| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09070170B2 |
Help for reading an e-book
A computer-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product shares information related to passages from an electronic book. An electronic book is opened to a user-selected initial passage. A passage block within the electronic book, which starts at the user-selected initial passage and ends at a community-selected terminal passage, is defined. A determination is made that members of the social community who have read the passage block have input a high incidence of incorrect answers to questions about the passage block, where the high incidence is greater than a predetermined value. Thereafter, additional help is provided to the user of the electronic book, where the additional help is information that members of the social community have deemed to be useful in correctly answering questions that had the high incidence of incorrect answers. |
| US09070166B2 |
Centralized, online multi-seller interface system
A sales portal system supports a plurality of buyer computers used by a corresponding plurality of buyers. The sales portal system supports a first seller's computer to support sales of a first plurality of products a second seller's computer to support sales of a second plurality of products. The sales portal accesses first product data from the first seller's computer and second product data from the second seller's computer and responds to a query received from one of the plurality of buyer computers by delivering selections from the associated first product data and the associated second product data. The sales portal manages a single sales transaction for a first product of a first seller and a second product of a second seller. The sales portal rates sellers. The sales portal apportions payment, fulfillment, delivery instructions, and other sales components to the first and second sellers. |
| US09070165B2 |
Method of matching hedge funds and investors and apparatus therefor
A method for matching a hedge fund and a hedge fund investor, and apparatus therefore, may utilize databases that may be searched by search engines. The databases and the search engines may be accessed using a website. Information regarding the investor may be stored in one database and information relating to the hedge fund may be separately stored in the other database. An investor may access the search engine associated with the database containing hedge fund information to identify hedge funds that may be relevant to that investor. Likewise, a hedge fund may access the search engine associated with the database containing investor information to identify qualified investors that may be interested in the hedge fund. |
| US09070164B2 |
Integration of buy-side procurement with web-enabled remote multi-format catalog sources
A request for shopping is placed from inside a procurement system. Intelligent agents are launched to retrieve information from catalog sources web-enabled over the internet or within the intranet. Retrieved catalog information is aggregated and associated with other data items. Business rules are applied to make decisions on what part of aggregated information will be rendered to a User. Sorting/multi-level refining operations are enabled. The User selects one or more catalog results, whereupon an XML shopping cart is created and submitted to the procurement system through published interfaces. The procurement system is enabled to place an order on supplier web-enabled transaction systems. |
| US09070162B2 |
Time tracking device and method
A system and method to manage employee time at a set of job sites. A time management system comprises a server in communications with a database in which a set of job site data is stored. An employee device application is installed on a set of employee devices. The set of employee devices are in communication with the server through the employee device application. The set of employee devices collect a set of time punch data and a set of photos from the set of employees at check-in events and check-out events. The set of time punch data and the set of photos are sent to the server and stored in the database with the set of job site data. A supervisor management application is installed on a set of supervisor devices to monitor the set of job site data, validate photos and activate employee devices. |
| US09070160B2 |
Customized design for an article of footwear
A method of making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a customer with a pre-selected set of graphics, allowing a customer to choose a set of input graphics, and generating a set of morphed graphics based on a set of input graphics. The user can select a morphed graphic and apply it to an article. The method may further include the step of limiting the number of times a customized graphic may be selected and applied to an article. |
| US09070159B2 |
Online marketplace for real estate transactions
Under an embodiment of the invention, a web site system maintains a real estate web page. The web page has an aerial image map of a geographic region that can be navigated by a user. The web site system facilitates online collaboration for real estate transactions. When the user registers, the system creates a user account for real estate information. Real estate agents and/or other real estate service providers selected by the user are granted shared access to the user's account by the web site system. |
| US09070158B1 |
Adaptive information regions displaying content associated with an electronic commerce system
Disclosed are various embodiments for displaying content associated with a merchant selling items through an electronic commerce system. A display area includes multiple information regions presenting content associated with the merchant. Visual characteristics associated with the information regions adjust according to values corresponding to the to the information regions. For example, the sizes or positions of the information regions may adjust according to the values. |
| US09070150B2 |
Method and system for providing social and environmental performance based sustainable financial instruments
A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services or events. Plural electronic options are provided based on a priority ordering scheme. The plurality of electronic options are not supplied or governed via a central government agency and are not supplied or governed via security laws. The plural electronic options includes a plural different electronic option terms for a plural different suppliers and a priority ordering scheme. The electronic option terms for a desired supplier are unique to the desired supplier. The electronic options include personalized electronic reservations and personalized electronic coupons. The purchased electronic option is exercised for preferred or priority access or entry to events or places or goods or services based on the priority ordering scheme. |
| US09070148B2 |
Gold and precious metal buying machine and method
The machine or method buys gold or precious metal items. A housing with a vault is linked to a central office for tracking buy/no-buy sales events and uploading current exchange rate data. The item is placed on a platform leading to processing stations which weigh, image, assay and convey the item to the vault (buy) or return-route (no-buy). User display commands and offers-to-buy, capture user images, scan identity and biometric data and permit user-keyed input. A computer processor calculates a discounted market value based upon exchange rate, weight, assayed purity and discounts. A compiler stores seller's data including seller responses, images and scanner data and buy/no-buy data. An acceptance module initiates a credit event and delivers the item to the vault. A rejection module negates acceptance upon user command or if an error in gold purity, weight, discounted market value or size. |
| US09070145B1 |
Electronic computer engines for analytical rating and methods of use thereof
In some embodiments, the instant invention provides an improved computer system programmed for rating which includes at least the following components: a specialized computer machine, having: a processor for executing program code stored in memory, where the program code is configured to at least perform upon the execution: causing to display a first graphical user interface to each consumer to obtain personal identifying information to validate an identity of such consumer; and a confirmation that such consumer meets requirements to be satisfied for rating a business, based on the confirmation, causing to concurrently display a second graphical user interface to display a consumer rating survey having a predetermined number of questions for rating a business to evaluate such business in rating categories of: service, value, ethics, competence, environment, and price; based on responses and predictive analytics, calculating or recalculating a rating score in each rating category for each business. |
| US09070144B1 |
Electronic computer engines for analytical matching and methods of use thereof
In some embodiments, the instant invention provides an improved computer system programmed for matching which includes at least the following components: a specialized computer machine having a processor for executing program code stored in memory, where the program code is configured to perform upon the execution: obtaining business information regarding a plurality of businesses and a plurality of offerings offered by the plurality of businesses; concurrently matching each consumer of a plurality of particular consumers with at least one business based on: business identifying matching parameter(s) obtained from each consumer, a geographic indication, a plurality of ranked filtering criteria, personal consumer profile information having responses to psychometric questions, business profile information having responses to psychometric questions, and at least one rating score filtering parameter; and causing to concurrently output, utilizing a graphical user interface, each matching result to each particular consumer. |
| US09070142B2 |
Order fulfillment system and method for printing products including individualized information
Interactive custom printed order placement and fulfillment systems and methods for placing, selling, accepting, proofing, transmitting, producing, servicing, and delivering orders for printed products including individualized or personalized information in time-efficient ways. Video conferencing technicians can provide direct access to professional, expert, and knowledgeable help. The interactive custom printed order fulfillment systems and methods further provide opportunities for targeted up-sells, cross-promotion, advertising, marketing, and information management to benefit those placing orders, those facilitating or brokering orders, and those producing and delivering orders, thereby increasing information efficiency. |
| US09070138B2 |
Determining effectiveness of advertising campaigns
An identifier associated with a client machine is accessed, and parameters that define a control group of client machines for a particular advertising campaign are accessed. The advertising campaign is associated with one or more standard advertisements. Whether the client machine is a member of the control group based on the identifier associated with the client machine and the parameters that define the control group is determined. If the determination of whether the client machine is a member of the control group indicates that the client machine is a member of the control group, a control advertisement is caused to be presented on the client machine. The control advertisement is an advertisement not associated with the advertising campaign. |
| US09070136B2 |
Cloud-based skip tracing application
A method executed at least in part in a computing device for providing cloud based skip tracing is provided. The method includes providing a cloud based service enabling data interchange with a plurality of vendors providing skip tracing services and receiving at the cloud based service and from a user a file of records for skip tracing. The method further includes applying a waterfall process to the records using the computing device wherein the waterfall process includes at least a subset of the plurality of vendors and returning to the user a results file containing skip tracing results corresponding to the records. The method may further include generating a waterfall score card and sending the waterfall score card to the user, the waterfall score card summarizing performance of the subset of the plurality of vendors. |
| US09070133B2 |
Intelligent coupon network
A system for redeeming coupons comprises a network; a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal communicatively coupled to the network; a server communicatively coupled to the POS terminal; wherein the POS terminal transmits first coupon information from a coupon card read at the POS terminal to the server via the network. |
| US09070129B2 |
Method and system for securing data fields
A merchant conducting a transaction on an account forms transaction data with a sensitive data field. To obscure the account prior to transmitting information about the transaction, for each character in the sensitive data field, a combined character is formed with a character of a generated pad. A replacement character is formed by a modulus operation on the combined character and is stored in the corresponding position in the sensitive data field. A transmission containing the sensitive data field with replacement characters is delivered to the merchant's acquirer. |
| US09070128B1 |
Methods, systems, and products for verifying account transactions
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for verifying account transactions. A transaction request is received that seeks to pre-approve a transaction for an account number. A verification character string is also received that is currently associated with the account number. If the transaction is pre-approved, then a new verification character string is assigned to the account number, such that the verification character string is changed with each transaction request. |
| US09070126B2 |
Entitlement validation system for games
An entitlement validation system for laser tag games having a laser tag vest arranged to be activatable for enabling game play has a ticketing module arranged to issue a ticket with a machine readable identification code upon payment made for a selected game, and to update a game entitlement database having identification codes matched with corresponding selected games, a ticket reader arranged to read the identification code of a ticket presented for game activation, a game controller arranged to receive the identification code transferred from the ticket reader and to activate the game equipment upon verifying of entitlement by matching the received identification code with the corresponding selected game in the database. The system may have a base station arranged as a communications link between the ticket reader and the game controller. The ticket reader may be integrated into the game equipment or installed in a validation activation station. |
| US09070123B2 |
Transaction services data system
A device may include a transaction web server. The transaction server may be configured to receive a hypertext markup language HTTP message that includes information sent from a transaction device, determine whether the message is a request to authorize a transaction or a request to settle a transaction, route a first portion of the HTTP message to a customer device to obtain an authorization from the customer device when the HTTP message is a request to authorize the transaction, and route a second portion of the HTTP message to the customer device to settle the transaction when the HTTP message is a request to settle a transaction. |
| US09070122B1 |
Host-managed gift card program
A host-managed gift card program may enable merchants to offer and redeem gift cards without integrating a gift card program with a point of sale (POS) system used by the merchant. The merchant may rely on a host, at least in part, to issue gift cards, manage a ledger, assist in redemption of gift cards when the cards are redeemed at the merchant's location, and perform other gift card-related tasks for the merchant. |
| US09070120B2 |
Identifying and displaying a set of high priority contacts on a display device
A method and apparatus for identifying and displaying a set of high priority contacts on a display device associated with an end user device. In some embodiments, the method includes retrieving high priority contact list configuration settings that include one or more criteria for identifying a set of high priority contacts from a contact list having a plurality of contacts, determining whether information associated with one or more of the plurality of contacts meets the one or more criteria retrieved, identifying the one or more of the plurality of contacts that meet the one or more criteria as a set of one or more high priority contacts, and displaying the set of one or more high priority contacts in a high priority contact list on the display device. |
| US09070117B2 |
Providing contextual information and enabling group communication for participants in a conversation
Configurations for providing a widget that displays participants involved in the conversation thread and provides different graphical elements (e.g., buttons) to initiate one click actions to start a group chat, create a meeting on each participant's calendar, or start a new conversation thread. In the case of the group chat, the subject technology can include the contents of the group chat session as an additional electronic message in the conversation thread. In one example, the widget is implemented as a floating toolbar that can be positioned in the user interface while in the conversation thread view. |
| US09070116B2 |
On-demand spam reporting
A communications device is configured to report spam on demand. The spam is reported to a spam reporting service center in a communications network. As content is received by the device, the user of the device analyzes the content to determine if the content comprises spam. If the user determines that the content comprises spam, the user triggers the device to report the spam. The content can be of any type of content or combinations of content type, such as SMS, SMS, VM, email, VVM, VVM, and advertisements. The device comprises multiple clients configured to processes, respectively, each content type. In response to receiving the trigger, the appropriate client encapsulates the content. The encapsulated content is sent to a Report Spam client to generate a spam report. The spam report includes the encapsulated content and a disposition instruction. |
| US09070114B2 |
Method for receiving email attachment on a portable electronic device
A method for downloading an attachment to an attachment viewer of a portable electronic device includes: sending an initial data request from the attachment viewer to a server in response to receipt of an email message including the attachment, building and storing a graph structure within the server representing a map of the attachment, encapsulating the graph structure in data having an attachment viewer readable format and sending an initial chunk of the data to the attachment viewer, the initial chunk of the data being stored on the portable electronic device. The initial chunk of the data is received by the portable electronic device prior to a request to view the attachment being selected by a user. |
| US09070111B2 |
Time tracking system and method of use
A method and system for billing for time spent in an instant message session by a service person for a project for a customer. A name of a sender of an instant message is retrieved from the instant message. The sender is the customer. The service person is a recipient of the instant message from the sender. The name of the sender is correlated to the project based on the name of the sender being listed in project settings previously defined by the service person. Responsive in part to an inability to identify the project based on one or more key words in the instant message, a second project on which the service person has most often worked is determined and a charge to the second project is determined for labor of the service person based on time spent by the service person in the instant message session. |
| US09070107B2 |
Modeling infrastructure for internal communication between business objects
Disclosed is an architecture that allows business objects to communicate across deployment unit boundaries. A runtime object may be defined to listen for a trigger event in an offering business object. The runtime object then assemble and communicate a message for processing by a consuming business object. User interfaces allow a user to configure a service integration definition to generate the runtime object. |
| US09070104B2 |
Cross-context task management
A method and system to manage tasks are described. The method may provide a graphical user interface to allow a user to identify a first task context and associate a plurality of first tasks with the first task context, and to identify a second task context and associate a plurality of second tasks with the second task context. The method may associate at least one of the plurality of first tasks with at least one of the plurality of second tasks. Accordingly, tasks in different contexts and sourced from different applications may be managed. |
| US09070103B2 |
Electronic management and distribution of legal information
The invention provides systems, methods, and computer programs for fulfilling requests from users wanting current information related to legal or other topics designated by the users from lists of available topics. Information related to available topics is classified by type, and at least two types of information related to the designated topic(s) and/or type(s) are provided to the user. Optionally the information, when provided, is displayed on a computer display, or provided in other physical or electronic form, and is sorted according to the type or class of information to which the information belongs. The invention also provides for the gathering and making available of such information, and for the automatic updating of information in the selected legal or other professional topic(s) without intervention by the user on a periodic and/or continual basis. |
| US09070102B2 |
Transport using geolocation
An apparatus includes a memory and a processor. The processor receives, from a transporter device, an indication of a problem associated with locating a destination site associated with the first user device. In response to receiving the indication, the processor requests the geocoordinates of the first user device. The processor confirms that a second user device is located proximate the destination site, wherein the first user device requests the geocoordinates of the second user device in response to a determination that the first user device is not located proximate the destination site. The processor receives the geocoordinates of the second user device, and communicates, to the transporter device, the geocoordinates of the second user device. |
| US09070096B2 |
Appliance and pair device for providing a reliable and redundant enterprise management solution
A system for providing a reliable and redundant enterprise management solution includes an appliance disposed at a healthcare facility and a pair device disposed at a remote facility. The appliance includes first processing circuitry, a first virtualization manager and a first synchronizer. The first processing circuitry is configured to enable execution of a plurality of applications. The first virtualization manager is configured to virtualize at least storage components and an execution environment for at least some of the applications. The pair device includes second processing circuitry, a second virtualization manager and a second synchronizer. The second processing circuitry provides redundancy for the first processing circuitry. The second virtualization manager is configured to provide redundancy with respect to the virtualized storage components and execution environment. The second synchronizer is configured to communicate with the first synchronizer to enable shifting of operations with respect to one of the applications being executed between the appliance and the pair device. A corresponding method and apparatus are also provided. |
| US09070093B2 |
System and method for generating an occupancy model
A system and method for generating an occupancy model are disclosed. The model is learned using occupancy data for zones, each zone including cells, which are occupied or not at a given time, each with a sensor, which may be reporting or not. The data provides an observed occupancy corresponding to a number of cells in the respective zone which have reporting sensors, and the number of those sensors which are reporting that the respective cell is occupied. The occupancy model is based on a demand model and a sensor noise model which accounts for behavior of the non-reporting sensors. The noise model assumes that the probability of a sensor being in the reporting state is dependent on whether the respective cell is occupied or not. The model can fit the occupancy data better than one which assumes that non-reporting cells are occupied with the same frequency as reporting ones. |
| US09070091B2 |
Method for extracting critical dimension of semiconductor nanostructure
A method for extracting a critical dimension of a semiconductor nanostructure. The method includes: 1) determining a value range for each parameter to be extracted, whereby generating an electronic spectra database, and employing training spectra and support vector machine (SVM) training networks for training of SVMs; 2) employing the SVMs after training to map measured spectra to yield a corresponding electronic spectra database; and 3) employing a searching algorithm to search for an optimum simulation spectrum in the corresponding electronic spectra database, simulation parameters corresponding to the simulation spectrum being the critical dimension of the semiconductor nanostructure to be extracted. |
| US09070084B2 |
Modification of description logic expressions
A method, executed by a computer system, or altering a base expression associated with an ontology, the method including: generating a canonical expression from the base expression; modifying the canonical expression to generate a modified canonical expression, the modification being the addition, replacement or deletion of a target update expression segment; modifying the base expression to generate a modified base expression by adding a modification sub-expression to the base expression or deleting a modification sub-expression from the base expression, the modification sub-expression being determined at least in part from the target update expression segment; generating a comparison canonical expression from the modified base expression; and comparing the comparison canonical expression with the modified canonical expression to determine whether to substitute the base expression with the modified base expression. |
| US09070083B2 |
Method for learning task skill and robot using thereof
Provided are a method for learning task skill and a robot using the same. The modeling method for learning a task skill includes: receiving training data for a task to be performed by a learning engine; dividing, by the learning engine, the received training data into segments by using a geometric property of a predetermined probabilistic model; and learning, by the learning engine, a basis skill for the divided segments by modeling each divided segment. |
| US09070080B2 |
Image forming apparatus, control method for the same, and storage medium storing a program
An image forming apparatus that can start up with an engine unit being in a non-power-distributed state and a control method for the same are provided. Information indicating the error in an engine unit is stored in a non-volatile memory, the engine unit based on the information stored in the non-volatile memory is power-distributed in a case where the image forming apparatus starts up, and if the error is detected in the engine unit that was power-distributed, notification of the error in the engine unit is made. |
| US09070068B2 |
Passive tamper-resistant seal and applications therefor
A radio frequency identification seal comprises an antenna including a main antenna portion and at least one break-away portion and an RFID tag coupled and tuned to the antenna. The RFID tag outputs a signature in response to a scanning signal when tuned to the antenna. |
| US09070062B2 |
Streamlined apparatus and methods for RFID communication
Methods and devices for receiving a data signal transmitted via load modulation, by detecting current supplied in an amplifier feeding the antenna of the device which transmits the carrier signal. |
| US09070061B2 |
Method and system for applying an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having a first filter to exclude invalid signals and a second filter to perform a validity judgment
The present invention provides an active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and an application system and method thereof. The system includes: a control processor; a coordinator; an active RFID tag, configured to perform an RF feature check first with very little time before spending more time to receive a whole valid data packet during the time period of an interception state; and a reader/writer. Therefore, the power consumption of an active RFID tag is reduced drastically. Further, the present invention also provides an active RFID tag having a plurality of fixed mode actions and the application system and method thereof, thereby improving the communication efficiency of the radio communication system and effectively reducing the probability of signal collision and mutual interference. |
| US09070054B2 |
Editing process for creating printed matter, recording medium and printer therefor
This disclosure discloses a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a printed matter production processing program for executing steps. The steps comprise an edition-screen display step, a database display step, a region-specification reception step, and a print-object arrangement step. In the edition-screen display step, an edition screen is displayed for receiving an input operation of the print object to be arranged in each of at least one block. In the database display step, a database that is stored in the memory and includes plurality of records is displayed. In the region-specification reception step, specification of a character-string including region is received. The character-string including region includes a plurality of character strings to be allocated as print objects. In the print-object arrangement step, the plurality of character strings included in the character-string including region are allocated to each of the block in accordance with a desired allocation rule. |
| US09070050B2 |
Methods and systems for customizing a plenoptic media asset
Methods and systems are described for providing customized user experiences with media assets created using plenoptic content capture technology. The ability to increase the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may allow a user to more easily track the object. Conversely, the ability to decrease the focus on different objects while the media asset is progressing may block, or cloud the display of, the object from being seen by a user. |
| US09070042B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program thereof
To enhance the accuracy of image alignment performed to reduce a vertical disparity between a first image and a second image that are images of the same object captured from different viewpoints, an image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a division unit which divides each of the first image and the second image into a plurality of sub-regions; and an extraction unit which performs feature point extraction on each of the sub-regions, wherein the extraction unit performs the feature point extraction in such a manner that a value indicating a degree of variation among the sub-regions in total number of extracted feature points is less than or equal to a predetermined value. |
| US09070038B2 |
Techniques including URL recognition and applications
Methods are systems are provided that include obtaining a digital image from a digital photograph, such as may be taken by a digital camera or a camera phone. The digital image includes, for example, a URI or URL, which may be contained within a visible frame. A character recognition technique, such as an optical character recognition technique, may be used to recognize the URI or URL from the digital image. The URI or URL may be used to access a corresponding Web page. The character recognition technique may be applied on the digital camera or cell phone itself, or remotely. |
| US09070037B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for recognizing magnetic ink character
Disclosed are a magnetic ink character recognition method, apparatus and system. The method includes: reading a magnetic signal of a magnetic ink character on a medium to be recognized; acquiring the amplitude characteristic data of the magnetic ink character according to the magnetic signal thereof; and performing spectral angle cosine match processing on the amplitude characteristic data of the magnetic ink character to obtain the recognition result of the magnetic ink character. The present method can reduce the stability requirements on the magnetic signal and improve the recognition rate of the magnetic signal. |
| US09070034B2 |
Method and system for correcting QR code image
Method and system for correcting a QR code image is provided. An initial coordination system and a correction coordination system are determined at first. Conversion coefficients are obtained according to the coordinates of the central point of each detection pattern, the coordinates of the locating point in the initial coordinate system, the correction coordinate system. For each point in the correction coordinate system, its corresponding module in the initial coordinate system is found out, and the grayscale value of that module is assigned to the point to realize the correction of the QR code image. Coordinates of the three detection patterns, the locating point in the initial coordination system, and the correction coordinate system may be readily obtained according to different version numbers. At the same time, shortcomings caused by edge detection may be avoided, and a favorable correction effect may be obtained. |
| US09070033B2 |
Stack barcode reader and stack barcode reading method
A stack barcode reader may include an imaging section configured to image the stack barcode in which character information is expressed with a bar and a space; an image memory configured to store image data of the stack barcode; a data processing section including a decoding unit and configured to decode the barcode of the stack barcode into the character information. The decoding unit may include a low-level decoding unit, a high-level decoding unit, and a decoded result selection unit for selecting a decoded result. The high-level decoding unit may include an error-correction unit. The decoded result selection unit may include a counter unit configured to count the number of error corrections and a selection unit configured to select a decoded result having the less number of corrections. |
| US09070030B2 |
Management system for container data center
A management system for a container data center (CDC) includes at least one radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a reader, a processor, an antenna module, and a wireless communication device. The RFID tag pre-stores data as to a manager of the CDC or electronic devices received in the CDC. The reader reads the data from the RFID tag, and outputs the data to the processor. The processor outputs a processing result according to the data, to the antenna module. The antenna module sends the processing result to the wireless communication device via a wireless communication system. |
| US09070029B2 |
System and method for extending range of radio frequency identification (RFID) signal communications
Systems and methods for extending the range of radio frequency identification (RFID) signal communications, including related sensing systems, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system facilitates wireless communications between a RFID reader device and RFID transponder device and includes an extender circuit. The extender circuit includes a first tank circuit including a first inductor connected in parallel with a first capacitor between first and second nodes, and a second tank circuit including a second inductor connected in parallel with a second capacitor between third and fourth nodes. The extender circuit includes a first connection including a resistor, the first connection linking the first and third nodes, and a second connection between the second and fourth nodes, where the second and fourth nodes are at or substantially at a common voltage. In at least some additional systems, the extender circuit is implemented in combination with an RFID reader or transponder device. |
| US09070023B2 |
System and method of alerting a driver that visual perception of pedestrian may be difficult
A pedestrian perception alert system configured to issue a warning during real-time when a driver's visual detection of a pedestrian is difficult, and a method thereof is provided. The system includes a video camera, an alert for issuing a warning, a processor, and a Pedestrian Detection Unit (“PDU”). The PDU analyzes the video camera image to detect a pedestrian. A Global Clutter Analysis Unit (“GCAU”) generates a global clutter score. A Local Pedestrian Clutter Analysis Unit (“LPCAU”) generates a local pedestrian clutter score. The processer processes the global clutter score and local pedestrian clutter score so as to generate a pedestrian detection score. The alert is actuated when the pedestrian detection score is outside of a predetermined threshold so as to notify the driver that perception of a pedestrian is difficult at that time. |
| US09070014B2 |
System, method and computer program product for defect detection based on multiple references
A defect detection system for computerized detection of defects, the system including: an interface for receiving inspection image data including information of an analyzed pixel and of a plurality of reference pixels; and a processor, including: a differences analysis module, configured to: (a) calculate differences based on an inspected value representative of the analyzed pixel and on multiple reference values, each of which is representative of a reference pixel among the plurality of reference pixels; wherein the differences analysis module is configured to calculate for each of the reference pixels a difference between the reference value of the reference pixel and the inspected value; and (b) compute a representative difference value based on a plurality of the differences; and a defect analysis module, configured to determine a presence of a defect in the analyzed pixel based on the representative difference value. |
| US09070012B1 |
System and method for uncued discrimination of bated features in image
A system and method are provided for uncued discrimination of a bated spatial pattern in an image electronically rendered as a frame of image data points. A reference unit establishes a general dictionary of predefined multi-dimensional reference functions, and a candidate detection unit pre-screens the frame of image data points to identify therein at least one candidate grouping of image data points collectively indicative of a predetermined spatial pattern. A sparse approximation unit coupled to the candidate detection and reference units computes for each candidate grouping an optimal reference function defined with respect to the general dictionary. The optimal reference function of each candidate grouping is projected onto a corresponding portion of the image data frame defined thereby. Each projected portion is extracted from the image data frame to leave a residual image data frame which, during iterative execution, provides the image data frame for the immediately succeeding iteration. |
| US09070009B2 |
Remote encoding center automation systems and methods
A nontransitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations. The operations can include intercepting a request for manual processing of a mail piece image. The request can be transmitted by an originating MPE having failed to resolve the mail piece image. The request can be ignored and the mail piece scan image can be forwarded to an automated mail recognition system (AMRS). If the AMRS successfully resolved the image, a response, including a plurality of addressing data corresponding to the mail piece scan image, can be received from the AMRS. If the AMRS successfully resolved the image, at least a portion of the plurality of addressing data can be transmitted to the originating MPE. If the AMRS did not successfully resolve the image, the request can be forwarded to a manual mail recognition processing system. |
| US09070007B2 |
Adjustable data reader with pivot mount
A data reading system for reading encoded data, such as barcode labels or RFID tags, from an item. The data reading system includes a housing, a data reader disposed within the housing, the data reader configured to read the encoded data from the item through a scan window on the housing. A clamp secures the housing to a receiving post on a base mount, and supports rotational movement of the housing about both a first axis and a second axis. In one configuration, the clamp and receiving post each include through holes that together form a passageway to support a communication/power cable from the base mount through the passageway and into an interior portion of the housing to communicate with and/or provide power to the data reader without limiting rotational movement of the housing. |
| US09070004B2 |
Automatic segmentation and characterization of cellular motion
The present techniques provide for the evaluation of cellular motion and/or cellular properties based on an analysis of motion for cluster of cells. In an exemplary technique, images of cells are acquired and the image is segmented into clusters. Motion data for each respective cluster is derived from the segmented data. The properties of each cluster can be used to evaluate cellular properties and/or cellular motion properties. |
| US09070002B2 |
Method of performing fingerprint matching
The method of performing fingerprint matching includes a matching algorithm that combines affine moment invariants (AMIs) and translation, rotation and scaling invariants (TRS) based on moments analysis without requiring minutiae detection. Preprocessing normalizes the fingerprint image using the Federal Bureau of Investigation's wavelet scalar quantification (WSQ) compression standard definition. Analysis of the orientation field reliably and accurately determines the reference point. The area within a predetermined range around the detected reference point is used as a region of interest (ROI) for feature extraction. A directional filter bank transform (DFB) obtains directional components of the image. An invariant moment analysis on sub-bands of the filtered images extracts features while limiting the effects of noise and non-linear distortions. Absolute distance is used to match the fingerprints. |
| US09069995B1 |
Multiply accumulate operations in the analog domain
Fixed capacitive circuits are described which perform arithmetical summation operations over sets of scaled analog values, where the constant parameters of the summations and scaling multiplications are formed as ratios of circuit element values. The passive nature of the design can enable efficient integrated circuit implementation. |
| US09069991B2 |
Flat panel display with display signal input socket having safeguarding terminal
An exemplary flat panel display includes a micro processing unit, a display signal input socket defining a safeguarding terminal, an input interface configured for a user to input a user code, a first storage unit storing a security code, and a second storage unit storing a safeguarding mark. The micro processing unit is configured to monitor a voltage applied to the safeguarding terminal, detect a status of the safeguarding mark, compare the user code with the security code according to the status of the safeguarding mark, and output a control signal according to a result of the comparison. |
| US09069990B2 |
Secure information storage system and method
The present invention systems and methods facilitate secure communication of information between devices. A present invention system and method can enable secure communication of proprietary content in a HDCP compliant configuration. In one embodiment, a high definition content protection key secure management method is utilized to enable efficient and secure storage of a HDCP key. A high definition content protection key value is received. The high definition content protection key is encrypted utilizing a secure key value, wherein the secure key value is not accessible via an external port. In one exemplary implementation, the secure key is stored in fuses included in a processing unit. The results of said encrypting in a memory (e.g., a BIOS memory, flash memory, etc.). |
| US09069988B2 |
Detecting key corruption
Corruption in a key stored in a memory is detected by reading a key from a key memory and determining if detection bits of the key read from the key memory correspond to an expected value. The expected value is a value of the detection bits of the key when the key is written to the key memory. |
| US09069982B2 |
Automated redaction of documents based on security-level determination
Described herein are systems and methods for managing electronic documents. In particular, embodiments of the present invention are focussed on managing ingestion of documents into an information system, such as ingestion of documents generated by a device having scanning functionality. Embodiments include devices, software (defined by computer executable code), carrier media, and methodologies. In overview, a document is received from an ingestion source, such as a Multi Function Device (MFD) having a scanner. For example, the document is a scanned into an electronic form from a paper form. This electronic form is subjected to additional processing thereby to implement a predefined security protocol prior to the document (or a modified version thereof) being released into an information system. |
| US09069981B2 |
Federation of email
A method of federating electronic mail (e-mail). A request can be received from a first user to view at least one e-mail of a second user, the request including at least one identifier corresponding to the second user and a criteria indicating a subject matter of the e-mail. The method further can include verifying whether the first user is authorized to access the e-mail of the second user that satisfies the criteria. Responsive to determining that the first user is authorized to view the e-mail of the second user that satisfies the criteria, the first user can be provided access to view the at least one e-mail that satisfies the criteria. |
| US09069980B2 |
Methods and systems for securing data by providing continuous user-system binding authentication
Devices, methods, and computer programs are presented for managing data security. One example method includes receiving user identification information from a screen of a device that is connectable to a database of secure information. The method proceeds to authenticating of the user identification information. The authenticating includes capturing image data of a user associated with the user identification information. The method further includes providing access to the database of secure information upon authenticating the user identification information, such that while the access is provided the capturing of the image data of the user is maintained. The method includes recording data of user interactive input and viewed images displayed on the screen while the access provided. The method binds the captured image data of the user to the recorded data to produce audit data for the user when accessing the database of secure information. The method is executed by a processor. |
| US09069978B2 |
Data storage device and data protection method
A flash memory includes a plurality of blocks. A controller encrypts a first file to produce a first encrypted file and stores the first encrypted file to the flash memory, wherein the controller further comprises a key generation module, an encryption/decryption module and a key eliminating module. The key generation module produces a first key according to a first write command of a host device, wherein the first key is stored in a first block of the blocks. The encryption/decryption module encrypts the first file according to the first key to produce a first encrypted file, wherein the first encrypted file is stored in at least one second block of the blocks. The key eliminating module deletes the first key stored in the first block according to a first eliminating command in order to invalidate the first encrypted file stored in the second block. |
| US09069977B2 |
Hybrid server with heterogeneous memory
A method, hybrid server system, and computer program product, for managing access to data stored on the hybrid server system. A memory system residing at a server is partitioned into a first set of memory managed by the server and a second set of memory managed by a set of accelerator systems. The set of accelerator systems are communicatively coupled to the server. The memory system comprises heterogeneous memory types. A data set stored within at least one of the first set of memory and the second set of memory that is associated with at least one accelerator system in the set of accelerator systems is identified. The data set is transformed from a first format to a second format, wherein the second format is a format required by the at least one accelerator system. |
| US09069975B2 |
Device and method for concealing customer information from a customer service representative
A method of concealing customer-provided information from an operator during a telephone conversation between the operator and a customer includes receiving dual-tone-multi-frequency-encoded customer information via a telephone connection to a customer telephone and generating a request asking the customer to confirm the information. The method also includes converting the dual-tone-multi-frequency-encoded customer information into an ASCII data stream and sending the ASCII data stream to a computing device, whereby the operator is unable to discern the customer information. |
| US09069965B2 |
System and method for secure information handling system flash memory access
Firmware updates at an information handling system flash memory device, such as provisioning information stored on a USB device, are securely performed by using a buffer memory and a secured code. An application running on a CPU generates a firmware update and a security code, such as a ciphered hash code based on the firmware update, stores the firmware update and security code in a buffer, and informs a management processor of the update. The management processor analyzes the firmware update to authorize copying of the update from the buffer to the flash memory device. For instance, the management processor creates the security code from the firmware update and compares the created code with the security code stored in the buffer to validate the firmware update. |
| US09069962B2 |
Evaluation of a fast and robust worm detection algorithm
A method and computer product are presented for identifying Internet worm propagation based upon changes in packet arrival rates at a network connection. First, unsolicited (i.e., packets that were not requested by the receiver) traffic is separated from solicited traffic at the network connection. The unsolicited traffic arrival patterns are monitored and analyzed for any changes. Once changes in the unsolicited traffic arrival patterns are detected, the changes are mathematically analyzed to detect growth trends. The presence of growth trends that follow certain key characteristics indicate whether the changes are due to worm propagation. |
| US09069960B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for avoiding an on-access scan of data accessible by a collaborative portal application after an on-demand scan
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for avoiding an on-access scan of data after an on-demand scan of the data. In use, an on-demand scan is performed on data accessible by a collaborative portal application. Further, an on-access scan of the data is avoided, after the on-demand scan. |
| US09069953B2 |
Method for checking data consistency in a system on chip
The invention aims to provide a method and a system on chip able to detect at once hardware and software errors to prevent manipulations for retrieving cryptographic keys, inserting or suppressing instructions to bypass security processes, modifying programs or memory content etc. The system on chip comprises a core including at least two processors, registers, and a data consistency check module. The core is connected to at least one set of memories containing zones for instructions of a first program and of a second program, said instructions being to be executed respectively by the first and second processor, which respectively produce and store result data into the registers and the memories. The data consistency check module is configured to verify conformity of the produced result data by comparing a test result obtained by carrying out a predetermined function F over one of the first or second result data with the corresponding second or first result data and to continue execution of instructions of each program when the comparison is successful, or stop execution when the comparison shows an error. |
| US09069951B2 |
Inferring security decisions from trusted users
Inferring security decisions from trusted users, including: identifying, by a security inference module on a computing device, a candidate application to be installed on the computing device; identifying, by the security inference module, one or more trusted users; identifying, by the security inference module, trusted user installation activity associated with the candidate application; and determining, by the security inference module, whether to install the candidate application in dependence upon the trusted user installation activity associated with the candidate application. |
| US09069948B2 |
Methods, systems, and media for measuring quality of gesture-based passwords
Methods, systems, and media for measuring gesture-based password quality are provided, the methods comprising: receiving a first image; receiving a proposed password; identifying points of interest in the image each associated with an attribute; receiving a gesture selection function sequence, with a plurality of gesture selection functions each associated with a gesture type and a point of interest attribute; determining that a subset of points of interest in the image have attributes corresponding to attributes associated of a gesture selection function sequence; generating a possible password based on the gesture selection function sequence; determining and presenting a relative strength of the proposed password based on whether the proposed password matches the possible password. |
| US09069947B2 |
Privileged account manager, access management
Techniques for managing accounts are provided. An access management system may check out credentials for accessing target systems. For example a user may receive a password for a period of time or until checked back in. Access to the target system may be logged during this time. Upon the password being checked in, a security account may modify the password so that the user may not log back in without checking out a new password. Additionally, in some examples, password policies for the security account may be managed. As such, when a password policy changes, the security account password may be dynamically updated. Additionally, in some examples, hierarchical viewing perspectives may be determined and/or selected for visualizing one or more managed accounts. Further, accounts may be organized into groups based on roles, and grants for the accounts may be dynamically updated as changes occur or new accounts are managed. |
| US09069944B2 |
Managing passwords used when detecting information on configuration items disposed on a network
Disclosed embodiments include a method for receiving, at a configuration information server, an encrypted password associated with a configuration item, where the encrypted password is encrypted using an encryption key. The method further includes encrypting a decrypted password to generate a reencrypted password, where the decrypted password is derived from the encrypted password. The method further includes transmitting the reencrypted password to the configuration item and removing the decrypted password from the configuration information collection server. |
| US09069934B1 |
Method and system for providing electronic content to a user
A method and system for providing a user with digital content includes a user interface provided to a user for allowing the user to be presented with the digital content. The method and system includes receiving authentication information from the user and authenticating the user if the authentication method correctly corresponds with previously stored information of the user. As a result, the user has access to the digital content, wherein the digital content is information from a third party, e.g., a vendor of goods or services or information provider, based on a user profile which comprises user preferences. The digital content is then presented to the user interface. |
| US09069932B2 |
User-rotatable three-dimensionally rendered object for unlocking a computing device
A computer-implemented method for controlling access to a computing device entails displaying a user-rotatable three-dimensionally rendered object on a display of the computing device, the object presenting a plurality of user-selectable visual indicia such that only a subset of the indicia are visible at any one angle of rotation and providing access to the computing device based on user input received in relation to at least one of the visual indicia. The object may be spherical or polyhedral or it may be composed of a plurality of independently rotatable rings that together form a generally spherical shape. The visual indicia may be letters, numbers, symbols, colours, photographs or any other visually distinctive indication. |
| US09069928B2 |
Analog processor comprising quantum devices
Analog processors for solving various computational problems are provided. Such analog processors comprise a plurality of quantum devices, arranged in a lattice, together with a plurality of coupling devices. The analog processors further comprise bias control systems each configured to apply a local effective bias on a corresponding quantum device. A set of coupling devices in the plurality of coupling devices is configured to couple nearest-neighbor quantum devices in the lattice. Another set of coupling devices is configured to couple next-nearest neighbor quantum devices. The analog processors further comprise a plurality of coupling control systems each configured to tune the coupling value of a corresponding coupling device in the plurality of coupling devices to a coupling. Such quantum processors further comprise a set of readout devices each configured to measure the information from a corresponding quantum device in the plurality of quantum devices. |
| US09069919B1 |
Method and system for arbitration verification
A method for providing port arbitration verification for a design under test (DUT) is provided. The method includes sampling the availability of ports at a predetermined number of clock cycles prior to an arbitration point. The method predicts a winner at each of the clock cycles and determines a verification result based on a match between one of the predicted winners and an actual arbitration winner for the DUT. |
| US09069915B2 |
Identifying and routing poison tuples in a streaming application
A method for processing a stream of tuples may comprise receiving a stream of tuples to be processed by a plurality of processing elements operating on one or more computer processors. In addition, the method may include generating a model of performance for processing the stream of tuples at runtime, wherein one or more tuples from the stream of tuples potentially cause adverse performance. Further, the method may comprise predicting a parameter for a tuple from the stream of tuples, the parameter indicating a potential for adverse performance, the predicting including using the model. The method may also include modifying processing of the tuple if the parameter falls outside a threshold. |
| US09069914B2 |
Method and system for fabricating a wax model of a dental coping configured to fit a tooth preparation
A wax model of a required coping is produced using CNC machining techniques based on a virtual model of the coping created from digital data obtained from the intraoral cavity. The dental coping is then fabricated from the wax model. |
| US09069910B2 |
Mechanism for facilitating dynamic cancellation of signal crosstalk in differential input/output channels
A mechanism is described for facilitating dynamic cancellation of signal crosstalk in input/output differential channels according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments may include detecting crosstalk between a first differential signal channel pair (“differential pair”) and a second differential pair of a plurality of differential pairs at a computing system, and switching polarity relating to the first transmission links of the first differential pair to cancel out the crosstalk with the second differential pair. |
| US09069909B2 |
Server and identifier synchronization method
A server and an identifier synchronization method are provided, and the server includes a network card, hardware peripherals and a basic input output system. The network card stores at least one identifier. The basic input output system starts operating to acquire the at least one identifier of the network card and write the at least one identifier into each hardware peripheral after the server is booted. |
| US09069907B2 |
Abstracting special file interfaces to concurrently support multiple operating system levels
Some examples include a system, a computer program product, an apparatus, and the like, configured to perform operations to access, in response to a request by a first instance of an operating system, data stored in a memory of a kernel of a second instance of the operating system. The operations are further to determine whether the data stored in the memory of the kernel of the second instance of the operating system is in a data format that is compatible with the first instance of the operating system. The operations are further to provide the data in the data format that is compatible with the first instance of the operating system. For instance, in some examples, the operations are to determine that the data is in a format incompatible with the first instance of the operating system, and reformat the data in the data format compatible with the first instance of the operating system. |
| US09069899B2 |
Integrating diagnostic information in development environment
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to assisting software development. In aspects, a software development environment may display code and information about the code on a user interface. In one example, the information includes diagnostic information about the code. The information may be represented by actionable tags that allow the software developer to drill-down and obtain more detailed information about the code. The information may be automatically obtained by the software development environment in a way that does not interfere with the development activities of the software developer. The actionable tags are displayed in close proximity to code with which they are associated. |
| US09069896B2 |
Data processor device for handling a watchpoint and method thereof
During a debug mode of operation of a data processor, it is determined at the data processor that a watchpoint event has occurred, and in response, an operating condition of a trace FIFO that stores trace information not yet communicated to a debugger is changed. For example, the occurrence of a FIFO flush watchpoint results in trace information being flushed from the trace FIFO before the trace information has been communicated to a trace analyzer. |
| US09069890B2 |
Ranking of computing equipment configurations for satisfying requirements of virtualized computing environments based on an overall performance efficiency
Performance test data of a plurality of virtualization computing equipment configurations is collected and stored for each of a plurality of virtualization computing performance categories. At a computing device, data is received that describes requirements for virtualization computing services. Virtualization computing equipment configurations among the plurality of virtualization computing equipment configurations are identified that are capable of satisfying the requirements. For each identified virtualization computing equipment configuration, a measure of efficiency is determined for each of the plurality of performance categories based on the requirements and the virtualization computing performance test data. From the efficiency measure computed for the plurality of performance categories, a score is generated that represents the overall performance efficiency for each identified virtualization computing equipment configuration. |
| US09069888B2 |
Tracking errors in a computing system
Tracking errors in a computing system that includes a plurality of current error buckets and a plurality of historical error buckets, including: inserting, by an error repository manager into a current error bucket, error information describing a first error identified by a timestamp; moving, by the error repository manager, the error information in the current error bucket to a historical error bucket upon the expiration of the bucket interval, wherein each historical error bucket has a storage interval determined in dependence upon the base time interval associated with the error and a bucket number associated with the historical error bucket; and moving, by the error repository manager, the error information in a source historical error bucket to a destination historical error bucket upon the expiration of the storage interval associated with the source historical error bucket. |
| US09069887B2 |
Patient-specific medication management system
Systems for use with a medical device for reducing medication errors are provided. In one aspect, a system includes a medical device that is configurable with operating limit parameters for providing medication to a patient, and a limiting system. The limiting system includes a memory that includes patient-specific information for the patient and a database includes acceptable operating parameters for providing the medication to the patient using the medical device, and a processor. The processor is configured to compare the acceptable operating parameters with the patient-specific information, and provide a modification of the operating limit parameters for providing the medication to the patient based on the comparison of the acceptable operating parameters with the patient-specific information. Methods and machine-readable media are also provided. |
| US09069881B2 |
Adaptation of probing frequency for resource consumption
Embodiments of the invention relate to dynamically assessing and managing probing of a system for resource availability. A predicted resource usage pattern is acquired, and critical points in the pattern pertaining to predicted changes in resource consumption are identified. Probing the system for resource availability is limited to the identified critical points, or to real-time changes in the resource usage pattern. |
| US09069880B2 |
Prediction and isolation of patterns across datasets
Various embodiments pertain to techniques for predicting and isolating patterns or trends across datasets. In various embodiments, one or more Q-entities are extracted from a data seed, associated with one or more dimensions, and classified into one or more clusters for each dimension with which it is associated. In some embodiments, a Q-entity can exist in more than one dimension and/or more than one cluster within a dimension. Once information from the data seed is associated with a dimension and cluster, frequency analysis can be utilized to ascertain a pattern or trend in the data. In various embodiments, additional data can be processed, added to the dimensions and clusters, and frequency analysis can be performed on the updated dataset to provide additional information on the pattern or trend. |
| US09069874B2 |
Webpage content search method and system
An information locating method and system. The method includes presenting by a computer processor, a Webpage to a user. The computer processor receives a search command for performing a search function associated with the Webpage. In response, the computer processor: analyzes source code of the Webpage; downloads and analyzes files associated with the Webpage; and analyzes viewable information of the Webpage. The computer processor locates specified information associated with the Webpage. |
| US09069870B2 |
Client-side aggregation of context-sensitive request results where results for aggregation are asynchronously produced by multiple servers
The present invention discloses a solution for handling HTTP requests for content produced asynchronously by multiple servers, where a requesting client aggregates content. In the solution, a client can issue a content request to a request receiving server. The content request can define a request context. The request receiving server can deliver initial content including placeholders to the client, can issue asynchronous requests to multiple placeholder content servers, and can thereafter terminate threads/processes and can free resources involved in handling the request context. Each of the placeholder content servers can process one of the asynchronous requests and can convey placeholder content results to a result distribution service. The result distribution service can provide the client with the placeholder content. The client can aggregate the content from all sources. |
| US09069864B2 |
Prioritizing a content item for a user
The disclosed subject matter relates to methods for prioritizing a content item for a user. In one aspect, a method includes receiving user authentication events corresponding to a user account. A user is associated with the user account. The method further includes determining a time distribution of the received user authentication events. The method further includes constructing, based on the determination, a content prioritization user model corresponding to the user associated with the user account. The method further includes receiving a content item associated with the user. The method further includes associating, based on the content prioritization user model, a content priority value with the content item. The content priority value corresponds to a predicted aspect of the user. |
| US09069860B2 |
Computer-aided extraction of semantics from keywords to confirm match of buyer offers to seller bids
One embodiment involves a method and apparatus for mapping lexical keywords into entity description semantics in order to create unambiguous buyer-confirmed descriptions of entities. The method described herein relies on a computer program and some mechanism for computer data storage. |
| US09069859B2 |
Search query processing
Providing search results is disclosed. A search query is received and a plurality of preprocessing functions to be performed on the search query is determined based at least in part on a search label corresponding to the search query. The plurality of preprocessing functions is performed on the search query to obtain a plurality of preprocessed search queries. Based at least in part on precision levels associated with the plurality of preprocessed search queries, a search plan comprising a selected preprocessed search query is generated. The search plan is input to the search engine to obtain the search results. |
| US09069854B2 |
Facilitating browsing of result sets
A method of facilitating the browsing of a plurality of result sets by a user. The method includes displaying a plurality of queries on a computer display, each query having a corresponding result set, the plurality of queries thereby constituting a set of displayed queries, and displaying the result set of a selected displayed query in response to the user selecting the query from the set of displayed queries via a user interface procedure, while continuing to display the set of displayed queries so the user can subsequently select other queries from the set of displayed queries to thereby interleave browsing the result sets of the queries in the set of displayed queries. |
| US09069851B2 |
Client application integrating web browsing and network data stream processing for realtime communications
A graphical user interface is displayed. The graphical user interface includes at least one communication control for managing communications with other network nodes and at least one browser control for navigating to different network resource addresses. Human perceptible realtime output is generated from realtime communication data relating to a realtime communication session with at least one other client network node. In the process of generating of at least some of the human perceptible realtime output, operation of the client network node is managed based on at least one performance target. In the graphical user interface, a graphical representation of a network resource identified in connection with the browser control is displayed. |
| US09069847B2 |
Data visualization methods, data visualization devices, data visualization apparatuses, and articles of manufacture
Data visualization methods, data visualization devices, data visualization apparatuses, and articles of manufacture are described according to some aspects. In one aspect, a data visualization method includes accessing a plurality of initial documents at a first moment in time, first processing the initial documents providing processed initial documents, first identifying a plurality of first associations of the initial documents using the processed initial documents, generating a first visualization depicting the first associations, accessing a plurality of additional documents at a second moment in time after the first moment in time, second processing the additional documents providing processed additional documents, second identifying a plurality of second associations of the additional documents and at least some of the initial documents, wherein the second identifying comprises identifying using the processed initial documents and the processed additional documents, and generating a second visualization depicting the second associations. |
| US09069840B2 |
Matching data from disparate sources
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive a first identification of two or more records that match and to search at least two sources of data to locate a set of potential matching records, based on element transformation to determine common characteristics of the two or more records. Further activities may include publishing the set of potential matching records, receiving a second identification of matching members of the set, and searching at least one repository to locate further matching records based on the second identification and the common characteristics. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US09069838B2 |
Dimensionally constrained synthetic context objects database
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product generate and utilize a dimensionally constrained hierarchical synthetic context-based object library for multiple synthetic context-based objects. A non-contextual data object is associated with a context object to define a synthetic context-based object, where the non-contextual data object ambiguously relates to multiple subject-matters, and where the context object provides a context that identifies a specific subject-matter, from the multiple subject-matters, of the non-contextual data object. The synthetic context-based object is then associated with at least one specific data store, which includes data that is associated with data contained in the non-contextual data object and the context object. A dimensionally constrained hierarchical synthetic context-based object library for multiple synthetic context-based objects is then constructed for handling requests for data stores. |
| US09069836B2 |
Reusable multimodal application
A method and system are disclosed herein for accepting multimodal inputs and deriving synchronized and processed information. A reusable multimodal application is provided on the mobile device. A user transmits a multimodal command to the multimodal platform via the mobile network. The one or more modes of communication that are inputted are transmitted to the multimodal platform(s) via the mobile network(s) and thereafter synchronized and processed at the multimodal platform. The synchronized and processed information is transmitted to the multimodal application. If required, the user verifies and appropriately modifies the synchronized and processed information. The verified and modified information are transferred from the multimodal application to the visual application. The final result(s) are derived by inputting the verified and modified results into the visual application. |
| US09069831B2 |
Retrieving data objects
Provided are techniques for generating a Graphical User Interface (GUI) based on relationships between tables identified in a data model and displaying the GUI to enable selection of the tables and columns in the tables. Via the GUI, a selection of at least one of the tables and a selection of at least one of the columns in the at least one of the selected tables are received. A statement is generated based on the selected tables and the selected columns. The statement is executed to obtain results. The results are processed to create a data object having a hierarchical structure that indicates the relationships between the tables. |
| US09069829B2 |
Data items manager
An items manager can request and receive data items from a data source via a data source adapter. The items manager can also maintain a list of data representation items representing data items. The data representation items can include user interface elements. Also, maintaining the list can include invoking a renderer to render the data representation items from the data items received from the data source, and including the data representation items in the list. The items manager can provide a client with an enumeration through the list of data representation items. The items manager may also provide other features, such as providing the client with notifications of changes to the list of data representation items. |
| US09069827B1 |
System and method for adjusting membership of a data replication group
A system that implements a data storage service may store data on behalf of storage service clients. The system may maintain data in multiple replicas of partitions that are stored on respective computing nodes in the system. A master replica for a replica group may increment a membership version indicator for the group, and may propagate metadata (including the membership version indicator) indicating a membership change for the group to other members of the group. Propagating the metadata may include sending a log record containing the metadata to the other replicas to be appended to their respective logs. Once the membership change becomes durable, it may be committed. A replica attempting to become the master of a replica group may determine that another replica in the group has observed a more recent membership version, in which case logs may be synchronized or snipped, or the attempt may be abandoned. |
| US09069825B1 |
Search dialogue user interface
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for a search dialog user interface. In one aspect, a method includes displaying a search using interface, comprising: a search dialog user interface in which a plurality of search threads are initiated, each search thread comprising a plurality of entries, wherein the entries comprise: one or more query messages, each query message being descriptive of one or more search criteria, one or more result messages, each result message being a message describing criteria for a corresponding search and that is responsive to one or more preceding query messages within the search thread; and a search result display location in which search results corresponding to an active result message are displayed. |
| US09069821B2 |
Method of processing files in storage system and data server using the method
The present invention relates to a file processing method using a data server included in a storage system, such as a Network File System (NFS) or a Distributed File System (DFS). When a file request is received from a client, a file corresponding to the request is loaded. Processing requested by the client is performed on the loaded file. A result file on which the processing has been performed is generated and transmitted to the client. Accordingly, the redundant resources of the data server can be sufficiently used, unnecessary data transmission can be reduced, and the resources of the storage system can be efficiently used. |
| US09069818B2 |
Textual search for numerical properties
A textual search index is used to identify data objects that have numerical properties that satisfy search queries. As described herein, a search index contains search index entries, each of which specifies a reference string and a set of data object identifiers. When an original search query is received, the search query is transformed into a transformed search query such that numerical comparison query elements in the original search query are transformed into equivalent textual comparison query elements. The search index is then used to identify ones of the data objects that satisfy the transformed search query. A list of the identified data objects may then be provided in response to the original search query. |
| US09069816B2 |
Distributed multi-step abstract queries
Techniques for incorportating query results into an abstract database are described. Embodiments receive a first set of query results produced by executing a first abstract query using a first data abstraction model against a first database. One or more mappings between the first set of query results and one or more logical fields in a second data abstraction model are then determined, where the second data abstraction model models underlying physical data in a manner making a schema of the physical data transparent to a user of the second data abstraction model. Embodiments modify one or more logical field definitions to reference the first set of query results using the determined one or more mappings, such that abstract queries can be executed against both the second database and the first set of query results using the modified second data abstraction model. |
| US09069812B1 |
Method and apparatus for assembling a business document
A method for creating an integrated business document with updates is provided. The method may include creating at least one input document. Input documents may be comprised of assets. Assets may be data presentation items such as graphs, charts or tables. Source documents may be stored in an asset library. Software may be used to construct an integrated business document which may be in the form of slides. The software may be augmented by a plug-in. The plug-in may provide access to assets from the asset library. The plug-in may allow the user to select assets and integrate them into a business document. The integrated business documents (or slides) may be stored in a presentation library. The presentation library may allow a user to update the assets in the integrated business document using currently available data. |
| US09069807B2 |
Method and system for implementing an array using different data structures
Disclosed are a method and system for implementing an array data type of a programming language using various data structures. The disclosed method includes a plurality of implementations in which the array data type may be implemented. The implementations provide an efficient way to retrieve elements from the array, especially in the order they are inserted into the array. The data structures also minimize the computing resources required to manage and access the array. The disclosed technique also selects one of the many implementations based on criteria such as access pattern or size of the array. |
| US09069797B1 |
System and method for file system simulation
The invention is a system and method for generating a file system model at a selected point in time without requiring sequential generation of file system models for each point in time prior to the selected point in time. Present data modeling require that data be generated using some initial point, then passed through time intervals in order to simulate the data at a later point in time. The invention does not require sequential data generation. Instead, any arbitrary point in time may be selected, and the data may be modeled at that selected timepoint. The invention stores a compact representation of file system data for each timepoint. Whenever a user wants to simulate data at some timepoint, the proper compact representation is selected and expanded to produce a simulation of the data at that timepoint. |
| US09069792B1 |
Method and system for persistently cached, copy-on-write view of revision control trees
A method and system for efficient usage of revision control system resources by providing a client-based file system tree based on managed cache resources is provided. The managed cache resources include both a persistent, disk-based cache that maintains copies of requested file data from a repository server and an ordered tree data structure-based metadata cache for tracking file metadata across revisions. Embodiments of the present invention further maintain in the data cache data related only to specifically requested files. Embodiments of the present invention further track a range of versions of the file system tree for which particular file versions are applicable, so that unnecessary downloading to the client of unchanged files is avoided. Thus, file data and metadata are only requested from a repository server when needed and only a single version of a file is maintained until a modification to that file is made. |
| US09069789B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing metadata in portable terminal
A method and apparatus for managing metadata in a portable terminal are provided. The method includes, upon insertion of an external memory, acquiring a unique identifier of an external memory, determining whether a record having information identical to information of a file included in the external memory exists if the unique identifier is identical to a previously stored unique identifier, and reusing metadata included in the record if the record exists. |
| US09069785B2 |
Stream locality delta compression
Stream locality delta compression is disclosed. A previous stream indicated locale of data segments is selected. A first data segment is then determined to be similar to a data segment in the stream indicated locale. |
| US09069783B1 |
Active-active scale-out for unified data path architecture
A technique for processing IO requests in a data storage system provides active-active access to pooled data objects from multiple storage processors. Data objects, which may include both block-based objects and file-based objects, are realized in the form of respective files stored in a set of clustered internal file systems of the data storage system. For providing active-active access to a data object, each of multiple storage processors operates such a clustered file system, which coordinates with a clustered file system on each of the other storage processors to present a consistent file system image having a single namespace across all such storage processors. On each storage processor, the clustered file system is built upon a clustered storage pool, which maintains consistency with each of the clustered storage pools running on each of the other storage processors, to present a consistent image of storage allocation across all storage processors. |
| US09069781B2 |
Techniques to automatically manage file descriptors
Techniques to automatically manage file descriptors are described. An apparatus may comprise a processor circuit and a file descriptor application operative on the processor circuit to manage file descriptors for content files, the file descriptor application arranged to receive a file descriptor request from a client application, generate a file descriptor or file descriptor construct information for a content file, and send a file descriptor response with the file descriptor or file descriptor construct information to the client application. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09069777B2 |
Persistent folder associations for personal internet communicator
In a personal Internet communication device, a system for directing the storage of files uses a file navigation program to control the location of where files may be stored by the user. With the system, attempts to save files by the file navigation program are directed to a predefined or default storage location in a fixed directory structure. All other applications on the person Internet communicator may also be modified to control file save operations. The person Internet communicator is further configured to maintain the file save associations with the predefined or default storage location, even when the user has previously saved files to another location. |
| US09069775B2 |
Methods and devices for generating directories
A method and a device for directory generation are provided in the present disclosure. The method comprises searching a directory byte stream in a text file. The directory byte stream includes a predetermined directory key byte corresponding to a predetermined directory character. The method also comprises generating a directory of the text file based on the directory byte stream. |
| US09069774B1 |
Graphical visualization and management of networks
A method is disclosed. A graphical representation is displayed of a network map of a network. A context indication is received for a network information specification for a first network segment of the network displayed on the graphical representation of the network map of the network. A first information is displayed on the graphical representation for the first network segment in response to the context indication. An action indication is received for a network management specification for the first network segment based at least in part on an interaction with the graphical representation of the network. The first network segment is modified based at least in part on the network management specification in response to the action indication. |
| US09069773B2 |
Multimedia data delivery
An information delivery method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor a video file, an audio file, associated data files, and associated message files The computer processor stores the video file in a first layer of a multimedia file, the audio file in a second layer of the multimedia file, the data files in first additional layers of the multimedia file, and the message files in second additional layers of the multimedia file. The computer processor stores the multimedia file on a computer readable storage medium. |
| US09069766B2 |
Content-based isolation for computing device security
The subject disclosure is directed towards securing a computing device using content-based isolation. When the computing device requests content data having different ownership, a monitor component identifies and groups trusted portions of the content data into one or more isolation containers such that only trusted programs are permitted access. Other programs are, therefore, untrusted and can be denied access in order to prevent malicious activity, unless access is approved by the content owner. |
| US09069764B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating communication between users receiving a common media asset
Methods and systems are described herein for providing a media guidance application that identifies users accessing the same media asset, determines which users desire to communicate with each other, and provides an asset-integrated notification to each of the users desiring to communicate, facilitating communication between the users. For example, other users with a desire to communicate with an initial user that are accessing the same media asset as the initial user may be indicated by inserting a media element representative of the other users directly into the media asset watched by an initial user. |
| US09069757B2 |
Speech morphing communication system
A communication system is described. The communication system including an automatic speech recognizer configured to receive a speech signal and to convert the speech signal into a text sequence. The communication system also including a speech analyzer configured to receive the speech signal. The speech analyzer configured to extract paralinguistic characteristics from the speech signal. In addition, the communication system includes a voice analyzer configured to receive the speech signal. The voice analyzer configured to generate one or more phonemes based on the speech signal. The communication system includes a speech output device coupled with the automatic speech recognizer, the speech analyzer and the voice analyzer. The speech output device configured to convert the text sequence into an output speech signal based on the extracted paralinguistic characteristics and said one or more phonemes. |
| US09069755B2 |
N-gram model smoothing with independently controllable parameters
Described is a technology by which a probability is estimated for a token in a sequence of tokens based upon a number of zero or more times (actual counts) that the sequence was observed in training data. The token may be a word in a word sequence, and the estimated probability may be used in a statistical language model. A discount parameter is set independently of interpolation parameters. If the sequence was observed at least once in the training data, a discount probability and an interpolation probability are computed and summed to provide the estimated probability. If the sequence was not observed, the probability is estimated by computing a backoff probability. Also described are various ways to obtain the discount parameter and interpolation parameters. |
| US09069753B2 |
Determining proximity measurements indicating respective intended inputs
Determination of proximity measurements indicative of respective intended inputs are disclosed. User inputs are received, where each user input is one of a predefined plurality of inputs that each map to multiple characters in a language. Rates of user selections of candidates decoded from the user inputs into the language are received, where each of the candidates includes one or more characters in the language. User inputs for the candidates having low rates of selection as non-selected user inputs are identified. User inputs for the candidates having high rates of selection as intended inputs are identified. The intended user inputs to the non-selected user inputs are compared to identify one or more misspelled input and intended input pairs. A proximity measurement for each misspelled input and intended input pair is determined based on a ratio of the number of times corresponding candidates for the misspelled input were not selected to the number of times the misspelled input was entered. |
| US09069748B2 |
Selective generation and display of data items associated with a spreadsheet
A system and method for creating a report in a spreadsheet is disclosed. The system and method identifies a source of data items associated with the spreadsheet. The data items that are associated with the report that is generated in the spreadsheet are identified. A display including a field pane with an active tab and an all tab. The active tab displaying those data items that are determined to be associated with the report that is being generated in the spreadsheet. The all tab displaying all of the data items associated with the spreadsheet. |
| US09069742B1 |
Information processing apparatus
A memory stores therein a program status word containing an address of data that is to be read when an interrupt process is executed. a processor determines whether or not the program status word stored in the memory is available, controls the memory to stores a determination result in the memory in association with the program status word, acquires the program status word and the determination result from the memory when the interrupt process occurs, and reads data on the basis of the address contained in the acquired program status word when the acquired determination result indicates that the program status word is available. |
| US09069735B2 |
Systems and methods for integrated application platforms
Systems and methods for integrated application platforms in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computing device configured to execute an application platform application includes a processor, an operating system configuring the processor to create a computing environment, the application platform application at least partially natively implemented and creates an application runtime environment for cross-platform applications to execute non-natively, the application platform application including a rendering engine process configured to render pages by interpreting instructions and implement a virtual machine configured to execute instructions and an integration process that enables instructions executing within the virtual machine to launch natively implemented applications wherein the application platform application includes a pop up page file containing instructions written in the rendering language that cause the rendering engine process to render a pop up page and wherein the application platform application is configured to launch a natively implemented application. |
| US09069733B1 |
Enterprise architecture diagramming systems and methods
An enterprise architecture storage and organization system is provided which includes user-editable webpages to display enterprise architecture content. The webpages are organized in a framework, such as the Zachman Framework. The framework may comprise a plurality of units grouped into a plurality of levels and a plurality of categories. Each unit may have a user-editable webpage associated with it. The level of detail included within each user-editable webpage is variant depending upon the location of its associated unit in the framework. Units at the top of the framework contain broad or general information and the level of detail downwardly increases. Users may selectably edit the content of the user-editable webpages using an editor. Users may edit the text and edit and attach graphics. In some embodiments, wiki-type functionality may be utilized. The content of the various user-editable webpages may be standardized based on level and category. |
| US09069732B2 |
Automated document conversion testing
Embodiments of the invention provide a system for automated document conversion testing. For each page in the received documents, the system first converts the page into a source image. The system then converts the document page into a set of markup language page elements and generates a rendered image of the markup language page elements displayed in a web browser on a target software platform. Next, the system determines a correlation factor between the source image and the rendered image. The correlation factor indicates a page fidelity between the original document and its markup language transformation. If the correlation factor exceeds a threshold established for a minimum page fidelity requirement, the markup language conversion is validated. |
| US09069730B2 |
Coordinated reliability management of virtual machines in a virtualized system
A system and methods for reliability management of virtual machines in a host system. The reliability of the host system is monitored and compared with a reliability threshold level for a virtual machine. If the reliability of the host system drops below the reliability threshold level, the virtual machine is migrated to another host system having an appropriate level of reliability. |
| US09069727B2 |
Adaptive private network with geographically redundant network control nodes
Systems and techniques are described which improve performance, reliability, and predictability of networks. Geographically diverse network control nodes (NCNs) are provided in an adaptive private network (APN) to provide backup NCN operations in the event of a failure. A primary NCN node in a first geographic location is operated according to a primary state machine at an NCN active state. A client node is operated according to a client state machine. A secondary NCN node in a second geographic location that is geographically remote from the first geographic location is operated according to a secondary state machine at a standby state. The three state machines operating parallel and upon detecting a change in APN state information, the secondary state machine transitions from the standby state to a secondary active NCN state and the secondary NCN node provides APN timing calibration and control to the client node. |
| US09069716B2 |
Matrix calculation unit
A matrix calculation unit may include a matrix operation unit and a converting unit. The matrix operation unit may include functions to perform a matrix operation of a first size with respect to data stored in a memory, and to perform a matrix operation of a second size with respect to the data stored in the memory, where the second size is enlarged from the first size. The converting unit may convert in at least one direction in the memory between a data array suited for the matrix operation of the first size and a data array suited for the matrix operation of the second size. |
| US09069714B2 |
Device including an external memory connection unit capable of adopting an external memory
A device includes a memory controller, a memory bus coupled to the memory controller, an internal memory and an external memory connection unit. The internal memory may be directly connected to the memory controller through the memory bus. The external memory connection unit may connect an external memory directly to the memory controller through a portion of signal lines in the memory bus, and may generate a flag signal indicating whether the external memory is connected to the external memory connection unit. |
| US09069713B2 |
4X4 transform for media coding
In general, techniques are described that provide for 4×4 transforms for media coding. A number of different 4×4 transforms are described that adhere to these techniques. As one example, an apparatus includes a 4×4 discrete cosine transform (DCT) hardware unit. The DCT hardware unit implements an orthogonal 4×4 DCT having an odd portion that applies first and second internal factors (C, S) that are related to a scaled factor (ξ) such that the scaled factor equals a square root of a sum of a square of the first internal factor (C) plus a square of the second internal factor (S). The 4×4 DCT hardware unit applies the 4×4 DCT implementation to media data to transform the media data from a spatial domain to a frequency domain. As another example, an apparatus implements a non-orthogonal 4×4 DCT to improve coding gain. |
| US09069712B2 |
Communication of conditions at a primary storage controller to a host
A primary storage controller is maintained in a copy relationship with a secondary storage controller, wherein the primary and secondary storage controllers are coupled to a host that is configurable to use the secondary storage controller instead of the primary storage controller. The primary storage controller determines occurrence of at least one condition in the primary storage controller, wherein the at least one condition occurs prior to a failure of the host to perform an Input/Output (I/O) operation with respect to at least one storage volume of the primary storage controller. The primary storage controller communicates the occurrence of the at least one condition to the host, wherein in response to the communicating the host is configured to determine whether to use the secondary storage controller instead of the primary storage controller based on the occurrence of the at least one condition. |
| US09069701B2 |
Virtual machine 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. |
| US09069700B2 |
Structural model of G protein-coupled receptor and method for designing ligand capable of binding to G protein-coupled receptor using the structural model
The present invention provides a method for constructing a three-dimensional structural model of an activated intermediate of a G protein-coupled protein receptor (GPCR) or a complex between a GPCR and a ligand. The three-dimensional structural model may be used to identify, screen, search, evaluate, or design GPCR agonists or antagonists. In a representative embodiment, a three-dimensional structural model of a photoactivated intermediate of rhodopsin is constructed using molecule modeling software and structural coordinates of the crystal structure of rhodopsin. The three-dimensional structural model of rhodopsin is subsequently used to construct structural models of activated intermediates of other GPCRs. |
| US09069698B2 |
Channel rotating error correction code
A write or read method for use in a computer having multiple channels of memory includes writing or reading data to or from one channel in the memory, and simultaneously in parallel writing or reading an error correction code corresponding to the data to or from a different channel in the memory. |
| US09069695B2 |
Correction of block errors for a system having non-volatile memory
Systems and methods are disclosed for correction block errors. In particular, a system can store a parity page per page-modulo, where a pre-determined number of pages of a block or a band of the NVM may be allocated as page-modulo XOR (“PMX”) parity pages. This can be a space efficient approach for recovering from single-block data errors such as, for example, single-page uncorrectable error-correcting codes (“uECCs”) and/or errors caused by word line shorts. |
| US09069693B2 |
Decoder based data recovery
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with decoder based data recovery are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a decoder configured to decode codewords and decoder firmware configured to control one or more decoding parameters of the decoder. The decoder includes a recovery unit configured to store recovery instructions. The decoder is further configured to execute the stored recovery instructions without interaction with the decoder firmware when the decoding fails. |
| US09069691B2 |
Calculation method and computer-readable recording medium
A calculation method executed by a computer, the calculation method includes calculating, using a processor, a length of one side of a second module based on an area of the second module that is included in a first module in a circuit and includes devices; and calculating, using the processor, a length of a wiring of the first module based on the calculated length and the number of fan-outs of the first module. |
| US09069690B2 |
Concurrent page table walker control for TLB miss handling
In an embodiment, a page miss handler includes paging caches and a first walker to receive a first linear address portion and to obtain a corresponding portion of a physical address from a paging structure, a second walker to operate concurrently with the first walker, and a logic to prevent the first walker from storing the obtained physical address portion in a paging cache responsive to the first linear address portion matching a corresponding linear address portion of a concurrent paging structure access by the second walker. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09069689B2 |
Downsampling with partial-sum re-use
The sampling rate of a digital signal is reduced by storing a series of partial sums of the digital signal instead of the signal itself, thus reducing the memory size required to perform the sampling-rate reduction. |
| US09069686B2 |
Digital signal processor having instruction set with one or more non-linear functions using reduced look-up table with exponentially varying step-size
A digital signal processor and method are disclosed having an instruction set with one or more non-linear functions using a look-up table of reduced size and exponentially varying step-sizes. A digital signal processor evaluates a non-linear function for a value, x, by obtaining at least two values from at least one look-up table for the non-linear function that are near the value, x, wherein the at least one look-up table stores a subset of values for the non-linear function using exponentially-varying step sizes; and interpolating the at least two obtained values to obtain a result, y. A position of a leading zero in the value, x, can be used as an index into the at least one look-up table. The interpolation can comprise, for example, a linear interpolation or a polynomial interpolation. A modulo arithmetic operation can optionally be employed for a periodic non-linear function. |
| US09069685B2 |
Digital signal processor having instruction set with one or more non-linear functions using reduced look-up table
A digital signal processor and method are disclosed having an instruction set with one or more non-linear functions using a look-up table of reduced size. A digital signal processor evaluates a non-linear function for a value, x, by obtaining two or more values for the non-linear function that are near the value, x, from at least one look-up table, wherein the at least one look-up table stores a subset of values for the non-linear function; and interpolating the two or more obtained values to obtain a result, y. The interpolation may comprise, for example, a linear interpolation or a polynomial interpolation. In a further variation, a modulo arithmetic operation can be employed for a periodic non-linear function. |
| US09069684B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for invalidatng cache lines
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for invalidating cache lines. In use, one or more cache lines that hold data from within a region of a memory address space are invalidated. |
| US09069683B2 |
Systems and methods for destaging storage tracks from cache
A system includes a cache and a processor coupled to the cache. The cache stores data in multiple storage tracks and each storage track includes an associated multi-bit counter. The processor is configured to perform the following method. One method includes incrementing the multi-bit counter on each respective storage track a predetermined amount each time the processor writes to a respective storage track. The method further includes decrementing each multi-bit counter each scan cycle, and destaging each storage track including a zero count. |
| US09069681B1 |
Real-time log joining on a continuous stream of events that are approximately ordered
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to a distributed event joining system for joining primary and secondary events based on a common key. In one example, a continuous stream of primary events may be stored at a cache layer. Each primary event may be associated with a primary event key which may be used to generate an index map for the cache layer. After a time T, the stream of primary events may be sent to long term memory. The system may also receive secondary events, each associated with a primary key. The primary key may be used to identify a primary event in the cache layer. If the primary event is not available in the cache layer, the long term memory may be searched for the primary key. Paired events may then be submitted to a distributed joined event storage system. |
| US09069678B2 |
Adaptive record caching for solid state disks
A storage controller receives a request that corresponds to an access of a track. A determination is made as to whether the track corresponds to data stored in a solid state disk. Record staging to a cache from the solid state disk is performed, in response to determining that the track corresponds to data stored in the solid state disk, wherein each track is comprised of a plurality of records. |
| US09069677B2 |
Input/output de-duplication based on variable-size chunks
Techniques, systems, and articles of manufacture for input/output de-duplication based on variable-size chunks. A method includes partitioning virtual block data into multiple variable-sized chunks, caching each of the multiple variable-sized chunks in a chunk cache according to content of each of the multiple variable-sized chunks, initializing virtual block-to-chunk mapping and chunk-to-physical block mapping for each of the multiple variable-sized chunks, and detecting duplicate disk input and/or output requests across multiple hosts based on content-based mappings of the input and/or output requests to the chunk cache and the virtual block-to-chunk mapping and chunk-to-physical block mapping for each of the multiple variable-sized chunks in the chunk cache. |
| US09069675B2 |
Creating a program product or system for executing an instruction for pre-fetching data and releasing cache lines
Systems and Program Products are created to execute a prefetch data machine instruction having an M field performs a function on a cache line of data specifying an address of an operand. The operation comprises either prefetching a cache line of data from memory to a cache or reducing the access ownership of store and fetch or fetch only of the cache line in the cache or a combination thereof. The address of the operand is either based on a register value or the program counter value pointing to the prefetch data machine instruction. |
| US09069663B2 |
Allocating memory based on performance ranking
A method for optimizing memory bandwidth using bank-based memory allocation is described. The method includes receiving a request for an allocation of memory. In response to receiving the request, memory is allocated to the request based on a performance ranking of memory banks in a plurality of memory banks. A performance ranking of a particular memory bank may be based at least in part on both a busyness and a row hit ratio of the particular memory bank. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described. |
| US09069662B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of controlling non-volatile memory device
A control circuit of a semiconductor device (memory module) realizes long life and others by a mechanism that suppresses and smoothes variations in use of a memory by equalizing the sizes of data write and data erase with respect to a data write request and sequentially allocating and using addresses of the memory in data write to an overwritable non-volatile memory device without carrying out an overwriting operation even in the case of an overwrite request. The control circuit realizes data write by a set of two types of operations of (a) an operation of erasing data of a first address or an operation of setting a flag value to an invalid state and (b) an operation of writing data to a second address different from the first address or an operation of setting a flag value to a valid state. |
| US09069659B1 |
Read threshold determination using reference read threshold
A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions for: reading a first group of flash memory cells using a reference read threshold to obtain multiple read results; processing the multiple read results by performing at least one out of calculating a distribution of values of the multiple read results and counting a number of read results of a certain value; estimating at least one actual read threshold to be used during future read attempts in response to at least one out of (i) the number of read results of the certain value and (ii) distribution information about a distribution of values of the read results; and reading a second group of flash memory cells using the at least one actual read threshold to provide actual read results. |
| US09069657B2 |
LBA bitmap usage
Systems and methods are disclosed for logical block address (“LBA) bitmap usage for a system having non-volatile memory (“NVM”). A bitmap can be stored in volatile memory of the system, where the bitmap can store the mapping statuses of one or more logical addresses. By using the bitmap, the system can determine the mapping status of a LBA without having to access the NVM. In addition, the system can update the mapping status of a LBA with minimal NVM accesses. By reducing the number of NVM accesses, the system can avoid triggering a garbage collection process, which can improve overall system performance. |
| US09069650B2 |
Method for an entertainment system of a vehicle
A method for an entertainment system of a vehicle wherein a distance between the vehicle and a further vehicle is determined, and a symbol for the vehicle and a symbol for the further vehicle are displayed on a display device of the vehicle on the basis of the distance between the vehicle and the further vehicle. Actuation of a user control element is detected after the symbol for the further vehicle has been displayed. An actuation signal is received from the further vehicle indicating that a user of the further vehicle has actuated a corresponding control element of the further vehicle on account of a symbol for the further vehicle and a symbol for the vehicle being displayed on a display device of the further vehicle. |
| US09069647B2 |
Logging and profiling content space data and coverage metric self-reporting
A computer-implemented method for generating user stories for a software product, includes collecting, by a processor, a plurality of requirements, creating, by the processor, a plurality of content space specification files that includes the plurality of requirements, processing, by the processor, the plurality of content space specification files to generate the user stories that are related to real time data of the software product, defining, by the processor, a content space, mapping, by the processor, the user stories to the content space and embedding, by the processor, the content space with the software product, wherein user stories include at least one of real time log data, profile statistics data, and coverage metric self-reporting data. |
| US09069645B2 |
Decoupled development in a shared development system
A computer-implemented method of optimizing software components. The method may include receiving a software component including a layered hierarchy of structure packages, main packages, and common packages each including objects, grouping common packages into groups according to pre-determined criteria, encapsulating each group with an encapsulation package, wherein the encapsulation package is one of a structure package and a main package, allowing objects in the encapsulation package to communicate directly by bypassing common packages in the encapsulation package, and eliminating package interfaces of the common packages in the encapsulation package that are solely used for communicating with other common packages in the encapsulation package. |
| US09069644B2 |
Architecture and method for versioning registry entries in a distributed program build
A method for executing program builds. According to one embodiment of the invention, jobs are scheduled for a program build based on dependencies between the jobs, where at least some of those jobs include one or more registry operations. Usage information is collected from each of those jobs responsive to those jobs being executed. The usage information includes registry usage information from those jobs that include one or more registry operations and includes the results of those registry operations. The registry usage information is analyzed to determine whether the execution of any of those jobs resulted in a conflict. The analyzing includes, for each job including a registry operation, comparing a version of a registry entry used by that job in the program build with a version of a registry entry that the job would have used in a sequential program build. Results of jobs that generated a conflict are invalidated, and the invalidated job is rebuilt using the correct registry entry versions. |
| US09069641B2 |
Updating firmware on mobile devices
Updating firmware on mobile devices can be performed during device management (DM) sessions between mobile devices and one or more servers. A server can provide data to at least one node of a firmware update management object (FUMO) stored at a mobile device. The data can indicate a plurality of different update file locations accessible via a network. The mobile device can download a plurality of update files from the plurality of different update file locations via the network in response to receiving the command. From a set of update files, each mobile device can thus obtain its particular firmware update as a subset of the update files as indicated by its FUMO. Metadata may be provided to the FUMO to express one or more conditions that the mobile device must meet in order to download respective update files. |
| US09069640B2 |
Patch applying method for virtual machine, storage system adopting patch applying method, and computer system
In a computer system composed of a computer in which a plurality of VMs (Virtual Machines) are operated and a storage system, when a patch of an OS in the VM is applied, update data accompanying the application of the patch is stored in each VM image, causing increase of load of the storage system accompanying the concentration of read requests and the elongation of the patch applying process time. Therefore, the present invention provides a high-speed patch applying method to the VMs. When a patch applying request from a user using the VM is received and a patch is applied to the first VM, the patch is applied after creating a replication of the original GI (Golden Image) by which a new GI is created, and the new GI is used when the patch is applied to the second and subsequent VMs. During a patch applying process of the VM, a VM image is created from a new GI, and a path information related to the VM image is changed to thereby execute the patch applying process. |
| US09069639B2 |
Managing a user proxy configuration in a daemon that frequently loads and unloads
A user proxy setting is managed by a computer system that frequently performs package updates. A session starts when a user logs onto the computer system. The session registers the proxy setting of the user with a daemon that quits after a period of inactivity and restarts upon request. The daemon stores the proxy setting in a database using a user identifier (UID) and a session identifier as a key. The daemon then performs package updates multiple times during the session via a network, each time using the proxy setting stored in the database. |
| US09069636B2 |
Dynamic web application notifications including task bar overlays
Various embodiments receive, at a client device, selection of a website integration feature and initiate, on behalf of an associated website, a web application installation process. The process causes a web application file to be created on the client device and populated with web application content including a list that constitutes a set of relevant tasks or content that is configured to be presented to a user. The list defines one or more dynamic elements that can be dynamically updated by the website. |
| US09069634B2 |
Signature representation of data with aliasing across synonyms
A system and method for generating an m-dimensional signature vector with aliasing across synonyms in a computing device is provided. Data representable by a plurality of key-value pairs, each comprising a unique identifier and an associated non-zero value of n-dimensional data is received at the computing device. Elements of the m-dimensional aliased signature vector are generated using synonym information of keys from the plurality of key-value pairs. |
| US09069633B2 |
Proxy queue pair for offloading
A method for offloading includes a host channel adapter (HCA) receiving a first work request identifying a queue pair (QP), making a first determination that the QP is a proxy QP, and offloading the first work request to a proxy central processing unit (CPU) based on the first determination and based on the first work request satisfying a filter criterion. The HCA further receives a second work request identifying the QP, processes the second work request without offloading based on the QP being a proxy QP and based on the first work request failing to satisfy the filter criterion. The HCA redirects a first completion for the first work request and a second completion for the second work request to the proxy CPU based on the first determination. The proxy CPU processes the first completion and the second completion in order. |
| US09069630B2 |
Labeling of input device components
The automated labeling system provides access to the input mechanism axes and button semantic information to applications running in a windowing environment. This enables the applications to not have to have specific information or interface with the low level drivers of the input mechanism and can rely exclusively on the windowing system and its API to interface with the input devices attached to the computer system. |
| US09069628B2 |
Spooling system call data to facilitate data transformation
The techniques herein provide for “time-shifting” of intercepted system calls to enable a one-to-many (1:n) or a many-to-one (n:1) mapping of intercepted-to-real system calls. Any action that needs to be applied on the logical boundaries of the data (instead of the physical boundaries) presented upon system call interception spools (buffers) the data before taking the action and then unspools the result when finished. The action may be quite varied, e.g., examining the data, redacting the data, changing the data, restricting the data, processing the data, and updating the data, among others. The technique may be implemented in a database access control system. |
| US09069621B2 |
Submitting operations to a shared resource based on busy-to-success ratios
In an embodiment, an average busy-to-success ratio is calculated for partitions that submitted operations to a shared resource during a first time period. A first busy-to-success ratio for a first partition during the first time period is calculated. If the first busy-to-success ratio is greater than the average busy-to-success ratio and a difference between the first busy-to-success ratio and the average busy-to-success ratio is greater than a threshold amount, a throttle amount for the first partition is increased. A first operation from the first partition during a first time subdivision of a second time period is received. If a number of operations received from the first partition during the first time subdivision of the second time period is greater than the throttle amount for the first partition, a busy indication is returned to the first partition and the first operation is not submitted to the shared resource. |
| US09069620B2 |
Creating and deploying service-ready virtual hard disks
A cloud manager controls the deployment and management of machines for an online service. A build system creates deployment-ready virtual hard disks (VHDs) that are installed on machines that are spread across one or more networks in farms that each may include different configurations. The build system is configured to build VHDs of differing configurations that depend on a role of the virtual machine (VM) for which the VHD will be used. The build system uses the VHDs to create virtual machines (VMs) in both test and production environments for the online service. The cloud manager system automatically provisions machines with the created virtual hard disks (VHDs). Identical VHDs can be installed directly on the machines that have already been tested. |
| US09069619B2 |
Self-testable HA framework library infrastructure
A method for a self-testing clusterware agent is provided. A clusterware agent that includes clusterware-side components and application-side components is configured to interface between a cluster manager and an application. The application-side components are invoked by clusterware-side components via an application programming interface, or API that includes API functions that are invocable by a cluster manager. Without any cluster manager invoking the clusterware agent, one or more of the API functions are invoked. |
| US09069618B1 |
Updating kernal affinity for applications executing in a multiprocessor system
A multiprocessor system dynamically updates CPU affinities for processes executing on processors of the multiprocessor system based on an external signal. The external signal is generated by a monitor device. The external signal identifies the processors and the processes that require updating. In response to the external signal, the multiprocessor system redistributes the processes identified in the external signal and powers on or off one or more processors based on a processor threshold associated with the multiprocessor system. |
| US09069615B2 |
Application management
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes executing one or more computer applications and ranking the applications according to one or more criteria that change in response to a user's interaction with the applications. State information for certain of the one or more applications is saved and one or more applications are terminated in response to a memory condition. Subsequently, one of the terminated applications is revived using the saved state information. |
| US09069611B2 |
System and method for providing dynamic provisioning within a compute environment
The disclosure relates to systems, methods and computer-readable media for dynamically provisioning resources within a compute environment. The method aspect of the disclosure comprises A method of dynamically provisioning resources within a compute environment, the method comprises analyzing a queue of jobs to determine an availability of compute resources for each job, determining an availability of a scheduler of the compute environment to satisfy all service level agreements (SLAs) and target service levels within a current configuration of the compute resources, determining possible resource provisioning changes to improve SLA fulfillment, determining a cost of provisioning; and if provisioning changes improve overall SLA delivery, then re-provisioning at least one compute resource. |
| US09069609B2 |
Scheduling and execution of compute tasks
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for assigning a compute task to a first processor included in a plurality of processors. The technique involves analyzing each compute task in a plurality of compute tasks to identify one or more compute tasks that are eligible for assignment to the first processor, where each compute task is listed in a first table and is associated with a priority value and an allocation order that indicates relative time at which the compute task was added to the first table. The technique further involves selecting a first task compute from the identified one or more compute tasks based on at least one of the priority value and the allocation order, and assigning the first compute task to the first processor for execution. |
| US09069607B1 |
Selective migration of virtualized applications and configuration settings thereof
User configurations of an installed application are migrated by isolating them from a base application state of the installed application to generate a virtual application package. At runtime, a base virtual application package and a user configurations virtual application package are provisioned from a central repository and executed by the user. The resulting virtualized execution environment merges the application resources contained in the packages such that the user configurations override the base application to make available all of the user configurations. This technique may be used to preserve user configurations during migration of applications, or to maintain user-specific configurations for a particular application across different sessions of a user's virtualized desktop. |
| US09069606B2 |
Autonomous application-level auto-scaling in a cloud
A method and system for application-level auto-scaling in a cloud computing environment is provided. An example system includes a data collector and a scaling module. The data collector is to collect application-level data that reflects demand for a subject computing application executing on the virtual instance of a machine provided by a virtualization service. The scaling module is to select a scaling action based on the application-level data and issue a request to perform the scaling action with respect to the virtual instance of a machine. |
| US09069603B2 |
Transactional memory that performs an atomic metering command
A transactional memory (TM) receives an Atomic Metering Command (AMC) across a bus from a processor. The command includes a memory address and a meter pair indicator value. In response to the AMC, the TM pulls an input value (IV). The TM uses the memory address to read a word including multiple credit values from a memory unit. Circuitry within the TM selects a pair of credit values, subtracts the IV from each of the pair of credit values thereby generating a pair of decremented credit values, compares the pair of decremented credit values with a threshold value, respectively, thereby generating a pair of indicator values, performs a lookup based upon the pair of indicator values and the meter pair indicator value, and outputs a selector value and a result value that represents a meter color. The selector value determines the credit values written back to the memory unit. |
| US09069602B2 |
Transactional memory that supports put and get ring commands
A transactional memory (TM) includes a control circuit pipeline and an associated memory unit. The memory unit stores a plurality of rings. The pipeline maintains, for each ring, a head pointer and a tail pointer. A ring operation stage of the pipeline maintains the pointers as values are put onto and are taken off the rings. A put command causes the TM to put a value into a ring, provided the ring is not full. A get command causes the TM to take a value off a ring, provided the ring is not empty. A put with low priority command causes the TM to put a value into a ring, provided the ring has at least a predetermined amount of free buffer space. A get from a set of rings command causes the TM to get a value from the highest priority non-empty ring (of a specified set of rings). |
| US09069601B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling task execution
A method and an apparatus for controlling task execution are disclosed in the present invention which relates to the field of wireless communications technologies, addressing the problem that power consumption of a terminal in standby mode is wasted because tasks of the terminal in a standby state are fixed and corresponding time periods cannot be flexibly set for different tasks. The method includes: receiving standby state parameters sent by a terminal management module; configuring the terminal according to the standby parameters so that the terminal enters a sleeping state; enabling a timer to start timing; stopping timing when the time of the timer reaches the time point at which a current task will be executed; configuring the terminal according to working state parameters of the terminal so that the terminal enters a working state; and receiving paging information sent by the terminal management module. |
| US09069600B2 |
Executing a multicomponent software application on a virtualized computer platform
A virtualized computer platform is established and maintained by virtualization software on one or more physical computers. A multicomponent software application may execute on the virtualized computer platform, with different components of the application executing in different virtual machines, which are supported by the virtualization software. The virtualization software may also provide the provision of one or more services that may be beneficial to the operation of the multicomponent software application, such as automated provisioning, resource allocation, VM distribution, performance monitoring, resource management, high availability, backup, disaster recovery, alarms, security, etc. In some embodiments of the invention, some of these services are provided through coordinated efforts of a system resource manager, a VM manager, an application monitor and an application resource manager. In some of these embodiments, an application monitor and an application manager may be included with a multicomponent software application in a single installation package. |
| US09069599B2 |
System and method for a cloud computing abstraction layer with security zone facilities
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a virtualization environment adapted for development and deployment of at least one software workload, the virtualization environment having a metamodel framework that allows the association of a policy to the software workload upon development of the workload that is applied upon deployment of the software workload. This allows a developer to define a security zone and to apply at least one type of security policy with respect to the security zone including the type of security zone policy in the metamodel framework such that the type of security zone policy can be associated with the software workload upon development of the software workload, and if the type of security zone policy is associated with the software workload, automatically applying the security policy to the software workload when the software workload is deployed within the security zone. |
| US09069596B2 |
Hypervisor file system
In general, the present invention provides a computer-implemented hypervisor file system (HVFS) comprising (among other things): a HVFS Manager, a Source File System Implementation, Hypervisor API, and HVFS Driver implemented in conjunction with a set (e.g., one or more) of virtual machines. Running a virtual machine on top of complex software systems like hypervisors allows the virtual machine to be presented with virtual storage devices which operate in the file system abstraction layer, instead of the block device layer traditionally presented by hardware. Doing so allows the file system abstraction to be implemented in the hypervisor, and not in the individual virtual machines, giving the hypervisor much greater access and control over the file system elements used by virtual machines, as well as giving it new capabilities such as sharing file system elements across virtual machines. |
| US09069595B1 |
Systems and methods for overseas desktop software
A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for the packaging of software. A plurality of workflow modules is implemented for the management of software packaging operations. An admin workflow module is implemented on an administrator system, which determines a software package to be assigned to a remote user for software packaging operations. The assignment is then routed to a remote user workflow module implemented on the remote user's system. The admin workflow module determines the virtual machine (VM) configuration requirements of the software packaging operation. If an existing VM with the required configured is not available, then instructions are provided to a virtual machine manager (VMM) to generate a VM with the required configuration. The software package is then loaded and control of the VM is released to the remote user through a virtual private network (VPN) connection. The remote user then performs the assigned software packaging operation. Support resources, if required, are provided through a plurality of collaboration modules. |
| US09069591B1 |
Patching host OS structures for hardware isolation of virtual machines
A system and method for implementing direct attachment of VMs, implemented on a computer system, to hardware devices attached to the computer system. Direct attachment architecture is implemented. The direct attachment is an exclusive dedication of a hardware device to a VM, where a particular hardware device is assigned to a particular VM. When the VM is not activated, the hardware device can be re-assigned to another VM. At system start up, hardware devices are masked from a host OS of a computer system and are automatically attached to the assigned VMs. |
| US09069589B2 |
Virtual computer system, virtual computer control method and accumulation circuit
The present invention relates to a virtual machine system that includes a plurality of processors and executes a plurality of virtual machines in parallel with use of the plurality of processors. An aim thereof is to suppress power consumption without sacrificing the performance of the virtual machine system. When there are at least two processors that do not have any virtual machines allocated thereto, one of the at least two processors is supplied with power so as to be placed in a standby state, and a remaining one or more of the at least two processors are not supplied with power. |
| US09069588B2 |
Virtual computing environments
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for discovering entities in a first portion of a data center network, examining information associated with the discovered entities to determine relationships that exist between pairs of entities in the first portion of the data center network, and generating a specification of the relationships that exist between pairs of entities in the first portion of the data center network based on results of the examining. |
| US09069584B2 |
Multi-platform application player
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a multi-platform application player on a device is provided, comprising: receiving an indication of a first application to run on the device; determining a platform required for the first application to run; identifying a first application player suitable for running an environment compatible with the determined platform, wherein the first application player is capable of running the first application as well as one or more other applications created for the determined platform; loading the first application player in the multi-platform application player; and running the first application in the first application player in the multi-platform application player on the device. |
| US09069581B2 |
Method and system for parameter configuration
A system for parameter configuration includes a display unit, a storage unit, and a processing unit, in which a basic input and output system (BIOS) and a parameter setting interface are stored in the storage unit. The parameter setting interface includes a two-dimensional (2D) screen, a three-dimensional (3D) icon and plural parameter setting menus. A method for parameter configuration includes executing the BIOS and calling the parameter setting interface using the processing unit; displaying the 2D screen on the display unit; displaying 3D icon on the 2D screen; selecting one of object images of the 3D icon; displaying a parameter setting menu corresponding to the selected object image on the 2D screen; and adjusting parameter values of the BIOS using the corresponding parameter setting menu. The invention provides an easy and convenient operation for the user because setup parameters of the BIOS can be set intuitively. |
| US09069572B2 |
Replacement of inbox driver with third party driver
Embodiments efficiently replace an inbox driver of a computer with a third party driver. The inbox and third party drivers are function drivers configured to service an external device connected to the computer. A Function Loader driver is installed within the computer to enable replacement of the inbox function driver with the third party function driver based on a highest ranking of matching criteria. The Function Loader driver cooperates with a Function Loader Child driver, which intercepts a packet exchange that pertains to the external device to determine whether specified rules for replacement are satisfied. If so, the Function Loader Child driver modifies content of the packet exchange to uniquely identify the third party function driver as having the highest ranking of matching criteria. Accordingly, the operating system recognizes the third party function driver as a preferred driver for servicing the external device and installs the third party driver. |
| US09069571B2 |
Propagation of unique device names in a cluster system
A unique device name is assigned to each of a plurality of shared storage devices in a cluster configuration database defining membership of nodes in a cluster. A particular node among the nodes defined by the cluster configuration database as a member of the cluster searches the cluster configuration database for a device identifier matching a device identifier of a shared storage device hosted by the particular node. In response to finding a matching device identifier in the cluster configuration database, the particular node renames, in a local configuration maintained at the particular node, a storage device associated with the matching device identifier with the unique name assigned to that storage device in the cluster configuration database. |
| US09069570B2 |
Information processing device, and method and computer readable medium therefor
An information processing device, configured to be connected with a plurality of devices, includes a device extracting unit configured to extract, from the plurality of devices connected with the information processing device, a plurality of first devices of which respective drivers for controlling the plurality of first devices are to be installed into the information processing device, and an installation executing unit configured to consecutively install, into the information processing device, the respective drivers of the plurality of first devices extracted by the device extracting unit, in a single installation. |
| US09069564B1 |
Weighted instruction count scheduling
A method and system are provided for performing efficient and effective scheduling in a multi-threaded system. Dynamic control of scheduling is provided, in which priority weights can be assigned for some or all of the threads in the multi-threaded system. The priority weights are employed to control prioritization of threads and thread instructions by a scheduler. An instruction count for each thread is used in combination with the priority weights to determine the prioritization order in which instructions are fetched and assigned to execution units for processing. |
| US09069562B2 |
Mobile computing program slicing and behavior
Techniques for computer program slicing are described herein. The techniques include screens of a mobile computing program having a behavior. The method may include determining a subset of screens associated with the behavior. A slice of the mobile computing program may be generated based on the subset of screens of the mobile computing program such that the slice produces the same behavior of the mobile computing program. |
| US09069561B2 |
Methods and tools for data-driven application engineering
The invention generally relates to enterprise computer applications, and more particularly to methods and tools for data-driven engineering of computer applications. A method of generating a business application includes inputting requirement data into a requirement model, inputting platform data into a platform model, generating a design model based on the requirement model and the platform model, generating source code of the business application from the design model, and outputting the source code. |
| US09069560B2 |
Operational model creation from SOA solution architecture
A method for creation of an operational model from a service oriented architecture (SOA) solution architecture. The method includes: selecting an SOA solution architecture model from a plurality of SOA solution architecture models including a plurality of layers; retrieving at least one layer according to the SOA solution architecture model; retrieving at least one SOA model element corresponding to the at least one layer; searching for an operational model element type for the at least one SOA model element and reading the operational model element type; reading a technical environment including hardware, operating system and software product requirements for the operational model element type; creating an operational model element with the technical environment hardware, operating system and software product requirements; and generating an operational model including the specific hardware and software infrastructure required to deploy the SOA solution architecture solution. The method is performed on one or more computing devices. |
| US09069559B2 |
Modularizing steps within a UML user model interaction pattern
User modeling facilitates use of a UML user model to define roles, goals, and tasks inside an organization, and defines how the roles, goals, and tasks relate to business entities within the organization. This information can be used to generate a user interface (UI) that facilitates management of the defined business entities within the organization. Each task defined inside the model, which may be represented as a stereotyped class in the UML class diagram, has a number of explicit steps associated with the task. These steps are outlined in UML activity diagrams and defined in a task interaction pattern. A modular approach to constructing UML activity diagram using the task interacting pattern to reduce the size of the model permits greater flexibility in generating the UI. |
| US09069554B2 |
Systems and methods to coordinate resource usage in tightly sandboxed environments
Systems and methods are disclosed for coordinating resource usage between applications in a tightly sandbox environment. A scheduling indicator can be left in a system file that multiple applications can use to align their requests for a system resource. Alternatively, IP loopback can be used to pass a scheduling indicator between applications that are otherwise sandboxed. If either of these approaches is not possible, then applications can schedule system resource requests using a common algorithm that selects a start time and optionally a period of subsequent system resource requests based on a common piece of information such as a system clock signal or IP address. In these ways the total amount of time during which the system resource is being utilized by various applications can be reduced, thus reducing power consumption, and network activity. |
| US09069553B2 |
Switching tasks between heterogeneous cores
The present disclosure describes techniques for switching tasks between heterogeneous cores. In some aspects it is determined that a task being executed by a first core of a processor can be executed by a second core of a processor, the second core having an instruction set that is different from that of the first core, and execution of the task is switched from the first core to the second core effective to decrease an amount of energy consumed by the processor. |
| US09069552B2 |
Image forming apparatus having plurality of power supplies to control power provided from a commercial power supply
An image forming apparatus includes a functional unit, a first power supply circuit supplying electric power to the functional unit from a commercial power supply, a second power supply circuit including a self-generation power supply, and a third power supply circuit including a power storage unit storing electric power and a charging circuit charging the power storage unit upon receipt of supply of electric power from at least one of the commercial power supply and the self-generation power supply. In accordance with the amount of power supply from the self-generation power supply, higher priority is given to supply of electric power to the functional unit from at least one of the second and third power supply circuits than to supply of electric power from the first power supply circuit. |
| US09069551B2 |
Systems and methods of exiting hibernation in response to a triggering event
A method may be performed by an electronic device coupled to a volatile system memory. The method includes entering a hibernation mode of the electronic device, where in the hibernation mode, the volatile system memory is powered off. The method further includes detecting a triggering event and, in response to detecting the triggering event, exiting the hibernation mode. While exiting the hibernation mode, the volatile system memory is powered and a pre-hibernation state of the volatile system memory is restored. |
| US09069546B2 |
Allocation of counters from a pool of counters to track mappings of logical registers to physical registers for mapper based instruction executions
A computer system assigns a particular counter from among a plurality of counters currently in a counter free pool to count a number of mappings of logical registers from among a plurality of logical registers to a particular physical register from among a plurality of physical registers, responsive to an execution of an instruction by a mapper unit mapping at least one logical register from among the plurality of logical registers to the particular physical register, wherein the number of the plurality of counters is less than a number of the plurality of physical registers. The computer system, responsive to the counted number of mappings of logical registers to the particular physical register decremented to less than a minimum value, returns the particular counter to the counter free pool. |
| US09069541B2 |
Digital rack interface pod (DRIP) with intelligent power control system and method
An intelligent power control system and method adapted for use with a digital rack interface pod (DRIP). A switching regulator generates a set output voltage. If power is available from a USB port of an external device, such as an external server, then the system uses this power to power the DRIP. If DC power is detected as being received on a different input from an external power transformer, then the system may still continue to use the power being received from the USB port to power the DRIP. If power from the USB port of the external device is lost but power from the external transformer is present, then the system may use the power available from the external transformer to power the DRIP. If the DRIP is being powered by USB power from the external device, and no DC power is available from the external transformer, but backup power from an appliance to which the DRIP is coupled is being received on one of the DRIP's power input ports, then the DRIP may switch to backup power from the appliance if power from the USB port of the external device (e.g., server) is lost. The system thus intelligently prioritizes the use of power available from a plurality of different power sources to maintain the DRIP powered on when one or more of the power sources is lost or otherwise not available. |
| US09069537B2 |
Power supply switching apparatus
A power supply switching apparatus includes a controller and a switch. The controller includes a first comparator, an integrator circuit and a second comparator. The first comparator is configured to output a binary signal having a level corresponding to a magnitude of a signal input from the power supply being connected thereto. The integrator circuit is configured to integrate an output from the first comparator. The second comparator is configured to output a binary signal having a level corresponding to a magnitude of a single input from the integrator circuit. The switch has an input side connected to the first and the second power supply and is configured to switch an outputting current between a current supplied from the first power supply and a current supplied from the second power supply in accordance with a value of the signal output from the second comparator. |
| US09069536B2 |
Electronic devices having integrated reset systems and methods thereof
Methods and devices for power cycling an electronic device are provided. Also provided are systems and kits. |
| US09069529B2 |
Lifting mechanism and electronic device therewith
A lifting mechanism includes a lifting member, a first magnetic member, a rotating arm, a second magnetic member and a resilient member. The lifting member is pivoted to a first casing. The first magnetic member is fixed on the lifting member. The rotating arm is pivoted to a second casing. The second magnetic member is fixed on the rotating arm for attracting the first magnetic member as being rotated with the rotating arm to where the second magnetic member is aligned with the first magnetic member, so as to retract the lifting member inside the first casing. The resilient member resiliently abuts against the second casing and the lifting member for pushing the lifting member as being rotated with the rotating arm to where the second magnetic member is not aligned with the first magnetic member, so as to expand the lifting member out of the first casing. |
| US09069525B2 |
Methods for fabricating display structures
An electronic device display may have a color filter layer and a thin film transistor layer. A layer of liquid crystal material may be interposed between the color filter layer and the thin film transistor layer. A layer of polarizer may be laminated onto the surface of the color filter layer. Laser trimming may ensure that the edges of the polarizer are even with the edges of the color filter layer. The thin film transistor layer may have an array of thin film transistors that control pixels of the liquid crystal material in the display. Driver circuitry may be used to control the array. The driver circuitry may be encapsulated in a planarized encapsulant on the thin film transistor layer or may be mounted to the underside of the color filter layer. Conductive structures may connect driver circuitry on the color filter layer to the thin film transistor layer. |
| US09069522B2 |
Fixing mechanism and related electronic device
A fixing mechanism includes a first positioning component, a bridging component, a movable component, a base, a second positioning component, a latch and a driving component. The first positioning component and the bridging component are disposed on a backboard, and the movable component is slidably disposed on the bridging component. The second positioning component and the latch are disposed on the base. The latch includes a guiding pin slidably disposed on the movable component. The driving component is rotatably disposed on the latch. The driving component includes an actuating portion slidably disposed on the movable component. The actuating portion slides relative to a first slot on the movable component, so that the guiding pin slides at a second slot on the movable component and the base moves close to the backboard, so as to combine a first connector disposed on the base with a second connector disposed on the backboard. |
| US09069520B2 |
Securing device, and assembly including the securing device and a heat dissipating module
A securing device is adapted to secure a central processing unit to a circuit board. The securing device includes first and second seats secured to the circuit board. The securing device further includes a press member stacked on and pressed against the central processing unit, and having a side edge portion that is connected pivotally to the first seat, and an opposite side edge portion that is adjacent to the second seat. The securing device further includes an engaging rod pressed against the press member, and having one end that is connected pivotally to the second seat and the other end removably engaged with the first seat for securing the central processing unit to the board body. |
| US09069518B2 |
Unified desktop freeform window mode
Methods and devices for selectively presenting a user interface or “desktop” across two devices are provided. More particularly, a unified desktop is presented across a device and a computer system. The unified desktop acts as a single user interface that presents data and receives user interaction in a seamless environment that emulates a personal computing environment. To function within the personal computing environment, freeform windows are generated to encapsulate user interfaces for device applications. The freeform windows allow the user interfaces for the device applications to function as other windows in the personal computing environment. |
| US09069512B2 |
Displaying screen information of a printing device on a client device in accordance with a type of client device
An information processing apparatus includes a storing unit configured to store a plurality of pieces of screen information, each corresponding to a type of an external device that is capable of accessing the apparatus, a transmitting unit configured to transmit the screen information to the external device, a receiving unit configured to receive an instruction request that is based on the screen information displayed in the external device, and an executing unit configured to execute processing in response to the instruction request received by the receiving unit. The screen information includes a common section that is common among the plurality of pieces of screen information regardless of the type of the external device and a difference section that differs among the plurality of pieces of screen information depending on the type of the external device. |
| US09069510B2 |
Touch sensitive screen information apparatus that includes close proximity or near distance radio frequency field communication
A touch sensitive screen mobile information apparatus having a wireless communication unit for wireless device discovery is herein disclosed. Close proximity wireless device discovery is enabled by wireless searching near distance via radio frequency field for a wireless device, receiving information from the wireless device over the near distance wireless communication, and storing the received information at the information apparatus for future wireless connections. Authentication or pairing of devices may be eliminated due to close proximity of the direct wireless device discovery. After wireless device discovery, the information apparatus and the wireless device may become locked or paired for subsequent wireless communication over any number of wireless communication protocols or standards (e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, 2.4GHz) without the need to repeat wireless discovery or pairing. Examples of information apparatus include smart phones, digital camera, laptops, or information pads. Examples of wireless devices include televisions, audio output devices, or printers. |
| US09069508B2 |
Information processing method and information processing apparatus generating a print command based on spool data of a print job
A printer driver generates a print command based on the spool data of a print job to thereby transmit the print command to a printer. The printer driver manages a correspondence between job identification information that identifies a print job for which an error occurred and information about the number of printed pages at the moment when the error occurred in a storage device. When it is determined that the print job to be processed is a data type to be spooled by an intermediate drawing command and the job identification information for the print job to be processed is managed by the storage device, the printer driver skips page configuration processing relating to printed pages and generates a print command based on the information about the number of printed pages, which corresponds to the job identification information and is managed by the storage device. |
| US09069507B2 |
Print server, printing system, and computer program product configured to send print data to an image forming apparatus based on obtained designation of the image forming apparatus
According to an embodiment, a print server connected to a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network includes: a print-command acquisition unit that acquires a print command containing designation of one of the image forming apparatuses as a printing-assigned apparatus and designation of to-be-printed data; a determining unit that determines whether or not the printing-assigned apparatus is a speed-oriented apparatus; a raster image processing unit that, when the printing-assigned apparatus is not the speed-oriented apparatus, obtains rasterized data by performing raster image processing on the to-be-printed data written in a page description language; and a transmitting unit that, when the printing-assigned apparatus is not the speed-oriented apparatus, transmits the rasterized data to the printing-assigned apparatus, but when the printing-assigned apparatus is the speed-oriented apparatus, transmits the to-be-printed data to the printing-assigned apparatus. |
| US09069505B2 |
Image forming system setting condition for executing acquisition process
In the image-forming system, each image-forming device is selectively capable of performing a test print process to form a test image and an image print process to form an image based on image data. Each image-forming device is configured to be set an execution condition that defines a condition to execute the test print process. Each image-forming device executes the test print process when the each image-forming device satisfies the execution condition. The first detecting unit is configured to detect an execution condition of an image-forming device among the plurality of image-forming devices. The setting unit is configured to set an execution condition of an image-forming device among the plurality of image-forming devices based on the execution condition detected by the first detecting unit such that at least two execution conditions among execution conditions of the plurality of image-forming devices are different from each other. |
| US09069503B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method of output distribution, and recording medium storing output distribution control program
An output distribution system extracts user-specific information from job data that is generated in response to an output request, obtains terminal-specific information that identifies a terminal that is associated with a user specified by user-specific information, and transmits drawing data of the job data to an output destination determined based on the identified terminal. |
| US09069502B2 |
System and method for controlling the settings of an imaging forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus determines whether an import data receiving path is affected by import processing, imports import data when it is determined that the import data receiving path is not affected, outputs an import result log via the import data receiving path, and displays, when it is determined that the import data receiving path is affected, a warning screen indicating that the import data receiving path is affected by the import before the import data is imported. |
| US09069501B2 |
Mechanism that allows initiating print without being aware of the printer email address
In one implementation, a request for a print job for a printer having an email address is received. An identifier value for the requested print job is provided to a user. An identifier value input by the user is received. The user-input identifier value is verified, and the print job is released for printing based on the identifier value received from the user being successfully verified. |
| US09069499B2 |
Print processing network
A method disclosed. The method includes downloading a first print job data stream from a cloud computing network, transmitting the first print job data stream to a printer, monitoring a printing status of the printer to determine when the printer is ready to receive a second print job and downloading a second print job data stream from the cloud computing network upon determining that the printer is ready to receive the second print job. |
| US09069493B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus to effectively reduce power consumption of an image forming apparatus in a sleep mode by reducing current consumed in an operating panel microcomputer by operating parts by constituting the parts so that a power voltage is continually supplied to the parts to indicate that the image forming apparatus is in a power-on state while stopping the operation of the operating panel microcomputer of an operating panel part in a sleep mode. |
| US09069491B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
In the case where charging by grade in accordance with a plurality of image attributes is performed, it is not possible for a user to identify the image attribute with which printing is performed from the appearance of printed matter that is output. In accordance with a color pixel ratio in image data, an image attribute of the image data is determined and a display unit is controlled to display the determined image attribute and the color pixel ratio. |
| US09069485B2 |
Doorbell backpressure avoidance mechanism on a host channel adapter
A method for processing commands includes receiving, for multiple commands, doorbells for writing to a send queue scheduler buffer on a host channel adapter (HCA). The send queue scheduler buffer is associated with a send queue scheduler. The method further includes detecting a potential deadlock of the send queue scheduler from processing a portion of the doorbells, writing a subset of the doorbells to a doorbell overflow buffer on a host, operatively connected to the HCA, based on detecting the potential deadlock, and discarding the subset by the send queue scheduler without processing the subset of the plurality of doorbells before discarding. |
| US09069479B1 |
Snapshots in deduplication
A method, system, and program product for creating a virtual LUN from data on a de-duplication device and exposing, via a DPA, the virtual LUN. |
| US09069478B2 |
Controlling segment size distribution in hash-based deduplication
Segment sizes are controlled by setting the size of a segment boundary in a hash-based deduplication system. A subsequence of size K of a sequence of characters S is set. An increasing sequence of n probabilities and a corresponding sequence of n decreasingly restrictive logical tests are chosen to be applied on the sequence of characters S. Segment boundaries are set by using the sequence of the decreasingly restrictive logical tests by deciding to declare a segment boundary at a current position if one of the sequence of the decreasingly restrictive logical tests, with a corresponding probability of the sequence of n probabilities, returns a true value when applied on the sequence of characters S. |
| US09069476B2 |
Method for managing storage system using flash memory, and computer
To facilitate the management of a storage system that uses a flash memory as a storage area. A controller of the storage system provided with a flash memory chip manages a surplus capacity value of the flash memory chip, and transmits a value based on the surplus capacity value to a management server, on the basis of at least one of a definition of a parity group, a definition of an internal LU, and a definition of a logical unit. The management server displays a state of the storage system by using the received value based on the surplus capacity value. |
| US09069475B1 |
Hybrid drive selectively spinning up disk when powered on
A hybrid drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM). When booting the hybrid drive in a first boot mode, the disk remains spun down, and when booting in a second boot mode, the disk is spun up. In one embodiment the hybrid drive receives a host command that configures the boot mode, and in another embodiment the hybrid drive determines the boot mode based on a state of the NVSM, such as an amount of free space or life remaining of the NVSM. |
| US09069473B2 |
Wait-free stream oriented migration based storage
Embodiments of the invention relate to systematic migration of data. Data is streamed to data storage and stored in a virtual storage device (VSD). Stored data is systematically migrated from the VSD to a higher density VSD, while streaming of data is also switched to the higher density VSD. Source and target data extents are maintained and merged upon completion of the data migration, together with linking the streamed data blocks with the migrated data blocks in the order presented in the input stream. |
| US09069470B2 |
Zone group reassignment using storage device signatures
A method and apparatus for assigning zone groups to a storage enclosure is disclosed. When a storage enclosure is added to a switch in a fabric, a signature of the storage enclosure will be created from the storage devices loaded in that enclosure. The signature will then be compared against the signature from a storage enclosure that is offline. When the signature matches the signature of the offline storage enclosure, the zone groups from the offline storage enclosure will be copied to the storage enclosure that was added to the fabric. |
| US09069469B2 |
Sharing and synchronizing data across users of cloud computing systems
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that processes data from a user. During operation, the system obtains, at a cloud computing system, a set of data-sharing preferences for the user. Next, the system creates a set of virtual storage partitions for the user with the cloud computing system based on the data-sharing preferences. Upon receiving data from the user to the cloud computing system, the system associates the data with a virtual storage partition from the set of virtual storage partitions based on the data-sharing preferences and a set of data attributes for the data. Finally, the system manages access to the virtual storage partition by one or more other users based on the data-sharing preferences. |
| US09069467B2 |
Isolation of virtual machine I/O in multi-disk hosts
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer storage media for concurrently maintaining a spanned virtual hard drive across two or more computer-storage media and a non-spanned virtual hard drive on one of computer-storage media. The method includes storing data of the spanned virtual hard drive across the computer-storage media utilizing volume spanning. While the spanned virtual hard drive is maintained on the computer storage media, the method includes storing data of the non-spanned virtual hard drive on one of the computer-storage media. |
| US09069466B2 |
Methods and apparatus for source-synchronous circuits
Source-synchronization between a source module and a responder module generally includes providing, at the source module, an initial determinism reconciliation signal, propagating the initial determinism reconciliation signal from the source module to the responder module and back to the source module to produce a received determinism reconciliation signal, and compensating for an intrinsic delay of the circuit based on the initial determinism reconciliation signal and the received determinism reconciliation signal. |
| US09069460B2 |
Using pressure differences with a touch-sensitive display screen
Disclosed is a user interface that responds to differences in pressure detected by a touch-sensitive screen. The user selects one type of user-interface action by “lightly” touching the screen and selects another type of action by exerting more pressure. Embodiments can respond to single touches, to gestural touches that extend across the face of the touch-sensitive screen, and to touches in which the user-exerted pressure varies during the course of the touch. Some embodiments respond to how quickly the user changes the amount of pressure applied. In some embodiments, the location and pressure of the user's input are compared against a stored gesture profile. Action is taken only if the input matches “closely enough” to the stored gesture profile. In some embodiments, a notification is sent to the user when the pressure exceeds a threshold between a light and a heavy press. |
| US09069458B2 |
Kid mode user interface with application-specific configurability
A user interface is disclosed that is configured to provide a multi-user, multi-application experience for users of a given computing device, where each user account of the device is configurable with applications suitable for that user and each application has a usage timer associated therewith. Thus, each user may have access to applications that are different from another user of that device, and each user can be allocated application usage time independent from other users. The usage timers can be configured to reset once a usage period has lapsed. In some cases, the size of icons displayed for a given user account are automatically sized based on the age range of that user. A reward program may automatically increase the time allotted for given applications/content upon successful usage/consumption of educational applications/content. In a classroom/group setting, multiple computing devices may be simultaneously set into Kid Mode by a master computing device. |
| US09069453B2 |
Display input device
A display input device is comprised of a touch panel 1 for carrying out a display of an image and an input of an image, a vibration sensor (a proximity sensor 12) for detecting a vibration of an object to be detected which is positioned opposite to the touch panel 1, a vibration correcting unit 304 for making a vibration correction when the vibration of the object to be detected which is detected by the vibration sensor has an amount equal to or larger than a predetermined amount, and a control unit 3 for carrying out a process of transforming an image in a display area having a fixed range displayed on the above-mentioned touch panel according to the position of the object to be detected to which the above-mentioned vibration correction has been made. |
| US09069451B2 |
Image processing apparatus having user login function, control method therefore, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus which is capable of improving ease of operation for users and also improving security when destinations are made public. The image processing apparatus is shared by a plurality of users and capable of selecting a destination from a plurality of address books and carrying out file transmission to the destination. It is determined whether or not a user has logged in, and when it is determined that the user has logged in, only personal addresses for the logged-in user are displayed on a display unit. The personal destinations displayed on the display unit are switched to destinations other than the personal destinations according to selection by the user. When it is determined that the user has not logged in, all destinations which are registered in the plurality of address books are displayed on the display unit. |
| US09069450B2 |
Multi-modal/multi-channel application tool architecture
A computer with a processor and a memory is used to set instructions for both a first component of a service and a second component of the service. The instructions include a flow of dialogs to present to requesters of the service to obtain information. Each instruction includes a dialog to present to the requesters of the service to obtain information. The first component of the service is provided via a first user interface over a first communication channel using a first communication mode. The second component of the service is provided via a second user interface over a second communication channel using a second communication mode. The first component of the service and the second component of the service are provided continuously in a single session in accordance with the instructions using a common rule set of the instructions. |
| US09069446B2 |
Management of input methods
Embodiments of a system and method are disclosed concerning the management of a plurality input methods on a computer. The input method may define how input from a human interface device is interpreted by a receiving application. The method may include locating one or more input method factors. The method may also include determining a numerical score of the input method factor using a metric of the input method factor and a weight of the factor. The method may also include ranking an input method factor using the determined numerical score of the input method factor. The method may also include presenting a user selection interface that lists the plurality of input methods as a function of the ranking. |
| US09069435B2 |
Web-based real estate mapping system
An innovative web-based tool displays visual information about real estate. In one embodiment, an aerial image is overlaid with various data layers to visually present real estate data. Data associated with various embodiments of the tool can include tax parcel information, historical sales information, Multiple Listing Service information, school information, neighborhood information, and park information. |
| US09069427B2 |
High noise immunity sensing methods and apparatus for a capacitive touch device
A sensing method and a sensing apparatus for a capacitive touch device sense variations of self capacitances of first traces in a first direction and second traces in a second direction and variations of mutual capacitances of intersections between the first traces and the second traces, and then generates fourth sensed values from the first, second and third sensed values to serve as sensed values of the changes of the mutual capacitances of the intersections between the first traces and the second traces for identifying one or more touch points. Therefore, noise interference is suppressed and real touch points can be easily to be identified. |
| US09069424B2 |
Touch panel
Provided is a touch panel with improved anti-noise performance. A continuous drive pulse train is input to a plurality of scanning electrodes for each one scanning period in turns, and a detection pulse train generated at detection electrodes which intersects the scanning electrodes is detected. The detection pulse train is sampled at different intervals to generate a plurality of data sequences. The plurality of data sequences may be generated from the detection pulse train over a plurality of frame periods. A signal strength of each frequency component is compared between the frequency spectra of the plurality of data sequences, and a frequency spectrum in which frequency components having different strengths have been corrected is generated. A detection signal is generated from the corrected frequency spectrum. |
| US09069419B2 |
Object positioning for an X-Y projected capacitive touch panel
Methods are proposed for object positioning for an X-Y projected capacitive touch panel. In an embodiment, capacitance sensing under inphase excitation of traces is applied to set a base value when the capacitive touch panel is not touched and to obtain capacitances at intersections when the capacitive touch panel is touched, and the base value is compared with the measured capacitances to identify touch points. In other embodiments, X-Y projected sensing and all-point sensing are combined to reduce the amount of calculation and achieve the same positioning effect as an all-point capacitive touch panel. |
| US09069418B2 |
High resistivity metal fan out
The formation of metal traces in the border areas of a touch sensor panel to provide improved reliability, better noise rejection, and lower manufacturing costs is disclosed. The metal traces can be coupled to rows on the touch sensor panel in an interleaved manner, so that any two successive rows can be coupled to metal traces in border areas on opposite sides of the touch sensor panel. In addition, by utilizing the full width available in the border areas in some embodiments, the metal traces can be formed from higher resistivity metal, which can reduce manufacturing costs and improve trace reliability. The wider traces can also provide better noise immunity from noise sources such as an LCD by providing a larger fixed-potential surface area and by more effectively coupling the drive lines to the fixed potential. |
| US09069415B2 |
Systems and methods for finger pose estimation on touchscreen devices
Described are systems and methods for estimating finger pose of a user during a tactile input event. In one implementation, the system incorporates: a touch-sensitive display device configured to detect a tactile event and to determine a contact point of an object and the touch-sensitive display device, the contact point associated with the tactile event; a camera configured to capture an image of an area proximal to the surface of the touch-sensitive display device; and a central processing unit configured, in response to the detection of the tactile event, to determine information on a pose of the object based on the captured image and the determined contact point. |
| US09069409B2 |
Coordinate algorithm of touch panel
A coordinate algorithm of a touch panel is provided, in which the touch panel includes a plurality of first-direction sensing lines and a plurality of second-direction sensing lines. The coordinate algorithm of a touch panel includes following steps. A first edge coordinate is obtained. A first coordinate compensation parameter is defined. The first edge coordinate is taken as a first base coordinate, and the first base coordinate is adjusted according to the first coordinate compensation parameter to obtain a first interpolation coordinate when an edge of the touch panel is touched. |
| US09069407B2 |
Display control apparatus and display control method
A display control apparatus comprises a proximity detection unit which detects that an object has come close to the apparatus, a touch detection unit which detects that an object has come close to a display unit, and a control unit which, when the proximity detection unit detects approach of the object and the touch detection unit detects the approach of the object in a region of not smaller than a predetermined range on the display unit, controls not to perform a display, to reduce a luminance of the display unit, or to turn off the display unit, and when the proximity detection unit detects the approach of the object and the touch detection unit does not detect the approach of the object in the region of not smaller than the predetermined range on the display unit, controls to carry on the display. |
| US09069406B2 |
Mixer for use in touch panel system and method for processing signals in the mixer
A mixer of a touch panel system includes a first switch configured to switch a sensing signal in accordance with a reference signal; a second switch configured to switch the sensing signal in accordance with a phase-inverted reference signal from the reference signal. Further, the mixer of the touch panel system includes a first low pass filter configured to perform low-pass filtering on a first output signal produced from the first switch; and a second low pass filter configured to perform low-pass filtering on a second output signal produced from the second switch. Furthermore, the mixer of the touch panel system includes a differentiator configured to differentiate signals produced from the first low pass filter and the second low pass filter, to thereby produce a signal of constant level as the sensing signal. |
| US09069405B2 |
Dynamic mode switching for fast touch response
A method of operating a touch-sensing surface may include determining a presence of at least one conductive object at the touch-sensing surface by performing a search measurement of a first set of sensor elements of the touch-sensing surface, and in response to determining the presence of the at least one conductive object, determining a location of the at least one conductive object by performing a tracking measurement of a second set of sensor elements of the touch-sensing surface. |
| US09069404B2 |
Force imaging input device and system
A force imaging touch pad includes first and second sets of conductive traces separated by a spring membrane. When a force is applied, the spring membrane deforms moving the two sets of traces closer together. The resulting change in mutual capacitance is used to generate an image indicative of the amount or intensity of the applied force. A combined location and force imaging touch pad includes two sets of drive traces, one set of sense traces and a spring membrane. In operation, one of the drive traces is used in combination with the set of sense traces to generate an image of where one or more objects touch the touch pad. The second set of drive traces is used in combination with the sense traces and spring membrane to generate an image of the applied force's strength or intensity. |
| US09069403B2 |
Display operating device operating display of 3D object, and image forming apparatus with display operating device
A display operating device includes a position detecting section, an axis decision section, a movement determining section, a display section, and a first rotation processing section. The position detecting section is configured to detect three positions on a touch surface. The axis decision section is configured to decide a first axis using first and second positions which are two of the three positions. The movement determining section is configured to determine whether or not a third position, which is the remaining one of the three positions, is moving. The first rotation processing section is configured to, when with the 3D object displayed on the display section the three positions are detected and the third position is determined to be moving, rotate the 3D object by a first predetermined angle about the first axis. |
| US09069399B2 |
Gain correction for fast panel scanning
A method calculates a correction factor for one or more of capacitance sensors and generates a current from a mutual capacitance of one of the capacitance sensors. The method applies the correction factor to the generated current to generate a corrected current and converts the corrected current to a digital value. The method determines a position of one or more conductive objects in proximity to the one or more capacitance sensors based on the digital value. |
| US09069398B1 |
Electronic device having a touch panel display and a method for operating the same
A disclosed method for operating an electronic device having a touch panel display involves displaying an image on the touch panel display and detecting curved motion of a user input device touching and moving on the touch panel display. The detected curved motion at least substantially encompasses a portion on the displayed image. In response, the device enlarges or shrinks the displayed image on the touch panel display from a perspective encompassing the selected portion of the displayed image. The enlarging or shrinking of the displayed image on the touch panel display may continue during detection of the curved motion. |
| US09069396B2 |
Controller and user interface device, systems, and methods
A data collection system controller that includes a housing such as a cover. The housing includes a user facing section and a support facing section defining a hole. The controller also includes a first input device adjacent the user facing section and a second input device. The second input device includes a knob comprising a third input device and a rotatable shaft extending through the hole and partially disposed within the knob. In one embodiment, the second input device is an XYZ joystick with a button. In one embodiment, the joystick and the first input device are angled relative to each other on either side of an elbow joint. In part, the invention relates to a method of controlling the display of image data obtained with respect to a blood vessel. |
| US09069395B2 |
Input device with forward/backward control
In a computer system having a display and a keyboard, a computer readable medium includes instructions for invoking a message hook procedure based on a mouse message indicative of a mouse event. Instructions also provide for identifying at least one focus application that has a current keyboard focus and of converting the mouse message into a command for the focus application. The command is then sent to the focus application and the mouse message is prevented from being routed to any other applications. In one embodiment, the commands include the command to page forward or backward through pages of Internet documents. In other embodiments, instead of converting the mouse message into a command, the message hook procedure displays a graphical user interface based on the focus application and the mouse message. The graphical user interface includes one or more commands that the user may select. Based on the selection made by the user, the message hook procedure sends a corresponding command to the focus application. |
| US09069394B2 |
Fully clickable trackpad
According to one general aspect, an apparatus includes a trackpad that includes a cover member having a top surface and a switch coupled to the cover member. At least two spring members are coupled to the trackpad and are each disposed at a non-zero distance from each other and are each configured to collectively bias the trackpad in a first position in which the top surface of the cover member is in a first plane. The trackpad is movable to a second position in which the top surface of the cover member is in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane when an input force is exerted on the top surface of the cover member. The switch is configured to trigger an electrical signal within a computer when the trackpad is moved to its second position. |
| US09069388B2 |
Keypad apparatus
The disclosure relates to implementing different key types on a keypad or keyboard. The implementation can be enabled e.g. by an apparatus including a substrate (28) including a capacitive sensor element (29), the capacitive sensor element having a first electrode (24) forming a first capacitor with an object touching or coming into proximity of the first electrode, wherein the capacitive sensor element is configured to generate a first signal responsive to the object touching or coming into proximity of the capacitive sensor element, a first capacitor circuit coupled to at least the first electrode, and a dome (26) configured to complete, responsive to the dome being depressed, an electric circuit including at least the first capacitor and the first capacitor circuit to form a second capacitor circuit, wherein the second capacitor circuit is configured to generate a second signal. |
| US09069381B2 |
Interacting with a computer based application
A computing system runs an application (e.g., video game) that interacts with one or more actively engaged users. One or more physical properties of a group are sensed. The group may include the one or more actively engaged users and/or one or more entities not actively engaged with the application. The computing system will determine that the group (or the one or more entities not actively engaged with the application) have performed a predetermined action. A runtime condition of the application is changed in response to determining that the group (or the one or more entities not actively engaged with the computer based application) have performed the predetermined action. Examples of changing a runtime condition include moving an object, changing a score or changing an environmental condition of a video game. |
| US09069380B2 |
Media device, application, and content management using sensory input
Techniques for media device, application, and content management using sensory input are described, including receiving input from one or more sensors coupled to a data-capable strapband, processing the input to determine a pattern, referencing a pattern library using the pattern, generating a control signal to a media application, the control signal being determined based on whether the pattern matches another pattern in the pattern library, and selecting a media file configured to be presented, the media file being selected using the control signal. |
| US09069379B2 |
Flexible display screen and method and apparatus for controlling the same
A method for controlling a flexible display screen having a first curvature is provided. The method comprises: detecting target information to obtain a detection result (101); querying a database based on the detection result to determine whether the first curvature is included in a preset range of curvature values corresponding to the detection result (102), the database storing a correspondence between a range of target information values and a range of curvature values; and generating a control command to adjust the flexible display screen to a second curvature different from the first curvature when the first curvature is not included in the preset range of curvature values (103). With the present invention, the curvature of the flexible display screen can be adjusted as desired, such that a user of the display screen can have an optimized view angle. The present application solves a problem in the prior art that the curvature of the flexible display screen cannot be adjusted as desired and avoids unclear view of a picture due to view angle. |
| US09069376B2 |
Unpredictable vehicle navigation
A system and method for controlling movement of a vehicle. A current state of the vehicle is identified. The current state comprises a current location of the vehicle. A next state for the vehicle is selected by a processor unit. The next state comprises a next location for the vehicle. A value for an attribute of the next state of the vehicle is randomly selected. The movement of the vehicle is controlled to move the vehicle from the current state to the next state. |
| US09069373B2 |
Generating a runtime framework
In an embodiment, the runtime framework is responsible for executing multidimensional analytical metadata in a runtime environment that is determined by the runtime framework. To generate such a runtime framework, the received multidimensional analytical metadata is analyzed to determine a type of an associated calculation pattern. Based upon the type, subsets of the multidimensional analytical metadata and corresponding runtime decision rules are determined. To execute the subsets, executable conditions corresponding to the multidimensional analytical metadata are identified. Based upon the executable conditions, the calculation pattern associated with the multidimensional analytical metadata is executed by executing the associated subsets, and the runtime framework is generated. The runtime framework determines calculation scenario executable subsets and calculation scenario inexecutable subsets that are associated with the multidimensional analytical metadata, and executes the subsets in their respective engines. |
| US09069366B2 |
Switching regulator
A switching regulator includes a switching element to generate an output voltage, a reference voltage source to generate a reference voltage, a soft-start circuit to set the reference voltage increasing gradually within a range, an error amplifier circuit to generate an error difference voltage indicating an error difference between the reference voltage and feedback voltage of the output voltage of the switching regulator, a switching circuit to generate a switching signal to control the switching element in response to the error difference voltage, and a current limiting circuit to generate a limiting signal indicating a comparison result between an current into the switching element and a limit being set to increase within a range, wherein the switching circuit controls a duty cycle of the switching signal so that the current through the switching element does not exceed the limit in response to the limiting signal. |
| US09069365B2 |
DC-DC converter enabling rapid output voltage changes
Embodiments for methods, apparatus and systems for operating a voltage regulator are disclosed. One embodiment of the voltage regulator generates a switching voltage through controlled closing and opening of a series switch element and a shunt switch element. The voltage regulator further includes a switched output filter that includes a plurality of capacitors for filtering the switching voltage and generating an output voltage. A mode controller is operative to disconnect at least one of the plurality of capacitors upon receiving a first indicator, where disconnecting causes the at least one of the plurality of capacitors to electrically float, wherein while the at least one capacitor is disconnected the output voltage is changed from a first value to a second value, return the output voltage to a first value or a third value upon receiving a second indicator, and reconnect the at least one of the plurality of capacitors. |
| US09069361B2 |
Thermostat with set point range feedback
A thermostat user interface (UI) is provided for presenting calculated set point ranges. The thermostat UI has a major thermostat scale for presenting a current temperature and an overall range of feasible temperatures. A set point indictor indicates a set point input (e.g., desired temperature) with respect to the major thermostat scale. A minor thermostat scale presents a set point range, where the set point range is a range of permitted temperature measurement variations from the set point input. The set point range brackets the set point indicator with a maximum temperature value representing a highest temperature in the set point range, and a minimum temperature value representing a lowest temperature in the set point range. If high and low temperature set point indictors are used, then there are first and second minor thermostat scales bracketing, respectively, the high and low temperature set point indicators. |
| US09069360B2 |
Outlet valve for use with a pressurized fluid container
An outlet valve (700) adapted for use with a pressurized fluid container includes an outlet valve chamber (701) including an upper groove (722) and a lower groove (725), an outlet valve member (760) configured to move between substantially open and substantially closed positions in the outlet valve chamber (701), and a non-return member (780) configured to be retained in one of the upper groove (722) or the lower groove (725) in a snap-fit arrangement. When the non-return member (780) is retained in the upper groove (722) the non-return member (780) does not contact the outlet valve member (760). When the non-return member (780) is retained in the lower groove (725) the non-return member (780) blocks the outlet valve member (760) in the substantially open position. |
| US09069359B2 |
Pressure balance unit
A pressure balance unit for a valve assembly includes a first shell having a tongue extending therefrom, a second shell having a groove indented therein, and a sliding element having a shaft defining an axis. The groove in the second shell is configured to receive the tongue from the first shell for aligning the shells. The first and second shells are united using a sonic welding process. The first shell defines a first bore and the second shell defines a second bore. The first and second bores include inlet ports in circumferential faces thereof, the ports defining openings transverse to the axis. The sliding element includes a first end movable along the axis within the first bore and a second end movable along the axis within the second bore. The ends of the sliding element open and close the inlet ports by sliding across the ports. |
| US09069356B2 |
Nomadic security device with patrol alerts
There is provided a device such as a robot that includes a processor and a number of sensors. Each of the sensors provides respective sensor data to the processor. The sensor data from each sensor is indicative of corresponding characteristics of an environment of the device. A memory includes a security mode component that is executable by the processor and is configured to cause the device to autonomously navigate at least a portion of the environment. A detection component executable by the processor is configured to detect an unusual condition in the environment. |
| US09069353B2 |
Electronic and manual backup flow control systems
In various embodiments, an electronic flow selector of a fluid flow control system may be used to select a flow rate of a fluid. When the system is in an electronic mode, an encoder may electronically encode the fluid flow selection. A controller may receive the electronically encoded flow selection and transmit a corresponding control signal to an electronic valve to allow the fluid to flow at the selected flow rate. When the system is in a manual mode, mechanical backup flow selectors may be used to directly control the flow rate of a fluid. When the system is in a manual mode, the mechanical backup flow selectors may be in a deployed position. When the system is in an electronic mode, the mechanical backup flow selectors may be in a retracted position. Particular applications to gases and anesthesia delivery are disclosed herein. |
| US09069352B2 |
Automated fault analysis and response system
A process for determining a root cause problem for an out-of-tolerance component manufactured by a plurality of operations performed on the component. The process can include providing manufacturing data from at least a subset of plurality of operations performed on a plurality of components and discovering an out-of-tolerance measurement on at least a subset of the plurality of manufactured components downstream from the plurality of operations. An auto-regression analysis between the out-of-tolerance measurement and the plurality of upstream operations can also be performed using the manufacturing data. A correlation between at least one of the upstream operations and the out-of-tolerance measurement can be found and the correlation can result in the identification of at least one upstream operation that is the root cause of the out-of-tolerance measurement. |
| US09069348B2 |
Portable remote controller and robotic system
A portable remote controller includes a display color setting unit, a display color information storage unit, and a teaching data display unit. The display color setting unit sets display colors for instructions for making a robot execute a predetermined behavior. The display color information storage unit stores the display colors set by the display color setting unit in association with the instructions. The teaching data display unit displays teaching data created by teaching on a display unit on the basis of the display colors. |
| US09069347B2 |
Machine tool comprising a device for collision monitoring
A numerically controlled machine tool for machining a workpiece is provided. The machine tool includes a work spindle, at least one feed axis, and a device for collision monitoring on said machine tool, wherein the device for collision monitoring includes a collision sensor mounted on a machine part of the machine tool, collision detection means for detecting a collision of machine parts of the machine tool when a measuring value detected by the collision sensor exceeds a collision limit value, and signal output means for outputting a stop signal for stopping the at least one work spindle and the at least one feed axis, of the machine tool when the collision detection means detects a collision. The machine tool includes a unit for determining the collision limit value on the machine tool. |
| US09069344B2 |
Smart process modules and objects in process plants
An operator interface within a process plant includes an execution engine that implements process flow modules made up of interconnected smart process objects that are aware of devices and other entities within the plant and that can perform methods to detect conditions within the plant, especially on a system-level basis. The smart process objects include a display element to be displayed to the operator, data storage for storing data pertaining to and/or received from an associated entity within a plant, inputs and outputs for communicating with other smart process objects and methods that may be executed on the stored and received data to detect plant conditions, including system-level conditions, such as leaks, errors and other conditions. Process flow modules, which may be made up of numerous interconnected smart process objects, may also include flow algorithms associated therewith to calculate mass balances, flows, etc. for the process elements within the process flow modules. |
| US09069341B2 |
Method and apparatus for digital control of a lighting device
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for digitally controlling a lighting device which enables a desired lighting device operational set point to be reached in a rapid manner while substantially reducing overshoot and oscillation about the desired lighting device operational set point. In particular the present invention is enabled by a PID controller configured to vary the PID controller parameters based on a relationship based at least in part on the desired lighting device operational set point, the present lighting device operational point or both. |
| US09069337B2 |
System and method for estimating and providing dispatchable operating reserve energy capacity through use of active load management
A utility employs a method for estimating available operating reserve. Electric power consumption by at least one device serviced by the utility is determined during at least one period of time to produce power consumption data. The power consumption data is stored in a repository. A determination is made that a control event is to occur during which power is to be reduced to one or more devices. Prior to the control event and under an assumption that it is not to occur, power consumption behavior expected of the device(s) is estimated for a time period during which the control event is expected to occur based on the stored power consumption data. Additionally, prior to the control event, projected energy savings resulting from the control event are determined based on the devices' estimated power consumption behavior. An amount of available operating reserve is determined based on the projected energy savings. |
| US09069336B2 |
Ultra-precision position control device and method for determining position and attitude information associated with a 6-degree-of-freedom stage thereof
A method of determining and controlling position and attitude information associated with a 6-degree-of-freedom stage includes: receiving, from a plurality of sensors associated with the 6-degree-of-freedom stage, displacement information associated with the 6-degree-of-freedom stage. A plurality of equations associated with the plurality of sensors are determined by a control unit based on the displacement information to represent an amount of change in position and attitude associated with each measurement axis of each of the plurality of sensors. The control unit determines position information and attitude information associated with the 6-degree-of-freedom stage using the equations. Movement of the 6-degree-of-freedom stage is caused, at least in part, to be controlled based on the position information, the attitude information, or both the position information and the attitude information. Three coordinate values associated with each valid measurement point of each of the plurality of sensors are associated with at least one degree of freedom. |
| US09069335B2 |
Emergency stop module arrangement
An emergency stop module arrangement having a logic circuit for the detecting a switching status of an emergency stop switch and for the control of a load switch for the safe connection and disconnection of a load, wherein the emergency stop module arrangement has a first emergency stop module and a second emergency stop module, and wherein the first emergency stop module is coupled via an interface connection to the second emergency stop module. To reduce the wiring complexity as well as the space requirement for the arrangement in a switching cabinet, it is provided that the emergency stop modules are designed as plug-on modules which can be plugged on the load switches, and that each one of the emergency stop modules has at least one switching means which is mechanically positively driven with the coupled load switch. |
| US09069325B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus main body, and a visible image forming unit that forms a developer image. The visible image forming unit includes a first unit, a second unit detachably mounted to the apparatus main body, and a third unit. An image forming apparatus further includes a first mechanism that causes the first unit and the second unit to move toward or away from each other, a moving member that moves the first mechanism, and a second mechanism that causes the second unit and the third unit to move toward or away from each other in conjunction with a movement of the first mechanism. |
| US09069324B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including: a body frame including an opening; a cover configured to rotate between an open position where the cover opens the opening and a closed position where the cover closes the opening and including a base end portion rotatably supported by the body frame and a distal end portion; an exposure member supported by the cover and configured to swing when the cover is rotated from the closed position to the open position; a cable configured to transmit current to the exposure member; and a metal plate fixed to the cover and having a through-hole through which the cable extends, the metal plate including, a main body part, and a conduction part protruding, toward the exposure member, from the main body part adjacent to the through-hole at the distal end side of the cover. |
| US09069321B2 |
Waste container and electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the same
A waste container is detachably mounted on an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to electrophotographically print an image by using a developing agent formed by mixing a carrier and a toner and receives therein a waste during the printing. The waste container includes a first inlet through which a first waste is introduced, a second inlet through which a second waste is introduced, a first region in which the first waste is stored, and a second region that is separated from the first region and in which the second waste is stored. |
| US09069320B2 |
Cleaning device, image forming unit and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device for an image forming apparatus includes a cleaning member that removes residual developer that remains on a image carrier, a rotary conveying member that conveys the removed residual developer toward a predetermined direction, and a housing that contains the rotary conveying member. The housing includes a support member that supports the cleaning member; and a protective member that has an inner wall which opposes outer periphery of the rotary conveying member and partially covers the rotary conveying member. The protective member is made of a resin molding material to which a filler is not added. |
| US09069319B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An information processing apparatus for generating plate data used to generate image data in an image processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a designating unit configured to designate a rendering object; a surface-effect receiving unit configured to receive a type of a surface effect imparted to the rendering object; a plate data generating unit configured to generate the plate data so that the type of the surface effect is imparted to a region in which the rendering object is to be rendered in a recording medium and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the plate data to the print processing apparatus. |
| US09069318B2 |
Image forming apparatus and processing unit
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion that forms an image on a recording sheet, a transport path that transports the recording sheet with the image formed thereon by the image forming portion, a coating portion that performs a coating process that forms a coating film on the recording sheet that is being transported on the transport path, and a reading portion that reads a calibration chart on the recording sheet that is being transported on the transport path. The coating portion is disposed on the upstream side in a recording sheet transport direction of the reading portion on the transport path, a calibration process is performed for an image formed by the image forming portion, and the calibration chart is formed on the recording sheet by the image forming portion in order to perform the calibration process. |
| US09069307B2 |
Fuser system for controlling static discharge
The present teachings provide a fuser system for use in a xerographic apparatus. The fuser system includes a fuser roller and a pressure roller. The fuser roller and the pressure roller create a nip. The fuser roller has an outer layer of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a fluoropolymer wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise from about 0.1 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of the outer layer. The pressure roller comprises a static dissipative outer surface having a surface resistivity of less than about 1010 Ω/cm. |
| US09069305B2 |
Fixing device capable of grounding tubular member
A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes: a flexible tubular member having an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space; a heater; a nip member being in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the flexible tubular member and having an electrically conductive surface; a stay supporting the nip member and being electrically conductive and electrically connected to the electrically conductive surface; a backup member nipping the flexible tubular member in cooperation with the nip member; a supporting member supporting the nip member and the stay, the supporting member being movable relative to the backup member; and a first grounding member disposed to be in contact with the stay for grounding the stay, the first grounding member being supported to the supporting member such that the first grounding member is integrally movable with the supporting member. |
| US09069303B2 |
Image processing apparatus, computer readable medium, and image processing method with dual heating modes
Provided is an image processing apparatus including a mode switching unit that selectively switches a mode between a rapid heating mode and a heat accumulating mode in a fixing unit, a receiving unit that receives an image formation request received from the outside, an extracting unit that extracts mode switching determination information at the earliest from the image formation request received by the receiving unit, a selecting unit that selects the mode based on the mode switching determination information extracted by the extracting unit, specifications of the fixing device, and a current temperature, and a switching control unit that controls the mode switching unit based on the mode selected by the selecting unit to switch the mode to the rapid heating mode or the heat accumulating mode. |
| US09069298B2 |
Separation device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A separation device includes at least one separator disposed opposite one of a first rotary body and a second rotary body. Each separator includes a front aligned in an axial direction of the one of the first rotary body and the second rotary body and including a recording medium conveyance face over which a recording medium slides. The recording medium conveyance face includes a front edge produced with a burr having a height not greater than about 25 micrometers. A recess produced on the recording medium conveyance face extends in a direction perpendicular to a recording medium conveyance direction. The recording medium conveyance face has a surface roughness defined by one of an arithmetic average roughness not greater than about 1.5 micrometers, a maximum height not greater than about 10.0 micrometers, and a ten point average roughness not greater than about 7.2 micrometers. |
| US09069294B1 |
Transfer assist members
A transfer assist member comprising a plurality of layers, at least one of the layers being a check film layer comprised of a crosslinked mixture of an epoxy resin and a carboxylated polyester. |
| US09069292B2 |
Development device and image formation apparatus
A developer storage device includes a rotation member including a shaft portion protruding from a main body thereof; a support member formed with a hole by which the shaft portion is supported; and a first seal member disposed between the main body of the rotation member and the support member and including a hole into which the shaft portion is inserted. The support member includes a step portion. The step portion includes a first restraint section which restrains motion of the first seal member in an axial direction of the shaft portion, and a second restraint section which restrains motion of the outer periphery of the first seal member in a radial direction of the shaft portion. |
| US09069282B2 |
Image forming apparatus to detect amount of remaining developer
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing device, a holding unit, and a detection device. The image bearing member supports an electrostatic latent image. The developing device includes a developer bearing member having a first electrode member and supporting a developer to develop the electrostatic latent image. The developing device includes a supply member having a second electrode member and supplying the developer to the developer bearing member at a nip portion. The holding unit holds and change the developing device to a first posture and to a second posture where the deposited developer falls off the first posture. The detection device detects a remaining developer amount in the developing device based on a capacitance C1 between the first and second electrode members in the first posture and a capacitance C2 between the first and second electrode members in the second posture. |
| US09069281B2 |
Developing device including developing roller that feeds toner to image carrying member and toner feeding roller that feeds toner to developing roller, and image forming apparatus provided therewith
A developing device of the present disclosure includes a developing roller, a toner feeding roller, a thickness regulating member, and a casing. The toner feeding roller feeds toner to the developing roller. The thickness regulating member is disposed opposite to the toner feeding roller at a predetermined distance from the toner feeding roller, and the thickness regulating member regulates a thickness of the toner carried on the toner feeding roller. The casing holds therein the developing roller, the toner feeding roller, and the thickness regulating member. The thickness regulating member is formed in a roller shape and rotatable. |
| US09069279B2 |
Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus including the optical scanning apparatus
An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source configured to emit a light beam, a rotating polygon mirror configured to deflect the light beam such that the light beam scans a photosensitive member, an optical box to which the rotating polygon mirror is attached and which includes a first portion, and a holding member configured to hold the light source, including a second portion and a protrusion portion, and attached to the optical box such that the first portion of the optical box and the second portion of the holding member form a gap therebetween, wherein the holding member is attached to the optical box with an adhesive poured into the gap, and the protrusion portion is arranged toward the optical box from the holding member along a position in the gap into which the adhesive is poured to prevent the adhesive from falling off the position. |
| US09069277B2 |
Image forming apparatus including a controller configured to switch a state of developing roller between a stopped state and a rotating state
An image forming apparatus may include controls for changing a state of a developing roller from a stopped state to a rotating state. The change in state may be used to avoid deterioration of toner and/or a surface of the developing roller. Changes in state may occur at various times including at a timing corresponding to an outside of an image formation area, a timing corresponding to an inside of an image formation area and the like. In one arrangement, a first developing roller may continue to rotate (e.g., during monochrome printing), while one or more other developing rollers are switched between a stopped state and a rotating state. Alternatively or additionally, a roller which is caused to change states may remain stopped between the timing corresponding to a rear end of an image formation area and a timing corresponding to a front end of an immediately subsequent image formation area. |
| US09069276B2 |
Liquid developer
A liquid developer is obtained by dispersing toner particles containing at least a resin and a coloring agent in an insulating liquid. The toner particles have a core-shell structure that first resin particles containing a first resin are attached to or cover surfaces of second resin particles containing a second resin. The coloring agent contains nigrosine. A content of nigrosine in the toner particles is not lower than 1 mass % and not higher than 20 mass %. The second resin satisfies Equations (1) to (2) below. In Equations (1) to (2), x represents a number average molecular weight of the second resin and y represents a urethane group concentration (mass %) in the second resin. −0.00003x+2.03≦y≦−0.00003x+6.95 Equation (1) 10000≦x≦60000 Equation (2) |
| US09069273B2 |
Yellow toner and method for producing the yellow toner
A yellow toner is provided which is much more improved in color development and chroma, and much more improved in light resistance. The yellow toner contains, at least, a binder resin, a wax, and a coloring agent. The coloring agent is a compound represented by the following general formula (1). |
| US09069272B2 |
Super low melt toner having small molecule plasticizers
An emulsion aggregation (EA) toner includes an amorphous polymeric resin, optionally a colorant, and a small molecule crystalline organic compound having molecular weight less than 1,000 g/mol and melting point less than the fusing temperature of the EA toner, wherein a mixture of the resin and the small molecule compound is characterized by a reduction in glass transition temperature from that of the resin and by the lack of a significant solid to liquid phase transition peak for the small molecule compound as determined by differential scanning calorimetry, the enthalpy of fusion for the small molecule compound in the mixture being measured to be less than 10% of the enthalpy of fusion of the compound in pure form. Furthermore, the EA toner may be configured to have a crease fix minimum fusing temperature (MFT) less than or equal to the crease fix MFT of a benchmark ultra-low-melt emulsion aggregation toner. |
| US09069271B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method, and toner, developer and process cartridge for forming image
An image forming apparatus including an image forming device forming a toner image on a recording material, and a fixing device including an endless fixing belt feeding the recording material at a speed of 400 to 1,700 mm/sec while heating to fix the toner image thereon. The fixing belt has a rubber layer located on a substrate and having thickness of 400 μm to 700 μm, and a fluorine-containing resin layer located on the rubber layer and having thickness of 2 μm to 20 μm. The toner includes a release agent including a microcrystalline wax and/or a synthetic ester wax, and a binder resin including a crystalline polyester and an amorphous polyester. The ratio (W/R) of the height (W) of the third falling peak of the crystalline polyester to the height (R) of the maximum rising peak of the amorphous polyester in the FT-IR spectrum of the toner is 0.045 to 0.850. |
| US09069267B2 |
Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
An electrophotographic photosensitive member has a laminated body, and a hole transporting layer formed on the laminated body, wherein the laminated body is a laminated body having a conductive support, an electron transporting layer and a charge generating layer. When an impedance is measured by forming a circular-shaped gold electrode having a thickness of 300 nm and a diameter of 10 mm on a surface of the charge generating layer of the laminated body by sputtering, and applying an alternating electric field of 100 mV and 0.1 Hz between the conductive support and the gold electrode, the laminated body of the electrophotographic photosensitive member satisfies the following expression (1): R_opt/R_dark≦0.95 (1) |
| US09069265B2 |
Interferometer module
The invention relates to a differential interferometer module adapted for measuring a direction of displacement between a reference mirror and a measurement mirror. In an embodiment the differential interferometer module is adapted for emitting three reference beams towards a first mirror and three measurement beams towards a second mirror for determining a displacement between said first and second mirror. In a preferred embodiment the same module is adapted for measuring a relative rotation around two perpendicular axes as well. The present invention further relates to a lithography system comprising such a interferometer module and a method for measuring such a displacement and rotations. |
| US09069262B2 |
Fluid handling structure including gas supply and gas recovery openings, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A fluid handling structure for a lithographic apparatus, the fluid handling structure having, at a boundary from a space configured to contain immersion fluid to a region external to the fluid handling structure: a meniscus pinning feature to resist passage of immersion fluid in a radially outward direction from the space; a plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array at least partly surrounding and radially outward of the meniscus pinning feature; and a gas recovery opening radially outward of the plurality of gas supply openings in a linear array. |
| US09069261B2 |
Surface position detection apparatus, exposure apparatus, and exposure method
A surface position detection apparatus capable of highly precisely detecting the surface position of a surface to be detected without substantially being affected by relative positional displacement due to a polarization component occurring in a light flux having passed through a reflective surface. In the apparatus, a projection system has a projection side prism member (7) having first reflective surfaces (7b, 7c), and a light receiving system has a light receiving prism member (8) having second reflective surfaces (8b, 8c) arranged in correspondence with the projection side prism member. The surface position detection apparatus further has a member for compensating relative positional displacement due to a polarization component of a light flux having passed through the first and second reflective surfaces. |
| US09069256B2 |
Method of optical fabrication of three-dimensional polymeric structures with out of plane profile control
A method of optical fabrication comprises coating a substrate with a photocuring material, controlling the application of light to the photocuring material so as to control the intensity and pattern of the light both in-plane and out of plane, and developing the photocuring material. |
| US09069254B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, and mask
An improvement is achieved in the performance of a semiconductor device. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor device includes an exposure step of subjecting a resist film formed over a substrate to pattern exposure using EUV light reflected by the top surface of an EUV mask which is a reflection-type mask. In the exposure step, the EUV mask is held with the cleaned back surface thereof being in contact with a mask stage. In the EUV mask, the water repellency of the side surface thereof is higher than the water repellency of the top surface thereof. After the exposure step, the resist film subjected to the pattern exposure is developed to form a resist pattern. |
| US09069253B2 |
Mask structure
A mask structure, including a substrate; an absorber layer formed on the substrate; and a patterned reflection layer formed on the absorber layer. Optionally, the mask structure may further include a buffer layer, a conductive coating, or combinations thereof. The buffer layer may be formed between the absorber layer and the reflection layer, and the conductive coating may be formed at a back side of the substrate. |
| US09069252B2 |
Method for preparing a relief printing form
The invention provides a method for preparing a relief printing form from a photosensitive element. The method includes forming an in-situ mask disposed above a photopolymerizable layer of the photosensitive element, exposing the element to actinic radiation through the in-situ mask in an environment having an inert gas and a concentration of oxygen between about 50,000 ppm and about 2000 ppm to form at least a polymerized portion and an unpolymerized portion of the layer, and treating by heating the exposed element to a temperature sufficient to cause the unpolymerized portion to melt, soften, or flow. |
| US09069247B2 |
Silicon-containing surface modifier, resist lower layer film-forming composition containing the same, and patterning process
The present invention provides a silicon-containing surface modifier containing one or more repeating units each represented by the following general formula (A), or one or more partial structures each represented by the following general formula (C):It is aimed at providing a resist lower layer film which is usable for a resist pattern formed of a hydrophilic organic compound to be obtained in a negative development. |
| US09069240B2 |
Calibration of lithographic apparatus by exposing patterns on substrate positioned at different orientations
A system and method for calibrating system parameters of a lithography apparatus is disclosed. The system includes a measurement device configured to measure an overlay error between patterns formed on a substrate during different exposures and a processing device configured to determine a model representative of a relationship between the overlay error and a system parameter error based on the measured overlay error. The method includes measuring an overlay error between patterns formed at different exposures with the substrate positioned at different orientations during each of the different exposures. The method further includes determining a model representative of a relationship between the overlay error and a system parameter error based on the measured overlay error and deriving a calibration correction factor from the model. |
| US09069238B2 |
Image displaying apparatus
Disclosed is an image displaying apparatus including an image displaying element configured to form an image to be projected and a projection optical system having a positive refractive power and configured to project the image to be projected onto a screen, wherein the projection optical system includes a lens optical system and a mirror optical system, the lens optical system including plural lens groups, the mirror optical system including a first mirror and a second mirror, the second mirror being a concave mirror, wherein an intermediate image of a pixel of the image displaying element is formed between the image displaying element and the second mirror, and wherein the first mirror is held to be capable of adjusting a position thereof. |
| US09069235B2 |
Digital photographing apparatus and method for controlling thereof
A digital photographing apparatus for performing an Auto Focusing (AF) function and a method for controlling thereof, the method including: measuring vibration degrees of the digital photographing apparatus; determining based on the measured vibration degrees whether a time is right before an AF operation is performed; if the time is right before the AF operation is performed, performing a preceding AF operation of determining a moving direction of a focus lens by moving the focus lens; and if a first shutter release button is pressed, performing a subsequent AF operation of moving the focus lens in the determined moving direction. Accordingly, an AF operation time (from after a user pushes a shutter) may be reduced by decreasing a moving distance of a focus lens and the number of direction changes by recognizing a behavior pattern of the user through vibration transition measured by a vibration detection sensor. |
| US09069231B2 |
Focal plane shutter and optical apparatus
A focal plane shutter includes: a board including an opening; a shutter opening and closing the opening; a drive source driving the shutter; a drive lever driven by the drive source; a drive arm connected to the drive lever and driving the shutter; a restriction portion defining a stop position of the drive lever; and a buffering member elastically deformable, wherein, when the drive lever drives, abuts the restriction portion, and stops, at least one of the drive arm and the shutter temporarily abuts the buffering member, is spaced from the buffering member, and stops. |
| US09069230B2 |
Diaphragm unit, lens apparatus, and image pickup apparatus
There is provided a diaphragm unit, including a plurality of diaphragm blades structured to at least rotate, the plurality of diaphragm blades being capable of changing an area of an aperture, each of the diaphragm blades including portions on a part of an inner periphery, a R (radius) of a shape of one portion being at the opposite side of a R (radius) of a shape of the other portion, the inner periphery being a periphery forming an outer periphery of the aperture. |
| US09069227B2 |
Methods and apparatus to control acousto-optic deflectors
The invention is directed to an acousto-optic lens (AOL) and corresponding method. The AOL of the invention comprises a first and second acousto-optic deflector, each being arranged to support a respective acoustic wave. The AOL includes a driver for synthesizing first and second drive signals for the respective first and second acousto-optic deflectors. The driver is arranged to synthesize the drive signals so as to be phase-modulated by functions that can be expressed as a Taylor series having one or more coefficients greater than second order. The functions are preferably non-sinusoidal and have sufficient magnitude at the higher orders to effect one or more of fixed aberration correction, dynamic aberration correction and Z-scanning. |
| US09069225B2 |
Methods and systems for enhanced viewing of a display device
A method and system for enhanced viewing of a display device is disclosed in this application. In some implementations, a method and system for improving a perceived contrast of a screen of a display device is disclosed. Some implementations may also relate to a method and system for privately viewing content displayed on a screen. |
| US09069223B2 |
Mach-Zehnder optical modulator using a balanced coplanar stripline with lateral ground planes
A Mach-Zehnder optical modulator with a series push-pull traveling wave electrode uses a balanced coplanar stripline with lateral ground planes. Two signal electrodes extend along the center of the optical modulator adjacent and parallel to the optical waveguides in a series push-pull configuration. The ground planes run parallel to the signal electrodes, but are spaced laterally outward from the signal electrodes. |
| US09069222B2 |
Electrochromic display element and display device
Disclosed is an electrochromic display element, including a display substrate, an opposed substrate that is opposed to the display substrate, an opposed electrode being formed at a display-substrate-opposed side of the opposed substrate, a first display electrode and a first electrochromic layer being laminated at an opposed-substrate-opposed side of the display substrate, a single porous film being formed between the display substrate and the opposed substrate, a second display electrode and a second electrochromic layer being laminated at a display-substrate-opposed side of the porous film, a third display electrode and a third electrochromic layer being laminated at an opposed-substrate-opposed side of the porous film, and an electrolyte being present between the display substrate and the opposed substrate. |
| US09069221B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device including a first substrate, with a plurality of bus lines formed thereon such that they intersect with each other, and a second substrate facing the first substrate. The device also includes a plurality of pixel regions defined by the bus lines; a thin film transistor formed in each of the pixel regions; a color filter layer formed in each of the pixel regions; and a pixel electrode formed in each of the pixel regions. A liquid crystal layer is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal layer is located next to a polymeric structure formed by irradiating a mixture of liquid crystal materials and ultraviolet-curing monomers with ultraviolet light, and a black display is achieved when no voltage or a subthreshold voltage is applied. |
| US09069220B2 |
Array substrate for liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display device includes an array substrate and a color filter substrate, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines formed on the array substrate such that the gate lines and the data lines intersect each other to define a plurality of pixel regions, a plurality of thin film transistors formed at respective intersections of the gate lines and the data lines, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the array and color filter substrates, and a plurality of repair patterns formed on the first substrate. Each of the plurality of the repair patterns crosses a corresponding one of the data lines, and is along and adjacent to a corresponding one of the gate lines, such that the repair pattern includes protruding ends that protrude from the corresponding data line to repair a defect on the pixel regions. |
| US09069215B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
There is provided a high quality liquid crystal panel having a thickness with high accuracy, which is designed, without using a particulate spacer, within a free range in accordance with characteristics of a used liquid crystal and a driving method, and is also provided a method of fabricating the same. The shape of a spacer for keeping a substrate interval constant is made such that it is a columnar shape, a radius R of curvature is 2 μm or less, a height H is 0.5 μm to 10 μm, a diameter is 20 μm or less, and an angle α is 65° to 115°. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the lowering of an opening rate and the lowering of light leakage due to orientation disturbance. |
| US09069214B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display panel includes an array substrate, a counter-substrate, a liquid crystal layer and a columnar spacer. The array substrate includes a wiring including projection portion which form a dot pattern with light-blocking properties, and a first horizontal alignment film. The counter-substrate includes a second horizontal alignment film. The columnar spacer is disposed between the array substrate and the counter-substrate and is located within the dot pattern. |
| US09069211B2 |
Method and apparatus of aligning alignment layer, and method of manufacturing liquid crystal display using the same
A method of aligning an alignment layer of a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes positioning a substrate on a stage; the substrate having the alignment layer provided thereon and the alignment layer including a plurality of alignment regions. Data identifying positions of the alignment regions relative to the alignment layer are loaded. A control signal for controlling a supply of light based on the loaded data identifying the positions of the alignment regions is generated. The light is supplied to the alignment regions according to the control signal and the alignment regions are aligned. The light is supplied from at least two different angles of incidence so that the alignment regions are aligned in at least two different directions. |
| US09069208B2 |
Edge source illumination device for liquid crystal display with patterned electrodes for light guide modulation layer
An illumination device includes a light guide plate, a light source, and a light modulation element. The light guide plate has convex portions extending in a direction parallel to a normal to a face opposed to the light source among side faces of the light guide plate, and the light source is configured of light source blocks. The light modulation element includes a pair of transparent substrates disposed separately and oppositely to each other, a plurality of first electrodes provided on a surface of one of the transparent substrates, and extending in a direction crossing an extending direction of the convex portions, a second electrode provided on a surface of the other transparent substrate, and a light modulation layer provided in a gap between the transparent substrates, and exhibiting a scattering property or a transparent property to light from the light source depending on magnitude of an electric field. |
| US09069207B2 |
Display device
The invention provides a display device having a slim structure and a small size with enhanced strength. The display device according to an embodiment includes a display panel, a backlight assembly disposed below the display panel, a first support section surrounding lateral sides of the display panel, and a second support section extending from an inner side of the first support section such that the second support section is disposed at lateral sides of the backlight assembly. |
| US09069203B2 |
Liquid crystal panel
The present invention provides a liquid crystal panel, which includes: a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate, a color filter (CF) substrate opposite to the TFT substrate, and a liquid crystal layer arranged between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate. The TFT substrate includes a first glass substrate and a pixel electrode. The CF substrate includes a second glass substrate and a common electrode. The pixel electrode includes a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a plurality of sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel includes: a first zone and a second zone adjacent to the first zone. The first zone has a liquid crystal cell thickness that is greater than or smaller than a liquid crystal cell thickness of the second zone. The same driving voltage applied to the first and second zones of would result in different electric fields due to the different liquid crystal cell thicknesses. |
| US09069200B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic equipment
An electro-optical devices includes: a first substrate; a second substrate having one surface opposite to the first substrate; a support member configured to hold the first and second substrates with the second substrate located outside the first substrate, and to include a frame portion surrounding the first and second substrates; a first conductive film formed on the other surface of the second substrate; and a conductor layer placed between the frame portion and the first and second substrates, and electrically connected to the first conductive film. The first conductive film is held at a constant potential via the conductor layer. |
| US09069197B2 |
Optical layered body, polarizer, method for producing polarizer, image display device, method for producing image display device, and method for improving visibility of image display device
The present invention provides a method for improving visibility of an image display device which is capable of providing an image display device excellent in anti-reflection properties and bright-field contrast even using an optical layered body including a light-transmitting substrate having in-plane birefringence, such as a polyester film. The method of the present invention is a method for improving visibility of an image display device that has an optical layered body including a light-transmitting substrate having in-plane birefringence and an optical functional layer disposed on one surface of the substrate. The method includes the step of disposing the optical layered body such that the slow axis showing a greater refractive index of the light-transmitting substrate is in parallel with the vertical direction of a display screen of the image display device. |
| US09069190B2 |
Eyeglass frame and temple
The present invention relates to an eyeglass temple (1) and an eyeglass frame wherein the eyeglass temple (1) has at least two leaf springs (3; 4; 5). For preventing free sliding motion of the eyeglass temple means (15; 16; 17; 18; 20; 25) are provided which are realized such that they are able to inhibit said free sliding motion. |
| US09069182B2 |
Tube lens, imaging optical system and microscope
A tube lens used in combination with an objective of the infinity correction type that enlarges the image of an object includes a first lens group including a cemented lens and having a positive power, a second lens group having a negative power, and a third lens group including a positive lens and a negative lens and having a positive power as a whole, in this order from the object side. |
| US09069179B2 |
Creating and viewing three dimensional virtual slides
Systems and methods for creating and viewing three dimensional digital slides are provided. One or more microscope slides are positioned in an image acquisition device that scans the specimens on the slides and makes two dimensional images at a medium or high resolution. These two dimensional digital slide images are provided to an image viewing workstation where they are viewed by an operator who pans and zooms the two dimensional image and selects an area of interest for scanning at multiple depth levels (Z-planes). The image acquisition device receives a set of parameters for the multiple depth level scan, including a location and a depth. The image acquisition device then scans the specimen at the location in a series of Z-plane images, where each Z-plane image corresponds to a depth level portion of the specimen within the depth parameter. |
| US09069175B2 |
Adaptive phase contrast microscope
An optical microscope is provided with an adjustable optical phase ring. The adjustable ring provides a way to compensate for distortion in the visible phase ring before the light reaches the sample. In an inverted microscope, when observing transparent cells under a liquid, the visible light phase ring is distorted. By the use of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) in place of a fixed ring, the projected ring is adjusted to realign the light and produce phase. In a typical micro plate, the meniscus formed produces a lens effect that is realigned by providing changes in the position and pattern, to allow phase imaging over a wider portion of the well. The realignment of the ring can be manual or automated and can be dynamically adjusted based upon an observed image of the sample. |
| US09069173B2 |
Light scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
A light scanning apparatus configured to irradiate a surface to be scanned with a light beam, including: a light source configured to emit the light beam; a deflector configured to deflect the light beam to scan the surface; an optical element configured to lead the light beam to the surface; a housing configured to hold the light source, the deflector, and the optical element, and including fibers; and a rib formed integrally with a bottom portion of the housing on which the deflector and the optical element are disposed, the rib standing on the bottom portion between the deflector and the optical element to suppress a deformation of the housing in a scanning direction, wherein the fibers of the rib are oriented along the scanning direction, and the fibers of the bottom portion are oriented along the bottom portion and in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction. |
| US09069169B1 |
Pretensioned backplane for tensioned membrane
The invention is an improved reflective element used with a heliostat or any application where a reflective surface is required to provide low cost, low weight, and will maintain a relatively high degree of planar integrity under changing environmental conditions. The invention is based on a pretensioned backplane with aligned peripheral edges to produce a planar surface that a membrane material can be extended across and the membrane is securely attached at the bottom of the peripheral edges. This configuration provides a constant tension to the membrane which prevents the membrane from deforming as thermal cycling occurs. The pretension placed on the backplane produces an arching effect that is captured when the membrane is securely attached and remains arched once the backplane is released from the tensioning form. The arching of the backplane provides added strength and rigidity sufficient to minimize the need for additional structural components. |
| US09069167B2 |
Illumination apparatus for microscope and microscope using the same
A illumination apparatus for microscope comprises a light source, a spatial modulation section, a first illumination optical system, a second illumination optical system, and the spatial modulation section includes a spatial modulation element which is of reflecting type, and a polarizing element, and the first illumination optical system is disposed in an optical path from the light source up to the spatial modulation element, and the second illumination optical system is disposed in an optical path from the spatial modulation element up to a specimen position, and a position of the spatial modulation element is conjugate with the specimen position. Moreover, a microscope comprises a illumination apparatus, a main-body section, an observation unit, and a control unit, and the illumination apparatus for microscope is to be used as the illumination apparatus. |
| US09069166B2 |
Gaze detecting heads-up display systems
A display system for a head-mounted device comprising a display for displaying information. The display system includes a glance detector comprising a light source, disposed proximate the display, for transmitting light toward an eye of a user of the head-mounted device, a light detector, disposed proximate the light source, for detecting light reflected from the eye of the user and generating a voltage based on the detected light. The display system also includes a processor operably coupled to the display, and the gaze detector and configured to control the display to turn-on the display based on the voltage received from the glance detector. |
| US09069163B2 |
Head-up display with brightness control
A head-up display system suitable for an aircraft. The head-up display including an image source arranged outside the desired field of view of an observer and where the intensity of symbols of the image source are modulated differ depending on their perceived position relative to the horizon line. A light source is arranged for providing light to an image source which is arranged to modulate the light of the light source thereby creating an image for the head up display. A brightness control unit have inputs for vehicle pitch- and roll angle, and a calculator configured to calculate, based on the pitch and roll angles, the current position in the image of a virtual horizon line, corresponding to the real horizon line as perceived by the observer, and for controlling the brightness of symbols above the virtual horizon line to be different from the brightness of symbols below the line. |
| US09069159B2 |
Zoom lens
A zoom lens includes a first lens group, a second lens group and a third lens group, all of which are arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. The first lens group is with negative refractive power and includes a first lens, a second lens and a third lens, wherein the first lens is with negative refractive power, the second lens is with positive refractive power and the third lens is with negative refractive power. The second lens group is with positive refractive power. The third lens group is with positive refractive power. The third lens satisfies |R31/R32|≦0.39, wherein R31 is a radius of curvature of an object side surface of the third lens and R32 is a radius of curvature of an image side surface of the third lens. |
| US09069157B2 |
Projection zoom lens and projection apparatus
Composing a projection zoom lens with a first lens group disposed on the most magnification side and having a positive power, the lens group being fixed at the time of zooming, a final lens group disposed on the most reduction side and having a negative power, the lens group being fixed at the time of zooming, and a plurality of lens groups disposed between the first and final lens groups and moved at the time of zooming along an optical axis in association with each other for the zooming and correction of image plane shift arising from the zooming, in which the final lens group includes a lens having a positive power on the most reduction side. |
| US09069153B2 |
Lens module for image capture
An optical module comprises: a first positive meniscus lens having a focal length F1 and comprising a first convex optical surface facing an object side, and a second concave optical surface facing an image side; a second positive meniscus lens having a focal length F2 and comprising a third concave optical surface facing the object side, and a fourth convex optical surface facing the image side. The four surfaces follow the curvature equation: Zi=CURViYi2/(1+(1−(1+Ki)CURVi2Yi2)1/2)+(Ai)Yi2+(Bi)Yi4+(Ci)Yi6+(Di)Yi8 with Mi=1−(1+Ki)(CURVi)2(Ri)2 where: i is the surface number, Ki is the conic constant of the i-th surface; CURVi is the curvature of the i-th surface at the optical axis; Ai, Bi, Ci, Di, are aspheric coefficients of the i-th surface; Ri is the effective radius of aperture of the i-th surface. The following relations are satisfied: 0.60 |
| US09069152B2 |
Furcating fiber optic cables without direct coupling of optical fibers to strength members, and related assemblies and methods
Furcating fiber optic cables without direct coupling of optical fibers to strength members are disclosed. Related methods and assemblies are also disclosed. The furcation includes shrink tube(s) securing optical fiber(s) to their fiber sub-unit jacket(s). The shrink tube(s) is secured inside a cable jacket of the fiber optic cable to secure fiber sub-unit(s) and their optical fiber(s) as part of the furcation. The strength member(s) of the fiber optic cable is also secured to the cable jacket as part of the furcation. The shrink tube(s) prevents direct coupling of the optical fiber(s) to the strength member(s) in the furcation. By not directly coupling the optical fiber(s) to the strength member(s), cable strain can be directed to the cable jacket and the fiber sub-unit jacket(s). The shrink tube(s) can also prevent or reduce micro-bubbles from forming around the optical fiber(s) in the furcation which may cause attenuation from optical fiber micro-bending. |
| US09069151B2 |
Composite cable breakout assembly
A composite cable breakout assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes an enclosure for receiving a composite cable having a fiber optic cable with at least one optical fiber and an electrical power cable with at least one electrical conductor. The enclosure has at least one port providing passage to the exterior of the enclosure. The at least one optical fiber is terminated by a fiber optic connector and the at least one electrical conductor is terminated by an electrical connector. Alternatively, the at least one optical fiber and the at least one electrical conductor may be terminated by a composite optical/electrical connector. The fiber optic cable and the electrical power cable route to the at least one port enabling connection external to the enclosure for extension of optical signal and electrical power to components external to the enclosure. |
| US09069150B2 |
Slidable fiber optic connection module with cable slack management
A fiber optic telecommunications device includes a frame and a fiber optic module including a rack mount portion, a center portion, and a main housing portion. The rack mount portion is stationarily coupled to the frame, the center portion is slidably coupled to the rack mount portion along a sliding direction, and the main housing portion is slidably coupled to the center portion along the sliding direction. The main housing portion of the fiber optic module includes fiber optic connection locations for connecting cables to be routed through the frame. The center portion of the fiber optic module includes a radius limiter for guiding cables between the main housing portion and the frame, the center portion also including a latch for unlatching the center portion for slidable movement. Slidable movement of the center portion with respect to the rack mount portion moves the main housing portion with respect to the frame along the sliding direction. |
| US09069149B2 |
Flexible switch pack
A switch pack holds rows and columns of connector plugs and permits collective coupling of the plugs into ports. The switch pack includes a housing having a front face with front openings and a rear face with rear openings. An internal frame forms channels between the front openings and the rear openings, each channel holding a respective connector plug. One or more locking members releasably snap lock to the frame. Each locking member includes at least one blocking edge which extends into a channel and blocks removal of the channel's plug via the rear opening. A release tool for the switch pack includes a first wall with first tabs and a second wall with second tabs, connected to the first wall by a third wall. Each of the first and second tabs protrudes into a channel of the first and second rows of channels to depress a plug latch. |
| US09069145B2 |
Optical communication module and method for making the same
An optical communication module according to the present invention includes an optical semiconductor element including an optical function region that performs light-receiving function or light-emitting function, a first resin member which covers the optical semiconductor element and is made of a resin that transmits light emitted from the optical function region or light to be received by the optical function region, and a second resin member which covers the first resin member. A portion of the first resin member is exposed from the second resin member. The optical communication module further includes an attachment hole for attaching an optical fiber. The attachment hole includes an opening that opens at the portion of the first resin member which is exposed from the second resin member. |
| US09069143B2 |
Multifiber connectors for multicore optical fiber cables
Structures and techniques are described relating to the alignment of multicore fibers within a multifiber connector. These structures and techniques include: multicore fibers having a number of different shapes, including, for example, circular, elliptical, D-shaped, double D-shaped, and polygonal; multifiber ferrules, having a plurality of fiber guide holes therein of various shapes; alignment fixtures for aligning multicore fibers within multifiber ferrules; and various multicore fiber alignment techniques. |
| US09069139B2 |
Multicast optical switch
A multicast optical switch uses a diffractive bulk optical element, which splits at least one input optical beam into sub-beams, which freely propagate in a medium towards an array of directors, such as MEMS switches, for directing the sub-beams to output ports. Freely propagating optical beams can cross each other without introducing mutual optical loss. The amount of crosstalk is limited by scattering in the optical medium, which can be made virtually non-existent. Therefore, the number of the crossover connections, and consequently the number of inputs and outputs of a multicast optical switch, can be increased substantially without a loss or a crosstalk penalty. |
| US09069137B2 |
Polarizer having enhanced photodurability and method for preparing the same
A polarizer includes boric acid, potassium iodide, and a zinc salt. The zinc salt has a concentration gradient in which the concentration of the zinc salt gradually decreases from a surface of the polarizer to an interior thereof. |
| US09069133B2 |
Anti-reflective coating for photolithography and methods of preparation thereof
Anti-reflective coating materials for ultraviolet photolithography include at least one absorbing compound and at least one material modification agent, such as at least one porogen, at least one high-boiling solvent, at least one capping agent, at least one leveling agent, at least one catalyst, at least one replacement solvent, at least one pH tuning agent, and/or a combination thereof that are incorporated into inorganic-based materials or inorganic compositions and/or compounds. Suitable absorbing compounds are those that absorb around wavelengths such as 365 nm, 248 nm, 193 nm and 157 nm that may be used in photolithography. |
| US09069132B2 |
Photosensitive resin composition for light blocking layer and light blocking layer using the same
A photosensitive resin composition for a light blocking layer includes (A) a colorant including a blue material including a dye represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, and a red material, (B) a binder resin, (C) a photopolymerizable monomer, (D) a photopolymerization initiator, and (E) a solvent, and a light blocking layer using the same. In Chemical Formula 1, each substituent is the same as defined in the detailed description. |
| US09069125B2 |
Optical product and method for manufacturing same
An optical product according to the present invention includes a transparent base material, and a multilayer film including a dielectric film and an ITO film. The multilayer film is formed on one face or two faces of the transparent base material. The physical thickness of the ITO film is not less than 3 nanometers and not greater than 7 nanometers. The ITO film can be formed by vapor deposition with plasma treatment. |
| US09069120B2 |
Method for manufacturing a preform and preform for drawing a microstructured optical fiber
In a method for manufacturing a preform for drawing a microstructured optical fiber, a core element and multiple sub-elements are arranged extending along the perform. The sub-elements and the core element form a bundle, which is twisted by a specified angle about the longitudinal axis of the bundle, wherein the pattern formed by the cross section of the sub-elements and the cross section of the core element is preserved along a length of the perform. The sub-elements and the core elements are subsequently at least partially fused together by heating the material of which the core element and the sub elements are made of above the transformation point of the material, so as to at least partially eliminate the cavities between the sub-elements, between the sub-elements and the core element, and between the sub-elements and the casing. |
| US09069119B2 |
Lens unit and method for manufacturing the same
A holding frame of a lens unit has a frame main body of a cylindrical shape, which corresponds to the shapes of lenses. A protruding part is provided at a front end of the frame main body. The protruding part protrudes to the inside of the frame main body. The thickness of the protruding part is the same as that of a flange portion of a first lens. When the first lens is fitted into a space formed by the protruding part, a front surface of the flange portion of the first lens is flush with a front surface of the protruding part. A first light shielding film, which functions as an aperture stop, is affixed to at least one of the flange portion of the first lens and the front surface of the protruding part. |
| US09069115B2 |
Edge configurations for reducing artifacts in eyepieces
An eyepiece for a head mounted display (“HMD”) includes a first end for receiving computer generated image (“CGI”) light and a second end disposed opposite the first end. The eyepiece also includes an image directing element to direct the CGI light out of the eyepiece in an eye-ward direction. The image directing element is disposed between the first end and the second end. At least one edge running between the first end and the second end is configured to reduce reflection of the CGI light back into the eyepiece. |
| US09069114B2 |
Bend-resistant single-mode optical fibre
A single-mode optical fiber for transmitting optical signals includes a central core region for guiding the optical signals, and a cladding region surrounding the core region and including a void-containing annular layer containing randomly distributed voids, wherein the void-containing layer is doped with fluorine at a concentration of less than 1 wt % and has a radial thickness equal to or smaller than 3 μm. |
| US09069112B2 |
Lens array unit, erecting equal-magnification lens array, optical scanning unit, image reading device, and image writing device
A first lens array unit includes a first lens array plate and a second lens array plate in which a plurality of lenses are provided in the main scanning direction, and a first light shielding member piece and a second light shielding member piece provided with a plurality of through holes corresponding to the lenses. The first lens array plate, the second lens array plate, the first light shielding member piece, and the second light shielding member piece are formed as one piece. The lens array is built by bending joints joining the lens array plates and the light shielding member pieces such that the lens is located to directly face the corresponding through hole. |
| US09069110B2 |
Backlight unit and display device
A backlight unit according to an embodiment includes: a plurality of optical assemblies each including a light source generating light, a light guide plate having a first part through which light travels inside and a second part diffusing upward the light traveling inside through the first part; and a diffusion pattern selectively disposed at the portions corresponding to interfaces between the light guide plates on the optical assemblies. |
| US09069106B1 |
Systems, methods, and devices for providing an edge-lit light emitting diode light panel
An edge-lit light emitting diode (LED) light panel includes a frame that has a first plate, a second plate, and a channel partially bounded by the first plate and the second plate. The edge-lit LED light panel also includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed in the channel, and a wave guide disposed within the frame. The wave guide has an outer perimeter edge abutting the plurality of LEDs. |
| US09069105B2 |
Low thermal stress birefringence imaging lens
An imaging lens having reduced susceptibility to thermally-induced stress birefringence for imaging an object plane to an image plane; comprising a plurality of lens elements. The lens element that experiences a highest optical power density is fabricated using a glass having a negligible susceptibility to thermal stress birefringence as characterized by the thermal stress birefringence metric. The other lens elements are fabricated using glasses having a negligible or a moderate susceptibility to thermal stress birefringence, at least one of the other lens elements being fabricated using a glass having a moderate susceptibility to thermal stress birefringence. |
| US09069098B2 |
Three or more multiple figure-eight coils for NMR well-logging measurements with azimuthal directional sensitivity
An NMR apparatus disposed in a wellbore and having an array of two or more NMR sensors located at substantially the same axial position on the NMR apparatus and having different directional sensitivities is used to acquire an NMR signal from at least two of the two or more NMR sensors. The NMR signals are combined to obtain borehole information. The borehole information may include an azimuthal image of the formation surrounding the borehole. The azimuthal image may be a formation porosity image, a formation bound fluid image, a T2 distribution image, a T2 log mean image, a formation permeability image, or a formation fluid viscosity image. If two or more pre-amplifiers and receiver circuitry are also provided, the NMR signals may be combined prior to passing through the pre-amplifiers and receiver circuitry to improve the signal to noise ratio of the total signal from the desired sample space. |
| US09069092B2 |
X-ray imager with sparse detector array
A system and method for imaging objects with a sparse detector array that includes fewer detectors than conventional x-ray scanning systems. The sparse detector array is positioned to receive x-ray radiation from the at least one x-ray source after passing through an inspection area. The sparse detector array includes a plurality of rows of detector elements, wherein at least some of the plurality of rows are separated by gaps such that the at least some of the plurality of rows are non-contiguous. An iterative reconstruction process is used to determine a volumetric image of the object from the radiation measurements recorded by the detectors in the sparse detector array. |
| US09069085B2 |
Cesium and lithium-containing quaternary compound scintillators
The present invention relates to quaternary compound scintillators and related devices and methods. The scintillators may include, for example, a mixed halide scintillator composition including at least two different CsLiLa halide compounds and a dopant. Related detection devices and methods are further included. |
| US09069080B2 |
Automotive auxiliary ladar sensor
A vehicle and ladar sensor assembly system is proposed which makes use of forward mounted long range ladar sensors and short range ladar sensors mounted in auxiliary lamps to identify obstacles and to identify potential collisions with the vehicle. A low cost assembly is developed which can be easily mounted within a body panel cutout of a vehicle, and which connects to the vehicle electrical and computer systems through the vehicle wiring harness. The vehicle has a digital processor which interprets 3D data received from the ladar sensor assembly, and which is in control of the vehicle subsystems for steering, braking, acceleration, and suspension. The digital processor onboard the vehicle makes use of the 3D data and the vehicle control subsystems to avoid collisions and steer a best path. |
| US09069076B1 |
Polaritonic meta-material combat identification
An identification apparatus, capable of distinguishing between a first class of objects and a second class of objects. This identification apparatus includes an identification tag, which is capable of providing a certain reflection band and a certain thermal emission band. The identification apparatus also includes a thermal weapon sight which has a long-wave infrared band-pass filter. This band-pass filter passes through a desired range of wavelengths and filters out an undesired range of wavelengths. The reflection band and the thermal emission band are detectable within the desired range of wavelengths. |
| US09069071B1 |
GNSS navigation for a mechanized irrigation corner system
A GNSS based steering control system for a mechanized irrigation corner arm utilizing waypoint navigation. |
| US09069062B2 |
Surface rendering for volume data in an ultrasound system
Embodiments for performing surface rendering upon volume data in an ultrasound system are disclosed. An ultrasound data acquisition unit transmits and receives ultrasound signals to and from a target object to thereby acquire ultrasound data corresponding to a plurality of frames. A volume data forming unit forms volumes data corresponding to the plurality of frames based on the ultrasound data. The volume data includes a plurality of voxels. A processing unit detects edges of a region of interest (ROI) of the target object in the volume data and performs surface rendering upon voxels within the detected edges to thereby form a 3-dimensional ultrasound image. |
| US09069047B2 |
Talking power management utility
An architecture is presented that provides a computer-implemented system and method for monitoring a remaining battery charge level in a mobile computer cart used in a hospital environment and detecting when said battery charge level is reduced to a selected level. The system comprises a monitoring component that monitors remaining battery charge levels for the mobile computer cart. Further, the monitoring component communicates with a detection component which detects when the battery charge levels of the mobile computer cart are low and/or reach a predetermined threshold level. The system further comprises a trigger component that sends a customizable alert to a user once a low battery charge level and/or a predetermined threshold level has been reached. Furthermore, the system comprises a power component that automatically places the mobile computer cart in detect and protect mode after a predetermined period of time after the alerts are sent. |
| US09069045B2 |
Voltage sensing assembly and battery module employed with the same
Disclosed herein is a voltage sensing assembly to detect voltages of battery cells having electrode terminals formed at an upper end or a lower end thereof in a state in which the voltage sensing assembly is mounted to a battery module, the voltage sensing assembly including (a) a block case, formed of an electrically insulative material, mounted to a front or rear of the battery module corresponding to electrode terminal connection parts of the battery cells, (b) conductive sensing parts connected to voltage sensing terminals located at one-side ends of bus bars electrically connected to the electrode terminal connection parts of the battery cells, and (c) a connector to transmit voltages sensed by the conductive sensing parts to a controller, wherein the block case includes mounting grooves, opened to a front, formed at positions of the block case corresponding to the voltage sensing terminals of the bus bars such that the conductive sensing parts are mounted in the mounting grooves, and the conductive sensing parts are connected to the voltage sensing terminals of the bus bars in a state in which the conductive sensing parts are mounted in the mounting grooves of the block case. |
| US09069044B2 |
Battery management system and method of controlling the same
A battery management system (BMS) and a method of controlling the BMS, which are capable of increasing reliability of determination of a defect of a relay by considering not only a voltage of a battery and a voltage of an inverter but also a current between the battery and the inverter and information regarding an operational state of the relay. |
| US09069042B2 |
Efficient apparatus and method for testing digital shadow logic around non-logic design structures
A circuit for efficiently testing digital shadow logic (504, 514) in isolation from an associated non-logic design structure (510) includes a width and delay matched bypass circuit (520) coupled to receive an n-bit input from shadow logic (504) and to generate therefrom an m-bit test output which is selectively connected to replace an m-bit output to the shadow logic (514) from the non-logic design structure (510) in a shadow logic test mode, thereby flexibly emulating the non-logic design structure to allowing separate isolated tests on the shadow logic and on the non-logic design structure. |
| US09069038B2 |
Test apparatus
A main power supply is arranged such that its output terminal Po is connected to a power supply terminal of a DUT via a power supply line, and is configured to feedback control an output voltage VOUT output from the output terminal such that a detection value VDD′ that corresponds to a power supply voltage VDD at the power supply terminal approaches a target value VREF′. When a test pattern is supplied to the DUT, a power supply control unit is configured to feedforward control the main power supply such that the power supply voltage VDD approaches a predetermined target waveform VTGT. |
| US09069036B2 |
Circuit board having bypass pad
An electronic device having a printed circuit board is provided. In one embodiment, the printed circuit board includes a plurality of external pads to be coupled with an external device and a plurality of bypass pads for testing an electric circuit. The external pads are exposed and at least one of the plurality of bypass pads are not exposed from an outer surface of the PCB. A system using the electronic device and a method of testing an electronic device are also provided. |
| US09069033B2 |
3-axis magnetic field sensor, method for fabricating magnetic field sensing structure and magnetic field sensing circuit
A 3-axis magnetic field sensor on a substrate and including, a first tunneling magneto-resistor (TMR) having a first easy-axis for sensing a X-axis magnetic field, a second TMR having a second easy-axis for sensing a Y-axis magnetic field, an out-of-plane magnetic sensor for sensing a Z-axis magnetic field, and a reference unit is provided. The first easy-axis and the second easy-axis are orthogonal and include an angle of 45±5 degrees with a bisection direction, respectively. The out-of-plane magnetic sensor includes a groove or bulge structure having a first incline and a second incline; a third TMR on the first incline having a third easy-axis; a fourth TMR on the second incline having a fourth easy-axis; and a central axis orthogonal to the bisection direction and parallel to the third easy-axis and the fourth easy-axis. The reference unit has a fifth TMR and a fifth easy-axis parallel to the bisection direction. |
| US09069032B2 |
Magnetic balance type current sensor
A magnetic balance type current sensor includes: a magnetic detection bridge circuit of which output varies due to an induced magnetic field from a current wire; a magnetic field attenuation unit that attenuates the induced magnetic field that acts on a magnetoresistive effect element; and a feedback coil which generates a cancel magnetic field that cancels the induced magnetic field in accordance with the output of the magnetic detection bridge circuit, and through which a current corresponding to the current to be measured flows when it enters a balanced state in which the cancel magnetic field and the induced magnetic field cancel each other, wherein the feedback coil is provided in such a manner that a direction of the cancel magnetic field that acts on the magnetic field attenuation unit is opposite to a direction of the induced magnetic field that acts on the magnetic field attenuation unit. |
| US09069031B2 |
Piezoelectrically actuated magnetic-field sensor
A magnetic-field sensor that provides an output signal in response to an external magnetic field is described. This magnetic-field sensor includes a pair of cantilevers separated by a horizontal gap, which is displaced vertically over an open cavity by applying a time-varying voltage having a fundamental frequency across piezoelectric layers in the pair of cantilevers. The pair of cantilevers also includes magnetic-flux concentrators that convey the external magnetic field to the horizontal gap between the pair of cantilevers. A stationary magnetoresistive sensor in the horizontal gap transforms the external magnetic field into an output signal. Because the pair of cantilevers is displaced vertically at the fundamental frequency, the output signal includes a modulation signal corresponding to the external magnetic field centered around twice the fundamental frequency. This modulation of the external magnetic field allows 1/f noise to be suppressed, thereby improving the sensitivity of the magnetic-field sensor. |
| US09069030B2 |
System, controller and method for testing a solenoid
Various embodiments for determining a voltage rating of a solenoid in an electropneumatic valve are disclosed. A braking system controller comprises a power switch electrically connected to an associated first solenoid. The power switch provides a low current regulated voltage to the associated first solenoid. The current through the solenoid is converted to a voltage. The voltage is compared to a predetermined voltage range to determine the voltage rating of the associated first solenoid. In another embodiment, the control logic is capable of determining the voltage rating of multiple solenoids in each of the electropneumatic valves connected to the controller. |
| US09069021B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring electrical work
A device for measuring electrical work includes at least one switchable output configured to connect the device to at least one electrical load. An Internet connection means is configured to establish an Internet connection for the device. A clock is configured to electronically determine a current time for the device. At least one electronic memory is configured to store electronic data. A smartcard comprises an integrated microcontroller. The integrated microcontroller is configured to intelligently control the at least one electronic memory, the Internet connection means, the at least one switchable output, the clock, and the electronic data stored in the at least one electronic memory. A smartcard insertion means is configured to have the smartcard be inserted therein. The electronic data from the at least one electronic memory is transmittable via the Internet connection. |
| US09069019B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring ground impedance of a circuit
A ground continuity circuit is described. In one embodiment, a first voltage of a signal associated with an electrical line input to a circuit is measured with respect to a first resistance value of the circuit. A ground continuity test signal is asserted into the circuit that causes the resistance value of the circuit to change to a second resistance value. A second voltage of the signal is measured with respect to the second resistance value. A ground impedance value of the circuit is determined as a function of the first and second measured voltages and the first and second resistance values. |
| US09069013B2 |
High-frequency (HF) test prod
A high frequency test prod for electrically contacting at least one contact point of a specimen, using an HF coaxial line to connect the test prod housing and the contact unit electrically and mechanically between the housing and the contact unit, the HF coaxial line having an external conductor, an internal conductor arranged coaxially to the external conductor, and a gas or vacuum dielectric arranged between the external conductor and internal conductor, the external conductor designed as a hollow profile section from a rigid, elastically deformable material, wherein the internal conductor is arranged coaxially to the hollow profile section. |
| US09069008B2 |
Inspection apparatus for semiconductor devices and chuck stage for the inspection apparatus that is movable with respect to the front and back side electrodes
An inspection apparatus is provided, which includes probes for front side electrodes, probes for back side electrodes, and a chuck stage. The probes for front side electrodes and the probes for back side electrodes are formed on the upper surface of the chuck stage, and the probe contact area electrically continues to the wafer holding area, and the probes for front side electrodes and the probes for back side electrodes are located leaving a distance in horizontal direction between them so that the probes for back side electrodes move relatively within the probe contact area when the probes for front side electrodes are moved relatively within the wafer under test by the movement of the chuck stage. |
| US09069006B2 |
Self test of MEMS gyroscope with ASICs integrated capacitors
An apparatus includes a MEMS gyroscope sensor including a first sensing capacitor and a second sensing capacitor and an IC. The IC includes a switch circuit configured to electrically decouple the first sensing capacitor from a first input of the IC and electrically couple the second sensing capacitor to a second input of the IC, and a capacitance measurement circuit configured to measure capacitance of the second sensing capacitor of the MEMS gyroscope sensor during application of a first electrical signal to the decoupled first capacitive element. |
| US09069005B2 |
Capacitance detector for accelerometer and gyroscope and accelerometer and gyroscope with capacitance detector
A capacitance-to-frequency converter is configured to convert a difference between first and second capacitances produced of a teeter-totter capacitive transducer as a result of a rotational force being applied to the teeter-totter capacitive transducer to a first signal having a first frequency that is a function of the rotational force, and to convert a sum of the first and second capacitances produced as a result of an acceleration force to a second signal having a second frequency that is a function of the acceleration force. The capacitance-to-frequency converter includes a first oscillator having a first oscillator frequency that changes in response to a change in the first capacitance; a second oscillator having a second oscillator frequency that changes in response to a change in the second capacitance; and a mixer having first and second mixer inputs connected outputs of the first and second oscillators. |
| US09069004B2 |
Optomechanical sensors based on coupling between two optical cavities
Methods, structures, devices and systems are disclosed for implementing optomechanical sensors in various configurations by using two optically coupled optical resonators or cavities that can be move or deform relative to each other. The optical coupling between first and second optical cavities to produce an optical resonance that varies with a spacing between the first and second optical cavities and provide the basis for the optomechanical sensing. Compact and integrated optomechanical sensors can be constructed to provide sensitive measurements for a range of applications, including motion sensing and other sensing applications. |
| US09069003B2 |
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for determining speed of movement of a device and device pose classification
An apparatus for determining a speed of cyclic motion of a device or user and one or more poses of a device may include a processor and memory storing executable computer code causing the apparatus to at least perform operations including receiving one or more determined acceleration values during one or more time periods in response to detected cyclic motion of a user moving with an apparatus. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to transform the acceleration values to one or more corresponding frequency components associated with the acceleration values. The computer program code may further cause the apparatus to determine a speed of the cyclic motion of the user based in part on comparing a spectrum of the frequency components to one or more spectrums of distribution associated with respective one or more speeds of training data. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided. |
| US09069000B2 |
Composite sensor for detecting angular velocity and acceleration
A composite sensor for detecting angular velocity and acceleration includes an angular velocity detecting element, an acceleration detecting element, an angular velocity signal processing IC, an acceleration signal processing IC, and a housing. The housing is formed of a multilayered circuit board and accommodates the angular velocity detecting element, the acceleration detecting element, the angular velocity signal processing IC, and the acceleration signal processing IC. The housing connects the angular velocity detecting element electrically to the angular velocity signal processing IC, and also connects the acceleration detecting element electrically to the acceleration signal processing IC. |
| US09068999B2 |
Airspeed estimation using rotor vibrations
Embodiments are directed to determining, by a computing device comprising a processor, at least one parameter associated with a rotorcraft, obtaining, by the computing device, a profile of a vibration associated with the operation of the rotorcraft based on the at least one parameter, determining, by the computing device, an amplitude of the vibration using the profile, and determining, by the computing device, an airspeed of the rotorcraft based on amplitude. |
| US09068991B2 |
Highly sensitive biomarker panels
Cardiovascular disease, e.g., congestive heart failure, is often first diagnosed after the onset of clinical symptoms, eliminating potential for early intervention. The invention provides a multi-marker immunoassay, including cardiac pathology and vascular inflammation biomarkers, yielding a more sensitive assay for early detection of CHF in plasma. A panel consisting of cardiac pathology (cTnI, BNP) and vascular inflammation (IL-6, TNFα, IL-17a) biomarkers provided a sensitivity of 94% for association with CHF. |
| US09068988B2 |
Compositions and methods of detecting TIABs
The present invention relates to novel methods and products for assessing the physiological status of a subject. More particularly, the invention relates to methods of assessing the presence, risk or stage of a cancer in a subject by measuring the levels of antibodies against particular aberrant protein domains in a sample from the subject, or the presence or number of immune cells hearing TCR specific for such aberrant protein domains. The invention is also suitable to assess the responsiveness of a subject to a treatment, as well as to screen candidate drugs and design novel therapies. The invention may be used in any mammalian subject, particularly in human subjects. |
| US09068986B2 |
Influenza B viruses having alterations in the hemagglutinin polypeptide
The present invention encompasses methods of producing influenza B viruses in cell culture. The influenza B viruses may have desirable characteristics, such as enhanced replication in eggs and may be used, for example, in vaccines and in methods of treatment to protect against influenza B virus infection. |
| US09068984B2 |
Compositions and methods for treatment of neuropathic pain
The present invention relates to compounds, compositions, methods, systems and kits for treating neuropathic pain regulated by SIP30. The present invention provides SIP30 antagonists for the treatment of neuropathic pain. |
| US09068983B2 |
Methods of identifying candidate compounds of the human G protein-coupled receptor, GPR50, as modulators of body mass or adiposity
The present invention relates to methods of using a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) to screen one or more candidate compounds as a modulator of body mass or of adiposity or of percentage body fat in a subject or as a pharmaceutical agent for obesity and conditions related thereto. Inverse agonists and antagonists of the invention are useful as therapeutic agents for the prevention or treatment of obesity and conditions related thereto, including hypertension, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Agonists and partial agonists of the invention are useful as therapeutic agents for the prevention or treatment of disorders ameliorated by increasing body mass including, but not limited to, cachexia. |
| US09068982B2 |
Nucleic acid ligands against infectious prions
The invention generally relates to nucleic acid ligands that specifically bind to infectious prions, and methods of diagnosing a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy disease in a subject. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an isolated nucleic acid ligand that binds to an infectious prion. In other embodiments, the invention provides a method for diagnosing a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy disease in a subject including obtaining a tissue or body fluid sample from a subject, contacting the tissue or body fluid with a nucleic acid ligand that binds to an infectious prion, thereby detecting the infectious prion in the sample, and diagnosing the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy disease based on results of the contacting step. |
| US09068975B1 |
Computerized detection of laryngopharyngeal reflux
A method and apparatus for determining a likelihood of LPR by analyzing a laryngeal cell preparation. The laryngeal sample is fixed on a microscope slide and analyzed by a microscope combined with an image acquisition system and a computer having an image recognition system. The image recognition system detects mobile cells that are implicated in the body's inflammatory response and counts how many of such cells are on the slide. The computer generates an absolute number of such cells and percentage values for such cells out the total number of mobile cells classified. The computer then utilizes the absolute numbers, the ratios of mobile cells with respect to each other—or a combination of both to generate a score. The score represents a probabilistic determination of inflammation. |
| US09068974B2 |
Biomarkers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells for diagnosing or detecting lung cancers
Methods and compositions are provided for diagnosing or detecting a condition, e.g., lung disease in a mammalian subject by use of a micro-RNA expression level or an expression level profile of multiple miRNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of the subject which is characteristic of COPD or NSCLC. Detection of changes in expression in specific miRNA biomarkers from that of a reference sample or miRNA expression profile are correlated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and/or COPD and permit differentiation among healthy subjects, subjects with COPD and subjects with adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. |
| US09068970B2 |
Efficient and effective supplement screening for the development of chemically defined media in cell culture
The present invention relates to methods of selecting and developing a chemically defined media (“CDM”) for use in the manufacture of biological products. In particular, the present invention is directed to screening methods to determine cell culture technique media supplement blends with enhanced performance characteristics. The present invention is also directed to identifying CDM supplement blends that demonstrate significant increases in harvest titer and/or viable cell density. |
| US09068965B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting blood clots in an extracorporeal blood circuit
An apparatus for detecting blood clots in a blood stream of an extracorporeal blood circuit includes an optical sensor, an ultrasound sensor, and a signal evaluator. The apparatus is configured such that the blood is optically monitored by the optical sensor and ultrasonically monitored by the ultrasound sensor. The signal evaluator is configured such that the blood clots are detected by a comparison of the monitoring signals of the optical sensor and the ultrasound sensor. |
| US09068964B2 |
Blood cell counter and cell counting method
A blood cell counter comprises a stirrer which stirs a whole blood sample in a sample container by moving the sample container, an aspirator which aspirates the whole blood sample by penetrating a lid of the sample container with an aspiration tube after stirring by the stirrer, a detector which counts the blood cells in the whole blood sample aspirated by the aspirator, and a force applying member which applies a force to the sample container in an upright state after stirring by the stirrer so as to remove the whole blood sample from the lid of the sample container. |
| US09068963B2 |
Pentamethylheptane as a primary reference standard for cetane number
A composition useful as a Reference Standard for measurement of Cetane Number or for use as a standard for determining a Derived Cetane Number consists essentially of a blend of n-hexadecane and 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane. The disclosed Reference Standards can be used directly as substitutes for blends of n-hexadecane and 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane in ASTM D613-10a for determining Cetane Number, or in ASTM D6890, ASTM D7170 or ASTM D7668 to determine a Derived Cetane Number. |
| US09068960B2 |
Method and composition for detecting oxidizing salts
The present invention provides methods for determining the presence of oxidizing salts. According to the current invention, analyte is collected on a swipe and subsequently heated to a temperature sufficient to release a detectable vapor phase component of the oxidizing salt. The vapor phase component passes reacts with a pH sensitive molecule. Reaction of the vapor phase product with the pH sensitive molecule produces a detectable change in response intensity. |
| US09068956B2 |
Specimen analyzing apparatus and specimen analyzing method
A specimen analyzing apparatus comprising: a detector for detecting component information regarding a component in a specimen contained in each of analyzing containers, the analyzing containers comprising first and second analyzing containers; an analyzing part for analyzing the component information detected by the detector; a transporting device for transporting specimen containers each containing a specimen, the specimen containers comprising first and second specimen containers; an operation mode selector for selecting one of a first operation mode and a second operation mode; a first supplying device for supplying the specimen of a first amount; a second supplying device for supplying the specimen of a second amount greater than the first amount; and a supply controller for controlling the first and second supplying devices in accordance with an operation mode selected by the operation mode selector, is disclosed. A specimen analyzing method is also disclosed. |
| US09068953B2 |
Integrated robotic sample transfer device
Embodiments include integrated robotic sample transfer devices and components thereof which are used for reliably and accurately transferring small samples of material from one registered position to another registered position. Such transfers of material may be carried out by a single pin tool or an array of pin tools of a pin tool head assembly of robotic sample transfer devices. Some embodiments also include automated cleaning of the pin tools used to transfer the sample material. Some embodiments are fully integrated units having internal fluid supply and waste tanks, vacuum source, fluid pumps, controllers and user interface devices. |
| US09068950B2 |
Vernier photonic sensor data-analysis
Quantifying a refractive index of a test medium by obtaining spectral data representative for an optical signal being modulated with an optical transfer characteristics of a photonic sensor, the modulation being obtained by combining modulation of a first electromagnetic wave component in an optical filter element with a first periodic transfer spectrum having a first free spectral range and modulation of a second electromagnetic wave component in an optical filter element with a second periodic transfer spectrum having a second free spectral range being different from the first free spectral range. A relative is change induced in the second periodic transfer spectrum by bringing the test medium in proximity with the optical filter element with the second periodic transfer spectrum. The refractive index of the test medium is quantified by determining a wavelength offset of an envelope signal in said spectral data. |
| US09068949B2 |
System and method for multiplex spectroscopic imaging
A system for measuring an sample includes an illumination source providing electromagnetic radiation pulses at a selected temporal frequency. A microscope focuses the radiation to interact with the sample and produce resultant electromagnetic radiation. A disperser disperses wavelengths of the resultant radiation onto optical sensors, and respective resonant amplifiers amplify signals having the selected temporal frequency. Optical detection apparatus includes the optical sensors, resonant amplifiers, and disperser. The resonant amplifiers amplify portion(s) of their inputs having a selected temporal frequency and attenuate other portion(s). A method of analyzing constituents of a sample includes contemporaneously irradiating the sample with narrowband light and broadband light, the optical power of either modulated at a selected temporal frequency; dispersing wavelengths of resultant light across the optical detectors; and filtering respective signals from the optical detectors to provide spectrum data including signals corresponding to the selected temporal frequency. |
| US09068947B2 |
Optical system for multiple reactions
The invention relates to optical systems and methods for measurement of samples in multiple sample vessels using an array of light sources where the light from the light sources is divided into multiple light beams, and each beam is directed to a sample vessel. |
| US09068945B2 |
Surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence spectroscopic measurement method and surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence spectroscopic measurement device
To provide a surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence spectroscopic measurement method and a surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence spectroscopic measurement device which are capable of accurately measuring a fluorescent signal regardless of the type of a light detection means even when the concentration of an analyte is high by adjusting the dynamic range of the SPFS device. A surface plasmon-field enhanced fluorescence stereoscopic measurement method wherein an analyte labeled with a fluorescent substance is excited by surface plasmon light generated by applying excitation light to a metallic thin film, and generated fluorescence is received by a light detection means to thereby detect the analyte. The dynamic range is expanded by adjusting the amount of the fluorescence received by the light detection means. |
| US09068943B2 |
Chemical analysis using hyphenated low and high field ion mobility
Using combined orthogonal techniques, such as low (IMS) and high (FAIMS) field mobility techniques, offers several advantages to ion detection and analysis techniques including low cost, no vacuum required, and the generation of 2-D spectra for enhanced detection and identification. Two analytical devices may be operated in different modes, which results in overall flexibility by adapting the hyphenated instrument to the application's requirements. With the IMS-FAIMS hardware level flexibility, the instruments may be configured and optimized to exploit different trade-offs suitable for a variety of detection scenarios of for different lists of target compounds. |
| US09068942B2 |
Methods of validating candidate compounds for use in treating COPD and other diseases
The present invention relates to methods of diagnosing, monitoring, and treating elastin fiber injuries. In additional preferred embodiments, the present invention relates to methods of validating candidate compounds for use in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, emphysema, refractory asthma, and other related diseases. Examples of such methods include determining if the candidate compound decreases the degradation of elastic fiber in a patient administered the candidate compound by measuring, using mass spectrometry employing an internal standard, a marker of elastic fiber degradation in a sample of a body fluid or a tissue of the patient. The invention provides that a decrease in the presence of the marker compared to a control validates that the candidate compound is effective to treat, prevent, or ameliorate the disease. |
| US09068940B2 |
Optical subtraction of molecular dispersion signals enabled by differential optical dispersion spectroscopy
An apparatus and method for differential optical dispersion using a first sample and a second sample are disclosed. The apparatus includes a single frequency chirped laser source configured to generate a single frequency chirped laser beam. A first beam splitter is configured to split the single frequency chirped laser beam into first and second optical branches, the first sample being located in the first optical branch, the second sample being located in the second optical branch. A frequency shifter is located in the second optical branch, downstream of the second sample. A second beam splitter is configured to combine the first and second optical branches and generate a chirp-modulated mixed light beam. A square law detector is configured to detect the chirp-modulated mixed light beam and generate a heterodyne beatnote signal. A demodulator is configured for detection of the heterodyne beatnote signal to generate a transmission/differential optical dispersion spectrum. |
| US09068939B2 |
Nano sensing of temperature using equal intensity double plasmon resonance (EIDPR)
Technologies are generally described for providing and using a material including: a template molecule; a first cluster of one or more nanoparticles located at a first site on the template molecule; and a second cluster of one or more nanoparticles located at a second site on the template molecule and spaced apart from the first cluster. In some embodiments, the first and second clusters of nanoparticles exhibit a plasmon resonance having a first resonant peak and a second resonant peak. |
| US09068938B2 |
Testing method using guided wave
(A) first data for defect amount estimation for the guided wave of a first frequency is obtained, the data indicating a relationship among amplitude of the reflected wave, a defect cross-sectional area and a defect width. (B) second data for defect amount estimation for the guided wave of a second frequency is obtained, the data indicating a relationship among amplitude of the reflected wave, a defect cross-sectional area and a defect width. (C) a guided wave of the first frequency is generated, and amplitude of a reflected wave is detected as first amplitude. (D) a guided wave of the second frequency is generated, and amplitude of a reflected wave is detected as second amplitude. (E) on a basis of the first and second data and the first and second amplitude, a defect cross-sectional area and a defect width of the defect part are estimated. |
| US09068936B2 |
Graphene sensor
A method for forming a sensor includes forming a channel in substrate, forming a sacrificial layer in the channel, forming a sensor having a first dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, a graphene layer disposed on the first dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer disposed on the graphene layer, a source region, a drain region, and a gate region, wherein the gate region is disposed on the sacrificial layer removing the sacrificial layer from the channel. |
| US09068932B2 |
Spectrophotometer
A spectrophotometer has a specimen cell; a light source unit for emitting light to the specimen cell; a photodetector for detecting the light that passed through the specimen cell; a light-shielding unit for blocking the light from impinging on the photodetector at predetermined periods; a memory unit for storing output strength signals detected by the photodetector; and a controller for calculating transmittance or absorbance based on output strength signal S of the incidence duration and output strength signal DS of the light-blocked duration stored in the memory unit. The incidence duration and light-blocked duration occur in this sequence in a single period. The controller calculates the true output strength signal sN of the Nth period removed of the effects of output strength signal SN−1 of the incidence duration of the (N−1)th period that are included in the output strength signal SN of the incidence duration of the Nth period. |
| US09068931B2 |
Biosensor, biosensor chip and biosensor device
A biosensor includes a working electrode 101, a counter electrode 102 opposing the working electrode 101, a working electrode terminal 103 and a working electrode reference terminal 10 connected to the working electrode 101 by wires, and a counter electrode terminal 104 connected to the counter electrode 102 by a wire. By employing a structure with at least three electrodes, it is possible to assay a target substance without being influenced by the line resistance on the working electrode side. |
| US09068929B2 |
Capacitance-based system health monitoring system, apparatus and method for layered structure
The present disclosure endeavors to provide an SHM system and method using a conductive material (e.g., CNT) to measure changes in a layered structure. Change in capacitance of a layered structure may be measured over time thereby indicating a change in the structural integrity of the material. The SHM system may be embedded with, or within, the layered structure such that the system is effectively part of the material. Alternatively, it may be external to the layered structure such that the system is a separate device used to measure the capacitance. The SHM system may also localize any changes in a layered structure by using, for example, strips or panels of conductive material on opposite sides of the layered structure being measured. Damage within overlapping portions of the conductive material provides localization capability where varying the size of the strips or panels may be use to vary the sensitivity and resolution of both the locations and size of the defect. |
| US09068925B1 |
Optical internal configuration monitoring system monitoring the bending of a platform for correcting travel direction of a platform
A method and apparatus for detecting a change in an internal configuration of a platform. The apparatus comprises a number of optical fibers and a detector. The number of optical fibers extends through a platform. The detector is configured to detect a change in a manner in which light propagates through the number of optical fibers when an internal configuration of the platform changes. |
| US09068923B2 |
Method for fabricating carbon nanotube array sensor
A method of fabricating a carbon nanotube array sensor includes the following steps. A carbon nanotube array, a first electrode and a second electrode are provided, the carbon nanotube array includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. Each of the carbon nanotubes includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A first metallophilic layer is formed on the first end of each of the carbon nanotubes. At least one first conductive metal layer is arranged between the first metallophilic layer and the first electrode to electrically connect each of the carbon nanotubes with the first electrode. A second metallophilic layer is formed on the second end of each of the carbon nanotubes. At least one second conductive metal layer is arranged between the second metallophilic layer and the second electrode to electrically connect each of the carbon nanotubes with the second electrode. |
| US09068922B2 |
Estimating coolant conductivity in a multi-voltage fuel cell system
A coolant conductivity method and apparatus used to determine when a coolant, circulating through a vehicle's coolant system, starts to conduct electrical current and loses its electrical isolation properties. The system includes a battery monitor controller senses one or more isolation resistances placed throughout a fuel cell system and is programmed to run an isolation algorithm. The isolation algorithm opens and closes contactors in a specific order, measures the resistance of the one or more isolation resistances and calculates a coolant conductivity value. The system will indicate when the coolant needs to be replaced. |
| US09068915B2 |
Method and system for calibrating a flow cytometer
A method and system for calibrating a flow cytometer to a refractive index X, the method comprising: analyzing a first mixture of particles in the cytometer and recording the results produced, wherein the first mixture comprises particles having refractive index X, wherein the particles of refractive index X have a plurality of different sizes; analyzing a second mixture of particles in the cytometer and recording the results produced, wherein the second mixture comprises particles having refractive index Y, wherein refractive index Y does not equal refractive index X, and wherein the particles of refractive index Y have a plurality of different sizes, wherein there is at least a partial overlap between the particle sizes in the first and second mixtures, and wherein the size of at least one particle of the second mixture is known; and using the results produced by the first and second mixture to calibrate the cytometer to refractive index X. |
| US09068913B2 |
Photolithographic structured thick layer sensor
A sensor, particularly an impedance sensor, for example a soot sensor, is provided which has two mutually electrically insulated electrodes, wherein at least one external electrode is formed from a composite of metal and inorganic oxide as a film pattern having a film thickness of 0.5 to 20 μm. The trace width of the film pattern and the spacing between the traces is 5 to 70 μm and the border region around the conductor trace edge varies less than 10 μm. Both electrodes can be arranged adjacent to each other as a film pattern in a plane. Preferably, the sensor has a heater. For mass production, electrodes are produced as a film pattern having a film thickness of 0.5 to 20 μm on electrically insulating oxide bases and, following full-surface imprinting of a metal powder and oxide-containing paste, the electrodes are structured particularly accurately as traces from the printed film. In particular, the film thickness of the printed film is reduced. |
| US09068911B2 |
Multifunction gauge
A multifunction gauge includes a checking bar adapted to check wear of a roller chain, and a flexible checking member adapted to check wear of a sprocket and connected to the checking bar. The checking bar has a bar body that has opposite first and second end portions respectively having opposite first and second terminating ends. The checking bar further has spaced-apart first and second checking projections that project transversely from one side of the bar body. |
| US09068902B2 |
Methods and apparatus for evaluating vibration resistance of a component of a fluid control valve
Methods and apparatus for evaluating vibration resistance of a component of a fluid control valve are disclosed herein. An example method disclosed herein includes selecting a component of a fluid control valve and positioning a sensor relative to the selected component. The method also includes mechanically exciting the selected component, determining a resonant frequency of the selected component, and taking corrective action based on the resonant frequency of the selected component. |
| US09068896B2 |
Process independent temperature sensor based on oscillator
The inventive concept discloses a new temperature sensor structure based on oscillator which is insensitive to a process change and improves an error rate of temperature output. The temperature sensor based on oscillator compares an oscillator circuit structure insensitive to a temperature change with an oscillator circuit structure having a frequency change in proportion to a temperature change to output a relative difference between the two oscillator circuit structures and thereby it is compensated itself. In the temperature sensor based on oscillator, a problem of performance reduction due to an external environment and a process deviation of temperature sensor is improved and an output distortion and temperature nonlinearity are effectively improved. Thus, since the temperature sensor based on oscillator has a structure of high performance, low power and low cost, it can be variously used in a detection equipment of temperature environment. |
| US09068894B2 |
Device for emulating temperature of a composite structure through a thermal cure cycle
A temperature emulator may include a stack assembly having a pair of end plates positioned at an uppermost and lowermost location of the stack assembly, a plurality of heat sink plates disposed between the pair of end plates, each of the heat sink plates having a plurality of heat sink cutouts, a plurality of shim plates separating adjacent pairs of the end plates and the heat sink plates, each of the shim plates having a shim cutout, an open cavity formed by a plurality of adjacent heat sink cutouts and shim cutouts, thermal insulation disposed within the cavity, and at least one temperature sensor coupled to at least one of the plurality of heat sink plates. |
| US09068893B2 |
Spectral characteristic obtaining apparatus, image evaluation apparatus and image forming apparatus
A spectral characteristic obtaining apparatus including a light irradiation unit configured to emit light onto a reading object; a spectroscopic unit configured to separate at least a part of diffused reflected light from the light emitted onto the reading object by the light irradiation unit into a spectrum; and a light receiving unit configured to receive the diffused reflected light separated into the spectrum by the spectroscopic unit and to obtain a spectral characteristic. In at least one example embodiment, the light receiving unit is configured to be a spectroscopic sensor array including plural spectroscopic sensors arranged in a direction, and the spectroscopic sensors include a predetermined number of pixels arranged in the direction to receive lights with different spectral characteristics from each other. |
| US09068891B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring concentration of biogenic substance
A method for measuring a concentration of a biogenic substance in a living body includes steps of: preparing an apparatus including a light source, a substrate which has periodic metal structures and generates surface enhanced Raman scattering light by being irradiated with light from the light source, and spectroscopic means which disperses and detects the light, wherein the periodic metal structure is arranged with first and second distances in first and second direction respectively, the first distance is set to generate surface plasmon by matching a phase of the light from the light source, and the second distance is smaller than the first distance and is set between 300 nm and 350 nm; irradiating the substrate with the light from the light source to generate the surface enhanced Raman scattering; detecting the scattering with the spectroscopic means; and calculating the concentration of the biogenic substance based on the scattering. |
| US09068890B2 |
Three-dimensional titania nano-fibrous architecture for molecular detection by Raman spectroscopy
Disclosed herein is an optical molecular sensor, as well as methods and uses for such sensors in optical and medical devices. The sensor is based on traditionally inactive, limited or a combination thereof, materials that are regarded as such within surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The disclosed invention essentially includes the said material or materials as the substrate, micro-pattern features developed from the substrate, and a three-dimensional (3D) architecture of nanoparticle fibers that generally surround and envelop the micro-pattern features. The nanoparticle fibers are specifically designed to have a desirable 3D network depth and porosity, as well as nanoparticle average diameter, standard deviation, and nanoparticle separation (i.e. nanogap), as well as nanoparticle crystal phase composition, stoichiometry, and crystallinity. |
| US09068888B2 |
Opto-isolation circuit having a conversion circuit controlled by an autonomous control signal
An opto-isolation circuit (300) is provided, including an optocoupler (303) configured to optically transfer a raw output signal, a conversion circuit (317) coupled to an optocoupler output and configured to convert the raw output signal into a predetermined converted signal, and a control circuit (306) coupled to the optocoupler output. The control circuit (306) is configured to generate an autonomous control signal from the raw output signal after the raw output signal passes through the optocoupler (303), wherein the autonomous control signal is generated only if the raw output signal exceeds a predetermined conversion threshold, and control the conversion circuit (317) and convert the raw output signal into the predetermined converted signal if the autonomous control signal is generated by the control circuit (306) and output the raw output signal to an output port if the autonomous control signal is not generated by the control circuit (306). |
| US09068886B2 |
Method and system for vicarious spatial characterization of a remote image sensor
A method and a system for vicarious characterization of a remote sensing sensor are described. The system includes a plurality of reflective mirrors configured and arranged to reflect radiation from a source of radiation onto a remotely located radiation sensor. The plurality of mirrors are spaced apart so as to obtain a plurality of distinct spot images on the remotely located radiation sensor. The system further includes a processor configured to analyze the plurality of spot images by fitting the images to obtain a point spread function of the remote sensing sensor. |
| US09068885B2 |
Method and apparatus for remote detection of alcohol vapor in the atmosphere
A light beam generated by a light source having a wavelength corresponding to the ethanol absorption spectrum, preferably in the wavelength range of 3.28-3.52 μm or in one or more wavelength ranges 6.49-7.46 μm, 7.74-8.33 μm, 8.84-10.10 μm, 10.7-12.00 μm, is sent through a measuring space containing a sample of exhaled breath, and then the intensity of the light beam passing through the measuring space is measured. Based on the spectral analysis of the dependence of the light intensity to the alcohol concentration, the concentration of ethanol vapor is determined and the information about the level of the ethanol content is provided to a suitable display or device. |
| US09068884B1 |
Turbulence and winds aloft detection system and method
A turbulence and winds aloft detection system may include an image capturing device for capturing a plurality of images of a visual feature of a selected celestial object; and an image processor configured to compare the plurality of images of the visual feature to detect a transit of a turbule of turbulent air between the image capturing device and the selected celestial object; compensate for one or more of apparent visual motion of celestial objects due to a planet's translation and rotation, the moon's revolution about the planet, and the atmosphere's refractive displacement of celestial objects; and compute a measurement of at least one of a velocity of the turbule and a height of the turbule relative to the planet. |
| US09068882B2 |
Low power thermal imager
A low power thermal imager is disclosed. In one embodiment, the thermal imager comprises a cross-bar architecture having a plurality of horizontal lines each arranged in a row, a plurality of vertical lines each arranged in a column, and a plurality of cross-points each formed at an intersection between one of the plurality of horizontal lines and one of the plurality of vertical lines; and a plurality of tunnel junction structures each located at one of the plurality cross-points, each tunnel junction structure including a first metal layer disposed over one of the plurality of vertical lines, an insulator layer disposed over the first metal layer, and a second metal layer disposed over the insulator layer and underneath one of the plurality of horizontal lines. |
| US09068879B2 |
Tower cassette
A printer cassette device is arranged to be removably mounted to or inserted into a printing device of a weighing scale. The printer cassette device comprises a rotatable locking mechanism for rotational engagement with the printing device. |
| US09068870B2 |
Ultrasonic flow metering with laminar to turbulent transition flow control
Apparatus and method for ultrasonic flow metering of viscous fluids. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic flow metering system includes an ultrasonic flow meter, a flow conditioner, and a reducer. The ultrasonic flow meter includes a pair of ultrasonic transducers arranged to exchange ultrasonic signals through a fluid stream flowing between the transducers. The flow conditioner is disposed upstream of the ultrasonic flow meter. The reducer is disposed between the flow conditioner and the ultrasonic flow meter to reduce the cross sectional area of the fluid stream flowing from the flow conditioner to the ultrasonic flow meter. |
| US09068866B2 |
Micromonitoring apparatus and method
An apparatus and method for monitoring sanitary sewer systems designed to carry away wastewater through a system of buried pipes, often referred to as “sewer lines”, to a sewage treatment facility, the apparatus and method use a weir which facilitates the collection of flow rate data in the sewer lines which in turn facilitates the determination of infiltration and inflow (“I/I”) of rain water, or clear water, into the sewer system in a manner which further allows the identification of specific I/I locations so that repair and construction of sewer systems can be efficiently coordinated. |
| US09068863B2 |
Encoder
A first reference pattern has a plurality of patterns, which are arranged periodically in a measurement axis direction and have the same width in the measurement axis direction. The plurality of patterns have the respective different pitches. At least one of the plurality of patterns is smaller in pitch than a first main signal pattern. A second sensor has a plurality of detection regions which are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of patterns of the first reference pattern. An addition calculating section calculates an addition signal by adding up output signals of the plurality of detection regions. A square calculating section calculates a squared signal from the addition signal. A judging section outputs a reference signal for determination of a reference position according to signal levels of the squared signal. |
| US09068858B2 |
Generic and secure AMI end device configuration
A metering device may be configured to communicate with other devices on a plurality of metering communication networks, such as an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) network. For example, a metering end device may be programmed or reconfigured via an AMI network. A metering end device may receive, via the AMI network, a program recipe comprising one or more configuration parameters. The program recipe may be specific to the end device and formatted according to a generic program table of the end device. The end device may decrypt and validate the program recipe. The end device may implement the decrypted program recipe to configure the end device with the one or more configuration parameters. |
| US09068856B2 |
Creating geometry for advanced driver assistance systems
A method and system for creating geometry for ADAS are described. Link chains, which are a sequence of segments, are created. The link chains are used to create 2D splines. The link chains, the 2D splines, and height data are used to create 3D splines. The 3D splines and possibly the 2D splines are converted to Bezier curves, which can be used to create a 2D polyline. ADAS applications can use the Bezier curves and the 2D polylines to provide ADAS functions. |
| US09068855B1 |
Counter-porpoising watercraft attitude control system
A watercraft attitude control system using GPS and other motion inputs in order to predictively control thrust, steering and hull characteristics in ways that will prevent and minimize porpoising motion of a watercraft. |
| US09068853B2 |
Navigation system
A navigation system (NS) may include a processor that can retrieve geographic map data from a database, where the geographic map data includes polygonal chains. The processor can determine a straightness value, a length ratio, and/or an angle-to-length ratio for each of the polygonal chains based on segments and/or vertices of the polygonal chain. Also, a first class and a second class of the polygonal chains can be determined based on one or more of the three determined values for each of the polygonal chains. The first class may represent roads that are less winding than the second class, and such an attribute may be beneficial in selecting an optimal route. |
| US09068852B2 |
Vehicle fleet routing system
A vehicle management system is described herein that can perform a variety of features related to managing fleets of vehicles. For example, the vehicle management system includes a routing module that can perform a variety of functions. Some of these functions can include determining a first route between locations using a simplified routing network and then determining a second route between the locations using a more exhaustive routing network. Further, the routing module can store information about the natural flow through intersections, improving control of routes through intersections. Some or all of these features may be used together, or any of these features may be omitted in any given embodiment. |
| US09068847B2 |
System and method for collaborative navigation
A system and method for collaborative navigation is provided. The system comprises a first mobile unit, at least one inertial measurement unit on the first mobile unit, and at least one environment sensor on the first mobile unit. A navigator module in the first mobile unit is configured to receive inertial data from the inertial measurement unit. An object characterization module is configured to receive sensor data from the environment sensor and a navigation solution from the navigator module. A common object geo-locator module is configured to receive a first set of descriptors from the object characterization module and a second set of descriptors from another mobile unit. A data association module is configured to receive common descriptors from the common object geo-locator module. The first mobile unit is configured to operatively communicate with one or more additional mobile units that are configured for collaborative navigation with the first mobile unit. |
| US09068845B2 |
Optical digitizer system with position-unique photoluminescent indicia
A digitizer system including a substrate having a position-unique photoluminescent indicia pattern. A stylus component receives optical signals indicative of the indicia pattern and determines therefrom the position of the stylus relative to the substrate. Methods of disposing indicia on the substrate, and styli suitable for sensing photoluminescent indicia are also described. |
| US09068838B1 |
Event sensor
An automatic timing measurement system provides a measure of time of passage of a watercraft through a prescribed course. Inertial or other estimates augmented by GPS speed/position measurements are used to track position of a watercraft. Position estimates are used to allow the locations of prescribed courses to be mapped and memorized. Passage of a watercraft is automatically detected through mapped courses for the purpose of measuring and reporting time of passage past key points in the course, and the speed of the apparatus may be modified if necessary at certain points in the mapped course. A measure of accuracy of driver steering can be provided along with the ability to automatically steer the watercraft through the course. GPS speed control is augmented with a secondary velocity measurement device that measures speed over water resulting in an optional user selectable real-time compensation for water current. |
| US09068833B2 |
Gyroscopic sensor and method for manufacturing such a sensor
The invention relates to a gyroscopic sensor comprising a sensitive element designed to vibrate; an electrode carrier capable of carrying electrodes for exciting the sensitive element and electrodes for detecting the vibration of the sensitive element; and support rods designed to support the electrode carrier, characterized in that the support rods have at least one bulged end. |
| US09068832B2 |
Method and a device for determining a direction in a magnetic field
A method and an electronic device for determining the direction of a magnetic field, in which a mobile electronic compass device is used to measure three field vectors of the magnetic field the desired number of times. From each measurement, a data point (p1-p6) is formed in a three-dimensional co-ordinate system, for which measured data points a common reference point (C) is calculated. The location of the device is determined relative to the reference point in said co-ordinate system and the co-ordinates of the reference point obtained are compared to the co-ordinates of at least one previous reference point, and the co-ordinate values of the reference point are calibrated, after which the direction of the magnetic field is indicated with the aid of the reference point. |
| US09068831B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus measures a subject distance using a plurality of captured images acquired by capturing the same subject in a plurality of imaging states in succession of time. The image processing apparatus includes a target motion amount estimation unit that estimates a target motion amount representing an amount of shift in subject position between first and second images among the captured images. The first image is captured in a first imaging state and a second image is captured in a second imaging state different from the first imaging state. A corrected image generation unit generates a corrected image by performing motion compensation on the second image based on the target motion amount, and an image processing unit performs image processing such as measuring a subject distance or generating an HDR image, using the first image and the corrected image. |
| US09068826B2 |
Checking a blade contour of a turbomachine
A method for checking a blade contour of a turbomachine, in particular a gas turbine, wherein an actual contour (1; 1′) of a blade is detected, wherein a target contour of the blade is scaled and the actual contour is compared with said scaled contour (2). |
| US09068814B2 |
Polishing monitoring method, polishing apparatus and monitoring apparatus
A method monitors a change in thickness of a conductive film brought into sliding contact with a polishing surface of a polishing pad using an eddy current sensor. The output signal of the eddy current sensor includes two signals corresponding to a resistance component and an inductive reactance component of an impedance of an electric circuit including a coil of the eddy current sensor. The method includes acquiring the output signal of the eddy current sensor when the eddy current sensor is facing the conductive film, defining the two signals as coordinates on a coordinate system, repeating the acquiring of the output signal and the defining of the coordinates, determining a center of curvature of an arc specified by at least three sets of coordinates on the coordinate system, determining an angle of inclination of a line connecting the center of curvature and a latest one of the at least three sets of coordinates, and monitoring a change in thickness of the conductive film by monitoring a change in the angle of inclination. |
| US09068811B2 |
Device for determining distance interferometrically
A device for interferometrically determining the distance between two plates disposed substantially in parallel, includes a light source, beam-splitter element(s), reflector element(s), deflection elements, retroreflectors, and a detection unit. A beam of rays emitted by the light source falls on the first plate and splits into a reflected reference beam of rays and a transmitted measuring beam of rays. The measuring beam strikes a reflector on the second plate and undergoes a first reflection back toward the first plate. The reference beam traverses a first deflection element, and the measuring beam traverses a second deflection element. Both beams pass through a retroreflector. The reference beam is reflected at the first plate, and the measuring beam undergoes a second reflection at a reflector of the second plate, so that both beams propagate collinearly interferingly toward the detection unit, where a plurality of phase-shifted distance signals are generated. |
| US09068810B2 |
Trunk area dimension measurement device and body fat measurement device
The trunk area dimension measurement device includes a light reflection portion to be placed at a position of a navel of the measurement subject, a contact portion to be placed on a side surface of the measurement subject's trunk area, a support column having a contact detection unit that detects the contact with the contact portion and that extends in the vertical direction, a measurement bar that is supported pivotably about a first support point vertically with respect to the support column and that extends above the measurement subject's trunk area, an optical sensor that is held by the measurement bar positioned above the measurement subject's trunk area and that is held pivotably about a second support point so as to hang down in a gravity direction, and an angle sensor that is provided at either one of the first support point and the second support point. |
| US09068808B2 |
Air vehicle with bilateral steering thrusters
An air vehicle, such as a missile or a steerable submunition released from a missile or another air vehicle, has a bilateral thrust system for steering. The thrust system includes a pair of diametrically-opposed divert thrusters that provide thrust having radial components in opposite radial directions. In order to control the direction of thrust, the air vehicle controls rotation of the divert thrusters and/or timing of the firing of the thrusters. The air vehicle (or some part of the air vehicle that includes the divert thrusters) may be discretely rolled to position the divert thrusters to produce desired steering thrust. Alternatively, the air vehicle or part of the air vehicle may be continuously rolled, with the steering controlled by timing the thrust to the divert thrusters, such as by allocating thrust between the diametrically-opposed thrusters. Pressurized gas may be allocated between the two thrusters by use of pintle valve. |
| US09068806B2 |
Expandable broadhead having tip formed as an integral portion of a steel or stainless steel ferrule
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a broadhead assembly that includes a ferrule having a shaft engaging end, an opposed tip end, and an axially extending elongate body. The tip end is formed as an integral part of the ferrule and includes a plurality of facets circumferentially arranged about the axially extending elongate body. The facets are tapered rearwardly and outwardly relative to the tip end and form a tip base that is positioned at a forward portion of the elongate body. |
| US09068804B2 |
Beveled end pieces for an arrow
Example nocks, arrowheads and/or arrowhead inserts include a tapered annular flange axially engaging a correspondingly tapered edge on a tubular arrow shaft. The tapered flange and edge help prevent the end of tubular arrow shaft from deforming radially outward when substantial axial force is applied to the nock, arrowhead and/or arrowhead insert. |
| US09068803B2 |
Weapon and weapon system employing the same
A weapon system including a weapon, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a guidance section in a front section of the weapon, and a signal cartridge assembly behind the front section and including a signal cartridge configured to provide a signal indicating a location of impact for the weapon. |
| US09068800B2 |
System and method of locating prey
A method includes receiving location data corresponding to a physical location of a user at a computing device and receiving prey data corresponding to a relative position of an animal at the computing device from a gun scope. The method further includes determining a location of the animal relative to the computing device based on the location data and the prey data. |
| US09068799B1 |
Reticle
A reticle has a horizontal section having a horizontal section horizontal line. The horizontal section has horizontal section vertical lines. A vertical section has a vertical section vertical line, wherein the horizontal section intersects the vertical section at a midpoint. The vertical section has vertical section horizontal lines. A first ranging system includes a metric units ranging scale. The metric units ranging scale includes a first metric units framing bracket and a second metric units framing bracket. The first metric units framing bracket is larger than the second metric units framing bracket. The metric units ranging scale further includes a metric units vertical ruler and a metric units horizontal ruler. |
| US09068796B2 |
Small smart weapon and weapon system employing the same
A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead including destructive elements and a guidance section with a seeker configured to guide the weapon to a target. The seeker includes a detector configured to receive a distorted signal impinging on an objective lens from the target, memory configured to store target criteria and a correction map, and a processor configured to provide a correction signal based on the distorted signal, the target criteria and the correction map to guide the weapon to the target. |
| US09068794B1 |
Apparatus and method for aiming point calculation
The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges at stationary and moving targets. |
| US09068789B2 |
Marking of the barrel of a firearm
The invention concerns a marking for the barrel of a firearm, in particular of a pistol, a rifle, or a carbine, with a barrel cross section the perimeter of which alternately consists of linear, polygonal segments and arched segments, where necessary with transitions between them, whereby the linear, polygonal segments define an inscribed circle, further comprising at least two ribs being provided in or on the arched segments which extend radially inward. |
| US09068785B2 |
Illuminated chamber status indicator
A chamber status indicator for a firearm such as a handgun, rifle, or shotgun is disclosed. The chamber status indicator comprises a self-illuminating substance such as a gaseous tritium light source or self-illuminating paint, wherein light from the self-illuminating substance is visible only when a cartridge is loaded in the chamber. The self-illuminating substance can be mounted in a mechanical chamber status indicator. The self-illuminating substance can be mounted in a wall of the chamber. The self-illuminating substance can be mounted in a cartridge extractor. The self-illuminating substance can be affixed to or integrated into a bolt, breech or slide of the firearm. The self-illuminating substance can be integrated into a cylinder containing multiple chambers. |
| US09068784B2 |
Cooling system for electronics
A method and apparatus for conveying heat away from an electronic component. The apparatus may include, a conformable thermal interface sleeve adapted to embrace the electronic component. The apparatus may further include, a heat conducting wedge adapted to contact the conformable thermal interface sleeve and a thermal channel adapted to contact the heat conducting wedge. The apparatus may also include a manifold adapted to contact the thermal channel. |
| US09068783B2 |
Tube heat exchanger
Tube heat exchanger for exchanging heat between first and second fluids includes a housing wherein one or more tubes extend between an inlet part and an outlet part for the first fluid. The tubes extend through passages through baffle plates which are secured at a distance from one another by means of one or more fastening devices that include a profile that is snapped in place in one or more recesses in the respective baffle plates. The profile is a V-profile and the recess is a V-shaped recess having protrusions on its two opposite edges behind which the V-profile is snapped in place. |
| US09068780B2 |
Twist vane counter-parallel flow heat exchanger apparatus and method
A method for forming a manifold for use with a heat exchanger is disclosed. The method may involve forming a plurality of vanes. Opposing surfaces of each of the vanes may define a pair of adjacent flow channels for receiving portions of first and second fluids to be flowed through the flow channels. Each of the flow channels may have a changing aspect ratio along its length. |
| US09068776B2 |
Depositing and farming methods for drying oil sand mature fine tailings
Methods for drying oil sand fine tailings treated to comprise flocculated fine tailings, by deposition and farming techniques, are provided. A deposition cell is provided with a sloped bottom surface and the flocculated fine tailings are deposited to undergo channelless advancement in the cell while allowing drainage of release water. When the deposit is uneven, the deposit may be plowed while wet for spreading and ensuring water release conditioning is imparted thereto, while avoiding over-shearing, and maintaining sufficient shear strength to allow standing. Once a dried upper crust forms, the deposit may be harrowed to break up the crust, expose wet regions there-beneath and create furrows in the standing deposit. The methods improve the dewatering and drying of mature fine tailings in oil sands. |
| US09068773B2 |
Pan chiller system having liquid coolant in direct contact with dividing walls
A pan chiller system including a refrigeration package having a condensing unit, a heat exchanger and a pump for circulating a chilled liquid coolant, a pan chiller unit in communication with the refrigeration package and having an outer housing and a food well received within the outer housing and a plurality of hollow divider bars arranged within the food well and an opening is defined between adjacent divider bars, wherein each divider bar is configured for directly receiving the liquid coolant chilled and circulated by the refrigeration package. |
| US09068764B2 |
Method and apparatus for clamping frameless thin-film solar module
An apparatus for mounting a frameless solar module includes a top member made by a solid material including two contact pads and a bottom member made by a rubber material including two upward rounded end bumps. The top member and the bottom member are operably fixed by a screw set in a symmetric mounting configuration. The contact pad is also made from the rubber material for pressing onto a top cover glass panel near an edge region. The upward rounded end bump is for supporting a portion of a bottom substrate glass panel at a first offset distance away from the top cover glass panel and a horizontal offset distance away from the edge region. The first offset distance is adjusted to a thickness of the frameless solar module and the second distance is predetermined for providing adequate support of the frameless solar module to allow uninhibited flexion under load. |
| US09068761B2 |
Burner
A gas burner including a burner body having a lower housing, an inlet conduit and a combustion surface element attached to the lower housing. A diffuser/reflector positioned within the body encourages even distribution and mixing of a combustible gas/air mixture. The diffuser/reflector is preferably of a sheet metal construction and includes a plurality of stamped openings with each of these openings having an overhanging guide plate. The combustion surface element includes a plurality of integrally formed rigidizing ribs and is made from a high temperature steel alloy wire cloth. The inlet conduit is secured directly or indirectly to an access door/bulkhead that is used to close off an access opening formed in a water heater wall through which the burner is installed. In one construction, an air scoop shrouds the inlet conduit and at least partially defines a flow path of primary air, substantially isolated from the combustion chamber. |
| US09068760B2 |
Heating appliance for air heating
A heating appliance including a burner and a heat exchanger including a bundle of heat conducting elements that form the primary channels through which the hot flue gases from the burner are guided via inputs that are opposite the burner, and which are connected together to close off the secondary channels that are formed between the aforementioned elements and through which the air to be heated can be guided. The burner is a premix burner that is positioned opposite the inputs of the primary channels, whereby the burner has a supply for a mixture of fuel and a sufficient quantity of air for the essentially complete combustion of the fuel, and whereby between the burner and the inputs of the primary channels there is a heat shield of a heat-resistant material with a passage opposite each of the aforementioned inputs. |
| US09068757B2 |
Thermal gradient fluid header for multiple heating and cooling systems
Apparatus and method for heating/cooling buildings and other facilities. An elongate pipe filled with water or other fluid medium forms a thermal gradient header having temperature zones that are progressively warmer towards one end and cooler towards the other. Multiple heating/cooling systems are connected to the header so as to draw fluid from zones that are closest in temperature to the optimal intake temperature of each system, and to discharge fluid back to the header at zones that are closest to the temperature to the optimal output temperature of each system, allowing each heating/cooling system to take advantage of the thermal output of other systems. The pipe forming the thermal gradient header may be routed back and forth in the facility to define a series of legs containing the different temperature zones. A boiler or other source may supply makeup heat to the thermal gradient header, and excess heat may be sent from the header to a ground field or other thermal reservoir for later use. |
| US09068755B2 |
System and method for temperature regulation
A system and method for regulating the temperature of a building interior, the building including at least one thermal mass for receiving and holding heat, distribution vents and an air return, the method including receiving and holding heat in the at least one thermal mass, enabling an air flow from the at least one thermal mass using the distribution vents, and returning the air flow to the at least one thermal mass via the air return, wherein the air flow tends to maintain a generally constant temperature in the building. |
| US09068742B2 |
Burner for scrubber
The present invention discloses a burner for a scrubber comprising a housing including a combustion zone to which waste gas is entered, the combustion zone having an internal central region and an opened lower portion, the housing including a mixing zone for mixing an oxidizer and fuel entered thereinto, the mixing zone being disposed along an outer side of the combustion zone and formed into a ring shape; and a metal cartridge disposed between the combustion zone and the mixing zone and provided with apertures for supplying the oxidizer and fuel mixed in the mixing zone to the combustion zone. |
| US09068730B2 |
Edge light backlight unit and liquid crystal display device including same
In order to accurately illuminate a lighting target with planar light having few nonuniformities, a backlight (2) is provided with a light guide plate (5) having multiple leg members (531) protruding from an attachment part (53), which is the surface opposite of an emission part (52), and a chassis (4) having holding units (411) into which the leg members (531) are inserted. |
| US09068727B2 |
Zoomable LED flashlight
A flashlight includes a housing, a LED light source and an asymmetrical biconvex lens. The light source is coupled to the housing for generating a light for illumination. The biconvex lens is formed by injection-molding a resin material, for condensing the light generated by the LED light source into a concentrated light beam having a pattern of consistent brightness. The biconvex lens is located a given distance away from the LED light source. The biconvex lens includes opposing first and second spherical surfaces. The first spherical surface is closest to the LED light source with a first radius of curvature; and the second spherical surface being farthest from the LED light source with a second radius of curvature. And the first radius of curvature is substantially at least five times more than the second radius of curvature. |
| US09068724B2 |
Lighting fixture having clipped reverse parabolic reflector
A lighting fixture employs one or more reverse parabolic reflectors and molded lenses in a faceplate to provide a variety of light output intensities and emission patterns. Some embodiments clip the reverse parabolic reflectors to fit within the outline of the faceplate without sacrificing significant light output. |
| US09068717B2 |
Backlight display using photoluminescent material tuned to improve NVIS compatibility
An NVIS-compatible backlight assembly for an LCD display comprising a short-wavelength (blue) light source positioned in a first layer and a photoluminescent layer positioned adjacent the first layer for transforming blue monochrome emission from the blue light source into tri-color light for use as a full-color light source, while minimizing radiance in NVIS-sensitive regions. |
| US09068715B2 |
Tube luminescent retrofit using light emitting diodes
The invention relates to a LED-based optical unit including a LED disposed on a surface and a monolithic module encompassing the LED and including a re-directing portion and a first diffusing portion. The first diffusing portion is configured to diffuse light incident thereon. The re-directing portion is configured to re-direct at least a first portion of light emitted by the LED to be incident on the first diffusing portion. |
| US09068711B2 |
Headlamp for vehicle which produces glare-free high beam
A headlamp apparatus for a vehicle which produces a glare-free high beam may include a light source including a plurality of chips which may be arranged in line, and each of which may be separately turned on or off, a condenser lens disposed in front of the light source, and configured to improve light efficiency by condensing light emitted from the light source, a beam pattern conversion lens disposed in front of the condenser lens and configured to increase a size of a beam pattern of the light source in a vertical direction, and an optical refractive lens disposed in front of the beam pattern conversion lens, the optical refractive lens projecting the light that has passed through the beam pattern conversion lens onto a road by imaging the light onto a screen. |
| US09068709B2 |
Optical unit for signaling and/or lighting device
The invention relates to an optical unit, notably for a motor vehicle signaling and/or lighting device, comprising: at least one light source, notably an LED, at least one board bearing the light source, this board comprising an electric circuit to power the light source, a light guide made at least partially from a material through which light can travel, this guide being designed to accept light from the light source and to guide this light, the optical unit being characterized in that the board is borne by the light guide. |
| US09068706B2 |
Electronic luminary device with simulated flame
A flameless candle may include a side wall including an upper region and a lower region, a base engaged with the lower region of the side wall, and an upper surface extending from the upper region of the side wall to form an upper recess. The candle may also include a projection screen extending upwardly through an aperture in the upper surface. The position of the projection screen is fixed with respect to a position of the upper surface. Two sources of light positioned below the upper surface may project light through the aperture onto the projection screen. Circuitry may electrically connect to the first source of light and the second source of light. The circuitry may independently control each of the sources of light. |
| US09068704B2 |
Integrated signal light head
The present disclosure relates generally to an integrated signal light head. In one embodiment, the integrated signal light head includes a molded housing for holding at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source and a power supply compartment coupled to the molded housing. As a result, a power supply may be remotely located and independent of the at least one LED light source. |
| US09068702B2 |
Efficient LED-based illumination modules with high color rendering index
An illumination module includes a light mixing cavity with an interior surface area and window that are physically separated from an LED. A portion of the window is coated with a first wavelength converting material and a portion of the interior surface area is coated with a second wavelength converting material. The window may be coated with LuAG:Ce. The window may also be coated with a third wavelength converting material with a peak emission wavelength between 615-655 nm where the spectral response of light emitted from the window is within 20% of a blackbody radiator at the same CCT. The LED may emit a light that is converted by the light mixing cavity with a color conversion efficiency ratio greater than 130 lm/W where the light mixing cavity includes two photo-luminescent materials with a peak emission wavelengths between 508-528 nm and 615-655 nm. |
| US09068699B2 |
Manipulation of fluids, fluid components and reactions in microfluidic systems
Microfluidic structures and methods for manipulating fluids, fluid components, and reactions are provided. In one aspect, such structures and methods can allow production of droplets of a precise volume, which can be stored/maintained at precise regions of the device. In another aspect, microfluidic structures and methods described herein are designed for containing and positioning components in an arrangement such that the components can be manipulated and then tracked even after manipulation. For example, cells may be constrained in an arrangement in microfluidic structures described herein to facilitate tracking during their growth and/or after they multiply. |
| US09068693B2 |
Lubricant supplying device, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge
A lubricant supplying device includes: lubricant; a supplying member that supplies the lubricant to a lubricant supply target; and a remaining amount detecting unit that detects that a remaining amount of the lubricant is equal to or smaller than a certain amount. The remaining amount detecting unit includes a first electrode member and a second electrode member. The lubricant supplying device includes a member that causes at least a part of the second electrode member to move and causes the second electrode member to abut the first electrode member with an increase in consumption of the lubricant. |
| US09068687B2 |
Supporting apparatus
The supporting apparatus includes a base, a device supporting portion, a device connecting portion, and a linking rod. The base includes a front end and a rear end; the device supporting portion includes a supporting element and a first rotating shaft, wherein the first rotating shaft is pivotally connected to the front end of the base and connected with the supporting element for allowing the supporting element to rotate along the first rotating shaft such that the supporting apparatus has a closed state and a first open state. When the supporting apparatus rotates to the first open state, the connecting element and the linking rod form a first connecting element opening angle θ21 for allowing the connecting element to connect with the first lateral surface of an electronic device and the supporting element to contact a bottom surface of the electronic device. |
| US09068686B2 |
Rehabilitation pipe and pipe rehabilitation method
A pipe unit for a rehabilitation pipe is used to rehabilitate an existing pipe. The pipe unit has segments mutually linked in a circumferential direction of the pipe unit, and at least one diameter expander for enlarging an inner diameter of the pipe unit. The diameter expander has a thickness in the circumferential direction of the pipe unit and is inserted between an adjacent pair of the mutually linked segments so as to be completely separated from each other by the diameter expander in the circumferential direction and by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the diameter expander. |
| US09068684B2 |
Sealed stopper for an opening in a tubing for joining a chamber and a piping, particularly in the steam generator of a nuclear pressurised water reactor
A sealed stopper for an opening in a tubing for joining a chamber and a piping including a fastening ring is provided. The stopper includes a rigid bearing plate and a sealing member carried by the bearing plate, and includes a seal having a planar and flexible central portion with a reduced thickness extending below the bearing plate and a peripheral portion radially deformable by a central expander of the peripheral portion against the inner surface of the fastening ring. |
| US09068681B1 |
Pipe having an embedded detectable element
A detectable/traceable pipe that includes a pipe body defining a hollow and a detectable element embedded or encased within the pipe body so as to provide a detectable property to the pipe body. The pipe body may be constructed of a non-ferrous material and the detectable element is co-extruded with the pipe body. |
| US09068674B1 |
Cable, conduit, pipe and wire affixing clip
A conduit clip having a pedestal with a conduit seat portion, a flexible strap extending from the pedestal, a latching section, and a clip section for receiving a fastening device positioned between the conduit seat and the latching section as well as sawteeth along at least a portion of the bottom of the flexible strap, a slot in the latching section to receive the strap and a latch member mounted in the latching section slot for engaging the sawteeth to lock the strap in place. |
| US09068671B2 |
Aerated swirling vertical shaft with double volute chambers
An aerated swirling vertical shaft with double volute chambers comprises an upper volute chamber (2) and a first shrinking section (3) beneath the upper volute chamber (2), a venting passage (4) outside the upper volute chamber (2), a vertical shaft section (7) beneath the first shrinking section (3), as well as an aerated lower volute chamber (5) and a second shrinking section (6) communicated with the aerated lower volute chamber (5) between the first shrinking section (3) and the vertical shaft section (7), wherein the upper end of the aerated lower volute chamber (5) is connected with the first shrinking section (3), the lower end of the second shrinking section (6) is connected with the vertical shaft section (7); the upper end of the venting passage (4) is communicated with the atmosphere and the lower end is communicated with the aerated lower volute chamber (5). The water stream in the vertical shaft can be discharged smoothly and the wall surface of the vertical shaft may avoid being destroyed due to cavitation and cavitation erosion. |
| US09068669B2 |
Process fluid actuated pilot operated control valve
A flow control system includes a pilot driven valve having a pilot assembly and a main valve assembly; a displacement measurement component coupled to the main valve assembly indicating displacement of the main valve assembly; and a proportional solenoid responsive to a signal from the displacement measurement component that displaces the pilot assembly in proportion to the changes in displacement of the main valve assembly. The valve is controlled by sensing a displacement of the main valve assembly; and modulating the proportional solenoid in response to the displacement of the main valve assembly. |
| US09068663B2 |
Electromagnetic linear valve
Provided is an electromagnetic linear valve that includes a main valve body having an upper valve body and a lower valve body. The upper valve body and the lower valve body are connected together by ultrasonic welding. The lower valve body comprises a frame. The electromagnetic linear valve includes a spring leaf and a movable element. An electromagnetic unit drives the movable element in the valve body, and the electromagnetic unit includes a steel casing that is fixed to the frame. A baffle divides the valve body into upper and lower valve chambers. The upper valve chamber has an inlet vent and an outlet vent. A through hole is formed in the baffle to connect the upper and lower valve chambers. The movable element has a valve plug blocking the through hole on the baffle. |
| US09068660B2 |
Valve device with a flow guiding device
A valve device having at least one inflow area and first and second outflow areas, which are connected with one another with regard to the flow through two poppet valves. Through the first poppet valve, a fluid inflow from the inflow area to the first and second outflow areas can be adjusted and a fluid outflow, through the second poppet valve between the first and the second outflow areas can be adjusted. The second poppet valve is designed as a cone poppet valve with a cone shaped closure body. Located upstream of the second poppet valve, between the first and the second outflow area, is a flow guide device which is designed to provide the fluid, which flows in the direction of the second poppet valve, with a swirl. The closure body of the second poppet valve has a cone angle of 60°+/−10°. |
| US09068659B2 |
Mixer group for bathroom or kitchen
Embodiments of the present invention refer to a mixer group for bathroom or kitchen comprising a hollow cylinder, a tubular body that forms a seat for the sliding of the hollow cylinder and comprises an axial inlet and at least one radial outlet for the water, and an electric motor for actuating the hollow cylinder. The mixer group comprises a lid for the end opposite the inlet of the tubular body, defining an extension of the sliding seat, and an annular gasket between the tubular body and the lid, comprising an elastically deformable tab that projects into the extension of the seat, in open flow conditions, or is deformed against the hollow cylinder, to close the flow, when the hollow cylinder engages with the extension. |
| US09068655B2 |
Quick change brush seal retaining arrangement
A quick change brush holder of a brush seal having a plurality of spaced apart deflectable brush retaining arrangements that include a tab that is bent into a brush receiving channel toward a brush engaging or retaining position to releasably retain a brush in the channel and that is bent away from the brush engaging or retaining position when it is desired to remove the brush or install a brush in the holder. Each tab has a brush abutment edge that abuts or stops a shoulder of a tape or spine of a brush in the channel preventing removal from the holder when disposed in a brush engaging or retaining position. The brush abutting edge extends generally parallel to the channel enabling a brush to be inserted transversely relative to a lengthwise extent of the holder tape or spine first into the holder. |
| US09068652B2 |
Extraction device and sealing system
An extraction apparatus includes a brewing module for receiving a capsule with an extraction material. The brewing module includes a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part, the second brewing part being movable relative to the first brewing part. The first and the second brewing module parts form a discharge device for the discharge of an extraction product out of the capsule, and an introduction device for introducing an extraction fluid into the capsule. A sealing system for such an extraction apparatus includes a seal having at least one circumferential sealing lip and/or one circumferential sealing bead, which bears on a surface of the capsule in a line-like or strip-like manner and presses the capsule wall against the capsule interior. |
| US09068651B2 |
State transition control for a multi-mode hybrid powertrain
A powertrain includes a controller and gear sets, clutches, rotatable members, and torque actuators, e.g., an engine and one or more motor/generator units. Each torque actuator outputs a total control torque. The total control torque from a given actuator is used to achieve a target value, which is a torque value of a member of one of the gear sets, clutches, or rotatable members. The controller includes proportional-integral (PI) control logic. The total control torque is the sum of proportional and integral torque terms from the PI control logic. The controller detects a predetermined vehicle event, for instance a change in a hybrid range state or a control gain reduction event, and then automatically resets the integral control torque term(s) for the physical target value during the requested vehicle event to thereby maintain the total control torque for the same target value through the execution of the predetermined vehicle event. |
| US09068649B2 |
Gear and mode selection for transmissions using a single input device
A transmission of a vehicle has a first gear and a second gear that corresponds to a lower gear ratio than the first gear. A transmission management system for the transmission comprises an enabling module, a shift control module, and a disabling module. The enabling module enables a second gear start mode of the transmission when a vehicle speed is less than a predetermined speed. The shift control module commands operation of the transmission in the second gear when the second gear start mode is enabled. The disabling module selectively disables the second gear start mode when a user commands a gear shift to the first gear while the second gear start mode is enabled and prevents the enabling module from re-enabling the second gear start mode after the second gear start mode is disabled. |
| US09068648B2 |
Automated transmission and method for operating an automated transmission
An automated transmission comprises a hydraulic control device and one or more hydraulically actuated gear units. The hydraulic control device comprises a control unit for setting actuating pressures on the gear units; a base pressure control valve for adjusting a hydraulic base pressure of the hydraulic control device; and a device for controlling the base pressure control valve dependent on the actuating pressures. The automated transmission further comprises a device for switching through an actuating hydraulic pressure to the base pressure control valve. A method comprises the method steps of adjusting a hydraulic base pressure at the hydraulic control device; adjusting actuating pressures for actuating one or more transmission units; switching through one of the actuating pressures to the base pressure control valve; and adjusting the hydraulic base pressure by one of the actuating pressures. |
| US09068647B2 |
Gear wheel and method for manufacturing gear wheel
Provided is a method for manufacturing a gear wheel, the method including: preparing an insertion unit formed of a steel material having a hollow pipe shape; injection-molding an outer side unit including teeth on an outer circumference; and molding a connection unit having a wheel shape by injecting resin into at least three points between the insertion unit and the outer side unit so as to connect the insertion unit and the outer side unit after arranging the insertion unit on the inner center of the outer side unit. According to the method, removing of an unnecessarily injected portion may be omitted since the resin is injected between the insertion unit and the outer side unit while injection-molding the connection unit. Also, productivity is increased by decreasing a number of defective products generated due to cracks. |
| US09068637B2 |
Powershift transmission in a motor vehicle
A powershift transmission in a motor vehicle is arranged between a prime mover and driven wheels of the motor vehicle for transmission of propulsive power and selection of different gear speed ratios. The powershift transmission includes at least two factional clutches for alternatively engaging at least two input shafts, a main transmission, a range section and an output shaft. A countershaft in the powershift transmission is rotationally connectable to the output shaft in order to establish a by-pass torque path, passing by the range section, and in which propulsive power can be transferred when the range section is gear shifted between different range speed ratios. |
| US09068628B2 |
Robotic arms with strap drive trains
In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic arm is provided including a linkage assembly and a strap drive train. The linkage assembly includes first, second, third, and fourth links pivotally coupled in series together at first, second, and third joints to define a parallelogram with an insertion axis. The strap drive train includes first and second sets of straps coupled to the linkage assembly. As the linkage assembly is moved about a pitch axis, the first set of straps ensures the third link maintains the same angle relative to the first link, and the first and second set of straps ensures the fourth link maintains the same angle relative to the second link. |
| US09068625B2 |
Fluid-filled type vibration damping device
A fluid-filled type vibration damping device having a first and a second fluid chamber respectively filled with non-compressible fluid and which experience relative pressure fluctuations during vibration input, and provided with an orifice passage through which the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber communicate with one another, while being capable of exhibiting better dependability and durability in terms of effective vibration damping action of several types of vibration with different frequencies. In the device, tuning frequency of the orifice passage is varied by varying a passage length of the orifice passage 68 through adjustment of an insertion distance of an inside orifice member into an outside orifice member. |
| US09068620B2 |
Body mount having suspended ring member
A body mount supports and couples components of a vehicle. An inner support member and an outer support member of the body mount may have a circular cross-section. The inner support member may be disposed within the outer support member. The elastomeric member of the body mount may include an intermediate body and a ring portion. The intermediate body may be fixedly coupled to and between the inner support member and the outer support member. The ring portion extends from the intermediate body via a plurality of columns. A plurality of windows are formed between the plurality of columns. The plurality of columns are compressible, such that when the plurality of columns are compressed, the intermediate body and the ring portion are in contact with each other. |
| US09068619B2 |
Shock absorbing securement device
Shock absorbing securement devices can anchor a bicycle frame tube to a bicycle carrier. The securement device includes a bicycle carrier engaging surface. The securement device also includes a bicycle frame tube engaging surface positioned at a distance away from the carrier engaging surface in a bicycle transporting orientation. The securement device includes a resilient force-responsive contraction/expansion mechanism biased toward an expanded configuration and coupled between the bicycle frame tube engaging surface and the bicycle carrier engaging surface whereby travel of the bicycle frame tube engaging surface relative to the bicycle carrier engaging surface is accommodated. |
| US09068618B2 |
Piston assembly of shock absorber
A piston assembly of a shock absorber is provided. A compression retainer and a rebound retainer are disposed above and under a piston body. A blow-off reducing unit is disposed between the compression retainer and an auxiliary valve and on a bottom surface of the auxiliary valve to form a plurality of blow-off points, so that a rapid variation in a damping force can be considerably reduced even in a low-speed and middle-speed transition period. |
| US09068617B2 |
Pendulum-absorber brake
A crankshaft comprising a cheek, a torsion-absorbing pendulum pivotally coupled to the cheek, and a rotational speed actuated brake to oppose motion of the pendulum relative to the cheek. The brake is configured to provide greater opposition to the motion at lower rotational speeds than at higher rotational speeds. |