Document Document Title
US09413273B2 Rotary actuator
The present invention is a rotary actuator having segments, which are spaced apart and are connected by means of at least one support structure, and at least one actuator for exerting forces, characterized in that the support structure is substantially rotationally symmetrical about an axis and is composed of elements which are not oriented parallel to the axis or which are twisted through an angle in relation to the axis, and the elements can be changed by rotation about the axis and the actuator can exert forces to at least one of the segments and the support structure in the direction of the axis.
US09413271B2 Power conversion system with a DC to DC boost converter
A voltage booster allowing for increased utilization of low voltage, high current, unregulated DC power (“LVDC source”), such as, but not limited to, fuel cells, batteries, solar cells, wind turbines, and hydro-turbines. LVDC generation systems employing a variable low voltage DC-DC converter of the present disclosure may be used without a power inverter in applications requiring high voltage DC inputs and can also allow for the employment of common, low cost, reliable, low voltage energy storage chemistries (operating in the 12-48 VDC range) while continuing to employ the use of traditional inverters designed for high voltage power supplies. An embodiment of the DC boost converter includes a plurality of interleaved, isolated, full-bridge DC-DC converters arranged in a Delta-Wye configuration and a multi-leg bridge.
US09413270B2 Single-phase three-wire power control system and power control method therefor
The present disclosure provides a single-phase three-wire power control system integrating the electricity of a DC power supply device to an AC power source. The single-phase three-wire power control system comprises a single-phase three-wire inverter, a driving unit, a sampling unit and a processing unit. The single-phase three-wire inverter coupled between the DC power supply device and the AC power source converts a DC voltage of the DC power supply device to an output voltage. The driving unit is coupled to the single-phase three-wire inverter. The sampling unit samples the inductor current of an inductor of the single-phase three-wire inverter. The processing unit which is coupled to the driving unit and the sampling unit controls the single-phase three-wire inverter through the driving unit. The processing unit obtains the duty ratio according to the inductance of the inductor, the total variation of the inductor current, the DC voltage and the output voltage.
US09413269B2 Circuits and methods for photovoltaic inverters
Circuits and methods for photovoltaic inverters are provided. In some embodiments, a power inverter circuit is provided, the inverter comprising: an input terminal for a direct current source coupled to a first conductor; a first side of a capacitor coupled to the input terminal; a second input terminal for the direct current source coupled to first sides of a first switch and second switch; a second side of the capacitor coupled to first sides of a third switch and fourth switch; a first side of a first inductor coupled to the first input terminal, the first side of the capacitor and the first conductor; a second side of the first inductor coupled to second sides of the first switch and third switch; and a first side of a second inductor coupled to a second conductor, and second sides of the second switch and fourth switch.
US09413267B2 Method for feeding electrical power into a three-phase AC voltage system
The present invention relates to a method for feeding an unbalanced, three-phase current into a three-phase AC voltage system, comprising the steps of: producing a positive phase-sequence system for the current to be fed in, producing a negative phase-sequence system for the current to be fed in, superimposing the positive phase-sequence system and the negative phase-sequence system to form the current to be fed in and feeding the current composed in this manner into the three-phase AC voltage system.
US09413264B2 Ground power unit for aircraft
Embodiments of a ground power unit are disclosed for providing power to a grounded vehicle, such as an aircraft. In accordance with certain embodiments, the ground power unit (GPU) accepts a wide range of AC input voltages and is capable of providing a range of DC output voltages. The GPU may include a switched rectifier that converts an AC input signal to a DC link signal. The DC link signal is then converted to a switched DC signal that simulates an AC-like sine wave using a high frequency DC-to-DC switching converter. A single-phase transformer modulates and isolates the switched DC signal, which is subsequently converted to a DC output signal using diode rectifiers coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. The disclosed GPU may be controlled using a software-based control algorithm that controls the AC input parameters independently of the DC voltage parameters.
US09413261B2 Power conversion apparatus
According to one embodiment, a controller determines the polarity of the input voltage detected by an input voltage detector. Then, when the polarity of the input voltage is positive, the first switch is subject to pulse driving, and when the polarity of the input voltage is negative, the second switch is subject to pulse driving, where the pulse driving is carried out at an on/off timing determined on the basis of the respective detection outputs of an input voltage detector, an input current detector, an output voltage detector, and an output current detector.
US09413259B1 Universal AC adaptor
Power from an AC source at a source voltage is converted for delivery to a load at a DC load voltage, where the source voltage may vary between a high line voltage and a low line voltage in a normal operating range. DC-DC voltage transformation and isolation are provided in a first power conversion stage, the first stage having a CA input for receiving power from the source and a CA output for delivering a galvanically isolated unregulated AC adapter module (UAAM) voltage. First stage circuitry for performing the first power conversion stage is provided in a self-contained adapter module having input terminals for connection to the AC source and an output connected to the CA output for providing power to a second power conversion stage wherein the second power conversion stage is external to the adapter module.
US09413258B2 AC load detection and control unit
Devices and methods for controlling a state of a load powered by an AC power source include a control unit having a memory, a processor coupled to the memory, a current sensor, a relay and a phase detector. The current sensor detects whether current is drawn by the load. The processor is configured to receive from the current sensor a state indication including whether current is drawn by the load. The processor may store the received state indication in the memory. The phase detector detects a zero-crossing point of the AC power source and provides that indication to the processor. In response to receiving the state indication, the processor is configured to activate the relay to change a phase of current to the load using the zero-crossing point detected by the phase detector in order to limit current flowing to the load in order to remotely turn off the load.
US09413250B2 Power supply with multiple control topologies
The present disclosure describes a power supply with multiple operating modes, to detect a load condition of an electronic device, and to automatically change between the multiple operating modes to supply an output direct current (DC) signal to the electronic device based on the load condition detected by the load detection mechanism. The power supply includes multiple control topologies that are each associated with one of the operating modes. Changing from a first operation mode to a second operation mode includes changing from a first control topology associated with the first operation mode to a second control topology associated with the second operating mode to supply the output DC signal at a predetermined voltage level.
US09413243B2 Non-insulating type switching power supply device
A switching power supply device includes a first control circuit that turns a first switch on when first and second switches are off and a voltage at a junction node therebetween is increased to decrease a voltage across the first switch to a first threshold voltage, turns off when a first ON-period has elapsed from when the first switch is turned on, and lengthens the first ON-period as an output voltage decreases relative to a reference voltage; and a second control circuit that turns the second switch on when both switches are off and a voltage across the second switch is decreased to a second threshold voltage, turns off when a reverse current flows through the inductor, sufficient to increase the voltage at the junction node to decrease the voltage across the first switch to the first threshold voltage after the second switch is turned off.
US09413241B1 Self-powered BJT driver for power supplies
An apparatus for providing auxiliary power to an off-line switcher. The apparatus includes a high voltage semiconductor switch and a driver for the high voltage semiconductor switch. The driver includes a first switch, the first switch coupled to the a third terminal of the high voltage semiconductor switch and to ground, a second switch coupled to a first terminal of the high voltage semiconductor switch, a third switch coupled to the first terminal of the high voltage semiconductor switch and to ground. The driver further includes a diode, the anode of the diode coupled to the third terminal of the high voltage semiconductor switch and the cathode of the diode coupled to the second switch.
US09413240B2 Power converter and controller device
A switching power converter for DC-DC converting has an inductance coupled between a power output and a high side switch in a controller device. The controller device has an error amplifier coupled to the power output and a reference voltage for activating the high side switch. The controller device has a bypass circuit including a bypass switch coupled between the supply input and the power output, a bypass driver having a first input coupled to the power output and a second input coupled to the reference voltage, and an output coupled to the bypass switch for activating the bypass switch. The controller further has a high bypass current sensor for generating a transient signal based on a current via the bypass switch, and a bandwidth control circuit for increasing the bandwidth of the error amplifier based on the transient signal.
US09413239B2 Electronic device for average current mode DC-DC conversion
An average current mode buck-boost DC to DC converter has a buck stage coupled between an input voltage source terminal and an output terminal. A boost stage is coupled between the input voltage source terminal and the output terminal. A current ramp control circuit generates a ramp signal for driving the buck and boost stages, the ramp signals being coupled to the buck and boost stages. A constant voltage related to the desired output voltage by a constant is applied directly to both a voltage control feedback loop for adjusting the output voltage and directly to an input to the current ramp control circuit, whereby the output voltage can be shifted from one voltage to another by feedforward control.
US09413236B2 Voltage converter
A voltage converter includes a power supply circuit configured to generate an output voltage based on an input voltage in response to a control signal, and a power supply control circuit configured to generate the control signal based on a reference clock signal and the output voltage.
US09413235B2 System, method and apparatus for controlling converters using input-output linearization
A system, method and apparatus for controlling boost and buck-boost converters using input-output linearization and leading-edge modulation is provided. The controller includes a summing circuit connected to the converter to create a third voltage representing a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage. A gain circuit is connected to the summing circuit to adjust the third voltage by an appropriate gain. A modulating circuit is connected to the gain circuit, the converter, the first voltage, the second voltage and the second current to create a control signal based on the first voltage, the second voltage, the adjusted third voltage, the fourth voltage and the first current. The control signal is used to control the converter. Typically, the first voltage is a converter output voltage, the second voltage is a reference voltage, the fourth voltage is a converter input voltage, and first current is a converter inductor current.
US09413234B2 Switching regulator system with low power operation
A regulator controller including terminals for coupling to a voltage source, an inductor and an output capacitor, and including a switching circuit and a switch control circuit. The switching circuit includes switches that toggle coupling of the inductor during switching cycles based on charge and discharge periods. The switch control sets a duration of the charging period based on the input voltage and sets duration of the discharging period based on a difference between the input and output voltages. Multiple output terminals allow coupling to different load types, in which the output terminals may be temporarily coupled together to handle bursted loads. Thus, an output store capacitor may be coupled to handle a bursted load, and then decoupled for charging. Comparator circuits enable/inhibit switching based on input and output conditions. The regulator controller maximizes utilization of weak power sources while sufficiently handling typical load profiles.
US09413228B2 2-phase threshold detector based circuits
A switched capacitor circuit includes a threshold detector to generate a threshold detection signal when a difference between first and second input signals crosses a predetermined level. A variable current source produces a varying amount of current in response to the difference between the input signals. A voltage measurement means produce a measurement signal in response to the difference between the input signals. A correction means produces a correction signal in response to the measurement signal to produce an optimum coarse phase overshoot. A timing comparison means produces a timing signal in response to the difference between the input signals. A correction means produces a correction signal in response to the timing signal to produce an optimum coarse phase overshoot.
US09413227B2 Converter circuit with power factor correction for converting AC input voltage into DC output voltage
A converter circuit with power factor correction comprises an alternative current (AC) voltage source, a bidirectional AC switch circuit, a first un-bidirectional channel circuit, a second un-bidirectional channel circuit, a first energy storing circuit, a second energy storing circuit and an output circuit. When the bidirectional AC switch circuit is on-state, at least one of the first energy storing circuit and the second energy storing circuit is charged by an AC input current and then energy is stored with magnetic flux form. When the bidirectional AC switch circuit is off-state, at least one of the first energy storing circuit and the second energy storing circuit releases the energy to the output circuit.
US09413223B2 Boost apparatus with over-current and over-voltage protection functions
A boost apparatus adapted for providing a direct-current (DC) output voltage to a load is provided, and the boost apparatus includes a boost power conversion circuit and a control chip. The boost power conversion circuit has a diode coupled to the load. Besides, the boost power conversion circuit is configured to receive a DC input voltage and provide the DC output voltage to the load in response to a pulse-width-modulation (PWM) signal. The control chip is coupled to the boost power conversion circuit and configured to generate the PWM signal to control the operation of the boost power conversion circuit. The control chip is also configured to stop outputting the PWM signal and enter into a shutdown state when the diode is an open circuit or a short circuit, so as to protect the boost apparatus and/or the load from being damaged.
US09413222B2 Undervoltage protection circuit, undervoltage protection method and switching power supply
In one embodiment, an undervoltage protection circuit for a switching power supply can include: (i) an undervoltage detection circuit that determines whether an input voltage of the switching power supply is in an undervoltage state; (ii) a selection circuit configured to select a first or a second control signal to be provided as a main control signal to a control circuit; (iii) the control circuit being configured, in response to the main control signal being the first control signal, to control a switching operation of a power transistor in the switching power supply such that an output voltage of the switching power supply is maintained as substantially stable; and (iv) the control circuit being configured, in response to the main control signal being the second control signal, to control the switching operation of the power transistor to reduce an input power of the switching power supply.
US09413218B2 Resistance adjustment device for exerciser
An adjustment device includes a casing to which a movable member and two positioning members are movably connected. Two links are connected between the movable member and the positioning members. Each positioning member has a magnetic member connected thereto and the flywheel has a magnetic operation face. When the movable member moves from a second position to a first position, the links drive the positioning members and the magnetic members from a close-to-center position to an off-center position, and the flywheel cuts the magnetic field of the magnetic members to generate a first resistance to the driving device and the flywheel. When the movable member moves from the first position to the second position, the positioning members and the magnetic members move from the off-center position to the close-to-center position to generate a second resistance that is different from the first resistance.
US09413216B2 Magnetic rotation accelerator and power generation system including the same
Provided are a magnetic rotation accelerator and a power generation system. The magnetic rotation accelerator includes: a shaft; a fixed plate through which the shaft penetrates and on which a plurality of first magnetic units are disposed; and a rotary plate through which the shaft penetrates, which faces the fixed plate and on which a plurality of second magnetic units are disposed, wherein a repulsive force is generated between the first magnetic units and the second magnetic units, the first magnetic units form a first row and a second row around the shaft, and the second magnetic units form a third row and a fourth row around the shaft, wherein central axes of the first magnetic units of the first row are in phase with central axes of the first magnetic units of the second row, and central axes of the second magnetic units of the third row are out of phase with central axes of the second magnetic units of the fourth row.
US09413214B2 Apparatus and method for energy conversion
A method and apparatus for energy generation and conservation uses magnets to repetitively provide rotational mechanical energy. An actuator arm and coupled magnet is inserted into a rotating plane defined by other magnets which are positioned to do work based on the electro-magnetic relationships among the magnets. In one aspect, the magnets are actually comprised of a plurality of magnets so as to create a specific magnetic field. In another aspect, an actuator magnet moves in relation to a drive magnet and follows a path as perpendicular as possible to the magnetic field of the drive magnets. Consequently, a minimal energy path is taken through the magnetic field and a relatively small amount of input energy is required to operate the device. Using minimal energy to create potential energy also enhances the apparatus by minimizing the extinction of motion therein due to friction while powering other mechanisms.
US09413213B2 Switched reluctance motor and stator thereof
A stator of a switched reluctance motor includes a stator core part, stator coiling parts, stator salient parts, and pairs of permanent magnets. The stator coiling parts protrude inwardly from the stator core part and have coils wound on an external side thereof. The stator salient parts protrude inwardly from the stator core part and are disposed between the stator coiling parts. Each pair of the permanent magnets is inserted into each of the stator coiling parts and magnetized in the same direction as a direction of a magnetic field generated by the excitation of the coils. This stator has an electromagnetic structure designed to prevent the reversal of a magnetic field generated by the excited coils. The output of the motor is enhanced by inserting the permanent magnets so as to be magnetized in the same direction as a direction of a magnetic field generated by the excited coils.
US09413211B2 Multiple speed motor with thermal overload protection
An electric motor includes a stator and a rotor. The stator has a plurality of low speed windings and a plurality of separate high speed windings. A first type of thermal overload protector is coupled with at least one of the low speed windings and a second type of thermal overload protector is coupled with at least one of the high speed windings.
US09413209B2 Rotating electric machine
A rotating electric machine including: a bracket holding a rotor and a stator of a motor; a heat sink provided fixedly to the bracket on an outside of the bracket; a resolver disposed between the heat sink and the motor; a stator circuit portion and a field circuit portion disposed to the heat sink on a side opposite to the resolver; and a control board supported on an insert case attached to the heat sink and electrically connected to the stator circuit portion and the field circuit portion. A resolver input-output terminal is electrically connected to the control board by passing through an insertion hole provided to the heat sink. The rotating electric machine configured in this manner is compact and inexpensive with an excellent heat-releasing performance and a capability of reducing man-hours required for assembly and components required for connection.
US09413208B2 Enhanced cooling of enclosed air cooled high power motors
A fully enclosed fan motor assembly includes a motor housing. A stator is located radially inward from the motor housing. A rotor is located radially inward from the stator, and the gap in between the rotor and stator defines a rotor stator gap. A shaft is located radially inward from the rotor. A fin portion extending radially outward from the shaft is used to dissipate heat from the rotor to air drawn through the rotor stator gap and over the fin portion.
US09413207B2 Ventilation structure for AC generator
A vehicle AC generator capable of enhancing a cooling effect by increasing an air volume of cooling air is obtained. The AC generator includes: a casing having a ventilation port on an outer periphery; a stator installed in the casing; a rotor supported in the stator in a rotatable manner; a fan installed oppositely to the ventilation port in the casing and rotated integrally with the rotor; and a protrusion formed on a surface of the casing opposing a tip end of the fan at a position adjacent to an outer periphery of the ventilation port of the casing.
US09413204B2 Motor-driven compressor
A motor-driven compressor includes an electric motor, a compression mechanism driven by the electric motor to compress refrigerant, a housing accommodating the electric motor and the compression mechanism, and a support having a mounting to be fastened to an object by a fastener. One of the housing and the support has a projection and the other of the housing and the support has a recess that is engaged with the projection through a vibration damper so that the support supports the housing.
US09413202B2 Stator for an electric motor
The invention relates to a stator for an electric motor having a base body composed of stator laminates which are axially in layers with respect to a motor axis and having a number of frame-like coil formers which are fitted with stator windings, with the coil cross-sectional surfaces of said frame-like coil formers essentially being directed at the motor axis. It is proposed that in order to fit them, the coil formers can first of all be placed obliquely with respect to a final position on coil former holders of the base body and can then be aligned in the final position, and in that the arrangement is designed such that the alignment involves axial bracing of the stator laminates.
US09413198B2 Synchronous machine having a flux exciter remote from the rotor
A brushless synchronous electrical machine with an unwound rotor comprising poles excited through axial air gaps at both ends of the rotor by stationary exciters comprising high permeable cores and electrical winding.
US09413192B2 Mobile device
A mobile device is configured such that it can be charged using an electric power signal S2 received from a wireless power transmitter. A wireless power receiver receives the electric power signal S2. A charger circuit charges a secondary battery using the electric power received by the wireless power receiver. A sensor detects whether or not the mobile device has been moved from a charging stand after the wireless power receiver transmits, to the wireless power transmitter, an EPT (End of Power Transfer) packet that indicates that charging of the secondary battery has been completed.
US09413191B2 Receiver for wireless charging system
A receiver for a wireless charging system, capable of receiving power energy using non-contact type magnetic induction, includes a coil capable of receiving the power energy and a part for generating a predetermined output power from the power energy received by the coil, a portable terminal, an NFC coil further provided outside of the coil, and a ferrite sheet further provided at the coil and the NFC coil.
US09413188B2 Collapsing adaptor battery charger
A method and apparatus is disclosed to charge a battery. A wall adapter may provide a power to a battery charger in a collapsed mode of operation. In the collapsed mode of operation, the wall adapter may provide the battery charger with a collapsed power. The battery charger may provide a charging current and/or voltage in a constant current charge mode of operation and/or a constant voltage charge mode of operation using the collapsed power. When operating in the constant current charge mode of operation, the battery charger provides the charging current and/or voltage having a constant current until the voltage of the battery is less than or substantially equal to a constant charge voltage. Alternatively, when operating in the constant voltage charge mode of operation, the battery provides the charging current and/or voltage having a constant voltage until the voltage of the battery is less than or substantially equal to a float voltage.
US09413186B2 Dynamic boost battery chargers
There is disclosed a dynamic boost charging system having a monitoring component configured to measure total DC current and/or battery current and a reporting component configured to transmit output data of the total DC current and/or battery current measured. A battery charger control system in operable connection with the monitoring component receives the data of the total DC current and/or battery current measured by the monitoring component, and is configured to: obtain an initial time and/or charge measurement; determine a time and/or charge to complete a recharge cycle based on the time and/or charge measurement; selectively use at least two preset DC output voltage settings, one of the at least two preset DC voltage settings being a float voltage, and another of the at least two preset DC voltage settings being a boost voltage; and maintain the boost voltage until the time has passed the charge has been provided.
US09413184B2 Pre-charging and voltage supply system for a DC-AC inverter
A pre-charging and voltage supply system for a DC-AC inverter is provided. The system includes a first battery having a first anode and a first cathode, and a second battery having a second anode and a second cathode. The system further includes a contactor electrically coupled in series between the first anode and an electrical node. The system further includes a microprocessor that generates a first control signal to induce a DC-DC voltage converter to increase a voltage level between the electrical node and the first cathode. The microprocessor further generates a second control signal to induce the contactor to transition a contact to a closed operational position such that a first voltage level is applied to the DC-AC inverter, if the voltage level between the electrical node and the first cathode is greater than a threshold voltage level.
US09413182B2 System and method for periodically charging sub-battery for an electric vehicle based on the SOC discharge rate
Provided is a system method for periodically charging a sub-battery for an electric vehicle. In this method, an SOC self-discharge rate of the sub-battery is calculated. An LDC output voltage and a charging time of the sub-battery are set using the SOC self-discharge rate of the sub-battery and information received from an IBS. It is determined whether or not an SOC of a main battery is equal to or greater than a set value. Periodic charging is performed on the sub-battery through an operation of an LDC when the SOC of the main battery is equal to or greater than the set value.
US09413178B2 Charging device and method of detecting a connection to ground
A charging device includes a current control device configured to receive a first amount of current from a power source. The charging device also includes a ground detection module including a leakage circuit configured to direct a second amount of current to ground to generate a leakage voltage and a comparison circuit configured to detect a connection to ground of the charging device based on the leakage voltage generated. The charging device also includes a controller coupled to the ground detection module and to the current control device. The controller is configured to enable the first amount of current to be supplied to a power storage device of an electric vehicle when the connection to ground is detected.
US09413167B2 Panel for display device, display device, and method for testing panel for display device
A panel for a display device includes a display unit, an electrostatic protection wire, a wire being connected to the display pixels, an electrostatic protection circuit, and an electrostatic protection circuit control line. The display unit includes a plurality of display pixels. The electrostatic protection wire is connected to a test pad, the test pad being provided to receive a test signal. The electrostatic protection circuit connects the electrostatic protection wire and the wire connected to the display pixels. The electrostatic protection circuit includes a back-gate-type transistor that has a gate electrode, a drain electrode being short-circuited with the gate electrode, and a back-gate electrode. The electrostatic protection circuit control line includes a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the back-gate electrode of the back-gate-type transistor.
US09413160B2 Protection circuit and a gate driving circuitry
A protection circuit and a gate driving circuitry. The protection circuit is for protecting a p-type back-to-back MOS switch. The circuit receives an input driving signal and provides a driving output signal to common gates of the p-type back-to-back MOS switch. The circuit comprises a driving signal insulation switch for disconnecting the common gate of the p-type back-to-back MOS switch from the received input driving signal when the voltage of the common gates is larger than the supply voltage of the circuit. The circuit further comprises a gate source coupling switch for coupling a voltage received at the common source of the p-type back-to-back MOS switch to the common gate if a received voltage at the common sources is larger than a reference voltage Vref.
US09413159B2 Switching circuit protector
A switching circuit protector switches a semiconductor device (11) provided in a switching circuit connecting a power supply (VB) to a load (RL), from a PWM drive state to a DC drive state when an estimated temperature of a cable of the switching circuit estimated by a temperature estimator (22) exceeds a threshold temperature (Tth), in the state where the semiconductor device (11) is controlled to operate in the PWM drive state to drive the load (RL). Therefore, when an overcurrent is caused in the cable, the estimated temperature exceeds the threshold temperature (Tth) so as to break the semiconductor device (11). Accordingly, the switching circuit can surely be protected by the switching circuit protector.
US09413157B2 Direct-current circuit breaker
A direct-current circuit breaker includes a switching unit inserted in the direct-current line; and a commutation circuit that includes a series circuit including a first current-limiting element and an interrupting unit that forms a current zero point by superimposing a resonance current on a direct current flowing in the direct-current line and interrupts the direct current at the current zero point, that is connected in parallel with the switching unit, and that becomes a flow path for the direct current after the switching unit is opened, wherein current interruption is performed by the interrupting unit after the switching unit is opened.
US09413156B2 System for detecting a falling electric power conductor and related methods
Methods and systems for detecting a falling power line in a power transmission or distribution system are described. Electrical measurements at various points in the power distribution system are used to detect changes in a power line indicating that the conductor has broken or become disconnected. Upon detection, control mechanisms are used to deenergize the conductor while the conductor is falling and/or before it contacts the ground.
US09413155B2 System to protect from unsafe conditions in an electrical power system
A system for autonomous protection from fires and electrical shock of components used in construction of photovoltaic arrays is disclosed. The system detects conditions that left unattended will result in conflagration of combustible materials and unwanted electrification. The disclosed system provides an active control mechanism that operates to take defective components off line and thus provide protection from fire and electrification hazards that otherwise could arise. The system also provides means for annunciation and notification when actions are taken. The system can be used, for example, to determine that a photovoltaic (PV) module is at risk of conflagration of its flammable structural elements due to intense heat of plasma produced by a direct current (DC) arc at a point in the grid of conductors that collect and carry current from photovoltaic cells exposed to solar irradiation.
US09413153B2 High voltage bushing cover
Bushing covers adapted to surround a bushing to protect the bushing and bushing connections from damage, which can be installed at distance using an insulated pole.
US09413142B2 Panelboard insulative plenum
An electrical switching apparatus for housing a pair of opposing circuit breakers includes a panelboard having a first longitudinal axis and configured to support the pair of opposing circuit breakers to define a gap therebetween, the gap having a second longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to the first longitudinal axis. An insulative barrier is arranged to define a plenum region having a third longitudinal axis, and is operatively disposed in the gap, wherein the third longitudinal axis extends generally parallel to said second longitudinal axis.
US09413140B2 Semiconductor arrangement and formation thereof
A semiconductor arrangement and a method of forming the same are described. A semiconductor arrangement includes a first layer including a first optical transceiver and a second layer including a second optical transceiver. A first serializer/deserializer (SerDes) is connected to the first optical transceiver and a second SerDes is connected to the second optical transceiver. The SerDes converts parallel data input into serial data output including a clock signal that the first transceiver transmits to the second transceiver. The semiconductor arrangement has a lower area penalty than traditional intra-layer communication arrangements that do not use optics for alignment, and mitigates alignment issues associated with conventional techniques.
US09413138B2 Method of controlling wavelength tunable laser, control data structure of wavelength tunable laser, and wavelength tunable laser
A method of controlling a wavelength tunable laser to control an oscillation wavelength based on a difference between a detection result of a wavelength by a wavelength detecting unit and a target value, the method includes: acquiring a first drive condition of the wavelength tunable laser to make the wavelength tunable laser oscillate at a first wavelength from a memory; calculating a second drive condition to drive the wavelength tunable laser at a second wavelength by referring to the first drive condition and a wavelength difference between the first wavelength and the second wavelength, the second wavelength differing from the first wavelength; and driving the wavelength tunable laser based on the second drive condition calculated at the calculating of the second drive condition.
US09413133B2 Amplified widely tunable short cavity laser
An amplified tunable source includes a short-cavity laser coupled to an optical amplifier for high power, spectrally shaped operation. The short-cavity laser is coupled to a quantum well semiconductor optical amplifier with two quantum states for broadened gain. Two preferred wavelength ranges of the amplified tunable source include 1200-1400 nm and 800-1100 nm. Also disclosed is the short cavity tunable laser coupled to a fiber amplifier. Various combinations of tunable optical filters with the amplified tunable source to reduce noise or improve spectral purity are presented.
US09413132B2 Optical pointing system
A method for directing a laser pulsed beam towards a selected area/surface of an object, comprising transmitting from a laser assembly that includes an optical transmitter module a pulsed laser beam having a first pulse duration and illuminating therewith an area/surface of the object, thereby obtaining a reflected pulsed laser beam, the reflected pulsed laser beam including a leading portion reflected from a first reflecting area/surface of the object which is the area of the object that defines the shortest optical path between the optical transmitter module, the object and an optical receiver module; receiving, in a second laser assembly that includes the optical receiver module, the reflected pulsed laser beam and converting it into an amplified phase conjugated pulsed beam of a second pulse duration, and transmitting from the second laser assembly the amplified phase conjugated pulsed beam and illuminating therewith on selected area/surface of the object.
US09413127B2 Self-lubricating slipring
A slip ring has a slip ring track with a contact area, the contact area containing a plurality of pores or cavities. A lubricant is held within these pores and cavities and is enclosed by a top coating. When a slip ring brush is sliding over the slip ring track, it rubs off particles of the top coating, therefore opening some of the pores or cavities which release parts of the lubricant contained therein. This lubricant reduces surface friction of the slip ring brush at the slip ring track and therefore further wear, which results in an extended lifetime.
US09413125B2 Coupler connector and cable terminator with end contacts
An assembly comprising a cable terminator comprising an elongate wire guide comprising a top end and four conductor pair receiving channels, and a securing cap configured for installation over the top end and comprising four pairs of piercing contacts exposed on an upper surface is disclosed. Each pair of the piercing contacts are interconnected with a respective conductor pair, and a coupler connector comprising a forward surface comprising an RJ-45 compatible socket, wherein tines are exposed within the socket and a rearward surface comprising a cable terminator receiving socket. Pairs of contacts are exposed on an end wall of the socket. Each of the tines is interconnected with a respective one of the contacts. When the cable terminator is inserted into the cable terminator receiving socket, the upper surface of the securing cap is positioned against the end wall and each of the piercing contacts comes into contact with a respective one of the contacts, thereby interconnecting each of the tines with one of the conductors.
US09413121B2 Communication connectors having switchable electrical performance characteristics
A connector configured to operate in two different electrical performance modes. The connector may include a plurality of connector contacts, a plurality of contact pads, and an insulator having an insulating portion adjacent the plurality of contact pads. The insulator is movable between an insulating position and a non-insulating position. When the insulator is in the insulating position, the insulating portion insulates the plurality of contact pads from the plurality of connector contacts and the connector operates in a first one of the electrical performance modes. When the insulator is in the non-insulating position, the plurality of connector contacts contact the plurality of contact pads and the connector operates in a different second one of the electrical performance modes. The connector may be implemented as a plug or an outlet.
US09413120B2 Cable connector
A cable connector includes: an insulator, including a receiving slots and a terminal holes, with an insertion space formed by the insulator and the terminal holes situated on one side of the insertion space; a circuit board, comprising a first conductive parts and a second conductive parts, with each first conductive part electrically connected to the second conductive part, and the first conductive parts and the second conductive parts situated on opposite sides of the circuit board; a terminals, embedded in a receiving slots of the insulator, with one end of each terminal is connected to the first conductive part of the circuit board; a wire transmission device, including a conductors, which connect the second conductive parts of the circuit board. The insulator has an insertion space, next to the terminal holes, and the terminals go through the terminal holes and extend into the insertion space.
US09413114B2 Three-level power converter
A 3-level power converter device with power semiconductor components including a first direct voltage positive potential terminal, a first direct voltage negative potential terminal, and first and second neutral voltage potential terminals. The first and second neutral voltage potential terminals are electrically conductively connected. The first direct voltage positive potential terminal and the first neutral voltage potential terminal form a first terminal pair, and the second neutral voltage potential terminal and the first direct voltage negative potential terminal form a second terminal pair. The first and second terminal pairs are arranged one behind another in a second direction. The first direct voltage positive potential terminal and the first neutral voltage potential terminal are arranged one above another in a third direction, and the second neutral voltage potential terminal and the first direct voltage negative potential terminal are arranged one above another in the third direction.
US09413111B2 Electrical connector assembly having foolproof structure
An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector mating with the first connector in a mating direction. The first connector includes a mating portion defining two long walls opposite to each other and two short walls disposed oppositely, the long and short walls are connected to each other together to form a mating cavity. The second connector includes a mating tongue extending forwardly and a second shielding shell defining a mating frame surrounding the mating tongue. Wherein one of the long walls defines a pair of fool-proof portions extending outwardly from both sides thereof, the mating frame defines a pair of fool-proof slots and engaging with the fool-proof portions so as to prevent the first connector from mismating the second connector.
US09413106B2 Positive lock connector for small power couplers
A coupler including a housing is configured to affix individual lines of a multiline cable within the housing, the housing including a front portion for engaging an inlet, a rear portion, and an upper portion including a raised central area and at least one lowered side area. A sliding lock including a lock housing is configured to slide over the raised central area and the at least one lowered side area and at least one spring arm affixed to the lock housing; and an outer mold configured to engage the rear portion of the housing and constrain the sliding lock within a gap formed between the housing and the outer mold. The sliding lock is configured to slide forward within the gap to engage the inlet and lock the sliding lock in place, thereby locking the connector to the inlet, and slide backward within the gap and disengage the inlet.
US09413101B1 Electrical cord connection covering techniques
An electrical cord covering system includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The housing portions each include compression portions around their respective rims. The compression portions each have two recessed areas. When the housing portions are in a closed position a hollow region is formed to cover mated electrical cord plugs. A rim seal is formed with the compression portions. Two apertures are formed in the rim seal from the recessed apertures. The cable apertures form seals against electrical cords running to the electrical cord plugs.
US09413099B2 Feed through panel connector with seal
The disclosure relates to a panel connector for locking to a pass-through opening of a panel to allow electrical connection from one side of the panel to the other side. This connection can be considered to be of an outside-in type. The connector can seal the pass-through opening to resist passage dirt, debris and/or liquids. A channel provided on the connector can include a sealing gasket and can receive an annular rib disposed on the panel to create an effective and robust seal against even pressurized water spray. The connector can also prevent unlocking of the connector from the panel once locked to the panel. A resilient locking arm provided on the connector for engaging a mating slot of the panel opening can prevent counter rotational unlocking and detent member can prevent continued rotation after the connector is in the locked position.
US09413096B2 Connector with plate-like functional portion
A connector (F) includes a housing (10) formed with terminal accommodating chambers (11) in multiple stages in a vertical direction. Locking lances (12) cantilever forward along lower wall surfaces of the terminal accommodating chambers (11), and terminal fittings (30) are retained by the locking lances (12). Deflection spaces (13, 13E) allow the locking lances (12) to be resiliently deflected. Horizontal plate-like functional portions (21, 21E) are formed on a front retainer (20) and are insertable into the deflection spaces (13, 13E). A supporting plate (14) is cantilevered forward along a lower surface of the lowermost plate-like functional portion (21, 21E) and constitutes an outer wall of the housing (10). Reinforcing ribs (15, 15E) and (16) are formed on the supporting plate (14) and are configured to enhance flexural rigidity of the supporting plate (14).
US09413093B2 Connector assembly
A connector assembly comprises a first connector and a second connector. The second connector is connectable with the first connector. The first connector comprises a plurality of first contacts. The second connector comprises a plurality of second contacts. Each of ones of the first contacts and the second contacts has a pressed portion. Each of remaining ones of the first contacts and the second contacts has a contact portion and a spring portion. One of the first connector and the second connector comprises the remaining ones of the first contacts and the second contacts. The one of the first connector and the second connector comprises receiving portions. The contact portions correspond to the receiving portions, respectively. Under a state where the first connector and the second connector are connected with each other, the contact portion allows a movement of the pressed portion in a plane parallel to a first principal surface while pressing the pressed portion against the receiving portion in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the first principal surface due to a resilient force of the spring portion.
US09413092B2 Electrical power line connector
An electrical connector for connecting electrical power transmission lines where the electrical connector is capable of conducting 1×106 to 2.5×106 siemens per meter squared (S/m2), and includes a base metal having a surface layer doped with a conductive material dopant. The conductive dopant material improves the reliability and performance of the electrical connector. An electrical power transmission system includes electrical power transmission lines connected by the electrical connector, and a method of joining power transmission lines with the electrical connector.
US09413090B2 Female connector and card edge connector
A female connector connected with a card member includes a contact and a housing. The contact includes a connecting part connected to a card edge terminal on one side and a wire mounting part integrally formed with the connecting part on the other side. The housing has a flat opening to which the card edge part is inserted on one side and an inserting part through which the wire is inserted on the other side. The housing has inside an interior space communicating with the flat opening and accommodates the card edge part, and includes contact accommodating parts oppositely provided with the interior space interposed therebetween. The interior space of the housing has on at least one spot a rib connecting one side and the other side of the contact accommodating part. This can prevent reduction in contact pressure between the contact and the card edge terminal.
US09413086B2 Cost optimized cell voltage tap-off connection
A voltage tap element configured to tap off the voltage of a battery cell of a battery unit by an electronics unit, a cell supervisory unit having such voltage tap elements, and a battery unit having such a cell supervisory unit, and methods for producing the cell supervisory unit and the battery unit. The voltage tap element is designed as a clip composed of a first metal, with a first end of the clip having a first contact region which establishes a operative connection to the electronics unit, and a second end of the clip having a second contact region for establishing a connection to the battery cell. In the first contact region, the clip is permanently connected to an intermediate piece which is composed of a second metal which differs from the first metal. The intermediate piece is configured for operative connection to the electronics unit by a solder connection using SMD technology.
US09413085B2 Electrical connection terminal
An electrical connection terminal includes a housing having a conductor insertion opening, a busbar disposed in the housing, and a spring element rotatably mounted in the housing and pivotable into an open position and into a closed position. In the closed position, a conductor inserted into the conductor insertion opening is clampable against the busbar via the spring element. The electrical connection terminal includes an actuating element which is rotatably mounted in the housing. The actuating element includes an actuating arm via which the spring element is configured to actuate so as to be transferred into the open position and into the closed position. The actuating element comprises a clearance adapted to the spring element into which the spring element is pivots during a pivot movement from the closed position into the open position, without triggering a rotational movement of the actuating element.
US09413083B1 Connector
A connector comprises a supporting member, a movable member and a contact. The movable member is supported by the supporting member so as to be movable in an up-down direction. The movable member is provided with a reference surface and a protection protrusion. The protection protrusion protrudes upward from the reference surface in the up-down direction. The protection protrusion is provided with a protection portion. The contact has a contact portion. The contact portion protrudes upward through the reference surface of the movable member in the up-down direction. The contact portion is positioned inward of the protection portion in a front-rear direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The movable member moves the contact portion of the contact downward in the up-down direction when a force along an intersecting direction is applied to the protection portion. The intersecting direction intersects with the up-down direction. When the force is released, the movable member is moved upward in the up-down direction together with the contact portion of the contact.
US09413082B2 Spring force terminal connection and electric device therewith
Disclosed is a spring force terminal connection (1) comprising a busbar (2), a terminal spring (4) in the form of a cage tensile spring, and an actuation element (13) which is displaceably mounted to act upon the actuation section (7) of the terminal spring (4) such that a terminal point can be opened and closed. A bearing arm (12, 22) extends from the direction of the busbar (2) through a slot (9, 20) in the terminal section (8) and/or in the actuation section (7) of the terminal spring (4). The section of the bearing arm (12, 22) that extends through the slot (9, 20) is arranged in a region between the lateral edges of the terminal spring (4) and supports the actuation element (13).
US09413076B2 Electromagnetic radiation absorber
A radiation absorber comprising multiple layers has a conducting base layer, and at least first and second further layers, each separated by a dielectric material, the first and second layers having patches thereon of highly conducting material, and defining resonant cavities in cooperation with the dielectric material, wherein the resonant cavities formed on adjacent layers differ in frequency. Characteristics of the patch, such as size or shape may vary on each layer to provide different resonant frequencies, and/or dielectric or magnetic properties of the dielectric material, and/or separation distance of the patches may be varied. In some embodiments, complex dielectrics may have their loss factors adapted to tune a resonant frequency, or to adapt its resonant bandwidth.
US09413074B2 Method and arrangement for modeling antenna emission characteristics
A method and an arrangement for modeling antenna emission characteristics are disclosed.A slotted microwave waveguide is implemented by separate mechanical modules having slot groups respectively implemented therein. For this purpose, the modules are arranged along at least one first spatial direction, so that the modules sectionally form a part of the delimitation of the waveguide. The waveguide formed can be fed by exciting a waveguide mode and the mode propagates through the interior of the module in the waveguide formed.Screens are arranged in front of the modules, to partially cover the slot groups. Arbitrary emission characteristics can be simulated, wherein no separate feed network is necessary due to the use of a modular waveguide.
US09413071B2 Planar radio-antenna module
There is disclosed a radio-antenna module formed on a daughterboard comprising a substrate, a radio circuit and a monopole antenna. The radio circuit is fed between two points on the monopole antenna having a predetermined relative impedance difference and neither of which points is at zero impedance (ground). The module operates well in a vertical orientation and can discriminate between right and left hand circular polarisation, making it ideal for personal navigation device and other global positioning system applications.
US09413069B2 Compact, multi-port, Wi-Fi dual band MIMO antenna system
In various embodiments, a compact, multi-port, multi-band, Wi-Fi antenna system is configured for high-isolation and improved performance. The antenna includes four monopole type antennas each having at least two resonances including 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz for use in Wi-Fi applications.
US09413065B2 Antenna structures and methods thereof that have a common operating frequency range
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a circuit for receiving a request to initiate a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication session, and configuring a first antenna module and a second antenna module of a communication device to enable the MIMO communication session. The MIMO communication session can combine at least a portion of spectrum between a plurality of bands shared by the first antenna module and the second antenna module. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09413063B1 Antenna-coupled metal-insulator-metal rectifier
The use of rectennas, or antenna-coupled rectifiers, using metal-insulator-metal tunnel diodes as rectifiers for energy conversion has been explored with more fervor recently, given the advances in nanotechnology fabrication and increased resolution of features. Some have made these devices from symmetric metals (e.g. Ni—NiO—Ni) and asymmetric metals (e.g. Al—AlOx/Pt), and have used deposited oxides as well as native oxides. One key to obtaining a highly asymmetric device with efficient current generation needed for high conversion efficiency is to instead use dissimilar metals and a thin reproducible oxide. The described method allows for a thin, reproducible native oxide of nickel be integrated with any antenna metal to overcome oxide surface roughness problems that typically hamper the practicality of these devices.
US09413062B2 Mounting flange for installation of distributed antenna systems
The disclosure details a mounting flange for installation of a distributed antenna system (DAS) antenna module, the mounting flange including a base, an inner cylindrical wall, an outer grooved wall, and a plurality of through-holes extending through the base, the outer grooved wall or a combination thereof. The mounting flange may form part of a DAS antenna module kit as being a necessary component for installation of the DAS antenna module.
US09413061B2 Electronic assembly for installation in a tyre
An electronic assembly, which is intended for installation in a tire, includes an electronic device and a transition layer. The electronic device includes an electronic member and at least one antenna fixed to a support of the electronic member. Each antenna includes a free part, which is free with respect to the support, joined to a fixing part, which fixes the antenna to the support. The transition layer is formed of a composition that includes 9 to 13 parts of sulfur per hundred parts by weight of elastomer. The transition layer coats at least a junction between the free part and the fixing part of each antenna.
US09413060B2 Stick-on multi-frequency Wi-Fi backpack and helmet antenna
A high performance broadband antenna for backpack and helmet application allowing data, video, and voice transmission between parties. The antenna consists of a pair of triangle shaped elements which are configured to stick on a backpack surface or place over a helmet with a coaxial cable connecting a radiating structure to the communication equipment on the body. A metal shielding performs as a ground plane and also acts as a protectant from radiation hazards to the head or body areas. The antenna is made with materials that conform to the shape of a helmet or stick directly onto a backpack surface. This design can function under multiple frequencies on UHF and S bands; its placement on a helmet receives less Interference from Its surroundings.
US09413055B2 Packaged electronic device with integrated electronic circuits having transceiving antennas
A base carries a first chip and a second chip oriented differently with respect to the base and packaged in a package. Each chip integrates an antenna and a magnetic via. A magnetic coupling path connects the chips, forming a magnetic circuit that enables transfer of signals and power between the chips even if the magnetic path is interrupted, and is formed by a first stretch coupled between the first magnetic-coupling element of the first chip and the first magnetic-coupling element of the second chip, and a second stretch coupled between the second magnetic-coupling element of the first chip and the second magnetic-coupling element of the second chip. The first stretch has a parallel portion extending parallel to the faces of the base. The first and second stretches have respective transverse portions extending on the main surfaces of the second chip, transverse to the parallel portion.
US09413053B2 Galvanically isolated, directional coupler
A galvanically isolated, directional coupler, especially for in- and out-coupling of high-frequency measurement signals of a radar fill-level measuring device, wherein two mutually engaging, oppositely bent, conductive traces are provided, wherein the two oppositely bent, conductive traces are so arranged that that they couple with one another over a region of a quarter wavelength (λ/4) of the wavelength associated with the center frequency of the measuring signals and form two groups of laterally coupled, conductive traces, and wherein curved conductive trace portions adjoin each of the two groups of laterally coupled, conductive traces, in each case, over a region, which is less than an eighth wavelength (λ/8) of the wavelength associated with the center frequency.
US09413046B2 Method for heating energy storage cells of an energy storage system, and heatable energy storage system
A method for heating energy storage cells of an energy storage system configured to generate an n-phase supply voltage. The energy storage system including n energy supply branches connected in parallel. Each energy supply branch coupled between an output connection and an equipotential frame, and each of the energy supply branches including a plurality of series-connected energy storage modules. Each energy storage module including an energy storage cell module having at least one energy storage cell and a coupling device having coupling elements configured to selectively connect or bridge the energy storage cell module in a respective energy supply branch. The method includes connecting the output connections of the energy storage system to input connections of an n-phase electrical machine, and coupling the output connections via a neutral point of the electrical machine.
US09413043B2 Cooling member of improved assembly efficiency and battery module employed with the same
Disclosed herein is a cooling member mounted at a top or a bottom of a battery module configured to have a structure in which a plurality of unit modules, each of which includes one or more battery cells, is arranged in a lateral direction or a battery pack configured to have a structure in which a plurality of battery modules is arranged in a lateral direction to remove heat generated from the battery cells during charge and discharge of the battery cells.
US09413042B2 Monitoring system for an energy storage cell
A monitoring system for monitoring the state of an energy storage cell for storing electrical energy, in particular, an electrochemical energy storage cell or an energy storage cell having at least one capacitor. Integrated electronics for monitoring the state of the energy storage cell are arranged in the energy storage cell, the integrated electronics having a transmitting/receiving unit for wireless data exchange with a battery control system arranged outside the energy storage cell. Alternatively, the integrated electronics are connected to a transmitting/receiving unit for wireless data exchange with a battery control system arranged outside the energy storage cell.
US09413040B2 Secondary battery unit
According to one embodiment, a unit includes battery modules each including an assembled battery including battery cells and a monitoring device, a BMU to communicate with the battery modules, a first drawer holding the battery module, a second drawer holding the BMU, and a housing containing the first drawer and the second drawer. The first and second drawers include first composite connectors secured to a side of the housing, which is almost orthogonal to a direction in which to insert the drawers into the housing. The housing has second composite connectors which mate with the first composite connectors, thereby to connect communication lines between the monitoring device and the BMU and the main-circuit lines between the assembled batteries of the battery modules.
US09413032B2 Mixture, a slurry for an electrode, a battery electrode, a battery and associated methods
A mixture including a room temperature ionic liquid; and a reversible source/sink of lithium ions. The mixture may be used as a lithium-ion battery electrode slurry enabling flexible lithium-ion batteries.
US09413030B2 Cable-type secondary battery
Provided is a cable-type secondary battery extending longitudinally including a lithium ion supplying core comprising an electrolyte, an inner electrode support of a hollow structure formed to surround an outer surface of the lithium ion supplying core, an inner electrode formed on a surface of the inner electrode support and including an inner current collector and an inner electrode active material, a separation layer formed to surround an outer surface of the inner electrode to prevent a short circuit between electrodes, and an outer electrode formed to surround an outer surface of the separation layer and including an outer electrode active material layer and an outer current collector.
US09413023B2 Fused powder of yttria-stabilised zirconia
The present invention relates to a powder of molten grains of yttria-stabilized zirconia, said grains having the following chemical analysis, in weight percent on the basis of the oxides: ZrO2+HfO2: remainder up to 100%; 11.8%≦Y2O3≦18.6%; 0.07%≦Al2O3≦1.8%; TiO2≦0.6%, provided that 0.5
US09413022B2 Fuel cell system coupled to a portable computing device
The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a fuel cell system which is capable of both providing power to and receiving power from a rechargeable battery in a portable computing device. This eliminates the need for a bulky and heavy battery within the fuel cell system, which can significantly reduce the size, weight and cost of the fuel cell system. This fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack which converts fuel into electrical power. It also includes a controller which controls operation of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system additionally includes a power link that transfers electrical power between the fuel cell system and the portable computing device, and a communication link that provides communication between the portable computing device and the controller for the fuel cell system. The controller can regulate both the electrical power provided by the fuel cell system to the portable computing device and the electrical power provided by the rechargeable battery to the fuel cell system.
US09413021B2 Fuel cell system and control method of fuel cell system
Provided is a fuel cell system capable of achieving both of improving purge efficiency and preventing deterioration of the fuel cell, and a control method of the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a circulation rate adjusting unit that adjusts a circulation rate of a circulation gas, a first startup purge unit that performs the first startup purge by opening a purge valve in a state where the circulation rate of the circulation gas is increased to be a mixing promotion rate capable of promoting mixing of the fuel gas with the circulation gas at system startup of the fuel cell system, and a second startup purge unit that performs the second startup purge by opening the purge valve in a state where the gas circulation rate is reduced to be less than the mixing promotion rate after the first startup purge.
US09413019B2 Fuel cell and membrane therefore
A fuel cell includes first and second flow field plates, and an anode electrode and a cathode electrode between the flow field plates. A polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) is arranged between the electrodes. At least one of the flow field plates influences, at least in part, an in-plane anisotropic physical condition of the PEM that varies in magnitude between a high value direction and a low value direction. The PEM has an in-plane physical property that varies in magnitude between a high value direction and a low value direction. The PEM is oriented with its high value direction substantially aligned with the high value direction of the flow field plate.
US09413018B2 Hollow fiber membrane module
A hollow fiber membrane module is disclosed. In particular, technology for achieving a reduction in pressure deviation of channels generated when an external fluid passes through a case, thereby achieving a uniform flow rate of the fluid through each channel.
US09413016B2 Bipolar plates for use in conduction-cooled electrochemical cells
The present disclosure is directed towards the design of bipolar plates for use in conduction-cooled electrochemical cells. Heat generated during the operation of the cell is removed from the active area of the cell to the periphery of the cell via the one or more bipolar plates in the cell. The one or more bipolar plates are configured to function as heat sinks to collect heat from the active area of the cell and to conduct the heat to the periphery of the plate where the heat is removed by traditional heat transfer means. The boundary of the one or more bipolar plates can be provided with heat dissipation structures to facilitate removal of heat from the plates. To function as effective heat sinks, the thickness of the one or more bipolar plates can be determined based on the rate of heat generation in the cell during operation, the thermal conductivity (“k”) of the material selected to form the plate, and the desired temperature gradient in a direction orthogonal to the plate (“ΔT”).
US09413009B2 Binder composition for rechargeable lithium battery, and electrode and rechargeable lithium battery including the same
Disclosed are a binder composition for a rechargeable lithium battery including a cross-linked compound of polyacrylic acid substituted with an alkali cation and polyvinyl alcohol and an electrode and rechargeable lithium battery including the same. The cross-linked compound of polyacrylic acid and polyvinyl alcohol is obtained by heating polyacrylic acid and polyvinyl alcohol to effect a cross-linking reaction via esterification. The cross-linked compound of polyvinyl alcohol and polyacrylic acid substituted with an alkali cation may improve phase stability of a binder, and has high cross-linking ratio, thereby providing for excellent performance of a rechargeable lithium battery.
US09413004B2 Magnesium battery having a cathode containing manganese dioxide nanoparticles as active material
A MnO2 electrode active material of high capacity is provided. The high capacity MnO2 has a surface area which is greater than 60 m2/g and the MnO2 is obtained by a process comprising a redox reaction of a Mn (II) salt and permanganate at a reaction temperature less than 30° C. and a pH of 2 to 4. Also provided are a magnesium electrochemical cell having a cathode containing the MnO2 and a rechargeable magnesium battery having a cathode containing the MnO2.
US09413003B2 Electrode material for lithium secondary battery and lithium secondary battery
The present invention provides a negative-electrode material for a lithium secondary battery which has a very low resistance, allows the lithium secondary battery to be charged and discharged (high output) at a high current and have a high capacity, and achieve a cycle life to such an extent that the lithium secondary battery can be mounted on a vehicle. The electrode material is composed of (a) at least one active substance (4) selected from among a metal oxide containing metal therein and an alloy material each of which is coated with a carbon material and has a graphene phase or an amorphous phase (8) on at least a surface thereof, (b) a graphite-based carbon material (5) having the graphene phase or the amorphous phase on at least a surface thereof; and (c) carbon material (6) other than the graphite-based carbon material and having the graphene phase or the amorphous phase on at least a surface thereof. The active substance (4), the graphite-based carbon material (5), and the carbon material (6) other than the graphite-based carbon material fuse the graphene phase or the amorphous phase (8a, 8b) thereof together and bond them to each other to form a composite active substance (7) including composed of the active substance including one active substance selected from among the metal oxide containing the metal and the alloy material.
US09413002B2 Particulate anode materials and methods for their preparation
Method for preparing a particulate material including particles of an element of group IVa, an oxide thereof or an alloy thereof, the method including: (a) dry grinding particles from an ingot of an element of group IVa, an oxide thereof or an alloy thereof to obtain micrometer size particles; and (b) wet grinding the micrometer particles dispersed in a solvent carrier to obtain nanometer size particles having a size between 10 to 100 nanometers, optionally a stabilizing agent is added during or after the wet grinding. Method can include further steps of (c) drying the nanometer size particles, (d) mixing the nanometer size particles with a carbon precursor; and (e) pyrolyzing the mixture, thereby forming a coat of conductive carbon on at least part of the surface of the particles. The particulate material can be used in fabrication of an anode in an electrochemical cell or electrochemical storage energy apparatus.
US09413000B2 Negative-electrode active material for rechargeable lithium battery
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a negative-electrode active material for rechargeable lithium battery, wherein the negative-electrode active material comprises a core comprising material capable of doping and dedoping lithium; and, a carbon layer formed on the surface of the core, wherein the carbon layer has a three dimensional porous structure comprising nanopores regularly ordered on the carbon layer with a pore wall of specific thickness placed therebetween. In some embodiments, the method comprises modifying a material capable of doping and dedoping lithium with an organic functional group, mixing the modified material with an inorganic oxide, heating the mixture, and removing the inorganic oxide to form the negative-electrode active material.
US09412997B2 Battery, battery pack, electronic apparatus, electric vehicle, electrical storage apparatus and electricity system
There is provided a battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator at least including a porous film, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode current collector having a pair of surfaces, and a positive electrode active material layer provided on each of the surfaces of the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode active material layer contains a positive electrode active material. The positive electrode active material layer has an area density S [mg/cm2] more than or equal to 30 mg/cm2. The porous film included in the separator has a porosity ε [%] and an air permeability t [sec/100 cc] which satisfy a predetermined formula.
US09412989B2 Battery connecting assembly
Each of connection units integrally includes a cover via a hinge, and the cover covers an accommodation portion in which a connecting member is arranged. The connection unit includes a unit stopper and a unit stopper receiver that is fitted to the unit stopper that is formed on an adjacent connection unit. The cover includes a cover stopper and a cover stopper receiver that is fitted to the cover stopper formed on the cover of the adjacent connection unit. The connection units are connected to each other by fitting of the unit stoppers and the unit stopper receivers and fitting of the cover stoppers and the cover stopper receivers.
US09412984B2 Motor vehicle battery
A motor vehicle battery has at least one battery module (10) with a plurality of battery cells (11) bounded by battery module walls (12) of the battery module (10). Two opposite battery module walls (12) of the battery module (10) are between walls (14) of a battery housing or walls of a bodywork structure. Deformation elements (15) fasten the battery module walls (12) of the respective battery module (10) indirectly to walls (14) of the battery housing or of the bodywork structure, and the respective wall (14) of the battery housing or of the bodywork structure.
US09412981B2 Electronic device
An electronic device includes a body that houses an electronic component in a casing and at least one belt connected to the body. The belt includes a battery housing that houses a battery and a first opening in communication with the battery housing. The casing includes a second opening in communication with the first opening and a release valve that discharges gas in the casing to the outside of the casing when gas released from the battery housed in the battery housing flows through the first and second openings into the casing to increase the pressure in the casing to an atmospheric pressure of a certain level or higher.
US09412977B2 Local seal for encapsulation of electro-optical element on a flexible substrate
An electro-optical panel product comprises a collection of distinct light-emitting elements formed on a substrate. The product may be a display or lighting apparatus, and each electro-optical element may be an OLED. Distinct local seals are formed below respective individual electro-optical elements or groups of electro-optical elements. Some embodiments combine a metal foil substrate and glass local seals in a flexible bottom-emitting product. The local seal may be used in conjunction with a continuous thin film encapsulation structure. Optical functions can be provided by each local seal, including refraction, filtering, color shifting, and scattering. Each local seal is formed by depositing a low melting temperature glass powder suspension or paste using inkjet technology in openings formed in a starter substrate; the glass powder is fused using a scanning laser beam having a tailored beam profile. The lower encapsulation substrate incorporating local window seals may be wholly or partially pre-formed.
US09412972B2 Organic light-emitting display apparatus
An organic light-emitting display apparatus, includes a substrate including display area and a non-display area; a display device in the display area on the substrate; and a thin film encapsulating layer that covers the display device and includes an encapsulating inorganic layer and an encapsulating organic layer, the encapsulating inorganic layer including a plurality of inorganic layers and the encapsulating organic layer including a plurality of organic layers, at least one organic layer among the plurality of organic layers including a plurality of holes, and the plurality of holes being filled with an inorganic layer on the at least one organic layer.
US09412969B2 Organic electro-luminescent display and method of fabricating the same
An organic electro-luminescent display includes an anode electrode disposed in a pixel region, on a substrate, a bank adjacent to an edge of the anode electrode, on the substrate, to define the pixel region, a hole injection layer on the anode electrode, to be separated from a sidewall of the bank by a first distance, a hole transport layer and an emissive layer sequentially disposed on the hole injection layer, in the pixel region, and a cathode electrode disposed on the emissive layer.
US09412967B2 Foldable package structure
A foldable package structure including a first substrate, a second substrate, a plurality of adhesive layers and at least one environmental-sensitive electronic component is provided. At least one of the first and second laminated substrates comprises an ultra-thin glass plate. The foldable package structure comprises a predetermined folded region and the ultra-thin glass plate is disposed at one side of the predetermined folded region and stays away from the predetermined folded region.
US09412966B2 OLED encapsulating structure and manufacturing method thereof, and light-emitting device
An OLED encapsulating structure and a manufacturing method thereof, and a light-emitting device are disclosed. The OLED encapsulating structure comprises: a base substrate, an OLED, barrier layers, and optical modulation layers; the OLED is formed on the base substrate; the barrier layers and the optical modulation layers are alternately and periodically formed on the OLED. The OLED encapsulating structure can reduce viewing-angle dependence of an OLED caused by a micro-cavity effect.
US09412959B1 Method of making a solar cell
A method of making a solar cell includes: preparing an active layer solution including p-type and n-type organic semiconductor materials, a solvent, and an additive, the additive containing 1, 8-iodooctane (DIO) and 1-chloronaphthalene (CN) that has a total volume not greater than 3 vol % based on a total volume of the solvent and the additive; preparing an assembly having a substrate, a first electrode layer, and a first transporting layer; coating the active layer solution on the first transporting layer to form a wet active layer; drying the wet active layer at a temperature not greater than 60° C.; and forming a second transporting layer and a second electrode layer on the active layer.
US09412957B2 Cascade-type compound and organic light-emitting device including the same
A cascade-type compound and an organic light-emitting device (OLED) including the same are provided. The cascade-type compound can be generically represented as Formula 1 below:
US09412955B2 Fluorescent isoindoline dyes
The present invention provides a new class of excited state intramolecular charge transfer (ESIPT) dye compounds based on mono or dihydroxy substituted 1,3-bisiminoisoindole motif and metal complexes containing such compounds as ligands. The present invention also provides OLEDs containing the compound and/or metal complex as the emissive material.
US09412949B2 Fluorescent conjugated polymers with a bodipy-based backbone and uses thereof
The present invention provides various fluorescent conjugated polymers with a BODIPY-based backbone. The invention also provides methods of using the polymers of the invention, such as for imaging and detection of cells, tumors, bacteria and viruses.
US09412948B2 Method of manufacturing a light emitting device and thin film forming apparatus
A method of manufacturing a light emitting device is provided in which satisfactory image display can be performed by the investigation and repair of short circuits in defect portions of light emitting elements. A backward direction electric current flows in the defect portions if a reverse bias voltage is applied to the light emitting elements having the defect portions. Emission of light which occurred from the backward direction electric current flow is measured by using an emission microscope, specifying the position of the defect portions, and short circuit locations can be repaired by irradiating a laser to the defect portions, turning them into insulators.
US09412947B2 OLED fabrication using laser transfer
Techniques for fabricating organic light emitting devices, and devices fabricating using the disclosed techniques, are provided. In the disclosed techniques, a layer including an emissive material and a buffer material may be deposited in a single laser transfer process, such as a laser-induced thermal imaging process. The emissive and buffer materials may be deposited in discrete layers during the transfer process. Examples of buffer materials as disclosed include blocking materials, transfer materials, and the like. Additional layers may be deposited using conventional techniques or additional laser transfer processes.
US09412943B2 Organic molecular memory
An organic molecular memory in an embodiment includes a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer; and an organic molecular layer provided between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the organic molecular layer including an organic molecule having an oligophenylene ethynylene backbone, the oligophenylene ethynylene backbone including three or more benzene rings, and the oligophenylene ethynylene backbone including two fluorine atoms added in ortho positions or meta positions of one of the benzene rings other than benzene rings at both ends.
US09412941B2 Phase change memory cell with self-aligned vertical heater and low resistivity interface
A low resistivity interface material is provided between a self-aligned vertical heater element and a contact region of a selection device. A phase change chalcogenide material is deposited directly on the vertical heater element. In an embodiment, the vertical heater element in L-shaped, having a curved vertical wall along the wordline direction and a horizontal base. In an embodiment, the low resistivity interface material is deposited into a trench with a negative profile using a PVD technique. An upper surface of the low resistivity interface material may have a tapered bird-beak extension.
US09412938B2 Memory device, semiconductor device, method for producing memory device, and method for producing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and a gate insulating film around the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer. A gate electrode is around the gate insulating film and a gate line is connected to the gate electrode. A first diffusion layer resides in an upper portion of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and a second diffusion layer resides in a lower portion of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer. A memory device on the first diffusion layer includes a pillar-shaped phase-change layer and a reset gate insulating film surrounding the pillar-shaped phase-change layer. A reset gate surrounds the reset gate insulating film, where the reset gate functions as a heater, and the pillar-shaped phase-change layer and the reset gate are electrically insulated from each other.
US09412937B2 Memory device
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a variable resistance layer. The second electrode includes a metal. The metal is more easily ionizable than a material of the first electrode. The variable resistance layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The variable resistance layer includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer has a relatively high crystallization rate. The second layer contacts the first layer. The second layer has a relatively low crystallization rate. The first layer and the second layer are stacked along a direction connecting the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09412936B2 Memory cells, methods of forming memory cells and methods of forming memory arrays
Some embodiments include memory cells which have multiple programmable material structures between a pair of electrodes. One of the programmable material structures has a first edge, and another of the programmable material structures has a second edge that contacts the first edge. Some embodiments include methods of forming an array of memory cells. First programmable material segments are formed over bottom electrodes. The first programmable material segments extend along a first axis. Lines of second programmable material are formed over the first programmable material segments, and are formed to extend along a second axis that intersects the first axis. The second programmable material lines have lower surfaces that contact upper surfaces of the first programmable material segments. Top electrode lines are formed over the second programmable material lines.
US09412933B2 Method for producing an actuator unit and sleeve for receiving a piezoactuator
The invention relates to a method for producing an actuator unit comprising a piezoactuator (1), a sleeve (9) having a first end face (14) and a second end face (13), and a potting compound (11). The method comprises: inserting the piezoactuator (1) into the sleeve (9), wherein the piezoactuator is inserted into the sleeve (9) from the side of the sleeve (9) having the first end face (14); arranging a filling opening of a filling element (15) in an axial position near the axial position of the second end face (13) of the sleeve (9); filling a hollow space between the inner side of the sleeve (9) and the piezoactuator (1) with the potting compound (11) via the filling opening of the filling element (15), such that the potting compound (11) extends maximally to a first end face (14′) of the piezoactuator (1). The invention further relates to a sleeve (9) for receiving a piezoactuator (1).
US09412931B2 Piezoelectric ceramics, piezoelectric element, liquid ejection head, ultrasonic motor, and dust removing device
Provided is a lead-free piezoelectric ceramics having enhanced mechanical quality factor (Qm) and mechanical strength. The piezoelectric ceramics, includes at least a first crystal grain and a second crystal grain. The first crystal grain has an average equivalent circle diameter of 2 μm or more and 30 μm or less. The first crystal grain includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1) as a main component, and the second crystal grain includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (2) as a main component: (1) xBaTiO3-yCaTiO3-zCaZrO3; and (2) x′BaTiO3-y′CaTiO3-z′CaZrO3, provided that x, y, z, x′, y′, and z′ satisfy x+y+z=1, x′+y′+z′=1, 0≦x′≦0.15, 0.85≦y′≦1, 0≦z≦0.05, x>x′, 00.
US09412930B2 Laminated body and piezoelectric/electrostrictive element
A laminated body has a substrate and a metallic layer. The substrate is composed of an inorganic material. The metallic layer is disposed on the substrate. One of the substrate and the metallic layer has a main body portion and a plurality of protruding portions. The protruding portions are formed on the main body portion. The protruding portions are embedded in the other of the substrate and the metallic layer. An outer diameter of each of the protruding portions is configured to decrease towards the main body portion.
US09412929B2 Thermoelectric conversion module
A thermoelectric conversion module according to the present disclosure includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a peripheral thermoelectric conversion element group and a central thermoelectric conversion element group, each of which groups is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and contains a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements. The peripheral thermoelectric conversion element group is disposed in an area including peripheries of the first substrate and the second substrate, and the central thermoelectric conversion element group is disposed closer to a center of the first substrate and a center of the second substrate than the peripheral thermoelectric conversion element group. The plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements of the central thermoelectric conversion element group are disposed more densely than the plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements of the peripheral thermoelectric conversion element group.
US09412927B2 Formation of a thermopile sensor utilizing CMOS fabrication techniques
Techniques are described to form an absorption stack proximate to a thermopile sensor. In one or more implementations, a thermopile sensor is formed proximate to a semiconductor wafer. An absorption stack is formed proximate to the semiconductor wafer and includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer may be a material having absorption and/or reflective characteristics. The second layer may be a material having wave phase shift characteristic characteristics. The third layer may be a material having a reflective characteristic.
US09412926B2 High power solid-state lamp
A high power semiconductor component structure having a semiconductor device arranged to operate in response to an electrical signal, with the device heating up during operation in response to the electrical signal. A heat sink is positioned in thermal contact with the semiconductor device such that heat from the device transmits into the first heat sink. The heat sink has at least partially a porous material region of a thermally conductive material in a 3-dimensional pore structure with the surfaces of the pore structure providing surface area for heat to dissipate into the ambient air.
US09412925B2 High-power LED lamp cooling device and method for manufacturing the same
A high-power LED lamp cooling device and its manufacturing method, which includes: manufacturing a semiconductor crystal bar in advance into cone-shaped crystal bar with one end having large diameter and the other having small diameter, making color mark on each wafer as the large-diameter end surface of the tail end when the cone-shaped semiconductor crystal bar is cut into slices; cutting and pelletizing the conical surface to obtain polygonal cylindrical N-type or P-type semiconductor elements, arranging them in a matrix form between two beryllium-oxide ceramic chips provided with conductive circuits, connecting head end of N-type semiconductor elements to tail end of the P-type semiconductor elements in series to manufacture high-power LED lamp cooling device. The high-power LED lamp cooling device can achieve: good cooling effect, high working efficiency, low energy consumption and capable of reducing light failure of LED lamp, and prolonging service life of the high-power LED lamp.
US09412918B2 Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting device includes a support member, a light emitting element, and an underfill material. The support member includes an insulating member and positive and negative electrically conductive wirings arranged on the insulating member. The electrically conductive wirings are insulated and separated from each other by an insulating region arranged between the positive and negative electrically conductive wirings. The insulating separation region includes a first region disposed on an outer side with respect to the light emitting element and a second region disposed directly under the light emitting element. The first region includes an underfill arranging portion in which an interval between the electrically conductive wirings is wider than in the second region. The underfill material is arranged to extend from the underfill arranging portion to the second region in a space formed between the support member and the light emitting element.
US09412917B2 Light emitting device
This disclosure discloses a light-emitting device. The light-emitting device includes a transparent substrate with a recess and an upper surface; a wavelength converting layer covering the recess and the upper surface of the transparent substrate; and a light-emitting diode arranged in the recess and over the wavelength converting layer.
US09412916B2 Light source with quantum dots
The invention provides a luminescent nano particles based luminescent material comprising a matrix of interconnected coated luminescent nano particles, wherein for instance wherein the luminescent nano particles comprise CdSe, wherein the luminescent nano particles comprise a coating of CdS and wherein the matrix comprises a coating comprising ZnS. The luminescent material according may have a quantum efficiency of at least 80% at 25° C., and having a quench of quantum efficiency of at maximum 20% at 100° C. compared to the quantum efficiency at 25° C.
US09412914B2 Light emitting device
Provided is a light emitting device having a high light emitting efficiency and a good brightness distribution, further having a good color mixing and a good light distribution. A light emitting device includes a base member, a plurality of light emitting elements disposed on the base member, and a sealing member sealing the light emitting elements. The base member has a plurality of regions divided by virtual lines extending in a radial manner from one point disposed on the base member to an outer periphery of the base member, and a light transmissive wall member between adjacent two regions of the plurality of regions. A sealing member containing a fluorescent material is disposed on each region of the plurality of regions. A color tone of light emitted from a first region which is one of the two adjacent regions of the plurality of regions differs from a color tone of light emitted from a second region which is the other of the two adjacent regions.
US09412913B2 Slim LED package
Disclosed herein is a slim LED package. The slim LED package includes first and second lead frames separated from each other, a chip mounting recess formed on one upper surface region of the first lead frame by reducing a thickness of the one upper surface region below other upper surface regions of the first lead frame, an LED chip mounted on a bottom surface of the chip mounting recess and connected with the second lead frame via a bonding wire, and a transparent encapsulation material protecting the LED chip while supporting the first and second lead frames.
US09412912B2 Method for transferring light-emitting elements onto a package substrate
A method for transferring light-emitting elements onto a package substrate includes: providing a light-emitting unit including a temporary substrate and light-emitting elements; disconnecting the light-emitting elements from the temporary substrate to allow the light-emitting elements to float on a fluid; adjusting spacings between the light-emitting elements to have a predetermined size by controlling flow of the fluid; placing a package substrate into the fluid, followed by aligning the light-emitting elements with connecting pads of the package substrate so as to correspondingly place the light-emitting elements on the connecting pads; and removing the package substrate with the light-emitting elements from the fluid.
US09412911B2 Optical tuning of light emitting semiconductor junctions
Light emitting semiconductor junctions are disclosed. An exemplary light emitting junction has a first electrical contact coupled to a first side of the junction. The exemplary junction also has a second electrical contact coupled to a second side of the junction. The exemplary junction also has a region of set straining material that exerts a strain on the junction and alters both: (i) an optical polarization, and (ii) an emission wavelength of the junction. The region of set straining material is not on a current path between said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact. The region of set straining material covers a third side and a fourth side of the light emitting junction along a cross section of the light emitting junction. The light emitting semiconductor junction device comprises a three-five alloy.
US09412910B2 Semiconductor light emitting device and method for manufacturing same
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, a light emitting portion, a first transparent conductive layer, and a second transparent conductive layer. The light emitting portion is provided between the first and second semiconductor layers. The second semiconductor layer is disposed between the first transparent conductive layer and the light emitting portion. The first transparent conductive layer includes oxygen. The second transparent conductive layer is provided between the second semiconductor layer and the first transparent conductive layer. The second transparent conductive layer has a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the first transparent conductive layer, and includes oxygen at a concentration higher than a concentration of oxygen included in the first transparent conductive layer.
US09412907B1 Graded vias for LED chip P- and N- contacts
The present disclosure provides various embodiments of light emitting chips and packages with improved current spreading structures, such as non-uniform via structures or varied via structures. In some embodiments, these structures may be used to regulate current flow and current crowding in order to improve emitter efficiency and uniformity. Some embodiments of this disclosure may also refer to contact pad placement to improve current flow. In some embodiments of non-uniform via structures, the size of the vias may vary, whereas in other embodiments, the shape or spacing between the vias may vary.
US09412905B2 White light emitting device
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device including a light source, a first light-emitting material spaced apart from the light source, and at least one additional light-emitting material. The first light-emitting material includes low reabsorbing semiconductor nanocrystals having an emission-center core, an exterior protective shell, and at least one inner light-absorbing shell. The device is useful for efficiently producing white light having a high color rendering index.
US09412902B2 Semiconductor structure with stress-reducing buffer structure
A semiconductor structure comprising a buffer structure and a set of semiconductor layers formed adjacent to a first side of the buffer structure is provided. The buffer structure can have an effective lattice constant and a thickness such that an overall stress in the set of semiconductor layers at room temperature is compressive and is in a range between approximately 0.1 GPa and 2.0 GPa. The buffer structure can be grown using a set of growth parameters selected to achieve the target effective lattice constant a, control stresses present during growth of the buffer structure, and/or control stresses present after the semiconductor structure has cooled.
US09412900B2 Green-light emitting device including quaternary quantum well on vicinal c-plane
Example embodiments relate to a green-light emitting device including a quaternary quantum well on a vicinal c-plane. The light-emitting device includes a substrate having a vicinal c-plane surface and a light-emitting layer on the vicinal c-plane surface of the substrate. The light-emitting layer includes a quantum well layer of AlxInyGa1-x-yN and quantum barrier layers of InzGa1-zN disposed on and under the quantum well layer respectively, and 0
US09412899B2 Method of stress induced cleaving of semiconductor devices
A method of dicing semiconductor devices includes depositing a continuous first layer over the substrate, such that the first layer imparts a compressive stress to the substrate, and etching grooves in the first layer to increase local stress at the grooves compared to stress at the remainder of the first layer located over the substrate. The method also includes generating a pattern of defects in the substrate with a laser beam, such that a location of the defects in the pattern of defects substantially corresponds to a location of at least some of the grooves in the in the first layer, and applying pressure to the substrate to dice the substrate along the grooves.
US09412891B2 Thermal receiver for high power solar concentrators and method of assembly
A device for dissipating heat from a photovoltaic cell is disclosed. A first thermally conductive layer receives heat from the photovoltaic cell and reduces a density of the received heat. A second thermally conductive layer conducts heat from the first thermally conductive layer to a surrounding environment. An electrically isolating layer thermally couples the first thermally conductive layer and the second thermally conductive layer.
US09412888B2 Solar cell and method for manufacturing the same
A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type, an emitter layer on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, the emitter layer having a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, and electrodes including a first electrode electrically connected to the emitter layer, and a second electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate. The emitter layer includes a high-concentration doping portion adjacent to the first electrode, and a low-concentration doping portion in a region that does not include the high-concentration doping portion. The low-concentration doping portion has a higher resistance than the high-concentration doping portion. The high-concentration doping portion includes a first region having a first resistance, and a second region having a second resistance higher than the first resistance.
US09412885B2 Solar cell
A solar cell can include a substrate of a first conductive type; an emitter region of a second conductive type opposite the first conductive type and which forms a p-n junction along with the substrate; an anti-reflection layer positioned on the emitter region; a front electrode part electrically connected to the emitter region; and a back electrode part electrically connected to the substrate, wherein the substrate including a first area formed of single crystal silicon and a second area formed of polycrystalline silicon, wherein a thickness of the anti-reflection layer positioned on the first area is less than a thickness of the anti-reflection layer positioned on the second area, wherein a roughness of an incident surface of the substrate in the first area is different from a roughness of the incident surface of the substrate in the second area, and wherein the emitter region is entirely formed on the incident surface of the substrate.
US09412884B2 Module fabrication of solar cells with low resistivity electrodes
One embodiment of the present invention provides a solar module. The solar module includes a front-side cover, a back-side cover, and a plurality of solar cells situated between the front- and back-side covers. A respective solar cell includes a multi-layer semiconductor structure, a front-side electrode situated above the multi-layer semiconductor structure, and a back-side electrode situated below the multi-layer semiconductor structure. Each of the front-side and the back-side electrodes comprises a metal grid. A respective metal grid comprises a plurality of finger lines and a single busbar coupled to the finger lines. The single busbar is configured to collect current from the finger lines.
US09412883B2 Methods and apparatus for MOS capacitors in replacement gate process
Methods and apparatus for polysilicon MOS capacitors in a replacement gate process. A method includes disposing a gate dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate; disposing a polysilicon gate layer over the dielectric layer; patterning the gate dielectric layer and the polysilicon gate layer to form a plurality of polysilicon gates spaced by at least a minimum polysilicon to polysilicon pitch; defining a polysilicon resistor region containing at least one of the polysilicon gates and not containing at least one other of the polysilicon gates, which form dummy gates; depositing a mask layer over an inter-level dielectric layer; patterning the mask layer to expose the dummy gates; removing the dummy gates and the gate dielectric layer underneath the dummy gates to leave trenches in the inter-level dielectric layer; and forming high-k metal gate devices in the trenches in the inter-level dielectric layer. An apparatus produced by the method is disclosed.
US09412864B2 Junction-less transistors
A method is provided for fabricating a junction-less transistor. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a dielectric layer; and forming a semiconductor layer including a first heavily doped layer formed on the dielectric layer, a lightly doped layer formed on the first heavily doped layer and a second heavily doped layer formed on the lightly doped layer. The method also includes etching the semiconductor layer and the dielectric layer to form trenches to expose side surfaces of a portion of the semiconductor layer and a portion of the dielectric layer; and removing the portion of the dielectric layer between the adjacent trenches to form a chamber. Further, the method includes forming a gate structure around the portion of the semiconductor layer between the adjacent trenches; and forming a source region and a drain region in the semiconductor layer at both sides of the gate structure.
US09412861B2 Semiconductor device having structure capable of suppressing oxygen diffusion and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device is provided. The device includes a substrate; a gate dielectric film formed on the substrate; a gate electrode formed on the gate dielectric film, and source and drain electrodes, wherein a boundary between the gate dielectric film and the substrate is formed with an F (fluorine)-terminated surface to serve as a barrier for preventing oxygen diffusion.
US09412858B2 Group III nitride semiconductor device which can be used as a power transistor
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first nitride semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, a p-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer, a recess having a bottom portion which reaches the first nitride semiconductor layer through a part of the p-type nitride semiconductor layer, a third nitride semiconductor layer formed to cover the bottom portion of the recess, a side portion of the recess, and a part of an upper surface of the p-type nitride semiconductor layer. The semiconductor device further includes a fourth nitride semiconductor layer formed on the third nitride semiconductor layer, a first electrode formed on another side of the substrate, a gate electrode formed on the upper surface of the p-type nitride semiconductor layer, and a second electrode that is in contact with the third nitride semiconductor layer or the fourth nitride semiconductor layer. The third nitride semiconductor layer has a bandgap different from a bandgap of the fourth nitride semiconductor layer.
US09412856B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first and second nitride semiconductor layer. The second nitride semiconductor layer has a band gap larger the first nitride semiconductor layer. Source and drain electrodes are formed spaced from each other on the second nitride semiconductor layer. A third nitride semiconductor layer is formed on the second nitride semiconductor layer between the source and drain electrodes. A gate electrode is formed on the third nitride semiconductor layer. The third nitride semiconductor layer comprises at least two first layers and at least one a second layer which has a lower p-type dopant concentration than the first layer. The second layer also has a band gap larger than the first layer. The lowermost layer and the uppermost layer in the third nitride semiconductor layer stack are the first layers.
US09412852B2 Low-temperature fabrication of nanomaterial-derived metal composite thin films
Disclosed are new methods of fabricating nanomaterial-derived metal composite thin films via solution processes at low temperatures (<400° C.). The present thin films are useful as thin film semiconductors, thin film dielectrics, or thin film conductors, and can be implemented into semiconductor devices such as thin film transistors and thin film photovoltaic devices.
US09412849B1 Method of fabricating semiconductor device
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming first and second fin-type structures on first and second regions of a substrate, respectively, forming first and second capping layers on the first and second fin-type structures, respectively, forming a first dummy gate electrode on the first capping layer and a second dummy gate electrode on the second capping layer, exposing the first capping layer and the second capping layer by removing the first dummy gate electrode and the second dummy gate electrode, forming a second wire pattern group on the second region, and forming a first wire pattern group on the first region.
US09412843B2 Method for embedded diamond-shaped stress element
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with an embedded layer, by anisotropically etching a substrate adjacent to an already formed gate structure. A dummy layer is deposited in the previously etched region, and a second spacer is formed next to the first spacer. The dummy layer is removed, and a second anisotropic etch is performed. A semiconductor substrate is then epitaxially grown in the etched out region to form the embedded layer.
US09412841B2 Method of fabricating a transistor using contact etch stop layers
A method for fabricating a field-effect transistor includes forming a spacer adjacent to sidewalls of a gate structure. The method further includes forming silicide regions in a substrate adjacent to the spacer. The method further includes depositing a first interlayer dielectric layer over the substrate. The method further includes exposing a top surface of the gate structure. The method further includes depositing a contact etch stop layer over the first interlayer dielectric layer and the top surface of the gate structure. The method further includes patterning the contact etch stop layer to remove a portion of the contact etch stop layer over the silicide regions, wherein the contact etch stop layer over the gate structure is maintained.
US09412835B2 Rectifier structures with low leakage
An integrated circuit device includes a first III-V compound layer, a second III-V compound layer over the first III-V compound layer, a gate dielectric over the second III-V compound layer, and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric. An anode electrode and a cathode electrode are formed on opposite sides of the gate electrode. The anode electrode is electrically connected to the gate electrode. The anode electrode, the cathode electrode, and the gate electrode form portions of a rectifier.
US09412827B2 Vertical semiconductor device having semiconductor mesas with side walls and a PN-junction extending between the side walls
A vertical semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having a backside and extending, in a peripheral area and in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the backside, from the backside to a first surface of the semiconductor body, the body including in an active area spaced apart semiconductor mesas extending, in the vertical direction, from the first surface to a main surface arranged above the first surface, in a vertical cross-section the peripheral area extending between the active area and an edge that extends between the back-side and the first surface, in the vertical cross-section each of the mesas including first and second side walls, a first pn-junction extending between the first and second side walls, and a conductive region in Ohmic contact with the mesa and extending from the main surface into the mesa. Gate electrodes are arranged between adjacent mesas and extend across the first pn-junctions.
US09412826B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device using a semiconductor substrate including silicon and a first conductivity type body region
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes processes of: (a) implant first conductivity type first impurities in a first region of a first surface; (b) form a second conductivity type semiconductor region exposed in the second region of the first surface by implanting second conductivity type second impurities in the second region; (c) implant charged particles at a dose amount larger than those of the first and the second impurities in a third region of the first surface which at least partially overlaps with the first region and is adjacent to the second region so that an implantation depth of the charged particles becomes shallower than that of the first impurities. After having performed the processes of (a) to (c), a metal is deposited on the second and the third regions, and the metal is caused to react with the semiconductor substrate to form the silicide layer.
US09412824B2 Semiconductor component having a dopant region formed by a dopant composed of an oxygen/vacancy complex
A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor body having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. In the semiconductor body, a dopant region is formed by a dopant composed of an oxygen complex. The dopant region extends over a section L having a length of at least 10 μm along a direction from the first side to the second side. The dopant region has an oxygen concentration in a range of 1×1017 cm−3 to 5×1017 cm−3 over the section L.
US09412823B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes, an n-type SiC substrate that has first and second faces, and contains a p-type impurity and an n-type impurity, the p-type impurity being an element A, the n-type impurity being an element D, the element A and the element D being a combination of Al (aluminum), Ga (gallium), or In (indium) and N (nitrogen), and/or a combination of B (boron) and P (phosphorus), the ratio of the concentration of the element A to the concentration of the element D in the combination(s) being higher than 0.40 but lower than 0.95, the concentration of the element D forming the combination(s) being not lower than 1×1018 cm−3 and not higher than 1×1022 cm−3, an SiC layer formed on the first face, a first electrode formed on the first face side, and a second electrode formed on the second face.
US09412816B2 Semiconductor device including multiple nanowire transistor
A semiconductor device comprises at least two nanowire patterns over a substrate, wherein the at least two nanowire patterns have increasingly narrower widths as they extend away from the substrate and have different channel impurity concentrations. A gate electrode surrounds at least a part of the at least two nanowire patterns. A gate dielectric film is disposed between the at least two nanowire patterns and the gate electrode.
US09412813B2 Semiconductor body with a buried material layer and method
One aspect includes a method for forming a buried material layer in a semiconductor body, including providing a semiconductor body having a first side and having a plurality of first trenches extending from the first surface into the semiconductor body. Each of the plurality of first trenches has a bottom and has at least one sidewall and the plurality of first trenches is separated from one another by semiconductor mesa regions. A first material layer is formed on the bottom of each of the plurality of first trenches such that the first material layer leaves at least one segment of at least one sidewall of each of the plurality of trenches uncovered. Each of the plurality of first trenches is filled by epitaxially growing a semiconductor material from the at least one uncovered sidewall segment. After filling the first trenches, second trenches are formed in the mesa regions.
US09412807B1 Semiconductor structure
A semiconductor structure comprises a substrate, an epitaxial layer, an active area and a termination. The substrate has a first conducting type of semiconductor material. The epitaxial layer disposed on the substrate has a first conducting type of semiconductor material. The active area is a working area of the semiconductor structure. The termination protects the active area. The termination has a junction termination extension (JTE) having a second conducting type of semiconductor material. The counter-doped area is disposed in the JTE area and has the first conducting type of semiconductor material. A dose of the first conducting type of semiconductor material in the counter-doped area increases along one direction.
US09412803B2 Display device
A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a substrate including a display area and a non-display area and a pad electrode unit formed in the non-display area. The pad electrode unit includes a plurality of first metal layers respectively including a plurality of terminals arranged in substantially parallel to each other and a plurality of wirings extending from the terminals and covered by an insulating layer. The pad electrode unit also includes a plurality of second metal layers formed over the insulating layer and connected to the terminals. The pad electrode unit further includes a plurality of dummy metal layers formed between the terminals and the second metal layers or on the top of the insulating layer covering the wirings.
US09412798B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
In an active matrix display device, electric characteristics of thin film transistors included in a circuit are important, and performance of the display device depends on the electric characteristics. Thus, by using an oxide semiconductor film including In, Ga, and Zn for an inverted staggered thin film transistor, variation in electric characteristics of the thin film transistor can be reduced. Three layers of a gate insulating film, an oxide semiconductor layer and a channel protective layer are successively formed by a sputtering method without being exposed to air. Further, in the oxide semiconductor layer, the thickness of a region overlapping with the channel protective film is larger than that of a region in contact with a conductive film.
US09412796B2 High-accuracy OLED touch display panel structure
A high-accuracy OLED touch display panel structure includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, an OLED layer configured between the upper and lower substrates, a sensing electrode layer, a thin film transistor and wiring layer, a cathode layer, and an anode layer. The sensing electrode layer has a plurality of sensing conductor lines for sensing an approaching external object. The thin film transistor and wiring layer includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of source lines, and a plurality of wirings. The plurality of sensing conductor lines are disposed corresponding to positions of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of source lines.
US09412795B2 OLED display
An OLED display is provided. The OLED display includes a substrate, a first light-emissive layer, a second light-emissive layer, and two third light-emissive layers. The two third light-emissive layers corresponds a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel adjacent to the first sub-pixel. An axis passes through the first light-emissive layer and the second light-emissive layer. The axis is between the two third light-emissive layers. The configuration of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel are symmetrical with respect to the axis.
US09412794B2 OLED display panel
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel includes a plurality of pixels spaced from each other. Each of the pixels includes a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, and a third sub-pixel. The first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel of each pixel are all rhombus shaped. The first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel spaced from each other by three barriers. The three barriers are connected with each other in a Y-shaped pattern. An angle defined by two adjacent barriers is about 120 degrees.
US09412787B2 Method and system for providing magnetic tunneling junction elements having improved performance through capping layer induced perpendicular anisotropy and memories using such magnetic elements
A magnetic element and a magnetic memory utilizing the magnetic element are described. A contact is electrically coupled to the magnetic element. The magnetic element includes pinned, nonmagnetic spacer, and free layers and a perpendicular capping layer adjoining the free layer and the contact. The free layer has an out-of-plane demagnetization energy and a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy corresponding to a perpendicular anisotropy energy that is less than the out-of-plane demagnetization energy. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the pinned and free layers. The perpendicular capping layer induces at least part of the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The free layer is switchable between magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic element. The free layer includes ferromagnetic layers interleaved with capping layer(s) such that a ferromagnetic layer resides at an edge of the free layer. The capping layer(s) are configured such that the ferromagnetic layers are ferromagnetically coupled.
US09412786B1 Magnetoresistive device design and process integration with surrounding circuitry
Magnetoresistive device architectures and methods for manufacturing are presented that facilitate integration of process steps associated with forming such devices into standard process flows used for surrounding logic/circuitry. In some embodiments, the magnetoresistive device structures are designed such that the devices are able to fit within the vertical dimensions of the integrated circuit associated with a single metal layer and a single layer of interlayer dielectric material. Integrating the processing for the magnetoresistive devices can include using the same standard interlayer dielectric material as used in the surrounding circuits on the integrated circuit as well as using standard vias to interconnect to at least one of the electrodes of the magnetoresistive devices.
US09412785B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor apparatus
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor apparatus comprising forming an electrode on a structure provided on a substrate, the structure including a wiring pattern and an interlayer insulation film, forming a first film covering the electrode and the structure, forming an opening in a portion of the first film inside an outer edge of a convex portion formed by steps between upper faces of the electrode and the structure so as to expose a first portion as a portion of the upper face of the electrode, forming a second film covering the first film and the first portion, forming a protective film covering the first portion, the convex portion, and a periphery of the convex portion by patterning the second film, and forming a third film on the first film and the protective film by spin coating.
US09412783B2 Image pickup unit and image pickup display system
An image pickup unit includes: an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion device and a field effect transistor; a drive section configured to control a voltage to be applied to the transistor to perform reading-out driving of a signal charge accumulated in the pixel; and a correction section configured to correct a voltage value used to drive the transistor, the transistor including first and second gate electrodes arranged to face each other with a semiconductor layer interposed in between, the drive section being configured to perform ON/OFF control of the transistor by applying first and second voltages to the first and second gate electrodes of the transistor, respectively, and the correction section being configured to correct a voltage value of one or both of the first and second voltages in accordance with a shift amount of a threshold voltage of the transistor.
US09412781B2 Photodiode gate dielectric protection layer
The present disclosure relates to a method the present disclosure relates to an active pixel sensor having a gate dielectric protection layer that reduces damage to an underlying gate dielectric layer during fabrication, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the active pixel sensor has a photodetector disposed within a semiconductor substrate. A transfer transistor having a first gate structure is located on a first gate dielectric layer disposed above the semiconductor substrate. A reset transistor having a second gate structure is located on the first gate dielectric layer. A gate dielectric protection layer is disposed onto the gate oxide at a position extending between the first gate structure and the second gate structure and over the photodetector. The gate dielectric protection layer protects the first gate dielectric layer from etching procedures during fabrication of the active pixel sensor.
US09412779B2 Method, apparatus and system providing a storage gate pixel with high dynamic range
A method, apparatus and system are described providing a high dynamic range pixel. An integration period has multiple sub-integration periods during which charges are accumulated in a photosensor and repeatedly transferred to a storage node, where the charges are accumulated for later transfer to another storage node for output.
US09412777B2 Image sensor and image capturing apparatus for satisfactory pupil division by a focus detection pixel in which a light guide is formed
An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor including a plurality of image forming pixels and a lens which is arranged for the plurality of image forming pixels. Each of the image forming pixels includes a plurality of divided photo-electric conversion units, and the plurality of photo-electric conversion units have a function of photo-electrically converting a plurality of images having passed through different exit pupils of the imaging optical system, and outputting focus detection signals. Each of the image forming pixels includes a first light guide and a second light guide. The first light guide is arranged on a side of the lens, and the second light guide is arranged on a side of the photo-electric conversion unit, and a division count of the second light guide is larger than the division count of the first light guide.
US09412775B2 Solid-state imaging devices and methods of fabricating the same
Solid-state imaging devices and fabrication methods thereof are provided. The solid-state imaging device includes a substrate containing a first photoelectric conversion element and a second photoelectric conversion element. A color filter layer has a first color filter component and a second color filter component respectively disposed above the first and second photoelectric conversion elements. A light-shielding partition is disposed between the first and second color filter components. The light-shielding partition has a height lower than that of the first and second color filter components. A buffer layer is disposed between the first and second color filter components and above the light-shielding partition. The buffer layer has a refractive index lower than that of the color filter layer.
US09412772B1 Substrate vias for a display device
An electronic device comprises a display stack that includes an active matrix display operable using thin film transistor (TFT) circuitry. The display stack also includes a light guide layer capable of illuminating the active matrix display. A glass substrate of the active matrix display has a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the glass substrate includes the TFT circuitry disposed on the first side and one or more through-glass vias that electronically connect portions of the TFT circuitry disposed on the first side of the glass substrate to one or more electronic connectors or electronic circuitry disposed on the second side of the glass substrate.
US09412771B2 Method of manufacturing thin film transistor and method of manufacturing display substrate having the same
A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing a display substrate having the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the method of manufacturing a thin film transistor comprises forming an oxide semiconductor layer over a substrate, plasma-treating the oxide semiconductor layer with a plasma generated from a nitrogen gas or a nitric oxide gas so as to decrease defects in the oxide semiconductor layer, and annealing the plasma-treated oxide semiconductor layer to form a channel layer.
US09412768B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor having stable electric characteristics. It is another object to manufacture a highly reliable semiconductor device at lower cost with high productivity. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes a thin film transistor where a semiconductor layer having a channel formation region, a source region, and a drain region are formed using an oxide semiconductor layer, heat treatment (heat treatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation) is performed so as to improve the purity of the oxide semiconductor layer and reduce impurities such as moisture. Moreover, the oxide semiconductor layer subjected to the heat treatment is slowly cooled under an oxygen atmosphere.
US09412766B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
An insulating film provided between adjacent pixels is referred to as a bank, a partition, a barrier, an embankment or the like, and is provided above a source wiring or a drain wiring for a thin film transistor, or a power supply line. In particular, at an intersection portion of these wirings provided in different layers, a larger step is formed there than in other portions. Even when the insulating film provided between adjacent pixels is formed by a coating method, thin portions are problematically partially formed due to this step and the withstand pressure is reduced. In the present invention, a dummy material is arranged near the large step portion, particularly, around the intersection portion of wirings, so as to alleviate unevenness formed thereover. The upper wiring and the lower wiring are arranged in a misaligned manner so as not to align the end portions.
US09412762B2 DC-DC converter and semiconductor device
A DC-DC converter with low power consumption and high power conversion efficiency is provided. The DC-DC converter includes a first transistor and a control circuit. The control circuit includes an operational amplifier generating a signal that controls switching of the first transistor, a bias circuit generating a bias potential supplied to the operational amplifier, and a holding circuit holding the bias potential. The holding circuit includes a second transistor and a capacitor to which the bias potential is supplied. The first transistor and the second transistor include a first oxide semiconductor film and a second oxide semiconductor film, respectively. The first oxide semiconductor film and the second oxide semiconductor film each contain In, M (M is Ga, Y, Zr, La, Ce, or Nd), and Zn. The atomic ratio of In to M in the first oxide semiconductor film is higher than that in the second oxide semiconductor film.
US09412761B2 Array substrate, method for manufacturing the same and display apparatus
An array substrate, a method for manufacturing the same and a display apparatus are provided. The array substrate comprises: a substrate (1); a common electrode (2) and a pixel electrode (10) sequentially formed on the substrate (1) and insulated from each other; a thin film transistor comprising a gate electrode (4), an active layer (7), a source electrode (8a) and a drain electrode (8b), wherein the drain electrode (8b) is electrically connected with the pixel electrode (10); a common electrode line (5) disposed in a same layer as the gate electrode (4); and an insulating layer (3) between the gate electrode (4) and the common electrode (2), wherein the common electrode (2) is connected with the common electrode line (5) through a through hole in the insulating layer (3).
US09412758B2 Semiconductor on insulator (SOI) structure with more predictable junction capacitance and method for fabrication
A disclosed embodiment is a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) structure comprising a buried oxide layer over a bulk semiconductor layer, and a device layer over the buried oxide layer. At least one transistor is fabricated in the device layer, wherein a source/drain junction of the transistor does not contact the buried oxide layer, thereby causing the source/drain junction to have a source/drain junction capacitance. The SOI structure also comprises at least one trench extending through the device layer and contacting a top surface of the buried oxide layer, thereby electrically isolating the at least one transistor. In one embodiment the at least one trench is formed after fabrication of the at least one transistor and is filled with only dielectric. In one embodiment, one or more wells may be formed in the device layer. In one embodiment the bulk semiconductor layer has a high resistivity of typically about 1000 ohms-centimeter or greater.
US09412754B1 Semiconductor memory device and production method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a silicon substrate having an impurity diffusion region, and a memory cell array. The memory cell array includes conductive layers laminated on the silicon substrate via interlayer insulation layers, a semiconductor layer extending in a direction of the lamination of the conductive layers, a charge storage film disposed between the conductive layers and the semiconductor layer, and an electrode disposed on the conductive layers. A groove having a direction of the lamination as a depth direction and a first direction different from the lamination direction as a lengthwise direction is formed through the conductive layers. The silicon substrate includes a silicide film disposed in the impurity diffusion region along the groove. The memory cell array includes a conductor, which is in contact with the electrode and the silicide film, in the groove. In the first direction, the conductor is shorter in length than the groove.
US09412751B2 Electronic device
An electronic device includes a core circuit and multiple pad units. The core circuit includes multiple core MOS and the multiple pad units are respectively electrically connected to the core circuit. Each pad unit includes at least one pad MOS. A core gate in each core MOS and a pad gate in each pad MOS extend along the same direction or extend parallel with each other.
US09412750B2 Fabrication method and structure of semiconductor non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device with good write/erase characteristics is provided. A selection gate is formed on a p-type well of a semiconductor substrate via a gate insulator, and a memory gate is formed on the p-type well via a laminated film composed of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, and a silicon oxide film. The memory gate is adjacent to the selection gate via the laminated film. In the regions on both sides of the selection gate and the memory gate in the p-type well, n-type impurity diffusion layers serving as the source and drain are formed. The region controlled by the selection gate and the region controlled by the memory gate located in the channel region between said impurity diffusion layers have the different charge densities of the impurity from each other.
US09412744B1 III-V CMOS integration on silicon substrate via embedded germanium-containing layer
After forming a first trench and a second trench extending through a top elemental semiconductor layer present on a substrate including, from bottom to top, a handle substrate, a compound semiconductor template layer and a buried insulator layer to define a top elemental semiconductor layer portion for a p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, the second trench is vertically expanded through the buried insulator layer to provide an expanded second trench that exposes a top surface of the compound semiconductor template layer at a bottom of the expanded second trench. A stack of a compound semiconductor buffer layer and a top compound semiconductor layer is epitaxially grown on the compound semiconductor template layer within the expanded second trench for an n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor.
US09412738B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, an impurity layer of a second conductivity type provided within the semiconductor substrate, an impurity region of the second conductivity type that is connected, within the semiconductor substrate, to the impurity layer, and separates a first region of the semiconductor substrate from a second region by surrounding the first region of the semiconductor substrate together with the impurity layer, a first well and second well of the second conductivity type that are provided on the impurity layer via at least a semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, and a plurality of transistors provided to the semiconductor substrate.
US09412722B1 Multichip stacking package structure and method for manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a multichip stacking package structure and a method for manufacturing the same, wherein the multichip stacking package structure comprises a substrate including a plurality of electrical connecting pad; a first chip with a lower surface stacked on the substrate; a second chip stacked on an upper surface of the first chip by a interlaced reciprocation stacking way; a spacer stacked on an upper surface of the second chip by the interlaced reciprocation stacking way; and third chip stacked on the an upper surface of the spacer by the interlaced reciprocation stacking way, so that a first spacing is formed between an end of the third and an end of the spacer. Thereby, a position of a stress point is changed to reduce a risk of the chip crack during wire bonding.
US09412718B2 3-D stacked and aligned processors forming a logical processor with power modes controlled by respective set of configuration parameters
Methods are provided to operate a processor device in one of multiple power operating modes. The processor device comprises first and second processor chips connected in a stacked configuration, and which respectively include first and second processors that operate as a single logical processor. A control system generates control signals and different sets of configuration parameters. A first control signal is generated to input a first set of configuration parameters to the single logical processor, which is utilized to operate the single logical processor in a first power operating mode wherein the first processor is turned on and the second processor is turned off. A second control signal is generated to input a second set of configuration parameters to the single logical processor, which is utilized to operate the single logical processor in a second power operating mode wherein both the first processor and the second processor are turned on.
US09412715B2 Semiconductor device, electronic device, and semiconductor device manufacturing method
A semiconductor device, includes: a connection member including a first pad formed on a principal surface thereof; a semiconductor chip including a circuit-formed surface on which a second pad is formed, the chip mounted on the connection member so that the circuit-formed surface faces the principal surface; and a solder bump that connects the first and second pads and is made of metal containing Bi and Sn, wherein the bump includes a first interface-layer formed adjacent to the second pad, a second interface-layer formed adjacent to the first pad, a first intermediate region formed adjacent to either one of the interface-layers, and a second intermediate region formed adjacent to the other one of the interface-layers and formed adjacent to the first intermediate region; Bi-concentration in the first intermediate region is higher than a Sn-concentration; and a Sn-concentration in the second intermediate region is higher than a Bi-concentration.
US09412712B2 Semiconductor package and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor package includes a wiring substrate including a plurality of solder pads; a chip including a plurality of chip pads connected to the solder pads through a plurality of solders; a sealing layer configured to seal the chip and the solders, at least one void being between the solders; and a solder extrusion prevention layer on one sidewall of the solder exposed by the at least one void.
US09412708B2 Enhanced ESD protection of integrated circuit in 3DIC package
Enhanced electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection schemes of an integrated circuit in three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (ICs) packages, and methods of forming the same are presented in the disclosure. An array of ESD protection devices can be formed in an interposer and placed under one or a plurality of ICs so that a hard block inside an IC on top of the interposer can be connected to an ESD protection device of the array and is protected from ESD. The ESD protection device cell of the array is connected to a Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) which can be placed inside the interposer, on the surface of the interposer, or on the surface of a printed circuit board (PCB). The ESD protection array is of generic nature and can be used with many kinds of ICs to form a three-dimensional IC package. Further embodiments of ESD protection for 3D IC package is disclosed where an ESD protection device inside a first IC 2 can be shared with another IC 1 to protect a hard block within IC 1.
US09412706B1 Engineered carrier wafers
Apparatuses and methods for reducing the warp of semiconductor wafer stacks during manufacturing are disclosed. An engineered carrier wafer is disclosed. The engineered carrier wafer may be pre-stressed such that it exhibits a warp. The warp may be configured to counteract a warp of a device wafer included in the wafer stack. The overall warp of the wafer stack may be reduced.
US09412705B2 Short circuit reduction in a ferroelectric memory cell comprising a stack of layers arranged on a flexible substrate
A ferroelectric memory cell (1) and a memory device (100) comprising one or more such cells (1). The ferroelectric memory cell comprises a stack (4) of layers arranged on a flexible substrate (3). Said stack comprises an electrically active part (4a) and a protective layer (11) for protecting the electrically active part against scratches and abrasion. Said electrically active part comprises a bottom electrode layer (5) and a top electrode layer (9) and at least one ferroelectric memory material layer (7) between said electrodes. The stack further comprises a buffer layer (13) arranged between the top electrode layer (9) and the protective layer (11). The buffer layer (13) is adapted for at least partially absorbing a lateral dimensional change (ΔL) occurring in the protective layer (11) and thus preventing said dimensional change (ΔL) from being transferred to the electrically active part (4a), thereby reducing the risk of short circuit to occur between the electrodes.
US09412697B2 Semiconductor device having groove-shaped via-hole
The semiconductor device has insulating films 40, 42 formed over a substrate 10; an interconnection 58 buried in at least a surface side of the insulating films 40, 42; insulating films 60, 62 formed on the insulating film 42 and including a hole-shaped via-hole 60 and a groove-shaped via-hole 66a having a pattern bent at a right angle; and buried conductors 70, 72a buried in the hole-shaped via-hole 60 and the groove-shaped via-hole 66a. A groove-shaped via-hole 66a is formed to have a width which is smaller than a width of the hole-shaped via-hole 66. Defective filling of the buried conductor and the cracking of the inter-layer insulating film can be prevented. Steps on the conductor plug can be reduced. Accordingly, defective contact with the upper interconnection layer and the problems taking place in forming films can be prevented.
US09412694B2 Polysilicon fuse, manufacturing method thereof, and semiconductor device including polysilicon fuse
A polysilicon fuse is disclosed that is capable of securing good insulation after being cut into small areas. A manufacturing method for the fuse and a small-size and highly-reliable semiconductor device including a polysilicon fuse also are disclosed. By forming a cavity inside a polysilicon portion serving as a melting portion by setting the melting portion of the polysilicon fuse to be a vertical type, a gap is formed between an upper part electrode and the surface of melted polysilicon when the polysilicon fuse is cut off. Because of this gap, good insulation can be secured. By using this polysilicon fuse, a semiconductor device that has a small size and high reliability is provided.
US09412692B2 Flexible microsystem structure
A flexible microsystem structure is provided. The flexible microsystem structure includes a flexible substrate; and a chip disposed over the flexible substrate, wherein the chip is bonded to the flexible substrate by a plurality of bonding elements disposed over the flexible substrate; wherein the flexible substrate has at least one trench disposed under the chip and disposed along at least one side of at least one of the bonding elements.
US09412686B2 Interposer structure and manufacturing method thereof
The present disclosure relates to an interposer structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The interposer structure includes a first dielectric layer, a conductive pad, and a bump. The conductive pad is disposed in the first dielectric layer, wherein a top surface of the conductive pad is exposed from a first surface of the first dielectric layer, the conductive pad further includes a plurality of connection feet, and the connection feet protrude from a bottom surface of the conductive pad to a second surface of the first dielectric layer. The bump is disposed on the second surface of the first dielectric layer, and the bump directly contacts to the connection feet. Through the aforementioned interposer structure, it is sufficient to achieve the purpose of improving the electrical performance of the semiconductor device and avoiding the signal being loss through the TSV.
US09412685B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device having a substrate including a plurality of external terminals on a rear surface and a plurality of bonding terminals electrically connected to the plurality of external terminals on a front surface, a semiconductor chip mounted on the front surface of the substrate, a surface of the chip including a plurality of bonding pads, a plurality of bonding wires connecting between the plurality of bonding pads or between the plurality of bonding terminals and the plurality of bonding wires respectively, a first sealing layer sealing the front surface of the substrate, the plurality of bonding wires and the semiconductor chip, and a second sealing layer comprised of the same material as the first sealing, the second sealing layer being formed above the first sealing layer.
US09412684B2 Top exposed semiconductor chip package
A semiconductor package and it manufacturing method includes a lead frame having a die pad, and a source lead with substantially a V groove disposed on a top surface. A semiconductor chip disposed on the die pad. A metal plate connected to a top surface electrode of the chip having a bent extension terminated in the V groove in contact with at least one of the V groove sidewalls.
US09412683B2 Semiconductor device having barrier metal layer
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device having an interlayer insulating film, a molybdenum containing layer, a barrier metal layer and a plug material layer is provided. The interlayer insulating film is formed on a substrate or on a conductive layer formed on a substrate. The interlayer insulating film has a hole reaching the substrate or the conductive layer. The molybdenum containing layer is formed in the substrate or in the conductive layer at a bottom portion of the hole. The barrier metal layer is formed on the molybdenum containing layer and on a side surface of the hole. A portion of the barrier metal layer is formed on the side surface contains at least molybdenum. A portion of the barrier metal layer is formed on the molybdenum containing layer includes at least a molybdenum silicate nitride film. The plug material layer is formed via the barrier metal layer.
US09412681B2 Interposer device
The invention relates to an interposer device comprising a doped silicon substrate (1) having an epitaxial layer (24) on a first side and two through vias (11, 12) extending from the first side to a second side opposite to the first side of the doped silicon substrate. Each through via comprises a volume of doped silicon substrate delimited by a surrounding trench (7) extending from the first to the second side of the doped silicon substrate such that said surrounding trench is arranged so as to electrically isolate the doped silicon substrate surrounded by said trench. First and second conductive layers (121, 122) are laid respectively on first and second sides of the first through via so as to be electrically connected together and third and fourth conductive layers (112, 11) are laid respectively on surfaces of the second through via so as to be electrically connected together. The first (122) and third (112) conductive layers are connected together by means of a back-to-back diode (35) wherein the diodes are isolated by a diode trench (6) having a depth at least equal to that of the epitaxial layer (24). A method of forming the interposer device is also provided.
US09412678B2 Structure and method for 3D IC package
A chip package may include: a first die; a second die; an underfill disposed between and in physical contact with the first die and the second die; and one or more conductive elements encapsulated in the underfill and coupling the first die and the second die to each other.
US09412675B2 Interconnect structure with improved conductive properties and associated systems and methods
Interconnect structures with improved conductive properties are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an interconnect structure can include a first conductive member coupled to a first semiconductor die and a second conductive member coupled to second semiconductor die. The first conductive member includes a recessed surface defining a depression. The second conductive member extends at least partially into the depression of the first conductive member. A bond material within the depression can at least partially encapsulate the second conductive member and thereby bond the second conductive member to the first conductive member.
US09412674B1 Shielded wire arrangement for die testing
An integrated circuit includes a die having a conductive layer. The conductive layer includes a data wire, a first power supply wire of a first voltage potential, and a second power supply wire of a second voltage potential different from the first voltage potential. A segment of the data wire is located between, and substantially parallel to, a segment of the first power supply wire and a segment of the second power supply wire. Further, the first power supply wire is coupled to a first probe structure; and, the second power supply wire is coupled to a second probe structure.
US09412671B1 Method for controlling processing temperature in semiconductor fabrication
A method for controlling processing temperature in semiconductor fabrication is provided. The method includes detecting temperature in a first chamber configured to process a semiconductor wafer. The method further includes creating a flow of heat-exchange medium in a second chamber which is connected to the first chamber to cool the first chamber. The method also includes controlling the flow of heat-exchange medium according to the temperature detected in the first chamber by changing a covered area of a first ventilation unit which allows the entry of the heat-exchange medium to the second chamber.
US09412670B2 System, method and apparatus for RF power compensation in plasma etch chamber
A system and method of applying power to a target plasma chamber include, characterizing a no plasma performance slope of the target plasma chamber, applying a selected plasma recipe to a first wafer in the target chamber, the selected plasma recipe includes a selected power set point value and monitoring a recipe factor value on the RF electrode. A ratio of process efficiency is generated comparing the reference chamber and the target chamber, the generating using as inputs the no plasma performance slopes of the target chamber and the reference chamber and the monitored recipe factor value. An adjusted power set point value is calculated, the adjusted power set point configured to cause power delivered to a plasma formed in the target chamber to match power that would be delivered to a reference plasma formed in the reference chamber.
US09412669B2 Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes an n channel conductivity type FET having a channel formation region formed in a first region on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate and a p channel conductivity type FET having a channel formation region formed in a second region of the main surface, which second region is different from the first region. An impurity concentration of a gate electrode of the n channel FET has an impurity concentration greater than an impurity concentration of the gate electrode of the p channel FET to thereby create a tensile stress in the direction of flow of a drain current in the channel forming region of the n channel FET. The tensile stress in the flow direction of the drain current in the channel forming region of the n channel FET is greater than a tensile stress in the direction of flow of a drain current in the channel forming region of the p channel FET.
US09412661B2 Method for forming package-on-package structure
A method comprises attaching a semiconductor die on a first side of a wafer, attaching a first top package on the first side of the wafer and attaching a second top package on the first side of the wafer. The method further comprises depositing an encapsulation layer over the first side of the wafer, wherein the first top package and the second top package are embedded in the encapsulation layer, applying a thinning process to a second side of the wafer, sawing the wafer into a plurality of chip packages and attaching the chip package to a substrate.
US09412659B1 Semiconductor structure having source/drain gouging immunity
There is set forth herein a method of fabricating a semiconductor structure, the method including forming a conductive metal layer over a source/drain region. The conductive metal layer in one aspect can prevent gouging of a source/drain region during removal of materials above a source/drain region. The conductive metal layer in one aspect can be used to pattern an air spacer for reduced parasitic capacitance. The conductive metal layer in one aspect can reduce a contact resistance between a source/drain region and a contact above a source/drain region.
US09412657B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor, a Through Silicon Via (TSV) template wafer and production wafers form a sandwich structure, in which the TSV template wafer has TSV structures uniformly distributed therein, for providing electrical connection between the production wafers to form 3D interconnection. The TSV template wafer is obtained by thinning a semiconductor wafer, which facilitates reducing the difficulty in etching and filling. Connection parts are provided on the TSV template wafer, for convenience of interconnection between the overlying and underlying production wafers, which facilitates reducing the difficulty in alignment and improving the convenience of design of electrical connection for 3D devices.
US09412656B2 Reverse tone self-aligned contact
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method to form a source/drain self-aligned contact to a transistor or other semiconductor device. The method comprises forming a pair of gate structures over a substrate, and forming a source/drain region between the pair of gate structures. The method further comprises forming a sacrificial source/drain contact which is arranged over the source/drain region and which is arranged laterally between neighboring sidewalls of the pair of gate structures. The method further comprises forming a dielectric layer which extends over the sacrificial source/drain contact and over the pair of gate structures. The dielectric layer differs from the sacrificial source/drain contact. The method further comprises removing a portion of the dielectric layer over the sacrificial source/drain contact and subsequently removing the sacrificial source/drain contact to form a recess, and filling the recess with a conductive material to form a source/drain contact.
US09412648B1 Via patterning using multiple photo multiple etch
A method includes forming a dielectric layer, forming a photo resist over the dielectric layer, forming a first mask layer over the photo resist, and forming a second mask layer over the first mask layer. A first-photo-first-etching is performed to form a first via pattern in the second mask layer, wherein the first-photo-first-etching stops on a top surface of the first mask layer. A second-photo-second-etching is performed to form a second via pattern in the second mask layer, wherein the second-photo-second-etching stops on the top surface of the first mask layer. The first mask layer is etched using the second mask layer as an etching mask. The photo resist and the dielectric layer are etched to simultaneously transfer the first via pattern and the second via pattern into the dielectric layer.
US09412643B2 Shallow trench isolation for end fin variation control
A method of fabricating a fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device and the device are described. The method includes forming a deep STI region adjacent to a first side of an end fin among a plurality of fins and lining the deep STI region, including the first side of the end fin, with a passivation layer. The method also includes depositing an STI oxide into the deep STI region, the passivation layer separating the STI oxide and the first side of the end fin, etching back the passivation layer separating the STI oxide and the first side of the end fin to a specified depth to create a gap, and depositing gate material, the gate material covering the gap.
US09412640B2 Semiconductor device including substrate contact and related method
A method of forming a contact on a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes: forming a mask on the semiconductor device, the mask exposing at least one contact node disposed within a trench in a substrate of the semiconductor device; performing a first substrate contact etch on the semiconductor device, the first substrate contact etch recessing the exposed contact node within the trench;removing a set of node films disposed above the exposed contact node and on the sides of the trench; and forming a contact region within the trench above the exposed contact node, the contact region contacting the substrate.
US09412639B2 Method of using separate wafer contacts during wafer processing
Embodiments of the invention are directed towards improving on-wafer process performance and processing at increased processing fluid/wafer temperature while maintaining good process performance. A method for processing a wafer in a process chamber is described where the process chamber includes a wafer holder having first and second sets of edge grippers for independently securing the wafer at the wafer edge during processing, treating the wafer with a first processing fluid while securing the wafer with the first set of edge grippers, but not with the second set of edge grippers, treating the wafer with a second processing fluid while securing the wafer with the first set of edge grippers, but not with the second set of edge grippers, and treating the wafer with a third processing fluid while securing the wafer with the second set of edge grippers, but not with the first set of edge grippers.
US09412637B2 Device wafer processing method
A device wafer includes a device area where a plurality of devices are formed on the front side of the device wafer and a peripheral marginal area surrounding the device area. Each device has an adhesion disliking region disliking adhesion to an adhesive tape. An ultraviolet curable protective tape is attached as the adhesive tape to the front side of the device wafer. Ultraviolet radiation is applied to a first area of the protective tape corresponding to the adhesion disliking region of the device wafer to thereby reduce the adhesive force in the first area. The ultraviolet radiation is not applied to a second area of the protective tape corresponding to the peripheral marginal area of the device wafer to thereby maintain the adhesive force in the second area. The device wafer is held through the protective tape while the back side of the device wafer is ground.
US09412636B2 Methods for processing substrates
A method for processing substrates includes providing a bonding layer between a substrate and a carrier to bond the substrate to the carrier, processing the substrate while the substrate is supported by the carrier, and removing the bonding layer to separate the substrate from the carrier. The bonding layer may include a thermosetting release layer and thermosetting glue layers, wherein at least one of the thermosetting glue layers is provided on each side of the thermosetting release layer.
US09412633B2 Workpiece transfer system
The present application provides a workpiece transfer system in which a production efficiency of a production line to be used can be improved. For example, a workpiece transfer system 1 includes: robots 11 & 12 placed in front of process modules 4 & 6 for conducting a predetermined processing operation on a workpiece W, the robots 11 & 12 bringing the workpiece W into the process modules 4 & 6 and taking the workpiece W out of the process modules 4 & 6; a workpiece storage unit 13 for storing the workpiece W to be brought into the process modules 4 & 6 and the workpiece W taken out of the process modules 4 & 6; and a transfer mechanism 14 for transferring the workpiece storage unit 13 in a direction almost perpendicular to a direction of bringing in and taking out the workpiece W for the process modules 4 & 6.
US09412631B2 Ceiling storage device capable of wafer purging
The invention provides an apparatus for stocking and purging a wafer at a ceiling. The apparatus includes: a rail that is formed so as to be installed on a ceiling to guide a vehicle; a stock system that is formed so as to be installed on the ceiling and is formed so as to receive a container, which contains wafers, from the vehicle and stock the container; and a purge assembly that is installed so as to communicate with the container through the stock system and is formed so as to purge the wafers, which are contained in the container, with gas.
US09412630B2 Securing mechanism and method for wafer bonder
Disclosed are various features associated with a securing mechanism for a wafer bonder. In certain situations, operation of securing mechanisms can generate undesirable particles and debris, and some them can be introduced to a wafer being bonded. In certain implementations, a securing mechanism can be configured to reduce the likelihood of such particles and debris being introduced to the wafer.
US09412629B2 Wafer bonding for 3D device packaging fabrication
An apparatus and method bond a first wafer to a second wafer. The apparatus includes a first pressure application device configured to apply pressure at a central region of the first wafer in a direction toward the second wafer to initiate a bonding process between the first wafer and the second wafer. The apparatus also includes one or more second pressure application devices configured to apply pressure between the central region and an outer edge of the first wafer to complete the bonding process. The one or more second pressure application devices apply pressure on the first wafer after the first pressure application device has initiated the bonding process and while the first pressure application device continues to apply pressure at the central region. A controller controls the first pressure application device and the one or more second pressure application devices.
US09412624B1 Integrated circuit packaging system with substrate and method of manufacture thereof
An integrated circuit packaging system, and a method of manufacture thereof, including: a substrate including: a first trace layer, an encapsulation on the first trace layer, the first trace layer having a surface exposed from the encapsulation with a rough texture characteristic of removal of a conductive carrier coating, a second trace layer on the encapsulation and over the first trace layer, the second trace layer connected to the first trace layer; and an integrated circuit die attached to the substrate.
US09412623B2 Metal oxide TFT with improved source/drain contacts and reliability
A method including providing a substrate with a gate, a layer of gate insulator material adjacent the gate, and a layer of metal oxide semiconductor material positioned on the gate insulator opposite the gate, forming a selectively patterned etch stop passivation layer and heating at elevated temperature in an oxygen-containing or nitrogen-containing or inert ambience to selectively increase the carrier concentration in regions of the metal oxide semiconductor not covered by the etch stop layer, on which overlying and spaced apart source/drain metals are formed. Subsequently heating the transistor in an oxygen-containing or nitrogen-containing or inert ambience to further improve the source/drain contacts and adjust the threshold voltage to a desired level. Providing additional passivation layer(s) on top of the transistor with electric insulation and barrier property to moisture and chemicals in the surrounding environment.
US09412619B2 Method of outgassing a mask material deposited over a workpiece in a process tool
Embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatuses for outgassing a workpiece prior to a plasma processing operation. An embodiment of the invention may comprise transferring a workpiece having a mask to an outgassing station that has one or more heating elements. The workpiece may then be heated to an outgassing temperature that causes moisture from the mask layer to be outgassed. After outgassing the workpiece, the workpiece may be transferred to a plasma processing chamber. In an additional embodiment, one or more outgassing stations may be located within a process tool that has a factory interface, a load lock coupled to the factory interface, a transfer chamber coupled to the load lock, and a plasma processing chamber coupled to the transfer chamber. According to an embodiment, an outgassing station may be located within any of the components of the process tool.
US09412614B2 Nano wire structure and method for fabricating the same
A device comprises a first group of nanowires having a first pattern, a second group of nanowires having a second pattern, a third group of nanowires having a third pattern and a fourth group of nanowires having a fourth pattern, wherein the first pattern, the second pattern, the third pattern and the fourth pattern form a repeating pattern.
US09412606B2 Target dimension uniformity for semiconductor wafers
One or more systems and methods for controlling a target dimension for a wafer are provided. A processing chamber, such as an etching chamber, is configured to etch one or more wafers. In some embodiments, during processing of a first wafer of a set of wafers, the processing chamber is coated with a relatively thicker chamber coating than chamber coatings used for subsequently processed wafers of the set of wafers. The increased chamber coating thickness results in the first wafer having a target dimension that is substantially similar to target dimensions of the subsequently processed wafers. In some embodiments, a post wafer cleaning process is performed, but a pre wafer cleaning process is disabled, between processing a final wafer of a first set of wafers and an initial wafer of a second set of wafers so that the final wafer and the initial wafer have substantially similar target dimensions.
US09412605B2 Method of removing oxide on semiconductor surface by layer of sulfur
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a method of passivating and/or removing oxides on a semiconductor surface by using ammonium sulfide, the ammonium sulfide is formed by reacting ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in a semiconductor processing chamber, therefore the ammonium sulfide can be used to clean and remove oxides on a semiconductor surface without the concern of ESH and storage, the ammonium sulfide can also be used to passivate a semiconductor surface by forming a layer of sulfur, and thus preventing the reformation of native oxides, the layer of sulfur can be optionally removed to reduce the thickness of the semiconductor material.
US09412600B2 Method of forming a semiconductor structure including a ferroelectric material and semiconductor structure including a ferroelectric transistor
An illustrative method disclosed herein includes providing a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a logic transistor region, a ferroelectric transistor region and an input/output transistor region. A first protection layer is formed over the semiconductor structure. The first protection layer covers the logic transistor region and the input/output transistor region. At least a portion of the ferroelectric transistor region is not covered by the first protection layer. After the formation of the first protection layer, a ferroelectric transistor dielectric is deposited over the semiconductor structure, the ferroelectric transistor dielectric and the first protection layer are removed from the logic transistor region and the input/output transistor region, an input/output transistor dielectric is formed over the input/output transistor region and a logic transistor dielectric is formed over at least the logic transistor region.
US09412599B2 Manufacturing method for semiconductor device
A gate oxide film is formed in a region having a MOSFET on a semiconductor substrate formed therein, and a first polysilicon film serving as a gate electrode of the MOSFET is further formed. Thereafter, a charge storage three-layer film is formed by opening a region having a MONOS type FET formed therein, exposing a semiconductor surface of the semiconductor substrate, and sequentially depositing a first potential barrier film, a charge storage film, and a second potential barrier film. In this case, before the charge storage three-layer film is formed, an anti-oxidation film is formed on the first polysilicon film.
US09412596B1 Nitridation on HDP oxide before high-k deposition to prevent oxygen ingress
A method of reducing a migration of oxygen into a high-k dielectric layer of a semiconducting device is disclosed. An oxide layer of the semiconducting device is deposited on a substrate. A chemical composition of a top portion of the oxide layer is altered. The high-k dielectric layer is deposited on the top portion of the oxide layer to form the semiconducting device. The altered chemical composition of the top portion of the oxide layer reduces migration of oxygen into the high-k dielectric layer.
US09412595B2 Systems and methods for intelligent dispatching for wafer processing
Systems and methods are provided for ion implantation. For example, ion implantation is performed using a first ion implant tool. At least one condition parameter associated with the first ion implant tool is dynamically obtained. Whether the first ion implant tool is in a first condition is determined based on the at least one condition parameter. Ion implantation is performed using a second ion implant tool based on the determination.
US09412589B2 Method for fabricating NMOS and PMOS transistors on a substrate of the SOI, in particular FDSOI, type and corresponding integrated circuit
An integrated circuit includes an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor on different regions of an SOI substrate. Each transistor includes a gate region, multilayer lateral insulating regions against the sides of the gate region while also on the substrate. Each multilayer lateral insulating region includes an inclined portion sloping away from the substrate. Source and drain regions are on the substrate and are separated from the sides of the gate region by the corresponding multilayer lateral insulating region. The source and drain regions have an inclined portion resting against the inclined portion of the the lateral insulating region.
US09412577B2 Vacuum ultraviolet photoionization and chemical ionization combined ion source for mass spectrometry
This invention relates to the field of mass spectrometry, and more specifically to a vacuum ultraviolet photoionization and chemical ionization combined ion source, which consists of a vacuum ultraviolet light source and an ion source chamber. An ion acceleration electrode, an ion repulsion electrode, an ion extraction electrode, and a differential interface electrode positioned inside the ion source chamber are arranged along the exit direction of the vacuum ultraviolet light beam in sequence and spaced, coaxial, and parallel from each other. The ion acceleration electrode, the ion repulsion electrode, the ion extraction electrode, and the differential interface electrode are all plate structures with central through holes. The vacuum ultraviolet light beam passes through the central through holes of the electrodes along the axial direction. By utilizing a single vacuum ultraviolet light source, the ion source is feasible to switch between two ionization modes, vacuum ultraviolet photoionization (VUV PI) and chemical ionization (CI), under suitable ion source pressure, thus greatly expanding the range of detectable samples.
US09412568B2 Large-area sputtering targets
In various embodiments, joined sputtering targets are formed at least in part by spray deposition of the sputtering material and/or welding.
US09412567B2 Plasma monitoring method and plasma monitoring system
A plasma monitoring method using a sensor, the sensor having a substrate; a first electrode, the first electrode being a conductive electrode and formed on the substrate while being isolated from the substrate; an insulating film formed on the first electrode; a contact hole formed in the insulating film and having a depth from a surface of the insulating film to the first electrode; and a second electrode, the second electrode being a conductive electrode, formed on the surface of the insulating film, and faced to plasma during a plasma process, the plasma monitoring method including measuring and monitoring potentials of the first electrode and the second electrode or a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode during the plasma process is disclosed. A plasma monitoring system carrying out the plasma monitoring method is also disclosed.
US09412564B2 Semiconductor reaction chamber with plasma capabilities
A processing chamber including a reaction chamber having a processing area, a processing gas inlet in communication with the processing area, a first excited species generation zone in communication with the processing gas inlet and a second exited species generation zone in communication with the processing gas inlet. A method of processing a substrate including the steps of loading a substrate within a processing area, activating a first excited species generation zone to provide a first excited species precursor to the processing area during a first pulse and, activating a second excited species generation zone to provide a second excited species precursor different from the first excited species precursor to the processing area during a second pulse.
US09412561B2 Ion implantation method and ion implantation apparatus
An ion implantation apparatus includes a beam scanner, a beam measurement unit that is able to measure an ion irradiation amount distribution in a beam scanning direction at a wafer position, and a control unit that outputs a control waveform to the beam scanner for scanning an ion beam. The control unit includes an output unit that outputs a reference control waveform to the beam scanner, an acquisition unit that acquires the ion irradiation amount distribution measured for the ion beam scanned based on the reference control waveform from a beam measurement unit, and a generation unit that generates a correction control waveform by using the acquired ion irradiation amount distribution. The control unit outputs the correction control waveform so that the ion irradiation amount distribution becomes a target distribution and the ion irradiation amount distribution per unit time becomes a target value.
US09412560B2 Bulk deposition for tilted mill protection
To reduce artifacts in a surface exposed by a focused ion beam for viewing, a trench is milled next to the region of interest, and the trench is filled to create a bulkhead. The ion beam is directed through the bulkhead to expose a portion of the region of interest for viewing. The trench is filled, for example, by charged particle beam-induced deposition. The trench is typically milled and filled from the top down, and then the ion beam is angled with respect to the sample surface to expose the region of interest.
US09412556B2 Transmission electron microscope cells for use with liquid samples
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices related to transmission electron microscopy cells for use with liquids. In one aspect a device includes a substrate, a first graphene layer, and a second graphene layer. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface defines a first channel, a second channel, and an outlet channel. The first channel and the second channel are joined to the outlet channel. The outlet channel defines a viewport region forming a though hole in the substrate. The first graphene layer overlays the first surface of the substrate, including an interior area of the first channel, the second channel, and the outlet channel. The second graphene layer overlays the first surface of the substrate, including open regions defined by the first channel, the second channel, and the outlet channel.
US09412548B2 Circuit breakers with handle bearing sleeves
Circuit breakers with handles having a handle bearing sleeve that contacts an upper end portion of a moving arm and allows the arm to rotate to “OFF”, “ON” and “TRIP” positions, typically with about 90 degrees of rotation.
US09412544B2 System and method for driving a relay circuit
A system and method for driving a relay circuit involves driving a relay circuit using a first driver circuit if a voltage of a battery supply for the relay circuit is lower than a voltage threshold and driving the relay circuit using a second driver circuit if the voltage of the battery supply for the relay circuit is higher than the voltage threshold.
US09412541B2 Circuit breaker with fluid injection
A circuit breaker including an ejection device with a compartment, in which an arc-extinction medium for improving circuit breaker operation is contained, and having an ejection orifice through which the arc-extinction medium is to be ejected, wherein the ejection orifice opens out into an injection zone of the circuit breaker in which the pressure is lower than in an arcing zone when an arc is present, and wherein the arc-extinction medium and/or exhaust-cooling medium is at least partially present in liquid form, when it is contained in the ejection device.
US09412537B2 Bend switch for wired headset
This is directed to a bend switch constructed from two substantially co-linear elongated bodies having opposing contact surfaces. In an open switch position, the contact surfaces remain apart, preventing electrical coupling. To close the switch, a user can bend the elongated bodies relative to each other to cause the contact surfaces to meet, thus creating an electrical coupling. Each elongated body can have several independent conductive portions. The bend switch can include a movable space member placed between the elongated bodies to maintain the contact surfaces a predetermined distance apart in the open switch position. The movable space member can include preferred or non-preferred bending orientations, equilibrium positions, and/or a potentiometer for closing the switch. The bend switch can control one or more functions (e.g., microphone, volume, or playback controls) of an electronic device (e.g., portable media device or cellular telephone) coupled to the bend switch.
US09412536B2 Illuminated keyboard
An illuminated keyboard includes at least one light-emitting element, a membrane switch circuit module, plural keys, a fixing plate, and a proximity sensor. The fixing plate includes plural openings, plural joining regions, and plural fixing regions. The plural fixing regions are arranged between the plural openings for fixing plural elastic elements of the plural keys. The proximity sensor includes an induction antenna circuit. The induction antenna circuit is formed on the plural joining regions or the plural fixing regions of the fixing plate for sensing whether an object enters a sensing range.
US09412535B2 Keyswitch structure
A keyswitch structure includes a base, a keycap, a lift mechanism, and a magnetic member. The keycap is capable of moving up and down relative to the base through the lift mechanism. The lift mechanism includes a support that has a side edge portion, abutting against the base through a sharp edge, and a magnetic portion at the side edge portion. The magnetic portion extends outward from the side edge portion. The support is movably connected to the keycap through another side edge portion of the support. The magnetic member is disposed on the base corresponding to the magnetic portion. The magnetic portion and the magnetic member produce a magnetic attraction force therebetween. When an external force applied to the keycap is eliminated, the magnetic attraction force drives the support to rotate about the sharp edge relative to the base, so that the keycap moves away from the base.
US09412531B2 Four-direction switch device
In a four-direction switch device, an outer peripheral surface of a disc-shaped switch knob is provided with first to fourth pivot projections arranged in phase with first to fourth switch operation parts and first to fourth movable stoppers arranged with a phase shift by 45° from the projections, respectively, and a switch case is provided with first to fourth fixed stoppers facing lower surfaces of the movable stoppers, respectively. If the knob is pushed at a switch dead part, the knob swings about a straight line connecting a pair of the pivot projections located on an opposite side of the switch dead part, but the movable stopper and the fixed stopper both located below the pushed switch dead part come into contact with each other, thereby avoiding actuation of any switch.
US09412530B2 Switch device
A switch device includes a holder (2), an operation knob (3) that has a display and is held in the holder so as to be movable forward and rearward, a ring-like coil antenna (15), a circuit board (7) on which a detection means for detecting the operation of the operation knob is disposed, LEDs (light source) that are disposed on the circuit board and illuminate the display on the operation knob, and a slider (5) that is stored in the holder 2 so as to be movable forward and rearward integrally with the operation knob and has light guide paths for the LEDs, a center axis of the coil antenna is offset from an operational center line of the operation knob, and the light guide paths of the slider and the display on the operation knob are disposed opposed to a center hole of the coil antenna.
US09412527B2 On-load tap changer
An on-load tap changer for uninterrupted switching between different winding taps of a regulating winding of a tapped transformer in a transformer housing has at least one selector inside the housing for power-free selection of the respective winding tap of a tapped transformer that is to be switched over to and directly juxtaposed with the winding taps. It also has, spatially separate from the selector, a load-changeover switch for the actual switching from the connected to the new, preselected winding tap.
US09412524B2 Method for forming conductive electrode patterns and method for manufacturing solar cells comprising the same
A method for forming conductive electrode patterns of a solar cell is provided. The method includes preparing a glass substrate and forming a transparent conductive oxide film (TCO) on the glass substrate. Then, a titanium oxide (TiO2) layer and a silver (Ag) electrode are formed on the glass substrate. A nickel (Ni) layer is formed on the Ag electrode and a copper (Cu) layer is formed on the Ni layer. In addition, a tin (Sn) layer is formed on the Cu layer.
US09412521B2 Capacitor with multiple elements for multiple replacement applications
An apparatus includes a case having an elliptical cross-section capable of receiving a plurality of capacitive elements. One or more of the capacitive elements provide at least one capacitor having a first capacitor terminal and a second capacitor terminal. The apparatus also includes a cover assembly that includes a deformable cover mountable to the case, and, a common cover terminal having a contact extending from the cover. The cover assembly also includes at least three capacitor cover terminals, each of the at least three capacitor cover terminals having at least one contact extending from the deformable cover. The deformable cover is configured to displace at least one of the at least three capacitor cover terminals upon an operative failure of at least one of the plurality of the capacitive elements. The cover assembly also includes at least four insulation structures. One of the four insulation structures is associated with one of the at least three capacitor cover terminals. The apparatus also includes a first conductor capable of electrically connecting the first capacitor terminal of a capacitor provided by one of the plurality of capacitive elements to one of the at least three capacitor cover terminals and a second conductor capable of electrically connecting the second capacitor terminal of the capacitor provided by one of the plurality of capacitive elements to the common cover terminal.
US09412519B1 Multilayer ceramic capacitor with terminals formed by plating
A method is provided for concurrently forming terminals on a multilayer capacitor having a first plurality of interior plates with edges that are brought to and exposed upon a first surface and a second plurality of interior plates, interleaved with the first plurality of interior plates, and spaced from the first plates by a dielectric. The second plurality of interior plates has edges that are brought to and exposed upon a second surface, which is not adjacent to the first surface. A first terminal is formed by plating a layer of electrically-conductive first metal directly onto the first surface including where the edges of the first plates are exposed upon the first surface and concurrently forming a second terminal by plating a layer of electrically-conductive first metal directly onto the second surface including where the edges of the second plates are exposed upon the second surface.
US09412518B2 Method and apparatus for mounting a large capacitor
A mounting arrangement for a capacitor package is disclosed. The capacitor package is suitable for use in electric drive traction applications that are subjected to high vibration. Such a capacitor package is relatively large and requires a unique mounting arrangement in order to account for a large mass and high vibration environment. The mounting arrangement provides a clamp load plane that is near the center of mass of the capacitor package.
US09412514B2 Arrangement for the inductive wireless delivery of energy
An arrangement for the inductive wireless transmission of energy to a receiver coil of an electrically operated vehicle includes a controllable power supply, an electrically conductive first coil of circular shape, and an electrically conductive second coil of circular shape. The first and second coils are connected to the controllable power supply such that a current direction in the second coil is directed opposite to a current direction in the first coil.
US09412511B2 Transformer
A transformer includes a primary coil, a secondary coil, and a core. The core is to be used in combination with the primary coil or the secondary coil, and includes a conductor storage part and a central part. The conductor storage part is a concave recess formed in an annular manner and configured to store a conductor of the coil therein. The central part is a region inward from the conductor when the core is used in combination with the coil. The central part has a recessed shape having an opening that opens toward a direction opposite to a direction of an opening of the concave recess. The central part has an end, at a side opposite to a side of the opening of the central part, which is generally flat so as to be contiguous with an inner opening edge of the conductor storage part.
US09412510B2 Three-phase reactor
The present application discloses a three-phase reactor, including: an upper yoke and a lower yoke, the upper yoke and the lower yoke containing a first material; and at least three first core columns, the first core columns containing a second material, and the both ends of each of the first core columns being connected with the upper yoke and the lower yoke, respectively, wherein, the relative permeability of the first material is greater than that of the second material, and at least one air gap is positioned in each of the first core columns. In the three-phase reactor proposed by the present disclosure, the yokes are made of a material different from that of the core columns, and air gaps are positioned in the core columns, so that the eddy current losses may be reduced significantly and the requirement for the use of high power may be satisfied.
US09412509B2 Multilayer electronic component having conductive patterns and board having the same
A multilayer electronic component may include: a multilayer body including a plurality of insulating layers; an internal coil part provided by electrically connecting respective conductive patterns disposed on the plurality of insulating layers to each other; and first and second external electrodes disposed on both end surfaces of the multilayer body, respectively. A perimeter of at least one conductive pattern disposed in peripheral regions of the multilayer body may be smaller than a perimeter of a conductive pattern disposed in a central region of the multilayer body.
US09412508B2 Modified electrical actuation of an actuator for determining the time at which an armature strikes a stop
A method is disclosed for operating an actuator having a coil and a displaceably mounted armature driven by a magnetic field generated by the coil, in a measurement operating mode for ascertaining a time at which the armature reaches its stop position after activation of the actuator. The method includes applying to the coil an actuation voltage signal dimensioned such that the expected armature stop time falls in a time window in which a temporally constant voltage is applied to the coil, detecting an intensity profile of the current flowing through the coil within the time window, and determining the armature stop time, based on an evaluation of the detected current intensity profile. A method for operating such an actuator is also disclosed, wherein information about the stop time is obtained in a measurement operating mode and used in a series operating mode for optimized actuation of the actuator.
US09412507B2 Positioning system for an electromechanical actuator
Provided is a shaft positioning system for an electromechanical actuator. According to various examples, the positioning system includes a shaft coupled to an electromechanical actuator. The shaft moves along a linear axis and the electromechanical actuator is free to translate during normal operation. An electromagnetic coil positioned around at least a portion of the shaft. The electromagnetic coil produces a magnetic field when electrical current is applied. A metal housing surrounds at least a portion of the electromagnetic coil. The shaft is placed in a predetermined position when the metal housing is in contact with a first magnet and translational motion of the electromechanical actuator is restricted when the shaft is placed in the predetermined position.
US09412506B2 System and method for tailoring magnetic forces
A magnetic system described herein includes first and second magnetic structures that simultaneously produce repel forces and attract forces that combine to produce a composite force that can be an attract force, a repel force, or a force that transitions from an attract force to a repel force.
US09412505B2 NdFeB system sintered magnet
A NdFeB system sintered magnet produced by the grain boundary diffusion method and has a high coercive force and squareness ratio with only a small decrease in the maximum energy product. A NdFeB system sintered magnet having a base material produced by orienting powder of a NdFeB system alloy and sintering the powder, with Dy and/or Tb (the “Dy and/or Tb” is hereinafter called RH) attached to and diffused from a surface of the base material through the grain boundary inside the base material by a grain boundary diffusion treatment, wherein the difference Cgx-Cx between the RH content Cgx (wt %) in the grain boundary and the RH content Cx (wt %) in main-phase grains which are grains constituting the base material at the same depth within a range from the surface to which RH is attached to a depth of 3 mm is equal to or larger than 3 wt %.
US09412504B2 Varistor
An electrically adjustable memory effect resistor comprises a stack comprising a superconductive material extending along an axis, a ferroelectric material and a conductive third material. The adjustable resistor comprises a means for controlling electrical voltage allowing an electric field to be generated between the superconductive material and the conductive material allowing the polarization direction of the ferroelectric second material to be modified. The adjustable resistor furthermore comprises an electrically insulating material placed between the ferroelectric material and the conductive material, the thickness of the insulating material varying in a direction parallel to the axis—so as to cause a variation in the electric field applied between the first layer and the third layer.
US09412501B2 Article and method for producing an article with a silicone-type base material and solid material particles introduced into a surface of the article
A silicone article, such as a cable with a silicone outer jacket. Solid mica particles are introduced into the surface of the cable or other article. An intermediate product which has a silicone-type base material on the exterior is initially provided in a state that is not, or no more than partially, cross-linked. The solid material particles are subsequently pressed in, before the complete cross-linking takes place. The solid material particles are present only in the surface region.
US09412495B1 Wire and cable having integrally formed jacket and partitioned wall members and process and apparatus for making the same
An electrical cable having an integrally formed jacket and partitioned wall members and process and apparatus for making the same, wherein the electrical cable comprises a non-metallic jacket that encapsulates an insulated conductor and a bare grounding conductor, wherein the insulated conductor and the bare grounding material are separated by a wall that runs the length of the electrical cable and is integrally formed with the jacket. A die assembly unit for manufacturing an electrical cable having an integrally formed jacket and partitioned wall members. The die assembly unit comprising a die assembly nozzle and a die assembly cap. The die assembly nozzle further comprising an extrusion tip with at least one wall channel to allow for the creation of the integrally formed wall members.
US09412493B2 Spacer assembly for conductor bundle
A spacer assembly includes first and second clamping bodies. The first clamping body has a first slot therein and the second clamping body has an opening. A fastener is received by the first clamping body slot and the second clamping body opening to secure the first clamping body to the second clamping body such that rotation of the fastener moves the fastener in the first clamping body slot to move the first clamping body relative to the second clamping body.
US09412492B2 Torque-balanced, gas-sealed wireline cables
A torque-balanced, gas-blocking wireline cable and a method of making the cable includes an electrically conductive cable core for transmitting electrical power and surrounding inner and outer layers of a plurality of armor wires. Gas blocking is achieved by placing a soft polymer layer over the core before the inner wires are cabled thereon. The inner wires imbed partially into the soft polymer layer such that no gaps are left between the inner wires and the core. A second soft polymer layer is optionally extruded over the inner wires before the outer wires are applied. The second soft polymer layer fills any spaces between the inner and outer wire layers and prevents pressurized gas from infiltrating between the wires. The inner wires have larger diameters than the outer wires such that the inner wires carry approximately 60% of the load and torque imbalance is prevented.
US09412491B2 Wire harness
A wire harness includes at least one conducting path, and a tubular exterior member that covers the conducting path. The exterior member has a shape changed portion in at least one position. The shape changed portion includes at least one small tube portion which includes an accommodation space necessary for accommodating the conducting path, a tube continuous portion one end of which is continuous with an end of the small tube portion, and a large tube portion which is continuous with another end of the tube continuous portion and includes a tubular shape that is larger in outer shape than the small tube portion.
US09412490B2 Highly integrated data bus automatic fire extinguishing system
A fire activation module for a fire extinguishing system includes an actuation device that has an instantaneous actuation current draw during a suppression event. First and second power leads are connected to the actuation device and have a current capacity less than the instantaneous actuation current draw. At least one capacitor is connected to the actuation device and the power leads. The capacitor is configured to store electricity from the power leads and discharge the electricity to the actuation device during the suppression event.
US09412489B2 Waterproof structure for conductive path
A waterproof structure for a conductive path for waterproofing a conductive path without imposing an unnecessary load on a conductor, including a plurality of grooves formed on an outer circumferential surface of an insulator of a wire. The grooves 9 are formed within a predetermined range on the outer circumferential surface of the insulator and an overmold part is a seal member made of an elastomer, and is disposed and formed within the predetermined range of an electric wire to prevent water from entering the conductive path.
US09412487B2 Silver-(conjugated compound) composite
A silver-(conjugated compound) composite comprising silver particles having a number-average Feret diameter of not more than 1,000 nm, and a conjugated compound having a weight-average molecular weight of not less than 3.0×102 adsorbed to the silver particles. The composite exhibits excellent conductivity and charge injection properties, and excellent dispersibility within non-polar solvents.
US09412486B2 Composite oxide powder for solid oxide fuel cell and its production method
To provide a composite oxide powder for a solid oxide fuel cell containing lanthanum, strontium and/or calcium, manganese and oxygen and having a highly uniform composition, and its production method. A composite oxide powder containing lanthanum, strontium and/or calcium, manganese and oxygen, wherein the coefficient of variation (α) of lanthanum is at most 6.0% and the coefficient of variation (β) of manganese is at most 13.0%, as calculated from the peak area ratio of the Lα ray of lanthanum and the Kα ray of manganese measured by an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer attached to a scanning electron microscope.
US09412485B2 LaNiO3 thin film-forming composition and method of forming LaNiO3 thin film using the same
A LaNiO3 thin film having extremely few voids is uniformly formed. Provided is a LaNiO3 thin film-forming composition for forming a LaNiO3 thin film. It includes: a LaNiO3 precursor; a first organic solvent; a stabilizer; and a second organic solvent. The first organic solvent includes carboxylic acids, alcohols, esters, ketones, ethers, cycloalkanes, aromatic compounds, or tetrahydrofuran. The stabilizer includes β-diketones, β-ketones, β-keto esters, oxyacids, diols, triols, carboxylic acids, alkanolamines, or polyvalent amines. The second organic solvent has a boiling point of 150° C. to 300° C. and a surface tension of 20 to 50 dyn/cm. The LaNiO3 precursor content is 1 to 20 mass % with respect to 100 mass % of the composition. The stabilizer content is 0 to 10 mol with respect to 1 mol of a total amount of the LaNiO3 precursors. The second organic solvent content is 5 to 20 mass % with respect to the composition.
US09412481B1 Method and device for producing and using localized periodic intensity-modulated patterns with x-radiation and other wavelengths
A method and device is disclosed for the generation of high-contrast, localized sinusoidal patterns or stepped-intensity modulated patterns from spatially non-coherent or coherent illumination, and using such patterns for imaging the internal features of objects.
US09412477B1 Method of filling a container with hazardous waste
Methods for filling a container with hazardous waste are disclosed. One method includes moving the container to a position where a filling head adds solid hazardous waste to the container, coupling a lid to the container to close the container while the container is at the position, and moving the closed container away from the position. Another method includes aerating dry cementitious material in the container with a mixer, adding hazardous waste to the container, mixing the cementitious material and the hazardous waste with the mixer, and controlling the speed of the mixer.
US09412472B2 Determining soft data from a hard read
Apparatuses and methods involving the determination of soft data from hard reads are provided. One example method can include determining, using a hard read, a state of a memory cell. Soft data is determined based, at least partially, on the determined state.
US09412467B2 Semiconductor device having a test controller and method of operation
A semiconductor device includes a test port configured to communicate with a test system, a test command controller coupled to communicate with the test port, a peripheral module configured to communicate with the test command controller, a processor, and a test memory configured to communicate with the test command controller and the processor. The test command controller is configured to issue a first set of one or more instructions to test the peripheral module and to issue a second set of one or more instructions to the processor to process information in the test memory resulting from the test of the peripheral module.
US09412463B1 Reducing hot electron injection type of read disturb in 3D non-volatile memory for edge word lines
Read disturb due to hot electron injection is reduced in a 3D memory device by controlling the magnitude and timing of word line and select gate ramp down voltages at the end of a sensing operation. In an example read operation, a predefined subset of word lines includes source-side and drain-side word lines. For the predefined subset of word lines, word line voltages are ramped down before the voltages of the select gates are ramped down. Subsequently, for a remaining subset of word lines, word line voltages are ramped down, but no later than the ramping down of the voltages of the select gates. The timing of the ramp down of the selected word line depends on whether it is among the predefined subset or the remaining subset. The predefined subset can include a number of adjacent or non-adjacent word lines.
US09412461B1 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a first memory cell transistor; a first bit line; a first sense amplifier unit; a voltage generator; and a switch circuit. In a case where a power-supply voltage is equal to or lower than a first voltage and is higher than a second voltage when an access operation to the first memory cell transistor is started, the first sense amplifier unit is electrically disconnected from the first bit line and is electrically connected to the voltage generator via the switch circuit.
US09412458B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device has a memory block including memory strings with first and second selection transistors at opposite ends of the memory strings. A bit line is connected to the first selection transistor of each memory string and a sense amplifier is connected to the bit line. The memory block includes word lines connected to each memory cell transistor in the memory strings. The memory device also includes a controller to control an erase operation that includes applying an erase voltage to the word lines, addressing a first memory string by applying a selection voltage to a gate electrode of first and second selection transistors of the first memory string, then applying an erase verify voltage to the word lines and using the sense amplifier to read data of memory cell transistors in the first memory string, then addressing a second memory string without first discharging the word lines.
US09412451B2 Apparatuses and methods using dummy cells programmed to different states
Apparatuses and methods for reducing capacitive loading are described. An example apparatus may include a plurality of memory subblocks of a memory block. A plurality of word lines may be associated with the plurality of subblocks. The word lines may be further associated with multiple strings within the subblocks. A subset of the word lines may be dummy word lines. The cells of the dummy word lines may be programmed to a plurality of states. The states may be configured to deactivate and/or float unselected strings in the subblocks during certain memory operations.
US09412450B2 Three-dimensional nonvolatile memory and operating method of three-dimensional nonvolatile memory
Disclosed is a nonvolatile memory having a memory cell array including a plurality of cell strings, each cell string including memory cells stacked in a direction perpendicular to a substrate, a ground selection transistor between the memory cells and the substrate, and a string selection transistor between the memory cells and a bit line. The memory also includes an address decoder connected to the memory cells, the string selection transistors, and the ground selection transistors, and configured to apply a ground voltage to the string selection lines, word lines, and ground selection line. Further, the memory includes a read/write circuit connected to the string selection transistors through bit lines, and at least one first memory cell maintains a threshold voltage higher than a threshold voltage distribution corresponding to an erase state.
US09412449B2 Semiconductor storage device
A semiconductor storage device according to an embodiment comprises a plurality of column power supply lines and a plurality of row power supply lines. A plurality of resistance-change memory cells are connected to the column power supply lines and the row power supply lines, respectively. A first column driver supplies a current to a first column power supply line among the column power supply lines. A second column driver supplies a current to a second column power supply line among the column power supply lines. In a data write operation, the first and second column drivers apply voltages having opposite polarities to the first and second column power supply lines, respectively. One of the first and second column drivers supplies a current to relevant ones of the memory cells and other thereof receives the current having passed through the memory cells.
US09412447B1 DDR compatible memory circuit architecture for resistive change element arrays
A high-speed memory circuit architecture for arrays of resistive change elements is disclosed. An array of resistive change elements is organized into rows and columns, with each column serviced by a word line and each row serviced by two bit lines. Each row of resistive change elements includes a pair of reference elements and a sense amplifier. The reference elements are resistive components with electrical resistance values between the resistance corresponding to a SET condition and the resistance corresponding to a RESET condition within the resistive change elements being used in the array. A high speed READ operation is performed by discharging one of a row's bit lines through a resistive change element selected by a word line and simultaneously discharging the other of the row's bit lines through of the reference elements and comparing the rate of discharge on the two lines using the row's sense amplifier. Storage state data are transmitted to an output data bus as high speed synchronized data pulses. High speed data is received from an external synchronized data bus and stored by a PROGRAM operation within resistive change elements in a memory array configuration.
US09412446B1 Multilevel resistive information storage and retrieval
The present invention relates to resistive random-access memory (RRAM or ReRAM) systems, as well as methods of employing multiple state variables to form degenerate states in such memory systems. The methods herein allow for precise write and read steps to form multiple state variables, and these steps can be performed electrically. Such an approach allows for multilevel, high density memory systems with enhanced information storage capacity and simplified information retrieval.
US09412438B2 Writing data to a memory cell
A circuit comprises a first transistor, a capacitive component, a second transistor, and a data line. The first transistor has a threshold voltage value. A first terminal of the first transistor is coupled with a first terminal of the capacitive component and a second terminal of the second transistor. A second terminal of the first transistor is configured to receive a second-terminal voltage value. A third terminal of the first transistor is configured to receive a third-terminal voltage value. A first terminal of the second transistor is coupled with the data line. A third terminal of the second transistor is configured to receive a second-transistor control signal. The first transistor is configured to be on and off to maintain the data line at a data line voltage value.
US09412434B1 Semiconductor device and semiconductor system for performing an initialization operation
Semiconductor systems are provided. A semiconductor system may include a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device may output a command and a power supply voltage. The second semiconductor device may generate pulses of a reset signal for an initialization operation and pulses of an auto-refresh signal for an auto-refresh operation in response to a first reset command generated in response to the command after the power supply voltage reaches a target voltage level. The second semiconductor device may generate the pulses of the reset signal in response to a second reset command generated in response to the command.
US09412432B2 Semiconductor storage device and system provided with same
A semiconductor storage device is provided with a memory cell array comprising a plurality of word lines including word lines that are adjacent to one another; and a TRR address conversion unit that selects the word line in response to the input of an address signal indicating a first value while in a first operation mode and selects the word line in response to the input of an address signal indicating a first value while in a target row refresh mode. Due to the fact that address conversion is performed on the semiconductor storage device side in the present invention, it is sufficient for a control device to output, for example, the address of a word line having a high access count to the semiconductor storage device during a target row refresh operation. As a result, control of the target row refresh operation on the control device side is facilitated.
US09412431B2 Semiconductor memory device and memory system including the same
A semiconductor memory device includes: a command generator suitable for generating an internal active command signal corresponding to an active command signal, wherein, when an active section of the active command signal lasts for a predetermined time or longer, the internal active command signal is additionally activated; an address storage suitable for storing an address signal based on an activation number of the internal active command signal; and a refresh operation driver suitable for performing a refresh operation on a word line corresponding to the stored address signal.
US09412428B2 Memory components and controllers that calibrate multiphase synchronous timing references
A first timing reference signal and a second timing reference signal are sent to a memory device. The second timing reference signal has approximately a quadrature phase relationship with respect to the first timing reference signal. A plurality of serial data patterns are received from the memory device. The transitions of the first timing reference and the second timing reference determining when transitions occur between the bits of the plurality of data patterns. Timing indicators associated with when received transitions occur between the bits of the plurality of data patterns are received from the memory device. The timing indicators are each measured using a single sampler. Based on the timing indicators, a first duty cycle adjustment for the first timing reference signal, a second duty cycle adjustment for the second timing reference signal, and a quadrature phase adjustment are determined and applied.
US09412427B2 Precharge circuit and semiconductor apparatus including the same
A semiconductor apparatus includes a memory region configured to store data transmitted through a first data line and a second data line; and a precharge block configured to precharge the second data line to a level of a first voltage and precharge the first data line to a level of a second voltage higher than the level of the first voltage, based on a write signal.
US09412424B2 Noise tolerant sense circuit
A device and a method for a sense circuit have been disclosed. In an implementation, the sense circuit includes a sense amplifier and at least one decoupling device. The decoupling device is coupled to the sense amplifier through at least one reference line. The sense amplifier reads a data value and the decoupling device decouples the sense amplifier from a power supply during a read operation.
US09412416B2 Location-based media presentation
Media can be presented based on location associated with presentation of media (e.g., physical location of a device that is to present media). Presentation of media can be effectively controlled in order to automatically present a first media content (e.g., a list of songs, an album) in accordance with a first set of media presentation attributes or parameters (e.g., volume associated with presentation of audible media) at a first location, while a second media content is automatically presented in accordance with a second set of media presentation attributes or parameters when the current location is changed to a second location.
US09412413B2 Electronic programming guide
A first program recording timer may be scheduled to record a particular program broadcast on a particular television channel by a television service provider. A second program recording timer may be scheduled to record a plurality of programs broadcast consecutively on the particular television channel by the television service provider, including the particular program. A first graphical indicator that identifies scheduling of the first program recording timer, and a second graphical indicator that identifies scheduling of the second program recording timer may be simultaneously output for display within a programming guide and in association with a descriptor of the particular program.
US09412411B1 Modular data storage device testing system
A data storage device testing system may be configured with at least a test slot, a loader assembly, and an exchange assembly. The loader assembly can be positioned to respectively engage and disengage a test deck with the test slot. The exchange assembly may be configured to open an access port portion of the test deck and subsequently replace a tested data storage component housed within the first test deck with an untested data storage component.
US09412405B2 Pattern forming method and manufacturing method of magnetic recording medium
According to one embodiment, disclosed is a pattern forming method including preparing a second dispersion by adding a second protective group and second solvent to fine particles including a first protective group whose surface polarity is close to that of the substrate, the fine particles containing, at least on the surface thereof, a material selected from Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Y, Zr, Sn, Mo, Ta, W, Au, Ag, Pd, Cu, Pt, and an oxide thereof, modifying the fine particles including the first protective group with the second protective group, adding a viscosity adjustment agent to the dispersion containing the fine particles to prepare a coating solution, and applying the coating solution on the substrate to form a fine particle layer thereon.
US09412404B2 Onset layer for perpendicular magnetic recording media
A magnetic storage medium according to one embodiment includes a substrate; an onset layer formed above the substrate, the onset layer comprising ruthenium and titanium oxide; and a magnetic oxide layer formed directly on the onset layer. A method according to one embodiment includes sputtering using a target of ruthenium and titanium oxide for forming an onset layer above a substrate, the onset layer comprising ruthenium and titanium oxide; and forming a magnetic oxide layer directly on the onset layer. Additional systems and methods are also presented.
US09412403B1 Magnetic recording disk drive with position error signal (PES) blocks in the data tracks for compensation of track misregistration
A magnetic recording hard disk drive (HDD) includes, in addition to conventional servo sectors with position error signal (PES) blocks, data position error signal (DPES) blocks that are written into the data sectors when data is written in the data sectors of the data tracks. During readback the PES blocks from the servo sectors are decoded into PES values to allow the head to follow the servo track, while the DPES blocks are decoded to obtain DPES values that are used in the servo control loop to modify the head position so the head follows the center of the data track. In a shingled magnetic recording HDD, wherein the write head is at least two shingled data tracks wide, a DPES block is written in two radially adjacent data tracks when data is written into the data sectors of the shingled data tracks.
US09412395B1 Narrator selection by comparison to preferred recording features
A content exchange server facilitates the identification of potential narrators of content. The content exchange server receives audio samples from narrators and extracts recording features of the narrators from the samples, which can be associated with narrator profiles. A rights holder can submit preferred recording features for a work to the content exchange server. The content exchange server can compare the preferred focal features with the recording features extracted from the voice samples of the potential narrators to identify potential narrators for the work.
US09412394B1 Interactive audio communication system
An interactive audio communication system includes a server for operating the interactive audio communications, a first computing device for operating a first application program, and a second computing device for operating a second application program, wherein the second application program includes the steps of receiving audio inputs from a user via the second microphone, transforming the audio inputs to text strings and transmitting the data of the audio inputs and/or the text strings to the first computing device, wherein the first application program running on the first computing device includes the steps of, receiving the data of the audio inputs and/or the text strings, displaying the text strings together with an audio mark if the text strings are received together with the data of the audio inputs on the first display.
US09412393B2 Speech effectiveness rating
In an approach to determining speech effectiveness, a computer receives speech input. The computer determines, based, at least in part, on the received speech input, whether the speech input is one of: a conversation with words spoken by two or more people during a predetermined time interval, and a presentation with words spoken by one person and not any other person during a predetermined time interval. The computer detects at least one problem with the speech input. If the speech input is the presentation, the computer weights, by a first factor, the detected at least one problem with the speech input based on the speech input being a presentation and not a conversation, and if the speech input is a conversation, the computer weights, by a second factor, the detected at least one problem with the speech input based on the speech input being a conversation and not a presentation.
US09412391B2 Signal processing device, signal processing method, and computer program product
According to an embodiment, a signal processing device includes a background calculator, a signal generator, an extractor, a similarity calculator, and a mixer. The background calculator is configured to calculate a first background signal in which a speech signal is removed, based on the acoustic signals. The signal generator is configured to generate a reference signal from at least one of the acoustic signals. The extractor is configured to extract a second background signal by removing a speech signal from the reference signal. The similarity calculator is configured to calculate a similarity between feature data of the background signals. The mixer is configured to calculate a weighted sum of the background signals in such a way that a greater weight is given to the first background signal as the similarity is higher and a greater weight is given to the second background signal as the similarity is lower.
US09412387B2 Mobile device indoor navigation
An audio playback system receives digitally watermarked audio programming and distributes it to audio speakers in a venue, enabling a variety of location and product dependent services to be delivered to mobile devices in the venue. Mobile devices sense audio from speakers and decode digital identifying information, including characteristics to distinguish audio sources. The mobile device communicates with a networked computer to provide the identifying information, which in turn, triggers an alert for output on the mobile device.
US09412384B2 Broadcast transmitting/playback apparatus and method thereof
A broadcast transmitting apparatus and method, and a broadcast playback apparatus and method for providing an object-based audio by encoding and decoding a multichannel audio signal are provided. The broadcast transmitting apparatus may generate audio identification information used to determine whether the multichannel audio signal is an object-based audio signal. When the multichannel audio signal is determined to be the object-based audio signal, based on the audio identification information, the broadcast playback apparatus may control and output the multichannel audio signal for each channel.
US09412381B2 Integrated voice biometrics cloud security gateway
A triple factor authentication in one step method and system is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an Integrated Voice Biometrics Cloud Security Gateway (IVCS Gateway) intercepts an access request to a resource server from a user using a user device. IVCS Gateway then authenticates the user by placing a call to the user device and sending a challenge message prompting the user to respond by voice. After receiving the voice sample of the user, the voice sample is compared against a stored voice biometrics record for the user. The voice sample is also converted into a text phrase and compared against a stored secret text phrase. In an alternative embodiment, an IVCS Gateway that is capable of making non-binary access decisions and associating multiple levels of access with a single user or group is described.
US09412379B2 Method for initiating a wireless communication link using voice recognition
A method for establishing a wireless mobile communication link between a vehicle communication system and a mobile network includes a vehicle communication system receiving a single continuous user verbal command string consisting of a first verbal command and at least a second verbal command. The first verbal command identifies a selected communication device for establishing the wireless mobile communication link. The communication device is selected from a group including at least two communication devices. The vehicle communication system determines if the selected communication device is communicatively connected to the vehicle communication system and proceeds to establish the wireless mobile communication link using the selected communication device.
US09412377B2 Computer-implemented system and method for enhancing visual representation to individuals participating in a conversation
A system and method for enhancing visual representation to individuals participating in a conversation is provided. Visual data for a plurality of individuals participating in one or more conversations is analyzed. Possible conversational configurations of the individuals are generated. Each possible conversational configuration includes one or more pair-wise probabilities of at least two of the individuals. A probability weight is assigned to each of the pair-wise probabilities having a likelihood that the individuals of that pair-wise probability are participating in a conversation. A probability of each possible conversational configuration is determined by combining the probability weights for the pair-wise probabilities of that possible conversational configuration. The possible conversational configuration with the highest probability is selected as a most probable configuration. The individuals participating in the conversations based on the pair-wise probabilities with the most probable configuration are determined. Visual representation is enhanced for each individual participating in the determined conversations.
US09412373B2 Adaptive environmental context sample and update for comparing speech recognition
A low power sound recognition sensor is configured to receive an analog signal that may contain a signature sound. Sparse sound parameter information is extracted from the analog signal. The extracted sound parameter information is sampled in a periodic manner and a context value is updated to indicate a current environmental condition. The sparse sound parameter information is compared to both the context value and a signature sound parameter database stored locally with the sound recognition sensor to identify sounds or speech contained in the analog signal, such that identification of sound or speech is adaptive to the current environmental condition.
US09412367B2 Computerized information and display apparatus
Apparatus useful for obtaining and displaying information. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a network interface, display device, and speech recognition apparatus configured to receive user speech input and enable performance of various tasks via a remote entity, such as obtaining desired information relating to directions, sports, finance, weather, or any number of other topics. The downloaded may also, in one variant, be transmitted to a personal user device, such as via a data interface.
US09412366B2 Natural language image spatial and tonal localization
Natural language image spatial and tonal localization techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a natural language input is processed to determine spatial and tonal localization of one or more image editing operations specified by the natural language input. Performance is initiated of the one or more image editing operations on image data using the determined spatial and tonal localization.
US09412362B2 System and method for determining the compliance of agent scripts
Systems and methods of script identification in audio data obtained from audio data. The audio data is segmented into a plurality of utterances. A script model representative of a script text is obtained. The plurality of utterances are decoded with the script model. A determination is made if the script text occurred in the audio data.
US09412359B2 System and method for cloud-based text-to-speech web services
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for generating speech. One variation of the method is from a server side, and another variation of the method is from a client side. The server side method, as implemented by a network-based automatic speech processing system, includes first receiving, from a network client independent of knowledge of internal operations of the system, a request to generate a text-to-speech voice. The request can include speech samples, transcriptions of the speech samples, and metadata describing the speech samples. The system extracts sound units from the speech samples based on the transcriptions and generates an interactive demonstration of the text-to-speech voice based on the sound units, the transcriptions, and the metadata, wherein the interactive demonstration hides a back end processing implementation from the network client. The system provides access to the interactive demonstration to the network client.
US09412358B2 System and method for data-driven socially customized models for language generation
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage devices for generating speech using a presentation style specific to a user, and in particular the user's social group. Systems configured according to this disclosure can then use the resulting, personalized, text and/or speech in a spoken dialogue or presentation system to communicate with the user. For example, a system practicing the disclosed method can receive speech from a user, identify the user, and respond to the received speech by applying a personalized natural language generation model. The personalized natural language generation model provides communications which can be specific to the identified user.
US09412354B1 Method and apparatus to use beams at one end-point to support multi-channel linear echo control at another end-point
A conference system is described that transfers audio signals/streams between a near-end computing system and a far-end computing system. The near-end system may produce a plurality of microphone beams capturing various areas of the near-end. The beams may include primary beams directed at targets of interest and secondary beams focused on sound sources away from the targets of interest. The secondary beams may be selectively used as de-correlating signals for de-correlating the primary beams. The mixing may be made using a scale factor to produce a new primary beam. When the new beam does not provide significant de-correlation and the original raw primary beams are already sufficiently de-correlated, the original raw primary beams may be transmitted to the far-end system.
US09412350B1 Configuring an ordering of compositions by using recognition-segments
A method, apparatus and system that enables a user to find and act-upon a sound-containing composition, in a group of compositions. One or more sound-segments, which are intended to prompt a user's memory, may be associated with each composition in a group of compositions. A recognition sound-segment may include a portion of its associated composition, which is more recognizable to users than the beginning part of its associated composition. A recognition-segment may contain one or more highly recognizable portion(s) of a composition. When the user is trying to locate or select a particular composition, the recognition-segments are navigated and played-back to the user, based upon a user-device context/mode. When a user recognizes the desired composition from its recognition-segment, the user may initiate a control action to playback; arrange; and/or act-upon, the composition that is associated with the currently playing recognition-segment.
US09412348B2 Drum and drum-set tuner
A resonance tuner receives and digitizes an analog signal in response to a resonance of a structure thereby creating a plurality of time samples. A series of the time samples are buffered upon burst detection. A power spectrum is estimated by computing a Time-To-Frequency-Transform of the series of time samples and a magnitude of each of the resulting frequency samples is squared. At least one subset associated with at least one spectral peak is selected from the frequency samples. Each spectral peak has at least one sample with a sufficient magnitude and being spectrally adjacent to any other sample in another spectral peak by less than a threshold. A fundamental spectral peak is determined in a fundamental subset including a spectral peak with a sample at the lowest frequency greater than zero. The fundamental spectral peak has the sample with the largest magnitude within the fundamental subset.
US09412343B2 Continuous pitch wind musical instrument and a composite string instrument and continuous pitch wind musical instrument
A musical instrument includes a resonating pipe having a first slot defined along a length of a longitudinal axis of the resonating pipe and a sliding rod that slides along a length of the first slot and closes the first slot such that the sliding rod selectively covers and provides an air seal to the first slot, such that a pitch of sound produced varies according to a length of closure of the first slot. A mouthpiece is coupled to the resonating pipe to enable the player to create a resonating column of air in the resonating pipe and control the pitch of the instrument by controlling the coverage of the sliding rod over the first slot. A composite musical instrument may include the wind instrument combined with a stringed instrument.
US09412341B2 Information processing method and electronic device
The present invention discloses an electronic device and an information processing method in the electronic device. The electronic device comprises a flexible display unit on which a first content is displayed. The method comprises: detecting whether a preset deformation of the flexible display unit occurs; and when the preset deformation of the flexible display unit occurs, displaying a second content which may or may not be related to the first content on the flexible display unit.
US09412333B2 Adapting an X-ray slave image to an X-ray master image
A device 16 for displaying X-ray images, the device comprises a display 20 for displaying an X-ray image, a workstation 22 for processing image data and a user interface 24 for receiving commands from a user of the device. The user interface 24 is adapted for allowing the user to select a master image 34a and a slave image 34b from a plurality of images. The workstation 22 is adapted for transforming the slave image 34b by generating a color transformation 40 based on the master image 34a and the slave image 34b for optically adapting the slave image to the master image and by applying the color transformation 40 to the slave image 34b. The display 20 is adapted for displaying the transformed slave image 42.
US09412331B2 Display system, image compensation method and non-transitory computer readable storage medium thereof
A display system, an image compensation method and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium thereof are provided. The display system includes a flexible panel, a prediction unit, a compensation unit, an image synthesis unit and a control unit. The prediction unit predicts a prediction angle of the flexible panel in a final time. The compensation unit generates a first compensation image according to an initial display angle of the flexible panel in an initial time, and generates a second compensation image according to the prediction angle. The image synthesis unit synthesizes a first display image according to the first compensation image and the second compensation image. The control unit selectively substitutes the first display image for an image displayed on the flexible panel in the final time.
US09412330B2 Conversion of multimedia data streams for use by connected devices
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to conversion of multimedia data streams for use by connected devices. An embodiment of a method for processing data includes receiving a data stream in a first multimedia data format at a first device, and inserting a replacement video portion into the received data stream to generate a modified multimedia data stream in a second multimedia data format. The modified data stream is provided to a second device coupled to the first device.
US09412327B2 Organic light-emitting display device and manufacturing method of the same
An organic light-emitting display device and a related manufacturing method of the organic light-emitting display device are disclosed. In one aspect, the organic light-emitting display device includes a plurality of pixels which are formed between a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data signal lines. It also includes a plurality of initialization voltage lines which are formed in parallel with the plurality of scan lines and are shared between two adjacent pixels of a row to supply an initialization voltage to the two adjacent pixels. It also includes a driving voltage line which supplies a driving voltage to the plurality of pixels and includes a first voltage line formed in a vertical direction and a second voltage line that is connected between the two adjacent pixels and formed in a horizontal direction.
US09412326B2 Display substrate and display apparatus having the display substrate
A display substrate includes a pixel electrode disposed in a display area, a first pad part disposed in a first area of a peripheral area which is disposed adjacent to the display area, where the first pad part is electrically connected to a driver circuit, a second pad part disposed in a second area of the peripheral area facing the first pad part, where the second pad part is electrically connected to a flexible circuit film which transfers a transmission signal to the driver circuit, and a connection line part disposed in an area between the first and second pad parts as a vertical line type, where the connection line part connects the first and second pad parts to each other.
US09412325B2 Array substrate and driving method thereof
An array substrate is provided comprising a base substrate; an array of pixel electrodes formed on the base substrate; a plurality of gate lines, each of which is formed corresponding to each row of pixel electrodes; a plurality of data lines, each of which is formed corresponding to each odd number column of pixel electrodes and the next adjacent even number column of pixel electrodes; a plurality of first switching devices, each of which is connected with each odd-number-column pixel electrode, and the data lines charging the corresponding odd-number-column pixel electrodes via the corresponding first switching devices under driving control in corresponding time sequence; a plurality of second switching devices, each of which is connected with each even-number-column pixel electrode, and the data lines charging the corresponding even-number-column pixel electrodes via the corresponding second switching devices under driving control in corresponding time sequence.
US09412324B2 Drive device and display device
A drive device of the present invention includes a VCOM selection circuit (122) for switching, before a display panel (102) is turned off, an electric potential of a counter electrode COM of each of pixels P from a VCOM1 to a VCOM2 which causes an electric potential of a drain electrode of each of the pixel P to be identical to the electric potential of the counter electrode COM after the display panel (102) is turned off.
US09412320B2 Method for adjusting display backlight with aid of ambient light brightness detection and time detection, and associated apparatus and associated computer program product
A method and apparatus for adjusting display backlight and an associated computer program product are provided. The method is applied to an electronic device. The method includes the steps of: utilizing at least one light sensor of the electronic device to detect ambient light; and performing a plurality of detection operations to selectively control the electronic device to enter a specific mode to adjust brightness level of a backlight module of a display panel of the electronic device. The detection operations includes: detecting whether the ambient light is less than a predetermined ambient brightness threshold value for a time period; and detecting whether a length of the time period reaches a predetermined time threshold value. For example, the specific mode can be a low-light mode, which is suitable for a user who has stayed in the dark for a time period (e.g. tens of minutes, or one or more hours).
US09412317B2 Display device and method of driving the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a display device and a method of driving it, capable of displaying images properly even upon asynchronous input of image data while taking advantages of decreased power consumption implemented by intermission driving.When there is an external input of new image data (image F) in a non-refreshing period in an intermission driving display device which performs intermittent refreshing based on the latest image data that is inputted in and read out from a frame memory, a coercive refreshing is started immediately based on the new image data (image F) (see the sixth frame period). Also, when there is an external input of image data (image G) during a refreshing period for the image F, the ongoing frame period including the refreshing of the image F is completed and immediately thereafter, a coercive refreshing based on the image data (image G) is started (see the ninth frame period).
US09412315B2 Gate driving circuit and display apparatus having the same
A gate driving circuit is provided which includes a plurality of stages cascade-connected with each other and outputting a plurality of gate signals. An n-th (n is a natural number) stage includes a gate output part, a first node control part and a carry part. The gate output part includes a first transistor. The first transistor outputs a high voltage of a clock signal to a high voltage of an n-th gate signal in response to a high voltage of a control node. The first node control part is connected to the control node to control a signal of the control node and includes at least one transistor having a channel longer than the channel length of the first transistor. The carry part outputs the high voltage of the clock signal to an n-th carry signal in response to the signal of the control node.
US09412311B2 Backlight module with 2D/3D backlight switching unit and display device comprising the backlight module
A backlight module and a display device comprising the backlight module, the backlight module, including: a backlight source, including a plurality of backlight lamps (5); and a backlight source control device, including: a backlight source driving device, configured to provide a driving signal to the backlight source; a 2D/3D backlight switching unit; and a first switch, connected with the 2D/3D backlight switching unit, wherein the 2D/3D backlight switching unit (4) is configured to control switching-on and switching-off of the first switch while a displaying mode is switched between a 2D displaying mode and a 3D displaying mode, and the backlight source driving device is directly connected with a part of the plurality of backlight lamps of the backlight source, and the remaining backlight lamps in the backlight source are connected with the backlight source driving device via the first switch. By flexibly controlling over the backlight source, the brightness of the backlight source can be flexibly controlled while a display device is switched between the 2D displaying mode and the 3D displaying mode.
US09412310B2 Image processing apparatus, projector, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a signal generation section that generates a drive signal to drive a light attenuation member that attenuates light radiated from a light source based on a difference between first transmittance and second transmittance, the first transmittance being a target value calculated based on image data and the second transmittance being detected based on the position of the light attenuation member, an expansion factor calculation section that calculates an expansion factor based on the first transmittance and the second transmittance, an expansion section that expands the range of the distribution of luminance values in the image data based on the expansion factor calculated by the expansion factor calculation section, and an output section that outputs the image data expanded by the expansion section to a driver that drives a light modulator that modulates light incident thereon.
US09412309B2 Image display device and driving method thereof
A novel driving method is provided in which source line inverting drive or dot inverting drive is performed for a case of driving a plurality of source lines by one D/A converter circuit in a source signal line driver circuit of an active matrix image display drive that corresponds to digital image signal input. In a first driving method of the present invention, two systems of grey-scale electric power supply lines are supplied to a source signal line driver circuit in order to obtain output having differing polarities from a D/A converter circuit, switches for connecting to the two systems of grey-scale electric power supply lines are prepared in each D/A converter circuit, the grey-scale electric power supply lines connected to each D/A converter circuit are switched in accordance with a control signal input to the switches, and source line inverting drive or dot inverting drive are performed.
US09412308B2 Sample and hold circuit and source driver including the same
A sample and hold circuit may include: a main sample and hold circuit configured to sample and hold pixel information of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) cell, and output a first output signal; and a dummy sample and hold circuit configured to sample and hold a reference voltage in synchronization with the main sample and hold circuit, and output a second output signal for offsetting a switching noise signal contained in the first output signal.
US09412307B2 Organic light emitting diode display and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a display unit including a plurality of pixels connected to a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of initializing control lines, and a plurality of light emission control lines, a scan driver to output scan signals to the scan lines and initializing signals to the initializing control lines, and a data driver to output data signals to respective ones of the data lines. A first pixel and a second pixel may be commonly connected to a scan line and a data line. The scan driver may output at least one first initializing signal and at least one second initializing signal to the first pixel and second pixel, respectively. The scan signals and the first and the second initializing signals may be activated at different points in time.
US09412300B2 Pixel compensating circuit and method of organic light emitting display
A pixel compensating circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a fifth transistor, a driving transistor, a first capacitor, and an organic light emitting diode element. The first transistor controls transmission of a data signal to a first electrode plate of the first capacitor. The second transistor controls transmission of a reference voltage signal to the first electrode plate of the first capacitor. The driving transistor determines an amount of a driving current. The third transistor controls connection and disconnection between the gate electrode and a drain electrode of the driving transistor. The fourth transistor transmits the driving current from the driving transistor to the organic light emitting diode element. The fifth transistor controls transmission of a supply voltage to the source electrode of the driving transistor; and the organic light emitting diode element emits light in response to the driving current.
US09412299B2 Drive circuit, display device, and drive method
A drive circuit for a light emitting element which can correct a threshold voltage of a drive transistor between two reference voltages without a reset power supply. The drive circuit includes a light emitting element, a drive transistor for controlling an amount of current, a first switching element that is arranged between the light emitting element and the drive transistor, a second switching element that is arranged between the drive transistor and the second reference voltage, a third switching element that is arranged between a gate, and one of a source and a drain of the drive transistor, a fourth switching element that is connected to the other of the source and the drain of the drive transistor, and controls input of signal voltage, and a first capacitor connected to the gate of the drive transistor.
US09412294B2 Data transmission device, data transmission method and display device
The present invention relates to a data transmission device, a data transmission method, and a display device using the data transmission device. The data transmission device comprises a multichannel V-By-One interface module, which comprises a receiving end, a transmitting end, and a buffer module arranged between the receiving end and the transmitting end. The receiving end transmits a plurality of control signals for a plurality of channels to the buffer module. The buffer module transmits one low-level control signal to the transmitting end when all the received control signals are at a low level. After receiving the one low-level control signal, the transmitting end simultaneously transmits output data corresponding to the respective channels, realizing time synchronization of all the output data, thus avoiding abnormal display of images, enhancing display quality of the images, and finally achieving the effect of optimizing and improving user experience.
US09412292B2 Display device and driving method thereof
A display device Includes a control board including a timing controller (TCON) for controlling driving of the display device, and further including a driving memory for storing driving data for driving the display device, and a source board coupled to the control board by a connection cable, the source board including a driving integrated circuit (IC) for outputting a data signal, and further including a panel memory for storing panel characteristic data for compensating for the data signal.
US09412291B2 Display device
A display device includes a plurality of pulse output circuits each of which outputs signals to one of the two kinds of scan lines and a plurality of inverted pulse output circuits each of which outputs, to the other of the two kinds of scan lines, inverted or substantially inverted signals of the signals output from the pulse output circuits. Each of the plurality of inverted pulse output circuits operates with at least two kinds of signals used for the operation of the plurality of pulse output circuits. Thus, through current generated in the inverted pulse output circuits can be reduced.
US09412290B2 Controlling transitions in optically switchable devices
Aspects of this disclosure concern controllers and control methods for applying a drive voltage to bus bars of optically switchable devices such as electrochromic devices. Such devices are often provided on windows such as architectural glass. In certain embodiments, the applied drive voltage is controlled in a manner that efficiently drives an optical transition over the entire surface of the electrochromic device. The drive voltage is controlled to account for differences in effective voltage experienced in regions between the bus bars and regions proximate the bus bars. Regions near the bus bars experience the highest effective voltage.
US09412285B2 Law enforcement officer identifier
Disclosed herein is a device and method directed to assisting individuals in identifying the wearer of the device. More specifically, the present invention generally relates to a device and method of use directed to assisting individuals in identifying the wearer of the device as a law enforcement officer (LEO) from various viewing angles of the wearer in lighted and unlighted environmental conditions. In one embodiment the device is comprised of identification elements, attachment elements, and quick disconnect elements. In another embodiment, the device is comprised of at least four identification elements, the attachment elements formed to hold two of the identification elements in the front and two in the back of the wearer of the device, and quick disconnect elements positioned along the attachment elements so that the wearer of the device can quickly interchange the identification elements and/or remove the device from the wearer.
US09412282B2 Using social networking to improve driver performance based on industry sharing of driver performance data
Data is collected during the operation of a vehicle and used to produce a ranking of a driver's efficiency performance, and that ranking is shared on a hosted website, such that the drivers can compare their performance metrics to their peers. Fleet operators can use these performance metrics as incentives, by linking driver pay with efficiency performance. Individual fleet operators can host their own website, where driver rankings in that fleet can be compared, or the website can be hosted by a third party, and multiple fleet operators participate. The third party can offset their costs for operating the website by charging participating fleet operators a fee, and/or by advertising revenue. In some embodiments, all driver efficiency performance data is displayed in an anonymous format, so that individual drivers cannot be identified unless the driver shares their user ID.
US09412281B2 Learning system self-optimization
A method/system for learning system self-optimization is disclosed. The learning system can include a plurality of learning objects that are connected to each other by a plurality of learning vectors. The learning vectors can identify a prerequisite relationship between the connected learning objects and include data indicating a likelihood of success of a student in traversing the learning vector and/or an expected speed for traversing the learning vector. Data generated from a student's traversal of one of the learning vectors can be used to strengthen or weaken the traversed learning vector based on the student experience.
US09412280B1 Cooperative system and method for precise autonomous delivery
A system for delivery of payload at a precise location by autonomous delivery vehicle. A machine-readable unique identifier is laid at a place where a user wants delivery of an item. User opens a precise delivery app on smartphone, activates the scanner and standing near the unique identifier scans it. Precise delivery app reads the unique identity of the unique identifier and collects the geophysical location of the smartphone. Third party system feeds this information of the target unique identifier to the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous delivery vehicle includes a first prior art navigator and a second scanner navigator. The autonomous vehicle determines its route to the approximate location of the target unique identifier with the help of the first prior art navigator and the second scanner navigator scans every unique identifier that may be present around that location and guides the autonomous vehicle to the target unique identifier.
US09412278B1 Authentication systems and methods for generating flight regulations
Systems and methods for UAV safety are provided. An authentication system may be used to confirm UAV and/or user identity and provide secured communications between users and UAVs. The UAVs may operate in accordance with a set of flight regulations. The set of flight regulations may be associated with a geo-fencing device in the vicinity of the UAV.
US09412275B2 Architecture for distributing transit data
Some embodiments provide a program that receives from several data providers route data and graphical representation of route data (e.g., transit systems, schedules, stops, etc.) for different localities. The program also stores this data on a set of servers for later retrieval and transmission to commute applications operating in different localities. The program further retrieves from external vendors location data of transit vehicles that traverse routes based on the route data and schedule data. The location data is for transmitting to commute applications.
US09412268B2 Vehicle detection and counting
Video analytics is used to track an object of interest represented in video data representing the field of view of a scene observed by a video camera. A multidimensional virtual beam is used to detect whether the tracked object of interest is continually present in a detection zone within the field view of the scene. An occurrence of an event is signaled when the tracked object of interest is continually present in the detection zone during a period beginning when the tracked object of interest enters the detection zone and ending when the tracked object of interest leaves the detection zone through the opposite side, after having completely crossed through the detection zone. Use of a virtual beam detection zone reduces false alarms as compared to the numbers of incidences of false alarms of traditional detection methods, while adding several features and benefits.
US09412267B2 Auto-calibration for road traffic prediction
A method for auto-calibrating parameters in traffic prediction. The method includes determining a first subnet of traffic links that is associated with a plurality of traffic links in a traffic network. The method includes determining a second subnet of traffic links that is associated with the first subnet of traffic links and has a first traffic predicting accuracy value. The method includes generating a set of optimized traffic predicting parameters associated with the second subnet of traffic links, and applying the set of optimized traffic parameters onto a third subnet of traffic links. The method includes determining the set of optimized traffic predicting parameters used to calculate prediction results having a second traffic predicting accuracy value, and applying said set of optimized traffic predicting parameters to subnets associated with the traffic network. Further, the first traffic predicting accuracy value is lower than the second traffic predicting accuracy value.
US09412266B2 Signal conversion device and smart home network system using the same
A smart home network system includes a number of traditional home devices having wireless communication function, a smart gateway, and a plurality of signal conversion devices. When the smart gateway wants to control a traditional home device, the smart gateway sends a cable control signal to a related signal conversion device in the area where the target traditional home device is placed. The related signal conversion device receives the cable control signals from the smart gateway, and converts the cabled control signal into a wireless control signal conforming to the wireless communication function type of the target tradition home device, then transmits the wireless control signal to the target traditional home device. Therefore, the traditional home devices with wireless communication function can be connected into the system, and be controlled by the smart gateway.
US09412261B2 System and method for setting up a universal remote control
A system and method for using an RFID tag to automatically setup and configure a universal remote control to command appliances of various types and various manufacturers.
US09412260B2 Controlled power-efficient operation of wireless communication devices
A low cost, robust, wireless sensor that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The wireless sensors are configured to communicate with a base unit or repeater. When the sensor unit detects an anomalous ambient condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The sensor unit receives instructions to change operating parameters and/or control external devices.
US09412256B2 System for monitoring failure of substrate processing apparatus, and method for monitoring failure of substrate processing apparatus
Disclosed is a failure monitoring system for monitoring a failure of a substrate processing apparatus that performs a predetermined processing on a substrate to be processed, the failure monitoring system including: an alarm collecting unit configured to collects alarms issued from the substrate processing apparatus; and an analyzing unit configured to analyze the alarms collected by the alarm collecting unit and display, as an image, an alarm issuing frequency in each monitoring period on a two-dimensional space, of which one axis represents an alarm ID that specifies an alarm issuing area and another axis represents a predetermined monitor period.
US09412253B2 System for detecting and analyzing motion for pattern prediction and associated methods
A method of monitoring movement and predicting a pattern of an individual by a monitoring system comprising a server and a plurality of occupancy-detecting luminaires in communication with the server comprising the steps of receiving an indication of a detected occupancy of an individual from a luminaire of the plurality of luminaires and determining if the system is presently in a pattern for the individual associated with the indication of detected occupancy. Upon a determination that the system is not presently in a pattern, the indication of detected occupancy is written to a record, the record is compared to a database of patterns, and it is determined if a pattern is identifiable from the record. Upon a determination that the system is presently in a pattern, it is determined whether the indication of detected occupancy complies with the pattern.
US09412249B2 Lovely life costume and designer jewelry for emergency alert devices
A variety of styles and designs of ornamental enclosures and/or attachments and distinguished by being constructed with one or more of the following products: durable metals, alloys, plastics, composites, ceramics, enamels, similar materials or other durable products or combinations thereof which may be adorned with precious, semiprecious or costume jewels or other decorations and considered as jewelry and will be adapted to enhance the appearance of monitored common emergency alert devices. A free-floating actuator button in the jewelry would be depressed over an common emergency alert device button summoning assistance. Another embodiment of Lovely Life Jewelry could be made with generic internal emergency alert circuitry to connect with existing or future emergency alert services. The purpose of the designer or costume jewelry is to make emergency alert devices more attractive and, therefore, enhance the health, safety and security of the wearer.
US09412247B2 Alarm system with wireless communication
A system is provided, wherein the system includes a fire alarm system within a secured area, a call station of the fire alarm system, and a cellphone that includes at least one fire detection device and that forms a cellular connection with the fire alarm system, wherein the fire alarm system determines a location of the cellphone based upon the cellular connection, and wherein the fire alarm system detects a fire within the secured area and provides instructions through the cellphone for exiting the secured area based upon the detected location of the cellphone.
US09412240B2 Gaming systems and methods for operating gaming systems
At a first point in time, a first game outcome is determined in association with a play of a first game, the determined first game outcome is displayed, any first game award associated with the determined first game outcome is displayed, and if a second game triggering event occurs in association with the play of the first game, a second game outcome is determined in association with a play of the second game, the determined second game outcome is displayed, and any second game award associated with the determined second game outcome is displayed. At a second, different point in time, independent of any occurrence of any second game triggering event, a second game outcome in association with a play of the second game is determined, the determined second game outcome is displayed, and c any second game award associated with the determined second game outcome is displayed.
US09412239B2 Gaming machine including win chains
A gaming machine has a standard game play mode, and a bonus feature game play mode. The bonus feature mode includes a win chain counter having an integer value. During standard game play mode, the user interface randomly displays a matrix of symbols and the computer calculates the wins based on the matrix of symbols. On appearance of a predetermined number of scatter symbols, bonus feature play commences and a the win chain counter is initialized. During bonus feature play, a winning spin initializes a first win chain, and a first non-winning spin decrements the win chain counter value, after a first win chain is initialized, and prior to a non-winning spin, winning spins are added to the first win chain. Subsequent win chains are generated and terminated by a non-winning spin until the win chain counter is decremented to zero. Then bonus feature game play terminates.
US09412235B2 Gaming system, a method of gaming and a linked game controller
A gaming system having a plurality of gaming devices linked to a game controller. The linked game controller conducts a linked game in which eligible ones of the gaming devices participate and any award is shared between the participating gaming devices. The linked game controller conducts the linked game by generating at least one game outcome, and evaluating each game outcome based on the number of participating gaming devices.
US09412233B1 Mind controlled casino game
A computerized method for an electronic casino game includes starting a round of play of the electronic casino game, and monitoring a user's brain activity. The method includes determining whether at least one component of the user's brain activity exceeds a threshold level, and changing a chance of winning the round of play if the at least one components of the user's brain activity exceeds the threshold level. Changing the chance of winning the round of play may include increasing the chance of winning the round of play.
US09412226B2 Gaming system including wild symbols
A gaming system configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of symbols. For a play of the game, the gaming system displays a plurality of reels, each of the reels including a plurality of the symbols and being associated with a plurality of symbol display areas. For an activation of the reels, the gaming system randomly generates and causes each of the reels to display one of the symbols on that reel at each of the symbol display areas associated with that reel. Upon an occurrence of a triggering event, the gaming system: adds one or more wild symbols to one or more of the reels and provides a plurality of additional activations of the reels. If a removal condition is satisfied prior to a final one of the additional activations of the reels, the gaming system removes a remaining wild symbol from one of the reels.
US09412222B2 Coordinated gaming machine attract via gaming machine cameras
Systems and methods for initiating attract sequences on gaming machines based on a determined presence of a player through a camera are described. The gaming machine includes a cabinet. The gaming machine further includes a display coupled to the cabinet. The gaming machine includes a user input coupled to the cabinet. The gaming machine includes a video camera coupled to the cabinet, the video camera configured to output video data, wherein the video camera is positioned to capture video data of players walking by the gaming machine. The gaming machine includes a master gaming controller. The master gaming controller is configured to receive the video data from the video camera, determine the presence of a player in the vicinity of the gaming machine, and initiate an attract feature based on the determined presence of the player.
US09412216B2 Multi-chambered earplug dispenser
A manually operable dispenser for dispensing disposable earplugs. The dispenser includes a housing, index body, and plate. The housing forms an opening for receiving earplugs from a container. The index body includes a handle, hub, guide cone and shield. The hub forms opposing major faces and a plurality of circumferentially arranged bores. The guide cone projects from the upper major face, tapering in diameter to a leading end. A base of the shield is disposed above the leading end opposite the upper major face. A wall of the shield projects radially outwardly to an edge having a diameter greater than a diameter of the leading end. The shield and the handle are rotationally affixed. The hub is rotatably mounted within the opening. The plate is connected to the housing and forms a dispensing aperture. A manually-applied rotational force at the handle selectively aligns individual ones of the bores with the dispensing aperture.
US09412212B2 Unexpectedness prediction sensitivity determination apparatus
An unexpectedness prediction sensitivity determining apparatus determines, for each of temporary stop intersections, a standard driving operation level of a driver when entering the each of temporary stop intersections, based on intersection travel information received from plural vehicles. Subsequently, the unexpectedness prediction sensitivity determining apparatus determines the unexpectedness prediction sensitivity of the driver when entering the temporary stop intersection based on the intersection travel information associated with the temporary stop intersections where determined standard driving operation levels of the drivers are identical to one another.
US09412210B2 Method of reporting runway condition using brake control system
A system and method for objectively evaluating an airport runway condition, where conditions pertaining to aircraft landing factors are compiled and used to determine a runway braking condition. One set of conditions pertains to aircraft landing factors, including brake metered pressure, wheel speed, and aircraft deceleration, and a second set of factors relate to pilot controlled parameters. A condition report is generated and made available to pilots of subsequently landing aircrafts prior to landing.
US09412209B2 Prevention device for operating vehicle running record
A prevention device for operating a vehicle running record is provided. The device includes a cluster controller that is configured to convert a received and stored accumulated running distance of the vehicle from a cluster of the vehicle to generate a plurality of different distributed secret pieces. In addition, a plurality of other controllers are configured to receive and store each of the plurality of distributed secret pieces from the cluster controller.
US09412208B2 Generating and delivering a wrap package of cards including custom content and/or services in response to a vehicle diagnostic system triggered event
Delivery of a wrap package “on the fly” in reply to a vehicle onboard diagnostic (OBD) system triggered event. When a notice of the event is received, a wrap package, including custom content presented within a plurality of cards arranged in one or more linear sequences, is automatically authored. The custom content encompasses, but is not limited to, one or more media types, application functionality and/or e-commerce related services. In one embodiment, the custom content pertains to a specific code generated by the OBD system that corresponds to the event. In another embodiment, the triggered event is an accident.
US09412201B2 Mixed reality filtering
Embodiments that relate to selectively filtering geo-located data items in a mixed reality environment are disclosed. For example, in one disclosed embodiment a mixed reality filtering program receives a plurality of geo-located data items and selectively filters the data items based on one or more modes. The modes comprise one or more of a social mode, a popular mode, a recent mode, a work mode, a play mode, and a user interest mode. Such filtering yields a filtered collection of the geo-located data items. The filtered collection of data items is then provided to a mixed reality display program for display by a display device.
US09412198B2 Collision determination device and collision determination program
A collision determination device includes a target cell designation unit that designates a target cell for a voxel model which represents the shape of a first object. A determination test point generation unit generates determination test points for the target cell. A spatial curve creation unit creates a spatial curve as the trajectory curve of a determination test point. A curve intersecting determination unit determines whether or not each boundary element of a boundary representation model representing the shape of a second object is intersecting the spatial curve. A distance computation unit computes the closest distance from the spatial curve to the boundary surface of the boundary representation model. A collision determination unit determines, based on the determination result and the computation result, whether there is a possibility of collision between both objects.
US09412197B2 Patched shading in graphics processing
Aspects of this disclosure generally relate to a process for rendering graphics that includes performing, with a hardware shading unit of a graphics processing unit (GPU) designated for vertex shading, vertex shading operations to shade input vertices so as to output vertex shaded vertices, wherein the hardware unit is configured to receive a single vertex as an input and generate a single vertex as an output. The process also includes performing, with the hardware shading unit of the GPU, a geometry shading operation to generate one or more new vertices based on one or more of the vertex shaded vertices, wherein the geometry shading operation operates on at least one of the one or more vertex shaded vertices to output the one or more new vertices.
US09412195B2 Constant buffer size multi-sampled anti-aliasing depth compression
By packing the depth data in a way that is independent of the number of samples, so that memory bandwidth is the same regardless of the number of samples, higher numbers of samples per pixel may be used without adversely affecting buffer cost. In some embodiments, the number of pixels per clock in a first level depth test may be increased by operating in the pixel domain, whereas previous solutions operated at the sample level.
US09412193B2 Run-time optimized shader program
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for generating optimized shader programs (e.g., vertex and fragment) at run-time are described. In general, techniques are disclosed for determining when an executing graphics program (a “client”) issues a command that, to be carried out, would require a significant change in the currently executing shader program (a “shader”). When this is detected, the client's specified change may be used to identify a minimal set of shader instructions that can provide the client's designated effect. The instructions so identified, may be used to generate a shader optimized for that effect.
US09412190B2 Image display system, image display apparatus, image display method, and non-transitory storage medium encoded with computer readable program
An image display system includes a display unit, a shooting unit configured to shoot an image of a subject, a specifying unit configured to specify a position of the subject in the image shot by the shooting unit, and a display control unit configured to have the display unit display the shot image and a predetermined comparison image. The display control unit is configured to have the comparison image displayed at a position where the comparison image is superimposed on the subject in the shot image, based on the specified position of the subject.
US09412185B2 Reconstructing an image of a scene captured using a compressed sensing device
A method for reconstructing an image of a scene captured using a compressed sensing device. A mask is received which identifies at least one region of interest in an image of a scene. Measurements are then obtained of the scene using a compressed sensing device comprising, at least in part, a spatial light modulator configuring a plurality of spatial patterns according to a set of basis functions each having a different spatial resolution. A spatial resolution is adaptively modified according to the mask. Each pattern focuses incoming light of the scene onto a detector which samples sequential measurements of light. These measurements comprise a sequence of projection coefficients corresponding to the scene. Thereafter, an appearance of the scene is reconstructed utilizing a compressed sensing framework which reconstructs the image from the sequence of projection coefficients.
US09412183B2 Method for color balancing underwater photography
A system and method that receives and edits image data of an underwater scene in a digital image in order to remove undesirable tints from objects in the scene. In some embodiments, colors near the color of the water itself are protected to leave the water looking blue. Removing undesirable tints without removing the tint of the water itself results in images with more realistic coloring of people and objects in the scene, without eliminating the color cues (e.g., blue water) that indicate that the image is a photograph of an underwater scene.
US09412182B2 System and process for automatically finding objects of a specific color
A computer implemented method, system and computer program product for identifying the Main Colors and the matching colors of a visual object, and then viewing on a mobile device select items comprising the matching colors, such as from a merchant's catalog. A visual object is analyzed for color content, and the results are stored on a system database located on the device or on a remote server. The color analysis of the objects comprise advanced image processing techniques, such as Main Color extraction using color space transformation comprising HSV, RGB and CYMK to map between pixels in the image. The user can subsequently view a display on their mobile identifying the visual object's Main Colors and at least one Harmonic Color; and then select and view all items (i.e. products in a database) comprising one Harmonic Color, and/or all items of a specific type and Harmonic Color.
US09412180B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
The present technology relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program capable of searching for and tracking a person desired to be searched for and tracked from images captured by a plurality of cameras with high precision.By inputting decision information used for a user to decide a searching target in a moving-object image PA captured by a monitoring camera imaging an imaging area CamA on a screen P211 indicating a searching and tracking result, as indicated by a hand H1, and by erasing a plot E from the searching and tracking result because of a distant position to which a person may not travel at an average human movement speed for about 5 seconds despite moving for a time of 5 seconds (1:00:05 to 1:00:00) from a plot A to the plot E by time-space comparison between detection results of the plots A and E, it is possible to improve precision of the searching and tracking result. The present technology can be applied to a security system or a marketing research system.
US09412175B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for image segmentation
In an example embodiment, a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method includes facilitating receipt of a plurality of superpixels of an input image and an object selection input for selecting part of a foreground object in the input image. The method includes determining first set of superpixels as first set of foreground seeds and second set of superpixels as first set of background seeds. The method includes filtering the first set of background seeds to generate second set of background seeds based on geodesic distances. The method includes adding superpixels of first set of unclassified superpixels to the second set of background seeds to generate third set of background seeds, and adding superpixels of second set of unclassified superpixels to the third set of background seeds to generate fourth set of background seeds based on applying a classifier on the second set of unclassified superpixels.
US09412174B2 Note recognition for overlapping physical notes
Techniques for creating and manipulating software notes representative of physical notes are described. A computing device includes a processor, an image collection module executable by the processor and configured to receive an input image of an environment having a plurality of overlapping physical notes, and an image processing engine executable by the processor and configured to process the input image with the computing device to identify the plurality of overlapping physical notes in the input image. The image processing engine determines a boundary of each note in the plurality of overlapping physical notes in the input image, and generates a plurality of digital notes corresponding to the determined boundary of each of the overlapping physical notes identified in the input image.
US09412172B2 Sparse light field representation
The disclosure provides an approach for generating a sparse representation of a light field. In one configuration, a sparse representation application receives a light field constructed from multiple images, and samples and stores a set of line segments originating at various locations in epipolar-plane images (EPI), until the EPIs are entirely represented and redundancy is eliminated to the extent possible. In addition, the sparse representation application determines and stores difference EPIs that account for variations in the light field. Taken together, the line segments and the difference EPIs compactly store all relevant information that is necessary to reconstruct the full 3D light field and extract an arbitrary input image with a corresponding depth map, or a full 3D point cloud, among other things. This concept also generalizes to higher dimensions. In a 4D light field, for example, the principles of eliminating redundancy and storing a difference volume remain valid.
US09412167B2 Acceleration and enhancement methods and system for ultrasound scatterer structure visualization
The present invention provides an acceleration and enhancement methods for ultrasound scatterer structure visualization. The method includes: obtaining an ultrasonic image, calculating all values of the ultrasonic signal points in each mth window centered at a nth signal point to obtain a plurality of original statistical values anxm, obtaining a plurality of mth statistical values by averaging value of original statistical values in the same window, calculating a plurality of mth weighting values based on the statistical values by different weighting formulas, multiplying each weighting value with the original statistical values corresponding to the various size of windows, summing up to obtain an ultrasound structure scatterer value of the nth ultrasonic signal point, and generating an ultrasound scatterer structure image based on a matrix of the ultrasound scatterer values. The present invention further combined interpolation method can reduce the computation time and retain the 80% accuracy.
US09412165B1 NB-cam module calibration method and system using the same
A NB-cam module calibration method is provided. The method includes the following steps: an image which the optical lens of each NB-cam module spotlights onto a light sensor of each NB-cam module is calibrated to generate a compensation parameter set corresponding to each NB-cam module; a color temperature table within the compiled lens-driver firmware is modified according to each compensation parameter set; and the compiled and modified lens-driver firmware is directly burned to each NB-cam module.
US09412162B2 Methods, systems and circuits for generating magnification-dependent images suitable for whole slide images
Methods, systems, workstations, computer programs visually enhance features of interest in an obtained image that are otherwise only visually apparent in a high magnification sub-slide view so that the visually enhanced features are visually apparent in a low magnification whole slide view and display the visually enhanced features on a display in a whole slide low magnification image view.
US09412161B2 Systems and methods for medical use of motion imaging and capture
A motion sensing and capture system to provide to a patient and/or healthcare provider, patient motion data and/or motion impairment data, which can be used as a diagnostic, predictive or therapeutic tool. Such method comprises the steps of: (a) selecting one or more patient motions; (b) using a sensing and capture system to image an initial set comprising the one or more motions to provide an initial set of motion data; and (c) conveying such initial set of motion data to a patient and/or healthcare provider.
US09412160B2 System and method for analyzing and processing food product
Systems and methods are described that provide a fast and simple way of processing meat or food products. Information is compiled and analyzed regarding the condition of a carcass, meat product, styling of the meat product and associated tray or package. Information is used in various processes, including determining which further processing steps are required. The information is also stored for future reference and analysis.
US09412152B2 Image sharpening processing method and apparatus, and shooting terminal
An image sharpening processing method and apparatus, and a shooting terminal, where the method includes acquiring to-be-processed image; performing edge-preserving filtering processing on the image to obtain base image information and detail image information, where the base image information includes image edge information; determining, according to the image edge information, a sharpening gain required for performing sharpening processing on the detail image information; and performing sharpening processing on the detail image information using the sharpening gain. It is implemented that the sharpening gain required for sharpening processing is determined by the image edge information, thereby suppressing noise amplification and avoiding generating a phenomenon of overshoot for sharpened image information and improving quality of a sharpened image.
US09412145B2 System and method for processing digital data
This system for processing digital data may include a set of slave processing units for the execution of elementary functions, an interconnection module, which is designed to communicate with a data transfer network and to transfer data between the processing units, on the one hand, and the data transfer network, on the other hand, and a controller controlling the interconnection module to control the data transfer.
US09412141B2 Systems and methods for identifying entities using geographical and social mapping
Embodiment of the disclosed technology include systems and methods for identifying one or more entities associated with activities. In an example implementation, a method includes determining one or more geographical regions proximate to the plurality of locations associated with the one or more activities; determining connections between one or more identities of a population and a plurality of related entities associated with the one or more identities; determining geographical information associated with related entities; weighting one or more metrics for each of the identities based on the geographical information associated with the related entities and the or more geographical regions proximate to the plurality of locations associated with the one or more activities; scoring the one or more weighted metrics; and providing, based on the scoring, an indication of a likelihood that the one or more identities of the population are associated with the one or more activities.
US09412138B2 Dashboard for monitoring energy consumption and demand
A system for presenting a utility consumption dashboard. The dashboard may have one or more panes for displaying energy or other utility consumption related information. A pane may indicate utility consumption and time periods of consumption. Data of utility consumption may be shown in terms of years, quarters or months, for different types of utility consumption such as electrical, gas, and so forth. Utility consumption may be noted in various contexts. Another pane may provide daily patterns related to utility consumption. Still another pane may provide a scatter plot of data points relating to utility consumption and temperature outside of the space. Dynamic interaction, including analysis, may involve utility consumption, time period, and temperature outside the space. A data or information point in any of the panes may be selected to reveal a tool tip that highlights details about the point.
US09412137B2 Cloud computing for a manufacturing execution system
A computing cloud system includes at least one data storage unit configured to store information associated with at least one manufacturing execution system. The computing cloud system also includes at least one processing unit configured to execute instructions associated with the at least one manufacturing execution system and at least one communications interface configured to receive information from the at least one manufacturing site and to interpret the information.
US09412134B2 System and method for conducting web-based financial transactions in capital markets
The present invention provides a system and method that enables users, such as institutional investors and financial institutions, to interactively engage in capital market transactions, including the trading of Over-the-Counter financial products, via the Internet (including the World Wide Web). The system includes a variety of servers, applications, and interfaces that enable users to interactively communicate and trade financial instruments among one another. Interactive communications supported by the system include: requesting price quotes, monitoring and reviewing quote requests, issuing price quotes, monitoring and reviewing price quotes, negotiation between users, acceptance of price quotes, reporting, portfolio management, analysis of financial information and market data, and communications among users via an automated processor. Such automated communications enable connectivity with users' internal, back-end systems to execute automated, straight-through processing, including transaction pricing, payment scheduling and journaling, derivatives trading, trade confirmation, and trade settlement.
US09412125B2 Open market content distribution
A method of content distribution for one or more user devices, comprising: associating the one or more user devices with a user domain; acquiring content with one or more user accounts linked to the user domain; accessing the acquired content with the one or more user devices according to predetermined privileges, wherein access for an individual user device of the one or more user devices is valid while the individual user device is associated with the user domain and has an active status with the user domain.
US09412121B2 Backend support for augmented reality window shopping
A consumer user can perform a number of augmented reality shopping operations using a local client shopping application executable on a mobile device. Features related to implementations of the current subject matter can include, but are not limited to, the ability to view an augmented reality depiction of a shopping display using the mobile device and to execute various “e-commerce” functions accessible via the augmented reality depiction. Other features of the current subject matter can relate to preparation of the necessary three dimensional models and two dimensional projections of such models for viewing as an augmented reality view of the shopping display. Related methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and the like are described.
US09412120B1 Audio-triggered notifications for mobile devices
Disclosed are various embodiments for providing a plurality of notifications to mobile devices. A broadcast is rendered by a device that is detected by a mobile device. Software on the mobile device decodes the broadcast to obtain an identification number associated with a notification. The mobile device requests a notification based at least on the identification number. A notification is sent to the mobile device if certain requirements associated with the notification are met. The notification may then be rendered on a display of the mobile device.
US09412119B2 Content, traffic and advertising engine, system and method
An engine, platform, system and method of interconnecting content generation, advertisement relevance, and traffic stimulation. The present invention may include the generation of one or more content items into a primary content window, the presentation of one or more content items in a secondary content window, a repeated crawl of the one or more content items in the primary content window, the presentation of a first plurality of advertisements relevant to the repeated crawl, the maintenance of a viewer of the primary content window at least partially based upon the one or more content items in the secondary content window, at least until the presentation of a second plurality of advertisements relevant to the repeated crawl, a targeting of at least one subset of traffic in accordance with the generation of the content in the primary content window, and a tracker that increases proportionally with the relevance of the first plurality of advertisements.
US09412117B2 Automated system for adapting market data and evaluating the market value of items
A system including a remotely-located service provider server receives one or more product specification data sets. A metrics application invokes an evaluation service and obtains metric data including market reference price data for responsive items at a current time or period of time. Attributes for each responsive item are evaluated to dynamically discover relations within the attribute data that enable a metric server adapter to contextually determine which of the predefined instructions are applicable to the responsive item. One or more adjustment values are generated and applied to the market reference price data for a responsive item that differs by at least one parameter value, transforming the current market reference price data into transaction-specific market reference price data values that are used to generate one or more evaluation metrics. One or more of the received product specification data sets and evaluation metrics are communicated to a user-agent controlled computing device.
US09412115B2 Configuring tags to monitor other webpage tags in a tag management system
Methods and systems allow for using a master tag to monitor and control other tags on a webpage can include identifying a webpage. The method can also include identifying, with a master tag embedded in the webpage, one or more characteristics of at least one other tag embedded within the webpage. Further, the method can include sending a report to a data store that identifies the one or more characteristics of the at least one other tag.
US09412112B1 Interactive message display platform system and method
An interactive display platform is provided for generating and displaying a sponsored message within a message group, including previously received messages from users. A first group of users having user information corresponding to information received from a first user is determined. A selection representing a user is received, and a modified first group is determined including by adding the selected user to the first group. Advertiser(s) meeting a threshold of targeting criteria is selected for displaying a message with at least two previously received messages from a second group of users that is based at least on a previously received message from someone of the modified first group by a point in time. A unique information assembly is generated by integrating information from previously received messages from the second group and a message from the advertiser(s), which is provided for display for the first user.
US09412107B2 Predictive fraud screening
Methods, systems, and computer program products for screening transactions. Transactions stored in a transaction database may provide a statistical basis for determining a probability of fraud for a pending transaction. The cost of fraud may be determined for each of a plurality of possible actions based on the probability of fraud, and the action that provides the lowest cost of fraud chosen. A cumulative cost of fraud may be determined for a set of transactions in the database. If taking the action with the lowest cost of fraud for the transaction would result in a higher cumulative cost of fraud, an action having the higher cost of fraud for the transaction may be chosen. The transaction may be added to the database, and the probability of fraud adjusted based on an amount of time since acceptance of the transaction. The statistical basis may be optimized based on a cost error.
US09412106B2 Mobile phone ATM processing methods and systems
Embodiments provide systems, methods, processes, computer program code and means for using mobile devices to conduct transactions with ATM devices.
US09412101B1 Systems methods and computer program products for directing consumer from digital receipt to source of specific item for repeat item purchase
Systems, computer-implemented methods and computer program products for directing a consumer to a source offering for sale a specific item previously purchased by the consumer. Electronic receipt data generated for a consumer purchase of a specifically identified item is generated by a merchant transaction processing device, and an electronic representation of a receipt is generated based on that data. The electronic representation identifies the specific item and includes an input element or button that can be selected, clicked on, executed or activated by a consumer to allow the consumer to be directed to a website of a merchant who offers the same item for sale and from which the consumer can buy the same item again.
US09412097B2 System and method for facilitating structured meetings
A system for facilitating organized and structured meetings of one or more users through a server. The system includes a processor and a memory unit. The memory unit stores data related to the assignment of meetings and the processor is operable to process a registration module for users, an event setup module for setting up an event, a meeting request module for sending meeting requests, and a meeting assignment module. The event setup module allows the user to set up an event and further allows creation of one or more sessions and list of categories for each session, furthermore to create rules based on the categories and then assign locations and schedule for each session. The meeting request module to allow submission of request for meetings during the session. The meeting assignment module to assign meetings between two registered users on the basis of the rules submitted under meeting request module.
US09412094B2 User identifier management
The different illustrative embodiments provide a computer program product and apparatus for managing user identifiers presented in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. In an illustrative embodiment, a determination is made whether the new user identifier matches an existing user identifier according to a policy for a minimum degree of character variation between the new user identifier and the existing user identifier responsive to receiving a request to store a new user identifier. The request to store the new user identifier is rejected responsive to a determination that the new user identifier matches the existing user identifier according to the policy. The request is approved responsive to an absence of a determination that the new user identifier matches the existing user identifier according to the policy.
US09412092B2 Generating a filtered view of a content stream
A method performed by one or more processing devices includes receiving information specifying one or more attributes of a story; identifying, from a social graph, items of data with attributes matching at least one of the one or more attributes of the story, and connections to an item of data representing a user for whom the story is generated; identifying content items associated with the identified items of data; generating, based on the identified content items, data for a graphical user interface that when rendered by a device used by the user, includes: a visual representation of the story.
US09412078B2 Online performance venue system and method
An online performance venue system and method including a central server and a plurality of user terminals allows users to meet, communicate, learn, and perform. Users may perform live, record their performances for later playback or download, such as for a fee. Users may further create groups or bands and perform and record together. The system includes a number of additional features to foster an online community of system users.
US09412076B2 Methods and systems for a high-resolution brain image pipeline and database program
A volumetric segmentation method is disclosed for brain region analysis, in particular but not limited to, regions of the basal ganglia such as the subthalamic nucleus (STN). This serves for visualization and localization within the sub-cortical region of the basal ganglia, as an example of prediction of a region of interest for deep brain stimulation procedures. A statistical shape model is applied for variation modes of the STN, or the corresponding regions of interest, and its predictors on high-quality training sets obtained from high-field, e.g., 7 T, MR imaging. The partial least squares regression (PLSR) method is applied to induce the spatial relationship between the region to be predicted, e.g., STN, and its predictors. The prediction accuracy for validating the invention is evaluated by measuring the shape similarity and the errors in position, size, and orientation between manually segmented STN and its predicted one.
US09412074B2 Optimized trotterization via multi-resolution analysis
Operators such as unitary operators common in quantum mechanical applications may be approximated by a Trotter-like approximation. An operator may be decomposed and terms of the operator may be grouped, or assigned into levels. The levels may be scaled and applied at unique intervals of calculational steps. A quantum device may have circuitry for applying levels of the operator at the unique intervals.
US09412073B2 System and methodology providing automation security analysis and network intrusion protection in an industrial environment
Automation security in a networked-based industrial controller environment is implemented. Various components, systems and methodologies are provided to facilitate varying levels of automation security in accordance with security analysis tools, security validation tools and/or security learning systems. The security analysis tool receives abstract factory models or descriptions for input and generates an output that can include security guidelines, components, topologies, procedures, rules, policies, and the like for deployment in an automation security network. The validation tools are operative in the automation security network, wherein the tools perform security checking and/or auditing functions, for example, to determine if security components are in place and/or in suitable working order. The security learning system monitors/learns network traffic patterns during a learning phase, fires alarms or events based upon detected deviations from the learned patterns, and/or causes other automated actions to occur.
US09412065B1 Training a model using parameter server shards
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for training a model using parameter server shards. One of the methods includes receiving, at a parameter server shard configured to maintain values of a disjoint partition of the parameters of the model, a succession of respective requests for parameter values from each of a plurality of replicas of the model; in response to each request, downloading a current value of each requested parameter to the replica from which the request was received; receiving a succession of uploads, each upload including respective delta values for each of the parameters in the partition maintained by the shard; and updating values of the parameters in the partition maintained by the parameter server shard repeatedly based on the uploads of delta values to generate current parameter values.
US09412057B2 Electronic device, method of displaying two-dimensional code, and recording medium with program recorded thereon
An electronic device includes: a display unit which displays data and a two-dimensional code; and a processor. The processor performs: an encoding process of encoding the data displayed on the display unit into the two-dimensional code; a two-dimensional code displaying process of performing a first masking operation to the two-dimensional code with a first mask pattern and displaying the code having been subjected to the first masking operation on the display unit; and a two-dimensional code changing process of performing a second masking operation to the two-dimensional code with a second mask pattern, and displaying the code having been subjected to the second masking operation instead of the code having been subjected to the first masking operation on the display unit, when a user operation is executed while the two-dimensional code having been subjected to the first masking operation is displayed on the display unit.
US09412054B1 Device and method for determining a size of in-vivo objects
A system and method for estimating a size of an object in an image is provided. A tissue model may be provided. Points in an image may be selected. A distance or estimated distance of the points from an imaging device may be determined based on the tissue model. A geometrical relation associating the point, distances and an object may be derived. A size parameter of the object may be calculated based on the geometrical relation. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09412050B2 Produce recognition method
A produce recognition method which uses hierarchical Bayesian learning and kernel combination, and which offers classification-oriented synergistic data integration from diverse sources. An example method includes providing a classifier having a plurality of inputs, each input being adapted to receive produce data of a different modality; mapping the produce data to the respective input of the classifier by a computer; for each input, independently operating on the data relating to that input to create a feature set by the computer; comparing each feature in the feature set to respective pre-trained data for that feature to produce a similarity description set; combining all similarity description sets using a dedicated weighting function to produce a composite similarity description by the computer; and deriving a plurality of class values from the composite similarity description to create a recognition result for the produce item by the computer.
US09412042B2 Interaction with and display of photographic images in an image stack
A number of images of a scene are captured and stored. The images are captured over a range of values for an attribute (e.g., a camera setting). One of the images is displayed. A location of interest in the displayed image is identified. Regions that correspond to the location of interest are identified in each of the images. Those regions are evaluated to identify which of the regions is rated highest with respect to the attribute relative to the other regions. The image that includes the highest-rated region is then displayed.
US09412041B1 Retinal apparatus and methods
Artificial retina may be implemented. A retinal apparatus may comprise an input pixel layer, hidden photoreceptive layer, an output neuron layer, and/or other components. Individual cones of the photoreceptive layer may be configured to receive input stimulus from one or more cones within the cone circle of confusion. The cone dynamic may be described using a diffusive state equation characterized by two variables configured to represent membrane voltage and current. Diffusive horizontal coupling of neighboring cones may effectuate non-separable spatiotemporal response that is configured to respond to contrast reversing and/or coherent moving stimulus. The photoreceptive layer high-pass filtered output may facilitate contrast detection by suppressing time-invariant component of the input and reducing sensitivity of the retina to the static inputs.
US09412039B2 Blur detection system for night scene images
A system (300) for detecting whether an image (16) is blurred performs the steps of: identifying valid light trails in the test image (308), and classifying the test image as blurred if there is a sufficient number of matching valid light trails oriented in a repetitive pattern (310). The system (300) is designed to automatically detect whether a night scene image (16) is blurred based on the existence and characteristics of any light trails (552) in the captured image (16). Because the method extracts the characteristics of the light trails (552) and analyzes these light trails (552), it accurately detects blur in the challenging night scene images and has a relatively low false positive rate.
US09412038B1 Determining a color value of an article of fabric
Methods and systems are provided for determining a color value of an article of fabric. Determining a color value of an article of fabric includes obtaining, from a mobile device, a digital image of an article of fabric with a calibration card, calculating a fabric luminosity value for the article of fabric from the digital image, comparing the fabric luminosity value with calibration luminosity values to create a comparison, and determining, based on the comparison, a color value of the article of fabric.
US09412034B1 Occlusion handling for computer vision
Disclosed are a system, apparatus, and method for performing occlusion handling for simultaneous localization and mapping. Occluded map points may be detected according to a depth-mask created according to an image keyframe. Dividing a scene into sections may optimize the depth-mask. Size of depth-mask points may be adjusted according to intensity. Visibility may be verified with an optimized subset of possible map points. Visibility may be propagated to nearby points in response to determining an initial visibility of a first point's surrounding image patch. Visibility may also be organized and optimized according to a grid.
US09412031B2 Delayed vehicle identification for privacy enforcement
A method for recognition of an identifier such as a license plate includes storing first visual signatures, each extracted from a first image of a respective object, such as a vehicle, captured at a first location, and first information associated with the first captured image, such as a time stamp. A second visual signature is extracted from a second image of a second object captured at a second location and second information associated with the second captured image is acquired. A measure of similarity is computed between the second visual signature and at least some of the first visual signatures to identify a matching one. A test is performed, which is a function of the first and the second information associated with the matching signatures. Only when it is confirmed that the test has been met, identifier recognition is performed to identify the identifier of the second object.
US09412030B2 Visualization of defects in a frame of image data
Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for receiving, from a camera, a frame representing image data prior to the image data being saved in long term memory. Areas of image data are analyzed to determine types of defects contained within each area of image data. At least one area contains a defect, and the types of defects include glare, blur, defocused, and noise. The frame is visually altered based upon each area of image data that contains a defect such that each defect can be ascertained within the frame, and the altered frame is displayed.
US09412020B2 Geometric coding for billion-scale partial-duplicate image search
Most of large-scale image retrieval systems are based on Bag-of-Visual-Words model. However, traditional Bag-of-Visual-Words model does not well capture the geometric context among local features in images, which plays an important role in image retrieval. In order to fully explore geometric context of all visual words in images, efficient global geometric verification methods have been attracting lots of attention. Unfortunately, current existing global geometric verification methods are either computationally expensive to ensure real-time response. To solve the above problems, a novel geometric coding algorithm is used to encode the spatial context among local features for large scale partial duplicate image retrieval. With geometric square coding and geometric fan coding, our geometric coding scheme encodes the spatial relationships of local features into three geo-maps, which are used for global verification to remove spatially inconsistent matches. This approach is not only computationally efficient, but also effective in detecting duplicate images with rotation, scale changes, occlusion, and background clutter.
US09412018B2 Systems and methods for note content extraction and management using segmented notes
Techniques for creating and manipulating software notes representative of physical notes are described. A note management system comprises a note recognition module configured to receive image data capturing a note having a plurality of color segments, wherein the note recognition module is further configured to generate a plurality of indicators, each indicator indicative of a color class of a pixel or group of pixels within the image data and based on color values of the pixel or group of pixels; and a note extraction module configured to determine general boundaries of the color segments of the note based on the plurality of indicators and extract content using the general boundaries, the content comprising a plurality of content pieces, each of the content pieces corresponding to one of the color segments of the note.
US09412017B1 Methods systems and computer program products for motion initiated document capture
A computing device acquires a video of a tax document utilizing a video camera such as a webcam. The video is analyzed to detect a first motion of the tax document, such as sufficient shaking or movement of the tax document, satisfying first pre-determined criteria that results in the computing device being prompted or requested by the user to take an image of the tax document. After the first pre-determined criteria has been satisfied, the user is instructed to hold the tax document steady. Subsequent video frames are analyzed to detect a second motion or the tax document being sufficiently still or steady, in response to which an image of the tax document is acquired and processed to extract data of the tax document from the acquired image and populate corresponding fields of the electronic tax return.
US09412016B2 Display device and controlling method thereof for outputting a color temperature and brightness set
A display device and an operating method thereof are provided. In the operating method of a display device, an input image is received externally. A first type signal of the input image is converted into a second type signal. A brightness component is extracted from the converted second type signal. Document image determination information is extracted based on the extracted brightness component and whether the input image to the display device is a document image is determined.
US09412012B2 Z-axis determination in a 2D gesture system
Systems, apparatus and methods for determining a gesture are presented. According to some aspects, disclosed are systems, apparatus and methods for determining a gesture that compares different images and deduces a direction and/or distance based on a relative size change of a palm in the different images. After a reference palm size is registered, subsequent palm sizes are compared to the reference to determine if and/or how much the hand is moving. The hand gesture is determined based on these relative changes in hand movement.
US09412010B2 Posture estimation device, posture estimation method, and posture estimation program
A posture estimation device, which is able to estimate the posture of a humanoid articulated body with high precision, has: a head estimation unit (120) that estimates the position of a person's head from image information for an image that contains a person; a foot estimation unit (130) that, from the image information, estimates the position of the person's foot for which the sole of the foot is parallel to the floor surface; and a posture estimation unit (140) that estimates the posture of the person on the basis of the relative positional relationship between the estimated head position and the estimated foot position. For example, the posture estimation unit (140) estimates the side on which the foot is located, with respect to the head, as the front side of the person.
US09412009B2 Image classification and information retrieval over wireless digital networks and the internet
A method and system for matching an unknown facial image of an individual with an image of a celebrity using facial recognition techniques and human perception is disclosed herein. The invention provides a internet hosted system to find, compare, contrast and identify similar characteristics among two or more individuals using a digital camera, cellular telephone camera, wireless device for the purpose of returning information regarding similar faces to the user The system features classification of unknown facial images from a variety of internet accessible sources, including mobile phones, wireless camera-enabled devices, images obtained from digital cameras or scanners that are uploaded from PCs, third-party applications and databases. Once classified, the matching person's name, image and associated meta-data is sent back to the user. The method and system uses human perception techniques to weight the feature vectors.
US09412007B2 Partial face detector red-eye filter method and apparatus
A digital camera has an integral flash and stores and displays a digital image. Under certain conditions, a flash photograph taken with the camera may result in a red-eye phenomenon due to a reflection within an eye of a subject of the photograph. A digital apparatus has a red-eye filter which analyzes at least one partial face region identified within the digital image for the red-eye phenomenon and modifies the image to eliminate the red-eye phenomenon by changing the red area to black. The modification of the image is enabled when a photograph is taken under conditions indicative of the red-eye phenomenon. The modification is subject to anti-falsing analysis which further examines the area around the red-eye area for indicia of the eye of the subject. The detection and correction can be optimized for performance and quality by operating on subsample versions of the image when appropriate.
US09412006B1 Continuous tissue analysis scoring scheme based on cell classifications
A method for a continuous scoring scheme used for the assessment of biomarker expressions in the analysis of tissue sections, and digital images thereof, is based on cell classifications.
US09412003B2 Discriminant function specifying device, discriminant function specifying method, and biometric identification device
A discriminant function specifying device includes a setting part for calculating a discriminant function by machine learning using a learning input parameter, the discriminant function being for separating a distribution of a genuine similarity from a distribution of impostor similarity, the learning input parameter being set before executing the machine learning, and for setting a plurality of discriminant functions, each of the plurality of discriminant functions being obtained by changing values of the learning input parameter and a learning output parameter, the learning output parameter being a parameter of the calculated discriminant function; a calculation part for calculating an error rate for each of the plurality of discriminant functions set by the setting part; and an extraction part for extracting one discriminant function among the plurality of discriminant functions, the one discriminant function having the error rate calculated by the calculation part which meets a predetermined error condition.
US09412001B2 Method and computer-readable recording medium for recognizing object using captured image
A system recognizes an object employed by an electronic device, by capturing an image using a camera module and transmitting information recognized from the captured image to an external electronic device connected with the electronic device via a communication network. The system receives information associated with the recognized information from the external electronic device and displays the received information on a display.
US09411998B2 Graphical code readers that are configured for glare reduction
A method for glare reduction may be implemented by a graphical code reader. The method may include illuminating a target area using a plurality of light sources. The method may also include capturing images of the target area using at least one image sensor. The method may also include determining that glare is present in at least one captured image. The method may also include determining glare information that indicates which of the light sources are responsible for the glare. The method may further include taking corrective action to reduce the glare in subsequent images based on the glare information that is determined.
US09411996B2 Method and apparatus to visualize locations of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items
Methods and apparatus to visualize locations of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items are described. One example method includes receiving a request from a portable electronic device to access product information associated with an individual radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged item, determining a location of the product information in a database, transmitting the located product information to the portable electronic device for display thereon, receiving modified product information associated with the individual RFID tagged item from the portable electronic device, and storing the modified product information to the location of the product information in the database.
US09411995B2 Physiological sensor system with automatic authentication and validation by means of a radio frequency identification protocol with an integrated RFID interrogator system
This invention relates to a physiological sensor which acquires pre-programmed data from an electrode or an electrode array using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. The source of the sensor may be authenticated by means of a wireless interface between an RFID transponder affixed to the electrode array, and an RFID interrogator embedded in the patient interface cable. The criteria for use are then verified to ensure that they are met by the electrode array before beginning signal acquisition. If the criteria are not met, a message is provided to the user via the monitor.
US09411994B2 Method and system of managing the safety of a plurality of personal protection equipment items
A system and method are provided for managing the safety of a plurality (10) of personal protection equipment items (11). The system and method assign unique identifiers (12) to each of the items (11) and encodes the identifiers (12) into Ultra High Frequency RFID chips (18) attached to each of the items (11). A user (29) can identify the specific items (11) in the user's inventory by scanning the chips (18) and the system can provide safety information relevant to each of the specific items (11) based on the chips (18) that are scanned, including training information specific to each item (11), training information specific to each worker (34) assigned to each item (11) by a user (29), and maintenance and/or inspection protocols in the form of images (60) illustrating the steps of the protocols and text (62) explaining the steps.
US09411993B2 RFID detection system
Systems and methods for use in detecting the presence of an RFID device are provided. One RFID detection system includes a detection circuit that includes an oscillating circuit. The detection circuit is configured to hold the RFID detection system in a low power mode in which the RFID detection system is configured to not actively attempt to communicate with nearby RFID devices. The detection circuit is further configured to monitor one or more parameters of a signal of the oscillating circuit and compare the one or more monitored parameters to one or more reference parameters. The detection circuit is further configured to, based on the comparison, determine whether to transition the RFID detection system from the low power mode into an active communication mode in which the RFID detection system is configured to actively attempt to communicate with nearby RFID devices.
US09411992B1 Protocol management method for a passive RF identification device which can harvest power from different power sources
The protocol management method concerns a RFID transponder which comprises first and second field detectors respectively for first and second interrogation fields in order to watch for the reception of these first or second interrogation fields at least respectively during executions of corresponding first and second communication protocols. If during the execution of a communication protocol the reception of the corresponding interrogation field is no more detected by the corresponding field detector while the power provided by the power generator remains equal or superior to the requested power level, then this communication protocol is stopped and the RFID transponder enters a Standby state. When the transponder is in this Standby state, the corresponding field detector continues to watch for the reception of the corresponding interrogation field in order to detect if it is again received and, if this is the case, to trigger a restart of this corresponding communication protocol.
US09411991B2 Reduced travel magnetic strip reader mechanism
A reader for a card having an information strip, the reader comprising a first movable member, a read head capable of reading the information strip, the read head disposed on the first movable member and a second movable member which upon translation causes the first movable member to translate in a direction opposite to the second movable member. The reader includes a guide slot disposed in line with the direction of translation of the second movable element such that when a card is placed in the guide slot and subsequently moved transversely along the guide slot, the card urges the first movable member in the opposite direction and moving the head across the information strip as the information strip is moved in the opposite direction as the read head movement.
US09411986B2 System and method for encrypting secondary copies of data
A system and method for encrypting secondary copies of data is described. In some examples, the system encrypts a secondary copy of data after the secondary copy is created. In some examples, the system looks to information about a data storage system, and determines when and where to encrypt data based on the information.
US09411985B2 Passing hidden information using attack detectors
An electronic device (22) includes a communication interface (36) and a processor (30), which is configured to store and process secret information and to communicate with a host device (24) via the communication interface. An environmental detector (38) is configured to detect a change, relative to a baseline, in an operating environment of the electronic device, and in response to the detected change, to initiate a secure communication between the processor and the host device when the detected change is in a predefined first range, and to invoke a countermeasure against tampering with the device when the detected change is in a predefined second range, disjoint from the first range.
US09411979B2 Embedding secret data in code
In a computer system operable at more than one privilege level, an application is securely customized to use secret data without disclosing the secret data to a managing operating system. In operation, an integrity module executes at a higher privilege level than both the managing operating system and the application. After the managing operating system loads the application executable code, the integrity module injects the secret data directly into the instruction stream of the application executable code and then sets the memory location of the secret data as executable-only. As the application executes at the assigned privilege level, the instruction in the application directly accesses the secret data without performing any indirect memory access, thereby protecting the secret data from malicious attempts to read the secret data at a privilege level lower than the integrity module.
US09411970B2 Sealing secret data with a policy that includes a sensor-based constraint
Technologies pertaining to limiting access to secret data through utilization of sensor-based constraints are described herein. A sensor-based constraint is a constraint that can only be satisfied by predefined readings that may be output by at least one sensor on a mobile computing device. If the sensor on the mobile computing device outputs a reading that satisfies the sensor-based constraint, secret data is provided to a requesting application. Otherwise, the requesting application is prevented from accessing the secret data.
US09411969B2 System and method of assessing data protection status of data protection resources
There are provided a method, system and service for computerized managing a plurality of data protection (DP) resources. The method comprises: accommodating data related to at least part of the DP resources among said plurality of DP resources in a memory thus giving rise to accommodated data, wherein at least part of the accommodated data is obtained by automated collecting; processing by a processor operatively coupled to the memory the accommodated data, said processing resulting in identifying at least one data protection (DP) scheme characterized, at least, by a data protection technique implemented with regard to at least one DP resource related to said DP scheme; identifying by the processor one or more data protection (DP) gaps affected the at least one DP resource; and using the identified one or more DP gaps for assessing, by the processor, DP risk score to the at least one DP resource.
US09411965B2 Methods and systems for improved risk scoring of vulnerabilities
A security tool can identify vulnerabilities in a computing system and determine a risk level of the vulnerabilities based on base and optional CVSS vectors and additional factors that represent the evolving nature of vulnerabilities. Likewise, the security tool can determine an overall risk for vulnerabilities, an asset, and/or a collection of assets that encompasses a global view of an asset's risk and/or collection of assets' risk, business considerations of an entity that own and controls the asset and/or the collection of assets, and the entity's associations.
US09411964B1 Characterizing, detecting and healing vulnerabilities in computer code
An example process includes identifying, by one or more processing devices, a location in computer code that is subject to vulnerability, where the location corresponds to a memory access that is repeatable and that operates on a particular type of variable; and performing processes, by one or more processing devices, to heal the vulnerability. The memory access may be part of a system-to-system or a user-to-system interaction that is repeatable.
US09411958B2 Polymorphic treatment of data entered at clients
A computer-implemented method includes identifying, in web code to be served to a client, presence of code for generating a form; generating additional, executable code to be run on the client device, the additional, executable code being arranged to identify user input on the client device and modify the form so that data from the user input is received into one or more alternative fields of the form other than a first field to which a user performing the input directed the input; receiving a request from the client device based on completion of input into the form; and converting data from the received request so that data for the one or more alternative fields of the form is directed to the first field of the form for processing by a web server system that initially generated the web code.
US09411956B2 Locked print with intruder detection and management
A printing device includes a user interface, a print module and a locked print module. The locked print module is configured to examine a plurality of print data received by the printing device to determine whether locked printing is specified for any electronic documents contained in the plurality of print data. If locked printing is specified for any of the electronic documents contained in the plurality of print data, then the corresponding print data is stored on the printing device and not processed for printing. The locked print module is further configured to verify password data with respect to user identification data. If the password data is not successfully verified with respect to the user identification data, then the locked print module causes print data that is both stored on the printing device and associated with the user identification data to be deleted from the printing device.
US09411952B2 Method for authentication
A client is intended to be authenticated with a server. The present disclosure relates to a method that includes using an algorithm for the client and server, but independently of one another, to produce a first key. A second key is produced by the client such that its distance from the first key is within a predetermined distance. The second key is sent to the server. The server successfully authenticates the client if the distance between the received second key and the first key is within the predetermined delta. The second key is used as a new start key for further authentication of the client with the server.
US09411951B2 Non-numeric personal identification
Various methods and systems are provided for allowing a user to select a non-numeric PIN or password and use that to access content instead of a conventional numerical PIN. A series of visual, textual, and/or audio “digits” form the PIN, where each succeeding digit may be related to and/or further limit one or more of the preceding digits.
US09411942B2 Network device, system and method for rendering an interactive multimedia playlist
A device, method, and system for managing authorization for rendering of digital media recordings by a networked rendering device are disclosed. The device includes a processor and a memory. The device receives metadata identifying a recording of a specific audio performance, and searches for a source providing the recording. The device obtains a token authorizing the source to deliver the recording to the rendering device. The device provides the token to the source, receives the recording from the source, and renders the recording. An agent may serve as an intermediary between the rendering device and the source.
US09411940B2 Selecting and correlating physical activity data with image data
Example embodiments may relate systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media configured to correlate image data of a user performing physical activity with data collected during the user's performance. Data may include sensor data measuring, force, acceleration, speed, and/or processed sensor data from one or more sensors. Certain embodiments may determine whether the user is within a performance zone based on user attributes. Correlation of the image data with physical activity data may be based, at least in part, whether the user is within a performance zone.
US09411936B2 Dynamic pairing of patients to data collection gateways
Systems, devices and methods transmit data from a patient device to a location, for example a remote location, where the patient is monitored. The system may comprise a server system, for example a backend server system, a gateway and the patient worn device. The gateway can be configured to communicate with the patient worn device in response to a list transmitted from the server, for example an approved patient device list transmitted from the server to the gateway. The gateway may exclude communication with patient worn devices that are not on the list. This use of the list can control data throughput from the patient device to the gateway and also from the gateway to the server, such that the communication from the device on the list to the server is maintained and appropriate information can be reliably sent from the patient device to the server.
US09411935B2 User interface for segmented neurostimulation leads
An external control device for use with a neurostimulation system having a plurality of electrodes capable of conveying an electrical stimulation field into tissue in which the electrodes are implanted is provided. The external control device comprises a user interface having one or more control elements, a processor configured for generating stimulation parameters designed to modify the electrical stimulation field relative to one or more neurostimulation lead carrying the electrodes. The external control device further comprises output circuitry configured for transmitting the stimulation parameters to the neurostimulation system.
US09411934B2 In-room alarm configuration of nurse call system
A nurse call system includes a room station located in a patient room and having a graphical display. The nurse call system also includes an equipment port located in the patient room and configured to couple to medical equipment to receive an alarm signal from the medical equipment. The room station is configured to present a list of medical equipment types on the second graphical display in response to coupling of the medical equipment to the equipment port for selection by a user of the type of medical equipment coupled to the equipment port.
US09411931B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for receiving digital data files
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to efficiently receive digital imaging data files, regardless of their size. For a respective data packet of a digital imaging data file, the method may determine whether that portion of the digital imaging data file that has been received satisfies the first threshold. If the first threshold is not satisfied, the method may receive the respective data packet using memory, such as by appending the data packet to a linked list. However, if the first threshold is satisfied, the method may receive the respective data packet and subsequent data packet(s) of the digital imaging data file using file storage. The receipt of the respective data packet using file storage is slower than the receipt of the respective data packet using memory.
US09411930B2 Methods for genome assembly and haplotype phasing
The disclosure provides methods to assemble genomes of eukaryotic or prokaryotic organisms. The disclosure further provides methods for haplotype phasing and meta-genomics assemblies.
US09411927B2 Float remaining volume identification
A method and apparatus for identifying a potential movement of a part containing features. First lines are formed by a computer system on a plane extending from a rotation point on the plane to centers of the features in a feature pattern. Second lines are formed by the computer system on the plane extending from the centers of the features in which the second lines are substantially perpendicular to corresponding first lines. Third lines are formed by the computer system extending from ends of the second lines in which the third lines are substantially perpendicular to the plane. Elongate volumes are formed by the computer system extending from the centers of the features to ends of the third lines. An intersection of the elongate volumes is formed by the computer system. The potential movement of the part containing the features is identified using the intersection.
US09411926B2 Method of performing circuit simulation and generating circuit layout
A method of generating, based on a first netlist of an integrated circuit, a second netlist includes generating layout geometry parameters for at least a portion of the first netlist of the integrated circuit, the portion including a first device. A third netlist is generated based on the first netlist and the layout geometry parameters. A description in the third netlist for modeling the first device is decomposed into a description in a fourth netlist for modeling a plurality of secondary devices. The second netlist is generated based on the fourth netlist.
US09411923B2 Integrated electronic design automation system
An electronic design automation system combines features of discrete EDA/CAD systems and manufacturing systems into a monolithic system to enable a layperson to efficiently design, construct and have manufactured a specific class of custom electronic device, namely a computer processing unit with embedded software. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is provided as the front-end to a Computer Aided Design (CAD) server that generates sophisticated control and manufacturing instructions that are delivered to a fabrication supply chain, which produces a specified device that is then transported via managed logistics into inventory and ordering systems at vendors for delivery to a designated customer.
US09411920B2 Specifying and implementing relative hardware clocking in a high level programming language
System and method for specifying and implementing relative hardware clocking in a high level programming language. User input specifying a program may be received. The program is specified for deployment to a programmable hardware element (PHE), and includes first and second code portions configured to communicate with each other during execution. The user input may further specify a rational ratio of respective execution rates for the first and second code portions. A hardware configuration program (HCP) implementing the specified program is automatically generated, including automatically determining a respective clock rate for at least one of the first and second code portions based on the rational ratio. The HCP may be deployable to the PHE, including implementing first and second clocks for controlling execution of the first and second code portions in accordance with the rational ratio and the automatically determined respective clock rate for the at least one code portion.
US09411918B1 Simplified device model extension using subcircuits
A system, method, and computer program product for extending device model parameter specification flexibility when using a subcircuit wrapper. Embodiments facilitate device modeling by allowing a modeling engineer to eliminate the explicit specification of a large set of wrapped device instance parameters as parameters to the subcircuit wrapper itself. A circuit designer may now use the subcircuit wrapper to specify an instance of the subcircuit without having to explicitly provide values for all such parameters. The simulator program's built-in device model calculates its default parameter values, which are often the result of complex expressions involving the other parameters, resulting in more accurate simulations. Subcircuit wrappers no longer need to be explicitly regenerated when a new version of the wrapped device model becomes available for the simulator (e.g., one that supports additional instance parameters that were not present on the earlier version when the subcircuit wrapper was created).
US09411915B2 Method of selecting positions of wells to be drilled for petroleum reservoir development
A method of selecting the positions of wells to be drilled for the development of a petroleum reservoir from a set of reservoir images. Well configurations are optimized by calculating a first quality criterion using a flow simulator applied to a limited number of reservoir images. Previously obtained configuration simulation results previously obtained are used for configurations physically close to the configuration to be assessed. A second reservoir development quality criterion is calculated for the optimized configurations using a flow simulator applied to each image of the reservoir. Finally, the well location corresponding to the optimized configuration having the best second quality criterion is selected.
US09411914B2 Simulator, processing system, damage evaluation method and damage evaluation program
Disclosed herein is a simulator including: an input section adapted to acquire processing conditions for a given process performed on a workpiece; and a damage calculation section adapted to acquire the damage of the workpiece, based on the processing conditions, by calculating, using a Flux method, the relationship between the amount of a first substance externally injected onto a given evaluation point on the workpiece during the given process and the amount of a second substance released from the given evaluation point on the workpiece as a result of the injection of the first substance.
US09411911B2 Process control system for production of parts with graphical interface
A device for controlling the course of a process in the production of parts in a tool with or without subsequent reject separation, includes a sensor, which is fitted to the tool to detect measured values during a production process, which can mean an assembly process, a jointing process and any other process, until the part to be produced is finished and ready for delivery. The device includes an output element and a data processing system having a display for reading in and displaying the detected measured values. The data processing system analyzes target parameters provided by the user and the detected measured values to determine an output quantity that is transferred by the output element for the purpose of controlling the course of the process. Operation of the device performs a method for controlling the course of a process.
US09411910B2 Dental analysis method and system
A system for designing the dentition of a patient, comprising a first input for providing an image of the smile of the patient to the system, an output, a processor for computing and applying a first set of visual indicators onto the image of the smile of the patient through the output, the first set of visual indicators indicating ideal positioning of the teeth of the patient, and for computing and applying a second set of visual indicators onto the image of the smile of the patient through the output, the second set of visual indicators providing adjustment of positioning of the teeth of the patient, a memory having stored therein a library of 2D digital images of smiles and associated 3D dentition models, a user interface for selecting a desired 2D digital image to be applied to the image of the smile of the patient and adjusting the second set of visual indicators, the adjustment of the second set of visual indicators modifying the 2D digital image, wherein the processor modifies the 3D dentition model associated with the 2D digital image and provides a virtual wax-up of a dental restoration of the dentition of the patient.
US09411904B2 Guest browser
One embodiment of a guest browser system, among others, includes a guest browser interface configured to provide an address bar interface for accepting a network address for retrieving a first web page. The guest browser interface is rendered from code of a second web page, where content of the second web page is rendered by an installed web browser. The system further includes a guest browser engine configured to retrieve contents of web pages. The guest browser engine is built from code provided by the second web page and is used to update content of the second web page with content from the first web page. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US09411900B2 Integrated adaptive URL-shortening functionality
To provide a shortened version of a link that conveys useful information about the link's associated content, embodiments of the invention generate a shortened version of the link that comprises meaningful information about the original link. For example, in some embodiments such information includes portions of the link itself, such as domain and/or path components of the link's address text, content to which the link points, such as the text of a web page or other document referenced by the link's address text, or a rating of the content to which the link points. Thus, rather than generating an essentially random link, embodiments of the invention adaptively generate the shortened link to take into account the information about the link. Consequently, a user viewing the adaptively-generated shortened link can determine useful information about the content to which the shortened link leads based on the text of the shortened link itself.
US09411898B1 Processing and storage of spatial data
Generating and storing, for a multitude of polygonal areas, spatial coordinates of a multitude of piecewise-linear spatial boundary segments. The polygonal boundary of each area comprises boundary segments; each boundary segment forms a portion of the polygonal boundary of at most two adjacent spatial areas. Can further include one or both of (i) an indicator, for each spatial boundary segment, of the at most two corresponding adjacent spatial areas that are separated by that boundary segment or (ii) an indicator, for each spatial area, of one or more boundary segments that together form the entire polygonal boundary of that spatial area. The electronic indicia of the second dataset can be used, inter alia, (i) to determine in which of a multitude of at least partly contiguous spatial areas is located a given spatial point, or (ii) to graphically render the polygonal borders of the areas.
US09411897B2 Pattern labeling
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a log associated with a user. The log includes a number of entries that each indicate a geo-location of the user at a point in time. The log spans a period of time and some of the entries are based on a geo-location determined and reported by a mobile computing device of the user without manual user input. The method also includes determining a pattern among the geo-locations of the user at the points in time; and determining for some of the geo-locations of the user at the points in time, a place corresponding to the geo-location; and inferring by the computing device a routine of the user based at least in part the pattern and the places.
US09411896B2 Systems and methods for spatial thumbnails and companion maps for media objects
Under one aspect, a computer-implemented method of displaying information about a media object, the media object being associated with location-related content corresponding to a location, includes receiving a request to display a representation of the media object; in response to the request, obtaining a summary of the media object; in response to the request, obtaining a spatial thumbnail of the media object, the spatial thumbnail comprising an image of a spatial domain encompassing the location; and simultaneously displaying both the summary of the media object and the spatial thumbnail on a visual display.
US09411894B2 Observer filtered activity recommendations
Technologies related to observer filtered activity recommendations are generally described. In some examples, a computing device may collect activity and observer information for a device user, may identify limited observer activities, and may generate observer filtered activity recommendations for the device user, the observer filtered activity recommendations corresponding to the identified limited observer activities. Observer filtered activity recommendations may optionally be restricted in the presence of current observers outside a limited observer group. In some examples, the computing device may provide automated access to observer information and/or to observer filtered activity information to enable observer filtered activity recommendations by applications accessing the observer information and/or the observer filtered activity information.
US09411893B2 Collection, monitoring, analyzing and reporting of traffic data via vehicle sensor devices placed at multiple remote locations to create traffic priority enforcement reports
Traffic management reports are created from data provided by vehicle sensor devices placed at different fixed locations in a region. Data of vehicles that pass each of the vehicle sensor devices are captured and communicated to a central computer database. At the central computer database, a traffic priority enforcement report is created from the vehicle data. The traffic priority enforcement report incorporates vehicle data from a plurality of vehicles. The vehicle data is for a plurality of previous, non-current times so as to allow for analysis of past vehicle data.
US09411892B2 System for enhancing expert-based computerized analysis of a set of digital documents and methods useful in conjunction therewith
An electronic document analysis method receiving N electronic documents pertaining to a case encompassing a set of issues including at least one issue and establishing relevance of at least the N documents to at least one individual issue in the set of issues, the method comprising, for at least one individual issue from among the set of issues, receiving an output of a categorization process applied to each document in training and control subsets of the at least N documents, the output including, for each document in the subsets, one of a relevant-to-the-individual issue indication and a non-relevant-to-the-individual issue indication; building a text classifier simulating the categorization process using the output for all documents in the training subset of documents; and running the text classifier on the at least N documents thereby to obtain a ranking of the extent of relevance of each of the at least N documents to the individual issue. The method may also comprise evaluating the text classifier's quality using the output for all documents in the control subset.
US09411890B2 Graph-based search queries using web content metadata
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating search query metadata for a graph search query for use in selecting web pages relevant to the graph search query. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a graph search query specifying user-selected graph search elements; generating graph search query metadata representing the graph search elements of the graph search query and relationships of the graph search elements; comparing the graph search query metadata to content metadata sets, wherein each content metadata set represents content elements of a content item presented on a respective web resource and relationships of the content elements; determining similarity scores between the content metadata sets and the graph search query metadata based on the comparison; and selecting web resources on which the content items are presented based on the similarity scores of the respective content metadata sets.
US09411889B2 Assigning document identification tags
Document identification tags are assigned to documents to be added to a collection of documents. Based on query-independent information about a new document, a document identification tag is assigned to the new document. The document identification tag so assigned is used in the indexing of the new document. When a list of document identification tags are produced by an index in response to a query, the list is approximately ordered with respect to a measure of query-independent relevance. In some embodiments, the measure of query-independent relevance is related to the connectivity matrix of the World Wide Web. In other embodiments, the measure is related to the recency of crawling. In still other embodiments, the measure is a mixture of these two. The provided systems and methods allow for real-time indexing of documents as they are crawled from a collection of documents.
US09411885B2 Electronic apparatus and method for processing documents
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a processor and a display processor. The processor stores a plurality of clip data items in storage, each of the plurality of clip data items including a clip and one or more tags associated with the clip, the clip corresponding to at least a part of a document. The display processor displays one or more first tags on a screen if a first clip is selected from a first document displayed on the screen, the first clip corresponding to at least a part of the first document, wherein the one or more first tags are related to the first clip and extracted from the plurality of clip data items.
US09411882B2 Interactive audio content generation, delivery, playback and sharing
Control data templates are generated independent of a plurality of audio elements based on user input. The user input relates to parameter values and control inputs for operations. In response to receiving audio elements after the control data templates are generated, audio objects are generated to store audio sample data representing the audio elements. Control data is generated based on the parameter values and the control inputs for the operations in the control data templates. The control data specifies the operations to be performed while rendering the audio objects. The control data is then stored separately from the audio sample data in the audio objects. The audio objects can be communicated to downstream recipient devices for rendering and/or remixing.
US09411874B2 Simplified interaction with complex database
A computer-implemented method for processing data in a database using a data cube is discussed and involves interacting with a user of a computing device, using a computer application, to obtain meta data about a database and obtain user-defined selections of options concerning the database; creating a data cube definition by using the selected options to identify characteristics of columns in the database; publishing to an OLAP engine a definition of a data cube that corresponds to the data base; generating a simplified flat-file model of the data in the data cube; and providing the simplified flat-file model in a form that can be reviewed and directly manipulated by the user.
US09411866B2 Replication mechanisms for database environments
Data replication in a database includes identifying a source database system. The source database includes a main index file and a delta log file. To create a replica, one or more symbolic links to the source database system are generated. The symbolic links identify a path to a physical location of the source database. A replica of the source database is generated based on the symbolic links. The replica includes a copy of the main index file and delta log file. Information associated with the replica and the symbolic links is stored in a recovery log. Replica are provided transparently to most database engine components by re-using partitioning infrastructure. Components “see” replica as tables with a single partition; that partition is a local replica.
US09411864B2 Systems and methods for collection and consolidation of heterogeneous remote business data using dynamic data handling
Remote data collection systems and methods retrieve data including financial, sales, marketing, operational and the like data from a plurality of databases and database types remotely over a network in an automated, platform-agnostic manner. An Extract Transform and Load (ETL) data replication method for Chart of Account (COA) standardization includes receiving a request for remote data collection to extract data from a data source; extracting data in a non-intrusive manner from the data source, wherein the data comprises non-standard COA data; and transforming one of an entire set or a subset of the extracted data based on the request based on a template or a standardized form desired for comparisons.
US09411858B2 Methods and apparatus for targeting communications using social network metrics
A method for a computer system includes receiving a first user communication, determining a first group of users, determining a target number of users, determining whether the first group of users includes the target number of users, and if not, providing the communication to the first group of users, determining a hierarchal mapping of groups of users in response to user memberships, determining a second group of users from the hierarchal mapping, determining a plurality of social network relationship factors for the second group of users with respect to the first user, and providing the communication to at least a subset of users in the second group of users in response to the first plurality of social network relationship factors.
US09411856B1 Overlay generation for sharing a website
A system and method for generating an overlay to share information on a website among users who are associated with a social network. A sharing application includes a social network engine, a code generator, a rating engine, a filter module, a dialog engine, a website annotator, a recommendation engine and a user interface module. The social network engine registers users with the social network to share information on websites. The social network engine generates user profiles for users including topics that the users are interested in. The rating engine rates the users based at least in part on the user's activities relating to the websites. The filter module filters users that are included in the overlay according to conditions. The dialog engine generates dialog boxes for users to communicate with each other. The user interface module generates the overlay.
US09411854B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and judgment rule control method
Disclosed is an information processing apparatus, wherein, upon defining an judgment method of determining the timing for presenting information, an appropriate judgment rule can be defined without any need for specialized knowledge, and without putting in much effort in setup work thereof. The information processing apparatus is provided with: an judgment-rule candidate generating unit for generating judgment rule candidates, which are combinations of a plurality of conditions combined on the basis of a rule; a materialization-estimate calculation unit for calculating judgment-rule materialization estimate values that indicate estimates of materialization frequencies for each of the judgment rule candidates, on the basis of a sensor availability rate within a period of time; and an judgment rule selection unit for selecting an judgment rule from among the judgment rule candidates, on the basis of the judgment-rule materialization estimate value and a notification amount that indicates the desired notification frequency of information.
US09411849B2 Method, system and computer storage medium for visual searching based on cloud service
A method, system and computer storage medium for visual searching based on cloud service is disclosed. The method includes: receiving, from a client, an image recognition request of cloud service, the request containing image data; forwarding, according to a set classified forwarding rule, the image data to a corresponding classified visual search service; recognizing, by the respective corresponding classified visual search services, corresponding classified type information in the image data, and determining a corresponding name of the image data in accordance with the respective classified type information, and obtaining a classified visual search result; summarizing and sending, to a client, the classified visual search result of the corresponding classified visual search service. By detection and recognition of the classified type information of the image data, the comprehensive feature information of a picture is obtained, based on which further applications are allowed, and thus the user experience is improved.
US09411846B2 Enhancing event summaries of synced online content management system interactions
Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for enhancing event summaries of synced online content management system interactions. Users can identify one or more of the collapsed events markers that have pointers to the original, uncondensed, event markers. Upon identifying the one or more collapsed event markers, users can add additional data, via the pointers, to the original, uncondensed, event markers that were used to generate the collapsed event marker. The content management system can then perform a new analysis of the shared dataspace, analyzing the event markers using pre-existing data and the newly added data to create additional collapsed event markers, modify previously generated collapsed event markers, or remove/replace collapsed event markers. These enriched collapsed event markers can then newly presented to the user.
US09411843B2 Method and apparatus for managing an index in a shared memory
The present invention relates to a method of managing an index in a shared memory in a multi-process environment. An apparatus for managing an index in a shared memory is implemented to log an address of an index node where an operation is to be performed, information on a number of slots stored in a slot count unit, and information on moved slots stored in a slot movement count unit.
US09411839B2 Index configuration for searchable data in network
An entity using a computing device can upload searchable data to a network service to be indexed and stored. The data can include a plurality of data fields, each data field having one or more associated values. The network service can analyze the data fields and their respectively associated values to determine data field types for the data fields and search options to be enabled for the data fields. Based at least in part on the data field types and the search options, the network service can generate a search index configuration/schema. Based at least in part on the generated search index configuration/schema, the network service can generate a search index for the data. In some embodiments, the network service can also convert the data into a format compatible with the search index.
US09411836B2 Facilitating consistency between a glossary and a repository
Techniques are disclosed to facilitate consistency between a glossary and a repository, where the glossary includes one or more terms and the repository includes information sets. Each information set includes a definition for a respective term and a range of valid values for the respective term. A request is received to approve a first information set in the repository, where the first information set pertains to a first term in the glossary. The first information set is designated as an active information set for the first term. A subsequent request is received to assign the first term in the glossary to a second information set in the repository, where the second information set is different from the first information set. An information set to designate as the active information set for the first term is programmatically determined based on a predefined consistency criterion.
US09411834B2 Method and system for monitoring and analyzing quality of service in a storage system
Methods and systems for identifying a victim storage volume from among a plurality of storage volumes based on a comparison of current Quality of Service (QOS) data with a dynamic threshold value that is based on historical QOS collected data for the plurality of storage volumes are provided. A performance manager collects the current and historical QOS data from a storage operating system of the storage system, which includes a response time in which each of the plurality of storage volumes respond to an input/output (I/O) request. The current and historical QOS data for the resources used by the victim storage volume are retrieved and compared with the current QOS data of each resource to an expected range based on the historical QOS data. Another storage volume is identified as a bully when its usage of a resource in contention contributes to creating the victim storage volume.
US09411833B2 Generation of service specification of a service oriented architecture (SOA) solution
A method and associated system for generating a service specification of a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) solution. Each process of at least one process is decomposed into at least one atomic service process. The service specification of the SOA solution to be compatible with both a process model framework that includes the at least one process and a data model framework that includes at least one data element that is indirectly matched to the at least one process. The service specification represents a respective process interface of each atomic service process that performs a respective atomic service in the SOA solution. The customized service specification is stored in a database.
US09411832B1 Pluggable storage system for distributed file systems
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for managing data. In some embodiments, this includes an initial instruction for a file stored in a first storage system, determining that the initial instruction is not supported by the first storage system, identifying a combination of instructions to the first storage system after determining that the initial instruction is not supported by the first storage system, wherein the combination of instructions is based on the initial instruction, performing the identified combination of instructions on the file stored in the first storage system, and storing results of the performed identified combination of instructions.
US09411828B2 Method and system for navigating in a database of a computer system
The invention is directed to a computer program, a computer system and a method for navigating in a database of a subject system. The subject system comprises a graphical user interface. The invention method comprising steps of (i) returning results (110a-g) from a query in the database, and (ii) displaying in the graphical user interface (100) the results returned using several levels of progressive granularity. Each of the results is associated with one of the levels of granularity, according to the query.
US09411827B1 Providing images of named resources in response to a search query
Systems, computer program products, apparatus, and methods are described that perform operations including receiving a search query that includes a name, receiving multiple resources that have been identified by a search engine as best satisfying the search query, wherein the identified multiple resources include a resource including a plurality of images. The operations include identifying an image of the plurality of images displaying a face of the person. The image is identified based on a description associated with the image. The description is based at least in part on one or more resources included in the search results. The operations further include providing the identified image with the search results. The search results are provided as a plurality of links. Each link identifies a corresponding resource of the identified plurality of resources.
US09411825B2 Computer implemented system for handling text distracters in a visual search
A system, method and a computer program product for handling text distracters in a visual search have been disclosed. The system considers an image captured on a handheld device, as a query image and subsequently identifies the textual portions of the query image. The textual portions of the query image are smoothened in order to reduce the keypoints present in the textual portions. Non-textual portions in proximity to the textual portions are also selectively smoothened in order to prevent formation of an artificial border between the textual portions and non-textual portions. Further, the features are extracted from the non-textual portions of the query image are compared with the features of the images stored in a repository. An image whose features match with the extracted features is identified as an image relevant to the query image, and the identified image is transmitted, along with the associated metadata to the handheld device for display.
US09411822B2 System and method of generating and using open sky data
A method and system for generating and using open sky data is described. A vehicle equipped with a range-finding device travels on a road network in a geographic region. The range-finding device transmits a pulse at a given position and obtains range data associated with the position. The system uses the range data to generate data representing visibility of open sky at the given position and at other positions along the road network. For example, the system may determine transmission angles of pulses transmitted at positions that did not encounter a physical object and then use the determined transmission angles to generate data representing visibility of open sky at these positions. The system then stores the data representing the visibility of open sky. The system then associates the data representing the visibility of open sky with data representing physical features.
US09411821B1 Block-based backups for sub-file modifications
Block-based backups for sub-file modifications are described. A system records an identifier of a modified file into a file modification journal. The system records an identifier corresponding to a modified block in a file system into a modified block map. The system creates a modified file block map based on the identifier of the modified file in the file modification journal. The system identifies a modified file block corresponding to the modified file based on an intersection of the modified block map and the modified file block map. The system reads the modified file block from the file system using a file system read interface. The system writes the modified file block to a backup storage.
US09411818B2 Command line interpreter for accessing a data object stored in a distributed storage network
A user device includes a DSN interface operably coupled with a DSN memory and a DS processing module for storing and retrieving a data object from the DSN memory, wherein the data object is partitioned into a plurality of data segments and wherein each of the plurality of data segments is stored in the DSN memory as a plurality of encoded data slices that are generated based on an error encoding dispersal function. The user device also includes a command line interpreter operable to interpret a file command as a request to display the data object by an application program, determine the data object is stored in the DSN memory and request the DSN processing module to retrieve the data object from the DSN memory and provide the data object to the application program.
US09411817B2 Programmatically choosing preferred storage parameters for files in large-scale distributed storage systems based on desired file reliability or availability
Methods to determine and automatically recommend or adjust configuration parameters for storing files in large-scale distributed storage systems are disclosed. These methods may receive file metadata and trace data that allows the system to identify file access patterns. Additionally, the methods may receive information about distributed storage systems in a datacenter. This information can be used to choose storage parameters on a per-file basis for storing files.
US09411813B2 Large tree view navigation
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to tree representations of object hierarchies and provide a method, system and computer program product for large tree view navigation. In an embodiment of the invention, a tree view navigation method can be provided. The method can include selecting a node in a tree view of an object hierarchy, specifying filter text in a filter control for the selected node, and filtering a branch of nodes extending from the selected node to include only nodes including the filter text. In this way, despite a voluminous number of nodes in the branch, relevant nodes can be located flexibly and efficiently.
US09411812B2 File system management
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for file system management. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request at a kernel to perform a file operation on a particular file; identifying a flag bit associated with the file; invoking user space file handler to perform particular action when the flag bit is set; determining whether notification that action has been performed by file handler is received; and allowing the file operation on the file when notification is received.
US09411791B2 Device control method and system using XML document
A device control method and system that sets a control setting through a user interface generated by using an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) document is provided. Operation control of a device is set through a user interface that is generated using an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) document. A user interface is generated for control settings of a device based on received first information, second information corresponding to control setting values is input through the user interface, and the second information is transmitted to the device and corresponding control settings of the device are set. Accordingly, operation control of the device can be controlled through a user interface by using a single standardized document regardless of the type of device.
US09411788B2 Methods and apparatus for improved navigation among controlled terms in one or more user documents
Methods and apparatus are provided for improved navigation among controlled terms in one or more user documents. A user can navigate among a plurality of occurrences of a controlled term in one or more documents. A disclosed navigation and editing tool provides a link for each of the occurrences of the controlled term, wherein each of the links include a plurality of destination links, wherein each of the destination links allow a user to navigate to a corresponding one of the other of the plurality of occurrences in the one or more documents; receives a user selection of at least one of the destination links; and jumps, in response to the user selection, to a destination in the one or more documents associated with the selected destination link.
US09411777B2 Performing a rooted-v collective operation by an operational group of compute nodes in a parallel computer
In a parallel computer, performing a rooted-v collective operation by an operational group of compute nodes includes: identifying, in source code by a collective algorithm selection optimizing module, a gather operation followed by a rooted-v collective operation; replacing, by the collective algorithm selection optimizing module, the gather operation with an allgather operation; executing, by the compute nodes, the allgather operation; selecting, by each compute node in dependence upon results of the allgather operation, an algorithm for effecting the rooted-v collective operation; and executing, by each compute node, the rooted-v collective operation with the selected algorithm.
US09411769B2 Apparatus and methods to communicatively couple field devices to controllers in a process control system
A disclosed example apparatus includes a first interface to be communicatively coupled to one of a first field device or a second field device. The first interface communicates using a first fieldbus communication protocol when coupled to the first field device and communicates using a second fieldbus communication protocol when coupled to the second field device. The example apparatus includes a communication processor to encode first information received from the one of the first field device or the second field device for communication via a bus using a third communication protocol. The example apparatus includes a second interface communicatively coupled to the communication processor and the bus to communicate the first information to a controller in the process control system. The bus is to use the third communication protocol to communicate second information received from the other one of the first field device or the second field device.
US09411763B2 Allocation of flow control credits for high performance devices
Methods and apparatus relating to allocation of flow control credits for high performance devices are described. In some embodiments, controls and/or configuration structures may be provided for the OS (Operating System) or VMM (Virtual Machine Manager) to indicate possible processor affinity (e.g., of a device driver for a given PCIe device) to the platform components (in a platform dependent fashion, for example). Using this data, the platform components could configure the RC (Root Complex) ports and/or intermediate components (such as switches, bridges, etc.) to pre-allocate buffers for the links coupling the PCIe device to the RC ports or intermediate components. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US09411756B2 Function approximation circuitry
Function approximation circuitry approximates an arbitrary function F over discrete inputs. Discrete values of the function F are stored in a lookup table (LUT) component for various inputs. An addressing module generates an address from an input. An interpolation factor module generates an interpolation factor from the input. An interpolation module generates an output, which is an approximate value of the function F for the input, from the interpolation factor, and from outputs of the LUT component when the LUT component is addressed by the address.
US09411753B2 Systems and methods for dynamically determining a priority for a queue of commands
System and methods are provided for dynamically managing a first-in/first-out (FIFO) command queue of a system controller. One or more commands are received into the command queue, a command being associated with a priority parameter. A current command first in line to be executed in the command queue is determined, the current command being associated with a first priority parameter. A second command associated with a second priority parameter is determined, the second priority parameter being largest among priority parameters associated with the one or more commands. A final priority parameter for the current command is computed based at least in part on the second priority parameter.
US09411749B2 Chunk-level client side encryption in hierarchical content addressable storage systems
Techniques for chunk-level client side encryption are provided. In a content-addressable storage system, a plurality of chunks is used to implement a hierarchical file system. The hierarchical file system supports both encrypted and non-encrypted volumes. A folders and files layer makes calls directly to a chunk system layer for operations involving non-encrypted volumes. The folders and files layer makes calls to a volume encryption layer for operations involving encrypted volumes. The volume encryption layer receives calls from the folders and files layer through an API that matches the API through which the chunk system layer receives calls from the folders and files layer.
US09411747B2 Dynamic subroutine stack protection
A protection unit of a subroutine stack accessible by a CPU controlled by one main software program, for storing and removing stack frame(s), the stack protection unit being coupleable to the stack and the CPU, comprising: a processor coupled to a first and a second address register; wherein, when a first stack frame is stored onto the stack and the execution of the main software program is suspended by the CPU due to the execution of a subroutine; the processing unit is adapted to set one access rule based on the first and second address registers, preventing: the ongoing subroutine, from accessing a hardware-protected region of the stack, comprising at least one stack frame associated with a return address from which the main software program resumes execution after termination of the execution of the subroutine. A processor, a method and a computer program are also claimed.