| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09036567B2 |
Logical channel mapping for increased utilization of transmission resources
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer readable storage media, for increasing utilization of transmission resources by mapping data from a block of layered codec data onto a plurality of logical channels for transmission of the mapped data. Resource utilization may also be improved by mapping data from at least two layers of a block of layered of codec data onto a logical channel that supports only a single data channel carried by a transmit modulation scheme. |
| US09036562B2 |
Method for transmitting ACK/NACK signal in wireless communication system applied carrier aggregation and apparatus therefor
A method for transmitting Acknowledgement/Negative-Acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) state information in a wireless communication system, the method including receiving, by a user equipment (UE), multiple transmission blocks through multiple downlink component carriers from a base station (BS); transmitting, by the UE, multiple transmission block ACK/NACK state information through a single uplink component carrier to the BS. The multiple transmission block ACK/NACK state information indicates at least two different numbers of ACK responses among ACK/NACK responses corresponding to each of the multiple transmission blocks. |
| US09036558B2 |
Base station initiated proximity service discovery and connection establishment
The normal roles of wireless stations and wireless access points in initiating the establishment of wireless connections may be reversed without the need for changes in the network interfaces for either the station or access point device. This capability may be used to allow wireless devices acting as access points, but on which service clients operate, to initiate the establishment of a connection with a station, on which a wireless service provider operates. Discovery of services between wireless devices can be provided prior to establishing a connection between the devices. A service client device providing access point functionality may broadcast an invitation for service advertisements and then receive service advertisements from relevant service providers acting as wireless stations. An information element may be included as part of periodically broadcast administrative messages to wirelessly convey an invitation for service advertisements. In response to a service advertisement, the access point may send to the wireless station an invitation to connect, prompting the wireless station to begin to establish a connection according to a wireless communication protocol. |
| US09036552B2 |
Intelligent inter radio access technology measurement reporting
A user equipment (UE) may scale down a signal strength of a radio access technology (RAT) cell in a report to a serving cell to avoid multiple connection attempts to the same radio access technology cell. The UE may initiate a predefined timer, called a target cell timer, on which the scaling down of the reported signal strength of the particular RAT cell is based. The timer is initiated when the UE returns back to the serving cell after failure to access a top ranked RAT neighbor cell. |
| US09036548B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for controlling access to a radio access network
The present disclosure presents apparatuses and methods of accessing a communication network including obtaining extended access barring (EAB) data at a user equipment (UE), wherein the EAB data comprises an EAB uniform delay parameter, computing a uniform distribution parameter, determining an access bar period, wherein the access bar period is based on at least the EAB uniform delay parameter and the uniform distribution parameter, and initiating an access procedure to access the communication network after waiting at least the access bar period. Additionally, apparatuses and methods associated with a network apparatus controlling access to the communication network are also disclosed. |
| US09036545B2 |
Exchanging presence information in a communications network
The disclosure relates to decentralized presence management within a communications system performed at a user device. An embodiment of the disclosure comprises selectively updating at least one frequency at which the user device transmits presence update messages to one or more other user devices that belong to a contact group associated with the user device. The embodiment further comprises transmitting one or more presence update messages in accordance with the selectively updated frequency. Another embodiment of the disclosure comprises obtaining a subset of contacts of a subscriber operating the user device that form a presence update group. The embodiment further comprises identifying a plurality of sub-groups within the presence update group based on priorities of the subset of contacts. The embodiment further comprises transmitting one or more presence update messages to less than all of the identified plurality of sub-groups. |
| US09036543B2 |
Mobile terminal apparatus and radio base station apparatus when carrier aggregation aggregating multiple component carriers is performed
A mobile terminal apparatus and radio base station apparatus supporting each of a plurality of mobile communication systems when the plurality of mobile communication systems coexists is disclosed, wherein the mobile terminal apparatus is a mobile terminal apparatus in a radio communication system for performing transmission and reception in uplink and downlink, each assigned to a relatively wide system band obtained by aggregating a plurality of component carriers, each of which is a relatively narrow system band, and has coding and data modulation sections that perform coding and data modulation on uplink control signals including report information of individual component carriers assigned to downlink, and mapping sections that map the control signals subjected to coding and data modulation to uplink communication channels. |
| US09036542B2 |
Method for feeding back ACK/NACK for downlink data transmission in radio communication system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for feeding back ACK/NACK for downlink data transmission in a radio communication system. The method is applied on a mobile terminal and includes the following steps: receiving downlink data, calculating, with respect to each Compenent Carrier (CC), a number of ACKs of ACK/NACK information of downlink data sub-frames of the CC, and feeding back numbers of ACKs of the ACK/NACK information of the downlink data sub-frames of CCs. |
| US09036536B2 |
Multi-hop booster
A two-way wireless repeater and booster system and method are disclosed. The system and method improve signal quality and strength for the middle hop of a three-hop repeater, between User and Network Units operating in the unlicensed bands (ISM and/or UNII), and supporting the cellular (or wireless) network communications channels. The system and method enables the support of a wider repeat spectrum or bandwidth for a given communications bandwidth in the unlicensed band. |
| US09036535B2 |
Mobile communication method, radio base station, and relay node to avoid interference in a random access procedure
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes a step of transmitting, by a radio base station DeNB, “RA Response” to a mobile station UE within a “RA Response window” for the mobile station UE when “RA Preamble” is received from the mobile station UE, a step of transmitting, by a relay node RN, a signal to the mobile station UE in a subframe other than an MBSFN subframe, and a step of transmitting, by the radio base station DeNB, “RA Response” to the relay node RN in an MBSFN subframe of a “RA Response window” for the relay node RN when “RA Preamble” is received from the relay node RN. |
| US09036533B2 |
Wireless communication system, and base station and relay station for the wireless communication system
A wireless communication system is disclosed. The wireless communication system comprises a core network, a base station and a relay station. The relay station transmits a first message with a system resource information of the relay station to the base station. The base station generates a configuration pattern according to the system resource information of the relay station, and transmits a second message with the configuration pattern to the relay station. The configuration pattern is used to divide the radio resource unit of the wireless communication system into a first set and a second set. Therefore, the base station transmits a first signal to the relay station through the first set, and the relay station transfers a second signal with a user equipment through the second set. |
| US09036527B2 |
System, method and computer readable medium for re-connecting to a zigbee network
An end device on a Zigbee network exits a power saving mode and transmits a wake notification message to the network. The network retrieves a cached status flag indicating whether the end device is defined on the Zigbee network and transmits the status flag to the end device. If the end device is undefined on the Zigbee network, the end device attempts to re-join the network. During the power saving mode, the network can cache messages intended for the end device and transmit the messages to the end device when the device exits the power saving mode. |
| US09036526B2 |
Voice state assisted frame early termination
The present disclosure presents a method and apparatus for reducing power consumption during a voice communication in a user equipment (UE). For example, the method may include receiving a plurality of frames associated with the voice communication. Further, such an example method may include determining whether a frame pattern based at least on the received plurality of frames corresponds to a transition from a speech burst period to a non-speech period, and disabling a portion of a receiver subsystem at the UE for at least a portion of a frame associated with the non-speech period. As such, the power consumption in a UE may be reduced. |
| US09036525B2 |
Packet transmission method and apparatus of mobile terminal
A method and an apparatus for transmitting a packet used in establishing or maintaining a connection with a server are provided. The method includes determining, when a current time is a packet transmission of at least one network service application of the mobile terminal, whether at least one other network service application having an adjustable packet transmission schedule with a packet transmission after the current time exists, adjusting, when the at least one other network service application exists, the adjustable packet transmission schedule to synchronize the packet transmission occasions of the at least one network service application with the at least one other network service application, and simultaneously transmitting a packet of the network service application having the packet transmission occasion at the current time and a packet of the at least one other network service application of which packet transmission schedule is adjusted. |
| US09036524B2 |
Method and apparatus for sending control signaling
A method of signaling is disclosed. A terminal receives downlink control signaling from a base station and sends an uplink packet to the base station. The uplink packet is sent according to the received downlink control signaling. The downlink control signaling includes a field that includes N bits. The field itself is dynamically indicative of one of a payload size or a redundancy version such that the field itself is indicative of the payload size if a packet that the terminal will send to a base station is an initial transmission and the field itself is indicative of the redundancy version if the packet that the terminal will send to the base station is a retransmission. |
| US09036520B2 |
Multiplexing of control and data with varying power offsets in a SC-FDMA system
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate multiplexing of control information and data for common transmission in a localized FDM wireless communication system. Localized FDM transmission of control and data channels can be achieved by, for example, multiplexing control information with data and transmitting the control information and data using resources and transmission schemes specified for transmission of the data. To ensure the reliability of control information multiplexed with data, a power offset can be applied to the control information to provide varying protection levels for the control information based on properties of the data resources into which it is embedded in order to maintain a predetermined signal quality for the control information independent of the data resources. |
| US09036516B2 |
Method and system for adaptive allocation of feedback resources for CQI and transmit pre-coding
In transmit pre-coding, a bandwidth and a feedback period to one or more CQI reporting units and a bandwidth and a feedback period to one or more PMI reporting units are assigned, respectively. Sub-divisions in time and/or frequency corresponding to the assigned bandwidths and the assigned feedback periods are dynamically adjusted based at least on uplink channel state information corresponding to the bandwidth and the feedback period assigned to the CQI reporting units, and the bandwidth and the feedback period assigned to the PMI reporting units. One or more feedback messages are generated based at least on the channel state information over the adjusted sub-divisions in time and/or frequency corresponding to the CQI reporting units and to the PMI reporting units, respectively. The bandwidth and/or the feedback period may be assigned based on the channel state information or as a function of a feedback rate. |
| US09036514B2 |
Systems and methods for combining signals from multiple active wireless receivers
Systems and methods for combining signals from multiple active wireless receivers are discussed herein. An exemplary system comprises a first downconverter, a phase comparator, a phase adjuster, and a second downconverter. The first downconverter may be configured to downconvert a received signal from a first antenna to an intermediate frequency to create an intermediate frequency signal. The phase comparator may be configured to mix the received signal and a downconverted signal to create a mixed signal, compare a phase of the mixed signal to a predetermined phase, and generate a phase control signal based on the comparison, the downconverted signal being associated with the received signal from the first antenna. The phase adjuster may be configured to alter the phase of the intermediate frequency signal based on the phase control signal. The second downconverter may be configured to downconvert the phase-shifted intermediate frequency signal to create an output signal. |
| US09036506B2 |
Trill shortest path first implementation
A shortest path first (SPF) computation in a distributed network may be performed efficiently by performing the SPF computation in stages. Rather than perform a new SPF computation every time a change occurs affecting a link state within the distributed network, a routing protocol may identify the change and determine if the impact to the link state necessarily needs the new SPF computation. For example, a predetermined list of events may identify changes that may not necessarily impact the SPF value(s) currently associated with the distributed network. Embodiments disclosed may avoid computation of the new SPF for changes to the link state thus managing network system resources more efficiently. |
| US09036499B2 |
Multi-protocol telecommunications routing optimization
A telecommunications switching system employing multi-protocol routing optimization which utilizes predetermined and measured parameters in accordance with a set of user priorities in determining the selection of a telecommunications path to be utilized for transmitting a data file to a remote destination. The switching system has a first memory for storing the data file to be transferred, a second memory for storing predetermined parameters such as cost data associated with each of the telecommunications paths, a third memory for storing a set of user priorities regarding the transmission of data files, and means for measuring the value of variable parameters such as file transfer speed associated with each of the telecommunications paths. Processor means are operatively associated with the second and third memories and the variable parameter measuring means for determining which of the plurality of telecommunications paths should be utilized for transferring the data file in accordance with the set of user priorities, the predetermined telecommunications path parameters, and the measured variable parameters. The switching system further comprises input means for allowing a user to change the user priorities in the third memory prior to transmitting a file. |
| US09036497B2 |
Mobile video streaming enhancement in a network coding-capable wireless network
A method of mobile video streaming according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes three parts. The first part is for AP to measure the information of all clients such as ETX (Expected Transmission count metric) and RSSI (Receive Signal Strength Indicator) periodically for long-term channel quality and mobility patterns of each client. In the second part, AP estimates the buffer status, short-term channel quality, and mobility detection of each client based on only feedback from the target client and first part result. And lastly, AP performs a practical online scheduling to select the best network code set satisfying high Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), a standard metric of video quality, during a GoP (Group of Picture) at all clients based on I-frame priority. |
| US09036496B2 |
Devices and methods for facilitating overhead message updates in wireless communications systems
Access terminals are adapted to facilitate reception of overhead messages. According to one example, an access terminal can determine whether it is at least substantially stationary. The access terminal may receive one or more sequence numbers corresponding to a subsequent overhead message. In response to being at least substantially stationary, the access terminal can ignore the subsequent overhead message when the corresponding sequence numbers are the same as stored sequence numbers corresponding to a previously obtained overhead message, even when the previously obtained overhead message is more than six hundred seconds old. According to another example, a network node may transmit an overhead message including a corresponding sector indicator and sequence numbers. When the sector indicator and the sequence numbers are the same as a previously received and stored sector indicator and sequence numbers, the access terminal can ignore the overhead message. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included. |
| US09036490B2 |
Radio relay apparatus and control method
A radio relay apparatus 100 used in a radio communication system in which a radio base station 200 transmits abase station preamble signal at a predetermined timing includes a control unit 130 that controls a service-side radio communication unit 120S that performs radio communication with the radio terminal, the base station preamble signal being a radio signal to be used by a radio terminal to establish synchronization. The service-side radio communication unit 120S transmits a relay station preamble signal at a timing different from the predetermined timing, the relay station preamble signal being a radio signal to be used by the radio terminal to establish synchronization. The control unit 130 controls the service-side radio communication unit 120S so that at the predetermined timing, the service-side radio communication unit 120S transmits a preamble mask signal that is a radio signal to disturb the base station preamble signal. |
| US09036487B2 |
Serial networking fiber optic inflight entertainment system network configuration
Serial networking dedicated fiber optic inflight entertainment (IFE) systems, methods therefor and components thereof, that exhibit improved configuration and failover attributes through implementation of novel network configuration protocols. In some aspects of the invention, such an IFE system comprises a plurality of head end line replaceable units (HE-LRUs) and a plurality of serial networking line replaceable units (SN-LRUs), wherein each of the SN-LRUs individually detects that a closed system network has been formed between the plurality of HE-LRUs and the plurality of SN-LRUs based on a plurality of packets sourced by at least one of the HE-LRUs and received on a plurality of ports of each of the SN-LRUs, and wherein in response to detecting that the closed system network has been formed one of the SN-LRUs blocks one of its ports based on further detecting that the SN-LRU is a middle SN-LRU. |
| US09036485B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing client cooperation transmission through a group resource allocation scheme in a wireless access system
The present description relates to a method for performing client cooperation transmission through a group resource allocation (GRA) scheme in a wireless access system, comprising the following steps: receiving a group configuration message, including client group information, from a base station, wherein said group configuration message further includes client cooperation-enabled information that indicates whether or not the client group is concerned with the client cooperation transmission; determining whether or not to participate in the client cooperation by means of the client cooperation-enabled information; and transmitting the result of the determination on whether or not to participate in the client cooperation to the base station. |
| US09036483B2 |
Mobile communication method and radio base station
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes a step of setting, by a radio base station eNB#10, when a subframe designated by a pattern of ABS, the pattern being notified by a radio base station eNB#1, matches a subframe set as an MBSFN subframe, the matching subframe as an MBSFN subframe used for “eICIC”. |
| US09036481B1 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive packet load balancing
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for packet load balancing. The method includes determining at an ingress node of a switching system that an initial packet belongs to a new packet flow going to an egress node of the switching system, determining real-time congestion status of a plurality of paths to the egress node based on received congestion information of nodes on the plurality of paths, and selecting a path from the plurality of paths for switching the initial packet and subsequent packets of the new packet flow based on the real-time congestion status. |
| US09036480B2 |
Method and apparatus for sharing TCAP traffic load
The present invention relates to a point code emulation apparatus and method for dividing a Common Channel Signaling System No. 7 (or SS7) signaling network into two or more networks. The point code emulator is adapted to receive TCAP messages from two or more subnets and converts, for the messages crossing over the subnets, the information of the TCAP messages, including originating point code, destination point code, and transaction identifier, (and optionally, calling party number and called party number), and forwards to the other one of the two or more subnets. Correspondence among the two or more subnets may be provisioned by an authorized user of the system, may be learned automatically by the system based on ISUP message correspondences or previous TCAP transactions, or may be automatically discovered by the system broadcasting messages to nodes in the destined one of the two or more subnets. |
| US09036478B2 |
Securing transmit openings by the requester
Techniques for securing transmit opening help enhance the operation of a station that employs the technique. The techniques may facilitate low latency response to a protocol data requester, for instance. The techniques provide ways for the protocol data requester to provide additional time for the protocol data responder to obtain the needed response data for the protocol data requester. One way in which this can be done is by intelligently lengthing the protocol request transmitted by the protocol requester. |
| US09036477B2 |
Virtual private network to label switched path mapping
A method, a device, and a storage medium provide for storing an extended forwarding information base that includes path values that indicate paths to route traffic, wherein the paths include optimal and sub-optimal paths based on a shortest path metric; receiving a traffic flow; inspecting the traffic flow; selecting a next hop and one of the path values associated with the next hop based on the inspecting; identifying one or more paths to route the traffic flow in accordance with one or more paths indicated by the one of the path values; and transmitting the traffic flow along the one or more paths toward a destination. |
| US09036474B2 |
Communication available transport network bandwidth to L2 ethernet nodes
Various embodiments relate to a communications system and related method of advertising available bandwidth capacities of leased links. After leasing a link to an operator device, a provider or operator may monitor the available capacity of the leased link and generate an advertising frame when the actual available capacity is below the defined leased capacity of the link. The advertising frame may be an L2 Ethernet frame in a form similar to the routing protocol used in the communications network to avoid additional strain and complexity in the network due to additional protocols for traffic engineering. After propagating the new information throughout the network using the advertising frame operator devices may redirect or shape their traffic of data in response to the updated available capacity on the leased link. |
| US09036470B2 |
System and method for virtual private application networks
A system and method for virtual private application networks includes receiving a first packet associated with a first network flow at a network device, determining one or more first characteristics of the first network flow based on information associated with the first packet, determining one or more second characteristics of a first virtual private application network (VPAN) based on information associated with the one or more first characteristics, assigning the first network flow to the first VPAN, selecting one or more first network switching devices to be associated with the first VPAN, and transmitting one or more first flow control messages to the selected one or more first network switching devices. The one or more first flow control messages provide forwarding instructions for network traffic associated with the first network flow to the selected one or more first network switching devices. |
| US09036468B1 |
Flow congestion management
Systems, methods, and devices are described for flow congestion management. A series of packets may be received at a routing or other device. A group of active flows may be identified from the received series of packets. A determination may be made that the measured rate associated with the group of active flows exceeds a blocking threshold. Flows to be blocked may be selected using a blocking criteria. Packets associated with the blocked flows may then be discarded, while packets of unblocked flows may be forwarded for distribution. The rate for the group may be monitored, and flows may be selected for unblocking using unblocking criteria. |
| US09036462B2 |
Internet group management protocol version three for quality of service support
The disclosure includes a method comprising: receiving, by a first network element, a first communication from a client device, wherein the first communication comprises a multicast channel membership query report and QoS data. The disclosure also includes a method comprising: receiving, by a first network element, a first communication from a client device, wherein the first communication comprises a multicast channel membership query report and QoS data. The disclosure also includes an apparatus comprising: a client device connected to a network element and a network via the first network element, wherein the client device is configured to send a multicast channel membership report indicating the client device wishes to receive a multicast channel communication and indicating requested QoS data relating to the multicast channel communication. |
| US09036457B2 |
Information storage medium, reproducing method, and recording method
A machine readable information storage medium, a reproducing method and apparatus which reproduces data from the storage medium, and a recording method and apparatus for recording data on the storage medium. The information storage medium includes a control area which stores within a data structure information usable by the recording or reproducing apparatus to record or reproduce the data on or from the storage medium. The information stored within the data structure includes a version corresponding to a specification. |
| US09036456B2 |
Optical device, magnetic head, manufacturing method, and near-field light device
An near-field light device (100) is provided with: a first electrode layer (123) having a protruding portion (123a); a second electrode layer (121); and a light emitting layer (122), the protruding portion protrudes along a predetermined direction (Y axis direction) to be capable of extracting energy which is caused by emission of light at the light emitting layer, the predetermined direction intersects with a laminated direction (X axis direction) of the near-field light device, an edge surface of at least one portion of the projection portion is located at more outward side in the optical device than an edge surface of the second electrode layer is. |
| US09036453B2 |
Obstacle detection device
An obstacle detection device includes one or more emitter ultrasonic sensors, each emitting an ultrasonic wave toward an obstacle, and one or more detection ultrasonic sensors for reception, each detecting a reflected wave from the obstacle. A control unit drives a specific one of the emitter ultrasonic sensors to cause it to emit an ultrasonic wave, stops the emission of the ultrasonic wave by the specific emitter ultrasonic sensor at the time that one of the detection ultrasonic sensors detects a reflected wave from the obstacle, and carries out detection of the obstacle and measurement of the distance to the obstacle from the time that the control unit stops the emission of the ultrasonic wave by the emitter ultrasonic sensor and the time that the reflected wave cannot be detected anymore. |
| US09036443B2 |
Integrated circuit device
A booster circuit is configured, such that: in response to a reading request for reading data from a flash memory, when a voltage of an output terminal detected by a voltage detection circuit is not higher than a voltage, an oscillator outputs a control clock signal of predetermined on time and off time to a transistor of a boost converter to perform switching control of the transistor; and when the voltage detection circuit detects that the voltage of the output terminal reaches a voltage, an oscillator outputs a control clock signal of an on time and an off time input from a selection circuit to a transistor of a boost converter to perform switching control of the transistor. |
| US09036440B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array configured to include a plurality of word lines, a clock enable buffer configured to receive a clock enable signal, a plurality of command buffers configured to receive a plurality of commands, a refresh control unit configured to sequentially activate the plurality of word lines in a self-refresh mode, a command decoder configured to decode the clock enable signal and the plurality of commands, and to allow the refresh control unit to enter the self-refresh mode or exit from the self-refresh mode, and a buffer control unit configured to disable the plurality of command buffers when the clock enable signal is deactivated, and to enable the plurality of command buffers when the refresh control unit exits from the self-refresh mode. |
| US09036439B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having improved refresh characteristics
A semiconductor memory device having improved refresh characteristics includes a memory array including a plurality of memory cells; a test unit configured to test refresh characteristics of the memory array and generate a first fail address signal; a storage unit configured to store the first fail address signal; and a refresh unit configured to perform a refresh operation on the memory array, wherein the refresh unit is configured to receive the first fail address signal from the storage unit, perform the refresh operation on a first memory cell that does not correspond to the first fail address signal according to a first period, and perform the refresh operation on a second memory cell that corresponds to the first fail address signal according to a second period that is shorter than the first period. |
| US09036431B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device, read method for nonvolatile memory device, and memory system incorporating nonvolatile memory device
A method of performing a read operation on nonvolatile memory device comprises receiving a read command, receiving addresses, detecting a transition of a read enable signal, generating a strobe signal based on the transition of the read enable signal, reading data corresponding to the received addresses, and outputting the read data after the strobe signal is toggled a predetermined number of times. |
| US09036429B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and operating method thereof
A nonvolatile memory device including a memory cell arranged at a region where a word line and a bit line cross each other; a control signal generator configured to be enabled while the nonvolatile memory device operates in a test mode, and generate control signals which are not provided from an external device, based on a reference signal provided from the external device; and a control logic configured to control an operation for the memory cell according to the generated control signals. |
| US09036428B1 |
Partial block erase for a three dimensional (3D) memory
A method includes, at a non-volatile memory having a three dimensional (3D) memory configuration, performing an erase operation. Performing the erase operation includes providing a first control signal to isolate a first portion of a string of the non-volatile memory from a second portion of the string. Performing the erase operation further includes providing a first erase signal to erase the second portion of the string while data is maintained at the first portion of the string. |
| US09036424B2 |
Memory device and method for verifying the same
A memory includes a cell string including a plurality of memory cells connected in series, a bit line connected to the cell string, a voltage transfer unit configured to electrically connect the bit line and a sensing node in response to a control signal, and a page buffer configured to sense a voltage of the bit line through the sensing node in a sensing period, wherein the page buffer decides a voltage level of the control signal based on a threshold voltage of the target memory cell, which corresponds to a verification target among the plurality of memory cells in the sensing period. |
| US09036423B2 |
Method and apparatus for staggered start-up of a predefined, random or dynamic number of flash memory devices
A method, apparatus, and manufacture for memory device startup is provided. Flash memory devices are configured such that, upon the power supply voltage reaching a pre-determined level, each flash memory is arranged to load the random access memory with instructions for the flash memory, and then execute a first portion of the instructions for the flash memory. After executing the first portion of the instructions for the flash memory, each separate subset of the flash memories waits for a separate, distinct delay period. For each flash memory, after the delay period expires for that flash memory, the flash memory executes a second portion of the instructions for the flash memory. |
| US09036422B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
Disclosed are a semiconductor memory device and an operating method thereof. The semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell block including a plurality of memory cells, a voltage providing unit suitable for providing a pass voltage or a read voltage to word lines coupled with the memory cells and a control circuit suitable for controlling the voltage providing unit to adjust a pass voltage applied to the memory cells disposed at one side of a selected memory cell and a pass voltage applied to the memory cells disposed at the other side of the selected memory cell based on an address of a word line of the selected memory cell among the memory cells during a read operation or a verification operation. |
| US09036419B2 |
3D stacked NAND flash memory array having SSL status check buildings for monitoring threshold voltages of string selection transistors and methods for monitoring and operating the same
Disclosed is a 3D stacked NAND flash memory array having SSL status check buildings for monitoring threshold voltages of string selection transistors, a monitoring method of threshold voltages of string selection transistors by the SSL status check buildings, and an operating method thereof. |
| US09036415B2 |
Mitigating variations arising from simultaneous multi-state sensing
Methods and devices for mitigating sensing variations that may arise from simultaneous multi-threshold (SMT) sensing are provided. During SMT sensing, two or more different bias conditions may be used to simultaneously sense two different threshold voltages. However, there may be variances in the threshold voltage shift of memory cells when read with a different bias condition than was used to verify. In one embodiment each programmed state is read using both (or all) bias conditions that were used during SMT verify. In other words, two (or more) different sense operations are used to read each memory cell. The data from these different sense operations may be used to compute initialization values (e.g., LLRs, LRs, probabilities) for an ECC decoder. In one embodiment, this technique is only performed when a normal read fails. |
| US09036412B2 |
Memory device and method of determining read voltage of memory device
A method of operating a memory device includes applying an initial read voltage to a selected wordline to perform a read operation on memory cells connected to the selected wordline, determining whether a read failure occurs with respect to one or more of the memory cells, upon determining that a read failure has occurred with respect to some of the memory cells, determining threshold voltage distribution information for distinct groups of the memory cells, and determining a new read voltage to be applied to the selected wordline based on the threshold voltage distribution information. |
| US09036411B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and data erase method thereof
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an aspect includes a semiconductor substrate, a memory cell array, memory strings, drain side selection transistors, source side selection transistors, word lines, bit lines, a source line, a drain side selection gate line, a source side selection gate line, and a control circuit. The control circuit applies a first voltage to a selected bit line, thereby executing an erase operation on a selected memory string connected to the selected bit line, and the control circuit applies a second voltage to a non-selected bit line, thereby prohibiting the erase operation for the selected memory string connected to the non-selected bit line. The first voltage is more than the second voltage. |
| US09036403B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices
The semiconductor memory device includes a cell capacitor having a first terminal electrically connected to a storage node and a second terminal electrically connected to an internal node, an internal voltage generator configured to generate an internal voltage signal applied to the internal node in response to a power-up signal, and an initialization element configured to initialize the internal node in response to the power-up signal. |
| US09036399B2 |
Variable resistance memory device
A variable resistance memory device includes a plurality of cell blocks each of which includes a plurality of first lines extending in parallel to each other along a first direction, a plurality of second lines extending in parallel to each other along a second direction crossing the first direction, and a plurality of memory cells including variable resistance layers arranged at intersections of the plurality of first lines and the plurality of second lines and a plurality of selection units coupled to the plurality of first lines and coupling two neighboring cell blocks. |
| US09036398B2 |
Vertical resistance memory device and a read method thereof
A read method of a vertical resistance memory device including resistance memory cells arranged in a three-dimensional array includes selecting a block from a plurality of blocks, applying a read voltage to a word line selected from word lines of the block, applying a sensing reference voltage to bit lines sharing the plurality of blocks, applying a string selection voltage to a string selection transistor through a string selection line selected from a plurality of string selection lines of the block, wherein the string selection line is connected to a gate of the string selection transistor; and determining a memory state of a memory cell selected from the plurality of resistance memory cells by the word line and the string selection line based on a current flowing through the memory cell, wherein the word line is connected through a corresponding horizontal electrode to the memory cell. |
| US09036396B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting reflow process
Circuitry and method for detecting occurrence of a reflow process to an embedded storage device are disclosed. A temperature sensing device includes a resistor, a temperature sensor, and a comparator. The first terminal of the resistor is coupled to a voltage source, and the second terminal of the resistor is coupled to both the first terminal of the temperature sensor and the first input of the comparator. The second terminal of the temperature sensor is grounded and the second input of the comparator is coupled to a reference voltage. The resistance state of the temperature sensor changes from a first resistance state to a second resistance state when the temperature surrounding the temperature sensor reaches a threshold. The comparator generates an output based on the resistance changes of the temperature sensor. The generated output may indicate whether a reflow process has occurred to the embedded storage device. |
| US09036395B2 |
Programmed-state detection in memristor stacks
A method for programmed-state detection in memristor stacks includes applying a first secondary switching voltage across a memristor stack to produce a first programmed-state-dependent secondary switching response in a memristor in the memristor stack. The programmed-state-dependent secondary switching response results in a detectable change in the electrical resistance of the memristor stack. The method also includes measuring a first electrical resistance of the memristor stack and inferring the programmed state of the memristor stack from the measured electrical resistance. |
| US09036393B2 |
Diode-less array for one-time programmable memory
A one-time programmable memory array includes a first row conductor extending in a first row direction and disposed at a first elevation, a second row conductor extending in a second row direction and disposed at a second elevation and a column conductor extending in a column direction and disposed adjacent to the first row conductor and adjacent to the second row conductor. The array also includes a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the column conductor, a fuse link coupled between the dielectric layer on the column conductor and the second row conductor. |
| US09036392B2 |
Redundancy circuit for reducing chip area
A redundancy circuit includes a plurality of block address lines, a first fuse array storing a first data, a plurality of first local lines configured to supply a verification voltage to the first fuse array in response to a signal of a corresponding line among the plurality of block address lines, a second fuse array storing a second data, a plurality of second local lines configured to supply the verification voltage to the second fuse array in response to a signal of a corresponding line among the plurality of block address lines, and a plurality of verification lines configured to check the first data of the first fuse array and the second data of the second fuse array, wherein the plurality of verification lines are shared by the first fuse array and the second fuse array and are disposed between the first fuse array and the second fuse array. |
| US09036383B2 |
Power supply device control circuit
In some aspects of the invention, overcurrent protection is carried out by suppressing fluctuations in current flowing through a switching element after overcurrent detection. A peak current reaching time detection circuit detects a peak current reaching time needed until current flowing through a switching element reaches a peak value. A difference voltage detection circuit, including a ½ time detection circuit which detects a time of ½ an ON time of the preceding cycle of the switching element, detects difference voltage between reference voltage used when detecting overcurrent flowing to a load and a signal which has detected current flowing through the switching element for the ½ time. A delay time adjustment circuit, based on at least one of the peak current reaching time and difference voltage, carries out adjustment and control of a delay time occurring until the time when the switching element is turned off after detecting the overcurrent. |
| US09036381B2 |
Additional electric power receiving method and device replacing conventional grounding with negative voltage source
An additional electric power receiving method replacing conventional grounding with a negative voltage source includes the step of transmitting electromagnetic wave or current from a power supply source to a rectifier, wherein a grounding end of the rectifier is in electrical communication with the negative voltage source, and the negative voltage source is selected from a negative potential intrinsic of an organism. A device applicable to the electric power receiving method includes a rectifier having an input end and two output ends, wherein the input end is in electrical communication with a power supply source, and rectified direct current is transmitted from the output ends. With the method and device, not only an increase in additional electric power obtained is achieved, but conversion efficiency and stability of current and electromagnetic wave is enhanced. |
| US09036380B2 |
Multi-level inverter control method and controller for a wind generation power system
A system, method, and apparatus for providing three level inverter modulation is disclosed. In one embodiment, control signals can be provided to control a three level inverter in a power converter based on at least one feedback signal. |
| US09036379B2 |
Power converter based on H-bridges
A power converter includes an active front end (AFE) that is coupled by a dc link stage to a plurality of H-bridge inverters. One or more multi-phase electro-magnetic energy conversion devices, such as transformers or electric machines, with open windings that are connected to only the AFE or only the H-bridge inverters or to both the AFE and H-bridge inverters, provide a regenerative or partial regenerative power converter. |
| US09036377B2 |
Control circuit of a switched-mode power converter and method thereof
A method for controlling voltage crossing a power switch of a switched-mode power converter includes the steps of: controlling a switch frequency of the power switch of the switched-mode power converter to a first frequency as activating the switched-mode power converter; and then changing the switch frequency of the power switch to a second frequency after the switched-mode power converter is activated for a predetermined time; wherein the first frequency is lower than the second frequency. |
| US09036375B2 |
Controller that determines average output current of a switching circuit
A switching circuit (400) comprising an inductive component (406) including at least one winding; and a switch (404) is configured to transfer power from a voltage source (402) to the inductive component (406) in accordance with a switch control signal (412). The switching circuit (400) also comprises a controller (408) configured to integrate the voltage across the inductive component (406) in order to generate a signal representative of magnetic flux in the inductive component (406); and use the signal representative of the magnetic flux in the inductive component to account for a peak magnetization current value in order to control the switch (404). |
| US09036373B2 |
Closed loop control of a cyclo-converter
A three-phase resonant cyclo-converter including a closed loop control module for controlling the switching frequency of the cyclo-converter, the closed loop control module including: a voltage signal development module arranged to develop a voltage signal representative of a voltage output waveform of the cyclo-converter, a storage module arranged to accumulate voltage signal values for phase portions of the voltage output waveform, where the voltage signal values are based on a voltage error signal and accumulated historical voltage signal values for the same corresponding phase portions, and a switching frequency control module arranged to develop a switching frequency control signal to control the switching frequency of the cyclo-converter based on the accumulated voltage signal values for corresponding phase portions of the voltage output waveform, and a proportional voltage signal based on a difference between the developed voltage signal and a reference voltage signal. |
| US09036372B2 |
Method for controlling a resonant-mode power supply and a resonant-mode power supply with a controller
A method for controlling a resonant-mode power supply, the resonant-mode power supply comprising an assembly of switches (K1, K2, K3, K4), between which a resonant circuit with an output load is connected, and a controller (C) configured to stabilize output voltages or currents by controlling switching frequency of the assembly of switches (K1, K2, K3, K4) in response to the output of a slow-response monitoring circuit (SMC) configured to monitor the output voltage or current and having a certain time (τ1) of response to changes of value of the output voltage or current. The power supply further comprises an energy recirculation circuit (ERC1) in which the current (Ilim) is monitored by means of a fast-response monitoring circuit (CMC1) having a time (τ2) of response to changes in the (Ilim) current faster than the response time (τ1) of the slow-response monitoring circuit (SMC). The method involves adjusting, via the controller (C), the switching frequency of the assembly of switches (K1, K2, K3, K4) such as to reduce the power supplied to the resonant circuit upon exceeding a threshold value by the current (Ilim). |
| US09036371B2 |
Adaptive inductive power supply
A contactless power supply has a dynamically configurable tank circuit powered by an inverter. The contactless power supply is inductively coupled to one or more loads. The inverter is connected to a DC power source. When loads are added or removed from the system, the contactless power supply is capable of modifying the resonant frequency of the tank circuit, the inverter frequency, the inverter duty cycle or the rail voltage of the DC power source. |
| US09036370B2 |
AC/DC power converter with improved power factor and improved THDi
A power converter including: a first controlled current source configured to control current flowing on a DC supply bus of the converter, a switch connected to a second current source and to a third current source and to each of input phases of the converter, a first controller configured to control the first current source to impose a current on the DC supply bus, and a second controller synchronized with the first controller and configured to control the second current source and the third current source to impose a current on one of the input phases selected with aid of the switch. |
| US09036369B2 |
Programming of an integrated circuit on a multi-function terminal
Methods and apparatuses for programming a parameter value in an IC (e.g., any power electronic device, such as a controller of a power converter) are disclosed. The parameter can be selected/programmed by selecting a clamp using an external optional (selectively inserted) diode coupled to a multi-function programming terminal. In particular, a controller IC for a power converter can be externally programmed via one or more multiple function terminals during startup of the converter to select between two or more options using the external programming terminal(s). Once programming is complete, internal programming circuitry may be decoupled from the programming terminal and during normal operation the programming terminal may then be used for another function, such as a bypass (BP) terminal to provide a supply voltage to the IC or other required functionalities. |
| US09036368B2 |
Cable management device in chassis
A cable management device used in a chassis includes a frame and two board-like cable management units are respectively connected to two sides of the frame. Each cable management unit has multiple recesses. The cables of each of the ports are located in the corresponding recesses to avoid the cables from being in contact with each other and have better heat dissipating feature. |
| US09036364B1 |
Circuit board with signal layers of different dimensions to communicate signals of different frequencies
Electronic devices to output signals at different frequencies are mounted to a circuit board that has a group of layers, where the group of layers include reference plane layers and signal layers between the reference plane layers. A first signal layer has conductive traces having a first dimension to communicate the signals at a first frequency, and a second signal layer has conductive traces having a second, different dimension to communicate signals at a second, different frequency. The first and second signal layers are successive layers without any reference plane layer in between the first and second signal layers. |
| US09036361B2 |
Avionic media systems including actuated media docking stations and over-center locking mechanisms suitable for usage therein
Embodiments of an avionic media system are provided, as are embodiments of an actuated media docking station and embodiments of an over-center locking mechanism suitable for usage in an actuated media docking station. In one embodiment, the avionic media system includes an actuated media docking station and an onboard electronic device. The actuated media docking station includes, in turn, a housing assembly, a mass media device (“MMD”) receptacle coupled to the housing assembly, a connector mounted to the MMD receptacle and configured to interface with the MMD when inserted into the MMD receptacle, and an actuator coupled to the housing assembly and to the MMD receptacle. The actuator moves the MMD receptacle between: (i) a loading position in which an MMD can be inserted into the MMD receptacle, and (ii) a retaining position in which removal of an MMD from the MMD receptacle is physically obstructed. |
| US09036359B2 |
Component built-in module, electronic device including same, and method for manufacturing component built-in module
A component built-in module of the present invention includes: a flexible substrate that includes a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, the first surface including a concave part recessed in a direction from the first surface toward the second surface; a plurality of electronic components that are mounted on the first surface, mounting heights of the electronic components from the first surface to respective upper surfaces of the electronic components differing from each other; and a resin that seals the first surface. Among the plurality of electronic components, at least an electronic component having a highest mounting height is mounted in the concave part. |
| US09036357B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a display device includes preparing a display panel that has a display region where an image is displayed and a non-display region adjacent to the display region, and disposing a power supply flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) in a lower surface of the display panel and in the non-display region of an upper surface of the display panel. The method includes disposing a tape on the display panel to cover an upper side of the power supply FPCB disposed on the upper surface of the display panel, and attaching the tape to the display panel by performing a thermal hardening process on the tape to fix the power supply FPCB to the display panel. |
| US09036354B2 |
Heat sink thermal press for phase change heat sink material
Methods of and apparatuses for electronic board assembly are provided. The apparatus can comprises one or more thermal heads controlled by a programmable logic controller. A user is able to enter the controlling parameters into the programmable logic controller through an human operator interface. The thermal heads are able to be connected with one or more pneumatic solenoid to make the thermal heads moving vertically until the thermal head in contact with the heat sink. The thermal head is able to provide a temperature, at or above the operating temperature of the thermal pad, capable of making the phase change thermal interface material to bond the heat sink and the electronic boards. |
| US09036353B2 |
Flexible thermal interface for electronics
A planar heat pipe for removing heat from an electronic device. The heat pipe includes a planar portion defining a cool end of the heat pipe and a plate portion mounted to the electronic device and defining a hot end of the heat pipe. The heat pipe also includes a serpentine portion coupled to the planar portion and the plate portion, where each of the planar portion, the plate portion and the serpentine portion include an internal chamber being in fluid communication with each other and containing a working fluid. The serpentine portion can include a plurality of elements where each element is coupled to an adjacent element at substantially a 90° angle so as to allow the serpentine portion to flex in three-degrees of freedom. |
| US09036352B2 |
Phase change heat sink for transient thermal management
A heat dissipating assembly, for dissipating heat, having at least one heat producing component and a heat sink having phase change material conductively coupled to the at least one heat producing component. |
| US09036342B2 |
Storage apparatus and storage controller of storage apparatus
Storage apparatus configured to provide an external apparatus with logical storage area as data storage area, the storage apparatus having a physical storage medium configured to generate the logical storage area, and storage controller communicatively coupled to physical storage medium to control data input/output processing between the external apparatus and the logical storage area, wherein the storage controller includes circuit package including circuit board which implements predetermined function of storage controller and a circuit board case to accommodate the circuit board, plurality of cooling fan units that generate cooling air for cooling circuit component mounted on the circuit board of the circuit package, and a chassis having a structure for accommodating the circuit package and the cooling fan units, some of circuit packages are inserted to be accommodated in chassis from opening thereof and are arranged side by side across width direction of chassis. |
| US09036339B2 |
Portable computing device with wireless capability while in folded position
A portable computing device includes a display unit and a base unit coupled via a hinge such that a surface of the display unit is parallel to a surface of the display unit when the portable computing device is manipulated into a folded position. The display unit includes a display panel and a radiating element of an antenna, the radiating element disposed at an end of the display unit that is distal to the hinge. The base unit includes a metal base chassis, the metal base chassis defining a keep out aperture at a distal end of the base unit that is substantially devoid of metal material from the metal base chassis. The keep out aperture is axially displaced from a position of the radiating element when the portable computing device is manipulated into the folded position. |
| US09036338B2 |
Support frame for high definition field monitor
A frame for a field monitor includes a front panel having a central opening, and a rear panel attached to the front panel in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship to define a receptacle for receiving and supporting a field monitor therein. The receptacle includes a substantially open periphery which provides access to cable ports and other controls on the monitor. The rear panel includes opposite first and second sides and a plurality of legs extending outwardly from the first side. Each leg is attached to the front panel so as to maintain the front and rear panels in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship. The rear panel and plurality of legs extending outwardly therefrom are a single, unitary body of material. |
| US09036337B2 |
Protective enclosure for an electronic device
An enclosure is provided for a device comprising one or more electronic assemblies where the enclosure deforms under a shock in one or more selected manners to dissipate the shock energy. The deformation, which is elastic deformation, occurs at selected parts of the enclosure and/or in selected translations and/or rotations where those selections are made by the designer of the enclosure. By being able to define where and how the deformations will occur, the electronic assemblies can be located, mounted and interconnect within the enclosure such that the deformation does not adversely affect the assemblies or device. |
| US09036334B2 |
Operating unit for installation in an aircraft cabin
An operating unit (1) for installation in an aircraft cabin comprises an operating unit front side (10) and an operating unit rear side (20), at least one operating element (12, 14) attached in the region of the operating unit front side (10) and accessible to a user, and a holding device (40) for attaching the operating unit (1) to a monument (30) accommodating the operating unit (1) in its state mounted in the aircraft cabin. The holding device (40) is designed to attach the operating unit (1) in its state mounted in the aircraft cabin to the monument (30), in a first position or in a second position, as desired, the operating element (12, 14) in the second position of the operating unit (1) being situated in a spatial position which is lowered with respect to the spatial position of the operating element (12, 14) in the first position of the operating unit (1) and/or is displaced in a direction parallel to an imaginary straight line connecting the operating unit rear side (20) to the operating unit front side (10). |
| US09036331B2 |
Dielectric composition and ceramic electronic component including the same
There is provided a dielectric composition including: a base powder including BaTiO3; a first accessory component including a content (x1) of 0.1 to 1.0 at % of an oxide or a carbonate including transition metals, based on 100 moles of the base powder; a second accessory component including a content (y) of 0.01 to 3.0 at % of oxide or carbonate including a fixed valence acceptor element, based on 100 moles of the base powder; a third accessory component including an oxide or a carbonate including a Ce element (content of z at %) and at least one rare earth element (content of w at %); and a fourth accessory component including a sintering aid, wherein 0.01≦z≦x1+4y and 0.01≦z+w≦x1+4y based on 100 moles of the base powder. |
| US09036329B2 |
Multilayer capacitor and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a multilayer capacitor comprising: a laminate in which a plurality of first sheets and second sheets are alternately laminated, wherein the first sheets and the second sheets are disposed in a direction perpendicular to a mounting surface; a first inner electrode formed on the first sheets, wherein the first electrode is exposed through upper, lower, and first lateral surfaces of the laminate; a second inner electrode that is formed on the second sheets and has a horizontally symmetrical shape with respect to the first inner electrode; a sealing portion encapsulating the first and second inner electrodes exposed through two lateral surfaces of the laminate; and an external electrode that is electrically connected to the first and second inner electrodes exposed through the upper and lower surfaces of the laminate. |
| US09036326B2 |
Gas bearing electrostatic chuck
An electrostatic clamp is provided having a clamping plate, wherein the clamping plate has a central region and an annulus region. A plurality of gas supply orifices are defined in the central region of the clamping plate, wherein the plurality of gas supply orifices are in fluid communication with a pressurized gas supply, and wherein the pressurized gas supply is configured to provide a cushion of gas between the clamping surface and the workpiece in the central region of the clamping plate via the plurality of gas supply orifices. One or more gas return orifices defined in one or more of the central region and annulus region of the clamping plate, wherein the one or more gas return orifices are in fluid communication with a vacuum source, therein generally defining an exhaust path for the cushion of gas. A seal is disposed in the annulus region of the clamping plate, wherein the seal is configured to generally prevent a leakage of the cushion of gas from the central region to an environment external to the annulus region. One or more electrodes are further electrically connected to a first voltage potential to provide a first clamping force. |
| US09036324B2 |
Lightning conductor system comprising a lightning conductor strip mounted in an offset manner
A lightning conductor system for a support structure having an external face intended to be subjected to a flow of air and an internal face opposite the external face, the lightning conductor system comprising an electrically conducting lightning conductor strip, intended to be placed on the side of the internal face of the support structure while being connected to ground, and means of fixing the lightning conductor strip to the support structure, the fixing means comprising fixing studs intended to be inserted into orifices formed in the support structure, said fixing studs being in electrical contact with the lightning conductor strip. The lightning conductor system includes the lightning conductor strip being mounted in an offset manner with respect to the main axes of the fixing studs. |
| US09036323B1 |
Power feeder shielding for electromagnetic protection
A system for lightning protection for power feeders may include at least one unshielded power feeder conductor; and a grounded wire extending adjacent the at least one unshielded power feeder conductor and being electrically isolated therefrom, whereby lightning current flowing through the grounded wire establishes a magnetic field sufficient to oppose and reduce lightning-induced current on the at least one power feeder conductor. |
| US09036318B2 |
Method of tripping a circuit interrupter in a back fed configuration
A method of tripping a circuit interrupter in a back fed configuration is provided, wherein the circuit interrupter has separable contacts and an actuator, such as a solenoid, operatively coupled to the separable contacts. The method includes detecting within the circuit interrupter that a fault condition exists, and subsequent to detecting that the fault condition exists, determining whether a current is flowing within the circuit interrupter between a load side of the circuit interrupter and the separable contacts, and controlling operation of the actuator based on whether the current is flowing within the circuit interrupter. |
| US09036314B2 |
Systems and methods providing current protection to an electronic system
A computing device including a power connector to interface with a power source, logic and power components on a current path from the power connector; the power connector providing electrical power to the logic and power components, and an inrush protection circuit on the current path between the power connector and the logic and power components, the inrush protection circuit including: a first power dissipation device and a second power dissipation device arranged in parallel on the current path, a feedback loop to detect an amount of current in the current path and to control the first power dissipation device to operate in a manner to dissipate detected inrush current, and a first time delay network in communication with the second power dissipation device and causing a delay for the second power dissipation device to transition to an on state, wherein during steady state. |
| US09036310B2 |
Feedback protection from adjacent terminal shorts
This relates to detecting unwanted couplings between a protected terminal and an adjacent terminal of an IC controller of a power supply. The voltages across adjacent terminals are monitored. If the voltage difference between the terminals falls below a minimum threshold for greater than a first duration of time, an internal current source injects current into one of the terminals. If, within a second duration of time, the injected current pulls the voltage of the injected terminal to a voltage that causes the voltage difference between the terminals to be above the minimum threshold, it may be determined that a transient fault has occurred and been cleared or falsely detected. If, however, the injected current does not pull the voltage of the injected terminal to a voltage that causes the voltage between the adjacent terminals to be above the minimum threshold, the fault condition is confirmed and switching is disabled. |
| US09036309B2 |
Electrode and plasma gun configuration for use with a circuit protection device
A circuit protection device includes a plasma gun configured to emit an ablative plasma along an axis, and a plurality of electrodes, wherein each electrode is electrically coupled to a respective conductor of a circuit and is arranged substantially along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis such that each electrode is positioned substantially equidistant from the axis. |
| US09036307B1 |
Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write head with recessed near-field transducer and optically transparent protective film
A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) air-bearing slider has an optically-transparent protective film over the near-field transducer (NFT) to protect the NFT from excessive heat caused by the accumulation of carbonaceous material on the slider's overcoat. The NFT is thus separated from the overcoat by the protective film. The protective film does not cover the write pole end, which is covered only by the overcoat, so there is no spacing loss between the write pole end and the recording layer on the disk. In one embodiment the protective film is coplanar with the recording-layer-facing surface of the slider and the overcoat covers both the protective film and the write pole end. In another embodiment the overcoat has a window that surrounds the protective film, with the protective film being substantially coplanar with the air-bearing surface (ABS) of the slider. In both embodiments the smooth topography of the slider's ABS is maintained. |
| US09036306B1 |
Grounding for a hard disk drive suspension tail
A flexible cable assembly (FCA) has a stiffener layer positioned in electrical contact with an electrical ground feature of the FCA, and a head stack assembly (HSA) may include a suspension tail electrically connected to the stiffener layer of the FCA, thus providing a robust ground path between the read/write head and the arm or E-block of the HSA. Additional efficient grounding techniques may include directly electrically connecting the suspension tail to the arm via a conductive adhesive, directly electrically connecting the FCA stiffener layer to the arm via a conductive screw, and/or directly electrically connecting the ground feature and the stiffener layer of the FCA to the arm using a ground post or screw. |
| US09036305B1 |
Magnetic recording disk drive with write driver to write head transmission line with multiple segments having different numbers of conductive traces
A multiple-segment transmission line in a hard disk drive enables a wider optimization range of the slope, duration and amplitude of the transmission line overshoot (TLO) wave shape. There is a first segment with two traces for connection to the write driver circuitry, an end segment with two traces for connection to the write head and at least two intermediate segments. The number of traces in a segment is different from the number of traces in the segments to which the segment is immediately connected. There is an even number of traces in each segment and the traces in each segment are interleaved. The number of segments and the number of traces in each segment can be selected to achieve the desired impedance levels for the different segments to achieve the desired wave shape for the TLO. All of the traces on the transmission line are preferably coplanar. |
| US09036300B2 |
High areal density tape format and head
A magnetic recording tape according to one embodiment includes at least about eight data bands, wherein each data band is defined between a pair of adjacent servo tracks, each pair of adjacent servo tracks defining only a single data band therebetween. One of the servo tracks has data encoded therein, the data including data for encryption. A magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars. An average height of the bars is less than about 50 microns. About eight to about twenty six data bands are present on the tape. A tape supply cartridge according to various embodiments has a magnetic recording tape as described herein. |
| US09036298B2 |
Methods and devices to control write pole height in recording heads
Recording heads for data storage systems are provided. Recording heads illustratively include a write pole, a bumper, a dielectric layer, and a surface. In some embodiments, a portion of the surface includes portions of the write pole, bumper, and dielectric layer. The write pole, bumper, and dielectric layer are illustratively made from materials that have polishing rates. In some embodiments, the polishing rate for the write pole material is more similar to the polishing rate for the bumper material than it is to the polishing rate for the dielectric layer material. |
| US09036297B2 |
Magnetic recording head having protected reader sensors and near zero recession writer poles
A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a module, the module having first and second transducers of different transducer types positioned towards a media facing side of the module, wherein the different transducer types are selected from a group consisting of data reader transducers, servo reader transducers, write transducers, piggyback read-write transducers and merged read-write transducers; a first protection structure for protecting the first transducer; and wherein the second transducer has either no protection or is protected by a second protection structure that is different than the first protection structure. |
| US09036293B2 |
Disk clamp and lock
Provided herein is an apparatus, including a clamping means for clamping at least one disk onto a hub at a mounting point on the hub for the at least one disk, wherein the clamping means is configured to sit wholly above the at least one disk; a seat in an outer perimeter of the hub configured to receive the clamping means; and a locking means for locking the clamping means onto the hub. |
| US09036292B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for optimally positioning an idle robotic accessor in a tape library
In one embodiment, a system includes a robotic accessor for transporting media between multiple storage slots and one or more data storage drives; a controller for controlling the robotic accessor; a memory in communication with and/or integrated with the controller for storing information about the media and the storage slots, the information including data corresponding to a physical distribution of the media in the storage slots; and logic integrated with and/or executable by the controller, the logic being adapted to: position the robotic accessor at a computed optimal position during an idle period of the robotic accessor, the computed optimal position being based at least in part on the physical distribution of the media in the storage slots. |
| US09036288B1 |
Method and system for reading closely-spaced data tracks
A method for reading a track of data may include positioning a read head at an initial position relative to the track of data and obtaining initial track signals, filtering the initial track signals, positioning the read head at an initial subsequent position relative to the track of data and obtaining initial subsequent track signals, and filtering the initial subsequent track signals. In an initial equalization, the filtered initial track signals and the filtered initial subsequent track signals are equalized to obtain equalized track signals. The read head is positioned at a further subsequent position relative to the track of data and further subsequent track signals are obtained The further subsequent track signals are filtered. In a subsequent equalization, previously obtained equalized track signals and the filtered further subsequent track signals are equalized. A storage device operating according to the method may have an equalizer in hardware or firmware. |
| US09036283B1 |
Data storage device with selective write to a first storage media or a second storage media
A data storage device can include a magnetic rotating disk, a solid state memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to generate a first operational metric which is updated at a first frequency and a second operational metric which is updated at a second frequency different than the first frequency, receive a write command to write data to the magnetic rotating disk, and divert the write command to write data to the solid state memory instead of the magnetic rotating disk when at least one of the first operational metric and the second operational metric indicates that writing data to the magnetic rotating disk may be harmful to the magnetic rotating disk or result in data loss. |
| US09036282B2 |
Adjustable attaching lens device
Disclosed is an adjustable attaching lens device comprising a lens holding member including a flexible confining strip and an adjustable fastener that is for adjusting a fastening position of the flexible confining strip, wherein the flexible confining strip is bent to confine a lens attaching hole with a given size and a given shape for holding an optical lens; and an attaching member, provided on the lens holding member in a manner that the attaching member is facing toward the same side of the lens attaching hole, for attaching with an attaching surface so that the lens attaching hole corresponds to an optical image grabbing element of an external device. The various kinds of detachable lenses are applied to an electric device with lens, and thus the detachable lens compatible to a specific electric device can be used for a different device. |
| US09036280B2 |
Holding assembly for a lens
A holding device (1) holds a lens (6) at its lens edge (5) with the aid of an adhesive connection (16, 17). The adhesive connection (16, 17) is applied only at one adhesive point or only at two spaced apart adhesive points (16, 17). Each holding device (1) provided with a lens (6) is positioned on the dip frame in such a manner that the lens (6) is positioned above its holding device (1). A method is provided for finishing lenses (6) wherein the lenses (6) are subjected to various sequential finishing steps of a finishing process and the lenses (6) are cemented to the same holding device during finishing. The application of adhesive is only at one adhesive point or at two spaced apart adhesive points (16, 17). |
| US09036277B2 |
Imaging lens
An imaging lens includes a first lens having negative refractive power; a second lens having negative refractive power; a third lens having positive refractive power; a fourth lens having positive refractive power; and a fifth lens having negative refractive power. The first lens has object-side and image plane-side surfaces with positive curvature radii. The second lens has object-side and image plane-side surfaces with positive curvature radii. The third lens has an object-side surface with a positive curvature radius and an image plane-side surface with a negative curvature radius. The fourth lens has an object-side surface with a positive curvature radius and an image plane-side surface with a negative curvature radius. The fifth lens has object-side and image plane-side surfaces with negative curvature radii. The first to fifth lenses have specific Abbe's numbers to satisfy specific conditions. The fifth lens has a specific focal length to satisfy specific conditions. |
| US09036268B2 |
Imaging lens
An imaging lens includes a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens having negative refractive power; a third lens; a fourth lens having negative refractive power; a fifth lens having positive refractive power; and a sixth lens, arranged in this order from an object side to an image plane side. Each of the third lens, the fourth lens, the fifth lens, and the sixth lens has refractive power weaker than that of each of the first lens and the second lens. |
| US09036267B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
A zoom lens includes a first lens-group having positive refractive power, a second lens-group having negative refractive power, a third lens-group having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens-group having positive refractive power, in this order from an object side, and a stop located between a most image-side surface of the second lens-group and a most image-side surface of the third lens-group. Distances between the lens-groups change when magnification is changed from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end. The second lens-group consists of a negative lens, a biconcave lens and a positive lens in this order from the object side. The third lens-group consists of a positive lens, a cemented lens of a positive lens and a negative lens, a negative meniscus lens with its concave surface facing the object side, and a biconvex lens in this order from the object side. A predetermined conditional formula is satisfied. |
| US09036259B2 |
Autostereoscopic display apparatus
An autostereoscopic display apparatus includes a substrate, a plurality of sub-pixels, a plurality of concave lens structures, a middle layer and a lenticular layer. The sub-pixels are disposed on the substrate, and each sub-pixel includes a light permeable area and at least one light masking area. The concave lens structures are disposed on the sub-pixels and on the optical paths of the light permeable areas. The middle layer is disposed on the concave lens structures, wherein the concave lens structures is used to expand the illumination distribution of the light from the light permeable areas of the sub-pixels, so as to form a plurality of virtual sub-pixel patterns. The projections of virtual sub-pixel patterns respectively projected to the sub-pixels cover the light masking areas of the sub-pixels. The focal point of the lenticular layer falls on the virtual sub-pixel patterns. |
| US09036254B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitted light illumination for light microscopes and microscope system
An apparatus for transmitted light illumination for light microscopes A diaphragm edge may be variably positioned in the direction of the optical axis, wherein a position of the diaphragm edge in the direction of the optical axis can be varied irrespectively of a position of the diaphragm edge transversely to the optical axis. A separate sample support table may be mounted on a housing. The housing has a passage opening, through which the diaphragm edge can be moved in the direction of the optical axis. A holding device is formed in the region of the passage opening of the housing or on a separate sample support table and a control device is present which is adapted to position the diaphragm edge in dependence at least upon a determined presence of a sample support table. |
| US09036249B2 |
Method of sum-frequency conversion and frequency converter with optical active rotator
A method for sum-frequency conversion of coherent radiation includes generating two linearly polarized waves at different first f1 and second f2 frequencies (f2>f1), respectively, which coaxially propagate and are characterized in common case by arbitrarily located polarization planes. The waves are further guided through an optical active crystal which rotates their polarization planes at different angles ψ1 and ψ2 determined as ω1=ρ(f1)·L and ψ2=ρ(f2)·L, where L is a length of the optical active crystal, and ρ(f1) and ρ(f2) specific rotations at respective frequencies f1 and f2. Finally the waves with the rotated polarization planes are incident on a non-linear crystal configured to generate a third frequency. |
| US09036245B2 |
Electronically controlled stage lighting system
A lighting system operating using a digital mirror as its operative device. The digital mirror is used to shape the light which is a passed through advanced optical devices in order to produce an output. |
| US09036244B2 |
Wavelength converting lighting device and associated methods
A lighting device according to another embodiment of the invention for directing source light within a source wavelength range in a blue wavelength range in a desired output direction may comprise a MEMS device that may include a DMD that includes an array of MEMS cells, each MEMS cell including an operative surface to receive and redirect the source light towards the desired output direction. The array of MEMS cells may include first and second pluralities of MEMS cells including first and second conversion coatings applied to the operative surfaces thereof configured to convert source light into first and second wavelength ranges. Furthermore, the repositionable surface of each MEMS cell may be positionable between multiple angles to reflect the converted light. The lighting device may comprise a third plurality of MEMS cells where the operative surfaces thereof is devoid of a conversion coating, or, alternatively, comprises a third conversion coating. |
| US09036243B2 |
Digital drive signals for analog MEMS ribbon arrays
On/off digital drive signals are used to create arbitrary spatial and temporal ribbon movement patterns in MEMS ribbon arrays. |
| US09036237B2 |
Laser scanner
A laser scanner includes an optical source emitting a laser beam; and an optical deflector deflecting the laser beam emitted from the optical source to scan an object with the laser beam deflected thereby, wherein the optical deflector includes a reflecting mirror; a motor rotating the reflecting mirror around an axis of the mirror: a first member fixed on a shaft of the motor, rotating with the shaft and a second member fixed on the axis of the mirror, engaging with the first member when the shaft rotates to rotate with the axis of the mirror. |
| US09036235B2 |
Mechanically balanced optical membrane device for orientation insensitivity
An optical membrane device comprises a substrate, at least one support block on a surface of the substrate, and at least one plate. A torsion beam supports the plate above the substrate on the support block. The optical membrane device also includes an optical membrane structure supported by the plate above the substrate and at least one electrode on the substrate underneath the plate. In one implementation, the optical membrane device further comprises a tether for coupling the optical membrane structure to the plate. The tether extends between the optical membrane structure and the plate. In another implementation, the substrate of the optical membrane device has an optical port through the substrate directly below the optical membrane structure. The plate is substantially balanced around the torsion beam to minimize a sensitivity to orientation in a gravitational field. |
| US09036233B2 |
Laser light source module
A laser light source module includes a housing and a heat sink that is thermally connected to the housing. The housing includes a laser element that emits laser light, a laser holder that is made of metal to hold the laser element, a laser light receiving element that receives laser beam from the laser element, a mirror element that reflects the laser light to scan a screen, an optical element that is disposed on the optical axis of the laser light. The laser holder is thermally connected to the housing with a thermally conductive member. A protrusion is formed on the thermally conductive member. The protrusion and the springiness of the thermally conductive member are used to press the laser holder against the housing in the same direction as the direction of laser light emission. |
| US09036229B2 |
MEMS device with independent rotation in two axes of rotation
A MEMS arrangement is provided that has a top plane containing a rotatable element such as a mirror. There is a middle support frame plane, and a lower electrical substrate plane. The rotatable element is supported by a support frame formed in the middle support frame plane so as to be rotatable with respect to the frame in a first axis of rotation. The frame is mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to a second axis of rotation. Rotation in the first axis of rotation is substantially independent of rotation in the second axis of rotation. |
| US09036227B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating white underbase and generating suitably modified separations for printing on colored background other than white
The invention relates to an embedded system and a method to generate a white underbase for printing on a colored background from the given image to be printed automatically without any human intervention or operator's assistance. This invention simplifies the process of printing on colored substrates like garments, packing materials, woods, acrylic sheets, cardboard etc. Along with the simplification of a great amount of productivity increase is achieved in comparison to the existing methods as it eliminates any human intervention. |
| US09036224B2 |
Image reading device and image forming apparatus
In an image reading device, an interlock portion is configured to supply or cut off power supply voltage to a driving portion in association with opening/closing of a cover. An open/close detecting portion is configured to detect opening/closing of the cover. A control portion is configured to execute (a) a scan process of causing a reading portion to read a document image during movement of the reading portion from a first position to a second position, (b) a return process of returning the reading portion to the first position in the opposite direction, (c) a reading interruption process of stopping a scan process when an opened state of the cover is detected during the scan process, and executing a return process when a closed state of the cover is detected next time, and (d) the scan process again after the reading interruption process. |
| US09036222B2 |
Document scanner
A document scanner (10) includes an input tray (20) for holding documents (11). An input image capture device (30) captures at least a portion of the images of documents in the input tray. An image processor (65) determines characteristics of documents in the input tray, and the documents are processed based on the characteristics. At least one characteristic is document length (70), or width (80), or position (170), or other characteristics. An ultrasonic zone (160) detects the documents; and the ultrasonic zones are enabled or disabled in at least one location down the document based on at least one characteristic. |
| US09036213B2 |
Method for semi-correlated halftoning
A method for image processing a digital color image uses a single array of threshold values in a halftoning process if a total density value, which is found adding up the color density value for each of the process colors of a pixel, is lower than a predetermined density threshold. However, when the total density value exceeds the density threshold, the individual color density values are split in a basic part and an excess part, the basic parts adding up to the predetermined density threshold. In the halftoning process the basic parts still use the single array of threshold values, but the excess parts use uncorrelated arrays of threshold values that are associated with each individual process color. This provides for a balance between graininess at low color density and registration independent color rendering at high color density. |
| US09036212B2 |
Halftone screen generation mechanism
A method is disclosed. The method includes generating a Continuous Tone Image (CTI) with all pixel values same as the first gray level and an initial Half Tone Image (HTI) with all pixel values equal to minimum absorptance level, computing a change in pixel error by toggling with all the possible output states and swapping with all neighbor pixels only if the stacking constraint is satisfied, updating the HTI with the maximum error decrease operation and continue to next pixel location till the end criteria is met. Once the end criteria is met, the updated HTI is saved as a final halftone screen for that gray level and copied as the initial HTI for the next gray level along with CTI pixel values updated to the next gray level till the final gray value is reached. |
| US09036211B2 |
Light emitting apparatus, manufacturing method for the light emitting apparatus, printer, and manufacturing method for the printer
A light emitting apparatus including: a plurality of light emitting elements; a drive circuit including a transistor and a capacitor having one end connected to a gate of the transistor; and a signal supply circuit for receiving a digital gradation signal and outputting an analog voltage signal to the drive circuit, including a computation circuit configured to correct the input digital gradation signal to generate a corrected digital gradation signal, in which the drive circuit is configured to conduct an auto-zero operation which reduce the gate-source voltage of the transistor to a threshold voltage by flowing the drain current to the capacitor, and the computation circuit is configured to generate the corrected digital gradation signal by multiplying a correction coefficient to the input digital gradation signal subtracted by a particular signal common to the plurality of light emitting elements. |
| US09036209B2 |
System for distributing and controlling color reproduction at multiple sites
The system provides for controlling color reproduction of input color image in a network having nodes (or sites). The system distributes the input color image data from one of the nodes to other nodes, and provides data structures in the network. The system has means for providing color calibration data at each node characterizing output colors (colorants) of the rendering device of the node, and means for producing at each node, responsive to the color calibration data of the rendering device of the node, information for transforming the input color image data into output color image data at the rendering device of the node. The rendering device of each node renders a color reproduction responsive to the output color image data, wherein colors displayed in the reproduction at the rendering device of each node appear substantially the same within the output colors attainable by the rendering devices. |
| US09036208B2 |
Print controlling apparatus, image forming system, and computer program product
A print controlling apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives input data including: gloss control plane data indicating a surface effect type to be achieved on the recording medium with certain density information; and table identifying information for identifying a surface effect selection table indicating a corresponding relation between the surface effect type and the density information used to generate the gloss control plane data; an acquiring unit that acquires an independent data portion indicating a portion corresponding to the surface effect type capable of being achieved independent from competence of the printing apparatus, out of the surface effect selection table identified by the table identifying information included in the input data from an external device; and a generating unit that generates the clear toner plane data using the independent data portion acquired by the acquiring unit. |
| US09036207B2 |
Image-forming apparatus adjusting image-forming operation using values acquired from different measurement environments
An image-forming apparatus includes a rotary body, an image-forming unit, at least two sensors, and a control device. The image-forming unit performs an image-forming operation. The at least two sensors read an image formed on the rotary body. The control device is configured to: control the image-forming unit to form a test image on the rotary body; control the sensors to read the test image formed on the rotary body to acquire at least two values each relating to one of the at least two sensors; calculate a weighted average value of the at least two values by using weightings that are assigned to the at least two values, respectively, one of the weightings being different from another of the weightings; and correct the image-forming operation using the weighted average value. |
| US09036205B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for correcting luminance and saturation of a pixel in an image or of a target lattice point in a lookup table
A gradation-correcting curve to correct a gradation of an input image is generated. Gradation correction based on the gradation-correcting curve is made to a boundary pixel of a color-reproduction space at the same saturation as that of a target lattice point and at a hue of the target lattice point. An equal-saturation line is set by using the boundary pixel of the color-reproduction space after the gradation correction. A saturation-correction amount of the target lattice point is decided based on the gradation-correcting curve and the equal-saturation line. |
| US09036203B2 |
Print controlling apparatus, image forming apparatus, and method for forming image
An image forming apparatus, a print controlling apparatus, and an image forming method using the same are provided. The image forming method includes extracting at least one graphical primitive from print data, forming an image by arranging the graphical primitive according to whether the extracted graphical primitives are close to each other or not, converting the formed image into a sketch image, modifying the print data by replacing the sketch image and some of the graphical primitives constituting the sketch image, and draft-printing using the modified print data. |
| US09036201B2 |
Printing media recycling apparatus and printing media recycling method
According to one embodiment, a printing media recycling apparatus includes a printing-medium feeding section, a scanner section configured to read an image of printing medium and generate image data, the decoloring section configured to decolor an image formed of a decolorable recording material on the printing medium, a decoloring-processing-execution determining section configured to determine whether the execution of decoloring processing is appropriate for the printing medium or the execution of the decoloring processing is unnecessary based on the image data generated in the scanner section, a decoloring determining section configured to determine a decolored state of the printing medium after the execution of the decoloring processing by the decoloring section, and a diverting-section-switching control section configured to switch a diverting section to lead the printing medium to a predetermined discharge tray. |
| US09036199B2 |
Image processing apparatus for performing color matching processing, image processing method, and computer-readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a plurality of device link profiles corresponding to a combination of color space information of an input device, a viewing condition, and a color conversion method. The image processing apparatus determines whether the stored device link profiles are to be used according to the set color conversion method. If it is determined that the device link profiles are to be used, the image processing apparatus selects one of the plurality of device link profiles according to the color space information of the input device. |
| US09036198B2 |
Optical-writing control device, image forming apparatus, and method of controlling optical writing device
An optical-writing control device calculates correction values for use in correcting a transfer position at which developing-agent images are to be transferred onto a sheet, and overlaying positions at which the developing-agent images are to be overlaid, based on a detection signal output from a sensor upon detection of a correction pattern for use in correcting the transfer position and a correction pattern for use in correcting the overlaying positions. A timing of detecting the pattern for use in correcting the overlaying positions is determined based on a correction value calculated based on the detection signal output upon detection of the pattern for use in correcting the transfer position. The pattern for use in correcting the transfer position is caused to have a width, in the main-scanning direction, that is wider than the width in the main-scanning direction of the pattern for use in correcting the overlaying positions. |
| US09036197B2 |
Data transfer control apparatus and data transfer control method
In order to control transfer to a processing unit of input data containing a plurality of lines stored across a plurality of memory regions including first and second memory regions, a position of a line of target of output data containing a plurality of lines output from the processing unit is specified. A number of lines of input data to be transferred from the first memory region and their addresses are determined, and a number of lines of input data to be transferred from the second memory region and their addresses are determined, based on the specified position of the line of target. Control is performed based on the determination result such that input data for a number of lines may be transferred from the first memory region and input data for a number of lines may be transferred from the second memory region. |
| US09036187B2 |
Predictive schedule-based tracking of incoming print jobs
Systems and methods are provided for predictively tracking expected print jobs. The system comprises a memory that identifies categories of print jobs, and that stores rules that indicate how often print jobs will be received at a presentation system. The system also comprises a control unit operable to identify a rule for a category of print jobs, to analyze the rule to generate a predicted schedule of print jobs expected for receipt at the presentation system, and to determine whether expected print jobs have been received at the presentation system in accordance with the schedule. The control unit is further operable to generate an alert if an expected print job has not been received at the presentation system in accordance with the schedule. |
| US09036186B2 |
Method and device for printing a scheduled print job
A method and apparatus for printing a scheduled print job by a printing device connected to a client device over a network. The method includes transmitting, by the client device, a request to print the scheduled print job to the printing device. The scheduled print job include print data and schedule data corresponding to a scheduled time the print data is to be printed. The printing device obtains the print job from cloud storage or from local storage depending on a storage selection indicator, and executes the scheduled print job at the scheduled time. A determination is made as to whether the scheduled print job was printed successfully at the scheduled time. Further, a message indicating whether the scheduled print job was printed successfully, based on the determination, is sent to a predetermined device. |
| US09036185B2 |
Managing network connections
In one embodiment, a message is received at a network-connectable printer, from a first computer system via a first communication protocol. In response to receipt of the message, a connection between the printer and the network is established via a second communication protocol. A print job is received at the printer via the connection. The print job is caused to print at the printer. The connection is terminated after the print job is printed. |
| US09036184B2 |
Printer registration
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to registration of a printer. It is determined that the printer is within a range of a mobile device. A short-range wireless link is established between the printer and the mobile computing device. Registration information is transmitted to a printing platform. |
| US09036180B2 |
Apparatus and method for securing confidential information of printed document in cloud computing environment
The present invention provides a client terminal for receiving a cloud computing service from a cloud server that provides the cloud computing service. The client terminal includes a character string information extractor configured to extract character string information from document data requested to print in a printer that is connected to the client terminal, a confidential information detector configured to detect confidential information from the extracted character string information and a controller configured to prohibit printing of the document data including the character string of the detected confidential information or to mask at least one or more characters of the character string of the detected confidential information, with predetermined specific characters. |
| US09036178B2 |
Display apparatus, method of controlling operations of the same, and network system
A display apparatus includes a display device, obtains first information indicating an error occurring in an electronic apparatus from the electronic apparatus; transmits, to an external information processing apparatus, the obtained first information and second information indicating a display capability of the display device, and obtains third information indicating a manner of dealing with the error occurring in the electronic apparatus. The third information has been transmitted by the external information processing apparatus based on the first information and the second information. The display control part then displays the obtained third information on the display device. |
| US09036176B2 |
Image forming apparatus communicable with remote display apparatus
An MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) receives, from a remote terminal, information on a first operation to request the MFP to execute processing. The MFP transmits, to the remote terminal, information on a screen in accordance with the information on the first operation, and receives, from the remote terminal, a report that a screen in accordance with the transmitted information is displayed on the remote terminal. The MFP receives, from the remote terminal, information on a second operation to request the MFP to execute processing, after receipt of the information on the first operation and before receipt of the report, and decides whether to execute or cancel the processing in accordance with the information on the second operation, depending on the type of the information on the second operation. |
| US09036174B2 |
Cover sheets used for diagnosis
A method and system collects diagnostic data for use in diagnosing existing and potential image quality issues related to a printer. Document cover sheets and/or electronic versions of the cover sheets are routinely collected, even when there has been no reported image quality issue, to preserve a historical record of the output of the printer over an extended time period. The historical record of the images on the routinely collected cover sheets and/or electronic versions of the cover sheets include data useful in diagnosing existing and potential image quality issues related to substantive pages of the documents processed by the printer. |
| US09036168B2 |
Image forming apparatus storing a stylus pen
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus provided with an operation panel receiving instructions from a user by touch operations, a stylus pen used to perform the touch operations, and a pen holder holding the stylus pen, the pen holder including an opening for insertion of the stylus pen from outside of the pen holder, and a storage section storing the stylus pen. The storage section includes a first hollow portion with a first bottom and a second hollow portion with a second bottom lower than the first bottom. The stylus pen is stored in the storage section by being inserted through the opening, proceeding along the first bottom to enter the second hollow portion, and slanting, upon a center of gravity of the stylus pen passing a boundary between the first bottom and the second bottom, so that a tip of the stylus pen points downwards. |
| US09036167B2 |
Operation console with enhanced configuration of operation buttons for command inputs, and electronic device and image processing apparatus provided with the operation console
An operation console used in relation to an apparatus as an object of control operated by a user operation includes: a display device having a display area for displaying information to the user; an input device for the user to input a request; and a display control device displaying, if a request for displaying specific information on said display device is input through the input device, the specific information on the display device. The input device includes a plurality of operation buttons for inputting a plurality of requests, corresponding to respective requests, arranged in the vicinity of the display area. Among the plurality of operation buttons, an operation button corresponding to the request for displaying the specific information is provided closest to the display device. |
| US09036165B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus, including a driving unit, a separator unit, a conveyer unit, a reader unit, a reducer unit, a size detecting unit; and a controller is provided. The separator unit includes a drive shaft, a contact member, and a clutch. The controller manipulates the conveyer unit via the driving unit to convey the sheet at a first conveying speed when the size of the sheet detected by the size detecting unit is greater than a predetermined size. The controller manipulates the conveyer unit via the driving unit to convey the sheet at a second conveying speed, which is lower than the first conveying speed, when the size of the sheet detected by the size detecting unit is one of smaller than and equivalent to the predetermined size. |
| US09036155B2 |
Six-axis four-subdividing interferometer
Six-axis four-subdividing interferometer comprising a six-axis light splitting system and an interference module which are sequentially arranged along the incident direction of polarization orthogonal double-frequency laser, wherein the six-axis light splitting system comprises five 45-degree plane beam splitters and four 45-degree full-reflecting mirrors. |
| US09036153B1 |
Instrument for reflectivity measurement
An apparatus for testing the reflectivity of a material under test includes a rotating carriage, a light source, and a light detector. At least two sample units are mountable to the rotating carriage. Each sample unit includes a planar surface disposed under a portion of a hemispherical surface. The light source is mounted on a pivoting boom and generates light. The light detector is mounted to measure optical power of the light emitted from the light source and reflected from a selected one of the at least two sample units. The pivoting boom and the rotating carriage rotate through different angular positions to obtain reflectance signatures as a function of incident angles for the at least two sample units. |
| US09036151B2 |
Optical parameter measuring apparatus and optical parameter measuring method
An optical parameter measuring apparatus for measuring optical parameters of an object includes a light source, a polarizing module, a Stokes polarimeter and a calculating module. The light source emits a light which is polarized by the polarizing module and received by the Stokes polarimeter. According to the light information generated by the Stokes polarimeter, Mueller matrixes of linear birefringence, circular birefringence, linear dichroism, circular dichroism and linear/circular depolarization of the object, and Stokes vector established according to the Mueller matrixes, the calculating module calculates the optical parameters. |
| US09036149B2 |
Electrochemical sensor with diamond electrodes
An electrochemical sensor comprising: a reference electrode (4) formed of an electrically conductive synthetic doped diamond material and configured to be located in electrical contact with a solution (8) to be analysed; a sensing electrode (2) formed of an electrically conductive synthetic doped diamond material and configured to be located in contact with the solution (8) to be analysed; an electrical controller (10) configured to conduct stripping voltammetric measurements by applying a voltage to the sensing electrode (2), to change the applied voltage relative to the reference electrode (4), and to measure an electric current flowing through the sensing electrode (2) thereby generating voltammetry data; and a calibration system configured to provide an in-situ calibration for providing a reference point in the voltammetric data since the potential of the diamond reference electrode is non fixed and floating. Consequently, assigning of peaks (M1, M2, M3) in the voltammetry data to chemical species (M1, M2, M3) is possible, thereby allowing the type and concentration of chemical species in the solution (8) to be determined. The in-situ calibration consists of: 1-using a spectrometer for X-rays, Gamma rays or fluorescence measurements integrated in the sensor, 2-using a known redox couple added to the solution that will provide a reference peak in the voltammetric data, or 3-producing in-situ ionic species at the vicinity of the reference electrode. |
| US09036146B2 |
Micro purge of plasma region
An analysis system includes a laser source generating a laser beam for creating a plasma at a location on a sample. A spectrometer is responsive to photons emitted by the sample at said location and has an output. At least one nozzle is configured to deliver inert gas from a source locally to the location on the sample. A controller is responsive to a trigger signal and is configured to activate the laser source generating a series of laser pulses, open a valve to purge the location locally on the sample, and close the valve after one or more laser pulses. |
| US09036141B2 |
Surface inspection apparatus and surface inspection method
A surface inspection apparatus includes a blocking unit included in a subsequent processing unit that groups data items into having an arbitrary number of data items. The subsequent processing unit acquires a data item from each of the blocks. The blocking unit changes, in accordance with an instruction transmitted from a state monitoring unit, the number of data items to be blocked. A threshold processing unit acquires data items from the blocking unit that have values larger than a threshold, and transmits the data items to a memory. The state monitoring unit monitors an available capacity of the memory. When the state monitoring unit detects a reduction in the available capacity of the memory, it causes the blocking unit to increase the number of data items to be blocked into each of the blocks so that data does not overflow from the memory. |
| US09036140B2 |
Optical probe system with increased scanning speed
An optical probe system having a probe with an optical guide (G) having a distal end. The optical guide (G) is mounted inside a housing (H) so that the distal end is displaceable with respect to the housing (H). A set of actuators (A), e.g. electromagnetic drive coils, can displace the distal end by application of a drive signal (Vx, Vy). A control unit (CU) generates the drive signal (Vx, Vy) so as to provide a scanning frequency which varies according to an amplitude of the drive signal (Vx, Vy). With such probe system it is possible to scan a field of view with a scanning frequency that varies with the scanning radius. Taking into account the maximum allowable drive current, it is possible to increase scanning speed compared to scanning at the mechanical resonance frequency of the optical system, since small radii can be scanned at a high scanning frequency. |
| US09036135B2 |
Distance measuring device
The invention relates to an electro-optical distance measuring device comprising a transmitting unit comprising a light source for emitting intensity-modulated optical radiation, a receiving unit for receiving a portion of the optical radiation, said portion being reflected from a target object, by means of a photosensitive electrical component and for converting it into an electrical reception signal. Furthermore comprising a conditioning unit for conditioning the reception signal comprising at least one amplifier stage, an analog-to-digital converter fox digitizing the conditioned reception signal, and an electronic evaluation unit, which is designed in such a way that a distance from the distance measuring device to the target object, can be determined on the basis of a signal propagation time with the aid of the digitized reception signal. According to the invention, in this case the amplifier stage is designed in such a way that it has a non-linear input-output characteristic. |
| US09036133B2 |
Lithographic fabrication of general periodic structures by exposing a photosensitive layer to a range of lateral intensity distributions
A lithographic method related to Talbot imaging for printing a desired pattern of features that is periodic or quasi-periodic in at least one direction onto a substrate surface, which method includes providing a mask bearing a pattern of mask features, arranging the substrate parallel and in proximity to the mask, providing an illumination source having a central wavelength and a spectral bandwidth, forming from said source an illumination beam with an angular distribution of intensity, arranging the distance of the substrate from the mask and exposing the mask pattern to said beam so that each angular component of illumination exposes the substrate to substantially the entire range of lateral intensity distributions that occur between successive Talbot image planes for the illumination wavelengths, wherein the angular distribution of the beam is designed in conjunction with the pattern of features in the mask and the distance of the substrate from the mask. |
| US09036131B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device fabrication method
The present invention provides an exposure apparatus including a measurement unit configured to measure a position of the mark on a substrate, and a control unit configured to control an amount of light on a predetermined plane of an optical system included in the measurement unit, wherein an amount of light emitted by a light source is smaller in a non-measurement period in which the position of the mark is not measured than in a measurement period in which the position of the mark is measured, and the control unit sets a transmittance in an optical path between the light source and the predetermined plane to be higher in the non-measurement period than in the measurement period. |
| US09036130B2 |
Device and method for transmission image sensing
A device for transmission image sensing for sensing an aerial image in a lithographic exposure apparatus comprises a projection system arranged to form, at an image side of the projection system, an aerial image of an object mark. The device further comprises a detector comprising a slit pattern having features corresponding to at least a part of the aerial image. The slit pattern is arranged to be exposed to the aerial image. The detector is further being arranged to detect detection radiation transmitted by the slit pattern; wherein d<0.85 λ/NA, where d represents the dimension of the smallest feature of the slit pattern, λ represents the intended wavelength of the detection radiation, and NA, which is larger than 1, represents the numerical aperture of the image side. |
| US09036128B2 |
Lithographic apparatus and in-line cleaning apparatus
A lithographic system includes an immersion type lithographic apparatus, which includes a support constructed and arranged to support a substrate, a projection system constructed and arranged to project a patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of the substrate, a liquid confinement structure configured to at least partially fill a space between the projection system and at least one of the substrate and support with an immersion liquid, a liquid supply system arranged to provide the immersion liquid to the liquid confinement structure, and a cleaning liquid supply system arranged to provide a cleaning liquid to a surface of the lithographic apparatus that comes into contact with the immersion liquid. The system includes a switch to provide the cleaning liquid directly to the liquid confinement structure and to provide the immersion liquid indirectly to the liquid confinement structure via a liquid purification system. |
| US09036121B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device
Picture element electrodes (7) are electrically connected with drain electrodes (18D) of respective transistor elements (18). The picture element electrodes (7) and data signal lines (SLn, SLn+1, . . . ) are provided above scanning signal lines (GLn, GLn+1, . . . ). The picture element electrodes (7) overlap scanning signal lines (GLn, GLn+1, . . . ) when viewed from above. Notch parts 7a and 7b are provided in each picture element electrode (7) so as to overlap each of the scanning signal lines (GLn, GLn+1, . . . ). Shield electrodes (4a, 4b) are formed in the same layer as the data signal lines (SLn, SLn+1, . . . ). Each of the scanning signal lines (GLn, GLn+1, . . . ) at least partially overlaps the shield electrodes (4a, 4b) in the notch parts (7a, 7b), when viewed from above. This provides the liquid crystal display panel having wide viewing angle characteristic and carrying out high quality display. |
| US09036120B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal display panel including pixels each having an active device, a pixel electrode, a common electrode and a liquid crystal layer arranged in a dot matrix array. The liquid crystal display panel has a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate has the active device, the pixel electrode, the common electrode and a first alignment film. The second substrate has a second alignment film. The first alignment film and the second alignment film are respectively a photo alignment film formed by irradiating a photo decomposition type insulating film with light. The second alignment film has a thickness of at least 10 nm and no greater 50 nm and is thinner than the first alignment film. |
| US09036119B2 |
Liquid crystal composition, liquid crystal display device, and method for producing liquid crystal display device
Several aspects of the present invention provide a liquid crystal composition capable of shortening the takt time and achieving excellent display qualities, and a liquid crystal display device and a method for producing a liquid crystal display device which use the liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal composition of several aspects of the present invention includes a liquid crystal material and one or more kinds of radical polymerizable monomers, at least one kind of the radical polymerizable monomers being a compound generating radicals through a self-cleavage reaction by exposure to light and having at least two radical polymerizable groups. |
| US09036118B2 |
Negative optical compensation assembly and method for preparing the same
A method for preparing a negative optical compensation assembly includes: first providing an alignment chamber composed of a vertical alignment substrate and a horizontal alignment substrate and filling into the alignment chamber a liquid crystal mixture comprising a polymerizable discotic liquid crystal, an adjunct alignment agent, and an ultraviolet absorption pigment, and subjecting the vertical alignment substrate to ultraviolet radiation so as to polymerize the polymerizable discotic liquid crystal within the alignment chamber, thereby obtain the negative optical compensation assembly. This method can obtain hybrid alignment of discotic liquid crystal via a simple process, and therefore reduce the complexity for manufacturing the negative optical compensation assembly. |
| US09036116B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a TFT substrate having a display area in which pixels are arranged, and a terminal portion, a counter substrate disposed opposite to the TFT substrate, a sealing material formed in a periphery to bond the TFT and counter substrates together, and with a liquid crystal layer interposed between an orientation film formed on the TFT substrate and an orientation film formed on the counter substrate. A first, second, or third color filter is formed corresponding to each of the pixels in the display area of the TFT substrate, and an orientation film stopper is formed by an overlapping portion of the first, second, or third color filter at least in an area between the display area and the terminal portion of the TFT substrate so that a profile of the orientation film is defined by the orientation film stopper. |
| US09036115B2 |
Liquid crystal display module
A liquid crystal display module includes a liquid crystal module and a polarizer stacked with each other. The polarizer includes a polarizing layer, a transparent conductive layer and at least two driving-sensing electrodes. The polarizing layer and the transparent conductive layer are stacked with each other. The at least two driving-sensing electrodes are spaced from each other and electrically connected with the transparent conductive layer. |
| US09036113B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and television set
A backlight includes light emitting diodes; a substrate on which light emitting diodes are mounted; and a reflection sheet. The surface on which the light emitting diodes are mounted of the substrate is opposed to a rear surface of the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel and the substrate each have a shape in which a common width in a first direction is longer than a width in a second direction, which is orthogonal to the first direction. The width of the substrate in the second direction is shorter than the width of the liquid crystal display panel in the second direction. The substrate is opposed to, while avoiding being opposed to both end portions of the liquid crystal display panel in the second direction, a central portion between the both end portions of the liquid crystal display panel. |
| US09036112B2 |
Optical sheet, optical sheet production method, surface-emitting apparatus, and liquid crystal display apparatus
An optical sheet includes a sheet body including a single translucent resin material layer having a first surface that light enters and a second surface that the light exits. The sheet body is orientationally crystallized in a first in-plane axis direction and a second in-plane axis direction orthogonal to each other and having a linear expansion coefficient of 1.0*10E−5/° C. or less in all in-plane directions. A structure surface portion that has a geometric configuration and is formed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface. |
| US09036111B2 |
Liquid crystal display module
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) module for preventing a hot spot that deteriorates an external appearance quality using existing components is provided. The LCD module includes an optical sheet disposed at an upper surface of a light guide plate, a Light Emitting Diode Flexible Printed Circuit Board (LED FPCB) on which an LED for emitting light to the light guide plate is mounted, and a double-sided tape having a portion protruding toward the optical sheet further than the LED FPCB and adhered to a mounting surface of the LED FPCB. Therefore, occurrence of a hot spot can be reduced without increasing components. Further, because a thickness increase of a local portion is unnecessary, a second failure such as panel lifting is not caused. |
| US09036098B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device that facilitates the display of 3D images. The LCD device comprises a liquid crystal panel an upper substrate for a color filter array, a lower substrate for a TFT array, and a liquid crystal layer between the lower and upper substrates; a guide panel placed on the liquid crystal panel; a bottom cover extended to a height of an upper surface of the liquid crystal panel, the bottom cover covering lateral sides of the liquid crystal panel; a tempered polarizing glass having a plurality of polarizing patterns to circularly polarize light emitted from the liquid crystal panel leftward or rightward, the tempered polarizing glass placed on the upper surfaces of the liquid crystal panel and the bottom cover; and an adhesive layer on the upper surfaces of the liquid crystal panel and the bottom cover. |
| US09036094B2 |
Display panel with touch detector, touch panel, and electronic unit
There are provided a display panel with a touch detector that allows the touch detection electrodes to be less visible, a touch panel, and an electronic unit having the display panel with a touch detector. The display panel with a touch detector includes: a display layer including a plurality of display elements arranged side by side; and an electrode layer alternately segmented into first regions and second regions along a first direction, the electrode layer including a plurality of first slits arranged side by side to extend in a second direction, and a plurality of second slits each allowing an adjacent pair of the plurality of first slits in the second regions to be in communication with one another. |
| US09036092B2 |
Video channel change system
A video channel change system may include one or more processors and a memory. The one or more processors may receive first packets including first video frames associated with a first video channel and second packets including second video frames associated with a second video channel. The one or more processors may decode the first packets and display the first video frames while buffering, in a buffer, the second packets. The one or more processors may determine that a packet of the second packets includes a random access point without decoding the packet, discard the second packets from the buffer that were received prior to the packet, buffer additional second packets received subsequent to the packet, and decode the second packets stored in the buffer and display the second video frames included therein, in response to a request to change from the first video channel to the second video channel. |
| US09036090B2 |
Transmitting device, transmitting method, and receiving device
A data transmitting device may include a first data transmitting unit and a second transmitting unit. The second data transmitting unit transmits to an external device video data encoded so as to be DC-free and capable of clock regeneration, via a pair of AC-coupled lines as a transmission path. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the transmission bandwidth of video data while improving signal quality and reducing power consumption. In addition, bi-directional transmission may be allowed which may enable new applications for inter-room transmission and the like. |
| US09036082B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for line-based motion compensation in video image data
The present invention is related to line-based motion estimation and compensation in video image data. In particular, by performing the line-based motion estimation, a set of motion vectors for the line-based motion compensation is provided. By use of the provided set of motion vectors, the line-based motion compensation is performed by interpolating the image data of the current field/frame, wherein an interpolated image data of the image data of the current field/frame is provided as result of the performing of the line-based motion compensation. Then, it is checked, whether a region of the interpolated image data of the current field/frame comprises at least one pixel of the region, which was interpolated according to a motion vector from the set of motion vectors, which is indicated as being not reliable for the line-based motion compensation. If so, a blurring of the corresponding region is performed according to the present invention. |
| US09036081B2 |
Video signal transmission device, video signal reception device, and video signal transmission system
A video transmission device 10 has: a packer 11 which receives a video signal, a sync signal, and a data-enable signal, and generates a plurality of packet signals by packetizing the video signal and the sync signal based on the data-enable signal and according to the number of bytes of a packet corresponding to the number of gradation bits of the video signal; an encode unit 15 which generates a plurality of encoded packet signals by encoding the plurality of packet signals; and a serializer 14 which generates a serial packet signal by parallel-serial converting the plurality of encoded packet signals. The packer 11 generates a control signal including a pulse with a pulse width corresponding to the number of bytes of the packet, and the encode unit 15 subjects a portion of the packet signals corresponding to the pulse in the control signal from the packer, to an encode process which is different from a process for the other portion. |
| US09036079B2 |
Combination apparatus and operating method thereof
A combination apparatus and an operating method thereof are provided. The combination apparatus includes a first device, a second device and a connecting mechanism. The first device includes a first display unit and a first image capturing unit, wherein a picture is captured by the first image capture unit and converted into an image signal for the first display unit to display. The second device includes a second display unit with resolution different from that of the first display unit and is capable of wirelessly controlling the first device. The connecting mechanism is configured to detachably fasten the first device and the second device. The operating method of the combination apparatus includes utilizing the first device and/or the second device to capture a picture; and utilizing the first display unit and/or the second display unit to display the picture. |
| US09036077B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel includes a lens group having at least two lenses, a lens holding frame configured to hold the lens group, a holding cylinder configured to hold the lens holding frame movably in an optical axis direction of the lens group, a forward-backward moving mechanism configured to move the lens holding frame forward and backward with respect to the holding cylinder, first to third guide shafts fixed on the holding cylinder so as to surround the lens holding frame and each extend in the optical axis direction, and a biasing mechanism configured to be held by the lens holding frame between the first guide shaft and the lens holding frame and bias the lens holding frame in a direction so as to separate the lens holding frame from the first guide shaft toward the second and third guide shafts on a plane orthogonal to the optical axis direction. |
| US09036075B2 |
Image pickup apparatus, method for controlling the same, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to sequentially acquire an imaging signal while a focus lens is moving, a generation unit configured to generate a focus signal by using the imaging signal, and a control unit configured to control movement of the focus lens. The control unit performs a first operation for driving the focus lens in one direction in a range including a first area and a second area which is farther from a peak position of the focus signal than the first area. In the first operation, the control unit sets a focusing speed to a first speed when the focus lens is in the first area. When a predetermined condition is satisfied in the first operation, the control unit sets a focusing speed to a second speed faster than the first speed when the focus lens is in the second area. |
| US09036072B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
It is required to carry out a tapping operation on a display screen to adjust the focus in a case where refocus process is performed in shifting to a reproduction mode, so that a user has to do an extra work. An image processing apparatus obtains a multi-view image data obtained by image-capturing in a plurality of viewpoints. A mode indicating information on a target to be focused is set. A combined image data focused on the target is generated by executing image processing to the multi-view image data based on the set mode. |
| US09036068B2 |
CMOS image sensor with fast read out
An image pickup element includes a plurality of read signal lines; a pixel unit in which a plurality of pixel circuits are arranged in a matrix form, the plurality of pixel circuits in the pixel unit being divided into groups of pixel circuits so that each of the groups is provided in a corresponding one of columns, each of the groups of pixel circuits being connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of read signal lines; and a processing unit configured to process read signals that the plurality of pixel circuits, which are divided into groups, output to the plurality of read signal lines, which are connected to the plurality of pixel circuits. |
| US09036065B1 |
Shared-counter image sensor
During an exposure interval within an integrated-circuit image sensor, a first sequence of sample values, obtained by iteratively sampling a first pixel, is accumulated within a counter. The counter is reset to clear the first count value, and then a second sequence of sample values, obtained by iteratively sampling a second pixel, is accumulated within the counter. |
| US09036061B2 |
Color imaging apparatus
A single-plate color imaging element where the color filter array includes a basic array pattern with first filters corresponding to a first color and second filters corresponding to a second color with contribution ratios for obtaining luminance signals lower than the first color, the basic array pattern is repeatedly arranged in a diagonal grid shape, one or more first filters are arranged in horizontal, vertical, upper right, and lower right directions of the color filter array, one or more second filters corresponding to each color of the second color are arranged in the upper right and lower right directions of the color filter array in the basic array pattern, and a proportion of the number of pixels of the first color corresponding to the first filters is greater than a proportion of the number of pixels of each color of the second color corresponding to the second filters. |
| US09036059B2 |
Imaging apparatus for efficiently generating multiple forms of image data output by an imaging sensor
An information processing apparatus comprising: a sensor unit including a plurality of sensor arrays that output first imaging data formed by an optical system; an array converter that generates second imaging data by converting the first imaging data output by the sensor unit into an order corresponding to a predetermined arrangement; a first signal processor that performs first signal processing on the second imaging data output by the array converter; and a second signal processor that performs second signal processing on the first imaging data output by the sensor unit. |
| US09036056B2 |
Image communication system, terminal device, management device and computer-readable storage medium
In an image communication system of the present invention, the transmission and reception of images are performed between a mobile phone, which combines a base image (character) with an accessory image and displays the composite image, and a server device via a communication network. When an image of a subject is captured by an imaging section, the mobile phone recognizes the subject in the captured image as an image for distinguishing a character. Subsequently, the server device generates an accessory image based on the recognized distinguishing image. Then, the mobile phone combines the generated accessory image with the base image (character), and displays the composite image. |
| US09036053B2 |
Method and system for processing digital images having an association file separate from an image life
A portable image capture device, program and method for controlling and managing data captured thereby. A device program residing on the portable image capture device generally associates data processing attributes with image files generated for image data captured by the portable image capture device. In some embodiments, the device program associates data processing attributes related to prompts for pre-defined image data with corresponding image files generated in response to the prompts. The device program, and attribute and prompt data therefor are created on a data processing system and are transferrable therefrom to the portable image capture device. |
| US09036052B2 |
Image pickup apparatus that uses pixels different in sensitivity, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus capable of increasing the dynamic range and performing high-frame rate imaging. The image pickup apparatus includes a pixel section formed by arranging a plurality of pixels each including different types of pixels different in sensitivity to light, in a two-dimensional matrix form. Different types of ADCs perform analog-to-digital conversion of signals read out from the high-sensitivity pixels and low-sensitivity pixels in parallel and hold results in respective counter latch circuits. The pixel section has an interconnection layer including a plurality of interconnections for transferring the signals. One interconnection is used as a vertical read-out line for transferring signals from the low-sensitivity pixels, and another interconnection is used as a vertical read-out line for transferring signals from the high-sensitivity pixels. |
| US09036051B2 |
Image processing apparatus and interpolation method operable to calculate a luminance and interpolate color by adjusting a signal output from at least one low-luminance pixel and at least one high-luminance pixel
An image sensor, an image processing apparatus including the same and an interpolation method of the image processing apparatus are provided. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels that include a low-luminance pixel including a first photoelectric conversion device that accumulates a charge less than a predetermined reference value and a high-luminance pixel including a second photoelectric conversion device that accumulates a charge more than the predetermined reference value. Interpolation is carried out giving more weight to the low-luminance pixel at low luminance and giving more weight to the high-luminance pixel at high luminance, so that a higher SNR is obtained. |
| US09036049B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and exposure control method
In an image capturing apparatus, a subject image is converted into an image signal, which undergoes automatic correction processing including white balance correction processing, and further undergoes image quality change processing. A first evaluation value indicating a largest value of an R signal, a G signal, and a B signal of the image signal undergone the image quality change processing and a second evaluation value indicating a luminance of the image signal undergone the image quality change processing are detected. A control evaluation value is calculated using weighted average of the first evaluation value and the second evaluation value according to at least one of an amount of image quality changing effect due to the image quality change processing and a reliability of the automatic correction processing, and exposure control is performed based on the control evaluation value. |
| US09036043B2 |
System and method for generating and transmitting interactive coordinated presentations
A teleprompter system and method include use of a touch-screen interface positioned intermediate to the user and a camera such that the camera captures the user's image through a transparency of the touch-screen interface. The touch screen interface is coupled to a computer and is operably connected so as to enable user control and manipulation of interactive media content generated by the computer. A video mixing component integrates images captured by the camera with interactive media content generated by the computer, as may be manipulated by the user via the touch-screen interface, to generate a coordinated presentation. The coordinated presentation can be received by one or more remote devices. The remote devices can further interact with at least the interactive media content. |
| US09036040B1 |
Vehicle identification number capture
An image processing system may process an image of indicia positioned behind a reflective surface. The indicia may be a vehicle identification number and the reflective surface may be a windshield of a vehicle. The image processing system may receive an initial image of the indicia positioned behind a reflective surface and process the initial image to produce a resulting image. In processing the initial image, the image processing system may identify an interest region of the initial image, where the interest region identifies a portion of the initial image affected by glare caused by the reflective surface, texturize the interest region to account for the glare, and remove a defocusing effect from the initial image to account for blur, reflection, or both, caused by the reflective surface. Then, the image processing system may extract data, such as the vehicle identification number, from the resulting image. |
| US09036033B2 |
Digital image processing apparatus and method of estimating global motion of image
Provided are a digital image processing apparatus which corrects a position of each of a plurality of template motion vectors of an image frame of a captured image by considering relative positions of neighboring motion vectors respectively similar to each of the template motion vectors, calculates a score of each of the template motion vectors by considering a number of the neighboring motion vectors, and selects a global motion vector representing the image frame based on the score, and a method of estimating a global motion of an image to stabilize the captured image using the global motion. |
| US09036028B2 |
Object tracking and alerts
An integrated surveillance system combining video surveillance and data from other sensor-based security networks is used to identify activities that may require attention. |
| US09036027B2 |
Tracking the use of at least one destination location
Tracking the use of at least one destination location is disclosed. Initially, three or more first images are received from a first camera having a first field of view. It is then determined that the first vehicle is stopped within the at least one destination location at a first time and that the first vehicle has left the at least one destination location at a second time that is after the first time. Next, a unique identifier of a vehicle is received from a third-party parking payment system. The unique identifier is associated with the first vehicle. Finally, the first time, the second time and the unique identifier of the first vehicle are indicated. |
| US09036025B2 |
System and method for inexpensive railroad track imaging for inspection
An imaging system includes an image capturing device and a plurality of reflective devices. The image capturing device is configured to receive a plurality of images reflected by the plurality of reflective devices. Responsive to receiving the plurality of images, the image capturing device is further configured to capture within a single frame at least a first image corresponding to a first side of a first railroad track rail, a second image corresponding to a second side of the first railroad track rail, a third image corresponding to a first side of a second railroad track rail, and a fourth image corresponding to a second side of the second railroad track rail. |
| US09036023B2 |
Method and system for monitoring and controlling a glass container forming process
The present invention relates to a method and system for monitoring and controlling a glass container forming process. The radiation emitted by each hot glass container is measured with measurement unit immediately after the forming machine. The described method normalizes the measurement from glass container to glass container and thereby removes the effects of overall temperature variations between glass containers, changing ambient conditions, and other variations affecting the measurements, which provides a unique quality reference for each glass container. By reviewing this reference for each produced glass container, the quality of the produced containers can be improved. |
| US09036022B2 |
Component mounting apparatus, illuminating apparatus used in imaging and illuminating method
A component mounting apparatus, an illuminating apparatus used in imaging in the component mounting apparatus and an illuminating method are provided which can support various recognition objects and can meet the requirement of downsizing by reducing the occupied space. In the component mounting apparatus which performs an operation for mounting a component on a board (3), when illumination light is irradiated to the board (3) at the time of imaging with a board recognition camera (12), and when the illumination light is irradiated from a light emitting panel (15) which is formed by laminating a light source portion (13) and a color liquid crystal panel (14) and in which a plurality of light emitting portions whose light emission states can be individually changed are orderly arranged, the irradiation range of the illumination light which is irradiated from the respective light emitting portions are made to be changed on the basis of the imaging object. Therefore, while the imaging can be made on conditions suitably corresponding to various recognition objects, the requirement of downsizing can be met by reducing the occupied space of an illuminating portion (20). |
| US09036017B2 |
Biological observation apparatus and biological observation method
A biological observation apparatus is configured as follows. Namely, the biological observation apparatus includes a marker attached to a living body in order to detect the vibration of the living body, a high-sensitivity camera which forms an observation image of the living body, a high-speed camera which forms an image of light from the marker, and an optical system including a first BA which prevents the light from the marker from entering the high-sensitivity camera. |
| US09036009B2 |
Image compensation device
An image compensation device is disclosed. The image compensation image compensation device comprises a 3D band pass filter, a 3D notch filter, a 3D notch mixing unit, a 3D summing unit, a non-3D notch filter, a non-3D band pass filter, a non-3D notch mixing unit, a non-3D band pass mixing unit, and a non-3D summing unit. The 3D notch mixing unit is used for compensating an output of the 3D notch filter. The non-3D notch mixing unit is used for compensating an output of the non-3D notch filter. The non-3D band pass mixing unit is used for compensating an output of the non-3D band pass filter. The image compensation device of the present invention is capable of avoiding the unstable and sparkle-like situation in the prior arts. |
| US09036006B2 |
Method and system for processing an input three dimensional video signal
The invention relates to a system and method of processing an input three dimensional video signal comprising multiple views, the method comprising: determining a far disparity estimate indicative of the largest disparity value for the input three dimensional video signal, a near disparity estimate indicative of the smallest disparity value for a spatial region within the input three dimensional video signal, adapting the input three dimensional video signal by shifting the input three dimensional video signal backwards by means of a disparity shift based on the far disparity estimate and generating an overlay within the spatial region for the shifted three dimensional video signal based on the near disparity estimate and the disparity shift. The invention further relates to a computer program product implementing a method according to the present invention. |
| US09036005B2 |
Measuring apparatus for measuring stereo video format and associated method
A measuring apparatus for measuring a stereo video format includes an active space measuring circuit and a decision circuit. The active space measuring circuit is utilized for determining a position of an active space of a frame packing to generate an active space measuring result according to pixels values of a plurality of scan lines of the frame packing. The decision circuit is coupled to the active space measuring circuit, and is utilized for determining the stereo video format according to at least the active space measuring result. |
| US09036001B2 |
Imaging system for immersive surveillance
Security guards at big facilities, such as airports, monitor multiple screens that display images from individual surveillance cameras dispersed throughout the facility. If a guard zooms with a particular camera, he will lose image resolution, along with perspective on the surrounding area. Embodiments of the inventive Imaging System for Immersive Surveillance (ISIS) solve these problems by combining multiple cameras in one device. When properly mounted, example ISIS systems offer 360-degree, 100-megapixel views on a single screen. (Other resolutions may also be employed.) Image-stitching software merges multiple video feeds into one scene. The system also allows operators to tag and follow targets, and can monitor restricted areas and sound an alert when intruders breach them. |
| US09036000B1 |
Street-level imagery acquisition and selection
A street-level imagery acquisition and selection process identifies which images are published in a street field view. An imagery database includes panoramas each corresponding to a set of images acquired from a single viewpoint. The panoramas are attached to corresponding positions on a road network graph. The graph is divided into a set of selection paths, each of which includes a topologically linear sequence of road segments. Each selection path is evaluated to select a set of panoramas to be published in the path. Panoramas of interior road segments are selected before panoramas at intersections. Selected panorama identifiers for each interior road segment of the selection paths and each intersection correspond to a position along the road network graph. The selected panorama identifiers are then published in the street field view. |
| US09035997B2 |
Systems and methods for real-time multimedia communications across multiple standards and proprietary devices
A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support the operation of a Virtual Media Room or Virtual Meeting Room (VMR), wherein each VMR can accept from a plurality of participants at different geographic locations a variety of video conferencing feeds from video conference endpoints that can be either proprietary or standards-based and enable a multi-party video conferencing session among the plurality of participants. Each single VMR can be implemented across an infrastructure of globally distributed set of servers/media processing nodes co-located in Points of Presence (POPs) for Internet access. Each VMR also gives its users a rich set of conferencing and collaboration interaction hitherto not experienced by video conferencing users. |
| US09035992B1 |
Bandwidth modulation system and method
A method and computing system for monitoring an AV synchronous communication session of a user. The AV synchronous communication session includes an audio channel and a video channel. A performance characteristic is determined for the audio channel. The performance characteristic is compared to a defined audio performance threshold. If the performance characteristic does not meet the defined audio performance threshold, the video channel is adjusted to reduce the bandwidth requirements of the video channel. |
| US09035987B2 |
Image forming apparatus, including a light scanning apparatus that emits a light flux
Provided is an image forming apparatus including a light scanning apparatus that emits a light flux to photosensitive surfaces of a plurality of photosensitive bodies arranged so that longitudinal directions are the same direction and that optically scans the plurality of photosensitive surfaces in the longitudinal direction, wherein a diameter of at least one of the plurality of photosensitive bodies is different from diameters of the other photosensitive bodies in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and in the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a sign of θ1 and a sign of θ2 are different, wherein θ1 denotes an incident angle of a light flux incident on a first photosensitive body with a smallest diameter among the plurality of photosensitive bodies, and θ2 denotes an incident angle of a light flux incident on a second photosensitive body with a largest diameter, and a condition |θ1|>|θ2|>0 is satisfied. |
| US09035975B2 |
Variable flower display backlight system
Techniques for using variable flower assemblies to control light leakage between designated portions of light-emitting elements are provided. In some embodiments, a variable flower assembly comprises a plurality of light-transmissive segments each may be electronically set to a different light-transparency level. The variable flower assembly substantially forms a tube around a light-emitting element mounted on a first plane. A first edge of each of the light-transmissive segments collectively surrounds the light-emitting element on a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane. A second opposing edge of each of the light-transmissive segments collectively forms an opening of the tube. In some embodiments, a reflective assembly which reflectance level is electronically controllable may surround the variable flower assembly. |
| US09035968B2 |
Multi view displays and methods for producing the same
A method for creating a distance dependent display that comprises providing an image separating mask having a plurality precision slits arranged in a pattern, generating an interlaced image from a plurality of images according to the pattern, and combining the interlaced image and the image separating mask to allow an observer to view substantially separately each the image from a respective of a plurality of different distances from the image separating mask. |
| US09035967B2 |
Method and device for enhancing scrolling and other operations on a display
A method (1500) and electronic device (100) for enhancing scrolling operations along a display (101) is disclosed. The method (1500) includes detecting (1501) that an event has occurred, altering (1502) the presentation of data elements (601,602) by introducing visible spatial separation (603) between the adjacent data elements (601,602) in response to detecting (1501) the event. Once the event has occurred, the spatial separation (603) can be removed. Where the event is reaching the end (701) of a list (502) in a scrolling operation, the method (1500) can include determining the list (502) is reaching the end (701) during the scrolling operation, introducing visible spatial separation (603), and removing the visible spatial separation (603) after the end (701) of the list (502) is reached. |
| US09035966B2 |
Data-driven color coordinator
A color selection and coordination system including a database of predetermined color relationships implementing a data-driven color model. A starting color is associated with a first color in the color database. One or more predefined color palettes associated with the first color may be retrieved, each palette including one or more coordinating colors, the coordinating colors being predetermined based on the first color and a color coordination algorithm. |
| US09035965B2 |
Metadata for use in color grading
Methods and systems for color grading video content are presented. A component (e.g. a frame, a shot and/or a scene) of the video content is designated to be a master component and one or more other components of the video content are designated to be slave components, each slave component associated with the master component. A master component color grading operation is performed to the master component. For each one of the slave components, the master component color grading operation is performed to the slave component and a slave color grading operation that is specific to the one of the slave components is also performed. Metadata, which form part of the video content, are created to provide indicators on to whether components of the video are designated as master or slave components. |
| US09035957B1 |
Pipeline debug statistics system and method
An efficient pipeline debug statistics system and method are described. In one embodiment, an efficient pipeline debug is utilized in a graphics processing pipeline of a handheld device. In one embodiment, a pipeline debug statistics system includes a plurality of pipeline stages with probe points, a central statistic component, and a debug control component. The plurality of pipeline stages with probe points perform pipeline operations. The central statistic block gathers information from the probe points. The debug control component directs the gathering of information from the probe points. In one exemplary implementation, debug control component can direct gathering of information at a variety of levels and abstraction. |
| US09035953B1 |
Systems and methods for computer-assisted drawings
Systems and methods for computer-assisted drawing are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of determining a perspective based on at least one perspective point; receiving a sketch drawing input and generating a sketch line segment based on the drawing input; determining a conformance of the sketch line segment to the perspective; and responsive to determining the conformance exceeds a threshold: adjusting the sketch line segment based on the conformance, and displaying the adjusted sketch line segment. |
| US09035952B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable medium
An image processing apparatus comprises an anchor point candidate information extraction unit configured to decide coordinates of anchor point candidates and attributes of the anchor point candidates based on a plurality of predetermined extraction rules and a sequence of coordinate points that expresses an outline of image data; an anchor point decision unit configured to decide an anchor point candidate to be reduced based on the attributes of the anchor point candidates and priority orders set in advance for the attributes, and configured to decide anchor points by reducing the decided anchor point candidates to be reduced; a control point coordinate decision unit configured to decide control point coordinates based on the anchor points decided by the anchor point decision unit and the sequence of coordinate points; and a data output unit configured to output information including the coordinates of the decided anchor points and the decided control point coordinates. |
| US09035951B2 |
Systems and methods for drawing shapes with minimal user interaction
Systems and methods are provided for drawing shapes with minimal user interaction. A drawing area is displayed, and a shape selection component comprising a set of shape selection regions is displayed. Each shape selection region is associated with a shape that can be drawn, and includes a selection component for selecting the shape, and a drawing component for initiating a drawing of the shape. First data indicative of a selection of a first selection component of a first shape selection region from the set of shape selection regions is received. Second data is received that is indicative of a selection of a first drawing component of the first shape selection region. A representation of a first shape associated with the first shape selection region on the drawing area is drawn, in response to the first data and the second data, wherein the representation can be manipulated. |
| US09035949B1 |
Visually representing a composite graph of image functions
Visually representing a composite graph of image functions includes providing a visual representation of a composite graph for an image, the visual representation including first items corresponding to respective image functions, and second items corresponding to containers for image functions, the image to be rendered by performing the image functions in an order defined by the composite graph. The user selects an expansion mode for presenting contents of a first container, each of the containers having a first expansion mode wherein the contents are displayed generally adjacent the visual representation, and a second expansion mode where the contents are displayed generally within the visual representation. A modified visual representation of the composite graph is provided in response to the input, wherein the modified visual representation maintains the order of the image functions defined by the composite graph and has the first container expanded according to the selected expansion mode. |
| US09035945B1 |
Spatial derivative-based ray tracing for volume rendering
A machine-implemented display method that, with respect to a volume dataset being rendered, enables a user to navigate to any position in space and look in any direction. Preferably, the volume dataset is derived from a computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. With the described approach, the user can see details within the dataset that are not available using conventional visualization approaches. The freedom-of-motion capability allows the user to go to places (positions) within the volume rendering that are not otherwise possible using conventional “orbit” and “zoom” display techniques. Thus, for example, using the described approach, the display image enables a user to travel inside physical structures (e.g., a patient's heart, brain, arteries, and the like). |
| US09035941B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
Based on the position and orientation information of an ultrasonic probe, an image generation unit acquires, from three-dimensional volume data, an image of a slice corresponding to a tomographic image of an object obtained by the ultrasonic probe. An image composition unit composes the image of the slice with the tomographic image to generate and output a composite image. In this composition, a region of the tomographic image is specified as an unclear image sensing region, and the image in the unclear image sensing region is replaced with the image in a region of the image of the slice corresponding to the unclear image sensing region, thereby composing the tomographic image with the image of the slice. |
| US09035940B2 |
Apparatus and associated methods
In one or more embodiments described herein, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory having computer program code stored thereon, the computer program code and at least one memory being configured to, when run on the at least one processor, perform detection of physical tilting of a display. The display is configured to provide user visual output associated with at least one running application. The at least one running application also has a virtual keyboard associated therewith provided on the display. The computer program code and at least one memory are also configured to, when run on the at least one processor, provide, in response to detection of said physical tilting of said display, corresponding graphical tilting of an onscreen area of a display to reveal a previously off-screen area of the user visual output associated with the at least one running application. |
| US09035939B2 |
3D video control system to adjust 3D video rendering based on user preferences
3D image data can be modified based on user preference data received from a user. The user preference data may be received at a first device and used to adjust 3D image data generated by the first device for presentation by a display device, or the first device may receive the user preference data and transmit it to a display device such that the display device may adjust the 3D image data based on the user preference data. The 3D image data may be adjusted based on user preference data to support presentation of 3D imagery on the display device in a manner desired by a user. 3D user viewing preferences may include an amount of pop-out effect in images, a stereo baseline of images, a depth range of images, a spatial distribution of images, a degree of depth sharpness in images, or specification of a user's dominant eye. |
| US09035936B2 |
Level shifter circuit, scanning circuit, display device and electronic equipment
A level shifter circuit, wherein a first and a second transistor circuit are connected serially, a third and a fourth transistor circuit are connected serially; a first input voltage is applied to the second transistor circuit and a second input voltage is applied to the fourth transistor circuit; an input terminal of the first transistor circuit is connected to an output terminal of the third and the fourth transistor circuits, and an input terminal of the third transistor circuit is connected to an output terminal of the first and the second transistor circuits; two transistor circuits of at least one side of two transistor circuits of a first fixed power source side and two transistor circuits of a second fixed power source side are configured of double gate transistors; and the level shifter circuit has a switch element for applying a voltage to a common connection node. |
| US09035929B2 |
Display device for measuring display characteristics associated with display of display panel
The present invention relates to a display device that measures display characteristics (such as luminance or chromaticity) associated with a display panel. The display device of the present invention has a light sensor (5) provided at a position allowing outgoing light from a screen (1a) of a liquid crystal panel (1), which serves as the display panel, and extraneous light reflected on the screen (1a) to enter the light sensor (5). Since the light sensor (5) is provided at the position, it is possible to measure the characteristics of the display panel and also the characteristics of the extraneous ambient light reflected on the screen. Thus, it is possible to accurately adjust the display characteristics based on the measurement results. |
| US09035927B2 |
Gate driver and liquid crystal display using the same
A gate driver and a liquid crystal display using the same are provided. The gate driver includes a scan signal generating unit and a compensation unit. The scan signal generating unit has a plurality of output channels, and is used for sequentially outputting a scan signal through the output channels according to a basic clock and a start pulse. The compensation unit is coupled to the scan signal generating unit, and used for compensating the total resistance of each of the output channels, and sequentially receiving and transmitting the scan signal to a display panel. |
| US09035918B2 |
Touch sensitive device employing bending wave vibration sensors that detect touch location and provide haptic feedback
A touch sensitive device comprising a touch sensitive display member capable of supporting bending wave vibration and having a user accessible display surface, an array of transducers coupled to the display member with the array of transducers comprising at least some transducers which are configured to both detect physical touching of the input surface by the user and to input impulses into the display member to produce a haptics sensation to the user in response to said detected touching of the display surface, and a signal processor to receive signals from at least some of transducers in the array of transducers and adapted to analyze the signals to determine the location of the physical touch on the display surface. |
| US09035914B2 |
Touch system including optical touch panel and touch pen, and method of controlling interference optical signal in touch system
A touch system including an optical touch panel and a touch pen, and a method of controlling an interference optical signal in the touch system. The optical touch panel device includes: a pattern analyzer detecting a pattern of an optical signal by scanning an optical touch panel, and comparing a detected pattern with patterns designated to button functions of a touch pen; a touch location detector recognizing a detected location of the optical signal as a touch location, if the detected pattern corresponds to a first pattern designated to a button function; an interference controller determining the optical signal as an interference signal, if a detected region of the optical signal exceeds a critical range; and a wireless transmitter outputting a control signal to the touch pen so that the touch pen may change the first pattern designated to the button function to a second pattern. |
| US09035913B2 |
Power saving sensing module for computer peripheral devices and method thereof
A power-saving sensing module includes a light source, a first and a second sensor, a first and a second detection unit, and a controller. The first sensor detects a touch of an external object to generate a first sensing signal corresponding to the touch. The first detection unit generates a touch signal corresponding to the first sensing signal. The second sensor senses a second sensing signal corresponding to the external object in response to the light ray. When the touch signal is greater than a touch threshold value, the second detection unit outputs a displacement signal corresponding to the second sensing signal. The controller outputs a control signal in response to the touch signal of the first detection unit and the touch threshold value, so that the second detection unit operates at a dormant state or a sensing state in response to the control signal. |
| US09035912B2 |
Digitizer for multi-display system
A multi-display system that uses back lights and light guides of an electronically addressable display to provide position-unique signals that both uniquely identify positions on a given display, but also uniquely identify displays within a multi-display system. |
| US09035911B2 |
Digitizer using position-unique optical signals
The present invention provides systems and methods of using a stylus that houses optics and a detector capable of receiving optical signals that are combined with a displayed image. Stylus position determination is made by analyzing received optical signals. |
| US09035910B2 |
Touch sensing and remote sensing optical touch screen apparatuses
Optical touch screen apparatuses with remote sensing and touch sensing by using a light sensor transistor including an oxide semiconductor transistor. The optical touch screen apparatus includes a pixel array of a plurality of sensing pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Each of the sensing pixels includes a light sensing pixel for sensing light that is irradiated by an external light source and a touch sensing pixel for sensing display light that is reflected by a screen touch. The light sensing pixel includes a first light sensor transistor and a first switch transistor connected each other in series, and the touch sensing pixel includes a second light sensor transistor and a second switch transistor connected each other in series. |
| US09035908B2 |
Touch panel, display device, and electronic device
It is an object to provide a touch panel with high precision, high-speed operation, and low power consumption, which is caused by reduction of power consumption in an A/D converter circuit is reduced. In the touch panel in which a photo sensor is included in a pixel and an A/D converter circuit is provided every one column or a plurality of columns of the pixels, a control signal of the A/D converter circuit is sequentially supplied by a shift register included in an ADC (A/D converter circuit) control circuit, and respective periods when the plurality of A/D converter circuits operates are not overlap with each other. Accordingly, the number of A/D converter circuits which operate at the same time is decreased, and instantaneous power consumption in the A/D converter circuit is decreased. |
| US09035907B2 |
Multipoint touchscreen
A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed. |
| US09035906B2 |
Proximity sensing
A processing system for capacitance sensing includes a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module includes sensor circuitry coupled to sensor electrodes, the sensor module configured to generate sensing signals received with the sensor electrodes. The determination module is connected to the sensor electrodes and configured to obtain, for a predetermined timeframe, a profile from the sensing signals, obtain, for the predetermined timeframe, a noise statistic, and calculate, for the predetermined timeframe, a data signal statistic for the predetermined timeframe using the profile. The determination module is further configured to calculate a signal to noise ratio (SNR) by dividing the data signal statistic by the noise statistic. When the SNR satisfies a predetermined detection threshold, an input object is detected in a sensing region of the capacitance sensing input device. |
| US09035903B2 |
Touch sensor
A touch sensor for sensing user input comprising one or more elements. At least a portion of one or more of the elements is configured to be desensitized, in order to determine the location of one or more user inputs. |
| US09035902B2 |
Electronic device and control method thereof
An electronic device includes a sensing unit, a charge-and-discharge circuit, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit includes a control unit, a detecting unit, a determining unit, and an executing unit. The control unit provides a plurality of periodic pulses to the sensing unit and the charge-and-discharge circuit, such that they are charged and discharged periodically and output a sensing voltage. The sensing unit detects the sensing voltage, and determines a charging time according to the sensing voltage, wherein the charging time is a time at which the sensing voltage reaches a predetermined voltage. The determining unit determines whether to trigger an interrupt request according to the charging time. The executing unit performs a designated application when the interrupt request is received. |
| US09035895B2 |
Redundant sensing element sampling
A sensor system and method that adjusts sensor data to account for the presence of noise that causes variations in signal amplitude between sensor blocks and between sensor rows. In order to account for the presence of noise in a sensor apparatus, various embodiments apply a first adjustment to the sensor data to account for variations in signal amplitude that occur from block to block. Various embodiments may also apply a second adjustment to the sensor data to account for variations in signal amplitude that occur from row to row. |
| US09035893B2 |
Portable device and method of manufacturing a display device
A portable device and method of manufacturing a display device includes a display panel having a glass substrate and a polarizer adhered to the glass substrate, a touch panel which is made of resin material and adhered to the polarizer of the display panel by a first adhesive material, and a front window which is made of glass and adhered to the touch panel by a second adhesive material. One of the first adhesive material and the second adhesive material is an adhesive sheet, and an other of the first adhesive material and the second adhesive material is an ultraviolet-curing adhesive material. |
| US09035888B1 |
User input method for mobile station having a touchscreen display
A mobile station having a touchscreen display and function key allows users to quickly input data. The mobile station displays key input sectors including displayed representations of data characters for the user to select. Upon touch by the user, the mobile station senses the location of the touch and highlights the displayed representation of the corresponding data character. While the data character is highlighted, the user further activates the mobile station and the mobile station senses the user's selection of the highlighted data character. The mobile station processes data corresponding to the selected data character as the user input data. |
| US09035887B1 |
Interactive user interface
Methods and apparatuses are provided for navigating an electronic document. In one implementation, a method includes executing a command associated with a region selected by a tap gesture. In another implementation, a method includes displaying a slider on a slide bar including an expanded part corresponding to a section of the electronic document. The expanded part is disproportionately larger than other parts of the slide bar corresponding to other sections of the electronic document. Methods and apparatuses are provided for activating an element of an electronic document. In one implementation, a method includes activating the element selected by a touch gesture. Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling a perceived brightness of an electronic document. In one implementation, a method includes displaying a partially opaque graphical object in front of the electronic document. The perceived brightness of the electronic document being based on an opacity of the graphical object. |
| US09035884B2 |
Subscription updates in multiple device language models
Systems and methods for intelligent language models that can be used across multiple devices are provided. Some embodiments provide for a client-server system for integrating change events from each device running a local language processing system into a master language model. The change events can be integrated, not only into the master model, but also into each of the other local language models. As a result, some embodiments enable restoration to new devices as well as synchronization of usage across multiple devices. In addition, real-time messaging can be used on selected messages to ensure that high priority change events are updated quickly across all active devices. Using a subscription model driven by a server infrastructure, utilization logic on the client side can also drive selective language model updates. |
| US09035882B2 |
Computer input device
A computer input device is disclosed which comprised a keyboard having a plurality of keys for entering commands and characters into the computer, the keyboard having a designated surface area overlaying the plurality of keys, at least one of the plurality of keys being located outside of the designated surface area, a touch sensor for detecting one or more touches by one or more objects on the designated surface area of the keyboard, and an input processor configured to switch the keyboard into a mouse mode when the touch sensor having detected the designated surface area being touched by a single object, the input processor configured to switch the keyboard into a keyboard mode when the touch sensor having detected the designated surface area being touched by two or more objects. |
| US09035881B2 |
Electronic apparatus and electronic system that can select signal smoothing apparatus, and computer readable media that can perform signal smoothing method that can select signal smoothing operation
An electronic apparatus that can utilize a first report rate to generate a first report rate output signal according to an output signal or can utilize a second report rate smaller than the first report rate to generate a second report rate output signal according to the output signal. The electronic apparatus comprises: a first signal smoothing apparatus; a second signal smoothing apparatus having a smooth ability smaller than the first signal smoothing apparatus and a processing unit, for selecting the first signal smoothing apparatus to process the first report rate output signal when the electronic apparatus utilizes the first report rate to generate signal, and for selecting the second signal smoothing apparatus to process the second report rate output signal when the electronic apparatus utilizes the second report rate to generate signal. |
| US09035877B2 |
3D computer cursor
The present invention introduces a 3D computer cursor that helps the user to interact with 3D computer applications in an intuitive manner. Said 3D computer cursor enables the user to easily manipulate a plurality of windows, objects, or the like to be moved or rotated in three dimensions on the computer display serving a variety of desktop and web-based applications. |
| US09035874B1 |
Providing user input to a computing device with an eye closure
Various embodiments enable additional content or features to be displayed to a user in response to detecting one eye of the user being closed either as a wink or for a duration of time. In one example, the additional content is graphical overlay, such as a menu containing selectable graphical elements to perform functions related to an application, game, or content, of global navigational features of the computing device in general, or to alternate views, features, or supplemental content for an application or game currently being displayed on a computing device. In one example, the overlay may be displayed only as long as the user keeps one eye closed or, alternatively, the user could wink to display the overlay and provide some other input to remove the overlay. |
| US09035873B2 |
Haptic feedback input device
There is provided an input device, including: a base; an operation portion; and an oscillatory wave motor including a stator and a rotor, the rotor thrusting the stator, the oscillatory wave motor providing haptic feedback to an operator via the operation portion. Displacement of one of the stator and the rotor from the base in an axial direction is allowed, displacement of the one of the stator and the rotor in a rotational direction is restricted, and the operation portion includes the other one of the stator and the rotor. |
| US09035871B2 |
Input detecting apparatus, and associated method, for electronic device
An apparatus, and an associated method, forms a user interface permitting input of input instructions to an electronic device. Input commands are evidence by tactile input forces applied to a force receiving surface. Force sensing elements are positioned to sense indications of the tactile input force. The force sensing element is caused to exhibit a selected input parameter value through application of a selected force thereto by application of a tightening torque to a fastener positioned in proximity to the force sensing element. |
| US09035869B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which includes a first pixel and a second pixel which are arranged close to each other and are allocated to the same color, and color filters which differ in color tone and are formed on the first pixel and the second pixel, wherein a voltage for driving liquid crystal of the first pixel and a voltage for driving liquid crystal of the second pixel are controlled independently from each other. |
| US09035867B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
In a display device including a backlight and a display panel, the area of the backlight is divided into a plurality of unit regions; the display panel includes pixels which are larger in number than the unit regions; a frame rate of image data input to the device is converted to perform display while part of the unit regions in which black is displayed is in a non-light emission state; and the driving frequency of the backlight is converted in accordance with the display. |
| US09035866B2 |
Display device
To provide an active matrix display device in which power consumption of a signal line driver circuit can be suppressed, so that power consumption of the entire memory can be suppressed. A plurality of memory circuits which can write data of a video signal input to a pixel in one line period and can hold the data are provided in a signal line driver circuit of a display device. Then, the data held in each memory circuit is input to a pixel of a corresponding line as a video signal. By providing two or more memory circuits in a driver circuit, pieces of data of video signals corresponding to two or more line periods can be concurrently held in the memory circuits. |
| US09035862B2 |
Electro-optic device and electronic device
An electro-optic device includes pixel electrodes; a data line block for providing an image signal to a first pixel electrode group and a second pixel electrode group in one column of pixel electrodes arrayed in a line in a first direction, the data line block being configured by data line pairs in which a pair of a first data line and a second data line extending in the first direction is arranged for each column; an image signal supplying unit for sequentially providing an image signal in time-series to each of the data line pairs configuring the data line block from one end of each of the data line pairs; and an inspection voltage supplying unit for supplying an inspection voltage from another end of each of the data line pairs each to the data line block and separately to each of the first data line and the second data line. |
| US09035859B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel and a shutter panel that is provided on the viewer side of the display panel and includes a first liquid crystal element and a second liquid crystal element adjacent to each other. In a first display state, a first light-shielding region and a first light-transmitting region are formed in the shutter panel by the first liquid crystal element, and light from the display panel is emitted through the first light-transmitting region. In a second display state, a second light-shielding region larger than the first light-shielding region and a second light-transmitting region smaller than the first light-transmitting region are formed in the shutter panel by the first liquid crystal element and the second liquid crystal element, and light from the display panel is emitted through the second light-transmitting region. |
| US09035855B2 |
Display device and driving method thereof
In an active matrix display device, luminance distribution due to a voltage drop in a pixel portion is reduced, thereby obtaining a uniform display. In a display device having multiple current supply paths provided around the pixel portion, a current is supplied to the pixel portion using a current supply path selected among the multiple current supply paths, and the selected current supply path is switched with the passage of time to average the voltage distribution with time. |
| US09035850B2 |
Metamaterial for diverging an electromagnetic wave
The present disclosure relates to a metamaterial for diverging an electromagnetic wave, which comprises at least one metamaterial sheet layer. Refractive indices of the metamaterial sheet layer are distributed in a circular form with a center of the metamaterial sheet layer, and the refractive indices remain unchanged at a same radius and increase gradually with the radius. The present disclosure changes electromagnetic parameters at each point of the metamaterial through punching or by attaching man-made microstructures so that the electromagnetic wave can be diverged after passing through the metamaterial. The metamaterial of the present disclosure features a simple manufacturing process and a low cost, and is easy to be implemented. Moreover, the metamaterial of the present disclosure has small dimensions and does not occupy a large space, so it is easy to miniaturize apparatuses made of the metamaterial of the present disclosure. |
| US09035848B2 |
Modular active radiating device for electronically scanned array antennas
The invention concerns a device in the domain of AESA (“Active Electronically Scanned Array”) systems required for e.g. radar multifunctional systems with communication capabilities and electronic/analysis countermeasures, providing a constructive element for the realization of modular active radiating panels, which are economic and scalable depending on the system needs, to be used on multi-roles and multi-domains platforms. The architecture according to the invention presents a so-called “tile” architecture and uses a multilayer configuration incorporating the radiating elements, the control and supply controls, the transmitting/receiving (T/R) modules, the cooling system by using vertical interconnections, having a low cost and high integration. |
| US09035847B2 |
Antenna pattern frame and mold for manufacturing electronic device case including the same
There is provided an antenna pattern frame including: a radiator comprising an antenna pattern portion transmitting and receiving a signal and a connection terminal portion allowing the signal to be transmitted to and received from a circuit board of an electronic device; and a radiator frame manufactured by injection molding on the radiator, allowing the antenna pattern portion to be embedded in a case of the electronic device, and supporting the radiator. The radiator frame includes a hydraulic recess introducing a resin material to a mold for manufacturing a case of the electronic device in which the radiator is embedded through injection molding, so that the radiator frame contacts the mold by injection pressure. |
| US09035846B2 |
Display device having directional antenna
A display device includes a display panel and a directional antenna. The directional antenna is disposed behind or under the display panel for radiating or receiving wireless signals. The radiating path of the directional antenna is at a specific angle with respect to a horizontal plane for receiving surrounding wireless signals. Or, the signals radiated from the directional antenna may be reflected or refracted to regions above or in front of the display device by a back-side barrier or penetrate a back-side barrier which does not cause large electromagnetic degradation, thereby receiving wireless signals originated from the front-side or back-side of the display device. |
| US09035840B1 |
Dual-band antenna with grounded patch and coupled feed
Methods and systems for radiating electromagnetic energy with a patch antenna structure are described. The patch antenna structure may be formed of a metal member of the user device and is coupled to a ground plane in a first plane and is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) feed) at a portion of the patch antenna structure disposed in a second plane. The patch antenna structure is configured to radiate at an opening between the patch antenna and the ground plane. |
| US09035838B2 |
Concentric millimeter-waves beam forming antenna system implementation
An antenna implementation comprises an electromagnetic lens and at least one electromagnetically shielding member. The electromagnetic lens is adapted to guide at least one electromagnetic signal by means of at least a variation in permittivity. The at least one electromagnetically shielding member encapsulates the electromagnetic lens partially so as to direct at least one electromagnetic signal propagating through the electromagnetic lens. The at least one electromagnetically shielding member can advantageously be part of an enclosure; said enclosure encapsulates partially the electromagnetic lens. The antenna can further comprise antenna transmission means that contain wave guides. Said waveguides can advantageously be incorporated into the enclosure. The antenna is particularly suited for implementations using Substrate Integrated Waveguide techniques. SIW techniques allow miniaturization of the antenna and offer the advantage of low energy consumption as may be required in portable devices. |
| US09035834B2 |
Vehicle antenna
An RF antenna system is provided for mounting on a window of a vehicle comprising exterior and interior window mountable portions. The first and second portions include an RF coupling section (4) to inductively couple an RF signal received from antenna (20) and a power coupling section (6) for providing external power to an external amplification portion 52 for amplifying received RF signals. The system includes a further electrical connection (16) to a metallic shim (18) which is magnetically fixed to the roof of the vehicle and electrically connected thereto, whereby the roof provides a ground plane for the antenna, by capacitive coupling of the metallic shim to the vehicle roof. |
| US09035833B2 |
Five-band Bluetooth built-in antenna and its mobile communication terminal
A five-band Bluetooth built-in antenna and its mobile communication terminal provide bandwidth for communication. A built-in antenna comprises an antenna radiation unit and a first slot, a second slot and a third slot. Slots are added to approach a center frequency of a low-frequency branch part of the antenna so that the antenna generates resonance, so the low-frequency bandwidth of the antenna is increased. A high-frequency part of the antenna generates resonance by means of capacitive coupling. |
| US09035832B2 |
Mobile communication device with improved antenna performance
Mobile communication devices with improved antenna performance are provided. A mobile communication device includes a first antenna, a ground plane, and a diversity antenna. In a mode of operation which is not a multi-antenna transmission mode, the diversity antenna is electrically coupled to the ground plane. The diversity antenna increases the electrical length of the ground plane and enhances the antenna performance of the radiating assembly of the first antenna in combination with the ground antenna and the diversity antenna. |
| US09035827B2 |
Positioning using a local wave-propagation model
A method and apparatus for assisting the calculation of the position of a receiver device (1200), by observing a transmitted signal having a known structure. The method comprises: comparing (S220) the time of arrival, at a reference position (X1), of a first portion of the signal with the time of arrival at the receiver, at an unknown position (Y1), of a second portion of the signal; obtaining (S230) a local wave propagation model of the signal, the model comprising an estimate of the direction of propagation of the signal in the neighborhood of the reference position and unknown position; and using (S240) the direction of propagation and the result of the comparison to assist in the calculation of the unknown position relative to the reference position. |
| US09035821B2 |
Optimizing switching sequence in the case of switched antenna arrays
An antenna array for a radar sensor, wherein the antenna array has a number of antenna elements linearly arranged next to one another. The antenna elements are designed for transmitting or receiving a radar signal, and the antenna array has a switching unit, which is designed to connect the antenna elements according to a predetermined switching sequence individually, one after the other in time, with a transmitting or receiving unit of the radar sensor. The switching sequence, according to which the antenna elements are connected one after the other with the transmitting or receiving unit, deviates from the spatial sequence of the antenna elements in the antenna array. |
| US09035814B2 |
Feedforward delta-sigma modulator
A feedforward delta-sigma modulator includes a successive approximation analog-to-digital converter, a digital-to-analog converter, N integrators, a first adder, a second adder, and an optimization zero generation unit, where N is a positive integer. An output terminal of each integrator of the N integrators is coupled to the successive approximation analog-to-digital converter. The digital-to-analog converter is coupled between the first adder and the successive approximation analog-to-digital converter. The first adder is coupled to an input terminal of a first integrator of the N integrator. The second adder is coupled to an input terminal of a Kth integrator of the N integrators, where K is a positive integer. The optimization zero generation unit is coupled between an output terminal of a (K+1)th integrator of the N integrators and the second adder. |
| US09035809B2 |
Optimizing compression engine throughput via run pre-processing
An apparatus includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to generate a reduced representation of an input sequence of characters by replacing a repetition of a sequence of one or more characters by a code representing the repetition of the sequence of one or more characters. The second circuit may be configured to generate a compressed representation of the input sequence of characters in response to the reduced representation of the input sequence of characters. The second circuit is generally configured to recognize the code representing the repetition of the sequence of one or more characters and take into account the repetition of the sequence of one or more characters during a compression operation. |
| US09035807B2 |
Hierarchical entropy encoding and decoding
A particular implementation receives geometry data of a 3D mesh, and represents the geometry data with an octree. The particular implementation partitions the octree into three parts, wherein the symbols corresponding to the middle part of the octree are hierarchical entropy encoded. To partition the octree into three parts, different thresholds are used. Depending on whether a symbol associated with a node is an S1 symbol, the child node of the node is included in the middle part or the upper part of the octree. In hierarchical entropy encoding, a non-S1 symbol is first encoded as a pre-determined symbol ‘X’ using symbol set S2={S1, ‘X’} and the non-S1 symbol itself is then encoded using symbol set S0 (S2⊂S0), and an S1 symbol is encoded using symbol set S2. Another implementation defines corresponding hierarchical entropy decoding. A further implementation reconstructs the octree and restores the geometry data of a 3D mesh from the octree representation. |
| US09035803B2 |
Systems and methods for aiding traffic controllers and/or pilots
Gaze based systems and methods are used to aid traffic controllers and/or pilots. A gaze line of an eye of the user viewing the display is tracked using an eyetracker. An intersection of the gaze line of the eye with the display is calculated to provide continuous feedback as to where on the display the user is looking. A trace of the gaze line of the eye is correlated with elements of a situation. The user's awareness of the situation is inferred by verifying that the user has looked at the elements of the situation. In an embodiment, the user is notified of the situation when it is determined that the user has not looked at the elements of the situation for a predetermined period of time. The notification is automatically removed once it is determined that the user has looked at the elements of the situation. |
| US09035801B2 |
Flight deck lighting for information display
A method and apparatus for lighting a flight deck on an aircraft. A status of the aircraft is identified by a processor unit. The processor unit controls the lighting on the flight deck in response to the status of the aircraft to indicate the status of the aircraft. |
| US09035800B2 |
Fuel tank monitoring system
A method and apparatus for monitoring an interior of a fuel tank. Information about a fuel level and moisture in the interior of the fuel tank of a platform is generated using a fuel sensor unit in the interior of the fuel tank. The fuel sensor unit comprises a sensor configured to be located in the interior of the fuel tank and generate information about the fuel level in the fuel tank and the moisture in the fuel tank and a wireless unit electrically connected to the sensor. The wireless unit is configured to receive the information from the sensor and transmit the information using wireless signals. A number of actions is identified based on the information about the interior of the fuel tank. |
| US09035798B2 |
Method for determining traffic flow data in a road network
Determining traffic flow data in a road network comprising passing a first radio beacon and receiving a request message that at least includes a start location and a stop location; determining if an on-board unit position is within a predetermined range of the start location, and responsively starting a recording of measurement data; determining if the on-board unit position is within a predetermined range of the stop location, and responsively stopping the recording of the measurement data; and transmitting the recorded measurement data to a next radio beacon that is passed by the on-board unit. |
| US09035796B2 |
Reduce speed ahead information delivery
A navigation system provides a position of the vehicle on a segment of a roadway and identifies a change in speed limit relative to the current segment of the roadway. A traffic sign recognition system determines a speed limit information presentation zone of the current segment of the roadway after determining that a speed limit of the approaching segment of the roadway is lower than a speed limit of the current segment of the roadway and/or a current speed of the vehicle. Thereafter, the traffic sign recognition system assesses the position of the vehicle relative to the speed limit information presentation zone. In response to determining that the vehicle is within the speed limit information presentation location, the traffic sign recognition system displays a visual representation of a speed limit sign designating the speed limit of the approaching segment of the roadway. |
| US09035794B2 |
Posture calibration for activity monitoring
A method and system for activity monitoring of a user are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises calibrating posture by the user to determine a calibration vector. The method includes validating the calibration vector by comparing an anteroposterior axis to a threshold, wherein activity of the user is monitored using the validated calibration vector. In a second aspect, a wireless sensor device comprises a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor, wherein the memory device includes an application that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to receive a posture calibration request from the user and to determine a calibration vector based on the received request. The application, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to validate the calibration vector by comparing an anteroposterior axis to a threshold, wherein activity of the user is monitored using the validated calibration vector. |
| US09035793B2 |
Methods and apparatus for monitoring a plurality of worksites
Embodiments provide methods for monitoring a plurality of worksites at a facility, the methods including transporting a central monitoring station package to the facility, seating a transport container, stationing worksite monitoring equipment packages at the worksites, connecting communication links from the worksite monitoring equipment packages to central monitoring station equipment, transmitting remote transmissions from worksite monitoring equipment packages to central monitoring station equipment, displaying worksite monitoring information for a monitoring technician, and responding when remote monitoring information received from a worksite meets a response threshold criteria. |
| US09035792B2 |
Method for detecting vehicles with cargo
A method for detecting vehicles with cargo in a traffic telematics system comprising at least one radio beacon for radio communication with onboard units (OBUs) carried by vehicles and their cargo. The method including: establishing radio communications between said radio beacon and a first OBU, and between said radio beacon and a second OBU, via radio signals; electronically evaluating said radio signals; and when said evaluation indicates that said first and second OBUs are moving at a limited and constant distance from one another, receiving characteristic data from the first OBU in the radio beacon, transmitting the characteristic data from the radio beacon to the second OBU, and recording the characteristic data in a memory of the second OBU. |
| US09035787B2 |
Centralized management and emergency allocation of deployed defibrillators each having associated communication modules
A method, device and/or a system of centralized management and emergency allocation of deployed defibrillators each having associated communication modules. A central server may process a message from a communication module associated with a defibrillator, and then analyze a photograph and/or a video of a defibrillator display to compare it to a set of expected visual markers using a pixel algorithm of a pixel analysis module. The central server may then determine the operational status of the defibrillator such as whether it is in a nonfunctional status. The central server may then send alerts to the communication module and notifications to the an organization owning or leasing the defibrillator. The central server may also send alerts to the communication module based on a nearby emergency call, provide geospatial mapping of defibrillators to improve deployment efficiency and/or establish bi-directional communication between the operator of the defibrillator and a medical professional. |
| US09035782B1 |
Transfer switch with ground current indication
A transfer switch configured to detect a ground current is configured to selectively connect a first power source or a second power source to a load. Each of the power sources includes at least one “hot” lead and one neutral lead, and the transfer switch is configured to switch both the “hot” and the neutral leads. If the neutral switching portion of the transfer switch fails, current may be supplied to the load via the “hot” lead of one of the power sources and return from the load via a ground conductor and the neutral lead of the other power source. The transfer switch includes a current sensor, detecting current on the ground conductor, in order to detect such a condition. The signal from the current sensor is provided to a control circuit, which, in turn, activates an indicator if the current on the ground conductor exceeds a predefined level. |
| US09035776B2 |
Wireless monitoring of safety helmets
The subject disclosure provides a system and method for remote monitoring of a subject wearing a sports helmet. In one aspect, the system includes a safety helmet and a sensor integrated with the helmet for continuously gathering head acceleration force data, the head acceleration force data associated with the head movements of a subject. The system also includes a wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor for transmitting the head acceleration force data and a mobile device for receiving the head acceleration force data from the wireless transceiver. The system further includes a database engine for displaying the head acceleration force data to a user. |
| US09035773B2 |
Environment monitoring and recording tag with remote sensing capability
A tag includes an integrated circuit thereon, including memory, antenna means for RF transmission of data acquired by the integrated circuit, a sensor sensing environmental conditions to which the sensor is subjected, the sensor providing signals based on the environmental conditions to the integrated circuit, a thermistor device of increasing the accuracy of the tag by confining on-board calculation data to a resistance domain and leaving conversion of the data to a temperature domain for an external device once the data is retrieved from the tag's memory. |
| US09035769B2 |
Radio-frequency lighting control system with occupancy sensing
A load control system controls an electrical load provided in a space and comprises a load control device and one or more occupancy sensors. The load control device controls the load in response to the wireless control signals received from the occupancy sensors. Each occupancy sensor transmits an occupied control signal to the load control device in response to detecting an occupancy condition in the space and a vacant control signal to the load control device in response to detecting a vacancy condition. The load control device turns on the load in response to receiving the occupied control signal from at least one of the occupancy sensors, and turns off the load in response to receiving vacant control signals from both of the occupancy sensors. The load control device is operable to determine that no wireless control signals have been received from the occupancy sensors for the length of a predetermined timeout period and to subsequently turn off the load. |
| US09035768B2 |
Peer to peer surveillance architecture
A peer to peer surveillance architecture comprising a plurality of independent nodes for capturing, analyzing, storing, and viewing surveillance information is disclosed. The surveillance architecture has no central controller or single point of failure because of the peer to peer or independent relationship between its nodes. Generally, surveillance information of various types is captured by one or more capture nodes and transmitted to or one or more viewing, content storage, or server nodes for display, analysis, storage, or a combination thereof. Server nodes may provide authentication services to validate user or device credentials prior to granting access to surveillance information. In one or more embodiments, specialized video compression hardware is provided to allow high quality video surveillance information to be transmitted across low bandwidth connections. Compression may also be performed on other types of surveillance information. |
| US09035767B2 |
Analyte monitoring system and methods
Methods and systems for providing data communication in medical systems are disclosed. |
| US09035766B2 |
System and method of determining gas detector information and status via RFID tags
In large systems of ambient condition detectors the respective detectors can each include an RFID-type tag or integrated circuit. The tag can transmit detector identification information and status information wirelessly to a displaced receiver. Receivers can be installed in docking/test stations as well as in portable units which can be carried by an individual entering, or, moving through a region being monitored by the detectors. |
| US09035763B2 |
Processing alarm signals
Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for processing alarm signals are presented. In some embodiments, a mobile device may be registered with a security system that is installed at a premises. Subsequently, an alarm trigger associated with the security system may be received. Based on receiving the alarm trigger, the location of the mobile device may be determined. A response to the alarm trigger then may be determined based on the location of the mobile device. |
| US09035762B2 |
Method and system for locating signal emitters using cross-correlation of received signal strengths
A method and system for determining a location of a first device that emits a signal: provide at least three sensors separated and spaced apart from each other; at each of the sensors, receive the signal emitted by the first device; determine the received signals for each of the sensors; determine cross-correlations of the received signals for pairs of the sensors; and determine the location of the first device from the magnitudes of the cross-correlations of the received signals. |
| US09035751B2 |
Communication power line status detecting method and system using the method
A communication power line status detecting method and a system using the method provided by the present disclosure is suitable for used in a transmission device and a receiving device which are connected by a communication power line. The transmission device transmits a communication indicator signal through the communication power line. When the receiving device receives the communication indicator signal from the communication power line, it converts the communication indicator signal into a time domain in order to analyze the signal reflection and transmission status of the communication indicator signal when it is transmitted via the communication power line, and to generate a line status information corresponding to the communication power line. |
| US09035749B2 |
Movable golf range target with RFID ball identifier
A movable golf range target system is described. The movable golf range target system includes an issuing area RFID reader and a movable target. The issuing area RFID reader reads a plurality of RFID golf balls associated with a player account, each RFID golf ball has a unique identification and the issuing area RFID reader is communicatively coupled to an issuing area network communications module. The movable target includes a first enclosed boundary capture component that receives an RFID golf ball in a first capture area, a first target RFID reader associated with the first capture area, a second enclosed boundary component that encompasses the first enclosed boundary component funnel, the second enclosed boundary capture area receives an RFID golf ball in a second capture area, a second target RFID reader is associated with the second capture area and a GPS receiver coupled to the movable target. |
| US09035745B2 |
Biometric authentication
A tool for determining whether to grant a current person access to a protected resource. A computer receives a plurality of touches performed by a current person on a touch screen. Each touch in the plurality of touches includes a location of the touch on the touch screen and a surface area measurement of the touch screen impacted by the current person. The computer determines whether each touch in the plurality of touches received matches a predetermined touch performed by a person authorized to access the protected resource. If each touch in the set of touches received matches a stored touch performed by a person authorized to access the protected resource the current person will be granted access to the protected resource. |
| US09035741B2 |
Foot-operated control console for wirelessly controlling medical devices
A wireless foot control apparatus allows an operator to control multiple medical devices during an endoscopic medical procedure. The apparatus comprises a control console with controls designed for foot operation to control various medical devices. The controls include one or more foot pedals and foot switches to control the devices, including a selection switch to allow selection of the device to be controlled at a particular time. The console transmits signals over a wireless medium, to cause a remote receiver unit to select the device to be controlled and to control the selected device over a wired medium, in response to operation of the foot controls. The console may include a rechargeable battery, which may be sealed within the console's housing and charged inductively when the console is placed in a charging station. The receiver unit and the charging station can be separate units or integrated within a single housing. |
| US09035739B2 |
Subsea fuse assembly
A subsea fuse assembly is provided. The subsea fuse assembly is adapted to be operated in a pressurized environment. The subsea fuse assembly includes an enclosure adapted to be filled with a dielectric liquid, and a pressure compensator including a flexible element for pressure compensation. The subsea fuse assembly also includes a first penetrator and a second penetrator each passing through a wall of the enclosure for leading a first electric conductor and a second electric conductor, respectively, into the enclosure. The subsea fuse assembly includes a fuse arranged inside the enclosure and connected between the first electric conductor and the second electric conductor. |
| US09035738B2 |
Multilayer inductor and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a multilayer inductor, manufactured by stacking laminates each including: a substrate having internal electrode coil patterns formed thereon; and a magnetic substance filling the substrate on which the internal electrode coil patterns are formed, wherein the substrate is formed by using a composition including a magnetic material, so that, when the substrate is placed in the middle of the electrode circuit patterns at the time of manufacturing a power inductor, the substrate can be utilized as a gap material, and thus the thickness of an inductor chip can be minimized, and, in addition, the magnetic material is included in the substrate forming composition, thereby improving magnetic characteristics, and the liquid crystal oligomer and the nanoclay are added to the composition, to thereby increase insulating property between magnetic metals, thereby raising inductance, and thus dimensional stability and physical hardness of the structure can be secured. |
| US09035737B2 |
High speed transformer
Embodiments of the present invention provide novel techniques for creating a high speed transformer such as a pulse transformer. In particular, a secondary coil of the high speed transformer may include a single turn. The use of a single turn secondary coil simplifies the design and manufacture of the transformer and aids in more efficient inspections. Further, the single turn secondary coil transformer may reduce the number of vias used to interconnect the components of the transformer. Additionally, the embodiments described herein may significantly improve voltage isolation by single turn coils, and eliminate vias between board layers. |
| US09035732B2 |
Linear actuator and groove fashioning method for linear actuator
A linear actuator includes a first tube, a second tube inserted into the first tube to be free to slide, a rod fixed at one end of the rod to the first tube, a rod guide provided on the other end of the rod so as to slide relative to the second tube, a plurality of permanent magnets held by the rod, a holder that is fitted into the second tube and holds a plurality of coils, a first chamber defined between one end of the holder and an end portion of the first tube, and a second chamber defined between the other end of the holder and the rod guide. An insertion hole which connects the first chamber to the second chamber and through which the rod passes is formed in the holder. A connecting groove that connects the first chamber to the second chamber is formed in the second tube to extend in an axial direction. |
| US09035726B2 |
SAW filter circuit having improved ESD resistance
A SAW filter circuit having improved ESD resistance is specified, in which a series interconnection composed of SAW resonators is interconnected between a first signal port and a dual-mode SAW filter port. The static capacitance of the series interconnection is at most four times the static capacitance of the dual-mode SAW filter transducers interconnected therewith. |
| US09035725B2 |
Acoustic wave device
An acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate, an interdigital transducer (IDT) electrode provided on an upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate, a first dielectric film covering the upper surface of the piezoelectric substrate to cover the IDT electrode, and a second dielectric film covering an upper surface of the first dielectric film. The second dielectric film includes a thin portion positioned in a tip region of electrode fingers of the IDT electrode and a thick portion which is positioned in a middle region of the IDT electrode and is thicker than the thin portion. The acoustic wave device suppresses spurious emission and has superior passband characteristics. |
| US09035724B2 |
Multilayer band pass filter
In a multilayer band pass filter, via-electrodes and strip electrodes define inductors of LC parallel resonators in four stages. A capacitor electrode and a ground electrode define a capacitor of a first-stage LC parallel resonator. A capacitor electrode and the ground electrode define a capacitor of a fourth-stage LC parallel resonator. Capacitor electrodes define a second-stage LC parallel resonator. Capacitor electrodes define a third-stage LC parallel resonator. Among four or more of the LC parallel resonators, the coupling between certain LC parallel resonators is easily defined, and the attenuation characteristic of a filter is definable with a high degree of freedom. |
| US09035723B2 |
Filter for removing noise
The present invention discloses a filter for removing noise, which includes: a lower magnetic substrate; a coil layer disposed on the lower magnetic substrate and including at least one conductor pattern and an insulating layer covering the conductor pattern; an upper magnetic substrate disposed on the coil layer; and a magnetic permeability enhancing layer disposed on the magnetic substrate with lower magnetic permeability of the lower magnetic substrate and the upper magnetic substrate.According to the present invention, it is possible to implement a filter for removing noise with high performance, characteristics, and reliability by increasing magnetic permeability to improve impedance characteristics and improving an effect of shielding electromagnetic waves such as jamming. |
| US09035721B2 |
Duplexer, communication module component, and communication device
A duplexer has an antenna terminal, a first terminal, and second terminals and provided with a first filter arranged between the antenna terminal and first terminal and including a parallel resonator for forming a ladder type filter circuit, a second filter arranged between the antenna terminal and the second terminal and having a passband higher than a passband of the first filter, and an electromagnetic coupling element arranged between the parallel resonator of the first filter and a ground part and electromagnetically coupled with the antenna terminal. |
| US09035713B2 |
Conductor winding and inductors arranged to form a balun having a figure eight shape
A balun including a first conductor winding, a first inductor, a second inductor, a third inductor, and a fourth inductor. The first conductor winding has a figure eight shape including a first loop and a second loop. The first inductor and the second inductor substantially surround the first loop. The third inductor and the fourth inductor substantially surround the second loop. |
| US09035710B2 |
PWM signal generating circuit, printer, and PWM signal generating method
A PWM signal generating circuit, printer, and PWM signal generating method are described. The PWM signal generating circuit includes: a single counter configured to count values expressed in N bits; and at least one arithmetic device configured to generate a PWM signal, each of the at least one arithmetic device including a pulse width data storage unit for storing N-bit pulse width data representing a pulse width of the PWM signal to be generated, and an adder for calculating a carry value from a most significant bit obtained when adding the count value and the pulse width data. A signal having a level corresponding to the carry value is output at every change in the count value so that the PWM signal having the pulse width of the pulse width data is generated. |
| US09035706B2 |
Variability and aging sensor for integrated circuits
A ring-oscillator-based on-chip sensor (OCS) includes a substrate having a semiconductor surface upon which the OCS is formed. The OCS includes an odd number of digital logic stages formed in and on the semiconductor surface including a first stage and a last stage each including at least one NOR gate including a first gate stack and/or a NAND gate including a second gate stack. A feedback connection is from an output of the last stage to an input of the first stage. At least one discharge path including at least a first p-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (PMOS) device is coupled between the first gate stack and a ground pad, and/or at least one charge path including at least a first n-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (NMOS) device is coupled between the second gate stack a power supply pad. |
| US09035705B2 |
Low-power oscillator
An integrated oscillator circuit comprises an oscillator configured to be switched between a first frequency and a second frequency. A switching circuit receives an input representing a target frequency and switches the oscillator between the first and second frequencies at intervals determined by the input, so as to cause the average output frequency of the oscillator to approximate the target frequency. |
| US09035703B2 |
Tunable wide band driver amplifier
A tunable wide band driver amplifier is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a first band selection circuit selectively connected between an output terminal of an amplifier and a circuit ground. The first band selection circuit configured to adjust an amplification band from a first frequency band to a second frequency band. The apparatus also includes a first harmonic reduction circuit selectively connected between the first band selection circuit and the circuit ground and configured to reduce 2nd harmonic frequencies associated with the first frequency band when the amplification band is set to the first frequency band. |
| US09035697B2 |
Split amplifiers with improved linearity
Split amplifiers with configurable gain and linearization circuitry are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes first and second amplifier circuits and a linearization circuit, which may be part of an amplifier. The first and second amplifier circuits are coupled in parallel and to an amplifier input. The linearization circuit is also coupled to the amplifier input. The first and second amplifier circuits are enabled in a high-gain mode. One of the first and second amplifier circuits is enabled in a low-gain mode. The linearization circuit is enabled in the second mode and disabled in the first mode. The amplifier is split into multiple sections. Each section includes an amplifier circuit and is a fraction of the amplifier. High linearly may be obtained using one amplifier circuit and the linearization circuit in the low-gain mode. |
| US09035695B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and electronic circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit and an integrated circuit, each of which includes multiple regions containing at least one switchable region to switch between supplying power and blocking power individually; a power supply controller to control switching supplying power and blocking power in the switchable region that switches supplying power and blocking power individually; a power supply variable impedance circuit to change a power supply impedance of the semiconductor integrated circuit; and a power supply impedance controller to obtain the power supplying state of the region from the power supply controller, to cause the power supply variable impedance circuit to change the power supply impedance, based on a supply state of the power in the switchable region. |
| US09035686B1 |
Apparatus and method for low power fully-interruptible latches and master-slave flip-flops
Described is a latch which comprises: a first AND-OR-invert (AOI) logic gate; and a second AOI logic gate coupled to the first AOI logic gate, wherein the first and second AOI logic gates have respective first and second keeper devices coupled to a power supply node. Described is a flip-flop which comprises: a first latch including: a first AOI logic gate; and a second AOI logic gate coupled to the first AOI logic gate, wherein the first and second AOI logic gates have respective first and second keeper devices coupled to a power supply, the first latch having an output node; and a second latch having an input node coupled to the output node of the first latch, the second latch having an output node to provide an output of the flip-flop. |
| US09035681B2 |
Switch controller, switch control method, and power supply device comprising the switch controller
The present invention relates to a switch controller, a switch control method, and a power supply using the switch controller.A switch controller controls switching operation of a power switch and receives a sense voltage of a sense resistor to which a drain current flowing in the power switch flows. The switch controller generates a sum signal using the sense voltage and a ramp signal having a cycle that is the same as a switching cycle of the power switch. The switch controller determines short-circuit of the sense resistor by detecting slope variation of the sum signal. |
| US09035680B2 |
Comparator and analog-to-digital converter
Embodiments of the present invention provide a comparator and an analog-to-digital converter. A sampling module, a pre-amplifying module, and a coupling module in the comparator obtain a third differential voltage signal according to a positive input signal and a negative reference signal, and obtain a fourth differential voltage signal according to a negative input signal and a positive reference signal. A latch that is in the comparator and formed by a first P-type field effect transistor, a second P-type field effect transistor, a third field effect transistor, a fourth field effect transistor, a first switch, and a second switch is directly cross-coupled through gates, and directly collects the third differential voltage signal and the fourth differential voltage signal to the gates, so as to drive the latch to start positive feedback. |
| US09035679B2 |
Standard cell connection for circuit routing
Embodiments described herein provide approaches for improving a standard cell connection for circuit routing. Specifically, provided is an IC device having a plurality of cells, a first metal layer (M1) pin coupled to a contact bar extending from a first cell of the plurality of cells, and a second metal layer (M2) wire coupled to the contact bar, wherein the contact bar extends across at least one power rail. By extending the contact bar into an open area between the plurality of cells to couple the M1 pin and the M2 wire, routing efficiency and chip scaling are improved. |
| US09035678B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a digital circuit by controlling the clock
A method and apparatus that controls the clock of a digital circuit, and therefore power consumption, without substantially comprising performance is provided. The apparatus may include monitoring the utilization of a First in First Out (FIFO) buffer. For example in a systems and methods according to the invention, clock speed may be reduced when the FIFO is relatively empty and increased when the FIFO is relatively full. The clock speed may be controlled by a phase locked loop, a clock divider, a clock masking device or a combination of more than one of these methods. Power reduction may also be obtained by controlling the clocking of different stages of a pipelined device. One or more aspects of the inventions may be implemented in combination with other aspects of the invention to further reduce power use. |
| US09035675B2 |
Method and device for off-line testing of electric motors
A method for off-line testing of an electric motor is disclosed. The motor having at least one stator winding, and a rotor arranged along a rotation axis. The method includes applying a periodic test signal to the at least one stator winding; collecting first measuring data, related to a physical quantity of the at least one stator winding while the rotor is being rotated about the rotation axis, from one or more waveform periods of the test signal, detecting first peak values of the first measuring data; forming second measuring data based on the first detected peak values, detecting second peak values of the second measuring data for the at least one stator winding; determining a mutual relationship between the at least a portion of the second peak values; and, providing, if the mutual relationship deviates from a predetermined relationship, a signal indicating a fault in the rotor. Also disclosed is an apparatus for performing the disclosed methods. |
| US09035670B2 |
Semiconductor module, test system and method employing the same
A semiconductor module includes a plurality of module pins and a semiconductor device. Module pins receive an identification pattern signal having M bits and outputs a test identification pattern, where M is a positive integer. The semiconductor device includes device pins, and outputs the identification pattern signal through the device pins in response to a connection identification control signal for identifying a configuration of pin connections between the module pins and the device pins. The semiconductor module effectively identifies a configuration of pin connections between the module pins and the device pins. |
| US09035667B2 |
Automatic testing equipment, automatic testing system and method for controlling automatic testing thereof
An automatic testing equipment, an automatic testing system, an a method for controlling automatic testing thereof are disclosed. The automatic testing equipment is used for receiving a control signal to test a durability of a connecting port of a device under test (DUT). The automatic testing equipment includes a testing platform, a testing unit, and a power control unit. The testing platform is used for disposing the DUT. The testing unit includes a main body, an assembly unit, and a height adjustment unit. The assembly unit is used for assembling a test connector. The height adjustment unit is connected with the main body and works with the assembly unit to adjust a height of the assembly unit. The power control unit drives the testing unit to test the connecting port via the test connector after receiving the control signal. |
| US09035666B2 |
Torsion angle and rotation angle measurement device
A torsion angle and rotation angle measurement device includes an input rotation disk, an output rotation disk, at least two torsion measuring modules and a rotation measuring module. The output rotation disk is coaxially and rotatably connected with the input rotation disk. At least two torsion measuring modules are disposed between the input rotation disk and the output rotation disk. Each torsion measuring module includes a rotary variable resistor and a torsion measuring arm. The rotary variable resistor is disposed on the output rotation disk. The torsion measuring arm is pivotally connected with the rotary variable resistor at a first end thereof, and is slidably connected with the input rotation disk at an second opposite end. When the input rotation disk rotates relative to the output rotation disk, the rotary variable resistor measures an angle indicating the input rotation disk rotating relative to the output rotation disk. |
| US09035664B2 |
Device and method for measuring currents in a bearing
A measuring method and a device that permit a better evaluation of bearing currents are disclosed. The method uses non-contact measurement of a bearing voltage. A non-contact voltage measurement is performed by means of a series circuit of capacitors. The bearing voltage can be detected especially well in this manner even in the high frequency range. |
| US09035663B2 |
Capacitive position encoder
In one embodiment, a method comprises driving one or more drive electrodes formed on a substrate with one or more drive signals. A wiper comprising at least one arm is driven to a predetermined voltage. The wiper is electrically insulated from a plurality of sense electrodes formed on the substrate. For each sense electrode of the plurality of sense electrodes, a charge stored by the sense electrode is detected. A processor determines a position of the wiper based on the detected charges stored by the plurality of sense electrodes. |
| US09035662B2 |
Method and device for accurate capacitive measured value acquisition
A device and a method for the capacitive detection of an object which is preferably arranged behind a flat article that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation or a wall, including a sensor incorporating sensor electrodes for the detection of the object, preferably for the detection of relative movements between the sensor and the flat article or a finger, where a control circuit serves for the control of the sensor electrodes and for the evaluation of the output signals of the sensor, and, due to the fact that the sensor comprises at least one sensor electrode which is surrounded by at least one further electrode, the surrounding further electrode is connected to the sensor electrode by the control circuit in such a manner that, in the event of a change of the potential of the sensor electrode, the potential of the surrounding further electrode is regulated in the opposite sense to the sensor electrode in such a way that the sensor electrode remains at a pre-determined or pre-definable potential, such that there is produced a capacitive sensor which does not react to tilting or small changes in the spacing from the surface. |
| US09035656B2 |
Tracking positions of personnel, vehicles, and inanimate objects
A device rotates at least one static magnetic field about an axis, producing a rotating magnetic dipole field, and is movable in relation to the surface of the ground. The field is periodically sensed using a receiver to produce a receiver output responsive to the field. A positional relationship between the receiver and the device is monitored using the output. In one aspect, changing the positional relationship, by moving the device nearer to a boring tool which supports the receiver, causes an increase in accuracy of depth determination. In another aspect, determination of an actual overhead position of the boring tool, and its application, are described. Use of a plurality of measurements over at least one-half revolution of each magnet is disclosed. Establishing a surface radial direction toward a boring tool and resolution of multi-valued parameters is described. Calibration techniques, as well as a three transmitter configuration are also described. |
| US09035652B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and two-dimensional excitation adjustment method
An MRI apparatus and a two-dimensional excitation adjustment method capable of performing appropriately two-dimensional excitation of a region, in which materials with different resonance frequencies are present, according to imaging conditions are provided. In order to do so, when performing the two-dimensional excitation of a two-dimensional excitation region of an object formed by a first material with a first resonance frequency and a second material with a second resonance frequency, an irradiation frequency of a high-frequency magnetic field for the two-dimensional excitation is set on the basis of the imaging conditions related to the two-dimensional excitation and the first and second resonance frequencies so that desired regions of the first and second materials are excited in a two-dimensional manner. |
| US09035650B2 |
Magnetic resonance method and system to generate MR image data with parallel slice excitation
In a method and a magnetic resonance (MR) system and method to generate MR image data of a predetermined volume segment within an examination subject, multiple slices of the volume segment are simultaneously excited by at least one RF excitation pulse, and during the excitation a slice selection gradient is switched. The measurement signals from the multiple slices are acquired with multiple RF reception antennas, at least some of which are spaced along the propagation direction of the slice selection gradient. During the acquisition of the measurement signals the slice selection gradient is switched in order to achieve a spectral separation of the measurement signals of different slices. The MR image data are generated from the measurement signals. |
| US09035649B2 |
3D MEMS magnetometer
A micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) magnetometer includes first fixed electrodes, second fixed electrodes, a mobile element to rotate about a first rotation axis along a first direction and translate along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, mobile electrodes extending from the first mobile element and being interdigitated with the first fixed electrodes to form first sensor assemblies, a rotation element coupled to the mobile element to rotate about a second rotation axis along the second direction, the rotation element having a surface opposite the second fixed electrodes to form second sensor assemblies, the second fixed electrode being displaced from the surface of the rotation element along a third direction, and a trace having sections along the first direction and offset from the first rotation axis and along the second direction and offset from the second rotation axis. |
| US09035647B2 |
Encoder
An encoder is configured for detection of rotational movement of a rotatable shaft in relation to a part of a machine, and a method is provided for generating a reference signal by an encoder. |
| US09035646B2 |
Portable terminal device and position detection method used therein
A portable terminal device is disclosed that includes a movable part having a display part; an arm part supporting the movable part so that the movable part is rotatable at least ±90° with reference to a rotation center position around a rotation center; and a position detection part detecting the position of the movable part relative to the arm part. The position detection part includes magnets, magnetic sensors detecting the magnetic fields thereof, and a calculation part determining the position of the movable part based on sensor outputs. The magnets are provided in one of the arm part and the movable part so as to be 90° apart from each other around the rotation center. The magnetic sensors are provided in the other one of the arm part and the movable part so as to oppose the corresponding magnets when the movable part is positioned at the rotation center position. |
| US09035645B2 |
Position detecting device
A first and a second magnet are provided on a movable member so as to oppose to each other across a virtual plane. Each magnet is magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the movable member, so that the same magnetic poles of the magnets are opposed to each other. A hall IC is provided at a position more remote from the movable member than the magnets so as to be movable on the virtual plane relative to the movable member. A Y-parallel area is formed in a space equally distanced from the first and the second magnets, in which magnetic fields of the first and the second magnet rebel against each other, so that directions of the magnetic fields are so made to be in parallel to a stroke direction of the movable member. Robustness for a position gap between the magnets and the hall IC is improved. |
| US09035638B2 |
DC/DC converter arrangement and method for DC/DC conversion
A DC/DC converter arrangement includes an input terminal to receive a supply voltage, an output terminal to provide an output voltage and a switching arrangement, including a coil and at least two switches to provide a Buck-Boost conversion. The arrangement further includes a current detection circuit which is coupled to the switching arrangement for sensing a coil current and a comparator, including a first input which is coupled to the output terminal and a second input which is coupled to an output of the current detection circuit. An output of the comparator is coupled to the switching arrangement. Furthermore, the arrangement includes a ramp generator which is coupled to the first or the second input of the comparator. |
| US09035635B2 |
Using synchronous converter in asynchronous mode to prevent current reversal during battery charging
Efficiency of a switch mode power supply (SMPS) is optimized by operating the SMPS in an asynchronous mode when current being supplied therefrom is less than a certain current value and operating the SMPS in a synchronous mode when the current being supplied therefrom is equal to or greater than the certain current value. When the SMPS is operating in the synchronous mode high-side and low-side power transistors alternately turn on and off. When the SMPS is operating in the asynchronous mode only the high-side power transistor turns on and off and the low-side power transistor remains off. When charging a battery with the SMPS discharge of the battery is eliminated when operating in the asynchronous mode at a low current output. |
| US09035632B2 |
DC-DC converter, control circuit, and power supply control method
A DC-DC converter includes a first amplifier that amplifies a first difference between a first reference voltage and a feedback voltage corresponding to an output voltage, a second amplifier that amplifies a second difference between the first reference voltage and an integrated value of the feedback voltage, and a controller that controls a switching circuit to change the output voltage when the first difference reaches the second different. |
| US09035625B2 |
Common cascode routing bus for high-efficiency DC-to-DC conversion
Embodiments for at least one method and apparatus of generating a regulated voltage are disclosed. One method includes generating the regulated voltage through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and shunt switch element. This method includes closing the series switch element during a first period, the series switch element comprising a plurality of series switch elements segments. The method includes applying a switching gate voltage to gates of series switching transistors of a subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element, wherein only the series switching transistors of the subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element turn on, while series protection transistor of more than the subset of the plurality of series switch elements segments of the series switch element turn on. The shunt switch element during is closed during a second period. |
| US09035624B1 |
Power supply circuitry and current measurement
According to one configuration, a power supply circuit includes an inductor, a monitor circuit, a storage resource, and a processor circuit. The inductor resides in a phase of the power supply and conveys current to a load. The monitor circuit monitors and samples the voltage of a node in the power supply. The voltage of the node may be a sawtooth or ramp waveform sampled by the monitor circuit. A magnitude of the voltage at the node varies depending on an amount of current passing through the inductor to the load. The monitor circuit initiates storage of at least one sample in a storage resource. A processor circuit utilizes the multiple sample voltages stored in the storage resource to produce a value indicative of the amount of average current conveyed through the inductor to the load. |
| US09035623B1 |
Monitor and control circuitry for charging a battery/cell, and methods of operating same
Circuitry and techniques to measure, at the battery's terminals, characteristic(s) of the charging signal applied to the battery/cell during the recharging operation and, in response to feedback data which indicates the charging signal is out-of-specification, control or instruct the charging circuitry to adjust characteristic(s) of the recharging signal (e.g., the amplitude of the voltage of and/or current applied to or removed from the battery during the charging operation). For example, a rechargeable battery pack comprising a battery, and controllable switch(es), a current meter and voltmeter, all of which are fixed to the battery. Control circuitry generates control signal(s) to adjust a current and/or voltage of the charging signal using the feedback data from the current meter and/or voltmeter, respectively. |
| US09035621B2 |
Method and circuitry to calculate the state of charge of a battery/cell
The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to adapt the charging of a battery using data which is representative of an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery. In another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to calculate data which is representative of an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery. In yet another aspect the present inventions are directed to techniques and/or circuitry to calculate data which is representative of a state of charge of the battery using an overpotential or relaxation time (full or partial) of the battery. |
| US09035619B2 |
Battery cell temperature detection
Temperature characteristics of battery cells are detected. In accordance with one or more embodiments, an intercept frequency is detected for each battery cell, at which frequency an imaginary part of a plot of impedance values of the battery cell exhibits a zero crossing. The impedance values correspond to current injected into the cell. A temperature of the cell is determined based upon the detected intercept frequency for the cell and stored data that models operation of the cell. Various approaches are implemented with different types of circuits coupled to detect the impedance values of the respective cells. |
| US09035618B2 |
Battery pack and method of controlling the same
A battery pack, and a method of controlling the battery pack are disclosed. The battery pack detects consumption current when a load is not turned on, and shuts off power when a load is turned off or in stand-by mode, thereby preventing consumption current of the load from flowing. |
| US09035617B2 |
Control system for a flow cell battery
A controller for controlling a flow cell battery system is provided. The controller operates the flow cell battery system in a plurality of states including a plating state, a charging state and a discharge state. |
| US09035614B2 |
Assembled battery charging method, charging control circuit, and power supply system
A method for charging an assembled battery including series circuits connected in parallel, each of the series circuits including series-connected lead storage batteries, using a single charger is provided. The method includes: a first step of obtaining a first index value, corresponding to a resistance value of a first series circuit with a correlative relationship, the first series circuit having a lowest resistance value; a second step of obtaining a second index value corresponding to a resistance value of a second series circuit with a correlative relationship, the second series circuit having a highest resistance value; a third step of performing normal charging, in which the assembled battery is charged with a first amount of charge corresponding to the first index value; and a fourth step of performing refresh charging, in which the assembled battery is charged with a second amount of charge corresponding to the second index value. |
| US09035612B2 |
Method for transferring energy between at least two energy storage cells in a controllable energy store
In a method for transferring energy between at least two energy storage cells in a controllable energy store that serves to control and to supply electrical energy to an n-phase electric machine, which energy store has n power supply arms which each have at least two series-connected energy storage modules which each include at least one electrical energy storage cell with an associated controllable coupling unit, and are connected to one respective phase of the electric machine, in a charging phase, all coupling units of those energy storage modules which are to be used as an energy source are controlled in such a way that the respectively associated energy storage cells are connected into the respective power supply arm. |
| US09035610B2 |
System and method for controlling output of a battery pack
Systems and methods for controlling the output of a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, a battery pack contactor is opened in response to battery pack current. The system and method may reduce battery pack degradation and increase system flexibility. |
| US09035609B1 |
Hot swap control in uninterruptible power supply
Aspects relate generally to hot swap control in uninterruptible power supply units for systems requiring backup power. A unit may include a pair of MOSFET switches configured as a bidirectional switch for battery charging and discharging current control. This configuration allows the unit to limit inrush current when the unit is connected to a DC power bus of a power system and also allows the unit to eliminate any current flow when it is disconnected. Upon insertion and extraction of the unit, the MOSFET switches are disabled to prevent any disturbances on the DC power bus. Hot swapping in the unit ensures that the overall power system, including the unit and the DC bus, operates reliably. |
| US09035604B2 |
Current sensing circuit disconnect device and method
A device and method are provided for saving power and electricity in a charging device such for external power supplies and battery chargers having a primary circuit and a secondary circuit where a switch is located in the primary circuit and a current sensing device in the secondary circuit to sense when there is a drop in current in the secondary circuit or no current in the secondary circuit because the load or a cell phone is charged and when this occurs the switch in the primary circuit is opened and the primary circuit no longer draws power from the source of power until the switch in the primary circuit is closed by activation of a user of the charging device. |
| US09035600B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal is provided that includes a body to be mountable to a first charging apparatus, a current generator to generate an induction current by using a current of the first charging apparatus, and a wireless charger between the current generator and the battery to charge the battery by converting the induction current into a direct current. The mobile terminal may also include a connection port to be electrically connected to the battery and being connectable to a power supply terminal of a second charging apparatus, and a power charging controller to disconnect an electrically connected status between the wireless charger and the battery when the power supply terminal is electrically connected to the connection port. |
| US09035595B2 |
Integral electric power/compact construction equipment system
A system and method for charging a rechargeable battery for a vehicle are disclosed. The system may comprise an electrical generation apparatus that is a source of electric charge, a mobile unit to transport a vehicle, and a tie down having an input end and an output end. The tie down may be configured to releasably secure the vehicle to the mobile unit and to provide electrical charge generated by the electrical generation apparatus to the battery. |
| US09035593B2 |
Controlling dynamic systems by measuring the short circuit current of a photovoltaic generator
The dynamic system is part of a dynamic apparatus having at least one photovoltaic generator, at least one battery and at least one device for controlling the dynamic apparatus. The method for controlling the dynamic system on the basis of sunlight involves electrically isolating the photovoltaic generator from the battery, reading the short circuit current of the isolated photovoltaic generator, determining a numerical value based on the short circuit current, said numerical value corresponding to the reading of the short circuit current, and comparing the numerical value determined with at least one reference threshold value. When the numerical value determined corresponds to a value range limited by at least one such reference threshold value, the dynamic system is controlled so as to thereon confer a configuration corresponding to the value range. |
| US09035592B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling speed of motor
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method for controlling a speed of a motor. An apparatus for controlling a spaced of a motor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a PWM conversion unit detecting a hall sensor signal from a motor to output a pulse width modulated signal corresponding to the detected hall sensor signal; a duty detection unit detecting a duty value of the pulse width modulated signal output by the PWM conversion unit; an error calculation unit comparing a PWM duty input from the outside with a duty detected by the duty detection unit to obtain an error; and a speed control unit controlling a speed of a motor based on an error obtained by the error calculation unit. |
| US09035591B2 |
Control method of electronic parking brake system
Disclosed is a control method of an electronic parking brake system, which variably controls the duty of voltage applied to a motor upon release of the electronic parking brake system. The control method includes controlling voltage applied to a motor to a first duty ratio upon release of the electronic parking brake system, controlling the voltage applied to the motor to a second duty ratio greater than the first duty ratio if locking of the motor occurs and the motor is not operated, and controlling the voltage applied to the motor to the first duty ratio if locking of the motor is released and the motor begins to operate, after the control of voltage to the second duty ratio. |
| US09035587B2 |
Motor control loop with fast response
A system and method of controlling a motor are disclosed. The system comprises a current observer for observing a motor current at a sampling rate and a proportionate-integral controller that provides a proportionate path and an integral path and at least forms part of a proportionate-integral control loop based on the motor current. The current observer observes a motor current of the motor at a sampling rate. The proportionate path calculates, for a present cycle of the sampling rate, a proportionate path term for the proportionate-integral control loop based on the motor current. The system outputs a respective motor output voltage to the motor in conformity with the proportionate path term calculated for the present cycle. In conformity with the motor current, the integral path calculates an integral path term for another respective motor output voltage to be used in a later cycle of the sampling rate. |
| US09035586B2 |
Motor driving device for protecting inrush current
A motor driving device for protecting inrush current is disclosed, where the motor driving device includes a resistor, a capacitor, an electronic switch, a rectifier and a driving circuit. The capacitor is connected to the resistor in series. The electronic switch is connected to the resistor in parallel. The rectifier is connected to the resistor and the capacitor in parallel and is electrically connected to a power source. The driving circuit is connected to the resistor and the capacitor in parallel and is electrically connected to a motor. |
| US09035585B2 |
Motor drive circuit
A motor-drive circuit includes a detection circuit to detect a reverse current to flow in a direction from a first sink-side transistor to a second source-side transistor or in a direction from a second sink-side transistor to a first source-side transistor, a disable circuit to disable a detection output of the detection circuit during a predetermined time period from a start of detection of the reverse current performed by the detection circuit, a first inhibit circuit to inhibit synchronous rectification according to a detection output of the detection circuit when the predetermined time period has elapsed from a start of detection of the reverse current performed by the detection circuit, and a second inhibit circuit. |
| US09035583B2 |
System for controlling the speed of an electric fan
The system has a driving circuit for the motor of the electric fan, coupled to the electrical system of a motor vehicle and having a plurality of controlled electronic switches, and an electronic control unit arranged to control the driving circuit in such a way as to cause the flow in the motor of a variable average current capable of producing a required speed of rotation, in accordance with a predetermined relationship or function. The control unit is designed to store a predetermined threshold of rotation speed, and to control the motor through the associated driving circuit in such a way that when the rotational speed of the motor exceeds the threshold the driving circuit causes electrical braking of the motor. |
| US09035577B2 |
Method for operating a closing device, and a closing device
The invention relates to a method for operating a closing device, wherein a closing element (2), with the aid of a drive motor (4) controlled by a control unit (7), can be displaced in a closing direction up against a stop edge, wherein the control unit (7) can be shifted into a normal-operation mode, in which position-related information is sensed as the current position of the closing element (2), and into a sleeping mode, in which no sensing of position-related information takes place, the method having the following steps: —interrogating whether a wake-up condition, in which the control unit (7) goes from the sleep mode into the normal-operation mode, is present; —if the presence of the wake-up condition is established, and if the closing element (2), prior to assuming the sleep mode, last moved in the closing direction, the position-related information is subjected (S25) to a predetermined correction value in order to correct the position-related information, in respect of an actual position of the closing element (2), into an opening direction. |
| US09035575B2 |
LED lighting device with improved modulation depth
A lighting device using an LED is provided where an LED lighting device having an improved modulation depth which is calculated with the maximum value and the minimum value of an amount of instantaneous light emission in an AC-driven LED lighting device having an LED turned on and off by using an instantaneous AC voltage periodically varied with time. |
| US09035571B2 |
Electronic ballast with dimming circuit
An electronic ballast with dimming circuit including an electronic ballast dimming circuit receiving an analog dimming signal, the electronic ballast dimming circuit including an input dimming circuit (210) operable to receive the analog dimming signal (252) at an analog dimming signal input (212); and an output dimming circuit (220) operably connected to the input dimming circuit (210), the output dimming circuit (220) being operable to receive a fixed frequency signal (222) having a variable duty cycle and to generate an analog dimming control signal (224) in response to the analog dimming signal (252). Output voltage at the analog dimming signal input (212) is a function of the variable duty cycle of the fixed frequency signal (222) when the analog dimming signal (252) is not present at the analog dimming signal input (212). |
| US09035568B2 |
Telehealth wireless communication hub device and service platform system
A display circuit includes a first pulse width modulated (PWM) signal line coupled to a first switch, a second PWM signal line coupled to a second switch and the signal line, a transistor coupled to the second signal line between the first signal line and the second switch, a third switch coupled to a third PWM signal line, a fourth switch coupled to a fourth PWM signal line, a fifth switch coupled to a fifth PWM signal line, a light emitting diode (LED) including a red element coupled between the first and third switches, a green element coupled between the first and fourth switches, and a blue element coupled between the first and fifth switches, and an LED including a red element coupled between the second and third switches, a green element coupled between the second and fourth switches, and a blue element coupled between the second and fifth switches. |
| US09035567B2 |
Light-emitting diode driving device for reducing light off period
An LED driving apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an LED Portion 10, a charging/discharging capacitor 111, a capacitor charging and discharging paths, and a capacitor charging constant current portion 110. The LED driving portion 3 controls a current in the LED portion 10. The capacitor 111 is connected in parallel to the LED portion 10. The charging and discharging paths are connected to the capacitor whereby charging and discharging the capacitor, respectively. The constant current portion 110 is connected on the charging path and controls a charging current so that the capacitor is charged at a constant current. When rectified voltage applied to the LED portion becomes high, the capacitor is charged with the charging current through the charging path. When the voltage becomes low, the capacitor is discharged at a discharging current through the discharging path so that the discharging current is applied to the LED portion. |
| US09035566B2 |
Light emitting diode driver systems and associated methods of control
Light emitting diode (LED) dimming and driver systems and associated methods of control are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system comprises a PFC stage and an LED driver stage. The LED driver stage comprises an isolated converter and a controller responsive to a dimming signal to dim LED strings for backlight. The controller also regulates an output current of the isolated converter. |
| US09035565B2 |
Adaptive power factor correction for a lighting load circuit
The invention relates to a method for operation of an actively clocked PFC circuit with a directly or indirectly connected load circuit at the output of the PFC circuit, wherein the load circuit has a lighting means, in particular one or more LEDs, wherein the PFC circuit is supplied at least with a measurement signal which reflects the power consumption of the load circuit or with an external control signal which indicates the power consumption, and a control circuit adjusts the mode of operation of the PFC circuit continuously or preferably in two or more steps, depending on the control signal or measurement signal. |
| US09035562B2 |
Ignition plug and ignition apparatus
A technique for lowering power loss involved in supply of high-frequency electric power to an ignition plug. The ignition plug includes a tubular insulator having an axial bore extending therethrough; a center electrode disposed in the axial bore; a metal terminal disposed rearward of the center electrode in the axial bore, electrically connected to the center electrode, and supplied with high-frequency electric power from an external source; a metallic shell disposed to circumferentially surround the insulator; and a ground electrode electrically connected to the metallic shell and adapted to generate plasma in cooperation with the center electrode through supply of high-frequency electric power to the metal terminal. At least a portion of the inner surface of the axial bore is coated with metal coating. The center electrode and the metal terminal are in electrical contact with the metal coating. |
| US09035561B2 |
LED driving system and method
An exemplary light emitting diode (LED) driving system includes a direct current/direct current (DC/DC) converter, a detection circuit, a control circuit, a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, and a current balance circuit. The DC/DC converter outputs a suitable direct current voltage to drive an LED array. The detection circuit detects cathode voltages of LED strings of the LED array. The control circuit generates and outputs a control signal to the PWM controller, and generates and outputs various adjusting signals. The current balance circuit adjusts current flowing through two of the LED strings, which have a minimum and a maximum detected cathode voltage, respectively. The current balance circuit includes switches. A related LED driving method is also provided. |
| US09035559B2 |
Light string
A light string includes a plurality of incandescent filament lamps. The incandescent filament lamps are electrically connected in series and powered by an AC power supply. Each incandescent filament lamp is connected in parallel to a capacitor. The capacitors are polarized electrolytic capacitors. A capacitance of each capacitor is 47 microfarads˜120 microfarads. A rated voltage of each capacitor is 16 volts ˜100 volts and is higher than a rated voltage of each incandescent filament lamp. When one of the incandescent filament lamps is failed, the capacitor with which the failed one of the incandescent filament lamps is connected in parallel operates normally and performs power compensation and electrical connection during its repeatedly charging and discharging. When the light string is powered on, the capacitor is charged and absorbs the surge current which may occur. Thus, the voltage dropped on each light rises slowly and the lights are safe. |
| US09035555B2 |
Medical lighting device and process for operating a medical lighting device
A medical lighting device has an operating area light (100), a central control station (11), a lighting control unit (7), a control unit (39), an image detection element (27), an image processing unit (29), reference elements (67, 69), an operating unit (200), a position sensor (25), an operating element (33) arranged at a handle (31), a marking and distance detection element (35) and a device for data transmission (13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 26, 28). A horizontal-vertical position (58) of the operating unit (200) in the room and a light marking position (38) on a reclining surface (99) are determined by the position sensor (25), the marking and distance detection element (35), the image detection element (27) combined with reference elements (67, 69) and image processing unit (29). The operating area light (100) is actuated such that an illuminated area (71) is illuminated on the reclining surface. |
| US09035552B2 |
Method and device for transporting vacuum arc plasma
The proposed method allows forming cathode arc plasma flows for high quality coatings. The plasma flows are transported in a plasma-optical system by means of a transport magnetic field generated by electromagnetic coils, super-positioning a constant magnetic field and additional variable magnetic fields deflecting the plasma flows from internal surfaces of the system's elements. In a device for implementing the proposed method, an arc power supply is connected to an anode via a coil, surrounding the anode. In a linear embodiment of the system, an electrically conductive tube section inside the anode is connected to one end of the deflection coil. The other end is connected to the positive terminal of power supply. In the system's non-linear embodiment, additional magnetic fields are established using two additional electromagnetic coils, surrounding the anode and a nonlinear part respectively. The method and device allow for a significantly reduction of losses of macroparticle-free plasma. |
| US09035546B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and method for manufacturing the same
The organic light emitting display device includes an organic light emitting display panel and a data driver, wherein the organic light emitting display panel includes an active region which includes pixel driving TFTs for embodying an image and organic luminescent elements respectively connected with the pixel driving TFTs to emit light, a GIP region which includes a gate driver formed with a plurality of gate driving TFTs for respectively driving gate lines of the active region, a GND region formed between the GIP region and the active region to be formed with a base voltage line for supplying base voltage to the organic luminescent elements of the active region, and a sealant region formed with a sealant for attaching an upper substrate to a lower substrate, and wherein the GND region includes out-gassing blocking holes. |
| US09035541B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug includes an insulator having an axial hole, a metal terminal member having an insert portion and a depression formation zone existing on the insert portion and having depressions, and a metallic shell. The spark plug satisfies the following conditions: (1) the insert portion has a length H of 35 mm or more; (2) the depression formation zone has a length F of 13 mm or more; (3) the insert portion has a smooth surface zone on its outer circumferential surface; (4) the ratio (A/B) between diameter A of a forward end of the insert portion and inside diameter B of the insulator measured at the forward end satisfies the relational expression 0.9≦A/B≦0.98; and (5) Vickers hardness of the insert portion measured at the center of a cross section of the insert portion is 150 Hv or more to 350 Hv or less. |
| US09035534B2 |
Vortex alignment Buckypaper generating electricity
The electrical energy generating system of the present invention comprises a piece of alignment Buckypaper, an energy generator, a thin deposition and two contacts. The alignment Buckypaper is a thin sheet made from an aggregate of carbon nanotubes. The thin deposition is formed on at least one surface of the alignment Buckypaper by electrolysis to form a semimetal material. A contact is connected with the upper surface of the alignment Buckypaper and the other contact is connected with the lower surface of the alignment Buckypaper. In use, the energy generated by the generator is inputted to the alignment Buckypaper. The energy then ionizes the molecules contained in the alignment Buckypaper. The positive charges move to the upper contact and the negative charges move to the lower contact. Such electrical energy may then be fed to a load connected with the two contacts to do work on the load. |
| US09035532B2 |
Ultrasonic sensor microarray and method of manufacturing same
A sensor assembly including one or more capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) microarray modules which are provided with a number of individual transducers. The microarray modules are arranged to simulate or orient individual transducers in a hyperbolic paraboloid geometry. The transducers/sensor are arranged in a rectangular or square matrix and are activatable individually, selectively or collectively to emit and received reflected beam signals at a frequency of between about 100 to 170 Hz. |
| US09035531B2 |
Rotating electrical machine
A rotating electric machine, e.g. hydrogenerator, includes a rotor, including a rotor laminate stack extending in a machine axis direction and having a rotor winding which forms a winding head at each of the ends of the rotor laminate stack. The winding head is fastened to a winding head rim, which is arranged concentrically within the winding head and adjoins the rotor laminate stack in the axial direction, to intercept centrifugal forces by bolts passing radially through the winding head, and a fastening designed to safely absorb axial expansions of the winding head. Simple and secure fastening is achieved by the bolts being fastened to the winding head rim in each case on a T-shaped hammer profile, which extends axially and is mounted, axially movable, in a T-shaped groove in the winding head rim, additional couplers are provided that transmit axial expansions of the winding head onto the hammer profile. |
| US09035528B2 |
Press plate for tightening the metal sheets of a stator core of an electric machine
A press plate (5) for tightening the metal sheets (2) of a stator core of an electric machine has an annular element (16) with a plurality of holes (17) provided at a side wall (11) thereof. The holes (17) have an elongated recessed top portion (20) and a cylindrical recessed bottom portion (21) extending from the ceiling (22) of the elongated recessed top portion (20). |
| US09035522B2 |
Permanent magnet machine with different pole arc angles
An internal permanent magnet machine has multiple rotor sections, each section having multiple rotor laminations. Permanent magnets are placed asymmetrically in lamination openings to attenuate oscillations in torque caused by harmonic components of magnetic flux. Asymmetry is achieved by placing adjacent permanent magnets or magnet sets on the rotor periphery with different rotor magnetic pole arc angles. |
| US09035518B2 |
Bearing device for supporting rotatable shaft of electric motor
A radial bearing is received in and is fixed to a bearing receiving portion of a yoke housing, which includes large and small diameter parts, to rotatably support a rotatable shaft. A thrust ball and a thrust plate are received in the bearing receiving portion on an axial side of the radial bearing, which is opposite from the rotatable shaft. The large diameter part receives and holds the radial bearing. The small diameter part holds the thrust ball. The thrust plate is held by an axial end area of the small diameter part. |
| US09035514B2 |
Jacketed electromagnetic machine stator for use in a corrosive atmosphere without heat treatment
A jacketed electromagnetic machine stator for a pressurized rotary machine operating in a corrosive atmosphere containing H2S or wet CO2 and including a plurality of pole pieces separated from a rotor by an airgap, wherein the hermetically sealed enclosure protecting said stator from said corrosive atmosphere includes a jacket constituted by a non-magnetic cylinder having magnetic material inlays situated in register with said pole pieces and that are not in contact with said corrosive atmosphere, said hermetically sealed enclosure being constituted externally solely by parts made of non-magnetic material that are secured to one another by welds that have not been subjected to any heat treatment. |
| US09035511B2 |
Electric motor braking system for rotolinear actuator
The electric motor consists of a rotor fitted with permanent magnets and comprises a stator the armature of which is made up of two parts: a stack of laminations forming round teeth and a solid tube-shaped field frame made of a material of the stainless steel kind enveloping the said stack of laminations. This armature constitutes a non-disengageable braking system that produces a damping effect in the face of possible movements of its rotor which are brought about and/or imposed by the members with which it collaborates. This motor can be used for driving a roto-linear actuator device with satellite rollers which is used as an actuator for maneuvering the control surfaces of an aircraft, for example an aileron. |
| US09035508B2 |
Rotating resistor assembly
A resistor pack assembly includes a first mounting plate, a second mounting plate, a cylindrical suppression resistor, and a cylindrical cover. The first mounting plate has a circular face, a first connection terminal, and a second connection terminal. The second mounting plate has a circular face, a third connection terminal and a fourth connection terminal. The cylindrical suppression resistor has a first flat surface and a second flat surface opposite the first flat surface, and is located between the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate, wherein the first flat surface contacts the circular face of the first mounting plate and the second flat surface contacts the circular face of the second mounting plate. The cylindrical cover has an inner diameter aperture, wherein the first mounting plate, the second mounting plate, and the cylindrical suppression resistor are located within the inner diameter aperture of the cylindrical cover. |
| US09035507B2 |
Electric machine and rectifier assembly therefor
An electric machine having a rectifier assembly placed within a rotating shaft of the electric machine to convert the AC output of the electric machine to DC prior to transmission of the electricity from the electric machine. |
| US09035502B2 |
Multifunctional voice coil motor
A multifunctional voice coil motor is disclosed, the motor including a rotor including a bobbin and a plurality of magnets arranged at a periphery of the bobbin, a stator including a housing wrapping each magnet and a plurality of coil blocks each arranged at a position corresponding to that of each magnet, a base coupled to the housing, and an elastic member elastically supporting the rotor. |
| US09035500B2 |
Wireless power feeder, wireless power receiver, and wireless power transmission system, and coil
A wireless power feeder feeds power from a feeding coil L2 to a receiving coil L3 by wireless using a magnetic field coupling between the feeding coil L2 and the receiving coil L3. The feeding coil L2 is formed so as to be rotated. A power transmission control circuit supplies AC power to the feeding coil L2 to make the feeding coil L2 feed the AC power to the receiving coil L3. The power transmission control circuit rotates the feeding coil L2 to change the opposing area between the feeding coil L2 and the receiving coil L3 as viewed in the axis direction of the feeding coil L2 to thereby adjust the AC power to be supplied from the feeding coil L2 to the receiving coil L3. |
| US09035498B2 |
Electric power control system and electric power facility comprising the electric power control system
An electric power control system is provided. The power control system includes a first node to which a plurality of power production entities are connectable for combining their power output signals as a first power signal, a transformer adapted to transformer the first power signal at the first node to a second power signal at a second node connectable to a load, the second power signal having a higher voltage than the first power signal, at least one capacitor connectable to the first node and/or to the second node, a control unit adapted to control the connection of the at least one capacitor to the first node and/or to the second node such that a power loss caused by transmission loss of the power output signals from the power production entities to the load is minimized. |
| US09035496B2 |
Power control system and controlling method thereof
A power control system includes a rechargeable battery, the rechargeable battery including a first battery unit and including a second battery unit connected to a first terminal of the first battery unit at a first node, a switching unit, the switching unit including a first switch connected to a second terminal of the first battery unit and including a second switch connected to the first node, and a control unit, the control unit being configured to generate and transmit switch control signals respectively corresponding to the first switch and the second switch, and being configured to control a voltage of the rechargeable battery such that the voltage is maintained in a threshold range of a predetermined rated voltage. |
| US09035495B2 |
Analysis device of catenary-based transportation system, analysis method and program therefor
In a catenary-based transportation system which is provided with integrated power supply equipment having an electricity storage unit which stores electricity regenerated by vehicles traveling by electricity received from a catenary and supplies electricity to the catenary and the other power supply system which is a power supply system different from the electricity storage unit concerned, the performance of a rectifier of the other power supply system is determined based on a power-supplying contribution ratio γ of the other power supply system so that the cost value of the integrated power supply equipment becomes lower than a target cost value. |
| US09035491B2 |
Voltage setting device, photovoltaic power generation system, and control method of voltage setting device
An output converter includes a DCDC conversion section, a secondary side voltage/current monitoring section detecting a power from the DCDC conversion section, a maximum operation point control section determining what voltage is to be set by the DCDC conversion section so that the power detected by the secondary side voltage/current monitoring section is maximum, a DCDC short-circuit switch via which a current from a module bypasses the DCDC conversion section to outside, a primary side voltage/current monitoring section measuring the current from the module, a module short-circuit switch switching between a state where a secondary side cathode and a secondary side anode are short-circuited and a state where they are not short-circuited, the maximum operation point control section causing the DCDC short-circuit switch and the module short-circuit switch to switch. |
| US09035485B2 |
Power conditioner for feeding system
A power conditioner for a feeding system which stabilizes a load of active power is provided. A power conditioner for a feeding system comprises a first AC-DC and DC-AC converter for performing conversion between AC power and DC power; and a nickel-metal hydride battery disposed between and connected to a high-voltage cable at DC side of the first AC-DC and DC-AC converter and a low-voltage cable at the DC side of the first AC-DC and DC-AC converter. |
| US09035484B2 |
Module for powerline communication transmission
A powerline communication (PLC) transmission module transmits a signal over a three-line electrical mains supply. The PLC transmission module includes at least two coupling transformers, each transformer coupling the signal to first and second line-pairs of a three-line electrical mains supply, the first and second line-pairs different from one another. Driving circuitry drives a first version of the signal over the first line-pair and a second version of the signal over the second line-pair. Inversion circuitry selectively inverts one version of the signal relative to the other version of the signal, dependent upon an enacted transmission mode. The inversion circuitry may invert neither/both of the versions of the signal so that the signal is transmitted as a differential-mode signal on the line-pairs or invert one of the first and second versions of the signal relative to the other so that the signal is a common-mode signal. |
| US09035482B2 |
Spiral turbine operating on pressure principle
An apparatus of a gas turbine for the purpose of converting the pressure and temperature energy of a gas into rotational kinetic energy of a turbine; through an axial injection of such gas into the center of flat disks to perform work as the gas moves outward in one or more spirals cut out of these flat disks; such that the gas experiences a gradual release of pressure along the length of the spirals as the gas presses down on the width and length of the spiral; with the spiral being of many turns such that the radius of the spiral is a prescribed increasing function of turns of the radius; and the spiral has a long length in the order of a meter, a moderate width in the order of a centimeter, and a shallow depth being a small fraction of a millimeter. |
| US09035481B1 |
Using AC and DC generators with controllers as a regenerative power burn off device
A power generation device for a utility vehicle having a battery source, a logic/driver module operably coupled to the battery source and capable of outputting power to a motive drive system, an internal combustion engine capable of outputting a mechanical driving force, and a generator system operably coupled to the internal combustion engine and electrically coupled to the logic/driver module. The generator system is capable of operating as a generator in response to the mechanical driving force of the internal combustion engine, thereby outputting electrical energy to the logic/driver module, and further is capable of operating as an electric motor in response to input of electrical energy from the logic/driver module. Between a first voltage and a second voltage, the output of the generator is reduced. Between the second voltage and a third voltage, the generator output is reduced to zero and the internal combustion engine is reduced to idle. |
| US09035480B2 |
Wind turbine and method for operating a wind turbine
A method is employed for operating a wind turbine. Electrical energy is produced by means of a generator and is fed into an electrical power network. The electrical energy is fed to the secondary side of a transformer at a low voltage and is output on the primary side of the transformer at a higher voltage. The potential on the primary side of the transformer is undefined. In the method, a measured value of the voltage between the primary side of the transformer and the earth potential is first recorded. The measured value is compared with a predefined limit value. The electrical energy produced by the generator is changed if the measured value exceeds the limit value. A wind turbine is designed to carry out the method. Faults in the medium voltage network can be reacted to without an additional star point on the primary side of the transformer being required. |
| US09035479B1 |
Turbine controller for optimizing economic present value of the turbine
A controller for optimizing the operation of a turbine to maximize the net present value of the revenue it generates over its lifetime. The controller calculates a plurality of net present values for a plurality of turbine output levels given certain input parameters such as power sale rate, power output level vs. fatigue damage accumulation, etc.; determines a maximum net present value from the plurality of output levels evaluated; and operates the turbine at the output level associated with the maximum net present value. |
| US09035477B2 |
Integrated energy generating damper
A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement. Applications include vehicle suspension systems (to act as the primary damper component), railcar bogie dampers, or industrial applications such as machinery dampers and wave energy harvesters, and electro-hydraulic actuators. |
| US09035476B2 |
Power generating device
A power generating device includes an input rotor that is provided to an output shaft of speed up gears so as to be capable of rotating together with the output shaft, an output rotor that is provided to a drive shaft of a generator so as to be capable of rotating together with the drive shaft, and a one-way clutch that is disposed between the input rotor and the output rotor. The one-way clutch connects the input rotor with the output rotor so as to rotate together with the input rotor and the output rotor when the rotation speed of the input rotor exceeds the rotation speed of the output rotor, and the one-way clutch is configured to release the connection between the input rotor and the output rotor when the rotation speed of the input rotor falls below the rotation speed of the output rotor. |
| US09035470B2 |
Substrate and semiconductor device
A substrate includes a base member having a predetermined thickness, and an electrode array provided in one surface in a thickness direction of the base member and having a plurality of electrodes arranged two-dimensionally in a plan view, and the electrode array includes a central portion and an incremental region provided around the central portion in the planar view and is formed so that a height of the electrodes in the incremental region gradually increase as approaching toward the central portion. |
| US09035468B2 |
Copper post structure for wafer level chip scale package
In a method for forming a packaging structure, a metal pad is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a first polymer insulating layer is formed over the semiconductor substrate. An opening passing through the first polymer insulating layer is formed to expose a portion of the metal pad. A copper-containing material is deposited in the opening and over the first polymer insulating layer, thereby forming a copper-containing layer having a first thickness and a first width over the first polymer insulating layer. A conductive bump having a second width is formed over the copper-containing layer, in which the second width is smaller than the first width. An exposed portion of the copper-containing layer is etched using the conductive bump as a mask until the exposed portion is reduced to a second thickness, thereby forming a monolithic copper-containing structure. |
| US09035466B2 |
Dicing tape-integrated film for semiconductor back surface
The present invention provides a dicing tape-integrated film for semiconductor back surface, which includes: a dicing tape including a base material and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer provided on the base material; and a film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface provided on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, in which the film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface contains a black pigment. |
| US09035465B2 |
Forming semiconductor chip connections
Various embodiments include semiconductor structures. In one embodiment, the semiconductor structure includes a chip having a body having a polyhedron shape with a pair of opposing sides; and a solder member extending along a side that extends between the pair of opposing sides of the polyhedron shape. |
| US09035462B2 |
Airgap-containing interconnect structure with patternable low-k material and method of fabricating
An interconnect structure is provided that includes at least one patterned and cured low-k dielectric material located on a surface of a patterned inorganic antireflective coating that is located atop a substrate. The inorganic antireflective coating comprises atoms of M, C and H wherein M is at least one of Si, Ge, B, Sn, Fe, Ta, Ti, Ni, Hf and La. The at least one cured and patterned low-k dielectric material and the patterned inorganic antireflective coating have conductively filled regions embedded therein and the at least one cured and patterned low-k dielectric material has at least one airgap located adjacent, but not directly in contact with the conductively filled regions. |
| US09035455B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, a wiring formed on the semiconductor chip, a passivation film coating the wiring and having an opening for partially exposing the wiring from the passivation film an interposing film formed on a portion of the wiring and facing the opening, and a post bump raisedly formed on the interposing film and with a peripheral edge portion thereof protruding away from the opening more than a peripheral edge of the interposing film in a direction parallel to a surface of the passivation film. |
| US09035454B2 |
Element mounting board and semiconductor module
Prepared in advance is a substrate formed of metallic material where slits are formed between mounting regions. Oxide films are generated all over the substrate including end faces of the substrate. Exposed are only lateral faces corresponding to the cross sections cut when tie bars are cut. This structure and the fabrication method minimize the area of cutting faces in the metallic material. |
| US09035451B2 |
Wafer level sealing methods with different vacuum levels for MEMS sensors
The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a plurality of MEMs device having a plurality of cavities with different pressures on a wafer package system, and an associated apparatus. In some embodiments, the method is performed by providing a work-piece having a plurality of microelectromechanical system (MEMs) devices. A cap wafer is bonded onto the work-piece in a first ambient environment having a first pressure. The bonding forms a plurality of cavities abutting the plurality of MEMs devices, which are held at the first pressure. One or more openings are formed in one or more of the plurality of cavities leading to a gas flow path that could be held at a pressure level different from the first pressure. The one or more openings in the one or more of the plurality of cavities are then sealed in a different ambient environment having a different pressure, thereby causing the one or more of the plurality of cavities to be held at the different pressure. |
| US09035447B2 |
Power semiconductor module and power semiconductor module assembly with multiple power semiconductor modules
A power semiconductor module and a power semiconductor module assembly, which includes a plurality of power semiconductor modules, are disclosed. The power semiconductor module includes an electrically conducting base plate, an electrically conducting top plate, arranged in parallel to the base plate and spaced apart from the base plate, at least one power semiconductor device, which is arranged on the base plate in a space formed between the base plate and the top plate, and at least one presspin, which is arranged in the space formed between the base plate and the top plate to provide contact between the semiconductor device and the top plate. A metallic protection plate can be provided at an inner face of the top plate facing towards the base plate, wherein the material of the protection plate has a melting temperature higher than the melting temperature of the top plate. |
| US09035443B2 |
Massively parallel interconnect fabric for complex semiconductor devices
An embodiment of this invention uses a massive parallel interconnect fabric (MPIF) at the flipped interface of a core die substrate (having the core logic blocks) and a context die (used for in circuit programming/context/customization of the core die substrate), to produce ASIC-like density and FPGA-like flexibility/programmability, while reducing the time and cost for development and going from prototyping to production, reducing cost per die, reducing or eliminating NRE, and increasing performance. Other embodiments of this invention enable debugging complex SoC through large contact points provided through the MPIF, provide for multi-platform functionality, and enable incorporating FGPA core in ASIC platform through the MPIF. Various examples are also given for different implementations. |
| US09035436B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device has a semiconductor chip, an island having an upper surface to which the semiconductor chip is bonded, a lead disposed around the island, a bonding wire extended between the surface of the semiconductor chip and the upper surface of the lead, and a resin package sealing the semiconductor chip, the island, the lead, and the bonding wire, while the lower surface of the island and the lower surface of the lead are exposed on the rear surface of the resin package, and the lead is provided with a recess concaved from the lower surface side and opened on a side surface thereof. |
| US09035435B2 |
Magnetically coupled galvanically isolated communication using lead frame
An integrated circuit package includes an encapsulation and a lead frame. A portion of the lead frame is disposed within encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor having a first conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation. The lead frame also includes a second conductor that is galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop that is substantially disposed within the encapsulation proximate to and magnetically coupled to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors. |
| US09035433B2 |
Organic light emitting device
An organic light emitting device comprises a first substrate; a thin film transistor layer provided on the first substrate; a light emitting diode layer provided on the thin film transistor layer; and a passivation layer provided on the light emitting diode layer, the passivation layer including a first inorganic insulating film and a second inorganic insulating film, wherein a content of H contained in the first inorganic insulating film is smaller than that of H contained in the second inorganic insulating film. |
| US09035432B2 |
Component having through-hole plating, and method for its production
A method for producing a component having a semiconductor substrate with through-hole plating is provided, the through-plating being surrounded by a recess, and the semiconductor substrate having a first layer on one side, which covers the recess on the first side. The semiconductor substrate has a second layer on a second side, which covers the recess on the second side, and the through-hole plating is surrounded by a ring structure which is produced from the semiconductor substrate. The recess surrounding the ring structure is produced in the same process step or at the same time as the recess for the through-hole plating. |
| US09035430B2 |
Semiconductor fin on local oxide
A semiconductor substrate including a first epitaxial semiconductor layer is provided. The first epitaxial semiconductor layer includes a first semiconductor material, and can be formed on an underlying epitaxial substrate layer, or can be the entirety of the semiconductor substrate. A second epitaxial semiconductor layer including a second semiconductor material is epitaxially formed upon the first epitaxial semiconductor layer. Semiconductor fins including portions of the second single crystalline semiconductor material are formed by patterning the second epitaxial semiconductor layer employing the first epitaxial semiconductor layer as an etch stop layer. At least an upper portion of the first epitaxial semiconductor layer is oxidized to provide a localized oxide layer that electrically isolates the semiconductor fins. The first semiconductor material can be selected from materials more easily oxidized relative to the second semiconductor material to provide a uniform height for the semiconductor fins after formation of the localized oxide layer. |
| US09035425B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a substrate, a multi-gate transistor device formed on the substrate, and an n-well resistor formed in the substrate. The substrate includes a plurality of first isolation structures and at least a second isolation structure formed therein. A depth of the first isolation structures is smaller than a depth of the second isolation structure. The multi-gate transistor device includes a plurality of fin structures, and the fin structures are parallel with each other and spaced apart from each other by the first isolation structures. The n-well resistor includes at least one first isolation structure. The n-well resistor and the multi-gate transistor device are electrically isolated from each other by the second isolation structure. |
| US09035424B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a metal film on a portion of the substrate, a first dielectric film having a first portion on the metal film and a second portion on the substrate, the second portion being integral with the first portion, a lower electrode on the first portion, a second dielectric film having a first portion on the lower electrode and a second portion on the first dielectric film, the second portion of the second dielectric film being integral with the first portion of said second dielectric film, an upper electrode on a portion of the second dielectric film, and a reinforcing film disposed on the second dielectric film and in contact with a side of the upper electrode. |
| US09035422B2 |
Multilayer high voltage isolation barrier in an integrated circuit
A semiconductor package is provided that has a transformer formed within a multilayer dielectric laminate substrate. The transformer has a first inductor coil formed in one or more dielectric laminate layers of the substrate, a second inductor coil formed in one or more dielectric laminate layers of the substrate, and an isolation barrier comprising two or more dielectric laminate layers of the multilayer substrate positioned between the first inductor coil and the second inductor coil. The transformer may be mounted on a lead frame along with one or more integrated circuits and molded into a packaged isolation device. |
| US09035420B2 |
Organic light emitting device, display apparatus and illumination apparatus comprising the organic light emitting device, and method for preparing the same
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting device and a method for preparing the same. An organic light emitting device according to the present invention comprises an organic light emitting unit having a structure in which a substrate, a first electrode, an organic material layer, and a second electrode are sequentially laminated, wherein the organic light emitting device comprises an auxiliary electrode and a fuse pattern; and the first electrode and the auxiliary electrode are electrically connected to each other through the fuse pattern. |
| US09035417B2 |
Parasitic inductance reduction for multilayered board layout designs with semiconductor devices
A highly efficient, single sided circuit board layout design providing magnetic field self-cancellation and reduced parasitic inductance independent of board thickness. The low profile power loop extends through active and passive devices on the top layer of the circuit board, with vias connecting the power loop to a return path in an inner layer of the board. The magnetic effect of the portion of the power loop on the top layer is reduced by locating the inner layer return path directly underneath the power loop path on the top layer. |
| US09035416B2 |
Efficient pitch multiplication process
Pitch multiplied and non-pitch multiplied features of an integrated circuit, e.g., features in the array, interface and periphery areas of the integrated circuit, are formed by processing a substrate through a mask. A photoresist layer is patterned to simultaneously define mask elements in the array, interface and periphery areas. The pattern is transferred to an amorphous carbon layer. Spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the patterned amorphous carbon layer. Protective material is deposited and patterned to expose mask elements in the array region and in parts of the interface or periphery areas. Exposed amorphous carbon is removed, leaving free-standing spacers in the array region. The protective material is removed, leaving a pattern of pitch multiplied spacers in the array region and non-pitch multiplied mask elements in the interface and periphery areas. The pattern is transferred to a hard mask layer, through which the substrate is etched. |
| US09035414B2 |
Compound semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer and a Schottky electrode, a Schottky junction being formed between the semiconductor layer and the Schottky electrode. The Schottky electrode includes a metal part containing a metal, a Schottky junction being formed between the semiconductor layer and the metal part; and a nitride part around the metal part, the nitride part containing a nitride of the metal, and a Schottky junction being formed between the semiconductor layer and the nitride part. |
| US09035413B2 |
Semiconductor device with embedded converter element and production method for a semiconductor device with an embedded converter element
A semiconductor device includes a carrier substrate having at least one conductor track, at least one converter element structured at least partly from a further semiconductor substrate, and conductive structures formed on a respective converter element. The at least one converter element is electrically linked to the at least one conductor track via at least one at least partly conductive supporting element arranged between a contact side of the carrier substrate and an inner side of the converter element. The inner side is oriented toward the carrier substrate. The at least one converter element is arranged on the contact side of the carrier substrate such that the inner side of the converter element is kept spaced apart from the contact side of the carrier substrate. The at least one converter element and the conductive structures formed thereon are completely embedded into at least one insulating material. |
| US09035410B2 |
Avalanche photodiode detector
An avalanche photodiode detector is provided. The avalanche photodiode detector comprises an absorber region having an absorption layer for receiving incident photons and generating charged carriers; and a multiplier region having a multiplication layer; wherein the multiplier region is on a mesa structure separate from the absorber region and is coupled to the absorber region by a bridge for transferring charged carriers between the absorber region and multiplier region. |
| US09035409B2 |
Germanium photodetector having absorption enhanced under slow-light mode
A novel germanium (Ge) photodetector is disclosed, containing a stripe layer including Ge, a substrate supporting the stripe layer, and P and N regions, which are located inside the substrate and near opposite sides of the stripe. The stripe layer containing Ge for light absorption is operated in a slow-light mode by adding combinations of a gradual taper indent structure and a periodic indent structure to reduce light scatterings and to control light group velocity inside the stripe. Due to the slower light traveling velocity inside the stripe, the absorption coefficient of the stripe containing Ge is upgraded to be 1 to 2 orders of magnitude larger than that of a traditional bulk Ge at L band, and so the absorption coefficient reaches more than 1 dB/μm at the wavelength of 1600 nm. |
| US09035405B2 |
Active matrix image sensing panel and apparatus
An active matrix image sensing panel includes a substrate and an image sensing pixel. The image sensing pixel is disposed on the substrate and includes a data line, a first thin film transistor (TFT) device and a second TFT device. The first TFT device includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a first gate electrode. The second electrode is coupled to the data line through a first via. The second TFT device includes a third electrode, a fourth electrode and a second gate electrode. The fourth electrode is electrically connected to the data line through a second via. The second electrode and the fourth electrode are connected with each other and overlap the data line. |
| US09035404B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a multilayer wiring layer formed over the substrate, an MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) element formed in an insulating layer located lower than an uppermost wiring layer in the multilayer wiring layer, a wiring formed in a wiring layer immediately above the MTJ element and coupled to the MTJ element, and a shield conductor region provided in the wiring or a wiring layer immediately above the wiring, and covering an entirety of the MTJ element in a plan view. |
| US09035397B2 |
Gate structure and manufacturing method thereof
A method for manufacturing a gate structure may include the following steps: providing a stack on a substrate, the first stack including (from top to bottom) a dummy layer, a first TiN layer, a TaN layer, a second TiN layer, a high-k first dielectric layer, and an interfacial layer; etching the stack to result in a remaining stack that includes at least a remaining dummy layer, a first remaining TiN layer, and a remaining TaN layer; providing an etching stop layer on the substrate; providing a second dielectric layer on the etching stop layer; performing planarization according to the remaining dummy layer; removing the remaining dummy layer and a first portion of the first remaining TiN layer using a dry etching process; removing a second portion of the first remaining TiN layer using a wet etching process; and providing a metal gate layer on the remaining TaN layer. |
| US09035390B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and method for producing same
A thin film transistor substrate is equipped with: an insulating substrate (10a); a gate electrode (2) constituted by a stack of a first barrier metal layer (3) formed of titanium and disposed over the insulating substrate (10a), a first copper layer (4) disposed over the first barrier metal layer (3), and a second barrier metal layer (5) formed of titanium and disposed over the first copper layer (4); a gate insulating layer (7) disposed covering the gate electrode (2); and a semiconductor layer (8) disposed over the gate insulating layer (7), and having a channel region (C) disposed overlapping the gate electrode (2). |
| US09035389B2 |
Layout schemes for cascade MOS transistors
A device includes a first and a second MOS device cascaded with the first MOS device to form a first finger. A drain of the first MOS device and a source of the second MOS device are joined to form a first common source/drain region. The device further includes a third and a fourth MOS device cascaded with the third MOS device to form a second finger. A drain of the third MOS device and a source of the fourth MOS device are joined to form a second common source/drain region. The first and the second common source/drain regions are electrically disconnected from each other. Sources of the first and the third MOS devices are interconnected. Drains of the second and the fourth MOS devices are interconnected. Gates of the first and the third MOS devices are interconnected. Gates of the second and the fourth MOS devices are interconnected. |
| US09035388B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a fin-shaped silicon layer on a silicon substrate and a first insulating film around the fin-shaped silicon layer. A pillar-shaped silicon layer resides on the fin-shaped silicon layer. A gate electrode and gate insulating film surround the pillar-shaped silicon layer and a gate line is connected to the gate electrode and extends in a direction orthogonally intersecting the fin-shaped silicon layer. A first diffusion layer resides in an upper portion of the pillar-shaped silicon layer and a second diffusion layer resides in an upper portion of the fin-shaped silicon layer and a lower portion of the pillar-shaped silicon layer. A first silicide resides in an upper portion of the first diffusion layer and a second silicide resides in an upper portion of the second diffusion layer. A contact and metal wire are on the second silicide, and a metal wire is on the first contact. |
| US09035386B2 |
Semiconductor structure and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor structure and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a first doped region, a second doped region, and a gate structure. The first doped region has a first type conductivity. The second doped region is formed in the first doped region and has a second type conductivity opposite to the first type conductivity. The gate structure is formed on the first doped region and the second doped region. The gate structure comprises a first gate portion and a second gate portion, which are separated from each other by a gap. |
| US09035384B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first fin-shaped silicon layer on a substrate and a second fin-shaped silicon layer on the substrate, each corresponding to the dimensions of a sidewall pattern around a dummy pattern. A silicide in upper portions of n-type and p-type diffusion layers in the upper portions of the first and second fin-shaped silicon layers. A metal gate line is connected to first and second metal gate electrodes and extends in a direction perpendicular to the first fin-shaped silicon layer and the second fin-shaped silicon layer. A first contact is in direct contact with the n-type diffusion layer in the upper portion of the first pillar-shaped silicon layer, and a second contact is in direct contact with the p-type diffusion layer in the upper portion of the second pillar-shaped silicon layer. |
| US09035383B2 |
Nanowire capacitor for bidirectional operation
A method of fabricating an electronic device includes the following steps. At least one first set and at least one second set of nanowires and pads are etched in an SOI layer of an SOI wafer. A first gate stack is formed that surrounds at least a portion of each of the first set of nanowires that serves as a channel region of a capacitor device. A second gate stack is formed that surrounds at least a portion of each of the second set of nanowires that serves as a channel region of a FET device. Source and drain regions of the FET device are selectively doped. A first silicide is formed on the source and drain regions of the capacitor device that extends at least to an edge of the first gate stack. A second silicide is formed on the source and drain regions of the FET device. |
| US09035382B2 |
Semiconductor structure profile
One or more embodiments of techniques or systems for forming a semiconductor structure are provided herein. In some embodiments, a semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first lightly doped drain (LDD), a second LDD, an interface layer (IL), a high-k stack, a gate region, a dummy poly region, a first hard mask (HM) region, a second HM region, and a seal spacer region. The HK stack has a HK stack width and the gate region has a gate region width that is less than or substantially equal to the HK stack width. Because of the increased width of the HK stack, some of the HK stack likely overlaps some of the first LDD or the second LDD. In this manner, a saturation current and a threshold voltage associated with the semiconductor structure are improved. The increased width of the HK stack also protects more of the IL during LDD implanting. |
| US09035380B2 |
High voltage drain-extended MOSFET having extra drain-OD addition
An integrated circuit includes a high-voltage well having a first doping type, a first doped region and a second doped region embedded in the high-voltage well, the first and second doped regions having a second doping type and spaced apart by a channel in the high-voltage well, source/drain regions formed in the first doped region and in the second doped region, each of the source/drain regions having the second doping type and more heavily doped than the first and second doped regions, first isolation regions spaced apart from each of the source/drain regions, and resistance protection oxide forming a ring surrounding each of the source/drain regions. |
| US09035373B2 |
Gate dielectric of semiconductor device
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a different gate structure in each of a plurality of device regions is described. The method may include a replacement gate process. The method includes forming a hard mask layer on oxide layers formed on one or more regions of the substrate. A high-k gate dielectric layer is formed on each of the first, second and third device regions. The high-k gate dielectric layer may be formed directly on the hard mask layer in a first and second device regions and directly on an interfacial layer formed in a third device region. A semiconductor device including a plurality of devices (e.g., transistors) having different gate dielectrics formed on the same substrate is also described. |
| US09035370B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device, includes: a semiconductor substrate; a first conductivity type well and a second conductivity type well; a first active area; a second active area; a first well contact layer; a plurality of first source/drain layers; a first gate insulating film; a first gate electrode; a second well contact layer; a plurality of second source/drain layers; a second gate insulating film; and a second gate electrode. The first well contact layer is formed in the first active area at one end part in the one direction. The one end parts in each of the first active areas and in each of the second active areas are mutually on the same side. |
| US09035369B2 |
Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method of the same
A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a first stacked structure, and a first conductive layer. The first stacked structure is formed on the substrate and includes a conductive structure and an insulating structure, and the conductive structure is disposed adjacent to the insulating structure. The first conductive layer is formed on the substrate and surrounds two side walls and a part of the top portion of the first stacked structure for exposing a portion of the first stacked structure. |
| US09035368B2 |
Semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device including first and second semiconductor pillars formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate and aligning in a first direction; a first interconnect extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and provided between the first and second semiconductor pillars; and a first contact pad located over the first interconnect, the first contact pad being in contact with and electrically connected to the first semiconductor pillar at a side surface thereof, while being electrically isolated from the second semiconductor pillar. |
| US09035367B2 |
Method for manufacturing inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cells
A method of fabricating both a multijunction solar cell and an inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cell in a single process using a MOCVD reactor by forming a first multijunction solar cell on a semiconductor substrate; forming a release layer over the first solar cell; forming an inverted metamorphic second solar cell over the release layer; and etching the release layer so as to separate the multijunction first solar cell and the inverted metamorphic second solar cell. |
| US09035365B2 |
Raised source/drain and gate portion with dielectric spacer or air gap spacer
A semiconductor structure and method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes epitaxial raised source/drain (RSD) regions formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate through selective epitaxial growth. In one embodiment, the faceted side portions of the RSD regions are utilized to form cavity regions which may be filled with a dielectric material to form dielectric spacer regions. Spacers may be formed over the dielectric spacer regions. In another embodiment, the faceted side portions may be selectively grown to form air gap spacer regions in the cavity regions. A conformal spacer layer with interior and exterior surfaces may be formed in the cavity region, creating an air gap spacer defined by the interior surfaces of the conformal spacer layer. |
| US09035362B2 |
Sensor for sensing the presence of at least one fluidum
A Sensor for sensing the presence of at least one fluidum in a space adjoining the sensor is disclosed. In one aspect, the sensor has a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer stack, a gate electrode overlaying at least part of the 2DEG layer stack for electrostatically controlling electron density of a 2DEG in the 2DEG layer stack and a source and a drain electrode contacting the 2DEG layer stack for electrically contacting the 2DEG, wherein a detection opening is provided in between the gate electrode and the 2DEG layer stack and wherein the detection opening communicates with the space through a detection opening inlet such that molecules of the fluidum can move from the adjoining space through the detection opening inlet into the detection opening where they can measurably alter a electric characteristic of the 2DEG. |
| US09035359B2 |
Semiconductor chip including region including linear-shaped conductive structures forming gate electrodes and having electrical connection areas arranged relative to inner region between transistors of different types and associated methods
A first linear-shaped conductive structure (LCS) forms gate electrodes (GE's) of a first transistor of a first transistor type and a first transistor of a second transistor type. A second LCS forms a GE of a second transistor of the first transistor type. A third LCS forms a GE of a second transistor of the second transistor type. A fourth LCS forms a GE of a third transistor of the first transistor type. A fifth LCS forms a GE of a third transistor of the second transistor type. A sixth LCS forms a GE of a fourth transistor of the first transistor type and a fourth transistor of the second transistor type. Transistors of the first transistor type are collectively separated from transistors of the second transistor type by an inner region. The second, third, fourth, and fifth LCS's have respective electrical connection areas arranged relative to the inner region. |
| US09035356B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes an electron transit layer formed on a substrate; an electron supply layer formed on the electron transit layer; a doping layer formed on the electron supply layer, the doping layer being formed with a nitride semiconductor in which an impurity element to become p-type and C are doped; a p-type layer formed on the doping layer, the p-type layer being formed with a nitride semiconductor in which the impurity element to become p-type is doped; a gate electrode formed on the p-type layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the doping layer or the electron supply layer. The p-type layer is formed in an area immediately below the gate electrode, and a density of the C doped in the doping layer is greater than or equal to 1×1017 cm−3 and less than or equal to 1×1019 cm−3. |
| US09035346B2 |
Light source module
The light source module includes a circuit board adapted to be placed on a mounting base of a light source holding member, and a power feeding attachment to supply power to a semiconductor light emitting device, the circuit board including a board part on which the semiconductor light emitting device is mounted, and a conductive circuit formed on a surface of the board part and having a pair of terminal parts and a light source connection part to connect the pair of terminal parts and the semiconductor light emitting device, the power feeding attachment including an electrically-insulating portion and an conductive portion partially embedded in the electrically-insulating portion, the power feeding attachment being adapted to be attached to the light source holding member such that the electrically-insulating portion presses at least a portion of the circuit board against the mounting base. |
| US09035344B2 |
Phosphors for use with LEDs and other optoelectronic devices
Phosphors fabricated from one or more layers of a naturally lamellar or fabricated lamellar semiconductor that is combined with a substrate. One or more of the layers of the lamellar semiconductor are separated from bulk material. The one or more layers are transformed into a phosphor for use with one or more light-emitting devices for the purpose of modifying the light emitted by the light-emitting device(s). Such transformation can be effected in a variety of ways, such as precise thinning or thickening of the removed layer(s) and/or intercalating one or more species of ions into the layer(s) that function as phosphors. |
| US09035342B2 |
Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device of the invention includes a base, at least one light-emitting element, a wavelength transferring cover and a heat-conducting structure. The light-emitting element is disposed on the base and electrically connected to the base. The wavelength transferring cover is disposed on the base and covers the light-emitting element. The heat-conducting structure is disposed on the base and directly contacts the wavelength transferring cover. |
| US09035341B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device with wiring unit arrangement
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate, a semiconductor laminate disposed on the substrate and divided to a plurality of light emitting cells with an isolation region, and a wiring unit electrically connecting the plurality of light emitting cells. A region of lateral surfaces of each of the light emitting cells in which the wiring unit is disposed has a slope gentler than slopes of other regions of the lateral surfaces of each of the light emitting cells. |
| US09035340B2 |
Red phosphor, method for preparing same, and light-emitting device comprising same
Provided is a red phosphor having superior thermal and chemical stability and excellent luminous efficiency, wherein the red phosphor comprises a compound expressed in the composition formula: Az(Sr, M)2(Si, Al)O4−xNy:R(0 |
| US09035337B2 |
Light-emitting module, light-emitting panel, and lighting device
An object is to provide a light-emitting module in which a light-emitting element suffering a short-circuit failure does not cause wasteful electric power consumption. Another object is to provide a light-emitting panel in which a light-emitting element suffering a short-circuit failure does not allow the reliability of an adjacent light-emitting element to lower. Focusing on heat generated by a light-emitting element suffering a short-circuit failure, provided is a structure in which electric power is supplied to a light-emitting element through a positive temperature coefficient thermistor (PTC thermistor) thermally coupled with the light-emitting element. |
| US09035333B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device includes an LED chip, which includes an n-type semiconductor layer, active layer, and p-type semiconductor layer stacked on a substrate. The LED chip further includes an anode electrode connected to the p-type semiconductor, and a cathode connected to the n-type semiconductor. The anode and cathode electrodes face a case with the LED chip mounted thereon. The case includes a base member including front and rear surfaces, and wirings including a front surface layer having anode and cathode pads formed at the front surface, a rear surface layer having anode and cathode mounting electrodes formed at the rear surface, an anode through wiring connecting the anode pad and the anode mounting electrode and passing through a portion of the base member, and a cathode through wirings connecting the cathode pad and the cathode mounting electrode and passing through a portion of the base member. |
| US09035329B2 |
Light-emitting device
The light-emitting device having an equivalent circuit, includes at least four terminals, numbered from first terminal to fourth terminal, for electrical power feeding; a first light-emitting diode, arranged between the first terminal and the second terminal, configured to not emit light when a voltage is applied between the second terminal and one of the third terminal and the fourth terminal, and configured to emit light when a. voltage is applied between the first terminal and one of the third terminal and the four the terminal; and a second light-emitting diode, arranged between the third terminal and the fourth terminal, and configured to not emit light when the voltage is applied between the third terminal and one of the first terminal and the second terminal and configured to emit light when a voltage is applied between the fourth terminal and one of the first terminal and the second terminal. |
| US09035326B2 |
Light emitting module
Disclosed is a light emitting module capable of representing improved heat radiation and improved light collection. there is provided a light emitting module. The light emitting module includes a metallic circuit board formed therein with a cavity, and a light emitting device package including a nitride insulating substrate attached in the cavity of the metallic circuit board, at least one pad part on the nitride insulating substrate, and at least one light emitting device attached on the pad part. |
| US09035324B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device may include a semiconductor light emitting diode which may include a first nitride semiconductor layer doped as an n-type, a second nitride semiconductor layer doped as a p-type, and a first active layer provided between the first and second nitride semiconductor layers, and a nano light emitting diode array in which a plurality of nano light emitting diodes may be arranged on the semiconductor light emitting diode so as to be separated from each other. |
| US09035323B2 |
Silicon carbide barrier diode
Improved semiconductor devices are fabricated utilizing nickel gallide and refractory borides deposited onto a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate. Varying the deposition and annealing parameters of fabrication can provide a more thermally stable device that has greater barrier height and a low ideality. This improvement in the electrical properties allows use of Schottky barrier diodes in high power and high temperature applications. In one embodiment, a refractory metal boride layer is joined to a surface of a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate. The refractory metal boride layer is deposited on the silicon carbon semiconductor substrate at a temperature greater than 200° C. In another embodiment, a Schottky barrier diode is fabricated via deposition of nickel gallide on a SiC substrate. |
| US09035322B2 |
Silicon carbide device and a method for manufacturing a silicon carbide device
A silicon carbide device includes an epitaxial silicon carbide layer including a first conductivity type and a buried lateral silicon carbide edge termination region located within the epitaxial silicon carbide layer including a second conductivity type. The buried lateral silicon carbide edge termination region is covered by a silicon carbide surface layer including the first conductivity type. |
| US09035321B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
There is provided a semiconductor device including an ohmic junction layer which is excellent in surface flatness and uniformity of composition in an interface with a semiconductor substrate and thus can give a sufficiently high adhesiveness with a Schottky junction layer. Such a semiconductor device includes an n type SiC semiconductor substrate (1), a cathode electrode (5) that comes into ohmic contact with a main surface (1b) of one side of the SiC semiconductor substrate (1), a first semiconductor region (6a) that is made of p type SiC formed in a main surface (1a) of the other side of the SiC semiconductor substrate (1), a second semiconductor region (6b) that is made of an n type SiC formed in the main surface (1a) of the other side, an ohmic junction layer (7) that comes into ohmic contact with the first semiconductor region (1a), and a Schottky junction layer (8) that comes into Schottky contact with the second semiconductor region (6b), wherein a root mean square roughness for a surface of the ohmic junction layer (7) is 20 nm or less. |
| US09035319B2 |
Nitride semiconductor and fabricating method thereof
The present disclosure relates to nitride semiconductor and a fabricating method thereof, and a nitride semiconductor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a nitride based first and second electrode placed with a distance on a substrate, a nitride based channel layer which connects the first and second electrode, an insulating layer which covers the channel layer, and a third electrode which is formed to cover the insulating layer on the insulating layer. |
| US09035317B2 |
Pixel structure, display panel and method for fabricating pixel structure
A pixel structure disposed on a substrate is provided. The pixel structure includes a gate electrode, a first gate insulation layer, a pixel electrode, a second gate insulation layer, a channel layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a common electrode. The gate electrode is disposed on the substrate and covered by the first gate insulation layer. The pixel electrode is disposed on the first gate insulation layer and covered by the second gate insulation layer. The pixel electrode is located between the first and the second gate insulation layers. The second gate insulation layer has a first contact opening exposing a portion of the pixel electrode. The channel layer is disposed on the second gate insulation layer. The drain electrode electrically connected to the pixel electrode. The source electrode is disposed on the second gate insulation layer. The common electrode is disposed on the second gate insulation layer. |
| US09035304B2 |
Semiconductor device
The contact resistance between an oxide semiconductor film and a metal film is reduced. A transistor that uses an oxide semiconductor film and has excellent on-state characteristics is provided. A semiconductor device capable of high-speed operation is provided. In a transistor that uses an oxide semiconductor film, the oxide semiconductor film is subjected to nitrogen plasma treatment. Thus, part of oxygen included in the oxide semiconductor film is replaced with nitrogen, so that an oxynitride region is formed. A metal film is formed in contact with the oxynitride region. The oxynitride region has lower resistance than the other region of the oxide semiconductor film. In addition, the oxynitride region is unlikely to form high-resistance metal oxide at the interface with the contacting metal film. |
| US09035297B2 |
Thin-film transistor and zinc oxide-based sputtering target for the same
A thin-film transistor includes a metal electrode and a zinc oxide-based barrier film that blocks a material from diffusing out of the metal electrode. The zinc oxide-based barrier film is made of zinc oxide doped with indium oxide, the content of the indium oxide ranging, by weight, 1 to 50 percent of the zinc oxide-based barrier film. A zinc oxide-based sputtering target for deposition of a barrier film of a thin-film transistor is made of zinc oxide doped with indium oxide, the content of the indium oxide ranging, by weight, 1 to 50 percent of the zinc oxide-based sputtering target. |
| US09035296B2 |
Thin film transistor, method of fabricating the same, and display apparatus having the same
A thin film transistor includes a semiconductor layer disposed on a base substrate and including an oxide semiconductor material, a source electrode and a drain electrode, which respectively extend from opposing ends of the semiconductor layer, a plurality of low carrier concentration areas respectively disposed between the source electrode and the semiconductor layer and between the drain electrode and the semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulating layer. |
| US09035283B2 |
Trench gate MOSFET
A trench gate MOSFET is provided. An epitaxial layer is disposed on a substrate. A body layer is disposed in the epitaxial layer. The epitaxial layer has a first trench therein, the body layer has a second trench therein, and the first trench is disposed below the second trench. A first conductive layer is disposed in the first trench. A first insulating layer is disposed between the first conductive layer and the epitaxial layer. A second conductive layer is disposed on a sidewall of the second trench. A second insulating layer is disposed between the second conductive layer and the body layer, and between the second conductive layer and the first conductive layer. A dielectric layer is disposed on the epitaxial layer and fills up the second trench. Two doped regions are disposed in the body layer respectively beside the second trench. |
| US09035282B2 |
Formation of large scale single crystalline graphene
A method for transfer of a two-dimensional material includes forming a spreading layer of a two-dimensional material on a first substrate. The spreading layer has at least one monolayer. A stressor layer is formed on the spreading layer. The stressor layer is configured to apply stress to a closest monolayer of the spreading layer. The closest monolayer is exfoliated by mechanically splitting the spreading layer wherein at least the closest monolayer remains on the stressor layer. The at least one monolayer is stamped against a second substrate to adhere remnants of the two-dimensional material on the at least one monolayer to the second substrate to provide a single monolayer on the stressor layer. The single monolayer is transferred to a third substrate. |
| US09035274B2 |
Semiconductor device having a stack structure including a stoichiometric material and a non-stoichiometric material, and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an impurity layer over a first conductive layer; forming a first metal oxide layer over the impurity layer, wherein the first metal oxide layer includes oxygen at a lower ratio than a stoichiometric ratio; diffusing an impurity from the impurity layer into the first metal oxide layer to form a first doped metal oxide layer; forming a second metal oxide layer over the first doped metal oxide layer; and forming a second conductive layer over the second metal oxide layer. |
| US09035270B2 |
Universal mount
A mount for mounting an ultraviolet (UV) lamp assembly or other device to a duct wall of an HVAC system. The mount may have a base having a first side and a second side, an aperture extending through the base from the first side to the second side, one or more first mounting features, and one or more second mounting features. To secure a UV lamp assembly to the base, the mount may have a socket allowing at least a portion of the UV lamp to extend through the aperture of the base. To secure the first side of the mount to the duct wall, the first mounting features receives connectors. To secure the second side of the mount to the duct wall, the second mounting features receive connectors. A recess between the second mounting features may facilitate connecting connectors to a duct wall without the duct wall interfering with the secured UV lamp assembly. |
| US09035269B2 |
Control module for an ion implanter
A control module for an ion implanter having a power supply, the power supply comprising: an electricity generator HT having its positive pole connected to ground; a first switch SW1 having its first pole connected to the negative pole of the generator HT and having its second pole connected to the outlet terminal S of the power supply; and a second switch SW2 having its first pole connected to the outlet terminal S and having its second pole connected to a neutralization terminal N. The control module also comprises a current measurement circuit AMP for measuring the current that flows between the second pole of the second switch SW2 and the neutralization terminal N. |
| US09035265B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus, method for driving the same and radiation imaging system
A radiation imaging apparatus, comprising a sensor array configured to output a signal in accordance with irradiated radiation, a driving unit configured to output a signal from the sensor array by driving the sensor array, a detecting unit configured to detect irradiated radiation, a control unit configured to control the driving unit to perform first readout to read out a signal corresponding to charge accumulated in the sensor array from the sensor array and perform second readout to further read out a signal from the sensor array at least in a case where the first readout has started during irradiation of radiation, and a processing unit configured to correct the signal obtained by the first readout based on the signal obtained by the second readout. |
| US09035264B2 |
X-ray detector and heat dissipating method
An X-ray detector and a heat dissipating method are provided. The heat dissipating method comprises providing an optical sensing panel over an internal support of the X-ray detector and providing a digital printed circuit board directly on a back cover, so that there is a gap between the digital printed circuit board and the optical sensing panel that is fixed by the internal support. The X-ray detector comprises an optical sensing panel bonded to the outer side of an internal support; and a digital printed circuit board bonded to the inner side of a back cover, wherein there is a gap between the digital printed circuit board and the optical sensing panel that is fixed by the internal support. |
| US09035256B2 |
Gas sensor with radiation guide
An optical absorption gas sensor includes a radiation source, detector and radiation guide which has a rectangular cross section and curves around a side of the cross section. Locating elements locate a support element relative to the radiation guide to align the radiation source and detector with the guide. Radiation from the reference radiation source may be transmitted through a transparent measurement radiation source. Radiation from a reference radiation source may be directed around the measurement reference source. A light emitting diode may generate radiation which is detected by a photodiode and the photodiode may be driven to generate radiation having a different emission spectrum detectable using the light emitting diode, in another operating mode. Two or more abutting L-shaped radiation guide portions may form the radiation guide. |
| US09035255B2 |
Calibration of a level gauge system
A method of calibrating a level gauge system using electromagnetic signals to determine a filling level of a product in a tank. The level gauge system comprises a real time sampler for sampling a reflection signal with a sampling period between consecutive samples. The method comprises the steps of: receiving timing signals from a wireless communication network; generating time stamp signals based on the timing signals; registering a number of the sampling periods between a first time stamp signal and a second time stamp signal; and determining the sampling period based on the registered number of sampling periods and a time between the first time stamp signal and the second time stamp signal. Various embodiments of the present invention provide for high accurate determination of the filling level in a tank without the need for a temperature stable and highly accurate clock reference in the level gauge system. |
| US09035253B2 |
Infrared sensor element
An infrared sensor element according to the present invention includes a substrate, and a lower electrode layer, a pyroelectric layer, and an upper electrode layer sequentially formed on the substrate. The substrate has a linear thermal expansion coefficient higher than that of the pyroelectric layer, and the pyroelectric layer includes a polycrystalline body having an in-plane stress in a compressive direction. Thus, the infrared sensor element realizes the pyroelectric layer having a high orientation in a polarization axis direction, an excellent pyroelectric property. |
| US09035251B2 |
Terahertz wave generating module and terahertz wave detecting device including the same
A terahertz wave generating module includes a bidirectional light source which provides a first dual-mode beam in a first direction and a second dual-mode beam in a second direction; a forward lens unit which focuses the first dual-mode beam; a photomixer unit which converts the first dual-mode beam focused by the forward lens unit into a terahertz wave; a backward lens unit which focuses the second dual-mode beam; and a light output unit which uses the second dual-mode beam focused by the backward lens unit as a light signal, wherein the bidirectional light source, the forward lens unit, the photomixer unit, the backward lens unit, and the light output unit are integrated in a housing. |
| US09035249B1 |
Multi-beam system for high throughput EBI
A scanning charged particle beam device configured to image a specimen is described. The scanning charged particle beam device includes a source of charged particles, a condenser lens for influencing the charged particles, an aperture plate having at least two aperture openings to generate at least two primary beamlets of charged particles, at least two deflectors, wherein the at least two deflectors are multi-pole deflectors, a multi-pole deflector with an order of poles of 8 or higher, an objective lens, wherein the objective lens is a retarding field compound lens, a beam separator configured to separate the at least two primary beamlets from at least two signal beamlets, a beam bender, or a deflector or a mirror configured to deflect the at least two signal beamlets, wherein the beam bender is a hemispherical beam bender or beam bender having at least two curved electrodes, and at least two detector elements. |
| US09035245B2 |
Device for mass selective determination of an ion
A device for mass selective determination of at least one ion or of a plurality of ions is used, for example, in a measuring apparatus having an ion trap. The ion trap has a ring electrode having a first opening. A first electrode is arranged at the first opening. Furthermore, an amplifier for providing a radio-frequency storage signal for the ion trap and a first transformer are provided, said first transformer being connected to the amplifier and the first electrode in such a way that the radio-frequency storage signal is coupled into the first electrode via the first transformer. |
| US09035243B2 |
Method and a device for early detection of fires
A method and device for early detection of fires is based on the detection of volatile thermolysis products which are characteristic of the material to be monitored, ambient air being aspirated from an area to be monitored with respect to fire and being ionized, the ionized gas flow being channeled through an electromagnetic field, the resulting field strength of which modifying the trajectories of the ions in their temporal and spatial dependence with a parameter set in such a manner that positive and/or negative ions of the ionized gas are forced onto pre-determined trajectories and are detected for generating a fire alarm. Accordingly, fires can be detected quickly and reliably in the earliest possible phase before their full development so that taking or initiating follow-up actions can occur particularly quickly and at an early stage. |
| US09035242B2 |
Instrument for sizing nanoparticles and a component therefor
An improved nanoparticle sizing apparatus comprised of a unipolar charger operatively coupled to a radial differential mobility analyzer in combination with a condensation particle counter and powered by a power source such as a battery or solar cell, thereby providing a portable sizing device. |
| US09035241B2 |
Ion guiding device
An ion guiding device is disclosed comprising a first ion guide which is conjoined with a second ion guide. Ions are urged across a radial pseudo-potential barrier which separates the two guiding regions by a DC potential gradient. Ions may be transferred from an ion guide which has a relatively large cross-sectional profile to an ion guide which has a relatively small cross-sectional profile in order to improve the subsequent ion confinement of the ions. |
| US09035238B2 |
Systems and methods for determining property of a geological formation from gravitational potential difference
Systems and methods are provided for determining a property, e.g., density, of a geological formation based on Einstein's theory of gravitation. A gravitational potential difference is determined between two positions of the geological formation by measuring a frequency shift of a radiation travelling from a source to an absorber of a differential gravimeter. The gravitational potential difference determined can be converted to a density of the geological formation, e.g., based on a concentric spherical shell model. The systems can be a part of a downhole tool. |
| US09035237B2 |
Systems and methods using tunable differential gravimeter
Systems and methods are provided for determining a property, e.g., density, of a geological formation based on Einstein's theory of gravitation. A gravitational potential difference is determined between two positions of the geological formation by measuring a frequency shift of radiation travelling from a source to an absorber of a differential gravimeter. The differential gravimeter can be a part of a downhole tool. The gravitational potential difference determined can be used to determine the property of the geological formation. |
| US09035234B2 |
Optical communication module with lens unit having extension portions mounted on circuit board
An optical communication module includes a lens unit and an optical-electrical converter. The optical-electrical converter includes a circuit board and the lens unit is fixed on the circuit board. The lens unit has an extension portion, and the extension portion extends outwards from the lens unit and is parallel to the circuit board. Glue is located between the extension portion and the circuit board to secure the lens unit on the circuit board. |
| US09035233B2 |
Accessory mounting system for mounting an electronic device at a windshield of a vehicle
An accessory mounting system for mounting an electronic device at a windshield of a vehicle includes a bracket. The bracket is configured to mount at an interior surface of the vehicle windshield. The bracket includes an attaching structure configured to attach the bracket at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield. The bracket may include a support frame coupled to an attaching structure and to an adjustable support of an interior rearview mirror assembly. The support frame may have a set off portion set off from the interior surface of the windshield to accommodate an electronic device between the windshield and the set off portion. |
| US09035232B2 |
Method for working out the eccentricity and the angular position of a rotating element and device for carrying out such a method
A method for working out the angular position of a rotating element, by using at least one fixed light source emitting a light beam in the direction of a fixed sensor, arranging the light source with respect to the rotating element and sensor to induce an interaction between the beam and sensor, and providing a value of the angular position dependent of the sensor's output signal. The method including: arranging on the path of the beam a code-disc presenting a two-dimensional pattern of transparent and opaque areas and an absolute code integral with the rotating element, using the image casted by the code-disc on the sensor for determining the eccentricity of the code-disc in dependence of the angular position of the rotating element, using the eccentricity for compensating the value of the computed angular position, and computing a corrected angular position of the rotating element. |
| US09035229B2 |
Imaging device
In an imaging device, one end of a capacitive element is connected to a second input terminal to which a reference signal Ramp is applied, and the other end of the capacitive element is connected to a voltage source during a reset operation and to a voltage source after the reset operation through a switching element. As a result, the voltage of the second input terminal is changed such that a voltage difference between the first input terminal and the second input terminal becomes a voltage guaranteeing a comparison operation after the reset operation. |
| US09035224B2 |
Cooking apparatus and control method thereof
Disclosed is a cooking apparatus including a cooking chamber to receive materials to be cooked therein, a microwave-heating unit to radiate microwaves to the cooking chamber, a convection-heating unit to supply hot air to the cooking chamber, a grill-heating unit to supply radiant heat to the cooking chamber, a crusty plate configured to be heated by the microwaves, an input unit to receive a user fry-cooking command, and a control unit. When the user fry-cooking command is input, the control unit performs a microwave-heating stage of activating at least one of the convection-heating unit and the grill-heating unit and activating the microwave-heating unit, and performs a slim fry stage of activating the grill-heating unit and the convection-heating unit without activating the microwave-heating unit. Accordingly, the cooking apparatus achieves the fry-cooking process using the microwaves, radiant heat and convection heat without dipping the materials to be cooked in oil. |
| US09035222B2 |
Heated or cooled dishware and drinkware
An actively heated mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container is provided. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a body that receives a liquid therein and a heating or cooling system at least partially disposed in the body. The heating or cooling system can include one or more heating or cooling elements that heat a surface of the receiving portion of the body and one or more energy storage devices. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can include a wireless power receiver that wirelessly receives power from a power source and control circuitry configured to charge one or more power storage elements and to control the delivery of electricity from the one or more power storage elements to the one or more heating or cooling elements. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container also can have one or more sensors that sense a parameter of the liquid or sense a parameter of the heating or cooling system and communicates the sensed information to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can turn on, turn off, and/or operate the heating or cooling element to actively heat or cool at least a portion of the body to maintain the liquid in a heated or cooled state generally at a user selected temperature setting based at least in part on the sensed parameter information. The mug, travel mug, baby bottle, water bottle or liquid container can also be paired with a remote device or mobile electronic device to send or receive communications or commands. |
| US09035207B2 |
Button device and electronic equipment using the same
A button device has a circuit board, a tact switch having a pressed surface, a light source, and a resilient button capable of sliding relative to the circuit board. The resilient button includes a pressed portion having a projection surface and a light guide column connected to the pressed portion and directing light toward the projection surface. The light guide column includes a light receiving surface facing the light source with a certain distance apart and a touchable portion apart from the pressed surface with a certain distance used for touching the tact switch. |
| US09035206B2 |
Electric switch
An embodiment relates to an electric switch, particularly an electric circuit-breaker, including a rotor housing that can be turned to an ON and an OFF position and at least one electric contact arm that is mounted rotatably in the rotor housing and can be swiveled jointly with as well as relatively to it. A display element is included that is coupled indirectly or directly to the rotor housing and which in one display position indicates the ON position of the rotor housing and in another display position indicates the OFF position of the rotor housing. |
| US09035201B2 |
Flush floor box
The present disclosure relates to a flush floor box that can be constructed at a lower cost and is easier to install than previously utilized flush floor boxes. The flush floor box includes a base and/or a leveling ring with integral features. The integral features help to reduce the cost of producing the flush floor box. The leveling ring can include ears/tabs for use in electrically grounding a top shield of a flat floor power cable. |
| US09035200B2 |
Shielding structure for wire harness
A shielding structure for a wire harness includes a seal member which has a wire through hole that allows the wire to pass therethrough while sealing a circumference of the wire. The wire has a structure where an insulating resin layer is formed on an outer circumference of a conductor, and a predetermined range in a length direction of the conductor is coated with a shield layer formed by resin plating to cover an outer circumferential surface of the insulating resin layer. A terminal portion of the wire is passed through the wire through hole of the seal member to be introduced into the shield wall to a position where the shield layer exists, whereby an inner circumference of the wire through hole is made in close contact with the shield layer to cause the shield layer and the seal member to be electrically conducted with each other. |
| US09035199B2 |
EMI shielding member, particularly suitable for shielding of module cages
A receptacle assembly includes a hollow conductive cage with a front end and an opening to an interior portion of the cage. The opening is configured to receive a module assembly therein. The cage has a bottom with a bottom opening communicating with the interior portion, and the bottom is configured to be joined to a circuit board. A layered EMI shield member is provided between the bottom of the cage and the circuit board and the shield member extends completely around the bottom opening of the cage. The EMI shield member is formed as a flexible, low-cost assembly that utilizes a pair or insulative layers that flank a conductive layer. |
| US09035196B2 |
Circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a circuit board including: a core layer including a via hole; a metal film covering an inner wall of the via hole; a circuit pattern connected to the metal film on the core layer; and a plug surrounded by the metal film in the via hole and having a thickness thinner than a thickness of the core layer. |
| US09035195B2 |
Circuit board having tie bar buried therein and method of fabricating the same
Provided is a circuit board having a tie bar buried therein. The circuit board includes a dielectric stack, at least a first tie bar, at least a first gold finger and at least a first microvia. The dielectric stack includes a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer. The first dielectric layer is located on the second dielectric layer. The dielectric stack includes a wireline region and a gold finger region. The first tie bar is buried in the gold finger region between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The at least a first gold finger is located in the gold finger region on the first dielectric layer. The first microvia is located in the gold finger region in the first dielectric layer, and electrically connects the first gold finger to the first tie bar. |
| US09035193B2 |
Connecting member of electrical circuit
A connecting member such as a terminal base is used in connection with a printed circuit board unit in which circuit elements such as a power module are mounted on a printed circuit board. The connecting member connects the circuit element of an electrical circuit including the printed circuit board, to an electrical wire. The connecting member includes a terminal connecting section to be directly connected to terminal pins of the circuit element; a wire connecting section to be connected to the electrical wire; and attachment sections for attaching the connecting member to the printed circuit board. |
| US09035192B2 |
Anisotropic conductive adhesive composite and film, and circuit connecting structure including the same
An anisotropic conductive adhesive composite and film include a binder and conductive particles dispersed in the binder. The conductive particles include a copper core particle and a metal coating layer coated on a surface of the corresponding copper core particle. |
| US09035185B2 |
Top-drive power cable
The invention relates to a cable suitable for supplying power to a drilling rig's top-drive assembly. In a typical embodiment, the power cable includes (i) a plurality of high-conductivity conductors, (ii) an electromagnetic shield, (iii) two protective sheaths, and (iv) a reinforcing layer of braided aramid fibers between the protective sheaths. |
| US09035184B2 |
Electrical connectors
An electrical connector for electrically connecting wires includes first and second members pivotally coupled together. The first member has an opening and the second member has a receptacle, where the opening of the first member and the receptacle of the second member are configured to generally align when the first and second members are in a first position such that wires can be inserted through the opening of the first member and into the receptacle of the second member for electrically connecting the wires. A metallic coil is positioned within the receptacle of the second member and configured to electrically connect the wires. And, a sleeve is positioned adjacent the receptacle of the second member, generally above the metallic coil, for holding insulating material in the electrical connector to help coat the wires when the wires are received into the electrical connector. |
| US09035178B2 |
Domestic appliance with at least a display window
A domestic appliance with at least one display window with an externally visible, at least partially transparent viewing area for program data or similar information is produced with in a multi-component process and constructed so that the display window has at least one frame fixedly connected with the viewing area for affixing the display window to parts of a housing of the domestic appliance. |
| US09035174B2 |
Forming graded index lens in an all atmospheric pressure printing process to form photovoltaic panels
A PV panel uses an array of small silicon sphere diodes (10-300 microns in diameter) connected in parallel. The spheres are embedded in an uncured aluminum-containing layer, and the aluminum-containing layer is heated to anneal the aluminum-containing layer as well as p-dope the bottom surface of the spheres. A phosphorus-containing layer is deposited over the spheres to dope the top surface n-type, forming a pn junction. The phosphorus layer is then removed. A conductor is deposited to contact the top surface. Alternatively, the spheres are deposited with a p-type core and an n-type outer shell. After deposition, the top surface is etched to expose the core. A first conductor layer contacts the bottom surface, and a second conductor layer contacts the exposed core. A liquid lens material is deposited over the rounded top surface of the spheres and cured to provide conformal lenses designed to increase the PV panel efficiency. |
| US09035173B2 |
Back electrode type solar cell, back electrode type solar cell with interconnection sheet, solar cell module, method of manufacturing back electrode type solar cell with interconnection sheet, and method of manufacturing solar cell module
A back electrode type solar cell in which a no-electrode-formed region where no electrode is placed is provided in a part of a peripheral portion of a back surface of the back electrode type solar cell such that a line connecting end portions of a plurality of electrodes to one another includes a partially inwardly recessed region and the no-electrode-formed region is located adjacent to each of an electrode for n-type and an electrode for p-type adjacent to each other, a solar cell module, a method of manufacturing a back electrode type solar cell with interconnection sheet, and a method of manufacturing a solar cell module are provided. |
| US09035172B2 |
Crack resistant solar cell modules
A crack resistant solar cell module includes a protective package mounted on a frame. The protective package includes a polyolefin encapsulant that protectively encapsulates solar cells. The polyolefin has less than five weight percent of oxygen and nitrogen in the backbone or side chain. In other words, the combined weight percent of oxygen and nitrogen in any location in the molecular structure of the polyolefin is less than five. The polyolefin also has a complex viscosity less than 10,000 Pa second at 90° C. as measured by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) before any thermal processing of the polyolefin. The protective package includes a top cover, the encapsulant, and a backsheet. The solar cell module allows for shipping, installation, and maintenance with less risk of developing cracks on the surfaces of the solar cells. |
| US09035171B2 |
Dye-sensitized solar cell
The present invention provides a dye-sensitized solar cell which enhances an area of a photo electrode by arranging metal wires on a surface of a transparent substrate or a transparent conductive layer without degrading a transparency of the solar cell, allowing the metal wires to act as a collector electrode exclusively or together with a metal electrode. |
| US09035169B2 |
Layered compound-metal particle composite and production method therefor, and suspension, film and flexible solar cell using same
A layered compound-metal particle composite 3 is obtained by the addition, to an organically modified layered compound 1 formed by the intercalation of organic ions between layers of a layered compound, of both an aqueous colloidal metal solution 2 in which metal particles are dispersed as a metal colloid in water, and a nonaqueous solvent which is a poor solvent for the metal colloid and has an excellent ability to swell the organically modified layered compound 1. |
| US09035167B2 |
Preventing harmful polarization of solar cells
In one embodiment, harmful solar cell polarization is prevented or minimized by providing a conductive path that bleeds charge from a front side of a solar cell to the bulk of a wafer. The conductive path may include patterned holes in a dielectric passivation layer, a conductive anti-reflective coating, or layers of conductive material formed on the top or bottom surface of an anti-reflective coating, for example. Harmful solar cell polarization may also be prevented by biasing a region of a solar cell module on the front side of the solar cell. |
| US09035165B2 |
Control pedal and method of controlling an electronic device with the control pedal
A control pedal includes a pedal body having a foot contact surface at an upper side; at least a sensing unit arranged on the foot contact surface for detecting a touch action and generating a sensor signal according to the detected touch action; a microprocessor arranged in an interior of the pedal body for generating an operation instruction according to the sensor signal; and a transmission unit for transmitting the operation instruction to an electronic device to control a page turning action, sound volume adjustment, or audio mode switch. |
| US09035159B1 |
Maize hybrid X131C721
A novel maize variety designated X130721 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X130721 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X130721 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X130721, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X130721. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X130721. |
| US09035157B1 |
Maize inbred PH18PF
A novel maize variety designated PH18PF and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH18PF with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH18PF through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH18PF or a locus conversion of PH18PF with another maize variety. |
| US09035153B1 |
Maize inbred PH1KAP
A novel maize variety designated PH1KAP and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1KAP with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1KAP through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1KAP or a locus conversion of PH1KAP with another maize variety. |
| US09035152B1 |
Maize inbred PH1M0H
A novel maize variety designated PH1M0H and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1M0H with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1M0H through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1M0H or a locus conversion of PH1M0H with another maize variety. |
| US09035147B1 |
Maize inbred PH1W03
A novel maize variety designated PH1W03 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1W03 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1W03 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1W03 or a locus conversion of PH1W03 with another maize variety. |
| US09035143B1 |
Maize variety hybrid X80B470
A novel maize variety designated X80B470 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X80B470 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X80B470 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X80B470, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X80B470. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X80B470. |
| US09035141B2 |
Soybean variety A1036360
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036360. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036360. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036360 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036360 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09035137B2 |
Soybean variety XR31L13
A novel soybean variety, designated XR31L13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XR31L13, cells from soybean variety XR31L13, plants of soybean XR31L13, and plant parts of soybean variety XR31L13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XR31L13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XR31L13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XR31L13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XR31L13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XR31L13 are further provided. |
| US09035133B2 |
Herbicide-resistant sunflower plants and methods of use
Novel herbicide-resistant sunflower plants designated as MUT31 and herbicide-resistant descendents thereof are provided. The MUT31 sunflower plants and the herbicide-resistant descendents thereof comprise increased resistance to at least one imidazolinone herbicide, when compared to wild-type sunflower plants. Methods for controlling weeds in the vicinity of these herbicide-resistant sunflower plants and methods for increasing the herbicide-resistance of a sunflower plant are also provided. |
| US09035132B2 |
Modified Helianthus annuus transcription factor improves yield
The invention relates to polynucleotides encoding a modified HaHB4 transcription factor and polynucleotides encoding functionally active fragments and variants of a modified HaHB4 transcription factor as well as vectors and host cells containing these polynucleotides and the polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides. The invention also encompasses transgenic host cells, plants, seed, pollen, and plant parts containing the polypeptides and/or polynucleotides of the invention. The invention further encompasses methods of producing transgenic host cells, plants, seed, pollen, and plant parts and the processed plant products produced from these transgenic hosts. |
| US09035130B2 |
Reference plant, a method for its production, extracts obtained therefrom and their use
The invention relates to a reference plant which has been selected to: a) not express a medicinally active compound or group of compounds; yet b) express, at least substantially qualitatively, most other non medicinally active compounds present in a therapeutically active comparator plant. The reference plant can be used to generate a reference extract with a reference chemical profile which resembles that of the comparator plant less the active compound or group of compounds and may thus be used as a placebo or to otherwise test the hypothesis that the active compound or compounds are responsible for an extracts perceived medicinal activity. |
| US09035129B2 |
Method to develop high oleic acid soybeans using conventional soybean breeding techniques
The present invention is directed to a soybean plant with mutations in FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B. Moreover, the present invention is directed to seeds from said plants with altered ratios of monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats. In particular, the present invention is directed to plants where the plants exhibit elevated levels of oleic acid. |
| US09035128B2 |
Hybrid light chain mice
Genetically modified mice are provided that express human λ variable (hVλ) sequences, including mice that express hVλ sequences from an endogenous mouse λ light chain locus, mice that express hVλ sequences from an endogenous mouse κ light chain locus, and mice that express hVλ sequences from a transgene or an episome wherein the hVλ sequence is linked to a mouse constant sequence. Mice are provided that are a source of somatically mutated human λ variable sequences useful for making antigen-binding proteins. Compositions and methods for making antigen-binding proteins that comprise human λ variable sequences, including human antibodies, are provided. |
| US09035127B2 |
Absorbent article
An absorbent article ensuring that even when excreted urine diffuses by running down the wearer's skin, the urine is prevented from leaking out of the absorbent article. The absorbent article comprises an absorbent sheet that has at least one absorbent polymer-existing region in which the absorbent polymer is sandwiched by at least one liquid-pervious sheet and at least one absorbent polymer-nonexisting region which is free of absorbent polymer. The at least a part of the absorbent sheet is disposed in a rear waist region, and a planar shape of the absorbent polymer-existing region disposed on the rear waist region side of the longitudinal center of the crotch region of the absorbent sheet is a nearly V-shaped with an apex facing in the direction from the front waist region to the rear waist region in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article. |
| US09035125B2 |
Disposable wearing article
The present invention aims to provide a disposable wearing article improved so that front and rear waist regions may assure desired fitness without adversely affecting an absorption capacity of a bodily fluid-absorbent core assembly. At least one of front and rear waist regions includes an inner sheet lying on a skin-facing side and having stretch properties and an outer sheet lying on a non-skin-facing side and having a low elastic contractile force. In a section of this one waist region occupied by a liquid-absorbent core assembly including a bodily fluid-absorbent core, the inner sheet is partially cut to define a perforated region. Adhesive used to bond the liquid-absorbent core assembly to the inner sheet and adhesive used to bond the inner sheet to the outer sheet are put in contact with and joined to each other through openings developed by partially cutting the inner sheet. |
| US09035121B1 |
Method and apparatus for home medication disposal
Method and apparatus for disposal of used home medication which comprises an outer container being sealable and disposable containing an inner water-soluble packet/bag of gelling agent and coloring agent for stabilizing the used medication wherein the outer container comprises a foil-type container having a double sealing mechanism including a first zip lock sealing portion and a second self-sticking sealing portion to insure that the contents are safely sealed prior to disposal in a conventional home solid waste disposal unit. |
| US09035118B2 |
Integrated hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor in a platforming process
A process for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process involves splitting a naphtha feedstream to at least two feedstreams and partially processing each feedstream in separate reactors. The processing includes passing the light stream to a combination hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor. The process reduces the energy by reducing the endothermic properties of intermediate reformed process streams. |
| US09035115B2 |
Hydroconversion of renewable feedstocks
A hydrocarbon conversion process comprises contacting a renewable feedstock under hydroprocessing conditions with a bulk catalyst to form oleochemicals such as fatty alcohols, esters, and normal paraffins. Advantageously, the reaction conditions can be selected to directly convert the renewable feedstock to the desired product(s). |