| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09047849B2 |
Pick holder
Generally, a body having body upper face, a closed-end aperture element disposed in the body communicating with the body upper face, and a securement element affixed to the body opposite the body upper face, which can removably couple to a support surface. Specifically, a pick holder having body upper face, a closed-end aperture element disposed in the body communicating with the body upper face, which can be configured to removably retain a pick, and a suction cup affixed to the body opposite the body upper face, which can removably couple to a stringed instrument. |
| US09047843B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel, a gate driver, a data driver, and an initial driving control unit. The liquid crystal panel includes a plurality of liquid crystal cells. Each liquid crystal cell is defined by a gate line, a data line and a thin film transistor. The gate driver controls the thin film transistor connected to the gate line of each liquid crystal cell according to a gate control signal. The data driver outputs a pixel signal to the data line of the each liquid crystal cell according to a data control signal. The data driver includes a switch connected to the data line of the each liquid crystal cell. The initial driving control unit is structured to compare a clock count with a predetermined reference value and operable to alternately generate a first state signal and a second state signal based on the comparison. The unit applies the first state signal to the switch during a masking interval. The pixel signal is not output to the data line during the masking interval. |
| US09047840B2 |
Display device and electronic appliance
Included are a display panel including first to third pixel regions and a driver circuit; a backlight portion divided into a first light source region where light is emitted in response to input of a video signal to the first pixel region, a second light source region where light is emitted in response to input of a video signal to the second pixel region, and a third light source region where light is emitted in response to input of a video signal to the third pixel region; a video signal selection circuit used to supply the video signals from plural memory circuits to the driver circuit; a control circuit that supplies a control signal for controlling the driver circuit; a sequence determination circuit that supplies a backlight control signal and a selection signal; and a random number generation circuit used for selection from colors in the sequence determination circuit. |
| US09047836B2 |
Display device and electronic device
Multiple gray levels are expressed in a display device. The display device includes a pixel portion where pixels including transistors and display elements are arranged in matrix, a gate driver electrically connected to a gate of the transistor, a source driver electrically connected to a source or a drain of the transistor, and a data processing circuit which outputs a signal to the source driver. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor. In the data processing circuit, n-bit digital data of input m-bit digital data (m and n are positive integers, where m>n) is used for voltage gradation and (m−n) bit digital data is used for time gradation. |
| US09047835B2 |
Thermal and power aware graphics processing
Embodiments for thermal and/or power aware graphics processing are provided. In an embodiment, a thermally and/or power adaptive graphics processing environment is presented. The graphics processing environment includes various thermally and/or power adaptive elements, each of which may be thermally and/or power aware (adaptive) in the sense that it may adapt at least one aspect of its operation and/or outputs based on thermal and/or power information to effectuate a change in graphics processing in any element (including itself) of the environment. This may include changing or causing a change in at least one of a graphics element, feature, setting, or characteristic based on thermal and/or power information. In an embodiment, thermal and/or power based adaptation may include software and/or hardware adaptation of graphics processing to affect thermal and/or power performance. |
| US09047825B2 |
Display device and display method
A display device includes a calculation unit which calculates a required luminance according to a set luminance for each color of a backlight, for each of a first video signal and a second video signal, and obtains the higher of the required luminance corresponding to the first video signal and the required luminance corresponding to the second video signal as an objective luminance for each color based on a calculation result, a backlight driving unit which drives the backlight for each color according to the obtained objective luminance of each color, a detection unit which compares the required luminance with the objective luminance and detects, for each color, the required luminance corresponding to the video signal lower than the objective luminance, and a brightness adjustment unit which performs adjustment for each color so that an image corresponding to the video signal lower than the objective luminance is darkened. |
| US09047824B2 |
Virtualized data presentation in a carousel panel
Embodiments are directed to displaying data items in a carousel display panel and to efficiently presenting virtualized data in a carousel display panel. In one example, a computer system accesses a list of data items that include at least a first data item and a last data item which are to be displayed in a carousel display panel. The computer system displays the selected portion of data items in the carousel display panel and receives a user input indicating that the last data item in the list is to be displayed in the carousel display panel. The computer system then rotates the data items displayed in the carousel display panel to the last data item. The last data item is thus displayed, along with at least a portion of a second-to-last data item and the first data item in the list. |
| US09047823B2 |
Organic light emitting display and method of erasing afterimage thereof
An organic light emitting display and a method of erasing an image sticking thereof are provided. In the image sticking erasing method, a panel driving circuit is driven by a logic power voltage during a power-off delay time to discharge pixels. |
| US09047819B2 |
Organic light emitting display having uniform brightness
An organic light emitting display is capable of preventing brightness from being non-uniform due to IR drop so as to improve reliability of the organic light emitting display. The organic light emitting display comprises: a display panel having a display region and a non-display region; a plurality of sub pixels defined by perpendicularly intersecting a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines formed in the display region of the display panel; and a power source supply pad unit provided in the non-display region of the display panel for supplying a power source voltage to the plurality of sub pixels. A resistance value of sub pixels arranged in a first region adjacent to the power source supply pad unit is higher than a resistance value of sub pixels of a second region which is separated from the power source supply pad unit, with the first region interposed therebetween. |
| US09047813B2 |
Pixel circuit, display device, electronic apparatus, and method of driving pixel circuit
Disclosed herein is a pixel circuit, including: a display portion; a drive transistor driving the display portion; and a characteristics controlling portion configured to control characteristics of the drive transistor. |
| US09047812B2 |
Display device, apparatus for compensating degradation and method thereof
A display device includes: a plurality of pixels; a degradation compensator for using a temperature weight value for a reference temperature, a luminance weight value for a reference luminance, and a material weight value for a reference material, for calculating a reference using time when a degradation rate of the pixels is changed to a reference degradation rate of a reference degradation curve, and for generating a control variable according to the reference using time; and a power supply for controlling a voltage difference between a first power source voltage for supplying a driving current to the pixels and a second power source voltage according to the control variable. |
| US09047810B2 |
Circuits for eliminating ghosting phenomena in display panel having light emitters
The present disclosure provides a circuit for discharging parasitic capacitance in a display panel with common-anode topology having a plurality of light emitters, as well as a circuit for charging parasitic capacitance in a display panel with common-cathode topology. In the common-cathode topology, the circuit includes a three-terminal device having a gate, a source, and a drain, wherein one of the source and the drain is electrically coupled to a common cathode of the light emitters, and a mechanism for controlling the three-terminal device, the mechanism being electrically coupled to the gate. Shortly after a previously selected light emitter is unselected, the mechanism turns on the three-terminal device to form a conductive path between the source and the drain. The mechanism turns off the three-terminal device after a voltage at the common cathode is increased to a predetermined voltage level or after a maximum period of time lapses. |
| US09047809B2 |
Display device and driving method and electronic apparatus of the display device
To reduce a pseudo contour which occurs when displaying by a time gray scale method. When gradation is expressed with an n bit, bits each of which is shown by a binary of the gray scales are divided into three bit groups, and one frame is divided into two subframe groups. Then, a (0 |
| US09047808B2 |
Method for charging external device by which unnecessary power consumption is alleviated and displaying apparatus using thereof
A method for charging an external device and a display using the method are provided. The method includes, determining whether the external device is chargeable and connected to the display through a connector when the displaying apparatus is in a standby mode; and if it is determined that the external device is chargeable and connected, charging the external device through the connector in the standby mode. The display includes a power supply that supplies standby power or main power; a checker which determines, in a standby mode, whether an external device is connected and chargeable; and a controller. The controller controls the power supply to output standby power while the checker determines whether the external device is connected and is a chargeable device, and if the external device is connected and chargeable, controls the power supply to output main power to charge the external device. |
| US09047806B2 |
Display device and method of adjusting viewing angle thereof
A display device for selectively adjusting a viewing angle thereof and a method of adjusting a viewing angle thereof are provided. The display device comprises: a display unit displaying an input image based on a determined viewing angle; and a controlling unit determining a viewing angle of the display unit according to a predetermined viewing condition and controlling to display the input image with the determined viewing angle, wherein the viewing condition is one of a viewer position condition, an image type condition, and a viewer setting condition. |
| US09047804B1 |
Lexical-based processing of color images
Processing of a digital image includes using a machine to convert numerical representations of colors in the digital image to lexical representations of the colors. The lexical representations may be used for image processing such as color reproduction. Examples of lexical-based color reproduction include, without limitation, using the lexical representations to perform color correction of an image display device, identifying potential problems with color shifts, generating statistics about lexical boundary crossings, and developing image processing pipelines. |
| US09047803B2 |
Display apparatus including bi-directional gate drive circuit
A gate drive circuit includes a plurality of driving stages. An n-th (‘n’ is a natural number) driving stage includes a pull-up part, a carry part, a first pull-down part, a first pull-up/down control part and a second pull-up/down control part. The first pull-up/down control part applies a first power signal of an ON voltage to a control terminal of the pull-up part in a forward direction mode, and applies the first power signal of a second OFF voltage to a control terminal of the pull-up part in a reverse direction mode. The second pull-up/down control part applies a second power signal of the second OFF voltage to the control terminal of the pull-up part in the forward direction mode, and applies the second power signal of the ON voltage to the control terminal of the pull-up part in the reverse direction mode. |
| US09047802B2 |
Organic light emitting display device and testing method thereof
An organic light emitting display device and a testing method thereof for detecting a failure occurring in a cutting process of a protective film attached to an upper end of a panel. The organic light emitting display device includes a first substrate on which a pixel unit and a tester are formed. The pixel unit includes a plurality of pixels positioned at intersection portions of scan lines and data lines, and the tester includes a plurality of transistors coupled to the respective data lines so as to supply test signals to the data lines. The transistors are divided into at least two groups, so that transistors of one group are turned on/off by a first test control line, and transistors of another group are turned on/off by a second test control line, the first and second test control lines being disposed on opposite sides of the substrate. |
| US09047801B2 |
Method of remotely adjusting display device and display device
A method of remotely adjusting a display device is provided which introduces the concept of Pages as a superordinate concept of VCPs known as control or adjustment item codes under current standards, defines the maximum value of the VCP Pages, and controls the VCP Pages from a personal computer, thereby to define and control more VCPs. |
| US09047798B2 |
Display apparatus and method of displaying three dimensional images using plural barrier states
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a display panel driver, a light source part, a light directing element and a barrier driver. The display panel displays a 3D image by dividing a single 3D image frame into plural sub frames including one corresponding to a first stereoscopic view for display during a first sub frame and a second corresponding to a second stereoscopic view for display during a second sub frame. The light source part provides selectively blockable backlighting. The light directing element is disposed between the display panel and the light source part so as to implement selective blocking. The light directing element includes a barrier part and a lens part disposed on the barrier part. The barrier part has a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes crossing the first electrodes. |
| US09047795B2 |
Methods and devices for providing a wallpaper viewfinder
Methods and electronic devices for providing a wallpaper viewfinder are described. In one aspect, a method includes: receiving image data from a camera of the electronic device; displaying a viewfinder for the camera on a display of the electronic device based on the image data; identifying a subject in the image data; and overlaying one or more interface element representations on a portion of the displayed viewfinder which does not contain the identified subject, the interface element representations depicting interface elements associated with a graphical user interface of the electronic device. |
| US09047793B2 |
Three dimensional video display device
In a three dimensional video display device (1), an LED unit (10) rotates in the direction of the arrow (24) along top and bottom edges of a display section (28). The LED unit (10) has a left-eye LED array (6) and a right-eye LED array (8), each including plural LEDs (4) aligned in a column. The left-eye LED array (6) displays a left-eye image through an afterimage effect produced by displaying, while rotating, columns of pixel groups constituting the left-eye image. The right-eye LED array 8 displays a right-eye image through an afterimage effect produced by displaying, while rotating, columns of pixel groups constituting the right-eye image. Light from the left-eye image enters the left eye of a viewer, whereas light from the right-eye image enters the right eye. The viewer recognizes a three dimensional image in a range of 360° around the viewer based on binocular parallax. |
| US09047792B2 |
Backlight module with diffusion sheet having a sub-wavelength grating
A diffusion sheet includes a light incident surface and a light emitting surface opposite to the light incident surface. The light emitting surface includes a sub-wavelength grating to diffuse lights propagated in the diffusion sheet. The sub-wavelength grating is used to avoid a total internal reflection of some of the lights. A backlight module having the diffusion sheet is also provided. |
| US09047787B2 |
Perfusion method and apparatus
Apparatus use with a perfusion system, the apparatus including a subject simulator for simulating subject. The subject simulator includes a circulatory system having an inlet line for receiving fluid from the perfusion system, an outlet line for transferring fluid to the perfusion system, at least on sensor for sensing at least one fluid property and at least one control device coupled to at least one of the inlet line and the outlet line. In use this, allows the control device to manipulate the at least on fluid property based at least partially on signals from the at least one sensor, to thereby simulate a least one of compliance and resistance of the simulated subject. |
| US09047785B2 |
Integration of an e-book e-report with data collection and control devices using APIs that operate within a browser
An educational electronic book (e-Book) facility that may be suitable for use in public school classrooms and many other environments may be based on an encapsulated HTML technology to facilitate complete interactive operation without use or risks associated with an external network connection, such as the Internet. |
| US09047784B2 |
Automatic eBook reader augmentation
Method, system, and computer program product for performing an operation for automatic electronic book augmentation. The operation presents an electronic book via a display screen of an electronic device, and identifies user preferences. The operation then determines a current reading position of a user within the electronic book. The operation then identifies, based on the user's current reading position, a context within the electronic book. The operation then identifies, based on the context and the user preferences, sensory effects to enhance the user's experience. The operation then outputs the sensory effects. |
| US09047783B2 |
Communication systems and methods for flexible telematics at a vehicle
A method for providing telematics to a vehicle includes the step of providing a user-removable telematics component with a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, a data pump, and a short range wireless personal area network transceiver. The telematics component is communicatively connected to an integrated communication device of the vehicle. The integrated communication device has a short range wireless personal area network transceiver and a memory storing a list that includes at least a phone number of at least one currently paired mobile communication device. At least a portion of the list is periodically received at the data pump, the portion of the list including the phone number of the at least one currently paired mobile communication device. The portion of the list is periodically transmitted out from the telematics component to an off-site telematics provider utilizing a communications path of the data pump. |
| US09047782B1 |
Vehicle ultrasonic parking assistance apparatus including charge pumping circuit and method of operating the same
Provided are a vehicle ultrasonic parking assistance apparatus including a charge pumping circuit and a method of operating the same. The vehicle ultrasonic parking assistance apparatus changes a transmission output voltage in a voltage driving scheme without using a transformer. By using the charge pumping circuit instead of the transformer so as to boost a voltage, the manufacturing cost is reduced, and a signal is input to the ultrasonic converter at the same voltage as a voltage of when the transformer is used. Also, the charge pumping circuit is provided at a region in which the variable current source was provided, and thus, the manufacturing cost is not additionally expended. Furthermore, since only a conversion of energy by the ultrasonic converter is considered, designing is simplified. |
| US09047780B2 |
Collision mitigation systems and methods using driver attentiveness
Methods and systems for mitigating vehicle collisions. One system includes a processor configured to set a driver attention level to at least one of an attentive level and an inattentive level based on a driver's interaction with at least one device located within a vehicle. The processor is also configured to automatically pre-fill at least one brake line of the vehicle when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level, automatically perform a brake jerk when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level and a distance between the vehicle and a closest object detected around the vehicle is less than a first predetermined distance, and automatically slow the vehicle when the driver attention level is set to the inattentive level and a distance between the vehicle and a closest object detected around the vehicle is less than a second predetermined distance. |
| US09047776B2 |
Apparatus for providing drive assist information
An apparatus for providing drive assist information depending on a driving experience amount in a country and/or region where a host vehicle currently travels. The apparatus includes a processing unit configured to determine a country and/or region where a host vehicle currently travels, determine whether or not a driving experience amount of a driver in the determined country/region reaches a predetermined reference value, and to stop providing at least a part of the assist information related to the country and/or region where the host vehicle currently travels, if the driving experience value reaches the predetermined reference value. |
| US09047774B2 |
Method and apparatus for crowd-sourced traffic reporting
A system includes a processor configured to project monitoring needs for a road segment. The processor is further configured to contact one or more vehicles traveling on the road segment during a time of monitoring need. The processor is additionally configured to instruct a first number, determined based on a projected monitoring need, of contacted vehicles to being monitoring and reporting traffic data for the road segment. |
| US09047773B2 |
Exceptional road-condition warning device, system and method for a vehicle
An exceptional road-condition warning device, system and method for a vehicle are provided. The system includes an information processing device and a display device. The display device provides real-time and advance warning information to a driver of the vehicle. The system may notice the driver and passenger in advance to respond to an exceptional road condition before the vehicle approaches the occurring place of the road condition through a back-end cooperative self-learning mechanism. The back-end cooperative self-learning mechanism may collect the exceptional road conditions from different vehicles and update the database automatically to maintain the accuracy. The back-end cooperative self-learning mechanism further shares the information stored in the database with the databases installed in the vehicles by a bidirectional communication manner to update the information inside the database of the vehicles for the information processing device. |
| US09047769B2 |
System for aiding the guidance of an aircraft travelling around an airport zone
The general field of the invention is that of systems for aiding the guidance of a first aircraft travelling around an airport zone. The system according to the invention comprises: a set of databases comprising bulkiness and performance characteristics of the said first aircraft, geometric and technical characteristics of the airport zone and information about the air traffic in the immediate environment of the said first aircraft; calculation means making it possible to firstly determine a safety zone around the said first aircraft taking into account at least the position of the said aircraft, its size and the uncertainty in the measurement of its position; and then a taxiing indication on the basis of the information arising from the databases and the characteristics of the safety zone; viewing means displaying at least one view of the airport one in which the first aircraft is situated and a representation of the said taxiing indication. |
| US09047767B2 |
Traffic impact prediction for multiple event planning
Embodiments relate to traffic impact prediction in a transportation network. Link level background traffic demand in a transportation network may be estimated based on information about available routes, and based on expected background traffic volumes between origins and destinations. A background traffic flow model that optimizes a background flow of the expected background traffic volumes among the available routes to minimize a sum of background congestion costs, background path entropy, and errors between an observed background traffic flow and the optimized background flow may be applied. Alternative routes may be identified based on the available routes and event based control plans. Expected additional event based traffic volumes may be received. A link level total traffic demand in the transportation network may be estimated based on the expected additional event based traffic volumes, the identified alternative routes, and the estimated background traffic demand. |
| US09047764B2 |
Method of alert calculation for an aircraft ground proximity warning system
The invention relates to a method of alert calculation for an aircraft obstruction proximity warning system including a step for detecting a hazardous flight situation capable of triggering an alert as a function of a data signal representing the change in height below the aircraft, including, prior to the step of detection, a step for converting the data signal representing the change in height as a function of information representative of the vertical profile of the obstructions below the aircraft. |
| US09047763B2 |
Methods and systems for representing time of arrival information on a cockpit display
A method is provided for displaying information on a display device of an aircraft. The method comprises receiving data indicating a point selected from a trajectory of a flight path; determining an estimated time of arrival minimum and an estimated time of arrival maximum based on the point; and displaying in a dialogue box associated with the trajectory of the flight path the estimated time of arrival minimum and the estimated time of arrival maximum for the point. |
| US09047759B2 |
Communication device
A mobile device includes a position sensing unit, a remote control information obtainment unit, and a storage unit. Position information obtained by the position sensing unit is stored in the storage unit in association with remote control information. The mobile device further includes a directional space obtainment unit and an apparatus specification unit. The mobile device recognizes a direction pointed by a user using the mobile device, and enables operation of a terminal apparatus existing in the pointing direction. |
| US09047757B2 |
Systems and methods for remotely controlling an advanced metering infrastructure
A computer-implemented method for remotely controlling an AMI is disclosed. The method includes receiving at an AMI controller module, meter event data from a remote command and control module; generating, at a third module, rules for the management, implementation and compliance documentation of connect/disconnect orders; processing, at the third module, the meter event data based on those rules to aggregate, batch, filter, or prioritize execution of individual connect/disconnect orders; communicating the connect/disconnect execution orders and policy compliance verification information to the AMI controller module; and, at the AMI controller module, executing connect/disconnect operations via the command and control module. |
| US09047755B2 |
Hygiene compliance system and method
A hygiene compliance system comprising personnel tags each having a respective status indicator that may be set to a first value indicating hygiene compliance or to a second value indicating hygiene non-compliance. Monitors for target zones, e.g. patients' beds, detect the presence of the personnel tags at the target zone. Monitors for hygiene stations, e.g. washbasins, detect the presence of the tags at the hygiene stations. When the hygiene station monitor detects that a hygiene station has been used, the respective tag is set to the first value. The target zone monitor checks the status of tags detected in its target zone and may issue a warning if the status indicates hygiene non-compliance. When the person leaves the target zone, the target zone monitor changes the respective tag's status to the second value. |
| US09047754B2 |
Lighting system for light emitting diode having gas detection function
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system having a gas detection function may be used not only for lighting but also for detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) causing the sick house syndrome at home and other odorless and colorless non-combustible gas harmful to a human body. The LED lighting system may be used as an optical sensor showing with the fast response time and high sensitivity with respect to an environment harmful to a human body. In addition, since the presence of gas can be easily detected through a change of color in comparison to sound alarms for fire and gas contamination, emergency situations can be effectively handled. |
| US09047753B2 |
Networked touchscreen with integrated interfaces
An integrated security system integrates broadband and mobile access and control with conventional security systems and premise devices to provide a tri-mode security network that with remote connectivity and access. The integrated security system includes a touchscreen providing security keypad functionality as well as content management and presentation, and is used as a security system interface and an interface for interacting with a network. The integrated security system delivers remote premise monitoring and control functionality to conventional monitored premise protection and complements existing premise protection equipment. The integrated security system integrates into the premise network and couples wirelessly with the conventional security panel, enabling broadband access to premise security systems. Automation devices can be added, enabling users to remotely see live video or pictures and control home devices via a personal web portal, mobile phone, or other client device. Users can receive notifications of detected events via electronic message. |
| US09047752B2 |
Alarm device to prevent drowsiness in drivers
The invention relates in general to an alarm device with the shape of a ring, comprising a housing located on its upper end, which contains an alarm system, which is activated upon the first signs of drowsiness or sleep of a human body. The relaxation or loosening of the muscles of the hand causes the pressure exerted on a lever located adjacent the ring to cease, which results in the enlargement of the circumference of the ring so that it will exert pressure on a knob, which in its turn will actuate a horn capable of producing a shrill sound and a vibrator, upon which the driver will recover a state of consciousness. |
| US09047750B2 |
Movement monitoring
A monitoring device includes a memory with a management application installed thereon. The application is configured to process a sensor signal generated by a sensor system configured between a patient and a corresponding surface, the sensor signal being configured based on a physiological movement detected by the sensor system, analyze the sensor signal utilizing a monitoring heuristic associated with a patient profile. The monitoring heuristic is configured to identify physiological movement patterns over time within the sensor signal and generate an output based on the physiological movement patterns. |
| US09047749B2 |
System and method for situational awareness
A method for determining location of a person relative to a vehicle. A first device comprising a Bluetooth transceiver is associated with the person, and a second device comprising a Bluetooth transceiver is associated with the vehicle. The method includes determining whether the strength of a signal received by one device from the other device via has diminished below a predetermined level, in which case a notification is provided to a computer system via wireless data communication that the status has changed from a first link status wherein the first device is within a predeterminable distance from the second device to a second link status wherein the first device is beyond the predeterminable distance from the second device. |
| US09047747B2 |
Dual serial bus interface
An interface protocol for patient monitoring systems includes a Dual Serial Bus (DSB) interface. The DSB interface includes a first serial protocol that is USB, Firewire, or Ethernet protocol and a second serial protocol that is a low power serial (LPS) protocol. DSB interfaces provide for communication between DSB Hosts and DSB Devices and allow for the transfer of operating and battery charging power from DSB Host to DSB Device. In addition, the DSB host contains a switched Auxiliary Voltage Supply (AVS) which can provide up to 15 W of power to DSB devices for battery charging or other high power needs. The DSB interface eliminates the need for multiple cables for different parameter sensing devices as there is only one type of connector and, accordingly, reduces the risk of damage caused by inadvertently plugging a parameter sensing device into the wrong receptacle. |
| US09047746B1 |
Electronic medication compliance monitoring system and associated methods
A system and method for monitoring a patient's compliance with a medication regimen includes an electronic tag integral with or attached to a medicine delivery device such as a capsule, the tag having an antenna and a receiver/transmitter, the system also including a reader positioned externally for detecting the presence and location of the delivery device in the patient. |
| US09047743B2 |
Sophisticated automated relationship alerter
Device, process and program for determining and alerting a user of the existence of nearby acquaintance, including: providing a first electronic communication device having near-field transmitting and receiving communications capability, a user interface and control circuitry; transmitting from the first communication device an inquiry to determine the presence in the near-field of a compatible second electronic communication device; upon receipt of a positive response to the inquiry, transmitting from the first communication device anonymous user indicia; receiving anonymous user indicia from the second communication device; coordinating the received anonymous user indicia to determine the presence of any matches between the transmitted anonymous user information and the received anonymous user indicia; and providing either a list of matches or an indication of no matches to the user via the user interface. Based on the information exchanged, the users can determine whether a relationship between the users exists or might be created. |
| US09047737B2 |
Web based methods and apparatus for parimutual historical gaming
A system for parimutuel wagering on actual past events includes, in one embodiment, a video server including a database having video images of gaming events stored therein, a game server including a computer system configured to facilitate pari-mutuel wagering on actual past events and to permit a player to select a percentage weight for each of a plurality of handicapping factors, and a plurality of terminals. The video server and plurality of terminals are communicatably coupled to the game server. |
| US09047735B2 |
Head to head gambling hybrid games
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention include: at least one gambling game with a real world engine; a multiplayer entertainment game with a head to head gambling controller constructed to: instruct the real world engine to conduct a head to head gambling session in which at least two players of the multiplayer entertainment game conduct at least one wager in at least one gambling game where real world credit payout as a result of the at least one wager in the at least one gambling game of the head to head gambling session is distributed between the at least two players of the multiplayer entertainment game within the head to head gambling session; and parameterize wager terms of each wager made in each gambling game of the head to head gambling session using information related to gameplay within the multiplayer entertainment game. |
| US09047734B2 |
Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies in fantasy sports contest applications
Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information. |
| US09047732B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for enabling real-time competition having an entertaining experience based on a live event
The disclosed embodiment relates to methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for enabling real-time competition. An exemplary computer-implemented method executed by one or more computing devices for enabling real-time competition between users according to the disclosed embodiment includes, for example, receiving information from a first user computing device associated with a first user corresponding to the first user's competitive position regarding a real-time event, transmitting information to a second user computing device associated with a second user identifying the real-time event, receiving information from the second user computing device corresponding to the second user's competitive position regarding the real-time event, and transmitting information to the first user computing device and the second user computing device regarding an outcome of the real-time event relative to the first user's competitive position and the second user's competitive position. |
| US09047728B1 |
Banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records. The automated banking machine includes a card reader that is operative to read card data corresponding to financial accounts from user cards. The card data is linked in at least one data store to data indicating that the card data corresponds to a financial account that is authorized to be used to conduct at least one transaction through use of the automated banking machine. The automated banking machine may be used to carry out financial transfers involving financial accounts by users who are determined to be authorized users of such accounts. |
| US09047727B2 |
Portable electronic device and method for securing such device
A portable electronic device includes a first interface adapted for establishing a communication with a first external electronic entity. A first security element is adapted for detecting at least one type of attack and forbidding at least one data communication using the first interface after the detection of an attack. A second interface is different from the first interface and is adapted for establishing a communication with a second external electronic entity. A management element of the first security element uses the second interface for managing the first security element. |
| US09047723B2 |
Defect categorization
A method of categorizing defects in a media item is described. The method comprises the steps of: receiving an ultrasonic image of the media item, where the ultrasonic image comprises a plurality of points, each point having a thickness value corresponding to a normal value, a thin value, or a thick value; identifying one or more blobs comprising contiguous points each having a thickness value corresponding to a thin value; for each identified blob, comparing a size of the blob with a damage criterion; ignoring the blob if the blob size does not meet the damage criterion; and for each identified blob having a size meeting the damage criterion, categorizing the identified blob using the thickness values and locations. |
| US09047722B2 |
Vehicle location and fault diagnostic systems and methods
A fault diagnostic system of a vehicle includes: a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and a diagnostic module. The GPS receiver determines a location of the vehicle. The diagnostic module diagnoses a fault in a component of the vehicle. In response to the diagnosis of the fault, the diagnostic module stores diagnostic data in a computer readable medium. The diagnostic data includes both a predetermined diagnostic trouble code associated with the fault diagnosed and the location of the vehicle when the fault was diagnosed. |
| US09047721B1 |
Driver log generation
A system for determining a driver log entry comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to determine a log start time. The processor is configured to determine a driver identity after the log start time. The processor is configured to determine whether a change to the driver identity has occurred based at least in part on a sensor data. In the event that the driver identity has changed, the processor is configured to determine a log stop time and determine a driver log entry using the log start time, the driver identity, and the log stop time. |
| US09047716B1 |
System and method for two-way remote activation with adaptive protocol
In one embodiment of a system and method for remote activation of a device includes, a transceiver is provided for transmitting a command signal according to a first transmission protocol having a first data rate, receiving an acknowledgment signal indicating that the command signal transmitted according to the first transmission protocol has been received, and transmitting the command signal according a second transmission protocol, the second transmission protocol having a second data rate less than the first data rate and including partition of the command signal. A controller is provided for selecting the first transmission protocol for use in transmitting the command signal in response to a user input, and selecting the second transmission protocol for use in transmitting the command signal when the transceiver fails to receive the acknowledgment signal. |
| US09047707B2 |
Graph display device
A graph display device includes a display module, a graph display control module which displays a graph corresponding to an expression on the display module, a specifying module which specifies a point on a graph displayed on the display module, a setting module which sets a tangent that contacts the graph at the specified point, an area determination module which, of two areas divided by the tangent set by the setting module, determines one area opposite to the area in which the graph lies to be a display area for coordinate values, and a coordinate value display control module which displays coordinate values of the specified point in the area determined by the area determination module. |
| US09047706B1 |
Aligning digital 3D models using synthetic images
To align a first digital 3D model of a scene with a second digital 3D model of the scene, real-world photographs of the scene are received and synthetic photographs of the first digital 3D model are generated according to different camera poses of a virtual camera. Using the real-world photographs and the synthetic photographs as input photographs, points in a coordinate system of the second digital 3D model are generated. Camera poses of the input photographs in the coordinate system of the second 3D model also are determined. Alignment data for aligning the first 3D model with the second 3D model is generated using the camera poses of the virtual camera and the camera poses corresponding to the input photographs. |
| US09047705B1 |
Methods and systems for electronically displaying financial data
Methods and systems for electronically displaying financial data involve, for example, providing access to an authorized user via a client computing device to financial data on a back-end server using a processor coupled to memory; likewise using the processor, sending the financial data to the client computing device from the back-end server; and also using the processor, rendering a three-dimensional graphic display showing a plurality of geographic locations associated with the financial data on the client computing device. |
| US09047701B2 |
4D cone beam CT using deformable registration
A method of obtaining a volumetric image includes obtaining a plurality of volumetric images, the volumetric images generated using respective sets of projection images, wherein the volumetric images and the respective sets of projection images correspond with different respective bins for a physiological cycle, and determining an additional volumetric image using one or more of the projection images from each of the sets that correspond with the different respective bins for the physiological cycle, wherein the act of determining the additional volumetric image is performed using a processor. |
| US09047700B2 |
Virtual and augmented reality
Technologies are generally described for systems and methods effective to implement virtual and augmented reality. In an example, a first device may send data to a second device. The first device may include a processor and a memory. The processor may receive first image data based on a first real image from a third device. The first real image may include a fourth device image that relates to a fourth device. The processor may receive second image data based on a second real image from the fourth device. The processor may send the first image data to the second device. The processor may receive a first request from the second device to receive the second image data. The processor may send a second request to the fourth device for the second image data, receive the second image data, and send the second image data to the second device. |
| US09047699B2 |
System and method for creating and displaying map projections related to real-time images
There is provided a method and system for creating and displaying a map projection of a device's real-time viewing area to depict virtual objects, the virtual objects providing a reflected view of real-time objects displayed within the device's viewing area, the method comprising: displaying a real-time image of the device's viewing area taken from a geographical location on a display; retrieving the map projection for revealing the reflected view as an elevated view of a ground surface about the device's current geographical location and in accordance with the device's viewing area; superimposing the map projection on the display and overlaid in an upper portion of the real-time image; and defining one or more markers configured to show a relationship between the map projection and the real-time image, each marker overlaid on the display and configured to connect between the virtual object in the map projection and the corresponding real-time object on the real-time image. |
| US09047697B2 |
Recording medium, information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method
An example information processing apparatus includes: an operation part; an attitude output part outputting, in time series, attitude data corresponding to attitude; an information storage part storing, in time series, information relevant to the attitude data outputted by said attitude output part; a display processing part, in correspondence to the attitude data outputted by said attitude output part, performing processing concerning display of a three-dimensional virtual space; an information acquiring part, from the information stored in time series by said information storage part, acquiring information corresponding to the time preceding by a given period the time that operation was performed on said operation part; and an information processing part, on the basis of the operation performed on said operation part and the information acquired by said information acquiring part, performing information processing. |
| US09047695B2 |
Transformation method for diffusion spectrum imaging using large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping
A transformation method for diffusion spectrum imaging includes: receiving an original DSI dataset and a template DSI dataset; computing an energy function; computing, for each time point, first-order and second-order derivatives of the energy function with respect to velocity fields in an image space and in a q-space; computing, for each time point, the velocity fields in the image space and in the q-space based upon the first-order and second-order derivatives; performing integration on the velocity fields over time to obtain a deformation field; and generating a transformed DSI dataset according to the deformation field. |
| US09047692B1 |
Scene scan
Systems, methods, and computer storage mediums are provided for creating a scene scan from a group of photographic images. An exemplary method includes determining a set of common features for at least one pair of photographic images. The features include a portion of an object captured in each of a first and a second photographic image included in the pair. The first and second photographic images may be captured from different optical centers. A similarity transform for the at least one pair of photographic images is the determined. The similarity transform is provided in order to render the scene scan from each pair of photographic images. At least one of the rotation factor, the scaling factor, or the translation factor associated with the similarity transform is used to position each pair of photographic images such that the set of common features between a pair of, at least in part, align. |
| US09047690B2 |
System and method for facilitating creation of a rich virtual environment
A virtual venue application for displaying information is provided, where the virtual venue application is implemented as part of an apparatus, or a system. The virtual venue application allows one or more users to store digital information, where the virtual venue application displays the stored digital information within a virtual environment, and where the virtual environment is presented by one or more two- or three-dimensional screens displayed within a user interface. The virtual venue application further enables interaction between users in a virtual environment. |
| US09047689B2 |
Method and apparatus for visualizing multi-dimensional well logging data with shapelets
A method for visualizing parametric logging data includes interpreting logging data sets, each logging data set corresponding to a distinct value of a progression parameter, calculating a geometric image including a representation of data from each of the logging data sets corresponding to a wellbore measured depth, and displaying the geometric image(s) at a position along a well trajectory corresponding to the wellbore measured depth. The progression parameter includes time, a resistivity measurement depth, differing tool modes that are sampling different volumes of investigation, and/or sampling different physical properties. The geometric images include a number of parallel lines having lengths determined according to the logging data and/or an azimuthal projection of the logging data, a number of concentric axial projections, and/or shapelets determined from parallel lines and/or concentric axial projections. The method includes dynamically determining a selected measured depth, measured depth interval, and/or azimuthal projection angle. |
| US09047688B2 |
Depth cursor and depth measurement in images
One or more systems, devices, and/or methods for illustrating depth are disclosed. For example, a method includes receiving a depthmap generated from an optical distancing system. The depthmap includes depth data for each of a plurality of points, which are correlated to pixels of an image. Data indicative of a location on the image is received. Depth data correlated with the first point is compared to depth data correlated with pixels at surrounding points in the image. If the depth data correlated with the first point indicate a lesser distance from a viewer perspective of the image than the depth data of a pixel at the surrounding points in the image, the pixel is changed to a predetermined value. The comparison may be repeated at other pixels and a depth illustration may be drawn that relates the depth of the received location to other objects in the image. |
| US09047684B2 |
Systems and methods for synthesizing high resolution images using a set of geometrically registered images
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed that use super-resolution (SR) processes to use information from a plurality of low resolution (LR) images captured by an array camera to produce a synthesized higher resolution image. One embodiment includes obtaining input images, determining an initial estimate of at least a portion of a high resolution image using a plurality of pixels from the input images, and determining a high resolution image that when mapped through the forward imaging transformation matches the input images to within at least one predetermined criterion using the initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image. In addition, each forward imaging transformation corresponds to the manner in which each imager generates the input images, and the high resolution image has a resolution that is greater than any of the input images. |
| US09047682B2 |
Method and system for image processing
The disclosure provides a method for image processing, including: loading and decrypting an image file to obtain an original image, and saving the original image; shrinking the original image to obtain a pending image with a preset resolution, and saving the pending image; editing the pending image and previewing the pending image in real time; and editing the original image after the real-time previewing. The disclosure also provides a system for image processing. the disclosure can increase efficiency of real-time preview at the time of image editing. |
| US09047680B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and data structure of content files
As a user inputs instruction to start up content, an initial image is displayed. A viewpoint shift request is made, viewpoint coordinates are calculated according to the viewpoint shift request. Then verified is whether a hierarchical level has been changed in hierarchical image data due to a shift of the viewpoint coordinates or not. If the hierarchical level has been changed, the node of a hierarchical image is extracted from image correspondence data and then a coordinate transform matrix associated with the node is modified. A new elemental image is decoded, each image is subjected to the coordinate transform based on the image correspondence data so as to evaluate the coordinates on display coordinates. Each elemental image is placed on the evaluated coordinates, which in turn integrates the elemental images and updates a displayed imaged. |
| US09047675B2 |
Strike detection using video images
A method and apparatus for strike detection. Images of an object are identified in video images from a video camera on a vehicle. A movement of the object with respect to the vehicle is identified from the images of the object in the video images. It is determine whether the movement of the object with respect to the vehicle indicates that the object will strike the vehicle. A strike report comprising information indicating that the object will strike the vehicle is generated in response to a determination that the object will strike the vehicle. |
| US09047672B2 |
Image generation apparatus, image generation method and image generation program
An image generation apparatus is provided with: a resolution sensitivity conversion unit which generates different weight-averaged images by performing convolution operations on the infrared image with plural different weighted-filter images, and generates a resolution-sensitivity-converted image by adding luminance differences between the weight-averaged images to luminance values of the infrared image; a luminance shift calculating unit which sets the most frequently appearing luminance value of the resolution-sensitivity-converted image to an intermediate value in an enlarged range and as an intermediate luminance value, and generates a luminance-shifted image obtained by linearly shifting luminance values of the resolution-sensitivity-converted image in such a manner that the shifting corresponds to the intermediate luminance value and the enlarged range; and a luminance arithmetic operation unit which generates an arithmetically processed image by performing an arithmetic operation based on luminance differences between corresponding positions of the luminance-shifted image and a reverse shifted image. |
| US09047671B2 |
Platelike workpiece with alignment mark
A platelike workpiece having an alignment mark formed on the front side thereof and adapted to be recognized by an imaging unit included in an alignment apparatus for performing alignment. The platelike workpiece includes a plurality of direction indicating marks formed at given intervals so as to surround the alignment mark. Each of the direction indicating marks is pointed toward the alignment mark. The space of the direction indicating marks is set so that at least two of the plural direction indicating marks fall in the visual field of the imaging unit in viewing the platelike workpiece from the imaging unit. |
| US09047670B2 |
Method and apparatus for exemplar-based inpainting in a multi-scaled space using Laplacian pyramid
A method for exemplar-based inpainting using a Laplacian pyramid in a multi-scale space is provided, which is capable of reflecting structural features and texture features simultaneously every time inpainting is performed. The exemplar-based inpainting method using the Laplacian pyramid in the multi-scale space includes constructing a Laplacian pyramid image including a plurality of levels using an input image and performing inpainting reflecting the structural features of a low frequency region and the texture features of a high frequency region using the Laplacian pyramid image. |
| US09047668B2 |
Location determination for an object using visual data
A global position of an observed object is determined by obtaining a first global position of an observed object with at least one positioning device. A determination is made as to whether a set of stored visual characteristic information of at least one landmark matches a visual characteristic information set obtained from at least one captured image comprising a scene associated with the observed object. In response to the set of stored visual characteristic information matching the obtained visual characteristic information set, a second global position of the observed object is determined based on a set of stored location information associated with the at least one landmark and the first global position. |
| US09047663B2 |
Method for triggering blood salvage
One variation of a method for triggering blood cell salvage for a patient includes: processing a first photographic image of a canister to estimate a content of a blood component within the canister; processing a second photographic image of a gauze sponge to estimate a content of the blood component in the gauze sponge; estimating an aggregate salvageable blood component content for the patient based on the estimated content of the blood component within the canister and the estimated content of the blood component in the gauze sponge; and in response to the estimated aggregate salvageable blood component content exceeding a threshold salvageable blood component content, generating a prompt to salvage the blood component from fluid within the canister and from the gauze sponge. |
| US09047660B2 |
Network cycle features in relative neighborhood graphs
Methods for analyzing biomedical data include: (a) obtaining macroscopic imaging data; (b) obtaining histopathological imaging data; (c) executing a parallel algorithm stored on a non-transient computer-readable medium to compute one or a plurality of network cycle features of a relative neighborhood graph derived from the histopathological imaging data; (d) registering the macroscopic imaging data and the histopathological imaging data; and (e) correlating the macroscopic imaging data and the network cycle features. Systems for analyzing biomedical data and computer readable storage media are described. |
| US09047659B2 |
System, method and computer-accessible medium for performing attenuation-corrected multispectral luminescence tomography of cerenkov and bioluminescent light sources
The present disclosure can provide apparatus, system, methods, and computer-accessible medium for generating particular information which is at least one of three-dimensional information or intensity information of a tissue portion which can include at least one of a tissue surface or a tissue volume. For example, the exemplary method can include determining a light intensity distribution of light provided on the tissue portion, using the light intensity distribution, determining one or more attenuation maps of the tissue portion, obtaining one or more multispectral measurements of the light intensity distribution on the tissue portion taken from one or more views, and generating the particular information using an image reconstruction procedure in conjunction with data from the one or more tissue attenuation maps and the multispectral measurements. |
| US09047653B2 |
Stitched digital images
Disclosed is a method of blending stitched document image portions. The method identifies background pixels and foreground pixels on each boundary of the image portions. Pixels of the image portions are then modified based on a pixel value difference between corresponding background pixels on the respective boundary of the first and second portions. |
| US09047650B2 |
Geographically-aware electronic traveling advertisements
A mechanism for geographically-aware electronic traveling advertisements is disclosed. A method of the invention includes displaying each of a plurality of advertisements on an electronic display of a mobile advertising unit in a general rotation and on a random basis, determining a current location of the mobile advertising unit from a Geographic Positioning System (GPS) unit and a current time from a clock, interrupting the general rotation to display a high priority advertisement if the current location of the mobile advertising unit is within a GPS waypoint range of the high-priority advertisement, interrupting the general rotation to display a high priority advertisement if the current time of the mobile advertising unit is within a time range of the high-priority advertisement, and recording statistics for each advertisement displayed on the electronic display in a log stored at the mobile advertising unit. |
| US09047649B2 |
Intelligently providing user-specific traffic-related information
A method, system, and medium are provided for distributing transportation alerts to computing devices in accordance with factors, such as device-specific and location-specific factors. In embodiments of the present invention, travel alerts, including public alerts associated with certain areas, are formatted or held prior to delivery, based on safety concerns, legal requirements, device settings, or other considerations. |
| US09047648B1 |
Measurement, collection, reporting and processing of health condition data
Systems and methods for measuring, collecting, managing, reporting and distributing data pertaining to medical device measurements, such as personal health condition data, are provided. In various embodiments, medical device(s) are paired (integrated, tethered, or wirelessly coupled) with a user's portable computing device, such as a cell phone, so that the portable device receives locally made health data measurement(s) recorded by the medical device(s). After any pre-processing by the portable device, standard interfaces enable the health data measurement(s) to be transmitted, e.g., periodically, from the portable device to a health station server on a wireless communications network. The health station server may then analyze the health data measurement(s), e.g., versus historical and demographic data, so that the results of the analysis can be distributed to end users and service providers alike who make use of the communications network in a variety of ways. |
| US09047642B2 |
Social choice engine
A social choice engine is disclosed for eliciting and receiving responses to questions or issues and ranking the responses using the Borda ranking system. The social choice engine provides a user interface to a survey administrator that allows for the defining of the social choice survey. The social choice engine also provides a pick list of possible participants, where the possible participants are members of an online community. To administer the social choice survey, the social choice engine sends electronic notifications to selected participants. The participants respond to the social choice survey through a user interface that includes interactive features. The results of the social choice survey are then displayed to the survey administrator. |
| US09047641B2 |
Methods and systems for using metadata to represent social context information
A method includes establishing an interaction session between a plurality of devices associated with a plurality of users, respectively. Access to an asset by a first device in the interaction session is detected. Session metadata relating to the interaction session is associated with the asset. The asset may be an asset that was generated by another device during another interaction session or it may have been generated by the first device in the interaction session. |
| US09047640B2 |
Exceeded account threshold service involving exceeded account threshold magnetic stripe
In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing an account exceeding available funds or credit service involving an account exceeding available funds or credit magnetic stripe. 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 an account, and where the account is associated with a credit/debit card; (b) determining, based at least partially on the transaction information, that the account will incur an account exceeding available funds or credit as a result of the transaction; (c) receiving account exceeding available funds or credit swipe information indicating that an account exceeding available funds or credit magnetic stripe of the credit/debit card was swiped at the transaction machine; and (d) authorizing the transaction based at least partially on receiving the account exceeding available funds or credit swipe information. |
| US09047637B1 |
Method and system for converting printed checks into pre-paid debit card funds
A pre-paid debit or credit card account, and an associated pre-paid debit or credit card, is provided to a consumer for use with one or more check conversion stations. The check conversion stations include a card reader for obtaining user account data associated with the consumer's pre-paid debit or credit card account from the pre-paid debit or credit card and a paper check scanner for obtaining check data from a paper check provided by the consumer. At least part of the user account data and the check data is then subjected to analysis, verification, and/or approval of a transfer of at least part of the funds indicated by the check data to the balance of the pre-paid debit or credit card. |
| US09047629B2 |
System for handling network transactions
The present invention relates to a method of enabling a computer network transaction for a product being purchased by a buyer from a seller, comprising the steps of generating a once-only transaction identification means associated with the transaction, providing the transaction identification means to a transaction acquirer, together with a buyer identification means which identifies the buyer to the transaction acquirer, and providing the once-only identification means to the seller, whereby the seller may provide the transaction identification means to the transaction acquirer and the transaction acquirer can match the transaction identification means received from the seller with the transaction identification means they have been provided with and, if they match, can enable settlement of the transaction. |
| US09047625B2 |
Integrated digital broadcasting system, network, and methods
An integrated system, network, and method for providing audio/video broadcasting of programming and advertising content. The system provides sales, traffic, playback automation, and accounting services to a media outlet. The network links multiple integrated systems together between multiple media outlets and advertising clients. The network also provides distribution of programming and advertising content to multiple media outlets simultaneously. |
| US09047624B1 |
Auditing of content related events
At times, it may be desirable to determine that a client system is, or to determine the number of client systems that are, presenting particular dynamic content when an auditable event occurs in the dynamic content. One manner of making the determination may include accessing presentation time information that indicates the time(s) at which one or more client systems present particular dynamic content and accessing event time information indicating the time(s) at which one or more auditable events occur in the dynamic particular content. Based on the presentation time information and the event time information, it may be possible to determine that a client system is, or to determine the number of client systems that are, presenting particular dynamic content when an auditable event occurs in the dynamic content. |
| US09047607B1 |
Method, medium, and system for determining eligibility for a location-based shipping option for fulfillment networks
Methods, systems and apparatus are described for determining eligibility for a location-based shipping option for multiple fulfillment networks. Embodiments may send display information to a user in response to a user request for display information for one or more items offered on a network-based site. The display information may be configured to indicated whether items are eligible for an enhanced shipping option based upon the shipping origin of the item and a predicted shipping destination. Some embodiments may provide multiple fulfillment networks with the enhanced shipping option. Some of the fulfillment networks may be controlled by an entity different from the entity controlling the network-based site. In some embodiments the enhanced shipping option is an option within a subscription-based shipping program for the network-based site. |
| US09047606B2 |
Social and contextual recommendations
A method performed by a processing system includes receiving a recommendation from a source user in response to performing an action corresponding to an action context of the recommendation, determining whether the source user appears in social network information of a target user, and distinguishing a presentation of the recommendation to the target user in response to the source user appearing in the social network information of the target user. |
| US09047604B2 |
Secure transaction card using biometrical validation
A validation scheme for use with a transaction card such as a calling card, et cetera, using personalized biometric profile data that is inherently coupled to the card owner/user. A configuration process is used for populating a profile database with sample voice or other biometric responses elicited from the owner/user in response to a plurality of questions relating to information uniquely linked to the user such as, e.g., name, age, hobbies, et cetera, or biometric responses such as fingerprints, retinal scans, and palm prints, or implanted ID chips. When a transaction is attempted using the transaction card, a determination is made if a voice profile validation is required for authentication. If so, a question from the plurality of questions used in the configuration process is randomly selected and directed to the user for a response. Access is provided only if a match between the response and corresponding sample is found. In a passive mode, the validation scheme may be utilized as an auxiliary fraud prevention scheme in addition to existing authentication systems. |
| US09047601B2 |
Method and apparatus for settling payments using mobile devices
Techniques for mobile devices configured to support settlement of charges in electronic invoices or bills are described. A mobile device embedded with a secure element generates or is loaded with an electronic invoice. When the mobile device is brought to a consumer with an NFC mobile device, the data including the electronic invoice and other information regarding the mobile device or an owner thereof is read off wirelessly into the NFC mobile device. After the user verifies the amount being charged and authorizes the payment, the NFC mobile device communicates with a payment gateway or network for payment that is configured to proceed with the payment in accordance with a chosen payment methods. |
| US09047599B1 |
Method and apparatus for wirelessly processing a financial transaction using a wireless payment card reader
A wireless device including a reader to read information from a payment card and generate data. A verification module verifies whether the reader has correctly read the information. A security module securely connects the wireless device to a mobile device using a first or a second wireless communication protocol. A transmitter transmits the data and identifying information received from a user to the mobile device using the first or the second wireless communication protocol. The mobile device transmits the data and the identifying information to a payment system. A receiver at the wireless device receives from the mobile device an acknowledgement received by the mobile device from the payment system, indicating whether the payment system has approved the data and the identifying information. An indicator on the wireless device indicates whether the reader has correctly read the information and the payment system has approved the data and the identifying information. |
| US09047598B1 |
Systems and methods for financial transaction through card reader in communication with third party financial institution with encrypted information
A system is provided that includes a transaction engine running on a mobile device. In response to a financial transaction between a buyer and a seller, the transaction uses the mobile device to accept information selected including but not limited to information from financial transaction or information pertaining to financial transaction card used by the buyer in the transaction. At least a portion of this information is communicated with a third party financial institution or payment network to authorize the transaction. Encrypted information is sent to the third party payment system authorizing a financial transaction. |
| US09047594B2 |
Smart phone system and method
A system and method for remediation, curing concerns, and transferring information associated with declined transactions is disclosed. The present disclosure generally relates to electronic commerce, and more particularly, to a system and method of validation and efficiency associated with electronic commerce. |
| US09047591B2 |
Systems and methods to plan events at different locations
Systems and methods are provided to specify a location of a planned event via a selection of a listing that has location information. For example, in response to a search request a listing may show a business entity at a geographic location; and the user may select the listing as a way to specify the location of a new event or an existing event. In some embodiments, one event can have multiple listings specifying multiple locations. |
| US09047584B2 |
Web-based user interface tool for social network group collaboration
Members of a social networking system group are provided multiple interfaces to communicate within the group. A first communication interface allows a user to upload a first content item; in response to this, the first content item is transmitted via a first communication channel to online members of the group. A second communication interface allows a user to upload a second content item; in response to this, the second content item is transmitted via a second communication channel to online and offline members of the group. Transmission via a first communication channel may comprise sending an instant message containing the first content item. Transmission via a second communication channel may comprise displaying the second content item on a group message board. Both interfaces may be contained within the group's web page or may be contained within another web page within the social networking system or outside of it. |
| US09047582B2 |
Methods and systems for managing enterprise assets
The disclosed methods and systems can be used to manage at least one asset in an Enterprise, where the methods and systems include providing a first server, the first server configured to include at least one asset profile associated with the at least one asset, the first server controlled by the Enterprise, and receiving at the first server, in response to a request to a distinct second server, data associated with at least one vulnerability associated with the at least one asset, where the second server is outside the control of the Enterprise. |
| US09047580B1 |
Method, system, and computer readable medium for electronic auditing
Embodiments of systems, methods, and computer-readable media for auditing electronic freight bills are disclosed. For example, one embodiment of the present invention is a method including the steps of receiving a first data source comprising a first set of data; receiving a second data source comprising a second set of data; generating a record comprising at least a portion of the first data set and at least a portion of the second data set; and conducting an audit of the record. In another embodiment, a computer-readable media comprises code for carrying out such a method. |
| US09047579B2 |
Advanced material tracking system (AMTS)
A method for tracking and reporting material movements and responding to material movements. Tracked-components are assigned a component identifier which can be associated with a location. The identifier is associated with a first location, and in response to a movement trigger, the location associated with the identifier is updated to a second location. A component can be comprised of multiple sub-components, each of which itself is a tracked component. When the location of the component is updated, the location of each sub-component is similarly updated. Each update of the location of a component can trigger reports or other actions within the system. |
| US09047577B2 |
Extensible support system for service offerings
Techniques are disclosed for integration, provisioning and management of entities and processes in a computing system such as, by way of example only, business entities and business processes. In particular, techniques are disclosed for implementing an extensible support system for multiple service offerings. For example, such a support system can be a business support system which may be employed in conjunction with a cloud computing environment. |
| US09047575B2 |
Creative process modeling and tracking system
One embodiment is a system that allows multiple entities to track a process for developing a product. The system receives a process defined in terms of the entities, which are involved in the process, and the relationships, which exist among the entities. The system permits a process instance to be created from the defined process upon deeming that the process is valid, and permits the first process instance to be tracked with respect to requirements and solutions that are specified by entities in the process instance. |
| US09047572B2 |
Mode determination for multivariate time series data
Embodiments relate to mode determination for multivariate time series data. An aspect includes determining first within-mode and first cross-mode parameters for a first number of modes, each mode comprising one or more time periods in the multivariate time series. Another aspect includes determining a first likelihood of the at least one multivariate time series based on the first sets of within-mode parameters and first set of cross-mode parameters. Another aspect includes determining second within-mode and second cross-mode parameters for a second number of modes. Another aspect includes determining a second likelihood of the at least one multivariate time series based on the second sets of within-mode parameters and second set of cross-mode parameters. Another aspect includes based on the first likelihood being higher than the second likelihood, selecting the first number of modes to model the at least one multivariate time series. |
| US09047571B2 |
Method and apparatus for quantum holographic information processing
Encoding of quantum algorithm and devices therefrom are provided. The encoding includes receiving a unitary matrix operator representing the quantum algorithm, each row of the unitary matrix operator defining a superposition of basis state vectors for transforming input states to output states. The encoding also includes recording rows of the unitary matrix operator by applying, to a volume holographic element, a combination of an ith one of n reference waves and a superposition of n signal waves defined by the superposition defined in an ith row of the unitary matrix operator. The n signal waves are a first set of n plane waves lying on a first conical surface having a first half angle and the n reference waves are a second set of n plane waves lying on a second conical surface, concentric with the first conical surface, with a second half angle different that the first half angle. |
| US09047570B2 |
Evolving algorithms for telecommunications network nodes by genetic programming
A method is provided of evolving algorithms for network node control in a telecommunications network node by updating a model of the network node, and genetic programming by (a) generating algorithms, (b) determining fitness level of the algorithms based on the model of the network node, and (c) selecting the algorithm that meet a predetermined fitness level. The steps (a), (b) and (c) are repeated automatically to provide a series of algorithms over time adapted to the changing model of the network node for possible implementation in the network node. |
| US09047563B2 |
Performing an action related to a measure of credibility of a document
A plurality of topics encompassed in a document are determined and, for each such topic, a sentiment for that topic is likewise determined. Thereafter, credibility of the document is determined based on the resulting plurality of sentiments. In one embodiment, credibility of at least one target document is established by first determining, for each of a plurality of portions of the at least one target document, at least one topic encompassed in the portion to provide a plurality of target topics. Likewise, sentiment scores are determined for each portion. Thereafter, for each prior topic of a plurality of prior topics, a topic-sentiment score is determined based on sentiment scores corresponding to those portions of the plurality of portions having a target topic corresponding to the prior topic. A credibility index is determined based on the resulting plurality of topic-sentiment scores. |
| US09047562B2 |
Data processing device, information storage medium storing computer program therefor and data processing method
A plurality of pruning measures (PM) are calculated from a feature amount (CV) of test data (TD) which is input, a plurality of isopycnic surfaces (EC) are plotted and set on a threshold space (SS), a threshold curved surface (SC) in which a decrease in at least one of a plurality of pruning measures (PM) causes an increase in at least one thereof is generated using a portion of one isopycnic surface (EC) as a part, a hypothesis curved surface (HC) of subject data (CD) is generated on the threshold space (SS) to set a position intersecting the threshold curved surface (SC) to a pruning threshold (PS), and a plurality of hypotheses of the subject data (CD) are pruned. Thereby, there is provided a data processing device of which at least one of the recognition speed and the recognition accuracy is higher than in the related art. |
| US09047556B2 |
Media determination for a print job from a rasterization process
Methods and systems herein provide for identifying multiple types of media that will be used for print a print job by rasterizing raw print data for the print job. In one embodiment, a print controller receives a print job. The print controller identifies multiple types of media that will be utilized for printing the print job by rasterizing raw print data of the print job. The print controller generates a list of printable media that will be utilized for printing the job based on the multiple types of media that are identified. The print controller then provides the list of printable media to a print operator. |
| US09047553B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for printing three dimensional images
Systems and methods for printing a 3D object on a three-dimensional (3D) printer are described. The methods semi-automatically or automatically delineate an item in an image, receive a 3D model of the item, matches said item to said 3D model, and send the matched 3D model to a 3D printer. |
| US09047549B2 |
Antenna for dipole-type IC tag, antenna roll, and usage method for IC tag
To provide an antenna for dipole-type IC tag, which can conform to various IC chip specifications and communication frequencies in a wide area without causing an increase in the size of antenna, while advantageously suppressing a decrease in a communication distance caused by a defect part in an antenna pattern, in an antenna for dipole-type IC tag, an antenna radiation part is configured by extending an antenna wire in a radiation part extending direction, while repeatedly forming a pair of branch paths that branches in a direction intersecting with the radiation part extending direction, and a connection path which connects the pair of branch paths. The connection path is configured to extend in the radiation part extending direction from a junction of a pair of branch paths to a branch point of a next pair of branch paths. |
| US09047548B2 |
Semiconductor chip, transponder and method of manufacturing a transponder
A semiconductor chip (1, 91) for a transponder (3, 93) comprises a chip substrate (4) with a surface (5), chip terminals (6, 7) arranged on the surface (5), and a passivation layer (22) covering the surface (5) and completely covering the chip terminals (6, 7), so that an antenna (2, 30) with antenna terminals (24, 25) can be attached to the chip (1, 91) above the chip terminals (6, 7), so that the chip terminals (6, 7), the passivation layer (22) and the antenna terminal (24, 25) form first capacitors. |
| US09047546B2 |
Method of money transfer via a mobile phone having security code generator
A transaction card comprises a substrate having an IC. An interface is coupled to the IC for signal transmission; a security code generator is coupled with the IC to generate a security code for banking transaction; an electricity generating button is coupled to the security code generator to generate the security code, a display is on the substrate and is coupled to the IC for displaying the security code. The electricity generating button includes piezoelectric material to generate electricity by piezoelectricity. The interface is contactless or contact type. The display is electronic paper, OLED, FED. |
| US09047545B2 |
Modular chemistry analyzer
A chemistry analyzer is disclosed that can include a unitary base with vertical and horizontal supports for constraining subassemblies. The subassemblies include at least a reagent/sample carousel subassembly, a transfer arm subassembly, and a reaction carousel subassembly. A centralized hydraulic system can also be provided behind a user access panel. The analyzer can use machine-readable test specifications coupled with its reagent vessels to define tests that include operations that employ the reagents. The analyzer can also display to the operator a pictorial representation that includes graphical elements that convey levels of usage for the storage vessels, and access icons that are each associated with a color and each lead to a set of screens for different types of operations for the analyzer. |
| US09047542B2 |
System and method for adding data to a printed publication
Systems and methods for adding data to a printed publication are provided. One method includes receiving variable data and controlling an energy source to at least partially ablate the printed publication based on the variable data. The printed publication is printed on the substrate using the commercial printing press based on fixed data. Controlling the energy source to at least partially ablate the printed publication includes, after the printed publication has been printed on the substrate by the commercial printing press based on the fixed data, controlling the energy source to remove a portion of the printed publication based on the variable data. |
| US09047538B2 |
Facial image quality assessment
An example method includes capturing, by a camera of a mobile computing device, an image, determining whether the image includes a representation of at least a portion of a face, and, when the image includes the representation of at least the portion of the face, analyzing characteristics of the image. The characteristics include at least one of a tonal distribution of the image that is associated with a darkness-based mapping of a plurality of pixels of the image, and a plurality of spatial frequencies of the image that are associated with a visual transition between adjacent pixels of the image. The method further includes classifying, by the mobile computing device, a quality of the image based at least in part on the analyzed characteristics of the image. |
| US09047528B1 |
Identifying characters in grid-based text
A method for identifying characters in scanned images of objects includes identifying a first set of characters in a scanned image of an object based on connected component analysis, identifying a second set of characters for the object based on an optical character recognition (OCR) process on the image of the object, and combining the first set of characters with the second set of characters to create a third set of characters. |
| US09047525B2 |
Imaging apparatus having imaging assembly
There is described an imaging apparatus having an imaging assembly that includes an image sensor. The imaging apparatus can capture a frame of image data having image data corresponding to a first set of pixels of the image sensor. The imaging apparatus can capture a frame or image data having image data corresponding to a second set of pixels of the image sensor. |
| US09047524B2 |
Variable capacitance element and high-frequency device
A high-frequency device includes an antenna coil, a variable capacitance element, and an RFIC. The variable capacitance element is configured by capacitor units in each of which a ferroelectric film is sandwiched between capacitor electrodes, and a capacitance value changes according to a control voltage applied between the capacitor electrodes. A control voltage application circuit configured by a plurality of resistance elements of different resistance values, and a resistance element of the variable capacitance element unit configured to apply a control voltage to the variable capacitance element are arranged in a layered manner above the capacitor unit. Thus, a variable capacitance element and a high-frequency device that includes a control voltage application circuit eliminating problems such as distortion due to active elements and growing IC size along with complication of circuit architecture, and ensuring reliability on impact due to falling or the like, are provided. |
| US09047523B2 |
Systems and methods using single antenna for multiple resonant frequency ranges
A radio frequency device utilizing an antenna having a single antenna structure resonant on multiple resonant frequency ranges. The antenna can be configured to operate within multiple frequency ranges for communication according to respective protocols associated with the respective frequency ranges. |
| US09047519B2 |
Optoelectronic apparatus for measuring structural sizes or object sizes and method of calibration
An optoelectronic apparatus is set forth for measuring structural sizes or object sizes which has a light reception element for converting received light into image data, a reception optics arranged before the light reception element as well as an evaluation unit which is configured to identify structures or objects in the image data, to determine its dimensions in picture elements and to convert the dimensions into absolute, in particular metric, units of length with reference to a scaling factor, wherein the scaling factor can be determined in a calibration procedure. In this respect, the evaluation unit is configured to locate code regions in the image data and to read out code information from the code regions and to calculate the scaling factor during the calibration procedure from dimensions of a calibration code whose code information includes a size indication for the calibration code in the absolute units of length. |
| US09047517B2 |
Image monitoring system and image monitoring program
An image monitoring system includes a recorder that records an image captured by a camera via a network. The system is controlled to display the present image captured by the camera or a past image recorded on the recorder. A moving object is detected from the image captured by the camera, the detector including a resolution converter for generating an image with a resolution lower than the resolution of the image captured by the camera. A moving object is detected from the image generated by the resolution converter and positional information on the detected moving object is output. The positional information of the detected moving object is merged with the image captured by the camera on the basis of the positional information. |
| US09047505B2 |
Collating device
A collating device includes a collation list, a collation unit and a comparison unit. The collation list is configured to retain a false alarm list including a registered image, a threshold value serving as a criterion for determining whether to perform alarm activation, and a false alarm person image. The collation unit is configured to collate an input image with the registered image and the false alarm person image managed by the collation list, thereby obtaining a similarity therebetween. The comparison unit is configured to compare: a larger one of a value of the similarity between the input image and the false alarm person image, which is obtained by the collation unit, and the threshold value; and the similarity between the input image and the registered image, which is obtained by the collation unit, thereby determining whether to perform the alarm activation. |
| US09047502B2 |
Automatic system for judging quality of cell
An automatic culture device 1 having an automatic quality determination system is equipped with an analysis program 12. The analysis program 12 extracts cell characteristics from a captured image of a cell by driving a characteristic quantity extraction program 13, which is an image processing program for extracting characteristics (characteristic quantities) of this cell. The quality of the cell is then determined from the extracted characteristic or a combination of a plurality of characteristics by driving an identification program 15 that determines the quality of a cell. This allows cell quality determination to be automated. |
| US09047500B2 |
Integrated thin film imager for bright field, dark field, and frustrated total internal reflection imaging
An optical imaging system includes a thin film imager that is able to create images of objects in various modes of imaging such as bright field, dark field, frustrated total internal reflection, fly eye, and the like. The imaging system may be an integrated optical design that performs different modes of optical imaging in the same imaging device by positioned pin hole structures in geometries that capture images according to the desired mode of imaging. |
| US09047497B2 |
Method and system for authenticating a user by means of an application
A user may be authenticated by an application. The user may be in possession of a user-specific card, which may store a user ID (UID), an operator ID (SID), and a plurality of application IDs (AIDn), and other related data. The card may provide data for implementing a plurality of security steps, performed individually or in combination, as chosen depending on a desired security level and/or the application. In a first security step, the application may read from the card the user ID (UID) from the card. In a second security step, the application may read out the operator ID (SID) and forward it to a server of an operator, which may then verify the operator ID (SID). In a third security step, the application may read out and verify its corresponding application ID (AIDn). The application may request additional information for the user from the server, using the user ID (UID). |
| US09047495B2 |
Identifying impact of a traffic incident on a road network
A method and system for identifying impact of a traffic incident on a road network, wherein the impact may be measured in terms of a spatial-temporal-impact region, in terms of incident duration from the time the incident is reported to the time at which the affected road network returns to recurrent flow conditions, and in terms of a cumulative time delay of all affected drivers. |
| US09047491B2 |
Encryption acceleration
The subject matter herein relates to data processing and, more particularly, to encryption acceleration. Various embodiments herein provide devices and systems including a standardized encryption application programming interface embedded in firmware to perform encryption services. Some such embodiments move encryption operations away from operating system processes into firmware. As a result, encryption operations are generally accelerated. |
| US09047490B2 |
Method and a system for secure execution of workflow tasks in a distributed workflow management system within a decentralized network system
There are provided a method, a system and an initiator server for a secure execution of workflow tasks of a workflow to be executed according to a given execution pattern in a distributed workflow management system within a decentralized network system with a plurality of servers (b0, b1, . . . , bn) including at least an initiator server and at least a number of groups of servers of the plurality of servers. Each group satisfies a policy (poli) of a vertex, and thus, knows a corresponding policy key pair including a policy private key (SKpoli) and a policy public key (PKpoli), respectively. Each vertex denotes a set of workflow tasks to be executed in accord with the execution pattern and is assigned a vertex key pair including a vertex private key and a vertex public key. The vertex private keys and the policy public keys are jointly encrypted within a first onion structure, the first onion structure being built up of a number of onion layers representing the execution pattern which defines a succession of vertices such that each layer is decryptable by using the policy private key of exactly one vertex thus revealing the corresponding vertex private key. |
| US09047488B2 |
Anonymizing sensitive identifying information based on relational context across a group
Mechanisms are provided for relational context sensitive anonymization of data. A request for data is received that specifies a relational context corresponding to a selected group of selected persons selected from a global group of persons based on the relational context. The relational context specifies one or more attributes of selected persons in the selected group that establishes a relationship between the selected persons and distinguishes the selected persons from non-selected persons in the global group that are not in the selected group. For the relational context, based on a corpus of personal information data corresponding to the selected persons, key attributes in the personal information data are determined and a rarity value for each key attribute is determined. Selected key attributes are then anonymized based on the determined rarity value for each of the key attributes within the relational context of the selected group. |
| US09047482B2 |
Token-based security for links to media streams
Systems and methods of token-based protection for links to media streams are disclosed. For example, a computing device may receive a media request in response to selection of a link to a media stream. The link may include a first token that is generated based on a private key and an encryption algorithm, and the media request may include the first token. The computing device may grant or deny the media request based on a comparison of the first token and a second token that is generated based on the private key and the encryption algorithm. |
| US09047480B2 |
Secure application access system
A proxy server creates an index of keywords, receives at least a portion of a file, and, when a keyword in the index is encountered in the at least a portion of the file as the at least a portion of the file is being encrypted, associates in the index an encrypted record location identifier with the encountered keyword. The proxy server receives a search query and uses the keyword index to retrieve encrypted records from the server. The encrypted records are decrypted and sent as search results in response to the search query. |
| US09047471B2 |
Security enclave processor boot control
An SOC implements a security enclave processor (SEP). The SEP may include a processor and one or more security peripherals. The SEP may be isolated from the rest of the SOC (e.g. one or more central processing units (CPUs) in the SOC, or application processors (APs) in the SOC). Access to the SEP may be strictly controlled by hardware. For example, a mechanism in which the CPUs/APs can only access a mailbox location in the SEP is described. The CPU/AP may write a message to the mailbox, which the SEP may read and respond to. The SEP may include one or more of the following in some embodiments: secure key management using wrapping keys, SEP control of boot and/or power management, and separate trust zones in memory. |
| US09047469B2 |
Modes for applications
Techniques for modes for applications are described. In one or more implementations, multiple operational modes are provided for an application. The operational modes can be associated with different resource access permissions, trust statuses, graphical user interfaces, and so on. An application can be launched in a particular one of the operational modes based on a context in which a request to launch the application is received. In one or more implementations, correlations between launch request contexts for an application and operational modes can be configured to enable different launch requests to cause an application to launch into different operational modes. |
| US09047457B2 |
Portable electronic entity, host station and associated method
A host station includes: a first electronic component having a “first” identifier, conforming to a predetermined convention, identifiers according to the convention including a “common” part, common to electronic components of the same family, and a “unique” part specific to each instance of an electronic component in the same family, at least one second electronic component having a “second” identifier conforming to the convention, and the common part of the second identifier being different from the common part of the first identifier, and verification of matching in accordance with a predetermined rule of the unique part of the first identifier with the unique part of the second identifier. |
| US09047452B2 |
Multi-user BIOS authentication
An information handling system which supports Pre-Boot Authentication (PBA) and which provides the ability for each authorized user of the system to have a unique ID and key at the BIOS level. In these systems, a user only needs knowledge of the traditional BIOS password only at the time the user is enrolled in the PBA feature. Later changes to the password do not have the effect of denying access to enrolled users. |
| US09047448B2 |
Branch auditing in a computer program
A branch auditing system can be automatically injected into a computer program, in one embodiment, in response to a programming call provided in source code by a programmer who has selected a particular branch, in a set of possible branches, for auditing. The branch auditing system can record, in an obfuscated data structure, a path taken at the particular branch and the parameters associated with the branch and later an auditor can determine whether the path taken was valid, and if the path taken was invalid, operations can be performed to protect the program, system and/or user. |
| US09047445B2 |
Memory device and method for updating a security module
A memory device and method for updating a security module are disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory device is provided comprising a memory operative to store content and a controller in communication with the memory. The controller is configured to send an identification of the memory device's security module to a host and receive an identification of the host's security module. If the memory device's security module is out-of-date with respect to the host's security module, the memory device receives a security module update from the host. If the host's security module is out-of-date with respect to the memory device's security module, the memory device sends a security module update to the host. |
| US09047441B2 |
Malware analysis system
In some embodiments, a malware analysis system includes receiving a potential malware sample from a firewall; analyzing the potential malware sample using a virtual machine to determine if the potential malware sample is malware; and automatically generating a signature if the potential malware sample is determined to be malware. In some embodiments, the potential malware sample does not match a preexisting signature, and the malware is a zero-day attack. |
| US09047439B2 |
Reactor with reactor head and integrated valve
A reactor with minimal dead volume especially suited to reverse-flow applications comprises: a) a reactor body; b) a first head engaged with said reactor body; c) a first conduit extending from outside said head to at least partially through said head; and d) a first valve in flow communication with said first conduit controlling fluid flow along a flow path extending from the first valve and through the reactor body. The reactor is especially suited for use in a process for rapid stream-switching of at least two streams in a reverse-flow reactor. |
| US09047437B2 |
Method, system and software for accessing design rules and library of design features while designing semiconductor device layout
Provided is a system and method for designing the layout of integrated circuits or other semiconductor devices while directly accessing design rules and a library of design features by interfacing with a GUI upon which the design layout is displayed. The design rules may be directly linked to the design features of the pattern library and imported into the device layout. The design rules may be directly accessed while designing the layout or while conducting a design rule check and the design features from the pattern library may be used in creating the layout. |
| US09047436B2 |
Computer-based modeling of integrated circuit congestion and wire distribution for products and services
A computer-based system and method for modeling integrated circuit congestion and wire distribution determines a boundary where a tile congestion corresponding to a first layer group is equivalent to a first blockage ratio corresponding to a second layer group, formulates a piece-wise linear formula that relates the tile congestion to a number of wires of a two-dimensional tile, and distributes a portion of the number of wires to a layer of the tile based on the tile congestion. |
| US09047433B2 |
Cell and macro placement on fin grid
A die includes at least one standard cell, which includes a first boundary and a second boundary opposite to the first boundary. The first boundary and the second boundary are parallel to a first direction. The at least one standard cell further includes a first plurality of FinFETs including first semiconductor fins parallel to the first direction. The die further includes at least one memory macro, which has a third boundary and a fourth boundary opposite to the third boundary. The third boundary and the fourth boundary are parallel to the first direction. The at least one memory macro includes a second plurality of FinFETs including second semiconductor fins parallel to the first direction. All semiconductor fins in the at least one standard cell and the at least one memory macro have pitches equal to integer times of a minimum pitch of the first and the second semiconductor fins. |
| US09047429B2 |
In-place resynthesis and remapping techniques for soft error mitigation in FPGA
In-place resynthesis for static memory (SRAM) based Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) toward reducing sensitivity to single event upsets (SEUs). Resynthesis and remapping are described which have a low overheard and improve FPGA designs without the need of rerouting LUTs of the FPGA. These methods include in-place reconfiguration (IPR), in-place X-filling (IPF), and in-place inversion (IPV), which reconfigure LUT functions only, and can be applied to any FPGA architecture. In addition, for FPGAs with a decomposable LUT architecture (e.g., dual-output LUTs) an in-place decomposition (IPD) method is described for remapping a LUT function into multiple smaller functions leveraging the unused outputs of the LUT, and making use of built-in hard macros in programmable-logic blocks (PLBs) such as carry chain or adder. Methods are applied in-place to mapped circuits before or after routing without affecting placement, routing, and design closure. |
| US09047418B2 |
Methods and devices for extending USB 3.0-compliant communication
Devices and methods for extending USB-compliant communication distances, including USB 3.0 SuperSpeed communication, are provided. In some embodiments, a host is communicatively coupled to a device that provides an upstream facing port, and a USB device is communicatively coupled to a device that provides a downstream facing port. The upstream facing port and downstream facing port are coupled via a communication channel. In some embodiments, the upstream facing port and downstream facing port generate packets to ensure that timing requirements of the USB specification are met regardless of the latency of the communication channel. |
| US09047415B2 |
Device and method for media access control
A method for media access control, the method includes generating at least one media access grant in response to at least one media access request. The method further includes monitoring a data line, while maintaining at least a clock line in a low power mode, to detect at least one media access request generated by at least one component connected to the data line and to the clock line; and forcing the at least clock line to exit the low power mode and starting a contention prevention period, when the media access controller or at least one component requests to access the data line. Also disclosed is a device for implementing the method of media access control. |
| US09047408B2 |
Monitoring software execution
A method enables a computer to execute software and to monitor software execution, the method comprising: acquiring, by one or more processors, image data of a screen image displayed on a display device while monitored software is executed; acquiring, by one or more processors, peripheral information, wherein the peripheral information is a state of software and hardware in which the software is executed, at a time of acquisition of the image data; and adding, by one or more processors, the peripheral information to the image data and storing the image data having the peripheral information added thereto into a storage device, so that, in response to an image based on the image data being displayed on the display device, a content of the peripheral information acquired by the peripheral information acquiring unit is displayed along with the screen image. |
| US09047403B2 |
Debugger with previous version feature
According to embodiments of the invention, methods, computer readable storage medium, and a computer system for providing multiple versions of elements of a program in a single compile are disclosed. The method may include receiving a request to compile a current version of a program for debug. The method may also include identifying, by an integrated development environment, a previous version of an element of the program, wherein the previous version of the element is identified by comparing the current version of the program to a previous version of the program. The method may also include inserting the previous version of the element into the current version of the program. The method may also include creating a compiler directive identifying the previous version of the element. The method may also include compiling the current version of the program for debug. |
| US09047402B2 |
Automatic calculation of orthogonal defect classification (ODC) fields
A method and system for Orthogonal Defect Classification (ODC) analysis in a computing system, is provided. One implementation involves determining a defect in a software application, providing a defect fix to the software application, linking the source code fix to the defect, and automatically performing ODC analysis and calculating ODC information has based on calculations against the source code linked to the defect fixed. |
| US09047395B2 |
Endoscope apparatus and method for storing endoscopic image
An endoscope apparatus has an LCD which displays an endoscopic image, and an operation section. The endoscope apparatus stores an endoscopic image in a storage destination folder which is set as a storage destination for the endoscopic image from a plurality of folders which are created in a storage device in advance, displays information indicating the storage destination folder in a state in which the endoscopic image is displayed in the display section, and changes the storage destination folder in response to an operation of the operation section. |
| US09047394B2 |
3D ultrasound system for intuitive displaying to check abnormality of object and method for operating 3D ultrasound system
Provided are a three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound system and a method for operating the 3D ultrasound system, which are capable of intuitively displaying the abnormality of an object by determining a grade by comparing measurement data obtained by measuring ultrasound data relating to the object and displaying the measurement data in a different way based on the determined grade. |
| US09047393B1 |
Cross-domain communications with a shared worker application
Techniques are described herein that provide for inter-domain communications with one or more shared worker applications. A parent web application associated with a first domain may create a child web application associated with a second domain different than the first domain. The child web application may determine whether a shared worker associated with the second domain is operating. The shared worker acquires information associated with the second domain in response to one or more requests, and stores acquired information associated with the second domain in a memory of the local computing device. The parent web application may request, via the child web application, information associated with the second domain from the shared worker. In response to the request, the parent web application may receive, from the shared worker, information associated with the second domain stored in the memory of the local computing device. |
| US09047387B2 |
Secregating anonymous access to dynamic content on a web server, with cached logons
A system and method are provided for segregating access to dynamic content on multiple websites hosted by a web server. When a request is received for dynamic content from a website, a UserRetriever module identifies a path to the content and retrieves a username and password corresponding to the website, from a database that is separate from the web server and used for other purposes (e.g., billing). A UserImpersonator module requests a logon handle for that username from a logon cache manager. The logon handle is used to associate the request with the impersonated user account instead of the default anonymous user account with which the request was initially associated. The dynamic content is retrieved and served under the context of the restricted impersonated user account session, after which the applied logon handle is stripped off and the request is re-associated with the default anonymous user account. |
| US09047386B2 |
Creating a link relationship between document objects and storing in a link directory
Methods for searching relationships between and among documents are detailed. One method includes steps for selecting one or more initial search items from a group consisting of: (a) document objects, (b) link references to document objects, (c) link reference attributes, and (d) link relationship attributes. The method also includes steps for identifying one or more link relationships using the selected initial search items, and for presenting one or more link relationships attributes describing the identified link relationships. A user interface for presenting and searching relationships between document objects located on a network is also detailed. The user interface may include a first portion of a screen display for displaying one or more link relationship attributes and a second portion of the screen display for displaying one or more entries from a group consisting of: (a) link references that represent the document objects, (b) link relationship attributes describing the link relationships, (c) link reference attributes describing the link references, and (d) document objects. The displayed entries in the second portion of the user interface are related to the displayed one or more link relationship attributes in the first portion. |
| US09047381B1 |
Method and apparatus of obtaining and organizing relevant user defined information
A method and apparatus of organizing user requested data is disclosed. One example method may include transmitting a query message to a remote site to obtain the user requested data, receiving a response data based on the query message, the response data may include at least a portion of the user requested data. The method may also include storing the response data in a temporary data file memory location, processing the response data in the temporary data file, storing said at least a portion of the user requested data in a permanent data file, and presenting the permanent data file contents to the user. The user may have the capability of receiving numerous messages in a single interface and expanding those messages of interest to review the original message information. |
| US09047379B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for searching content
Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for searching contents, including structured search for atomic search expressions, including proximately associated atomic search expressions, are described herein. Embodiments may use tree structures (or more generally, graph structures), layout structures, and/or other information to capture within search results relevant content, include sub-document constituents, to reduce the incidence of false positives within search results, and/or to improve the accuracy of rankings within search results. Embodiments may use distance and/or scoring functions to generate scores for the structures to indicate relevance, including usage of local geometry, and linear iteration over portions of the content at a level to capture potential of a portion to influence other portions of the level, and influence received by a portion from the other portions of the level. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US09047378B1 |
Systems and methods for accessing a multi-organization collection of hosted contacts
A host service holds a collection of contacts for multiple organizations, or domains. The system maintains an index made of one or more tables. The index may be sorted across multiple machines. Each table contains a set of elements, and each element points to a subset of the contacts that share a common attribute. When the system receives query to return at least one of the contacts in the collection, the system accesses the index to identify a first element having a domain that matches the domain of the first query and an attribute that matches an attribute value of the query. In response, it returns the contacts to which the first element points. |
| US09047376B2 |
Augmenting video with facial recognition
A video segment including interactive links to information about an actor appearing in the segment may be prepared in an automatic or semi-automatic process. A computer may detect an actor's face appearing in a frame of digital video data by processing the video file with a facial detection algorithm. A user-selectable link may be generated and activated along a track of the face through multiple frames of the video data. The user-selectable link may include a data address for obtaining additional information about an actor identified with the face. The video data may be associated with the user-selectable link and stored in a computer memory. When later viewing the video segment via a media player, a user may select the link to obtain further information about the actor. |
| US09047374B2 |
Assembling video content
A computer-implemented method involves accessing a library of video segments, receiving a user instruction to assemble a movie related to an organizing element that includes a video segment from the library of video segments, relating the organizing element to a video segment in the library of video segments, determining, based on relating the organizing element to the video segment in the library of video segments, whether the video segment should be added to a list of selected segments used to assemble the movie, selectively adding the video segment to the list of selected segments in response to determining that the video segment should be added, and assembling the movie using the list of selected segments. |
| US09047373B2 |
Multimedia identifier
This invention relates to efficiently performing a close-duplicate search within large collections of data streams, preferably in the context of Multimedia (audio and video files or streams). In a first aspect the present invention relates to a method for feeding information of a data from a data file or a data stream into a database. In a second aspect a method is provided for tagging or identifying a data stream by querying an unknown data or data stream to a database of known data streams. In a third aspect a computer program or suite of computer programs are provided to operate the methods of this invention. The robustness of the Multimedia Identifier system of the present invention results from the use of high-dimensional descriptors, which describe local interest points extracted from the frames of audio and/or video data. |
| US09047371B2 |
System and method for matching a query against a broadcast stream
A method for identifying with a broadcast stream. That method includes receiving one or more broadcast streams, from which it generates and stores an audio fingerprint of a selected portion of each received broadcast stream. A query is received, and the method generates an audio fingerprint of the query. From that point, the method continues by identifying audio content from the query, using the query audio fingerprint and a database of indexed audio content. The method concludes by identifying the source of the query using the query audio fingerprint and the stored audio fingerprints. Embodiments of the method further include predictively caching audio fingerprint sequences and corresponding audio item identifiers from a server after storing audio fingerprints extracted from the broadcast stream; and using the predictively cached audio fingerprint sequences to identify an audio item within the audio signal based on at least some additional audio fingerprints of the audio signal. |
| US09047368B1 |
Self-organizing user-centric document vault
Multiple documents associated with a user are retrieved from one or more sources. Textual elements in the documents are identified, and the documents are classified according to document type. Cluster keys are identified in the documents, based on document content and document classification. A cluster key comprises an association between a document and a specific entity associated with the individual user, around which to cluster associated documents. Identifying cluster keys for a document can take the form of performing feature reduction, and identifying any features remaining thereafter as cluster keys. Names and addresses other than those of the document recipient can be identified as cluster keys. Retrieved documents, identified cluster keys and associations between them are stored, thereby organizing documents into clusters based on entities associated with the individual user. The user is provided with access to the documents according to the clusters into which they are organized. |
| US09047364B2 |
Intelligent client capability-based results related to a character stream
Information may be presented to a user by using a first application to receive a character stream of one or more noncompletion characters. The noncompletion characters indicate that additional characters may be received. The character stream is exchanged with a host that analyzes the character stream to generate results that are responsive to the user's predicted interest. Results are received and displayed so that the user may select one of the results to launch a code segment related to the selected result. |
| US09047361B2 |
Tracking usage of a media asset
An enhanced metadata structure and associated process is provided which captures and stores metadata gathered about the source and usage of a media asset or file. The source and usage metadata is integrated, such as by encoding within the enhanced media file, as the media asset is transferred and used. The integrated metadata accumulates, as a trail of source information and usage information in the enhanced media asset, and can be extracted upon arrival at a target computer system. |
| US09047356B2 |
Synchronizing multiple reading positions in electronic books
An electronic book system is configured to allow a user to read a primary portion of an electronic book, then switch to reading a secondary portion of the book, the secondary portion being presented based on a current reading position for the main portion. A reader can repeatedly switch back and forth between primary and secondary portions without losing track of the reader's progress through the book. As an example, a reader in a textbook can immediately switch to a problem set corresponding to the reader's current position in the textbook. |
| US09047354B2 |
Statement categorization and normalization
Systems, methods and computer program products for statement categorization and normalization are described herein. An embodiment includes a statement categorizer and a statement normalizer. The statement categorizer categorizes statements to reduce or even eliminate inconsistencies that may arise between primary and replicate databases as a result of executing certain statements. Categorized statements are normalized by the statement normalizer to generate normalized statements, which are provided to a replication server. Normalized statements assist replication server to regenerate a statement to be executed on a replicate database. |
| US09047349B2 |
Methods for effective processing of time series
A method of effectively representing and processing data sets with time series is disclosed. The method may comprise representing time series as a virtual part of data in a data store layer of a user system, thereby allowing processing of time-series related queries in said data store layer of said user system. |
| US09047348B2 |
Event correlation in cloud computing
The present invention pertains to cloud computing systems and handling of events that occur in the cloud. A correlation system obtains and analyzes various events to obtain comprehensive information about the behavior of the cloud. An event repository receives and maintains time-stamped events, which may be obtained from the cloud itself or from external sources reporting on the cloud. A query engine is employed to select, filter and aggregate events from the event repository. The query engine may take into account metadata which describes relationships between different parts of the cloud. Results from the query engine may be presented on a display or otherwise reported. Using such information, the system may fix known problems or change certain parameters to improve the cloud computing process. |
| US09047347B2 |
System and method of merging text analysis results
A system and method of merging text analysis results. The system uses a set of three corrected, weakened Jaccard factors to determine whether the respective results of multiple text analysis operations are equal, subtypes of each other or associated with each other, in order to merge the results. |
| US09047346B2 |
Reporting language filtering and mapping to dimensional concepts
Architecture that translates a complex dimensional hierarchy (e.g., XBRL) into an understandable member picker which removes the complexities that the user would otherwise have to face. Using a building block metaphor, the architecture provides element and dimension tagging. The building blocks can include rows, columns, and optional trees. Building blocks are selected and grouped into a report definition, which definition is utilized to retrieve and process basis data into fact data in the final reports. The reporter mechanism removes the complexities in both the XBRL standard and XML, and ensures that the user associates the information appropriately within the report definition. The architecture extends the building block metaphor to include dimension tagging. A portion of the information from each building block is used to produce a fully qualified dimension context and logical validation is performed to ensure accuracy. |
| US09047345B1 |
Processing annotations for a search result
A system and machine-implemented method for processing annotations for a search result. A social annotation by a first user for a search result is received. In response to receiving the social annotation, at least one suggested interaction associated with the search result is obtained. The at least one suggested interaction is provided for display to the first user. |
| US09047343B2 |
Find regular expression instruction on substring of larger string
A technique for pattern matching is provided. A processing circuit receives an input string streamed in as input, and the input string is designated into substrings according to predefined bytes. A first substring of the substrings is in a first register to be compared against a pattern of the predefined bytes in a second register. The processing circuit compares the first substring in the first register to the pattern in the second register according to a type of evaluations specified in a third register, and determines state information that includes a number of states achieved for the pattern based on the comparison. The state information is stored in a fourth register to be utilized in a next run for a next substring of the substrings making up the input string, where the next run builds from the state information in the fourth register. |
| US09047342B2 |
Method for accelerating queries containing local range conditions using subtraction of cumulative bitmaps
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for optimizing a range-based query on a table in a database system. |
| US09047339B2 |
Query rewriting with entity detection
A system determines whether a received search query includes an entity name, determines whether to rewrite the received search query based on information relating to prior searches involving the entity name, and rewrites the received search query when it is determined that the received search query should be rewritten. The system further determines whether to provide a suggestion of rewriting the received search query, as a rewriting suggestion, based on information relating to prior searches involving the entity name when it is determined that the received search query should not be rewritten. The system also generates the rewriting suggestion when it is determined that the rewriting suggestion should be provided. The system performs a search based on one of the received search query and the rewritten search query to obtain search results, presents the search results, and presents the rewriting suggestion when it is determined that the rewriting suggestion should be provided. |
| US09047338B2 |
Managing drill-through targets
A target drill-through metadata manager has a target drill-through metadata handler and a target specification processor. The target drill-through metadata handler defines and manages target drill-through metadata in a metadata model for model constructs that are selected as drill-through target constructs. The target specification processor processes a target report definition using the target drill-through metadata to locate a data item that refers to a drill-through target construct or part of a drill-through target construct, and automatically adds one or more target filters associated with the drill-through target construct to a target report. |
| US09047331B2 |
Scalable row-store with consensus-based replication
A method for updating a scalable row-store, including: receiving an update to a key within a range of keys in a database table, wherein the database table is distributed across nodes in a cluster of computing devices; and replicating the update over a group of the nodes using a consensus-based replication algorithm, wherein the replication algorithm includes completing the update in response to receiving acknowledgement messages from a majority of the nodes in the group indicating that the majority has received notification of the update. |
| US09047330B2 |
Index compression in databases
Systems, methods and computer program products for compression of database indexes are described herein. A system embodiment includes a sequence determiner to scan a database index and to determine a start of a range and end of a range of consistently changing values in one or more index pages of said database index and an index updater to update said database index based on a sequence determined by said sequence determiner, while suspending writing of one or more values that lie within start of said range and end of said range of values. A method embodiment includes scanning an index, determining a pattern of changing values in one or more index pages of said index and selectively updating said index based on said determining step to minimize index insertions. The method embodiment further includes determining a start of a range of values and an end of said range of values in an index page, setting appropriate bits to identify said start of range of values and end of range of values, determining if an entry to be inserted can appended to at the end of said range of values, and compressing said index by suspending writing of one or more values that occur between said start of range of values and said end of range of values. |
| US09047329B1 |
Method and system for an algorithm and circuit for a high performance exact match lookup function
In one aspect, a device is configured to provide a lookup operation for looking up a data value stored in a result table. The device includes several data tables for storing keys, or compressed representations of keys, associated with data values stored in the result table. During an example lookup operation, storage locations included within the data tables are searched for a particular key, or compressed representations of the key. If the key is found, the storage location is used to identify a memory address associated with the result table. In some implementations, the data tables are accessed in parallel to provide a lookup operation having a fixed latency. Storage locations within the data tables also are arranged to reduce the amount of memory used to implement each data table. In some implementations, the data tables are configured to use no more than one result table access per lookup operation. |
| US09047326B2 |
Index configuration for searchable data in network
An entity using a computing device can upload searchable data to a network service to be indexed and stored. The data can include a plurality of data fields, each data field having one or more associated values. The network service can analyze the data fields and their respectively associated values to determine data field types for the data fields and search options to be enabled for the data fields. Based at least in part on the data field types and the search options, the network service can generate a search index configuration/schema. Based at least in part on the generated search index configuration/schema, the network service can generate a search index for the data. In some embodiments, the network service can also convert the data into a format compatible with the search index. |
| US09047321B2 |
Prioritizing downloading of image files
Technology is disclosed for downloading image files associated with a user to a computing device of the user from a distributed backup system. Each of the image files is associated with a popularity score that is determined as a function of a user-related access pattern and a group-related access pattern of the image files. While the user-related access pattern is determined based on an access of the image files by the user, the group-related access pattern is determined based on an access by a group of users. The image files are categorized into priority files and non-priority files based on the popularity score of the image files. The priority files are downloaded in an original format and the non-priority files are downloaded in one or more image qualities that minimize the consumption of computing resources in downloading the image files. |
| US09047315B1 |
Geotagged hashtags
A system and method for geotagging hashtags. Geographic location information related to a hashtag is determined, and a geolocation is assigned to the hashtag based on the determined geographic location information. The assigned geolocation is stored in association with the hashtag in a data store. The hashtag may be provided for display on a map based on the assigned geolocation stored in the data store. |
| US09047314B1 |
Creating and using dynamic vector classes
A device may store a data structure including information identifying a geometric relationship between first and second coordinate values of a first data type. The data structure may also include a first array of a first length that includes the first coordinate value located at a position identifiable by a reference value. The data structure may also include a second array of a second length that includes the second coordinate value located at a position identifiable by the reference value. The data structure may also include a third array of a third length that includes an attribute value of a second data type, located at a position identifiable by the reference value. The device may receive an indication that one of the lengths is to be modified, and may modify the data structure so that the first length, the second length, and the third length are equivalent. |
| US09047309B1 |
Dynamic snapshot mounting
Techniques are presented for keeping only the most commonly-accessed snapshots mounted at any given time, while providing for fast mounting of unmounted snapshots. Techniques are also provided for maintaining separate databases for the snapshots of each primary filesystem in order to minimize locking latency. |
| US09047308B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing unified access to various data resources using virtualized services
A non-transitory processor-readable medium stores code representing instructions to be executed by a processor. The code causes the processor to receive, from a client device, a request for a service associated with a set of compute devices. The processor is caused to define a normalized request, based on a metadata associated with service requirements. The processor is caused to define a translated request for a compute device from the set of compute devices based on the normalized request. The processor is caused to send the translated request to the compute device in accordance with an endpoint interface associated with a format of the translated request. The processor is caused to receive data associated with the service from the compute device, in response to the translated request. The processor is caused to send, to the client device, a response having a format associated with the client device based on the data. |
| US09047307B1 |
Systems and methods for replicating data
A system facilitates the distribution and redistribution of chunks of data among multiple servers. The system may identify servers to store a replica of the data based on at least one of utilization of the servers, prior data distribution involving the servers, and failure correlation properties associated with the servers, and place the replicas of the data at the identified servers. The system may also monitor total numbers of replicas of the chunks available in the system, identify chunks that have a total number of replicas below one or more chunk thresholds, assign priorities to the identified chunks, and re-replicate the identified chunks based substantially on the assigned priorities. The system may further monitor utilization of the servers, determine whether to redistribute any of the replicas, select one or more of the replicas to redistribute based on the utilization of the servers, select one or more of the servers to which to move the one or more replicas, and move the one or more replicas to the selected one or more servers. |
| US09047305B2 |
Methods and systems for vectored data de-duplication
The present invention is directed toward methods and systems for data de-duplication. More particularly, in various embodiments, the present invention provides systems and methods for data de-duplication that may utilize a vectoring method for data de-duplication wherein a stream of data is divided into “data sets” or blocks. For each block, a code, such as a hash or cyclic redundancy code may be calculated and stored. The first block of the set may be written normally and its address and hash can be stored and noted. Subsequent block hashes may be compared with previously written block hashes. |
| US09047304B2 |
Optimization of fingerprint-based deduplication
Described are embodiments of an invention for identifying chunk boundaries for optimization of fingerprint-based deduplication in a computing environment. Storage objects that are backed up in a computing environment are often compound storage objects which include many individual storage objects. The computing device of the computing environment breaks the storage objects into chunks of data by determining a hash value on a range of data. The computing device creates an artificial chunk boundary when the end of data of the storage object is reached. When an artificial chunk boundary is created for the end of data of a storage object, the computing device stores a pseudo fingerprint for the artificial chunk boundary. If a hash value matches a fingerprint or a pseudo fingerprint, then the computing device determines that the range of data corresponds to a chunk and the computing system defines the chunk boundaries. |
| US09047302B1 |
Systems and methods for deduplicating file data in tiered file systems
A computer-implemented method for deduplicating file data in tiered file systems may include identifying a tiered file system that includes a primary storage tier and a deduplicated storage tier. The method may also include detecting at least a portion of file data that has not been accessed in the primary storage tier within a predetermined period of time. The method may further include determining whether the portion of data stored in the primary storage tier is also stored in the deduplicated storage tier. In addition, the method may include ensuring that the deduplicated storage tier is currently storing a unique instance of the portion of file data stored in the primary storage tier and then removing the portion of file data from the primary storage tier. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09047301B2 |
Method for optimizing the memory usage and performance of data deduplication storage systems
A method and system of optimizing the memory usage and performance of data deduplication storage systems includes organizing the metadata of data blocks needed by deduplicating storage systems. A three level hierarchy is used. Level 1 stores the metadata on disk along with the user data. Level 2 uses low latency storage (e.g. RAM and Solid State Disks) to cache the on-disk meta data for faster direct access. Level 3 organizes the fingerprints using a Trie and is entirely resident in RAM. Thus, the search, to determine whether a data block is unique or not and a candidate for transfer, can be more efficiency executed and to ensure that the meta data is transactionally secure. |
| US09047298B2 |
File searching on mobile devices
Systems and methods are provided for file searching on mobile devices. A system includes a user interface and a file query system. The user interface is for receiving a user-provided spatio-temporal query for use in searching for a particular file. The user-provided spatio-temporal query is provided by a user of a mobile device. The file query system is for determining information about the particular file responsive to the user-provided spatio-temporal query, and identifying from the information one or more files as a search result for the particular file. |
| US09047293B2 |
Computer file format conversion for neutralization of attacks
A method and a non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions for converting a first file of a first format to a second file of a second format that differs from the first format; wherein the converting comprises converting first file fields having invalid values with second file fields having valid values; and converting the second file to a third file of the first file format, if the converting of the first file to the second file succeeds. |
| US09047292B2 |
Systems and methods for application reuse
System and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a master data archiver configured to store a data related to a turbomachine system and a first data collector service system configured to collect the data from the master data archiver. The system also includes a second data collector service system communicatively coupled to the first data collector service system and configured to pull or to push the data from the first data collector service system and a first data archiver configured to receive at least some of the data from the second data collector service system. The system further includes an asset model database storing a plurality of turbomachine tags, wherein the turbomachine tags are configured to categorize the data and a data access system (DAS) configured to provide data access to the first data archiver, the asset model database, or a combination thereof. |
| US09047288B2 |
Intelligent data delivery and storage based on data characteristics
Methods, program products, and systems of intelligent data delivery and storage based on data characteristics are disclosed. A database server can receive, from a user device, a request for data. The database server can determine a data size and a data type of the requested data. The database server can identify, based on the data size and data type, and from multiple candidate data delivery protocols for responding to the request, a data delivery protocol designated for delivering data having the data size and data type. The database server can deliver the data to the user device in response to the request using the identified data delivery protocol. |
| US09047286B2 |
Program and syndicated content detection
Content from multiple different stations can be divided into segments based on time. Matched segments associated with each station can be identified by comparing content included in a first segment associated with a first station, to content included in a second segment associated with a second station. Syndicated content can be identified and tagged based, at least in part, on a relationship between sequences of matched segments on different stations. Various embodiments also include identifying main sequences associated with each station under consideration, removing some of the main sequences, and consolidating remaining main sequences based on various threshold criteria. |
| US09047283B1 |
Automated topic discovery in documents and content categorization
A computer-assisted method for discovering topics and categorizing contents in a document includes the steps of calculating an importance score for a term based on grammatical roles, parts of speech, and semantic attributes, selecting terms based on the importance score values of the respective terms, and outputting terms comprising the selected term to represent topics in the document, and building a category structure based on the selected terms. |
| US09047282B2 |
Document management systems, apparatuses and methods configured to provide user interface customized for specific user
Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for accessing a document management application through a network, wherein user interface information comprising one or more of a plurality of user interfaces customized for a specific user is maintained, and upon successful login of the specific user, said one or more of the plurality of user interfaces are provided for display to the specific user. |
| US09047280B2 |
Apparatus and method for position determination
An apparatus for position determination has an optical scanning unit which is to be moved relative to a surface and which includes an image sensor for detecting light intensity patterns of light which is reflected by the surface. The apparatus furthermore has an electronic processing unit which is associated with the image sensor and configured to determine a traveled movement path and/or a movement speed of the optical scanning unit relative to the surface from a difference between light intensity patterns detected after one another in time. A further processing unit is configured to produce an intensity correlated signal which correlates with the intensity of the light reflected by the surface. An evaluation device is associated with the image sensor and is configured to recognize a graphical code pattern located on the surface with reference to the intensity correlated signal and to read out information from the code pattern. |
| US09047277B2 |
Systems and methods for synchronizing hierarchical repositories
Systems and methods which implement synchronization across hierarchical targets by ordering elements in a hierarchical target in order of hierarchical depth and propagating a first set of element changes based upon the hierarchical order of elements and a second set of element changes based upon a non-hierarchical order of elements priority are shown. A child attribute data model is utilized with respect to hierarchical data structures for which synchronization is provided in which hierarchy relationships are represented as an attribute of the child according to embodiments. |
| US09047276B2 |
Automatic translation of system messages using an existing resource bundle
A processing device receives a message identifier associated with an application. and identifies a first language that an operating system running on the processing device is configured to use. Responsive to determining that a first application resource bundle associated with the application and configured for the first language is not available, the processing device selects a second application resource bundle that is associated with the application and configured for a second language, identifies a first version of a message associated with the message identifier in the second application resource bundle, sends the first version of the message to an automated translator with a request to translate the first version of the message to the first language, and receives a first translated version of the message that is in the first language. The processing device may then present or store the first translated version of the message. |
| US09047275B2 |
Methods and systems for alignment of parallel text corpora
Computer-implemented systems and methods align fragments of a first text with corresponding fragments of a second text, which is a translation of the first text. One preferred embodiment preliminarily divides the first and second texts into fragments; generates a hypothesis about the correspondence between the fragments of the first and second texts; performs a lexico-morphological analysis of the fragments using linguistic descriptions; performs a syntactic analysis of the fragments using linguistic descriptions and generates syntactic structures for the fragments; generates semantic structures for the fragments; and estimates the degree of correspondence between the semantic structures. |
| US09047274B2 |
Machine translation-driven authoring system and method
An authoring method includes generating an authoring interface configured for assisting a user to author a text string in a source language for translation to a target string in a target language. Initial source text entered by the user is received through the authoring interface. Source phrases are selected that each include at least one token of the initial source text as a prefix and at least one other token as a suffix. The source phrase selection is based on a translatability score and optionally on fluency and semantic relatedness scores. A set of candidate phrases is proposed for display on the authoring interface, each of the candidate phases being the suffix of a respective one of the selected source phrases. The user may select one of the candidate phrases, which is appended to the source text following its corresponding prefix, or may enter alternative text. The process may be repeated until the user is satisfied with the source text and the SMT model can then be used for its translation. |
| US09047262B2 |
Semiconductor data processing device, time-triggered communication system, and communication system
The variation of the timing of starting interrupt processing in response to a timer interrupt request is reduced regardless of the condition of processing of other interrupts. A semiconductor data processing device incorporated in each of plural electronic control devices coupled to a network for time-triggered communication system is provided with a central processing unit, a communication control circuit and an interrupt control circuit. The communication control circuit has a local time timer for use in time-triggered communication and issues, based on time counting by the local time timer, a timer interrupt request for time-triggered communication. When a timer interrupt request for time-triggered communication is received, the interrupt control circuit performs control to cause the central processing unit to delay, by a predetermined reservation time, starting the interrupt processing to be performed in response to the timer interrupt request. |
| US09047259B1 |
System and method for renaming hyperlinks
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving a first hyperlink as input, the first hyperlink comprising a resource indicator and link text, processing the resource indicator using a computing device to determine substitute link text, generating a second hyperlink, the second hyperlink comprising the resource indicator and the substitute link text, and providing the second hyperlink to be displayed on a display. |
| US09047252B1 |
Method and apparatus for detecting a row or a column of a memory to repair without reporting all corresponding defective memory cells
A system including first and second devices. The first device generates a trigger signal to test a memory. The memory has memory cells including first and second cells. The first and second cells are defective and are in a same row or column. The second device: tests the memory in response to the trigger signal and based on a first frequency; generates an error signal in response to detecting the first cell as defective; and based on the test, generates information including first and second addresses of the first and second cells. The first device, based on the error signal, receives the information at a second frequency. The second device compares the first and second addresses, and if a match, continues the test without reporting the second cell as defective. The first device, based on a number of times the first address is matched, repairs the row or the column. |
| US09047251B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing connection mirroring in a multi-core system
The present application is directed to systems and methods for providing failover connection mirroring between two or more multi-core devices intermediary between a client and a server. A first multi-core device may receive a hash key of a second multi-core device for mapping packets to cores of the second multi-core device. The first device may identify a core of the second device using (i) the hash key of the second device and (ii) tuple information corresponding to a connection between the client and the server via the first device. The first device may determine that the identified core is not a desired core for providing a failover connection. The first device may modify the tuple information so as to identify the desired core when used with the hash key of the second device. The first device may use the modified tuple information to establish the failover connection. |
| US09047250B2 |
Failover processing
A method of providing failover processing between a first element and a second element in a data communications network, the method comprising configuring a first channel and a second channel between the first and second elements, the first and second channels comprising different physical data paths, receiving at the first element, via the first channel, first data signals representative of functioning statuses of the second element, the first channel being configured to allow a non-optimal, partly functioning status of the second element to be communicated to the first element; and receiving at the first element, via the second channel, second data signals representative of functioning statuses of the second element, the second channel being configured to allow a failed functioning status of the second element to be communicated to the first element; and conducting failover processing based on both the first and second data signals. |
| US09047248B2 |
Logical domain recovery
Recovering logical domain processes from a virtual production environment to a recovery environment by building recovery automation scripts. The process, partially automated and partially guided by an administrative user, captures logic necessary for orderly recovery, but also permits the user to specify certain configuration information for the recovered logical domains. A first step before building recovery script(s) is to execute a capture script on the production environment to retrieve configuration information for the production logical domains. Based on this captured output, a recovery script builder then starts to build one or more recovery script(s). To account for unavoidable inconsistencies between the production and recovery environments, the user is guided through a deterministic process of providing additional information, such as different resource mappings, so that the script builder may further address such differences. |
| US09047244B1 |
Multi-screen computing device applications
A system, apparatus and method for executing a software program on a plurality of computing devices are disclosed. A first computing device executes a software program and displays data related to that program. A second computing device displays data related to the program and to location data regarding a physical location of the second computing device related to the first computing device. Display data can be updated based on changes in relative position and/or changes made on one of the devices. |
| US09047236B2 |
Client side stream switching
Client side stream switching enables substantially uninterrupted transmission of a highest compatible bit rate of a stream of media to a client via a network connection. The client may include one or more buffers for receiving the stream of media. Attributes including the buffer activity and a bandwidth of the network connection may be monitored by a streaming module to determine an alternative bit rate of the stream of media. The stream of media may be transitioned from the first bit rate to the alternative bit rate without an interruption of the stream of media to provide the client with the highest compatible bit rate based on the monitored attributes. |
| US09047235B1 |
Content management for packet-communicating devices
Media content associated with a playlist is provided for remote access over a packet-based network. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a host server provides access to a user-defined playlist depicting media content available from user's media content source (e.g., at a registered user's PC). User-defined playlists and associated media content are managed to facilitate access to media in accordance with characteristics of the media content and/or playlist such as format and bitrate, and as may be related to an intended playback use of the playlist. Media content for the playlists is stored in a network storage device for remote access, with the storage managed to facilitate remote access in appropriate formats, with selective cross-referencing among playlists for different playlist types, content format and content bandwidth. |
| US09047234B1 |
Data context passing between non-interfaced application programs in a common framework
Permitting the context sharing between non-interfaced web-based applications associated in a web-based framework server via adjusting the parent domain of the web-based applications and the framework to be the same, providing in the framework server the location of a JavaScript file, and configured to permit communication between the web-based applications through http function calls. The location of the JavaScript file may be provided to all the applications in the form of a cookie. Alternatively permitting context sharing between non-interfaced web-based applications associated in a web-based framework server comprising selectively adjusting the domain of the web-based applications and the framework such that each defines a subdomain of a parent domain when the web-based applications are being navigated. |
| US09047229B1 |
System and method for protecting content
A method, computer program product, and computing system for storing an unsecure data portion within a temporary storage device. An indication of a power failure event within the storage system is received. The unsecure data portion is processed to produce a secure data portion via a processor included within a first controller card included within the storage system. The secure data portion is stored on a persistent storage device via a second controller card. |
| US09047225B1 |
Dynamic selection of data replacement protocol for cache
An improved technique for managing data replacement in a cache dynamically selects a data replacement protocol from among multiple candidates based on which data replacement protocol produces the greatest cache hit rate. The technique includes selecting one of multiple data replacement protocols using a random selection process that can be biased to favor the selection of certain protocols over others. Data are evicted from the cache using the selected data replacement protocol, and the cache hit rate is monitored. The selected data replacement protocol is then rewarded in response to the detected cache hit rate. The selection process is repeated, and a newly selected data replacement protocol is put into use. Operation tends to converge on an optimal data replacement protocol that best suits the application and current operating environment of the cache. |
| US09047222B2 |
Unified multi-transport medium connector architecture
A device, method, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the device includes a router to transmit data packets between multiple host controllers and one or more peripheral devices. The router can receive a data packet from a host controller and transmit the data packet to a peripheral device across a data transmission path. The peripheral device is coupled to the first data transmission path through a first universal multi-transport medium (UMTM) connector. The connector includes an optical coupling capable of transporting the first data packet within an optical signal and an electrical coupling capable of transporting the first data packet within an electrical signal. |
| US09047221B2 |
Virtual machines failover
Disclosed is a computer system (100) comprising a processor unit (110) adapted to run a virtual machine in a first operating mode; a cache (120) accessible to the processor unit, said cache including a cache controller (122); and a memory (140) accessible to the cache controller for storing an image of said virtual machine; wherein the processor unit is adapted to create a log (200) in the memory prior to running the virtual machine in said first operating mode; the cache controller is adapted to transfer a modified cache line from the cache to the memory; and write only the memory address of the transferred modified cache line in the log; and the processor unit is further adapted to update a further image of the virtual machine in a different memory location, e.g. on another computer system, by retrieving the memory addresses stored in the log, retrieve the modified cache lines from the memory addresses and update the further image with said modifications. A computer cluster including such computer systems, a method of managing such a computer cluster and a computer program product are also disclosed. |
| US09047219B2 |
Storage system, storage control device, and storage control method
A control device manages a plurality of storage devices so that data to be recorded is redundantly recorded in different storage devices. An error monitoring unit monitors an occurrence of an error in each of the plurality of storage devices to register information indicative of error occurrence conditions in an error information storage unit for each storage device. When the use of one of the plurality of storage devices is stopped, a rebuild controller determines a timing to perform rebuild processing based on past error occurrence conditions in the storage devices other than the one storage device of the plurality of storage devices by referring to information registered in the error information storage unit. |
| US09047218B2 |
Dispersed storage network slice name verification
A method begins by a processing module dispersed storage error encoding data to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices in accordance with dispersed storage error coding parameters. The method continues with the processing module determining a plurality of sets of slice names corresponding to the plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module determining integrity information for the plurality of sets of slice names and sending the plurality of sets of encoded data slices, the plurality of sets of slice names, and the integrity information to a dispersed storage network memory for storage therein. |
| US09047216B2 |
Virtual disk drive system and method
A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc., remote data storage, and data progression, etc. |
| US09047215B1 |
Method and system for reducing the effect of component recovery
Methods, computer-readable mediums and systems for reducing transistor recovery are disclosed. Data which toggles at least one bit may be periodically communicated over a data path, where toggling of at least one bit may effectively reset the recovery period for any transistors in the data path associated with the at least one bit. Timing uncertainty associated with a given transistor may be reduced by limiting the amount of recovery experienced by the transistor. Accordingly, recovery of transistors in a data path may be limited to predetermined amount by toggling bits of the data path at a predetermined frequency, thereby reducing timing uncertainty and allowing a smaller system margin and/or higher data transmission speeds. |
| US09047213B2 |
Coding architecture for multi-level NAND flash memory with stuck cells
Encoded least significant bit (LSB) values are generated for a cell based at least in part on a readback value for the cell. The encoded LSB values is decoded in order to obtain one or more decoded LSB values. Encoded most significant bit (MSB) values are generated for the cell based at least in part on (1) the readback value for the cell and (2) the decoded LSB values. The encoded MSB values are decoded in order to obtain one or more decoded MSB values, wherein the bit positions of the decoded LSB values do not overlap with the bit positions of the decoded MSB values. |
| US09047206B1 |
Disk drive apparatus and method of manufacturing the disk drive apparatus
In a disk drive apparatus, a plurality of data sectors is recorded on a disk. A data sector is designated by a logical block address in accordance with a read command received from a host, and the data is read from the data sector specified by a physical address corresponding to the designated logical block address included in the read command. Predetermined data different from the data read from the designated data sector is sent back to the host in response to information relevant to the physical address included in the read data. |
| US09047203B1 |
Systems and methods for encoding and decoding data
Methods and systems for encoding and decoding data using a streaming product-code (SPC). An SPC codeword has a first and second portion in a first and second component stream of the SPC, respectively. The first portion of the first codeword is arranged along a first dimension of the SPC, and the second portion of the first codeword is arranged along a second dimension of the SPC. The SPC efficiently encodes data into a desired target frame format without the overhead of dedicated mapping logic used by product-codes solutions. |
| US09047202B1 |
Creating a relationship tree representing relationships of graphs to enable navigation through the graphs without accessing an input data set
Actions associated with visualizing an input data set using plural graphs are monitored. At least one of the graphs is produced based on selection from another of the graphs. A relationship tree that represents relationships of the graphs is created based on monitoring the actions. Output information including description data and image data is provided, where the description data contains at least a portion of the relationship tree. The output information enables interactive navigation through the plural graphs without accessing the input data set. |
| US09047201B2 |
Method for waking up a plurality of hibernated mass storage devices
A method for waking up a plurality of hibernated mass storage devices is disclosed. The method includes receiving a first command from a control circuit for accessing data stored in a plurality of hibernated mass storage devices; dividing the plurality of hibernated mass storage devices into a plurality of mass storage groups; waking up a first mass storage group of the plurality of mass storage groups; and notifying the control circuit to stop sending commands to the remaining hibernated mass storage devices in a period of time. |
| US09047197B2 |
Non-coherent store instruction for fast inter-strand data communication for processors with write-through L1 caches
A method is disclosed that uses a non-coherent store instruction to reduce inter-thread communication latency between threads sharing a level one write-through cache. When a thread executes the non-coherent store instruction, the level one cache is immediately updated with the data value. The data value is immediately available to another thread sharing the level-one write-through cache. A computer system having reduced inter-thread communication latency is disclosed. The computer system includes a first plurality of processor cores, each processor core including a second plurality of processing engines sharing a level one write-through cache. The level one caches are connected to a level two cache via a crossbar switch. The computer system further implements a non-coherent store instruction that updates a data value in the level one cache prior to updating the corresponding data value in the level two cache. |
| US09047190B2 |
Intrusion protection for a client blade
Receiving, by a blade management module from a client blade, notification of a loss of communications between a remote desktop apparatus and the client blade; responsive to the notification, accepting, by the blade management module from the remote desktop apparatus, an instruction to alter a power setting of the client blade; and; responsive to the instruction, altering, by the blade management module, the power setting of the client blade. |
| US09047189B1 |
Self-describing data blocks of a minimum atomic write size for a data store
Self-describing data blocks of a minimum atomic write size may be stored for a data store. Data may be received for storage in a data block of a plurality of data blocks at a persistent storage device that are equivalent to a minimum atomic write size for the persistent storage device. Metadata may be generated for the data that includes an error detection code which is generated for the data and the metadata together. The data and the metadata are sent to the persistent storage device to store together in the data block. An individual atomic write operation may write together the data and the metadata in the data block. When accessed, the error detection code is applicable to detect errors. The metadata may also be applicable to determine whether the data is stored for a currently assigned purpose or a previously assigned purpose of the data block. |
| US09047187B2 |
Defect management in memory systems
Defect management logic extends a useful life of a memory system. For example, as discussed herein, failure detection logic detects occurrence of a failure in a memory system. Defect management logic determines a type of the failure such as whether the failure is an infant mortality type failure or a late-life type of failure. Depending on the type of failure, the defect management logic performs different operations to extend the useful life of the memory system. For example, for early life failures, the defect management logic can retire a portion of the block including the failure. For late life failures, due to excessive reads/writes, the defect management logic can convert the failing block from operating in a first bit-per-cell storage density mode to operating in a second bit-per-cell storage density mode. |
| US09047182B2 |
Message service downtime
The description relates to addressing the downtime of a message service. One example can include determining that an error occurred during a message send process. A decision can be made whether the error is a suspicious error or a non-suspicious error. In an instance where the error is a suspicious error, any resend attempts can be limited to a number of times defined by a crash count threshold. |
| US09047178B2 |
Auto-commit memory synchronization
Apparatuses, systems, methods and computer program products are disclosed for auto-commit memory management. A method includes receiving a memory request from a client, such as a barrier request or a checkpoint request. The memory request is associated with a volatile memory buffer of a non-volatile recording device. The memory buffer may be configured to preserve data in the non-volatile recording device in response to a trigger. A method includes issuing a serializing instruction that flushes data from a processor complex to the memory buffer. A method includes determining completion of the serializing instruction flushing the data to the memory buffer. |
| US09047171B2 |
Differentiating cache reliability to reduce minimum on-die voltage
Systems and methods may provide for determining whether a memory access request is error-tolerant, and routing the memory access request to a reliable memory region if the memory access request is error-tolerant. Moreover, the memory access request may be routed to an unreliable memory region if the memory access request is error-tolerant. In one example, use of the unreliable memory region enables a reduction in the minimum operating voltage level for a die containing the reliable and unreliable memory regions. |
| US09047170B2 |
Safety control system for vehicles
According to one aspect of one embodiment of the present invention, a safety control system for vehicles, includes, a communication device having at least one of an input accessible from within the vehicle and an output communicated within the vehicle, at least one sensor operable to sense at least one condition related to vehicle operation, and a controller communicated with the sensor and the communication device to selectively suppress at least one of said input and said output in response to a sensed parameter of said at least one condition being outside of a threshold. When an input is suppressed, the driver is prevented from accessing or inputting information into the communication device. When an output is suppressed, communication between the device and the driver of a vehicle is suppressed to, among other things, avoid distracting the driver during certain driving situations or conditions relating to the driver, vehicle and/or environment. |
| US09047167B2 |
Calculating the modular inverses of a value
A method for calculating the modular inverse of a value in relation to a module is used for cryptographic calculations on a portable data carrier. The method includes determining a breakdown of the module into at least two factors, calculating a respective auxiliary value for each of the factors, wherein each auxiliary value is the modular inverse of the value in relation to the respective factor as module, and calculating the modular inverse of the value in relation to the module using the calculated auxiliary values. The method offers an increase in efficiency, with greater efficiency obtained the stronger the computing outlay depends on the length of the module in the inversion method. The method is suitable for execution by relatively low-power processors, and security of the calculation against spying attacks is not impaired. If security requirements are high, combining the method with suitable measures against spying presents no problems. |
| US09047164B2 |
Calculating defect density by file and source module
Techniques are provided for tracking and analyzing defect density by source file or module. Defect density is the number of distinct defects which required changes to be made (to fix the defect) to a particular file or module in a given period of time. This metric is very useful for identifying the most critical areas of weakness of the system and hence the areas where additional investment/action may be taken. For example, this metric can be used to prioritize the area in which unit tests should be written, for which additional automated system tests should be written or which a project should be undertaken to re-write the error prone file or module to improve its quality and maintainability. |
| US09047158B2 |
Using preprovisioned mutated templates
Illustrative embodiments include a system, and computer program product for creating a virtual machine using a preprovisioned mutated template. A template to use for creating the virtual machine is identified, a template including data usable to create the virtual machine on a data processing system. A block of data is selected in the mutated template for reconstructing the template from the mutated template. The block of data is included in the mutated template at a location specified in a manifest associated with the mutated template. A data structure of the template is populated with the block of data such that the block of data occupies a predetermined position in the template, thereby reconstructing the template from the mutated template. The virtual machine is created on the data processing system using the template. |
| US09047155B2 |
Message-based installation management using message bus
Embodiments relate to message-based installation management using a message bus. In embodiments, a deployment server or other provisioning host can be connected to a resource via a message bus. A processor monitors the bus message traffic to detect a message activity. The processor generates an installation command to cause a software installation in a managed network in view of the message activity detected on the message bus. |
| US09047152B2 |
Delay device, method, and random number generator using the same
A delay device for generating a signal for a random component in a random number generator is disclosed. The delay device includes a delay module, for generating a plurality of delayed signals, wherein each delayed signal has a delay time and the delay time is different from each other; a first multiplexer, coupled to the delay module, for outputting a delayed signal among the plurality of delayed signals as a delayed trigger signal to control the random component to generate a random bit; and a delay selector, coupled to the first multiplexer, for generating a selecting signal to control the first multiplexer to select to output the delayed signal as the delayed trigger signal. |
| US09047146B2 |
Method and system for transforming input data streams
A system and method for processing an input data stream in a first data format of a plurality of first data formats to an output data stream in a second data format of a plurality of second data formats. A plurality of input connector modules receive respective input data streams and at least one input queue stores the received input data streams. A plurality of job threads is operatively connected to the at least one input queue, each job thread formatting a stored input data stream to produce an output data stream. At least one output queue stores the output data streams from the plurality of job threads. A plurality of output connector modules is operatively connected to the at least one output queue, the output connector modules supplying respective output data streams. |
| US09047145B2 |
Event source management using a metadata-driven framework
The system and method described herein relates to managing multiple network device connections, collecting event source data from one or more network devices with one or more collectors, filtering the event source data, continuously monitoring the network device connections, controlling raw data collection from the one or more network devices, parsing the event source data into normalized data structures, and managing configurations for the collectors, among other things. Event sources may be physical or logical network devices distributed across a network, including but not limited to, firewalls, routers, biometric devices, mainframes, databases, and applications. The network devices may be sources from which the collectors may receive or request the event source data. |
| US09047143B2 |
Automation and programmability for software defined networking systems
System, method, and computer program product to orchestrate software defined networking (SDN) applications, by providing a plurality of network elements in a network, each network element comprising a plurality of ingress interfaces, a plurality of egress interfaces, and a routing information base (RIB), providing, to an SDN application, an application program interface (API) to abstract properties and events of: (i) the ingress interfaces, (ii) the egress interfaces, and (iii) the RIB of a specified network element, receiving a request from the SDN application apply a function to the specified network element, the function specifying to modify: (i) a preprocessing operation on a data packet, (ii) the RIB, (iii) a post processing operation on the data packet, and (iv) the properties of the ingress interfaces, egress interfaces, and RIBs of the specified network element, and applying the function to the specified network element through the API. |
| US09047140B2 |
Independently timed multiplier
An independently timed multiplier unit includes a multiplier and a clock generator. The multiplier has a first set of semiconductor circuits in a critical path. The clock generator has a second set of semiconductor circuits configured to control a clock period of said clock generator selected to set a clock period longer than the propagation delay through the critical path of the multiplier. The clock generator may include a delay circuit having a delay to set the clock period longer than the propagation delay through the critical path of said multiplier. The clock generator uses circuit with identical logical design including the same standard cells, the same logic design or the same floor plan. Close matching of these circuit causes the multiplier and the clock generator to experience the same PVT speed variations. |
| US09047138B2 |
Apparatus and method for thread scheduling and lock acquisition order control based on deterministic progress index
Provided is a method and apparatus for ensuring a deterministic execution characteristic of an application program to perform data processing and execute particular functions in a computing environment using a micro architecture. A lock controlling apparatus based on a deterministic progress index (DPI) may include a loading unit to load a DPI of a first core and a DPI of a second core among DPIs of a plurality of cores at a lock acquisition point in time of each thread, a comparison unit to compare the DPI of the first core and the DPI of the second core, and a controller to assign a lock to a thread of the first core when the DPI of the first core is less than the DPI of the second core and when the second core corresponds to a last core to be compared among the plurality of cores. |
| US09047136B2 |
Method and system for migrating the state of a virtual cluster
The administrative work needed to configure a virtual cluster is a major obstacle that limits its adoption by customers. Moreover, an organization can spend much time and effort testing a cluster configuration and would like to deploy this cluster configuration at many sites. To address these problems, the disclosed embodiments provide a mechanism that facilitates migrating a virtual cluster from a first computer system to a second computer system. During operation, the system captures the virtual cluster configuration state, including application configuration state and executables. The system then instantiates this captured state on a second computer system, thus re-creating the virtual cluster state of the first computer system on the second computer system. |
| US09047128B1 |
Backup server interface load management based on available network interfaces
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for managing interfaces. In some embodiments, this includes detecting a new interface, adding a job to the new interface, and incrementing a counter associated with the new interface. In some embodiments, the new interface may be an additional physical interface. In some embodiments, the new interface may be a no longer reserved interface. |
| US09047127B2 |
Method and system for an atomizing function of a mobile device
Systems, apparatuses and methods are disclosed for apportioning tasks among devices. One such method is performed in handheld wireless communication device (HWCD). The method includes discovering available resources in a network and dynamically assessing cost functions for performing a task on the HWCD and on each of the discovered resources. Each of the respective cost functions is based on performance factors associated with the HWCD or with one of the devices. Based on change in the cost functions, the task is apportioned for local execution by the HWCD or remote execution by the available resources. |
| US09047120B2 |
Virtual queue processing circuit and task processor
A queue control circuit controls the placement and retrieval of a plurality of tasks in a plurality of types of virtual queues. State registers are associated with respective tasks. Each of the state registers stores a task priority order, a queue ID of a virtual queue, and the order of placement in the virtual queue. Upon receipt of a normal placement command ENQ_TL, the queue control circuit establishes, in the state register for the placed task, QID of the virtual queue as the destination of placement and an order value indicating the end of the queue. When a reverse placement command ENQ_TP is received, QID of the destination virtual queue and an order value indicating the start of the queue are established. When a retrieval command DEQ is received, QID is cleared in the destination virtual queue. |
| US09047116B2 |
Context switch data prefetching in multithreaded computer
An apparatus, program product and method initiate, in connection with a context switch operation, a prefetch of data likely to be used by a thread prior to resuming execution of that thread. As a result, once it is known that a context switch will be performed to a particular thread, data may be prefetched on behalf of that thread so that when execution of the thread is resumed, more of the working state for the thread is likely to be cached, or at least in the process of being retrieved into cache memory, thus reducing cache-related performance penalties associated with context switching. |
| US09047111B2 |
Resource allocation in a virtualized computing environment
Machines, systems and methods for deciding whether a plurality of virtual machines (VMs) may be hosted on a computing system with resources to support at least one of the VMs, the method comprising determining maximum permissible probability of infringement (maxPermInfrProb(v)) for a VM(v), wherein “v” is a value from 1 to n, such that n is the number of VMs in a set G, as stipulated by the VMs' SLA, wherein “v” is a value from 1 to n, such that n is the number of VMs in a set G; partitioning the set G into a plurality of groups Gi (G1, . . . Gi, . . . Gn), so that each group is homogenous with respect to maxPermInfrProb defined for members of the group Gi; and organizing the groups Gi based on the value of maxPermInfrProb for each Gi. |
| US09047110B2 |
Virtual machine handling system, virtual machine handling method, computer, and storage medium
A memory retaining unit (106) of a virtual machine handling system (10) retains a memory image (IMG) of a first computer (100). An update recording unit (203) records update information (UD) indicating a partial region of a memory image (IMG1) which is updated by the execution of a transferred virtual machine (VM) by a virtual machine execution unit (202) of a second computer (200). When receiving an undo request, a return unit (160) transmits partial data (PD) indicated by the update information (UD) from the second computer (200) to the first computer (100). A virtual machine execution unit (102) of the first computer (100) executes a continuing process of the virtual machine (VM) using the memory image (IMG) retained in the memory retaining unit (106) and the partial data (PD) received from the second computer (200). |
| US09047109B1 |
Policy enforcement in virtualized environment
Policy enforcement in an environment that includes virtualized systems is disclosed. Virtual machine information associated with a first virtual machine instance executing on a host machine is received. The information can be received from a variety of sources, including an agent, a log server, and a management infrastructure associated with the host machine. A policy is applied based at least in part on the received virtual machine information. |
| US09047106B1 |
Managing application features
A method is used in managing application features. A first XML file is extracted from a first JAR file, and a second XML file is extracted from a second JAR file. Based on an identifier that is common to the first and second XML files and a directory structure that is common to the first and second JAR files, a merging operation is executed on the first and second XML files. An application feature is derived from the results of the merging operation. |
| US09047105B2 |
Configuration modeling with objects
A computer-implemented method, computer program product and system for configuration modeling with objects are disclosed. A base configuration of an application is modeled, to generate a configuration model that specifies parameters, types, structures, and boundary conditions of the base configuration of the application. The configuration model is stored in a database repository as a repository object that can be activated with configuration data. One or more extensions to the base configuration is modeled as one or more configuration model extensions. The one or more configuration model extensions are stored as repository objects linked to the repository object representing the configuration model. |
| US09047103B2 |
Resource index identifying multiple resource instances and selecting most appropriate UI resource instance based on weighted resource request conditions
A resource index on a computing device identifies multiple resource instances (e.g., multiple user interface (UI) resource instances) of multiple resource items (e.g., of multiple UI resource items), each resource instance having one or more resource instance conditions. In response to a request for a resource item received from an application, a determination is made based on the resource index of one of the multiple resource instances that satisfy conditions associated with the request, and the one of the multiple resource instances is returned to the application. Additionally, the resource index can be used to identify potential errors in running an application in various potential contexts. |
| US09047101B2 |
Method for compiling an intermediate code of an application
A method for compiling an original application written in an intermediate code, in which the original application is executed by means of a virtual machine. The method supplies a native application having a native binary code. The method includes: extracting at least one intermediate code instruction at least one corresponding function input point; a first step of compiling the intermediate code of the application to a code that includes control flow management and calls said at least one input point of each function implementing the instructions of the intermediate code; and a second step of compiling the compiled application code and intermediate code functions supplying the optimised native application. |
| US09047099B2 |
Method and system for synchronous operation of linked command objects
A system and method for synchronous operation of linked command objects in a software application. The software application manages data objects in a number of contexts. Each context manages a number of command objects. Each command object operates on data objects in its context. To support synchronous operations that affect the state of data objects in more than one context, command objects are linked to each other. When a command object is executed, its context identifies a command object linked to the executed command object and initiates the execution of the linked command object. This synchronization allows for synchronous undo and redone operations. The delete states of the command objects are also synchronized. When one command object is deleted the command object linked thereto is also deleted, thereby preventing the linked command object from being independently undone resulting in an inconsistent state of the contexts. |
| US09047098B2 |
Method of programming the default cable interface software in an indicia reading device
An indicia reading apparatus includes an interconnect cable and an indicia reading device. The indicia reading device is configured so that, if the indicia reader device is not configured to any interconnect cable and detects an indicia which does not contain one of a plurality of specified sequences of data elements that the indicia reading device will recognize and use to configure itself to operate with the interconnect cable, the indicia reading device will indicate to the user of the indicia reading device that the indicia reading device needs to be configured to operate with the interconnect cable. |
| US09047097B2 |
Method for providing an application as a library in a virtual machine
A method for providing an application by a virtual machine. The method includes a step of compiling an application written in a source code to a native application for a particular platform and a step of transforming the compiled application into a library, wherein the library is made available to the virtual machine. |
| US09047095B2 |
Embedding of a non-imperative programming language for data transformation operations within an imperative programming language
In an embodiment, a method of computer program compilation is presented. In this method, a compiler for a first programming language is provided. In one example, the first programming language allows a data assignment to depend on a result of a previous data assignment. Source code including a first portion written in the first programming language and a second portion written in a second programming language is accessed, with the second portion representing a data transformation from a first data structure accessible in the first portion to a second data structure accessible in the first portion. In one example, the second programming language prevents a data assignment that depends on a result of a previous data assignment. The source code is compiled using the compiler to generate executable code to be executed by an engine for the first programming language, which includes an interpretation engine to interpret the second portion. |
| US09047094B2 |
Apparatus and method for separate asymmetric control processing and data path processing in a dual path processor
According to embodiments of the invention, there is disclosed a computer processor architecture; and in particular a computer processor, a method of operating the same, and a computer program product that makes use of an instruction set for the computer. In one embodiment according to the invention, there is provided a computer processor, the processor comprising: a decode unit for decoding instruction packets fetched from a memory holding a sequence of instruction packets; and first and second processing channels, each channel comprising a plurality of functional units, wherein the first processing channel is capable of performing control operations and comprises a control register file having a relatively narrower bit width, and the second processing channel is capable of performing data processing operations at least one input of which is a vector and comprises a data register file having a relatively wider bit width. The decode unit is operable to detect for each instruction packet whether the instruction packet defines (i) a plurality of control instructions to be executed sequentially on the first processing channel or (ii) a plurality of instructions comprising at least one data processing instruction to be executed simultaneously on the second execution channel, and to control the first and second channels in dependence on said detection. |
| US09047093B2 |
Data transfer bus communication to receive data by sending request instruction attached with identifier indicating processor and thread context identities
Systems and methods for managing context switches among threads in a processing system. A processor may perform a context switch between threads using separate context registers. A context switch allows a processor to switch from processing a thread that is waiting for data to one that is ready for additional processing. The processor includes control registers with entries which may indicate that an associated context is waiting for data from an external source. |
| US09047088B2 |
Multiprocessor system and method of controlling power
According to one embodiment, a multiprocessor system includes a plurality of processors, a power supply device and a shared memory. The shared memory includes a thread pool and a thread queue. In the thread pool, threads each having waiting events are registered in association with the numbers of the waiting events. In the thread queue, threads having no waiting event are registered. One or more first processors acquire first thread from the thread queue and execute the first thread. A second processor updates the number of waiting events of a second thread, which is registered in the thread pool, having completion of required procedure for the second thread by the first thread as a waiting event. A third processor operates supply of power to the first processors individually based on the number of threads in the thread queue and the number of waiting events. |
| US09047085B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling sparse refresh of a self-refreshing display device using a communications path with an auxiliary communications channel for delivering data to the display
A method and apparatus for controlling sparse refresh of a self-refreshing display device coupled to a graphics controller are disclosed. The display device includes capabilities to drive the display based on video signals generated from a local frame buffer. The graphics controller may optimally be placed in one or more power-saving states when the display device is operating in a panel self-refresh mode. When exiting the power-saving state to update the image displayed by the display device, a fast-resume initialization routine may be run to reconfigure the GPU when operating in a sparse refresh mode, i.e., where the image being displayed on the display device is updated infrequently. In such cases, the graphics controller may be configured to receive instructions and data from a central processing unit via an alternative low-bandwidth communications path instead of the high-bandwidth communications path used in normal operation. |
| US09047082B2 |
Instruction-set architecture for programmable Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) computations
A method and apparatus to perform Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) operations on a data block using a plurality of different n-bit polynomials is provided. A flexible CRC instruction performs a CRC operation using a programmable n-bit polynomial. The n-bit polynomial is provided to the CRC instruction by storing the n-bit polynomial in one of two operands. |
| US09047073B2 |
System method for detecting a type of device wherein a potential level of the device determines if power should be supplied based on the type of the device
A small-sized connecting appliance is provided. An electronic appliance includes: a connecting section including a power-supply terminal and a connecting terminal to be connected to a connecting appliance; a detecting section that detects the potential of the connecting terminal; a power source control section that starts supplying power via the power-supply terminal; and an appliance recognizing section that recognizes the type of the connecting appliance based on the result of detecting the potential of the connecting terminal after the power supply start. A computer readable medium causes a computer to perform: detecting the potential of a connecting terminal connected to a connecting appliance; starting power supply via a power-supply terminal included in a connecting section that connects to the connecting appliance; and recognizing the type of the connecting appliance based on the result of detecting the potential of the connecting terminal after the power supply start. |
| US09047069B2 |
Computer implemented method of electing K extreme entries from a list using separate section comparisons
A computer implemented method selects K extreme elements of a list of N elements by partitioning each of the N elements into a plurality of sections. For each section the method selects a threshold selection determining at least K extreme entries from the list. This iteratively compares a corresponding section to a section threshold, counts a number of sections which are more extreme than the section threshold, increasing (or decreasing) the section threshold if the count is greater than K and decreasing (or increasing) the section threshold if the count is less than K. The method forms a combined threshold by concatenation of said section thresholds in order, compares each of the N elements to the combined threshold, and selects at least K elements from the set of N elements more extreme than the combined threshold. |
| US09047067B2 |
Sensorless detection and management of thermal loading in a multi-processor wireless device
A method and system for thermal mitigation in a personal computing device is disclosed. A signal associated with an electronic element in the portable computing device is monitored. A thermal condition indicating excessive heat production is determined in response to the monitored signal. An action to mitigate heat production in the portable computing device may be performed in response to the thermal condition. |
| US09047066B2 |
Apparatus and method to efficiently cool a computing device
Embodiments disclosed herein include devices to cool the walls of a mobile computing device. In one embodiment, a louvered vent is formed within an external wall of a mobile computing device to create an air curtain between the external wall and a heat generating component to cool the external wall. In another embodiment, a nozzle vent is formed within the external wall of a mobile computing device to flow cooling air at a heat generating component to cool the heat generating component. |
| US09047062B2 |
Multi-configurable switching system using multi-functionality card slots
An embodiment of the invention comprises a reconfigurable chassis with one or more multi-functionality card slots, where each multi-functionality card slot is capable of being populated with at least one of a plurality of different types of cards, including port cards and switch cards. In a first configuration, the port card slots and the multi-functionality card slots are populated with port cards. In a second configuration, a first set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with switch cards and a second set of multi-functionality card slots is populated with port cards. In a third configuration, the first set of multi-functionality card slots and the second set of multi-functionality card slots are populated with switch cards. |
| US09047052B2 |
Simplified control input to a mobile device
A method and system for operating a mobile device includes interpreting a user-defined pattern detected by at least one of a touch interface and a motion sensor included with the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be interpreted as at least one of: a polygon, an ellipse, a curve, a line segment, an alphanumeric character, and a movement of the mobile device. The user-defined pattern may be a two-dimensional pattern traced by the user on the touch interface. When the user-defined pattern is recognized, a wireless communication command may be executed by the mobile device. The wireless communication command may be a telephone command or a remote control command for a remote-controlled device. |
| US09047048B2 |
Rotating mechanism for electronic device
An electronic device comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a rotating mechanism. The first portion covers on the second portion. The rotating mechanism is disposed in the second portion and is used for rotatably connecting the first portion and the second portion. The first portion is rotatable relative to the second portion from a first position to a second position by rotating the first portion relative to the rotating mechanism in a first plane. In the first position, the first position covers on the second portion. In the second position, a part of the second portion is exposed, and the angle between the first portion and the second portion is adjustable by rotating the first portion in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. |
| US09047046B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program
An information processing apparatus includes a first touch panel, a second touch panel, and a controller. The first touch panel displays a first object and detects a first touch operation of a user on the first object. The second touch panel displays a second object and detects a second touch operation of the user on the second object. The controller links and changes the displayed first object and the displayed second object when the second touch operation is detected within a predetermined time period since the first touch operation has been detected. |
| US09047040B2 |
Method for running computer program on video card selected based on video card preferences of the program
A parameter relating to the video card preferences of a target computer program is determined. In response to the target computer program being started on a computing device having a number of video cards, one of these video cards is selected to run the target computer program on, based on the parameter. The target computer program is then run on the video card selected. The parameter may include the specific identify of one of the video cards on which the target computer program is to be run, as well as other types of parameters that do not specifically identify any of the video cards. The video card preferences of the target computer program may also include video card requirements of the target computer program. |
| US09047038B2 |
Smartpad smartdock—docking rules
A multi-display device is adapted to be dockable or otherwise associatable with an additional device. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the multi-display device is dockable with a smartpad. The exemplary smartpad can include a screen, a touch sensitive display, a configurable area, a gesture capture region(s) and a camera. The smartpad can also include a port adapted to receive the device. The exemplary smartpad is able to cooperate with the device such that information displayable on the device is also displayable on the smartpad. Furthermore, any one or more of the functions on the device are extendable to the smartpad, with the smartpad capable of acting as an input/output interface or extension of the smartpad. Therefore, for example, information from one or more of the displays on the multi-screen device is displayable on the smartpad. |
| US09047031B2 |
Process-related record information recording device and method
An image forming device is capable of executing an application. In the image forming device, a determining unit is configured to determine, in response to a request of execution of a communication process from the application, whether the communication process is an encrypted communication based on contents of a call stack which stores the request. A log recording unit is configured to record log information of the communication process in a storage device when the communication process is determined as being an encrypted communication. |
| US09047029B2 |
Terminal device and printer
A terminal device may receive print condition related information being related to an actual print condition from a printer, and register, in a print intermediation server, by using the print condition related information, printer related information including actual print condition information indicating the actual print condition. The terminal device may control a display unit to display a selection screen by using the actual print condition information in a case where file related information related to a target file is to be registered in the print intermediation server after the printer related information was registered in the print intermediation server. The selection screen may cause a user to select a print setting from among the actual print condition. The terminal device may register the file related information and print setting information in association with the printer related information in the print intermediation server. |
| US09047027B2 |
System for authenticating communications between a non-cloud ready networked printer and a cloud-based service through a virtual printer interface device
A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer. |
| US09047024B2 |
Recording medium recording replacement printing control program for performing replacement on original data and causing printing machine to print based on data obtained by replacement, replacement printing control apparatus, and replacement printing control method
A computer-readable storage medium stores a program for causing a computer to execute a process. The process includes: a data generation step of, in response to a command to perform replacement printing of original data, generating, based on the original data, print target data to be printed on a sheet and save data to be transmitted to a data saving server connected via a network; a save-data transmission step of transmitting the save data generated in the data generation step to the data saving server, and acquiring address information indicating a save location of the save data saved in the data saving server; and a data print step of generating print data by adding the address information acquired in the save-data transmission step to the print target data and driving a printing machine to print the print data as generated. |
| US09047013B2 |
Avionic data dictionary based messaging system and method
An avionics messaging system comprises a memory configured to store a plurality of pre-defined avionics message elements; a display unit configured to display data; a user input device configured to receive input from a user; and a processing unit configured to output a user-customizable list of pre-defined avionics message elements to the display unit, the user-customizable list comprising at least a subset of the plurality of pre-defined avionics message elements; wherein the processing unit is further configured to update the user-customizable list based on input received from the user input device; wherein the processing unit is further configured to provide a message composition screen to the display unit based on user input received from the user input device; and wherein the message composition screen corresponds to a pre-defined avionics message element selected from the user-customizable list of pre-defined avionics message elements. |
| US09047012B1 |
Using information from a user device and a server to suggest an input
Systems may include receiving, from the user device, data representing input to a virtual keyboard on the user device, where the virtual keyboard includes keys, and the data represents least one of: locations at which the keys were selected and durations for which the keys were selected. The systems may include using the data to identify character strings; and performing a spellcheck on the character strings to identify candidates for the character strings. The systems may also include determining popularities of the candidates; selecting one or more of the candidates based on popularity and ranking of the one or more candidates; and outputting the selected one or more candidates. |
| US09047008B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for determination of the digit being used by a user to provide input
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for determination of the digit being used by a user to provide input. A method may include receiving user input defining a slide gesture from a digit of a user on a touchscreen. The method may further include determining a characteristic of the user input. The method may further include determining, based at least in part on the characteristic of the user input, the digit used by the user to provide the user input. In some cases, the method may further include causing modification of presentation of information on a display based on the digit determined to be used. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided. |
| US09047006B2 |
Electronic device system with information processing mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of an electronic device system includes: detecting a drag performed on a touch screen, the drag having a first direction from a starting point and an ending point; detecting a stretchable cursor extendable based on the drag, the stretchable cursor having a cursor length, a cursor direction, a starting portion, and an ending portion at the ending point and larger than the starting portion at the starting point; displaying the stretchable cursor on the touch screen, the stretchable cursor stretched across a centerline on the touch screen; detecting whether a second direction of the drag is opposite the first direction; and moving a starting position of the stretchable cursor toward the centerline and away from the starting point when the second direction is opposite the first direction. |
| US09047004B2 |
Interface element for manipulating displayed objects on a computer interface
The present invention provides method of manipulating a displayed object capable of interacting with an interface element of a computing interface. The computing interface has a display module for displaying the displayed object in a display area, and which causes the displayed object to interact with the interface element and manipulating the displayed object according to the nature of the input received. The manipulation includes varying the size of the displayed object when the received input results in movement of the displayed object, into, out-of, or through a region of the display area designated as belonging to the interface element. |
| US09047002B2 |
Systems and methods for parallax compensation
An electronic device may include a touch screen electronic display configured to offset and/or shift the contact locations of touch implements and/or displayed content based on one or more calculated parallax values. The parallax values may be associated with the viewing angle of an operator relative to the display of the electronic device. In various embodiments, the parallax value(s) may be calculated using three-dimensional location sensors, an angle of inclination of a touch implement, and/or one or more displayed calibration objects. Parallax values may be utilized to remap contact locations by a touch implement, shift and/or offset displayed content, and/or perform other transformations as described herein. A stereoscopically displayed content may be offset such that a default display plane is coplanar with a touch surface rather than a display surface. Contacts by a finger may be remapped using portions of the contact region and/or a centroid of the contact region. |
| US09047001B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a determination section for determining whether or not an input operation is valid on the basis of a proximity distance and a target object, and a process execution section for executing a process according to the input operation when it is determined that the input operation is valid. The proximity distance is a distance between a proximity detection type operation unit and an operating body performing the input operation using the proximity detection type operation unit. The target object is a target of the input operation. |
| US09046994B2 |
Systems and methods of assessing permissions in virtual worlds
Systems and methods of virtual world interaction, operation, implementation, instantiation, creation, and other functions related to virtual worlds (note that where the term “virtual world” is used herein, it is to be understood as referring to virtual world systems, virtual environments reflecting real, simulated, fantasy, or other structures, and includes information systems that utilize interaction within a 3D environment). Various embodiments facilitate interoperation between and within virtual worlds, and may provide consistent structures for operating virtual worlds. The disclosed embodiments may further enable individuals to build new virtual worlds within a framework, and allow third party users to better interact with those worlds. |
| US09046985B2 |
Visual browsing system and method
A visual browsing method allows a user to look at an item closely by hovering over, instead of clicking on, an icon representing the item. The method also enables the user to browse items in different levels of a multiple level category without waiting for web pages to be loaded, to know where he/she has been in the multiple level category, and to back up if he/she likes. The method makes the browsing process faster and easier. |
| US09046983B2 |
Hierarchically-organized control galleries
A computing system provides a graphical user interface having hierarchically-organized control galleries. The computing system displays the graphical user interface on a display device. The graphical user interface contains a document area and a control ribbon. The document area contains at least a portion of a document that a user is editing. The control ribbon includes a class control gallery. The class control gallery includes a plurality of class controls associated with different classes of related commands. The computing system displays a variation control gallery containing variation controls in a class associated with a selected one of the class controls. In response to a selection of a variation control in the variation control gallery, the computing system applies a command associated with the variation control to a document in the document area. |
| US09046979B2 |
Panel configurator engine
A method including receiving input identifying a panel associated with a software application, the software application including a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the panel comprising a discrete area of the GUI within which to group software objects to control the software application. Additionally, the method includes processing the input to identify an object of the software objects to be included in the panel. Further, the method includes generating a panel definition including the object and dimensions of the panel, the panel definition to be processed to render the GUI. |
| US09046970B2 |
Pointer detection apparatus, position detection sensor, and manufacturing method for position detection sensor
A pointer detection apparatus and a position detection sensor are provided, with which a signal transmission characteristic of a conductor for detecting a position at a periphery of a transparent region (valid area) is improved. Also, a simplified method of manufacturing the position detection sensor is provided. The position detection sensor includes a first glass substrate, a transmission conductor group formed of a plurality of transparent conductors disposed on one face of the first glass substrate, a reception conductor group formed of a plurality of transparent conductors disposed in a direction crossing the transmission conductor group, and a signal detection circuit for detecting a signal generated in the reception conductor group based on the existence of a pointer near the position detection sensor. The position detection sensor further includes a metal wiring line pattern disposed in parallel with the transmission conductor group in a non-transparent region (outside the valid area) so as to reduce resistance of that portion of the transmission conductor group to thereby improve its signal transmission characteristic. |
| US09046968B2 |
Systems and method for detecting contact with a display panel by asymetric detection waveform
A capacitance-type touch panel, allowing disturbance noise and touch detection time to be reduced and having a simple configuration, is provided. The capacitance-type touch panel including: a plurality of drive electrodes each having a strip shape; a drive control circuit performing control such that a drive signal for touch detection is selectively applied to the drive electrodes; a plurality of touch detection electrodes arranged to intersect with the drive electrodes in such a manner that capacitance is formed in each intersecting part, and each outputting a detection signal in synchronization with the drive signal; and a detection circuit detecting an external proximity object based on the detection signal. The drive control circuit controls application of the drive signal in such a manner that the detection signal is a polarity-alternating signal including a positive-negative asymmetrical signal component which is due to presence of the external proximity object. |
| US09046966B2 |
Method and system for calibrating an acoustic touchscreen
A method for calibrating an Acoustic Pulse Recognition (APR) touchscreen comprises touching an APR touchscreen at N comparison touch points. N audio profiles are acquired, and each of the N audio profiles are associated with one of the N comparison touch points. A predetermined calibration file is selected based on the N audio profiles. The predetermined calibration file comprises audio profiles associated with coordinate locations on the touchscreen. |
| US09046963B2 |
Reflective mirror and optical touch device using the same
A reflective minor includes a reflective film, a light-transmitting base and a light-transmitting adhesive layer. The reflective film includes a first connection surface and a plurality of reflection structures opposite to the first connection surface. Each reflection structure protrudes away from the first connection surface. The light-transmitting base includes a light penetration surface and a second connection surface opposite to the light penetration surface. The light-transmitting adhesive layer is disposed between the reflective film and the light-transmitting base and connected to the first connection surface and the second connection surface. An optical touch device is also provided in the present invention. Thus, the reflective minor as well as the optical touch device are easy to be manufactured and accordingly have a lower production cost. |
| US09046962B2 |
Methods, systems, apparatuses, circuits and associated computer executable code for detecting motion, position and/or orientation of objects within a defined spatial region
The present invention includes methods, systems, apparatuses, circuits and associated computer executable code for detecting motion, position and/or orientation of objects within a defined spatial region. According to some embodiments, a defined spatial region (hereinafter also referred to as the: “Active Space”) may be monitored, by any type of appropriate sensor or sensors, and position, orientation and movement of objects within the active space may be determined. Determined position, orientation and movement of objects within the active space may be translated to control signals or other forms of input for an associated computational device. |
| US09046961B2 |
Robust optical touch—screen systems and methods using a planar transparent sheet
An optical touch screen that utilizes a planar transparent sheet and that is configured to determine the position of a touch event on the transparent sheet is disclosed. Light-source elements and light-sensing elements are operably disposed at the transparent sheet perimeter. Light is detected over lines-of-sight between the light-source elements and the light-sensing elements. Attenuated lines-of-sight due to a touch event are determined. Polygons are established by overlapping triangles defined by the limiting lines of sight for each light-sensing element. Polygons with attenuations below the attenuation threshold are eliminated. The centers of the remaining polygons are then determined to establish the locations of the touch events. The systems and methods provide robust detection of multiple touch events. |
| US09046954B2 |
Display device integrated with touch screen and method of driving the same
Disclosed are a display device integrated with a touch screen and a method of driving the same, the display device comprising: a touch panel comprising a touch electrode which is disposed in each of a plurality of pixels defined by intersections between a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines; a display driver supplying data voltages for displaying an image to the respective pixels during a display period, and supplying an initialization data voltage for initializing a capacitance of the touch electrode to each pixel during a touch sensing period; and a touch driver sensing the capacitance of the touch electrode to detect a touched position during the touch sensing period. The display device integrated with the touch screen and the method of driving the same according to the present invention initialize capacitances of the touch electrodes to the same value irrespective of image data of the pixels being changed from black to white during the display period, thus preventing the occurrence of a touch error due to a screen change. |
| US09046944B2 |
Touch screen panel and driving method thereof
A touch screen panel includes a plurality of driving electrodes, a plurality of sensing electrodes crossing the driving electrodes, a driver for supplying a driving signal to the driving electrodes in a touch recognizing mode, and a controller for receiving signals from the sensing electrodes. In a noise measuring mode, the controller is configured to cut off an electrical connection between one of the driving electrodes and the driver or between one of the sensing electrodes and the controller, maintain an electrical connection between another one of the sensing electrodes and the controller, and detect a noise signal from the other one of the sensing electrodes. The touch screen panel and a driving method of the touch screen panel can increase or maximize the reception sensitivity of outside noise. |
| US09046939B2 |
Optical navigation device with non-spherical ellipsoidal reflector
An optical navigation device that can sense the movement of an object, such as a user's finger, so that the movement can control a feature of a consumer digital device such as a cursor on a display screen. The device includes a substrate to which an LED, reflector, and image sensor are attached. Light from the LED is directed by the elliptical reflector toward and through a window that is transparent to the light from the LED and then is reflected off of the user's finger back through the window, through a lens, and onto the image sensor. The reflector is positioned to direct light toward the window at an oblique angle, in the range of 65 to 70 degrees from an angle normal to the window. Further, the reflector is curved to gather light across a large solid angle in the vicinity of the LED. The curved shape of the reflector may be a portion of an ellipsoid and the LED may be located at one of the foci of the ellipsoid, with the window located at the other foci of the ellipsoid. |
| US09046933B2 |
Displaying three-dimensional image data
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for displaying three-dimensional image data. For example, the position of one or more markers can be tracked. Then, image may be displayed based at least in part on the position of the one or more markers. |
| US09046930B2 |
Object information derived from object images
Search terms are derived automatically from images captured by a camera equipped cell phone, PDA, or other image capturing device, submitted to a search engine to obtain information of interest, and at least a portion of the resulting information is transmitted back locally to, or nearby, the device that captured the image. |
| US09046929B2 |
System and method for inputting user commands to a processor
A system for inputting operation system (OS) commands to a data processing device. The system comprises a video camera that captures images of a viewing space. A processor detects a predetermined object in the images using an object recognition algorithm not involving background information in an image. One or more image analysis parameters of the object are extracted from the images and one or more motion detection tests are applied. Each motion detection test has an associated OS command, and when a test succeeds, the OS command associated with the test is executed. By not relying on background information in an image, the system of the invention may be used in devices that are moved in use, such as a palm plot, personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, a digital camera, and a mobile game machine. |
| US09046928B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved text entry
A method and apparatus which improves QWER-sive text input into an information handling system by gestures on or above a keyboard layout. It is known that languages have a characteristic frequency at which characters will appear. Relying upon such characteristics, a keyboard layout is generated in such a way that the area allocated to individual characters varies among the character set with larger areas being assigned to characters more likely to be used in a language selected by a user. Such enlargement of areas of response may either be visible to the user or concealed, in which latter case all of the individual characters appear to have been allocated areas of the same size. |
| US09046925B2 |
Method for using the GPU to create haptic friction maps
A haptics rendering system comprises: a display device having a display screen and one or more haptic feedback mechanisms associated with at least one tactile output peripheral; and a graphics processing unit (GPU) communicatively coupled to the display device. The GPU: receives one or more portions of display image software code for a three dimensional display image; generates a three dimensional (3D) visual output of the display image for display on the display device; and concurrently generates one or more specific friction maps to provide haptic feedback of depth and/or texture associated with specific portions of the display image that comprise at least one portion having at least one of a different depth and a different texture than other portions of the display image. The GPU renders the display image and the friction map from a same set of 3D commands within the display image software code. |
| US09046923B2 |
Haptic/voice-over navigation assistance
A method includes displaying a user interface on a touch display, receiving a user input on the touch display, determining whether the user input is associated with a navigational assistance area of the user interface, outputting one or more vibrations, when it is determined that the user input is associated with the navigational assistance area of the user interface, and outputting an auditory navigational cue that corresponds to a name associated with the navigational assistance area, when it is determined that the user input is associated with the navigational assistance area of the user interface. |
| US09046922B2 |
Products and processes for providing multimodal feedback in a user interface device
Products and processes for providing multimodal feedback in a user interface device are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus comprises a manipulandum and an actuator in communication with the manipulandum. In one embodiment, the actuator may be operable to provide haptic feedback to the manipulandum and to produce an audible sound correlated with the haptic feedback. |
| US09046921B2 |
Display apparatus and control method thereof
A display apparatus includes: an image receiving unit which receives a content; a display unit which displays the received content; an image pickup unit which captures images of a user; a storage unit which stores the content and at least one of the captured images of the user; and a control unit which displays a portion of the content with the at least one captured image from among the captured images of the user. |
| US09046920B1 |
Rotating an N-sided object to navigate items of an ordered data set
An initial face of an object having N faces along an axis of rotation is detected. A data set of ordered content items is assessed. An initial one of the ordered content items is visually presented within a field of a user interface shown on a display. The field of the user interface is a displayed graphical element of the user interface distinct from the object. The object being rotated along the axis of rotation is detected so that X number of faces are cycled as the object is rotated from the initial face to a post-rotation face of the N faces. The data set is sequentially advanced by X number of items from the initial one of the content items to a current item of the content items. The field of the user interface is updated to visually present the current content item. |
| US09046912B1 |
Thermally balanced parallel operation of transistors
A system and method for prolonging and equalizing the effective life of a plurality of transistors operating in parallel. The temperature of each transistor is measured and compared with the average temperature of the transistor system. A temperature difference is determined between the average temperature of the transistors and the measured temperature of each of the transistors. The gate resistance and the gate emitter resistance of each transistor is varied based on the temperature differences to control the measured temperature of each transistors by controlling current through each transistor thereby thermally balancing the transistors. |
| US09046911B2 |
Variable voltage generation circuit
A variable voltage generation circuit includes an amplifier, a P-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, at least one variable resistor, and a lower resistor. Each variable resistor includes M resistors and M switches. An ith switch of the M switches has a first terminal coupled to a first terminal of the variable resistor, and a second terminal. An ith resistor has a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the ith switch, and a second terminal coupled to a first terminal of an (i+1)th resistor, where 2≦M, 1≦i≦M, and i and M are natural numbers. Therefore, the variable voltage generation circuit outputs at least one variable voltage according to a reference voltage, the at least one variable resistor, and the lower resistor. |
| US09046909B2 |
On-chip regulator with variable load compensation
An integrated circuit includes a voltage regulator to supply a regulated voltage and a data output that couples to an unterminated transmission line. The circuit draws a variable amount of power from the voltage regulator according to the data. The voltage regulator includes a first current generation circuit to provide a data transition-dependent current. |
| US09046908B2 |
Calibration method and apparatus for current and resistance
A calibration method and apparatus for current and resistance are provided, where the current calibration method includes: injecting at least one portion of a set of predetermined compensation currents into at least one of an output current of a first current source and an output current of a second current source, and dynamically adjusting a distribution of the at least one portion of the set of predetermined compensation currents until two monitored voltage drops are equal to each other, and recording a first compensation current configuration; exchanging the first and second current sources, and dynamically adjusting the distribution of the at least one portion of the set of predetermined compensation currents until the two monitored voltage drops are equal to each other, and recording a second compensation current configuration; and according to the first and second compensation current configurations, generating a resultant compensation current, for use of current compensation. |
| US09046905B2 |
Apparatus and methods for bidirectional current sensing in a switching regulator
Apparatus and methods for current sensing in switching regulators are provided. In certain implementations, a switching regulator includes a switch transistor, a replica transistor, a current source, a sense resistor, and a current sensing circuit. The drain and gate of the switch transistor can be electrically connected to the drain and gate of the replica transistor, respectively. Additionally, the current sensing circuit can control the voltage of the source of the replica transistor based on the polarity of a current through the switch transistor to generate an output current that changes in response to the switch transistor's current. The sense resistor can receive an offset current from the first current source and the output current from the current sensing circuit such that the voltage across the sense resistor changes in relation to the current through the switch transistor. |
| US09046903B2 |
Controller
The disclosed invention provides a controller that can prevent overshoot and undershoot from occurring when a voltage is switched to another voltage without using two types of regulators. Voltage regulators supply a power supply voltage to a CPU. An SVID interface receives a command to change the number of voltage regulators to be actuated among the voltage regulators from outside. A phase clock generating circuit makes a stepwise change of the number of voltage regulators to be actuated from the current number of regulators to the commanded number of regulators after change. |
| US09046900B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring refrigeration-cycle systems
A monitoring system for an HVAC system including an evaporator unit device, first and second temperature sensors, and a condenser unit. The evaporator unit device includes a first current sensor that measures current provided to a circulator blower and a differential pressure sensor that measures pressure between a point prior to a filter element and a point after the filter element. The first temperature sensor measures a refrigerant temperature between a condenser and an expansion valve. The second temperature sensor measures a refrigerant temperature between an evaporator and a compressor. The condenser unit device communicates with the evaporator unit device over low-voltage control lines, wherein the condenser unit comprises a second current sensor that measures current provided to the compressor. The evaporator unit device transmits sensor data to a remote monitoring service over a data network. An efficiency of the HVAC system is calculated based on the sensor data. |
| US09046899B2 |
Aircraft heating system
An aircraft heating system (100) is provided which can be supplied with DC power from an onboard source (130). The system (100) comprises a heater (150) positioned to provide heat to an aircraft appliance (101), a sensor (160) situated to sense appliance-relevant temperatures, a reporter (170) reporting system faults, and an introducer (180) introducing temperature setpoints. A thermostat (200) integrates circuitries which together manage power supply, control heating, convey sensed temperatures, detect heater and/or sensor faults, and/or perform other advantageous functions. |
| US09046898B2 |
Power-preserving communications architecture with long-polling persistent cloud channel for wireless network-connected thermostat
Provided according to one or more embodiments herein are methods, systems and related architectures for facilitating network communications between a wireless network-connected thermostat and a cloud-based management server in a manner that promotes reduced power usage and extended service life of a rechargeable battery of the thermostat, while at the same time accomplishing timely data transfer between the thermostat and the cloud-based management server for suitable and time-appropriate control of an HVAC system. The thermostat further comprises powering circuitry configured to: extract electrical power from one or more HVAC control wires in a manner that does not require a “common” wire; supply electrical power for thermostat operation; recharge the rechargeable battery (if needed) using any surplus extracted power; and discharge the rechargeable battery to assist in supplying electrical power for thermostat operation during intervals in which the extracted power alone is insufficient for thermostat operation. |
| US09046893B2 |
Deep lane navigation system for automatic guided vehicles
A method for automatically guiding a vehicle along at least a first of a plurality of rows comprising predefined centerlines. At least a second of the rows comprises a number of objects of known dimensions positioned at known locations along the centerline thereof. The method comprises the steps of scanning the objects from the vehicle, generating a set of data points representative of the locations of the objects relative to the vehicle, determining a sensed position and heading of the vehicle from the data points, comparing the sensed position and heading of the vehicle to a position and direction of the first row centerline, and generating offset and heading errors for the vehicle based on differences between the sensed position and heading of the vehicle and the position and direction of the first row centerline. |
| US09046891B2 |
Control effector health capabilities determination reasoning system and method
A system and method for determining the response capabilities of a control effector are provided. Command data and sensor data associated with the control effector are processed to generate control effector health data representative of control effector health. The control effector health data are processed in a reasoned. The reasoned is configure to selectively indict and clear one or more faults, determine one or more failures that cause indicted faults, and determine, based on the one or more determined failures, a usable range of control effector commands to which the control effector can respond. |
| US09046888B2 |
Method and system for detouring around features cut from sheet materials with a laser cutter according to a pattern
A path of a cutter head of a laser cutting machine is modified to cut features according to a pattern from a material. A no-travel zone that the laser cutter avoids while performing lateral movements between cuts is specified. Locations of the path that cross the no-travel zones are also specified. The path is then modified such that all locations that violate the no-travel zone are removed so that the laser cutter detours around the no-travel zone when performing the lateral movements. |
| US09046887B2 |
Actuating apparatus
An actuating apparatus has an actuator including a link having a plurality of joints and a plurality of motors for actuating the joints, and a controller for controlling the actuator. The controller controls the motors with a control torque m_τ_cntrl calculated according to the equation: m_τ_cntrl=M·(I−mEff)−1·(ddθ_cntrl−mEff·ddθ_cntrl—p)+C_cmpn from a target angular acceleration ddθ_cntrl, a preceding target angular acceleration ddθ_cntrl_p, a displaceable member torque response matrix Eff, an inertial matrix M, and a dynamic corrective force C_cmpn. |
| US09046886B2 |
System and method for logging security events for an industrial control system
A system includes a security server including a memory and a processor configured to receive a first set of communications from a human machine interface (HMI) device, wherein the first set of communications relates to HMI device security events. The security server is also configured to receive a second set of communications from an industrial controller, wherein the second set of communications relates to industrial controller security events. The security server is further configured to package and send the received first and second sets of communications to a remote managed security service provider (MSSP) for analysis. |
| US09046882B2 |
Nonlinear model predictive control of a batch reaction system
The present invention provides novel techniques for controlling batch reaction processes. In particular, a parametric hybrid model may be used to parameterize inputs and outputs of batch reaction processes. The parametric hybrid model may include an empirical model, a parameter model, and a dynamic model. Critical quality parameters, which are correlated with, but not the same as, end-of-batch quality values for the batch reaction processes may be monitored during cycles of the batch reaction processes. The quality parameters may be used to generate desired batch trajectories, which may be used to control the batch reaction processes during the cycles of the batch reaction processes. |
| US09046881B2 |
Updating and utilizing dynamic process simulation in an operating process environment
A simulation system that includes interconnected simulation blocks which use process models to perform simulation activities for a process plant is integrated into a process control environment for the process plant in a manner that makes the simulation system easy to use and easily updated for on-line process simulation. The disclosed simulation system enables future predicted values as well as the current predicted values of process parameters produced by the simulation system to be made available for performance evaluation as well as to guide plant operations. Additionally, the simulation system is connected to the operating process plant to receive various on-line process plant measurements, and uses these measurements to automatically update the process models used in the simulation system, to thereby keep the simulation system coordinated with the actual operating conditions of the process plant. |
| US09046876B2 |
Protection of a structural component of a timepiece
Protective device (1) for the protection of a structural component, notably a main plate (2), of a timepiece movement (3) on a receiving surface comprised in this structural component (2) for receiving in abutment a complementary bearing surface (51) of a wheel set (5).This protective device (1) includes at least one insert (6) including a slide surface (7) having a higher surface hardness than that of this structural component (2), this insert (6) being assembled on or in this structural component (2) so that this slide surface (7) thereof coincides with this receiving surface. |
| US09046872B2 |
Cooling device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A cooling device includes a cooling member to cool a recording material. The cooling member includes a cooling surface member, a heat exchanging member, and a fastening member. The cooling surface member has a cooling surface to directly or indirectly contact the recording material and absorb heat of the recording material to cool the recording material. The heat exchanging member is directly or indirectly joined to the cooling surface member to radiate heat absorbed by the cooling surface member directly or indirectly via a radiation member. The fastening member fastens the cooling surface member and the heat exchanging member to retain a joined state in which the cooling surface member and the heat exchanging member are directly or indirectly joined to each other. The cooling surface member and the heat exchanging member are separable from the joined state to a separated state without damaging the fastening member. |
| US09046871B2 |
Process cartridge, main cartridge, sub cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A process cartridge includes a main cartridge configured to be attachable to an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus, and a sub cartridge configured to be attachable to the main cartridge, wherein the main cartridge includes a moving member configured to be capable of moving between a first position for preventing, by the moving member contacting the apparatus body, the main cartridge from entering the inside of the apparatus body and a second position for allowing the main cartridge to enter the inside of the apparatus body, and a regulation member capable of moving between a regulation position for locking the moving member at the first position and an allowable position for allowing the moving member to move to the second position, and wherein the regulation member moves to the allowable position by attaching the sub cartridge to the main cartridge. |
| US09046869B2 |
Cartridges including detection member and cover member
Cartridges may include a developing roller, an electrode, a detection member, and a cover member. The developing roller rotates about an axis extending along a first direction. The electrode includes a protrusion that protrudes along the first direction to an end portion. The detection member includes a cover portion, which covers an exposable portion of the protrusion when the detection member is in a first position, and which exposes the exposable portion of the protrusion when the detection member is in a second position. The cover member covers a portion of the detection member and exposes the cover portion when the detection member is in the first position. The cover member extends in the first direction to an end portion. An overlap portion of the protrusion extends at least to the end portion of the cover member and overlaps a portion of the cover member in a second direction. |
| US09046864B2 |
Cleaning blade, and image forming apparatus using same and process cartridge
Provided is a cleaning blade formed of an elastic blade and configured to abut on the surface of a cleaning target member, which allows a leading end edge portion of the elastic blade to move on the surface thereof, to remove powder from the surface of the cleaning target member. A blade surface of the elastic blade, which has the leading end edge portion of the elastic blade on one side thereof and faces the surface of the cleaning target member, has a Martens hardness of 1.2 N/mm2 or greater when it is indented by 5 μm at a location that is 20 μm away from the leading end edge portion, a Martens hardness of 1 N/mm2 or less when it is indented by 20 μm at the location, and an elastic power of 70% or greater when it is indented by 5 μm at the location. |
| US09046858B2 |
Cooling device and image forming apparatus including same
A recording-material cooling device includes a first cooling member, a second cooling member, an approach-and-separation member, and a positioning member. The first cooling member is disposed at a first face side of a recording material to absorb heat of the recording material. The second cooling member is disposed at a second face side of the recording material to absorb heat of the recording material. The approach-and-separation member brings the first cooling member and the second cooling member close to and away from each other. The positioning member positions the first cooling member and the second cooling member relatively brought close to each other by the approach-and-separation member. |
| US09046857B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a pair of fixing members that contact each other and that rotate or circulate, and that heat and press a sheet that is transported with a toner image being carried thereby and that is interposed between the fixing members, to fix the toner image to the sheet; and a guide member that guides to a fixing area the sheet that is transported towards the fixing members. The guide member includes a metallic member and resin members. The metallic member has a guide surface that faces the sheet that is transported towards the guide member. The resin members are disposed at the guide surface so as to be spaced apart from each other in a widthwise direction. The resin members protrude from the guide surface and are struck by a front edge of the sheet in the transport direction of the sheet. |
| US09046855B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A feeder is configured to feed a recording medium. An image forming unit has a maximum sheet feed width corresponding to a longer side length of a maximum size recording medium to be accommodated in the feeder, and is disposed above the feeder in such a manner as to allow the maximum size recording medium to enter the image forming unit with a longer side first. |
| US09046850B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of reducing image density irregularity
In an image forming apparatus, a first controller forms a first image pattern on an image bearer and determines a first image formation condition based on a detection result of density of a toner image. The first controller then controls a toner image forming device based on the first image formation condition. A second controller forms a second image pattern different from the first image pattern on an image bearer and determines a second image formation condition based on a detection result of density of a toner image. The second controller then controls a toner image forming device based on the second image formation condition. |
| US09046849B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and display method
An information processing apparatus includes: a total amount control unit that applies a total amount controlling process to perform correction such that a sum of density values of all pixels composing the color plane data and clear plane data becomes not larger than a certain value; a clear toner plane generating unit that generates clear toner plane data based on gloss control plane data, the clear plane data and the color plane data; a difference calculating unit that calculates a difference between the density value of a pixel of the clear toner plane data and the density value of the pixel of the clear toner plane data to which the total amount controlling process is applied, for each pixel; and a display unit that displays an inconsistent region composed of a pixel in which the difference is not smaller than a predetermined threshold. |
| US09046847B2 |
Recording material detection apparatus and image forming apparatus
A recording material detection apparatus having a detecting device configured to detect a surface state of a recording material on the basis of reflected light from a surface of the recording material includes a reference surface to be irradiated with light from a light source, the detecting device includes a light-shielding portion configured to control conditions for detecting information relating to the surface state of the recording material on the basis of the reflected surface from the reference surface, and cover a portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface so as to prevent the light from the light source from being reflected from the portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface and being received by the light-receiving unit. |
| US09046846B2 |
Image forming apparatus indicating a remaining quantity of consumable material, method of indicating a remaining quantity of consumable material, and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for indicating a remaining quantity of a consumable material
Provided are an image forming apparatus, a method of indicating the remaining quantity of a consumable material and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for the remaining quantity of a consumable material. The image forming apparatus includes an array of LEDs arranged on a body of the image forming apparatus such that a lighting condition of the LEDs is visible to a user at a remote place from the image forming apparatus; an image forming section; and a control section configured to operate the image forming section to perform image forming processing. The control section is further configured to operate the LEDs to turn on or blink in a first lighting pattern according to a status of an operation of the image forming apparatus, and operate the LEDs to turn on or blink in a second lighting pattern according to a remaining quantity of a consumable material. |
| US09046844B2 |
Duplex printer with a unidirectional drive source and a gear train with a partially toothed gear
An image forming apparatus includes a switchback roller which switches between a normal rotation direction and a reverse rotation direction, first and second gear train for rotating the switchback roller in the normal and reverse rotation directions, respectively, a switching unit including a pendulum gear which is movable among a first engagement position where the pendulum gear is engaged with the first gear train, a second engagement position where the pendulum gear is engaged with the second gear train, and a disengagement position where the pendulum gear is not engaged with the first gear train and the second gear train. The switching unit is switchable among a first mode where the pendulum gear is held at the first engagement position, a second mode where the pendulum gear is held at the second engagement position, and a third mode where the pendulum gear is held at the disengagement position. |
| US09046843B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body and a pressing rotary body disposed opposite the fixing rotary body. A pivotable pressurization member contacts and presses the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body. A pressurization pivot is provided on the pressurization member. A depressurization member, pivotable about the pressurization pivot, causes the pressurization member to isolate the pressing rotary body from the fixing rotary body. A depressurization pivot is provided on the depressurization member. A lock is pivotable about the depressurization pivot and engageable with the pressurization pivot. A biasing member, anchored to the lock, exerts a resilient bias that allows the lock to cause the pressurization member to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body. A detent is situated in a pivotal trajectory of the lock to restrict pivot of the lock by contacting the lock. |
| US09046842B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus provided with same
A fixing device includes a heat source, a fixing roller, a pressure roller, an elastic layer, a pressing portion, a restricting portion and a driving unit. The fixing roller is heated by the heat source. The pressure roller is held in contact with the fixing roller and forms a fixing nip portion through which a sheet is to be passed. The elastic layer is formed on an inner layer of the fixing roller. The pressing portion presses one roller of the fixing roller and the pressure roller against the other roller while compressing the elastic layer. The restricting portion restricts a compression amount of the elastic layer lest the compression amount should exceed a preset compression amount when the pressing portion presses the roller. The driving unit drives and rotates one of the fixing roller and the pressure roller in a state where the compression amount is restricted. |
| US09046841B2 |
Gloss applicator and image forming apparatus including same
A gloss applicator includes a heater member to be heated by a heat source; an endless belt to rotate while being heated by the heater member; a pressure member that presses against the heater member via the endless belt, thereby forming a nip; a cooling unit to cool the endless belt, wherein a recording medium on which a toner image is formed is conveyed into the nip, the recording medium is further conveyed from the nip while being in contact with the endless belt to be cooled by the cooling unit and separated from the endless belt; a temperature sensor configured to detect a surface temperature of the endless belt, disposed between the separating position of the recording medium and a heating position by the heater member; and a cooling controller to control the cooling unit to vary a cooling amount based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor. |
| US09046837B2 |
Fixing device and method, and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a heater to generate heat based on soft-start control. The heater is supplied with power using different power-turn-on-duty control patterns in accordance with power requirements and an operation mode of the fixing device. |
| US09046835B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device having a heat source, a heating member, and a backup member; a temperature detecting member; a driving source configured to rotate at least one of the heating member and the backup member; a transmitting mechanism configured to transmit a driving force of the driving source; and a control device configured to control the heat source and the driving source, wherein, after a power is turned on, the control device turns on the heat source before the driving source is driven for the first time, and wherein, when at least one of a condition, where the temperature detected by the temperature detecting member becomes a first temperature, and a condition where a predetermined period elapses after the power is turned on, is satisfied, the control device turns off the heat source and then drives the driving source. |
| US09046825B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of performing same
An image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt; a plurality of photosensitive bodies on which a toner image is formed, wherein the photosensitive bodies are disposed to contact the intermediate transfer belt so as to form respective transfer regions which are used to transfer the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt, wherein a first photosensitive body is disposed in the most upstream side in a proceeding direction of the intermediate transfer belt, and a transfer current density of the first transfer region is greater than a transfer current density of the remaining transfer regions. |
| US09046824B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a sleeve and a magnet roller having first and second magnetic poles, the second magnetic pole being disposed downstream of the first magnetic pole. A magnetic attraction distribution on the sleeve in a region from the first magnetic pole to the second magnetic pole is such that the magnetic attraction decreases from a position of the first magnetic pole toward the downstream side, a gradient of change in the magnetic attraction decreases in a region downstream of a region in which a gradient of reduction in the magnetic attraction temporarily increases, thereby forming an attraction reduction region in which the magnetic attraction is reduced so that developer cannot be held on the sleeve, and the gradient of change in the magnetic attraction increases in a region downstream of the attraction reduction region so that the magnetic attraction increases to a position of the second magnetic pole. |
| US09046819B2 |
Toner transport device, and image forming apparatus
Provided is a toner transport device including a transport member that transports a developer in one direction, a toner feeding member disposed adjacent to, in a direction crossing the one direction, an end portion of the transport member, and a housing that is provided with a toner receiving port which receives supply of toner in an upper section of the toner feeding member, and accommodates the transport member and the toner feeding member, wherein the toner feeding member includes a rotating shaft, and a flat plate portion that protrudes in a direction away from a shaft member with one side thereof being connected to the shaft member and a front end portion away from the shaft member having a tapered shape, the flat plate portion rotating along with rotation of the shaft member to scrape the toner that moves from the toner receiving port toward the toner feeding member. |
| US09046811B2 |
Developing device
A developing device includes: a developing chamber provided with a developing agent-holding body; a first developing agent-accommodating chamber for accommodating a developing agent and arranged below the developing chamber; a first rotating member disposed in the first developing agent-accommodating chamber, elastically deformable and configured to rotate to slidably contact with an inner surface of the first developing agent-accommodating chamber; a second developing agent-accommodating chamber arranged adjacent to the developing chamber and an upper portion of the first developing agent-accommodating chamber, and to which the developing agent in the first developing agent-accommodating chamber is supplied by the first rotating member; and a second rotating member disposed in the second developing agent-accommodating chamber, elastically deformable and configured to rotate to slidably contact with an inner surface of the second developing agent-accommodating chamber and to transport the developing agent in the second developing agent-accommodating chamber toward the developing chamber. |
| US09046804B2 |
Angled alignment method for liquid materials applicator in better contact with photoreceptor or bias charge roller to minimize torque during cycling
An image forming apparatus includes an electrophotographic photoconductive member and a delivery unit. The delivery unit is disposed in contact with a surface of the photoconductive member to apply a layer of functional materials to the surface of the photoconductive member, wherein a cylindrical axis of the delivery unit is angled with respect to a cylindrical axis of the photoconductive member to increase uniformity of the functional materials layer. An image forming apparatus an electrophotographic photoconductive member, a charging unit and a delivery unit disposed in contact with the surface of the charging unit, wherein the delivery unit applies a layer of functional materials to the surface of the photoconductive member. and a cylindrical axis of the delivery unit is angled with respect to a cylindrical axis of the charging unit to increase the uniformity of the functional materials layer. |
| US09046801B2 |
Hybrid emulsion aggregate toner
Emulsion aggregate toner compositions that use two different emulsion aggregation (EA) technologies. Namely, there is provided an emulsion aggregation toner that comprises a base resin composed of both styrene-acrylate and polyester resins. Such hybrid emulsion aggregation toner compositions are lower in cost but still maintain desirable developer properties like low minimum fusing temperature (MFT) and lower dielectric loss. |
| US09046798B2 |
Imaging members having electrically and mechanically tuned imaging layers
An electrophotographic imaging member which has improved imaging layer(s) formulated to comprise a charge transport compound and a polymer blended binder to render photoelectrical stability, tune-ability, and surface contact friction reduction for providing service life extension. The polymer blended binder used in the imaging layer(s) is a binary polymer blend binder consisting of: (1) an A-B diblock copolymer and a bisphenol polycarbonate and a low surface energy polysiloxane/polycarbonate random copolymer and (2) an A-B diblock copolymer and a low surface energy graft polysiloxane/polycarbonate copolymer. |
| US09046794B2 |
Cleaning module, EUV lithography device and method for the cleaning thereof
In order to clean optical components (35) inside an EUV lithography device in a gentle manner, a cleaning module for an EUV lithography device includes a supply line for molecular hydrogen and a heating filament for producing atomic hydrogen and hydrogen ions for cleaning purposes. The cleaning module also has an element, (33) arranged to apply an electric and/or magnetic field, downstream of the heating filament (29) in the direction of flow of the hydrogen (31, 32). The element can be designed as a deflection unit, as a filter unit and/or as an acceleration unit for the ion beam (32). |
| US09046791B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for detecting wave front abberation of projection objective system in photolithography machine
Apparatus and methods for detecting wave front aberration of a projection objective lens in a photolithography machine are disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a light source system configured to generate an illuminating beam; a spatial filter configured to receive the illuminating beam and generate ideal spherical wave; a splitter plate arranged downstream to the spatial filter at a predetermined angle with respect to an optical axis of the spherical wave and having a transflective film being applied on a surface thereof; the projection objective lens configured to receive a beam from the splitter plate and generate an output beam; a spherical mirror configured to reflect the output beam from the projection objective lens to the projection objective lens, light passing through the projection objective lens being reflected by the splitter plate; and an interferometer configured to receive light reflected by the splitter plate and measure the wave front aberration of the projection objective lens. |
| US09046790B2 |
Exposure apparatus and device fabrication method
An exposure apparatus is provided which can supply and collect a liquid in a prescribed state, and that can suppress degradation of a pattern image projected onto a substrate. The exposure apparatus is provided with a nozzle member having a supply outlet that supplies a liquid and a collection inlet that collects a liquid, and a vibration isolating mechanism that supports the nozzle member and vibrationally isolates the nozzle member from a lower side step part of a main column. |
| US09046788B2 |
Method for monitoring focus on an integrated wafer
A method and apparatus are provided for improving the focusing of a substrate such as a wafer during the photolithography imaging procedure of a semiconductor manufacturing process. The invention is particularly useful for step-and-scan system and the CD of two features in each exposure field are measured in fields exposed at varying focus to form at least two Bossung curves. Exposure focus instructions are calculated based on the intersection point of the curves and the wafer is then scanned and imaged based on the calculated exposure focus instructions. In another aspect of the invention, when multiple wafers are being processed operational variances may cause a drift in the focus. The focus drift can be easily corrected by measuring the critical dimension of each of the features and comparing the difference to determine if any focus offset is needed to return the focus to the original calculated focus value. |
| US09046782B2 |
Resist composition for negative tone development and pattern forming method using the same
For stably forming a high-precision fine pattern and thereby producing a highly integrated electronic device with high precision, a resist composition for negative tone development, which can reduce the line edge roughness and enhance the in-plane uniformity of the pattern dimension and furthermore, can ensure excellent bridge margin, and a pattern forming method using the same are provided.A resist composition for negative tone development, comprising (A) a resin capable of increasing the polarity by the action of an acid to increase the solubility in a positive tone developer and decrease the solubility in a negative tone developer, (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, and (C) a solvent, wherein the log P value of the acid generated from the (B) compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation is from 1.5 to 12.0; and a pattern forming method using the same. |
| US09046780B2 |
Multilayer mirror and lithographic apparatus
A multilayer mirror constructed to reflect radiation having a wavelength in the range of 6.4 nm to 7.2 nm. The multilayer mirror has alternating layers, including a first layer and a second layer. The first and second layers are selected from the group consisting of: U, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B4C layers; Th, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B4C layers; La, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B9C layers; La, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B4C layers; U, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B9C layers; Th, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B9C layers; La, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B layers; U, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B layers; C, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B layers; Th, or a compound or nitride thereof, and B layers. |
| US09046779B2 |
Method of fabricating display device using maskless exposure apparatus and display device
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a display device using a maskless exposure apparatus, and the display device, and more particularly, to a method of fabricating a display device by using a maskless exposure apparatus, which is capable of preventing a stain from being viewed, and the display device. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of fabricating a display device, including: forming a first exposure region on a substrate by performing exposure while scanning the substrate with a first exposure head irradiating an exposure beam according to pattern information of a first pattern in a scanning direction; and forming a second exposure region adjacent to the first exposure region on the substrate by performing exposure while scanning the substrate with a second exposure head irradiating an exposure beam according to the pattern information of the first pattern in the scanning direction; in which an exposure boundary region between the first exposure region and the second exposure region is extended in the scanning direction, and the exposure boundary region overlaps a light blocking region. |
| US09046777B2 |
Method for manufacturing a fine metal electrode
In a method for manufacturing a fine metal electrode, the method includes coating an organometallic ink on a first base substrate to form a solution layer. The first base substrate on which the solution layer is formed is pre-baked, to self-produce a nanoparticle in the solution layer. The first base substrate on which the solution layer is formed is aligned with a photomask. A laser is irradiated on the photomask. The photomask is detached from the base substrate on which the solution layer is formed. The solution layer is cleaned. |
| US09046775B2 |
Composition for forming liquid immersion upper layer film, resist pattern-forming method, polymer, and compound
A composition for forming a liquid immersion upper layer film includes a polymer component including a polymer having a structural unit represented by a formula (1); and a solvent. R1 represents a carboxy group or a group represented by a formula (2); X represents a single bond, a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or a divalent fluorinated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R2 represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and a valency of (n+1), a fluorinated hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and a valency of (n+1), or one of these groups each including between adjacent two carbon atoms thereof —CO—, —COO—, —O—, —NR′—, —CS—, —S—, —SO—, —SO2— or a combination thereof; and R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. |
| US09046774B2 |
Positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor for infrared laser and process for making lithographic printing plate
A positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor for infrared laser is provided that includes, layered sequentially above a support, a lower layer and an upper layer, the lower layer and/or the upper layer including an infrared absorbing agent, either the lower layer comprising an alkali-soluble group-containing graft copolymer or the upper layer comprising a sulfonamide group-, active imide group-, and/or amide group-containing graft copolymer, and the graft copolymer being a polyurethane resin having as a graft chain an ethylenically unsaturated monomer-derived constitutional unit. There is also provided a process for making a lithographic printing plate, the process including in sequence an exposure step of imagewise exposing by means of an infrared laser the positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor for infrared laser and a development step of developing using an aqueous alkali solution with a pH of 8.5 to 10.8. |
| US09046773B2 |
Actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, pattern forming method using the same, polymerizable compound and polymer compound obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound
An actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition and a pattern forming method using the composition are provided, the composition including (A) a resin containing a repeating unit having a group represented by formula (1) as defined in the specification, the resin being capable of increasing a solubility of the resin in an alkali developer by an action of an acid, and (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation; and a polymerizable compound represented by formula (M-1) as defined in the specification and a polymer compound obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound are provided. |
| US09046771B2 |
Photosensitive composition for display device, black matrix having the composition, and method of forming black matrix using the composition
There is provided a photosensitive composition for forming a black matrix including pigment of 5˜20 wt %; binder resin of 1˜25 wt %; photo-polymerizable monomer of 1˜25 wt %; photopolymerization initiator of 1˜25 wt %; solvent of 65˜85 wt %; and photo base generator of 1˜10 wt %, based on 100 parts by weight of the photosensitive composition. |
| US09046769B2 |
Pattern-forming method, and composition for forming resist underlayer film
Providing a method for forming a pattern capable of forming a resist underlayer film that can be easily removed using an alkali liquid while maintaining etching resistance is objected to. Provided by the present invention is a method for forming a pattern, the method including: (1) forming a resist underlayer film on a substrate using a composition for forming a resist underlayer film containing a compound having an alkali-cleavable functional group; (2) forming a resist pattern on the resist underlayer film; (3) forming a pattern on the substrate by dry etching of the resist underlayer film and the substrate, using the resist pattern as a mask; and (4) removing the resist underlayer film with an alkali liquid. |
| US09046765B2 |
Resist pattern-forming method, resist pattern-forming radiation-sensitive resin composition, and resist film
A resist pattern-forming method includes providing a resist film having a surface free energy of 30 to 40 mN/m on a substrate using a radiation-sensitive resin composition. The resist film is exposed by applying radiation via a mask. The exposed resist film is developed. It is preferable that the exposing of the resist film includes exposing the resist film via an immersion liquid that is provided over the resist film. |
| US09046763B2 |
Pattern forming method
A pattern forming method includes determining an amount of curable resin to be formed on a substrate, the curable resin having volatility, the amount of the curable resin being determined by a calculation considering volatile loss of the curable resin, the calculation being performed for each of a plurality of regions of the substrate, forming the curable resin having the determined amount on the substrate, the forming the curable resin being performed for each of the plurality of regions of the substrate, contacting the curable resin formed on the substrate with a template, the template including a pattern to be filled with the curable resin by the contacting, and curing the curable resin under a condition where the curable resin is in contact with the template. |
| US09046758B2 |
Omnidirectional-view three-dimensional display apparatus
An omnidirectional-view three-dimensional display apparatus comprises a high-frame-rate projector (21), a rotatable reflector device and a cylindrical transmissive selective-diffusing screen (24). The optical axis of the high-frame-rate projector (21) is coincident with the rotating axis of the reflector device and the axis of the cylindrical selective-diffusing screen (24). The images projected by the high-frame-rate projector (21) are reflected by the reflector device to form images on the cylindrical transmissive selective-diffusing screen (24). The cylindrical transmissive selective-diffusing screen (24) can control the diffusing angle of the emergence ray, so that the left eye and the right eye of an observer can see a three-dimensional object's images in different view angles to achieve an omnidirectional-view three-dimensional display. The omnidirectional-view three-dimensional display apparatus based on the high-frame-rate projector (21) enables the eyes of observers to watch images with binocular parallax at different positions, so as to achieve three-dimensional display. |
| US09046756B1 |
Directive projection screen
Directive projection screens described herein are configured to selectively direct incident light depending upon an angle of incidence of the light. Such direction improves projection screen gain. Incident light within an acceptance cone is configured to be presented to a viewer. Light outside of the acceptance cone is directed away from the user or absorbed. As a result of this selectivity and the gain, presentation of images on the directive projection screen is improved in the presence of non-projector light sources. |
| US09046753B2 |
Projector having plural light source boxes each having associated solid-state light source, photodetector, and drive unit
A projector includes a plurality of light source boxes (1R, 1G, 1B) each accommodating at least one solid-state light source, emission colors of accommodated solid-state light sources being different from each other, a plurality of photodetectors (205c, 206c, 207c) that are provided within respective light source boxes and that detect light from the solid-state light sources, a plurality of drive units (202 to 204) that supply current to solid-state light sources (205b, 206b, 207b) provided within respective light source boxes, and a controller (201) that holds a reference value for the solid-state light source provided within each light source box for each emission color, that causes each drive to supply current to the solid-state light source provided within each light source box, and that adjusts the amount of current output from each drive unit such that the output value of each photodetector is at a reference value which corresponds to the emission color of the solid-state light source which is a corresponding target of light detection. |
| US09046750B2 |
Projector light source apparatus having collimator disposed between excitation light source and phosphor element
A light source apparatus includes excitation light sources, a phosphor unit, a dichroic mirror that reflects excitation light supplied from the excitation light sources toward the phosphor unit and that transmits fluorescent light emitted from the phosphor unit, and a collimator lens that is provided between the dichroic mirror and the phosphor unit and whose focal distance varies according to the wavelength. The phosphor unit is arranged at a position determined by the focal distance of the collimator lens for the fluorescent wavelength. The collimator lens includes low-dispersion lenses and a high-dispersion lens. |
| US09046744B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel includes a support frame and a retracting lens frame. The support frame includes a main body portion, a first linking portion and a second linking portion. The first region is configured to dispose the second lens in the imaging enabled state. The second region is formed continuously with the first region. The first linking portion links the second region on one side of the main body portion in the optical axis direction. The second linking portion links the second region on the other side of the main body portion in the optical axis direction. The retracting lens frame is disposed between the first linking portion and the second linking portion in a housed state. |
| US09046742B2 |
Camera, control apparatus for cam drive mechanism and control method for cam drive mechanism
A camera having a mirror drive mechanism, for rotating a movable mirror, includes a slider supported on a side of the movable mirror to be linearly movable in a vertical direction corresponding to an up-and-down rotation of the movable mirror, the slider including a cam follower; an end-face cam member positioned above a mirror up-and-down pivot, about which the movable mirror pivots, to be rotatable about a vertical rotational shaft, a cam follower provided on the slider is in contact with the end-face cam member so that the end-face cam member changes a vertical position of the slider via an end-face cam and the cam follower by rotating; and an end-face cam driver.A control apparatus for a cam drive mechanism and a method of controlling a cam drive mechanism are also provided. |
| US09046731B2 |
Plasmonic enhancement of material properties
Various plasmonic structures in the form of electrochromic optical switches are described which exhibit relatively high optical switching contrast. The switches generally include a collection of nanoslits formed in a thin electrically conductive film. An electrochromic material is disposed on the conductive film and along the sidewalls of the nanoslit(s). |
| US09046730B2 |
Displays and sensors integrated with multi-state cholesteric liquid crystal devices
A sensing device may include a cholesteric crystal device including two optically transparent substrates; a liquid crystal having portions adapted for producing a plurality of optical states, said liquid crystal being arranged between the two optically transparent substrates; an optical sensor for changing optical states of respective portions of said liquid crystal to produce a range of respective optical states including all optical states produced by said liquid crystal ranging from one state to any combination of broadband reflection, tunable narrow band reflection, light scattering, and transparency in accordance with an amount of voltage applied across said cholesteric crystal device for changing optical states. |
| US09046728B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
The present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device which hardly causes image sticking even when there is a difference in the pixel areas. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates, and is configured such that a pixel is formed by picture elements of a plurality of colors. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention is featured in that one of the pair of substrates includes scanning lines, signal lines, and storage capacitor lines, a thin film transistor connected to each of the scanning line and the signal line, and a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, in that the other of the pair of substrates includes an opposed electrode, in that the pixel electrode is arranged for each of the picture elements, and in that the pixel electrode having a larger area among the plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in one pixel is connected to the thin film transistor having a larger channel width among the plurality of the thin film transistors arranged in the one pixel. |
| US09046727B2 |
Thin film transistor array panel and manufacturing method of the same
A thin film transistor (“TFT”) array panel includes; an insulation substrate, a TFT disposed on the insulation substrate and including a drain electrode, a passivation layer covering the TFT and including a contact portion disposed therein corresponding to the drain electrode, a partition comprising an organic material disposed on the passivation layer, and including a transverse portion, a longitudinal portion, and a contact portion disposed on the drain electrode, a color filter disposed on the passivation layer and disposed in a region defined by the partition, an organic capping layer disposed on the partition and the color filter, and a pixel electrode disposed on the organic capping layer, and connected to the drain electrode through the contact portion of the passivation layer and the contact portion of the partition, wherein a contact hole is formed in the organic capping layer corresponding to the contact portion of the passivation layer. |
| US09046726B2 |
Pixel structure having metal-insulator-semiconductor capacitor
A pixel structure including a scan line, a data line, an active device, a pixel electrode, a capacitor electrode line, a semi-conductive pattern layer and at least one dielectric layer is provided. The active device is electrically connected to the scan line and the data line. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the active device. The capacitor electrode line is located under the pixel electrode. A first storage capacitor is formed between the capacitor electrode line and the pixel electrode. The semi-conductive pattern layer is disposed between the capacitor electrode line and the pixel electrode, the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the semi-conductive pattern layer. A second storage capacitor is formed between the semi-conductive pattern layer and the capacitor electrode line. The dielectric layer is disposed between the capacitor electrode line and the pixel electrode and located between the semi-conductive pattern layer and the capacitor electrode line. |
| US09046720B2 |
Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a liquid crystal device, including: which makes it possible to dispose a spacer for setting a distance between substrates, to prevent deterioration of display quality by eliminating thickness non-uniformity of an alignment layer due to the presence of a retardation layer, to prevent deterioration of display quality by preventing dissolution and flow of an ingredient of the retardation layer to the liquid crystal layer side, and the like in the liquid crystal device having a horizontal electric field system of a transflective type, and to provide an electric apparatus using the same. |
| US09046715B2 |
Substrate and liquid crystal display device including the same
A substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes: a substrate including a display region displaying an image and a non-display region surrounding the display region; a dummy pattern in the non-display area over the substrate, the dummy pattern having a length that corresponds to a side of the display area; and an orientation film on the dummy pattern, the orientation film covering the non-display area and the whole display area. |
| US09046714B2 |
Thin film transistor substrate and method for fabricating the same
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor substrate and a method for fabricating the same, which can shorten a process time, prevent a scratch from taking place at an alignment film, and increase black luminance. The thin film transistor substrate includes a thin film transistor formed on a substrate, a protective film formed to flatten a step of the thin film transistor and have an uneven surface with repetitive projected patterns and recessed patterns, a pixel electrode formed on the protective film to maintain an uneven shape of the protective film, and an alignment film formed both on the protective film and the pixel electrode to maintain the uneven shapes of the protective film and the pixel electrode. |
| US09046711B2 |
Display device and use thereof
The display device includes a sensor system with at least one sensor for detecting the intensity or color of light emitted from at least one display area of the display device into the viewing angle of the display device. The sensor system further includes in one embodiment an at least partially transparent sensor. The sensor system includes in another embodiment at least one optical coupling device including a light guide member and a incoupling member for guiding or directing, e.g. deflecting, reflecting, bending, scattering, diffracting, at least one part of the light emitted from the display area to the corresponding sensor, wherein the sensor is located outside or at least partially outside the viewing angle of the display device. |
| US09046710B2 |
Stereoscopic image conversion panel and stereoscopic image display apparatus having the same
In a stereoscopic image conversion panel and a stereoscopic image display apparatus, the stereoscopic display panel includes a first lens substrate, a second lens substrate, a stereoscopic image lens part and a lens liquid crystal layer. The stereoscopic image lens part is disposed between the first and second substrates, and includes a main lens and sub-lenses with a concave shape. At least one sub-lens is disposed at opposite edge portions of the main lens. The lens liquid crystal layer is received by the main lens and the sub-lenses, is disposed between the first and second lens substrates, and includes liquid crystal molecules having an anisotropic refractive index. The lens liquid crystal layer refracts a polarized light at an interface between the lens liquid crystal layer and the stereoscopic lens part, to convert a flat image into a stereoscopic image. Therefore, the thickness of the stereoscopic image panel can be reduced. |
| US09046700B2 |
Glasses storage system
Glasses storage system. In one example embodiment, a glasses storage system includes a frame configured to position one or more lenses in front of one or both eyes of a user and an earpiece configured to support the frame. The earpiece surrounds a hollow storage cavity that is defined internally to the earpiece. |
| US09046699B2 |
Dynamic fluid zones in contact lenses
A contact lens incorporating one or more dynamic fluid zones fabricated from a material that is readily deformable under eyelid pressure during blinking allows for the delivery of one or more agents to the eye, dynamic cosmetic eye enhancement, and/or dynamic rotational misalignment correction. The one or more agents may include therapeutic agents, nutritional agents and pharmacological agents. |
| US09046697B2 |
Low-speckle light sources and displays employing multimode optical fiber
An apparatus comprising a laser and/or LED light source(s), multimode optical fiber(s), light coupler(s), an optional spatial light modulator(s), and an optional projection lens(es). The light source has a 1/e half-width emission bandwidth. The light coupler couples the light source to the multimode optical fiber(s) such that objective speckle contrast is reduced. The multimode optical fiber(s) may pass light from the coupler to an optional spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator may modulate the light to form an image. The projection lens may transfer light onto an image plane or to illuminate objects. The objective speckle contrast at the end of the multimode fiber in combination with the projection lens diameter (if employed) and wavelength diversity may result in viewed images at the viewer's eye, or other detector, exhibiting speckle contrast that may be 1% or less. |
| US09046695B2 |
Image display device including auxiliary display units in pixels for improving 2D/3D image display
An image display device includes a display panel which includes a plurality of pixels and operates in a 2D mode and a 3D mode, a patterned retarder for dividing light from the display panel into first polarized light and second polarized light, and a control voltage generator which generates a first DC control voltage of an off-level and a second DC control voltage of a slight-on level, which is higher than the off-level and is lower than a full-on level, and selectively outputs the first DC control voltage and the second DC control voltage depending on a driving mode. Each of the plurality of pixels includes an upper display unit and a lower display unit, which are vertically disposed in a mirror form. |
| US09046692B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a display panel for displaying an image. The display device further includes a lens configured to refract at least a portion of a collimated light having a center ray, a first outermost ray, a second outermost ray, a first plurality of rays between the first outermost ray and the center ray, and a second plurality of rays between the second outermost ray and the center ray. The lens may concentrate the first plurality of rays such that a first position on the display panel has a first light intensity. The lens may concentrate the second plurality of rays such that a second position on the display panel has a second light intensity. Each of the first light intensity and the second light intensity is substantially greater than a center light intensity on the display panel corresponding to at least the center ray. |
| US09046691B2 |
Laser scanning optical device
In an oblique-incidence optical system, a pair of optical beams are incident from the deflection section on an optically anisotropic common scanning lens. First and second individual scanning lenses are optically anisotropic and on which the one and the other of the pair of optical beams are respectively incident from the common scanning lens. Light sources are arranged such that their respective planes of polarization are symmetrical to each other. The first and second individual scanning lenses are arranged so as to be symmetrical to each other, the common scanning lens has a symmetrical shape in the secondary direction with respect to a plane including its own optical axis, and each of the individual scanning lenses has an asymmetrical shape in the secondary direction with respect to a plane including its own optical axis. |
| US09046690B2 |
Integrated monolithic optical bench containing 3-D curved optical elements and methods of its fabrication
An optical system, such as an integrated monolithic optical bench, includes a three-dimensional curved optical element etched in a substrate such that the optical axis of the optical system lies within the substrate and is parallel to the plane of the substrate. |
| US09046679B2 |
Wavelength variable interference filter, optical sensor, analyzer and process for producing wavelength variable interference filter
A wavelength variable interference filter includes: a first substrate which has a light transmissive property; a second substrate which has a light transmissive property and is disposed to face one surface of the first substrate and is bonded thereto; a first reflection film which is provided on the first substrate; a second reflection film which is provided on the second substrate; and a variable section which varies the gap; wherein the second substrate includes: a first layer which has a movable section; and a second layer which is laminated to a surface of the first layer facing the first substrate, is formed in a plate shape with a uniform thickness, and has a support section configured to displaceably support the movable section; and the first layer is not laminated to at least a region overlapping with the support section in the planar view. |
| US09046678B2 |
Camera module comprising lens, image pickup element, and translucent member
In a camera module (51), a lid glass (15) protrudes from a sensor cover (14) toward an image pickup lens (1), and a base section (9) includes an overhanging part (9b) overhanging in such a manner as to cover part of the lid glass (15). |
| US09046677B2 |
Microscope system and autofocus method
A microscope system and an autofocus method capture a subject at a specified time interval through an optical image forming system while relatively moving a stage loaded with the subject and the optical image forming system of the microscope; calculate a contrast value indicating a high and low contrast of a captured observation image; detect a maximum contrast image whose calculated contrast value is maximum in a plurality of performed observation images; detect the relative position of the stage and the optical image forming system; perform a correcting process of moving the detected relative position corresponding to the detected maximum contrast image by a specified value in a direction opposite the direction of the relative movement; and bring focus using the corrected relative position as a focal point. |
| US09046675B2 |
Zoom lens and imaging apparatus
In a zoom lens in which a first lens group having a negative refractive power and a second lens group having a positive refractive power are disposed in order from the object side and zooming is performed by moving the first lens group and the second lens group, the first lens group is formed of a first lens having a negative refractive power, a second lens having a positive refractive power, a third lens having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens having a positive refractive power, disposed in order from the object side. Then, when the focal length of the entire system at the wide angle end is taken as fw and the focal length of the second lens group are taken as f2, the zoom lens is configured to satisfy a conditional expression give below: 0.00 |
| US09046674B2 |
Magnification optical system
A magnification optical system forms an enlarged image of an object. It includes a refractive optical system including a plurality of lens groups; and a mirror train including a curved mirror, arranged in this order from an object side, a first focus structure configured to move the respective lens groups of the refractive optical system by different amounts along a normal line of a conjugate surface on the object side, and a second focus structure configured to move the respective lens groups along the normal line of the conjugate surface on the object side by different amounts from those of the first focus structure. |
| US09046666B2 |
Optical module and method for fabricating optical module
An optical module and a fabrication method thereof, the optical module includes a sub-substrate which includes a support layer, an active layer, a BOX layer interposed between the support layer and the active layer, and a height adjusting layer, an optical fiber, and an optical device which is fixed to a silicon substrate, wherein the sub-substrate includes a fixing groove formed by the active layer and the BOX layer, the optical fiber is fixed to the fixing groove, and the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical device by positioning the sub-substrate via the height adjusting layer with respect to the silicon substrate. |
| US09046663B2 |
Optical communication device
An optical communication device includes a planar optical waveguide, a circuit board, a light emitting element, and a light receiving element. The circuit board includes a mounting surface. Both the light emitting element and the light receiving element are supported on the mounting surface. The planar optical waveguide is buried in the circuit board. The planar optical waveguide includes a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface respectively on two opposite ends of the planar optical waveguide. The mounting surface defines a first light guide hole aligning with the first sloped surface and a second light guide hole aligning with the second sloped surface. The light emitting element is aligned with the first sloped surface through the first light guide hole. The light receiving element is aligned with the second sloped surface through the second light guide hole. |
| US09046655B2 |
Method of manufacturing polarizing plate
A method of manufacturing a polarizing plate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: stretching and dyeing a laminate having a resin substrate and a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin layer formed on at least one side of the resin substrate to produce a polarizing film on the resin substrate; laminating an optically functional film on the laminate on a polarizing film side to produce an optically functional film laminate; and peeling the resin substrate from the optically functional film laminate. The peeling is performed so that an angle α formed between a surface of the optically functional film laminate immediately before the peeling and a peeling direction of the resin substrate is smaller than an angle β formed between the surface of the optically functional film laminate immediately before the peeling and a peeling direction of the polarizing film. |
| US09046645B2 |
Antireflection film, method for producing antireflection film, polarizer and image display device
The claimed invention provides an antireflection film including a light-transmitting substrate, a hard coat layer, and a low-refractive-index layer, the hard coat layer and the low-refractive-index layer being formed on the light-transmitting substrate, the low-refractive-index layer including a (meth)acrylic resin, hollow silica particles, reactive silica particles, and two kinds of antifouling agents, the hollow silica particles having an average particle size of 40 to 80 nm and a blending ratio to the (meth)acrylic resin, represented by a ratio: Amount of hollow silica particles/Amount of (meth)acrylic resin, of 0.9 to 1.4, the amount of the reactive silica particles being 5 to 60 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the (meth) acrylic resin, the antifouling agents including an antifouling agent that contains a fluorine compound and an antifouling agent that contains a fluoro-silicone compound. |
| US09046640B2 |
Motor for driving lens
A motor for driving a lens is disclosed, wherein a yoke comprises a rotation prevention unit configured to prevent the bobbin from rotating. |
| US09046639B2 |
Slim lens assembly
A slim lens assembly includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens and a fifth lens, all of which are arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. The first lens is a convex-concave lens with negative refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the object side and a concave surface facing the image side. The second lens is with positive refractive power. The third lens is a biconcave lens with negative refractive power. The fourth lens is a biconvex lens with positive refractive power. The fifth lens is a convex-concave lens with negative refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the object side and a concave surface facing the image side. |
| US09046629B2 |
Frame and backlight module having same
A frame for a backlight module includes a first strip, a second strip, a third strip, and a fourth strip connected end to end in sequence to cooperatively enclose an interior of the frame. The first strip, the second strip, the third strip, and the fourth strip each include an inner surface facing the interior of the frame. A number of microdots are formed on the inner surface. |
| US09046624B2 |
Infrared security sensor
An infrared security sensor device includes a light projector 1A, 1B having a projecting light power control unit 5 for controlling the light receiving sensitivity of a light receiver 2A, 2B by switching a light projecting power thereof to one of a plurality of steps in dependence on the level of a detection signal and a status determining unit 7 for determining an optical axis adjusting time and an alert time. The light projector 1A, 1B is further provided with an adjustment selecting sector 6 capable of selecting one of the manual and automatic adjusting sectors 10 and 11 such that during the optical axis adjustment the light projecting power can be manually adjusted by the manual adjusting sector 10. |
| US09046623B2 |
Method and system of gamma pulse telemetry
Gamma pulse telemetry. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: reading data associated with a borehole penetrating an earth formation; encoding the data in a first plurality of gamma bursts, the encoding by an encoding system coupled within the drill string, and where the each gamma burst travels a first distance along the borehole; receiving the first plurality of gamma bursts by a receiver system coupled within the drill string; and decoding the first plurality of gamma bursts and thereby recovering the data. |
| US09046619B2 |
Method and apparatus to monitor a beam of ionizing radiation
Methods and apparatus to capture images of fluorescence generated by ionizing radiation and determine a position of a beam of ionizing radiation generating the fluorescence from the captured images. In one embodiment, the fluorescence is the result of ionization and recombination of nitrogen in air. |
| US09046616B2 |
High-energy photon detector
A detector of a high-energy photon, the detector including a photodetector and a detection medium that is intended to absorb a high-energy photon while generating ionization electrons and photons along a luminous phenomenon, the electrons and photons being detected by the photodetector. The detection medium is formed of molecules, having a heavy atom with an atomic number greater than or equal to 72, such that the detection medium is liquid under the operating conditions of the detector. The detector also includes a device for diverting the ionization electrons that are generated by the absorbed photon and moreover includes a collector that collects charges in order to determine the time for diverting the electrons to the charge-collector on the basis of a triggering time that corresponds to the detection of the luminous phenomenon by the photodetector. |
| US09046615B2 |
Production method of scintillator array
A method for producing a dual-array-type scintillator array, comprising forming first and second scintillator sticks having cell portions by providing first and second scintillator substrates with pluralities of grooves and cutting them in directions perpendicular to the grooves; arranging and fixing plural sets of the first and second scintillator sticks with the cell portions downward on a support plate via spacers; removing base portions from the first and second scintillator sticks by grinding to form first and second cell arrays comprising the first and second cells each arranged in line; forming an integral resin-cured assembly by filling the grooves and gaps of the first and second cell arrays with a resin for a reflector, curing the resin, and then removing the support plate; and cutting a resin layer between the first and second cell arrays in adjacent sets to divide the resin-cured assembly to sets of the first and second cell arrays. |
| US09046613B2 |
Radiation detector
A radiation detector for neutrons and gamma-rays includes a conversion screen comprising a mixture of a neutron absorbing material, e.g., containing 6Li, and a phosphorescent material, e.g., ZnS(Ag) and a wavelength-shifting light-guide arranged to receive photons emitted from the phosphorescent material and generate wavelength-shifted photons therefrom. The wavelength-shifting light-guide is doped so as to form a gamma-ray scintillator material operable to generate scintillation photons in response to a gamma-ray detection event therein. A photodetector is optically coupled to the wavelength-shifting light-guide and arranged to detect the wavelength-shifted photons and the scintillation photons. Signals from the photodetector are processed to distinguish neutron detection events from gamma-ray detection events. |
| US09046608B2 |
System for detecting sea-surface wind, using satellite observation, and a method for detecting sea-surface wind
Systems and methods are provided that involve obtaining emissivity and reflectivity by the ratio of the radiance temperature versus the sea level temperature as observed by a satellite, and may further calculate two reflectivity values observed or simulated by the vertical or horizontal polarized channels of microwave, and then estimate a surface roughness. Further, illustrative implementations may involve obtaining the regression relation expression between the surface roughness and the wind strength and then detecting the sea-surface wind, using the information observed by the satellite again. As such, the sea-surface wind information can be obtained through satellite observation, and the information can be utilized for preventive activities against disaster including typhoon, the energy industry including wind power and the fishery in quasi-real time. |
| US09046604B2 |
Method for monitoring movements of ground
A method of surveying movements of a terrain. The method may include the steps of providing the raw variations of the coordinates of a plurality of survey points situated on the terrain, and the raw variations of the coordinates of at least one reference point situated on the terrain; determining the real variations of the coordinates of said at least one reference point; and/or calculating corrected variations of the coordinates of the survey points. The method is performed on the basis of the raw variations of the coordinates of the survey points, of the raw variations of the coordinates of said reference point, and of the real variations of the coordinates of said reference point. |
| US09046592B2 |
Timed fingerprint locating at user equipment
Systems and techniques for determining the location of user equipment (UE) in a wireless network are disclosed. These techniques leverage geometric calculations for an overlaid local bin grid framework mapping an area of a wireless network to stored differential values for each frame of the local bin grid framework for pairs of relevant NodeB radios. A timing offset can be determined, such that when a time value from the UE is accessed, the location can be quickly determined with minimal real time computation. In an aspect, the UE time value can be searched for in the pre-computed differential value data set indexed by a relevant NodeB radio pair to return a set of frames that can be intersected with a second set of frames for a second NodeB radio pair for the UE. The intersecting frames can represent the location of the UE in the wireless network. |
| US09046591B1 |
Coordinate-free measurement-domain navigation and guidance using location-dependent radio signal measurements
A system and associated methods for coordinate-free measurement-domain navigation and guidance utilizing a plurality of radio signals of opportunity, without knowing the coordinates of transmitters of said radio signals in a reference system that steers a user from an initial location to a destination without calculating coordinates in said reference system. In one embodiment, radio signal parameters comprise received signal strength indications, differential times of arrival, and sector angles from a user to at least a pair of radio sources and a combination thereof that are used for coarse navigation and guidance toward the vicinity of said destination. In another embodiment, radio signal parameters comprise temporal characteristics of radio signals, propagation channel impulse responses, radio signal power spectra, propagation channel transfer functions, and a combination thereof that are used for vernier navigation and guidance within the vicinity of said destination. |
| US09046588B2 |
Method and system for detecting an arc fault in a photovoltaic power system
A method for detecting an arc fault in a photovoltaic power circuit includes operating a photovoltaic generator at a first working point. A first signal related to a DC-current and/or a DC-voltage in the power circuit is determined. The first signal is analyzed and it is determined whether the signal indicates the presence of an electric arc in the power circuit. If so, the photovoltaic generator is operated at a second working point and a second signal related to the DC-current and/or the DC-voltage is determined. The first and second signals are then compared; and the occurrence of an arc fault in the power circuit is selectively signaled based on the comparison. |
| US09046585B2 |
Monitoring apparatus, monitoring control apparatus, power supply apparatus, monitoring method, monitoring control method, power storage system, electronic apparatus, motor-driven vehicle, and electric power system
A monitoring apparatus includes a first converter that converts first analog data indicating a voltage value of each of batteries into first digital data; and a second converter that converts second analog data indicating an electric current value flowing through the plurality of batteries into second digital data. The first analog data and the second analog data are data having the same timing. |
| US09046582B1 |
System and method for testing a battery
A method, computer program product, and computing system for decoupling a cooling fan within a computing device from a line voltage power supply. The cooling fan within the computing device is coupled to a battery backup unit. The cooling fan is energized for a defined test period. One or more battery statistics are monitored during at least a portion of the defined test period. |
| US09046581B2 |
Supervisor monitoring system
A supervisor monitoring system for autonomous test supervision is presented. A system can include a first supervisor monitor (SM) and a second SM, each configured to simultaneously monitor one or more tests conducted by one or more testing apparatus. First and second SMs can be configured to verify the other's integrity throughout a testing procedure, providing a failsafe system. The first and second SMs can be interlocked so that if the first SM detects a fault at the second SM, the first SM can interrupt testing monitored at the first SM, and can also interrupt testing monitored at the second SM, and vice versa. An SM can be configured to control a safety relay configured to couple a power channel of a battery exerciser to a battery cell, and be configured to monitor input at the battery exerciser from the cell to determine whether a test constraint has been violated. |
| US09046579B2 |
Electric arc discharge evaluation method, and associated test stand
Electric arc discharges between bearing rings in a roller bearing are analyzed by setting a defined operating state based on rotational speed of the roller bearing, temperature of the roller bearing, an imbalance of the roller bearing causing vibrations, lubricants, axial/radial/tilt loads, tilting of the bearing rings relative to each other, pulse shape and pulse repetition rate of an applied electrical voltage, bearing play, and pre-existing damage to the roller bearing. A pulse-shaped electrical voltage between inner and outer bearing ring generates electric arc discharges, wherein for each electric arc discharge a characteristic value representative of energy, power, voltage and/or current and duration of the electric arc discharge is determined. Only those electric arc discharges are evaluated that have a qualifying value determined in accordance with at least one of the characteristic values greater than a predefined limit value. |
| US09046578B2 |
Variable rotatable MR coil
A local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography system includes a plurality of coil elements. Each coil element of the plurality of coil elements has a point of application for another coil element of the plurality of coil elements. The coil element is connected to the other coil element at the point of application in a pivoting manner with respect to the coil element. |
| US09046577B2 |
Corona and partial discharge diagnostic device and method for using the same
A method for diagnosing a fault in an electrical component using a diagnostic system having a plurality of sensors. The method includes positioning the electrical component in a predetermined position adjacent the diagnostic system and at a predetermined orientation with respect to the diagnostic system. The method also includes causing a predetermined level of electrical current to flow to the electrical component, the stationary sensors sensing electrical discharge emitted by the electrical component at an area of the fault, and the tangible computerized controller receiving sensor data from the sensors. The method further includes the tangible computerized controller executing the computer-readable instructions to process the sensor data to generate test information including a location of the electrical component at which the fault is occurring in at least two dimensions. |
| US09046574B2 |
Test circuit having scan warm-up
A test circuit for a functional circuit includes a scan chain coupled to the functional circuit, and a controller coupled to the scan chain, for controlling the scan chain to scan a test pattern into the scan chain, and subsequently and repetitively for a multiple number of times launch the test pattern to the functional circuit, capture test data into the scan chain, and restore the test pattern in the scan chain for subsequent launch. |
| US09046570B2 |
Method and apparatus for limiting access to an integrated circuit (IC)
A method and apparatus for limiting access to an integrated circuit (IC) upon detection of abnormal conditions is provided. At least one of abnormal voltage detection, abnormal temperature detection, and abnormal clock detection are provided with low power consumption. Both abnormally low and abnormally high parameter values (e.g. abnormally low or high voltage, temperature, or clock frequency) may be detected. Abnormal clock detection may also detect a stopped clock signal, including a clock signal stopped at a low logic level or at a high logic level. Furthermore, abnormal clock detection may detect an abnormal duty cycle of a clock signal. A sampled bandgap reference may be used to provide accurate voltage and current references while consuming a minimal amount of power. Upon detection of an abnormal parameter value, one or more tamper indications may be provided to initiate tampering countermeasures, such as limiting access to the IC. |
| US09046569B2 |
Seal method for direct liquid cooling of probes used at first level interconnect
Embodiments of an apparatus and method for providing cooling of probes for testing of integrated circuits are generally described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a probe head assembly configured to hold one or more probes that are adapted to provide electrical contact with an integrated circuit device under test (DUT), a DUT chuck adapted to hold the DUT for contact with the probes, a seal arranged between the probe head assembly and the DUT chuck to form a chamber when the seal is in contact with the probe head assembly and the DUT chuck, and a first port and a second port arranged to provide fluid flow into and fluid flow out of the chamber. |
| US09046567B2 |
Equipment burn-in method and system
An equipment burn-in method, which includes the equipment undergoing treatment in an oven, the oven undergoing cycles including at least one temperature-rise and/or temperature-fall transition, for which ventilation of the equipment is cut off during at least part of a temperature transition of the oven. |
| US09046564B1 |
Circuit testing device
A circuit testing device for providing a number of features to assist in testing electrical circuits in a vehicle. The circuit testing device generally includes a housing having a plurality of testing components positioned thereon and therein. The housing generally includes a light source such as an LED for assisting in illuminating dark spaces. The housing also includes a probe for closing connections and an incandescent bulb for testing purposes. A polarity switch is provided to quickly and easily reverse polarity of the probe. A circuit breaker and circuit activation switch are also provided. By utilizing the present invention, circuit integrity as well as electrical testing of various components (both high voltage and low voltage) of a vehicle may be efficiently performed. |
| US09046560B2 |
System and method for high resistance ground fault detection and protection in power distribution systems
A system and method for detecting high resistance ground faults in a power distribution system is disclosed. A fault detection and protection system is provided that includes a plurality of current sensors to measure current on the three phase output of the converter-inverter arrangement of the power distribution system and a controller configured to measure the three phase current on the three phase output, extract a fundamental current component for each phase of the three phase output, extract a third harmonic component for each phase of the three phase output, compare the fundamental current component and the third harmonic component extracted from each phase to a first threshold and a second threshold, respectively, and detect a ground fault on a phase of the three phase output based on the comparisons of the fundamental current component and the third harmonic component to the first and second thresholds. |
| US09046557B2 |
Isolation adapter for a vehicle component test and test method for a vehicle component
In the development of a vehicle component, provision may be made for a component to be tested during a test drive. Thus, the behavior of the vehicle component in the event of failure of a sensor, for example, can be tested. The aim is to enable systematic checking of a mode of operation of a vehicle component. An isolation adapter has a terminal for the vehicle component and a switching device that has a plurality of switch contacts to which a respective test circuit can be connected. An electrical connection between the terminal and at least one of the switch contacts can be produced by switching the switching device. Even during switching, there is always an electrical connection to at least one of the switch contacts. The isolation adapter may also have a display unit that mechanically detects a switching position of the switching device. |
| US09046556B2 |
Sensing device and related operating methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for sensing devices. An exemplary sensing device includes a sensing arrangement on a substrate to sense a first property, a heating arrangement, and a control system coupled to the first sensing arrangement and the heating arrangement to activate the heating arrangement to heat the first sensing arrangement and deactivate the heating arrangement while obtaining one or more measurement values for the first property from the first sensing arrangement. |
| US09046555B2 |
Latching over-current protection circuit and method
A load limiting circuit includes a transistor switch, for providing current to a load and a latching circuit having a control input, and a latch output driving the transistor switch. A current sensing transistor interconnects with the transistor switch, to sense current in excess of a threshold to the load. The current sensing transistor drives the control input to the latching circuit. An external controller may drive and monitor the control input. The controller may thus turn the transistor switch on and off, and be notified of an over-current condition. The latching circuit may turn the transistor switch off permanently. As well, the controller may attempt to set the load limiting circuit after an over-current condition. |
| US09046554B2 |
Current sensor
A current sensor includes: a first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor; a first analog-to-digital converter which is connected to the first magnetic sensor and converts an output signal of the first magnetic sensor from an analog signal to a digital signal so as to be output; a second analog-to-digital converter which is connected to the second magnetic sensor and converts an output signal of the second magnetic sensor from an analog signal to a digital signal so as to be output; and an operation device which is connected to the first analog-to-digital converter and the second analog-to-digital converter, and outputs an operation value by subjecting the output signal of the first analog-to-digital converter and the output signal of the second analog-to-digital converter to differential operation. |
| US09046553B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamic signal switching of a merging unit in an electrical power system
A method and an apparatus for dynamic signal switching with multiple measurement sources, for a merging unit in an electrical power system, said merging unit receiving at least two input signals from at least one current transformer measuring the same physical primary quantity. The method comprises a step of outputting from said merging unit, in a real-time mode, a digitized output stream of sampled values with the truest representation of the physical primary quantity, based on the actual values of the input signals. |
| US09046551B2 |
Voltage detection circuit and internal voltage generator using the same
A voltage detection circuit includes a voltage detection unit suitable for comparing a voltage level of a reference voltage terminal with a voltage level of an internal voltage terminal and for generating a detection signal based on a comparison result, a test reference voltage generating unit suitable for receiving an external reference voltage through a pad and for supplying a test reference voltage, which is generated by using the received external reference voltage, to the reference voltage terminal by using a first input resistance, during a test operation, and a normal reference voltage generating unit having a current mirror structure, wherein the normal reference voltage generating unit is suitable for supplying a current, corresponding to an internal reference voltage, to the reference voltage terminal by using a second input resistance different from the first input resistance, during a normal operation. |
| US09046550B2 |
Signal transmission lines with test pad
A pair of signal transmission lines includes an aggressor line, a victim line, a first test pad, and a second test pad. The first test pad is in the aggressor line. The victim line is parallel to the aggressor line. A second test pad is in the victim line. The first test pad, on the aggressor line, is misaligned with the second test pad, on the victim line, to reduce the incidence and amplitude of any crosstalk generated. |
| US09046547B2 |
Accelerometer having multiple feedback systems operating on a given proof mass
Certain disclosed accelerometer sensors and methods employ a proof mass that is acted upon by multiple feedback paths. One illustrative sensor embodiment includes an electrode arrangement proximate to a proof mass, the electrode arrangement providing multiple electrostatic force centroids on the proof mass. The sensor embodiment further includes multiple feedback paths, each feedback path independently controlling an electrostatic force for a respective centroid, and an output unit that converts signals from the multiple feedback paths into an acceleration-responsive output signal. An illustrative method embodiment derives multiple feedback signals from at least one displacement signal, applies the multiple feedback signals to an arrangement of electrodes that capacitively couple the proof mass to a substrate, and converts the multiple feedback signals into an acceleration signal. |
| US09046538B2 |
Lipidomic biomarkers for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease
The present invention inter alia provides a method, and use thereof, of diagnosing and/or predicting atherosclerosis or CVD by detecting the lipid concentrations or lipid ratios of a biological sample and comparing it to a control and has identified specific lipid markers that are more specific and sensitive in detecting and predicting atherosclerosis and CVD than currently utilized clinical markers. Also provided is an antibody towards said lipids, and the use thereof for predicting, diagnosing, preventing and/or treating atherosclerosis or CVD. The invention additionally relates to kits comprising lipids and/or an antibody thereto, for use in the prediction and/or diagnosis of atherosclerosis or CVD. |
| US09046536B2 |
Methods and compositions for treating bleeding disorders
Aspects of the invention include methods for enhancing blood coagulation in a subject. In practicing methods according to certain embodiments, an amount of a non-anticoagulant sulfated polysaccharide (NASP) is administered to a subject to enhance blood coagulation in the subject. Also provided are methods for preparing a NASP composition having blood coagulation enhancing activity. Compositions and kits for practicing methods of the invention are also described. |
| US09046534B2 |
Methods and systems for identifying and treating anti-progestin sensitive tumors
Methods and systems for identifying and treating a patient suspected of having a tumor susceptible to growth inhibition by anti-progestins are provided. The degree of focal distribution of the progesterone receptor can be used to identify tumors susceptible to treatment with anti-progestin therapy. |
| US09046529B2 |
Prostatitis-associated antigens and methods of use thereof
The present disclosure provides prostatitis-associated antigens, and compositions comprising the antigens. The present disclosure provides diagnostic methods, generally involving assaying the level of an immune response specific for a prostatitis-associated antigen in an individual. Kits suitable for use in performing such diagnostic assays are also provided. The present disclosure further provides methods of treating prostatitis, methods of treating prostate cancer, and methods of treating benign prostatic hyperplasia. |
| US09046524B1 |
Method to quantify and measure excess colipase in a pancreatin active pharmaceutical ingredient
A method for determining the amount of colipase in a pancreatin active pharmaceutical ingredient sample is provided, the method being a titrimetric method with a constant pH and temperature. |
| US09046522B2 |
Markers for endometrial cancer
The invention relates to the surprising finding that biomarkers corresponding to ACAA1, AP1M2, CGN, DDR1, EPS8L2, FASTKD1, GMIP, IKBKE, P2RX4, P4HB, PHKG2, PPFIBP2, PPP1 R16A, RASSF7, RNF183, SIRT6, TJP3, EFEMP2, S0CS2, and DCN are differentially expressed in control samples as compared to samples from patients having endometrial cancer and are therefore useful for detecting endometrial cancer. In particular these biomarkers having excellent sensitivity, specificity, and/or the ability to separate affected from non affected individuals. Furthermore, the inventors found that the differential expression of these biomarkers in primary endometrial cancer tumor tissue is correlated to their expression level in uterine fluid samples as compared to control values. Thus these biomarkers are robust in that they are found to be differentially expressed in several different types of samples from affected individuals. |
| US09046520B2 |
Serologic correlates of protection against Bacillis anthracis infection
Regions of Bacillus anthracis protective antigen are provided representing epitopes recognized by antibodies in subjects that have acquired immunity to Bacillus anthracis infection. The recognition of these epitopes correlates with autoimmunity in a subject. Also provided are vaccines that include at least one of these epitopes that when administered to a subject provide improved acquired immunity. |
| US09046519B2 |
Mutated thyrotropin receptor
A mutated TSHR preparation which includes at least one point mutation characterized in that at least amino acid Arg at a position corresponding to amino acid 255 of a full length human TSHR has been mutated to a different amino acid residue in said mutated TSHR preparation, whereby said mutated TSHR preparation differentially interacts with patient serum stimulating TSHR autoantibodies, patient serum blocking TSHR autoantibodies and TSH, in that (i) the stimulatory effect of patient serum stimulating TSHR autoantibodies interacting with the mutated TSHR preparation is substantially reduced or essentially abolished, when compared to the stimulatory effect of the patient serum stimulating TSHR autoantibodies interacting with a reference TSHR preparation which has an amino acid sequence corresponding to that of said mutated TSHR preparation with the exception that said mutation of Arg at a position corresponding to amino acid 255 of a full length human TSHR is not present in said reference TSHR preparation, (ii) the stimulatory effect of TSH when interacting with the mutated TSHR preparation is essentially unaffected, when compared to the stimulatory effect of TSH interacting with said reference TSHR preparation, and (iii) the blocking effect of patient serum blocking TSHR autoantibodies interacting with the mutated TSHR preparation is essentially unaffected or increased, when compared to the blocking effect of the patient serum blocking TSHR autoantibodies interacting with said reference TSHR preparation, whereby said mutated TSHR preparation is effective in the differential screening and identification of patient serum stimulating TSHR autoantibodies, patient serum blocking TSHR autoantibodies and TSH in a sample of body fluid being screened. |
| US09046518B2 |
Detector and detection method
Provided is a strip-shaped detector that detects an analyte in a liquid sample. The detector includes a collecting member that directly collects a liquid sample from a living organism, a holding member that holds a labeling reagent binding specifically to the analyte in a state where the labeling reagent can move along with the movement of the liquid sample, a detecting member to which a detection reagent is immobilized which captures a complex of the analyte and the labeling reagent by binding specifically to the analyte, an absorbing member that can absorb the liquid sample, and a liquid-impermeable supporting member, wherein the respective members are arranged on the supporting member in the longitudinal direction of the detector so that the liquid sample moves through the inside of these members, and the collecting member includes a protruding portion sticking out of the supporting member at the upstream side in the movement direction of the liquid sample. |
| US09046517B2 |
Cystatin C adsorption inhibitor
Disclosed is a method by which the adsorption of cystatin C to a container can be inhibited in a simple manner to improve the accuracy of the measurement of cystatin C. Provided are: a cystatin C adsorption inhibitor comprising a non-ionic surfactant; a cystatin C measurement reagent comprising the adsorption inhibitor; and a cystatin C measurement kit. Also provided is a method of inhibiting the adsorption of cystatin C, the method comprising bringing a cystatin C-containing sample into contact with a measurement instrument in the presence of a non-ionic surfactant. The aforementioned non-ionic surfactant is preferably a polyoxyethylene-type surfactant. Alternatively, the aforementioned non-ionic surfactant has preferably a phenoxy structure, more preferably a benzylphenoxy structure. |
| US09046515B2 |
Polymer compound for medical material, and biochip substrate using the polymer compound
A main object of the invention is to provide a polymer compound for medicine which has an excellent capability of fixing a biologically active substance and has such chemical/physical stability that the compound is less dissolved or deteriorated in a washing step, in particular, which can be suitably applied to a plastic substrate surface.The invention provides a polymer compound for medical material which is a polymer comprising repeating units derived from an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomer (a) having a functional group for fixing a biologically active substance, wherein the polymer has a reactive functional group on at least one terminal side thereof, and a biochip substrate wherein a layer containing the polymer compound is formed on a substrate surface, thereby attaining the object. |
| US09046512B2 |
Low volume assay apparatus
Apparatus (1) for determining a property of a sample. The apparatus has a chamber (11, 13) for receiving at least a part of the sample and contains a rotor (15) adapted to rotate within the chamber (11, 13). The apparatus (1) also has a space (17) between the rotor (15) and the chamber (11, 13) which may be at least partially occupied by the sample, driving means (14) for rotating the rotor (15), and a detector (39) arranged to detect the rate of rotation of the rotor (15). The apparatus may also have two parts, a sample strip (5) for receiving the sample and a receiving member (3) for receiving the sample strip (5) and carrying out measurements on the sample. The rotor (15) may be magnetized across its diameter. The driving means (14) may be a magnetic driving means. The sample may be a blood sample. The property to be determined by the sample may be the prothrombin time of the blood or plasma. |
| US09046511B2 |
Fabrication of tunneling junction for nanopore DNA sequencing
A mechanism is provided for forming a nanodevice. A reservoir is filled with a conductive fluid, and a membrane is formed to separate the reservoir in the nanodevice. The membrane includes an electrode layer having a tunneling junction formed therein. The membrane is formed to have a nanopore formed through one or more other layers of the membrane such that the nanopore is aligned with the tunneling junction of the electrode layer. The tunneling junction of the electrode layer is narrowed to a narrowed size by electroplating or electroless deposition. When a voltage is applied to the electrode layer, a tunneling current is generated by a base in the tunneling junction to be measured as a current signature for distinguishing the base. When an organic coating is formed on an inside surface of the tunneling junction, transient bonds are formed between the electrode layer and the base. |
| US09046508B1 |
Simulated explosive composition
The present invention can be characterized as a trainer kit for a Colorimetric Reconnaissance Explosive Squad Screening (“CRESS”) kit, which contains a control compound and a set of simulated explosive compositions (“SEC”). The control compound contains no explosive precursor, while each SEC is a combination of one or more explosive precursors that is to be detected by CRESS, and at least one non-explosive additive that reduces the kinetics of the explosive precursor. The SEC retains the colorimetric characteristics of the explosive precursor, but is stable in heat and non-hazardous. |
| US09046504B2 |
Automatic analysis apparatus
An automatic analysis apparatus that can suction a target sample through an sample dispensing probe at a single sample dispensing position by transferring a sample rack holder having one or more sample containers from a first sampler unit to a second sampler unit and by moving the transferred sample rack in a horizontal direction and up-and-down directions at the fixed single sample dispensing position. By fixing a fluid sampling position of a sample container held by a sample rack at the single position, a sample dispensing accuracy of an automatic analysis apparatus can be increased. |
| US09046502B2 |
Liquid quality checking device and liquid storage tank provided with the device
A deterioration checking device (2) includes a sight glass (3) through which deterioration of a biofuel stored in a fuel tank is observable as a change in the color of the biofuel, and first and second benchmark sections (4a, 4b) each of which three color samples (11a, 11b, 11c) corresponding to different degrees of deterioration of the biofuel are arranged along the sight glass (3). Deterioration is determined by observing the color samples (11a, 11b, 11c) through the biofuel in the sight glass (3). The arrangement of the color samples (11a, 11b, 11c) of the first benchmark section (4a) and that of the color samples (11a, 11b and 11c) of the second benchmark section (4b) are reversed to each other, so as to cope with the lowering of the liquid level of the biofuel and the rising of the liquid level of a water layer. |
| US09046501B2 |
Calibratable sensor unit for reaction vessels
The invention relates to a reaction vessel with a sensor unit. The reaction vessel comprising a reaction space configured to be connected with the sensor unit that comprises at least one sensor device configured to be calibrated, at least one compartment containing a calibrating agent, and a housing. The sensor unit is arranged to calibrate the at least one sensor device by contact with the calibrating agent before chemical or physical parameters of a measurement substance are measured, wherein the at least one sensor device is further configured such that the relative movement between the at least one sensor device and the at least one compartment is irreversible. The at least one sensor device is movable relative to the at least one compartment from an initial position into a measurement readiness position. The reaction vessel and the sensor unit can be sterilized or are sterilized jointly. |
| US09046499B2 |
Surface inspecting apparatus and surface inspecting method
A surface inspecting apparatus rotates a semiconductor wafer 100 (inspection object) as a main scan while translating the semiconductor wafer 100 as an auxiliary scan, illuminates the surface of the semiconductor wafer 100 with illuminating light 21, thereby forms an illumination spot 3 as the illumination area of the illuminating light 21, detects scattered or diffracted or reflected light from the illumination spot, and detects a foreign object existing on the surface of the semiconductor wafer 100 or in a part of the semiconductor wafer 100 in the vicinity of the surface based on the result of the detection. In the surface inspecting apparatus, the translation speed of the auxiliary scan is controlled according to the distance from the rotation center of the semiconductor wafer 100 in the main scan to the illumination spot. With this control, the inspection time can be shortened while the deterioration in the detection sensitivity and the increase in the thermal damage during the surface inspection are suppressed. |
| US09046498B2 |
Board inspection apparatus using multiple cameras
An apparatus for inspecting a board is shown. The board inspection apparatus includes at least one illuminating module, an imaging lens, a first beam splitter, a first camera, and a second camera. The illuminating module provides light to an inspection board and the imaging lens transmits a light reflected from the inspection board. The first beam splitter transmits a portion of the light transmitted from the imaging lens and reflects the rest of the transmitted light. The first camera image-captures by receiving the light that transmits the first beam, and the second camera image-captures by receiving the light reflected from the first beam splitter. Therefore, by using one imaging lens to inspect the inspection board, the decrease in accuracy caused by the different optical axis or magnification may be prevented. |
| US09046492B1 |
Stimulated raman nanospectroscopy
A method for achieving measurable sample heating in the vicinity of a probe microscope tip using Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy. Two laser sources, preferably in the UV visible or near IR illuminate the sample, preferably in overlapping diffraction limited spots. At least one of the sources is swept through a frequency range such that the difference frequency corresponds to IR spectral regions of interest. Selective Absorption by differing sample materials at the difference frequency causes measurable sample heating detectable by the probe tip related to IR spectral absorption bands. Thus very high spatial resolution IR spectroscopy may be achieved. |
| US09046491B1 |
Surface and resonance-enhanced Raman detection method and apparatus
A method and system for detecting a chemical using SERS includes shifting the absorption wavelength signature of the precursor chemical toward a higher wavelength. SERS is performed on the wavelength shifted chemical in order to determine the concentration of the precursor chemical. |
| US09046488B2 |
Nonlinear optical device, multiphoton microscope, and endoscope
Provided is a nonlinear optical device capable of alleviating, without the need for a complicated compensation mechanism, temporal broadening and the waveform distortion resulting from a group-velocity dispersion slope, to thereby irradiate an object with short optical pulses having high peak power. The nonlinear optical device includes a short optical pulse source (10) for generating short optical pulses and a short optical pulse delivery system (20) for delivering the short optical pulses generated from the short optical pulse source to an object, in which there is generated substantially no nonlinear optical effect and there is substantially no amount of group-velocity dispersion, the short optical pulse source generates short optical pulses, and the short optical pulses have a spectral width (full width at half maximum) λFWHM satisfying λ1<λFWHM<λ2. |
| US09046486B2 |
Security aspects of multiexponential decays
At least two luminescent materials are intermingled within a security feature. The materials are selected from among a larger set of luminescent materials each having a different individual exponential decay characteristic (decay constant and initial amplitude response to the degree of excitation) for photo-luminescent emission from the respective material following excitation. The ratio of the decay constants for any two materials is greater than or equal to about 1.5. The selected materials are mixed in one of a plurality of predetermined ratios. The combined emissions from the intermingled materials appear, to an unsophisticated measuring device, to have a single exponential decay constant. Based on measurements for the decay of the combined emissions following excitation, estimates of the individual decay constants and associated initial emission amplitudes allow decoding of the particular combination of materials and/or their ratios to validate the security feature, authenticating the article. |
| US09046485B2 |
Interactive variable pathlength device
This disclosure relates generally to a sampling device, and more particularly, a sampling device that facilitates spectroscopic measurements with a variable path length and the necessary software controlled algorithms and methods for such a device. |
| US09046478B2 |
Microbially-based sensors for environmental monitoring
The present invention relates to the field of surface water monitoring. More specifically, the present invention provides low-cost, real-time bio-electrochemical sensors for surface water monitoring based on the metabolism of one or more electrogenic microbes. |
| US09046477B2 |
Spatial positioning of spectrally labeled beads
Devices, systems, kits, and methods for detecting and/or identifying a plurality of spectrally labeled bodies well-suited for performing multiplexed assays. By spectrally labeling the beads with materials which generate identifiable spectra, a plurality of beads may be identified within the fluid. Reading of the beads is facilitated by restraining the beads in arrays, and/or using a focused laser. |
| US09046476B2 |
Method and system for the detections of biological objects
The present invention provides a method for identifying biological objects on a substrate; the method comprises: (i) illuminating the substrate carrying the biological objects with a light beam; (ii) acquiring at least one optical image of the illuminated substrate; the light beam comprises a wavelength band, the wavelength band is selected to induce at least one optical aberration in the optical image of the illuminated substrate; the optical aberration is predetermined as characterizing the biological objects; and (iii) processing said at least one optical image to provide a value or a combination of values indicative of presence or absence of said at least one optical aberration; said value or combination of values permitting detection or identification of the biological objects on said substrate. The invention also provides a processing unit, a system and a database for use in connection with the method of the invention. |
| US09046474B2 |
Multi-analyzer angle spectroscopic ellipsometry
Ellipsometry systems and ellipsometry data collection methods with improved stabilities are disclosed. In accordance with the present disclosure, multiple predetermined, discrete analyzer angles are utilized to collect ellipsometry data for a single measurement, and data regression is performed based on the ellipsometry data collected at these predetermined, discrete analyzer angles. Utilizing multiple discrete analyzer angles for a single measurement improves the stability of the ellipsometry system. |
| US09046473B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting the presence of intraerythrocytic parasites
An apparatus and method for determining the presence of an intraerythrocytic organism within a sample of liquid whole blood is provided. The method includes the steps of a) creating an image of the sample quiescently residing within a sample chamber; b) evaluating the image for the presence of at least one red blood cell within the image containing at least one first region of decreased hemoglobin content and/or hemoglobin concentration within the red blood cell, which red blood cell has an otherwise homogenous distribution of hemoglobin; and c) determining the presence of an intraerythrocytic organism within the sample using the evaluation of the image. |
| US09046472B2 |
Crystal analysis apparatus, composite charged particle beam device, and crystal analysis method
A crystal analysis apparatus includes: a measurement data storage configured to store electron back-scattering pattern (EBSP) data measured at electron beam irradiation points on a plurality of cross-sections of a sample formed substantially in parallel at prescribed intervals; a crystal orientation database configured to accumulate therein information of crystal orientations corresponding to EBSPs; and a map constructing unit that constructs a three-dimensional crystal orientation map based on distribution of crystal orientations in normal directions of a plurality of faces of a polyhedral image having the cross-sections arranged at the prescribed intervals by reading out the crystal orientations in the normal directions of the faces from the crystal orientation database on the basis of the EBSP data stored in the measurement data storage. |
| US09046471B2 |
X-ray measurement apparatus
A portable, for example, a hand-held-type, X-ray measurement apparatus, wherein the vibration or hand-shaking of the X-ray measurement apparatus is detected by a vibration-detection sensor such as a distance sensor, a gyro sensor, or the like, and a measurement value for the X-ray intensity obtained using a two-dimensional X-ray detector is corrected on the basis of a variation quantity obtained using the vibration-detection sensor. The correction may be a correction related to an X-ray source, a correction related to an X-ray detector, a correction calculated using the CPU of a computer and a software program, or the like. |
| US09046470B2 |
Optical biosensor, bio-sensing system including the same, and method of fabricating the optical biosensor
An optical biosensor including a bio-sensing unit configured to receive an optical signal and generating a sensed optical signal, the wavelength of which varies according to a result of sensing a biomaterial; and a spectrometer including a plurality of ring resonators for dividing the sensed optical signal according to a wavelength and generating a plurality of output optical signals, respectively. |
| US09046468B2 |
Smart coating and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention disclose a smart coating comprising a substrate, optionally a first insulating layer, a plurality of first sensing units, a second insulating layer, a plurality of second sensing units and optionally a wear-resistant layer, wherein the plurality of first sensing units and the plurality of second sensing units have piezoelectric effect. The smart coating can provide real-time monitoring and feedback of the worn state of the surface of a part while eliminating the need to adhere a senor. Compared with the existing sensors and substrates bound by adhesion, the smart coating provided in the present application can avoid poor adhesion between the sensor and substrate. Furthermore, damaged positions can be located precisely so as to provide more and more accurate information regarding worn state of the part surface, which is in favor of monitoring and post-stage analysis on the worn state of the surface of the part. |
| US09046461B1 |
RF amplifier tuning method for coping with expected variations in local dielectric
A wireless sensor capable of sensing and measuring at least one ambient parameter is disclosed herein. The wireless sensor is capable of transmission of measurement values at a periodic rate, wherein the transmission rate is varied or non-varied. An amplifier varies a power transmission to the antenna based on a real-time soil conductivity value of a soil area and a real-time soil dielectric constant value of a soil area to improve a communication range and communication reliability of the antenna. |
| US09046457B2 |
Road surface condition estimating method, road surface condition estimating tire, road surface condition estimating apparatus, and vehicle control apparatus
The vibration of a tire 10 of a running vehicle in the circumferential direction or the width direction is detected by a road surface condition estimating tire 10, provided with an acceleration sensor 11 and a signal processing unit 12. Data of a detected vibration waveform are divided into data of three domains, namely, a pre-leading domain, a contact patch domain, and a post-trailing domain, and then the vibration levels in the pre-leading domain and the contact patch domain, respectively, are extracted. At the same time, a vibration component in a low-frequency band and a vibration component in a high-frequency band are extracted respectively from the vibration levels in the respective domains, and respective vibration level ratios R, which are each a ratio thereof, are calculated. Then, on the vehicle body side, the condition of a road surface on which the vehicle is running is estimated, based on the calculated vibration level ratio R and a map 32M, stored in a storage means 32, showing a relationship between the vibration level ratio R of tire vibration and road surface conditions. Thus a road surface condition can be estimated with accuracy even when there are changes in temperature or vehicle speed. |
| US09046456B2 |
Indentation tester
Indentation tester capable of adjusting vertical-direction positioning drift due to individual differences of an indenter when indenters are switched includes an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism adjusts relative vertical-direction positions of a displacement sensor movable portion and a displacement sensor fixed portion. The adjustment mechanism includes a first hollow disk having a spiraling surface formed on a bottom surface; and a second hollow disk having a spiraling surface formed on a top surface. The spiraling surface of the second hollow disk has a thread equal to that of the spiraling surface of the first hollow disk. The first hollow disk rests on the second hollow disk such that the bottom surface of the first hollow disk is overlaid on the top surface of the second hollow disk. The first hollow disk and the second hollow disk are capable of rotation on a center axis of an indenter column. |
| US09046451B2 |
Method and apparatus for bending long member, and method for bending door frame
A method of bending a long member includes applying a tensile force to the long member to draw out the long member in a lengthwise direction thereof, measuring a displacement of the long member after commencement of the application of the initial tensile force, and bending the long member by applying a correction tensile force and a bending pressure for bending the long member into a curved shape in the lengthwise direction simultaneously to the long member upon the displacement exceeding a predetermined tensile fracture threshold value within a predetermined period of time or after a lapse of the predetermined period of time without the displacement exceeding the tensile fracture threshold value. The correction tensile force is smaller than the tensile force at the time the displacement exceeds the tensile fracture threshold value or the tensile force at the lapse of the predetermined period of time. |
| US09046443B2 |
System and method of a sideslip test for vehicle
A sideslip test for a vehicle that can make a database of sideslip and objectively measure the sideslip. A sideslip test system may include: a driving road provided to drive a vehicle; a support beam disposed to be supported on the driving road; a distance sensor mounted on the support beam to measure a distance from the vehicle; and a display device connected with the distance sensor and visualizing a measurement value of the distance sensor. A sideslip test method may include: entering, by the vehicle, the driving road; sensing a distance between the distance sensor and the vehicle; converting data to express the distance sensed by the distance sensor as a coordinate; collecting a closest Y-axis distance between the distance sensor and the vehicle as a representative value; and expressing a distribution of the representative value as a graph through the display device. |
| US09046437B2 |
Leak detection in vacuum bags
Air leaks in a seal beneath a vacuum bag are detected using a leak detection film inside the vacuum bag. The film includes a gas permeable binder and a gas sensitive material held in the binder. The gas sensitive material has at least one visual characteristic that changes in the presence of gas entering the vacuum bag through a leak in the seal. |
| US09046436B2 |
Sensor unit
A sensor unit has at least one measuring cell and a circuit mount arranged in a protective sleeve. The measuring cell detects a pressure of a hydraulic block. The circuit mount has a printed circuit board, which is positioned perpendicularly relative to the measuring cell. The printed circuit board has an electronic circuit with at least one electronic and/or electrical component. The measuring cell has at least one connection point configured to tap off at least one electrical output signal from the measuring cell. The circuit mount forms an internal interface which taps off the at least one electrical output signal from the measuring cell and applies it to the electronic circuit. An output signal from the electronic circuit can be tapped off by an external interface. The internal interface is formed at a first end and the external interface is formed at a second end of the protective sleeve. |
| US09046431B2 |
Single ear stator antenna for wireless torque measurement system
A wireless torque measurement system includes a rotor, a rotor antenna, rotor electronics, a signal processing module, and a single ear antenna. The rotor antenna is attached to the rotor. The rotor electronics are attached to the rotor, and are configured to generate signals that indicate an amount of strain in the rotor and to transmit, via the rotor antenna, digital data representative thereof. The signal processing module is configured to generate signals that provide power and data to the rotor electronics module and process the digital data transmitted by the rotor electronics. The single ear stator is antenna coupled to the signal processing module and is configured to be inductively coupled to the rotor antenna. |
| US09046427B2 |
System for dual pressure sensing
Pressure sensor. The sensor includes a deformable diaphragm responsive to applied pressure and a rigid beam mounted to move as the diaphragm deforms. The rigid beam includes a mirrored surface for receiving light from and reflecting light into an optical fiber thereby forming a Fabry-Perot cavity to detect changes in the position of the rigid beam. The rigid beam further includes inter-digital fingers extending from the mirrored surface and moving with the rigid beam with respect to fixed inter-digital fingers to create a change in electrical charges in the fingers to detect changes in the position of the rigid beam thereby providing two measures of rigid beam displacement which are measures of pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the optical fiber is a single mode optical fiber. |
| US09046426B1 |
Modular apparatus and method for attaching multiple devices
A modular apparatus for attaching sensors and electronics is disclosed. The modular apparatus includes a square recess including a plurality of cavities and a reference cavity such that a pressure sensor can be connected to the modular apparatus. The modular apparatus also includes at least one voltage input hole and at least one voltage output hole operably connected to each of the plurality of cavities such that voltage can be applied to the pressure sensor and received from the pressure sensor. |
| US09046419B2 |
Systems and methods for spectrally encoded imaging
A method of forming an image of a target that comprises illuminating a target with light, maneuvering an optical unit having at least one diffractive element in front of the target through a plurality of positions, capturing, during the maneuvering, a plurality of spectrally encoded frames each from a portion of the light that is scattered from a different of a plurality of overlapping segments along a track traversing an image plane of the target, and combining the plurality of spectrally encoded frames to form a composite multispectral image of at least a portion of said target. |
| US09046418B1 |
Linear Fresnel spectrometer chip with gradient line grating
A spectrometer that includes a grating that disperses light via Fresnel diffraction according to wavelength onto a sensing area that coincides with an optical axis plane of the grating. The sensing area detects the dispersed light and measures the light intensity associated with each wavelength of the light. Because the spectrometer utilizes Fresnel diffraction, it can be miniaturized and packaged as an integrated circuit. |
| US09046414B2 |
Selectable lens button for a hazard detector and method therefor
According to one embodiment, a hazard detector includes a front casing coupled with a back plate to define a housing having an interior region. The hazard detector also includes a passive infrared sensor device that is disposed within the interior region and that is positioned to face a room within which the hazard detector is positioned so as to detect objects within the room. The hazard detector additionally includes a Fresnel lensing component that is disposed on an exterior of the front casing and that is positioned in front of the passive infrared sensor device to direct infrared radiation onto the passive infrared sensor device. The Fresnel lensing component is configured to be inwardly pushable by a user to cause contact with a switch positioned therebehind so that input is provided to the hazard detector by the user. |
| US09046413B2 |
Methods, apparatus and systems for surface type detection in connection with locate and marking operations
Systems, methods, and apparatus for performing surface type detection in connection with locate and marking operations. In some embodiments, one or more sensors may be employed to collect information regarding a ground surface on which marking material is to be dispensed which is then analyzed to provide an estimate of a type of the surface. For example, a still-image or video camera may be used as a sensor that detects visible light reflecting from a surface. One or more images captured by the camera may be analyzed using analysis software to identify one or more characteristics indicative of a surface type. As another example, one or more radiation sensors may be employed to measure an amount of electromagnetic radiation reflected by the sensed surface one or more selected wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths to identify a spectral signature that may also be indicative of a surface type. |
| US09046412B2 |
Compact interferometer spectrometer
An interferometer is disclosed, such as may be incorporated into a hand-held spectrometer. The interferometer comprises enclosed path optics and a detector, the enclosed path optics comprise at least two reflecting elements and a beamsplitter, the beamsplitter is arranged to divide an input beam into first and second beams. The enclosed path optics are arranged to direct the first and second beams in opposite directions around paths enclosing an area and to output the first and second beams towards the detector. The enclosed path optics also focus the first and second beams onto the detector. The detector is arranged to detect a pattern produced by interference of the first and second beams. In a preferred embodiment the two reflecting elements are a pair of concave mirrors, and the enclosed path optics enclose a triangular area. The use of concave mirrors for both reflection and focussing provides the interferometer with compactness. |
| US09046411B2 |
Optical sensor system for a gas turbine engine and method of operating the same
An optical sensor system includes a multi-color pyrometer in optical communication with a component. The pyrometer generates signals at least partially representative of radiation received from the component and from soot particles. The system includes at least one processing unit coupled to the pyrometer. The processing unit is programmed to receive the signals and distinguish portions of radiation received between at least two wavelength bands. The processing unit is also programmed to determine that a first portion of radiation within a first of the wavelength bands is representative of a temperature of soot particles and that a second portion of radiation within a second of the wavelength bands is representative of a temperature of the component. The processing unit is further programmed to filter out signals representative of the first portion of the radiation. |
| US09046409B2 |
Weighing scale for forklift for measuring weight of loads as they are lifted
A weighing scale for forklift and the like (10) for measuring weight of loads at the time they are lifted. The weighing scale comprises a stationary first member (12) and a movable second member (48) interconnected in a vertical parallel spaced apart relationship. The first member is mountable on fork carriage and the second member is connectable to fork thereto. There is a load cell (28) in the first member that works cooperatively with a means (60) in the second member to register any vertical displacements thereof and translate the registered data into weight lifted by the fork. |
| US09046406B2 |
Advanced antenna protection for radars in level gauging and other applications
A level gauge includes at least one antenna configured to transmit wireless signals towards a material in a tank and to receive wireless signals reflected from the material in the tank. The level gauge also includes a housing having an outer portion, a raised rim within the outer portion, an angled portion that extends between the outer portion and the rim, and a concave portion within the rim. The concave portion forms a crater within the housing. The at least one antenna is configured to transmit and receive the wireless signals through the concave portion of the housing. |
| US09046400B2 |
Digital flowmeter
A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver. |
| US09046399B2 |
Minimally intrusive monitoring of a multiphase process flow using a tracer and a spatially arranged array of at least two sensors on a flow pipe
An apparatus for and a method of monitoring multiphase fluid flow passing within a pipe is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a flow pressure value and a flow temperature value for the multiphase fluid flow within the pipe; b) sensing the fluid flow with a fluid flow meter operable to be attached to an exterior of the pipe, the flowmeter including a spatial array of at least two sensors disposed at different axial positions along the pipe, and producing flow velocity signals indicative of a velocity of the fluid flow traveling within the pipe; c) selectively injecting at least one tracer into the fluid flow passing within the pipe, at a known injection flow rate and concentration; d) sensing a sample of the fluid flow for the tracer, and producing tracer concentration signals indicative of the concentration of the tracer in the fluid flow; and e) determining one or more of a gas component flow rate, an oil component flow rate, and a water component flow rate, using one or more of the flow pressure value, the flow temperature value, the flow velocity signals, and the tracer concentration signals. |
| US09046394B2 |
Water meter including variable orifice device
A fire hydrant water meter having a flow restricting device that creates back pressure to restrict the flow of water through the fire hydrant water meter. The flow restricting device includes a plurality of flexible vanes that combine to define a variable orifice. As the flow of water through the meter increases, the individual flexible vanes move away from each other to expand the size of the flow orifice. The flow restricting device provides a source of back pressure to water flowing through the meter to restrict the flow rate of water and thus protect the metering device contained within the fire hydrant water meter. |
| US09046392B2 |
Displacement measuring apparatus
A displacement measuring apparatus is provided, which comprises a measuring sensor, a housing, a first board, a second board and a third board, which boards are arranged in the housing and are circuit carriers, wherein the second board and the third board are in each case oriented transversely to the first board, the second board and the third board are connected by means of a first plug-in connection device and the combination of the second board and third board is connected to the first board by means of a second plug-in connection device. |
| US09046390B2 |
Image sensing meter reading probe
An apparatus to monitor one or more utility meters includes a communication unit with a processor, a communication interface coupled to the processor, and a probe interface coupled to the processor. A meter monitoring probe that includes a probe head is coupled by a cable to a probe connector capable to mate with the probe interface. The probe head includes an image sensor, an indicator, and a button. The probe head is capable to detect a characteristic of a utility meter that is dependent on a usage of a utility metered, and send information related to the characteristic to the processor. The processor is capable to receive the information from the probe head and send a message related to the usage of the utility over the communication interface, and the image sensor is capable to capture an image in response to a press of the button. |
| US09046389B2 |
Time delay compensation for optical waveguides using a bidirectional wavelength scan
Methods and apparatus for accurately determining wavelength by compensating a time delay using a bidirectional wavelength scan are provided. One example method generally includes introducing first wavelength-swept light into an optical waveguide according to a first sweep function having a first wavelength sweep direction; interrogating one or more optical elements, having characteristic wavelengths, with the first wavelength-swept light to produce a first set of optical signals, wherein the optical elements are disposed along the optical waveguide; introducing second wavelength-swept light into the optical waveguide according to a second sweep function having a second wavelength sweep direction, wherein the second wavelength sweep direction is opposite the first wavelength sweep direction; interrogating the optical elements with the second wavelength-swept light to produce a second set of optical signals; and determining a parameter associated with at least one of the optical elements based on the first and second sets of optical signals. |
| US09046386B2 |
Structural unit of a rotary encoder, and method for producing this structural unit
A structural unit for a rotary encoder. The structural unit including a graduation carrier fastened to a mount that includes a recess and a positioning element fastened to the graduation carrier by a first material connection. The positioning element is disposed in the recess, and the recess is dimensioned such that the recess positions the positioning element in a radial direction without play. The structural unit further including a second material connection is provided between the graduation carrier and the mount. |
| US09046384B2 |
Self-calibration method for angle detector, angle detector, circumferential scale calibration device, and angle detector calibration device
In a self-calibration method of an angle detector, an angle interval between first and second scale reader heads are set, so that a single rotation is not equally divided into an integer number of portions by a value of the angle interval and that a plurality of rotations N are equally divided into M equal portions by the value of the angle interval. Readings by the scale reader heads during N rotations of the divided circle are obtained at a pre-set data sampling interval. From differences in readings by these scale reader heads, data of the sequential two-point method relating to an angle scale error of the divided circle are obtained at the data sampling interval. The scale error of the divided circle at the data sampling interval is calculated by synthesizing the data using the fact that an average of the data for the rotations N reaches approximately zero. |
| US09046382B2 |
Power control circuits and methods
Power control circuits and methods are disclosed, suitable for a power supplier. A power control circuit has a clock generator, a phase controller and a power limiter. The clock generator provides a clock signal, substantially determining switching cycles of a power supply. The phase controller outputs a burst signal based on a group reference signal and a burst initiation signal, and makes a burst period corresponding to a burst signal not less than a group reference period corresponding to the group reference signal. The burst signal is capable of switching the power supplier between a switching state and a non-switching state. The power limiter limits the power transferred by the power supply in every switching cycle, during a burst-up duration after the power supply is switched from the non-switching state to the switching state. The burst initiation signal correlates to an output voltage of the power supplier. |
| US09046380B2 |
Guiding apparatus, guiding method, and guiding program product
In a guiding method, an object of interest existing in a vicinity of a guidance point, at which a driver of a vehicle needs guidance, on a travel path of the vehicle is retrieved. A recognizable range the driver will have is estimated based on at least one of (a) time required to provide guidance with respect to the object of interest and (b) time required for the driver to visually check the object of interest after receiving the guidance. The guidance with respect to the object of interest is provided when the object of interest exists in the estimated recognizable range. |
| US09046377B2 |
Method and system for generating fixed transit routes
A method and system for generating fixed transit routes is provided. A first set of street network segments within a first threshold distance from a starting point is identified for a pattern inputted by a user. A proxy first point along each of the street network segments in the first set is also identified. A second set of street network segments within a second threshold distance from an ending point is identified for the pattern inputted by the user. A proxy second point along each of the street network segments in the second set is also identified. A best path for the pattern is determined including any one of the proxy first points along the street network segments in the first set and any one of the proxy second points along the street network segments in the second set. |
| US09046375B1 |
Navigation for a passenger on a public conveyance based on current location relative to a destination
In some embodiments, techniques comprise receiving route data that includes information relating to a stop, at a portable device that is personal to a passenger on a public conveyance; determining a destination, wherein the destination is related to the stop; determining a current location of the portable device; determining, based at least in part on the current location, that the portable device has nearly reached the destination, wherein determining that the portable device has nearly reached the destination includes determining that the stop is the next stop relative to the current location; and responsive to determining that the portable device has nearly reached the destination, providing an alert at the portable device. |
| US09046374B2 |
Proximity warning relative to other cars
Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure builds on integrating existing technology with new devices, methods, and systems to provide a complete vehicle ecosystem. |
| US09046372B2 |
Trajectory planning
A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a trajectory for a vehicle, wherein the method includes: identifying a starting position (p0) for the vehicle; identifying a desired terminal position (P) for the vehicle; linearly approximating dynamics of the vehicle; and using the starting position (p0), the desired terminal position (P), and the linear approximation, determining the trajectory for the vehicle. The linear approximation can be constrained by a requirement (e.g., specification) that a magnitude of a velocity of the vehicle is greater than or equal to a threshold value for the velocity. The vehicle may have a curvature limit. |
| US09046370B2 |
Methods for providing a navigation route based on network availability and device attributes
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for are provided for providing a navigation route based on network availability. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for a navigation route. The method may further include providing the navigation route, the navigation route taking into account accessibility information relating to accessibility of at least one wireless network at different geographic locations along the navigation route and device specific information relating to attributes of a mobile device. The accessibility information may include data collected by different mobile devices at different geographic locations. The accessibility information may also be stored at a centralized server. |
| US09046365B2 |
Electronic devices with magnetic field compensating conductive traces
Electronic devices may be provided with compasses for detecting the Earth's magnetic field. Electronic devices may be provided with electronic components that generate interfering magnetic fields for the compass. Electronic components may be coupled between a power supply line and a power return line on a printed circuit. The power return line may be configured to generate a compensating magnetic field to counteract the interfering magnetic fields. The power return line may be formed parallel to the power supply line. The power supply line may have multiple branches equidistant from the compass. The power return line may have a portion closer to the compass than the power supply line and the electronic component. The power return line may have multiple branches, may be provided with resistors on each branch and may include a portion of a circular loop the runs around the compass on the printed circuit board. |
| US09046364B2 |
Distance measurement device and environment map generation apparatus
Based on an image imaged by an imaging unit (2), feature points of a plurality of objects present around a vehicle are detected by a feature point detecting unit (35). A first distance from the feature point to the imaging unit (2) is calculated based on a temporal change of the feature point. A second distance from a certain object included in the plurality of objects present in the image to the imaging unit is calculated using some pixels of the certain object. The first distance of the plurality of feature points, other than the certain feature point, simultaneously detected by the feature point detecting unit (35) is modified based on a ratio of the first distance and the second distance. |
| US09046362B2 |
Method for a measuring instrument
A method for a measuring instrument is disclosed, for separating the angular deviation of a rotational axis of an instrument body from a corresponding true rotational axis due to imperfections in at least one rolling-element bearing effectuating the rotational mounting of the instrument body into different parts corresponding to type of imperfection. The method comprises detecting rotary position of the at least one rolling-element bearing, and determining angular deviation of the rotational axis from the corresponding true rotational axis in a plurality of rotational positions of the instrument body, wherein the instrument body is rotated a plurality of successive full or partial revolutions about the rotational axis. There is also disclosed a measuring system and a measuring instrument to be used in such a measuring system. |
| US09046361B2 |
Target point recognition method and surveying instrument
Target point recognition method including emitting electromagnetic radiation to illuminate targets, moving the scanning beam within a predetermined angular range in order to scan the surveying environment, detecting reflections of the electromagnetic radiation on the targets, wherein the targets are defining the target points, and determining the angle to the target points. The method further including a capturing procedure with capturing an overall image of the surveying environment, wherein the overall image comprises at least one single image taken by the camera, and determining target points and their angle on the overall image by image processing by matching targets with one or more predetermined search criteria, storing the target points together with their angle a data base, and displaying the overall image together with marks for indicating a position of the target points detected within the scanning procedure and the capturing procedure in the overall image. |