最新美国发明专利第2016-06-07期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US09362529B2	OLED device and corresponding display apparatus The present invention relates to an OLED device and a corresponding display apparatus, which includes a metal cathode; an organic emitter layer which is disposed on the metal cathode; a transparent cathode which is disposed on the organic emitter layer; and a reflective layer which is disposed between the metal cathode and the organic emitter layer. The reflective layer is an Ag—Mg—Cu alloy layer. The OLED device and the corresponding display apparatus of the present invention have low production cost and high light outputted efficiency.
US09362528B2	Packaging structure and packaging method of organic electroluminescent device, and display device A packaging structure and a packaging method of an organic electroluminescent device, and a display device are provided. The packaging structure of the organic electroluminescent device comprises: a base substrate (1) for supporting the organic electroluminescent device (2); the organic electroluminescent device (2) located on the base substrate (1); at least one first thin film packaging layer (3) covering the organic electroluminescent device (2), the first thin film packaging layer (3) comprising an inorganic thin film (31), an organic polymer thin film (32) and a nano rod-shaped thin film (33) located between the inorganic thin film (31) and the organic polymer thin film (32). The packaging structure and the packaging method of the organic electroluminescent device can effectively improve a degree of integration between the inorganic thin film (31) and the organic polymer thin film (32), thus guaranteeing a service life of an OLED device.
US09362518B2	Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same A light emitting device is provided which has a structure for lowering energy barriers at interfaces between layers of a laminate organic compound layer. A mixed layer (105) composed of a material that constitutes an organic compound layer (1) (102) and a material that constitutes an organic compound layer (2) (103) is formed at the interface between the organic compound layer (1) (102) and the organic compound layer (2) (103). The energy barrier formed between the organic compound layer (1) (102) and the organic compound layer (2) (103) thus can be lowered.
US09362516B2	Organic light emitting device An organic light emitting device including a plurality of organic layers between a first electrode and an emitting layer, wherein the organic layer includes an electron blocking layer. In one embodiment, a first organic layer, an electron blocking layer, a second organic layer and an emitting layer are formed on the first electrode. The electron blocking layer has a Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) level which is lower than that of the first organic layer. Thus, the electron blocking layer traps excess electrons injected from the emitting layer, thereby improving lifetime characteristics of the OLED.
US09362515B2	Photoelectric conversion element Disclosed is a photoelectric conversion element comprising an anode, a cathode, and an active layer between the anode and the cathode, wherein the active layer includes an n-type semiconductor and a p-type semiconductor, and an area of a p-n junction between the n-type semiconductor and the p-type semiconductor is 100 μm2 or more per 1 μm3 of the active layer.
US09362514B2	Polarization organic photoelectric conversion device, method for producing polarization organic photoelectric conversion device, polarization optical device, imaging device, and electronic apparatus A polarization organic photoelectric conversion device having a structure in which an organic photoelectric conversion layer is interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one of which is transparent, wherein the organic photoelectric conversion layer is one obtained by uniaxially orienting at least a portion thereof in the plane in advance.
US09362511B2	Method of manufacturing a flexible electronic device and flexible device An electrical element, such as a thin-film transistor, is defined on a flexible substrate, in that the substrate is attached to a carrier by an adhesive layer, and is delaminated after definition of the transistor. This is for instance due to illumination by UV-radiation. An opaque coating is provided to protect any semiconductor material. A heat treatment is preferably given before application of the layers of the transistor to reduce stress in the adhesive layer.
US09362501B2	Metal mask A metal mask is provided. The metal mask includes a mask portion and an end portion. The mask portion has a mask body and an outer frame surrounding and being connected to the mask body. The end portion connects one end of the mask portion. At least one of the mask portion and the end portion has at least one recessed portion located outside the mask body. The ratio of a total capacity of the at least one recessed portion to a total volume of the mask portion and the end portion is between 0.087 and 0.667.
US09362498B2	Method of forming a memory and method of forming a memory array A method of forming a memory includes forming a first electrode and a second electrode within a first layer over a semiconductor substrate, forming a resistive-switching memory element and an antifuse element over the first layer, wherein the resistive-switching memory element includes a metal oxide layer and is electrically contacting the first electrode, wherein the metal oxide layer has a first thickness and a forming voltage that corresponds to the first thickness, wherein the antifuse element includes a dielectric layer and is electrically contacting the second electrode, and wherein the dielectric layer has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness and a dielectric breakdown voltage that is less than the forming voltage, and forming a third electrode and a fourth electrode within a second layer over the resistive-switching memory element and the antifuse element, wherein the third electrode is electrically contacting the resistive-switching memory element and the fourth electrode is electrically contacting the antifuse element.
US09362488B2	Spin injector device comprising a protection layer at the centre thereof A method for manufacturing a spin injector device, comprising the following steps of: a) forming a metal protection layer on a face of a substrate, so as to restrict or prevent oxidation and/or contamination of said face by its environment, the face being magnetic and electrically conductive, the protection layer being of a diamagnetic or paramagnetic nature; b) forming an upper layer onto the protection layer, able to promote a spin bias of electronics sates in the vicinity of the Fermi level of the interface between the protection layer and the upper layer according to an amplitude and a spin referential frame which are defined by the magnetism of the substrate and/or of the face of the substrate, the upper layer being an organic layer of which one or more molecular sites have, in contact with the protection layer, a paramagnetic moment.
US09362485B2	Vertical hall effect sensor with offset reduction using depletion regions A vertical Hall Effect sensor assembly in one embodiment includes a first sensor with a first doped substrate, a first doped well, the first doped well having a doping opposite to the first doped substrate, a first endmost inner contact accessible at a first surface of the first sensor and located at a first end portion of the first doped well, a first intermediate inner contact accessible at the first surface and located between the first endmost inner contact and a second end portion of the first doped well, and a first electrode positioned on the first surface immediately adjacent to the first endmost inner contact and the first intermediate inner contact, the first electrode electrically isolated from the first doped well, and a first voltage source operably connected to the first electrode.
US09362484B2	Forming a device having a curved piezoelectric membrane Processes for forming an actuator having a curved piezoelectric membrane are disclosed. The processes utilize a profile-transferring substrate having a curved surface surrounded by a planar surface to form the curved piezoelectric membrane. The piezoelectric material used for the piezoelectric actuator is deposited on at least the curved surface of the profile-transferring substrate before the profile-transferring substrate is removed from the underside of the curved piezoelectric membrane. The resulting curved piezoelectric membrane includes grain structures that are columnar and aligned, and all or substantially all of the columnar grains are locally perpendicular to the curved surface of the piezoelectric membrane.
US09362483B2	Vibrator element having a suppressed vibration signal of leakage vibration A vibration gyro device has a base part and a pair of drive vibrating arms and a pair of detection vibrating arms respectively extended from both ends in a Y-axis direction of the base part. Further, adjustment vibrating arms extended from respective ends of connecting parts respectively extended from both ends in an X-axis direction of the base part in parallel to the drive vibrating arms are provided. At the end sides of the respective adjustment vibrating arms, spindle parts as wider parts are provided. On principal surfaces of the respective adjustment vibrating arms, adjustment electrodes as membranes for adjustment of leakage output of the vibration gyro device are provided.
US09362479B2	Package-in-package semiconductor sensor device A semiconductor sensor device includes a device substrate, a micro-controller unit (MCU) die attached to the substrate, and a packaged pressure sensor having a sensor substrate and a pressure sensor die. The sensor substrate has a front side with the pressure sensor die attached to it, a back side, and an opening from the front side to the back side. A molding compound encapsulates the MCU die, the device substrate, and the packaged pressure sensor. A back side of the sensor substrate and the opening in the sensor substrate are exposed on an outer surface of the molding compound.
US09362476B2	Engineering of an ultra-thin molecular superconductor by charge transfer A method of forming a superconductive device of a single layer of (BETS)2GaCl4 molecules on a substrate surface which displays a superconducting gap that increases exponentially with the length of the molecular chain is provided.
US09362475B2	Thermoelectric material including conformal oxide layers and method of making the same using atomic layer deposition A thermoelectric material includes a substrate particle and a plurality of conformal oxide layers formed on the substrate particle. The plurality of conformal oxide layers has a total oxide layer thickness ranging from about 2 nm to about 20 nm. The thermoelectric material excludes oxide nanoparticles. A method of making the thermoelectric material is also disclosed herein.
US09362465B2	Method of manufacturing light emitting device In a method of manufacturing a light emitting device, a luminescent color conversion member made of a translucent material including phosphors is directly fixed to light emitting surface side of light emitting elements in a light emitting element group, and a stack of the light emitting element group and the luminescent color conversion member is divided into a plurality of chips. In each of the light emitting elements, a piece of the luminescent color conversion member is directly fixed to the light emitting surface of the light emitting element.
US09362459B2	High reflectivity mirrors and method for making same A composite high reflectivity mirror (CHRM) with at least one relatively smooth interior surface interface. The CHRM includes a composite portion, for example dielectric and metal layers, on a base element. At least one of the internal surfaces is polished to achieve a smooth interface. The polish can be performed on the surface of the base element, on various layers of the composite portion, or both. The resulting smooth interface(s) reflect more of the incident light in an intended direction. The CHRMs may be integrated into light emitting diode (LED) devices to increase optical output efficiency.
US09362457B2	Light emitting device, light emitting device package and lighting system including the same A light emitting device (LED), an LED package, and a lighting system including the LED package are provided. The light emitting device (LED) may include a light emitting structure, a carrier injection layer, and an electrode layer. The light emitting structure may include a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer. The carrier injection layer may be positioned over the light emitting structure, and the electrode layer may be positioned over the carrier injection layer.
US09362455B2	Semiconductor light emitting diodes having multiple bond pads and current spreading structures A light emitting device includes a diode region comprising a first face and opposing edges, and a bond pad structure comprising at least three bond pads along only one of the opposing edges of the first face.
US09362450B2	Light emitting diode The disclosure relates to a light emitting diode. The light emitting diode includes a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer, a first electrode, a second electrode and a nanotube film. The first semiconductor layer, the active layer, and the second semiconductor layer are stacked with each other in that order. The first electrode is electrically connected with the second semiconductor layer. The second electrode is electrically connected with the first semiconductor layer. The nanotube film is located on one of the first semiconductor layer, the active layer and the second semiconductor layer. The nanotube film comprises a number of nanotubes orderly arranged and combined with each other by ionic bonds.
US09362448B2	Nanostructure semiconductor light emitting device There is provided a nanostructure semiconductor light emitting device including a base layer formed of a first conductivity-type nitride semiconductor and a plurality of light emitting nanostructures disposed to be spaced apart from one another on the base layer. Each of the plurality of light emitting nanostructures includes a nanocore formed of the first conductivity-type nitride semiconductor, a stress control layer disposed on a surface of the nanocore and including a nitride semiconductor containing indium, an active layer disposed on the stress control layer and including a nitride semiconductor containing indium, and a second conductivity-type nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the active layer.
US09362444B1	Optoelectronics and CMOS integration on GOI substrate A method of forming an optoelectronic device and a silicon device on a single chip. The method may include; forming a silicon substrate in a first and second region of a single chip; forming a germanium layer above the substrate in at least the first region; forming the optoelectronic device on the germanium layer in the first region, the optoelectronic device has a top cladding layer, a bottom cladding layer, and an active region, the bottom cladding layer is on the semiconductor layer, the active region is adjacent to a waveguide and on the bottom cladding layer, the top cladding layer is on the active region; and forming the silicon device on a silicon layer in the second region.
US09362442B2	System and method of assembling structural solar panels A modular assembly of solar panels is held together in a rigid fashion through the use of two J-channels arranged on either side thereof in oppositely facing directions. Brackets hold these J-channels to flanges on the underside of the solar panels. In the argot of solar panel installation, the J-channels extend in the north-south direction. Between each solar panel there is disposed a liquid collecting pan extending in the east-west direction. This collecting pan also acts as a clip providing both a structural and electrical connection between adjacently disposed solar panels in a column assembly which is rendered capable of installation as a single unit from the ground.
US09362439B2	Layer transfer of films utilizing controlled shear region A film of material may be formed by providing a semiconductor substrate having a surface region and a cleave region located at a predetermined depth beneath the surface region. During a process of cleaving the film from the substrate, shear in the cleave region is carefully controlled. According to certain embodiments, an in-plane shear component (KII) is maintained near zero, sandwiched between a tensile region and a compressive region. In one embodiment, cleaving can be accomplished using a plate positioned over the substrate surface. The plate serves to constrain movement of the film during cleaving, and together with a localized thermal treatment reduces shear developed during the cleaving process. According to other embodiments, the KII component is purposefully maintained at a high level and serves to guide and drive fracture propagation through the cleave sequence. In one embodiment, the high KII component is achieved by adiabatic heating of silicon through exposure to E-beam radiation, which imparts a highly abrupt thermal gradient and resulting stress at a precisely defined depth in the silicon.
US09362434B2	Back side protective sheet for solar cell and solar cell module comprising the same A back side protective sheet for a solar cell, which is capable of enhancing performance of adhesion to an EVA resin as a filler used to seal solar cell elements, maintaining weather resistance for a long period of time, and reducing weight thereof; and a solar cell module including the back side protective sheet for a solar cell. The back side protective sheet is disposed on a back side of the solar cell module and includes: a first film fixedly attached so as to abut a surface of a filler and containing linear low-density polyethylene having a density greater than or equal to 0.91 g/cm3 and less than or equal to 0.93 g/cm3; and a second film laminated to the first film and disposed in an outermost layer of the back side protective sheet, the second film containing polyvinylidene fluoride and polymethyl methacrylate.
US09362430B2	Solar cell and solar cell module using the same Disclosed are a solar cell and a solar cell module using the same. The solar cell module includes a glass frit provided on a support substrate and including sodium, a first solar cell comprising a first back electrode layer, a first light absorbing layer, and a first front electrode layer which are sequentially arranged on the support substrate, and a second solar cell comprising a second back electrode layer, a second light absorbing layer, and a second front electrode layer which are sequentially arranged on the glass frit. The first solar cell is electrically connected to the second solar cell on the glass frit.
US09362427B2	Metallization of solar cells Approaches for the metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. In an example, a method of fabricating a solar cell involves forming a barrier layer on a semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate. The semiconductor region includes monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon. The method also involves forming a conductive paste layer on the barrier layer. The method also involves forming a conductive layer from the conductive paste layer. The method also involves forming a contact structure for the semiconductor region of the solar cell, the contact structure including at least the conductive layer.
US09362426B2	Photoelectric conversion device and method for producing same This photoelectric conversion device (10) is provided with: an n-type monocrystalline silicon substrate (21); an IN layer (25) and an IP layer (26) formed on the back surface of the n-type monocrystalline silicon substrate (21); an n-side electrode (40) containing an n-side underlayer (43), an n-side primary conductive layer (44), and an n-side protective layer (45); and a p-side electrode (50) containing a p-side underlayer (53), a p-side primary conductive layer (54), and a p-side protective layer (55). The n-side primary conductive layer (44) is formed in a manner so as not to cover the lateral surface of the n-side underlayer (43), and is covered at the lateral surface by the n-side protective layer (45). The p-side electrode (50) is formed in such a manner the lateral surface of the p-side underlayer (53) is not covered, and the lateral surface is covered by the p-side protective layer (55).
US09362419B2	Variable resistance device having parallel structure A variable resistance device includes a parallel structure. The variable resistance device is formed using a silicon (Si) substrate. In the variable resistance device, a conductive line arranged in a current direction is formed over an impurity region, and a resistance value of the resistance device is precisely adjusted by adjusting a level of a voltage applied to the conductive line. The variable resistance device includes a first impurity region formed in a substrate, a second impurity region formed in the substrate and arranged parallel to the first impurity region, a conductive line formed over the first impurity region, and electrode terminals formed at both longitudinal ends of the second impurity region to be coupled to the second impurity region.
US09362418B2	Semiconductor structures including bodies of semiconductor material and methods of forming same Semiconductor structures that include bodies of a semiconductor material spaced apart from an underlying substrate. The bodies may be physically separated from the substrate by at least one of a dielectric material, an open volume and a conductive material. The bodies may be electrically coupled by one or more conductive structures, which may be used as an interconnect structure to electrically couple components of memory devices. By providing isolation between the bodies, the semiconductor structure provides the properties of a conventional SOI substrate (e.g., high speed, low power, increased device density and isolation) while substantially reducing fabrication acts and costs associated with such SOI substrates. Additionally, the semiconductor structures of the present disclosure provide reduced parasitic coupling and current leakage due to the isolation of the bodies by the intervening dielectric material.
US09362417B2	Semiconductor device To provide a highly reliable semiconductor device in which a transistor including an oxide semiconductor film has stable electric characteristics. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode layer over a substrate, a gate insulating film over the gate electrode layer, an oxide semiconductor film over the gate insulating film, a drain electrode layer which is over the oxide semiconductor film so as to overlap with the gate electrode layer, and a source electrode layer provided so as to cover part of an outer edge portion of the oxide semiconductor film. An outer edge portion of the drain electrode layer is on an inner side than an outer edge portion of the gate electrode layer.
US09362416B2	Semiconductor wearable device One object is to provide a semiconductor device with a structure which enables reduction in parasitic capacitance sufficiently between wirings. In a bottom-gate type thin film transistor including a stacked layer of a first layer which is a metal thin film oxidized partly or entirely and an oxide semiconductor layer, the following oxide insulating layers are formed together: an oxide insulating layer serving as a channel protective layer which is over and in contact with a part of the oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with a gate electrode layer; and an oxide insulating layer which covers a peripheral portion and a side surface of the stacked oxide semiconductor layer.
US09362409B2	Semiconductor device A manufacturing method of a display device having an array substrate includes the steps of forming a projection of an organic material in a pixel on the array substrate by patterning a photosensitive material or by inkjet, forming a TFT on the array substrate, wherein a source electrode of the TFT is formed to extend on at least part of the upper surface of the projection, forming an inorganic passivation layer over the TFT and over at least part of the upper surface of the projection, forming an organic passivation layer over the inorganic passivation layer, forming an upper insulating layer over at least part of the organic passivation layer, forming a contact hole in the inorganic passivation layer and the upper insulation layer over the upper surface of the projection, and forming a pixel electrode on the upper insulation layer which contacts the source electrode.
US09362406B2	Faceted finFET Among other things, a semiconductor device comprising one or more faceted surfaces and techniques for forming the semiconductor device are provided. A semiconductor device, such as a finFET, comprises a fin formed on a semiconductor substrate. The fin comprises a source region, a channel, and a drain region. A gate is formed around the channel. A top fin portion of the fin is annealed, such as by a hydrogen annealing process, to create one or more faceted surfaces. For example the top fin portion comprises a first faceted surface formed adjacent to a second faceted surface at an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to the second faceted surface, which results in a reduced sharpness of a corner between the first faceted surface and the second faceted surface. In this way, an electrical field near the corner is substantially uniform to electrical fields induced elsewhere within the fin.
US09362404B2	Doping for FinFET First and second fins are formed extending from a substrate. A first layer is formed over the first fin. The first layer comprises a first dopant. A portion of the first layer is removed from a tip portion of the first fin. A second layer is formed over the second fin. The second layer comprises a second dopant. One of the first and second dopants is a p-type dopant, and the other of the first and second dopants is an n-type dopant. A portion of the second layer is removed from a tip portion of the second fin. A solid phase diffusion process is performed to diffuse the first dopant into a non-tip portion of the first fin, and to diffuse the second dopant into a non-tip portion of the second fin.
US09362402B2	Semiconductor devices and fabrication method thereof A method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a first gate structure on the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming offset spacers doped with a certain type of ions to increase an anti-corrosion ability of the offset spacers on both sides of the first gate structure by a stability doping process; and forming trenches in the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the first gate structures. Further, the method includes forming stress layers in the trenches.
US09362401B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a buffer layer provided on the substrate, a channel layer provided on the buffer layer, an electron supply layer provided on the channel layer, a first contact hole provided on the electron supply layer, a source electrode that is formed within the first contact hole, and electrically connected to the electron supply layer, a second contact hole provided on the electron supply layer, a drain electrode that is formed within the second contact hole, and electrically connected to the electron supply layer, a gate electrode provided between the source electrode and the drain electrode, a second insulating film that is formed to cover the gate electrode, a strain relaxation film that is formed over the second insulating film above the gate electrode, a third insulating film that is formed to cover the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the strain relaxation film, and an organic film that is formed over the third insulating film.
US09362393B2	Vertical semiconductor device including element active portion and voltage withstanding structure portion, and method of manufacturing the vertical semiconductor device Aspects of the invention are directed to a vertical semiconductor device including an element active portion and a voltage withstanding structure portion that has a first main electrode and a gate pad electrode on a first main surface of the element active portion, includes first parallel pn layers in a drift layer below the first main electrode, and includes second parallel pn layers below the gate pad electrode. The vertical semiconductor device includes a first conductivity type isolation region between the second parallel pn layers below the gate pad electrode and a p-type well region disposed in a surface layer of the drift layer, and by the repetition pitch of the second parallel pn layers being shorter than the repetition pitch of the first parallel pn layers, it is possible to obtain low on-state resistance, high avalanche withstand, high turn-off withstand, and high reverse recovery withstand.
US09362391B2	Silicon carbide semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same It is expected that both reduction of the resistance of a source region and reduction of a leakage current in a gate oxide film be achieved in an MOSFET in a silicon carbide semiconductor device. A leakage current to occur in a gate oxide film of the MOSFET is suppressed by reducing roughness at an interface between a source region and the gate oxide film. If an impurity concentration is to become high at a surface portion of the source region, the gate oxide film is formed by dry oxidation or CVD process. If the gate oxide film is formed by wet oxidation, the impurity concentration at the surface portion of the source region is controlled at a low level.
US09362388B1	Testing of LDMOS device A method for testing an LDMOS transistor by measuring leakage current between the source and drain in the presence of a bias voltage. The leakage current is indicative of defects in the structure of the transistor.
US09362385B2	Method for tuning threshold voltage of semiconductor device with metal gate structure A method for manufacturing a metal gate structure includes forming a high-k dielectric layer in a gate trench; forming an etch stop over the high-k dielectric layer; forming a work function adjusting layer over the etch stop by forming a tri-layer by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) operation with a sequence of a grain boundary engineering layer configured to allow a dopant atom to penetrate there through, a doping layer configured to provide the dopant atom to the grain boundary engineering layer, and a capping layer configured to prevent the doping layer from oxidation; and filling metal to level up the gate trench. The grain boundary engineering layer is prepared by the ALD operation under various temperatures such as from about 200 to about 350 degrees Celsius.
US09362384B2	Double diffused metal oxide semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof The present invention discloses a double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (DMOS) device and a manufacturing method thereof. The DMOS device includes: a first conductive type substrate, a second conductive type high voltage well, a gate, a first conductive type body region, a second conductive type source, a second conductive type drain, a first conductive type body electrode, and a first conductive type floating region. The floating region is formed in the body region, which is electrically floating and is electrically isolated from the source and the gate, such that the electrostatic discharge (ESD) effect is mitigated.
US09362383B1	Highly scaled tunnel FET with tight pitch and method to fabricate same A structure includes a substrate and a tunnel field effect transistor (TFET). The TFET includes a source region disposed in the substrate having an overlying source contact, the source region containing first semiconductor material having a first doping type; a drain region disposed in the substrate having an overlying drain contact, the drain region containing second semiconductor material having a second, opposite doping type; and a gate structure that overlies a channel region between the source and the drain. The source region and the drain region are asymmetric with respect to one another such that one contains a larger volume of semiconductor material than the other one. A method is disclosed to fabricate a plurality of the TFETs using a plurality of spaced apart mandrels having spacers. A pair of the mandrels and the associated spacers is processed to form four adjacent TFETs without requiring intervening lithographic processes.
US09362382B1	Method for forming semiconductor device with low sealing loss A method for forming a semiconductor device, includes steps of: providing a substrate; forming a first seal layer over the substrate; forming a second seal layer atop the first seal layer; forming a patterned photoresist layer on the second seal layer; implanting a dopant into the substrate by using the patterned photoresist layer as a mask; executing a first removing process to remove the patterned photoresist layer, wherein the first seal layer has a higher etch rate than that of the second seal layer in the first removing process; and removing the second seal layer after removing the patterned photoresist layer.
US09362378B2	Piezoelectric devices and methods for their preparation and use Methods for fabricating a piezoelectric device are provided. The methods can include providing a substrate and forming a nanocrystalline diamond layer on a first surface of the substrate. The methods can also include depositing a piezoelectric layer on a first surface of the nanocrystalline diamond layer.
US09362377B1	Low line resistivity and repeatable metal recess using CVD cobalt reflow Methods for forming a semiconductor gate electrode with a reflowed Co layer and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming a trench in an ILD on a substrate; forming a high-k dielectric layer, a WF layer, and a Co layer sequentially on sidewall and bottom surfaces of the trench; reflowing a portion of the Co layer from the WF layer on the sidewall surfaces of the trench to the WF layer on the bottom surface of the trench; removing a remainder of the Co layer from the WF layer on the sidewall surfaces of the trench, above an upper surface of the reflowed Co; recessing the WF layer to the upper surface of the reflowed Co layer, forming a cavity above the reflowed Co layer; and filling the cavity with metal to form a gate electrode.
US09362370B2	Silicon carbide semiconductor device having nitrogen-containing silicon alloy for ohmic contact to P-type impurity region A semiconductor device includes: a first silicon carbide semiconductor layer; a p-type first impurity region provided in the first silicon carbide semiconductor layer; and a first ohmic electrode forming ohmic contact with the p-type first impurity region. The first ohmic electrode is a silicon alloy containing nitrogen, an average concentration of nitrogen in the first ohmic electrode is higher than or equal to one half of an average concentration of nitrogen in the first impurity region, and an average concentration of a p-type impurity in a portion of the first ohmic electrode except a portion of the first ohmic electrode within 50 nm from an interface between the first ohmic electrode and the first impurity region is equal to or lower than 3.0×1018 cm−3.
US09362366B2	Semiconductor element, semiconductor element manufacturing method, semiconductor module, semiconductor module manufacturing method, and semiconductor package An ohmic electrode layer is disposed on a second main surface of a silicon carbide substrate, and a metal electrode layer is disposed on the ohmic electrode layer. A notch is formed along at least one pair of sides, facing each other, of a periphery of the second main surface of the silicon carbide substrate. The cross-section of the notch orthogonal to a side of the second main surface has a corner. In the cross-section, a thickness of the silicon carbide substrate at an edge thereof under which the notch is formed is smaller than a thickness of the silicon carbide substrate in a region under which the notch is not formed, and larger than a thickness of the silicon carbide substrate in a region under which a bottom of the corner is formed.
US09362363B2	Power integrated devices, electronic devices and electronic systems including the same A power integrated device includes a drift region disposed in a substrate, a source region disposed in the substrate spaced apart from the drift region, a drain region disposed in the drift region, a gate insulation layer and a gate electrode sequentially stacked on the substrate between the source region and the drift region, a trench isolation layer disposed in the drift region adjacent to a side of the drain region, and a deep trench field insulation layer disposed in the drift region adjacent to another side of the drain region, wherein a vertical height of the deep trench field insulation layer is greater than a width of the deep trench field insulation layer.
US09362357B2	Blanket EPI super steep retrograde well formation without Si recess A method of forming SSRW FETs with controlled step height between a field oxide and epitaxially grown silicon and the resulting devices are provided. Embodiments include providing a SiN layer on a substrate, forming first, second, and third spaced STI regions of field oxide through the SiN layer and into the substrate, removing a top portion of the field oxide for each STI region by a controlled deglaze, removing the SiN layer, forming an n-type region in the substrate between the first and second STI regions and a p-type region in the substrate between the second and third STI regions, and epitaxially growing a Si based layer on the substrate over the n-type and p-type regions.
US09362356B2	Transistor A transistor is provided in which an elongate drain region has end portions formed in parts of the transistor where features of the transistor structure have been modified or omitted. These structures lessen the current flow or electric field gradients at the end portions of the drain. This provides a transistor that has improved on-state breakdown performance without sacrificing off state breakdown performance.
US09362351B2	Field effect transistor, termination structure and associated method for manufacturing A field effect transistor (“FET”), a termination structure and associated method for manufacturing. The FET has a plurality of active transistor cells and a termination structure. The termination structure for the FET includes a plurality of termination cells arranged substantially in parallel from an inner side toward an outer side of a termination area of the FET. Each of the termination cells comprises a termination trench lined with a termination insulation layer and filled with a termination conduction layer. The innermost termination cell is electrically coupled to gate regions of the active transistor cells while the rest of the termination cells are electrically floating.
US09362350B2	MOS P-N junction diode with enhanced response speed and manufacturing method thereof A MOS P-N junction diode includes a semiconductor substrate, a mask layer, a guard ring, a gate oxide layer, a polysilicon structure, a polysilicon oxide layer, a central conductive layer, ion implantation layer, a channel region, and a metallic sputtering layer. For manufacturing the MOS P-N junction diode, a mask layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A gate oxide layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a polysilicon structure is formed on the gate oxide layer, and a polysilicon oxide layer formed on the polysilicon structure. A guard ring, a central conductive layer and a channel region are formed in the semiconductor substrate. An ion implantation layer is formed within the guard ring and the central conductive layer. Afterwards, a metallic sputtering layer is formed, and the mask layer is partially exposed.
US09362343B2	Iridium-containing active-matrix EL display module There is provided a light emitting device which enables a color display with good color balance. A triplet compound is used for a light emitting layer of an EL element that emits red color, and a singlet compound is used for a light emitting layer of an EL element that emits green color and a light emitting layer of an EL element that emits blue color. Thus, an operation voltage of the EL element emitting red color may be made the same as the EL element emitting green color and the EL element emitting blue color. Accordingly, the color display with good color balance can be realized.
US09362340B2	Memory devices having low permittivity layers and methods of fabricating the same A memory device is provided. The memory device includes bit lines that extend in a first direction on a substrate, word lines configured to vertically cross the bit lines, memory cells formed at intersections of the bit lines and the word lines, a first low permittivity layer configured to fill spaces between the bit lines and partially fill spaces between the memory cells formed on bottom surfaces of the word lines, a first dielectric layer stacked on an upper surface of the first low permittivity layer between the memory cells, a second dielectric layer configured to fill spaces between the memory cells formed on upper surfaces of the bit lines, and a second low permittivity layer stacked on an upper surface of the second dielectric layer and configured to fill spaces between the word lines. The first and second low permittivity layers have lower permittivity than the first and second dielectric layers.
US09362339B2	Semiconductor elements stacked and bonded with an anisotropic conductive adhesive The invention provides a semiconductor device which is non-volatile, easily manufactured, and can be additionally written. A semiconductor device of the invention includes a plurality of transistors, a conductive layer which functions as a source wiring or a drain wiring of the transistors, and a memory element which overlaps one of the plurality of transistors, and a conductive layer which functions as an antenna. The memory element includes a first conductive layer, an organic compound layer and a phase change layer, and a second conductive layer stacked in this order. The conductive layer which functions as an antenna and a conductive layer which functions as a source wiring or a drain wiring of the plurality of transistors are provided on the same layer.
US09362338B2	Vertical thin film transistors in non-volatile storage systems Three-dimensional (3D) non-volatile memory arrays having a vertically-oriented thin film transistor (TFT) select device and method of fabricating are described. The vertically-oriented TFT may be used as a vertical bit line selection device to couple a global bit line to a vertical bit line. A select device pillar includes a body and upper and lower source/drain regions. At least one gate is separated horizontally from the select device pillar by a gate dielectric. Each gate is formed over the gate dielectric and a base that extends horizontally at least partially between adjacent pillars. The base is formed with notches filled with the gate dielectric. The select device is fabricated using a conformally deposited base dielectric material and conformal hard mask layer that is formed with a larger bottom thickness than horizontal thickness. The base thickness is defined by the deposition thickness, rather than an uncontrolled etch back.
US09362333B2	Semiconductor packages and display devices including semiconductor packages Semiconductor packages are provided. A semiconductor package may include a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor package may include a substrate and first and second conductive regions on the substrate. In some embodiments, the substrate may be a flexible substrate, and the first and second conductive regions may be on the same surface of the flexible substrate. Display devices including semiconductor packages are also provided. In some embodiments, a display device may include a flexible substrate that is bent such that first and second conductive regions thereof are connected to each other via an intervening third conductive region.
US09362330B2	Methods for forming backside illuminated image sensors with front side metal redistribution layers and a permanent carrier layer Methods for forming backside illuminated (BSI) image sensors having metal redistribution layers (RDL) and solder bumps for high performance connection to external circuitry are provided. In one embodiment, a BSI image sensor with RDL and solder bumps may be formed using a temporary carrier during manufacture that is removed prior to completion of the BSI image sensor. In another embodiment, a BSI image sensor with RDL and solder bumps may be formed using a permanent carrier during manufacture that partially remains in the completed BSI image sensor. A BSI image sensor may be formed before formation of a redistribution layer on the front side of the BSI image sensor. A redistribution layer may, alternatively, be formed on the front side of an image wafer before formation of BSI components such as microlenses and color filters on the back side of the image wafer.
US09362327B2	Image sensor and electronic device including the same An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate integrated with at least one first photo-sensing device configured to sense light in a blue wavelength region and at least one second photo-sensing device configured to sense light in a red wavelength region, a color filter layer on the semiconductor substrate and including a blue color filter configured to selectively absorb light in a blue wavelength region and a red color filter configured to selectively absorb light in a red wavelength region, and a third photo-sensing device on the color filter layer and including a pair of electrodes facing each other, and a photoactive layer between the pair of electrodes and configured to selectively absorb light in a green wavelength region.
US09362320B2	Integrated circuit having a level shifter and method of making the same Integrated circuit (IC), and method of forming an IC, in which a photodiode having a photodiode output is coupled to a column line. A transfer transistor is coupled to the photodiode and to the column line. A first reset transistor is coupled to the photodiode and to the column line at a first node. The first node is between the transfer transistor and the column line. A second reset transistor is coupled to the photodiode and to the column line at a second node. The second node is between the first node and the column line. A source follower transistor is coupled to the photodiode and to the column line. The source follower transistor is between the second node and the column line. A level shifter is coupled to the photodiode and to the column line. The level shifter is between the first node and the second node.
US09362302B1	Source line formation in 3D vertical channel and memory A memory device includes a plurality of stacks of conductive strips separated by insulating material, including at least a bottom level of conductive strips, a plurality of intermediate levels of conductive strips, and a top level of conductive strips. A reference conductor is disposed in a level between the bottom level of conductive strips and a substrate, isolated from the substrate by a layer of insulating material, and isolated from the bottom level by another layer of insulating material. A plurality of vertical active strips is disposed between the plurality of stacks in electrical contact with the substrate, and with the reference conductor. Charge storage structures are disposed in interface regions at cross-points between side surfaces of the conductive strips in the plurality of intermediate levels and the vertical active strips. A bias circuit is configured to provide different bias arrangements to the reference conductor and the substrate.
US09362301B2	Method for fabricating pipe gate nonvolatile memory device A nonvolatile memory device includes a pipe insulation layer having a pipe channel hole, a pipe gate disposed over the pipe insulation layer, a pair of cell strings each having a columnar cell channel, and a pipe channel coupling the columnar cell channels and surrounding inner sidewalls and a bottom of the pipe channel hole.
US09362298B2	Non-volatile semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method thereof This non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including NAND cell units formed in a first direction vertical to a surface of a semiconductor substrate. A local source line is electrically coupled to one end of the NAND cell unit formed on the surface of the substrate. The memory cell array includes: a laminated body where plural conductive films, which are to be control gate lines of memory cells or selection gate lines of selection transistors, are laminated sandwiching interlayer insulating films; a semiconductor layer that extends in the first direction; and an electric charge accumulating layer sandwiched between: the semiconductor layer and the conductive film. The local source line includes a silicide layer. The electric charge accumulating layer is continuously formed from the memory cell array to cover a peripheral area of the silicide layer.
US09362295B2	Semiconductor storage device and method for manufacturing the semiconductor storage device A semiconductor-storage-device manufacturing method of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor storage device provided with a ferroelectric capacitor including a lower electrode, a ferroelectric film, and an upper electrode, and the method includes a step of embedding a first metal plug and a second metal plug in an insulating layer; a step of forming a covering layer that covers at least the second metal plug while securing a part that comes into electric contact with the first metal plug; a step of forming a deposit structure by sequentially depositing a material for the lower electrode, a material for the ferroelectric film, and a material for the upper electrode after forming the covering layer; and a step of forming the ferroelectric capacitor by etching and removing other parts except a part of the deposit structure such that the part of the deposit structure remains on the first metal plug.
US09362293B2	CT-NOR differential bitline sensing architecture Providing for a non-volatile semiconductor memory architecture that achieves high read performance is described herein. In one aspect, an array of memory transistors arranged electrically in serial is configured to control a gate voltage of a pass transistor. The pass transistor, in turn, enables current flow between two metal bitlines of the semiconductor memory architecture. Accordingly, a relative voltage or relative current of the two metal bitlines can be measured and utilized to determine a program or erase state of a transistor of the serial array of transistors. In a particular aspect, a transistor with small capacitance is chosen for the pass transistor, resulting in a fast correspondence of the pass transistor gate voltage/current relative to transistor array current. This can equate to fast read times for the transistor array, based on differential sensing of the two metal bitlines.
US09362292B1	Two-port SRAM cell structure for vertical devices Two-Port SRAM cells are described. In an embodiment, a cell includes first, second, and read-port pull-down, first and second pull-up, first, second, and read-port pass-gate transistors. Each transistor includes a first source/drain region in an active area, a channel extending above the active area, and a second source/drain region above the channel. First source/drain regions of pull-down transistors are electrically coupled through a first active area. First source/drain regions of pull-up transistors are electrically coupled through a second active area. A first gate electrode is around channels of the first pull-up, first pull-down, and read-port pull-down transistors. A second gate electrode is around the channels of the second pull-up and pull-down transistors. Second source/drain regions of the first pull-up, pull-down, and pass-gate transistors are electrically coupled to the second gate electrode. Second source/drain regions of the second pull-up, pull-down, and pass-gate transistors are electrically coupled to the first gate electrode.
US09362290B2	Memory cell layout A system and method for a memory cell layout is disclosed. An embodiment comprises forming dummy layers and spacers along the sidewalls of the dummy layer. Once the spacers have been formed, the dummy layers may be removed and the spacers may be used as a mask. By using the spacers instead of a standard lithographic process, the inherent limitations of the lithographic process can be avoided and further scaling of FinFET devices can be achieved.
US09362289B2	Semiconductor device including landing pad The semiconductor device includes a plurality of conductive line structures including a plurality of conductive lines spaced apart from a substrate with an insulating film there between and insulating capping layers that are formed on each of plurality of conductive lines; an insulating spacer that is disposed between the plurality of conductive line structures and covers both side walls of each of the plurality of conductive line structures to define a contact hole having a first width in a first direction parallel to an upper surface of the substrate; a contact plug filling a portion of the contact hole; and a landing pad that is connected to the contact plug and vertically overlapping with one of the plurality of conductive line structures.
US09362287B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor device includes: a first transistor and a second transistor disposed in or on a silicon substrate; an element isolation structure that isolates the first transistor and the second transistor, the element isolation structure comprising at least one of a first element isolation film disposed in a region of a first well disposed in a formation area of the first transistor, or a second element isolation film disposed in a region of a second well disposed in a formation area of the second transistor, and a third well disposed under the first well in the silicon substrate and is electrically connected to the second well. The first element isolation film or the second element isolation film has a portion that does not extend over a boundary between the first well and the second well.
US09362281B2	Group III nitride integration with CMOS technology A method of forming a structure that can be used to integrate Si-based devices, i.e., nFETs and pFETs, with Group III nitride-based devices is provided. The method includes providing a substrate containing an nFET device region, a pFET device region and a Group III nitride device region, wherein the substrate includes a topmost silicon layer and a <111> silicon layer located beneath the topmost silicon layer. Next, a trench is formed within the Group III nitride device region to expose a sub-surface of the <111> silicon layer. The trench is then partially filled with a Group III nitride base material, wherein the Group III nitride material base material has a topmost surface that is coplanar with, or below, a topmost surface of the topmost silicon layer.
US09362277B2	FinFET with multilayer fins for multi-value logic (MVL) applications and method of forming A method of forming a multi-valued logic transistor with a small footprint and the resulting device are disclosed. Embodiments include forming plural fins on a silicon substrate, each fin covered with a hardmask; filling spaces between the fins and hard masks with an oxide; removing the hardmasks and recessing each fin, forming a cavity in the oxide over each fin; forming plural Si-based layers in each cavity with an increasing percentage of Ge or C or with an decreasing concentration of dopant from a bottom layer to a top layer; performing CMP for planarization to a top of the fins; recessing the oxide to a depth slightly below a top portion of the fin having a thickness equal to a thickness of each Si-based layer; and forming a high-k gate dielectric and a metal gate electrode over the plural Si-based layers.
US09362276B2	Semiconductor device and fabrication method Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods are provided. A semiconductor substrate is provided having dummy gate structures formed thereon. A stress layer is formed in the semiconductor substrate between adjacent dummy gate structures. A first dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate, the stress layers, and the sidewall spacers of the dummy gate structures, exposing dummy gate electrode layers. Gate structures are formed in the dielectric layer to replace the dummy gate structures. The gate structures include functional gate structures and at least one non-functional gate structure. The at least one non-functional gate structure is removed to form at least one second opening in the first dielectric layer. At least one third opening is formed in the semiconductor substrate at a bottom of the at least one second opening. A second dielectric layer is formed in the at least one second opening and the at least one third opening.
US09362274B2	Self-aligned contact for replacement metal gate and silicide last processes A high-K/metal gate semiconductor device is provided with larger self-aligned contacts having reduced resistance. Embodiments include forming a first high-k metal gate stack on a substrate between source/drain regions, a second high-k metal gate stack on an STI region, and a first ILD between the metal gate stacks, forming an etch stop layer and a second ILD sequentially over the substrate, with openings in the second ILD over the metal gate stacks, forming spacers on the edges of the openings, forming a third ILD over the second ILD and the spacers, removing the first ILD over the source/drain regions, removing the etch stop layer, the second ILD, and the third ILD over the source/drain regions, adjacent the spacers, and over a portion of the spacers, forming first trenches, removing the third ILD over the second high-k metal gate stack and over a portion of the spacers, forming second trenches, and forming contacts in the first and second trenches.
US09362273B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same There has been a case where peeling occurs if an internal stress of a wiring of a TFT is strong. In particular, the internal stress of a gate electrode largely influences a stress that a semiconductor film receives, and there has been a case where the internal stress becomes a cause of reduction in electric characteristics of a TFT depending on the internal stress. According to the present invention, an impurity element is introduced into a wiring, or both the introduction of an impurity element and heat treatment are performed, whereby the wiring can be controlled to have a desired internal stress. It is effective that the present invention is particularly applied to a gate electrode. Further, it is possible that the introduction of an impurity element and the heat treatment are conducted to only a desired region to conduct control to attain a desired internal stress.
US09362272B2	Lateral MOSFET A lateral MOSFET comprises a plurality of isolation regions formed in a substrate, wherein a first isolation region is of a top surface lower than a top surface of the substrate. The lateral MOSFET further includes a gate electrode layer having a first gate electrode layer formed over the first isolation region and a second gate electrode layer formed over the top surface of the substrate, wherein a top surface of the first gate electrode layer is lower than a top surface of the second gate electrode layer.
US09362271B2	Capacitive device A capacitive device includes a substrate, a well structure buried in the substrate, a first stacked layer that includes a first dielectric layer and a first conductive layer, a cap dielectric layer, and a first electrode. The well has a predetermined doping type. The well includes a first shoulder portion having an upper surface, a second shoulder portion having an upper surface, and a first trench between the first and second shoulder portions. The first trench has sidewalls and a bottom surface. The first dielectric layer is lined along at least a portion of the upper surfaces of the first and second shoulder portions, the sidewalls of the first trench, and the bottom surface of the first trench. The first conductive layer is lined along the first dielectric layer. The cap dielectric layer is over the well, the first dielectric layer, and the first conductive layer. The first electrode is in contact with the first shoulder portion and extends through the cap dielectric layer, the first conductive layer, and the first dielectric layer.
US09362267B2	Group III-V and group IV composite switch In one implementation, a group III-V and group IV composite switch includes a group IV transistor in a lower active die, the group IV transistor having a source and a gate situated on a bottom side of the lower active die. The group III-V and group IV composite switch also includes a group III-V transistor in an upper active die stacked over the lower active die, the group III-V transistor having a drain, a source, and a gate situated on a top side of the upper active die. The source of the group III-V transistor is electrically coupled to a drain of the group IV transistor using a through-semiconductor via (TSV) of the upper active die.
US09362262B2	Semiconductor device This invention prevents a substrate of a semiconductor chip that has through-silicon vias collectively arranged in a specific area thereof from becoming cracked. When a direction in parallel with a long side of a first semiconductor chip is defined as a row direction and a direction perpendicular to the long side of the first semiconductor chip is defined as a column direction, each one of the first through-silicon vias is arranged on any one of grid points arranged in m rows and n columns (m>n). In addition, as viewed in a cross section taken along a short side of the first semiconductor chip, the center of a through-silicon via area, which is defined by coupling the outermost grid points arranged in m rows and n columns, is off center of the short side of the first semiconductor chip in a first direction.
US09362260B2	Stacked packaged integrated circuit devices, and methods of making same A device is disclosed which includes a first packaged integrated circuit device, a second packaged integrated circuit device positioned above the first packaged integrated circuit device and a plurality of planar conductive members conductively coupling the first and second packaged integrated circuit devices to one another. A method is also disclosed which includes conductively coupling a plurality of extensions on a leadframe to each of a pair of stacked packaged integrated circuit devices and cutting the leadframe to singulate the extensions from one another.
US09362259B2	Discontinuous patterned bonds for semiconductor devices and associated systems and methods Discontinuous bonds for semiconductor devices are disclosed herein. A device in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first substrate and a second substrate, with at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate having a plurality of solid-state transducers. The second substrate can include a plurality of projections and a plurality of intermediate regions and can be bonded to the first substrate with a discontinuous bond. Individual solid-state transducers can be disposed at least partially within corresponding intermediate regions and the discontinuous bond can include bonding material bonding the individual solid-state transducers to blind ends of corresponding intermediate regions. Associated methods and systems of discontinuous bonds for semiconductor devices are disclosed herein.
US09362257B2	Mirco-electro-mechanical system module and manufacturing method thereof The invention provides a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) module, which includes a MEMS die stacked on an electronic circuit die. The electronic circuit die includes a substrate, the substrate including at least one through-silicon via (TSV) penetrating through the substrate; and at least one electronic circuit. The electronic circuit includes a circuit region, and a signal transmission layer directly connecting the TSV. At least one wire is connected between a middle part of the MEMS die and the TSV. There is no signal communication at the interfacing location where the MEMS die is stacked on and bonded with the electronic circuit die.
US09362255B2	Method for manufacturing a multilayer structure on a substrate The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a multilayer strucute on a first substrate, the method including: using the first substrate made of a first material having a Young's modulus Ev and a thickness ev, and using a second substrate covered by the multilayer structure, the second substrate being made of a second material having a Young's modulus Es that is different from the Young's modulus Ev and a thickness es, the thicknesses es and ev complying, plus or minus 10%, with the relation (I); molecularly bonding the first substrate and the multilayer structure together; and removing the second substrate.
US09362254B1	Wire bonding method and chip structure A wire bonding method includes the following steps. First, a substrate including at least one metal finger is provided. Next, a first chip including at least one first boding pad is disposed on the substrate. Next, a metal ball bump is formed on the corresponding metal finger. Next, a first wire is formed from the metal ball bump toward the corresponding first boding pad. Next, a first free air ball is formed on the first wire by electronic flame-off process. Then, the first free air ball connected to the first wire is pressed on the corresponding first boding pad, such that the first wire is located between the first free air ball and the corresponding first boding pad. A package structure using the wire bonding method is also provided.
US09362252B2	Method and apparatus of ESD protection in stacked die semiconductor device An apparatus includes an interposer and a plurality of dies stacked on the interposer. The interposer includes a first conductive network of a first trigger bus. Each of the plurality of dies includes a second conductive network of a second trigger bus, and an ESD detection circuit and an ESD power clamp electrically connected between a first power line and a second power line, and electrically connected to the second conductive network of the second trigger bus. The second conductive network of the second trigger bus in each of the plurality of dies is electrically connected to the first conductive network of the first trigger bus. Upon receiving an input signal, the ESD detection circuit is configured to generate an output signal to the corresponding second conductive network of the second trigger bus to control the ESD power clamps in each of the plurality of dies.
US09362251B2	Antioxidant gas blow-off unit An antioxidant gas blow-off unit includes: a base portion configured as a hollow plate having an antioxidant gas flow passage formed therein; a hole that is provided in the base portion to allow a capillary to be inserted therein or removed therefrom and that communicates with the antioxidant gas flow passage; and a heater mounted on an outer surface of the base portion. The antioxidant gas flow passage includes a first flow passage provided in the vicinity of the outer surface of the base portion on which the heater is mounted. This antioxidant gas blow-off unit to be installed in a wire bonding apparatus heats free air balls effectively with a compact structure.
US09362250B2	Die bonder and bonding method The present invention provides a bonding device and a bonding method with a high operation ratio by solving the problems of conventional techniques.In the present invention, a collet holder grasping a used collet is inserted from a first opening portion with the upper face open; the used collet is engaged with first engagement portions provided at the first opening portion of a discarding unit; the used collet is removed from the collet holder to be discarded by lifting the collet holder; the collet holder is inserted from a second opening portion with the upper face open of a supplying unit; the uppermost unused collet among plural stacked unused collets is grasped; and the uppermost unused collet ejected from the first opening portion is attached to the collet holder.
US09362249B2	Silver—gold alloy bonding wire The silver-gold alloy bonding wire of the present invention includes an alloy composed of not lower than 10% and not higher than 30% of gold (Au) and not lower than 30 ppm and not higher than 90 ppm of calcium (Ca) with the remainder of silver (Ag) at purity relative to a metallic element except for elements Au and Ca of 99.99% or higher, in mass percentage; a layer enriched with oxygen (O) and calcium (Ca) formed as a surface layer on the surface of the alloy; and a gold-enriched layer formed immediately below the surface layer.
US09362248B2	Coreless package structure and method for manufacturing same A coreless package structure and a method for manufacturing same includes the steps of providing a supporting substrate comprising an etching resist layer and a copper foil. A groove is defined in the copper foil and a plurality of contact pads are formed on the surface of the copper foil. A chip including a plurality of electrode pads is received in the groove and a packaging layer is formed on a side of the copper foil. An insulating layer and a conductive pattern layer are formed on the packaging layer in that order, the conductive pattern layer being electrically connected to the contact pads and the electrode pads by a plurality of conductive bumps. Finally, the etching resist layer and the copper foil are removed to obtain a coreless package structure.
US09362243B2	Semiconductor package device and forming the same In some embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure, a semiconductor device having a semiconductor substrate is provided. A metal structure is disposed over the semiconductor substrate, and a post-passivation interconnect (PPI) is disposed over the metal structure. In addition, the upper surface of the PPI is configured to receive a bump thereon. In certain embodiments, the upper surface of the PPI for receiving the bump is substantially flat. A positioning member is formed over the PPI and configured to accommodate the bump. In some embodiments, the positioning member is configured to limit bump movement after the bump is disposed over the PPI so as to retain the bump at a predetermined position.
US09362241B2	Manufacturing method for semiconductor devices A manufacturing method for semiconductor devices includes the steps of forming an Ni/Au film that includes an Ni film and an Au film formed over the Ni film over a wiring that is coupled to each of a plurality of electrode pads formed over a principal surface of a semiconductor wafer and arranges each of the electrode pads at a different position, grinding a back surface of the semiconductor wafer, performing reduction treatment on a surface of the Ni/Au film, and forming a solder bump over the Ni/Au film. In the reduction treatment, respective processes of flux application, reflow soldering and cleaning are performed and the solder bump is bonded to the Ni/Au film after the reduction treatment has been completed. Thereby, bonding reliability in flip chip bonding of a semiconductor device is improved.
US09362239B2	Vertical breakdown protection layer The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor structure including a plurality of connecting lines arranged on a plurality of vertical levels, the plurality of connecting lines including at least a first connecting line arranged in a first vertical level and a second connecting line arranged in a second vertical level, different from the first vertical level, and a breakdown prevention layer placed in at least part of the vertical space separating the first connecting line from the second connecting line.
US09362238B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes a first chip mounting portion, a first semiconductor chip arranged over the first chip mounting portion, a first pad formed in a surface of the first semiconductor chip, a first lead which serves as an external coupling terminal, a first conductive member which electrically couples the first pad and the first lead, and a sealing body which seals a part of the first chip mounting portion, the first semiconductor chip, a part of the first lead, and the first conductive member. The first conductive member includes a first plate-like portion, and a first support portion formed integrally with the first plate-like portion. An end of the first support portion is exposed from the sealing body, and the first support portion is formed with a first bent portion.
US09362237B2	Air bridge structure having dielectric coating A substrate having an air bridge structure with end portions disposed and supported on the substrate and an elevated portion disposed between the end portions is coated with a protective layer. The protective layer is patterned to: leave portions of the protective layer over elevated portion and at least over the end portions of a region under the elevated portion of the air bridge structure; and remove portions over adjacent portions of the substrate. A dielectric material having a thickness greater than the height of the air bridge structure is deposited over the patterned protective layer portions remaining over elevated portion and over the adjacent portions of the substrate, the patterned temporary coating preventing the dielectric material from passing into the region under the elevated portion of the air bridge structure. The dielectric material is patterned to remove portions of the dielectric material over the patterned protective layer remaining over elevated portion while leaving the dielectric material over the adjacent portions of the substrate. The patterned protective layer portions remaining over elevated portion are removed while leaving the dielectric material over the adjacent portions of the substrate.
US09362236B2	Package structures and methods for forming the same A packaging structure and a method of forming a packaging structure are provided. The packaging structure, such as an interposer, is formed by optionally bonding two carrier substrates together and simultaneously processing two carrier substrates. The processing includes forming a sacrificial layer over the carrier substrates. Openings are formed in the sacrificial layers and pillars are formed in the openings. Substrates are attached to the sacrificial layer. Redistribution lines may be formed on an opposing side of the substrates and vias may be formed to provide electrical contacts to the pillars. A debond process may be performed to separate the carrier substrates. Integrated circuit dies may be attached to one side of the redistribution lines and the sacrificial layer is removed.
US09362235B2	Semiconductor package A semiconductor package includes a substrate in which a plurality of wires are formed; at least one semiconductor chip electrically connected to portions of the plurality of wires; and a shielding can mounted on the substrate, surrounding the at least one semiconductor chip, electrically connected to at least one wire of the plurality of wires and including a soft magnetic material. The semiconductor package can prevent or substantially reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI).
US09362230B1	Methods to form conductive thin film structures Electrically conductive structures and methods of making electrically conductive structures. The methods include providing a dielectric layer of a material having a top surface and a dielectric constant of less than 3; rastering a gas cluster ion beam to form a patterned modified surface region of the top surface of the dielectric layer; and selectively forming an electrically conductive thin film on the patterned modified surface region using atomic layer deposition.
US09362229B2	Semiconductor devices with enhanced electromigration performance Semiconductor devices with enhanced electromigration performance and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming at least one metal line in electrical contact with a device. The method further includes forming at least one staple structure in electrical contact with the at least one metal line. The at least one staple structure is formed such that electrical current passing through the at least one metal line also passes through the at least staple structure to reduce electromigration issues.
US09362224B2	Electrical fuse and method of fabricating the same An electrical fuse is provided. The electrical fuse includes an anode formed on a substrate, a cathode formed on the substrate, a fuse link connecting the anode and the cathode to each other, a first contact formed on the anode, and a second contact formed on the cathode and arranged closer to the fuse link than the first contact.
US09362223B2	Integrated circuit assembly with cushion polymer layer A method of forming an integrated circuit assembly includes forming an insulator layer on a preliminary semiconductor assembly. The preliminary semiconductor assembly includes a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a semiconductor circuitry layer formed on the first side of the semiconductor substrate, and a conductive via extending through the semiconductor substrate from the semiconductor circuitry layer to the second side. The insulator is formed on the second side and an end of the conductive via. The method includes forming a polymer layer on the insulator layer, removing a quantity of the polymer layer sufficient to expose the end of the conductive via through the insulator layer, and forming a conductive contact on the polymer layer and the end of the conductive via.
US09362218B2	Integrated passive device (IPD) on substrate Some novel features pertain to a semiconductor device that includes a substrate, a first cavity that traverses the substrate. The first cavity is configured to be occupied by a interconnect material (e.g., solder ball). The substrate also includes a first metal layer coupled to a first side wall of the first cavity. The substrate further includes a first integrated passive device (IPD) on a first surface of the substrate, the first IPD coupled to the first metal layer. In some implementations, the substrate is a glass substrate. In some implementations, the first IPD is one of at least a capacitor, an inductor and/or a resistor. In some implementations, the semiconductor device further includes a second integrated passive device (IPD) on a second surface of the substrate. The second IPD is coupled to the first metal layer.
US09362216B2	Conductive pads and methods of formation thereof In one embodiment, a device includes a first conductive pad disposed over a substrate, and a etch stop layer disposed over a top surface of the first conductive pad. The device further includes a solder barrier disposed over the etch stop layer.
US09362211B1	Exposed pad integrated circuit package with mold lock An integrated circuit package has an exposed die pad with a trench and openings in the trench that are filled with encapsulant to form an encapsulant ring near the edges of the die pad. During assembly, the encapsulant passes through the openings and fills the trench to form the encapsulant ring. The ring helps to keep the die pad from separating from the encapsulant caused by thermal cycling. Air vents might be included in the die pad surface to allow air to escape from the trenches and the openings as they fill with encapsulant. Trenches from the openings to the die pad edge on the chip-side of the die pad might be included to increase adhesion of the encapsulant to the die pad.
US09362210B2	Leadframe and semiconductor package made using the leadframe Metal leadframes, semiconductor packages made using the leadframes, and methods of making the leadframes and packages are disclosed. In one embodiment, the leadframe includes a rectangular frame. A chip pad and a plurality of leads are within the frame. The lower side of the chip pad and the leads includes one or more vertically recessed horizontal surfaces. The upper side of the chip pad may include a groove around a chip mounting region. In a package, the chip pad supports a semiconductor chip electrically connected to the leads. The lower side of the chip pad and leads are exposed at an exterior surface of the package body. Encapsulant material underfills the recessed lower surfaces of the chip pad and leads, thereby locking them to the encapsulant material. A wire may be reliably bonded to the chip pad within the groove formed in the upper side thereof.
US09362208B2	Packaged semiconductor components having substantially rigid support members and methods of packaging semiconductor components Packaged semiconductor components having substantially rigid support member are disclosed. The packages can include a semiconductor die and a support member proximate to the semiconductor die. The support member is at least substantially rigid. The packages can further include an adhesive between the support member and the semiconductor die and adhesively attaching the support member to the semiconductor die. The packages can also include a substrate carrying the semiconductor die and the support member attached to the semiconductor die.
US09362200B2	Heat sink in the aperture of substrate A semiconductor package includes a support substrate arranged with a first aperture reaching a semiconductor device on a rear side, the semiconductor device is bonded via an adhesive to a surface of the support substrate, an insulating layer covering the semiconductor device, and wiring for connecting the semiconductor device and an external terminal through the insulating layer. The adhesive may form a part of the first aperture. In addition, a heat dissipation part may be arranged in the first aperture and a metal material may be filled in the first aperture.
US09362196B2	Semiconductor package and mobile device using the same According to an embodiment, a semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip mounted on an interposer board, a encapsulant sealing the semiconductor chip, and a conductive shielding layer covering the encapsulant and at least part of a side surface of the interposer board. The interposer board has plural vias through an insulating substrate. A part of the plural vias has a cutting plane exposing to the side surface of the interposer board and cut in a thickness direction of the interposer board. The cutting plane of the via is electrically connected to the conductive shielding layer.
US09362192B2	Semiconductor device comprising heat dissipating connector According to one embodiment, the connector includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is provided on the second surface of the semiconductor chip and bonded to the second electrode. The first portion has a bonding surface, a heat dissipation surface, and a side surface. The bonding surface is bonded to the second electrode of the semiconductor chip. The heat dissipation surface is opposite to the bonding surface and exposed from the resin. The side surface is tilted with respect to the bonding surface and the heat dissipation surface, and covered with the resin. The second portion protrudes from the first portion toward the second leadframe side. The second portion is thinner than the first portion and bonded to the second leadframe.
US09362190B2	Semiconductor element, semiconductor device including the same, and method for manufacturing semiconductor element To provide a semiconductor element that can have the high adhesion between a substrate made of an oxide or the like and a metal film, a semiconductor element includes a substrate made of an oxide, a semiconductor element structure provided on an upper surface of the substrate, and a metal film provided on a lower surface of the substrate, in which the metal film contains nanoparticles made of an oxide.
US09362185B2	Uniformity in wafer patterning using feedback control A method for patterning a wafer includes performing a first patterning on a wafer, and after performing the first patterning, calculating a simulated dose mapper (DoMa) map predicting a change in critical dimensions of the wafer due to performing a second patterning on the wafer. The method further includes performing the second patterning on the wafer. Performing the second patterning includes adjusting one or more etching parameters of the second patterning in accordance with differences between the simulated DoMa map and desired critical dimensions of the wafer.
US09362184B2	Semiconductor device, manufacturing method of semiconductor device, semiconductor manufacturing and inspecting apparatus, and inspecting apparatus A semiconductor device having Cu wiring including a basic crystal structure which can reduce surface voids, and an inspecting technique for the semiconductor device. In the semiconductor device, surface voids can be reduced down to 1/10 or less of a current practical level by specifying a barrier layer and a seed layer and setting a proportion (frequency) of occupation of a coincidence site lattice (CSL) boundary having a grain boundary Sigma value 27 or less to all crystal grain boundaries of a Cu wiring to 60% or higher. Alternatively, a similar effect of surface void reduction can be obtained by specifying a barrier layer and a seed layer and setting a proportion (frequency) of occupation of a coincidence site lattice (CSL) boundary having a grain boundary Sigma value 3 to all crystal grain boundaries of a Cu wiring to 40% or higher.
US09362182B2	Forming strained fins of different material on a substrate A method, and the resulting structure, of forming two fins with different types of strain and material on the same substrate.
US09362179B1	Method to form dual channel semiconductor material fins A silicon fin precursor is formed in an nFET device region and a fin stack comprising alternating material portions, and from bottom to top, of silicon and a silicon germanium alloy is formed in a pFET device region. A thermal anneal is then used to convert the fin stack into a silicon germanium alloy fin precursor. A thermal oxidation process follows that converts the silicon fin precursor into a silicon fin and the silicon germanium alloy fin precursor into a silicon germanium alloy fin. Functional gate structures can be formed straddling over each of the various fins.
US09362174B2	Device wafer processing method A device wafer processing method includes, a groove forming step in which grooves with a predetermined depth are formed in the front side of a device wafer; a plate attaching step in which a plate is attached to the front side of the wafer through an adhesive; a grinding step in which the wafer is held by a holding table through the plate so as to expose the back side of the wafer, and the back side is ground to expose the grooves at the back side of the wafer, thereby dividing the wafer to form a plurality of chips. The method further includes: a film attaching step in which a film is attached to the back side of the wafer; and a dicing step in which the film is diced along division lines from the side of the back side of the wafer.
US09362168B2	Non-volatile memory device and method for manufacturing same According to an embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes a first wiring provided on an underlayer, a first memory cell array provided on the first wiring and including a plurality of memory cells, a first select element including a first control electrode provided between the first wiring and the first memory cell array. The device also includes a second wiring provided at the same level as the first wiring and electrically connected to the first control electrode, and a first plug electrically connecting the first control electrode and the second wiring, one end of the first plug being in contact with the second wiring, and a side surface of the first plug being in contact with the first control electrode.
US09362167B2	Method of supplying cobalt to recess A method of supplying cobalt to a recess formed in an insulation film of an object to be processed is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a cobalt nitride film on a surface of the insulation film comprising a surface defining the recess, forming a cobalt film on the cobalt nitride film, and heating the cobalt film.
US09362163B2	Methods and apparatuses for atomic layer cleaning of contacts and vias Described are cleaning methods for removing contaminants from an electrical contact interface of a partially fabricated semiconductor substrate. The methods may include introducing a halogen-containing species into a processing chamber, and forming an adsorption-limited layer, which includes halogen from the halogen-containing species, atop the electrical contact interface and/or the contaminants thereon. The methods may further include thereafter removing un-adsorbed halogen-containing species from the processing chamber and activating a reaction between the halogen of the adsorption-limited layer and the contaminants present on the electrical contact interface. The reaction may then result in the removal of at least a portion of the contaminants from the electrical contact interface. In some embodiments, the halogen adsorbed onto the surface and reacted may be fluorine. Also described herein are apparatuses having controllers for implementing such electrical contact interface cleaning techniques.
US09362160B2	SOI structure and method for utilizing trenches for signal isolation and linearity Disclosed is a structure for improved electrical signal isolation between adjacent devices situated in a top semiconductor layer of the structure and an associated method for the structure's fabrication. The structure comprises a first portion of a trench extending through the top semiconductor layer and through a base oxide layer below the top semiconductor layer. A handle wafer is situated below the base oxide layer and a second portion of the trench, having sloped sidewalls, extends into the handle wafer. The sloped sidewalls are amorphized by an implant, for example, Xenon or Argon, to reduce carrier mobility in the handle wafer and improve electrical signal isolation between the adjacent devices situated in the top semiconductor layer.
US09362149B2	Etching method, etching apparatus, and storage medium Provided is a method of etching a silicon oxide film, which includes supplying a mixture gas of a halogen element-containing gas and a basicity gas onto a surface of the silicon oxide film; modifying the silicon oxide film to produce a reaction product; and heating the reaction product to remove the reaction product. Modifying the silicon oxide film and heating the reaction product are performed using one chamber. In heating the reaction product, the reaction product is selectively heated by a heating unit.
US09362148B2	Shielded lid heater assembly A shielded lid heater lid heater suitable for use with a plasma processing chamber, a plasma processing chamber having a shielded lid heater and a method for plasma processing are provided. The method and apparatus enhances positional control of plasma location within a plasma processing chamber, and may be utilized in etch, deposition, implant, and thermal processing systems, among other applications where the control of plasma location is desirable. In one embodiment, a shielded lid heater is provided that includes an aluminum base and RF shield sandwiching a heater element.
US09362146B2	Washing device A washing device is disclosed, which is capable of preventing damage of a substrate caused by drooping of the substrate. The washing device includes a plasma irradiating part supplied with a substrate from a substrate loading part to remove dirt from the substrate by irradiating plasma to the substrate; a dirt washing part supplied from the substrate from the plasma irradiating part to remove dirt remaining on the substrate; a finishing washing part supplied with the substrate from the dirt washing part to wash the substrate; a drying part supplied with the substrate from the finishing washing part to dry the substrate; and a substrate unloading part supplied with the substrate from the drying part to unload the substrate, wherein the plasma irradiating part includes a plasma irradiation unit that irradiates plasma to the substrate and a floating unit that maintains the substrate in a floating state.
US09362144B2	Article and panel comprising semiconductor chips, casting mold and methods of producing the same A panel with a reconfigured wafer including semiconductor chips arranged in rows and columns on semiconductor device positions includes: at least one semiconductor chip having a front, a rear and edge sides provided per semiconductor device position. The reconfigured wafer includes: a front side that forms a coplanar area with the front sides of the at least one semiconductor chip and a plastic housing composition embedding the edge sides and the rear side of the at least one semiconductor chip. The reconfigured wafer includes, on a rear side of the wafer, structures configured to stabilize the panel. The structures are composed of the plastic housing composition and are formed as thickenings of the reconfigured wafer.
US09362133B2	Method for forming a mask by etching conformal film on patterned ashable hardmask Methods and apparatuses for multiple patterning using image reversal are provided. The methods may include depositing gap-fill ashable hardmasks using a deposition-etch-ash method to fill gaps in a pattern of a semiconductor substrate and eliminating spacer etching steps using a single-etch planarization method. Such methods may be performed for double patterning, multiple patterning, and two dimensional patterning techniques in semiconductor fabrication.
US09362132B2	Systems and methods for a sequential spacer scheme The present disclosure describes methods for transferring a desired layout into a target layer. The method includes a step of forming a spacer, having a second width, around a first and a second desired layout feature pattern of the desired layout over a semiconductor substrate. The first desired layout feature pattern is formed using a first sub-layout and the second desired layout feature pattern is formed using a second sub-layout. The first and second desired layout feature patterns are separated by a first width. The method further includes forming a third desired layout feature pattern according to a third sub-layout. The third desired layout feature pattern is shaped in part by the spacer. The method further includes removing the spacer from around the first and second desired layout feature pattern and etching the target layer using the first, second, and third layout feature patterns as masking features.
US09362128B2	Methods for fabricating integrated circuits and components thereof Methods for fabricating integrated circuits and components thereof are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method for a fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes providing a partially fabricated semiconductor device and forming silicide regions outside of the first and second gates. The partially fabricated semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first gate formed over the semiconductor substrate, and a second gate formed over the semiconductor substrate and spaced apart from the first gate. Silicide formation between the first gate and the second gate is inhibited.
US09362125B2	Semiconductor process A semiconductor process is described. A semiconductor substrate having a memory area, a first device area and a second device area is provided. A patterned charge-trapping layer is formed on the substrate, covering the memory area and the second device area but exposing the first device area. A first gate oxide layer is formed in the first device area. The charge-trapping layer in the second device area is removed. A second gate oxide layer is formed in the second device area.
US09362122B2	Process for contact doping Provided is a process for modifying the chemical composition of a surface region of a material, employing rapid thermal processing (RTP) conditions.
US09362121B2	Method of manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device A silicon carbide substrate including a first impurity region, a well region, and a second impurity region separated from the first impurity region by the well region is prepared. A silicon dioxide layer is formed in contact with the first impurity region and the well region. A gate electrode is formed on the silicon dioxide layer. A silicon-containing material is formed on the first impurity region. The silicon-containing material is oxidized. The silicon dioxide layer includes a first silicon dioxide region on the first impurity region and a second silicon dioxide region on the well region. The thickness of the first silicon dioxide region is greater than the thickness of the second silicon dioxide region. Consequently, a silicon carbide semiconductor device capable of achieving improved switching characteristics while suppressing a decrease in drain current, and a method of manufacturing the same can be provided.
US09362110B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the semiconductor device A first nitride semiconductor layer contains Ga. The first nitride semiconductor layer is, for example, a GaN layer, an AlGaN layer, or an AlInGaN layer. Then, an aluminum oxide layer has tetra-coordinated Al atoms each surrounded by four ◯ atoms and hexa-coordinated Al atoms each surrounded by six ◯ atoms as Al atoms in the interface region with respect to the first nitride semiconductor layer. The interface region is a region apart, for example, by 1.5 nm or less from the interface with respect to the first nitride semiconductor layer. Then, in the interface region, the tetra-coordinated Al atoms are present by 30 at % or more and less than 50 at % based on the total number of Al atoms.
US09362108B2	Silicon nanowire bio-chip structure A silicon nanowire bio-chip structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The structure comprises a semiconductor substrate (1), a SiO2 insulating layer (2) formed on the semiconductor substrate, a polysilicon layer (3) formed on the SiO2 insulating layer (2) and a structural layer formed on the polysilicon layer (3); wherein, the polysilicon layer (3) comprises a patterned silicon nanowire array (4); the structural layer includes a SiON layer, a TaN and/or Ta2O5 layer (6) from bottom to top, the TaN and/or Ta2O5 layer only covers surface of each silicon nanowire in the silicon nanowire array. The silicon nanowire array is prevented from being polluted during preservation and use, and the pollutants of Na ions, K ions, Fe ions, Cu ions and Ca ions as well as the effects of chemical factors including the PH value are blocked during biological detection, thereby achieving the high stability of detection.
US09362107B2	Flowable low-k dielectric gapfill treatment Methods are described for forming a flowable low-k dielectric film on a patterned substrate. The film may be a silicon-carbon-oxygen (Si—C—O) layer in which the silicon and carbon constituents come from a silicon and carbon containing precursor while the oxygen may come from an oxygen-containing precursor activated in a remote plasma region. Shortly after deposition, the silicon-carbon-oxygen layer is treated by exposure to a hydrogen-and-nitrogen-containing precursor such as ammonia prior to curing. The treatment may remove residual moisture from the silicon-carbon-oxygen layer and may make the lattice more resilient during curing and subsequent processing. The treatment may reduce shrinkage of the silicon-carbon-oxygen layer during subsequent processing.
US09362105B2	Pre-cut wafer applied underfill film on dicing tape A method for preparing a semiconductor with preapplied underfill comprises (a) providing a thinned silicon semiconductor wafer having a plurality of metallic bumps on its active face and, optionally, through-silica-vias vertically through the silicon semiconductor wafer; (b) providing an underfill material on a dicing support tape, in which the underfill material is precut to the shape of the semiconductor wafer; (c) aligning the underfill material on the dicing support tape with the semiconductor wafer and laminating the underfill material to the semiconductor wafer.
US09362102B2	High sensitivity electrospray interface The invention provides a sheath-flow interface for producing electrospray from a capillary. The electrospray generated by the interface can be used as the source of ions for mass spectrometry. Electrokinetic flow in the interface can move a sheath liquid past the end of a capillary so as to mix with an analyte effluent discharged from the capillary. The sheath liquid and analyte mixture can be directed to an electrospray emitter to generate an electrospray.
US09362100B2	Non-thermal plasma jet device as source of spatial ionization for ambient mass spectrometry and method of application The present invention relates to a non-thermal plasma jet device as spatial ionization source for ambient mass spectrometry of the type which allows a free adjustment of the geometry of the plasma beam, wherein the device comprises a double dielectric barrier probe of non-thermal plasma or NTP probe, which generates a non-thermal plasma jet; a high voltage and high frequency transformer circuit that connects an outer electrode through which it is possible to perform a discharge for the ionization of a gas which produces plasma, and wherein said plasma generator circuit is in turn connected to a source of AC power; an inner electrode which is grounded and allows to perform the discharge for the production of plasma; a storage tank of a gas serving as discharge gas; a test sample on which the non-thermal plasma jet is applied; and a ion transfer adapter to direct the ions produced by the device from the vacuum-free sample into a mass analyzer. The device described allows to directly analyzing live samples (plants, for example) without causing any damage to them.
US09362097B2	Method and apparatus for a porous electrospray emitter An ionic liquid ion source can include a microfabricated body including a base and a tip. The body can be formed of a porous material compatible with at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt. The body can have a pore size gradient that decreases from the base of the body to the tip of the body, such that the at least one of an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt is capable of being transported through capillarity from the base to the tip.
US09362088B2	Charged particle beam device and sample preparation method Provided is a charged particle beam device provided with: a charged particle source; an objective lens for focusing a charged particle beam emitted from the charged particle source onto a sample; a detector for detecting a secondary charged particle emitted from the sample; a probe capable of coming into contact with the sample; a gas nozzle for emitting conductive gas to the sample; and a control unit for controlling the drive of the probe and gas emission from the gas nozzle, wherein before bringing the probe into contact with the sample after applying the charged particle beam to the sample to machine the sample, the control unit emits gas toward a machining position from the gas nozzle and applies the charged particle beam to form a conductive film on a machining portion of the sample, and the charged particle beam device is provided with a contact detection unit for determining that the conductive film formed on the machining portion and the probe have come into contact with each other.
US09362083B2	Charged particle beam apparatus and sample observation method There is provided a charged particle beam apparatus having the function of permitting observation of a sample in a gas atmosphere or in a liquid state, the apparatus being intended to let a dry sample be observed as it is getting saturated with an introduced liquid and to prevent a charged particle beam from getting scattered by an unwanted liquid introduced between a diaphragm and the sample. This invention provides a structure including an inlet-outlet part (300) that brings in and out a desired liquid or gas in the direction of the underside or the side of the sample (6), the structure being arranged so that the sample (6) is irradiated with a primary charged particle beam while the sample (6) and the diaphragm (10) are kept out of contact with each other.
US09362076B2	Trip device of molded case circuit breaker using a stair type hanger Disclosed is a trip device of a molded case circuit breaker. The trip device includes a shooter configured to include a body and a rotating shaft which passes through the body, a double torsion spring coupled to both sides of the rotating shaft and configured to provide an elastic restoring force to enable the shooter to rotate, and a crossbar configured to include a hanger that contacts the hanging plate and limits a movement of the shooter. A hanging plate is provided at a lower portion of the body, and a hitting plate is provided at an upper portion of the body.
US09362075B2	Cover assembly for circuit breaker, circuit breaker having the same, and method A cover assembly for a circuit breaker includes a cover, the cover including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to at least partially cover a current sensing element within the circuit breaker, and has an interior surface and a cover opening. The second portion extends from the interior surface of the first portion, and has a terminal pocket opening aligned with the cover opening. The cover is configured to receive a load terminal through the terminal pocket opening and cover opening.
US09362074B2	Nanowire-based mechanical switching device Nanowire-based mechanical switching devices are described. For example, a nanowire relay includes a nanowire disposed in a void disposed above a substrate. The nanowire has an anchored portion and a suspended portion. A first gate electrode is disposed adjacent the void, and is spaced apart from the nanowire. A first conductive region is disposed adjacent the first gate electrode and adjacent the void, and is spaced apart from the nanowire.
US09362073B2	Switch apparatus for vehicle A switch apparatus may include a switch body to which a connector of an electronic unit is connected and in which a relay board is provided, a conductive coupling section provided at a lower end of the switch body to be coupled to a vehicle body, and a conductive ground member having a base provided at a lower portion in an internal space of the switch body to be coupled to an upper end of the coupling section, and a clamping bar extending upwards from one side of the base to be coupled to a ground terminal provided at a lower end of the relay board.
US09362072B2	Magnetic float switch A float switch with a float housing having a magnetically-activated, hermetically-sealed reed switch secured within an interior cavity in a first orientation and a permanent magnet positioned in a second orientation. The permanent magnet is movable within a chamber in the interior cavity between a first activation position and a second non-activation position. For connection to a pump, electrical conductors extend from the float housing at one end and are electrically coupled to the reed switch.
US09362066B2	Switch A space where a member is disposed is ensured in a central portion without changing dimensions of an appearance. In a push-button switch, a movable contact portion is disposed while bent in an outer peripheral space between an insertion pipe and sidewalls constituting a quadratic-prism lower case, and the sidewall closest to a position where a projected terminal portion is disposed differs from the sidewall closest to a position where an abutment portion is disposed.
US09362065B2	Molded case circuit breaker Disclosed is a molded case circuit breaker. The molded case circuit breaker includes a case; an interrupter assembly installed in the case, and provided with an arc gas outlet for discharging arc gas generated from inside of the interrupter assembly to outside; an exhaustion guiding portion disposed between the interrupter assembly and the terminal portion, and provided with a discharge chamber therein, to thus provide an arc gas passage between the arc gas outlet and a vent chute of the terminal portion; and an exhaustion cover mounted to the case with a structure to cover the exhaustion guiding portion, to thus block the arc gas passage.
US09362062B1	Ultra-thin keyboard switch An ultra-thin keyboard switch includes a base, a static contact plate, a support plate, a movable contact plate, a lower frame, an upper frame, and a keyboard cap. The static contact plate and the support plate are separated from each other and disposed on the base. The upper frame and the lower frame are intersected and pivotally connected with each other to form an X-shaped configuration to bring the movable contact plate to move. The thickness of the product can be reduced to be thin. No matter where the user's finger is at any position of the keyboard, the upper frame and the lower frame are linked to bring the movable contact plate to move. The present invention can be pressed stably, so that the connection of the static contact plate and the movable contact plate is more sensitive and the product can be used more conveniently.
US09362061B2	Switching device and a switchgear A switching device including a breaker electrically connectable to an electrical conductor, and an at least partially electrically conductive housing to which the breaker is mounted, the housing having an outer surface. The breaker includes an electrically conductive first contact and an electrically conductive second contact, the second contact being movable and in relation to the first contact and in relation to the housing, and when the first and second contacts are in contact the breaker is in a closed position, and when the first and second contacts are separated the breaker is in an open position. The switching device is arranged to provide a current path between the breaker and the electrical conductor, and the housing houses a guiding member for operating the second contact, the guiding member being movable in relation to the housing, wherein the guiding member includes a biasing assembly.
US09362059B2	Electrochemical generator and method of producing such a generator An electrochemical generator includes a first electrode covered by a passivation layer having a compound formed by repetition of a pattern of the following formula (7): in which: n is an integer comprised between 1 and 10, preferably between 1 and 4; R1 and R2 are identical or different and chosen independently from the group formed by —CH2—, a cyclic or acyclic, linear or branched alkyl chain; R3 is chosen from the group formed by —CH3, a cyclic or acyclic, linear or branched alkyl chain, and a group of the following formula (8): in which: N is a mono or polycyclic, aromatic hydrocarbonated group chosen from the group formed by phenyl, aryl groups, condensed polyaromatic groups, which may be substituted; R4 is chosen from the group formed by —CH2-, a cyclic or acyclic, linear or branched alkyl chain; and A is identical to or different from A′.
US09362057B2	Electrolyte mixture for electrolytic capacitor, composition for conductive polymer synthesis and conductive polymer solid electrolytic capacitor formed by using the same An electrolyte mixture for electrolytic capacitor is disclosed. The electrolyte mixture includes a conductive polymer and a nitrogen-containing polymer. The nitrogen-containing polymer includes a cyclic nitrogen-containing polymer, a polymer with primary amine group, a polymer with secondary amine group, a polymer with tertiary amine group, a polymer with quaternary ammonium group, or a combination thereof.
US09362056B2	Solid electrolytic capacitor with high temperature leakage stability A solid electrolytic capacitor and method for forming a solid electrolytic capacitor with high temperature leakage stability is described. The solid electrolytic capacitor has improved leakage current and is especially well suited for high temperature environments such as down-hole applications.
US09362055B2	Method for manufacturing solid electrolytic capacitor There is provided a method to provide a capacitor element including a porous body of a valve metal, and a dielectric layer of an oxide layer of the valve metal. The method includes a first sequential process, and a second sequential process. The first sequential process includes: immersing the capacitor element in a first liquid of dispersion of a conductive polymer obtained by means of oxidation polymerization of thiophene or its derivative in the presence of a dopant of a polymer anion; taking out the capacitor element from the first liquid; and drying the capacitor element. Subsequent second sequential process includes: immersing the capacitor element in a second liquid which dissolves a cyclic organic compound having at least one hydroxyl group; taking out the capacitor element from the second liquid; and drying the capacitor element.
US09362052B2	Electronic devices with floating metal rings A electronic device is provided. In one configuration, the electronic device includes a first electrode formed in a first layer; a second electrode formed in the first layer, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are reflection symmetrically disposed; and a first floating metal ring formed in the first layer and enclosing the first electrode and the second electrode. The shape of the first electrode is the same shape as the second electrode.
US09362049B2	Efficiency monitor for inductive power transmission An inductive power receiver configured for receiving power transferred from an inductive power outlet having a primary coil includes a secondary coil configured to form an inductive couple with the primary coil thereby facilitating the power transfer. The inductive power receiver further includes a transmission circuit having a variable amplifier configured to vary the voltage of the power drawn by the secondary coil, and a modulator configured to control the variable amplifier. The inductive power receiver is configured to modulate a signal by the varying of the voltage. An inductive power outlet configured for transferring power to the inductive power receiver includes a primary coil and a receiving circuit configured to detect changes in voltage of the power transferred and to produce an output signal based on the changes.
US09362047B2	Contactless rotary joint A contactless rotary joint has a stationary and a rotating part. Furthermore at least one of the parts has a rotary joint body made of a plastic material and holding a capacitive data link and a rotating transformer. The rotating transformer has a magnetic core for transmission of electrical power. To prevent interference of the capacitive data link by electrical and/or magnetic fields from the rotating transformer a shield is provided.
US09362045B2	System having primary conductor and movable component for inductive movement along primary conductor A system having vehicles, each including a secondary coil for the inductive supply of the vehicle from a primary conductor system, wherein the secondary coil includes a coil core, which has at least one main limb, the secondary coil being made up of a first and a second coil, each composed of windings which enclose the main limb in each case, the first coil arranged such that the windings are connected in series, and the induction voltage arising at the coil corresponds to the sum of the individual voltages induced at all windings when the magnetic flux enclosed by an individual winding in the main limb always has the same direction, especially in each winding of the first coil, the second coil arranged such that the second coil is made up of a first type of windings, i.e., a first partial coil, and of a second type of windings.
US09362043B2	Electronic component and manufacturing method thereof A magnetic substrate has such a shape that ridges extending between principal surfaces are cut away by cutout portions. A multilayer body has corners arranged so as to overlap the cutout portions. A coil includes lead portions which are connected with both ends of a coil portion and which are drawn out to the corners. A coil is combined with the coil to constitute a common mode choke coil and includes lead portions which are connected with both ends of a coil portion and which are drawn out to the corners. Connecting portions connect external electrodes to the lead portions and are provided at the cutout portion.
US09362041B2	Common mode filter Disclosed herein is a common mode filter that comprises a drum core including a winding core portion and a pair of flange portions provided at both ends of the winding core portion, and first and second wires wound around the winding core portion so as to form a pair-wire for each turn. The first and second wires includes one or a plurality of sparsely-wound portions in which the first and second wires are wound with adjacent pair-wires spaced from each other, and one or a plurality of closely-wound portions in which the first and second wires are wound with adjacent pair-wires in close contact with each other.
US09362040B2	Coldplate with integrated electrical components for cooling thereof A coldplate for use in cooling electrical components may include first and second coldplate members, each having a pocket and a secondary portion. The pocket of each member is configured to receive an electrical component and sized to substantially surround the component when received in the pocket to provide physical integration of the component in the coldplate member. The first and second coldplate members are adapted to be joined together to form a manifold therebetween for receiving a fluid for use in cooling the electrical components. The secondary portion of each coldplate member is arranged substantially opposite the pocket of the other coldplate member when the coldplate members are joined together.
US09362037B2	Magnetic device for controlling door movement and method thereof An exemplary locking or coupling device includes a plurality of magnets each having a direction of magnetization. A plurality of pole shoe members are positioned between selected ones of the magnets. A moveable support supports some of the magnets and some of the pole shoe members. The moveable support is moveable to selectively change a relative orientation of the directions of magnetization. One relative orientation primarily directs a flow of magnetic flux between the magnets through the pole shoe members and the magnetic flux remains essentially in a plane containing the magnets and the pole shoe members. A second, different relative orientation primarily directs the flow of magnetic flux from the pole shoe members in a transverse direction away from the plane.
US09362034B2	Method of preparing core-shell structured nanoparticle having hard-soft magnetic heterostructure The present invention relates to a core-shell structured nanoparticle having hard-soft heterostructure, magnet prepared from the nanoparticle, and preparing method thereof. The core-shell structured nanoparticle having hard-soft magnetic heterostructure of present invention has some merits such as independence from resource supply problem of rare earth elements and low price and can overcome physical and magnetic limitations possessed by the conventional ferrite mono-phased material.
US09362032B2	High-strength non-oriented electrical steel sheet A high-strength non-oriented electrical steel sheet contains: in mass %, C: 0.010% or less; Si: not less than 2.0% nor more than 4.0%; Mn: not less than 0.05% nor more than 0.50%; Al: not less than 0.2% nor more than 3.0%; N: 0.005% or less; S: not less than 0.005% nor more than 0.030%; and Cu: not less than 0.5% nor more than 3.0%, a balance being composed of Fe and inevitable impurities. An expression (1) is established where a Mn content is represented as [Mn] and a S content is represented as [S], and not less than 1.0×104 pieces nor more than 1.0×106 pieces of sulfide having a circle-equivalent diameter of not less than 0.1 μm nor more than 1.0 μm are contained per 1 mm2 10≦[Mn]/[S]≦50 (1).
US09362030B2	Composition for forming silica based insulating layer, silica based insulating layer and method for manufacturing silica based insulating layer A composition for forming a silica-based insulation layer, a silica-based insulation layer, and a method of manufacturing the silica-based insulation layer, the composition including a solvent; and an organosilane-based condensation polymerization product, the organosilane-based condensation polymerization product being prepared from a compound mixture, the compound mixture including compounds represented by the following Chemical Formulae 1 and 2: (R1)3SiXSi(R1)3 [Chemical Formula 1] R2e(Si)OR34-e. [Chemical Formula 2]
US09362028B2	Combination insulator cover A method and system for a combination insulator cover configured to fit a plurality of insulator cable clamp devices are provided. The cover includes a dome configured to receive an insulator top and a plurality of cable cavities that extend orthogonally away from the dome in opposite directions. The plurality of cable cavities are configured to permit passage of a cable therethrough, the cable cavities include a first cylindrically shaped portion and a second cylindrically-shaped portion, first cylindrically shaped portion being larger than a diameter of second cylindrically-shaped portion. The cover also includes a lower extension that extends along a bottom edge of said cover from a distal end of said second cylindrically-shaped portion to a distal end of the opposite second cylindrically-shaped portion, said lower extension is split parallel to the plurality of cable cavities.
US09362025B1	Coated conductor high temperature superconductor carrying high critical current under magnetic field by intrinsic pinning centers, and methods of manufacture of same This invention enables high temperature superconducting (HTS) metal oxide materials ReBa2Cu3Ox ((RE)BCO) to carry high superconducting currents at high current densities under high magnetic field (≧3 Tesla), in all orientations of the field, and at high temperatures (65 Kelvin). The superconductor is adapted to carry current in a superconducting state, with the superconductor having a current (I) carrying capacity of at least 250 A/cm width, in a field of 3 Tesla (T), at 65 Kelvin (K), at all angles relative to the coated conductor. More preferably, the current carrying capacity extends through the range of substantially 250 A/cm to 500 A/cm. Excellent performance is achieved by use of intrinsic pinning centers in the HTS compound. The invention preferably does not require the addition of extra elements or compounds or particles to the superconducting compound during synthesis, nor does it require extra process steps.
US09362022B2	Composite electric cable and process for producing same A composite electric cable including a plurality of element wires twisted together. The element wires include a material wire formed of a composite material containing an aluminum material and carbon nanotubes dispersed in the aluminum material; the material wire has a cellulation structure including a wall portion containing the carbon nanotubes and an inside portion of the wall which is surrounded by the wall portion and which comprises the aluminum material and unavoidable impurities; the material wire has a ratio of carbon nanotube content to aluminum material content of 0.2 wt. % to 5 wt. %; and each of all the element wires forming the composite electric cable is the material wire, or the composite electric cable includes in a center portion thereof one or a plurality of steel wires.
US09362018B2	Impregnated continuous graphitic fiber tows and composites containing same An impregnated fiber tow comprising multiple unitary graphene-based continuous graphitic fibers impregnated with a matrix material, wherein at least one of the continuous graphitic fibers comprises at least 90% by weight of graphene planes that are chemically bonded with one another having an inter-planar spacing d002 from 0.3354 nm to 0.4 nm as determined by X-ray diffraction and an oxygen content less than 5% by weight, wherein the graphene planes are parallel to one another and parallel to a fiber axis direction and the graphitic fiber contains no core-shell structure, has no helically arranged graphene domains or domain boundary, and has a porosity level less than 5% by volume.
US09362017B2	Paste composition for front electrode of solar cell, and solar cell including the same Provided is a paste composition for front electrode of a solar cell. The paste composition includes conductive power, an organic vehicle, a glass frit, and an additive. The additive includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of Zn, Sb, V, W, Cr, Cd, Re, Sn, Mo, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, and metal oxide including one of the foregoing materials.
US09362015B2	Silicon-based solar cell with eutectic composition Growth and characterization of low cost, and high efficiency micro- and nanostructured p-n heterojunction solar cells through eutectic solidification are provided. Eutectic solidification results in self-assembly of lamellar or rod-like domains with length scales from hundreds of nanometers to micrometers that can be used for efficient extraction of minority carriers in metallurgical-grade materials. The material having a eutectic or near-eutectic composition can be used in making a low-cost and efficient inorganic solar cell.
US09362012B2	Packaging of radioactive waste by cementing Using crystalline silica, mixed with cement powder, to reduce the heating of the cement paste caused by the hydration of said powder, during a process of packaging of radioactive waste, a formulation for the packaging of radioactive waste by cementing, which comprises such silica, a method for packaging radioactive waste implementing this formulation, and a package for packaging of radioactive waste which is obtained by this method.
US09362008B2	Memory device using soft and hard repair operations and memory system including the same A memory device may include an address latch circuit that latches an address received from an exterior of the memory device, a repair signal generation circuit that generates a soft repair signal, a selection information generation circuit that generates first selection information by using first bits of a latched address latched by the address latch circuit, first to Nth register circuits that store second bits of the latched address as repair data by being selected by the first selection information when the soft repair signal is activated, and first to Nth memory blocks that perform repair operations using the repair data stored in the respective first to Nth register circuits.
US09362004B2	Semiconductor device, semiconductor memory device and memory system A semiconductor device includes a nonvolatile memory block suitable for outputting data stored in a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells included therein based on first control information, and programming data in the nonvolatile memory cells based on second control information; a control block suitable for generating the first control information based on an initialization signal, wherein the control block sequentially generates the second control information and the first control information when a program mode is activated; and a test control block suitable for deactivating the nonvolatile memory block and determining whether at least one control signal among a plurality of control signals included in the first and second control information is normally generated, in a test operation on the program mode.
US09362002B2	Stacked semiconductor device A stacked semiconductor device is disclosed that includes a plurality of semiconductor dies. Each die has oppositely disposed first and second surfaces, with pads formed on each of the surfaces. A plurality of through-vias connect respective pads on the first surface to respective pads on the second surface. The through-vias include a first group of through-vias coupled to respective I/O circuitry on the semiconductor die and a second group of through-vias not coupled to I/O circuitry on the semiconductor die. The plurality of semiconductor dies are stacked such that the first group of through-vias in a first one of the plurality of semiconductor dies are aligned with respective ones of at least a portion of the second group of through-vias in a second one of the plurality of semiconductor dies.
US09362000B2	Memory system and management method thereof According to one embodiment, a memory system comprises a first nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a temperature sensor and a controller. The first nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes the first and second semiconductor chips. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the first nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The controller acquires the wear level per block of the first and second semiconductor chips based on the temperature of the first nonvolatile semiconductor memory and the frequency of use of the first nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and sets, based on the wear level, an examination frequency for defining a cycle of examination of quality of data per block of the first and second semiconductor chips.
US09361999B2	Data storage device and error correction method capable of adjusting voltage distribution The present invention provides a data storage device including a flash memory and a controller. The controller is configured to perform a first read operation to read a first page corresponding to a first word line of the flash memory according to a read command of a host, and perform a distribution-adjustment procedure when data read by the first read operation cannot be recovered by coding, wherein the controller is further configured to perform an adjustable read operation to read a second page corresponding to a second word line of the flash memory in the distribution-adjustment procedure.
US09361996B2	Inferring threshold voltage distributions associated with memory cells via interpolation Apparatuses and methods for inferring threshold voltage distributions associated with memory cells via interpolation are described herein. An example includes determining soft data for a group of memory cells each programmed to one of a number of data states, wherein the soft data comprises a number of different soft data values, determining a quantity of memory cells associated with each of the different soft data values, and inferring at least a portion of a threshold voltage distribution associated with the group of memory cells via an interpolation process using the determined quantities of memory cells associated with each of the different soft data values.
US09361995B1	Flash memory system using complementary voltage supplies A non-volatile memory device comprises a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. An array of non-volatile memory cells is located in the semiconductor substrate and arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. Each memory cell comprises a first region on a surface of the semiconductor substrate of a second conductivity type, and a second region on the surface of the semiconductor substrate of the second conductivity type. A channel region is between the first region and the second region. A word line overlies a first portion of the channel region and is insulated therefrom, and adjacent to the first region and having little or no overlap with the first region. A floating gate overlies a second portion of the channel region, is adjacent to the first portion, and is insulated therefrom and is adjacent to the second region. A coupling gate overlies the floating gate. A bit line is connected to the first region. During the operations of program, read, or erase, a negative voltage can be applied to the word lines and/or coupling gates of the selected or unselected memory cells.
US09361994B1	Method of increasing read current window in non-volatile memory A memory structure is provided including an array of non-volatile memory (NVM) cells arranged in rows and columns, each cell including a NVM transistor having a body bias terminal coupled to body bias supply. The memory structure further includes a control system to control the body bias supply to adjust a body bias voltage coupled to the body bias terminals during read operations of the memory structure to compensate for shifts in threshold voltages (VTH) of the NVM transistors to maintain a read current window (IRCW) between a cell in which the NVM transistor is ON and a sum of leakage current through cells in which the NVM transistor is OFF. Methods of operating the memory structure are also described.
US09361993B1	Method of reducing hot electron injection type of read disturb in memory Read disturb is reduced in a charge-trapping memory device such as a 3D memory device by optimizing the channel boosting voltage in an unselected NAND string. A pass voltage applied to the unselected word lines can cause a large gradient in the channel which leads to electron-hole formation and a hot electron injection (HEI) type of read disturb. When the selected word line is close to the source-side of the NAND string, HEI disturb occurs on the drain-side of the selected word line. To avoid this disturb, a spike is provided in the control gate voltage of a drain-side selected gate transistor to temporarily connect the channel to the bit line, lowering the voltage of the associated channel region. A similar approach is used for a drain-side selected word line. The spike may be omitted when the selected word line is mid-range.
US09361990B1	Time domain ramp rate control for erase inhibit in flash memory When performing an erase on a flash type non-volatile memory with a NAND type of structure, techniques are presented for inhibiting erase on selected word lines, select lines of programmable select transistors, or some combination of these. The voltage along the selected control lines are initially ramped up by the level on a corresponding input line, but then have their voltage raised to an erase inhibit level by capacitive coupling with the well structure. The level of these input signals are ramped up with the erase voltage applied to the well structure, but with a delay based upon the coupling ratio between the control line and the well.
US09361988B2	Semiconductor memory device A semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell, a second memory cell above the first memory cell, a first word line electrically connected to a gate of the first memory cell, a second word line electrically connected to a gate of the second memory cell, and a control unit that performs an erasing operation on the first and second memory cells. During the erasing operation, the control unit applies a first voltage to a first word line and a second voltage higher than the first voltage to a second word line.
US09361981B2	Methods of forming and programming memory devices with isolation structures Methods of programming and forming memory devices. Methods of programming include biasing a control gate of a selected memory cell of the memory device to a first voltage, the control gate being over a first conductive region having a first conductivity type and the first conductive region being over a second conductive region having a second conductivity type different than the first conductivity type; biasing the second conductive region to a second voltage to forward bias the junction from the second conductive region to the first conductive region; and injecting electrons into a charge-storage node of the selected memory cell from the second conductive region. The first conductive region and the second conductive region are contained within a dielectric isolation structure in which at least the selected memory cell is contained.
US09361978B2	Series connected resistance change memory device The invention is provided to suppress a current supplied to a storage element so as not to vary for each layer in a semiconductor memory device obtained by connecting a plurality of memory cells in series.A semiconductor memory device according to the invention includes a plurality of memory cells connected in series between a first signal line and a second signal line, and supplies a different gate voltage to at least two of selection transistors included in the memory cells, respectively (refer to FIG. 2).
US09361973B2	Multi-channel, multi-bank memory with wide data input/output An integrated circuit (IC) can include M memory banks, where M is greater than 2, and each memory bank is separately accessible according to a received address value; N channels, where N is greater than 2, and each channel includes its own a data connections, address connections, and control input connections for executing a read or write access to one of the memory banks in synchronism with a clock signal; and a controller subsystem configured to control accesses between the channels and the memory banks, including up to an access on every channel on consecutive cycles of the clock signal.
US09361972B1	Charge level maintenance in a memory In one embodiment, a memory such as a dynamic random access memory employs charge boosting to bitcells prior to sensing charge levels in the storage nodes of the bitcells. It is believed that such an arrangement may be employed to improve bitcell read-out voltages, reduce refresh power consumption, improve restore voltage levels or other features, depending upon the particular application. Other aspects are described herein.
US09361963B2	Spintronic circuit and method of operation therefore The invention relates to a spintronic circuit (10; 11; 15) comprising: a conductive non-magnetic channel (1); —means (2, NM, FM1-FM3) for generating spin polarized electrons (4) in the non-magnetic channel (1) by spin extraction; at least two ferromagnetic contacts (FM1-FM3) arranged along the non-magnetic channel (1) one after another, —means (7, 8, 9) for adjusting the magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic contacts (FM1-FM3); means for propagating the spin polarized electrons (4) along the non-magnetic channel (1); means (5, 6) for measuring the contact resistance of the individual ferromagnetic contacts (FM1-FM3), wherein the contact resistance depends on the relative alignment of the spin polarization direction of the spin polarized electrons (4) in the non-magnetic channel (1) at the ferromagnetic contact (FM1-FM3) and the magnetization direction of the ferromagnetic contact (FM1-FM3).
US09361960B2	Configurable memory banks of a memory device A memory device has a storage array having a plurality of accessible memory banks and a configurable first set of memory segments. The plurality of accessible memory banks include a second set of memory segments. During a first mode of operation, the first set of memory segments is configured to be an additional accessible memory bank. During a second mode of operation, a pair of memory segments in the first set of memory segments are configured to be an additional set of memory segments in each of the plurality of accessible memory banks.
US09361957B2	Lower energy consumption and high speed computer system and a marching main memory adapted for the computer system, without the memory bottleneck A computer system encompasses a processor (11) including a control unit (111) and an ALU (112) configured to execute arithmetic and logic operations synchronized with the clock signal, and a marching main memory (31), which embraces an array of memory units, configured to store information in each of memory units and to transfer synchronously with the clock signal, providing the processor (11) with the stored information actively and sequentially so that the ALU (112) can execute the arithmetic and logic operations with the stored information. The results of the processing in the ALU (112) are sent out to the marching main memory (31), but there is only one way of instructions flow from the marching main memory (31) to the processor.
US09361954B2	Memory device, memory system and operating method thereof A memory device comprises a cell array having a plurality of word lines, an address counting unit suitable for generating a counting address that is changed whenever one or more of the plurality of word lines are refreshed, and a control unit suitable for selecting a word line corresponding to the counting address among the plurality of word lines and refreshing the selected word line within a first period in response to a refresh command during a first operation mode, within a second period that is longer than the first period during a second operation mode, and within a third period that is shorter than the second period in a high frequency section after the second operation mode begins.
US09361946B2	Hanging carrier for HDD A vibration isolating hard disk drive carrier for isolating the transfer of vibration from one hard disk drive to another comprising a carrier body and one or more isolation hangers is disclosed. The carrier has a first surface configured to couple to inherent features of a first external surface of a hard disk drive, and a second surface configured to couple to inherent features of a second external surface hard disk drive. One or more isolation hangers configured to support the hard disk drive in a vertical orientation are coupled to the carrier body.
US09361944B1	Magnetic disk drive and rewrite processing method According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive including a disk including a plurality of track groups each including a first write track and a second write track partially overlapping the first write track, and a processor configured to count a write count corresponding to write processing of adjacent track groups for each of the plurality of track groups, and calculate an estimated time at which the write count reaches a particular value and, if a track group in which the estimated time is approximate is detected, read data of the approximate track group, and execute rewrite processing of writing the data to the track group in which the estimated time is approximate, at a time earlier than the estimated time.
US09361933B2	Reducing errors in sending file attachments Provided is a technology to scan a document for file attachments, generate alternative file names corresponding to a particular attachment, determine whether or not the particular file attachment is the latest version of a file or has a name and/for file path that could he confused with the name and/or path of another file. In the event one or more of the above conditions is met, techniques are also provided to verify that the file attachment is the desired file and, if necessary, to select an alternative file for attachment.
US09361932B2	Fluid dynamic bearing groove configuration A fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) includes a groove configuration that includes a pressure-generating groove pattern, and additionally includes a circumferential groove adjacent to the pressure-generating groove pattern and a pumping groove pattern adjacent to the circumferential groove. The circumferential groove may be deeper than the associated pumping and pressure-generating groove patterns and may extend for 360 degrees, and the pumping groove may be positioned at or near the entry to the bearing journal area to help maintain fluid flow direction and minimum pressure. Such an FDB groove configuration is likely to provide improved damping characteristics while maintaining relative stiffness, thereby improving vibration response characteristics.
US09361930B2	Disc conveying device and disc conveying method A disc conveying device includes a plurality of disc holding members stacked in a first direction which is a disc thickness direction, one of the plurality of disc holding members holding a disc such that the disc can slide to one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a disc holding member moving mechanism separating the one of the plurality of disc holding members from an adjacent one of the plurality of disc holding members in the first direction, moving the one of the plurality of disc holding members to the one side in the second direction, and partially protruding the disc from other discs held by the plurality of disc holding members to the one side in the second direction, and a disc conveying mechanism holding a protruded part of the disc and conveying the disc to the one side in the second direction.
US09361929B2	Debris reducing disk clamp for disk drives A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.
US09361928B2	Dynamically controlling tape velocity A maximum velocity is dynamically determined during a tape drive operation to obtain a statistical standard deviation of a position error signal (PES) that yields an amount of stopwrite (SW) operations that avoids backhitching. The tape velocity is adjusted to the maximum velocity.
US09361925B2	Enlarged substrate for magnetic recording medium An enlarged substrate for a magnetic recording medium used in a data storage device such as a hard disc drive (HDD). In some embodiments, a data storage device has a housing member for a 3½ inch form factor storage device or a 2½ inch form factor storage device. A rotatable data recording disc is supported by the housing member. The disc has a plurality of tracks formed thereon. At least one track of the plurality of tracks has an average radius of greater than 47.5 mm for the 3½ inch form factor storage device or greater than 32.5 mm for the 2½ inch form factor storage device. A data read/write transducer is configured to be controllably advanced across a recording surface of the data recording disc and to record data to the plurality of tracks.
US09361922B1	Spacing measurement improvement in the presence of track mis-registration Techniques for determining a relative spacing between a read head and a surface of a magnetic data storage device may use at least two magnetic spacing measurement patterns. A first magnetic spacing measurement pattern may be offset from a center of a data track by a first offset value and a second magnetic spacing measurement pattern may be offset by a second, different, offset value. A processor may determine a first harmonic tone and a second harmonic tone from each of the first and second magnetic spacing measurement patterns. The processor also may determine respective ratios between amplitudes of the first and second harmonic tones for each of the first and second magnetic spacing measurement patterns. The processor may determine which ratio is greater, and may utilize the greater ratio when determining relative spacing between the read head and the surface of the magnetic data storage device.
US09361918B2	Memory disk drive device and resin component therefor The invention provides a resin component used within a memory disk drive device and a highly reliable memory disk drive device using the resin component, the resin component having excellent flame resistance and minimal outgas. A resin component used inside a memory disk drive device (1), the resin component being an insulating bushing for protecting a lead of a motor (2) when the lead is connected to a circuit board; a carriage (4) being molded integrally with a coil for driving a swing arm (3) provided with a pickup head (3a) for reading or writing information on a memory disk on a distal end thereof, and the carriage adapted for balancing the weight of the swing arm (3); or a ramp (5) for retracting the pickup head (3a) when the memory disk stops.
US09361917B2	Method to fabricate a base plate for piezo actuation In certain embodiments, a method of fabricating a base plate for piezoelectric actuation, comprises providing a plate having a major surface; striking a first removable portion of the plate in a first direction substantially normal to the major surface to shear the first removable portion relative to the plate by a shear distance that is less than the plate thickness; striking the first removable portion in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction to reduce the shear distance by a reduction in shear that is less than the plate thickness; and leaving the first removable portion in place rather than removing the first removable portion. In other embodiments, the removable portion may be created by lancing one or more portions spanning at least one opening through a base plate adjacent a first side of at least one opening and adjacent a second side of the at least one opening.
US09361915B1	Method for making a disk drive head suspension component having a microstructured surface region A method for making a disk drive head suspension component having a microstructured surface region includes depositing a layer of photoimageable polymer having an associated set of process parameters including a minimum resolution and exposing the photoimageable polymer through a photomask having a microstructure-producing region with features below the minimum resolution for the photoimageable polymer. The exposed photoimageable polymer is developed to produce a layer of polymer having a thickness and a microstructured surface region with depressions that are less than the thickness of the polymer.
US09361914B1	Magnetic sensor with thin capping layer A magnetic sensor for use in a data storage device is described. The magnetic sensor includes a composite layer comprising a free layer portion and a bias layer portion each comprising a magnetic material, a shield layer comprising a magnetic material, and a continuous spacer layer comprising a non-magnetic material, the spacer layer separating the shield layer from the composite layer such that the magnetic coupling between the shield layer and the bias layer portion is stronger than the magnetic coupling between the shield layer and the free layer portion. A disk drive comprising a rotatable magnetic recording disk and the slider including the magnetic sensor arranged with the magnetic recording disk is also described.
US09361909B2	Initialization of magnetic features The embodiments disclose an alternating current (AC) erase process configured to cancel out existing polarity of stack magnetic features on both sides of the stack and an AC reset process configured to initialize the polarity of the device stack magnetic features of both sides of a stack configured to create a uniform polarity.
US09361906B2	Method of treating an auditory disorder of a user by adding a compensation delay to input sound An audio input device is provided which can include a number of features. In some embodiments, the audio input device includes a housing, a microphone carried by the housing, and a processor carried by the housing and configured to modify an input sound signal so as to amplify frequencies corresponding to a target human voice and diminish frequencies not corresponding to the target human voice. In another embodiment, an audio input device is configured to treat an auditory gap condition of a user by extending gaps in continuous speech and outputting the modified speech to the user. In another embodiment, the audio input device is configured to treat a dichotic hearing condition of a user. Methods of use are also described.
US09361902B2	Earhole-wearable sound collection device, signal processing device, and sound collection method The present technique relates to an earhole-wearable sound collection device, a signal processing device, and a sound collection method for realizing sound collection at a high S/N ratio with reduced noise influence, regardless of noise reduction methods such as the SS method.In the earhole-wearable sound collection device, a microphone that collects emitted speech voice is provided in a space that is substantially sealed off from outside and connects to an ear canal of the wearer, so that emitted speech voice propagating through the ear canal of the wearer is collected. A noise cancelling unit that reduces noise propagating in the internal space having the microphone located therein is further provided to improve the S/N ratio of emitted speech voice collection signals. Further, an equalizing process for reducing the muffled sound generated when the emitted speech voice propagating through the ear canal is collected is performed on the sound collection signal from the microphone. In this manner, higher sound quality is achieved.
US09361900B2	Encoding device and method, decoding device and method, and program The present technology relates to an encoding device and method, a decoding device and method, and a program, which enable improvement of audio quality.A QMF sub-band power calculation unit calculates power of a QMF sub-band signal of a high frequency QMF sub-band among a plurality of the QMF sub-bands constituting an input signal. A high frequency sub-band power calculation unit carries out an operation to weight more a QMF sub-band power having larger power as for a sub-band including a number of the high frequency QMF sub-bands to calculate high frequency sub-band power of the sub-band. The multiplexing circuit multiplexes high frequency encoded data and low frequency encoded data for outputting. The high frequency encoded data is selected based on the high frequency sub-band power and obtained by encoding information used for obtaining a high frequency component of the input signal by estimating, and the low frequency encoded data is obtained by encoding low frequency components of the input signal. The present technology can be applied to encoding devices.
US09361898B2	Three-dimensional sound compression and over-the-air-transmission during a call A method for encoding three dimensional audio by a wireless communication device is disclosed. The wireless communication device detects an indication of a plurality of localizable audio sources. The wireless communication device also records a plurality of audio signals associated with the plurality of localizable audio sources. The wireless communication device also encodes the plurality of audio signals.
US09361895B2	Audio-encoding method and apparatus, audio-decoding method and apparatus, recoding medium thereof, and multimedia device employing same Provided is an audio encoding method. The audio encoding method includes: acquiring envelopes based on a predetermined sub-band for an audio spectrum; quantizing the envelopes based on the predetermined sub-band; and obtaining a difference value between quantized envelopes for adjacent sub-bands and lossless encoding a difference value of a current sub-band by using a difference value of a previous sub-band as a context. Accordingly, the number of bits required to encode envelope information of an audio spectrum may be reduced in a limited bit range, thereby increasing the number of bits required to encode an actual spectral component.
US09361894B2	Audio encoding using adaptive codebook application ranges A low bit rate digital audio coding system includes an encoder which assigns codebooks to groups of quantization indexes based on their local properties resulting in codebook application ranges that are independent of block quantization boundaries. The invention also incorporates a resolution filter bank, or a tri-mode resolution filter bank, which is selectively switchable between high and low frequency resolution modes or high, low and intermediate modes such as when detecting transient in a frame. The result is a multichannel audio signal having a significantly lower bit rate for efficient transmission or storage. The decoder is essentially an inverse of the structure and methods of the encoder, and results in a reproduced audio signal that cannot be audibly distinguished from the original signal.
US09361893B2	Detection of an audio signal transient using first and second maximum norms Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for detecting whether a transient exists within an audio signal. According to one representative embodiment, a segment of a digital audio signal is divided into blocks, and a norm value is calculated for each of a number of the blocks, resulting in a set of norm values for such blocks, each such norm value representing a measure of signal strength within a corresponding block. A maximum norm value is then identified across such blocks, and a test criterion is applied to the norm values. If the test criterion is not satisfied, a first signal indicating that the segment does not include any transient is output, and if the test criterion is satisfied, a second signal indicating that the segment includes a transient is output. According to this embodiment, the test criterion involves a comparison of the maximum norm value to a different second maximum norm value, subject to a specified constraint, within the segment.
US09361891B1	Method for converting speech to text, performing natural language processing on the text output, extracting data values and matching to an electronic ticket form A system and method for extracting data values from a conversation to complete an electronic trade ticket over a communications network. The system comprises a plurality of client devices and a processor based server. A digital switchboard routes an incoming call from a first user to a second user to the server over the communications network. The telephone numbers of the users are verified against the stored telephone numbers in a database. A sample representing a predetermined period of the recorded conversation are utilized to identify the users. The conversation between the users are transcribed onto an electronic text file and processed to extract terms to populate data fields of an electronic trade ticket.
US09361885B2	Methods and apparatus for detecting a voice command Some aspects include a method of monitoring an acoustic environment of a mobile device operating in a low power mode, the mobile device having a first and second processor, the method comprises receiving acoustic input while the mobile device is operating in the low power mode, performing at least one first processing stage on the acoustic input using the first processor, prior to engaging the second processor, to evaluate whether the acoustic input includes a voice command, performing at least one second processing stage on the acoustic input using the second processor to evaluate whether the acoustic input includes a voice command if further processing is needed to determine whether the acoustic input includes a voice command, and initiating responding to the voice command when either the at least one first processing stage or the at least one second processing stage determines that the acoustic input includes a voice command.
US09361882B2	Supervisor training terminal and monitor for voice-driven applications A system for supervising an operator in a speech-driven environment includes an operator terminal configured for running a bi-directional speech task with an operator in a first spoken language wherein the speech task includes a plurality of successive nodes that are encountered by the operator, indicating progress through the task. A supervisor terminal is configured for running a bi-directional speech task with a supervisor in a second spoken language that is different from the first spoken language. A communication link exists between the operator terminal and supervisor terminal for communicating information therebetween. The operator terminal communicates, to the supervisor terminal, information regarding progress through the operator terminal speech task. The supervisor terminal progresses through the supervisor terminal speech task synchronized with the progress of the operator terminal speech task. A monitor is configured for displaying the operator's node-by-node progression upon receipt of speech data from said operator terminal.
US09361881B2	Method and apparatus for identifying acoustic background environments based on time and speed to enhance automatic speech recognition Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable media for identifying an acoustic environment of a caller. The method embodiment comprises analyzing acoustic features of a received audio signal from a caller, receiving meta-data information based on a previously recorded time and speed of the caller, classifying a background environment of the caller based on the analyzed acoustic features and the meta-data, selecting an acoustic model matched to the classified background environment from a plurality of acoustic models, and performing speech recognition as the received audio signal using the selected acoustic model.
US09361874B2	Varying adaptive filter step size in acoustic echo cancellation A method and system for acoustic echo cancellation varies a step size of an adaptive filter in an acoustic echo canceller. Far-end data is received and echo estimate data is calculated using the received far-end data. Microphone data is received and error data is calculated using the received microphone data and the echo estimate data. A first average of the microphone data and a second average of the error data are computed over a predefined number of samples. An echo leakage is estimated using the first average and the second average wherein the echo leakage indicates an extent to which the far-end data is present in the error data, and the step size of the adaptive filter is varied based on the echo leakage and a maximum allowed step size.
US09361868B1	Cymbal storage and transport container A cymbal storage and transport container which permits cymbals to be stored so they do not contact one another. The cymbals are stored with their centrally located mounting hardware attached which is used to mount each cymbal on a mounting stand. Each mounting hardware is located in the container to not be in contact with any other mounting hardware or cymbal.
US09361861B2	Weight for key and key for keyboard musical instrument A weight for a key of a keyboard musical instrument that is to be inserted and secured in an attachment space, provided to the key, is provided. The weight includes: a weight body portion; and a corrugated portion, disposed in at least one portion of a lateral surface of the weight body portion, the lateral surface being located around an axis extending in an inserting direction of the weight body portion into the attachment space, the corrugated portion including a plurality of corrugations aligned in the inserting direction. The weight body portion and the corrugated portion are made of an elastic material.
US09361859B2	Information processing device, method, and computer program product According to an embodiment, an information processing device includes a detector, a setting controller, and a controller. The detector detects a holding position of the information processing device. The setting controller sets a control region at a position separated by a distance from the detected holding position. The controller controls, based on whether the control region is touched, control a function.
US09361858B2	Position information providing device, position information providing method, position information providing system, and program A position information providing device includes a display control portion which controls, based on sound position information showing sound data transmission positions, the display of a map display screen where icons showing the sound data transmission positions are superimposed on a map.
US09361856B2	Liquid crystal display with photo-luminescent material layer In one embodiment, a method for controlling a liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided. The method receives a first light from a light source structure at a light emitting layer and emits from the light emitting layer a first color component, a second color component, and a third color component. The method then receives a second light through a first polarizer layer of a first polarization state positioned above the light emitting layer, a liquid crystal layer positioned above the first polarizer layer, and a second polarizer layer of a second polarization state positioned above the liquid crystal layer and converts the second light into the first color component, the second component, and the third color component in the light emitting layer. An intensity of the first light is dynamically controlled based on the converting of the second light.
US09361854B2	Method for stabilization and a system thereto A method for stabilization for use in a display system is provided. The method is performed in a first electronic device comprising a first display and a gaze tracking unit configured to track a gaze of a user of the first device. The first device is arranged to send an image signal to the second device. The second device comprises a second display. The method comprises sending the image signal from the first device to the second device, controlling the image signal by the first device, depending on the tracked gaze of the user, displaying the controlled image signal on the second display such that, when the user focuses on an object of a view of the first display, the object of the view on the second display is cropped and stabilized.
US09361853B2	Electronic book An e-book reader in which destruction of a driver circuit at the time when a flexible panel is handled is inhibited. In addition, an e-book reader having a simplified structure. A plurality of flexible display panels each including a display portion in which display control is performed by a scan line driver circuit and a signal line driver circuit, and a binding portion fastening the plurality of display panels together are included. The signal line driver circuit is provided inside the binding portion, and the scan line driver circuit is provided at the edge of the display panel in a direction perpendicular to the binding portion.
US09361851B1	Electrochromic two way display for two in one laptop/tablet form factors In one general aspect, a computing device can include a base, and a lid coupled to the base, the lid housing a display device that includes a first electrochromic material, a second electrochromic material, and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display. The OLED display can be located between the first electrochromic material and the second electrochromic material.
US09361850B2	Display device A display device includes a panel displaying an image using image data and including a common electrode to which a common voltage is applied; a timing controller providing the image data to the panel and outputting a correction voltage corresponding to the image data; and a power supply unit generating a compensation voltage using a panel common voltage and the correction voltage and providing the compensation voltage to the panel, wherein the panel common voltage is a voltage measuring the common voltage applied to the panel.
US09361849B2	Data driving apparatus for liquid crystal display device having a control switch for precharging an output channel A data driving apparatus for a liquid crystal display device includes an output buffer for buffering and outputting a data voltage input from a digital-analog converter, wherein the output buffer includes an input amplifier for amplifying and outputting current proportional to the data voltage, an outputter for supplying a data voltage corresponding to the input data voltage to an output channel using charging and discharging current proportional to output current from the input amplifier, a control switch unit connected between the input amplifier and the outputter, for driving the outputter in a switching mode to precharge the output channel in a precharge period prior to a data supplying period in which the outputter outputs the data voltage, and a mode controller for controlling the control switch unit in response to an input control signal.
US09361846B2	Charge sharing method for reducing power consumption and apparatuses performing the same A charge sharing method, device, and system is disclosed. For example, a charge sharing method for a display driver is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a first row of data for a first row of source lines; receiving a second row of data for a second row of source lines; for each source line of at least a first group of the source lines, determining whether a change amount between data for that source line from the first row of data and data for that source line from the second row of data is above a threshold; and performing selective charge sharing based on the determinations.
US09361843B2	Input buffer circuit and gate driver IC including the same The present invention discloses an input buffer circuit capable of recognizing and driving a low-voltage signal, output from a low-voltage environment, in a high-voltage environment and a gate driver IC including the input buffer circuit. The input buffer circuit is configured to include two or more multi-stage inverters and to recognize and output a gate signal having a different voltage domain from an operating voltage. Accordingly, a signal interface environment between chips operating in different voltage domains can be provided.
US09361838B2	Utilizing gray code to reduce power consumption in display system A system and method are disclosed to utilize Gray code in order to reduce the power consumption of column drivers in a display system. Binary source data is received from a timing controller. A Gray code digitizer converts and encodes the binary source data into a binary portion of data and a Gray code data. The binary portion data and the Gray code data are transmitted through a shift register to a digital-to-analog converter. The shift register consumes less power processing the converted binary portion of data and Gray code data than the corresponding binary source data. The digital-to-analog converter decodes the Gray code and generates corresponding gamma voltage levels for display use.
US09361837B2	Method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting viewing angle of screen A method and an apparatus for dynamically adjusting a viewing angle of a screen are provided. The method is suitable for dynamically adjusting a viewing range of a screen of a handheld electronic device, wherein the viewing angle of the screen is adjustable. The method is as follows. First, a shifting value of a target deviating from the viewing range of the screen is detected by a sensor. Next, the viewing range of the screen is dynamically adjusted according to the shifting value, so as to cover the target within the viewing range of the screen. Accordingly, the snooping for the content of a frame displayed on the screen by others can be prevented and a user can view the frame displayed on the screen more conveniently.
US09361835B2	Image display device and image display method In the present liquid crystal display device, an LED output value correction section (513) included in an area-active drive processing section (5) corrects LED data Dbl obtained by an LED output value calculation section (512) with reference to a luminance correction LUT (13), such that the luminance in the area from an intermediate value to near a maximum value shifts to a higher degree. Thus, even if the backlight luminance is low (typically, the mean luminance of an input image is low), contrast ratio is enhanced, thereby preventing a tone jump (insufficient luminance) at high tone levels due to an insufficient backlight luminance.
US09361833B2	Eye tracking based selectively backlighting a display Systems, apparatus, articles, and methods are described including operations for eye tracking based selective backlighting of a display.
US09361832B2	Display device and scanning line driver A display device includes: a display unit having m scanning lines and a first and a second scanning line drive unit for respectively applying scanning signals to one ends and the other ends of the scanning lines. The first scanning line drive unit performs a forward scanning signal output to sequentially select the scanning lines, while outputting scanning signals having a first blanking period from the odd-numbered output terminals and scanning signals having a second blanking period shifted from the first blanking period, from the even-numbered output terminals, and the second scanning line drive unit performs, in synchronization with the first scanning line drive unit, a reverse scanning signal output to sequentially select the scanning lines, while outputting scanning signals having the second blanking period from the odd-numbered output terminals and scanning signals having the first blanking period from the even-numbered output terminals.
US09361831B2	Display device and method for manufacturing the same A display device including a substrate having a display region on which an image is configured to be displayed, a plurality of pixels on the display region of the substrate, and a plurality of common power lines on the display region of the substrate and configured to supply a common power voltage to the plurality of pixels, the plurality of common power lines including first and second common power lines extending in a first direction, the second common power line being connected to the plurality of pixels arranged along the first direction, and the first and second common power lines being connected to each other in a central portion of the display region.
US09361830B2	Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus An electro-optical device includes one or more control lines that include a scanning line, a data line and a pixel circuit. The pixel circuit has a drive transistor, a write-in transistor with a gate which is electrically connected to the scanning line, a light-emitting element that emits light at a brightness that depends on the size of a current that is supplied through the drive transistor, and a control line which overlaps the gate of the drive transistor when viewed from a direction that is perpendicular to a surface of a substrate on which the pixel circuit is formed is included in the one or more control lines.
US09361828B2	Pixel driving circuit for organic light emitting diode display and operating method thereof A pixel driving circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a fifth transistor, an organic light emitting diode, and a capacitor. The second transistor is electrically connected between a first end and a gate end of the first transistor. The third transistor is electrically connected between the first end of the first transistor and a first supply voltage source. The fourth transistor is electrically connected between a second end of the first transistor and a data input end. The fifth transistor is electrically connected to the second end of the first transistor. The organic light emitting diode is electrically connected between the fifth transistor and a second supply voltage source. The capacitor is electrically connected to the gate end of the first transistor.
US09361826B2	Display device and drive method therefor A display device 100 includes a plurality of pixel circuits 10 arranged two-dimensionally; a plurality of power lines VPi provided for respective rows of the pixel circuits 10; p common power lines 9, each connected to two or more power lines VPi; and a power control circuit 4. Each pixel circuit 10 includes an organic EL element, a plurality of TFTs, and a capacitor and receives an initialization potential from a corresponding power line VPi. The power control circuit 4applies a power supply potential and the initialization potential to the p common power lines 9 in a switching manner. Accordingly, a display device is provided that has a configuration in which an initialization potential is provided to pixel circuits from power lines and that has a power control circuit small in circuit size.
US09361825B2	Method of detecting data bit depth and interface device for display device using the same A method of detecting a data bit depth and an interface device for a display device using the same are disclosed. The method includes confirming a physical connection between a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal and then transmitting a clock data recovery (CDR) training pattern signal from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal, outputting clocks from a CDR circuit of the receiving terminal using the CDR training pattern signal, receiving an alignment training pattern signal subsequent to the CDR training pattern signal from the transmitting terminal to the receiving terminal, and counting bits of pixel data included in the alignment training pattern signal or the clocks and determining a data bit depth of input data based on a count result, in the interface receiving terminal.
US09361823B2	Display device In a display device (110) provided with pixel circuits including organic EL elements, a display control circuit (1) calculates a voltage drop amount VRI of a power line due to display for each frame on the basis of an integrated value for display data, and a tone voltage generation circuit (9) adjusts reference voltages for a tone voltage on the basis of the integrated value in order to compensate for the voltage drop amount VRI. As a result, it is possible to compensate for the voltage drop of the power line with accuracy without increasing power consumption and the wiring in the pixel circuits.
US09361822B2	Color adjustment techniques for displays The present disclosure relates generally to systems and techniques for applying color adjustments to a display. In certain embodiments, the color adjustment techniques may be employed to transition current color correction values, which are based on a previously detected temperature of the display, to target correction values, which are based on a presently detected temperature of the display. Adjustment increments for each color channel of the display may be determined based on the color channel that has the largest difference between the current color correction value and the target color correction value. In particular, the number of adjustment steps may be determined so that the adjustment increment for each channel is less than or equal to a maximum adjustment increment.
US09361821B2	Display device A display device includes: a display panel in which a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines intersect in a matrix form and pixels are formed at intersecting points thereof; a data drive unit connected to the plurality of data lines and configured to output a black data voltage corresponding to a gradation level of 0 and expressing the black data voltage as a third voltage through the data lines, the third voltage greater than a first voltage, which is a minimum output value, and less than or equal to a second voltage corresponding to a gradation level of 0 when linearly extending data voltages of two or more low gradation levels; a gamma voltage supply unit outputting a gamma voltage for each gradation level to the data drive unit; and a timing controller generating a control signal to control driving of the display panel.
US09361818B2	Operation input device and manipulator system With a simple configuration, a area in which an operating unit can move is prevented from being limited. Provided is an operation input device including a display; an operating unit that operates a display object displayed on the display; a head-mounted unit that is mounted on the head of an operator; relative position sensors that detect a relative position and a relative orientation of one of the head-mounted unit and the operating unit with respect to the other; and a control unit that actuates the display object displayed on the display on the basis of changes in the relative position and the relative orientation detected by the relative position sensors.
US09361816B2	Decorative detectable warning panel having improved grip The present invention relates to detectable warning panels, and in particular to detectable warning panels that display text and/or other graphic information such as commercial messages, trademarks, logos, directions, slogans, pictures, names, product illustrations, emblems, promotional information related to a product or service, Quick Response Codes, matrix code, two-dimensional bar code, optical machine-readable labels, and combinations thereof.
US09361807B2	Method and apparatus for providing collaborative learning The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for providing collaborative learning. In one embodiment, a method includes presenting a visual representation of a task in a first modality to a plurality of users in a group on a shared display and receiving a plurality of inputs from input devices associated with the respective users for solving the task. At least one of the inputs comprises a visual representation of the at least one input in a second modality that is different from the first modality and a successful completion of the task by the group requires a correct solution that is collectively dependent upon all of the inputs.
US09361804B2	Method and device for calculating predictions on a flight plan of an aircraft The device comprises a flight management system which comprises means for generating requests, for requesting the results of performance functions and a performance function server which is external with respect to the flight management system and comprises means for calculating predictions which are capable of processing the requests and transmitting the results to the flight management system.
US09361800B2	System and method for processing, receiving, and displaying traffic information A system for sharing and processing traffic information includes a number of traffic information computer systems within individual vehicles or devices and a virtual traffic information server on a mobile network. The traffic information computer systems are each connected through a peer-to-peer radio, cellular, Wi-Fi, or other similar types of communications network, and which each operate with a database for displaying road maps, with a database storing average speed data for directions of travel along roadways, and with a location sensor used to determine the location and average speed of the vehicle or device, which are transmitted to other vehicles. The virtual server returns average speed data for road segments, which is displayed on the road maps. The system includes sharing average speed data calculated as well average speed data received from the plurality of vehicles to other vehicles, thereby enhancing the real-time communication of traffic and/or road condition data.
US09361794B1	Method and apparatus for providing a mixed mode traffic map display An approach is provided for presenting comprehensible representation of traffic flow information for various travel segments based on class levels. The approach involves causing, at least in part, a classification of one or more travel segments into one or more class levels. The approach also involves causing, at least in part, a designation of one or more representations of traffic flow information for the one or more travel segments based, at least in part, on the one or more class levels, wherein the one or more representations include, at least in part, a link-based traffic flow representation, a heat-map representation, or a combination thereof. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a presentation of at least one user interface depicting the one or more representations of the traffic flow information for the one or more travel segments based, at least in part, on the designation.
US09361793B2	Systems and methods for distance and congestion-aware resource deployment Computer-implemented systems and methods are disclosed for distance and congestion-aware resource deployment. In some embodiments, a method is provided to estimate a vehicle deployment region. The method includes constructing a graph data structure using at least in part a single invocation of a form of Dijkstra's algorithm. The method additionally includes partitioning an angular space centered on a vehicle location into a plurality of angular space regions, the vehicle location corresponding to a current or potential location of the vehicle. The method also includes selecting, for at least three of the plurality of the partitioned angular space regions, a geographical location within the angular space region, wherein each selected geographical location in an angular space region is a geographical location furthest from the vehicle location, and wherein each selected geographical location was determined, using the graph data structure, to be reachable from the vehicle location within a specified maximum cost. The method further includes forming a polygon representing a vehicle deployment region from the selected geographical locations.
US09361792B2	Self positioning floating platform and method of use Techniques and methods to reduce downtime in an offshore platform, such as an offshore semi-submersible drilling rig or drillship. Through the use of one or more movable platforms in a moon pool area, work on a riser string passing through the moon pool area may be performed without exposing workers directly to the open sea below. Accordingly, the use of the one or more movable platforms in the moon pool area may provide protected access to the riser string during, for example, harsh weather conditions.
US09361789B2	Remote control system The present invention pertains to a remote control system, the objective being to improve operability. A main body communication control unit 13 of a display device 7 permits connection to a remote controller 8 when not being in a connected state to a remote controller 9 when the connection is requested from the remote controller 8, and on the other hand, disapproves the connection to the remote controller 8 and prompts the remote controller 8 to be connected to the remote controller 9 when being in the connected state to the remote controller 9 when the connection is requested from the remote controller 8.
US09361788B2	Receiver of remote control device A receiver of a remote control device includes a receiver configured to receive by wireless communication, a packet including a count value of edges of pulse signals, which are output from an encoder, per a predetermined period and to obtain the count value from the received packet, a register configured to retain the count value based on a write signal input from the receiver, and a pulse regenerating circuit including a counter in which the count value of the register is set based on the write signal input from the receiver, and configured to regenerate the pulse signals at an edge period that corresponds to the count value set in the counter in the predetermined period that corresponds to the write signal. In a case where a new write signal is input before an end of the predetermined period that corresponds to a write signal input most recently, the pulse regenerating circuit is configured to reset the counter, to set in the counter, a count value newly set in the register, and to regenerate the pulse signal at an edge period that corresponds to the new count value.
US09361787B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program control target device, and information processing system There is provided a remote commander including an input section which accepts input of operation information from a user, a communication section which communicates with a control target device via a radio signal, a service information-acquisition section which acquires, from the control target device via the communication section, service identification information for identifying each of one or a plurality of services which the control target device is capable of providing the remote commander with, and a notification section which selects any of one or a plurality of pieces of the service identification information acquired by the service information-acquisition section based on the operation information, the input of which is accepted by the input section, and which notifies the control target device of the selected service identification information via the communication section.
US09361786B2	Systems and methods to control window coverings using powerline and radio frequency communications An electronic window covering control system automatically controls raising, lowering, and rotating a window covering of a window. A window covering controller interfaces with an electronic window covering, sends messages including sensor data to a local receiver, and receives messages including window covering commands from the local receiver. In turn, the local receiver interfaces with a hub device through a mesh network. The hub receives the sensor data, applies a rule set to make window covering operation decisions, and sends messages, which may comprise commands to operate the window covering, through the mesh network to the local receiver. The local receiver decodes the messages and passes the window covering commands to the window covering controller to automatically control the electronic window covering.
US09361778B1	Hands-free assistive and preventive remote monitoring system A computer-based method operate to monitor a state of a person in a living space or the state of the living space to optimize the monitored person's well-being. The method includes arranging a plurality of sensors in predetermined positions within the living space for generating sensor data, connecting each of the sensors to a gateway node in the living space, the gateway node configured for routing signals to and from the sensors in the sensor network and operating a server including a processor and a memory that is programmed to communicate with the gateway node to control the sensors, receive data detected by the sensors, to process the sensor data received from the sensor network and to generate communications based on the processing in accordance with a set of rules.
US09361777B2	Gate system for inventory control and theft prevention The present invention relates to a gate system which uses overlapping radiation patterns to deduce when an item is entering a warehouse and when an item is leaving a warehouse, for example, for loading onto a truck. The present invention stores information relating to the direction the item moved and actuates an alarm if the item is moved in an unexpected direction. The radiation patterns of the gates are angled such that one radiation pattern from a first antenna is directed towards the loading dock, while another radiation pattern from a second antenna is directed towards the interior of the building. Overlapping the radiation patterns allows the logic circuitry to account for the item as it moves from one side of the gate system to the other.
US09361776B2	Disposable and tamper-resistant RFID lock Implementations described and claimed herein provide an RFID locking apparatus including an RFID tag, a locking member, and a disabling member. The RFID tag is disposed inside a housing and has a chip and an antenna that emits a signal. The locking member includes a tube that extends outwardly from within the housing and a cable connected to the disabling member and exiting the housing via the tube. The locking member configured to compress a spring into a loaded state by pulling the cable. The disabling member is disposed near the spring inside the housing and is configured to destroy the antenna and/or the chip, such that the signal cannot be emitted, upon release of the spring from the loaded state. The RFID locking apparatus is configured to release the spring when the locking member is damaged.
US09361775B2	Mobile terminal security systems Systems that can track an object as it moves across the field of view of the security device, integrate transaction data with the object information, and can identify events that trigger an alert and methods for using the systems.
US09361774B2	Merchandise display hook with alarm Display hooks for displaying items of merchandise are provided. For example, the display hook includes at least one rod for supporting a plurality of items of merchandise and an end assembly coupled to the at least one rod. The end assembly includes an alarm mechanism configured to generate at least one alarming signal. The end assembly is configured to detect removal of each item of merchandise, wherein the alarm mechanism does not generate an alarming signal when at least a first item of merchandise is removed from the rod, and wherein the alarm mechanism is further configured to generate an alarming signal when a second item of merchandise has been removed from the rod within a predetermined period of time from the first item of merchandise being removed.
US09361772B2	Motion or opening detector An activity monitor which can be pre-programmed at the factory, the doctor's office or the pharmacist, or that can be programmed by the user. The activity monitor is affixed to a medicine bottle or container and activity associated with the bottle or container, such as movement, opening, volume changes, etc. are monitored in view to the schedule. If the schedule indicates that a dose of medicine should be taken at a particular time, but the monitored activity does not determine that the medicine has been taken, an alert signal will be issued to alert the user that it is time to take the medicine. In addition, if the monitored activity indicates that the medicine bottle has been opened prior to a scheduled time, then a tamper alert can be triggered.
US09361771B2	Door lock sensor and alarm A door lock mechanism is disclosed that includes door lock and alarm features. The mechanism includes a controller and a sensor useful to detect motions that are representative of attempted access through a door to which the door lock mechanism is attached. The controller can set an alarm condition if a measured motion, such as a measured acceleration, meet and/or exceeds a threshold. If an appropriate access control credential is provided through a user device then the alarm condition may not be set by the controller. The door lock mechanism can be coupled to a remote station via a communications link if needed, such as a radio frequency link. The remote station can additionally be in communication with the door lock mechanism via a network. The remote station can be used to send and receive messages regarding door lock mechanism status, configuration, etc.
US09361767B2	Banking apparatus controlled responsive to data bearing records A banking system is controlled responsive to data read from data bearing records. The banking system includes an automated banking machine. The machine is operable to carry out a financial transaction for a person responsive to a determination that the person is an authorized user of the machine based on correspondence between identifying data read by a reader of the machine and data store information. The machine includes a check acceptor that is operative to receive checks from authorized machine users. The check acceptor is operable to continuously move a received check along its transport path while simultaneously rotationally orienting the check into alignment with the transport path. A check determined not to have at least one property of an acceptable check is returned to the machine user. Acceptable checks are processed and stored in the machine.
US09361765B2	Gaming system and method providing a battling symbol generators game Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a battling symbol generators game. In various embodiments, each symbol generator of a set of symbol generators employed for the battling symbol generators game is associated with one of a plurality of different characteristics. During play of the battling symbol generators game, the gaming system modifies the set of symbol generators upon the occurrence of various symbol generator set modification events such that more symbol generators of the set are associated with a particular characteristic and/or such that fewer symbol generators of the set are associated with another characteristic. The gaming system provides a bonus when a designated quantity of the symbol generators of the set are each associated with a particular characteristic.
US09361760B1	Race game allowing selectable track lengths, run schedules and payoffs A method to operate simultaneous races providing racecourses (10) printed on bet slips and scheduling draws of random numbers for racer advancements. On a bet slip, the player marks one selectable spot for a racer to start and none to scratch a racer, and also selects which forthcoming draws will be applicable to advance racers. Make-up bets can be placed between advancements. Besides, a 1-race bet winner can earn cash payoff or non-cashable credit to wager like cash. The ticket holder of a hanging multi-race bet has the option to trade in hanging credit for placing other bets. How to calculate advancement probabilities, winner credits, hanging credits and specific house edge formulas for payoffs will be provided. An automatic computer/video version of the game is included.
US09361757B2	Gaming machine with bet-amount-dependent qualification time for subsequent games and game control method thereof Game qualification time may be set to allow participation in a common game from a basic game. This game qualification time is awarded in accordance with a bet amount stored in a RAM 243, after receiving a bet which is input by means of a 1-bet button 26 and a maximum bet button 27. A winning probability in a quick catch bonus game that occurs when a game result of the basic game is a predetermined game result is increased in accordance with the length of the game qualification time stored in a game qualification time management table in the RAM 243 (i.e., a basic quick catch bonus payout table is replaced with a special quick catch bonus payout table).
US09361754B2	Gaming system and method for selectively providing an elimination tournament that funds an award through expected values of unplayed tournament games of eliminated players A gaming system including a central server operable to communicate a plurality of different commands to a plurality of gaming devices to provide non-tournament game play and provide an elimination tournament. The gaming system contributes an average expected payout value of tournament games that were determined to be subsequently played by tournament players but were then not played because the players were eliminated before the end of the tournament to a tournament award. The tournament award is provided to a winner of the tournament.
US09361751B2	Attachment mechanism for reel basket assembly A reel assembly for a gaming machine includes a central hub and a clip. The central hub defines an opening through an axial center of the central hub and includes two enclosed channels each positioned on an opposite side of the opening. Each of the two enclosed channels has an open end facing the opening. The clip includes a U-shaped main body and two opposing flanges. The U-shaped main body has opposing ends. The two opposing flanges each extend away from a different one of the opposing ends of the U-shaped main body. Each of the two opposing flanges of the clip fits through the open end of a different one of the two enclosed channels such that the clip is linearly slidable between the two enclosed channels while each of the two opposing flanges remains at least partially maintained with the corresponding different one of the two enclosed channels.
US09361748B2	Pharmaceutical dispensing systems, methods and computer program products for determining and displaying replenishment information A pharmaceutical dispensing system includes a frame having first and second opposed sides, a plurality of cells configured to house pharmaceutical pills, and a display on the frame first side. A plurality of dispensing shelves configured to receive filled pill containers are accessible from the second side of the frame for removal of pill containers therein. The pharmaceutical dispensing system includes a processor and memory coupled thereto. A computer program resides in the memory and is executable by the processor for displaying a cell inventory graphical user interface (GUI) within the display. The cell inventory GUI includes a GUI control that is responsive to user activation for displaying replenishment information about one or more of the cells. The computer program is configured to determine a replenish point and replenish quantity for each cell and is configured to adjust the replenish quantity for each cell according to a stock-out risk.
US09361746B2	Automatic catering machine and method for operating it An automatic catering machine in which at least one item of food can be stored, cooled and/or heated. The automatic catering machine has a rack store for storing a large number of items of food and a transportation apparatus by means of which in each case at least one item of food can be removed from the rack store and transported to at least one station in the automatic catering machine, wherein the transportation apparatus has a transportation tool for grasping the item of food, which transportation tool can be moved horizontally and vertically. A method for operating the automatic catering machine is also provided.
US09361743B2	Method of conducting an electronic lottery The inventive method relates to an electronic lottery system, which contains a main lottery server, at least one local lottery server and lottery terminals. In addition, the lottery drawing is conducted by electronic lottery receipt identification. The main server previously forms electronic lottery receipts. Gambling and registration data are randomly placed into electronic packets, which are randomly transferred through at least one local lottery server to lottery terminals, where electronic lottery receipts are purchased by lottery participants. Electronic lottery receipts are used during the drawing; each receipt consists of at least two gambling segments sequentially opened by lottery participants. A matrix containing intersecting rows of gambling cells made with an ability to visualize at least on hidden designation of a drawing result.This method increases game attractiveness and interactivity, and radically increases the range of strategy selection when participating in a lottery.
US09361741B2	System and method for accessing a structure using a mobile device A wireless device access system employs short-range wireless communication to require the proximity of a user device to a structure prior to communicating an unlock request. The access system authenticates the unlock request and the proximity of the user to the structure prior to transmitting an unlock command to the structure. Additionally, the wireless device may require the proximity of a user token prior to operation and/or the access system may include an override within the structure blocking any unlock command.
US09361739B2	Odometer monitoring and redundant storage system A vehicle control system includes a computer and logic executable by the computer. The logic is configured to read an odometer value from a storage system. The odometer value corresponds to an accrued mileage obtained from an odometer. The accrued mileage is determined at a beginning of a current driving event. The logic is also configured to read an odometer value for the vehicle from another storage system. The odometer value from the other storage system corresponds to an accrued mileage obtained from the storage system at the beginning of a driving event that precedes the current driving event. The logic is further configured to compare the odometer value from the storage system to the odometer value from the other storage system and calculate a reduction value from the difference, upon determining the odometer value from the other storage system is greater than the odometer value from the storage system.
US09361738B2	Diagnostic tool with smart camera A diagnostic tool that includes a smart camera. The smart camera can be used to capture an image of the part that needs to be replaced. The image can also include the bar code that may be attached to the part. The image can be used to search a parts information database for additional parts information such as part number, manuals, pictures, etc. A further search of a parts supplier's database can be conducted using a location of the diagnostic tool to determine the nearest parts supplier that has the part available and the best price.
US09361735B1	Method and system of using spatial sensors on vehicle frame to determine crash information To determine the extent of the damage to a vehicle after a crash, a vehicle treatment system may determine a change in position of a vehicle part based on one or more spatial sensors attached to the vehicle part. The change in position of the vehicle part may be compared to previous change in position data for the same or similar type of vehicle part, to determine the extent of the damage to the vehicle part. Additionally, the vehicle treatment system may determine the extent of the damage for all vehicle parts to determine an overall extent of the damage to the vehicle after the crash.
US09361733B2	Portable device and method of controlling therefor A portable device is disclosed. A method of controlling a portable device, comprising the steps of capturing an image in front of the portable device, detecting a marker object from the image, displaying a virtual image corresponding to the marker object based on a location of the marker object, and terminating a display of the virtual image corresponding to the marker object, when the detecting of the marker object is terminated, terminate a display of the virtual image based on a first terminate mode if the gaze location of the user is detected at a first location, and terminate the display of the virtual image based on a second terminate mode if the gaze location of the user is detected at a second location.
US09361730B2	Interactions of tangible and augmented reality objects Method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing interactions of tangible and augmented reality objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for use with an augmented reality enabled device (ARD) comprises performing 3-dimensional tracking of one or more objects based at least in part on captured images of the one or more objects, detecting a state change of at least one object of the one or more objects based at least in part on the captured images, and causing an augmentation to be rendered in response to the state change of the at least one object, where a type of the augmentation is based at least in part on the state change of the at least one object.
US09361729B2	Techniques to present location information for social networks using augmented reality Techniques to present location information using augmented reality are described. An apparatus may comprise an augmentation system operative to augment an image with information for an individual, the image having a virtual object representing a real object. The augmentation system may comprise a location component operative to determine location information for the real object, a virtual information component operative to retrieve location information for an individual, and a proximity component operative to determine whether location information for the real object substantially matches location information for the individual. The augmentation system may further comprise an augmentation component operative to augment the virtual object with information for the individual to form an augmented object when the location information for the real object substantially matches the location information for the individual. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09361727B2	Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating autostereo three-dimensional views of a scene for a plurality of viewpoints using a pseudo-random hole barrier Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating autostereo three-dimensional views of a scene for a plurality of viewpoints are disclosed. According to one system, a display is configured to display images from plural different viewpoints using a barrier located in front of the display, where the barrier has a pseudo-random arrangement of light ports through which images on the display are viewable. A renderer coupled to the display simultaneously renders images from the different viewpoints such that pixels that should appear differently from the different viewpoints are displayed in a predetermined manner. The pseudo-random arrangement of the light ports in the barrier smoothes interference between the different viewpoints as perceived by viewers located at the different viewpoints.
US09361726B2	Medical image diagnostic apparatus, medical image processing apparatus, and methods therefor According to an embodiment, in a medical image diagnostic apparatus, an accepting unit accepts input of conditions with respect to regions to be photographed and arrangement of the regions. An extracting unit extracts an area of interest of each subject by analyzing medical image data photographed based on the conditions accepted by the accepting unit. Based on the conditions and on the area of interest extracted by the extracting unit, a setting unit sets display conditions of a parallax image group to be displayed on a display unit having a stereoscopic viewing function.
US09361725B2	Image generation apparatus, image display apparatus, image generation method and non-transitory computer readable medium Provided are an image generation apparatus, three-dimensional image display apparatus, image generation method and non-transitory computer readable medium. An image generation apparatus for generating a virtual-viewpoint image, includes a disparity-image-generating section which generates a disparity image corresponding to a two-dimensional image, by using a depth image and a parameter of a virtual camera; a disparity-image-correcting section which corrects the disparity image based on contour lines extracted from the two-dimensional image and the disparity image, or corrects the depth image to be used for generating the disparity image based on contour lines extracted from the two-dimensional image and the depth image; an pixel-shift-processing section which shifts each pixel of the two-dimensional image according to the corrected disparity image, to generate an intermediate image; and a unfixed-pixel-area-interpolating section which interpolates unfixed pixels to which the shifted pixels have been assigned in the intermediate image, to generate the virtual-viewpoint image.
US09361723B2	Method for real-time face animation based on single video camera The invention discloses a method for real-time face animation based on single video camera. The method tracks 3D locations of face feature points in real time by adopting a single video camera, and parameterizes head poses and facial expressions according to the 3D locations, finally may map these parameters into an avatar to drive face animation of an animation character. The present invention may achieve a real time speed by merely adopting a usual video camera of the user instead of an advanced acquisition equipment; the present invention may process all kinds of wide-angle rotations, translation and exaggerated expressions of faces accurately; the present invention may also work under different illumination and background environments, which include indoor and sunny outdoor.
US09361721B2	Method and apparatus for image stitching Various methods are provided for processing images. One example method may include computing a starting point and an ending point for an image seam as defined by an intersection of a rectangle bounding a first image and a rectangle bounding a second image. The method may also include determining whether the starting point and the ending point for the image seam are final points based on a determined mask region. The method may also include refining the starting point and the ending point by using an intersection of a mask image of the first image and a mask image of the second image in an instance in which it is determined that the starting point and the ending point are not final points. The method may also include computing a seam direction and one or more seam points using the starting point and the ending point.
US09361719B1	Label placement on a digital map To place labels on a digital map, indications of dimensions and positions for candidate labels for placement within a bounded region of a digital map are received. The bounded region is partitioned into bands parallel to an axis. For each of the bands, a respective subset of the candidate labels is identified, such that such that each label in the subset is at least partially disposed in the band. Non-overlapping labels are iteratively selected from the subset based at least on one of the edges of the labels in the subset perpendicular to the axis. A result set if generated using the respective selections of non-overlapping labels for the bands. The labels in the result set are placed on the digital map.
US09361717B2	Methods and systems of generating an interlaced composite image According to some embodiments, there is provided a method of creating an interlaced composite image. The method comprises receiving a plurality of images selected for interlacing, generating an interlaced composite image by interlacing a plurality of image strips from each the image and a plurality of separating strips in alternating manner, and outputting the interlaced composite image. At least some of pixel color values of each of the plurality of separating strips are calculated as a function of respective pixel color values of each of a first and second of the plurality of image strips which are interlaced to its left and to its right in the interlaced composite image.
US09361715B2	Global composition system A global composition system is described. In one or more implementations, the global composition system may be configured to perform rendering for a plurality of applications. For example, the global composition system may be configured to expose one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) that are accessible to the applications. The APIs may then be used to cause a single composition engine to perform the rendering for the plurality of applications. The use of a single composition engine may be used to support a variety of different functionality, such as to perform efficient rendering by knowing what elements are provided by each of the applications and how those items relate for rendering to a display device.
US09361714B2	Enhanced video description A method includes a computer creating scene description templates; the computer creating people profiles; analyzing video frames of a video to identify visual elements containing scenes and people; generating timelines for the identified visual elements; matching the identified visual elements with the scene description templates and the people profiles; and combining the matched identified visual elements and the timelines into the video.
US09361713B2	Systems and methods for analyzing graphs and/or physical bodies Systems and methods for analyzing graphs and/or physical bodies are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods determine one or more scaling factors that may be subsequently used to extract data from a graph/body under consideration. The systems and methods may also enable data extraction from multiple graphs, providing avenues to simultaneously optimize multiple variables at the same time.
US09361710B2	Defining a midlet region space Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to MIDlet execution in a desktop environment and provide a method, system and computer program product for clip region definition for a MIDlet region space. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for clip region definition for a MIDlet region space can be provided. The method can include extracting a raster image from a MIDlet, computing a clip region from the extracted raster image for the MIDlet, deploying the MIDlet to a desktop environment through an emulator, and applying the clip region to the MIDlet through the emulator to deploy the MIDlet as a widgetized application in the desktop environment.
US09361704B2	Image processing device, image processing method, image device, electronic equipment, and program This technique relate to an image processing device, an image processing method, an imaging device, an electronic equipment, and a program which can provide a technique to execute a highly accurate global motion search process which is robust to a local moving subject, an illumination intensity change, and the like.The image processing device includes: an image segmentation unit configured to make an image to be processed into plural divided images; a divided image selection unit configured to select a divided image, in which reliability of a motion search process is equal to or greater than a threshold value or reliability is relatively high, from the plural divided images; a first motion search processing unit configured to a motion search process for each divided image; and a second motion search processing unit configured to execute a motion search process for an entire image, in which an image segmentation is not performed, based on information of the motion search process for the selected divided image by the first motion search processing unit.
US09361703B2	Image processing device, control method of image processing device and program A dynamic image is generated. An image processing device includes a moving object acquisition unit, a moving direction acquisition unit, a rear region detection unit, and a smoothing processing unit. The moving object acquisition unit acquires a region of a moving object in a target image which is at least one image among a plurality of images which are temporally consecutive. The moving direction acquisition unit acquires a moving direction of the moving object. The rear region detection unit detects a region of a rear portion with respect to the moving direction in the region of the moving object, as a rear region. The rear region processing unit performs a predetermined image process on the rear region.
US09361702B2	Image detection method and device A method and device for detecting images are used to improve a detection rate and accuracy rate of the image moving target detection, so that moving targets also can be accurately detected in a scenario with complicated illumination changes. The method for detecting the images includes: collecting an image, performing moving target detection on the image by using a preset mixed space-time background model, and determining a target image; wherein, the mixed space-time background model is obtained in advance by modeling according to a grayscale change trend of the image.
US09361701B2	Method and system for binary and quasi-binary atlas-based auto-contouring of volume sets in medical images The present invention is a set of algorithms or calculations that may be applied to efficiently use atlas-based segmentation using QBinary (binary and/or quasi-binary) representations of images and/or their ROIs. A QBinary representation of an image or a part of an image (for example, such as a ROD may be a binary image (for example, such as a code with 1 bit) and or a quasi-binary image (for example, such as a code with more than 1 and less than 8 bits) that serves to represent that image and/or ROI in an atlas. Two-dimensional QBinary codes may be used to both construct QBinary atlases and QBinary-controlled atlases with or without QB-Codes registration. Additionally, the present invention may offer a set of algorithms to sequentially auto-contour (or auto-segment) individual slices of a volume set of digital images without or without QB-Codes registration, provided one slice is semi-automatically contoured by a human operator.
US09361695B2	Method of recognizing a position of a workpiece from a photographed image In a preparation process, one workpiece W is photographed from a plurality of angles, the photographed image is segmented into patches to obtain a plurality of sample patch images, the sample patch images are classified, and each sample patch image is stored while being corresponded with a position information to a reference position of the workpiece W. Image recognition process obtains a reference position of the workpiece W in a patch image, by photographing piled-up workpieces W, segment the photographed image into patches to obtain a plurality of patch images, classify the patch images in same classification method of the sample patch images, accumulating a position information to the reference position of the workpiece W, which is stored while corresponded to the sample patch image of the same classification as the patch image for each patch image, and on the basis of the accumulated result.
US09361694B2	System and method for determining rotation invariant feature descriptors for points of interest in digital images A system and method for determining rotation invariant feature descriptors for points of interest in digital images for image matching are disclosed. In one embodiment, a point of interest in each of two or more digital images is identified. Further, the digital images are transformed to change location of the point of interest in each of the digital images to a principal point. Furthermore, a rotation invariant feature descriptor is determined for the point of interest in each of the transformed digital images for image matching.
US09361686B2	Method and apparatus for the assessment of medical images A method of determining the degree of uptake of a PET maker in an individual candidate PET scan, the method including the steps of: (a) calculating a series of representative matched controlled PET and MRI templates for a series of controlled sample scans of individuals; (b) computing a series of brain surfaces from the matched templates; (c) aligning the individual candidate PET scan with the candidate templates; (d) aligning the candidate PET images with the series of brain surfaces; (e) selecting a predetermined (M) best candidate templates for each surface location based on a similarity measure between the candidate PET values and the corresponding controlled PET scans; (f) computing M weights for each surface location, utilizing a corresponding MRI tissue map; (g) utilizing the M weights to combine a corresponding M template tissue indicators from corresponding MRI templates into an average brain surface indicator.
US09361684B2	Feature validation using orientation difference vector During an analysis technique, the locations of a polyp candidate (and, more generally, a feature) in images of the colon acquired with different orientations of an individual are compared to determine if the polyp candidate is a true positive (an actual polyp) or a false positive (an artifact). In particular, the locations are compared for images when the individual is supine and prone. During this rotation by approximately 180° (and, more generally, a symmetry operation), an actual polyp is expected to also be rotated by approximately 180°. Consequently, the location change during the symmetry operation can be used to validate whether the polyp candidate is an actual polyp. Because the colon is a non-rigid object (with degrees of freedom including rotation, compression and expansion), reference markers (such as haustral folds) are used to assist in determining the location of the polyp candidate in the images acquired in the different orientations.
US09361678B1	Compensation method of spectral mismatch A compensation method of spectral mismatch for a color filter array (CFA) comprising of white, red, green, and blue (WRGB) color filters includes introducing an offset representing spectral mismatch to modify a linear model that relates a W component of a pixel to R, G, and B components of the pixel. In one embodiment, an estimated offset is generated according to readout component images, and a compensated component image is generated according to the estimated offset and a corresponding readout component image.
US09361676B2	System and method for enhancing the legibility of degraded images Disclosed are embodiments for a system, method, and computer program product for performing an process on an original image, the process being implemented by a computer system performs a comprising the at least one computer: performing an process on an image that renders the processed image legible than then the original image, wherein the analysis segregates dark pixels of the image from light pixels of the image. The method can comprise: first converting the image into a grayscale image. The method comprises processing a pixel area for each pixel of the image is a dark pixel or a light pixel and determining if a pixel is proximate to an edge.
US09361675B2	Image converting device and image converting system Means which enables image conversion in which a plurality of conversion results can be output without once saving all of video-image data, which has been input from image-pickup means, in a storage medium is provided. A single line memory having a plurality of lines is used while switching the role thereof for a reading use by a video-image converting means and a use for inputting image data from the image-pickup means. The image converting means obtains an input image, which is in the line memory, and carries out conversion of the input image based on a conversion specifying means interpreted by an instruction decoder.
US09361672B2	Image blur detection A system of estimating image blur in digital images stored in a digital file. The disclosed system may calculate a blur value and direction of motion causing image blur based on detected edges within an input image and spectral energy information of the input image in the frequency domain.
US09361671B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an image processing apparatus including a detection unit, a strength determination unit, and a processor. The detection unit is configured to detect at least one area in an image. The strength determination unit is configured to determine strength of processing for a unit of processing of the image, based on a distance between a location of the area being detected by the detection unit and a location of the unit of processing of the image. The processor is configured to perform the processing on the image, per the unit of processing, at the strength being determined by the strength determination unit.
US09361669B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program for performing a blurring process on an image A blurring process is performed on an addition area including a point light source area detected in an image to be processed so that the nearer to the circumference of the addition area, the higher the luminance value while an addition coefficient is being increased according to a distance from the center.
US09361668B2	Method and apparatus for generating disparity map There is provided an apparatus for generating a disparity map. According to the apparatus, an image acquisition section acquires a right-camera image and a left-camera image which are picked up from mutually different viewpoints by cameras. A disparity map generation section generates a disparity map that includes disparity expressed in terms of a difference in pixel positions between each of pixels and a corresponding one of pixels in the right-camera image and the left-camera image, respectively, as acquired. A weight determination section determines a weight that serves as a degree of contribution to disparity correction, for each of weight-calculation-target pixels composed of surrounding pixels. The weight-calculation-target pixels include a correction-target pixel or surrounding pixels that are present around the correction-target pixel in the disparity map. A disparity map correction section corrects the disparity of the correction-target pixel, using weighted average based on the determined weight.
US09361663B2	Applying rapid numerical approximation of convolutions with filters for image processing purposes A computer implemented method for applying a numerical approximation of a convolution of image I as represented by hierarchical signals al of level l with filter f, said method including the steps of: generating a forward transformation by applying a convolution between al and kernel h1 for each level of hierarchy l and by down-sampling the result of convolved al and h1; generating a backward transformation by applying, for each level of hierarchy l, a convolution between kernel h2 and an up-sampled forward transformation and combining the result with a convolution of al with kernel g; and combining the forward transformation with the backward transformation, to yield â0 being an approximation of a convolution between a and f, wherein kernels h1, h1, and g are optimized kernels of filter f.
US09361662B2	Systems and methods for synthesizing high resolution images using images captured by an array of independently controllable imagers Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed that use super-resolution (SR) processes to use information from a plurality of low resolution (LR) images captured by an array camera to produce a synthesized higher resolution image. One embodiment includes obtaining input images, determining an initial estimate of at least a portion of a high resolution image using a plurality of pixels from the input images, and determining a high resolution image that when mapped through the forward imaging transformation matches the input images to within at least one predetermined criterion using the initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image. In addition, each forward imaging transformation corresponds to the manner in which each imager generates the input images, and the high resolution image has a resolution that is greater than any of the input images.
US09361661B2	Display driver integrated circuit and display data processing method thereof A display driver integrated circuit is provided which includes a first line buffer which receives first pixel data of an odd lane in response to an external clock and outputs the first pixel data in response to an internal clock; a second line buffer which receives second pixel data of an even lane in response to the external clock and outputs the second pixel data in response to the internal clock; a line buffer controller which receives display data by the two pixel data to output the first and second pixel data; a data merger which merges the first pixel data output from the first line buffer and second pixel data output from the second line buffer; and an image data processing block which processes the merged pixel data, wherein a frequency of the internal clock is lower than a frequency of the external clock.
US09361660B2	Image processing device and method, supplement image generation device and method, program, and recording medium An image-processing apparatus for generating images from a plurality of viewpoints comprises a supplementation section that receives images captured by a plurality of image capturing devices arranged on a predetermined plane and generates supplemental images at a plurality of supplemental camera positions on the predetermined plane, each supplemental image being generated based on images captured by a predetermined number of the image capturing devices on the predetermined plane; and a viewpoint image generation section that generates a viewpoint image from a viewpoint by selecting pixels from the plurality of supplemental images and captured images.
US09361657B2	System and method for quickly obtaining medical information A medical bracelet, wrist-band device, watch, piece of jewelry, or any other worn item contains a OR code for fast scanning by emergency first responders, ER teams or any other medical personnel. Scanning the QR code with a handheld device like a smartphone results in immediate retrieval of pertinent medical information either directly from the QR code, or from a dedicated website. Further security of medical information can be provided by a numerical or alphanumerical patient ID. and a PIN that can be printed on the device for fast access.
US09361656B2	Data mining and logic checking tools Data mining and logic-checking tools provided by a service to a client organization enable fractal data comparison and analysis and a logic-based data derivation. The tools are configured to interface with websites which have data that typically is 1) required and missing from a client organization's database, 2) used to validate pre-existing data in a user's database, or 3) used to derive new data for a user's database. For data acquisition, the tools interface with sources of data which, typically, do not offer an application programming interface (API) for non-human access to the data. The tools may execute routines to validate the acquired data to ensure its completeness and logical accuracy as well as enrich the data with data from other sources or data that is derived from the acquired data. The processed data is organized and transformed into specified end states and routed to appropriate recipients.
US09361653B2	Social recommendations for business process platform Methods, systems, apparatus, and computer programs encoded on computer storage medium, for integrating business data and social data in execution of a business process, implementations including actions of receiving user input, the user input being associated with a task of the business process and being received during interaction with an application, determining that a social query is triggered, querying business data based on a business query, the business query being generated based on the user input, querying social networking data based on the social query, the social query being generated at least partially based on the user input, receiving business data in response to the business query, receiving social data in response to the social query, and providing at least a portion of the business data and at least a portion of the social data for display to a user that provided the user input.
US09361650B2	Synchronization of vehicle sensor information A method includes receiving and storing sensor data including a first plurality of data points indicative of a plurality of respective states of the environment external to a vehicle at a plurality of respective times, operational data including a second plurality of data points indicative of a plurality of respective states of an operational parameter of the vehicle at a plurality of respective times, and synchronization data. The method also includes generating a virtual model of an event involving the vehicle using the stored data, at least by generating a first visual representation of the plurality of respective states of the external environment, generating a second visual representation of the plurality of respective states of the operational parameter, and using the synchronization data to cause the first visual representation to be displayed simultaneously with, and in a time-aligned manner with, the second visual representation.
US09361649B2	System and method for a trading interface incorporating a chart A graphical interface and method are provided for displaying market information corresponding to a tradeable object. One graphical interface includes a chart region for displaying historical market data in relation to a first value axis, and a market grid region in alignment with the chart region. The market grid region comprises a plurality of areas for receiving commands from a user input device to send trade orders, and the areas are displayed in relation to a second value axis. A plurality of values displayed along the second value axis is a subset of values displayed in relation to the first value axis, and can be modified to a new plurality of values that corresponds to a new subset of values on the first value axis.
US09361648B2	Rule authoring for events in a grid environment A rules engine can be initialized as part of an object grid, wherein the rules engine is executable code executing using computer resources. The rules engine updates a business mapper. The rules engine receives a business rule definition to form a business rule. The rules engine determines business terms are present in the business rule. The rules engine converts the business terms to technical terms based on the business mapper, responsive to a determination that business terms are present. The rules engine determines that the business rule comprises a temporal rule. The rules engine receives rule criteria, wherein the rule criteria is at least one selected from the group consisting of frequency, delay and timing dependency, responsive to the determination that the business rule is a temporal rule. The rules engine stores the business rule to the rules engine. The rules engine publishes the business rule to a publish-subscribe topic.
US09361644B2	Systems, methods, and apparatus for wireless thermal printing for order fulfillment Systems, methods, and a printer apparatus using network-based communication over 3G or 4G wireless networks, and provides for electronic response from the printer relating to order confirmation and fulfillment at the recipient printer, in communication to an order management coordinator or server. The printer provides an order output including at least one symbol representing an order, including at least one of order content, ordering entity or individual, price, time of order, and combinations thereof.
US09361643B2	System and method for modifying package service subscriptions online A method allowing service subscribers to modify service subscriptions includes receiving an order for a feature package including multiple features and automatically generating a change request upon identifying an existing feature for the subscriber among the features in the feature package. Change requests may be generated automatically until the order includes new features exclusively.
US09361636B2	Creating, managing, and provisioning packages of online applications Methods and computer-readable media are provided herein for implementing custom application programming interfaces (API) for creating, managing, and provisioning packages of online applications. An offer management service API is implemented that provides methods for creating and modifying offers for packages of online applications. An offer provisioning API is implemented that provides methods enabling the provisioning of online applications for subscribers to offers. An application provider API is published and utilized to provision and maintain individual instances of online applications provided by application providers.
US09361634B2	System and method for accepting closed loop cards or codes at a merchant point of sale Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for redeeming a closed loop card/code funded with an amount of money. The system receives from a merchant point of sale an indication of use of a closed loop card/code not issued by the merchant and presented by a consumer, queries and receives a confirmation of an amount of money in an account associated with the closed loop card/code, presents the consumer with an offer to buy the closed loop card/code at a discount price, and upon accepting the offer, closes out the closed loop card/code and pays the discount price to the consumer. Paying the discount price can include applying the discount price to a purchase by the consumer at the merchant. The merchant can provide cash back to the consumer for excess value of the discount price over the consumer's purchase. Merchants can apply more than the discount price.
US09361633B1	Determining present venue for a user device A user device acquires identifiers and signal strengths corresponding to detectable wireless devices. The user device associates one or more of the identifiers with one or more venues, assigning a confidence value to each association. A score value is also assigned to each association based on the signal strengths and the confidence values. One of the associations is selected based on the score values, and is designated as the most likely venue where the user device is located. Information may be accessed or requested, or one or more operations may be performed, in accordance with the most likely venue.
US09361630B1	Provision of location based services A method and system for providing location based services to a user are provided. Multiple beacons are strategically positioned in predetermined locations in an environment. The beacons encode and project beacon related information. A client application is provided on the user's communication device. The client application captures the beacon related information in one or more communication modes, extracts the captured beacon related information, and sends a request to a service management server for area information and contextual information based on the extracted beacon related information via a communication network. The service management server assembles and transmits area information and contextual information to the communication device based on the sent request from the client application via the communication network. The client application identifies its location and acquires location based services on the user's communication device based on the identified location and the transmitted area information and contextual information.
US09361629B2	Controlling simultaneous execution of multiple telecom campaigns Methods and arrangements for managing execution of multiple campaigns. At least two campaigns are directed to a target. A monitor is associated with the target, and the at least two campaigns are delivered to the monitor, wherein at least one campaign is in a run mode and at least one campaign is in a wait mode.
US09361627B2	Systems and methods determining a merchant persona The method of processing an analysis cycle to determine interest merchants may include selecting a seed merchant relevant to a topic interest, identifying consumers that have completed a transaction with the seed merchant to generate a list of identified consumers, determining merchants visited by the identified consumers, scoring all the merchants based on network connectivity, activity, and merchant over-index, updating the seed merchant in response to the list of scored merchants relative to a scoring threshold, and scoring the list of identified consumers based on the number of distinct merchants in transaction and over-indexing. Additionally, the method may further comprise producing a list of updated interest merchants and a list of updated identified consumers, where the updated interest merchants and the updated identified consumers are relevant to the topic interest.
US09361626B2	Social gathering-based group sharing Implementations include receiving a first image that displays context of an event, the first image being received during the event, receiving a first identifier associated with a first attendee, the first identifier being associated with a user profile in a computer-implemented social networking service and being determined based on processing of the first image to detect a presence of the first attendee in the first image, determining, based on the first identifier, that the first attendee is a contact of a user within the social networking service, populating an event social circle to include the first attendee, the event social circle being associated with the user and defining a distribution for digital content generated by the user within the social networking service, receiving digital content generated by a computing device of the user, and distributing the digital content based on the event social circle.
US09361624B2	Method and system for predicting association item affinities using second order user item associations Systems and methods are provided for determining an affinity score of a source entity and a target entity without consideration of data that directly links the source entity and the target entity. An intermediate entity that is relatable to a source entity is identified. A target entity is identified that is relatable to an intermediate entity. A similarity score is calculated identifying a degree of similarity between the source entity and the intermediate entity, or the target entity and the intermediate entity. An affinity score is calculated of the source entity and the intermediate entity, or the target entity and the intermediate entity. An affinity score of the source entity and the target entity is determined based on the similarity score and the affinity score.
US09361620B2	Electronic transaction system with entitlement and promotion engines A system for selling and administering the redemption of travel site access and other privileges to consumers has a computer connected to the Internet that pushes and pulls data to and from a database including site and privilege data, such as, description, cost, purchases, access code, privilege redemption and promotion data. The consumer may purchase access to sites and goods over the Internet and are provided with an access code which can be presented to the consumer in a variety of forms in accordance with the consumer's preference. In one embodiment, the code is sent to a mobile phone or computer. Optionally, the mobile device can communicate with a point of sale device to allow access to a given site. The mobile device may also be used to send promotions, such as discounts, to the consumer, which may be programmatically selected and sent based upon logistical, empirical, timing and marketing criteria. Point of sale devices and human representatives may facilitate non-technical consumer use by conducting selected functions, such as the sale and redemption of privileges and the communication of promotions.
US09361619B2	Secure and convenient mobile authentication techniques Security and convenience are provided by a system, apparatus, method, and computer program product that stores two or more encryption keys that correspond to two or more levels of authentication. The encryption keys may be encrypted and decrypted utilizing an endorsement key and trusted computing techniques. Or the encryption keys may be stored in a secure manner utilizing key protection techniques, such as cryptographic camouflaging. A first encryption key is recovered automatically for the first level of authentication. And input is requested to recover the second encryption key for the second level of authentication.
US09361613B2	System and method for a baseband nearfield magnetic stripe data transmitter A system for a baseband near field magnetic stripe data transmitter includes a mobile phone, a magnetic stripe transmission (MST) device and a payment button. The mobile phone includes a payment wallet application and is configured to transmit a stream of pulses including magnetic stripe data of a payment card. The MST device includes a driver and an inductor, and the MST device is configured to receive the stream of pulses from the mobile phone, to amplify and shape the received stream of pulses and to generate and emit high energy magnetic pulses including the magnetic stripe data of the payment card. The inductor is driven by a series of timed current pulses that result in a series of high energy magnetic pulses that resemble the fluctuating magnetic field created by a moving magnetic stripe. The payment button is programmed to be associated with a pre-selected payment card and activating of the payment button initiates the emission of high energy magnetic pulses including the magnetic stripe data of the pre-selected payment card.
US09361612B2	Peer-to-peer transfer between mobile devices with coupled secure elements A method for transmitting data between a mobile communication device and a server. The method includes running a mobile application on the mobile communication device. The mobile application is hosted on the mobile communication device through the server as a Software as a Service (SaaS). The method further includes transmitting data associated with the mobile application between the mobile communication device and the server, in which transmission of the data between the mobile communication device and the server is monitored through the server.
US09361611B2	Method and system for secure mobile payment transactions A method for facilitating the widespread use of the PIN-Debit payment method for Internet “eCommerce” and mobile payments sales which requires little or no change for the cardholders, merchants, debit networks and card issuers based primarily on the introduction of a layer of middleware and wherein the Debit Networks and Issuing Banks may customize the implementation of the services based on individual strategy and cardholder preferences.
US09361610B2	Mobile phone as point of sale (POS) device A system and method for provisioning one or more value added services to a postpaid/prepaid mobile account and/or a postpaid/prepaid mobile device using a wireless communication device as a point-of-sale device, is disclosed.
US09361605B2	System and method for filtering spam messages based on user reputation System for updating filtering rules for messages received by a plurality of users including a filtering rules database storing filtering rules for the users; means for distributing the filtering rules to the users; a user reputation database comprising a reputation weight for each user; and means for receiving and processing of user reports that indicate that a message belongs to a particular category. The means for receiving (i) calculates a message weight in its category based on a number of reports received from multiple users and a reputation weights of those users, (ii) decides whether the message belongs to the particular category if the message weight exceeds a predefined threshold, (iii) updates the filtering rules in the filtering rules database based on the deciding, and (iv) distributes the updated filtering rules from the filtering rules database to the users using the means for distributing.
US09361604B2	System and method for a context-based rich communication log Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for generating a context-based rich communication log. A system configured to practice the method performs a context-based analysis of a history of communication sessions over at least two communication modalities, wherein the context-based analysis considers semantic meaning, temporal relationship, and user activities. The system generates associations between the communication sessions based on the context-based analysis, and generates the context-based rich communication log based on the associations. The context-based analysis can be based on time, session participant identifications, ongoing events, and/or on-demand queries of the communication sessions. The system can then present the context-based rich communication log to a user. The context-based rich communication log can be used as part of at least one of a predictive contacts application, a topic analyzer, a conferencing application, and a personal communication assistant, for example.
US09361603B2	System and method for globally and securely accessing unified information in a computer network A smartphone that includes a communications interface to communicate via one or more Internet communications channels is provided. The smartphone also includes a service engine that communicates with a global server via an Internet channel using the communications interface to provide identification data to the global server. In response to providing the identification data, the service engine receives configuration data to configure the service engine with a selectable set of downloadable executables. The selectable set of downloadable executables include a selection of downloadable executables that is made at least in part by the global server using the identification data. A display presents at least some of the selectable set of downloadable executables on the smartphone, and an input device selects a downloadable executable from the selectable set. The service engine initiates a download of the selected downloadable executable using the communications interface.
US09361600B2	Physical layer management (PLM) system for use with an optical distribution frame in which trays can be selectively removed and re-attached One embodiment is directed to a subrack comprising a backplate and at least one tray configured so that a plurality of connections can be made at a plurality of positions on the tray. Each of the plurality of connections involves at least one connector having information stored in a device associated therewith that can be read. The backplate and the tray are configured so that the tray can be selectively attached and removed from the backplate. The backplate and the tray are configured so that the devices associated with the connectors involved in making the connections can be read via the tray. The devices associated with the connections can be implemented, for example, using RFID tags or connection point identifier (CPID) storage devices (such as EEPROMs).
US09361598B2	Automated application discovery and analysis system and method An application modeling system for automating the discovery, mapping and monitoring of a plurality of elements within an IT Infrastructure that supports specific applications and business services, spanning not only network elements, hosts, and software, but also users, company structures and business processes they support. The system includes: collector modules for collecting relationship, modeling and status information from both IT and non-IT specific sources, creating data objects representing application components in the modeling database and gathering pertinent data about activities occurring in the end-to-end IT infrastructure; a modeling database for consolidating information gathered by the collector modules; correlator modules for automating determination of complex relationships between data objects stored in the modeling database to create application models of individual applications in the context of business process and IT service delivery; visualizer modules for viewing application structures end-to-end and predicting the impacts of element failures on the delivery of business services.
US09361594B2	Generating time slot for managing time across multiple time zones A time slot of regular time length and capacity is defined in time local to a time zone. The slot is defined by a local time start timestamp and a local time end timestamp. In one aspect, upon determining that the local time end timestamp of the slot overlaps with the transition period, the time slot is prolonged beyond the transition period. The prolonged time slot is correspondingly defined by an international standard time start timestamp and an international standard time end timestamp. The prolonged time slot is generated based on the international standard time start timestamp and the international standard time end timestamp.
US09361592B2	Automated defect and optimization discovery Performance information and configuration information is received for the plurality of computer systems. The computer systems are grouped into a plurality of clusters based at least in part on the performance information, where the plurality of clusters includes a first cluster and a second cluster. A system configuration associated with the first cluster is automatically identified from the configuration information and is automatically sent to the second cluster.
US09361589B2	System and a method for providing a dialog with a user A computer-implemented method for providing a dialog with a user, the method comprising the steps of: (a) creating (501) dialog's plot scenario as a narrative graph structure containing the dialogs; (b) assigning (502) coefficients of dialog transitions maps to narrative graph nodes; (c) providing (503) speech input for recognition in a given context and dialog phase represented by current narrative graph node; (d) applying (504) algorithm for updating dialog coefficients based on user's speech or user's other behavior; (e) applying (505) at least one fuzzy logic algorithm which using user speech, and other coefficients on the transition map, determines transition to another narrative graph node (phase of a dialog or a plot), or updates a position on the transition map continuing the dialog in the same narrative graph node (f) determining (507) a response based on coefficients of the narrative graph; (g) repeating steps (c) to (f) for a particular narrative graph node until a transition is decided in step (e); (h) after a transition in step (e) repeating steps (c) to (f) with new coefficients in a new narrative graph node starting with a new position on a dialog graph structure and with new values of coefficients.
US09361585B1	Method for determining data quality in a knowledge management system A method for calculating a confidence score for a data element that includes substantive technical data in a computer interpretable form and is adapted to be utilized by a knowledge management system. The method includes the steps of encoding substantive technical data in the data element, tracking a plurality of component factors for the data element, calculating a plurality of component scores for the data element wherein each individual component score corresponds to an individual component factor, and calculating the confidence score for the data element based at least in part on the plurality of component scores.
US09361575B2	Method of programming a neural network computer A method is disclosed for programming a target neural network computer for use in cognitive computing systems in automotive safety applications. An observer neural network computer is integrated into active safety systems of a plurality of vehicles to observe signals. Each respective observer neural network computer is arranged to observe signals from a forward facing camera and signals from a driver action monitor of its respective vehicle, to process the observed signals from the forward facing camera of its respective vehicle and correlate them with the observed signals from the driver action monitor of its respective vehicle. The correlated signals from the plurality of observer neural network computers are combined, and the target neural network computer is programmed for use in cognitive computing systems in automotive safety applications based on said combined correlated signals.
US09361574B2	Wireless communication improving sheet, wireless communication IC tag, information transmitting medium and wireless communication system A wireless communication improving sheet capable of improving a possible communication distance of an IC tag for wireless communication, a wireless communication IC tag, and a wireless communication system are provided. A first spacer has an arrangement surface for arranging a wireless IC tag. An auxiliary antenna, which resonates with respect to an electromagnetic wave used for wireless communication, is provided on a surface opposite to the arrangement surface of the first spacer. A second spacer is provided on an opposite side to the first spacer with the auxiliary antenna interposed therebetween. The first spacer and the auxiliary antenna is formed with a groove (a hole) having the second spacer as the bottom.
US09361572B2	Wearable device with magnets positioned at opposing ends and overlapped from one side to another A wearable device is provided with a wearable device structure with first end and second ends. A plurality of magnets is positioned at the first and second ends that provide for coupling of the first end to the second end of the wearable device structure. At least a portion of magnets at the first end overlap with magnets at the second end. ID circuitry is at a surface or an interior of the wearable device structure.
US09361567B2	Inductor The invention concerns an inductor comprising a plurality of so-called first conductors (100 to 109) substantially parallel to one another, at least three of said first conductors being substantially mutually equidistant and distributed over a surface (120), and an electric power supply (140) of said conductors adapted to circulate an electric current in the same direction in said conductors.Preferably, said conductors are more densely distributed at the ends of the surface (120) comprising them.Preferably, the inductor further comprises a plurality of second substantially parallel conductors perpendicular to the first conductors, the electric power supply circulating an electric current in the same direction on said second conductors.Preferably, the inductor further comprises a plurality of third conductors forming closed turns, the electric power supply circulating an electric current in the same direction in said third conductors.Preferably, the electric power supply successively powers the first, second and third conductors.
US09361565B2	Data communication system with perceptive filter A data communication device (1) for attachment to an object has a flexible substrate, a transmitter (3) adapted to transmit data in the form of electromagnetic radiation and a programmable memory (7). The device has a controller (5) for controlling the transmission of the data and a programming component for programming the device. A power source for the device comprises a power storage device (8) and a power extraction component (9) capable of extracting power from the environment in which the data communication device is located when in use. A data communication system includes the device and a reader for receiving electromagnetic radiation from the device. The reader includes a perceptive filter adapted to distinguish radiation received from the device from radiation received from other sources.
US09361564B2	Protection of an NFC or RFID radio in the presence of strong electromagnetic fields Methods and devices are described, including a near-field communications (NFC) or radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising an NFC or RFID circuit, an antenna having at least a first terminal, a first rectifier connected to the first terminal of the antenna, a switch between the first rectifier and the NFC or RFID circuit, a voltage detector for detecting a voltage in the device caused by a signal received at the antenna, and a control module for controlling the switch, wherein when the voltage exceeds a threshold magnitude, the control module controls the switch to be in an open state and, after a predetermined time period, determines whether the voltage still exceeds the threshold magnitude and, if the voltage still exceeds the predetermined magnitude, controls the switch to be in the open state.
US09361562B1	Method and apparatus for fractal multilayered medication identification, authentication and adherence monitoring A method and system for authenticating medication. The method includes the steps of printing a first recoverable key on a medication pill, printing a second recoverable key on a medication packaging for the medication pill, employing at least a portion of the first recoverable key to extract information from the second recoverable key, and providing medication authentication in accordance with information extracted from the second recoverable key. The first recoverable key and the second recoverable key may include one or more fractal properties.
US09361560B2	Printing device which transmits decompressed data to a storage device if a predetermined condition is not satisfied A printing apparatus including: a receiving unit configured to receive print data; a printing unit configured to print image obtained from decompressed data, which is obtained by decompressing the print data, on a sheet; a transmitting unit configured to transmit data to a storage device to which a log related to printing is configured to be stored; and a control device configured to: decompress the print data into the decompressed data; and determine whether data related to the printing satisfies a predetermined condition; wherein, if the control device determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied, the transmitting unit transmits the print data to the storage device, and if the determining unit determines that the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the transmitting unit transmits the decompressed data to the storage device.
US09361559B2	Image processing device and method, program, and image forming device An image processing method corrects the image concentration of pixel rows adjacent to a pixel row corresponding to a masked defective recording element. Different quantization methods are performed for a first image region including the pixel row corresponding to the masked defective recording element and the pixel rows adjacent to the pixel row and a second image region other than the first image region. For at least some gradations, a first quantization pattern which is obtained by the first quantization method applied to the first image region has a pattern characteristic in which a spatial frequency component in a first direction parallel to the moving direction of a recording medium relative to the recording head is suppressed with respect to all spatial frequency components in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, as compared to a second quantization pattern applied to the second image region.
US09361558B2	Image forming apparatus and image forming method An image forming apparatus forms an image by irradiating light from a light source to an image carrier. The image forming apparatus includes: an image processing unit that processes image data at resolution N; and a control unit that generates modulation data to drive the light source at resolution m×N (m is a positive integer equal to or larger than 2), which is higher than the resolution N, based on the processed image data. Processing at the image processing unit is pseudo-halftone processing to perform line thinning or thickening on a part of the image data. The control unit converts the image data at the resolution N that has been subjected to the pseudo-halftone processing into data at the resolution m×N, and adjusts an amount of light for a part of the image data based on the resolution m×N.
US09361557B2	Image processing apparatus and control method for performing screen processing This invention obtains a high-quality output image in which a jaggy or a disconnection of a thin line hardly stands out. An edge detection unit detects whether the pixel of interest is an edge pixel or a non-edge pixel. A screen processing unit performs screen processing for the pixel of interest to determine the output value of the N-level tone. A calculation unit performs filtering processing having a preset visual sense characteristic for an area including the pixel of interest to calculate the target value of the pixel of interest, and corrects the value of the pixel of interest so as to come close to the target value, thereby determining the output value of the N-level tone. The selector selects, according to the detection result by the edge detection unit, either the result from the calculation unit or that from the screen processing unit.
US09361548B2	Image forming apparatus, control method, and control program An image forming apparatus includes an execution unit, a reception unit, and a control unit. The execution unit executes a printing job using a tab sheet from a first sheet supply unit and a sheet, other than a tab sheet, from a second sheet supply unit. The reception unit receives an instruction to confirm printed material of the printing job. The control unit controls the execution unit to stop a printing operation of the printing job that the execution unit is executing and print, for confirmation, at least one page included in the printing job, based on receiving the instruction. The control unit further controls the execution unit to restart the stopped printing job after the printing for the confirmation is ended and to execute the printing for the confirmation by not using a tab sheet and by using a sheet other than a tab sheet.
US09361546B1	Locating persons of interest based on license plate recognition information Possible locations of a person of interest are ranked based on LPR instances captured around physical locations and license plate numbers associated with the person of interest. An LPR instance includes an indication of a vehicle license plate number, a physical location, and a time when the LPR instance was captured by a LPR system. A possible location of the person of interest may be a location of an LPR instance that matches the license plate number or an address location associated with the person of interest. The ranking may be based on the number of LPR visits to each location, the number of license plate number matches at each location, or an attribute of a cluster of LPR instances. In some examples, an electronic message is rapidly communicated to an entity if a target license plate number is found at a highly ranked location.
US09361541B2	Device pairing in a network A method for device pairing including displaying at least one image having a first characteristic using a first application by a first electronic device. It is determined if the image is recognizable. If the image is determined to be recognizable, pairing the first electronic device with a second electronic device.
US09361540B2	Fast image processing for recognition objectives system An image processing for recognition objectives system including uploading n image to a processor and associated memory via a network, dividing the images into a plurality of sub-images, preprocessing, uploading an image to be recognized from an image source to the processor and associated memory, pre-processing the image to be recognized and a first the plurality of sub-images, extracting key features from the image to be recognized and a first of the plurality of sub-images, comparing the key features of the image and the first of the sub-images, if there is a match, display the match and if there is no match, advance to the next of the plurality of sub-images and repeat until a match is determined.
US09361536B1	Identifying user marks using patterned lines on pre-printed forms Methods, devices, and systems replace solid lines of user-fillable areas of a print job with patterned lines and then print the print job with the patterned lines to print user-fillable pre-printed forms, using a printing device. These methods, devices, and systems also scan at least one of the user-fillable pre-printed forms having user markings to produce a scan, using an optical scanner. Further, such methods, devices, and systems produce an altered scan by removing only the patterned lines from the scan to leave the user markings in the altered scan using the image processor. Then, these methods, devices, and systems can identify user-supplied characters by performing automated character recognition on the user markings in the altered scan using the image processor and output such user-supplied characters from the image processor.
US09361533B2	Apparatus and method for polarization diversity imaging and alignment A method of obtaining two orthogonally polarized super-resolution images is provided. A first diffraction-limited image is obtained using horizontally polarized light; a second diffraction-limited image is obtained using vertically polarized light; and, the first and second images are processed so as to yield a convoluted image having super diffraction-limited performance in both dimensions. Enhanced alignment of CAD image to acquired image is facilitated using the horizontally and vertically polarized images.
US09361529B2	Parking area detecting apparatus and method thereof A parking area detecting method includes generating a top view image by capturing images of surroundings of a vehicle, detecting a first directional parking line from the top view image, detecting a second directional parking line having a direction different from a direction of the first directional parking line from the top view image, and detecting a parking area by combining the first directional parking line and the second directional parking line.
US09361528B2	Vehicle-to-vehicle distance calculation apparatus and method The distance to a target vehicle is calculated. To achieve this, a target vehicle traveling ahead is imaged and it is determined to what vehicle group, such as a light-duty vehicle group, standard passenger car group or heavy-duty vehicle group, the image of the target vehicle belongs. Representative vehicle widths are stored in a vehicle group table on a per-vehicle-group basis. The distance from one's own vehicle to a target vehicle is calculated using the vehicle width that corresponds to the vehicle group decided.
US09361525B2	Method for processing an image sequence and tester for a car A method identifies motion in an image sequence, which method involves an image processing device ascertaining a change of position of image features in a current image in respect of a reference image. In the method there is a paired association of corresponding image features, one of which can be found in the current image and one of which can be found in the reference image. Model parameters a determined, which describe the change of position for a motion model on the basis of the image features which are associated with one another. A static region is ascertained for the current image, in which static region the change of position of the image contents contained therein is smaller than a predetermined amount, and the model parameters are determined by using only image features which can be found outside the at least one static region.
US09361521B1	Methods and systems for presenting a camera history A method, in an application executing on a client device, includes: displaying a camera event history provided by a remote server system, where the camera event history is presented as a chronologically-ordered set of event identifiers, each event identifier corresponding to a respective event for which a remote camera has captured an associated video; receiving a user selection of a displayed event identifier; and in response to receiving the user selection of the displayed event identifier: expanding the selected event identifier into a video player window, the video player window consuming a portion of the displayed camera event history; and playing, in the video player window, the captured video; and in response to terminating playback of the captured video or user de-selection of the displayed event identifier, collapsing the video player window into the selected event identifier thereby stopping the playing of the captured video.
US09361519B2	Computational array camera with dynamic illumination for eye tracking Methods and systems for eye tracking are disclosed. One such method obtains a plurality of images of the eye from an array camera and detects glint positions and a pupil edge of the eye in the plurality of the images. A distance from the array camera to the pupil edge may be estimated based on the glint positions. A pupil image may be generated based on selected ones of the plurality of images, the glint positions, and the estimated distance to the pupil edge. A pupil center position may be determined based on the pupil image and the glint positions.
US09361517B2	System and method for extracting representative feature A representative feature extraction system which selects a representative feature from an input data group includes: occurrence distribution memory means for memorizing an occurrence distribution with respect to feature quantities assumed to be input; evaluation value calculation means for calculating, with respect to each of data items in the data group, the sum of distances to the other data items included in the data group based on the occurrence distribution, to determine an evaluation value for the data item; and data selecting means for selecting the data item having the smallest evaluation value as a representative feature of the data group.
US09361516B2	Forensic verification utilizing halftone boundaries A forensic verification system (700) extracts a print signature via print signature extractor 710 from the boundary of a halftone contained in an image. The system (700) compares the print signature to a reference signature stored in a registry via comparator 720 to determine differences between the print signature and the reference signature. The system 700 performs a forensic-level statistical image analysis via forensic analyzer 730 on the print signature and the reference signature based on the comparison to authenticate the printed media.
US09361508B2	Information processing system, information processing method, information processing apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor This invention relates to an information processing apparatus which assists diagnosis based on a tissue sample image obtained by staining and capturing a tissue. The information processing apparatus receives and analyzes lower magnification image data among a plurality of image data obtained at different magnifications for an area image selected in the tissue sample image. Based on the analysis result, the information processing apparatus determines whether analysis based on higher magnification image data is necessary. When analysis based on the higher magnification image data is necessary, the information processing apparatus notifies a request of transmitting the higher magnification image data for the area image, receives and analyzes the higher magnification image data transmitted in response to the transmission request, and transmits the analysis result. This arrangement can quickly provide high-accuracy diagnosis assistance for a tissue sample image from a pathologist regardless of the restriction of the transmission capacity.
US09361501B2	Headheld scanner and POS display with mobile phone Headheld scanners are described for use by cashiers in connection with customer checkout at grocery, retail or other stores, as well as, headheld scanners for use by customers to augment the shopping experience. Such headheld scanners will typically include a camera, display and mobile phone, including a microphone and speaker to recognize voice commands and provide audible responses, as well as, calling others. A projector may be employed to project virtual peripherals at checkout, such as a virtual keyboard or scale display.
US09361498B2	Optical communication using differential images Techniques related to optical communication including techniques for communicating barcodes using differential images.
US09361497B1	Arrangement for and method of capturing images of documents A visible target having a predetermined target size is fixed on a document capture stand. A visible aiming light beam is directed along an aiming axis away from an imaging reader. The beam has a beam size in cross-section that changes along the aiming axis. The reader is moved relative to the stand along the aiming axis until the beam size visually matches the target size at a predetermined distance between the reader and the stand. An image of a document supported by the stand is captured at the predetermined distance.
US09361496B2	Apparatus for and method of audibly guiding a user to a selected target from an array of targets A user is audibly guided to a selected target from an array of targets, by successively aiming a handheld housing at successive targets in the array, manually actuating a trigger between an aiming state and a reading state, and capturing over a field of view an image of each successive target at which the housing is successively aimed. A controller is operative, in the aiming state of the trigger, for processing the image to detect when each successive target is located in the field of view and for responsively controlling an auditory annunciator to generate an audible aiming sound for each detected successive target. The audible aiming sound for each detected successive target is operative to audibly guide the user to aim the housing at the selected target. The controller is further operative, in the reading state of the trigger, for transmitting away from the housing data indicative of a processed image of the selected target.
US09361494B2	System and method of estimating true bearings of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags associated with items located directly underneath an overhead antenna array in a controlled area An RFID tag reading system and method estimate true bearings of RFID tags associated with items located in a scan zone directly underneath an overhead array of antenna elements. A controller energizes a plurality of diametrically opposite antenna elements to yield electric fields having polarizations, and switches each antenna element between mutually orthogonal polarizations. A primary transmit beam and a primary receive beam are steered at a primary steering angle over the scan zone, and a plurality of secondary receive beams are steered over the scan zone at different secondary steering angles that are offset from the primary steering angle by receiving secondary receive signals from each tag, and by processing the secondary receive signals to estimate a true bearing for each tag.
US09361493B2	Chain antenna system A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system according to one embodiment includes a chain of radiating elements; a transmission line; and power dividers coupled along the transmission line, the power dividers coupling the transmission line to each of the radiating elements, the power dividers being configured such that each radiating element receives about a same amount of power from the transmission line.
US09361491B2	Antenna interface for radio frequency identification circuit Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with radio frequency identification (RFID) circuits are described. According to one embodiment, a radio frequency identification circuit includes an antenna network and an integrated circuit configured to operate as a reader and a tag in combination with the antenna network. The integrated circuit is configured to provide an output admittance determined by a ratio of current and voltage negative feedback signals such that a frequency response of the combined integrated circuit and antenna network is adjustable when operating as a reader.
US09361490B2	Systems and methods for utilizing wireless programmable credentials Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for performing updates of credentials used in relation to RFID readers. As an example, some embodiments of the present invention provide methods for updating credentials capable of authorization to an RFID reader. Such methods include providing a cellular telephone that includes a memory, a cellular telephone interface, and an nfc interface. An access is received via the cellular telephone interface, and is stored to the memory. Communication with an RFID reader is initiated via the nfc interface, and the access update is provided to the RFID reader for authorization.
US09361488B2	Single or dual complex subcarrier downconversion A method for subcarrier downconversion and data detection according to one embodiment includes determining whether to use an upper sideband frequency section of a complex downconverter output, a lower sideband frequency section of the complex downconverter output, or both sideband frequency sections of the complex downconverter output; and processing the output corresponding to the selected sideband frequency section or sections based on the determination, wherein the processing includes correlation and data detection. Such methodology may also be implemented as a system using logic for performing the various operations. Additional systems and methods are also presented.
US09361486B2	Determining a profile for an aircraft prior to flight using a fuel vector and uncertainty bands A weight and center-of-gravity profile for an aircraft is determined prior to flight. An uncertainty band is determined for each of a plurality of points along a fuel vector for the planned flight. Each of the points along the fuel vector is compared to a predetermined flight limit (e.g., an FAA certified envelope). This comparison is used to decide whether the profile is suitable for flight of the aircraft. If so, an indication is provided to a user (e.g., on a display or by a text message) that the profile is suitable and the aircraft is ready for flight.
US09361482B2	Device specific information generation device and device specific generation method A device generating specific information of a semiconductor device includes a bit generation unit including a glitch generation circuit and a bit conversion circuit for converting a shape of the glitch into an information bit. The glitch generation circuit includes a plurality of combinational circuits mounted thereon to output a plurality of different glitches. The bit generation unit further includes a selector for selecting one glitch from among the plurality of different glitches in response to a selection signal to output the selected one glitch to the bit conversion circuit. The device further includes a performance evaluation/control unit for outputting the selection signal to obtain a piece of bit information corresponding to each of the plurality of different glitches and specifying a glitch satisfying a desired performance based on the respective pieces of bit information.
US09361481B2	Systems and methods for contextualized data protection Various systems, computer-readable media, and computer-implemented methods of providing improved data privacy, anonymity, and security by enabling subjects to which data pertains to remain “dynamically anonymous,” i.e., anonymous for as long as is desired—and to the extent that is desired—are disclosed herein. This concept is also referred to herein as Just-In-Time-Identity, or “JITI.” Embodiments include systems that create, access, use, store and/or erase data with increased privacy, anonymity and security—thereby facilitating the availability of more qualified information—via the use of temporally unique, dynamically changing de-identifiers (“DDIDs”). In some embodiments, specialized JITI keys may be used to “unlock” different views of the same DDID (or its underlying value), thereby providing granular control over the level of detail or obfuscation visible to each user based on the context of said user's authorized use of data, e.g., authorized purpose(s), place(s), time(s), or other attributes of the use.
US09361470B2	Secure element comprising separated containers and corresponding method The invention is a secure element comprising a virtual machine able to work in admin mode and in runtime mode. The secure element comprises two enhanced containers. Each of said enhanced containers can be either in an activated state or in a disabled state. Only one of the enhanced containers can be in activated state at any given time. The virtual machine is adapted to access each of the enhanced containers when working in admin mode. The virtual machine cannot access an enhanced container which is in disabled state when working in runtime mode.
US09361469B2	Electronic communication with secure screen sharing of sensitive information A customer support application provides screen sharing of the user's computing device with a remote customer support agent, thereby enabling the customer support agent to view the content displayed on the user's device. Sensitive information that is displayed on a user's computing device is obfuscated from the computing device of the remote customer support agent, and a notification of that obfuscation is displayed on the user's computing device. Information can be determined to be sensitive based on a sensitive indicator tag or a heuristic.
US09361462B2	Associating a signing key with a software component of a computing platform A method and system is provided for operatively associating a signing key with a software component of a computing platform. The computing platform includes a trusted device and on start-up first loads a set of software components with each component being measured prior to loading and a corresponding integrity metric recorded in registers of the trusted device. The system stores a key-related item in secure persistent storage, the key-related item being either the signing key or authorization data for its use. The trusted device is arranged to enable a component of the software-component set to obtain the key-related item, this enabling only occurring when the current register values correspond to values only present prior to loading of components additional to those of the software-component set. Certificate evidence is provided indicating that the signing key is operatively associated with a component of the software-component set.
US09361446B1	Token based automated agent detection Service providers may operate one or more services configured to detect requests generated by automated agents. A CAPTCHA may be transmitted in response to requests generated by automated agents. The CAPTCHAs may be included in a modal pop-up box configured to be displayed by a client application displaying a webpage to a customer of the service provider. Furthermore, the CAPTCHAs included in the modal pop-up box may be rendered inactive and caused not to be displayed by client application executing the webpage. Submitted solutions to CAPTCHAs may be presented with a cookie that enables access to resources of the service provider without restriction. Cookies may be tracked and their use may be used to detect automated agent activity.
US09361440B2	Secure off-chip processing such as for biometric data In a biometric sensor system and method, storage of acquired biometric data and/or processing of that data may be shifted from specialized secure processing hardware to host system resources for improved speed and reduced cost of biometric sensor devices and systems. Stored data may be encrypted and/or signed by the specialized secure processing hardware and/or software. A database of authorized biometric data (e.g., patterns or key features representing all or a portion of the fingerprints of authorized users) may be stored on the host system either encrypted or non-encrypted or both. Preliminary matching against a database of many enrolled fingerprints may be accomplished by the system processor to ease the processing burden on the specialized secure processing hardware/software. Final match confirmation remains within exclusive control of the specialized secure processing hardware/software in order to prevent data tampering or other efforts to defeat the security provided by biometric identification.
US09361438B2	System and method for accepting user input using asynchronous authentication A method and system for accepting user inputs over a network. The user is provided with an input widget on a client system to collect and send an input and user identity information to a server system, without the requirement to authenticate the user identity on the client system upfront. The server stores the user input and the user identity information, and associates the user input information with the user identity information. The server system sends to the user identity URL a message comprising of the user input information and an indication of action such as a link that the user is to perform to confirm the authenticity of the input. In response to the indicated action being performed, the server system processes the user input as authenticated input.
US09361436B2	Multiple profile authentication A system and method includes a service provider registering a plurality of profile IDs with a central authority and providing the profile IDs to an institution where the profile IDs are utilized by the institution for authentication of individual users, authorized to act on behalf of the institution. Each profile ID corresponds to an authentication template for the respective user, and the authentication templates are stored by the central authority. A first user transmits an electronic communication, first authentication information, and an indication of a first profile ID, which is received by the service provider. The service provider then receives the first authentication template from the central authority, which may be requested. The first authentication information is then matched to the first authentication template, and additional actions can be taken with respect to the communication after successful matching.
US09361435B1	Multi-tier digital supply chain management Several embodiments enable management of a bulk package of licenses at a distribution server. The distribution server can store a fulfillment record of a set of licenses. The fulfillment record can indicate distribution statuses of the licenses. The distribution server can also maintain a distribution hierarchy for the set of licenses in the distribution server. The distribution hierarchy can identify one or more other distribution servers that transferred the set of licenses from a root of trust for the licenses to the distribution server and one or more end-user devices or distribution servers that received or fulfilled at least one of the licenses from that the distribution server. When the distribution server distributes a subset of the licenses to a target computing device, the distribution server can update both the fulfillment record and the distribution hierarchy.
US09361433B2	Enterprise leasing license algorithm Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward an improved enterprise leasing license algorithm and system thereof. A licensing algorithm for enterprise software configured to support expiring floating licenses obtained from a central license server. Floating licenses that have a user limit but not necessarily an expiration date, are installed to a central license server. A license is assigned to a user upon starting of the software program if a valid license has not yet been assigned. On exiting the software program, the user can return the license, making it immediately available to another user, or can keep the license for later use. A user is able to obtain a license while coupled to a network but is able to advantageously continue using the software program while disconnected from the network.
US09361432B2	Configuring a security setting for a set of devices using a security policy A system and method for configuring security settings for devices is described. The system determines a security policy to regulate the use of a set of devices, including a first device and a second device. Support information for the first device and the second device can be determined. The security policy is implemented on each of the first device and the second device by selecting, based on the respective support information, a first security mechanism for the first device and a different second security mechanism for the second device, and configuring the first device with the first security mechanism and the second device with the second security mechanism.
US09361431B2	Methods and systems to secure control and enhance medication adherence Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods to provide safe, secure and accurate point-to-point delivery of prescription and non-prescription drugs in the long-term home care or ambulatory care environment. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide for a low-cost, easy-to-use system comprised of a secure drug dispensing unit and medication enclosure combined with wireless connectivity and software based on smart mobile phone technology. Such systems and methods, referred to herein as a Secure, Control, and Enhance Medication Adherence (SCEMA) system, can mitigate the aforementioned risks associated with the use of prescription and non-prescription drugs. These risks can be significantly reduced for the elderly in the homecare environment, as well as the general public, without disrupting, or a significantly increasing the cost, to the existing prescription and non-prescription drug distribution infrastructure. In addition, the SCEMA system can provide a powerful platform for drug research.
US09361422B2	Fragmentation point and simulation site adjustment for resolution enhancement techniques A method of performing a resolution enhancement technique such as OPC on an initial layout description involves fragmenting a polygon that represents a feature to be created into a number of edge fragments. One or more of the edge fragments is assigned an initial simulation site at which the image intensity is calculated. Upon calculation of the image intensity, the position and/or number of initial simulation sites is varied. New calculations are made of the image intensity with the revised placement or number of simulation sites in order to calculate an OPC correction for the edge fragment. In other embodiments, fragmentation of a polygon is adjusted based on the image intensities calculated at the simulation sites. In one embodiment, the image intensity gradient vector calculated at the initial simulation sites is used to adjust the simulation sites and/or fragmentation of the polygon.
US09361419B2	Constrained placement of connected elements An improved method for the placement and routing of compound elements, each comprising a series/parallel combination of nominally identical elements, is disclosed. The method treats each compound element as a separate cell (the sub-circuit construct commonly used in silicon chip design) so as to treat as a unit all the nominally identical elements that make up a compound value, and place them as a single group in the design of a chip. This results in the compound elements being placed as units and routed in such a way that all of the nominal elements are located together and any effects between compound values are thus relatively localized and optimally isolated.
US09361418B2	Nanowire or 2D material strips interconnects in an integrated circuit cell An integrated circuit design tool includes a cell library. The cell library includes entries for a plurality of cells, entries in the cell library including specifications of particular cells in a computer executable language. At least one entry in the cell library can comprise a specification of physical structures and timing parameters of a circuit including a first transistor, a second transistor, and an interconnect connecting a terminal of the first transistor to a terminal of the second transistor, the interconnect comprising one or more nanowires or 2D material strips arranged in parallel. An integrated circuit including the circuit is described.
US09361413B1	Systems and methods for simulating contact between physical objects The method generates a simulated object represented by finite elements each comprising two or more nodes that represent a first physical object, the first simulated object comprising a plurality of segments placed adjacent to each other to form a surface of the first simulated object. The method further includes generating a second simulated object. The method determines the distance between individual segments of the first simulated object and the plurality of segments of the second simulated object. The method determines a stiffness matrix and force vectors for the at least one segment of the first simulated object that is in contact with at least one segment of the second simulated object. The method transforms the stiffness matrix and the force vector from the segments to determine a stiffness matrix and a force vector on the two or more nodes of the finite element representation of the physical objects.
US09361412B1	Method for the simulation of LADAR sensor range data A method for simulating sensor range data includes providing a pulse model configured to generate a sequence of discrete energy pulses. A sequences of flashes associated with the pulse model are electronically generated. Each flash in the sequence of flashes has at least one range value. A sequence of scans is electronically generated from the sequence of flashes. Each scan in the sequence of scans has at least one flash. The sequences of scans is a simulation of sensor range data. The simulation of sensor range data is output in a tangible medium.
US09361410B2	Surgical guides from scanned implant data A method of making a patient specific surgical guide includes obtaining a virtual model of a fixation member, and virtually designing a guide that defines at least one hole that corresponds to a hole of the virtual model of the fixation member.
US09361404B2	Offline radix tree compression with key sequence skip Systems and methods are disclosed for compressing a radix tree. An example method of compressing a radix tree including a plurality of containers includes traversing a radix tree including a plurality of containers. The method also includes identifying, based on the traversing, a parent container that represents a sequence of elements and has a single immediate child container. The parent container includes a prefix of the sequence of elements that is represented by the parent container, and the immediate child container includes a single element. The method further includes determining whether a length of the sequence of elements that is represented by the parent container satisfies a container threshold. The method also includes when the length is determined to satisfy the container threshold, selecting one of the parent container and immediate child container, incrementing a length of the selected container, and removing the non-selected container from the radix tree.
US09361399B2	Content management and transformation system for digital content A transformation engine that enables content and information to be transformed from one format, a source format, to a format that is compatible with the requesting device, a destination format. Advantageously, various device types can access and share content via a network without concern as to the original format of the content. When a client device provides a request for content, the transformation engine identifies delivery characteristics of the client device, and identifies a source for the requested content. The transformation engine then transforms the source formatted content into a format identified through a best fit analysis of the delivery characteristics of the device.
US09361397B2	Device data personalization A method and system for synchronizing contents is provided. The method includes retrieving a user profile associated with a user. A user specified order for presenting data from a services content repository is determined. A context of the data is determined and the user profile is compared to additional user profiles. In response, commonly followed orders of presenting the data to a plurality of users are determined. Specified data and a specified order for presenting the specified data to the user via a personal device are determined.
US09361390B2	Web content management A web page preview system comprising a web host for providing, in a run-time environment, a first version and a second version of a set of web pages and an interface for receiving requests from users for access to the different versions of the set of web pages. The system provides access to the first version of the set of web pages in the run-time environment to a general set of users and provides access to the second version of the set of web pages in the run-time environment to a restricted sub-set of users, so that the second version of the set of web pages may be previewed in the run-time environment by the restricted sub-set of users.
US09361389B2	Method for providing a state-based guidance and technology view for an application A state-based guidance method provides to a user operation guidance and technology guidance for an application. The method walks the user step-by-step through an existing interface and guides the user to provide the appropriate input in the appropriate places in the existing interface. Individualized guidance is dynamically provided based on a user profile in addition to state and context of the application. The method describes the technologies used to perform actions presented in the user interface of the application and indicates where these technologies are used, providing an overview of which technologies are used in the application and in what capacity those technologies are implemented.
US09361388B1	Suppressing duplicate listings on multiple search engine web sites from a single source system given that a publisher selects a different listing as a synchronized listing A source system receives initial identification data of a listing related to an entity. The source system searches a provider system for one or more listings having identification data matching the initial identification data. The source system receives, from the provider system, a plurality of potential matching listings having identification data matching the initial identification data, wherein each listing of the plurality of potential matching listings has a corresponding confidence score assigned by the source system, and wherein each listing of the plurality of potential matching listings has a corresponding provider-supplied external identifier assigned by the provider system. The source system designates a representative listing of the entity located on a provider system from among the plurality of potential matching listings, the representative listing having the highest confidence score assigned by the source system. The source system transmits, to the provider system, a request to synchronize the representative listing having the highest confidence score assigned by the source system as the representative listing of the entity on the provider system, the request comprising a first provider-supplied external identifier. The source system receives, from the provider system, an indication that a second listing of the plurality of potential matching listings has been selected by the provider system as the representative listing of the entity on the provider system, the response comprising a second provider-supplied external identifier. The source system re-designates the second listing as the representative listing of the entity on the provider system and designating the remaining one or more remaining listing of the plurality of potential matching listings as one or more duplicate listings on the provider system. The source system transmits, to the provider system, a request to suppress the remaining one or more listings as one or more duplicate listings, the request to suppress the remaining one or more listings comprising one or more third provider-supplied external identifiers.
US09361384B2	Image extraction service for question and answer search engine A question and answer system for providing results to requests comprising an online system and an offline system. The offline system includes a file system, a hierarchical database and an index controller having at least one reducer that retrieves content from the file system and at least one writer that maintains the data store with the content retrieved by the reducer, and maintains the hierarchical database with data reflecting the content in the data store. The offline system includes an image queue, an index controller that updates the image queue with data representing content in the data store that include images, an image extraction service having a thumbnailer generating thumbnails for the images, an uploader and at least one static image server, the uploader uploading the thumbnails and images to the static image server.
US09361383B2	Method and apparatus for enhancing electronic reading by identifying relationships between sections of electronic text An apparatus, method and article of manufacture of the present invention detects the presence of references to the same concept in separate sections of text, and, with no input required from the reader, presents the reader with information concerning the detected references to the concept. The information provided may comprise information related to the location of the reference to the concept in other sections of text, and the reader also is provided the ability to move from one reference to a concept directly to another reference to the same concept.
US09361382B2	Efficient social networking fact checking method and system An efficient fact checking system analyzes and determines the factual accuracy of information and/or characterizes the information by comparing the information with source information. The efficient fact checking system automatically monitors information, processes the information, fact checks the information efficiently and/or provides a status of the information.
US09361381B2	Selecting and presenting content relevant to user input Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media are provided. An example method includes receiving user input in a control, for example, one associated with a search engine. The user input includes a series of input characters that when completed would form a completed user request. The method further includes, while receiving the user input, evaluating the characters to identify completions for the completed request. The method further includes identifying, by one or more processors, a content item associated with the one or more completions and identifying display data associated with the content item for transmission to the user along with one or more completions in response to receiving the user input.
US09361380B2	System and associated methods for remotely enabling features A method and apparatus enables a feature among a plurality of features in an application loaded on a client, with the client located remotely from a server. The server receives a data profile request from the client. In response to the data profile request, a data profile is sent from the server to the client, the data profile including a profile key to identify the client, an application identification to identify the application, and a feature selector. The application uses the feature selector to enable the feature among the plurality of features.
US09361379B1	Systems and methods providing recommendation data Computer applications may generate event data based on a large volume of different types of record data. Described herein are systems, methods and devices for providing website recommendations using the event data. In one example, using the event data, a computing node generates the website recommendations within a designated amount of time after the generation of the record data.
US09361378B2	Determining reliability of online post Technologies are generally described for determining a reliability of an online post. In some examples, a method may include identifying from an online post at least one word associated with a place, identifying a location from which the online post was posted, and determining a reliability of the online post based at least in part on the identified word associated with the place and the identified location from which the online post was posted.
US09361377B1	Classifier for classifying digital items Systems, devices, and processes for classifying a digital item are described. In some examples, a first classifier determines whether a digital item, such as an electronic book (eBook), includes content of a first category that is acceptable for publication by a publisher. A second classifier determines whether the digital item includes content of a second category that is acceptable for publication by a publisher. In response to determining that the digital item includes content of the first category or content of the second category, a third classifier may determine whether the digital item includes a phrase that is indicative of content of a third category that is unacceptable for publication.
US09361374B2	Facilitating media content search A method of facilitating media content search is disclosed. A rating data associated with the media content is found, at least in part programmatically, in a location other than a display page that includes a media content or a link to the media content. A search result ranking for one or both of the media content and the display page is determined at least in part using the rating data.
US09361373B1	Content aggregation and presentation Techniques for providing personalized presentations of aggregated content items are described herein. These techniques may aggregate individual content items from multiple sources, filter the content items based on the preferences of a user, and create an ordered presentation of the content items. A different presentation may be available to the user at different times, for example, a new presentation may be available each day. The new presentation may include more recent or more relevant content items than previous presentations of content items. Each presentation may combine the multiple individual content items together in such a way that each individual content item appears to the user as part of a single content item. User interaction with the aggregation of content items may be analyzed and that analysis may be used to modify subsequent selection and ordering of content items in future presentations.
US09361370B2	Method and system for identification of distributed broadcast content A method and system of performing high-throughput identifications of broadcast content is provided. A device can send a content identification query, which includes a sample of content being broadcast, to a server to request an identity of the content. The server will perform a computational identification of the content, return the result to the device, and store the result. For all subsequently received content identification queries requesting an identity of content being broadcast from the same source and in a time during which the content is still being broadcast from the source, the server will send the stored content identification in response to the subsequent queries. If a subsequent content identification query does not request the identity of content being broadcast from the same source or is not received during the time that the content is still being broadcast, the server will perform a computational identification of a content sample.
US09361363B2	Modifying structured search queries on online social networks In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a social graph that includes a plurality of nodes and edges, receiving a structured query that includes references to selected nodes and edges, and generating one or more query modification for the structured query, where each query modification includes references to modified nodes or modified edges from the plurality of nodes and edges.
US09361362B1	Synonym generation using online decompounding and transitivity Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for query synonym expansion. One method includes receiving a query including a first compound term, and in response to receiving the query, performing the following operations before search results responsive to the query are identified: generating one or more splits of the first compound term, wherein each split divides the compound term into two or more subterms, assigning a score to each subterm of each split, determining an overall score for each split from the scores for the subterms of the split, selecting one or more of the one or more splits according to the overall score for each split, and augmenting the query with the subterms of each selected split.
US09361359B1	Accessing schema-free databases Accessing a schema-free database includes constructing a model indicating a structure for the data to be used by applications accessing the data, validating the model based on the structure and on the data stored in the schema-free database, providing an API based on the structure, and accessing the database using the API. The model may be constructed by extracting data structure information from a program. The program may be written in the Ruby programming language or the Python programming language. The API may be a RESTful API.
US09361356B2	System and method for clustering data in input and output spaces A system for clustering a plurality of documents having input and output space data is disclosed that uses both input and output space criteria. The system can aggregate documents into clusters based on input and/or output space similarity measures, and then refine the clusters based on further input and/or output space similarity measures. Aggregation of documents into clusters can include forming a hierarchical tree based on the input and/or output space similarity measures where the hierarchical tree has a root node, branching into intermediate nodes, and branching into leaf nodes covering individual documents, where the hierarchical tree includes a leaf node for each document of the plurality of documents. The system can include forming a forest of sub-trees of the hierarchical tree based on cluster criteria. Textual and numeric similarity measures can be used depending on the type and distribution of data in the input and output spaces.
US09361353B1	Crowd sourced digital content processing Through use of crowd sourced information, media files may be transformed into or used to create product files that are derived from the media files. A product file may be generated using feedback from the crowd sourced information received from an electronic device. The crowd sourced information may indicate one or more portions of the media file to exclude from the product file to create a consolidated product file. In some embodiments, the crowd sourced information may indicate supplemental material and/or portions of other media files that may be included in the product file.
US09361349B1	Storage constrained synchronization of shared content items A content management system synchronizes content items across client computing systems connected by a network. Each client device has a storage allocation for synchronized shared content items. If the storage allocation for shared content items on a client device is exceeded by the request to add or edit a content item such that it is enlarged, or open a large content item remote to the client device, a client application or the host of content management system selects content items to remove from residence on the client device but keep remotely on content management system. Upon removal of the selected content items, the client application creates shadow items, representing the content item but only containing the metadata of the content item. This creates sufficient space for the initial request to be completed while maintaining user access to all synchronized shared content items.
US09361341B2	Functional-form queries Middleware is integrated within a database engine. The middleware is to execute a functional-form query representing a dataflow graph comprising queries and relation valued functions. The middleware is to interact with the database engine to cause the database engine to execute the queries. Each relation valued function receives a plurality of first relations as input and generates a second relation as output.
US09361340B2	Processing database queries using format conversion Devices, methods and systems for processing database queries formatted differently than the database storage model being queried are disclosed. Processing database queries independent of the storage model of the queried database may be performed by receiving a query for one or more data items stored in a database, determining whether to use at least one query operator that uses data having a format different from the storage model format of at least one of one or more data items stored in the database and converting the format of the data used by the at least one query operator to a format that matches the storage model format of at least one of one or more data items stored in the database. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.
US09361332B2	Index record-level locking for file systems using a B+ tree structure In one embodiment, a process includes determining a data node for a data record to be inserted and/or updated in an index structure of a record-oriented file system. A lock on the corresponding data node is created, and the data record in the corresponding data node is stored and/or updated. However, when the corresponding data node does not have free space sufficient to store and/or update the data record, the corresponding data node is split sequentially into two data nodes. The new data record is stored in one of the two data nodes. The process continues by creating a lock on and updating a parent node in a sequence set which includes information about the corresponding data node and any parent index nodes above the parent index node which are affected by splitting the parent index node.
US09361331B2	Multiple index based information retrieval system An information retrieval system uses phrases to index, retrieve, organize and describe documents. Phrases are identified that predict the presence of other phrases in documents. Documents are the indexed according to their included phrases. The document index is partitioned into multiple indexes, including a primary index and a secondary index. The primary index stores phrase posting lists with relevance rank ordered documents. The secondary index stores excess documents from the posting lists in document order.
US09361328B1	Selection of files for archival or deduplication Various systems and methods for selection of files for archival or deduplication operations are disclosed. For example, one method involves analyzing a plurality of files, where the analyzing is based on one or more archiving policies. The method involves determining whether a first file of the plurality of files is to be archived or deduplicated, where the determining is based at least on the analysis. The method also involves, in response to a determination to archive the first file, generating a request to archive the first file.
US09361327B1	Rolling bloom filter for data with retention policy A data structure comprising two or more sub data structures representing a given data set is maintained. Each of the two or more sub data structures comprises an array of bit positions and has a set of hash functions associated therewith. Each of the hash functions is operable to map an element of the given data set to at least one of the bit positions of the array. One of the two or more sub data structures is recognized as a master sub data structure and the others of the two or more sub data structures as slave sub data structures. Insertion and deletion of elements in the data structure is based on the recognition of each of the two or more sub data structures as the master sub data structure or one of the slave sub data structures.
US09361326B2	Selectable data migration In some example embodiments, a computerized method includes determining at least one of a read frequency, a write frequency and a data volume for data persistently stored. The data has a first format. The method also includes selecting a first type of data migration or a second type of data migration, wherein the selecting is derived from at least one of the read frequency, the write frequency and the data volume for the data persistently stored. The method includes transforming the data to a second format using the selected data migration. The method includes outputting the data for storage in machine-readable medium.
US09361324B2	System and method to transform a complex database into a simple, faster, and equivalent database There is provided a system and method for representing complex databases having an arbitrary number of tables with a simple database comprising at least two tables, in which each attribute of each object is represented in a first table and in which each object is represented as a list of attributes in a second table. There is also provided a method for converting a complex database in a simple database.
US09361322B1	Unidirectional lookalike campaigns in a messaging platform A real-time messaging platform allows advertiser accounts to pay to insert candidate messages into the message streams requested by account holders. To accommodate multiple advertisers, the messaging platform controls an auction process that determines which candidate messages are selected for inclusion in a requested account holder's message stream. Selection is based on a bid for the candidate message, the message stream that is requested, and a variety of other factors that vary depending upon the implementation. The process for selection of candidate messages generally includes the following steps, though any given step may be omitted or combined into another step in a different implementation: targeting, filtering, prediction, ranking, and selection.
US09361319B2	Systems, methods, and computer program products for digital photography A system, method, and computer program product are provided for digital photography. In use, a method and apparatus are provided for identifying an object including a synthetic image that is generated based on a first image and a second image. Next, an output image is generated utilizing the object and a viewing parameter. Lastly, the output image is outputted. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.
US09361317B2	Method for entity enrichment of digital content to enable advanced search functionality in content management systems Disclosed is a system and method for extending search capabilities of contentment management systems, such as SharePoint 2013®, to enable geographic and name entity based searches. Geographic and named entity searches are enabled by a content enrichment web service. The content enrichment web service calls a geotagging or a named entity tagger web service application to tag crawled managed properties as input and return geographically or entity modified managed properties as output. The system associates one or more geographically and named entity modified managed properties with content and stores this information as metadata in a SharePoint 2013® search index. Thus, the search system allows users to identify a particular geographic entity the user is interested in finding, and to receive search results directly related to that geographic entity on SharePoint 2013®.
US09361314B2	Reporting for an aquatic geographic information system A method of reporting geo-statistical data includes piloting a watercraft with a monitoring system on a water body and taking measurements of a water body parameter and of the position of the watercraft. The measurements of the water body parameter and of the position are aligned and a contour map of the water body having a depth ranges is provided. The first water body parameter is correlated to at least one of the depth ranges to create a report.
US09361312B2	System and method for filtering and organizing items based on metadata A system and method for filtering and organizing items from computer memories based on common elements. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, filters are provided for manipulating the items. The filters are essentially tools for narrowing down a set of items. In one embodiment, the filters are dynamically generated based on the properties of the separate items. The system utilizes virtual folders. The virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, quick links are provided. In one embodiment, quick links are a set of predefined links (e.g., located on the left side of the display) that can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, libraries are provided. Libraries consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together.
US09361309B2	File synchronization method, electronic device and synchronization system The present invention provides a file synchronization method, an electronic device and a synchronization system. Operating content performed on a first file in a first system is sent to a second system via a data information channel between the first system and the second system when the first file is changed. A second file processing program in the second system performs a synchronization processing on a second file according to the operating content, the second file being a file corresponding to the first file in the second system. With the above technical solutions, a real-time synchronization/updating may be performed on same files in different systems.
US09361307B2	Rejecting rows when scanning a collision chain that is associated with a page filter Provided are techniques for locating a row. A page filter in a page is stored, wherein the page filter is associated with a collision chain and includes a portion of a hash value of the row in the collision chain that has overflowed to an overflow area. In response to a request to locate a target row, the page filter is used to determine that the row has overflowed based on a portion of a hash value of the target row matching the portion of the hash value of the row that has overflowed.
US09361305B2	Image forming apparatus having a file system An image forming apparatus includes a main storage unit; an auxiliary storage unit; a file system configured to manage a file stored in the auxiliary storage unit; and an input-output processing unit configured to use an area in the main storage unit to perform file access to a file in the file system. The area is in a storage area that is not managed by an operating system and the area is specified with a physical address in an instruction from a user process.
US09361298B2	Media content management System, computer implemented process and computer program product for managing media content among a plurality of devices which includes the exchange of device status data among two or more devices. The exchanged device status data includes individual device capabilities and indicia of available media content stored within each of the devices. Each device determines from the exchanged device status data whether any differences exist in available media content stored among the plurality of devices and also whether any of the determined differences in media content will require transcoding to compatible data formats. Once the determinations have been completed, synchronizing and optionally transcoding of the available media content is performed based on the determinations made from the exchanged device status data. Any required transcoding may be performed either before or after media content synchronizing.
US09361287B1	Non-collaborative filters in a collaborative document Systems and methods for viewing filters on a collaborative spreadsheet stored on a cloud computing service include accessing, from each of a plurality of client computers, a first sheet of a spreadsheet stored on a cloud computing service, where a plurality of filters is associated with the first sheet. A first client computer in the plurality of client computers receives a command by a first user to apply a first filter in the plurality of filters to the first sheet, and applies the first filter to the first sheet on the first client computer. The filtered first sheet is displayed to the first user, and a second client computer in the plurality of client computers concurrently displays an unfiltered first sheet.
US09361283B2	Method and system for projecting text onto surfaces in geographic imagery A user interface for viewing imagery associated with a geographic area, such as street level imagery is disclosed. The interface includes at least one text annotation projected in the three-dimensional space defined by the imagery onto a surface, such as a generally vertical surface, of an object depicted in the imagery. For example, the text annotation can be rendered such that the annotation appears to be located along the façade of a building depicted in the imagery. The projection of text annotations in the three-dimensional space can provide a more immersive, augmented reality-style view of the geographic area of interest.
US09361279B1	Real estate content tracking on the internet Server systems and methods to track digital content pertaining to real estate listings use markers embedded within digital media files. The digital media files are accessible for presentation to client computing platforms through real estate search servers. Responsive to a digital media file being presented, for example through a browser software application, on a client computing platform, information related to browsing activity on the client computing platform is transmitted to a server that associates individual ones of the digital media files with individual ones of the real estate search servers through which a digital media file is presented. A server determines information based on browsing activity pertaining to web pages served through a real estate search website. The web pages include real estate listing content. Providers of the real estate listing content are compensated accordingly.
US09361278B2	Overlaying photographs with text on a social networking system When a social networking system receives an image and associated text for presentation to one or more users, the social networking system determines how to present the text and the image. For example, the social networking system determines if to overlay the text onto an area of the image. A readability score indicating the readability of the text if overlaid onto an area of the image is determined based on attributes of the image and of the text. Using the readability score, the social networking system overlays the text onto an area of the image when presented to other users or presents the text adjacent to the image when presented to other users.
US09361277B2	Method and apparatus for implementing microblog message pages Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for implementing a microblog message page. An exemplary method can include encapsulating common logics of a plurality of message pages into a message page control base, pulling content data of a message page control of one message page of the plurality of message pages; and enabling the message page control of the one message page to inherit from the common logics encapsulated in the message page control base. The exemplary method can also include executing the common logics based on the pulled content data, to load the message page control of the one message page and to display the message page control on the one message page. The disclosed methods and apparatus can simplify the sorting algorithm with improved efficiency for the message pages to sort and manage layout of various types of controls.
US09361276B2	System and method for serving multiple data objects and formatting functions in a single request Disclosed are a system for and method of serving multiple data objects and/or formatting functions to a subscribing client via a single request. The system comprises a catalog with entries referencing components used to generate data objects and formatting functions, each of which has a unique identifier; and an engine for receiving requests from the subscribing client, wherein each request includes one or more catalog identifiers. This engine, for each identifier in each received request, executes any prerequisite components, sets the appropriate parameters, and executes the component referenced by the component identifier to obtain the requested data object or formatting function. Having executed the each component, the engine protects the namespaces of the returned functions and variables and aggregates the data objects and/or formatting functions into a script library, and returns the script library to the subscribing client.
US09361274B2	Interaction detection for generalized linear models for a purchase decision Provided are techniques for interaction detection for generalized linear models. Basic statistics are calculated for a pair of categorical predictor variables and a target variable from a dataset during a single pass over the dataset. It is determined whether there is a significant interaction effect for the pair of categorical predictor variables on the target variable by: calculating a log-likelihood value for a full generalized linear model without estimating model parameters; calculating the model parameters for a reduced generalized linear model with a recursive marginal mean accumulation technique using the basic statistics; calculating a log-likelihood value for the reduced generalized linear model; calculating a likelihood ratio test statistic using the log-likelihood value for the full generalized linear model and the log-likelihood value for the reduced generalized linear model; calculating a p-value of the likelihood ratio test statistic; and comparing the p-value to a significance level.
US09361272B2	Adaptive real-time driver advisory control for a hybrid electric vehicle to achieve fuel economy A vehicle powertrain controller includes a fuzzy logic-based adaptive algorithm with a learning capability that estimates a driver's long term driving preferences. An adaptive algorithm arbitrates competing requirements for good fuel economy, avoidance of intrusiveness and vehicle drivability. A driver's acceptance or rejection of advisory information may be used to adapt subsequent advisory information to the driving style. Vehicle performance is maintained in accordance with a driver's driving style.
US09361266B2	System and method for distributed computing The invention refers to tightly coupled multiprocessor distributed computing systems. The proposed solution enables to develop distributed applications as usual monolithic applications with use of typical compilers and builders. These applications support complicated logic of interaction between elements executed in different nodes and, at that, have limited complexity of development. The invention determines requirements to a distributed application and a method of its execution, memory organization and system node interaction manner.
US09361265B2	Method and device for integrating a device into a network A method and a server for integrating a device into a network, a first device identification of the device is detected being a reading device authorized for this purpose, and the detected first device identification being transmitted as configuration data into an access-protected configuration data memory of the network. The first device identification of the device is transmitted from the reading device to the configuration data memory and stored in the memory. After the device to be integrated is connected to an access node of the network, the server automatically configures the connected device for the network if a corresponding first device identification of the device is already stored in the access-protected configuration data memory of the network for the second device identification of the device connected to the access node of the network such that an efficient and secured integration of a communication-enabled terminal into a network is achieved.
US09361264B2	Systems and methods for access and control of hardware device resources using device-independent access interfaces Systems and methods are provided that enable seamless access and control of hardware device resources through a common, device-independent interface without the need for device-specific drivers. For instance, system and methods are designed to expose capabilities/functions of hardware devices as web-based services which can be invoked to provide specific services based on the capabilities of the hardware devices.
US09361262B2	Redundant storage enclosure processor (SEP) implementation for use in serial attached SCSI (SAS) environment An information handling system includes a storage enclosure operable to communicate with a storage initiator. The storage enclosure includes a first controller corresponding to a first storage domain for enabling access between the storage initiator and a plurality of storage targets using a storage protocol. A second controller of the system, corresponding to a second storage domain, is operable to enable access between the storage initiator and the plurality of storage targets. A second storage enclosure subsystem is part of the second controller and a second configurable extra-protocol interconnection between the second storage enclosure subsystem and the first controller enables the second storage enclosure subsystem to function as a storage enclosure subsystem for the first controller.
US09361261B2	Device for exchanging data between at least two applications The present invention relates to devices for exchanging data between at least two data consuming and/or emitting applications A1, A2. The device has two modules 1, 2 with input/outputs 101, 201 connected to a corresponding application A1, A2 and each comprising two internal communication submodules 102, 103-202, 203respectively for emission 102, 202 and for reception 103,203; a control module 20; a synchronization clock 30; and a closed-loop transmission line 40, each submodule 102,202 comprising an emission FSM circuit 104, 204 with an emission request output 105, 205 connected to the module 20, an emission authorization request input 106, 206connected to an output of the module 20, and an output interface 108, 208 for data attached to the application A1, A2 that is linked therewith, each submodule 103, 203comprising a reception FSM circuit 109, 209 with a reception request input 110, 210 connected to an output of the module 20 and an input interface 112, 212 for the data attached to the application A1, A2 that is linked therewith, means 50 also being provided for coupling the interfaces 108, 208-112, 212 with the transmission loop 40.
US09361259B2	Integrated circuit with multipurpose processing and for video/audio processing optimization An integrated circuit for video/audio processing in which design resources obtained by development of video/audio devices can also be used for other types of video/audio devices. The integrated circuit includes a microcomputer that includes a CPU, a stream input/output for inputting/outputting a video and audio stream to and from an external device, a media processor that executes the media processing including at least one of compressing and decompressing the video and audio stream inputted to the stream input/output, an AV input/output that converts the video and audio stream subjected to the media processing by the media processor into video and audio signals and outputting these signals to the external device. A memory interface controls a data transfer between the microcomputer, the stream input/output, the media processor and the AV input/output and an external memory.
US09361256B1	SAS expander with non-blocking virtual phy architecture A SAS expander includes a switch core, a number of SAS expander phys coupled to the switch core, an SMP originator coupled to the switch core and an SMP receptor coupled to the switch core. In an embodiment, the SMP originator is configured to only send connection requests and the SMP receptor is configured to only receive connection requests. Program instructions stored in non-transient digital storage media include code segments detecting a new connection request, code segments determining whether the new connection request is in conflict with an existing connection request and code segments determining if there is a free destination receptor phy. In an embodiment, the free destination receptor phy is never operationally used for an origination of a connection request.
US09361253B2	Signal control circuit, information processing apparatus, and duty ratio calculation method A signal control circuit includes: a delay acquisition circuit configured to obtain a first delay amount to be added to an input signal for aligning timing of rise of the input signal with timing of fall or rise of a reference signal and a second delay amount to be added to the input signal for aligning timing of fall of the input signal with timing of the fall or the rise of the reference signal; and a ratio calculation circuit configured to calculate a duty ratio of the input signal based on a difference between the first delay amount and the second delay amount.
US09361252B2	Electronic device having a plurality of CPUs and a method An electronic device includes a first CPU, a second CPU, an auxiliary storage unit, and a controller. The auxiliary storage unit includes a first starting program for the first CPU and a second starting program for the second CPU. The first CPU loads the first starting program via the controller, and causes the controller to load the second starting program in DMA transfer. The controller, if the controller is caused by the first CPU to transfer part of the first starting program while the controller is loading the second starting program, stops loading the second starting program. When completing the transfer of the part of the first starting program, the controller restarts loading the second starting program.
US09361247B1	Intrinsic barrier device with software configurable IO type An intrinsic barrier device, method and computer program product for isolating a communication channel of an input/output (IO) module from a field device. The intrinsic barrier device includes a front end having a programming input adapted to receive an analog input (AI), analog output (AO), digital input (DI) or digital output (DO) IO type configuration signal. The intrinsic barrier device also includes a processor to process the IO type configuration signal and an associated memory device storing an intrinsic barrier IO type configuration (IBTC) program. The processor is programmed to implement the IBTC program. The processor, responsive to the IO type configuration signal configures the intrinsic barrier device to operate as the AI, AO, DI or DO for supporting communications through the intrinsic barrier device over the communication channel between the IO module and the field device in the AI, AO, DI or DO.
US09361239B2	System on chip including unified input/output memory management unit A system on chip, includes a memory, a bus, a plurality of intellectual property (IP) blocks, and a unified input/output memory management unit (IOMMU) connected between the memory and the bus and configured to determine whether to perform address conversion for a transaction transferred from the bus based on transaction information.
US09361238B2	Memory addressing mechanism using a buffer of a hierarchy of collision free hash tables Methods and apparatuses for insertion, searching, deletion, and load balancing using a hierarchical series of hash tables are described herein. The techniques disclosed provide nearly collision free or deterministic hash functions using a bitmap as a pre-filter. The hash functions have different priorities and one hashing result will be used to perform main memory access. For the hash functions, two hash bitmaps are used to store valid data and collision information. There is no collision allowed in the hash tables except for the hash table with the lowest priority. The hash tables and bitmaps may be stored in one or more caches in (e.g., a cache of a CPU, Block RAMs in FPGAs, etc.) which perform much faster than main memory.
US09361235B2	Information processing apparatus, method of controlling the same and computer-readable storage medium A cache storage apparatus has an entry including a tag bit for managing an address in the memory of the data, the data, and a reference count for managing a number of times that the data is referenced. If it is possible to read in the data from the entry, in a case where the reference address is for a prefetch, a value of the reference count of the entry is increased, and in a case where the reference address is for a fetch, the value of the reference count of the entry is decreased. If it is not possible to read in the data from the entry, in a case where the reference address is for a prefetch, a replacement of prefetched data in the entry is prohibited until the value of the reference count of the entry becomes zero.
US09361224B2	Non-intrusive storage of garbage collector-specific management data A system, method, and techniques for managing memory are provided. An example method includes identifying a plurality of regions in a heap storing one or more objects of a first type and one or more objects of a second type. Each object of the first type includes application data and management data, and the management data is used by a managed runtime to manage the application data. The method also includes determining an object of the first type to read and computing, based on a last-known memory address of the object of the first type, a memory address of an object of the second type storing a current memory address of the object of the first type. The method further includes reading the current memory address stored in the object of the second type and locating the object of the first type at the read memory address.
US09361223B1	Storage method and apparatus for random access memory using codeword storage A memory circuit, such as an embedded DRAM array, stores information as groups of bits or data using information coding in storage and retrieval data, instead of each bit being stored separately. Write data words can be mapped to storage format words that are stored and defined by a Hadamard matrix. The storage format word is stored as charge levels in an addressable memory location. For retrieving stored data, charge levels are read from the storage cells and interpreted to a valid storage format word. Hadamard code maximal likelihood decoding can be used to derive a read data word corresponding to a previously written write data word. The write data word is then output as the result of a read of the selected addressable location, or a portion thereof. The mapping can be two or more Hadamard matrix mappings concatenated for each of a plurality of storage format words.
US09361220B2	Apparatus and method of using dummy data while storing data at a multi-bit storage element A storage device includes non-volatile memory and a controller. A method performed in the data storage device includes receiving, at the controller, first data and second data to be stored at the non-volatile memory. The method further includes sending, from the controller, the first data, the second data, and dummy data to the non-volatile memory to be stored at respective logical pages of a single physical page in the non-volatile memory. The single physical page includes multiple storage elements that are programmable into multiple voltage states according to a mapping of bits to states. The dummy data prevents a storage element of the single physical page from being programmed to a particular voltage state of the multiple voltage states.
US09361219B2	Information processing device, information processing method and program product An information processing device includes a first storage unit configured to store a set value indicating a value corresponding to a set item to define a function and flag information indicating whether an initialization of the set value is required, a second storage unit configured to store a flag address identifying a storage location of the flag information in the first storage unit in association with the set item at least, and an initialization unit configured to identify the flag information for each set item by using the flag address corresponding to each set item, and if the identified flag address indicates that the initialization is required, initialize the set value corresponding to the set item.
US09361213B2	Method and apparatus for efficient remote copy According to one aspect of the invention, a storage system comprises: a plurality of storage devices; and a controller operable to manage a secondary volume, of a remote copy pair with a primary volume of another storage system, and corresponding to a portion of the plurality of storage devices. The secondary volume has a function for storing data included in journal data sent from said another storage system according to a remote copy procedure. The controller is operable to handle the journal data to be stored temporarily in a third volume corresponding to another portion of the plurality of storage devices before storing the data of the journal data to the secondary volume, if a relationship between the journal data and another journal data, which has smaller sequence number than sequence number of the journal data and is sent from said another storage system to the storage system, has a condition.
US09361212B2	Computation apparatus with coordination of the access to an internal memory and operating method A programmable logic controller (PLC) with changing memory access times is intended to interact with a subordinate system, i.e., a discontinuous virtualized system, wherein a computation apparatus is provided, in which the PLC is implemented and in which the system that is subordinate to the PLC with respect to an operation to access the memory access is implemented. A memory to which a component of the PLC has access is integrated in the PLC. Also implemented in the computation apparatus is a proxy device that coordinates access to the memory of the PLC by the subordinate system such that simultaneous access by the component of the PLC has priority over access by the subordinate system and it is thus possible to ensure that the PLC always complies with a predefined cycle time of the PLC.
US09361208B2	Methods, devices, systems, and non-transitory machine-readable medium for performing an automated calibration for testing of a computer software application The present invention enables an automated testing of computer software applications for efficiently determining the quality and/or performance characteristics of the computer software applications and assists testing designers when determining software application scalability and performance under load. Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented to, for example, determine how many test servers are required to test computer software applications for correct function under the load of many concurrently active users, and periodically test and/or monitor computer software applications for quality control and/or other purposes. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented to, for example calibrate a set of one or more test servers for testing a computer software application.
US09361206B2	Code coverage framework A computer program product records an execution of a program instruction. A determination is made that a thread has entered a program unit. Another determination is made that that the thread is associated with at least one attribute that matches a set of thread recording criteria. An instruction recording mechanism for the thread is dynamically activated in response to the at least one attribute of the thread matching the set of thread recording criteria.
US09361205B2	Code coverage framework An information processing system records an execution of a program instruction. A determination is made that a thread has entered a program unit. Another determination is made that that the thread is associated with at least one attribute that matches a set of thread recording criteria. An instruction recording mechanism for the thread is dynamically activated in response to the at least one attribute of the thread matching the set of thread recording criteria.
US09361203B2	Collecting and aggregating log data with fault tolerance Systems and methods of collecting and aggregating log data with fault tolerance are disclosed. One embodiment includes, one or more devices that generate log data, the one or more machines each associated with an agent node to collect the log data, wherein, the agent node generates a batch comprising multiple messages from the log data and assigns a tag to the batch. In one embodiment, the agent node further computes a checksum for the batch of multiple messages. The system may further include a collector device, the collector device being associated with a collector tier having a collector node to which the agent sends the log data; wherein, the collector determines the checksum for the batch of multiple messages received from the agent node.
US09361200B2	Electronic apparatus including USB terminals and control method thereof based on current of USB devices connected to USB terminals An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes: a plurality of USB terminals, a sensor configured to sense a current of each of the connected USB devices and output current information in response to a USB device being connected to each of the plurality of USB terminals; a controller configured to determine whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied based on the current information output from the sensor and permissible current information related to a current that is allowed to be supplied to the plurality of USB terminals, and output a message according to a result of the determination; and an outputter configured to output the message. Accordingly, a user may connect a USB device to a certain USB terminal without having to identify a current capacity, and thus user convenience is improved.
US09361190B2	Recovery of a transaction after XA end Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for recovery of a two-phase commit transaction. A computer transmits a first transaction identifier to a data store, wherein the first transaction identifier defines a two-phase commit transaction. The computer transmits a prepare command for the first transaction identifier to a first resource manager. The computer determines if a failure and restart occurred within a distributed data processing environment, wherein the failure and restart occurs after the first resource manager receives an end command, but prior to completing execution of the prepare command for the first transaction identifier. Responsive to determining the failure and restart did occur within the distributed data processing environment, the computer retrieves the first transaction identifier from the data store. The computer transmits a rollback command for the retrieved first transaction identifier to the first resource manager.
US09361188B2	Virtual database rewind A database storage system allows users to modify the state of a virtual database. The database storage system provides a respective virtual database (VDB) at a respective destination, the respective VDB having a first timeflow stored in a respective container. A user can send a request to rewind a VDB. The request identifies timeflow of the VDB and a state of the VDB associated with a timeflow. The database storage system modifies the virtual database to refer to database blocks associated with a snapshot of the VDB associated with the identified timeflow. The database storage system maintains a new timeflow for the modified VDB. The database storage system also allows the virtual database to be refreshed to a state of a source database. The source database can be a database stored in an external system or a virtual database stored within the database storage system.
US09361182B2	Method for read disturbance management in non-volatile memory devices When performing a read operation on a non-volatile memory device which includes a plurality of memory sections each corresponding to a plurality of data units, the read count of a specific memory section and the error bits of its corresponding data units are monitored for determining whether data relocation should be perform. When the read count of the specific section exceeds a read count threshold and the error bits of any corresponding data unit exceeds an error threshold, data is moved from the specific memory section to another memory section of the non-volatile memory device, thereby preventing read disturbance from occurring in the specific memory sections.
US09361178B2	Method and device for improving the data transmission security in a serial data transmission having flexible message size A method is provided for serial data transmission in a bus system having at least two bus subscribers, which exchange messages via the bus, the send access to the bus for each message being assigned to a bus subscriber by the arbitration method according to CAN Standard ISO 11898-1; it being decided as a function of a suitable identification (EDL) which result from one of the CRC calculations started in parallel is used for checking the correct data transmission; for at least one value of the identification an additional condition being checked, and in response to its presence, fixed stuff bit sequences from one or more bits are inserted into the message by the sender, at least into parts of the message.
US09361175B1	Dynamic detection of resource management anomalies in a processing system According to an aspect, dynamic detection of resource management anomalies in a processing system includes collecting data from a plurality of on-line data sources on the processing system. The collected data includes performance data and power consumption data. Anomalous operation of a resource manager of the processing system is identified based on the collected data from the on-line data sources. The identification of the anomalous operation is conducted absent a baseline of reference performance data. A corresponding palliative action is initiated based on identifying the anomalous operation.
US09361168B1	Accessing resources across a network boundary Remote computing resource service providers, including online retailers, provide externally facing computer systems that allow users to interact with the service provider. Furthermore, the service provider may maintain computer systems and services inside an isolated network not exposed to users. Occasionally, service providers may test these externally facing computer systems using one or more external hosts operating on a public network. As a result side effects may occur within the isolated network that is not accessible from the public network. The side effects may be recorded in a queue which may be accessed from inside the isolated network by one or more services. The one or more services may then reverse the side effects based at least in part on information contained in the queue.
US09361167B2	Bit error rate estimation for wear leveling and for block selection based on data type A method and system for wear balancing in a flash memory device using bit error probability is disclosed. The flash memory device includes blocks with different life spans, leading potentially to one block wearing out before the other. In order to avoid this, a controller is configured to determine a bit error probability of a block and determine, based on the bit error probability, whether to select the block for storage of data. A method and system for selecting a block in a flash memory device based on the type of data is disclosed. The type of data may comprise flash management data (which may be used to manage the flash memory device) and host data. An indication of age associated with the block (such as bit error probability) is analyzed in order to determine whether to store the data in the block based on the type of data.
US09361165B2	Automated merger of logically associated messages in a message queue Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for message merging in a messaging queue. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for message merging in a messaging queue can be provided. The method can include receiving a request to add a new message to a message queue in a message queue manager executing in memory by a processor of a host computing platform. The method can also include a merge indicator to stipulate whether or not a merge should take place. The method also can include identifying an association key associating the new message with an existing message in the message queue and locating an associated message in the message queue corresponding to the identified association key. Finally, the method can include merging the new message with the located associated message in the message queue.
US09361162B1	Executing threads of an application across multiple computing devices in a distributed virtual machine environment According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes executing code for an application using a computing resource of a first computing device. The application requests execution of a first thread and a second thread. The first thread is executed using the computing resource of the first computing device. A second computing device is selected from a plurality of computing devices. The second computing device has an available computing resource to execute the second thread. The second thread is assigned to the second computing device. The second computing device is operable to execute the second thread using the available computing resource.
US09361159B2	Runtime chargeback in a simultaneous multithreading (SMT) environment A technique for chargeback with simultaneous multithreading (SMT) by a computer is provided. One or more of an operating system and a second-level hypervisor of the computer manage a logical core configuration for simultaneous multithreading, the operating system and/or the second-level hypervisor has control over a logical core and control over logical threads on the logical core. The operating system and/or the second-level hypervisor is configures a host hypervisor to assign an entirety of the logical core to a single physical core, such that one logical core executes per physical core. The logical core is run on the single physical core on an exclusive basis for a period of time, such that the logical threads of the logical core execute on physical threads of the single physical core. A capacity use time is determined for each of the logical threads executing on the physical threads of the single physical core.
US09361158B2	Wireless bus for intra-chip and inter-chip communication, including embodiments with adaptable links Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a scalable wireless bus for intra-chip and inter-chip communication. The scalable wireless bus includes a plurality of wireless-enabled components (WECs). In an embodiment, the scalable wireless bus may have at least one of the number of links among WECs and the capacity of said links adapted based on one or more factors. For example, the number of links and the capacity of the links may be adapted according to one or more of, among other factors, expected activity level over the wireless bus, desired power consumption, delay, and interference levels.
US09361156B2	Adaptive partitioning for operating system An adaptive partition scheduler is a priority-based scheduler that also provides execution time guarantees (fair-share). Execution time guarantees apply to threads or groups of threads when the system is overloaded. When the system is not overloaded, threads are scheduled based strictly on priority, maintaining strict real-time behavior. When the system is overloaded, threads are scheduled based priority of threads that are in a ready state and based on the available guaranteed processor time budget of the adaptive partition associated with each thread.
US09361153B2	Management system and control program for management system Provided is a management system, comprising an interface, a processor and a storage device, wherein the interface has coupled thereto at least one maintenance target machine to be a target of a maintenance operation, which is identified by one piece of identification information, and wherein the management system is configured to: store information indicating a scheduled start time and scheduled finish time of the maintenance operation; determine, based on the scheduled start time, the scheduled finish time, and a login and logout for the maintenance operation on the at least one maintenance target machine detected by the management system, whether or not the maintenance operation is in execution on the at least one maintenance target machine; and determine, based on a result of the determination, whether or not to execute predetermined processing associated with an event transmitted from the at least one maintenance target machine.
US09361146B2	Predictive fetching and decoding for selected return instructions Predictive fetching and decoding for selected instructions. A determination is made as to whether an instruction to be executed in a pipelined processor is a selected return instruction, the pipelined processor having a plurality of stages including an execute stage. Based on the instruction being the selected return instruction, obtaining from a data structure a predicted return address, the predicted return address being an address of an instruction to which it is predicted that processing is to be returned. Additionally, based on the instruction being the selected return instruction, operating state for the instruction at the predicted return address is predicted. The instruction is fetched at the predicted return address, prior to the selected return instruction reaching the execute stage, and decoding of the fetched instruction is initiated based on the predicted operating state.
US09361145B1	Virtual machine state replication using DMA write records A DMA-capable device of a virtualization host stores a DMA write record, indicating a portion of host memory that is targeted by a DMA write operation, in a write buffer accessible from a virtualization management component of the host. The virtualization management component uses the DMA write record to identify a portion of memory to be copied to a target location to save a representation of a state of a particular virtual machine instantiated at the host.
US09361141B2	Systems and methods for controlling, by a hypervisor, access to physical resources A system for controlling, by a hypervisor, access to physical resources during execution of a virtual machine includes a physical disk and a hypervisor. The physical disk is provided by a computing device and stores at least a portion of a virtual disk. The hypervisor executes on the computing device. The hypervisor allocates, to the virtual disk, an amount of access to the physical disk. The hypervisor determines that a level of utilization of the physical disk has exceeded a threshold. The hypervisor limits, in response to the determination, access by the virtual disk to the physical disk.
US09361140B1	Isolating applications in server environment Managing memory allocation for application deployment on a J2EE® server. The server receives applications for processing. The server also receives defined memory boundaries of the application. A custom memory-aware classloader is generated on the server and tracks memory allocated to the application during application processing. Excess memory usage characteristic of the application is detected, and an out of memory exception is thrown, without affecting other applications on the server. A responsive action is taken without affecting other applications processed by the server.
US09361138B2	Peripheral device, method of controlling peripheral device, firmware download system and program A peripheral may include an identification information storage unit in which identification information of a download file can be stored; a program storage unit in which at least program data is stored and is overwritable; and a controller which controls overwriting of the program data. The download file may include at least the identification information or both the identification information and overwrite permission data. When said overwrite permission data is included, the controller may overwrite the program data with program data sent from the host device and return a response indicating a normal completion of data overwrite. When overwrite permission is not included in the download file, the controller may return a response of a normal completion of said data overwrite without overwriting said program data. The identification information of the download file may be stored in the identification information storage unit.
US09361133B2	Management screen for image processing apparatus and method thereof An information processing apparatus configured to display a management screen, used for managing a connected peripheral device, based on control information described with respect to a function that can be instruct d from the management screen includes a storing unit, and a registration unit. The registration unit may register in the storing unit a type of language displayed on a screen provided by software that runs on the information processing apparatus. A display about the software is performed on the management screen based on the type of language registered by the registration unit and the control information.
US09361130B2	Systems, methods, and computer program products providing an integrated user interface for reading content A method performed by a portable, processor-based device with a display screen is disclosed. The method includes rendering a Graphical User Interface (GUI) on the display screen. The GUI includes a first scrollable column with a plurality of graphical elements arranged sequentially within the first column, each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements associated with at least one article of a plurality of articles. The GUI also includes a second scrollable column with a plurality of independent text portions, each of the text portions corresponding to a respective article. The method further includes coordinating the first and second scrollable columns so that when a first article is selected a first text portion associated with the first article is displayed on the display screen, and a first graphical element associated with the first article is displayed next to the first text portion.
US09361129B2	Instance interfaces and mix-ins for dynamic languages Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for using contracts in dynamic languages. For example, a contract can be directly associated with an object. The contract can then be used to provide type safety for the object. As another example, contracts can be used with mix-ins. A declaration for a contract is provided with a mix-in. The contract is associated with a target object at runtime when applying the mix-in. Conditions can be assigned to mix-ins that must be met before the mix-in can be applied to the target object. At runtime, if the target object meets the one or more conditions, then the mix-in can be applied to the target object.
US09361125B2	Dynamic reconfiguration of queue pairs Dynamic reconfiguration of queue pairs in a data processing system is provided. A device driver determines whether a dynamic CPU reconfiguration has added one or more CPUs to the data processing system, wherein the data processing system comprises a number of CPUs and a number of queue pairs. Responsive to the dynamic CPU configuration adding one or more CPUs, the device driver allocates a portion of a memory corresponding to a queue pair, wherein each queue pair comprises a receive queue and a transmit queue, programs a receive side scaling mechanism in a network adapter to allow for dynamic insertion of a processing engine associated with the queue pair, and enables transmit tuple hashing to the queue pair.
US09361124B2	Computer system and startup method A computer system comprising a plurality of computers on which a plurality of operating systems run, wherein a memory stores a first hardware control unit, wherein a storage device stores a first OS image, a second OS image, a second hardware control unit for executing start processing of the second OS, and an address rewrite unit, wherein the second hardware control unit includes a start unit for starting the second hardware control unit, wherein the address rewrite unit which is started by the first OS is configured to: obtain an address of a storage area, in which address data to be rewritten is stored, as a target address, rewrite the address data stored in the storage area corresponding to the obtained target address and start the start unit, wherein the start unit is configured to start the second hardware control unit by using the rewritten address data.
US09361121B2	System and method for execution of a secured environment initialization instruction A method and apparatus for initiating secure operations in a microprocessor system is described. In one embodiment, one initiating logical processor initiates the process by halting the execution of the other logical processors, and then loading initialization and secure virtual machine monitor software into memory. The initiating processor then loads the initialization software into secure memory for authentication and execution. The initialization software then authenticates and registers the secure virtual machine monitor software prior to secure system operations.
US09361114B1	Instruction based interrupt masking for managing interrupts in a computer environment Managing interrupts in a computing environment includes executing an instruction, deriving an interrupt mask value based at least in part on the instruction being executed, performing a masking operation involving the interrupt mask value and at least one pending interrupt to determine whether a pending interrupt is allowable, and in the event that the pending interrupt is allowable, performing the interrupt.
US09361110B2	Cache-based pipline control method and system with non-prediction branch processing using a track table containing program information from both paths of a branch instruction A method is provided for controlling a pipeline operation of a processor. The processor is coupled to a memory containing executable computer instructions. The method includes determining a branch instruction to be executed by the processor, and providing both an address of a branch target instruction of the branch instruction and an address of a next instruction following the branch instruction in a program sequence. The method also includes determining a branch decision with respect to the branch instruction based on at least the address of the branch target instruction provided, and selecting at least one of the branch target instruction and the next instruction as a proper instruction to be executed by an execution unit of the processor, based on the branch decision and before the branch instruction is executed by the execution unit, such that the pipeline operation is not stalled whether or not a branch is taken with respect to the branch instruction.
US09361102B2	Methods for enforcing control flow of a computer program One aspect of the invention provides a method of controlling execution of a computer program. The method comprises the following runtime steps: parsing code to identify one or more indirect branches; creating a branch ID data structure that maps an indirect branch location to a branch ID, which is the indirect branch's equivalence class ID; creating a target ID data structure that maps a code address to a target ID, which is an equivalence class ID to which the address belongs; and prior to execution of an indirect branch including a return instruction located at an address: obtaining the branch ID associated with the return address from the branch ID data structure; obtaining the target ID associated with an actual return address for the indirect branch from the target ID data structure; and comparing the branch ID and the target ID.
US09361097B2	Selectively compressed microcode A microprocessor includes one or more memories configured to hold microcode instructions, wherein at least a portion of the microcode instructions are compressed. The microprocessor also includes a decompression unit configured to decompress the compressed microcode instructions after being fetched from the one or more memories and before being executed. A method includes receiving from a memory a first N-bit wide microcode word, determining whether or not a predetermined portion of the first N-bit wide microcode word is a predetermined value, if the predetermined portion is not the predetermined value, decompressing the first N-bit wide microcode word to generate an M-bit wide microcode word, and if the predetermined portion is the predetermined value, receiving from the memory a second N-bit wide microcode word and joining portions of the first and second N-bit wide microcode words to generate the M-bit wide microcode word.
US09361079B2	Method for compiling a parallel thread execution program for general execution A technique is disclosed for executing a compiled parallel application on a general purpose processor. The compiled parallel application comprises parallel thread execution code, which includes single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) constructs, as well as references to intrinsic functions conventionally available in a graphics processing unit. The parallel thread execution code is transformed into an intermediate representation, which includes vector instruction constructs. The SIMD constructs are mapped to vector instructions available within the intermediate representation. Intrinsic functions are mapped to corresponding emulated runtime implementations. The technique advantageously enables parallel applications compiled for execution on a graphics processing unit to be executed on a general purpose central processing unit configured to support vector instructions.
US09361078B2	Compiler method of exploiting data value locality for computation reuse A compiler method for exploiting data value locality for computation reuse. When a code region having single entry and exit points and in which a potential computation reuse opportunity exists is identified during runtime, a helper thread is created separate from the master thread. One of the helper thread and master thread performs a computation specified in the code region, and the other of the helper thread and master thread looks up a value of the computation previously executed and stored in a lookup table. If the value of the computation previously executed is located in the lookup table, the other thread retrieves the value from the table, and ignores the computation performed by the thread. If the value of the computation is not located, the other thread obtains a result of the computation performed by the thread and stores the result in the lookup table for future computation reuse.
US09361076B1	Method and system for enabling legacy patients clinical documents for open sharing A healthcare information infrastructure stores and registers clinical documents. The infrastructure requires that the stored documents be registered using certain metadata. Metadata associated with legacy documents is reviewed to determine whether any required metadata is missing. Any required metadata that is missing is obtained. The metadata is augmented with the obtained metadata so that the document can be stored and registered in the healthcare information infrastructure.
US09361072B1	Projection of software and integrated circuit diagrams into actual 3D space The present invention is a technique of displaying in actual 3D space (i.e. not merely a 3D representation on a 2D surface) any type of diagram relating to software or integrated circuits that requires depth perception in order to be fully comprehended. The 3D space can be manipulated as desired, including but not limited to rotation, collapse/expand, and the ability of the user to enter the 3D space and view it from within.
US09361068B2	System and method for using development objectives to guide implementation of source code An information processing system, computer readable storage medium, and methods with an integrated development environment (IDE) to guide development of applications to implement a programming design objective. A method includes receiving, with a source code editor of the IDE, source code and a tag added to the source code, the tag indicating a programming design objective for the source code. The method includes invoking a source code analyzer that analyzes at least a portion of the source code and outputs a message in response to determining, based at least on the tag and the analyzing, that the at least a portion of the source code fails to conform to one or more constraints of the programming design objective indicated by the tag. One or more hints and proposals to fix the source code are displayed.
US09361066B2	Random number generator using ring oscillators with initial delay Apparatus and method for a ring oscillator based random number generator with intentional startup delays timed for each ring to provide a uniform initial spreading of the ring oscillator transition edges. This invention adds a controlled incremental delay in the startup of each individual ring within the ring oscillator random number generator. Typically the delay units used in the ring oscillators themselves can be used to get a course delay between the start times of each ring. A subset of the rings start up with a particular course delay and different fine delays such that the transition edges of all the rings are spread out over the oscillation period. This spreading of the transition edges ensures the output of the random number generator are not a predictable sequence of ones and zeros based on a simultaneous startup of all rings at the same time.
US09361064B2	Methods and systems to compensate for non-linearity of a stochastic system Determination of digital compensation to compensate for non-linearity of stochastic system configured to sample a phase difference, based on statistical analysis of calibration data generated by the stochastic system in response to a linear phase ramp. The stochastic system may include a set of stochastic sampler circuits to sample a phase difference at periodic events, and calibration data may include a digital value of set of stochastic samples for each of multiple events. The calibration data may include sequences of the digital values in which the digital values increment over a range of the stochastic system (i.e., between saturation states of the stochastic system). Statistical analysis may include histogram analysis to estimate the probability distribution of the calibration data. The stochastic system may be configured as part of a time-to-digital converter, which may be configured within a feedback loop of a digitally controllable phase lock loop.
US09361060B2	Distributed rendering synchronization control for display clustering A method for content rendering in a clustered display network. The method includes assigning a role to each of multiple client display devices by a distributing display device. A rendering responsibility for each of the client display devices is assigned by the distributing display device. Received content is fed, by the distributing display device, to one or more display groups each including at least a portion of the client display devices.
US09361057B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing method for executing image processing using multiple image processing units An apparatus includes multiple image processing units configured to execute image processing on input data, which are connected in serial, and include two or more image processing units having the same image processing function. The image processing units include a transfer unit configured to transfer input first data to a next image processing unit without changing the data, and an image processor configured to execute image processing on the first data to output second data. At least one of the image processing units transfers the first data to the next image processing unit without changing the first data when the first data is input, and also outputs the second data.
US09361053B2	Confidential-sender email addresses for printing In one example, an email address of a network-connected printer is stored. A print authorization code is stored. A confidential-sender email address is received and stored. After the receiving and storing of the confidential-sender email address, an email is received. The email is an email sent to the printer address, and includes a print job. Responsive to determining the email was sent from the confidential-sender address, the print job is stored. Responsive to receiving the print-authorization code, the print job is sent to the printer for printing.
US09361050B2	Management system and management method A management system collects operation information of a network device and comprises a management unit configured to manage a condition and a period for distributing a setting value to the network device; a reception unit configured to receive the operation information of the network device; an acquisition unit configured to acquire device information of the network device; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the operation information meets the condition; a decision unit configured to decide a setting value to be distributed to the network device; and a response unit configured to return the determined setting value to the network device when the acquisition of the setting value is requested from the network device via a network within the period. The response unit does not return the decided setting value to the network device when the acquisition of the setting value is requested outside of the period.

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