Nextblockbuster wrote "I wonder if this patent issuance was a catalyst for a pending upcoming deal?"

You could be right Nextblockbuster. My notes paraphrased from the Zenith December 2016 Annual Meeting:

Several patents, a dozen or more, at various stages of examination and issuance. Followed a new process in a US Fast track patent approach that was granted in March 2016. You break down patent into most important component and you put that through the fast track…... something finalized Q1 2017. The rest of it, the divisional patent the rest of patent will go normal process and this can take 3 years. Need published patent to get a licensing deal over the finish line in China. Once you have fast track approved, the follow on patents in subsequent other countries happen very fast.