Article carrier for a grading apparatus

US Patent 9,446,433
September 20, 2016
An article carrier (100) has a mounting portion (1) adapted for connection to a conveyor. A connecting member (4) is rotatably connected to the mounting portion (1) and is rotatable relative to the mounting portion (1) about a first axis of rotation (R1). A carrier portion (3) is rotatably connected to the connecting member (4) and is rotatable relative to the connecting member (4) about a second axis of rotation (R2), wherein the first axis of rotation (R1) is spaced apart from the second axis of rotation (R2). A releasably lockable carrier support means (5) is provided to support the carrier portion (3) in a carriage position when in a locked state, and to allow rotation of the carrier portion (3) to a discharge position when in an unlocked state.

Seek and find location method, system and apparatus

US Patent 9,451,407
September 20, 2016
Methods, systems, and apparatus for locating the seek and find RF device are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a seek and find RF device receives a first RF cell phone signal from a requesting party device, wherein the first RF cell phone signal includes at least a location query requesting location information of the seek and find RF device, and wherein the location query is directed to the seek and find RF device using a mobile device identifier. The seek and find RF device receives at least three GPS satellite signals and determines a location of the seek and find RF device based upon the at least three GPS satellite signals. The seek and find RF device then transmits a second RF cell phone signal, wherein the second RF cell phone signal includes the determined location, and wherein the second RF cell phone signal is directed to the requesting party device using a device identifier.

Intravascular ultrasound catheter

US Patent 9,445,784
September 20, 2016
An intravascular ultrasound catheter may include a central lumen adapted to receive a drive shaft bearing an ultrasound transducer. The intravascular ultrasound catheter may in some instances exhibit improved flexibility. The catheter can include an inner polymeric layer, an outer polymeric layer and a spiral-cut hypotube that is positioned between the inner polymeric layer and the outer polymeric layer.

Management of stimulation safety limits in a neurostimulation system

US Patent 9,440,079
September 13, 2016
A neurostimulation system for management of stimulation safety limits. The system determines a tissue charge injection metric at each electrode, compares the metric to the hard stop charge limit, and prevents the neurostimulator from delivering stimulation energy to the tissue region in accordance based on the comparison. The hard stop limit may be user-programmable or may be automatically modified in response to detection of electrode characteristics. The system may quantitatively notify a user of a value of the injected charge injected into the tissue. The electrodes may be organized into different sets, in which case, the system may directly control tissue charge independently at each of the electrode sets. If current steering is provided, the system may displace the electrical stimulation energy along the tissue region in one direction, while preventing the charge injection value at each of the electrodes from meeting or exceeding the hard stop charge limit.

Apparatus, systems and methods for quick speed presentation of media content

US Patent 9,445,144
September 13, 2016
Media content quick speed presentation systems and methods are operable to present selected portions of a media content stream at a quick speed presentation rate. An exemplary embodiment receives the media content stream; identifies a normal speed scene in the received media content, wherein the normal speed scene is presented at a normal speed presentation rate; and identifies a quick speed scene in the received media content, wherein the quick speed scene is presented at a quick speed presentation rate.

System and method for maximising thermal efficiency of a power plant

US Patent 9,436,168
September 13, 2016
A method for maximizing thermal efficiency of a power plant, the method comprising obtaining the current state of the plant from available measured data; obtaining a set of Variables representing a current state of the power plant; applying a set of constraints to the Variables; generating a revised set of Variables representing a revised state of the power plant; and testing the revised set of Variables within a mathematical model for convergence. Generating the revised set of Variable is based at least partly on: Euler’s equation, the conservation of mass equation, and a mathematical description of a reversible continuum. There are also provided a related power plant thermal efficiency maximization system and computer program.

Online social referral network

US Patent 9,438,691
September 13, 2016
Embodiments are directed to users viewing and referring cards of content to other users. A user may refer a card by endorsing the card. By friending other users, users form a social network. Thus, a user may refer a card to friends, friends of friends, and other users. Cards may include one or more card tallies that are specific to a particular user. Card tallies may refer to the number of friends, of the particular user, that have endorsed the card, the number of friends of friends that have endorsed the card, and other users that have endorsed the card. By viewing the card tallies, the particular user may determine a utility of the card based on the number of the user’s friends that have endorsed the card, the number of friends of friends that have endorsed the card, and the number of other users that have endorsed the card.

Implantable medical device having electromagnetic interference filter device to reduce pocket tissue

US Patent 9,433,782
September 6, 2016
An active implantable medical device (AIMD) for use with a medical lead carrying at least one lead electrode. The AIMD comprises interior electronic circuitry configured for performing a medical function via the medical lead, an electrically conductive case containing the interior electronic circuitry, at least one electrical terminal configured for electrically coupling the electronic circuitry respectively to the lead electrode(s), and an inductive element coupled in series between the electrical terminal(s) and the case. The inductive element is configured for hindering the shunting of electrical current from the at least one electrical terminal to the case that has been induced by electromagnetic interference (EMI) impinging on the medical lead.

Building block construction system

US Patent 9,433,872
September 6, 2016
A building system includes blocks having first and second side surfaces that are perpendicular to a common plane defining a subtended angle, couplers and receivers are defined in the first and second side surfaces such that chains of blocks may be coupled to one another in rows forming closed loops or non-closed chains. Rows may be coupled together by engaging core links with a block in each row and with a core rod passing through each row. Blocks in each row may include a peg and aperture engaging a corresponding aperture and peg in adjacent rows to facilitate alignment. Core rods threadably secure to other cord rods, slanted blocks, caps, and other feature blocks in order to capture a stack of rows in engagement with the core rods. Blocks including decorative features and forming parts of pivoting joints may also be included within a row.

Twist-fold containers

US Patent 9,433,311
September 6, 2016
Twist-fold containers include wires that are pivotally connected to channels formed in the containers. Using a twisting motion, the containers including the wires are collapsed. The collapsing, twisting motion is produced though the use of wires that are displaced in a plurality of locations along the circumference of the container. The wires include horizontal sections that are configured to be retained in the base or rim of the container in a manner that permits them to rotate to transition the container between expanded and collapsed positions.