division operation on the relative amplitude of each pixel of the current image block and the quantization step; and establishing a new gray-scale value; (7) reconstructing a block-based data structure; and (8) outputting a file. By the method, information of the raw data can be maintained to the greatest extent, and a data storage volume also can be reduced to meet the requirements on data recovery and reediting.
US09967555B2

There is provided a simulation device for virtually displaying an image to be viewed through a spectacle lens by a wearer of a spectacle lens, including: an imaging camera configured to perform imaging in a visual field of the wearer; a depth sensor configured to acquire a depth image in the same view angle as an imaging result obtained by the imaging camera; a data acquisition unit configured to acquire lens data of the spectacle lens; an image creation unit configured to create a simulation image on which a view of an image to be viewed through the spectacle lens is reflected, by applying image processing to the imaging result obtained by the imaging camera, based on the depth image and the lens data; and an image displayer configured to display and output the simulation image as an image to be viewed through the spectacle lens.
US09967547B2

Certain aspects relate to wafer level optical designs for a folded optic stereoscopic imaging system. One example folded optical path includes first and second reflective surfaces defining first, second, and third optical axes, and where the first reflective surface redirects light from the first optical axis to the second optical axis and where the second reflective surface redirects light from the second optical axis to the third optical axis. Such an example folded optical path further includes wafer-level optical stacks providing ten lens surfaces distributed along the first and second optical axes. A variation on the example folded optical path includes a prism having the first reflective surface, wherein plastic lenses are formed in or secured to the input and output surfaces of the prism in place of two of the wafer-level optical stacks.
US09967542B2

A 3D imaging system includes: a light source; a modulator connected with the light source and configured to modulate output of the light source with a frequency sweep signal; an optical module connected to the light source; a light sensing device connected with the optical module and configured to sense optical output of the optical module and convert the optical output into a plurality of electrical signals; and a signal processing module connected with the light sensing device and configured to extract 3D information of the object from the electrical signals.
US09967539B2

A method and a system are disclosed that use a double-readout technique to generate timestamps and grayscale values for pixel-specific outputs of a pixel row in a pixel array in which the pixel array forms an image plane and the row of pixels forms an epipolar line of a scanning line on the image plane. For a pixel-specific output that exceeds a threshold, a timestamp value and a grayscale value are generated and associated with the pixel-specific output. If a pixel-specific output does not exceed the threshold and no timestamp is generated (i.e., a missing timestamp), a grayscale value for the pixel-specific output is generated and associated with the pixel-specific output. Timestamps errors may be corrected that may be caused by missing timestamps, timestamps that are associated with pixel clusters and outlier timestamps, i.e., pixel-specific outputs that are not consistent with a monotonic relationship of timestamp values under normal conditions.
US09967537B2

An intermediate image (161) is generated from stereo data (105) comprising a left image (101), a left disparity data (111), a right image (102) and a right disparity data (112). The intermediate image (161) corresponds to an intermediate view (155). A mixing policy (156) is determined based on a predicted image quality of the intermediate image (161). When the determined mixing policy (156) so requires, a left intermediate image (131) is generated from the left data (103) for the intermediate view (155). When the determining mixing policy (156) so requires, a right intermediate image (141) is generated from the right data (104) for the intermediate view (155). The intermediate image (161) is generated by mixing (180) the left intermediate image (131) and the right intermediate image (141), according to the mixing policy (156).
US09967534B1

A method and apparatus for a digital video recorder (DVR) video editing system provides a user interface and video editing environment for content stored on a DVR's storage device. A visual progress indicator is displayed over the program content that the user has selected to edit. The user moves a position indicator within a cache bar in the visual progress indicator that indicates how much of the program content has been stored on the storage device. The user can delete sections of the program content. The user can also add other recorded program content into the program content. The deleted sections and added content are highlighted in the cache bar by colors that are different from the normal color used for the cache bar.
US09967531B2

A plurality of anchor points at which a curve to be estimated passes sequentially through are set. Four anchor points which are successional are selected from the plurality of anchor points. First and second control points are set based on the selected anchor points. Quadratic Bezier curves connecting between the selected anchor points are calculated based on the selected anchor points and the first or second control point. Coordinate values of the curve to be estimated are estimated based on the quadratic Bezier curves.
US09967514B2

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for recording transmitted data items, and particularly television and radio programs. The data items are received at one or more inputs along with ID data identifying the transmitted data items and the program series to which the data item belongs. An input interface receives input indicating whether one or more received transmitted data items have been viewed or recorded by a user and a processor generates values for ranking the series to which each of the received data items belong based upon the received input. Subsequently received transmitted data items are stored in a storage device based on the generated values, the stored data items belonging to a series for which a value has been generated.
US09967502B2

In a CMOS image sensor, a plurality of bias circuits are dispersedly arranged in an arrangement region of column circuits corresponding to each column of a pixel array. Each bias circuit generates a bias voltage on the basis of a reference current which has been input and supplies the generated bias voltage to the corresponding column circuit 10 which is arranged in the vicinity. Thereby, luminance unevenness of a picked-up image caused by an IR drop of a ground wire for the column circuits is reduced.
US09967500B2

An embodiment includes a system, comprising: a buffer configured to store a plurality of events, each event including a plurality of bits; an output circuit configured to output events from the buffer; and a controller coupled to the buffer and the output circuit and configured to: cause the output circuit to output a first event from the buffer; and select a second event from the buffer to be output by the output circuit after the first event based on bits associated with the first event.
US09967497B2

An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to an imaging apparatus capable of reducing fluctuation in voltage in a current supply line due to fluctuation in a current consumption amount generated when an output circuit shifts from a first state to a second state, and a method for driving the imaging apparatus.
US09967493B2

An image sensing device includes: a pixel suitable for generating a pixel signal based on a first driving voltage; a ramp signal generation block based on a variable resistance, the ramp signal generation block being suitable for generating a ramp signal whose slope is controlled by a resistance value varied according to an analog gain; a noise compensation block based on a fixed resistance suitable for sensing a noise component included in the first driving voltage to generate a noise signal and reflecting the noise signal in the ramp signal; and a digital processing block suitable for generating a digital signal based on the pixel signal and the ramp signal.
US09967484B2

An infrared detection apparatus includes an infrared detector configured to output an electric signal corresponding to an inputted infrared ray, and a signal processor configured to compensate for a variation of the electric signal, which is outputted from the infrared detector, caused by variation of an operation temperature with a value indicating a variation of a dark current equivalent component by the operation temperature variation when becoming a second operation temperature after the operation temperature variation, the dark current equivalent component including a first dark current equivalent component calculated using a first electric signal and a second electric signal outputted from the infrared detector when infrared rays having intensities equivalent to blackbodies of a first known temperature and a second known temperature are inputted at a first operation temperature.
US09967461B2

In general, the subject matter can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying, by a computing system and using first and second frames of a video, a transformation that indicates movement of a camera with respect to the frames. The computing system generates a modified transformation so that the transformation is less representative of recent movement. The computing system uses the transformation and the modified transformation to generate a second transformation. The computing system identifies an anticipated distortion that would be present in a stabilized version of the second frame. The computing system determines an amount by which to reduce a stabilizing effect. The computing system applies the second transformation to the second frame to stabilize the second frame, where the stabilizing effect has been reduced based on the determined amount by which to reduce the stabilizing effect.
US09967457B1

Consumption information associated with a user consuming a first video segment may be obtained. The consumption information may define user engagement during a video segment and/or user response to the video segment. Consumption information associated with the user consuming a second video segment may be obtained. A first set of capture settings associated with capture of the first video segment may be obtained. A second set of capture settings associated with capture of the second video segment may be obtained. The preferences for the capture settings of the image capturing device may be determined based upon the first and second set of capture settings. Instructions may be transmitted to the image capturing device. The instructions may include the determined preferences for the capture settings and may be configured to cause the image capturing device to adjust the capture settings to the determined preferences.
US09967455B2

A portable electronic device and a touch operation method thereof are provided. When the portable electronic device is at an image capturing mode, a touch event on a touch screen is detected. Next, a shooting countdown time is determined according to a location of an end point of the touch event on a predetermined path. When no touch event is detected on the touch screen, executing the counting of the shooting countdown time, and an image capturing unit is triggered to capture an image when the counting of the shooting countdown time is up. The user directly enables a timed shooting function and sets a shooting countdown time at the same time by dragging a shutter button, which provides the convenience while operation.
US09967454B2

A digital image photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The method includes: determining a focal area by a touch; if the touch continues for a first time period, performing a photographing operation to generate a first capture image; and if the touch continues for a second time period that is longer than the first time period, a successive capturing operation is performed until the touch is ended. Accordingly, auto-focusing may be performed by using a touching method, and a photographing may be performed while maintaining an auto-focusing result, and then successive capturing may be performed.
US09967453B2

An autofocus method includes receiving a left image having a first blurriness value and a right image having a second blurriness value, filtering the left image so that the first blurriness value becomes the same as the second blurriness value, and generating a control signal for controlling the lens module based on a difference between a third blurriness value of a filtered left image and the second blurriness value.
US09967450B2

A focus adjustment device comprising an imaging unit that outputs image signals corresponding to images by an optical system; a focus detection unit that performs focus detection processes to detect focal states of the optical system; an aperture that restricts light beams to the imaging unit; an aperture drive unit; an initiation unit that initiates the focus detection process by the focus detection unit; a focused state determination unit that determines repeatedly whether the focal state of the optical system is a focused state or not based on a focus detection result when the initiation of the focus detection process is being performed; a mode set unit that sets motion picture imaging modes; and a control unit that controls the focused state determination when aperture is being driven, wherein the control unit allows the focused determination process when the aperture is driven if motion picture imaging mode is set.
US09967446B2

Disclosed is a personalized shopping mall system using a virtual camera, which can make a user feel as if he or she is actually visiting and shopping at the offline shop by creating a virtual camera having a different ROI from an image of the offline shop captured by a physical camera and streaming a shopping mall page including the virtual camera.
US09967443B2

An imaging device includes: a first case having an opening; a substrate where a first terminal electrically connected with an imaging element is mounted, the substrate being provided in the first case; and a second case closing the opening. The second case includes an accommodation portion accommodating a second terminal designed to be electrically connected with the first terminal. A mating portion capable of being mated with the accommodation portion is secured to the substrate. Inside the mating portion, the first terminal extends along a mating direction of the accommodation portion and the mating portion. The first and second terminals are designed to come into contact with each other while sliding along the mating direction in a mating process of the accommodation portion and the mating portion, and to be elastically deformable in a first direction orthogonal to the mating direction upon contact with each other in the mating process.
US09967440B2

A housing for enclosing an electric circuitry and for providing a cable strain relief function to a cable extending from the electric circuitry and out of the housing and a camera comprising such a housing is disclosed. The housing comprises a first part with a first recess and a second part with a second recess, wherein the first and second recesses each has a first sidewall portion, a bottom portion and a second sidewall portion, the first and second sidewall portions of the first recess being arranged offset to each other in a cable exit direction.
US09967437B1

A method and apparatus for synchronizing media content emitted from various sources is presented. Arrival timing of outputs from the various sources to a particular location is determined and adjusted to reduce synchronization delays at the particular location. Synchronization delays may be determined by detecting the media output from a combination of sources arriving at the location. Control messages are generated by processing the detected output and determining delays to be applied to corresponding sources.
US09967423B2

An image forming apparatus for processing print data is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a control unit configured to control a plurality of nonvolatile storage devices having different transfer rates, and a determination unit configured to determine a nonvolatile storage device to store print data from among the plurality of nonvolatile storage devices based on information related to a size of the print data, information related to the transfer rates of the plurality of nonvolatile storage devices, and a threshold value depending on the number of sheets to be printed and output per unit time. The control unit and the determination unit are implemented by one or more processor.
US09967416B2

According to some embodiments, a document processing unit may receive information associated with a document to be processed. The document processing unit might comprise, for example, a printer, scanner, copier, facsimile machine, or multi-function device. The document processing unit may then automatically analyze the received information in view of at least one pre-determined document policy. The document processing unit may then automatically determine, based on the analysis, whether to apply a policy action, associated with the pre-determined document policy, to the processing of the document. For example, the document processing unit might prevent a document from printing.
US09967413B2

An information processing apparatus includes a display unit that displays an image, a storage unit that preliminarily stores first guidance information (representing operation contents relating to the first state) in association with a first state, a detection unit that detects the first state or a second state, a communication unit that provides communication with an external device, and a controller that controls the display unit, the storage unit and the communication unit. When the detection unit detects the second state, the controller causes the communication unit to transmit apparatus information representing a state of the information processing apparatus to the external device, causes the communication unit to receive second guidance information (representing operation contents relating to the second state) from the external device, and causes the display unit to display an image based on the second guidance information received by the communication unit.
US09967412B2

An HTTP relay server determines whether a communication partner device is a supporting device or a supported device, using a device management table. Further, the HTTP relay server determines a state of a state (used or unused) of a URI indicating an area where support data are temporarily stored, and a device using the URI (device ID), using the URI management table. When access (communication request) is received from an image forming apparatus, the HTTP relay server assigns the image forming apparatus to an unused URI. Further, when access (communication request) is received from an operator PC, the HTTP relay server assigns the operator PC to an URI used by the supported device.
US09967410B2

An image control method, applied to a mobile device including a camera service platform, wherein the mobile device complies an image transmission protocol and establishes an event queue and an extension unit according to the image transmission protocol, wherein the image control method comprises: receiving at least one control parameter of an image processing function of a camera service platform; generating a control item of the image processing function according to the controlling parameter; mapping the control item to a database and transmitting a notification including the control item to a computer device to transmit an image between the computer device and the mobile device.
US09967407B2

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a color distribution of manuscript image data is analyzed. At least one or more areas satisfying an allowable condition determined for a color distribution in advance in the manuscript image data is set as a reading area on the basis of a result of the analysis of the color distribution of the manuscript image data. A setting position of the printed material with respect to a reading unit that performs reading of the printed material on which an image is printed on the basis of the manuscript image data is displayed on the basis of a result of the setting of the reading area. Reading of the printed material set in the reading unit is performed after the setting position is displayed by a display unit.
US09967405B2

A method includes recording, at an electronic device utilizing a microphone of the electronic device, ambient noise of an environment the electronic device is disposed in; electronically analyzing, utilizing one or more processors, the recorded ambient noise of the environment to determine one or more frequency bands to avoid; dynamically adapting, based on the electronic analysis, an auditory alert to be played at the electronic device, such adaptation including frequency equalization adjustments based on the determination of one or more frequency bands to avoid; and playing, at the electronic device utilizing one or more speakers of the electronic device, the adapted auditory alert.
US09967404B2

The present disclosure relates to an echo controller, for use with a microphone and a device comprising a loudspeaker, the echo controller comprising: a sensor with sensing capabilities configured to provide displacement-signalling representative of a displacement of a diaphragm of the loudspeaker, wherein the sensing capabilities of the sensor are isolated from an external environment of the device; and a cancellation block configured to determine a cancellation-signal based on the displacement-signalling; wherein the cancellation-signal is for adapting a received-signal provided by the microphone to determine an echo-cancelled-signal.
US09967403B1

Meeting and conferencing systems and methods are implemented in a variety of manners. Consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a meeting system is implemented that includes a computer server arrangement with at least one processor. The computer server arrangement is configured to provide a web-accessible virtual meeting interface. The arrangement can receive meeting scheduling data from the virtual meeting interface, the meeting scheduling data including participant identifying information and meeting time information. The arrangement initiates a telephone call, in response to the meeting time information and the participant identifying information, with the at least one participant identified by the identifying information. In response to the at least one participant answering the telephone call, audio from the telephone call is merged with audio from other participants. The merged audio is provided to the at least one participant and the other participants.
US09967392B2

A mobile phone includes: a display comprising a touch panel; and at least one processor coupled to the display and touch panel, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: in response to an incoming call from another telephone, display in a first area of the display a first image that is associated with the incoming call; display a first input instruction in a second area of the display simultaneously with the display of the first image in the first area; determine whether a user of the mobile phone has provided a first touch input on the display in accordance with the first input instruction, if it is determined that the user has provided the first touch input, display on the display a first graphical input image and a second graphical input image, wherein the first and second graphical input images replace the first input instruction on the display, determine if the first graphical input image or the second graphical input image has been selected by the user using the touch panel, if it is determined that the first graphical input image has been selected by the user, control the mobile phone to answer the incoming call, and if it is determined that the second graphical input image has been selected by the user, control the mobile phone so that the incoming call is not answered.
US09967384B2

A communication server includes a receiving unit receiving a conversation request signal including a phone number of a receiving terminal in a PSTN (public switched telephone network) via an IP network; a specifying unit specifying transmitting user information on a user using a transmission terminal transmitting the request signal, and assigning an address on the IP network to the transmission terminal; a first transmission unit transmitting the address and the request signal to a communication carrier having a gateway between the PSTN and the IP network; and a second transmission unit transmitting the phone number and the transmitting user information to a transfer server transferring information to a designated terminal.
US09967376B2

The present disclosure provides an electronic device, including: a movable body having at least one functional unit and a main body. The movable body is movable from a first position to a second position with respect to the main body, the main body has a first surface provided with a first display unit, the movable body includes a second surface, a long side of the second surface has a length identical to a length of a short side of the first surface. The first surface and the second surface are both located in a first plane when the movable body is located in the first position with respect to the main body.
US09967374B2

A mobile device can include a unibody component (e.g. chassis shell) with at least a co-mold feature that isolates a contiguous portion of the unibody component from an outer portion of the unibody component. For example, the outer portion and the contiguous portion can be made of an electrically conductive material. The co-mold feature can be made of non-conductive material that electrically isolates the contiguous portion from the outer portion. The co-mold feature can be made by co-molding a resin material in a channel cut into a piece of metal and later exposing the cured resin material on two sides.
US09967369B2

A system for communicating data packets in a process control environment is described. A client device connects, via the network, to an historian device, creates, via a first dictionary manager module, a first tag dictionary, synchronizes, via the network, the first tag dictionary with a second tag dictionary created by the historian device, optimizes a packet via a packet optimization layer comprising scanning a tag ID present in the packet, determines a matching tag handle for the tag ID from the first tag dictionary, replaces each instance of the tag ID in the packet with the matching tag handle, and sends the optimized packet to the historian device via the network. The historian device connects, via the network, to the client device, creates, via a second dictionary manager module, the second tag dictionary, synchronizes, via the network, the second tag dictionary with the first tag dictionary created by the client device, receives the optimized packet from the client device via the network, converts the optimized packet back to its original form comprising scanning a tag handle present in the packet, determines a matching tag ID for the tag handle from the second tag dictionary, and replaces each instance of the tag handle in the packet with the matching tag ID.
US09967350B2

In some examples, a programmable network platform comprises a third-party orchestration module configured to communicate with a cloud service provider (CSP) orchestration system; and a centralized network controller configured to receive a service request that specifies a cloud service applied by a CSP network operated by a CSP on a network of a cloud exchange operated by a cloud exchange provider. The CNC is further configured to, in response to the service request, invoke the third-party orchestration module to communicate with the CSP orchestration system to request that the CSP orchestrate the cloud service on the network of the cloud exchange. The CNC provisions the network of the cloud exchange within a data center to deliver the cloud service from the CSP network attached to the network of the cloud exchange to a customer network attached to the network of the cloud exchange.
US09967349B2

Disclosed is a system including a social client and an intermediate server. A social client may be implemented as a mobile application or embedded as a component of a hosted application. The social client may include features/functions for a user to follow, tag, post, and/or comment on a case, a topic, user(s) concerning the case and/or topic, post(s) tagged to a topic, case(s) tagged by the user, or a combination thereof. The intermediate server may serve as an intermediate between backend system(s) and social client(s). For example, the intermediate server may receive a work order from a backend system, place the work order in an event stream and/or a work folder for the user, mark the work order as in-process when the user completes work, and return the work order to the backend system. The backend system may then mark the work order as having been completed.
US09967342B2

A storage system is provided. The storage system includes a plurality of storage units, each of the plurality of storage units having storage memory for user data and a plurality of storage nodes, each of the plurality of storage nodes configured to have ownership of a portion of the user data. The storage system includes a first pathway, coupling the plurality of storage units such that each of the plurality of storage units can communicate with at least one other of the plurality of storage units via the first pathway without assistance from the plurality of storage nodes.
US09967336B2

A network supervising device for managing distribution of data content streams in a segment of a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, comprises a processing unit which receives a request for a data content stream from at least one of the peers being constrained from uploading the data content streams to further peers, and identifies whether at least one peer exists within the network segment being capable of uploading the requested data content stream. If no peer within the segment is currently rendering the requested data content stream, the processing unit identifies whether at least one currently idle peer exists within the network segment, which is capable of uploading the requested data content stream. The processing unit then assigns to the at least one peer downloading the requested data content stream, or to the at least one currently idle peer, to upload the requested data content stream to the peer being restrained.
US09967335B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for transmitting contact data for displaying representations of contacts for display to a user, the contacts being contacts of the user within a computer-implemented social networking service, generating a first social circle of the user, the first social circle comprising a first subset of contacts of the user within the social networking service and defining a first distribution for digital content, generating a second social circle of the user, the second social circle comprising a second subset of contacts of the user within the social networking service and defining a second distribution for digital content, and, in response to user input, providing the first social circle and the second social circle for selection by the user to define a distribution of digital content, the distribution comprising at least one of the first distribution and the second distribution.
US09967334B2

Aspects of the present invention provide systems and methods that facilitate the communicating of messages to a vastly scalable number of devices, independent of a centralized resource. In embodiments, a computing device, or a number of devices, may receive from a managing entity one or more messages via a block chain that is maintained by a plurality of decentralized nodes in a peer-to-peer network. In embodiments, the device or devices execute the instructions identified in the message, and if appropriate, return results.
US09967329B2

A cloud computing system includes a network interface for interfacing with a wide area network. At least one wireless transceiver engages in bidirectional communication with a plurality of vehicle cloud processing devices within a corresponding plurality of vehicles in at least one vehicle aggregation location. A network control device receives requests for at least one cloud computing service via the wide area network and facilitates the at least one cloud computing service via the bidirectional communication with the plurality of vehicle cloud processing devices.
US09967325B2

A source IT-infrastructure hosts a composite application including multiple functional modules connected to each other via communication links. An abstract pattern includes first nodes and first links representing the functional modules and communication links and lacks resource-related data enabling a deployment engine to instantiate a resource for providing a runtime environment. A target IT-infrastructure has assigned a resource catalog including, for each resource available in the target IT-infrastructure, a specification of the resource's capabilities, and includes second nodes and links, each second node being a representation of one or more of the resources of the target IT-infrastructure and including an indication of the capabilities of one or more resources represented by the second node. The first nodes and links of the abstract pattern are iteratively supplemented by the second nodes and second links.
US09967324B2

In accordance with an embodiment, an application server environment can include a plurality of partitions and a resource group template, which can be referenced by a resource group in one or more of the plurality of partitions. A data source configuration can be defined as part of the resource group template. The data source configuration can be overridden with attributes specific to a particular referencing partition. A data source subsystem can create a data source object in accordance with the overridden data source configuration, for use in creating connections to a database associated with the particular referencing partition, monitoring and diagnosing the data source object.
US09967321B2

A system for discovering internet memes from a social media stream includes a meme detector for grouping together incoming posts that contain a common set of anomalous terms, the meme detector comparing the frequency of use of the anomalous terms against normalcy models to ensure that the use of the anomalous terms is non-recurring. The system additionally includes a meme tracker for classifying each cluster of related posts as a particular meme and, in turn, associating new related posts from the media stream with the classified cluster. In this manner, the particular set of anomalous terms used to classify each meme can be augmented to include other discriminating terms. Accordingly, the parameters, or features, associated with each meme are continuously monitored and refined, as needed, to ensure that the most comprehensive and reflective cluster of posts for each meme is collected from the social media stream in an efficient fashion.
US09967315B2

The present invention discloses an electronic device, a storage medium and a method for transferring a file. The method includes: acquiring transferring parameters of at least one file segment that is already transferred to a target device, wherein the transferring parameters include size and transferring rate; calculating a transferring rate varying index according to the transferring parameters; determining whether the transferring rate varying index is less than a predefined first threshold value, and if the transferring rate varying index is less than the first threshold value, updating a current transferring state with a different state; acquiring a coefficient corresponding to the current transferring state, and setting a size of a current file segment as a product of the coefficient and a size of a last transferred file segment; cutting out the current file segment from the file according to the set size of the current file segment for transferring.
US09967313B2

A control method causes a computer of an information apparatus to: display a display screen representing a floor plan on the display; display device icons on the display screen, the device icons including an air purifier icon; when selection of the air purifier icon is sensed, display an operation screen for operating an air purifier corresponding to the selected air purifier icon on the display, the operation screen being displayed on the display screen and outside of a region corresponding to a room where the selection of the air purifier icon is sensed; output a control command for operating the air purifier to the network based on an operation on the operation screen; and display an operation state of the air purifier in the region corresponding to the room where the selection of the air purifier icon is sensed based on the operation on the operation screen.
US09967308B2

A system and method of fault management includes receiving a service request, encountering a fault in during the execution of the service request, persisting the fault, and providing a fault response.
US09967305B2

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for streaming media content are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: receiving top level index data from a server; caching the top level index data in an index file; receiving header data associated with a first media content file from the server; caching the header data in a header file; receiving a first segment of the first media content file based at least in part on the index file; caching the first segment of the first media content file in a first file; updating the index file to include information about the first file; and causing the first fragment to be displayed based at least in part on the index file and the header file.
US09967300B2

Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide a method and apparatus for scheduling adaptive bit rate streams. Some embodiments of the method include accessing, at user equipment, a first bit rate selected from a plurality of bit rates used to encode a portion of an adaptive multimedia stream, a size of the portion of the adaptive multimedia stream, and a play out duration of the portion of the adaptive multimedia stream. Some embodiments of the method also include providing, from the user equipment, indications of the first bit rate, the size, and the play out duration.
US09967291B1

A computer-implemented system and method for secure electronic message exchange including coupling a control platform to a workstation of a plurality of workstations via a communications medium, where the control platform includes one or more apparatuses for monitoring, controlling, conversion, and billing, related to messages exchanged between a plurality of local users and a plurality of remote users. The system prevents forwarding or copying of a message sent by a local user of the plurality of local users and received by a remote user of the plurality of remote users, to another party by the control platform. The system and method also provides for authenticating the remote user with the control platform.
US09967290B2

Provided is a method of digitally securing a digital object from a first user in a first domain to a second user in a second domain using a DNS provider. The method includes accessing, at a client device of the first user, a client-side local policy, wherein the local policy comprises one or more zones managed by one or more DNS providers and secured by DANE using DNSSEC; constructing a DNS query for a cryptographic credential for the second user based, at least in part, on a zone of the one or more zones in the local policy; providing a request for the cryptographic credential for the second user; obtaining the cryptographic credential for the second user from a DNS provider of the one or more DNS providers; digitally securing the digital object using the cryptographic credential; and providing the digital object to the second user.
US09967287B2

Disclosed are approaches for detecting attempts to circumvent security policies on a client device. A deletion of a user account on a computing device is detected, wherein the deletion is initiated locally on the computing device and the user account is associated with an enrollment of the computing device with a management service. Data stored in a memory of the computing device that is subject to a policy received from the management service is identified. The data is deleted from the memory of the computing device. The policy is then deleted from the memory of the computing device.
US09967286B2

Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling access to a security content using near field network communication of mobile devices. A policy issuance provider registration unit requests a content security policy for a first content, a security content, to a service server, receives the content security policy for the first content, requests to the service server for a first mobile device to be registered as a content security policy issuance provider, and receives a result of registration and a provider policy from the service server. A policy issuance provider converting unit converts the first mobile device to the content security policy issuance provider when receiving a request for access for browsing the first content through near-field network communication from another mobile device in which a DRM client application is being executed. A temporary content security policy issuance unit issues a temporary content security policy for the first content through near-field network communication to the second mobile device so that the second mobile device can browse the first content.
US09967256B2

Privacy and restricted access are provided for functions, applications, and services on a computing device. An area accessible to a user interface is provided. A request from a user is accepted, the request for associating with the area with one or more available functions. The one or more functions are then associated with the area, and are made invisible. Another request from the user is accepted, the other request for gaining access to the area. Authentication against the user is requested. Access to the one or more functions is granted if the authentication is successful. According to another embodiment, an authorized user may send and receive messages via another device that belongs to another user based on identification of the user by the other user.
US09967249B2

A distributed passcode verification system includes devices that each have a secret and that are each able to perform a limited number of verifications using their secrets. Passcode verifiers receive passcode information from a passcode information manager. The passcode information provides information usable, with a secret, to verify passcodes provided to a verifier.
US09967248B1

Described are techniques for establishing secure communication channels between user devices and service providing devices. Correspondence between a request received from a user device and security data may be used to determine that the user device has provided a valid access credential. The access credential may be replaced with a subsequent access credential after use. Correspondence between the request and service data may be used to determine that the request may be processed by the receiving service and that the user device has the permissions necessary for the request to be processed. Portions of the request that meet these criteria may be provided to the service. The secure communication channel may also be used to provide the response from the service to the user device.
US09967246B2

Techniques relate to a cloud queue facilitating access to a cloud queue via an authorization token. In an example implementation, a computing system receives, over a network interface from a media playback system, an authorization token corresponding to a cloud queue of media items at the computing system and a request by the media playback system for access to the cloud queue of media items. The computing system determines that the authorization token is valid and in response to the determination, provides, to the media playback system, the requested access to the cloud queue of media items, the providing comprising transmitting information associated with at least one of the media items of the cloud queue. Thereafter, the computing system determines that the media playback system is eligible for a renewed authorization token and, in response, transmits, to the media playback system, the renewed authorization token.
US09967242B2

Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques and apparatuses to facilitate message communication between registered entities of an email system and other non-registered entities. In one embodiment, a transport component executes on a logic circuit to receive a request to perform a function on an encrypted message. Information embedded in the request is identified to determine if the original request was sent by a registered entity. The embedded information is authenticated with information contained in an authentication information store associated with the original request and if the information is authenticated, the requested function is executed. In addition, if the requested function by the non-registered entity is to send an email message, rich scanning is performed on the email message to ensure the safety thereof.
US09967241B2

A mobile device receives from a first client application a request to exchange first data over a mobile communication network. The mobile device determines whether the first client application is associated with a first persona or a second persona of a user. Upon determining the first client application is associated with the first persona, the mobile device establishes a first data connection based on a first Access Point Name (APN) network identifier with the mobile communication network and routes the first data over the first data connection. The mobile device also receives from a second client device a request to exchange second data over the mobile communication network. Upon determining the second client application is associated with the second persona, the mobile device establishes a second data connection based on a second APN network identifier with the mobile communication network and routes the second data over the second data connection.
US09967233B2

A method of operation of a network of WLAN access points comprises establishing a first WLAN access point (APa) having a first coverage area; and establishing a plurality of second WLAN access points (AP1, . . . , AP7) having respective second coverage areas, such that the second access points provide traffic connections for at least one communications device in at least one of the respective second coverage areas; wherein the first coverage area overlaps the plurality of second coverage areas, and wherein the first WLAN access point provides control information for the at least one communications device.
US09967230B2

The present disclosure is directed to allocating communication resources via information technology infrastructure. A system can provide a communication tag and an analytics tag for integration in a web site. The system can receive a request to allocate a phone number generated based on an interaction between the communication tag and the analytics tag. The request can include the communication endpoint identifier, the site identifier for the web site, and a bucket identifier formed from bucketing criteria corresponding to a network activity session of the computing device. The system can determine a virtual phone number to assign to a combination of the values of the fields provided in the request, and create a link between the assigned virtual number and the combination. The system can provide the assigned virtual phone number to the computing device that initiated the request.
US09967220B1

The invention relates to systems and methods for managing emails where an email server that may comprise one or more computer systems, and which may be part of an email system, receives an email addressed to a specified first user. The email server may analyze the received email and access one or more electronic databases, which may comprise information related to one or more respective registered users of the email system. The databases may be stored on one or more computer-readable storage media operatively connected to the email server.
US09967219B2

In a data-handling machine system which has data originating and replicating units (e.g., smartphones) configured to allow users to create or replicate and transmit voluminous amounts of data (e.g., emails) on a recipients-targeting basis to large numbers of recipients, a communications constraining mechanism is provided which intercepts emails (or other forms of recipients-targeting communications), classifies the communications, categorizes the targeted recipients and then based on the classifications and categorizations, generates recommendations on whether to block or let through as is the intercepted communications to their intended recipients.
US09967216B2

A server, a device, and a system includes functionalities for an air traffic management coordination portal. The server includes a processor executing a chat application. The processor receives a request from a first electronic device of a first user to perform a first chat session utilizing the chat application with a first representative utilizing a second electronic device. The first user is an aviation industry professional and the first representative having access to field condition report data related to an aviation industry. The first chat session is viewable by the first user and a second user such that the first and second users receive the field condition report data concurrently. The server includes a transceiver receiving first input data from the first user and second input data from the first representative. The first and second input data are first text to be shown in the first chat session.
US09967207B2

Distributed frame transmission method for a local client in a Local switched Network, the method comprises the steps of: determining a number of frame transmission time slots based on the number of local clients in the Network and a Time Distribution Window (TDW) and establishing an Identity Number, ID, of a specific receiving client and allocating a specific frame transmission time slot among said number of frame transmission time slots for transmitting frames to said specific receiving client from a buffer queue dedicated to said specific receiving client based on an ID of the local client, the established ID of said receiving client and the total number of local clients in the Local switched Network.
US09967206B1

Spectrum harvesting methods and spectrum harvesters implementing such spectrum harvesting methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, multiple spectrum harvesters may be configured to scan a frequency band of interest in a distributed and staggered manner. The results obtained by the spectrum harvesters may be shared with each other according to a round-robin scheme. Distributed scanning and round-robin sharing techniques configured in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein may allow the spectrum harvesters to jointly function as a continuous spectrum scanner capable of providing near real time spectrum harvesting.
US09967200B2

Methods and systems for providing IP services in an integrated fashion are provided. According to one embodiment, a flow cache is established having multiple entries each identifying one of multiple VR flows through a VR-based network device and corresponding forwarding state information. A packet is received at an input port of a line interface module of the network device and forwarded to a VRE. Flow-based packet classification is performed by the VRE. An attempt is made to retrieve an entry of the flow cache based on a result of the flow-based packet classification. On a flow cache hit, one or more appropriate packet transformations are identified for application to the packet and it is determined whether to process the packet with a VSE based on the corresponding forwarding state information. On a flow cache miss, the new VR flow is added to the flow cache by performing flow learning.
US09967199B2

Some embodiments provide a system that detects whether a data flow is an elephant flow; and if so, the system treats it differently than a mouse flow. The system of some embodiments detects an elephant flow by examining, among other items, the operations of a machine. In detecting, the system identifies an initiation of a new data flow associated with the machine. The new data flow can be an outbound data flow or an inbound data flow. The system then determines, based on the amount of data being sent or received, if the data flow is an elephant flow. The system of some embodiments identifies the initiation of a new data flow by intercepting a socket call or request to transfer a file.
US09967197B2

Described herein are approaches for shaping traffic within a data network. In particular, methods and systems herein describe devices configured to classify packets based on particular criteria. Based on a classification associated with a packet, a packet can be queued at a subscriber mux device, one of a plurality of subscriber devices, and an application device. In addition, the subscriber devices and the application device include qdiscs to shape traffic. Once the traffic is shaped, it is queued based on properties associated with packets.
US09967176B2

Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The methods include, for instance: obtaining, by one or more processor, metadata of at least one packet of a network stream; and determining, by the one or more processor, a shortcut rule for the network stream to bypass at least one waypoint network, the shortcut rule being determined using the metadata of the at least one packet of the network stream. In one embodiment, the obtaining includes obtaining the metadata from the at least one waypoint network. In another embodiment, the obtaining comprises obtaining the metadata from multiple packets of the network stream, and the determining comprises using the metadata of the multiple packets of the network stream to determine the shortcut rule. In a further embodiment, the determining includes analyzing a header of the at least one packet of the network stream.
US09967172B2

Methods and systems for a transportation vehicle are provided. One exemplary method includes generating by a processor a master instruction set with a routing plan for loading data to and from a transportation vehicle using one or more networking links; creating by the processor a transportation side instruction set for loading and offloading data from the transportation vehicle, the transportation side instruction set being based on the master instruction set; using the master instruction set, the local instruction set and the transportation side instruction set to automatically load data to and from the transportation vehicle using the one or more network links to meet an objective of the master instruction set; and monitoring data loading to and from the transportation vehicle for making any changes to meet an objective of the master instruction set based on delivery time, cost or both delivery time and cost.
US09967169B2

Embodiments relate systems and methods for detecting network conditions based on a correlation between trend lines. In embodiments, a network management server can monitor the status and operation of network machines, such as servers or targets, as well as network transmission hardware (e.g. routers). Streams of network operation data from those sources can be captured and stored. The management server or other logic can examine the network operation data to identify trend lines for network conditions, such as application faults, attempted intrusions, or other events or conditions. Trend line data can be treated to generate second or other higher-order derivatives, such as third-order derivatives or others. A time correlation between two or more trend lines and/or their higher order derivatives, for instance, the occurrence of a peak value in the same time window, can be used to identify an event, state or condition.
US09967161B2

A method includes receiving a client report including an identifier and client analytics data, the client report received from a client device and the client analytics data associated with a media stream received by the client device from a streaming server. The method further includes receiving a server report including the identifier and server analytics data, the server report received from the streaming server. The method further includes, based on determining that the client report and the server report include the identifier, determining that the client analytics data and the server analytics data are correlated.
US09967158B2

The technology visualizes data flows within a datacenter in an interactive hierarchical network chord diagram. Based on analyzed data describing data flows, a portion of the data flows that originate at the same first endpoint and terminate at the same second endpoint can be grouped. Subsequently, the dataflow monitoring system displays an interactive hierarchical network chord diagram to include a chord with a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The chord represents the grouped portion of data flows that originate at the same first endpoint and terminate at the same second endpoint. Upon receiving a selection of the chord or the first endpoint of the chord, the dataflow monitoring system expands the grouped portion of the data flows into a more granular representation of the network.
US09967152B2

An information management method in a control system that collects log information regarding usage of a plurality of devices, the information management method including: a step of receiving judgment information indicating whether or not the log information is to be provided to a service operator from each of the plurality of devices; and a step of providing a command for causing a first image, which represents a device indicated by the judgment information as a device that provides the log information to a service operator, and a second image, which represents a device indicated by the judgment information as a device that does not provide the log information to a service operator, to be displayed in display modes that differ from each other to a display device associated with the identifier in response to an access by the display device.
US09967149B1

Internet of Things (IoT) system and method of interfacing arbitrary non-network connected devices to wireless computer networks. The invention provides a configurable wireless communications module, in either fixed or removable formats, with wireless (e.g. WiFi) network connectivity. The invention uses at least one internal processor, which is configured to operate as a sandbox or virtual machine manner to isolate the code used to operate the arbitrary non-network connected device from the code used to operate the communications module.
US09967148B2

The subject matter described herein includes systems, methods, and computer readable media for selective Diameter topology hiding. The system includes a Diameter agent including a network interface configured to receive, from a first Diameter node in a first service provider network, a first Diameter signaling message including Diameter topology information and a Diameter topology hiding module (THM). In some aspects, the THM is configured to determine a trust relationship between the first service provider network and a second service provider network to which the first Diameter signaling message is addressed, in response to determining that the trust relationship requires at least some level of topology hiding, determine a topology hiding type based on the first Diameter signaling message, and modify, based on the topology hiding type, the Diameter topology information included in the first Diameter signaling message to hide at least some of the Diameter topology information.
US09967133B2

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a Diameter network device which may include a storage configured to store one or more global variables, a memory; and a processor. The processor may be configured to: establish an object within the memory representative of a global variable; configure the object to access fields of the global variable including a property of the network device which was modified; and access via the object an attribute for the global variable.
US09967127B1

The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to an integer non-uniform constellation (NUC) high-order M-QAM. In some implementations, a scale factor is identified for a mapping of bit patterns into M constellation points of a NUC M-QAM, wherein M is no less than 1024; each of the M constellation points has respective real and imaginary coordinates; and the respective real and imaginary coordinates having respective decimal parts that are integer multiples of 2−n, with n being a non-negative integer less than 5. A bit pattern is received and mapped to integer real and imaginary coordinates of one of the M constellation points according to a mapping rule of the NUC M-QAM. The integer real and imaginary coordinates of the one of the M constellation points equal the scale factor multiplied with respective real and imaginary coordinates of the one of the M constellation points having respective decimal parts.
US09967123B1

The disclosure provides a circuit. The circuit includes an IFFT (inverse fast fourier transform) block. The IFFT block generates a modulated signal in response to a data signal. A clip logic block is coupled to the IFFT block, and generates a clipped signal in response to the modulated signal. A first subtractor is coupled to the clip logic block and the IFFT block, and subtracts the modulated signal from the clipped signal to generate an error signal. A cyclic filter is coupled to the first subtractor, and filters the error signal to generate a filtered error signal. A second subtractor is coupled to the cyclic filter and the IFFT block. The second subtractor subtracts the filtered error signal from the modulated signal to generate a processed signal.
US09967115B1

A circuit for spatial equalization, comprising: circuit elements each comprising four variable transconductors, in each of the circuit elements: an input of a first variable transconductor (VT) is connected to an input I and an output of the first VT is connected to an output I; an input of the second VT is connected to an input Q and an output of the second VT is connected to output I; an input of the third VT is connected to input I and an output of the third VT is connected to the output Q; and an input of the fourth VT is connected to input Q and an output of the fourth VT is connected to output Q; the input I of each of the first plurality of circuit elements are connected together; and the input Q of each of the first plurality of circuit elements are connected together.
US09967108B2

A system connection setting device, for setting a connection between a household appliance and a mobile device connected to an Internet, comprises a wireless communication unit mounted and electrically connected to the household appliance and having a unique identity data, a communication unit connected to a server via the Internet and a remote controller for sending a wireless input signal. The wireless communication unit responds to the wireless input signal, establishes a connection with the communication unit and transmits the unique identity data to the communication unit, so that the communication unit transmits the unique identity data to the server, and the server stores the unique identity data and an identity code corresponded to the mobile device uniquely as a pairing information related to the wireless communication unit and the mobile device. The present invention further provides a connection setting method implemented via the connection setting device.
US09967107B2

Systems and methods for sequencing HVAC equipment of an HVAC system using data recorded in situ to build a model capable of making predictions about equipment efficiency and using that information, in combination with predictions about building load, to produce an operational sequence for the HVAC equipment that promotes an improved or optimized overall energy efficiency for the HVAC system. In one embodiment, the process is automated and utilizes Bayesian computational models or algorithms to generate are initial sequence. The process reduces engineering hours and may advantageously provide a means to predict potential sequencing problems for similar types of HVAC equipment.
US09967102B2

Managing transfer of device ownership is provided. A digitally signed state change request for a device that includes at least one of a new device owner, a new designated successor device owner, and a new device ownership reversibility control bit is accepted. A stored state for the device that includes at least one of a current device owner, a previous device owner, a designated successor device owner, and a current device ownership reversibility control bit is read. The previous device owner is replaced with the current device owner, the current device owner is replaced with the new device owner, the designated successor device owner is replaced with the new designated successor device owner, and the new device ownership reversibility control bit is set in response to the new device ownership reversibility control bit being included in the digitally signed state change request.
US09967100B2

A method of controlling power supply for a fingerprint sensor is provided. The method includes receiving sensor data obtained from the fingerprint sensor; determining whether the received sensor data is a fingerprint form of data; if the received sensor data is the fingerprint form of data, determining an amount of change in sensor data received over a predetermined time is greater than or equal to a predetermined value; and if the received sensor data is not the fingerprint form of data or if the received sensor data is the fingerprint form of data but an amount of change in the received sensor data is less than the predetermined value, allowing the fingerprint sensor to enter a power saving mode.
US09967093B2

Various embodiments are directed to techniques for controlling access to data in a decentralized manner. An apparatus includes an apportioning component to divide an item of data into multiple portions based on an organizational structure of the item of data; a tree component to generate a PRN tree including a multitude of nodes and a branching structure based on the organizational structure, the multitude including at least one branching node and multiple leaf nodes that correspond to the multiple portions; a PRN component to generate a PRN for each node of the multitude, the PRN component to use a PRN of a branching node of the PRN tree to generate a PRN for a leaf node that depends therefrom; and a communications component to transmit the multiple portions and multiple addresses based on PRNs of leaf nodes of the PRN tree to a server. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09967087B2

A wireless receiver is disclosed. The wireless receiver includes a phased array antenna panel having a plurality of antennas, and a low resolution analog-to-digital (A/D) converter coupled to each of the plurality of antennas, where the low resolution A/D converter is configured to provide a digital output based on comparing a reference value with a sum of noise value and signal value of an analog input received by the corresponding one of the plurality of antennas. Noise signals received by the plurality of antennas are uncorrelated, and a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the analog input can be less than one. The low resolution A/D converter can be a one-bit A/D converter. The one-bit A/D converter can be a comparator receiving the sum of noise value and signal value as one comparator input, and receiving the reference value as another comparator input.
US09967085B1

A measurement instrument for measuring electrical characteristics of a device under test (DUT) includes a synchronization signal generator configured to generate a synchronization signal transmittable from the measurement instrument to a receiver. The synchronization generator comprises a phase-locked loop (PLL) that locks the phase of the LO signal to the synchronization signal. The A/D clock signal is generated from the synchronization signal.
US09967077B2

A communications system includes a sender device configured to send data packets in accordance with a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) to a receiver device. An intermediate device is coupled between the sender device and the receiver device and includes a wireless transceiver configured to provide a communications link between the sender device and the receiver device and wherein said communications link is susceptible to at least one of transmission delays and transmission errors. A controller is coupled to the wireless transceiver and configured to serve as a TCP proxy between the sender device and the receiver device by sending successive simulated TCP acknowledgements of delivery to the sender device starting at a delay time shorter than a TCP retransmission timeout period and increasing for each successive simulated TCP acknowledgement.
US09967064B2

A method of transmitting a control signal using efficient multiplexing is disclosed. The present invention includes the steps of multiplexing a plurality of 1-bit control signals within a prescribed time-frequency domain by code division multiple access (CDMA) and transmitting the multiplexed control signals, wherein a plurality of the 1-hit control signals include a plurality of the 1-bit control signals for a specific transmitting side. Accordingly, reliability on 1-bit control signal transmission can be enhanced.
US09967055B2

A method and apparatus for explicit adaptive modulation and coding scheme selection, the method receiving, at a mobile device, a transport block targeted to the mobile device, and if a quality of the received transport block exceeds a threshold, providing an acknowledgment or negative acknowledgment to a network element; and if the quality of the received transport block is below the threshold, suppressing the acknowledgment or negative acknowledgement.
US09967052B2

A network controller in a control plane and a method for selecting a connection for a wavelength channel from a plurality of connection candidates in a communications network. The network controller comprises a modeling module and a routing engine. The modeling module obtains information from a physical element in the network, related to an estimated time for the element to establish each connection candidate therethrough for the wavelength channel. The routing engine selects the connection taking into account the estimated time associated with each connection candidate.
US09967046B2

A method and apparatus for multiplexing reference signals in a predetermined number of Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) groups to balance power across Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols are disclosed. In a wireless communication system, orthogonal sequences used for spreading the reference signals are allocated such that the order of orthogonal sequences allocated to a subcarrier of one CDM group has a predetermined offset with respect to the order of orthogonal sequences allocated to a subcarrier of another CDM group, adjacent to the subcarrier of the one CDM group.
US09967037B2

A light input is divided into a plurality of light outputs by a structure comprising a first beam splitter configured to divide the light input into a first part and a second part, a first polarization beam splitter configured to provide from the first part a first polarized part and a second polarized part, wherein the first polarized part is for providing a first output and the second polarized part for providing a second output, at least one polarization altering device configured to alter the polarization of light in the second part, and at least one second polarization beam splitter configured to receive light altered by respective at least one polarization altering device and provide therefrom at least one third polarized part for providing at least one third output. A light output can be generated based on similar principles in reverse.
US09967035B2

Various embodiments of an optical transmitter and a method of operating an optical transmitter are disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical transmitter includes a laser and a laser driver configured to drive the laser using either a voltage driving topology (CDT) or a current-driving topology (VDT). The laser driver includes a switch that is configured to switch between the CDT and the CDT based on an operating frequency of the optical transmitter.
US09967032B2

Optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods to provide localization services for client devices are disclosed. The localization services allow the providing and/or determination of the location of client devices in communication with a component or components of the optical fiber-based distributed communications system. The location of client devices can be provided and/or determined based on knowledge of the location of the component or components in the optical fiber-based distributed communications system in communication with the client device. This information can be used to determine or provide a more precise area of location or area of location for client devices. The optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods disclosed herein may be well-suited for indoor environments where other methods of providing and/or determining location of client devices may be obstructed or not possible due to the indoor environment.
US09967026B2

A method in an arrangement for monitoring a transmission line to a radio device in a communication network, wherein the transmission line comprises an optical part carrying signals in an optical domain and an electrical part carrying analog information signals in an electrical domain. The arrangement selects a carrier in the electrical part for monitoring the transmission line by assigning a test signal to a subcarrier out of a number of subcarriers of an optical carrier, wherein the subcarrier in the optical domain corresponds to the selected carrier in the electrical domain. Furthermore, the arrangement monitors the transmission line by analyzing a signal, associated with the test signal, received over the assigned subcarrier or another subcarrier.
US09967025B2

A diagnostic testing utility is used to perform single link diagnostics tests including an electrical loopback test, an optical loopback test, a link traffic test, and a link distance measurement test. To perform the diagnostic tests, two ports at each end of a link are identified and then statically configured by a user. The ports will be configured as D_Ports and as such will be isolated from the fabric with no data traffic flowing through them. This configuration can be static or can be on request or on errors. The ports will then be used to send test frames to perform the diagnostic tests. After completion of requested or on error testing the ports can return to normal operation.
US09967024B1

The automatic adjustment of output power of a transmitter is described. In one embodiment, an optical transmitter is directed to transmit a pulse of light over a communications link, such as a fiber optic cable, and a timer is started with reference to the transmission. An output tap of the transmitter is monitored to detect the transmission of the pulse of light and any reflection events which occur due to the transmission. A final reflection event is identified, along with a timing associated with the final reflection event using the timer. A length of the communications link is estimated based on the timing. An updated output power for the transmitter is calculated based on the estimated length of the communications link. The output power for the transmitter can be reduced when the length of the link is less than that expected, while maintaining a minimum power margin at a receiver.
US09967019B2

Provided is a communication system achieving favorable beamforming training even in an environment where multiple wireless communication networks adjacently exist. In this communication system, in an RXSS, an STA measures received signal qualities of respective first training frames received from an AP and ranks the received signal qualities. In a TXSS following the RXSS, the STA measures received signal qualities of respective third training frames received from the AP and ranks the received signal qualities. The STA transmits fourth training frames respectively including the measured received signal qualities of the third training frames based on the ranks of the received signal qualities of the first training frames.
US09967016B2

A method for taking measurements with a smart antenna in a wireless communication system having a plurality of STAs begins by sending a measurement request from a first STA to a second STA. At least two measurement packets are transmitted consecutively from the second STA to the first STA. Each measurement packet is received at the first STA using a different antenna beam. The first STA performs measurements on each measurement packet and selects an antenna beam direction based on the measurement results.
US09967005B2

Pilots suitable for use in MIMO systems and capable of supporting various functions are described. The various types of pilot include—a beacon pilot, a MIMO pilot, a steered reference or steered pilot, and a carrier pilot. The beacon pilot is transmitted from all transmit antennas and may be used for timing and frequency acquisition. The MIMO pilot is transmitted from all transmit antennas but is covered with different orthogonal codes assigned to the transmit antennas. The MIMO pilot may be used for channel estimation. The steered reference is transmitted on specific eigenmodes of a MIMO channel and is user terminal specific. The steered reference may be used for channel estimation. The carrier pilot may be transmitted on designated subbands/antennas and may be used for phase tracking of a carrier signal. Various pilot transmission schemes may be devised based on different combinations of these various types of pilot.
US09966998B2

A wireless power transmitter for transmitting power to a wireless power receiver in a wireless scheme includes a transmitting coil configured to transmit power, which is supplied by a power source, to a receiving coil of the wireless power receiver using resonance; and a detecting unit configured to detect a coupling state between the transmitting coil and the receiving coil using an input impedance of the wireless power transmitter.
US09966994B2

Apparatus and methods are provide for frame synchronization and clock and data recovery. In an example, a method can include receiving initial data of a stream of information, sampling the stream of information a plurality of times per unit interval to provide a plurality of sample intervals, integrating transition information for each sample interval, and selecting a sampling phase to sample each symbol of the stream of data using the integrated transition information.
US09966991B2

The present invention teaches a system and method for secure network access and group membership in a cooperative network of digital chaos transmissions. The invention involves sensing generated digital chaos sequences as spreading sequences at a transmit side and determining the availability of open channels at a receive side. Further, a broadcast “request to join” frame from a node on an open channel is transmitted to network manager or coordinator. A network manager or coordinator sends an association/authentication packet, comprised of the reserved digital chaos associated to the unique device id, in response to the “request to join” frame from a node with a valid identification.
US09966989B2

A method for receiving direct-sequence spread spectrum signals containing a plurality of codes with digital beamforming in a receive array apparatus composed of a plurality of spaced antenna elements coupled to at least one receiver with at least one low noise amplifier, at least one frequency down-converter and at least one analog-to-digital converter and at least one digital signal processing computer or device for said plurality of spaced antenna elements, the method comprising the steps of: receiving said direct-sequence spread spectrum signals in said receive array apparatus, the signals emanating from a plurality of positions or from one or multiple transmitters; multiplying said received signals at each element by a reflecting code to produce reflected signals hereinafter referred to as Element Reflected Signals; combining said Element Reflected Signals forming a common signal for the array; converting said common signal to a convenient intermediary frequency signal; sampling said intermediary frequency-converted signal using said analog-to-digital converter; correlating resulting samples against codes or variations of said codes included in said Element Reflected Signals; demultiplexing said Element Reflected Signals to corresponding signals as received by each of said different array antenna elements using said correlated samples.
US09966987B2

The radio frequency switching system comprises an input/output terminal connectable to a radio frequency antenna, a receiving terminal, a transmission terminal, a group of diodes operatively interposed between the input/output terminal, the receiving terminal and the transmission terminal, at least a selection device between a receiving configuration, in which the input/output terminal is operatively connected to the receiving terminal, and a transmission configuration, wherein the input/output terminal is operatively connected to the transmission terminal, and a DC/DC voltage converter operatively connected to the group of diodes and able to generate a predetermined output voltage.
US09966981B2

A radio frequency (RF) receiver, which has an RF filter and impedance matching circuit and an RF low noise amplifier (LNA), is disclosed. The RF filter and impedance matching circuit includes a first passive RF acoustic resonator; provides an RF bandpass filter having an RF receive band based on the first passive RF acoustic resonator; and presents an input impedance at an RF input and an output impedance at an RF output, such that a ratio of the output impedance to the input impedance is greater than 40. The RF LNA is coupled to the RF output.
US09966974B2

Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal in a broadcasting communication system are provided. Data of an input stream is divided for transmission through a frame. A header that includes information about the input stream is constructed. The frame is constructed using the header and the divided data.
US09966973B2

A method for performing polar coding is disclosed in the application. A data block is segmented into a plurality of first blocks. Difference in bit length between any two first blocks is not more than one bit. For each first block, one or more consecutive padding bits is added to obtain a second block of a bit length K if the bit length of the first block is less than K, so as to obtain a plurality of second blocks corresponding to the first blocks. N−K consecutive bits are added to each of the second blocks to obtain a plurality of third blocks. Polar encoding is performed on the third blocks.
US09966972B1

Systems and methods described herein provides a method for dynamically allocating an iteration number for a decoder. The method includes receiving, at an input buffer, an input signal including at least one data packet. The method further includes calculating a first iteration number for decoding the at least one data packet. The method further includes monitoring at least one of available space of the input buffer and available decoding time for the at least one data packet. The method further includes dynamically adjusting the first iteration number to a second iteration number based on the available space or the available decoding time to continue decoding the at least one data packet.
US09966960B2

In some embodiments, a circuit may include a configurable logic module including a multiplexer. The multiplexer may include a plurality of data inputs configured to receive one or more bit strings. Each of the one or more bit strings may correspond to a logic operation. The multiplexer may further include a first control input configured to receive a first input signal, a second control input configured to receive a second input signal, and an output configured to provide an output signal corresponding to a selected logic operation based on the first input signal and the second input signal.
US09966958B2

A dynamic decode circuit for decoding a plurality of input signals comprises a decoder that decodes the plurality of input signals to produce a result at a first node, the result is propagated to a second node while an evaluation clock is active by a pair of serially connected transistors consisting of a transistor receiving an evaluation clock at its gate and a transistor receiving the first node at its gate, the interconnection of the pair of serially connected transistors is precharged when the evaluation clock is inactive to provide a delay between the end of the active evaluation clock and the beginning of the precharge.
US09966956B2

A semiconductor integrated circuit device may include a main inverter and a negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) compensating circuit. The main inverter may be configured to receive an input signal. The main inverted may be configured to reverse the input signal. The main inverter may include a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor. The NBTI compensating circuit may be configured to receive the input signal. The NBTI compensating circuit may be selectively driven in an operation start time section of the PMOS transistor in the main inverter to compensate a driving force of the PMOS transistor.
US09966952B2

A switch apparatus has a pressing section that is formed of a rubber-like elastic material and has a pressing region that is pressed in a predetermined pressing direction; and a capacitance sensor for detecting the pressing of the pressing region on the basis of capacitance. The capacitance sensor is positioned apart from the pressing section in the pressing direction, and is configured so that when the pressing region is not being pressed, a space (clearance) is maintained between the part (the lowermost surface of a protruding section of the pressing section on the side towards the capacitance sensor corresponding to the pressing region and another member (base housing disposed in the vicinity of the pressing region along the pressing direction, the space (clearance) allowing the part on the side towards the capacitance sensor to move in the pressing direction.
US09966950B2

A contact and/or proximity-sensitive input device has a cover plate with a light-transmissive control section facing a user of the input device and forming a control field for the user. A light-transmissive sensor film has at least one capacitive sensor field. A carrier plate carries at least one lighting device. The input device also has a light-transmissive decorative film with at least one decorative element. The film is a separate component from the sensor film so that the decorative film can be produced independently of the sensor film and can be adapted simply to desired variants of the input device. The carrier plate, decorative film, sensor film and cover plate are arranged successively in such a way that the light emitted by the lighting device passes through the decorative film, sensor film and control section of the cover plate.
US09966949B2

A resonant inductive sensing system includes a sensor resonator and an inductance-to-data converter (IDC) including an algorithmic control loop with operational and calibration phases. The resonator is characterized by a resonance state corresponding to a sensed condition. The IDC includes a negative impedance stage and a loop control stage. During the operation phase, the negative impedance stage drives the resonator with a selected (controlled) negative impedance. The loop control stage includes detection circuitry that detects resonance state, and range comparison circuitry that generates an out-of-range signal when the detected resonance state is not within a pre-defined range of resonance states. Algorithmic control circuitry is responsive to the out-of-range signal to transition the IDC to operation in the calibration phase, including determining an adjusted negative impedance corresponding to a resonance state within the pre-defined range of resonance states, and generating a negative impedance control signal based on the adjusted negative impedance.
US09966944B2

A gate driver circuit for a half bridge or full bridge output driver stage having a high side branch connected to one or more high side transistors and a low side branch connected to one or more low side transistors. A high side gate driver and a low side gate driver receive input signals at a low voltage level and output signals at a high voltage level as gate driving signals for the high side transistors and low side transistors. Each of the high side and the low side branches of the gate driver includes a set-reset latch having a signal output that is fed as a gate signal to the corresponding transistor of the half bridge or full bridge driver. A differential capacitive level shifter circuit receives the input signals at a low voltage level and outputs high voltage signals to drive the set and reset inputs of the set-reset latch.
US09966937B2

A system includes a signal generator and a signal combiner. The signal generator is configured to output a first signal having a first frequency and to output one or more signals having the first frequency and having phases shifted relative to the first signal by predetermined amounts. The signal combiner is configured to combine the first signal and the one or more signals to output a frequency multiplied second signal having a second frequency. The second frequency is greater than the first frequency.
US09966936B2

A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a scan enable (SE) inverter and a clock (CK) inverter on a substrate, a first multiplex part, and a second multiplex part. The SE inverter and the CK inverter are aligned in a first direction. The first multiplex part includes a first wiring and a first transistor, the first wiring is connected to a power supply voltage part of the SE inverter, and the first wiring and the first transistor share a source region contacting the first wiring. The second multiplex part includes a second wiring and a second transistor, the second wiring is connected to a power supply voltage part of the CK inverter, and the second wiring and the second transistor share a source region contacting the second wiring. The SE inverter and the CK inverter are aligned in a first direction to each other.
US09966933B1

A systolic FIR filter circuit includes a plurality of multipliers, a plurality of sample pre-adders, each respective one of the sample pre-adders connected to a sample input of a respective multiplier, and an output cascade adder chain including a respective output adder connected to a respective multiplier. The output cascade adder chain includes a selectable number of delays between adjacent output adders. An input sample chain has a first leg and a second leg. Each respective one of the sample pre-adders receives a respective input from the first leg and a respective input from the second leg. The input sample chain has, between adjacent sample points in at least one of the legs, a selectable number of sample delays related to the selectable number of output delays. Connections of inputs from the input sample chain to the sample pre-adders are adjusted to account for the selectable number.
US09966924B2

The invention relates to a method of automatic adjustment of a single-input-port and single-output-port tunable matching circuit, for instance a single-input-port and single-output-port tunable matching circuit coupled to an antenna of a radio transceiver. The invention also relates to an automatic tuning system using this method. The reactance of each adjustable impedance device of the tunable matching circuit is determined by at least one tuning control signal. In addition to the begin symbol and the end symbol, a flowchart of a tuning sequence comprises: a process generating initial values of the tuning control signals, which uses an open-loop control scheme using one or more real quantities depending on an impedance seen by the target port; and a process generating subsequent values of the tuning control signals, which uses a closed-loop control scheme and an extremum-seeking control algorithm.
US09966921B2

A multi-band limiter, a sound recording apparatus, and a program are provided having a multi-band limit function with a flat frequency characteristic while removing a dead zone of the multi-band limiter. A multi-band limiter is provided including an overlap filter unit (200) that divides an input sound signal into low-band, middle-band, and high-band components such that the components overlap each other between adjacent bands, limiters (202, 204, 208, 210, 214, 216) that apply a limit process to limit a level in each band, trimming filter units (206, 212, 218) that apply a trimming process to trim an overlapping signal component in each of the limit-processed components, and an adder (220) that combines and outputs the trimming-processed components.
US09966908B1

A circuit for implementing a differential input receiver is described. The circuit comprises an input circuit having a first input node and a second input node configured to receive a differential input signal; a first output circuit having a first capacitor coupled between the first input node and a first output node and a second capacitor coupled between the second input node and a second output node, wherein the first output circuit generates an output signal at the first output and the second output when the input signal is in a first frequency range; and a second output circuit comprising an amplifier having a first amplifier input coupled to the first input node and a second amplifier input coupled to the second input node, wherein the second output circuit generates an output signal when the input signal is in a second frequency range which extends lower than the first frequency range. A method of implementing a differential input receiver is also described. The circuits and methods also allow for offset compensation.
US09966889B2

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide optimized control of a three-phase AC motor. A field oriented control (FOC) arrangement uses optimization components and techniques to improve power efficiency of the motor, with fast control response over a full range of motor speeds.
US09966879B2

A system includes a hot source, a cold source, and a device thermally coupled between the hot source and the cold source. The device includes a thermal-mechanical transducer and a mechanical-electrical transducer. The thermal-mechanical transducer includes a band of bimetallic strips linked mechanically together by their longitudinal ends. The band partially suspended over a portion of a substrate. Each bimetallic strip has a first stable state having a first curvature and a second stable state having a second curvature opposite the first curvature, and adjacent bimetallic strips have opposite curvature.
US09966878B2

A method and modular system for assembling a power system architecture includes a direct current (DC) output module having a first DC input and a DC output, a common power module having a DC input/output and an alternating current (AC) input/output, an AC output module having an AC input and a first AC output, and an exciter power module having a second DC input and a second AC output.
US09966877B2

An electric power conversion device includes: a first switching element; a second switching element; a control device; a first temperature sensor; a second temperature sensor; a first transmission circuit; and a second transmission circuit, wherein the control device has a storage device, and the control device is configured to: calculate a calculated temperature using a first signal and a correction amount; control the operations of the first switching element and the second switching element based on the calculated temperature; and add the difference between a first comparison temperature and the calculated temperature to the correction amount when the control device determines that a first comparison result changes from lower than the first comparison temperature to equal to or higher than the first comparison temperature, and that the calculated temperature is lower than the first comparison temperature.
US09966866B2

A distributed power system that is connected to a utility grid during both daytime and nighttime includes a plurality of power supplies including a solar array, a non-isolated DC-DC converter that has an input terminal and an output terminal and raises, at a predetermined step-up ratio, a DC voltage input from the power supplies via the input terminal and outputs the DC voltage via the output terminal, an inverter that converts the DC voltage output from the DC-DC converter via the output terminal into an alternating current, and a potential adjustment section that adjusts a potential at a negative electrode of the solar array to a potential higher than a potential at a negative electrode of the inverter at least during nighttime.
US09966860B2

Power conversion system and method. The system includes a first capacitor including a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal, a second capacitor including a third capacitor terminal and a fourth capacitor terminal, and a plurality of diodes including a first diode, a second diode, a third diode, and a fourth diode. The first diode is coupled to the second diode at a first node, the second diode is coupled to the fourth diode at a second node, the fourth diode is coupled to the third diode at a third node, and the third diode is coupled to the first diode at a fourth node. Additionally, the system includes a fifth diode including a first anode and a first cathode and a sixth diode including a second anode and a second cathode.
US09966857B2

An AC-to-DC power converter with a BJT as a power switch can set a base current of the BJT by a current setting resistor which is in the outside of a control integrated circuit. Since an output current and a recovery current of the BJT are injected into a sensing resistor, the AC-to-DC power converter can correctly detect an inductor current thereof from the sensing resistor.
US09966854B2

In one embodiment, a synchronous rectification control method can include: (i) setting or updating a count value when a rectification switch is turned on; (ii) generating an off enable signal after a delay time corresponding to the count value has elapsed; (iii) turning off the rectification switch based on the off enable signal, and comparing a drain-source voltage of the rectification switch against a reference voltage; and (iv) generating a comparison signal for updating the count value based on the drain-source voltage and the reference voltage.
US09966846B2

A circuit can include a pair of switching devices that are coupled to an intermediate switching node and another pair of switching devices that are coupled to an output node. The circuit can further include a magnetic element that can help to store energy when the circuit transitions from a low state to a high state and release the energy when the circuit transitions from a high state to a low state. The circuit can include a control device to allow synchronous operation between the different pairs of switching devices. The magnetic element can help to reduce voltage swings at the output switching node. Thus, switching devices within each of the pairs can be optimized to allow for better performance of the circuit.
US09966845B2

A power supply unit comprises at least one first converter unit and a second converter unit. The at least one first converter unit is controlled with a first controller and supplies at a first output at least one of a first output voltage that is regulated using a first voltage regulator and an output current that is regulated using a first current regulator. The second converter unit is controlled by a second controller and supplies at a second output at least one of an output voltage that is regulated using the second voltage regulator and an output current that is regulated using a second current regulator. The first and second outputs are connected in parallel for providing a higher output power, and at least one controller includes a supervision unit for recognizing an output-side parallel connection.
US09966844B2

A switching power supply apparatus includes a step-down converter that steps down an input current by turning on/off switching elements, a switching element electrically connected between the step-down converter and voltage outputs, and a microcontroller. An input-side resistor voltage dividing circuit and an output-side resistor voltage dividing circuit including elements with the same or similar specifications are electrically connected to the input and output of the switching element, respectively. The microcontroller stores coefficients of an expression which have been externally calculated according to a voltage detected by the output-side resistor voltage dividing circuit and a voltage detected at the voltage output portions. The microcontroller corrects a measurement value of an intermediate bus voltage detected by the input-side resistor voltage dividing circuit according to an expression and the stored coefficients.
US09966830B2

A vibration motor is provided in the present disclosure. The vibration motor includes a stationary part, a vibration part and an elastic connector. The stationary part includes a housing providing an accommodating space. The vibration part is suspended within the accommodating space by the elastic connector. The stationary part includes a coil, and the vibration part includes a first magnet set and a second magnet set. The first magnet set and the second magnet set are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the coil for generating a closed magnetic loop. The first magnet set comprises a first left magnet and a first right magnet spaced apart from each other, and the second magnet set comprises a second left magnet and a second right magnet spaced apart from each other.
US09966823B2

A synchronous electric motor with permanent magnets (1, 11). The synchronous electric motor includes a wound stator (11) having axially extending stator teeth (13) formed in a frame (10), and a rotor (1) having a plurality of permanent magnets (3) extending axially in first recesses (4) of a cylinder head (2). A dimensional ratio of a first outer diameter (D1) of the rotor (1) to a second outer diameter (D2) of the stator (11) is pre-determined so that the motor provides optimum efficiency. The dimensional ratio is pre-determined in such a way that the stator losses by Joule effect are reduced to a minimum. The synchronous electric motor is employed in electric compressors for motor vehicles.
US09966818B2

A water-cooled motor may include a motor housing configured to be provided with a cooling water passage part in a circumferential direction and have one side surface provided with a radiation fin part, a stator configured to have a core wound with a coil along the cooling water passage part within the motor housing, and a rotor configured to have plates which each face a side of the stator and the radiation fin part and have one side provided with a turbulence generator in a direction of the radiation fin part side.
US09966813B2

Electric motor includes stator, rotor, a pair of bearings, outer-ring conducting part, and printed circuit board. Outer-ring conducting part electrically couples outer rings to each other that are included respectively in the pair of bearings. Printed circuit board includes drive circuit and an impedance element. Drive circuit includes ground line. Drive circuit controls an electric current that flows through stator winding. The impedance element is formed with at least not smaller than one pair of conductive patterns. One of the conductive patterns forming the impedance element is electrically coupled with outer-ring conducting part. The other of the conductive patterns forming the impedance element is electrically coupled with ground line included in drive circuit.
US09966811B2

A method for manufacturing an electric motor stator, including: attaching a hollow bracket to an end of a hollow stator core and allowing a lead connected to the winding to pass through an opening formed in a peripheral surface of the bracket to take out the lead to an outside of the bracket; placing a core material inside the stator core and the bracket; attaching a sealing member to an outer peripheral surface of the bracket so as to block the opening while allowing the lead to pass through the through-hole; and filling a molten resin into an annular space between the stator core and the core material and between the bracket and the core material, to form a resin unit.
US09966809B2

A rotor of an electrical rotating machine includes a first rotor core, a second rotor core which overlaps the first rotor core in an axial direction, a non-magnetic substance layer which is interposed between the rotor cores, and a plurality of permanent magnet portions which are embedded in each rotor core. Each of the rotor cores includes a plurality of flux barrier portions and a plurality of effectual magnetic flux portions which are alternately arranged on an outer circumferential surface thereof. The flux barrier portion of the first rotor core overlaps both of a portion of the flux barrier portion of the second rotor core and a portion of the effectual magnetic flux portion of the second rotor core in the axial direction such that, in the adjacent rotor cores, the effectual magnetic flux portions do not overlap each other in the axial direction.
US09966803B2

A wireless charging system has a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter has (i) a TX coil that wirelessly transfers power to the receiver and (ii) TX circuitry that powers the TX coil and detects receiver removal by comparing TX input power and TX power loss. The TX circuitry can determine (1) TX input power as the product of sampled TX input current and voltage and (2) TX power loss using a mapping based on sampled TX coil current. When the receiver is present, the difference between TX input power and TX power loss has a first value and when the receiver is removed, the difference has a second, lesser value. The transmitter detects removal of the receiver by determining when the difference decreases below a specified threshold level. By frequently generating and analyzing the difference, the transmitter can quickly detect receiver removal and safely power down the TX coil.
US09966799B2

An overvoltage protecting unit and an overcurrent protecting unit protect a power device from an overvoltage and an overcurrent using a comparator having hysteresis. An overtemperature protecting unit protects the power device from an overtemperature using a thermistor having a resistance that changes as a temperature of the thermistor changes.
US09966788B2

An apparatus is disclosed that includes a battery-powered switch and a switch dock. The switch includes a microcontroller, a short range wireless transmitter, one or more tactile control buttons, and one or more magnetic prongs. The magnetic prongs are contained within prong slots in a switch body. The prongs are coupled at one end to at least one spring coupled to the switch body, and the spring exerts a retracting force on the prongs when the prongs extend outwards from the switch body. The dock includes one or more metallic holes, where the number of holes matches the number of prongs. The prongs extend from the switch body and fit in the holes when brought near enough to the holes that the holes exert a magnetic force on the prongs that is stronger than the retracting force exerted on the prongs by the spring.
US09966781B2

An apparatus includes a voltage regulator to regulate a voltage from a power source and to provide an output current at an output. The apparatus further includes a battery charger, coupled to the voltage regulator, to provide a charge current. The apparatus further includes a controller to control the charge current such that the charge current is less than or equal to a current available from the power source minus the output current.
US09966776B2

An electrical arrangement includes a high-voltage battery and a number of electrical utility arrangements connected to the battery via a main switch and a downstream back-up capacitor. A discharge circuit is connected to the capacitor and has a discharge path with an ohmic discharge resistor. In normal mode no current flows in the discharge resistor. Opening the main switch effects a transition from normal mode to special mode, while the discharge path is energized and electrical energy stored in the capacitor is converted into thermal energy by the discharge resistor. The discharge circuit has a voltage converter between the high-voltage side of the capacitor and the discharge path. The voltage converter has a first semiconductor switch for discharging the capacitor clock-controlled such that an electrical output voltage at the discharge path constantly has a rated value so long as a capacitor voltage at the capacitor is above the rated value.
US09966775B2

A method for managing a rechargeable battery. The method includes a computer processor identifying a rechargeable battery within a first device. The method further includes a computer processor identifying a battery maintenance policy associated with the rechargeable battery. The method further includes a computer processor determining a first set of models for implementing the identified battery maintenance policy on the identified rechargeable battery based on the identified battery maintenance policy and one or more environmental factors corresponding to the first device. The method further includes a computer processor installing the first set of models in the first device. The method further includes a computer processor performing an intervention action based, at least in part, on a current state of the first set of models and one or more current environmental factors corresponding to the first device.
US09966768B2

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device including: a first buffer amplifier into which a voltage of a high potential side of one battery cell selected from plural battery cells that are connected in series is input; a second buffer amplifier into which a voltage of a low potential side of the one battery cell other than a lowermost stage battery cell is input; an analog level shifter into which a voltage output from the first buffer amplifier and a voltage output from, the buffer amplifier are input; a first switch that switches a voltage input to the analog level shifter from the voltage output from the second buffer amplifier to a reference voltage; and a second switch that switches a voltage input to the first buffer amplifier from the voltage of the high potential side of the one battery cell to the reference voltage.
US09966767B2

A charge control device uses external electricity to charge a plurality of battery devices. A constant current source uses the external electricity to generate and adjust an output current amount to a constant target value. A selector selects one battery device from the plurality of battery devices and supplies output current from the constant current source to the one battery device. A measurer measures an amount of actual current flowing from the constant current source to the one battery device. An instructor monitors a measured value provided by the measurer and instructs the selector, when the measured value meets a condition for a reduction of charging current amount to be regarded as having occurred, to change a destination to which the output current of the constant current source is supplied from the one battery device to a different battery device.
US09966757B2

An over-voltage protection circuit for executing an over-voltage protection for a LED module of an electronic device. The over-voltage protection circuit includes a control unit and an over-voltage detection module, a trigger module and an adjustment module. The LED module includes a positive input port. The over-voltage detection module detects a voltage of the positive input port of the LED module and produce a detection voltage proportional to the voltage of the positive input port. The control unit controls the LED module to work or do not work according to the detection voltage. The trigger module produces corresponding trigger signals according to a 2D signal or a 3D signal output by a 2D/3D signal port. The adjustment module adjusts the proportion between the detection voltage and the voltage of the positive input port according to the trigger signal.
US09966756B2

A thermal power generation apparatus includes a control circuit that selects a single operation mode from among a plurality of modes including a normal mode and a specific mode on the basis of a voltage in a commercial system. The normal mode is an operation mode in which alternating-current power output from an inverter is adjusted so that a direct-current voltage in a direct-current power line follows a target voltage. The specific mode is an operation mode in which direct-current power absorbed by an electric power absorber and/or the amount of heat per unit time supplied to a heat engine are/is adjusted so that the direct-current voltage follows the target voltage.
US09966752B2

A recessed, deployable ceiling box assembly includes a ceiling frame-mounting member and a ceiling box member, a support member for securing the ceiling frame-mounting member to a ceiling structural member and one or more connector members for attaching the ceiling box member to the ceiling frame-mounting member. The ceiling box member is deployable from a retracted position, where the ceiling box member is retained within the ceiling frame-mounting member at or above the height of the ceiling, to a deployed position, where the ceiling box member hangs by the connector member below the height of the ceiling. A door may be used to cover the contents of the deployable ceiling box assembly.
US09966746B1

Electric boxes and hanging brackets and more particularly adjustable electric boxes with parallel rails for connection with reciprocal parallel grooves in a hanging bracket that is configured to connect to a support, for example, a wall stud.
US09966744B2

A hollow cover boot formed of an elastomeric material includes, in merging succession, a cable collar, a main section, a transition section, and an interconnection section, wherein the main section has a diameter greater than the cable collar and the interconnection section, and the transition section tapers between the main section and the cable collar.
US09966743B1

A system is provided which carries cables isolated from each other and isolated from a tower which carries antennas for the cables. The system includes a support plate carried near the top of the tower which carries strain relief devices for gripping each cable. A plurality of guide plates are spaced along the tower and each plate carries inserts which provide apertures of a predetermined size to match the size of the cable passing therethrough. The apertures are spaced from each other and spaced from the tower. An additional plate is attached to the tower near the bottom thereof and is provided with connector assemblies so that the cables may be attached to a send/receive unit.
US09966742B2

An apparatus for processing a cable including an insulating member, a shielding layer, and a conductor, the apparatus includes a frame forming a housing having an aperture configured to receive an end portion of the cable; a first gripping member disposed within the housing and being configured to grip the cable; and a second gripping member disposed within the housing and being configured to grip the cable; wherein the second gripping member is mounted within the housing so as to be movable relative to the first gripping member to effect fanning and cutting of a portion of the shielding layer.
US09966738B2

The disclosure describes a frame profile for a frame rack of a service cabinet, consisting of an outer profile part manufactured from a first material, wherein the outer profile part forms at least a first wall of the frame profile which partially limits a hollow chamber; and of an inner profile part manufactured from a second material which differs from the first material by at least one quality, wherein the inner profile part forms at least one other wall of the hollow chamber.
US09966729B2

A laser light source module includes: a plate-shaped stem; a power supply lead pin having an upper end protruding from an upper surface being one of main surfaces of the stem and a lower end penetrating to extend toward a lower surface side, the lower surface being the other of the main surface of the stem; a block fixed to the upper surface of the stem; a submount substrate that is fixed to a surface of the block and includes the semiconductor laser array mounted thereon, the surface being parallel to the upper surface of the stem; the semiconductor laser array located on the submount substrate such that a light emitting direction is parallel to the upper surface of the stem; and a collimator lens array that is located on a front surface of the semiconductor laser array and converts an output light beam of the semiconductor laser array into a parallel light beam.
US09966728B2

Improved Raman Fiber Laser (RFL) generators may include a mid-infrared fiber, e.g., a fiber comprising a tellurite glass, a chalcogenide glass, a fluoride glass, or similar material. A phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating may be inscribed in the fiber. A pump laser generator may be coupled with the fiber in order to supply a pump laser to the fiber. When stimulated by the pump laser, the RFL generator may emit an output laser having a mid-infrared wavelength. A tuner may be used to tune the output laser.
US09966722B1

An internally switched fiber laser amplifier is disclosed and claimed. The switch is integrated directly into the fiber amplifier, so that the output power from each fiber amplifier can be switched between N selectable output fibers with minimal (approx. 1%) loss. The switch may be a close coupled pump switch, a spherical mirror or a planar mirror. The fiber laser amplifier may switch both pump and source lights, or may switch only the pump light then combine it with the source light before sending it to a gain amplifier.
US09966721B2

The laser system may include first and second laser apparatuses and a beam delivery device. The first laser apparatus may be provided so as to emit a first laser beam to the beam delivery device in a first direction. The second laser apparatus may be provided so as to emit a second laser beam to the beam delivery device in a direction substantially parallel to the first direction. The beam delivery device may be configured to bundle the first and second laser beams and to emit the first and second laser beams from the beam delivery device to a beam delivery direction different from the first direction.
US09966719B1

A method for electrically insulating a connector module mounted on a printed circuit board assembly, the method including coating a first portion of a piece of sheet metal with an insulation material, forming the piece of sheet metal into a metal frame, wherein a second portion of the piece of sheet metal not coated with the insulation material is formed into a grounding pin, assembling the connector module, wherein components of the connector module include the metal frame, a housing, and a set of external pins, and mounting the connector module on a printed circuit board to form a printed circuit board assembly, wherein the set of external pins are electrically connected to a corresponding set of vias on the printed circuit board, and the grounding pin is electrically connected to a ground on the printed circuit board.
US09966713B1

A receptacle assembly for a vehicle-trailer wiring connector assembly includes a receptacle housing, a housing opening, a first receptacle connector, and a second receptacle connector. The receptacle housing includes a first cavity extending from a first end to a central structure. The housing opening is defined at the first end. The first cavity and the housing opening are shaped to enable insertion of a plug assembly constructed to comply with the Society of Automotive Engineers J2863 standard. A first portion of the first receptacle connector extends from the central structure into the first cavity. The first receptacle connector is sized such that the first receptacle connector is configured to be inserted into a connector cavity of the plug assembly. The second receptacle connector is disposed and positioned on an interior surface of the first cavity and is contactable within the first cavity.
US09966711B2

A communication plug having a plug body and a plurality of contact pairs at least partially within the plug body, the contact pairs including an inherent asymmetric coupling between individual contacts of one of the contact pairs and other individual contacts of another of the contact pairs. Second asymmetric coupling elements are connected between the individual contacts of one of the contact pairs and the other individual contacts of another of the contact pairs. The second asymmetric coupling elements, when combined with the inherent asymmetric coupling, provide a balanced symmetric coupling between the individual contacts of one of the contact pairs and the other individual contacts of another of the contact pairs.
US09966707B2

A device for fastening an attached part, in particular in the form of a motor vehicle antenna, to a fitting wall provided with a fitting opening, in the form of a bodywork metal sheet. Tensioning structure is located in a region of the fitting opening and is arranged to secure the attached part relative to the fitting wall.
US09966704B2

A fixing structure of a shield connector includes a housing, a shield shell, a protector and a protector engaged part on an electric wire leading-out part side of the protector. In the housing, an electric wire is configured to be led out from one end side in a direction intersecting a fitting direction in a state that the other end side is fitted to a device side connector. The shield shell is configured to be electrically connected and fixed to a shield case of the device so as to cover the housing. The protector is attached to the electric wire leading-out part side in the shield shell so as to cover the electric wire. The protector engaged part is configured to be engaged with and disengaged from a protector engaging part on the shield case in the same direction as the fitting direction.
US09966700B2

An integrated data and security cable couples to a portable information handling system with pins engaged at pin guides formed in the system housing on opposing sides of a data port. At least one pin selectively locks and unlocks in the pin guide to secure the system to a fixture, such as a desktop. The locking pin releases from the cable side with a key or combination or, alternatively, releases from the information handling system, such as under control of an embedded controller or other security system.
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