| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09047917B1 |
Disk drive slider with sense amplifier for coupling to a preamp through a supply/bias line and a read signal line
A disk drive slider is disclosed comprising a first read element for generating a first read signal, and a first sense amplifier comprising a first input terminal coupled to the first read element, a first output terminal coupled to a first output line, and a first supply terminal coupled to a supply line. The first sense amplifier is for amplifying the first read signal to generate a first amplified read signal, the first output line is for transmitting the first amplified read signal to a preamp, and the supply line is for coupling to the preamp in order to supply power to the first sense amplifier and supply a first bias to the first read element. |
| US09047915B2 |
Asset revision management in media production
A method for managing a revision to a media asset in media production. The method includes identifying error or defect in the media asset; manually generating a path or arc of corrections and approvals needed to correct the identified error or defect in the media asset when manual generation of the path or arc of corrections is requested; generating the path or arc of corrections and approvals using a pre-defined set of steps or tasks when no request for manual generation is received; and performing the corrections and approvals according to the generated path or arc. |
| US09047912B1 |
Write head mode optical mode converter using three-dimensional waveguide and dual-mode waveguide
A write head includes a three-dimensional waveguide extending along a light-propagation direction. The three-dimensional waveguide is configured to receive light from a light source at a fundamental transverse electric (TE) mode. The three-dimensional waveguide includes an input coupler, a curved middle section, and a terminating end. The input coupler is tapered between the light source and the curved middle section. The write head includes a dual-mode waveguide extending along the light propagation direction and has an edge proximate to and separated from the curved section by a gap at a coupling region. The three-dimensional waveguide excites a higher-order TE mode in the dual-mode waveguide via the coupling region. |
| US09047905B2 |
Recording medium
A recording medium for recording and reproducing information by means of a head which performs information readout and writing based on magnetic principles is disclosed. The medium comprises a magnetic layer formed on a substrate and a protective layer formed on the magnetic layer. The protective layer comprises an underlayer formed on the magnetic layer and includes a material selected from the group consisting of silicon, silicon carbide and germanium. A carbon layer formed on the underlayer includes amorphous carbon containing hydrogen. The amount of hydrogen in the carbon layer is 24.7 at % or higher and 46.8 at % or lower, the thickness of the underlayer is 0.3 nm or greater and 1.8 nm or less, and the thickness of the carbon layer is 0.2 nm or greater and 1.7 nm or less. The medium exhibits corrosion resistance, sliding durability and head flying characteristics, and reduces magnetic spacing while securing reliability. |
| US09047901B1 |
Disk drive measuring spiral track error by measuring a slope of a spiral track across a disk radius
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising at least one spiral track, a head, and an actuator operable to actuate the head over the disk. A slope of the spiral track is measured at a plurality of radial locations across the disk, and a spiral track error at each radial location is generated based on a difference between the measured slope and a target slope. The head is actuated over the disk based on the spiral track and the spiral track error. |
| US09047900B2 |
Adaptive disturbance compensation with multi-rate synchronized sampling
A media drive includes a head, a servo signal processing circuit, an actuator and a processor. The head is positioned near a data storage medium, and includes a servo element. The servo signal processing circuit is coupled to the servo element to output a position error signal. The actuator controls a position of the head relative to the data storage medium. The processor communicates with the actuator and the servo signal processing circuit. The processor provides a filtered position error signal to the actuator to compensate for a position displacement between the head and the data storage medium. The filtered position error signal includes a sum of outputs from a first compensation filter and a second compensation filter that is each applied to the position error signal output. The compensation filters attenuate disturbance frequencies that contribute to the position displacement. Each of the compensation filters has a sampling rate relating to the respective disturbance frequency. In one embodiment, the disturbance frequencies are fixed frequencies. Alternatively, the first disturbance frequency is a fixed frequency and the second disturbance frequency is a dynamic frequency. Still alternatively, the disturbance frequencies are dynamic frequencies. |
| US09047889B1 |
Perpendicular magnetic recording head having a trailing side taper angle which is less than a leading side taper angle
In one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main pole configured to write data to a magnetic medium, a leading-side magnetic shield positioned on a leading side of the main pole in a down-track direction adjacent a media-facing surface of the head, and a trailing-side magnetic shield positioned on a trailing side of the main pole in the down-track direction adjacent the media-facing surface of the head, wherein a trailing side taper is provided on the trailing side of the main pole in the down-track direction, wherein a leading shield taper is provided on a main pole side of the leading-side magnetic shield, and wherein an angle of the trailing side taper relative to a line extending along an element height direction is less than or equal to an angle of the leading shield taper relative to the line extending along the element height direction. |
| US09047886B2 |
Optical disk device and method for controlling the same
In an optical disk device, a technique for AC tilt correction with stability and following capability is provided in which, during an operation of a tracking servo mechanism, a lens shift amount obtained from a tracking control signal or a lens position error signal is measured for each of predetermined angles of rotation of an optical disk, and the measured values are averaged in a radial direction of the optical disk, and a tilt controller corrects an AC tilt based on the resulting average value. |
| US09047884B2 |
Data reader with horizontal lamination shield
A data storage device may be constructed to sense data bits with at least a magnetic stack contacting a shield that has a horizontal lamination of magnetic and non-magnetic layers. The magnetic layer may be configured with a first width at an air bearing surface (ABS) that defines a first aspect ratio and a different second width that defines a different second aspect ratio distal the ABS. |
| US09047878B2 |
Speech determination apparatus and speech determination method
A signal portion per frame is extracted from an input signal, thus generating a per-frame signal. The per-frame signal in the time domain is converted into a per-frame signal in the frequency domain, thereby generating a spectral pattern of spectra. It is determined whether an energy ratio is higher than a threshold level. The energy ratio is a ratio of each spectral energy to subband energy in a subband that involves the spectrum. The subband is involved in subbands into which a frequency band is separated with a specific bandwidth. It is determined whether the per-frame signal is a speech segment, based on a result of the determination. Average energy is derived in the frequency direction for the spectra in the spectral pattern in each subband. Subband energy is derived per subband by averaging the average energy in the time domain. |
| US09047874B2 |
Noise suppression method, device, and program
The noise suppression device includes: a shock noise detection unit which receives an input signal including a shock noise and detects a shock noise according to a change of the input signal; and a shock sound suppression unit which receives the shock sound detection result and the input signal so as to suppress the shock sound. |
| US09047869B2 |
Free form input field support for automated voice enablement of a web page
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and computer program product for the automated voice enablement of a Web page with free form input field support. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for voice enabling a Web page with free form input field support can be provided. The method can include receiving speech input for an input field in a Web page, parsing a core attribute for the input field and identifying an external statistical language model (SLM) referenced by the core attribute of the input field, posting the received speech input and the SLM to an automatic speech recognition (ASR) engine, and inserting a textual equivalent to the speech input provided by the ASR engine in conjunction with the SLM into the input field. |
| US09047867B2 |
Systems and methods for concurrent signal recognition
Methods and systems for recognition of concurrent, superimposed, or otherwise overlapping signals are described. A Markov Selection Model is introduced that, together with probabilistic decomposition methods, enable recognition of simultaneously emitted signals from various sources. For example, a signal mixture may include overlapping speech from different persons. In some instances, recognition may be performed without the need to separate signals or sources. As such, some of the techniques described herein may be useful in automatic transcription, noise reduction, teaching, electronic games, audio search and retrieval, medical and scientific applications, etc. |
| US09047862B2 |
Audio signal processing method, audio apparatus therefor, and electronic apparatus therefor
An audio apparatus including a decorrelator for generating decorrelated signals by applying a phase shifting value adjusted based on a correlation difference between audio signals included in a multi-channel signal to the audio signals; and a speaker set including at least two speakers for outputting acoustic signals corresponding to the decorrelated signals. |
| US09047861B2 |
Electronic device for converting audio file format
An electronic device for converting a multi-channel audio file to a dual channel audio file and vice versa. The multichannel audio file includes a right channel group and a left channel group of channel signals. The electronic device respectively mixes the channel signals of the right channel group and the left channel group according to a mixed matrix to form N mixed signals, and cross embeds the N mixed signals to from a left channel audio signal and a right channel audio signal to compose the dual channel audio file. The electronic device samples, recombines and decodes the left channel audio signal and the right channel audio signal according to a decoding matrix, which is the inverse of the mixed matrix, to revert to the original multi-channel audio file. |
| US09047858B2 |
Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus comprises a storage module, a manipulation module, a voice output control module, and a display module. The storage module configured to store book data. The manipulation module is configured to convert a manipulation of a user into an electrical signal while the voice output control module configured to reproduce a voice by reading the book data in the storage module based on the manipulation, and the display module is configured to display the book data. When it is determined that a part to be reproduced includes an illustration or a figure, the user is urged to view the display module and the illustration or the figure is displayed at the display module. |
| US09047857B1 |
Voice commands for transitioning between device states
Techniques for transitioning an electronic device between device states. In one example, a voice-controlled device is configured to transition from a sleep state to an awake state in response to identifying a user speaking a predefined utterance. The techniques may determine whether the user has spoken the predefined utterance with reference to traditional speech-recognition techniques, as well as with reference to changes in the volume of a user's voice. |
| US09047856B2 |
Method and apparatus for tone detection
A speech server and methods provide audio stream analysis for tone detection in addition to speech recognition to implement an accurate and efficient answering machine detection strategy. By performing both tone detection and speech recognition in a single component, such as the speech server, the number of components for digital signal processing may be reduced. The speech server communicates tone events detected at the telephony level and enables voice applications to detect tone events consistently and provide consistent support and accuracy of both inbound and outbound voice applications independent of the hardware or geographical location of the telephony network. In addition, an improved opportunity for signaling of an appropriate moment for an application to leave a message is provided, thereby supporting automation. |
| US09047854B1 |
Apparatus and method for the continuous operation of musical instruments
An apparatus, that allows one to control the operation of a musical instrument, includes: a rotatably mounted, circular cylinder having on its outer surface rings of individual lights, a photosensor associated with each ring of lights that yields an output signal that controls the operation of the musical instrument's strikers, a rotation sensor that provides a rotation output signal indicative of the cylinder's rotational position, a programmable controller with a memory storage element, a means for inputting into the memory storage element a music input signal having the information necessary to cause the acoustical members of the musical instrument to play a desired musical composition, and a software program that uses the music input and rotation output signals to generate a control signal for the light's power source that intermittently illuminates the rings of lights so that the photosensors output signals cause the strikers to create those sounds required to play the desired musical composition. |
| US09047851B2 |
Optoelectronic pickup for musical instruments
An optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a sound generating element of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to sound generating element movement. |
| US09047850B1 |
Electric instrument music control device with magnetic displacement sensors
An electric instrument music control device is provided having a foot pedal. The foot pedal includes a base portion and a treadle, wherein the treadle moves with respect to the base portion. The device further has a magnetic displacement sensor coupled to the base portion and a magnet coupled to the treadle. The magnet is located adjacent the magnetic displacement sensor to place the sensor in a field-saturated mode, wherein the magnet moves with respect to the magnetic displacement sensor in response to movement of the treadle with respect to the base portion. A sound characteristic of the electric instrument is modified in response to moving the magnet with respect to the magnetic displacement sensor. |
| US09047846B2 |
Screen synthesising device and screen synthesising method
Disclosed is a screen synthesizing device which can achieve greater power saving effects when synthesizing a plurality of display screens containing moving images, without affecting the display result. In the disclosed device, a synthesis destination allocation determination unit (105) determines to synthesize the display layer which is the object of determination among the plurality of display layers including a first display layer having the first frame as a synthesis destination candidate and a second display layer having the second frame as a synthesis destination candidate, in either the first frame or the second frame on the basis of layout information which shows the positional relationship between the display layer which is the object of determination and a determination reference region which corresponds to the display layer which is the object of determination, and on the basis of the synthesis processing costs of the first frame and the second frame. |
| US09047845B2 |
Drive circuit and liquid crystal display device
Provided is a drive circuit including: an image supply section for supplying an image to be displayed on a liquid crystal panel (2); a command issuing section for issuing a command that instructs an image displayed on the liquid crystal panel (2) to be updated; a low-speed oscillation circuit (13) for supplying a low-speed clock signal (L-CLK); a high-speed oscillation circuit (8) for supplying a high-speed clock signal (H-CLK) higher in frequency than the low-speed clock signal (L-CLK); image outputting means for supplying, to the liquid crystal panel (2), the image from the image supplying means, the image outputting means being driven by the high-speed clock signal (H-CLK); and a logic section (10) for controlling, in accordance with the command issued by the command issuing section, whether or not to cause the high-speed oscillation circuit (8) to operate, the logic section (10) being driven by the low-speed clock signal (L-CLK). |
| US09047842B2 |
Shift register, display-driving circuit, displaying panel, and displaying device
Disclosed is a shift register for use in a display driving circuit that simultaneously selects signal lines, including, in a stage thereof: a flip-flop including an initialization terminal; and a signal generating circuit that receives a simultaneous selection signal and that generates an output signal of the stage by use of an output of the flip-flop, wherein: the output signal of the stage becomes active due to an activation of the simultaneous selection signal so as to be active during a period of the simultaneous selection; the output of the flip-flop is non-active while the initialization terminal, a set terminal, and a reset terminal of the flip-flop; and the initialization terminal of the flip-flop receives the simultaneous selection signal. This shift register makes it possible to downsize various drivers. |
| US09047839B2 |
Liquid crystal display device, method of driving liquid crystal display device, and electronic apparatus
A liquid crystal display device includes an array of pixels each having a memory function, a driving section that supplies a common voltage to a counter electrode of a liquid crystal capacitor, and supplies one of a first voltage and a second voltage to a pixel electrode of the liquid crystal capacitor, the first voltage being the same as the common voltage, the second voltage reversing polarity every predetermined period, and an adjusting section that adjusts an amplitude of at least the second voltage. |
| US09047838B2 |
Systems and methods for liquid crystal display column inversion using 3-column demultiplexers
Systems, methods, and devices for column inversion are provided. In one example, an electronic display may include a display panel having columns of pixels and display driver circuitry. The display driver circuitry may include source amplifiers and demultiplexers. Each demultiplexer may channel data output by at least one source amplifier to one of three columns of pixels. The display driver circuitry may drive the display panel according to a 3-column inversion scheme using one source amplifier per demultiplexer per frame of image data. |
| US09047830B2 |
Circuits for controlling display apparatus
An apparatus includes a plurality of display elements arranged in an array and a control matrix coupled to the plurality of display elements to communicate data and drive voltages to the display elements. For each display element, the control matrix includes an actuation circuit coupling a voltage source to the display element. The control matrix is configured to apply an actuation voltage to an actuator of the display element throughout an actuation stroke of the actuator and to initiate the actuation of the actuator after a pre-charging signal that initiated the application of the actuation voltage to the actuator has been deactivated. |
| US09047826B2 |
Systems and methods for liquid crystal display column inversion using reordered image data
Systems, methods, and devices for performing column inversion using reordered image data are provided. In one example, an electronic display may include a display panel with columns of pixels and driver circuitry to drive the pixels using column inversion. The driver circuitry may drive pixels of a first superpixel in a first color order and drive pixels of an adjacent second superpixel in a second color order, such that more pixels are driven sequentially at a common polarity than would have been driven sequentially at the common polarity were the pixels of the first superpixel driven at the same color order as the pixels of the second superpixel. |
| US09047822B2 |
Display device where supply of clock signal to driver circuit is controlled
In order to achieve lower power consumption, a technique of performing display (partial display) by utilizing only a part of a display area is used. For example, a display area is divided, a plurality of driver circuits for driving the divided display areas independently are provided, and only a region where a fixed pattern is displayed is driven in a power saving mode, thereby partial display is performed; however, display cannot be performed at an arbitrary position. Alternatively, partial display can be performed by inputting a video signal to a pixel in an arbitrary display area; however, a structure of a driver circuit is complicated. The object of the invention is to provide a display device which can perform partial display at an arbitrary position and reduce power consumption. In partial display, operation of a signal line driver circuit is set so as to be stopped and a non-display signal is set so as to be outputted from the signal line driver circuit when a pixel in a non-display area is selected. |
| US09047818B1 |
CMOS IC for micro-emitter based microdisplay
An active matrix microdisplay system is provided. The microdisplay system includes an array of micro-emitters. The microdisplay system also includes an array of CMOS driving circuits. Each of the CMOS driving circuits is coupled to a respective micro-emitter for controlling current to each respective micro-emitter. Each driving circuit includes metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) devices, where the MOSFET devices comprise p-type metal-oxide-semiconductors (PMOSs) or n-type metal-oxide-semiconductors (NMOSs). |
| US09047817B2 |
Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device that can display an image with desired luminance is disclosed. The organic light emitting display device includes: pixels at crossing regions of scan lines and data lines; first control transistors between a first power supply (for supplying current to the pixels) and the pixels in the odd-numbered rows (or, in a second embodiment, the even-numbered rows); and second control transistors between the first power supply and the pixels in the even-numbered rows (or, in the second embodiment, the odd-numbered rows). The first control transistors are configured to turn on and off in alternation with the second control transistors during a scan period of one frame period. |
| US09047816B2 |
Pixel and organic light emitting display device using the same
A pixel for an organic light emitting display is disclosed. The pixel is configured to provide a current to an organic light emitting diode which is substantially independent of a voltage threshold of the driving transistor of the circuit. |
| US09047814B2 |
Pixel circuit, display device, electronic apparatus, and method of driving pixel circuit
A pixel circuit including: an electrooptic element; a hold capacitor; a write transistor writing a drive voltage corresponding to a video signal supplied to one of main electrode terminals thereof to the hold capacitor; and a drive transistor driving the electrooptic element in accordance with the drive voltage written to the hold capacitor. A pixel circuit is adapted such that it can suppress turn ON of the electrooptic element during a first processing in which a current is supplied to the hold capacitor through the drive transistor while the drive voltage corresponding to the video signal is written to the hold capacitor through the write transistor. |
| US09047800B2 |
Methods for external display resolution selection
A user may couple an external display to an electronic device using a communications path. Extended display identification data or other information on the capabilities of the external display may be provided to the electronic device over the communications path. The extended display identification data may include a list of timing elements including display parameters such as a horizontal active pixel count, a vertical active pixel count, and a pixel clock. The electronic device may tag the timing elements with their type and may flag certain timing elements as being native to the display. A scoring function may then be used to rate each timing element. A scored list of timing elements may be sorted by score. The sorted scored list may be filtered to remove inappropriate timing elements. The electronic device may automatically use a selected one of the filtered timing elements in displaying information on the external display. |
| US09047794B2 |
Wingtip fin of an aircraft
A wingtip fin of an aircraft comprising an upstanding fin body, the fin body having an inboard face and an outboard face, a sign assembly in the fin body, the assembly comprising a translucent, graphic bearing face, substantially flush with and forming at least part of the inboard face or the outboard face of the fin body, a recess in the fin body behind the graphic-bearing face, and a light source arranged in the recess to illuminate the graphic-bearing face from inside the fin body. |
| US09047791B2 |
Sign construction with sectional sign assemblies and installation kit and method of using same
A modification kit for converting an existing signage mounting structure to an electronic sign generally includes a plurality of display modules; a plurality of sign sections each having a front-facing portion and a rear-facing portion, the front facing portion defining a two dimensional array of bays arranged in a plurality of rows along a vertical direction and a plurality of columns along a horizontal direction, each bay configured to receive one of the display modules, the rear-facing portion for mounting to a surface of the existing signage mounting structure; and a plurality of power routing systems, each power routing system having a power input for coupling to a power source and a plurality of power extensions, each power extension for coupling the power source to one of the plurality of display modules. The modification kit when installed provides the electronic sign. |
| US09047789B2 |
Method and apparatus for mounting signs and other displays
A street sign mounting assembly has a universal sign post cap and at least one sign holder bracket. The cap is universally adapted to fit common street sign posts including, without limitation, square, round and U-channel posts. The sign holder brackets are designed to hold street signs of varying thicknesses. |
| US09047788B2 |
Security seal
A security seal 10 comprises a strap portion 12 made of plastic and a lock portion 14 attached to the strap portion. The lock portion 14 includes a metal jaw with an aperture. In use, the strap portion 12 is guided into the lock portion 14 and pulled to provide an interference fit between the lock portion 14 and the strap portion 12. The security seal 10 deters tampering since efforts to pull the strap portion 12 will either result in snapping of the strap portion 12 or visible stress-induced damage to the strap portion 12. |
| US09047779B2 |
Vehicle rear view monitoring device
Because a vehicle rear view monitoring device changes the detection threshold level of each of distance sensors 4-1 to 4-4 to change horizontal and vertical detection areas and a bearing resolution, determines the display position of an obstacle mark 16 from the distances to an obstacle 15 detected by the plurality of distance sensors 4-1 to 4-4, and amplitude information about the amplitude of a reflected wave from the obstacle, and overlays the obstacle mark 16 on the obstacle 15 by using an overlay unit 17, the vehicle rear view monitoring device improves the degree of positional precision of the overlay of the obstacle mark on the obstacle displayed on a captured image. |
| US09047778B1 |
Collision avoidance system using telematics unit
The various examples disclosed herein relate to systems, methods, and equipment that provide location and velocity monitoring of both a user's vehicle and another vehicle to avoid collision. The examples are applicable for using on-board telematics units to process that information and provide additional information based thereon such as the probability of collision. In some examples, if the chances of collision are high based on information received, warnings may be given to the vehicle's user. Based on these warnings, the user may take evasive maneuvers to reduce the probability of collision and prevent it. In other examples, if the chances of collision are high, the vehicle may decelerate without prompting from the user to minimize the impact of the collision. Any emergency reporting by the telematics unit, e.g. if a collision still occurred, may be enhanced with the relative location and velocity data from some interval prior to the emergency. |
| US09047777B2 |
Method and system for providing information about parking space through communication between vehicles
Disclosed herein is a system and method for providing information about a parking space through communication between vehicles the method including broadcasting, by a controller, a parking space information request message within a predetermined range, using the communication adapter, when a request signal is input by a driver; receiving, by the controller, information about an available parking space received by unicast communication in response to the broadcasted request message; and outputting, by the controller, the information about an available parking space to the driver. |
| US09047775B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for roadway monitoring
An apparatus, system, and method for monitoring traffic and roadway water conditions. Traffic flow and roadway flooding is monitored concurrently through a wireless sensor network. The apparatus and system comprises ultrasound rangefinders monitoring traffic flow, flood water conditions, or both. Routing information may be calculated from the traffic conditions, such that routes are calculated to avoid roadways that are impassable or are slow due to traffic conditions. |
| US09047768B1 |
Method, system and computer program product for law enforcement
From a first patrol unit, first data are received for identifying a location of the first patrol unit. From the first patrol unit, second data are received for identifying a subject. The subject includes at least one of: a subject vehicle; and a subject person. A database is queried about the subject and, in response to the querying, a determination is made about whether the subject is a likely threat. In response to determining that the subject is a likely threat, and in response to the first data, a predetermined number of second patrol units are identified that are most geographically proximate to the location of the first patrol unit, and a message is output to the predetermined number of second patrol units about: the subject; the likely threat; and the first patrol unit. |
| US09047761B2 |
System and method for simplified setup of a universal remote control
A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances, via an interactive instruction set and associated programming. The programming is accessible by a STB or other controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions and prompts to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for configuration of another controllable device (e.g., DVD, VCR, DVR, etc) available to the user. Appropriate set up data, generally in the form of command library codes, is displayed to the user by the interactive instruction set and associated programming for entry and trial by the user in set up of the desired appliance(s). |
| US09047758B2 |
Solar powered energy module
Embodiments of a solar powered energy module are provided wherein a solar powered module maybe added to a building or vehicle which is self-powered and need not be connected to the existing power system of the building or vehicle. The solar powered energy module may be utilized to power an awning or other desirable features. |
| US09047756B2 |
High traffic data transmission
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device. An exemplary method includes: listening, by the collector node, during a first listening period, for a hailing signal from a plurality of RF devices on a hailing channel, the hailing signal including identification of a specified data channel; in response to receiving the hailing signal from one of the plurality of RF devices, switching to the specified data channel and receiving data, by the collector node, on the specified data channel; collecting, by the collector node, during a collecting period, data from the plurality of RF devices; receiving, by the collector node, the data from at least one of the plurality of RF devices; and listening, during a second listening period, for an alert notification, wherein the first listening period and the collecting period occur at different times. |
| US09047751B2 |
Image determining device to determine the state of a subject
To determine the state of a subject person with a simple structure, an image determining device includes: an imaging unit that captures an image from a first direction, the image including the subject person; a first detector that detects size information from the image, the size information being about the subject person in the first direction; a second detector that detects position-related information, the position-related information being different from the information detected by the first detector; and a determining unit that determines the state of the subject person, based on a result of the detection performed by the first detector and a result of the detection performed by the second detector. |
| US09047748B2 |
Safety guard device and method for detecting falling object
In a method for detecting a falling object using a safety guard device, a current digital image of the overhead scene is captured by an image capturing device of the safety guard device. The method detects a falling object in the current digital image, and outputs alarm messages when a falling object is detected in the current digital image and the falling object is going to hit a user of the safety guard device. |
| US09047744B2 |
Strap for portable device with light indicator
An apparatus including a flexible strap section configured to emit visible light; and a connection section configured to connect the flexible strap section to a portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device can hang from the flexible strap section. The connection section is configured to receive a signal from the portable electronic device. The flexible strap section is configured to emit the visible light based, at least partially, upon the signal from the portable electronic device. |
| US09047741B2 |
Gaming machine and methods of allowing a player to play a gaming machine having multiple games with the same reel
A gaming machine for providing multiple games to a player with the same reel is described herein. The gaming machine displays a first game that includes a first portion of a reel in a first display area and concurrently displays a second game that includes a second portion of the reel being displayed in a second display area. The gaming machine randomly generates an outcome of the first game and spins and stops the at least one reel to display the first game outcome in the first display area and awards the player an award as a function of the first game outcome. |
| US09047739B2 |
Apparatus and methods for playing electronic table card games
Electronic card game devices and methods incorporate progressive jackpot operations controlled by a central server computer. If a system game device is selected by the central server computer to win a progressive jackpot award, the system game device is programmed to display secondary game outcome symbols on playing cards being displayed during game play to indicate winning of the award. |
| US09047738B2 |
Video poker game employing stripped deck
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium to provide a variation of a video poker game. The video poker game offers the player an ability to earn having the very next game dealt from a stripped deck. A stripped deck is a standard 52-card deck with certain cards removed. For example, one type of stripped deck is a standard 52-card deck with all 2s through 9s removed, thereby providing the player with a huge advantage. |
| US09047731B2 |
Wagering game account management system
A wagering game account management system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations include detecting an account rule, wherein the account rule includes an activation event, wherein upon occurrence of the activation event a transfer of funds is initiates between a wagering game session and account and one or more other financial accounts. In some embodiments, the operations also include detecting the occurrence of the activation event. In some embodiments, the operations also include initiating the transfer of funds between the wagering game session account and one or more other financial accounts. |
| US09047730B2 |
Presenting network-wide events in network wagering venue
A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining a player account, from a network wagering venue, that is eligible to participate in a network-wide wagering game event, and selecting the player account to be a player that performs for an audience of other users from the network wagering venue. The player can win at least some portion of awards by playing a wagering game during the network-wide wagering game event. Audience member users can participate in the event using interactive features (e.g., betting features, chat features, etc.) presented in a presentation, or view, of the network-wide wagering game event. The operations can also include involving, or incorporating, the audience members, into the network-wide wagering game event in a variety of ways, such as assisting the player participant to perform better at the wagering game, engaging in side-bets, receiving awards, etc. |
| US09047729B2 |
Gaming machine and gaming method thereof, which simultaneously run common game in all terminals
The gaming machine performs the following functions: running a base game at gaming terminals in response to a start operation input through an input device; running a crap game simultaneously at all the gaming terminals in response to a game start command from the center controller; determining which gaming terminal is designated to be a shooter of a crap game; allowing the gaming terminal designated to be the shooter to receive a roll operation input through an input device, and output a roll operation command to the center controller; determining a win or loss which causes the crap game to end; and (i) when no win or loss is resulted, running a crap game again; and when a win is resulted, awarding a payout according to the win. |
| US09047725B2 |
Fare box
Provided is a fare box which enables passengers to smoothly pay fares using bills without hesitation even when a bill transportation passage is disabled due to jamming of a bill or a breakdown. Two entrances, which are a bill normal receiving opening and a bill backup receiving opening, are provided as bill receiving openings of the fare box. Either of the bill normal receiving opening and the bill backup receiving opening is allowed to be selectively opened by a shutter member. At normal times, the bill normal receiving opening is put into operation with the shutter member positioned at a normal position. When a bill normal transportation passage has become jammed with a bill, the shutter member is shifted from the normal position to a bypass position on the basis of an operation performed on a bill receiving opening switch lever, whereby the bill backup receiving opening is opened instead of the bill normal receiving opening. |
| US09047724B2 |
Fare box
Provided is a fare box which enables passengers to smoothly pay fares using bills without hesitation even when a bill transportation passage is disabled due to jamming of a bill or a breakdown. Two entrances, which are a bill normal receiving opening and a bill backup receiving opening, are provided as bill receiving openings of the fare box. Either of the bill normal receiving opening and the bill backup receiving opening is allowed to be selectively opened by a shutter member. At normal times, the bill normal receiving opening is put into operation with the shutter member positioned at a normal position. When a bill normal transportation passage has become jammed with a bill, the shutter member is shifted from the normal position to a bypass position on the basis of an operation performed on a bill receiving opening switch lever, whereby the bill backup receiving opening is opened instead of the bill normal receiving opening. |
| US09047720B2 |
Vehicle data gathering apparatus, and vehicle data gathering method
A vehicle data gathering apparatus that implements a vehicle data gathering method includes: a bus use rate detection means connected to an in-vehicle network for detecting a bus use rate in the in-vehicle network; a selection setting means for selecting and setting a plurality of data request signals to be transmitted to at least one of a plurality of ECUs; a transmission interval setting means for setting a uniform transmission interval for each data request signal in a predetermined period on the basis of the number of the data request signals set by the selection setting means; and a request signal transmission means for transmitting each data request signal at the set uniform interval when it is determined that the bus use rate is lower than a first threshold value. |
| US09047719B2 |
Vehicle diagnostic system, vehicle diagnostic method, and external diagnostic device
Provided are a vehicle diagnostic system, a vehicle diagnostic method, and an external diagnostic device that are capable of readily or promptly confirming or diagnosing whether or not a malfunction related to non-execution of idle stop in a vehicle having an idle stop control system has occurred. The external diagnostic device has recorded therein a plurality of idle stop conditions for executing idle stop of an engine in a vehicle. Idle stop conditions that are not fulfilled when idle stop has not executed are displayed in a prescribed display unit, when stopping the vehicle when the external diagnostic device has been connected to the vehicle and the vehicle has been driven. |
| US09047717B2 |
Fleet operations quality management system and automatic multi-generational data caching and recovery
A fleet operations quality management system for use with one or more vehicles which includes a data recording unit and separate memory subsystem mounted on each vehicle, a remotely located data collection station to collect, store and pre-process data from multiple vehicles, a centralized data storage and retrieval system designed to accept and assimilate recorded trip data, a web application designed to provide access to and analysis of the recorded trip data, and a graphical software application that can be used to view the recreated trip in a realistic simulated environment. An electronic system comprising a receiver module and a mobile device, whereby the receiver module is capable of receiving data transmissions from a network of ground stations and buffering the data for future use. |
| US09047715B2 |
System and method for credential management and administration
A credential management and administration system and method by which the documented eligibility of persons to receive benefits, services, access to premises or events, and the like is centrally administered. In one embodiment, credentials are distributed to the individuals electronically, via communication network, to respective portable device having a corresponding display. Each display is configured to visually present certain qualifying information that is updated at periodic intervals. Alternatively, the qualifying information may be presented via wireless means to a suitable receiver proximate the location where services are delivered. |
| US09047714B2 |
Automated passenger screening checkpoint
As automated screening system and method. A method includes receiving a personal identifier from an individual at an induction kiosk and issuing a scanning unit at the induction kiosk. The method includes associating the scanning unit with the personal identifier and inducting the scanning unit, including at least one item added by the individual, at the induction kiosk. The method includes conveying the scanning unit to an imaging device, and imaging the scanning unit and the item to produce a scanned image. The method includes receiving the personal identifier at a return kiosk and returning the scanning unit and the item to the individual based on the association between the scanning unit and the personal identifier. |
| US09047713B2 |
Multiface document
A multisided card having at least two obverse faces and two reverse faces that are adjacent one another, can be used to print and store relatively insecure information of the obverse faces and to have more sensitive information stored and printed on the adjacent reverse faces. To protect privacy, a caricature or cartoon of an individual can he placed on an obverse face, or in a virtual card, wallet or purse, which image cannot be read by facial recognition techniques but could be recognized by human observers. |
| US09047712B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic location-specific configuration management of a removable meter unit
A meter apparatus and method of operating a removable meter apparatus are described. The meter apparatus includes a tag associated with unique tag identification information and configured to be permanently affixed to a location housing at a unique physical location, and includes a removable meter unit configured to mate with the location housing and receive the tag identification from the tag and report the tag identification to a data manager configured to associate an identifier of the removable meter unit with the tag identification and unique physical location, and associate configuration information for the physical location with the removable meter unit and the tag identification. The unique physical location can comprise a single-space parking location. |
| US09047711B2 |
Mobile terminal and 3D image control method thereof
According to one embodiment, a method for controlling display of an image in a mobile terminal includes: displaying a two-dimensional (2D) image including a plurality of objects; converting the 2D image to a three-dimensional (3D) image including the plurality of objects in response to a touch input; measuring an ambient brightness; and automatically adjusting a screen brightness and a depth of the 3D image using control values corresponding to the measured ambient brightness. |
| US09047710B2 |
System and method for providing an avatar service in a mobile environment
Provided is an avatar service system and method for providing an avatar in a service provided in a mobile environment. The avatar service system may include a request receiving unit to receive a request for the avatar to perform an action, an image data selecting unit to select image data and metadata for body layers forming a body of the avatar in response to the request, and based on the selected body image data to further select image data for a plurality of item layers disposed on the body of the avatar, and an avatar action processing unit to generate action data for applying the action of the avatar based on the selected image data and metadata. |
| US09047709B1 |
Method for creating an annotated angle with user specified points, and applications thereof
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for creating an annotated angle with the user specified points are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention relate to reducing or eliminating the effort a user must put forth in creating an angular dimension by drawing two explicit lines or two explicit objects comprised of two lines where either the user would have to ensure the explicit lines intersected to form the angular dimension or define an exact center point to be the vertex of the angular dimension. Further embodiments allow a user to easily create the annotated angle by defining points in the CAD interface eliminating the need to create line geometry with the defined center point in the CAD interface. In one embodiment, this is achieved by the user specifying a start point, a start direction, an end point, and an end direction where the annotated angle may then be created based on the user defined points in the CAD interface. |
| US09047698B2 |
System for the rendering of shared digital interfaces relative to each user's point of view
A head mounted device provides an immersive virtual or augmented reality experience for viewing data and enabling collaboration among multiple users. Rendering images in a virtual or augmented reality system may include capturing an image and spatial data with a body mounted camera and sensor array, receiving input indicating a first anchor surface, calculating parameters with respect to the body mounted camera and displaying a virtual object such that the virtual object appears anchored to the selected first anchor surface. Further rendering operations may include receiving a second input indicating a second anchor surface within the captured image that is different from the first anchor surface, calculating parameters with respect to the second anchor surface and displaying the virtual object such that the virtual object appears anchored to the selected second anchor surface and moved from the first anchor surface. |
| US09047696B2 |
Method for reconstructing CT images with scatter correction, in particular for dual-source CT devices
A method is disclosed for reconstructing image data of an examination object from measurement data, wherein the measurement data were acquired in the course of a relative rotational movement between a radiation source of a computed tomography system and the examination object. First image data of the examination object are reconstructed from the measurement data. Scatter signals are calculated from the first image data using a scattered radiation model, wherein the scattered radiation model specifies an angle-dependent scatter distribution for a scatter point as a function of a line integral corresponding to an attenuation integral of a scattered beam from the scatter point to a specific detector element. The calculated scatter signals are used for correcting the measurement data, and second image data are reconstructed using the corrected measurement data. |
| US09047691B2 |
Route display and review
For a device running a mapping application that includes a display area for displaying a map and a set of graphical user interface (GUI) items, a method for providing routes is described. The method computes a route between a starting location and a destination location. The route includes a sequence of maneuvering instructions for guiding a user through the route. The method provides a movable GUI item for showing each maneuvering instruction in the sequence in order to allow a user to navigate the route by moving the GUI items in and out of the display area. |
| US09047687B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting handwriting animation message
Provided is a server for transmitting a handwriting animation message. The server includes a receiver for receiving handwriting animation message data including coordinates and time information of points forming user input handwriting information, an information analyzer for analyzing specifications of a receiving mobile terminal which is to receive the handwriting animation message data to determine whether the receiving mobile terminal can reproduce the handwriting animation message, a data converter for converting the handwriting animation message data into a reproducible format if the receiving mobile terminal is not capable of reproducing the handwriting animation message, and a data transmitter for transmitting the converted format instead of the handwriting animation message data. |
| US09047686B2 |
Data storage address assignment for graphics processing
In general, aspects of this disclosure describe example techniques for efficient storage of data of various data types for graphics processing. In some examples, a processing unit may assign first and second contiguous range of addresses for a first and second data type, respectively. The processing unit may store at least one of graphics data of the first or second data type or addresses of the graphics data of the first or second data type within blocks whose addresses are within the first and second contiguous range of addresses, respectively. The processing unit may store, in cache lines of a cache, the graphics data of the first data type, and the graphics data of the second data type. |
| US09047683B2 |
Method and apparatus for resampling a spatially sampled attribute of an image
Resampling a spatially sampled attribute of an image, for example up- or down-conversion, in which contributions to a symmetrical FIR resampling filter from positions outside the image—that is to say where the filter aperture extends beyond an image edge—are obtained by copying values from positions inside the image. This can conveniently be done by modifying filter coefficients. |
| US09047681B2 |
Depth image conversion apparatus and method
Provided are an apparatus and method for converting a low-resolution depth image to a depth image having a resolution identical to a resolution of a high-resolution color image. The depth image conversion apparatus may generate a discrete depth image by quantizing a depth value of an up-sampled depth image, estimate a high-resolution discrete depth image by optimizing an objective functions of the discrete depth image based on the high-resolution color image and an up-sampled depth border, and convert the up-sampled depth image to a high-resolution depth image by filtering the up-sampled depth image when a difference between discrete depth values of neighboring pixels in the high-resolution discrete depth image is less than a predetermined threshold value. |
| US09047679B2 |
Method and device for processing an image to remove color fringe
In image processing, a color fringe is removed. The processing includes selecting a maximum gradient magnitude among gradient magnitudes for each of color components in an image, calculating a boundary of a dilated near-saturation region in the image, detecting a transition region in the image according to the maximum gradient magnitude and the dilated near-saturation region, and removing a color fringe from the transition region. |
| US09047677B2 |
Image processing
An image segmentation method has a training phase and a segmentation phase. In the training phase, a frame of pixellated data from a camera is processed using information on camera characteristics to render it camera independent. The camera independent data are processed using a chosen value of illuminant spectral characteristics to derive reflectivity data of the items in the image. Pixels of high reflectivity are established. Then, using data from the high reflectivity pixels, the actual illuminant spectral characteristics are established. The illuminant data are then processed to determine information on the illumination of the scene represented by the frame of pixellated data to derive reflectivity data of the scene. The segmentation phase comprises operating on a subsequent frame of pixellated data to render it camera independent and using the determined illumination information to process the camera independent data to determine reflectivity data of the scene to derive a foreground mask. |
| US09047673B2 |
Apparatus and method for extracting target, and recording medium storing program for performing the method
A target extracting apparatus and method for extracting a target through probability modeling of pixel brightness values in an image, and a recording medium storing a program for performing the method, are disclosed. The method includes extracting a background image from an input image, modeling brightness values of the input image and the background image based on a Gaussian distribution to generate an input image modeling result and a background image modeling result, calculating likelihood ratios for determining whether a pixel in the input image corresponds to a target based on a correlation between the input image modeling result and the background image modeling result and target templates having different sizes; determining a location of the target based on the calculated likelihood ratios; and outputting the determined location of the target. |
| US09047669B1 |
Bit rate control for data compression
There is described herein a method and system for dynamically controlling the bit rate of a codec during image data compression by analyzing information output by a first module that processes the group of macroblocks as part of the compression scheme, and configuring a second module to process the group of macroblocks according to this analysis. |
| US09047666B2 |
Image registration and focus stacking on mobile platforms
A mobile device comprising a processor configured to merge a plurality of images each having a distinct focus position in a scene to generate a focus-stacked image that encompasses all focus positions of the plurality of images. Also, an apparatus comprising a camera configured to capture a plurality of color images for one scene each with a distinct focus distance and a processor configured to register the plurality of color images to generate a plurality of registered color images, generate a plurality of luminance (Y) channels from the plurality of registered color images, and stack the plurality of Y channels to generate a focus-stacked Y channel. |
| US09047665B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus comprises: a separation unit configured to separate image data into a luminance signal and a color difference signal; a decision unit configured to decide a reference pixel, which is referenced for a pixel of interest included in the image data; a luminance noise reduction unit configured to reduce luminance noise in the luminance signal of the image data; a weight calculation unit configured to calculate a weight of the reference pixel based on similarity of luminance included in the luminance signal having been subjected to noise reduction by the luminance noise reduction unit between a first area containing the pixel of interest and a second area containing the reference pixel; and a color noise reduction unit configured to reduce color noise in the color difference signal for the pixel of interest by using the weight of the reference pixel. |
| US09047661B2 |
System and method for radiographing information management for low-dose radiographing and recording medium storing program therefor
Useful material for making low-dose radiographing and an increase in the image quality compatible with each other is provided. An image analysis unit of a central server derives the granularity of a region of interest by analyzing an X-ray image transmitted from a client terminal. A storage processing unit stores the granularity, the X-ray image, and radiographing information in a storage device so as to be associated with each other. A search processing unit searches for the radiographing information, which is matched with search conditions designated from the client terminal, and granularity, which is associated with the radiographing information, from the storage device. A statistical data generation unit generates a scatter plot, which has granularity on the vertical axis and a radiation dose on the horizontal axis, as statistical data. The statistical data is transmitted to the client terminal and is displayed on a display of the client terminal. |
| US09047654B2 |
System and method for displaying contextual supplemental content based on image content
An image-based content item is analyzed to determine one or more interests of a viewer of the content item. The analysis may include performing image analysis on the content item to determine geographic information that is relevant to an image of the content item. The one or more interests may be determined based on an assumption or probabilistic conclusion about a subject of the content item. Further, the one or more interests may be determined by applying one or more rules that utilize the geographic information. For some embodiments, a supplemental content item may be provided to the viewer based on the one or more interests. |
| US09047652B2 |
Methods and apparatus for managing information in connection with an account-based recycling program
Methods and apparatus for managing information relating to recycling activities are described. One embodiment described herein is directed to a method for accessing aggregated recycling information for use and/or display in connection with an account-based recycling program. The method comprises receiving first and second container information, the first container information concerning a plurality of first containers for a first recycling transaction and the second container information concerning a plurality of second containers for a second recycling transaction. The first and second container information is stored and associated account information concerning at least one to consumer account. The method further comprises accessing, in response to receiving a query relating to a plurality of recycling transactions, information relating to at least the first and second containers so as to enable the use and/or display of aggregated recycling information. |
| US09047644B1 |
Providing context for a social graph addition
In one aspect, a method for providing context regarding an addition to a social graph is provided. The method initiates with processing a request from a first user to add a second user to a social graph of the first user. A context that identified the second user to the first user is identified, the context defined by an activity of the second user preceding the request to add the second user to the social graph of the first user. A message is generated for the second user describing the processed request and containing information based on the context that identified the second user to the first user. |
| US09047643B2 |
Method of extending web service application programming interfaces using query languages
Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide methods that support extension of web service application programming interfaces using query languages. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes modifying an interface to a social graph. The social graph includes nodes connected by edges that represent relationships between the nodes, which form a plurality of trees associated with users to the social graph. Modifying the interface includes adding a node to at least one user's tree and attaching one or more queries to the node. The attached queries operate on a sub-tree of the added node. The interface is modified in response to the user(s) invoking a service configured to perform queries on the sub-tree. |
| US09047639B1 |
Service participation acknowledgement system
In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing a service participation acknowledgment mechanism at a transaction machine. For example, in some embodiments, a method is provided that includes: (a) receiving transaction information associated with a transaction, where the transaction involves a transaction machine and a user of the transaction machine, and where the transaction information identifies an account; (b) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the account will meet a pre-defined condition as a result of the transaction; (c) presenting, via a user interface associated with the transaction machine, information associated with a service to address the condition; (d) prompting, via the user interface, the user to consent to the service; (e) receiving, via the user interface, the user's consent to the service; and (f) presenting, via the user interface, a confirmation message to the user, where the confirmation message includes information that confirms the user's consent to the service. |
| US09047636B2 |
Dynamic determination of appropriate payment account
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for dynamically determining an appropriate payment account for a transaction. Embodiments of the invention allow a user to receive a transaction request and subsequently the transaction is applied to the appropriate payment account. Applying the transaction to the appropriate payment account is based on the type of transaction, the payment accounts available to the user, financial institution considerations, financial plans of the user, customer plans of the user, etc. This invention allows a user to make a purchase at a point-of-sale and have confidence that the transaction will be implemented to the payment account that provides the best promotional benefits for the customer based on the customer's individual needs. |
| US09047632B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for facilitating shopping for items shown in media content events
Techniques for facilitating shopping for items shown in media content events are described. Some embodiments provide a shopping facilitator as part of a media device, such as a set-top box. As the media device presents a media content event showing multiple items, the shopping facilitator is configured to receive an indication that a viewer is interested in purchasing one of the multiple items. The shopping facilitator then identifies the item of interest, and at a later time provides a shopping facility that can be can be used by the viewer or some other user to purchase the item. In some embodiments, the media content event is presented without any indication that items shown in the media content event are for sale. Furthermore, the shopping facilitator may perform its functions without interrupting or otherwise disrupting the viewing of the media content event. |
| US09047631B2 |
Customer assistance platform
A method and system for providing location based assistance. The method and system including hosting a database of information regarding a customer, hosting a database of information regarding sale associate availability, and receiving a customer assistance request. The system determines the location of the customer and determines the availability of at least one sale associate within a predetermined location threshold of the location of the customer to service the customer assistance request. The customer assistance request is then routed to the at least one sale associate within the predetermined location threshold of the location of the customer for assistance. |
| US09047630B2 |
Using a mobile device to make a transaction
An exemplary method enables a user of a mobile device to make purchases. From the mobile device, the user sends a messaging service short code identifying a retailer, an item identifier for an item offered for sale by a retailer and information indicating the user's intent to purchase the item to the retailer via a mobile network. The method also includes steps of receiving cost information for the item, from the system of the retailer; determining if the user has authorized transactions with the retailer through the network, and confirming the purchase of the item with the system of the retailer. Upon authorization, the cost information for the item is recorded to the subscriber's account, which enables processing of the cost information for inclusion on a bill to the user together with billing for mobile communication service provided by the network for the mobile device. |
| US09047628B2 |
Systems and methods for securing online content ratings
Systems and methods are described for determining a weighted rating and a relative rating. In some embodiments, a receiving module and rating module are configured to receive an identity of a collector, a list of raters, and a social graph, determine for at least one rater a set of non-intersecting paths between the rater and the collector, calculate capacity values for non-intersecting paths, normalize path values, convert path values to a user weight, and apply the at least one rater's weight to the at least one rater's rating. In some embodiments, a receiving module and rating module are also configured to receive a rating for each of the items rated by the rater, calculate a transformed rating, calculate a relative rating, and assign a relative rating to an item. |
| US09047627B1 |
Publisher side file support for expandable content items
This specification describes methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage device, for precluding the serving of expandable content items from vendors for publisher hosts that do not support the particular vendors. |
| US09047626B2 |
Content distribution system and method
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide an electronic marketplace that matches units of content from secondary content providers with suitable vacancies from primary content providers. Vacancies may constitute, or be included in, any digital transmission containers, such as a television or radio programming, web pages, and the like. Specifically, the electronic marketplace automatically matches content offered by secondary content providers with vacancies offered by primary content providers thus filling the vacancies in these containers through a real-time content trading, placement, and distribution system. To do so, attributes associated with the vacancies and with units of secondary content are used to trade and match suitable vacancies with suitable content. This invention enables both secondary content owners and vacancy owners (primary content providers) to obtain the full commercial benefit of their secondary content and containers. |
| US09047620B2 |
Expected activity of a user
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, for serving content to a user. A method includes: receiving a request for content from a user, the content to be displayed in a slot associated with an online resource; determining an expected activity score for the user based at least in part on one or more criteria associated with a context of presenting the online resource to the user; comparing the expected activity score for the user to a threshold; selecting one or more content items to serve to the user based at least in part on the comparison; and serving the selected content items to the user responsive to the request. |
| US09047616B2 |
Method of generating a prioritized listing of customers using a purchase behavior prediction score
There is provided a method of generating on a computer a prioritized listing of customers. The method includes establishing a data communications link to a database including financial payment information related to a financial transaction of an existing vehicle of each customer. The method includes retrieving an existing payment amount based upon the financial payment information. The method includes calculating a new payment amount. The method further includes deriving a payment difference score based upon a difference between the existing payment amount and the new payment amount. The method includes determining a behavior factor. The method includes deriving on a computer a behavior score based upon the behavior factor. The method includes determining a purchase behavior prediction score based upon the payment difference score and the behavior score. The method further includes ranking each customer based upon the determined purchase behavior prediction score. The method further includes generating a prioritized listing using the ranking of each customer. |
| US09047615B2 |
Defining marketing strategies through derived E-commerce patterns
A mechanism, in a data processing system, is provided for defining marketing strategies. The mechanism dynamically obtains information related to customer interactions associated with a plurality of customers, analyzes the information to identify patterns, selects patterns to define a marketing strategy for a marketer, and defines a marketing strategy based on the selected patterns. |
| US09047614B2 |
Adaptive gathering of structured and unstructured data system and method
Content is obtained from a webpage accessed via a URI, which URI is obtained from a URI queue. The content is parsed for price and product information according to a parse map, with the resulting parse result being stored. The priority of URIs in the URI queue is adjusted based on analysis of the parse result for changes in price and product attributes and according to other criteria. The parse map may be one associated with the URI or a general purpose parse maps. The parse result may be validated by human- and machine-based systems, including by graphically labeling price and product information in the content for human confirmation or correction. |
| US09047613B2 |
Joining multiple user lists
A computer-implemented method comprises receiving a request for content from a user, determining two user lists that are associated with the user, each user list including a definition that characterizes members of a respective user list, determining a consumer is a subscriber to the two user lists, determining the consumer has indicated a preference to target members that are included in both user lists, and providing an indication to the consumer for all users that are included in both user lists including providing the definitions associated with both user lists along with the request to the consumer. |
| US09047610B1 |
Method and apparatus for correlating products based upon logical relations by product attributes and optionally with customer data purchases
A method for generating a list of recommendations to be supplied by a vendor to a prospective customer by the use of a computer comprising the steps of inputting into a searchable data set a plurality of products and attributes of each product. A product is. The attributes of the selected product are ascertained. All products are ascertained that match at least one of the attributes of the selected product to provide looked-up products. From the looked-up products then are selected all products that are the closest match to the selected product to provide best matches. An output list of best matches of correlated products from the looked-up products is generated. |
| US09047608B1 |
Method and system to improve risk assessments in fraud detection systems using machine identifiers
A computing system obtains data for a transaction pertaining to access to an application. The transaction data includes a machine identifier of a machine that is associated with the transaction. The computing system determines a percentile that is assigned to the machine identifier of the transaction based on cross-user transaction data for a plurality of transactions associated with a plurality of users. The percentile represents a number of machine identifiers from the cross-user transaction data that satisfy a count threshold that is associated with the machine identifier. The computing system modifies a user-level risk evaluation of the transaction based on the percentile assigned to the machine identifier and determines whether to intervene in the transaction based on the modified risk evaluation. |
| US09047605B2 |
System and method for instantaneous fingerprint recognition and analysis resulting in targeted output
A fingerprint analysis device is presented including a sensing mechanism including an adhesive member configured to perform at least a chemical analysis of a fingerprint and a sound emitting mechanism for emitting one or more sounds based on the chemical analysis of the fingerprint. The chemical analysis device further performs on-the-spot, substantially instantaneous chemical analysis of received fingerprints and emits or conveys audible and/or non-audible information based on the fingerprints received. |
| US09047603B2 |
Certification mobile terminal and electronic commerce system and method using the same
Disclosed are a certification mobile terminal, and an electronic transaction system and method using the same. A certificate is downloaded to a mobile terminal from a certification authority. In a wired electronic transaction, a user's transaction history is provided to the mobile terminal from a service providing server or a user's transaction terminal, and the mobile terminal digitally signs the transaction history by using a stored digital certificate and provides the digitally signed transaction history to the service providing server or the transaction terminal so that the service providing server may finally receive the digitally signed transaction history. The service providing server settles the transaction with the user according to the digitally signed transaction history, and provides a service to the user. Also, in the offline transaction, the certificate stored in the mobile terminal is provided to a system to thereby execute stable transactions based on the certificate. |
| US09047602B2 |
In-vehicle mobile transactions
A mobile client system initiates a wireless communication with a transaction system and receives a digital certificate from the transaction system in response. The digital certificate includes an embedded geographic location of the transaction system. The mobile client system also compares the geographic location of the transaction system with a current geographic location of the mobile client system and establishes an encrypted communication channel with the transaction system upon determining that the location of the transaction system is in proximity of the current location of the mobile client system. The mobile client system further sends the user credentials to the transaction system via the encrypted communication channel. Upon successful authentication of the mobile client system via the user credentials, the mobile client system performs a transaction with the transaction system using a graphical user interface of the client system. |
| US09047600B2 |
Mobile and wearable device payments via free cross-platform messaging service, free voice over internet protocol communication, free over-the-top content communication, and universal digital mobile and wearable device currency faces
Provided are computer implemented methods and systems for facilitating mobile and wearable device payments and multimedia transfer. The method commences with receiving a multimedia transfer request from a mobile and wearable device associated with a sender. The method further comprises receiving a recipient identifier. The recipient identifier is associated with a mobile and wearable device associated with a recipient. The method continues with transferring the multimedia content to the recipient. The transfer is based on the recipient identifier. The method further comprises receiving a transaction request from the sender. The transaction request includes one or more of a currency amount, the recipient identifier, and payment data associated with the sender. The method further comprises encrypting transaction data. The transaction data includes one or more of the currency amount and the payment data associated with the sender. The method continues with performing a transaction based on the transaction request. |
| US09047593B2 |
Non-destructive media presentation derivatives
The claimed subject matter relates to various architectures that can, inter alia, facilitate creation of a synch file as well as facilitate interpretation of the synch file. Both creation and interpretation can be accomplished in conjunction with an original media asset. The synch file can include transformation commands that can operate on a presentation of the asset rather than upon the asset itself. Accordingly, what is actually perceived by a content consumer during a presentation of the asset need not be exactly what the asset creator fixed in a tangible medium. Rather, the content consumer can observe a derivative media presentation based upon interpretation of the synch file. |
| US09047592B2 |
Handheld electronic device including appointment and meeting conflict notification, and associated method
A method of checking a new entry in a calendar application having a cache that includes a first subset of existing entries falling within a first date range. Also, an electronic device implementing the method. The method includes determining whether the date of the new entry falls within the first date range. If so, the method determines whether the new entry directly conflicts with or is adjacent to one of the existing entries in the first subset, and provides a notification if appropriate. If the date is outside the first date range, the method creates a new calendar cache including a second subset of existing entries falling within a second date range around the new entry date, determines whether the new calendar entry directly conflicts with or is adjacent to one of the existing calendar entries in the second subset, and provides a notification if appropriate. |
| US09047586B2 |
Systems for tagged bar code data interchange
A method of tagged bar code data interchange includes creating electronic and/or printed documents with tagged bar coded information, capturing and decoding the tagged bar coded information, caching the tagged bar coded information, parsing the bar coded data tags, stripping the data tags, and inputting/storing the bar coded information. Business can be conducted on-line using e-mail transmissions of video displayed tagged bar coded information. Such tagged bar coded information can be stored and/or input into style sheets that are in common or company-specific formats. Further, companies can receive consumer information in a format that is easily accessible by any portion, affiliate, subsidiary, or related entity of the company, no matter what software system is running. |
| US09047585B2 |
Method and system for informed decision making to locate a workforce
The present invention concerns a computer-implemented method and system that aides in reducing the amount of regret experienced when deciding between and amongst geographic areas having a suitable workforce. More specifically, the present invention includes a user selecting critical factors relating to worker demographics that define geographic areas. Data is returned to the user's computer as a virtual table and is a mixture of critical or informational factors qualifying all areas returning data. Each area is ranked according to the value of lowest returned index number, which gives the user a quick assessment of problematic critical factors for each area. Area utilities are created and give the user the ability to simultaneously compare all remaining areas to one another so that they may select at least one area amongst many with the smallest chance for a bad surprise. This reduces the regret of a user having to select one area over another having a suitable workforce for their business needs. |
| US09047581B2 |
RFID system
The present invention provides an automated system for asset tracking and management and utilizes near field Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technology. RFID tags are attached to the assets, and RFID antennas (and corresponding readers) are strategically located in close proximity to read the tags. As applied to a rack or cabinet, near-field antennas are mounted along one of the mounting posts at each rack unit location such that when a piece of equipment (rack mounted or rail mounted) is installed at a particular rack unit space, the tag will be read and registered in an RFID management system. A magnetic field shaping arrangement ensures that crosstalk between adjacent rack positions is prevented. Ferrite elements are used to control the magnetic field. |
| US09047578B2 |
Consistent set of interfaces for business objects across heterogeneous systems
A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to a budget availability control register, a financial accounting view of work order, a funds commitment document, an insurance contract, and/or a project cost estimate business object. |
| US09047576B2 |
Mechanism to communicate and visualize dependencies between a large number of flows in software
In various embodiments, techniques for communicating and visualizing dependencies between a large number of flows are provided. One or more user interfaces can be generated that enable users to interact with information needed to complete each tasks in an ordered or unordered listing of tasks. In some aspects, elements of these user interfaces can including functionality enabling users to interact with each tasks, navigate to information needed to complete each task. In another aspect, one or more styles of presenting information is provided that facilitates navigation to dependency information for each task in a more useful manner. In further aspects, elements of these user interfaces can visually communicate the above functionality and dependency information as well as additional information about each tasks, such as status information, ownership information, or providing an audit trail. |
| US09047574B2 |
Storage capacity planning
A system and methods for capacity planning of electronic systems storage are provided. Features include a non-invasive data discovery and collection mechanism, an adaptive grouping mechanism, a flexible analysis mechanism, predictive modeling and forecasting mechanisms, and a business metric and correlation mechanism. A discovery engine that ascertains the availability of collectable entities. A collection engine in turn gathers information from and about entities discovered by the discovery engine. A grouping module groups together entities according to parameters specified by the user. An analysis and forecasting module allows a user to create, modify and save forecast scenarios from which a model is generated by a modeling module. Correlations can be identified between specified key business metrics and historical data. Once a model has been created, a forecast is generated and can then be analyzed using Bold Freehand Extrapolation, time-series analysis, and business trend-based forecasting. |
| US09047573B2 |
Apparatus, method, and medium for determining executability of process definition tickets in an image forming apparatus
A data processing apparatus that makes it possible for a user of a data processing apparatus to recognize whether or not descriptive contents of process definition tickets are executable on the data processing apparatus. Process definition tickets in which sequential processing flows for realizing functions are described are obtained, and it is determined whether or not the descriptive contents of the process definition tickets are executable on the data processing apparatus. A list of the process definition tickets whose descriptive contents have been determined as being executable on the data processing apparatus as a result of the determination is displayed in a manner being identifiable by the user. The user selects the process definition ticket whose descriptive contents are executable on the data processing apparatus from the list of the displayed process definition tickets, and the selection is received. The descriptive contents of the received process definition ticket are executed. |
| US09047567B2 |
Utilizing failures in question and answer system responses to enhance the accuracy of question and answer systems
A method of enhancing the accuracy of a question-answer system. Missing information from a corpus of data is identified. The missing information is any information that improves a confidence for a candidate answer to a question. A follow-on inquiry is generated. The follow-on inquiry prompts for the missing information to be provided. The follow-on inquiry is output to an external source. A response to the follow-on inquiry is received from the external source. The response is added to the corpus of data. |
| US09047566B2 |
Quadratic regularization for neural network with skip-layer connections
According to one aspect of the invention, target data comprising observations is received. A neural network comprising input neurons, output neurons, hidden neurons, skip-layer connections, and non-skip-layer connections is used to analyze the target data based on an overall objective function that comprises a linear regression part, the neural network's unregularized objective function, and a regularization term. An overall optimized first vector value of a first vector and an overall optimized second vector value of a second vector are determined based on the target data and the overall objective function. The first vector comprises skip-layer weights for the skip-layer connections and output neuron biases, whereas the second vector comprises non-skip-layer weights for the non-skip-layer connections. |
| US09047565B2 |
Intelligent plant development library environment
An intelligent plant development library environment is presented. Contemplated environments comprise an EPC knowledge system capable of incorporating know-how of one or more construction firms in the form of assembly objects. Assembly objects represent construction components (e.g., bolts, cable trays, pipes, processing units, deliverables, etc.) that can be incorporated into a plant design. Assembly objects are stored in an assembly database and include available contexts considered relevant to the assembly objects. An inference engine is utilized to derive a specified context related to a plant design from one or more design tools. The inference engine applies rule sets to infer which assembly objects to instantiate as construction objects. The inference engine can further configure the design tools to incorporate the instantiated construction objects into a plant construction project model. Example rule sets include forward chaining rules, backward chaining rules, case-based reasoning rules, inductive reasoning rules, or abductive reasoning rules. |
| US09047559B2 |
Computer-implemented systems and methods for testing large scale automatic forecast combinations
Systems and methods are provided for evaluating performance of forecasting models. A plurality of forecasting models may be generated using a set of in-sample data. Two or more forecasting models from the plurality of forecasting models may be selected for use in generating a combined forecast. An ex-ante combined forecast may be generated for an out-of-sample period using the selected two or more forecasting models. The ex-ante combined forecast may then be compared with a set of actual out-of-sample data to evaluate performance of the combined forecast. |
| US09047558B2 |
Probabilistic event networks based on distributed time-stamped data
Techniques for producing probabilistic event networks (Bayesian network based representation of node dependencies, whereas nodes comprise event occurrences, explicit times of occurrences, and the context of event occurrences) based on distributed time-stamped data are disclosed. An aspect provides a method for predicting events from event log data via constructing a probabilistic event net and using the probabilistic event net to infer a probabilistic statement regarding a future event using a network inference mechanism. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09047555B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An apparatus sets a chromaticity point serving as a gray reference in a color gamut of a color space that an output device is able to output, specifies, in the color gamut of the color space that the output device is able to output, a first minimum lightness point on a lightness axis of the set chromaticity point and a second minimum lightness point that is achromatic, and generates a gray line that passes through a black point that is a minimum lightness point on a line connecting the first minimum lightness point and the second minimum lightness point, the first minimum lightness point, and the set chromaticity point and reaches a white point in the color gamut of the color space that the output device is able to output. |
| US09047554B2 |
Image processing apparatus and program
Where plural rectangle drawing objects are provided in an overlapping manner in plural layers each having a different density, an intermediate code producing unit produces plural divisional objects upon dividing a region into prescribed pixel region units at each layer. The divisional object of a lower layer is set as a lower divisional object whereas the divisional object of a layer upper than the lower divisional object is set as an upper divisional object. The invented apparatus omits production of the intermediate code of the lower divisional object completely hiding under the upper divisional object and performs production of the intermediate code of the lower divisional object having a region protruding from the upper divisional object, at each of the prescribed pixel regions from the bottommost layer to the topmost layer. |
| US09047551B2 |
Printer
This disclosure discloses a printer includes a feeder, a printing head, a print object acceptance portion, a printing mode setting acceptance portion, a first and a second image creating portions, a first and a second display devices, an increment mode acceptance portion, an increment quantity acceptance portion, and a printing control portion. The print object acceptance portion accepts an input operation of the print object including a print identifier. The printing mode setting acceptance portion accepts a setting operation of printing modes. The increment mode acceptance portion accepts a setting operation of an increment mode. The increment quantity acceptance portion accepts a quantity setting operation of the printed matter to be produced. The printing control portion controls the feeder and the printing head so that the one first printed matter and the at least one second printed matter are created by using the printing mode setting. |
| US09047547B2 |
Semiconductor memory card
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory card includes a first pin group which includes a plurality of pins arranged in a line at an end portion on a side of an inserting direction into a connector and part of which is used both in a first and second modes; and a second pin group which includes a plurality of pins including at least two pin pairs for differential signal, is arranged so that a ground is positioned on both sides of each of the pin pairs for differential signal, and is used only in the second mode. In the second mode, among the respective pins configuring the first pin group, any of adjacent two pins are changed to a pin pair for differential clock signal, and a function of remaining pins of the first pin group is stopped. |
| US09047541B2 |
Mobile device printing through print service provider
In an example implementation, a processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to retrieve a unique printer identification (ID) over a short-range wireless communication (e.g., NFC) between a mobile device and a public printer. The processor discovers a current geographic location of the mobile device from GPS technology on the mobile device. The processor then uploads the unique printer ID and the geographic location to a cloud-based print service provider. |
| US09047539B2 |
Medical workflow systems and methods with process workflow recordation
A medical information processing and storage system includes a medical images database storing medical images and metadata relevant to the medical images. A processor is configured to perform post-acquisition image processing on medical images. A medical images archiver is configured to store a medical image in the medical images database after the medical image has been processed by the processor. The medical images archiver stores the medical image in the database with processing-descriptive metadata that is descriptive of the post-acquisition image processing performed on the medical image by the processor. |
| US09047537B2 |
Prioritized contact transport stream
A detection process, contact recognition process, classification process, and identification process are applied to raw sensor data to produce an identified contact record set containing one or more identified contact records. A prioritization process is applied to the identified contact record set to assign a contact priority to each contact record in the identified contact record set. Data are removed from the contact records in the identified contact record set based on the contact priorities assigned to those contact records. A first contact stream is produced from the resulting contact records. The first contact stream is streamed in a contact transport stream. The contact transport stream may include and stream additional contact streams. The contact transport stream may be varied dynamically over time based on parameters such as available bandwidth, contact priority, presence/absence of contacts, system state, and configuration parameters. |
| US09047536B2 |
Method for providing target point candidates for selecting a target point
Method for providing target point candidates forming a candidate set for selecting a target point from the candidate set by means of a geodetic measuring device. The measuring device is coarsely oriented toward the target point, and an image is recorded in the sighting direction. A search process for certain target object candidates in the recorded image is performed by means of image processing and wherein at least one respective point representing the target object candidate is associated with each of the target object candidates as a target point candidate. Candidates are associated with a candidate set. respective weight values are derived according to at least one value of a predetermined target point property of the candidates and associated with the target point candidates. The target point candidates from the candidate set are each provided together with respective information representing the weight value associated with the target point candidate. |
| US09047535B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes an image retrieving unit that retrieves an image including a symbol, a noise detecting unit that detects noise of the image, a comparative image retrieving unit that retrieves a comparative image that is to be compared with a detection region of the image detected as the noise by the noise detecting unit, and a removing unit that, in accordance with comparison results of the detection region with the comparative image, removes from the image one portion of the detection region excluding the other portion of the detection region where at least part of the symbol included in the image is detected as the noise. |
| US09047534B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting near-duplicate images using content adaptive hash lookups
A scalable and high performance near-duplicate image search method utilizing short hashes improves performance over existing methods. By leveraging the shortness of the hashes, the search algorithm analyzes the reliability of each bit of a hash and performs content adaptive hash lookups by adaptively adjusting the “range” of each hash bit based on reliability. Matched features are post-processed to determine the final match results. The method can detect cropped, resized, print-scanned and re-encoded images and pieces from images among thousands of images. |
| US09047526B2 |
Reading device
A reader device includes a mounting surface on which a passport with a page to be read is placed, a light source for illuminating the page to be read, and a camera for picking up an image of the page to be read. The light source is arranged outside a front area of the page to be read. The page to be read contains a near-edge code positioned close to an edge of the page to be read. The light source includes an infrared LED array and a white LED array. An infrared LED and a white LED included in the infrared LED array and the white LED array, respectively, and located at a near-edge code position corresponding to the near-edge code are arranged closer to the page to be read than the other infrared LEDs and white LEDs in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface. |
| US09047516B2 |
Content fingerprinting
A device may include a video camera for capturing a video clip, a processor, a transmitter, and a receiver. The processor may be configured to receive, from the video camera, the video clip that is shown on a display screen of a content presentation device. The transmitter may be configured to send the video clip or a fingerprint of the video clip to a remote device. The receiver may be configured to receive, from the remote device, an identity of content whose fingerprints match the fingerprint. |
| US09047515B2 |
Method and system for wildfire detection using a visible range camera
Wildfires are detected by controlling image scanning within the viewing range of a video camera to generate digital images that are analyzed to detect gray colored regions, and then to determine whether a detected gray colored region is smooth. Further analysis to determine movement in a gray colored smooth region uses a past image which is within a slow moving time range, as determined by a strategy for controlling the image scanning. Additional analysis connects a candidate region to a land portion of the image, and a support vector machine is applied to a covariance matrix of the candidate region to determine whether the region shows smoke from a wildfire. |
| US09047514B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for projecting images onto predefined portions of objects
Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for illuminating objects in a projection area. The system includes a computing device, a projector and a camera. The computing device stores a digital model of an object, and illumination data having lighting parameters and a reference to the digital model. The projector, or another light source, projects structured light onto the projection area, and the camera simultaneously captures an image of the projection area. The computing device receives the captured image, determines a position and orientation of the object by comparing the digital model to the captured image, and then generates a canvas image including a region matching the determined position and orientation of the object. The projector projects the canvas image onto the projection area. A predefined portion of the object corresponding to the reference in the illumination data is thereby illuminated according to the lighting parameters. |
| US09047513B2 |
Method for improving the accuracy of rock property values derived from digital images
A method for increasing the accuracy of a target property value derived from a rock sample is described in which the sample is scanned to obtain a three-dimensional tomographic digital image which can be processed to pore space and solid material phases through a segmentation process. A process is used which revises the segmented volume, e.g., by increasing pore space connectivity, in a manner affecting the target property value that would be derived. Another described method increases the accuracy with which a segmented volume represents a material sample having structure not adequately resolved in an original three-dimensional tomographic digital image. Further, a system for performing the processes, and a segmented digital volume which more accurately represents a sample of a porous media, are described. |
| US09047512B2 |
Contact lenses
Apparatus, systems and methods for facilitating iris-scanning contact lenses and/or biometric identification employing iris scanning contact lenses are provided. In one implementation, the contact lens can include: a transparent substrate formed to cover at least a portion of an iris of an eye; and a circuit. The circuit can include: one or more light sensors disposed on or within the transparent substrate and that detects light filtered through the iris and incident on the one or more light sensors; readout circuitry, operably coupled to the one or more light sensors, that outputs information indicative of the light filtered through the iris and incident on the one or more light sensors; and a power component that supplies power to the readout circuitry. In various implementations, the contact lens can be employed in systems and/or methods associated with authentication and identification. |
| US09047511B1 |
Describing inter-character spacing in a font file
A method of describing inter-character spacing in a font file. The method includes receiving a plurality of glyphs associated with textual content, and determining a corresponding advance value for each of the plurality of glyphs, the corresponding advance value being based on a distance between a respective glyph and a next glyph following the respective glyph. The method further includes storing the corresponding advance value for each of the plurality of glyphs in an advance table of the font file, and generating an electronic document for the textual content based on the plurality of glyphs and the font file. |
| US09047510B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining information concerning the identity of an individual
A method of determining information concerning the identity of an individual comprising measuring at least one biometric of the individual comprising at least one bio-potential waveform generated by the individual's heart, extracting a plurality of characteristics from the bio-potential waveform comprising any of an approximate location of a point of a P peak, an approximate location of a Q-point of a QRS peak system, an approximate location of an R-point of a QRS peak system, an approximate location of an S-point of a QRS peak system, an approximate location of a point of a T peak, using the characteristics to calculate at least one waveform parameter, comparing at least one calculated waveform parameter with at least one previously-acquired waveform parameter to generate a score, and using the score to determine information concerning the identity of the individual. |
| US09047509B2 |
Note recognition and association based on grouping indicators
Techniques are described for creating and manipulating software notes representative of physical notes. A computing device is described that includes a processor and an image collection module executable on the processor and configured to receive an input image of an environment having a plurality of physical notes. An image processing engine executable on the processor is configured to identify the plurality of physical notes in the input image and generate, for each of the physical notes, a corresponding digital note. The image processing engine is further configured to identify an indication of one or more groups of the plurality of identified notes in the input image and group the plurality of digital notes according to the indication. |
| US09047506B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium storing authentication program, authentication device, and authentication method
A computer-readable recording medium storing an authentication program for causing a computer to execute an authentication process, the authentication process includes: extracting a plurality of face information from an image acquired; when the plurality of face information include both first face information registered in authentication information and second face information not registered in the authentication information, registering the second face information in the authentication information; and if new face information extracted from new image is the second face information stored in the authentication information, determining that an authentication for the new face information is successful. |
| US09047504B1 |
Combined cues for face detection in computing devices
Approaches to enable a computing device, such as a phone or tablet computer, to utilize a number of cues to detect the presence of a face (or head) in an image captured by a camera of the computing device. The cues may include the elliptical shape of the face, the stereo disparity signature of the face, color or image brightness, among others. The facial detection may be performed by using a boosted classifier ensemble that has been trained using a plurality of images that are known (i.e., have been previously identified) to contain faces. The classifier ensemble can combine a number of different cues, such as the elliptical shape and/or stereo disparity signature, to be used for detecting faces within an image. |
| US09047503B2 |
System and method for automated biological cell assay data analysis
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a system 100 for automated cellular assay data analysis. The system 100 comprises a virtual assay module (VAM) 115 operable to generate simulated images of cell responses to one or more stimuli. The system 100 also comprises a comparator module 116 operable to compare the actual and simulated images, and an analysis module 117 operable to quantify the differences between phenotypes represented by the actual and simulated images. Various aspects and embodiments of present invention may account for stochastic variations in the response of single cells, to provide additional useful information relating to, for example, toxological effects and/or for use as part of a feedback mechanism to refine dynamically a virtual assay model such that it is not limited by way of there being only inadequate static fitting expressions available. |
| US09047501B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for detecting risk tags
It is presented a risk tag detector server for detecting risk tags, the risk tags being tags which are likely to be faulty. The risk tag detector server comprises: a tag manager interface configured to obtain a tag list comprising at least two tags to evaluate, and to obtain tag data coupled to each of the tags of the tag list; a tag selector configured to select a candidate tag to evaluate from the tag list; a tag event interface configured to obtain event data of tag usage for the candidate tag; and a fault detector configured to determine the candidate tag to be a risk tag when a first condition is satisfied, the first risk condition comprising a first criterion that the event data indicates an absence of candidate tag usage during a predetermined time period. A corresponding method and computer program are also presented. |
| US09047498B2 |
Method for reconstructing a reconstruction data set containing two-dimensional virtual X-ray images
A method reconstructs a reconstruction data set containing virtual X-ray images of projection images of a target region recorded with an X-ray device. The projection images being recorded at different positions of an X-ray source along a scanning trajectory. The method includes defining an imaginary position of the X-ray source for each virtual X-ray image. For each virtual X-ray image and each pixel to be reconstructed in the X-ray image a virtual beam section, covering the target region, of the path between the imaginary position of the X-ray source and the pixel is defined. For each projection image, an integral is determined from the relationships between the forward projection and the filtered back-projection by re-parameterizing. A projection value of the virtual X-ray image from the integrals determined is combined. |
| US09047494B1 |
System and method for disabling and/or enabling a device
Operation of a device may be enabled or disabled by an instruction that may be given in a variety of ways. For example, a device (e.g., a car) may be equipped with a mechanism that disables (“kills”) and/or enables (“unkills”) some or all of the functionality of the car upon receipt of an appropriate instruction. The instruction could be given remotely. For example, the instruction could be given remotely from a wireless telephone by sending appropriate messages through a network. An instruction to re-enable operation of the device could also be given remotely. The honoring of kill and/or unkill instructions could be predicated on some type of authentication, such as the identity of the device from which the instruction is issued, a password, a biometric identification, the location from which the instruction is issued, or some other factor. |
| US09047492B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for securely storing media content events on a flash memory device
Systems and methods are operable to securely store media content events on a flash memory device. An exemplary embodiment receives user-provided authorization information, compares the received user-provided authorization information with authorization information associated with the flash memory device, and permits access to a flash memory of the flash memory device when the received user-provided authorization information corresponds to the authorization information. |
| US09047484B2 |
Method and apparatus for collecting and disseminating information over a computer network
The apparatus comprises at least one database for storing digital information associated with at least a first user and a second user, at least one links module for the first user and for the second user, at least one manipulations module and at least one display device for respectively displaying at least said linked digital information wherein said linked digital information associated with said first user is automatically updated on at least said display device of said second user when that information is manipulated, and wherein said linked digital information associated with said second user is automatically updated on at least said display device of said first user when that information is manipulated. |
| US09047483B2 |
Method and apparatus for collecting and disseminating information over a computer network
The apparatus comprises at least one database for storing digital information associated with at least a first user and a second user, at least one links module for the first user and for the second user, at least one manipulations module and at least one display device for respectively displaying at least said linked digital information wherein said linked digital information associated with said first user is automatically updated on at least said display device of said second user when that information is manipulated, and wherein said linked digital information associated with said second user is automatically updated on at least said display device of said first user when that information is manipulated. |
| US09047478B2 |
Electronic file access control system and method
A method for controlling access to a digital file includes: associating digital content with a header, the header including data identifying a permitted access identity corresponding to a physical key removable from a reading computer. The method also includes encrypting the header and the digital content, the header being susceptible to decryption separate from the content by a key interface. |
| US09047473B2 |
System and method for second factor authentication services
A customer server receives a client request to access protected resources over the Internet. First factor authentication is performed and if it is successful a vendor authentication engine is invoked to undertake second factor authentication. The results of the second factor authentication are returned to the customer server, which grants access only if both first and second factor authentication succeeds. |
| US09047472B2 |
Managing sensitive content
A method, system or computer usable program product for automatically removing sensitive content from a display responsive to removal of user physical proximity from a computer peripheral including utilizing a predefined policy stored in persistent memory for monitoring user interaction with a computer peripheral for a criterion, wherein the criterion is a removal of user contact with the computer peripheral, and responsive to detecting the criterion with a processor, performing a removal action related to displaying sensitive content according to the predefined policy. |
| US09047468B2 |
Migration of full-disk encrypted virtualized storage between blade servers
A method, system and computer-readable storage medium with instructions to migrate full-disk encrypted virtual storage between blade servers. A key is obtained to perform an operation on a first blade server. The key is obtained from a virtual security hardware instance and provided to the first blade server via a secure out-of-band communication channel. The key is migrated from the first blade server to a second blade server. The key is used to perform hardware encryption of data stored on the first blade server. The data are migrated to the second blade server without decrypting the data at the first blade server, and the second blade server uses the key to access the data. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09047464B2 |
Continuous monitoring of computer user and computer activities
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for securing a computer device. One method includes an operation for capturing interaction data for a user interfacing with the computer device, the interaction data including keyboard inputs and screen captures taken periodically. Further, the method includes operations for extracting semantic meaning of the interaction data, and generating a schema, based on the extracted semantic meaning, to create meaningful tags for the interaction data. The schema is analyzed based on a model in order to identify security threats, and an alarm is created when non-conforming behavior for the model is detected. |
| US09047462B2 |
Computer account management system and realizing method thereof
A computer account management system includes: an account management subsystem; an information asset management subsystem; an authentication (integrated) subsystem; a service (integrated) subsystem; and an account portal subsystem; wherein the account management subsystem manages information of physical accounts and logical account numbers; wherein the information asset management subsystem manages data information resources generated by network activities of physical account information; wherein the authentication subsystem provides an authentication integrated interface to the physical account numbers; wherein the service subsystem is a customizable interface which is open to internet or local network; wherein the account portal provides interfaces and tools of login, service list management of services subscribed or bought by the account, account information management and information asset management. The computer account management system is not bundled with services, seamlessly integrated with the user information asset and is lifetime-valid. The system can be used in account management of the internet. |
| US09047461B2 |
Computer-implemented method for replacing a data string
A computer-implemented method for replacing a security-relevant unencrypted data string from a data record by a token in a tokenisation device. The method is structured in such a way that it works more efficiently than a replacement table with randomly generated tokens and is more secure than the generation of tokens by exclusive application of a mathematical function to the unencrypted data string. |
| US09047460B2 |
Domain isolation through virtual network machines
A method and device for communicating information resources between subscriber end stations and nodes belonging to different network domains is described. The device instantiates different virtual network machines for different network domains using separate independently administrable network databases. Each of the administrable chores of the separate independently administrable network databases includes the assignment of access control and the configuration of the policies for those network databases. The policies include traffic filtering policies to indicate what kind of information payloads can be carried, traffic and route filtering policies to indicate what paths through the network will be used for each payload carried. Each of the network domains includes one of the different virtual network machines and each of the different network domains is virtually isolated from other network domains. |
| US09047456B2 |
System and method for controlling access to a resource
Methods, devices, and computer-readable storage media are provided. In some embodiments, a server receives from a browser on a client a request to access a first web page. In response to receiving the request, the server sends to the client a second web page including an embedded executable program configured to run within the browser on the client, wherein the embedded executable program, when executed on the client, is operable to obtain a ticket-granting ticket stored on the client and send the ticket-granting ticket to the server. The server receives the ticket-granting ticket from the embedded executable program on the client. Furthermore, the server determines whether a user associated with the ticket-granting ticket is authorized to access the first web page. In response to determining that the user is authorized to access the first web page, the server grants the requested access to the first web page. |
| US09047450B2 |
Identification of embedded system devices
An embedded system device comprises a processor operatively coupled to a first memory space, a second memory space, and a plurality of user controls. The processor is configured to execute only executable code residing within the first memory space, and the executable code includes authentication routine configured to generate a device identifier based at least upon non-user-configurable parameters of the embedded system device. The second memory space includes user configurable options for use by the processor when executing the executable code. The user controls are adapted to configure the user configurable options within the second memory space, wherein the user controls cannot configure the first memory space. |
| US09047442B2 |
Provisioning managed devices with states of arbitrary type
Described is a technology by which a target machine (managed device) is provisioned with arbitrary states for subsequent communication with a central authority, in which the configuration provisioning of the device is decoupled from the collection of the provisioning data. In a provisioning phase, arbitrary state information for provisioning the managed device is obtained and packaged in a container. In a configuration phase, the container is accessed, and the arbitrary state information is unpackaged to apply state to the managed device. The target machine thus may be provisioned with arbitrary states without actively communicating with the central authority. |
| US09047440B2 |
Logical cell array and bus system
A logic cell array having a number of logic cells and a segmented bus system for logic cell communication, the bus system including different segment lines having shorter and longer segments for connecting two points in order to be able to minimize the number of bus elements traversed between separate communication start and end points. |
| US09047438B2 |
Chromatography equipment characterization
Herein is reported a method for determining whether a re-usable chromatography column packing, which is used at least for the second time in a purification step of a purification of a polypeptide, has reduced separation efficacy in said purification step of said purification of said polypeptide, comprising the following steps: a) identifying and determining the experimental data of an inert change of at least one physicochemical parameter of a mobile phase passing through said re-usable chromatography column packing, b) determining the parameters of a function of formula I by fitting the experimental data of the inert change of the physicochemical parameter of the at least second use, c) determining the difference between the experimental data of the inert change of the physicochemical parameter of the at least second use and the function of formula I with the parameters determined in step b), d) calculating the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the difference determined in step c) and normalizing said difference, e) determining reduced separation efficacy of said re-usable chromatography column packing when the absolute value of the difference calculated in step d) is more than 0.1. |
| US09047435B2 |
Multi-board design apparatus, multi-board design method, program and computer-readable recording medium
In order to always maintain connection relationships between substrates of the multi-board, a multi-board design apparatus for designing a multi-board comprising a plurality of substrates which are electrically connected is made to have: setting means by which a designer sets connection information indicating a connection relationship between each substrate configuring the multi-board; modification information detection means by which, when editing in an arbitrary substrate configuring the multi-board, modified content resulting from the editing is detected as modification information; and connection information modification means which, on the basis of the modification information which has been detected by the modification which has been detected by the modification information detection means, modifies the connection information which has been set in the setting means so as to maintain electrical connection relationships between each of the substrates in the multi-board. |
| US09047428B2 |
Determining method, computer product, and determining apparatus
A determining method includes obtaining terminal information indicating a first object terminal that is among terminals included among partial circuits and subject to determination of whether the first object terminal is an open terminal; obtaining for each terminal, connection information and first attribute information indicating an attribute of any one among an input terminal and an output terminal; generating, by a computer, for each terminal, second attribute information indicating an attribute opposite to the attribute indicated by the first attribute information; and determining, by the computer, whether a state of the first object terminal indicated by the terminal information becomes a high-impedance state, by simulating on the basis of the connection information and the second attribute information, a state of each terminal when a value of a terminal among the terminals and indicated as an output terminal by the second attribute information, is set at a first specified value. |
| US09047423B2 |
Monte-Carlo planning using contextual information
A method, system and computer program product for choosing actions in a state of a planning problem. The system simulates one or more sequences of actions, state transitions and rewards starting from the current state of the planning problem. During the simulation of performing a given action in a given state, a data record is maintained of observed contextual state information, and observed cumulative reward resulting from the action. The system performs a regression fit on the data records, enabling estimation of expected reward as a function of contextual state. The estimations of expected rewards are used to guide the choice of actions during the simulations. Upon completion of all simulations, the top-level action which obtained highest mean reward during the simulations is recommended to be executed in the current state of the planning problem. |
| US09047422B2 |
Graph based routing for open areas
A system and method determines a path in an open space that does not have a well-structured routing infrastructure. In some embodiments, the system and method may model the open space with one-dimensional segments. The system and method may determine a path between two points along the one-dimensional segments. In some embodiment, the system and method may smooth the path based on geometry of objects in the open space. |
| US09047421B2 |
Serial link buffer fill-level compensation using multi-purpose start of protocol data unit timing characters
Embodiments of the invention provide improved timing compensation for a bidirectional serial link in order to relax accuracy requirements of clock sources used for the link. When forming a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) for transmission over the link, fill levels of receiver buffers at either ends of the link are used to determine a particular type of start of PDU (SOP) character sequence to use. When a given type of SOP character sequence is present in a PDU received at one end of the link, a next PDU to be transmitted from the same end of the link is delayed by a predetermined amount of time to allow the receiver buffer at the other end of the link to decrease its fill level before receiving the next PDU. |
| US09047419B2 |
System on chip and operating method thereof
A system on chip comprises a bus electrically connected with a master intellectual property (IP) block, a slave IP block, and a default slave IP block. An IP block control part is configured to generate a control signal for activating or inactivating the slave IP block. When a call signal on the slave IP block is received from the master IP block, the bus is configured to transfer the received call signal to either one of the slave IP block and the default slave IP block according to the received call signal and the control signal. |
| US09047414B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating automated test case scripts from natural language test cases
A method and apparatus for generating automated test case scripts from natural language test cases is described. The method may include receiving a natural language test case for testing a software application. The method may also include parsing the received natural language test case to locate terms relevant to testing a software application within the natural language test case, selecting one or more of the terms, and causing a search of a testing framework system for automated testing script commands based on the selected terms. The method may also include generating an automated test case script that corresponds to the natural language test case based on results of the search. |
| US09047413B2 |
White-box testing systems and/or methods for use in connection with graphical user interfaces
Certain example embodiments relate to white-box testing techniques, e.g., for graphical user interfaces (GUIs). A test case to be run on the application includes interactions between the application and external components that were gathered as the application ran and received user input from a user until a desired test state was reached, and assertions to be made to the application once that state is reached. A test environment replaces a normal environment in which the application runs. An adapter executes interactions on the test environment's GUI dedicated thread(s). The application is fed with interactions, through the adapter, until the application reaches the desired state. Once the application reaches that state, the application is fed with assertions. Expected data associated with the assertions is compared with data actually being generated by the application. A determination is made regarding whether the test case resulted in success or failure. |
| US09047412B2 |
System and method for extracting instrumentation relevant inheritance relationships for a distributed, inheritance rule based instrumentation system
The presented enhancement of a rule based instrumentation system taking object oriented inheritance relationships into account is directed to the detection and extraction to inheritance relationships relevant for the instrumentation process. Relevant inheritance relationships which have an impact on the instrumentation process and typically only represent a small fraction of the complete inheritance relationships of a monitored application. The small size of the relevant inheritance relationships allows, for example to prepare it in advance and ship it as part of a monitoring application or to transmit inheritance information between different local instrumentation engines being part of a distributed instrumentation system. |
| US09047411B1 |
Programming environment for executing program code despite errors and for providing error indicators
A device may receive an indication to evaluate a first portion of program code and a second portion of program code provided via a user interface. The first portion of program code may include an error. The device may cause the first and second portions of program code to be evaluated based on receiving the indication to evaluate the first and second portions of program code. The second portion of program code may be evaluated after the first portion of program code. The device may generate a first result corresponding to the first portion of program code and a second result corresponding to the second portion of program code. The first result may include an error indicator. The device may provide the first result and the second result via the user interface. |
| US09047410B2 |
Cloud-based application testing
Cloud-based testing of applications allows an application under test (AUT) to be subjected to test loads mimicking expected high volume real-time production loads. Test loads can be applied from geographically distributed test load sources. During testing, the system can monitor usage of AUTs and the underlying cloud infrastructure (virtual machines, test servers, etc.) on which the AUT is executing. An AUT can be scaled, for instance, additional instances of the application can be started, and additional virtual machines can be configured and test servers provisioned if AUT or infrastructure usage exceeds specified thresholds during testing. A testing services provider can supply a web-based unified management console from which admins and test users can manage AUT testing. |
| US09047409B2 |
Method for processing data of a control unit in a data communication device
A method for processing data of a control unit in a data communication device, which has a first memory area and a second memory area, and is connected to the control unit through an interface. Data from the control unit is transmitted to the data communication device through the interface. A value is stored identically in the first memory area and in the second memory area. The data communication device tests whether a first trigger is present, and if present, storage in the first memory area is discontinued, or the trigger class of the first trigger is tested and storage in the first memory area is discontinued only in the presence of a predefined trigger class. Subsequently, values of the data are read out from the first memory area, whereby values arriving chronologically after the first trigger are stored in the second memory area by the data communication device. |
| US09047406B2 |
Maintaining coherent synchronization between data streams on detection of overflow
Trace data streams are generated for tracing target processor activity. Various trace data streams are synchronized using markers called sync points. The sync points provide a unique identifier field and a context to the data that will follow it. All trace data streams may generate a sync point with this unique identifier. These unique identifiers allow synchronization between multiple trace data streams. When multiple trace data streams are on, it is possible that the data input rate may be higher than the data output rate. If synchronization is lost in such a case, there must be a scheme to resynchronize the streams. This invention is a technique for this needed resynchronization. |
| US09047401B2 |
Exception handling test apparatus and method
The present invention relates to an exception handling test apparatus and method. The exception handling test apparatus includes a generation module configured to generate a modified device driver based on a defect model and information obtained from the device manager, a hooking module configured to hook the device driver using the modified device driver, a scanning module configured to collect test information returned from the hooked modified device driver to the application while the application operates, and an analysis module configured to analyze the collected test information. |
| US09047400B2 |
Data processor device for handling a watchpoint and method thereof
During a debug mode of operation of a data processor, it is determined at the data processor that a watchpoint event has occurred, and in response, an operating condition of a trace FIFO that stores trace information not yet communicated to a debugger is changed. For example, the occurrence of a FIFO flush watchpoint results in trace information being selectively flushed from the trace FIFO based on a state of the FIFO before the trace information has been communicated to a trace analyzer. |
| US09047399B2 |
Generating visualization from running executable code
A method and apparatus for generating visualizations from running executable code is described. In one embodiment, the method includes monitoring an executable software application while the software application is running. The method may also include capturing data indicative of runtime events that occur while the executable software application is run. In one embodiment, the method may further include generating a profile of the executable software application from the captured data, and rendering a visualization of the profile for display. |
| US09047398B2 |
Ambulatory medical device with alert controller
An ambulatory medical device is disclosed. The device comprises a device controller, an alert controller, and an indicator. The device controller may be configured to control the operation of the ambulatory medical device. The alert controller may be configured to: determine a first alerting interval, the first alerting interval defining an earliest point in time and a latest point in time for an alert generation due to a first alerting cause; determine in the first alerting interval an alerting point in time based on an alerting criterion; and generate an alert trigger at the alerting point in time. The indicator may be configured to generate an alert upon generation of the alert trigger. The alerting criterion may be used to generate an alert within the alerting interval at a time especially suited and/or convenient for the device user. |
| US09047392B2 |
System and method for conversion of JMS message data into database transactions for application to multiple heterogeneous databases
A system and method for performing real-time conversion of data which is present in the form of messages on JMS-compliant or other messaging systems into database transactions; which can then subsequently be applied to multiple heterogeneous databases or other systems. In accordance with an embodiment, the invention provides a means by which data can be read from messages in a messaging system, and converted to a set of database operations that are then stored as a persistent trail file. The operations can then be routed via a network and applied to target systems as required, for example to maintain a replicated set of information at one or more different or heterogeneous systems. The data in the message can be formatted in a variety of ways, for example, as fixed width, delimited, or XML data, and the system can be configured to convert this data as appropriate. |
| US09047391B2 |
Searching apparatus, searching method, and computer program product
In a searching apparatus: a first receiving unit receives a search request from a client; based on the search request, a first generating unit generates a distributed search request to request a server to conduct a search and an integration request to integrate search results of the distributed search request; a first transmitting unit transmits the distributed search request to the server; a second transmitting unit transmits identification information of an execution result of the integration request to the client; a second receiving unit receives, from the client, an obtainment request to obtain the execution result identified by the identification information; a receiving unit receives the search results of the distributed search request from the server; an executing unit executes the integration request on the received search results; and a third transmitting unit transmits the execution result of the integration request to the client that transmitted the obtainment request. |
| US09047390B2 |
Rendering hardware accelerated graphics in a web application
The subject disclosure is directed towards providing a web application with access to hardware accelerated graphics. A rendering format for a set of video frames is established. A graphics component, which is coupled to a graphics device and associated with an unsupported file type, is identified. The graphics component generates image data compromising the hardware accelerated graphics. When the web application requests a set of video frames, the image data is transformed into the set of video frames in accordance with the format. Then, the set of frames is communicated to a display device. |
| US09047389B2 |
Information display device
To provide an information display device for displaying at least one item of display target information in respective screen element, receiving, while catalog display takes place, an instruction operation which is made utilizing display target information shown in the screen elements displayed as a catalog, and executing a process based on the instruction operation. |
| US09047383B1 |
Analyzing user profiles
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for analyzing user profiles. One of the methods includes identifying websites with which users of a social networking service have established an affiliation. The method includes filtering the identified websites by removing websites in which a count of users who have established an affiliation with the website exceeds a threshold. The method includes producing a list of valid affiliations for each filtered website, including generating a validity score for each of the established affiliations with the respective filtered website, determining whether each of the established affiliations with the respective filtered website is valid based on the corresponding validity score, and ranking the users who established valid affiliations with the respective website based on the corresponding validity scores. The method also includes providing the list of the valid affiliations ordered by the ranking. |
| US09047382B2 |
Customized presentation of event guest lists in a social networking system
A user creates an event in a social networking system specifying a location, a time, and a guest list of other users invited to the event. The social networking system generates a page associated with the event that provides information about the event and identifies whether users have responded to invitations to the event. The content of the page may be customized for the user viewing the page to encourage the viewing user to attend the event. For example, the viewing user's relationship to and/or similar characteristics with other users on the guest list is determined and used by the social networking system to identify the users whose responses to invitations are shown to the viewing user via the page. Additionally, a notification method more prominently distributes acceptances of invitations to other users to encourage attendance. |
| US09047380B1 |
Technique for determining keywords for a document
A technique for providing one or more keywords associated with a document (such as a web page) is described. In this technique, a set of user-selected keywords and a specification of a market segment associated with the document are received from a user. In response, a set of similar keywords (which can include one or more of the set of user-selected keywords) is determined based on the user-selected keywords. Furthermore, a market-specific set of keywords (which can also include one or more of the set of user-selected keywords and/or the set of similar keywords) is selected based on the set of similar keywords by using keywords for documents that are associated with other users in the market segment. Then, at least a subset of the set of market-specific keywords is provided to the user. |
| US09047372B2 |
Player and playing method and program
A player includes a playing section configured to play contents data based on a list selected from multiple lists each having multiple pieces of contents data, and a play control section configured to: cause the playing section to play contents data based on a first list selected from the multiple lists, determine whether all of contents data on the first list have been played by the playing section or not, extract attribute information of contents data, which satisfies a predetermined condition, from the first list based on the determination result, select a second list, which is not the first list, including contents data corresponding to the extracted attribute information from the multiple lists, and control the playing section to automatically start playing the contents data on the selected second list. |
| US09047362B2 |
High-dimensional stratified sampling
In one aspect, a processing device of an information processing system is operative to perform high-dimensional stratified sampling of a database comprising a plurality of records arranged in overlapping sub-groups. For a given record, the processing device determines which of the sub-groups the given record is associated with, and for each of the sub-groups associated with the given record, checks if a sampling rate of the sub-group is less than a specified sampling rate. If the sampling rate of each of the sub-groups is less than the specified sampling rate, the processing device samples the given record, and otherwise does not sample the given record. The determine, check and sample operations are repeated for additional records, and samples resulting from the sample operations are processed to generate information characterizing the database. Other aspects of the invention relate to determining which records to sample through iterative optimization of an objective function that may be based, for example, on a likelihood function of the sampled records. |
| US09047359B2 |
Apparatus and methods for monitoring one or more portable data terminals
A portable data terminal generally includes a housing supporting: a data collection device; a keypad; and a touch screen. One or more PDTs are provided with a monitoring system that records occurrences experienced by the portable data terminal. The record of occurrences may be analyzed to identify errors and/or failure prone parts of the PDT along with behaviors likely to lead to errors or failures. Additionally, the record of events may be analyzed to predict errors and/or failures for any given PDT. |
| US09047358B2 |
Synchronization of data between systems
A computer hardware system for synchronization of data between a first data system and a second data system includes an event propagation processor. Both data systems are modeled as a collection of representation state transfer (REST) resources. The event propagation processor is configured to integrate data between the first and second data systems for events about data changes in the data systems. The processor includes an adaptation layer in the form of an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) facade to represent REST resources. The adaptation layer includes a provider component configured to provide access to data resources in one of the data systems, and an initiator component configured to emit events corresponding to data changes in one of the data systems. |
| US09047357B2 |
Systems and methods for managing replicated database data in dirty and clean shutdown states
Systems and methods for replicating database data in a dirty shutdown state and generating copies of the replicated data in a clean shutdown state. For example, systems can include a tracking module (e.g., a filter driver) that monitors transactions from a database application to a source database stored on a source storage device to generate log entries having at least one marker indicating a known good state of the application. The systems further include a computer coupled to a target storage device comprising a target database and log files. The computer processes the transactions, based on the log entries, to replicate data to a target database on the target storage device; performs a first snapshot on data stored in the target database existing in a dirty shutdown state; replays into the target database data stored in the log files to put the target database in a clean shutdown state; copies the target database in the clean shutdown state; and reverts the target database back to the dirty shutdown state in which the target database existed at the time of the first snapshot. |
| US09047355B2 |
Method and system for load balancing a distributed database
A method of processing a transaction request at a database load balancer. The method comprises receiving the transaction request, where the transaction request is comprised of one or more operations; analyzing the transaction request to determine the one or more operations; associating one or more database locks with each of the one or more operations; analyzing one or more of the database locks to determine the one or more sequence numbers associated with each of the one or more operations; and transmitting the one or more operations with the associated database locks and the sequence numbers to one or more databases servers accessible to the database load balancer. |
| US09047353B2 |
Space-time-node engine signal structure
Example methods, apparatuses, or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented using one or more computing devices or platforms to facilitate or otherwise support one or more processes or operations associated with a space-time-node engine signal structure. |
| US09047344B2 |
Guaranteeing data and metadata referential integrity in content management archival solutions
Fast restoration of referential integrity between metadata and data after they were restored to some inconsistent backup copies in content management archival solutions. An inferred logging mechanism uses separate metadata and data logs to capture recent update activities during normal system conditions with additional object reference information using a method called reference tagging. This requires no system internal changes and introduces no performance overhead. The information in the logs facilitates quick identification of potential referential inconsistencies and allows referential integrity between metadata and data to be restored in a fraction of the time when compared to exhaustive data scans. |
| US09047341B2 |
Method, apparatus and system of intelligent navigation
The present disclosure describes a method, an apparatus and a system of intelligent navigation. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving a user inquiry from a client terminal; searching a navigation dictionary based on the user inquiry to obtain a recommendation result corresponding to the user inquiry, the navigation dictionary including an editor recommendation based on user behavior information; and sending the recommendation result to the client terminal. The present disclosure can enhance the accuracy, relevancy, richness and intelligence of the intelligent navigation, and reduce user search time as well as the search loading on the server. |
| US09047340B2 |
Electronic previous search results log
A method for providing a viewable search results log to allow determination of the effectiveness of search strategies and sharing results of searches with others. The search results log reveals search strategies utilized by a human searcher with which the search results log is associated. The search results produced by at least one human searcher are stored in the search results log and presented according to a view format selected by a viewer. The search results log can be interrelated to other systems such as a blog or a search engine. |
| US09047336B2 |
Reputation based access control
Approaches for providing reputation based access control are provided. Specifically, at least one approaches includes: identifying a requesting subject that is requesting access to a controlled resource; retrieving the requesting subject's reputation stored as a virtual attribute in a reputation-based access control database, wherein the requesting subject's reputation comprises a value for skill for operating with the requested controlled resource, and wherein the requesting subject's reputation is modified following an indication from a peer of the requesting subject that the requesting subject's value for skill is diminished; retrieving the requested controlled resource's policy; determining if the requesting subject's reputation meets the requested controlled resource's policy; if the requesting subject's reputation meets the requested controlled resource's policy, allowing the requesting subject access to the requested controlled resource; and if the requesting subject's reputation does not meet the requested controlled resource's policy, denying the requesting subject access to the requested controlled resource. |
| US09047335B2 |
Meta-configuration of profiles
Disclosed are methods for creating, applying, using and retrieving profile information that includes attributes that may be stored separately from, or with, the content to which the profiles are being applied. In this manner, profiles can be shared in various environments and across various applications. Attributes that have corresponding attributes in other content can be applied to the other content, as long as each of the attributes is valid. In computer aided design applications, the profile can be stored in a profile repository embedded within the CAD model. In addition, profile controllers are disclosed which control the attributes of a profile that can be used with selected content and other content and send a notification that a profile is available for use by other content. |
| US09047334B1 |
Merge-update for efficient atomic memory modification in concurrent computer systems
Atomically updating an in-memory data structure that is directly accessible by a processor includes comparing old information associated with an old version of the in-memory data structure with current information associated with a current version of the in-memory data structure; in the event that the old information and the current information are the same, replacing the old version with a new version of the in-memory data structure; in the event that the old information and the current information are not the same, determining a difference between the current version of the in-memory data structure and the new version of the in-memory data structure, and determining whether the difference is logically consistent; and in the event that the difference is logically consistent, merging a change in the current version with the new version. |
| US09047325B2 |
Modularizing complex XML data for generation and extraction
A mechanism is provided for creating modules from an XML schema. The mechanism includes creating a syntax tree from a sample XML fragment of the XML schema, creating a module with a list of parameters based on the syntax tree, identifying variable pieces of information in the syntax tree to be inserted in the list of parameters with a variable sign, and inserting the variable information into the list of parameters. The mechanism includes inserting another module in the syntax tree of the module, in which the other module corresponds to another sample XML fragment and has another list of parameters, and identifying the other module with the variable sign in the syntax tree of the module. The mechanism includes inserting the other module into the list of parameters of the module in which the other module to serve as a parameter, and providing an option for constraining the module. |
| US09047324B2 |
Universal data management interface
A universal data management interface (UDMI) system includes a processing system generates a visual interface through which a user can access, manage, and manipulate data on plural different types of remote databases. The UDMI connects to multiple standard database management systems and to allow multiple users to access, manage, and manipulate data within each of the multiple standard database management systems. The UDMI also allows multiple virtual databases that reside in a single database to be available as a network service. |
| US09047320B2 |
Music recommendation system, information processing device, and information processing method
A photograph classification unit classifies the photographs for each scene in a music-feature information determination unit. A photograph feature acquisition unit identifies a feature of the photograph based on additional information of the photograph and a result of face recognition of the image. A tempo determination unit determines a tempo of music based on a time zone of image capturing, a range of the number of people captured in a photograph, the degree of smile, activities, etc. A melody determination unit determines information that confines a title, a feature value, a genre, etc., based on an event, a time zone, and a season at the time of image capturing, a city and a country in which the image capturing has occurred, etc. Based on the determined feature of the music, a music data output unit extracts and then presents matching music. |
| US09047319B2 |
Tag association with image regions
A computing device configured to determine that one or more regions of an image are associated with a tag of the image is described herein. The computing device is further configured to determine one or more attribute tags describing at least one of the content or context of the one or more regions. Upon determining the attribute tags, the computing device associates the attribute tags with the tag to enable image searching based on the tag and attribute tags. |
| US09047318B2 |
Real-time cloud image system and managing method thereof
A real-time cloud imaging system includes at least a frontend device and a backend system. The frontend device generates an instruction message and a ROI (Region of Interest) message, and the backend system is coupled to the frontend device. The backend system has at least a raw image, wherein the raw image has a plurality of images of different resolutions. Each of the images and the raw image are composed of a plurality of tiles. The ROI message corresponds to a region of interest respectively within each of the images and the raw image. The backend system, according to the instruction message and the ROI message, selectively provides a grouping of the tiles within the region of interest of the raw image or one of the images to the frontend device. |
| US09047313B2 |
Storing virtual machines on a file system in a distributed environment
A mechanism for storing virtual machines on a file system in a distributed environment is disclosed. A method of the invention includes initializing creation of a VM by a hypervisor of a host machine, allocating a logical volume from a logical volume group of a shared storage pool to the VM, and creating a file system on top of the allocated logical volume, the file system to manage all files, metadata, and snapshots associated with the VM. |
| US09047312B1 |
System and method for deletion of extraneous delete marker objects
Systems and methods for providing object versioning in a storage system may support the logical deletion of stored objects through the use of delete marker objects. In response to a delete operation specifying a key, but not a version identifier, the storage system may create a delete marker object that is stored as the latest object version of the key. In response to performing a subsequent mutating operation, or at pre-determined time intervals, the storage system may perform a local and/or a global analysis of the delete marker objects stored in the system (and/or metadata associated with those delete marker objects) to determine whether any of them are no longer needed to ensure correct operation of the system. The analysis may apply one or more reap conditions to delete marker objects and/or metadata to identify extraneous delete marker objects, removing those that meet one or more reap conditions from storage. |
| US09047311B2 |
Deadline-based scheduling in a distributed file system
Approaches for retrieving files from a replicated file system. A component receives, from a requestor, a request for a copy of a data unit. The component identifies a plurality of storage nodes that each stores a complete copy of the data unit. The component sends, to the plurality of storage nodes, an instruction to retrieve a copy of the data unit within a specified period of time. At each storage node receiving an instruction, a determination of whether the copy of the data unit may be retrieved within the specified period of time is made, and if so, the copy of the data unit is provided to the component only if the copy of the data unit was actually retrieved within the specified period. The component provides the first copy of the data unit it receives to the requestor and discards any subsequently received copies of the data unit. |
| US09047310B2 |
Reliable, efficient peer-to-peer storage
An adaptive coding storage system that uses adaptive erasure resilient code (ERC) which changes the number of fragments used for encoding according to the size of the file distributed. Adaptive ERC may greatly improve the efficiency and reliability of P2P storage. A number of procedures for P2P storage applications may also be implemented. In one embodiment small, dynamic data files are diverted to the more reliable peers or even a server, while large and static files are stored utilizing the storage capacity of the unreliable peers. Also, for balanced contribution and benefit, a peer should host the same amount of content as it stored in the P2P network. As a result, unreliable peers are allowed to distribute less data, and more reliable peers are allowed to distribute more. Also, smaller files are assigned a higher distribution cost, and the larger files are assigned a lower distribution cost. |
| US09047306B1 |
Method of writing data
An embodiment of a method of writing data begins with a first step of generating a timestamp. A second step issues a query that includes the timestamp to each of a plurality of primary storage devices. The method continues with a third step of receiving a query reply from at least a quorum of the primary storage devices. The query replies indicate that the timestamp is later than an existing timestamp for the data. In a fourth step, the data is mirrored to secondary storage after receiving the query reply from at least the quorum of the primary storage devices. Upon receiving a mirror completion message from the secondary storage, a fifth step issues a write message that includes at least a portion of the data and the timestamp to each of the primary storage devices. |
| US09047303B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for secure multi-enterprise storage
In one embodiment, a computer program product for storing data to a storage network includes a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code including computer readable program code configured to receive a plurality of data identifiers (IDs) from multiple data providers, each data ID being associated with one of a plurality of files, computer readable program code configured to store the plurality of data IDs to a database, computer readable program code configured to identify any duplicate data IDs in the database to determine if any of the plurality of files associated with the plurality of data IDs are non-confidential, computer readable program code configured to receive one of the files having a duplicate data ID, and computer readable program code configured to store the file having the duplicate data ID to a storage network. |
| US09047300B2 |
Techniques to manage universal file descriptor models for content files
Techniques to manage universal file descriptor models for content files are described. An apparatus may comprise a processor circuit and a file descriptor application operative on the processor circuit to manage file descriptors for content files, the file descriptor application arranged to generate a file descriptor for a content file in accordance with a universal file descriptor model, the universal file descriptor model to comprise a file descriptor surface with multiple file descriptor tiles to present corresponding content parts from the content file, with at least one of the file descriptor tiles defining a content part class representing homogeneous content parts from heterogeneous content file types. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09047297B1 |
Integrated environment for developing information exchanges
Systems and methods for facilitating an integrated environment for developing information exchanges are disclosed. In such environment, a global registry of conceptual objects for developing information exchanges may be provided. In such an environment, a local registry of conceptual objects may be provided for facilitating a local information exchange standard established for an individual domain. Under the environment, exchange objects may be composed based on the objects in the global registry and/or local registry. The exchange objects may be stored in a repository associated with the individual domain for developing the information exchanges. Exchange artifacts conforming to multiple exchange standards may be generated based on the exchange objects in the repository. The conceptual objects and exchange objects in the local registry and repository associated with the individual domain may be promoted to the global registry; and may be imported from and/or exported to enteral resources. |
| US09047296B2 |
Asynchronous methods of data classification using change journals and other data structures
Aspects of the present invention are generally concerned with systems and methods for generating a database of metadata that describes system data and storage operations. The database of metadata may be referred to herein as a “metabase.” For example, to generate a metabase, a data agent may traverse a file system to obtain certain characteristics of data managed by the file system while substantially simultaneously detecting and recording change notifications. These actions may be performed even if the actions of the data agent are interrupted one or more times during the traversal of the file system. The data agent may process the characteristics and change notifications to generate and update a metabase. Once formed, the metabase may be consulted to determine changes in system data rather than determining the changes by scanning the data files themselves. |
| US09047290B1 |
Computing a quantification measure associated with cases in a category
At least one case from a set of cases is identified in response to a query relating to at least one category. An indication is received regarding whether the at least one case belongs to the category. A categorizer is trained based on the received indication. A quantification measure associated with cases in the category is computed based on output from the categorizer. |
| US09047287B2 |
System, apparatus, method, program and recording medium for processing image
An image processing system may include an imaging device for capturing an image and an image processing apparatus for processing the image. The imaging device may include an imaging unit for capturing the image, a first recording unit for recording information relating to the image, the information being associated with the image, and a first transmission control unit for controlling transmission of the image to the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus may include a reception control unit for controlling reception of the image transmitted from the imaging device, a feature extracting unit for extracting a feature of the received image, a second recording unit for recording the feature, extracted from the image, the feature being associated with the image, and a second transmission control unit for controlling transmission of the feature to the imaging device. |
| US09047285B1 |
Method and apparatus for frame-based search
A frame represents a concept with a set of roles and a set of linguistic rules. If a linguistic rule is satisfied, by a unit of natural language discourse (UNLD), the frame is invoked and a frame instance produced. A frame instance specifies how the UNLD, with particular values drawn from the UNLD, fulfills the roles of the frame. A frame-based search, of target content, is accomplished in response to a frame-based user query. The search result is comprised of records, where each record is a result of a match, of the frame-based query, at a location in the target content. If the frame-based query is implicit, a match requires only that the location of the target content invokes the appropriate frame. If the frame-based query is role-specific, in addition to invoking the appropriate frame, a query search term needs to be found in the value for a role of the frame instance produced. |
| US09047284B2 |
Identifying web pages of the world wide web related to a first file with a more recent publication date
Methods and systems for providing related web pages are disclosed. One method includes identifying a plurality of web pages, wherein the plurality of web pages each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the world wide web provides a platform for sharing web pages, and wherein each web page includes a document or information resource that is suitable for the world wide web and is accessible through a web browser. The method further includes generating a list of inquiries based on the plurality of web pages, providing, the list of inquiries to at least one author of the first file, receiving from the at least one author at least one response to the list of inquiries, selecting a subset of the plurality of web pages based on the at least one response, and storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of web pages. |
| US09047278B1 |
Identifying and ranking attributes of entities
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for query analysis. Queries are identified in query data, and an entity-descriptive portion and a suffix are determined in each query. Query counts are determined for a number of times that the respective queries occur in the query data. Based on the query counts, an entity-level count is estimated, which represents a number of query submissions that include the particular suffix and are considered to refer to a first entity. The entity is determined to be a particular type of entity. A type-level count is determined, which represents a number of query submissions that include the first suffix and are estimated to refer to entities of the particular type of entity. A score is assigned to the particular suffix based on the entity-level count and the type-level count. |
| US09047273B2 |
Data transfer management
Methods, controllers, and systems for managing data transfer, such as those in solid state drives (SSDs), are described. In some embodiments, the data transfer between a host and a memory is monitored and then assessed to provide an assessment result. A number of storage units of the memory allocated to service another data transfer is adjusted based on the assessment result. Additional methods and systems are also described. |
| US09047269B2 |
Modeling interactions with a computer system
In certain embodiments, a method for modeling interactions with a computer system includes collecting interaction information for each of a number of interaction sessions with a computer system, each interaction session being associated with a corresponding agent system and including one or more states and one or more state transitions. The interaction information for an interaction session includes data for the one or more states and the one or more state transitions of the interaction session. The method further includes, for each of the interaction sessions, identifying the one or more states encountered during the interaction session based on the collected interaction information and generating, based on the one or more states encountered during the interaction session, a trace of the interaction session. The method further includes generating, based on the traces of the interaction sessions, a model of the interaction sessions, the model including the traces for each of the interaction sessions. |
| US09047264B2 |
Low pin count controller
Described herein is a system having a multi-host low pin count (LPC) controller (100) configured to facilitate sharing of common peripheral devices by multiple hosts (115) of a multi-host computing system (110). In one implementation, the multi-host LPC controller (100) interfaces with the hosts (115) via an ON-chip bus or an LPC-IN-chip bus. Further, the multi-host LPC controller (100) includes a LPC-IN controller (160) and a microcontroller (155) to moderate among requests generated by the hosts (115). The requests can be target accesses, DMA accesses, and BM accesses. Also, the multi-host LPC controller (100) is configured to operate in a software mode and an auto mode. Based on the mode the multi-host LPC controller (100) is operating in, the requests generated by the various hosts are moderated. |
| US09047263B2 |
System and method for secure SMI memory services
In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method are herein disclosed for providing secure SMI memory services, including the protection of SMM memory from surreptitious attacks by, for example, rootkits. Information handling systems are susceptible to attacks, especially attacks on SMM memory. In one example, an SMI handler corresponding to the SMI Driver associated with an SMI interrupt performs validation of a password. An SSMS driver allocates memory for the SMI handler to use with the validation process and also performs a secure erase of allocated memory blocks upon completion of all secure SMI Memory Services. By controlling the validation and secure erase process through the use of the SMI handler and SSMS driver, information leakage can be prevented resulting in system data integrity. |
| US09047260B2 |
Model-based testing of a graphical user interface
This invention provides a method, computer program and system for updating of a model of a system under test for use in model-based testing. In one embodiment, the system includes a rules engine, a comparator and a message dictionary. The rules engine runs an action against the system under test and runs the action against a model under test. The comparator compares an output from the system under test with a corresponding output from the model under test, wherein the output from the model under test is selected from one of a plurality of output message records. The dictionary engine updates the output message record by changing the message record if the output of the model under test is different from the output of the system under test. If the output message record is empty, the dictionary engine adds an output message record based on the system under test. |
| US09047256B2 |
System and method for monitoring audience in response to signage
A system and method for monitoring media viewing activity by one or more individuals is disclosed. In general, the location of a sign can be identified, a human eye can be located and tracked and vectoring module and a projection module can determine if the individual's eyes are directed towards the sign. The content of the signage can be coordinated with the direction of the eye in real time to determine what content the individual viewed. An audience reaction module can acquire audience reaction data such as how long eyes are engaged on the sign and can determine other reactions such as a smile a frown or a gesture of interest or disinterest based on the change of content on the signage. The system allows for an advertiser to acquire and evaluate audience feedback related to presentation and content displayed on media (e.g., billboards, digital signage, window displays, etc.). |
| US09047247B2 |
Storage system and data processing method
The present invention comprises a management computer which exchanges information with storage apparatuses and host computers of primary sites and a secondary site via a management network and which manages a data processing performance and a data processing status of each of the sites, wherein, when any of the primary sites is subject to disaster, the management computer selects a normal primary site for which a data transfer time of a restoration target application is within a recovery time objective as a restoration site which possesses processing performance for restoring the application, and remote-copies restoration copy data, which exists at the secondary site, to the storage apparatus of the primary site selected as the restoration site, via a data network. |
| US09047246B1 |
High availability scheduler
A high availability scheduler of tasks in a cluster of server devices is provided. A server device of the cluster of server devices enters a leader state based upon the results of a consensus election process in which the server device participates with others of the cluster of server devices. Upon entering the leader state, the server device schedules one or more tasks by assigning each of the one or more tasks to a server device in the cluster. |
| US09047243B2 |
Method and apparatus for low latency data distribution
Various techniques are disclosed for distributing data, particularly real-time data such as financial market data, to data consumers at low latency. Exemplary embodiments include embodiments that employ adaptive data distribution techniques and embodiments that employ a multi-class distribution engine. |
| US09047242B2 |
Read operation dispersed storage network frame
A method begins by a processing module generating a payload section of a dispersed storage network (DSN) frame regarding a read request operation by generating one or more slice name fields of the payload section to include one or more slice names corresponding to one or more encoded data slices and generating a transaction number field of the payload section to include a transaction number corresponding to the read request operation. The method continues with the processing module generating a protocol header of the DSN frame by generating a payload length field of the protocol header to include a payload length that represents a length of the payload section and generating remaining fields of the protocol header. |
| US09047241B2 |
Minimum mean square error processing
A first systolic array receives an input set of time division multiplexed matrices from a plurality of channel matrices. In a first mode, the first systolic array performs triangularization on the input matrices, producing a first set of matrices, and in a second mode performs back-substitution on the first set, producing a second set of matrices. In a first mode, a second systolic array performs left multiplication on the second set of matrices with the input set of matrices, producing a third set of matrices. In a second mode, the second systolic array performs cross diagonal transposition on the third set of matrices, producing a fourth set of matrices, and performs right multiplication on the second set of matrices with the fourth set of matrices. The first systolic array switches from the first mode to the second mode after the triangularization, and the second systolic array switches from the first mode to the second mode after the left multiplication. |
| US09047239B2 |
Determining weight values for storage devices in a storage tier to use to select one of the storage devices to use as a target storage to which data from a source storage is migrated
The present invention relates to a method, system, and computer program product for determining storage device weight values to use to select one of the storage devices to use as a target storage to which data from a source storage is migrated. A determination is made, for each of the storage devices, of static parameter values for static parameters comprising attributes of the storage device and dynamic parameter values for dynamic parameters providing device health information determined by accessing the storage device to determine operational conditions at the storage device. Storage device weight values are determined as a function of the static parameter values and the dynamic parameter values of the device. The determined storage device weight values are used to select one of the storage devices as the target storage to which data from the source storage is migrated. |
| US09047238B2 |
Creating a virtual machine from a snapshot
A computer system generates a clone of a virtual machine from a point-in-time snapshot backup by collapsing metadata snapshots and storage snapshots into a virtual machine image. The computer system identifies a clone request for a virtual machine, the clone request comprising a point-in-time reference, retrieves at least one metadata snapshot and at least one storage snapshot based on the point-in-time reference, combines the at least one metadata snapshot and the at least one storage snapshot into a virtual machine image, and provisions a new virtual machine based on the virtual machine image. |
| US09047237B2 |
Power savings apparatus and method for memory device using delay locked loop
Embodiments are directed to reduced power consumption for memory data transfer at high frequency through synchronized clock signaling. Delay locked loop (DLL) circuits are used to generate the synchronized clock signals. A DLL circuit consumes power as long as it is outputting the synchronized clock signals. A power saving apparatus and method are described wherein the DLL circuit is powered on when memory data access is active, while the DLL circuit is powered down when memory access is idle. |
| US09047233B2 |
Source cleaning cascaded volumes using write and background copy indicators
Various systems, processes, and products may be used to source clean cascaded volumes. In particular implementations, a system, process, and product for source cleaning cascaded volumes may include the ability to store a primary volume and a plurality of cascaded backup volumes. The system, process, and product may also include the ability to determine whether a write to one of the backup volumes is due to a background copy being made of another volume in the cascade and adjust a background copy indicator in a volume map for the backup volume if the write is due to a background copy and to determine whether a write to one of the backup volumes is due to a write to another volume in the cascade and adjust a write copy indicator in a volume map for the backup volume if the write is due to a write to another cascaded volume. |
| US09047232B2 |
Storage apparatus and controlling method for data transmission based on control information
A storage apparatus includes a storage medium configured to store data and a control unit configured to control access to the storage medium. The control unit includes first storage configured to store data to be stored in the storage medium, a second storage configured to store data, a control information generator configured to generate control information indicating a storage state of the data in the first storage and a transfer controller configured to control transfer of the data stored in the first storage to the second storage on the basis of the control information generated by the control information generator when the supply of power to the control unit is stopped. |
| US09047228B2 |
Systems and methods for data privacy and destruction
A system and method for managing application(s)' access to personal data of an enterprise business partner is presented. The method includes selecting business partners having personal data records stored in a database connected to an enterprise computing system, for each particular business partner identifying each application that accesses the business partner's personal data records, inquiring from each identified application if it has reached an end-of-purpose period for the personal data records. If an end-of-purpose period has been reached receiving a start-of-retention-time from the application, storing the start-of-retention-time indication in a data record associated with the particular business partner, and blocking access by the particular application to the personal data records of the particular business partner. If a start-of-retention-time indication is not received allowing continued access by the particular application to the personal data records associated with the selected business partner. Applications located in remote systems can be queried and blocked. |
| US09047227B2 |
Operation circuit and method thereof
An operation circuit and an operation method thereof are revealed. The operation circuit includes an extreme value processing unit, a curve processing module, and a component unit. The extreme value processing unit receives and processes a plurality of input data to get maximum values and minimum values. The curve processing module constructs a first matrix and a second matrix according to the maximum and minimum values and then decomposes the first matrix and the second matrix into first submatrices and second submatrices respectively. According to these submatrices, the curve processing module gets at least one mean value function corresponding to the maximum and the minimum values. The computation of a single matrix is reduced by matrix decomposition and operations of the operation circuit. Compared with conventional Gauss matrix manipulations that run by computer systems, the present invention can be applied to simpler circuits by simplifying matrix operation processes. |
| US09047224B2 |
Method, system and server of removing a distributed caching object
The present disclosure discloses a method, a system and a server of removing a distributed caching object. In one embodiment, the method receives a removal request, where the removal request includes an identifier of an object. The method may further apply consistent Hashing to the identifier of the object to obtain a Hash result value of the identifier, locates a corresponding cache server based on the Hash result value and renders the corresponding cache server to be a present cache server. In some embodiments, the method determines whether the present cache server is in an active status and has an active period greater than an expiration period associated with the object. Additionally, in response to determining that the present cache server is in an active status and has an active period greater than the expiration period associated with the object, the method removes the object from the present cache server. By comparing an active period of a located cache server with an expiration period associated with an object, the exemplary embodiments precisely locate a cache server that includes the object to be removed and perform a removal operation, thus saving the other cache servers from wasting resources to perform removal operations and hence improving the overall performance of the distributed cache system. |
| US09047223B2 |
Replicating tag entries for reliability enhancement in cache tag arrays
Technologies are generally described for exploiting program phase behavior to duplicate most recently and/or frequently accessed tag entries in a Tag Replication Buffer (TRB) to protect the information integrity of tag arrays in a processor cache. The reliability/effectiveness of microprocessor cache performance may be further improved by capturing/duplicating tags of dirty cache lines, exploiting the fact that detected error-corrupted clean cache lines can be recovered by L2 cache. A deterministic TRB replacement triggered early write-back scheme may provide full duplication and recovery of single-bit errors for tags of dirty cache lines. |
| US09047220B2 |
Storage system and data management method
Storage system comprises a second storage apparatus, which is coupled to multiple first storage apparatuses and is of a different type from the first storage apparatuses, and a first control device, which exists either inside or outside of the second storage apparatus. Row of stripes comprising multiple data elements obtained by segmenting a prescribed data unit, and a redundancy code for rebuilding the data elements, is distributively stored in multiple first storage apparatuses, which are more numerous than the total number of stripe data elements, which are either the data elements or redundancy code, in the row of stripes. The row of stripes is configured to enable the rebuilding of the stripe data elements even when a failure has occurred in up to a prescribed allowable number, which is two or more, of the first storage apparatuses storing the stripe data elements of the relevant row of stripes. |
| US09047217B2 |
Nested distributed storage unit and applications thereof
A method for execution by a DS storage unit begins with the DS storage unit receiving an encoded slice of a plurality of encoded slices, wherein the plurality of encoded slices was generated from a data segment using an error encoding function. The method continues with the DS storage unit determining whether the encoded slice is to be sub-sliced using a sub-slicing encoding function. The method continues with the DS storage unit generating a plurality of encoded sub-slices from the encoded slices using the encoded sub-slicing encoding function when the encoded slice is to be sub-sliced. The method continues with the DS storage unit outputting the plurality of encoded sub-slices to a plurality of DS storage units. |
| US09047214B1 |
System and method for tolerating a failed page in a flash device
Apparatus and methods provide relatively low uncorrectable bit error rates, low write amplification, long life, fast and efficient retrieval, and efficient storage density such that a solid-state drive (SSD) can be implemented using relatively inexpensive MLC Flash for an enterprise storage application. A page is associated with a set of primary ECC codewords, and a page stripe is associated with a set of secondary codewords and primary over secondary parity (PoSP) ECC codewords. Two or more page stripes can form a page grid, wherein the page grid is associated with a group of tertiary ECC codewords, wherein the last page stripe of the page grid has a reduced payload capacity. |
| US09047212B2 |
Error estimation module and estimation method thereof for flash memory
The present invention relates to the field of data storage, and more particularly to an estimation technology in an error correction process of a flash memory. The present invention provides an error estimation module and an error estimation method thereof for a flash memory. The estimation module mainly includes a timer, a quantification index table, a storage page table, and an error index table. The error estimation method of a flash memory includes: creating rewriting and programming error a priori data, and estimating an error rate of the flash memory by using special physical signals in a flash memory device to provide proper error estimation for an error correction algorithm of the flash memory. The present invention is applicable to a solid-state hard disk controller, a flash memory controller, and the like, where the flash memory device is used as a storage medium, so that the reliability of the flash memory device is improved. |
| US09047211B2 |
Managing data reliability
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing data reliability. A priority module is configured to receive a storage request for a non-volatile memory device. The storage request may include data associated with a priority. The non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of cells, and each cell encodes a plurality of bits. The bits for a cell provide distinct levels of quality of service. A select module is configured to select a bit for storing the data based on the priority of the data and the level of quality of service of the selected bit. A data management module is configured to manage the data to satisfy a write order for the plurality of bits. |
| US09047208B1 |
Method and system of configuring virtual function in peripheral devices
Methods and systems for a device are provided. The device includes physical function (PF) representing a physical component and is assigned to an XF group. The XF group includes a plurality of virtual functions (VFs) associated with the PF, each VF identified by a unique number. A number of XF group that are assigned to the PF is configurable depending on the function of the physical component. |
| US09047207B2 |
Mobile device power state
Techniques for mobile device power state are described. In one or more implementations, a mobile device includes a computing device that is flexibly coupled to an input device via a flexible hinge. Accordingly, the mobile device can operate in a variety of different power states based on a positional orientation of the computing device to an associated input device. In one or more implementations, an application that resides on a computing device can operate in different application states based on a positional orientation of the computing device to an associated input device. In one or more implementations, techniques discussed herein can differentiate between vibrations caused by touch input to a touch functionality, and other types of vibrations. Based on this differentiation, techniques can determine whether to transition between device power states. |
| US09047194B2 |
Virtual cache directory in multi-processor architectures
Technologies generally described herein relate to cache directories in multi-core processors. Various examples may include, methods, systems, and devices. A first tile may receive a request to transfer a thread from the first tile to a second tile. An instruction may be sent from the first tile to map a virtual cache identifier to identifiers of caches of the first and second tiles. The thread may be transferred from the first tile to the second tile. Thereafter, a request may be generated for a data block. After a determination that the data block is not stored in the second tile's cache, and that the virtual cache identifier is mapped to the first and second cache identifiers, a request may be sent for the data block to the first tile. |
| US09047191B2 |
Error control in memory storage systems
A method includes calculating a first syndrome of a codeword read from a memory location under a first set of conditions and calculating a second syndrome of the codeword read from the memory location under a second set of conditions. The method also includes analyzing the first and second syndromes and applying one of the first and second syndromes to the codeword to find the codeword having a minimum number of errors. |
| US09047186B2 |
Allocation method and apparatus of moderate memory
An allocation method comprises: partitioning moderate memory into a plurality of physical memory pages having predetermined page size according to the predetermined page size; scanning the moderate memory using the predetermined page size and recording the physical address and damage degree of each physical memory page; obtaining the allocation information of the physical memory pages when a memory request is received and allocating physical memory to the request based on the recorded physical address and damage degree of each physical memory page and the obtained allocation information. A moderate memory is scanned and the physical address and damage degree of each physical memory page are recorded, then the physical memory is allocated based on the recorded physical address and damage degree of each physical memory page and the obtained allocation information. |
| US09047184B2 |
Processing error detection within pipeline circuitry
An integrated circuit includes processing pipeline circuitry comprising a plurality of pipeline stages separated by respective signal value storage circuitry. Timing detection circuitry to the processing pipeline circuitry serves to detect as timing violations any signal transitions arrive at the signal value storage circuits outside respective nominal timing windows. Error detection circuitry triggers an error correcting response if the timing detection circuitry indicates a predetermined pattern comprising a plurality of timing violations spread over a plurality of clock cycles of a clock signal controlling the processing pipeline circuitry. The predetermined pattern may be two consecutive timing violations. |
| US09047181B2 |
Visualization of data from clusters
Embodiments are directed towards the visualization of machine data received from computing clusters. Embodiments may enable improved analysis of computing cluster performance, error detection, troubleshooting, error prediction, or the like. Individual cluster nodes may generate machine data that includes information and data regarding the operation and status of the cluster node. The machine data is received from each cluster node for indexing by one or more indexing applications. The indexed machine data including the complete data set may be stored in one or more index stores. A visualization application enables a user to select one or more analysis lenses that may be used to generate visualizations of the machine data. The visualization application employs the analysis lens to produce visualizations of the computing cluster machine data. |
| US09047180B2 |
Computing system, method and computer-readable medium processing debug information in computing system
Disclosed are a system, method and computer-readable medium related to processing debug information from an embedded system. Source code of an application program to be used in an embedded system may be compiled by a computing system. The application program may include a debug code line. A minimum amount of debug information is stored in an embedded system, reducing memory overhead and waste of clock cycles of a processor. |
| US09047175B2 |
System and method for storing and modifying data objects
An embodiment of a data-processing-system for storing and modifying data-objects in a computing device, wherein a data-object is modified by direct insertion or removal of data within the data-object's storage-space. Data-objects may be of fixed, or variable-lengths. Data-objects may be nested. The length, name, data-type, value, and composition of a data-object may be modified. Other embodiments are described and shown. |
| US09047169B1 |
Resizing snapshot mount points
A method is used for managing snapshot mount points in storage systems. A request to resize a snapshot mount point is received and a file object associated with the snapshot mount point is retrieved. The file object is analyzed to determine a file attached to the snapshot mount point and a file ID is determined for an underlying file associated with the determined file. The file associated with the file ID is resized. |
| US09047163B2 |
Managing the distribution of client packages
A method and system of a distributing server that encapsulates a client package within a client software repository package. The client software repository package contains at least a portion of a client repository. The client repository is installed at the subscribing server and is associated with one or more clients that are not authorized to access the distributing server. The distributing server transmits the client software repository package to a subscribing server that is authorized to access the distributing server. The subscribing server then serves the client package to the clients through the client repository. |
| US09047162B2 |
Dynamic software version selection
Dynamic software version selection is performed by executing a software component on a processing device having a binding library associated with a software component, where the binding library comprising a loader component and a binding component. The loader component serves as an intermediary between the software component and the binding component and the binding component comprises software component-side logic. The binding library is utilized to interface the software component with a remote server across a network environment. In response to a request to update to a different version of the library, the loader component selects a desired version of the library. The desired version of the library is loaded into memory of the processing device by logically disconnecting from the remote server, unloading a previously loaded library, loading the updated version of the library, and reconnecting to the remote server. |
| US09047161B1 |
Discovery, consolidation, and archival of multiple operating system software licenses
A server software repair method. The method comprises copying a software license file associated with a software deployment, saving the software license file to a discrete directory, repeating these steps at predetermined intervals to form an archive. The method further comprises retrieving the software license file from the archive and redeploying the software license file with a software deployment. |
| US09047159B2 |
Software installation
A method of installing software receives installation task data including a plurality of installation tasks. The plurality of installation tasks includes at least one user-modifiable installation task and at least one user-unmodifiable installation task. The method receives task order data defining a requisite order of execution. The method executes each of the plurality of installation tasks in accordance with the requisite order, wherein executing each user-modifiable installation task comprises altering and executing at least one installation command for the user-modifiable installation task in response to receiving a first user input. |
| US09047157B1 |
Method and apparatus for using unspecialized software micro-containers for building complex dynamic business processes
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates using unspecialized software micro-containers to build complex dynamic business processes. During operation, the system receives a command to execute a business logic at a computer system. In response to the command, the system initializes an unspecialized software micro-container from a pool of unspecialized software micro-containers. Next, the system retrieves the business logic from a business logic repository. The system then loads the business logic into the unspecialized software micro-container. Finally, the system executes the business logic in the unspecialized software micro-container. Note that the requestor publishes the desired business process in the repository, and the system, represented by the unspecialized containers, self-organizes to execute the job without additional management. |
| US09047150B2 |
Fencing data transfers in a parallel active messaging interface of a parallel computer
Fencing data transfers in a parallel active messaging interface (‘PAMI’) of a parallel computer, the PAMI including data communications endpoints, each endpoint including a specification of data communications parameters for a thread of execution on a compute node, including specifications of a client, a context, and a task; the compute nodes coupled for data communications through the PAMI and through data communications resources including at least one segment of shared random access memory; including initiating execution through the PAMI of an ordered sequence of active SEND instructions for SEND data transfers between two endpoints, effecting deterministic SEND data transfers through a segment of shared memory; and executing through the PAMI, with no FENCE accounting for SEND data transfers, an active FENCE instruction, the FENCE instruction completing execution only after completion of all SEND instructions initiated prior to execution of the FENCE instruction for SEND data transfers between the two endpoints. |
| US09047149B2 |
Throttling message producers based on total heap usage of a messaging engine
A method for a messaging engine to control messaging within a virtual machine having a heap includes creating a list of destinations associated with a messaging engine and receiving parameters associated with the heap. The message production rates are controlled using the parameters and heap usage. For example, the parameters may include a lower limit that indicates that message production should be decreased (i.e., throttled back) and a step-down value. Using the lower limit and the step-down value, intermediate throttle-back thresholds are created, and when the heap usage transitions from below one of the intermediate throttle-back thresholds to above the intermediate throttle-back threshold, the message production rate is decreased. Further, other parameters may include an upper limit and a step-up value, which are used to determine intermediate throttle-up thresholds that indicate when the message production rate may be increased (i.e., throttled up). |
| US09047148B2 |
Pipelined vectoring-mode CORDIC
Various embodiments of the present invention provide pipelined vectoring-mode CORDICS including a coordinate converter operable to yield a converted vector based on an input vector, wherein an x coordinate value of the converted vector is positive, a y coordinate value of the converted vector is positive, and the x coordinate value is greater than or equal to the y coordinate value, a pipeline of vector rotators operable to perform a series of successive rotations of the converted vector to yield a rotated vector and to store rotation directions of the series of successive rotations, and at least one lookup table operable to yield an angle of rotation based on the rotation directions. |
| US09047147B2 |
Method and system for recording and replaying user sessions in browser based applications
A computer-implemented method for recording and replaying user sessions in browser based applications includes initiating a user session as a result of a user accessing an application in a web browser. The computer-implemented method also includes attaching an event handler to the application as a replacement for an original event handler. Further, the computer-implemented method includes executing the event handler in response to an event, wherein the event is a plurality of user actions performed during the user session. Furthermore, the computer-implemented method includes receiving the plurality of user actions as inputs to the application. Moreover, the computer-implemented method includes recording the plurality of user actions and replaying the plurality of user actions recorded at a later time. |
| US09047137B2 |
Balanced processing using heterogeneous cores
Technologies are generally described for a multi-processor core and a method for transferring threads in a multi-processor core. In an example, a multi-core processor may include a first group including a first core and a second core. A first sum of the operating frequencies of the cores in the first group corresponds to a first total operating frequency. The multi-core processor may further include a second group including a third core. A second sum of the operating frequencies of the cores in the second group may correspond to a second total operating frequency that is substantially the same as the first total operating frequency. A hardware controller may be configured in communication with the first, second and third core. A memory may be configured in communication with the hardware controller and may include an indication of at least the first group and the second group. |
| US09047134B2 |
System and method for increasing the capabilities of a mobile device
A system and computer-implemented method for increasing the computational capabilities of a mobile device by initializing one or more virtual machines in cloud computing environment to run applications. The system and computer-implemented method comprising a manager module that stimulates an application on a virtual machine with a user's interactions with a rendered version of the application on a mobile device. |
| US09047133B2 |
Single, logical, multi-tier application blueprint used for deployment and management of multiple physical applications in a cloud environment
A deployment system enables a developer to define a logical, multi-tier application blueprint that can be used to create and manage (e.g., redeploy, upgrade, backup, patch) multiple applications in a cloud infrastructure. In the application blueprint, the developer models an overall application architecture, or topology, that includes individual and clustered nodes (e.g., VMs), logical templates, cloud providers, deployment environments, software services, application-specific code, properties, and dependencies between top-tier and second-tier components. The application can be deployed according to the application blueprint, which means any needed VMs are provisioned from the cloud infrastructure, and application components and software services are installed. |
| US09047132B2 |
Automatic management of configuration parameters and parameter management engine
A mechanism is provided for an automatic management of configuration parameters of computing resources between related computing systems. Services instances of computing systems are generated according to associated configuration parameter sets and respective corresponding configuration parameter values. A determination is made of configuration parameter value changes in the configuration parameter sets for each generated service instance of the computing systems. The configuration parameter value changes for each generated service instance are compared with a first subset configuration parameter values and with a second subset configuration parameter values. The determined configuration parameter value changes in one service instance are then propagated to another service instance according to a definition of rules for mapping configuration parameters and their values between second subsets of configuration parameters. |
| US09047131B2 |
Hardware resource allocation and provisioning for composite applications
A processing device receives an application descriptor of a composite application, the application descriptor comprising information for a plurality of nodes that comprise application components in the composite application. The processing device determines hardware criteria for the plurality of nodes based on the application descriptor. the processing device searches a pool of available hardware resources to identify a plurality of hardware resources that satisfy the determined hardware criteria. The process then allocates the identified plurality of hardware resources for the plurality of nodes, and provisions the application components on the identified plurality of hardware resources to cause the plurality of hardware resources to have states that correspond to the information for the plurality of nodes. |
| US09047126B2 |
Continuous availability between sites at unlimited distances
A continuous availability system including a controller module executing on a computer processor, the system is configured to receive a unit of work and to select a primary site from a plurality of sites to process the unit of work. Once a site is selected the system is further configured to select one of one or more processing systems from the primary site to process the unit of work. The system is additionally configured to replicate the unit of work to at least one other site once the unit of work is completed at the primary site. The system is configured to operate even when the primary site is separated from each of the plurality of sites by a distance greater than a metropolitan area network and the operations occur within a customer acceptability window. |
| US09047125B2 |
Deterministic real time business application processing in a service-oriented architecture
Methods, apparatus, and products for deterministic real time business application processing in a service-oriented architecture (‘SOA’), the SOA including SOA services, each SOA service carrying out a processing step of the business application where each SOA service is a real time process executable on a real time operating system of a generally programmable computer and deterministic real time business application processing according to embodiments of the present invention includes configuring the business application with real time processing information and executing the business application in the SOA in accordance with the real time processing information. |
| US09047124B2 |
Query scheduler
A mixed workload management system and associated operating method modify a shortest job first (SJF) by service levels. The workload management system comprises a scheduler configured for scheduling mixed workloads. The scheduler comprises an analyzer that determines query execution time, assigns scheduling priority to a query in order inverse to the query execution time, weights the assigned scheduling priority by service level of the query, and sorts a list of queries in order of weighted scheduling priority. A schedule controller selects a query for execution from head of the sorted list of queries. |
| US09047123B2 |
Computing device for running computer program on video card selected based on video card preferences of the program
A computing device includes a number of video cards. The computing device also includes a mechanism to determine one or more parameters relating to video card parameters of a target computer program. The mechanism is to select a video card from the video cards of the computing device based on the parameters, and is to run the target computer program on the video card selected. |
| US09047122B2 |
Integrating server and storage via integrated tenant in vertically integrated computer system
[Object] A computer system in which a server and a storage apparatus are integrated and operated is designed so that a multi-tenant can be realized favorably.[Solution] The present invention provides an integrated computer system in which a business server and a storage apparatus for providing the business server with a storage area are integrated and operated; and the integrated computer system includes a management server for managing the business server and the storage apparatus; wherein the management server sets an integrated tenant which extends across the business server and the storage apparatus, the business server sets a server tenant belonging to the integrated tenant, the storage apparatus sets a storage tenant belonging to the integrated tenant, and the server tenant and the storage tenant are associated with each other by the integrated tenant. |
| US09047119B2 |
Circular floating-point number generator and a circular floating-point number adder
One aspect of the present invention will provide a circular floating-point number generator (400) for generating, from an input fixed-point number, a circular floating-point number including sign-bit field (S), exponent field (E), and circular-mantissa field (M). The generator assigns the input bits in the fixed-point number to a plurality of slots, generates the sign-bit field (S), generate the exponent field (E) based on a bit position of a leading significant bit, and generate the mantissa field (M) by extracting a first bit group and a second bit group and by providing a start bit of the first bit group after a last bit of the second bit group. |
| US09047117B2 |
Methods for supporting users with task continuity and completion across devices and time
Concepts and technologies are described herein for providing task continuity and supporting task completion across devices and time. A task management application is configured to monitor one or more interactions between a user and a device. The interactions can include the use of the device, the use of one or more applications, and/or other tasks, subtasks, or other operations. Predictive models constructed from data or logical models can be used to predict the attention resources available or allocated to a task or subtask as well as the attention and affordances available within a context for addressing the task and these inferences can be used to mark or route the task for later reminding and display. In some embodiments, the task management application is configured to remind or execute a follow-up action when a session is resumed. Embodiments include providing users with easy to use gestures and mechanisms for providing input about desired follow up on the same or other devices. |
| US09047114B2 |
Method and system for analyzing parallelism of program code
Methods and systems are provided for analyzing parallelism of program code. According to a method, the sequential execution of the program code is simulated so as to trace the execution procedure of the program code, and parallelism of the program code is analyzed based on the result of the trace to the execution procedure of the program code. Execution information of the program code is collected by simulating the sequential execution of the program code, and parallelism of the program code is analyzed based on the collected execution information, so as to allow programmers to perform parallel task partitioning of the program code with respect to a multi-core architecture more effectively, thus increasing the efficiency of parallel software development. |
| US09047113B2 |
Virtual machine migrating system and method
A virtual machine migration method conducted in a virtual machine migration system that includes a virtual machine of a migration source computer and a migrating target computer. The migration source computer conducts processing to send host physical address information of an MMIO region corresponding to a device used by the virtual machine through directed I/O to a migration target computer, and to cause a connection target of the device to be switched to the migration target computer by a switching device that connects the device to the computers. The migration target computer conducts processing to allocate an MMIO region corresponding to the host physical address information sent by the migration source computer, to the device connected to the computers by the switching device. |
| US09047108B1 |
Systems and methods for migrating replicated virtual machine disks
A computer-implemented method for migrating replicated virtual machine disks may include 1) replicating a virtual machine disk from an initial data store at a primary site to an initial data store at a secondary site to create a replicated virtual machine disk, 2) identifying a request to migrate the virtual machine disk within the primary site, 3) pausing replication of the virtual machine disk and mirroring the virtual machine disk from the initial data store a subsequent data store at the primary site, mirroring the replicated virtual machine disk from the initial data store to a subsequent data store at the secondary site, and 4) upon mirroring, resuming replication of the virtual machine disk by replicating the virtual machine disk from the subsequent data store at the primary site to the subsequent data store at the secondary site. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09047107B2 |
Applying a custom security type label to multi-tenant applications of a node in a platform-as-a-service environment
A mechanism for applying security category labels to multi-tenant applications of a node in a PaaS environment is disclosed. A method of embodiments includes receiving, by a virtual machine (VM) executing on a computing device, a custom security type label (STL) and a custom security policy associated with the custom STL, the custom STL and associated custom security policy applied to one or more multi-tenant applications executed by the VM. The method further include receiving a request to initialize an application on the VM, the request identifying the custom STL as an STL to apply to the application, assigning a local UID maintained by the VM to the application, recording a mapping of the assigned local UID to the custom STL, assigning the custom STL to files of the application, and assigning the custom STL to a running process of the application. |
| US09047096B2 |
Real-time temperature sensitive machine level code compilation and execution
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for real-time temperature sensitive machine level code compilation and execution are provided. Embodiments include compiling and executing, by a just-in-time (JIT) compiler, machine level code; during execution of the machine level code, determining, by the JIT compiler, an execution temperature for the machine level code, including reading temperature measurements from one or more processor temperature sensors; based on the determined execution temperature, identifying, by the JIT compiler, a portion of the machine level code that, when executed, caused temperature measurements of one or more processor temperature sensors to exceed a predetermined threshold temperature; recompiling, by the JIT compiler, the machine level code including modifying the identified portion to generate a new execution temperature that is lower than the previously determined execution temperature; and executing, by the JIT compiler, the recompiled machine level code. |
| US09047090B2 |
Methods, systems and devices for hybrid memory management
In the various aspects, virtualization techniques may be used to improve performance and reduce the amount of power consumed by translating virtual memory addresses into physical addresses on a computing system having hybrid memory. In a first stage of memory translation, an operating system translates virtual addresses to intermediate physical addresses. In a second stage of memory translation, a chip or virtualization software translates the intermediate physical address to physical addresses based on the characteristics of the physical memory and the characteristics of the processes associated with the physical memory. |
| US09047089B2 |
Energy-saving systems and methods for updating media information
Energy-saving methods and systems for updating media information on a media equipment device are provided. An update to media information is received at the media equipment device. Data identifying a weight for the update is retrieved from the storage device. The data may be related to the user's media preferences or viewing history of content associated with the update. A weight is then assigned to the update based on the retrieved data. The assigned update weight is compared to a threshold value which is retrieved from the storage device. If the update weight exceeds the threshold value, the device will switch from a first power mode of operation (e.g., sleep mode) to a higher power mode of operation (e.g., active mode) so that the media information may be updated with the information contained in the received update. |
| US09047084B2 |
Power management of a mobile communications device
A user interface for power management of a mobile communications device is described. In an implementation, power consumption used in performance of a plurality of tasks is monitored by a mobile communications device. A determination is made as to an amount of power that remains in a battery of the mobile communications device. A user interface is displayed on a display device of the mobile communications device that describes an amount of time each of the plurality of tasks may be performed based on the determined amount of power that remains in the battery. |
| US09047081B2 |
Method, apparatus and instructions for parallel data conversions
Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a conversion. In one embodiment, a disclosed apparatus includes a destination storage location corresponding to a first architectural register. A functional unit operates responsive to a control signal, to convert a first packed first format value selected from a set of packed first format values into a plurality of second format values. Each of the first format values has a plurality of sub elements having a first number of bits. The second format values have a greater number of bits. The functional unit stores the plurality of second format values into an architectural register. |
| US09047077B2 |
Vectorization in an optimizing compiler
An optimizing compiler includes a vectorization mechanism that optimizes a computer program by substituting code that includes one or more vector instructions (vectorized code) for one or more scalar instructions. The cost of the vectorized code is compared to the cost of the code with only scalar instructions. When the cost of the vectorized code is less than the cost of the code with only scalar instructions, the vectorization mechanism determines whether the vectorized code will likely result in processor stalls. If not, the vectorization mechanism substitutes the vectorized code for the code with only scalar instructions. When the vectorized code will likely result in processor stalls, the vectorization mechanism does not substitute the vectorized code, and the code with only scalar instructions remains in the computer program. |
| US09047075B1 |
Uninterruptable power supply system and method
An uninterruptable power supply (UPS) system/method providing power line conditioning and power factor correction (PFC) that incorporates centralized battery backup energy storage architecture is disclosed. The system generally comprises an AC-DC power supply with active PFC (power factor correction) function, a battery transfer switch, an isolated battery charger placed between the utility power source and battery strings, battery strings connecting the battery charger and the battery transfer switch, EMI/Lightning circuitry that provides lighting/line surge protection as well noise suppression functions, and a controller monitoring the quality of the utility power source. Uninterruptable power for data centers is achieved in this context via use of the battery strings, battery transfer switch, battery charger, and controller system configuration. Disclosed methods associated with this system generally permit the UPS to operate in a distributed fashion in support of computing systems within data centers. |
| US09047072B2 |
System and method for managing power supply units
A power supply management system includes a power supply backplane, a plurality of power supply units connected to the power supply backplane, and a power controller chip. The power controller chip sends a plurality of power controlling signals to the power supply backplane. The power supply backplane transmits the plurality of power controlling signals to the plurality of power supply units, transition the plurality of power supply units into specific working states according to the plurality of power controlling signals, collect present working states of the plurality of power supply units, and sends the present working states of the plurality of power supply units to the power controller chip. A method for managing power supply units is also provided. |
| US09047064B2 |
Data storage device assembly
A data storage device assembly includes a chassis. The chassis includes a dividing plate. Two brackets are arranged on the dividing plate, and another two brackets are arranged at a bottom of the dividing plate. Each bracket receives a data storage device. The data storage device assembly includes four data storage devices arranged in the chassis, which can provide large capacity of data storage. |
| US09047063B2 |
Mounting assembly for data storage devices
A mounting assembly includes a chassis, and a plurality of partition panels configured to divide a space in the chassis into a plurality of sub-spaces. A motherboard is attached to the chassis and located below the plurality of partition panels. A plurality of data storage devices is mounted in each of the plurality of sub-spaces. Each of the plurality of data storage devices comprising a casing, at least one drive bracket mounted in the casing, at least one data storage unit mounted in the at least one drive bracket, and a handle pivotably attached to the at least one drive bracket. The handle is rotatable between a locked position, where the at least one drive bracket is immovable from the casing, and a released position, where the at least one drive bracket is released from the casing. |
| US09047060B2 |
Heating element and circuit module stack structure
A heating element and circuit module stack structure includes a circuit module carrying a chip unit, a heat sink having a flat bottom block protruded from a thermally conductive base member and in contact with the chip unit, a heat transfer layer set between the thermally conductive base member and the chip unit around the flat bottom block, an electric heating element mounted in between the heat transfer layer and the thermally conductive base member around the flat bottom block for heating the chip unit, and a thermal insulation component isolating the thermally conductive base member from the electric heating element. The circuit module turns on the electrical heating element when the temperature of the chip unit drops blow 0° C., and turns off the electrical heating element when the temperature reaches the normal operating temperature range, enabling the computer to be used in a low temperature or cold outdoor environment. |
| US09047053B2 |
Conductive film, method for manufacturing the same and touch screen having the same
A conductive film is disclosed in the present disclosure, which includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other; and a first conductive layer laid on the first surface, the first conductive layer includes a plurality of first conductive areas and first insulating areas, the first conductive areas include a metal mesh formed by a metal, the first insulating areas include an insulating mesh formed by an insulating metal sulfide, the insulating metal sulfide is obtained from a reaction between the metal and hydrogen sulfide. Accordingly, the problem of producing lots of wastewater of the metal salts and heavy metal pollution can be avoided, the insulating areas include the insulating mesh having a transmittance close to the metal mesh, benefit for reach a uniform transmittance of the touch screen, and avoid forming alternating light and dark color patches. |
| US09047051B2 |
Docking station and display system
The invention provides a docking station, which includes a base, a tray and an electrical connector. The base has a chamber. The tray is slidingly disposed at the chamber. The electrical connector is slidingly disposed at the base and disposed at a side of the tray, in which the tray moves under a pressing force to drive the electrical connector for moving. The invention also provides a display system, which includes an electronic device and a docking station, so that the electronic device is detachably disposed at the docking station to expand the applications thereof. |
| US09047050B2 |
Modular system having cross platform master device
A modular system of devices, in which a (master) device can be combined with one or more of the other (slave) devices in the system to form a functional electronic device (e.g., handheld cellular phone, tablet computing device), having different functionalities and features in different form factors across various platforms. The master device provides control and/or stored data to operate the slave devices, to reduce redundancy between devices of various form factors and/or platforms, in a manner that provides additional or different functions and features in an optimized and/or enhanced manner as the form factor and/or platform changes from one to another. The master device is not functional independent without attachment to a slave device. The master device requires at least a peripheral component (e.g., a display module) provided by the slave device to become an overall functional unit. |
| US09047044B2 |
Trimless glass enclosure interface
An enclosure for a portable computing device can include a cover glass affixed to an enclosure without trim pieces disposed between the cover glass and the disclosure. In one embodiment, the enclosure can include an edge profile that can define a relatively large contact pad about the enclosure. The contact pad can distribute impact forces over a relatively large area and thereby protect the cover glass integrity. |
| US09047042B2 |
Modifying one or more session parameters for a coordinated display session between a plurality of proximate client devices based upon eye movements of a viewing population
In an embodiment, a control device configures session parameters (e.g., related to an audio component, a video component, an eye tracking component, etc.) for a coordinated display session. The control devices maps, for proximate client devices registered as presentation devices for the coordinated display session, a different portion of visual data for the coordinated display session to respective display screens, and delivers the mapped portions of the visual data to the proximate client devices for presentation by the respective display screens during the coordinated display session. The control device obtains eye movement monitoring feedback from a set of eye tracking devices, the eye movement monitoring feedback characterizing eye movements of a viewing population of the coordinated display session. The control device modifies the session parameters associated with the coordinated display session based on the eye movement monitoring feedback. |
| US09047041B2 |
Combining multiple slate displays into a larger display matrix
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automatically combining multiple displays on multiple portable electronic computer devices to form a larger display matrix. For each device, a first display configured to combine with additional displays of additional electronic devices to form a larger display from a matrix of the first display and the additional displays. A display orientation module automatically determines an orientation of the first display with respect to the one or more additional displays that form the larger display matrix. The display orientation module determines a location of the first display in the larger display matrix. |
| US09047037B2 |
Storage medium storing instructions for information processing apparatus and print control apparatus maintaining shared printing conditions across application programs
A medium stores computer-executable instructions. In a case that a display instruction of a print setting screen is outputted by a first application program executed by an information processing apparatus, the instructions cause the information processing apparatus to perform: a display process for displaying the print setting screen on a display section; and a storage judgment process for judging whether a shared printing condition shared by different application programs is stored in a predetermined storage section. In a case that it is judged that the shared printing condition is not stored in the predetermined storage section, the instructions cause the information processing apparatus to perform: a shared printing condition accepting process for accepting setting of a new shared printing condition; and a storage process for storing the new shared printing condition and identification information of the first application program in the predetermined storage section being correlated with each other. |
| US09047036B2 |
Display apparatus, print control method, and program
A display apparatus displays an identification information element corresponding to an image currently displayed on a display unit in accordance with a first instruction from a user. In accordance with a second instruction from the user, the display apparatus causes a printing apparatus to perform printing based on an image data element corresponding to an identification information element selected by the user from among one or more identification information elements being displayed. |
| US09047035B2 |
Printing device, mobile terminal, and computer readable recording medium for the same
A printing device includes a printing device side wireless communication unit configured to execute wireless communication with a mobile terminal, an operation acquisition unit configured to acquire user operation thereof, and a processor. The processor is configured to acquire operation data which is generated as the operation acquisition unit acquires a user operation, acquire establishment data which is generated as the printing device side wireless communication unit establishes a wireless communication with the mobile terminal, and issue a request control to control the printing device side wireless communication unit to transmit request data requesting the mobile terminal to transmit print data necessary for printing, via the wireless communication, when the establishment data is acquired, the request control being issued in accordance with the operation data as acquired. |
| US09047034B2 |
Mobile device control of multifunction peripheral output
Systems and methods for mobile device control of multifunction peripheral output are disclosed. The method includes receiving interaction with a user interface resulting in user selection of viewing attributes for a document, the viewing attributes including a zoom level and a position of the document on the user interface, the viewing attributes together defining a view of the document visible on the user interface. The method further includes adjusting the user interface to display the document according to the view and receiving interaction with the user interface requesting transmission of the document to a multifunction peripheral for output, generating document output data comprising the document according to the view in a form suitable for operation by a multifunction peripheral and transmitting the document output data to a multifunction peripheral for output such that the document is output by the multifunction peripheral according to the view. |
| US09047028B2 |
Apparatus and method for assigning print job
An apparatus for assigning a print job is provided. The apparatus includes a detector configured to detect an ambient temperature of each of a plurality of areas, each of the areas including at least one printer and at least one air conditioning system; a selection portion configured to select a printer included in a suitable area of the areas, the suitable area being an area where the ambient temperature detected is lower than a predetermined temperature; and an issuing portion configured to give the print job to the printer selected. |
| US09047025B2 |
Print service provider operations management
A system for print service provider (PSP) operations management includes a provenance analytics engine. The provenance analytics engine accesses fresh meta-data associated with fresh events in a PSP operation performed using a printing system operated by a PSP. The provenance analytics engine further accesses stored meta-data associated with past events related to past PSP operations. Still further, the provenance analytics engine accesses a component behavioral model (CBM) to produce results associated with events in a PSP operation. The provenance analytics engine analyzes the event-related meta-data. |
| US09047021B2 |
Managing metadata for logical volume managers
A logical volume manager (LVM) may manage a plurality of logical volumes and a plurality of drives in a logical data storage using metadata stored on the plurality of drives. The LVM may operate in one of two modes. In the first mode, the LVM may deleted uncommitted metadata on a drive and may use committed metadata on the drive when accessing a logical volume. In a second mode, the LVM may use committed metadata on the drive when accessing the logical volume and may refrain from deleting the uncommitted metadata. |
| US09047017B1 |
Techniques for automated evaluation and movement of data between storage tiers
Described are techniques for configuring data storage. Criteria identifying limits is received for a plurality of storage tiers for one or more logical devices. The storage tiers include a first storage tier and one or more other storage tiers where the first storage tier is higher performing than the other storage tiers. First processing is performed to determine a first set of data portions of the logical devices to be stored on physical devices of the first storage tier subject to limits included in said criteria. First processing includes determining scores for data portions of the logical devices. Each score is calculated using one or more metrics including a first metric weighted based on an expected I/O size. The data portions are ranked in accordance with the scores. The first set of data portions stored in the first storage tier is selected based on the score ranking. |
| US09047016B2 |
Storage system for controlling assignment of storage area to virtual volume storing specific pattern data
A storage system comprises a storage medium including a plurality of physical storage areas. The storage system controls a host computer to recognize a logical volume having a plurality of virtual storage areas, reads the data from the physical storage area assigned to the virtual storage area of the logical volume, determines whether or not the read data includes only the specific pattern data, and cancels the assignment of the physical storage area to the virtual storage area if the read data includes only the specific pattern data. |
| US09047011B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing a dynamic user interface in consideration of physical characteristics of a user
Provided are an apparatus and method for providing a user interface and a terminal employing the same. The apparatus is capable of dynamically changing a graphical object according to the physical characteristics of a user or in an effort to prevent muscle stress to the user. |
| US09047010B2 |
Selective key distinction at system startup
A method of distinguishing at least one key of a key array. The method can include, via a processor, detecting initial startup of a processing system. The method further can include, during the initial startup, distinguishing at least a first key of the key array from other keys of the key array, wherein the first key is selectable to access a system startup menu or system function. |
| US09047007B2 |
Semantic zoom within a diagram of a system
Providing zooming within a system diagram. Initially, a diagram of a system may be displayed. The diagram may include a plurality of icons representing physical components of the system. These plurality of icons may be initially displayed at a first level of magnification. User input to zoom on a first physical component in the diagram may be received. Accordingly, the first physical component may be displayed at a second level of magnification and other ones of the physical components may be displayed at a third level of magnification. The second level of magnification may be greater than the first level of magnification and the third level of magnification may be less than the first level of magnification. Alternatively, or additionally, different representations for various components of the system may be displayed in the diagram during or after the zoom. |
| US09047005B2 |
Substituting touch gestures for GUI or hardware keys to control audio video play
A user can toggle between GUI input and touch screen input with the GUI hidden using touch gestures correlated to respective hidden GUI elements and, thus, to respective commands for a TV and/or disk player sending AV data thereto. |
| US09046998B2 |
Cloud-based trash-can
Technologies are generally described for a cloud-based trash-can. In some examples, a method performed under control of a user device may include displaying a remote trash-can icon on a display of the user device, receiving a first user input that includes moving an icon representing a locally stored file to be discarded onto the remote trash-can icon, displaying on the display a request for a reason for discarding the locally stored file, and moving the discarded file to a server. |
| US09046996B2 |
Techniques for navigation among multiple images
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to providing a user with an image navigation experience. In order to do so, a reference image may be identified. A set of potential target images for the reference image may also be identified. A drag vector for user input relative to the reference image is determined. For particular image of the set of target images an associated cost is determined based at least in part on a cost function and the drag vector. A target image is selected based on the determined associated costs. |
| US09046995B2 |
Editing of two dimensional software consumables within a complex three dimensional spatial application and method
A set of methods and tools are described that permit a user to interact with a two dimensional (2D) photograph or image as if photograph or image is a three dimensional (3D) image of photograph. |
| US09046991B2 |
System and method for dynamically displaying structurally dissimilar thumbnail images of an electronic document
A system and method for dynamically displaying structurally dissimilar thumbnail images generated from multiple pages of an electronic document based on a display size of a display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more candidate images are selected based on a generated metric for dissimilarity for each one of multiple images associated with multiple pages of an electronic document, where the metric for dissimilarity for each one of the multiple images is generated by comparing each image of the multiple images with substantially previous images of the multiple images. Then, the selected one or more candidate images are dynamically displayed as structurally dissimilar thumbnail images based on a display size of a display device. |
| US09046990B2 |
Manual browsing device, information processing system, and computer readable medium
There is provided a manual browsing device comprising: a manual storage section that stores manual information; a collection section that collects device information of the manual browsing device or device information of a peripheral, which is an external device communicating information with the manual browsing device; an information selection section that selects a display menu which indicates some of the manual information based on the device information collected by the collection section; and an updating section that updates a display screen on which the manual information is displayed, by using the display menu selected by the information selection section. |
| US09046988B2 |
System for recording, suggesting, and displaying fans of a subject
A system for recording and displaying that an entity is a fan of at least one subject may include a graphical user interface including a graphical representation of a three-dimensional shape having at least a first face and a second face. The graphical representation of the three-dimensional shape may symbolize the entity or the subject in the system and the first face of the three-dimensional shape includes information corresponding to the entity or the subject. The system may further include a recording logic configured to receive information declaring that the entity or the subject is a fan. The system may further include a displaying logic configured to display on the graphical representation of the three-dimensional shape information corresponding to the entity or the subject. |
| US09046987B2 |
Crowd formation based on wireless context information
Systems and methods are disclosed for forming crowds of users based on wireless contexts of corresponding mobile devices of the users. In general, wireless contexts of mobile devices of a number of users are obtained. For each mobile device, the wireless context of the mobile device includes a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) context of the mobile device, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) context of the mobile device, or both. The wireless contexts of the mobile devices of the users are then utilized to form crowds of users. More specifically, in one embodiment, users of mobile devices having sufficiently similar wireless contexts are determined to be in the same crowd of users. |
| US09046982B2 |
Representing a graphical user interface using a topic tree structure
A method, computer program product, and system for a quality-of-service history database is described. A first input associated with a change to a component of a graphical user interface is received, wherein a portion of the component is represented as a first node of a tree structure representing a portion of the graphical user interface. A first characteristic of the change is determined. The first characteristic of the change is associated with a second node of the topic tree structure. The associated first characteristic is transmitted to a first computing device, wherein transmission of the associated first characteristic allows one or more of the first computing device and a second computing device to determine a first aspect of the change based upon, at least in part, the topic tree structure. |
| US09046981B2 |
Trip and travel tool
A server transmits a first page to be displayed. The first page includes a location entry representing a location to visit on a trip and at least two map elements, the two map elements and location entry being organized as a list in a first order on the first page. A request to move a selected map element of the two map elements within the list is received. Parameters of the selected map element are changed to form changed parameters that change the position of the selected map element within the list. The server transmits a second page to be displayed based on the changed parameters, the second page comprising the location entry and the two map elements organized as a second list in a second order. |
| US09046980B1 |
System and method for flipping a displayed image to present real-time additional data pertaining to that image
By using a server separate from an image it is possible to display real-time auxiliary data, such as advertisements and other pertinent data, to viewers of that image by flipping the image and presenting the auxiliary data on the reverse side of the flipped image. In this manner, additional information is presented to a viewer without increasing the footprint of the image. In some embodiments, the identity of the viewer dictates the data that is provided. In other embodiments, the base images that are being viewed are uploaded by a viewer and are not provided by the sponsor of the server. The data could, for example, be data supplied by the image owner, by the site sponsor or by a third party. |
| US09046978B2 |
Position detecting device
A position detecting device is provided, which is capable of stably detecting an indicator with less susceptibility to the influence of noise by using a differential amplifier circuit and multi-touch. The device includes a sensor having an electrode pattern formed of plural first electrodes arranged in a first direction and plural second electrodes arranged in a second direction. The device selects two sets of the first electrodes separate from each other by a distance equivalent to a predetermined number of electrodes and supplies two drive signals having phases inverted from each other. The device selects two sets of the second electrodes separate from each other by a distance equivalent to a predetermined number of electrodes and connects the selected second electrodes to two differential inputs of a differential amplifier circuit. The device controls selection of two sets of the first electrodes and two sets of the second electrodes. |
| US09046976B2 |
Method for transmitting and detecting touch sensing signals and touch device using the same
A method for transmitting and detecting touch sensing signals in a touch device having a set of parallel conducting lines includes: providing a work signal and a touch sensing signal to a selected portion of the conducting lines that serve as touch sensing lines and that cooperate to define a touch sensing area; and detecting the touch sensing lines to obtain a detecting signal that corresponds to the touch sensing signal and that indicates occurrence of a touch event, so as to determine at least one of a position and an intensity of the touch event. For each of the touch sensing lines, the work signal is provided during a first time interval and the touch sensing signal is provided during a second time interval. |
| US09046975B2 |
Flexible touch screen panel and flexible display device having the same
A flexible touch screen panel includes a flexible thin-film substrate including an active region and an inactive region, the inactive region being at an outer side portion of the active region, and the thin-film substrate being configured to bend along at least one bending axis, sensing patterns in the active region of the thin-film substrate, the active region being divided into a plurality of electrically independent regions by the at least one bending axis, and sensing lines in the inactive region of the thin-film substrate, the sensing lines being connected to the sensing patterns. |
| US09046974B2 |
Transparent touch-screen capacitor with micro-wire electrode
A touch-screen device includes a transparent dielectric layer. An anisotropically conductive first electrode extends in a first length direction over the substrate and an anisotropically conductive second electrode having a second length direction is formed under the substrate. The anisotropically conductive first and second electrodes each include a plurality of electrically connected micro-wires, including parallel straight micro-wires extending in the corresponding first and second length directions and angled micro-wires formed at a non-orthogonal angle to the straight micro-wires. The angled micro-wires electrically connect the straight micro-wires so that the anisotropically conductive first and second electrodes each have a greater electrical conductivity in the corresponding first and second length directions than in another anisotropically conductive electrode direction. |
| US09046971B2 |
Detection method and detection device for detecting multiple contacts on touch panel according preliminary sensing data
A detection method for detecting a plurality of contacts on a touch panel which includes a plurality of first sensing axes on a first dimension and a plurality of second sensing axes on a second dimension includes: generating a preliminary sensing data according to the contacts on the touch panel; determining at least one specific sensing axis included in the plurality of first sensing axes according to the preliminary sensing data; utilizing a configuration circuit to configure a driving and receiving sequence of the plurality of first sensing axes and the plurality of second sensing axes for obtaining a sensing output; and utilizing a determining circuit to receive a completion instruction. |
| US09046969B2 |
Input device
An input device includes an electrode part, a switching circuit, a driving circuit, a detecting circuit, and a controller. The electrode part includes a plurality of electrode pieces. The switching circuit is formed of a plurality of switches connected to the electrode pieces respectively. The driving circuit and the detecting circuit are connected to the electrode part via the switching circuit. The controller is connected to the driving circuit, the switching circuit, and the detecting circuit. The controller controls the respective switches such that the electrode pieces are individually opened or connected to one of the driving circuit and the detecting circuit. |
| US09046967B2 |
Vehicle accessory control interface having capactive touch switches
A system for enabling an operator to control a vehicle accessory includes a control interface and a processor. The control interface has a display surface and a touch area defined by an electrically conductive layer adjacent the display surface. The conductive layer capacitively couples to an electrically conductive object upon the object touching or being in proximity with the touch area while the conductive layer is driven with an electrical charge. The processor drives the conductive layer with the electrical charge, detects the capacitive coupling of the conductive layer to the object upon the object touching or being in proximity with the touch area while the conductive layer is driven, generates a signal indicative of the object touching or being in proximity with the touch area upon detecting the capacitive coupling of the conductive layer to the object, and provides the signal to the accessory for controlling the accessory accordingly. |
| US09046965B2 |
Method and device for position detection
The present invention provides a method and device for position detection. For detection of a touch position, a segment of surface acoustic wave (SAW) is provided multiple times to be propagated on a SAW touch panel, and the multiple SAW segments are received by the SAW touch panel. In addition, during or after reception, partial output electrical signals are provided based on different portions of each received SAW segment to construct a complete output electrical signal. |
| US09046960B2 |
Light path adjusting assembly and optical touch device using the same
A light path adjusting assembly includes a supporting component and a light path adjusting component. The supporting component includes a mounting portion, a light transmission portion and a connecting portion. The light transmission portion faces to the mounting portion. The connecting portion is located between and is connected to the mounting portion and the light transmission portion, thereby forming a receiving space between the mounting portion and the light transmission portion. The light path adjusting component is disposed in the receiving space. An optical touch device using the light path adjusting assembly is also provided. The light path adjusting assembly and the optical touch device have a simple manufacturing process and a high production yield. |
| US09046958B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for user input interpretation and input error mitigation
Provided herein are a method, apparatus and computer program product for interpreting user input and mitigating erroneous inputs on a device. In particular, methods may include receiving an indication of a first touch event, determining, by a touch mediation function, if the first touch event is an erroneous touch event, causing the first touch event to be sent to an application in response to the touch mediation function determining that the touch event is not erroneous; and causing the first touch event to not be sent to the application in response to the touch mediation function determining that the first touch event is erroneous. The first touch event may occur proximate a first capture area for the user interface and the method may further include causing the first capture area for the user interface to be adjusted in response to the first touch event. |
| US09046956B2 |
Position input apparatus that detects a position where a pressure is applied
As for a position input apparatus that, when a user applies a pressure to an operation area, determines a pressed position where the pressure is applied, the manufacturing cost of the position input apparatus is reduced. An operation plate is a flat plate having the operation area on one surface. A plurality of pressure sensors (pressure detection devices) detect, at respectively different pressure detection positions, a detection position pressure generated by the pressure applied to the pressed position. A pressed position determination device determines the pressed position, based on a plurality of detection position pressures detected by the plurality of pressure sensors. |
| US09046955B1 |
Display device integrated with touch screen panel and method for fabricating the same
Disclosed is a display device integrated with a touch screen panel and a method for fabricating the same. The display includes: a TFT positioned at each pixel region; a first electrode spaced from one of a source electrode or a drain electrode of the TFT; a second electrode facing the first electrode; a TFT protective layer positioned on the TFT and has a first contact hole; a touch signal line positioned between a first touch connection pattern, which is made of the same material as the first electrode, and a second touch connection pattern made of the same material as the second electrode, and transfers a touch driving signal to the second touch connection pattern; a first connection pattern made of the same material as the second electrode; and a first electrode protective layer positioned on the first electrode and the touch signal line. |
| US09046953B2 |
Control system for touch screen
A control system for a touch screen is provided. The control system includes a voltage-level shifter between a screen controller and a touch controller. The voltage-level shifter level-shifts a common voltage for driving the screen to a corresponding timing signal with an input signal range acceptable by the touch controller. |
| US09046951B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a planar display and a touch panel, which overlaps the display. The touch panel has a detection zone that covers at least a vertical distance which is less than a first value and greater than a second value which is smaller than the first value and where two dimensional coordinates and the vertical distance can be detected. The detection zone has a first zone that covers the vertical distance from the first value to the second value and includes a center of the touch panel with respect to the two dimensional coordinates. The first zone, in which the vertical distance is a specific value between the first value and the second value, narrows as the specific value increases from the second value toward the first value. |
| US09046950B1 |
Touch display panel with electrostatic protection unit
A touch display panel and a display device with the same includes driving electrodes, sensing electrodes insulated from each other, driving electrode leads, sensing electrode leads, first external terminals and second external terminals, all disposed on the color filter substrate. The driving electrodes are respectively connected with the first external terminals by the driving electrode leads, the sensing electrodes are respectively connected with the second external terminals by the sensing electrode leads; third external terminals on a TFT array substrate respectively correspond to and are electrically connected with the first external terminals, fourth external terminals on the TFT array substrate respectively correspond to and are electrically connected with the second external terminals; the third external terminals and the fourth external terminals are connected with a common electrode line through an electrostatic protection unit, thereby protecting the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes against electrostatic discharge. |
| US09046949B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device 100 includes a display unit 165 including a display part 160 having a display region 160a on which to display an image, a panel member 130 to be touched by a user, and a first adhesive part 150 which is provided so as to cover the display region 160a and which bonds the panel member 130 and the display part 160 together; a vibration part 140 which causes flexural vibration of the display unit 165; and a second adhesive part 155 which bonds the vibration part to the display unit. The rigidity of the first adhesive part 150 is lower than the rigidity of the second adhesive part 155. |
| US09046946B2 |
System and method of determining stylus location on touch-sensitive display
An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display including a plurality of touch sensors configured to detect touches on the touch-sensitive display. The touch sensors include a plurality of touch sensor jumpers that are spaced apart in the touch-sensitive display. The touch-sensor jumpers include attributes to facilitate identification of a location of a stylus relative to the jumpers. The stylus includes a device configured to obtain data relating to an attribute of at least one of the touch sensor jumpers of the touch-sensitive display, a processor operably coupled to the device to receive the data, and a transmitter operably coupled to the processor and configured to transmit to the electronic device, information based on the data. The electronic device includes a receiver that receives the information and a processor that is configured to determine the location of the stylus based on the information. |
| US09046942B2 |
Combined accumulator and maximum/minimum comparator
In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting, by a hardware accelerator, that a value has been written to a first location of a memory, the first location identified by a first address. The method further includes adding the value to an accumulated value stored in an accumulator register of the hardware accelerator and storing the result in the accumulator register. The method further includes comparing the value to a maximum value stored in a first register of the hardware accelerator and overwriting the maximum value with the value if the value is greater than the maximum value. The method also includes comparing the value to a minimum value stored in a second register of the hardware accelerator and overwriting the minimum value with the value if the value is less than the minimum value. |
| US09046940B2 |
Electronic apparatus and drawing method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first obtaining module, a second obtaining module, a correction module, and a drawing processor. The first obtaining module detects a position of a stylus on a writing surface of a sensor. The second obtaining module obtains writing pressure by the stylus. The correction module corrects the writing pressure obtained by the second obtaining module based on a selected first line width. The drawing processor draws a locus of the obtained position of the stylus on a display screen. The drawing processor has a first mode. The locus has a line width based on the writing pressure corrected by the correction module in the first mode. |
| US09046938B2 |
Unintended displacement identification and correction method and system
Substantially elevated movement sensitivity of a mouse enables improved control and finer manipulation of an object, for example a pointer, displayed on a display device. However, the elevated movement sensitivity also results in unintended movement of the mouse, generated when a button of the mouse is operated, being translated into displacement of the pointer on the display device. An embodiment of the invention describes a method for transducing movement occurring during an interval into signals in response to the button being operated. The signals are for use in manipulating the object. The method is further for comparing properties of the displacement with pre-defined reference properties to determined whether the movement is intended or unintended. The signals are subsequently terminated to impede manipulation of the object when the movement is determined to be unintended to thereby correct the unintended movement. |
| US09046936B2 |
Information input apparatus and method for controlling information input apparatus
The handheld controller controls a graphic cursor on a display. A motion sensor responds to user movement of a first type producing motion data. A touchpad responds to user movement of a second type more precise than the first type producing second sensor data. A processor calculates a hybrid cursor movement signal having a large scale movement component corresponding to movement of the first type and a fine scale movement component corresponding to movement of the second type, the hybrid cursor movement signal being for moving the graphic cursor. A processor calculates the large scale movement component based on a first sensitivity parameter representing sensitivity of the motion sensor determined by associating the touchpad data with the motion data, and the fine scale movement component based on a second sensitivity parameter representing sensitivity of the touchpad determined by associating the motion data with the touchpad data. |
| US09046935B2 |
Motion estimation device and power saving method thereof
A power saving method for a motion estimation device includes: calculating a first differential image at a first time; calculating a second differential image at a second time; comparing the first differential image and the second differential image to obtain a displacement between the first differential image and the second differential image; comparing the displacement with at least one threshold value; and adjusting an emitting cycle of a light source according to a comparison result of comparing the displacement and the threshold value and maintaining a sampling period of the motion estimation device unchanged when adjusting the emitting cycle of the light source. The present invention further provides a motion estimation device. |
| US09046932B2 |
System and method for inputting text into electronic devices based on text and text category predictions
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for text prediction and, in particular, a system and method for the adaptive weighting of text predictions. The present invention provides a modular language model-based text prediction system for the adaptive weighting of text prediction components and a method for doing so. The system uses category predictions, generated by a timed aggregated perceptron classifier, to weight, using a weighting module, text predictions generated by a text prediction engine comprising at least one predictor. |
| US09046931B2 |
Apparatus and method for adaptation of input/output interface in virtualization environment
Provided are an apparatus and method for adapting an input/output interface. According to the exemplary method, a host system adapts an input/output interface of the guestsystem a to an input/output unit capability of a host system so as to support a service supported by an input/output unit supporting the input/output unit capability of the guest system using the at least one input/output unit of the host system. |
| US09046927B2 |
Control device for communicating visual information
Methods and systems for processing input by a computing device are presented. One method includes operations for receiving images of a control device that includes an object section, and for determining a location of the control device utilizing image analysis for each captured image. Additionally, the movement of the control device is tracked based on the determined locations, where the tracking of the movement includes receiving inertial sensor information obtained by sensors in the control device, and determining an orientation of the control device based on the sensor information. Additionally, the method includes an operation for translating the movement and orientation of the control device into input for a game executing in the computing device, where the input is translated into a motion and orientation of an object in the game based on the movement of the control device. |
| US09046926B2 |
System and method of dynamically generating a frequency pattern to realize the sense of touch in a computing device
Systems and methods for providing tactile feedback. A method for providing tactile feedback, comprises extracting a plurality of features from a visual representation of a physical object, wherein the extracting is performed using at least one image processing technique, generating a variable frequency pattern corresponding to the extracted features, sending the variable frequency pattern to a computing device, and generating the tactile feedback via the computing device in response to a stimulation applied by a user, wherein the tactile feedback is based on the variable frequency pattern. |
| US09046924B2 |
Gesture based interaction with traffic data
Gesture based interaction with traffic data is disclosed. A virtual broadcast presentation may be generated based on dynamic information such as traffic information, weather information, or other information that may be featured on a virtual broadcast presentation. A gesture made by a user is detected and processed to determine an input command associated with the detected gesture. The virtual broadcast presentation may be manipulated based on the input command. |
| US09046919B2 |
Wearable user interface device, system, and method of use
Provided herein is a wearable interface for providing information from a user to a control unit comprising at least one wearable patch in communication with the control unit, wherein the patch is adaptable to detect object data and transmit the object data to the control unit. Further provided herein is a parameter determining patch for detecting object data from an object, the parameter determining sensor comprising at least one wearable data obtaining patch adaptable to obtain data from an object; and at least one transmitter for transmitting object data. Also included herein are a system and method of use of the invention. |
| US09046918B2 |
Portable device and method for controlling the same
A method for controlling a portable device is provided. The method includes detecting bending of the portable device and determining whether to perform motion sensing correction due to the bending; acquiring a motion sensing correction factor for performing the motion sensing correction due to the bending; performing motion sensing correction of at least one motion sensor using the motion sensing correction factor; and controlling the portable device according to the corrected motion sensing. |
| US09046917B2 |
Device, method and system for monitoring, predicting, and accelerating interactions with a computing device
A device, method and system for monitoring, predicting, and accelerating interactions with a computing device includes determining a current interaction context at a computing device based on interactions occurring at the computing device, predicting a number of potential subsequent interactions, speculatively executing at least some of the potential subsequent interactions, and presenting interactive representations of the speculatively-executed interactions at the computing device. |
| US09046913B2 |
Riflescope adjustment knob with interchangeable adjustment indicator ring
An adjustment device having a rotatable knob for changing an adjustable setting of an aiming device, such as a riflescope. The knob includes a removable indicator ring slidable onto the knob and bearing a scale to provide visual feedback to a shooter regarding an adjustment position of the adjustable setting. The knob further carries a releasable latch that may extend radially outward relative to the knob to retain the indicator ring on the knob when the latch is in the latched position. When the shooter desires to remove and replace the indicator ring, such as in response to a change in shooting conditions, the latch may be released to an unlatched position to allow the indicator ring to be moved off of the knob. The shooter may thereafter insert a replacement indicator ring on the knob. |
| US09046910B2 |
Constant current generation circuit and microprocessor including the same
A constant current generation circuit of the invention includes: a temperature variable voltage generation unit that generates a first variation voltage whose voltage value fluctuates with temperature; a variation gradient adjustment unit that generates a second variation voltage based on a reference voltage smaller in the amount of variation with temperature than the first variation voltage and the first variation voltage; and a current generation unit that includes a current setting resistor whose resistance value fluctuates with temperature and generates an output current based on the second variation voltage and the current setting resistor. The variation gradient adjustment unit sets the coefficient of variation with temperature of the second variation voltage so that the difference between it and the coefficient of variation with temperature of the resistance value of the current setting resistor is within a preset first stipulated range. |
| US09046907B2 |
Full-bridge converter with digital pulse modulation (DPWM) for driving a load
A method is described for driving a full-bridge circuit (34,64) comprising a circuit (31) generating a first output modulation signal (m1) and a second output modulation signal (m2) for controlling the full-bridge. The method comprises the steps for generating a first (X1) and a second (X2) square waveform having a common period (Ts), where the first waveform (X1) is configured in order to drive a leg of the full-bridge and the second waveform is configured in order to drive the other leg of the full-bridge. The method is characterized in that the first square waveform (X1) is generated with a first duty cycle based on a first modulation signal (m1); the second square waveform (X2) is generated with a second duty cycle greater than or equal to the first duty cycle of a time increment Ts/(N−1) based on the second modulation signal (m2). |
| US09046906B1 |
Highly survivable and rugged computer assembly
A ruggedized computer assembly that includes a liquids proof case made of thermally conductive material and having an exterior surface and an interior surface. Also, an electrically-powered cooling assembly is supported on the exterior surface and draws heat from the exterior surface. Moreover, a plurality of computers is housed in the case, and supported by and thermally connected to the interior surface of the case, so that heat is transferred from the computer assembly, through the liquids proof case, to the cooling assembly. |
| US09046904B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling pulse frequency modulation in single-inductor dual-output power circuit
An apparatus configured to control a pulse frequency modulation in a single-inductor dual-output power circuit. The apparatus fixes a pulse width of one of a maximum on-time pulse signal (which is used to define a maximum on-time during which a current flowing through the inductor is generated) and a minimum off-time pulse signal (which is used to define a minimum off-time during which either the boost voltage converter or the buck-boost voltage converter produces a positive voltage or a negative voltage). The apparatus adjusts a pulse width of the other pulse signal. |
| US09046896B1 |
Steam heating system method and apparatus to accurately control temperature within a building through the electromechanical control of radiator air venting
A method of controlling a steam heating system on a zone by zone, and radiator by radiator basis, through the electromechanically controlled release of air from radiators. A programmable set of target temperatures for each zone is stored in a microprocessor module. The microprocessor monitors the air temperature of each zone through probes. The microprocessor can selectively open and close the electromechanical air vent valves installed on each radiator's vent port. When one of the vent valves is caused to be opened, the steam boiler is triggered to start producing steam pressure; steam displaces the air in the radiators, out the vent valves, heating them up. Each zone's temperature is achieved and maintained by controlling the associated radiators' output through modulating their air vent valves. Through the microprocessor's adjustment of the vent valves' temperatures and cycle timing, optimal energy efficiency across multiple zone control is achieved. |
| US09046895B2 |
System and method for controlling fluid delivery
A systems and methods for delivering fluid to a site using a mobile fluid delivery machine are disclosed. The method includes determining a location of the mobile fluid delivery machine on the site, and determining a fluid delivery rate based on the location of the mobile fluid delivery machine using information related to the site. The method further includes delivering the fluid to a surface of the site at the location of the mobile fluid delivery machine, at the determined fluid delivery rate. |
| US09046889B2 |
Method and apparatus for component assembly using continuous selection
A manufacturing process for providing an assembly formed of a first piece and a best fitted second piece is described. The manufacturing process is carried out by performing at least the following operations: receiving the first piece characterized in accordance with at least a first attribute, selecting the best fitted second piece from a buffer, the selecting based in part upon a best matching value of a second attribute in relation to the first attribute replacing the selected best fitted second piece with another second piece such that the number of second pieces in the buffer remains about the same, and forming the assembly the first part and the second part to form the assembly. |
| US09046880B2 |
Control device of power transmission device and method of setting parameters in a power transmission device
A control input for controlling a driving force of an actuator (5), by a control processing of the sliding-mode control using a switching function configured from a first variable component, which is a deviation between an observed value of a secondary power imparted to a secondary element (3) from a primary element (2) via an elastic deformation member (4), and a second variable component which is a temporal change rate of the deviation, so as to converge the first variable component to zero on the switching hyperplane. A gradient of the switching hyperplane is preliminarily determined based on a response characteristics data satisfying a predetermined requirement. |
| US09046879B2 |
Fault protection circuit for IEC 61158 fieldbus spur and method of using the same
A fault protection circuit for use on a spur of an IEC 61158 Fieldbus network comprising a fast acting current limiter adapted to limit the spur current to the level of a reference current when the spur current reaches said reference current, control means adapted to monitor the spur AC and/or DC current and/or voltage, and isolation means adapted to apply a shunt short circuit isolation to said spur upon receipt of an activation signal from the control means, in which the control means is adapted to control the level of the reference current, and in which when said control means detects one or more pre-determined fault conditions on said spur it activates the isolation means and lowers the level of reference current. |
| US09046878B2 |
System and method to synchronize a patient monitoring device with a central server
A patient monitoring device (10) transmits patient data packets (70) to a server (12). In response to the server receiving the transmitted patient data packet, the server sends an acknowledgement (ACK) message (72) from the server at the patient monitoring device including a timestamp (74). The patient monitoring device compares the timestamp in the received ACK message with a current time of its clock (28). If the times differ by more than a selected amount, the clock is synchronized to the timestamp. |
| US09046877B2 |
Method and system for managing an alarm signal, alarm clock comprising such a system
The invention relates to a method and a system (SYS) for managing an alarm signal in a system comprising a first internal clock. The system is intended to cooperate with a portable player (PP) comprising a second internal clock and a screen (S). The method comprises the steps of: —setting the time of said first internal clock at the time of said second internal clock, —selecting a given time value being displayed on said screen, —memorizing said given time value in said system, —setting the time of said second internal clock at the time of said first internal clock, —triggering an alarm signal on said system when the time of said first internal clock reaches said given time value. According to this method, when the portable player is docked to the system, the system according to the invention does not require its own screen because the screen of the portable player is used to display the current time and the alarm time during setting it, resulting in a reduction of the costs of the system. |
| US09046875B2 |
Portable apparatus and portable timepiece
Provision of a portable apparatus which is of a simple construction and which can prevent a lock member arranged at a lock position where a pushbutton is locked from being erroneously rotated to an excessive degree. A pipe inserted into a through-hole of an apparatus exterior body is fixed to the apparatus exterior body. The pipe consists of a single component, and has a male screw portion and a stopper portion on an external arrangement tube portion thereof. A lock member is provided with a female screw portion, a lock part, and a lock portion configured to move toward and away from the stopper portion. The two screw portions and are threadedly engaged with each other, and the lock member is mounted so as to be movable in the axial direction of the pipe. A shaft portion of a pushbutton is passed through the pipe, and the pushbutton is urged toward the exterior of the apparatus exterior body by a spring. A head with which the pushbutton is equipped has an opposing portion facing the lock part. A retaining ring is mounted to a shaft end portion of the shaft portion situated inside the apparatus exterior body, and the pushbutton is prevented from being detached from the pipe. |
| US09046874B2 |
Exposure apparatus and methods
A light beam collimated by illumination optics (4) from a radiation source (6) illuminates the surface of a wave front modulator (8) such as an Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) or Computer Generated Hologram photomask (CGH). The resulting wave travels via projection optics (10) to the substrate (12), passing through a projection lens assembly (14). The SLM (8) is programmed or CGH configured with a modulation pattern that is determined by the substrate (12) topography and desired pattern. The substrate topography is provided by Digital Holography (DH) surface profilometery performed by a DH microscope (18), which provides geometrical or topographical input to the CGH calculation routines (16). An arrangement for vertical or sloping surface patterning has a grating (22) superimposed onto the CGH pattern (24) to generate +1 and −1 orders. The SLM or CGH may be configured: using Fresnel patterns to provide an extended depth of field of the projected wave front; by encoding line segments of the desired pattern as cylindrical lines; by calculating inverse propagation between non-planar topography of the substrate and the SLM or CGH (using a Rayleigh-Sommerfield diffraction formula); and/or using iteration to determine a restricted encoding in the configuration of the SLM or CGH. |
| US09046873B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including a main duct forming an airflow path of air blown by an air blower such that the air flows through the main duct from a first side to a second side in an extending direction of the airflow path, the main duct including a plurality of air outlets opening in a direction intersecting the extending direction and discretely disposed along the extending direction, and an image forming unit including a plurality of air inlets disposed apart from the plurality of air outlets such that the air flowing out from the plurality of air outlets is introduced into the plurality of air inlets, each air inlet formed such that a second-side end thereof in the extending direction is positionally shifted toward the second side in the extending direction, relative to a second-side end of a corresponding air outlet in the extending direction. |
| US09046870B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A copier includes a developing unit, a toner container, a first movable unit, and a second movable unit. The first movable unit carries the developing unit and is movable between a close position where a developing roller of the developing unit is located close to a photosensitive drum and a distant position where the developing roller is located away from the photosensitive drum. The second movable unit carries the toner container and is configured to drag the first movable unit from the close position to the distant position. The copier is configured so that while the second movable unit is located at a standby position for the drag, a clearance is formed between the first and second movable units to avoid physical contact between the first and second movable units. |
| US09046867B2 |
Developing unit having slidably movable receptable
A developing unit includes a developer casing, a developer carrying member, and a receptacle. The developer carrying member is mounted on the developer casing. The receptacle is supported on the developer casing to be slidable linearly with respect to the developing casing, and is configured to accommodate a waste developer. |
| US09046866B2 |
Cleaning device and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device includes first and second cleaning members and a moving member. The first cleaning member contacts a surface of a rotating member, which is in contact with an image carrier, to clean the rotating member by removing substances attached thereto. The moving member supports the first cleaning member in a movable manner. The second cleaning member is disposed downstream of the first cleaning member in a rotation direction in which the rotating member rotates and contacts the surface of the rotating member to clean the rotating member by removing the substances. The second cleaning member removes the substances that remain on the surface of the rotating member after the first cleaning member has been separated from the rotating member so that the substances are removed before a part of the surface of the rotating member on which the substances remain comes into contact with the image carrier. |
| US09046863B2 |
Image forming apparatus, and image forming method
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor; a charger to charge a surface of the photoreceptor; a circulating agent applicator to apply a circulating agent to the surface of the photoreceptor while contacting the surface of the photoreceptor to form a film of the circulating agent on the surface of the photoreceptor; and a contact member contacted with the surface of the photoreceptor. The acting force, which is generated by contact of the contact member with the photoreceptor and includes a tangential force Ft, which is a force in a tangential direction at a contact portion of the contact member with the surface of the photoreceptor, and a normal force Fn, which is a force in a normal direction at the contact portion, satisfies the following relationships, 0.90≦Ft/Fn≦0.96, and 1.15 kgf≦Ft≦1.35 kgf. |
| US09046861B2 |
Image-forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus includes: a plurality of image bearing members for carrying toner images; an intermediate transfer member that is capable of rotating endlessly and possesses conductivity; a current supply member that contacts an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member; a power supply that applies a voltage to the current supply member; a contact member disposed in a position corresponding to at least one of the image bearing members via the intermediate transfer member so as to contact an inner peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer member; an opposing member that opposes the current supply member via the intermediate transfer member; a constant voltage element connected to the opposing member and the contact member; and a resistance element electrically connected between the constant voltage element and the contact member. |
| US09046860B2 |
Coupling part, photosensitive drum, process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum comprises a cylinder having a photosensitive layer formed thereon, with the cylinder being rotatable about an axis thereof. A driving force transmitting part is securely fixed to one axial end of the cylinder. The driving force transmitting part includes (i) a gear encircling a peripheral portion of the driving force transmitting part and (ii) a projection disposed on a side of the gear opposite from the cylinder, with the projection having a base and a free end. At least a portion of a cross-section of the projection at the base is offset from a corresponding portion of a cross-section of the projection at the free end, as seen in a direction of the axis. |
| US09046856B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus may includes: an apparatus body; a fixing device removably mounted to the apparatus body and including a first fixing member, a heat generation member which heats the first fixing member, a second fixing member forming a fixing nip between the first fixing member and the second fixing member, and a housing accommodating at least the heat generation member and the first fixing member and provided with a communication part communicating between inner and outer sides of the housing; a transfer member arranged upstream of the fixing device in a conveyance direction of a recording sheet, and to which developer is configured to be transferred; a sensor configured to detect the developer transferred to the transfer member; and a film arranged to cover the sensor between the communication part and the sensor. |
| US09046854B2 |
Estimating accuracy of a remaining useful life prediction model for a consumable using statistics based segmentation technique
An apparatus and method of predicting the end of life of a consumable. A basic weighted least squares algorithm has been extended and augmented to compensate for observed common consumable/printer behavior. The system uses consumable usage data (such as toner level) acquired from the device to predict the current and future consumable level and to predict the remaining life. The apparatus and method monitors the consumable's usage and updates the prediction so that when the predicted remaining life matches a preset threshold, it automatically triggers an order placement event to ship product to customer. |
| US09046853B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a primary transfer bias adjuster to adjust, in a second mode, a primary transfer bias by a correction amount in accordance with a degree of deterioration of a developing agent detected by a first developing agent condition detector so as to reduce a primary transfer current of the primary transfer bias upon transferring a toner image from a first image bearing member onto an intermediate transfer member, and to adjust, in a first mode, the primary transfer bias by a correction amount less than the correction amount in the second mode or not to adjust the primary transfer bias in accordance with the degree of deterioration of the developing agent detected by the first developing agent condition detector upon primarily transferring the toner image from the first image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member. |
| US09046833B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device included in an image forming apparatus includes a fixing rotary body, a heater disposed opposite the fixing rotary body, an opposed body contacting an outer circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body, a reflector disposed opposite the heater, and a heat shield disposed between the heater and the fixing rotary body and includes a shield portion to shield heat radiated from the heater to the fixing rotary body. Heat reflectance of at least a surface of the shield portion where the heat shield faces the heater is set to a value smaller than heat reflectance on a surface of the reflector opposite and facing the heater. Also, heat absorptance of at least a surface of the shield portion where the heat shield faces the heater is set to a value greater than heat absorptance on a surface of the reflector opposite and facing the heater. |
| US09046832B2 |
Fixing device having heat shielding device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes an endless belt formed into a loop and rotatable in a given direction of rotation. An opposed rotary body contacts the endless belt to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heater is disposed in proximity to an irradiation span spanning on an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt in a circumferential direction thereof to emit light that irradiates and heats the irradiation span of the endless belt. A shield is interposed between the heater and the irradiation span of the endless belt in a diametrical direction thereof to shield the irradiation span of the endless belt from heated air surrounding the heater. |
| US09046830B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member, a nip forming member, and a power source. The rotatable image bearing member bears a toner image on a surface thereof and rotates. The nip forming member contacts the surface of the image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween. The power source applies a transfer bias to the transfer nip to transfer the toner image from the image bearing member onto a recording medium interposed in the transfer nip. The transfer bias includes a superimposed transfer bias in which an alternating current (AC) component is superimposed on a direct current (DC) component and a polarity of the superimposed transfer bias changes with time. A phase difference between an AC voltage and an AC current output from the power source is equal to or less than 0.47 cycles. |
| US09046828B2 |
Transfer device and image forming apparatus comprising the same
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member, a transport belt, a driving roller, a transferring member, a nip portion, and an applying portion. The transferring member makes contact with the inner circumferential surface of the transport belt to press the transport belt against the image carrying member. The nip portion is formed between the transport belt and the image carrying member by the pressure of the transferring member. The applying portion applies a bias to the transferring member. Application of the bias to the transferring member causes, at the nip portion, the toner image carried on the image carrying member to be transferred to the recording medium carried on the transport belt. Near the nip portion, a pair of support members are arranged which keeps both width-direction end parts of the transport belt in contact with the image carrying member. |
| US09046821B2 |
Development device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A developing device to develop with two-component developer an electrostatic latent image includes a developer bearer to carry thereon developer supplied to the latent image bearer, a first conveyance channel disposed adjacent to the developer bearer, a second conveyance channel disposed adjacent to the first conveyance channel and farther from the developer bearer than the first conveyance channel, a first conveying member disposed in the first conveyance channel to agitate and transport developer supplied to the developer bearer, a second conveying member including a spiral blade winding around a shaft to transport developer in the second conveyance channel in a predetermined developer conveyance direction, and a collected-developer guide to guide a part of developer that leaves the developer bearer to the second conveyance channel beyond the first conveyance channel. |
| US09046818B2 |
Development device and image forming apparatus
A development device includes a developer container that contains developer; a rotatable electrostatic latent image carrier that forms an electrostatic latent image thereon, being arranged below the developer container; a rotatable developer carrier that provides the developer to the electrostatic latent image carrier so that the electrostatic latent image is developed with the developer to form a developer image; and rotatable first and second developer supply members that supply the developer to the developer carrier. Wherein the first developer supply member and the second developer supply member are arranged next to each other and facing the developer carrier, and an outer diameter (D12) of a central portion of the first developer supply member in a rotation axis direction is smaller than outer diameters (D11, D13) of two end portions of the first developer supply member. |
| US09046817B2 |
Replaceable unit for an image forming device having a sensor for sensing rotational motion of a paddle in a toner reservoir of the replaceable unit
A replaceable unit for an electrophotographic image forming device according to one example embodiment includes a housing having a reservoir for storing toner. A rotatable shaft is positioned within the reservoir. A paddle is mounted on the shaft. A sensor is positioned on the housing outside of the reservoir and positioned to sense a rotational motion of the paddle when the shaft rotates. A processor is mounted on the housing and in electric communication with the sensor. An electrical contact is in electric communication with the processor and exposed on an exterior of the housing unobstructed to mate with a corresponding electrical contact when the replaceable unit is installed in the image forming device. |
| US09046816B2 |
Image forming apparatus and toner cartridge
An image forming apparatus comprises: a storage medium 35 configured to arrange in a toner cartridge 30; a detection sensor 37 configured to detect the toner specific concentration of the developer in the developing apparatus 14; a control unit 100 configured to calculate a value corresponding to the drive time of the drive motor 31 to calculate an integrated count value for the toner cartridge, and output a message containing the cause of an abnormity corresponding to the count value when the toner specific concentration detected by the detection sensor shows a value indicative of the empty of the toner, wherein the count value and an empty information indicating whether or not the toner cartridge is empty are stored in the storage medium. |
| US09046815B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus provided therewith
A developing device of the present disclosure includes a developing roller, a toner feeding roller, a regulating blade, a blade holding member, a toner receiving member, and a casing. The regulating blade regulates a thickness of toner carried on the toner feeding roller. An air flow path is formed inside the blade holding member. The toner receiving member, the regulating blade, and the blade holding member each include a slit hole that leads to the air flow path. |
| US09046814B2 |
Developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a developing chamber, a developer containing chamber located on the lower side of the developing chamber, a partition wall configured to separate the developing chamber and the developer containing chamber, an opening configured to allow the developing chamber and the developer containing chamber to communicate with each other, disposed on the partition wall, a developer conveyance member configured to convey developer from the developer containing chamber to the developing chamber by causing the developer to pass through the opening, disposed on the developer containing chamber. In the developing device, a convex portion which protrudes to the developing chamber side is disposed on the partition wall. |
| US09046813B1 |
Printer cartridge with toner wall
An improved printer cartridge is provided with a barrier for reducing pressure on printing assembly components in an extended yield cartridge. A printing assembly, including cartridge casing, magnetic developer roller, and hopper, is provided for use with laser printers. A barrier formed by a base and a wall is positioned within the cartridge casing, between the magnetic developer roller and a feed section of the hopper. The wall of the barrier is tangent to the magnetic developer roller, minimizing the area of the magnetic developer roller which is exposed to a medium stored within the hopper and feed section, such as toner. Since exposed surface area is reduce, the amount of pressure on the magnetic developer roller is correspondingly reduced, allowing for an increase in lifespan for the magnetic roller and interactive components, primarily a doctor blade and sealing blade. |
| US09046812B2 |
Development device and image forming apparatus including the same
A film member in a development device can vibrate with respect to an internal wall in the development device. An idler gear in the development device includes a projection and is reciprocally movable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a position where the projection is apart from an end edge of the film member in response to a rotation of a toner supply roller when image formation is performed. The second position is a position where the projection overlaps with the end edge of the film member in response to a reverse rotation of the toner supply roller when image formation is not performed. The projection causes the film member to vibrate by intermittently coming into contact with the end edge of the film member along with a rotation of the idler gear at the second position. |
| US09046810B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method of image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus has an image carrying member on a surface of which a latent image is formed, a developing roller to develop the latent image on the surface of the image carrying member by providing a developer to the latent image, a smoother, an applying roller to apply the smoother to the surface of the image carrying member, and a controller to determine whether the image forming apparatus is in a waiting mode wherein the image carrying member is moved and is ready for a subsequent image forming operation. The controller controls a rotation and a stop of the rotation of the developing roller when the controller determines that the image forming apparatus is in the waiting mode. |
| US09046808B2 |
Surface emitting laser array and image forming apparatus
A surface emitting laser array includes a light emitting unit having a lower reflection mirror, a resonator structure including an active layer, and an upper reflection mirror laminated on a substrate; an electrode for the light emitting unit; a wiring member that establishes electrical connection between the light emitting unit and the electrode; and the substrate on which more than one of the light emitting units, the electrodes, and the wiring members are arranged. The light emitting unit has anisotropic internal stress, and the distance between the center of a first light emitting unit and the center line of the corresponding wiring member is arranged to be different from the distance between the center of a second light emitting unit and the center line of the corresponding wiring member so that variations in the polarization directions of the light emitting units may be within a predetermined range. |
| US09046800B2 |
Magnetic carrier
Provided is the following magnetic carrier. The magnetic carrier maintains high developing performance even when the number of sheets to be output is large. Its charge-providing performance hardly reduces even when toner or an external additive is spent on the magnetic carrier. In addition, the magnetic carrier is strong in resistance against standing. The magnetic carrier includes a magnetic carrier core and a resinous coating layer formed on a surface of the magnetic carrier core, in which the resinous coating layer contains a resin composition and silica-alumina composite particles. |
| US09046796B2 |
Optical element and exposure apparatus
An optical element is used for an exposure apparatus which is configured to illuminate a mask with an exposure light beam for transferring a pattern on the mask onto a substrate through a projection optical system and to interpose a given liquid in a space between a surface of the substrate and the projection optical system. The optical element includes a first anti-dissolution member provided on a surface of a transmissive optical element on the substrate's side of the projection optical system. |
| US09046787B2 |
Microlithographic projection exposure apparatus
A projection exposure apparatus has a projection lens with an object plane, an image plane, an optical axis and a non-telecentric entrance pupil. The apparatus further comprises an illumination system having an intermediate field plane and a field stop. The field stop is positioned in or in close proximity to the intermediate field plane and defines an illuminated field in the object plane that does not contain the optical axis of the projection lens. The illumination system is configured such that, in the object plane, a mean of the angles formed between all principal rays emanating from the intermediate field plane on the one hand and the optical axis of the projection lens on the other hand differs from 0°. |
| US09046785B2 |
Method and apparatus of patterning a semiconductor device
Provided is a photoresist that includes a polymer having a backbone that is breakable and a photo acid generator that is free of bonding from the polymer. Further, provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a device substrate. A material layer is formed over the substrate. A photoresist material is formed over the material layer. The photoresist material has a polymer that includes a backbone. The photoresist material is patterned to form a patterned photoresist layer. A fabrication process is then performed to the material layer, wherein the patterned photoresist layer serves as a mask in the fabrication process. Thereafter, the patterned photoresist layer is treated in a manner that breaks the backbone of the polymer. The patterned photoresist layer is then removed. |
| US09046778B2 |
Method of improving print performance in flexographic printing plates
A method of tailoring the shape of a plurality of relief printing dots created in a photosensitive printing blank during a platemaking process is provided. The photocurable layer is exposed to actinic radiation using an array of UV LED light assemblies and the use of the array of UV LED light assemblies produces relief printing dots having at least one geometric characteristic selected from the group consisting of a desired planarity of a top surface of the relief printing dots, a desired shoulder angle of the relief printing dots and a desired edge sharpness of the relief printing dots. |
| US09046776B2 |
System, method and reticle for improved pattern quality in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography and method for forming the reticle
A reticle for use in an extreme ultraviolet (euv) lithography tool includes a trench formed in the opaque border formed around the image field of the reticle. The trench is coated with an absorber material. The reticle is used in an euv lithography tool in conjunction with a reticle mask and the positioning of the reticle mask and the presence of the trench combine to prevent any divergent beams of radiation from reaching any undesired areas on the substrate being patterned. In this manner, only the exposure field of the substrate is exposed to the euv radiation. Pattern integrity in neighboring fields is maintained. |
| US09046768B2 |
Resist overlayer film forming composition for lithography
A resist overlayer film composition for lithography from which a resist overlayer film is formed. A resist overlayer film forming composition including a benzene compound having at least one amino group. A resist may be an EUV resist or an electron beam resist. The benzene compound may have at least one amino group and at least one alkyl group, one or two amino groups and one to four alkyl groups, or may be a compound of Formula (1): where R1 to R5 are independently a hydrogen atom, a C1-10 alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl or isopropyl, or an amino group. |
| US09046762B2 |
Nanoimprint lithography
A molding system includes a mold having a base and at least one protuberance extending from the base. The protuberance has an end surface. The system also includes a first photo-catalyst layer on the end surface. The first photo-catalyst layer is configured to at least partially break down a residual layer on a substrate in response to activation of the first photo-catalyst layer by a first radiation. |
| US09046761B2 |
Lithography mask having sub-resolution phased assist features
Techniques are disclosed for using sub-resolution phased assist features (SPAF) in a lithography mask to improve through process pattern fidelity and/or mitigate inverted aerial image problems. The technique also may be used to improve image contrast in non-inverted weak image sites. The use of SPAF in accordance with some such embodiments requires no adjustment to existing design rules, although adjustments can be made to enable compliance with mask inspection constraints. The use of SPAF also does not require changing existing fab or manufacturing processes, especially if such processes already comprehend phased shift mask capabilities. The SPAFs can be used to enhance aerial image contrast, without the SPAFs themselves printing. In addition, the SPAF phase etch depth can be optimized so as to make adjustments to a given predicted printed feature critical dimension. |
| US09046759B1 |
Compact multi-resolution aerial camera system
A system for capturing aerial images, the system comprising at least one overview camera, a plurality of detail cameras, and a frame for holding the cameras, each detail camera having a longer focal length than the at least one overview camera, each detail camera mounted at a different angle laterally so that the fields of view of the detail cameras overlap to form an extended lateral field of view, the frame attachable to the floor of an aircraft above a camera hole, thereby providing the cameras with a view of the ground below the aircraft through the camera hole. |
| US09046754B2 |
EUV mask inspection system
Disclosed are apparatuses, methods, and lithographic systems for EUV mask inspection. An EUV mask inspection system can include an EUV illumination source, an optical system, and an image sensor. The EUV illumination source can be a standalone illumination system or integrated into the lithographic system, where the EUV illumination source can be configured to illuminate an EUV radiation beam onto a target portion of a mask. The optical system can be configured to receive at least a portion of a reflected EUV radiation beam from the target portion of the mask. Further, the image sensor can be configured to detect an aerial image corresponding to the portion of the reflected EUV radiation beam. The EUV mask inspection system can also include a data analysis device configured to analyze the aerial image for mask defects. |
| US09046748B2 |
Method of cooling a lamp
The invention describes a method of cooling a lamp (1) in a projector (2, 2′) independently of an orientation (Pdesk, Pceiling) of the projector (2, 2′), which method comprises directing a cooling airflow (4) symmetrically at a burner (10) of the lamp (1) during operation of the lamp (1); and controlling the cooling airflow (4) alternately between at least a first cooling level (C-I) and a second cooling level (C-II) such that, during cooling at the first cooling level (C-I), the temperature (Tbase) in a base region of the burner (10) drops below a predefined minimum operating temperature (Tmin) to allow a blackening of an inside wall (100) of the burner (10), and during cooling at the second cooling level (C-II), the temperature (Ttop) in an upper region of the burner (10) increases above a predefined maximum operating temperature (Tmax) and the temperature (Tbase) in the base region of the burner (10) increases above the predefined minimum operating temperature (Tmin) to facilitate a cleaning of the burner wall (100). The invention further describes a cooling module controller (31) for use in an orientation-independent cooling arrangement (30) of a projector (2, 2′); an orientation-independent cooling arrangement (30) for cooling a lamp (1) in a projector (2, 2′) independently of an orientation (Pdesk, Pceiling) of the projector (2, 2′); and a projector (2, 2′). |
| US09046740B1 |
Photography studio with revolvable curved wall defining studio backdrop and wall opening
A photography studio includes a stationary circular track surrounding a product setup location, such as a stationary circular platform, an upright curved wall defining a studio backdrop and at least partially surround the platform, a front curved overhead member mounted across a side opening in the wall, and a plurality of spaced apart rollers rotatably mounted on a lower end portion of the wall and engaged with the track so as to mount the wall upon the track for undergoing revolvable movement along the track and about the platform to relocate the side opening of the wall at any selected angular position in relation to the platform. The upright curved wall includes a plurality of curved panels assembled to one another side-to-side and top-to-bottom so as to provide the studio backdrop. |
| US09046738B2 |
Digital image capture under conditions of varying light intensity
An approach is provided to adjust a camera shutter lag. In the approach, data is collected that corresponds to an ambient light found in a physical environment with the ambient light being controlled using a pulse-width modulation (PWM). The pulse-width modulation corresponds to a PWM timing model. When an exposure request is received, the camera shutter lag is calculated using the PWM timing model. The calculated shutter lag is based on a future point in time at which the ambient light of the physical environment is predicted to be at a selected light output level, such as a power level selected by the user of a camera. When the calculated camera shutter lag has expired, a shutter of the camera is opened causing a camera lens to be exposed that results in a captured exposure. |
| US09046735B2 |
Method and system for determining second-order nonlinear optical coefficients
Described herein is a method for determining second-order nonlinear optical coefficients of a material. The method envisages the steps of providing a specimen made at least in part of the material, causing a first optical signal and a second optical signal having, respectively, a first pulsation and a second pulsation, and a first polarization state and a second polarization state, to impinge upon the specimen in such a way that the specimen generates a second-harmonic optical signal having a third pulsation equal to the sum of the first and second pulsations, and a third polarization state that is a function of the first and second polarization states. The method further envisages the step of determining a plurality of measurements of power corresponding to the second-harmonic optical signal, and the step of determining the second-order nonlinear optical coefficients on the basis of the plurality of measurements of power. In addition, the method envisages performing a plurality of measurements of power of the second-harmonic optical signal as the first polarization state and the second polarization state vary. |
| US09046734B2 |
Light modulation device for a display
A display comprising an observer window, which in 3D and/or 2D representation mode of a 3D scene can be adapted to changing eye positions. Several observers can use the display simultaneously. The display includes a light modulation device having an actuatable diffraction unit and a controllable spatial light modulator, in which a 3D scene is coded in an actuatable manner, and a control unit. An observer window can be generated using coherent light beams on alternating eye positions. The diffraction unit includes at least electrodes and a controllable material into which a prism and/or lens function and/or scatter function can be written as a diffraction grating with a phase progression in an at least one-dimensionally controllable manner. |
| US09046729B2 |
Cholesteric liquid crystal structure
A liquid crystal optical device that includes a first substrate layer that is substantially flat and a second substrate layer that is substantially flat and parallel to the first substrate layer. The liquid crystal optical device further includes a layer of cholesteric liquid crystal disposed between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer, where the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal is arranged in domains, each domain having a helical axis, wherein the helical axes of the domains have a plurality of orientations relative to an orientation of the first and second substrate layers, and where a wavefront of a light wave having a wavelength within a range of wavelengths changes after reflecting from the layer of cholesteric liquid crystal. |
| US09046725B2 |
Display device
Inspection pads are reduced when there is a need to input a plurality of control signals as inspection control signals. A display device includes: an integrated circuit; a first substrate on which a plurality of signal lines that respectively input the control signals to the integrated circuit, and an inspection pad are formed; and a driver circuit that that is mounted on the first substrate and connected to the plurality of signal lines. The plurality of signal lines include first and second signal lines adjacent to each other. The inspection pad is formed on the one signal line. The second signal line is connected to the inspection pad through a switch element. At the time of inspection, the switch element turns on, and the same control signal is input to the first and second signal lines from the inspection pad. |
| US09046723B2 |
Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display and a manufacturing method are provided. A liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and including liquid crystal molecules; a first electrode positioned on the first substrate; an insulating layer positioned on the first electrode; a second electrode positioned on the insulating layer; and a third electrode positioned on the second substrate, wherein the second electrode includes a plurality of branches and a slit between neighboring ones of the branches, and a width of the slit is more than about two times to less than about five times a width of its corresponding branches. |
| US09046721B2 |
Substrate and display device having the same
A display device includes a first base substrate, a second base substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a conductive protrusion structure and an electrode structure. The second base substrate is disposed opposite to the first base substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first and second base substrates. The conductive protrusion structure is disposed on one of the first and second base substrates. The electrode structure is at least disposed on the first or second base substrate having the conductive protrusion structure. |
| US09046717B2 |
Optical device, display device, electronic apparatus, manufacturing device and manufacturing method
An optical device includes: at least two protrusions on a first substrate; a sealing material filled between the two protrusions; a second substrate attached so as to face and touch the first substrate through the sealing material; and a liquid crystal material injected between the first substrate and second substrate. |
| US09046716B2 |
Device for supporting substrate and examiner for seal pattern of LCD cell using the same
Disclosed are a substrate support apparatus and an apparatus for examining the seal pattern of an LCD cell. The substrate support apparatus includes a movable stage provided with drawing nozzles for attaching a substrate to an upper surface and adapted to rotate by a predetermined angle; a fixed stage spaced from the movable stage and provided with floating nozzles for ejecting air upward and drawing nozzles for drawing air downward; and a driving device coupled to the movable stage to rotate the movable stage. The apparatus for examining the seal pattern of an LCD cell includes the substrate support apparatus; and a gantry unit including support platforms positioned on both sides of the substrate support apparatus, a bridge positioned above the substrate support apparatus to connect the support platforms, and a correction device coupled to the bridge to examine and repair a seal pattern of a substrate. |
| US09046712B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display including a first substrate, a second substrate, and liquid crystal molecules disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes a first base substrate and a common electrode disposed on the first base substrate. The second substrate includes a second base substrate facing the first base substrate and a first pixel electrode disposed on the second base substrate. The first pixel electrode includes a first area and a second area which form different electric fields in cooperation with the common electrode. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display enhances an aperture ratio and increases a side viewing angle. |
| US09046707B2 |
Touch-sensing liquid crystal panel and fabrication method thereof
A touch-sensing liquid crystal panel and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The touch-sensing liquid crystal panel includes a color filter substrate, a transistor substrate, and a sensing matrix. In the fabrication method, at first, a first glass substrate is provided. Then, color filters and a common electrode are disposed on a first surface of the first glass substrate to form a color filter substrate. Thereafter, a transistor substrate is combined with the color filter substrate. Then, the glass substrates of the color filter substrate and the transistor substrate are slimed. Thereafter, a sensing layer is formed on a second surface of the first glass substrate, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface. Then, the sensing layer is baked to enable a sheet resistance of the sensing matrix to be equal to or less than 30 ohm/square. Thereafter, the sensing layer is patterned. |
| US09046705B2 |
Method for preparing flexible display device
A method for preparing a flexible display device comprises: forming a release layer (2) on a transparent hard substrate (1), the release layer (2) being made of an ultraviolet light decomposition material to which an inert substance is added; integrating a flexible substrate (4) onto the transparent hard substrate (1) having the release layer (2), the flexible substrate (4) being opposite to a side having the release layer (2) of the transparent hard substrate (1); forming a display component (5) on the flexible substrate (4); and exposing a side far away from the release layer (2) of the transparent hard substrate (1) to ultraviolet rays (7), so as to trigger the release layer (2) to undergo a photochemical reaction with gas releasing, so that the transparent hard substrate (1) is separated from the flexible substrate (4). The method for preparing a flexible display device can simplify a process of producing a flexible display device. |
| US09046704B2 |
Apparatus and method for guiding optical waves
Provided is a concept for variably guiding optical waves by using a layer-stack having an electro-optic core layer of electro-optic material for guiding light and an electrode arrangement with at least a first electrode layer in proximity to the electro-optic core layer, wherein the electrode arrangement is configured to activate an electro-optic effect in a region of the electro-optic core layer by an electric field generated by means of the electrode arrangement, such that a propagation of the light is manipulated in the region of the activated electro-optic effect. |
| US09046703B2 |
Optical modulator module and semiconductor optical modulator
A semiconductor optical modulator includes optical input and output portions; a plurality of Mach-Zehnder modulators, each including first and second waveguide arms having first and second modulation electrodes, respectively; an optical demultiplexer coupled between the optical input portion and the Mach-Zehnder modulators through an optical waveguide; an optical multiplexer coupled between the optical output portion and the Mach-Zehnder modulators; a plurality of electrical inputs; and a plurality of differential transmission lines electrically connecting the electrical inputs to the Mach-Zehnder modulators. The first modulation electrode and the second modulation electrode of at least one of the Mach-Zehnder modulators, one of the electrical inputs, and one of the differential transmission lines that connects such one electrical input to such one Mach-Zehnder modulator form an electrical circuit having a differential impedance in a range of 80Ω to 95Ω. |
| US09046698B2 |
Multi-axis lens design for astigmatism
A toric contact lens utilizes concentric annual rings, a continually varying lens design as a function of distance from the lens center or any other function to create a range of cylinder axis zones on a single lens. |
| US09046696B2 |
Image processing apparatus
Optimal shading correction is achieved even when exposure times are different. An apparatus includes a section that stores a γ property of an image pickup device, a section that stores a shading pattern acquired by the image pickup device, and a first exposure time, a section that stores image data acquired by the image pickup device and a second exposure time, a section that calculates a pre-correction pattern, based on the stored shading pattern and the stored γ property, a section that calculates a revised pattern by performing γ correction for the calculated pre-correction pattern after multiplying the calculated pre-correction pattern by a ratio of the second exposure time to the first exposure time, and a section that performs shading correction for the stored image data by using the calculated revised pattern. |
| US09046688B2 |
Surgical microscope with enlarged working distance
A surgical microscope 1 comprises an imaging system 2 providing a magnified multidimensional image of an object 3 disposable in a focal plane 4 of the imaging system 2 along at least one optical imaging path 2a, 2b. The imaging system 2 comprises an objective 5 having at least two lens groups 6, 7, through which the at least one optical imaging path 2a, 2b passes consecutively, and which define the focal plane 4 of the imaging system 2. At least one lens group 6 of the objective is moveable along its optical axis relative to the at least one other lens group 7 of the objective. The objective's first lens group 6 located directly adjacent to the focal plane 4 along the at least one optical imaging path 2a, 2b consists of at least three optical lenses 61, 62, 63 and has altogether a negative optical power. |
| US09046686B2 |
Head-mount type display device
A head-mount type display device adapted to allow a user to visually recognize a virtual image in a state of being worn on the head of the user includes an image display section having an image light generation section adapted to generate an image light representing an image, a light blocking section adapted to transmit external light at a predetermined transmittance, and a virtual image forming section adapted to transmit the external light transmitted through the light blocking section and to form the virtual image in an eye of the user with the image light, and configured to allow the user to visually recognize the virtual image and an external image, an operation section with which the user inputs operation data, and a control section adapted to perform control of changing the transmittance of the light blocking section in accordance with operation data from the operation section. |
| US09046684B1 |
Method for selectively treating surfaces
A method of treating a surface includes providing an object and applying a masking layer to a target surface area of the object. A sacrificial material is applied to a non-target surface area of the object. The method also includes removing the masking layer from the target surface area. The target surface area is exposed to a substance that etches or coats the target surface area. The sacrificial material from the non-target surface area of the object is removed, leaving the target surface area of the object etched or coated by the substance while the non-target surface area is not etched or coated by the substance. |
| US09046683B2 |
Adjustable optics for ongoing viewing correction
Exemplary methods, systems and components enable an enhanced direct-viewing optical device to make customized adjustments that accommodate various optical aberrations of a current user. In some instances a real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements is based on known corrective optical parameters associated with a current user. In some implementations a control module may process currently updated wavefront measurements as a basis for determining appropriate real-time adjustment of the transformable optical elements to produce a specified change in optical wavefront at an exit pupil of the direct-viewing device. Possible transformable optical elements may have refractive and/or reflective and/or diffractive and/or transmissive characteristics that are adjusted based on current performance viewing factors for a given field of view of the direct-viewing device. Some embodiments enable dynamic repositioning and/or transformation of corrective optical elements based on a detected shift of a tracked gaze direction of a current user of the direct-viewing device. |
| US09046680B2 |
Scanning illumination microscope
A microscopy method and configuration provides the ability to achieve wide field view and high resolution simultaneously. A beam array generator generates an M×N light beam array that illuminates a sample and an M×N sensor array. The sensor array obtains a whole microscopy image of the sample based on the light beam array. Each light beam of the array corresponds to one unique pixel sensor in the sensor array. A scanning of all light beams of the light beam array covers a whole area of the sample. |
| US09046676B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus having the same
A zoom lens includes N lens units, in which a lens unit having a positive refractive power is disposed closest to an object side. Each lens unit is moved to effect zooming. An (N−1)th lens unit and an N-th lens unit, counted from the object side, have positive refractive powers. The (N−1)th lens unit includes a first lens subunit having a positive refractive power and a second lens subunit having a negative refractive power in order from the object side to an image side. The second lens subunit is moved to have a component in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis to move an image position. A focal length fN of the N-th lens unit, a back focus bkt at the telephoto end, and an amount of movement mN of the N-th lens unit during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end are appropriately set. |
| US09046671B2 |
Composite optical fiber cable and composite optical fiber cable assembly providing protection by flexure
A composite optical fiber cable has coated optical fibers and electric wires disposed inside a sheath. The optical fibers are enclosed within a first protective tube that is situated at the cross-sectional center, while the electric wires are disposed between the first protective tube and the sheath, and are capable of moving in the circumferential direction of the first protective tube. A composite optical fiber cable assembly includes a composite optical fiber cable and a connector attached to the cable. Inside the connector, a wiring portion for wiring the optical fiber to a ferrule and a wiring portion for wiring the electric wire to an electric terminal are disposed within a common space S inside a housing, and at least the wiring portion of the optical fiber which lies inside the space S is covered by a second protective tube. |
| US09046668B2 |
Optical module
There is provided an optical module in which leaked light or the like from a plurality of optical elements on the same substrate is made less likely to affect adjacent optical elements, and a cross-talk noise can be thereby significantly reduced. The optical module includes an internal waveguide in a first trench of a substrate, a mirror section, and optical elements. A plurality of the first trenches of the substrate are formed independently of each other and substantially in parallel with each other, and lengths of adjacent first trenches from the end surface of the substrate are made different from each other. The optical elements are mounted on the surface of the substrate so as to oppose the minor sections formed at the tip portions of the first trenches having the different lengths. |
| US09046665B2 |
Optical coupling module and optical fiber coupling connector
An optical coupling module includes a reflection member, first and second assembled members, first and second converging lenses. The reflection member includes a first surface, a second surface perpendicular connected to the first surface, and a reflection surface obliquely interconnected between the first and second surfaces. The first assembled member includes a first optical surface and is detachably mounted on the first surface. The second assembled member includes a second optical surface and is detachably mounted on the second surface. The first converging lenses are arranged on the first optical surface. The second converging lenses are arranged on the second optical surface and correspond to the second converging lenses. The reflection surface reflects parallel light beams from the first converging lenses toward the corresponding second converging lenses and reflects parallel light beams from the second converging lenses toward the corresponding first converging lenses. |
| US09046659B2 |
Independent dual path optical rotary joint
A dual optical path rotary joint provides a low friction coupling of optical fiber connections for optogenetic research and other applications. Two optical paths are provided through the rotary joint which are rotation-insensitive. The ends of the rotary joint rotate with respect to a common housing, which may be provided with ball-bearings or other suitable low-friction rotational mounts in which a first rotating component and a second rotating component are secured. The first and second rotating components are not mechanically linked in rotation, and their rotation is only synchronized by magnets disposed on the first rotating component and the second rotating component. A pair of optical fibers is coupled to the first rotating component and another pair of optical fiber is coupled to the second rotating component. A pair of isolated optical paths links the pairs of fibers, which are directed between the first and second rotating components by reflection. |
| US09046657B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing off-axis optical aberrations in wavelength dispersed devices
Through its higher refractive index, a silicon grism can be used to reduce the Described herein are systems and methods for reducing optical aberrations in an optical system to decrease polarization dependent loss. Embodiments are provided particularly to define beam trajectories through an optical switching system which reduce off-axis aberrations. In one embodiment, a silicon grism is provided for reducing the curvature of the focal plane at an LCOS device in a wavelength selective switch (WSS) such that the separated polarization states converge at the LCOS at substantially the same point along the optical axis for all wavelengths. In this embodiment, an axial offset at the LCOS device will not produce large PDL at the coupling fibers. In another embodiment, a coupling lens having an arcuate focusing region is provided to address an offset in the optical beams, such that the separated polarization states couple symmetrically to respective output fibers. |
| US09046656B2 |
Isotropic layer of multilayer optical film comprising birefringent thermoplastic polymer
Multilayer optical films are described comprising at least one first optical layer comprising a birefringent thermoplastic polymer having an in-plane birefringence of at least 0.15 at 632.8 nm; and at least one second optical layer having an in-plane birefringence of less than 0.040 at 632.8 nm. The second optical layer comprises a copolymerized blend of at least one birefringent thermoplastic polymer and at least one second thermoplastic polymer. |
| US09046654B2 |
Fiber optic mode scrambler and a method of manufacturing thereof
A fiber optic mode scrambler includes a multi-mode optical fiber formed with a core and a cladding around the core and a non-adiabatic cross-sectional shape change zone in the optical fiber. The fiber further has a bending region extending over a length of the optical fiber. The optical fiber has a non-zero curvature at the bending region and a device for maintaining the curvature of the optical fiber at the bending region. Mode scramblers can be provided that are accurately adjusted to match with different desired optical characteristics. A well-controlled manufacturing method for the mode scrambler is also described. |
| US09046653B2 |
PDL compensator optical device, and PDL compensation method
A PDL compensation technique is provided that reduces the number of and the number of types of the PDL compensators even if it is uncertain to determine which of the two polarization principal axes of an optical device has a larger loss. The PDL compensator according to the present invention is configured to, before an optical signal input from a first or a second input/output terminal enters a PDL compensation device, switch between the first polarization principal axis and the second polarization principal axis of the optical signal depending on which of the first and the second polarization principal axes has a larger loss or gain. |
| US09046652B2 |
Mirror assembly and vehicles including same
A vehicle includes a body structure, a mirror assembly, a controller, and a position sensor. The mirror assembly includes a mirror housing, housing motor, and mirror. The housing motor is operably coupled with the mirror housing and the body structure and is configured to facilitate movement of the mirror housing relative to the body structure. The controller is in electrical communication with the housing motor. The position sensor is in electrical communication with the controller. The controller is configured to detect a position of a rider of the vehicle and to facilitate selective operation of the housing motor to result in movement of the mirror housing to correspond with the detected position of the rider. |
| US09046651B2 |
Mirror device
A mirror device may include: a mirror including a base plate, a reflective film on a first surface of the base plate, and a plurality of first protrusions on a second surface of the base plate; a plurality of support parts for respectively supporting the plurality of the first protrusions, each support part having a groove formed therein for guiding the first protrusion; and a plurality of clamps for respectively pressing the plurality of the first protrusions against the respective grooves in the plurality of the support parts. |
| US09046650B2 |
Methods and apparatus for mid-infrared sensing
A chip-scale, air-clad semiconductor pedestal waveguide can be used as a mid-infrared (mid-IR) sensor capable of in situ monitoring of organic solvents and other analytes. The sensor uses evanescent coupling from a silicon or germanium waveguide, which is highly transparent in the mid-IR portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, to probe the absorption spectrum of fluid surrounding the waveguide. Launching a mid-IR beam into the waveguide exposed to a particular analyte causes attenuation of the evanescent wave's spectral components due to absorption by carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and/or nitrogen bonds in the surrounding fluid. Detecting these changes at the waveguide's output provides an indication of the type and concentration of one or more compounds in the surrounding fluid. If desired, the sensor may be integrated onto a silicon substrate with a mid-IR light source and a mid-IR detector to form a chip-based spectrometer. |
| US09046649B2 |
Communication methods, methods of forming an interconnect, signal interconnects, integrated circuit structures, circuits, and data apparatuses
Some embodiments include communication methods, methods of forming an interconnect, signal interconnects, integrated circuit structures, circuits, and data apparatuses. In one embodiment, a communication method includes accessing an optical signal comprising photons to communicate information, accessing an electrical signal comprising electrical data carriers to communicate information, and using a single interconnect, communicating the optical and electrical signals between a first spatial location and a second spatial location spaced from the first spatial location. |
| US09046648B2 |
Confocal and concave 1D photonic crystal resonant cavities with ultra-low mode volume
A 1D nanobeam photonic crystal cavity is provided that includes a substrate, where the substrate includes a dielectric medium, and a series of cutout features in the substrate, where each cutout feature includes a first curved surface and a second curved surface, where the first curved surface and the second curved surface form a meniscus shape, where the series of cutout features include an array of sizes of the meniscus shape cutouts, where edges of the meniscus shape and the array of sizes are disposed to form a pair of opposing parabolic dips proximal to a central region of the series of cutout features. |
| US09046647B2 |
Three-dimensional periodic dielectric structures having photonic Dirac points
The dielectric, three-dimensional photonic materials disclosed herein feature Dirac-like dispersion in quasi-two-dimensional systems. Embodiments include a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure formed by alternating layers of dielectric rods and dielectric slabs patterned with holes on respective triangular lattices. This fcc structure also includes a defect layer, which may comprise either dielectric rods or a dielectric slab with patterned with holes. This defect layer introduces Dirac cone dispersion into the fcc structure's photonic band structure. Examples of these fcc structures enable enhancement of the spontaneous emission coupling efficiency (the β-factor) over large areas, contrary to the conventional wisdom that the β-factor degrades as the system's size increases. These results enable large-area, low-threshold lasers; single-photon sources; quantum information processing devices; and energy harvesting systems. |
| US09046646B2 |
Opto-electric hybrid board and method of manufacturing same
An opto-electric hybrid board includes an electric circuit board, an optical waveguide, and a metal layer. The electric circuit board includes an insulative layer having front and back surfaces, and electrical interconnect lines formed on the front surface of the insulative layer. The optical waveguide includes a first cladding layer and cores, and the optical waveguide is formed on the back surface of the insulative layer of the electric circuit board. The metal layer is formed between the first cladding layer of the optical waveguide and the back surface of the insulative layer of the electric circuit board. Part of the opto-electric hybrid board is formed as a to-be-bent portion. The metal layer is partially removed in a portion corresponding to the to-be-bent portion. A first cladding layer of the optical waveguide fills a site where the metal layer is removed. |
| US09046643B2 |
Optical scanning element and image display device using the same
Provided is an optical scanning element that includes mirror unit 1, and movable unit 2 including mounting unit 7 on which mirror unit is mounted and which is configured to be rotatable. Mirror unit 1 includes: a dielectric multilayer film that reflects a part of incident light while transmitting the remainder of the light; and a first substrate on one surface of which the dielectric multilayer film is formed, and which transmits the remainder of the light passed through the dielectric multilayer film. Mounting unit 7 includes a through-hole at a portion facing the dielectric multilayer film. |
| US09046641B2 |
Silicone hydrogel composition and silicone hydrogel contact lenses made from the composition
A silicone hydrogel composition is disclosed. The composition includes at least one silicone macromer, a hydroxy-functionalized silicone-containing monomer, a first hydrophibic monomer and at least one crosslinker, in which the first hydrophibic monomer is N-vinyl pyrrolidone. The silicone macromer and the hydroxy-functionalized silicone-containing monomer are mutually soluble with N-vinylpyrrolidone. Silicone hydrogel contact lenses prepared from the silicone hydrogel composition are also disclosed. |
| US09046634B2 |
Thin flash or video recording light using low profile side emitting LED
Very thin flash modules for cameras are described that do not appear as a point source of light to the illuminated subject. Therefore, the flash is less objectionable to the subject. In one embodiment, the light emitting surface area is about 5 mm×10 mm. Low profile, side-emitting LEDs optically coupled to solid light guides enable the flash module to be thinner than 2 mm. The flash module may also be continuously energized for video recording. The module is particularly useful for cell phone cameras and other thin cameras. |
| US09046633B2 |
Transparent optical element having a plurality of layers consisting of cellular tiling
A transparent optical element (100), includes a plurality of stacked layers (1, 2), each of which consist of cells in which optical phase-shift values are provided. The layers are arranged such that boundaries between certain contiguous cells of one of the layers cut into cells of another layer. In this way, a useful apparent cell size can be reduced so as to reproduce a target optical phase-shift distribution with greater precision. Additionally, the maximum amplitude of optical phase shift variations that are produced by the element increases with the number of stacked layers. The chromatism of the diopter function of the element can also be reduced. |
| US09046632B2 |
Light guide plate and display apparatus having the same
In a light guide plate and a display apparatus having the light guide plate, a light guide plate includes reflective prisms, in which at least one of the reflective prisms includes an inclined angle adjustable according to an inclined surface of a defective portion thereof and compensates for a distortion of light caused by the defective portion. |
| US09046631B2 |
Light guiding plate and light guiding device including the same
A light guiding plate and a light guiding device are provided, and the light guiding plate is implemented in the light guiding device. The light guiding device includes a side light source emitting light to the light guiding plate. The light guiding plate includes a first surface, a second surface and a third surface. The second surface is opposite to the first surface, and the third surface is adjacent to the first surface and the second surface. The second surface includes plural light guiding units, and each of the light guiding units includes a total reflection concavity and a light emitting convexity. The light emitting convexity surrounds the total reflection concavity. |
| US09046628B2 |
Lens structure and manufacturing method, and the manufacture of shaped polymer articles
A method of manufacturing a shaped polymer device comprises forming a planar polymer layer over a substrate which has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the polymer layer; and shaping the polymer layer using a laser ablation process. This method uses a substrate with low thermal expansion to limit the expansion of the attached polymer layer when it is being shaped by a laser ablation process. In addition there is provided a lens structure for an *autostereoscopic display device comprising a substantially planar glass substrate and a polymer layer defining a lenticular arrangement provided over the glass substrate. |
| US09046627B2 |
Generating a forecast by field coalescence
A method for generating a coalesced image includes receiving a plurality of fields for a geographical region. A set of forces is determined for each of the fields by multiplying a gradient of a respective one of the fields with a difference between the respective one of the fields and each of the other fields. A net influence for each field is determined by averaging each of the forces associated with the respective field. A spectral filter is applied to each net influence to generate a respective value of a mode of motion used to deform each field and then displace each field until each field coalesces with each other field. |
| US09046625B2 |
System and method for analyzing seismic data background
A system, method and device may be used to evaluate stacked seismic trace data. A portion of each of a number of seismic traces is isolated and an un-tuned biased volume and a tuned biased volume are produced for each trace. The un-tuned biased volume and tuned biased volume are combined to determine zones having a high probability of containing hydrocarbon resources. |
| US09046622B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An optical sensor, which can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes a detecting portion disposed facing a detection target and configured to detect the detection target by emitting light to the detection target, a dust-proofing member having a surface disposed facing the detection target and configured to cover the detecting portion, a vibration member configured to vibrate the surface of the dust-proofing member, and a collecting member configured to collect dust in the vicinity of the dust-proofing member. On the surface of the dust-proofing member facing the detection target, at least a portion that intersects a pathway of light emitted from the detection portion is formed as a thru-beam part by a material through which the light transmits. |
| US09046620B2 |
System and method for investigating sub-surface features and 3D imaging of non-linear property, compressional velocity VP, shear velocity VS and velocity ratio VP/VS of a rock formation
A system and a method for generating a three-dimensional image of a rock formation, compressional velocity VP, shear velocity VS and velocity ratio VP/VS of a rock formation are provided. A first acoustic signal includes a first plurality of pulses. A second acoustic signal from a second source includes a second plurality of pulses. A detected signal returning to the borehole includes a signal generated by a non-linear mixing process from the first and second acoustic signals in a non-linear mixing zone within an intersection volume. The received signal is processed to extract the signal over noise and/or signals resulting from linear interaction and the three dimensional image of is generated. |
| US09046618B2 |
Systems and methods for scanning an object while avoiding radiation exposure
The present invention provides system, devices, and methods for scanning an object while avoiding radiation exposure. For example, the present invention provides systems comprising a scanning device with input and output openings, and a safety sensor adjacent to the input or output opening that sends a signal that turns off or physically blocks electromagnetic radiation if the presence of an invading element (e.g., human hand) is detected by the safety sensor. |
| US09046617B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus
A radiation imaging apparatus includes a radiation flat panel detector configured to detect radiation incident thereupon and to generate a radiation image, a control unit configured to control a drive of the radiation flat panel detector, a heat insulation member arranged between the radiation flat panel detector and the control unit, an external housing configured to accommodate therein the flat panel detector and the control unit, a first heat transfer member configured to transfer heat from the radiation flat panel detector to a first surface of the external housing, and a second heat transfer member configured to transfer heat from the control unit to a second surface of the external housing different from the first surface. |
| US09046614B2 |
X-ray detector with integrating readout chip for single photon resolution
An X-ray detector contains a layer of photosensitive material and an N×M array of photo-detector diodes disposed in the photosensitive material. Each of the diodes has a bias potential interface and a diode output interface. The bias potential interface is connected to a bias potential. The X-ray detector further has an N×M array of high gain, low noise readout unit cells, one readout unit cell for each diode. Each cell contains an input interface connected to the diode output interface, a high-gain voltage amplifying device having an integration capacitor, a first switch in parallel to the integration capacitor and a sample/hold capacitor disposed between a second switch and third switch. The sample/hold capacitor is connectable to the voltage amplifying device via the second switch and is connectable to a signal output line. A multiplexer contains a row select and a column select circuit allowing access to each readout cell unit. |
| US09046611B2 |
Self-powered gamma detector
A self-powered gamma detector which can hold the influence of neutron rays to the minimum, and can measure the dose of gamma rays accurately under a high neutron environment in the reactor is disclosed. The self-powered gamma detector has a columnar emitter member; a collector member arranged in surroundings of the emitter member through an insulating member, and the strength of gamma rays is measured by detecting the value of a current which flows between the emitter member and an MI cable connected with the emitter member, and the collector member. Especially, the emitter member consists of pure tungsten (W), whose inevitable impurities is in 0.03 percent by weight or less. |
| US09046610B2 |
Device for monitoring nuclear material placed in a glove box
A mechanical device for supporting and attaching at least one ionizing radiation detection probe. For each detection probe it includes one probe-holder ending in a collimator-holder able to support a collimator intended to delimit a field of observation of the detection probe, and an attachment device intended to be attached to a glove port of a glove box, where the probe-holder, or each probe-holder, cooperates with the said attachment device. |
| US09046606B2 |
Radar signal processing device and program, and radar apparatus
This disclosure provides a radar signal processing device, which includes an amplitude value change determiner for determining, among amplitude values of a series of reception data, an increase/decrease tendency of a predetermined number of amplitude values of the reception data, and a filter processor for filtering the reception data based on the determination result. |
| US09046602B2 |
Range localization system
The location of a transmitter can be determined by accurately measuring the elapsed time that it takes for a signal to propagate from a transmission source to a plurality of disparate receivers of a known location. By comparing the received transmitted signal to reference signal a range between each receiver and the transmitter can be determined. By intersecting the spheres defined by each range an accurate location of the transmitter can be obtained. |
| US09046601B2 |
Handheld antenna attitude measuring system
An antenna attitude measuring system includes internal and external electrical components providing data for recording and displaying on a handheld device. The data can be transmitted to a database for access by a network operator. The antenna attitude can be adjusted for maximizing telecommunications network performance. The system includes an AISG compliant tilt sensor system mounted in-line between a telecommunications antenna enclosure and a communications cable, and positioned to measure the elevation tilt and slant of a telecommunications antenna enclosure relative to a reference axis. The system includes the ability to connect to and remotely control a plurality of remote electrical tilt control units through only a single connection. |
| US09046598B2 |
Signal processing device, signal processing method, recording medium, and program
This technology relates to a signal processing device, a signal processing method, a recording medium, and a program capable of enabling appropriate beam forming with a simple configuration even when a positional relationship between a plurality of transducers included in a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic device is not fixed.A reception BF unit calculates a phase difference indicating a relative positional shift between a plurality of transducers based on a difference between each phase difference of a signal of a reflective wave in each of a plurality of transducers of an ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transducer being a transmission target out of a plurality of transducers, relative positions of which are not fixed, and each known phase difference of the signal of the reflective wave in a plurality of transducers in a case in which an arrangement of a plurality of transducers is a reference arrangement. A delay calculating unit calculates a delay amount of each of a plurality of transducers used in the beam forming based on the phase difference calculated by a phase difference calculating unit. This technology may be applied to an ultrasonic diagnostic device. |
| US09046595B2 |
Client assisted location data acquisition scheme
A system and method for locating a wireless client using trusted wireless detectors is described. Sniffers may sense signal strength information and transmit the information to a database. The database may store signal strength-based location information. Information from the database may then be used to determine the location of a wireless client based on new signal strength information from one or more sniffers. |
| US09046590B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus phase correction using one or more prescans with identical readout and slice gradients
In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to one embodiment, an executing unit executes a first pre-scan and a second pre-scan, each being a pre-scan in which readout gradient magnetic fields and slice direction gradient magnetic fields are applied in an identical manner to a pulse sequence for main-scanning and in which phase encode gradient magnetic fields are applied in an identical manner to the pulse sequence for main-scanning up to just before echoes used in calculating a correction amount, and each having different predetermined imaging parameters; a calculating unit calculates, as a correction amount, an amount of phase shifting by referring to phase differences present in a plurality of echo signals that are collected during the first pre-scan and the second pre-scan; and a correcting unit corrects the pulse sequence for main-scanning based on the correction amount calculated by the calculating unit. |
| US09046589B2 |
Dynamic MR imaging of patients with breast cancer—establishment and comparison of different analytical methods for tissue perfusion and capillary permeability
The present invention encompasses methods, apparatus, and computer based systems for identifying benign and malignant tumors in tissues such as soft tissues and particularly breast tissue using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imagining (DCE-MRI) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (DSC) imagining of the tumors. Some embodiments encompass the use of two dynamic MRI pulse sequences in intercalating mode during parenteral administration of an MR contrast substance, wherein one of said pulse sequences is optimized for spatial information and the other pulse sequence is adjusted for high temporal solution, the high-temporal dissolved sequence further comprising a double echo-collection sensitive towards both DCE and DSC for generating a number of different biomarker data such as pharmacokinetic biomarker data, descriptive DCE biomarkers and descriptive DSC biomarkers, and subsequently normalizing and comparing said data with corresponding data from corresponding benign and malign tumors, respectively. |
| US09046587B2 |
Superconducting-magnet adjustment method
There are provided the steps of: measuring a magnetic field in a predetermined space; and performing shimming by arranging a plurality of ferromagnetic shims in a superconducting magnet. The step of shimming includes arranging the plurality of shims at positions that make the magnetic field homogeneous, based on a result of measurement in the step of measuring the magnetic field and that provide a predetermined value of an electromagnetic force caused by the magnetic field to act on the plurality of shims. |
| US09046584B2 |
Battery voltage detector having pull-up resistor
A battery voltage detector includes, but is not limited to: a voltage detection circuit; and a voltage processor. The voltage detection circuit includes, but is not limited to: a capacitor configured to be charged by a battery cell; a pair of output terminals; an output switch; and a voltage processor. While the capacitor is charged, the output switch is configured to be off-state and insulate the capacitor from the pair of the output terminals. After the capacitor is charged, the output switch is configured to be on-state and connect the capacitor to the pair of the output terminals. The voltage processor is configured to obtain, as a cell voltage, a voltage between the output terminals of the voltage detection circuit while the output switch is on-state. A high-potential output terminal of the pair of the output terminals is connected to a power line via a pull-up resistor. |
| US09046583B2 |
Apparatus and method for estimating voltage of secondary battery including blended material in electrode
Disclosed is an apparatus for estimating a voltage of a secondary battery which includes a cathode comprising a first cathode material and a second cathode material with different operating voltage ranges, an anode comprising an anode material and a separator for separating the cathode from the anode. The apparatus comprises a control unit configured to estimate a voltage of a secondary battery based on a circuit model including a first cathode material circuit, a second cathode material circuit and an anode material circuit, each circuit modeled to change its voltage according to State Of Charge (SOC) of the electrode material corresponding the circuit and a current flowing through the circuit. |
| US09046573B1 |
Addressable test arrays for characterizing integrated circuit device parameters
Test circuitry for characterizing manufacturing variations in semiconductor devices is provided. The test circuitry may include an array of devices under test and associated decoder circuitry for addressing the array of devices under test. In one arrangement, the test circuitry may be formed on a wafer at a scribe line located between adjacent integrated circuit dies on the wafer. In another arrangement, the test circuitry may be formed within an integrated circuit to provide on-chip variation monitoring capabilities. A measurement circuit may be used to gather test data from the array of devices under test and may be used to generate control signals that compensate for the manufacturing variations detected in the array of devices under test. |
| US09046572B2 |
Computer-aided design (CAD) multiple-capture DFT system for detecting or locating crossing clock-domain faults
A method for providing ordered capture clocks to detect or locate faults within N clock domains and faults crossing any two clock domains in an integrated circuit or circuit assembly in scan-test or self-test mode, where N>1, each clock domain having one capture clock and a plurality of scan cells, each capture clock comprising a plurality of capture clock pulses; said method comprising: (a) generating and shifting-in N test stimuli to all said scan cells within said N clock domains in said integrated circuit or circuit assembly during a shift-in operation; (b) applying an ordered sequence of capture clocks to all said scan cells within said N clock domains, the ordered sequence of capture clocks comprising at least a plurality of capture clock pulses from two or more selected capture clocks placed in a sequential order such that all clock domains are never triggered simultaneously during a capture operation; and (c) analyzing output responses of all said scan cells to locate any faults therein. |
| US09046552B2 |
On-die trim-able passive components for high volume manufacturing
Described is an apparatus to trim on-die passive components. The apparatus comprises: a resistor-capacitor (RC) dominated oscillator independent of first order transistor speed dependency, wherein the RC dominated oscillator including one or more resistors and capacitors with programmable resistance and capacitance, and wherein the RC dominated oscillator to generate an output signal having a frequency depending substantially on values of the programmable resistance and capacitance; and a trim-able resistor or capacitor operable to be trimmed, for compensating process variations, according to a program code associated with the programmable resistance and capacitance of the RC dominated oscillator. |
| US09046546B2 |
Sensor device and related fabrication methods
Apparatus and related fabrication methods are provided for a sensor device. An exemplary sensor device includes a first structure including a first sensing arrangement and a second sensing arrangement formed therein and a second structure affixed to the first structure. The second structure includes a cavity aligned with the first sensing arrangement to provide a first reference pressure on a first side of the first sensing arrangement and an opening aligned with the second sensing arrangement to expose the first side of the second sensing arrangement to an ambient pressure. |
| US09046545B2 |
Semiconductor device using a silicon wafer with a pattern arrangement
A semiconductor device comprising: a support part; a flexible part, one end of which is supported by the support part; a spindle part supported by the other end of the flexible part; a displacement detection means which detects displacement of the spindle part; and an aperture part arranged adjacent to the spindle part; wherein a plurality of patterns comprised from the aperture part is formed on a silicon wafer parallel to a first direction and a second direction which intersects the first direction, the plurality of patterns include one or more patterns arranged in a straight line in the first direction and the second direction, the plurality of patterns is arranged so that an axis in which a cleavage plane of the silicon wafer and a surface arranged with the pattern on the silicon wafer intersect, and the first direction are different. |
| US09046544B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring speed of a brush motor
A system for determining motor speed of a brush DC motor, including a first filter for receiving a substantially low frequency portion of a sensed current of the motor and parameters corresponding thereto, for calculating a speed estimate of the motor; an adaptive bandpass filter having a center frequency corresponding to the speed estimate of the first filter, for receiving the sensed current and substantially isolating a first periodic current fluctuation thereof. A detected frequency of the first periodic current fluctuation corresponds to the speed of the brush DC motor. The system may include a tracking frequency selection block for selecting a frequency component of the sensed current and providing same to the first filter, wherein the speed estimate is based in part upon the selected frequency component. |
| US09046542B2 |
Bearing assembly for an anemometer
A bearing assembly for an anemometer configured to provide thrust and axial load protection and reduce exposure to potentially degradative debris and/or contaminants. The bearing assembly includes a first shaft and a second shaft and bearings, wherein the bearings are configured to rotate about at least the first shaft while enclosed within a portion of the second shaft. The second shaft is configured to isolate the bearings from any air flow through the anemometer and debris and/or contaminants carried therewith. The bearing assembly further includes a damping member configured to reduce forces imparted upon the bearings, thereby providing protection and preventing premature damage to the bearings from loads. |
| US09046541B1 |
Method for producing a disk resonator gyroscope
A method for producing a disk resonator gyroscope includes providing a base substrate and a handle wafer with a release hole, bonding a release wafer to the handle wafer, bonding a resonator wafer to the release wafer, etching the resonator wafer to form a disk resonator with a central pillar, and sense and drive electrodes, selectively applying a conductive film onto the disk resonator on a side of the disk resonator opposite the release wafer, on the outer edge of the disk resonator, and on the surfaces of the sense and drive electrodes facing the outer edge of the disk resonator, bonding the sense and drive electrodes and the central pillar of the disk resonator to the base substrate, and releasing the handle wafer by introducing a dry release agent into the release hole to undercut the release wafer. |
| US09046535B2 |
Methods and kits for measuring von willebrand factor
Methods and kits for measuring levels of von Willebrand factor function in a sample without using a platelet aggregation agonist, such as ristocetin, comprising recombinant glycoprotein Ibα having at least two of a G233V, D235Y and M239V mutations and an agent to detect a complex between the recombinant glycoprotein Ibα and von Willebrand factor. |
| US09046531B2 |
Thyroglobulin quantitation by mass spectrometry
Provided are methods for determining the amount of thyroglobulin in a sample using various purification steps followed by mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve purifying thyroglobulin in a test sample, digesting thyroglobulin to form peptide T129, purifying peptide T129, ionizing peptide T129, detecting the amount of peptide T129 ion generated, and relating the amount of peptide T129 ion to the amount of thyroglobulin originally present in the sample. |
| US09046530B2 |
Methods and compositions for chlamydial antigens as reagents for diagnosis of tubal factor infertility and chlamydial infection
The present invention provides Chlamydia proteins and fragments thereof and methods of use in diagnostic assays. |
| US09046527B2 |
Mutated SUMO isoforms and uses thereof
Disclosed herein are substantially pure nucleic acids encoding mutated SUMO isoforms, polypeptides, vectors, cells and methods of their use to identify and quantify protein SUMOylation in mammalian cells. Also disclosed is a dual affinity method for detecting a mutated SUMOylated protein substrate fragment. |
| US09046525B2 |
Method of determining the oligomeric state of a protein complex
A method of counting protein subunits to determine the oligomeric state of an oligomeric protein complex includes tagging and expressing the protein subunits with a mass/charge tag and selectively removing each mass/charge tag. The number of protein subunits of the oligomeric complex corresponds to the number of mass/charge tags removed. |
| US09046516B2 |
Immunoassay method, reagent kit for detecting alkaline phosphatase, and reagent kit for immunoassay
An immunoassay method comprising: forming, on a solid phase, a complex comprising a measurement substance in a sample, an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) labeling substance capable of binding to the measurement substance, and a first binding substance which is capable of binding to the measurement substance by antigen-antibody reaction and is capable of binding to the solid phase; reacting ALP in the ALP-labeling substance bound to the measurement substance in the complex, with a substrate for ALP contained in a substrate solution, in the presence of an auxiliary reagent solution comprising an inhibitor for inhibiting an endogenous ALP; and detecting a reaction product produced by the reaction between ALP and the substrate. |
| US09046514B2 |
Droplet actuator devices and methods employing magnetic beads
A method of providing a droplet in contact with a magnetically responsive bead and having a reduced quantity of a substance. The method generally includes the steps of (a) providing a droplet actuator (200) comprising: (i) a substrate (210) comprising electrodes (214) arranged for conducting droplet operations on a surface; (ii) a starting droplet (218/222) comprising: (1) one or more magnetically responsive beads (220); (2) a starting quantity of the substance; and (3) a starting volume; (b) magnetically immobilizing the one or more magnetically responsive beads at a location which is at a distance from a target droplet splitting zone, (224); (c) conducting one or more droplet operations comprising droplet dividing operations selected to divide the combined droplet to yield a set of droplets comprising: (i) a droplet (218) comprising substantially all of the one or more magnetically responsive beads and having a decreased quantity of the substance relative to the starting concentration; and (ii) a droplet (222) substantially lacking the magnetically responsive beads. |
| US09046513B2 |
Dual variable domain immunoglobulins and uses thereof
Engineered multivalent and multispecific binding proteins, methods of making, and their uses in the prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment of disease are provided. |
| US09046505B2 |
Sample preparation apparatus
A sample preparation apparatus, comprising: an ultrasonic vibrating unit which applies ultrasonic vibration to a sample including an analyte held in a measurement sample container; a sample preparation unit which prepares a measurement sample by mixing the sample including the analyte to which the ultrasonic vibration is applied and a predetermined reagent; and a container transporting unit which transports the measurement sample container holding the sample including the analyte from the ultrasonic vibrating unit to the sample preparation unit. |
| US09046503B2 |
Analyzing device
An analyzing device includes: an operation cavity that is adjacent to a first reserving cavity retaining a sample liquid; a connecting section provided on a side wall of the first reserving cavity to suck the sample liquid by a capillary force and transfer the sample liquid to the operation cavity; and second reserving cavities that are disposed outside the operation cavity in the circumferential direction of the rotational driving and communicate with the outermost position of the operation cavity through a connecting passage. The connecting section is circumferentially extended farther than the liquid level of the sample liquid retained in the first reserving cavity. |
| US09046496B2 |
Capturing method for images with different view-angles and capturing system using the same
A capturing method for a plurality of images with different view-angles and a capturing system using the same are provided. The capturing method for the images with different view-angles includes the following steps. An appearance image of an object is captured by an image capturing unit at a capturing angle. A light reflection area of the appearance image is detected by a detecting unit, and a dimension characteristic of the light reflection area is analyzed by the same. Whether the dimension characteristic of the light reflection area is larger than a first predetermined value is determined. If the dimension characteristic of the light reflection area is larger than the first predetermined value, then the capturing angle is adjusted within a first adjusting range. After the step of adjusting the capturing angle within a first adjusting range is performed, the step of capturing the appearance image is performed again. |
| US09046495B2 |
Non-toxic solvent for chromogenic substrate solution and uses thereof
The present invention relates to a non-toxic dipolar solvent for chromogenic substrate for detecting presence of lacZ gene and/or gene activity, which comprises a stabilizing amount of a solubilizing agent. The present invention also relates to a method for inducing lac operon in screening assay, comprising the step of contacting an agar plate with at least one essential oil in a concentration sufficient to induce the lac operon. The present invention further relates to a method for detecting the presence of bacteria, comprising the step of contacting an agar plate with at least one essential oil in a concentration sufficient to induce detection of the bacteria. |
| US09046493B2 |
NMR systems and methods for the rapid detection of analytes
This invention features systems and methods for the detection of analytes, and their use in the treatment and diagnosis of disease. |
| US09046489B2 |
Fluorescence imaging device
An excitation light from a first light source is adapted to be irradiated to a subject without passing through an objective lens so that the first light source and the subject may be arranged to be adjacent to each other. As a result, an excitation light having a high intensity of radiation may be irradiated to the subject to obtain a strong fluorescence signal. In addition, since the optical path of the excitation light from the first light source and the optical path of the fluorescent emission light emitted from the first dichroic mirror and the white light do not coincide with each other, a high S/N ratio may be obtained. |
| US09046487B2 |
Device for lighting an object, with light source provided with a member for sampling a portion of said light, application to the measurement of flux variations of the source
A device for lighting an object, with light source provided with a member for sampling a portion of the light, application to the measurement of flux variations of the source. The device includes at least one light source emitting an illuminating light around an illumination axis, for lighting the object, and a photodetector. |
| US09046482B2 |
Gas sensor and method for manufacturing the gas sensor
It is an object to provide a gas sensor which is formed by a simple manufacturing process. Another object is to provide a gas sensor whose manufacturing cost is reduced. A transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor layer in contact with a gas and which serves as a detector element of a gas sensor, and a transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor layer in contact with a film having a gas barrier property and which forms a detection circuit are formed over one substrate by the same process, whereby a gas sensor using these transistors may be formed. |
| US09046480B2 |
Method for determining hematocrit corrected analyte concentrations
The method includes: providing a test strip comprising a reference electrode and a working electrode coated with a reagent layer; applying a fluid sample to the test strip for a reaction period; applying a test voltage between the reference electrode and the working electrode; measuring a test current as a function of time; measuring a steady state current value when the test current has reached an equilibrium; calculating a ratio of the test current to the steady state current value; plotting the ratio of the test current to the steady state current value as a function of the inverse square root of time; calculating an effective diffusion coefficient from the slope of the linearly regressed plot of the ratio of the test current to the steady state current value as a function of the inverse square root of time; and calculating a hematocrit-corrected concentration of analyte. |
| US09046479B2 |
Biosensor, method of producing the same and detection system comprising the same
A biosensor detects a target substance contained in a liquid sample and includes an insulating base plate having a recess formed in a portion that is thinner than the surrounding part, a working electrode and a counter electrode, at least one of which is disposed in the recess. A reaction reagent is disposed in the recess and reacts with a specific substance in the liquid sample. |
| US09046475B2 |
High electron energy based overlay error measurement methods and systems
A method, a system and a computer readable medium are provided. The method may include obtaining or receiving first area information representative of a first area of a first layer of an inspected object; wherein the inspected object further comprises a second layer that comprises a second area; wherein the second layer is buried under the first layer; directing electrons of a primary electron beam to interact with the first area; directing electrons of the primary electron beam to interact with the second area; generating detection signals responsive to electrons that were scattered or reflected from at least one of the first and second areas; and determining at least one spatial relationship between at least one feature of the first area and at least one feature of the second area based on the detection signals and on the first area information. |
| US09046469B2 |
Ultrasonic testing method
An ultrasonic testing method is provided to measure a thickness of an object in a simple and highly accurate manner when crystal grains that form a metal solidification structure of a directionally-solidified material cast or the like have a statistical variation.An ultrasonic probe 102 causes a longitudinal ultrasonic wave to be incident on a test object 101 in a direction perpendicular to a surface 101A of the test object 101. As a velocity of the longitudinal ultrasonic wave, the average of velocities of longitudinal ultrasonic waves propagating in directions of crystal orientations <100>, <110>, and <210> is used. The thickness of the test object 101 is measured on the basis of the velocity of the ultrasonic wave and a time period for the propagation of the ultrasonic wave. |
| US09046467B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus and X-ray imaging method
The invention is aimed to provide an X-ray imaging apparatus and the like ensuring a sufficient range of detecting the amount of X-ray movement with respect to the pixel size of a detector in comparison with the method disclosed in International Publication No. WO2008/029107. The X-ray imaging apparatus of the present invention has a splitting element which spatially linearly splits an X-ray beam; and a shielding unit which shields a part of the X-ray beam which is split by the splitting element and whose position is changed by a test object. The shielding unit has a region transmitting X-rays and a region having a shielding element shielding (blocking) X-rays. A dividing line between the X-ray transmitting region and the region having the shielding element is configured to be arranged obliquely so as to cross the linearly split X-ray beam. |
| US09046465B2 |
Optimization of the source firing pattern for X-ray scanning systems
The present application discloses a computed tomography system having non-rotating X-ray sources that are programmed to optimize the source firing pattern. In one embodiment, the CT system is a fast cone-beam CT scanner which uses a fixed ring of multiple sources and fixed rings of detectors in an offset geometry. It should be appreciated that the source firing pattern is effectuated by a controller, which implements methods to determine a source firing pattern that are adapted to geometries where the X-ray sources and detector geometry are offset. |
| US09046463B1 |
Method for conducting nonlinear electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
A method for conducting nonlinear electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The method includes quantifying the nonlinear response of an electrochemical system by measuring higher-order current or voltage harmonics generated by moderate-amplitude sinusoidal current or voltage perturbations. The method involves acquisition of the response signal followed by time apodization and fast Fourier transformation of the data into the frequency domain, where the magnitude and phase of each harmonic signal can be readily quantified. The method can be implemented on a computer as a software program. |
| US09046460B2 |
Particle measuring apparatus and measuring method using the same
Provided are a particle measurement apparatus having a plurality of apertures arranged in series therein, and a particle measurement method using the same to statistically analyze multiple signals generated when a particle passes through the plurality of apertures, thus acquiring more accurate information on particles. The particle measurement apparatus includes a plurality of aperture members arranged in series, a plurality of electrodes to form an electric field within the plurality of aperture members, and an analyzer for statistically analyzing multiple electrical signals generated when a particle passes through the plurality of aperture members. |
| US09046449B2 |
Measurement device for the measurement of forces in structural components
A measurement device for measurement of forces in structural components, having a measurement sensor, which is embodied such that it is connected with the structural component in a force-fit and/or form-fit manner, and generates measurement signals as a function of force transfers in the structural component, the measurement device having a measurement casing upon the measurement sensor. Processing of received measurement signals can occur, and the measurement casing has connecting means, for placing in position and releasable attachment of the measurement casing on the structural component, and the contacting means of the measurement casing can establish contact with the measurement sensor for the reception of the measurement signals. |
| US09046447B2 |
Crank angle detection apparatus
A crank angle detection apparatus may include a crank gear provided to be rotated together with a crankshaft, a balance gear provided to be rotated together with a balance shaft and engaged with the crank gear so that the balance shaft is rotated in accordance with rotation of the crankshaft, and a crank angle sensor configured to sense rotation of the balance gear or the crank gear and detect a rotation angle of the crankshaft. |
| US09046444B2 |
Tire testing device
To effectively suppress a shift of a rotating axis of an upper chuck with respect to a rotating axis of a lower chuck due to a separating force. A tire testing device (1) includes: vertical frames (30a, 30b) which are supported by a lower frame (20); a beam (40) which bridges between the vertical frames (30a, 30b) and is movable in the vertical direction; an upper chuck (45) which is attached to the center of the beam (40), the center corresponding to the center of the beam in the longitudinal direction; and a lower chuck (25) which is attached to the lower frame. When viewed from the vertical direction, a rotating axis of an upper rotating member (47) is positioned at the center of a straight line formed by connecting supporting points where each of the vertical frames (30a, 30b) support the beam (40). |
| US09046442B2 |
Method and apparatus for operating an injection valve
An injection valve includes a valve needle preventing a fluid flow out of an injection nozzle in a closing position and enabling the fluid flow of the injection nozzle apart from the closing position. Furthermore the injection valve includes an electro-magnetic actuator unit being designed to actuate the valve needle. The actuator unit is activated according to a predetermined activation signal with a given activation period for effecting a fluid flow out of the injection nozzle. An actuator unit voltage characteristic is captured at least over a period of time during which the valve needle could reach the closing position. A noise part of the actuator unit voltage characteristic is determined and a closing time representing a time when the valve needle reaches the closing position is determined depending on the noise part of the captured actuator voltage characteristic. |
| US09046440B2 |
Device for testing a safety and/or driver assistance system
A dummy device for testing a driver assistance system of a vehicle traveling on a roadway. The dummy device travels above the roadway, and includes a transceiver and a processor to test the driver assistance system of the vehicle by simulating a driver assistance system of another vehicle. |
| US09046439B2 |
E-latch having a magnetic snap assembly
A system for detecting the operative condition of a latch for a door of a motor-vehicle, comprises a magnetic field generating element adapted to generate a magnetic field which is associated to the operative condition of latch; a support which defines a housing for magnetic field generating element; and a sensor magnetically coupled with magnetic field generating element and adapted to sense the magnetic field. The generating element is snap-fitted to the housing. |
| US09046433B2 |
Threaded member capable of detecting tension
A threaded member capable of detecting tension includes a sensor component. A receiving space is formed in the threaded member. The sensor component has a flexible member and a sensor. The sensor is disposed on the flexible member. The sensor component is disposed in the receiving space of the threaded member and preset in a compressed/flexed state in an axial/longitudinal direction of the threaded member. When an article is tightened with the threaded member, the threaded member is tensioned to change the flexion of the flexible member. At this time, the sensor can detect and find the tension of the threaded member to achieve the tightening force applied to the threaded member. |
| US09046429B2 |
Torque sensor
A torque sensor includes a first resolver that outputs a signal corresponding to a rotation angle of a first rotor fitted on an outer periphery of a first rotary shaft, and a second resolver that outputs a signal corresponding to a rotation angle of a second rotor fitted on an outer periphery of a second rotary shaft coupled to the first rotary shaft via a torsion bar. The torque sensor detects a torque exerted on the first rotary shaft or the second rotary shaft based on the signals output from the first resolver and the second resolver. A first junction between the first rotary shaft and the first rotor, and a second junction between the second rotary shaft and the second rotor are formed so as to have different shapes or different sizes. |
| US09046424B2 |
Throttling memory in a computer system
Systems and methods of managing memory devices provide for reduced power consumption and better thermal management through enhanced memory throttling. In one embodiment a memory unit includes a memory device and a temperature measurement module coupled to the memory device. The temperature measurement device measures the internal temperature of the memory device. Memory throttling can therefore be implemented based on more accurate measurements and with a much shorter response time. |